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A piece of disappointing news for growth in the fourth quarter:
Consumer spending dips 0.3% in September - Oct. 31, 2003: The Commerce Department said personal income rose 0.3 percent after rising a revised 0.3 percent in August. Economists, on average, expected it to rise 0.2 percent, according to Briefing.com. Spending by consumers, which accounts for about 70 percent of the nation's economic activity, fell 0.3 percent after rising a revised 1.1 percent in August. Economists, on average, expected spending to fall 0.1 percent...
That's a big enough piece of bad news to cause me to take a full percentage point off my personal estimate of the fourth quarter GDP growth rate...Posted by DeLong at October 31, 2003 06:20 AM | TrackBack
Isn't this where you're supposed to say to Patrick R. Sullivan, "I told you so"
:-)Posted by: Not Patrick Sullivan on October 31, 2003 06:32 AM
This also seems to raise the question of what the Q3 GDP revision will look like (noting Krugman's column this morning). The advance GDP report indicated 6.6% (annualized) real personal consumption growth. In today's report, the chained dollar personal consumption growth rates -- which were actually revised up for July and August, but down 0.6% for September -- only indicate a 1% rise for the quarter which, absent advanced mathematics, doesn't seem to annualize to 6.6%. To the macroeconomists out there: is there a good reason for these reports not to reconcile?
I don't have an answer about the math (haven't tried), but I have a very strong impression that the PCE data for Q3 GDP and monthly and quarterly Q3 PCE reports released today contain the same survey data. The Q3 PCE report shows a 6.6% rise in real spending, same as GDP, so I assume the monthly data will work out. So no revision, based on what was reported today.
Now, here is the tricky part. Estmates for October vehicle sales are runnng around 13.3 mln units (annualized), vs a 14.3 mln pace in Q3. Chain store sales in October have been softish, too. If you combine those facts with a slowdown in consumption late n Q3 - a weak base for Q4 PCE growth relative to Q3 - then you start to get the picture of a much cooler showing for consumption in Q4. That is just the way the math works out. This is not a surprise, not unexpected. Many 3.5%-4.0% GDP forecasts for Q4 assume that sort of slowdown. You just need inventory and capital spending to pick up to keep overall growth strong.Posted by: K Harris on October 31, 2003 08:40 AM
One only-slightly-less-than-fully-serious method of comparing international currencies to one another is via the price of a McDonald's "Big Mac". A commodity that's a buck in Omaha and 8 yuan in Guangzhou implies a "real" exchange ratio of 1:8, right?
Similarly, a so-far-fully-less-than-fully-serious hypothesis about trends in national employment has, by personal observation, proven to be fairly effective as well. To wit: when McDonalds and other fast-food vendors start hanging up banners advertising job vacancies; when fast food service begins to become noticably other-than-fast; and when the orders delivered become noticably other than the orders requested -- then that industry is having trouble getting good workers. The "good" workers are, I presume, moving away from the food service industry toward better (better paying, better benefit, better working condition, better Maslovian self-esteem providing) jobs. This is a mobility that hardly raises a blip in formal statistics. After all, a food service job provides very flexible opportunity for a job-seeker to take time to go on interviews. A current-McJob holder will likely give no notice at all before taking the new job, or may work thru a notice period (on an alternative shift) ever after starting the new job, while accruing enough hours to start the new paycheck coming in. So, initially, the uptake of McJob workers into the "new, better" jobs makes no impact on the unemployment rate. But soon the McBoss starts recruiting less good workers, or out-of-practice workers, to fill vacancies. And those folks move slow and screw up the orders ... at least during the first few months of employment while they learn their jobs.
ANYHOW, I've had FOUR of SIX orders this month
screwed up at fast food establishments around Dallas, Texas. (and my picky-eater kids get pretty upset about it.) Banner "Help Wanted" ads are up at Arby, KFC, McD, Wendy's, and Sonic. (The Wafflehouse and WattaBurger seem to be either well-staffed, or recruiting via other means.) And the pizza delivery guys I see running around in my neighborhood seem to be, once again, teenagers -- not the portly and balding delivery men of a year ago.
I expect the formal employment statistics to look better shortly.
But I wonder if they is any way to formalize my heuristic into a more presentable leading indicator?Posted by: Pouncer on October 31, 2003 08:55 AM
The 'help wanted' banners indicate demand for new workers. Poor fast food service results from solar flairs.Posted by: K Harris on October 31, 2003 09:04 AM
Pouncer: I was thinking the same thing. My local movie theatre had a "Help Wanted" sign in the window (for the first time in years), which made me think the economy is picking up.Posted by: Walt Pohl on October 31, 2003 09:37 AM
More voodoo economics:
At a White House briefing, N. Gregory Mankiw, chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, said that even though the number of payroll jobs has declined this year, the administration's tax cuts have kept employment higher than it otherwise would have been.
"About 1.5 million more people are working than would have been had the president never changed the tax code," Mankiw said. "It's hard to . . . determine the exact cause and effect of any particular economic change, but certainly there's lots of reasons to believe that what we saw in [the third] quarter is attributable to the president's jobs and growth package. The president's package put money in the hands of consumers, and you saw very strong consumer spending. The jobs and growth package was aimed at lowering the cost of capital, and you saw very rapid investment spending."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A40148-2003Oct30.htmlPosted by: Kosh on October 31, 2003 09:49 AM
K: Thanks for the discussion.
I looked at the report closely, and figured out what's going on with the math -- it amounts to a start- and endpoint issue. The June-September change annualizes to ~4%. Whereas the quarterly PCE growth compares averages of the monthly PCE for the respective quarters, and annualizes to 6.6%. Which is just to say that the PCE growth was somewhat front-loaded in Q3 and back-loaded in Q2 (no surprise).
Recall also that the leading indicators index was down in the last report. The 3rd quarter of 2002 was about 3.5%, but Bush then killed things off for several quarters with Iraq anxiety and higher energy prices. Perhaps this last quarter was just a snap-back reflecting pent-up demand.Posted by: BobNJ on October 31, 2003 10:11 AM
The compand growth rate of 3 mth moving avg of real PCE in sept vs june was 6.6%. The Sept real PCE vs the 3rd Q avg is 0.76% (annualized).
ie, if 4th Q real PCE = the sept number the growth rate would be 0.76%.
The real funny thing in the data is recent trade data. In aug both real exports & imports fell sharply. In June real exports had had heir first significant jump in this cycle. Part of import weakness is oil. Imports are a lagged function of real final demand and change in inventories. This implies that imports will explode in the 4th Q.
and will be a major negative for 4th Q growth.The coefficient on real domestic final demand lagged 2 quarters is about 0.3 -- over past decade imports filled one-third of growth in real domestic final demand. Thus, really funny thing about 3rd Q real GDP is that trade added to growth.
A couple of points: I believe that the 6.6% increase in consumption in the GDP report was real, while the figure cited in Brad's post is nominal. Real PCE fell by 0.6% in Sept. Are we definitely comparing apples with apples here?
Also, since this confirms that consumption boom in Q3 really happened just in July and August, we can infer that the more late data that comes in (i.e. Sept. data), the lower will be the final figure for Q3 GDP. Hence I still expect a substantial downward revision.
See the post on Angry Bear for more.Posted by: Kash on October 31, 2003 11:34 AM
>>More voodoo economics>>
Mankiw might be right, in some technical sense - the tax cut may have made things better than no cut, at least in the short term. But there are much much better ways to stimulate the economy - the real sin is not having done something better.
I have no doubt that the tax cuts did, in fact, have some stimulative effect.
What I question is Mankiw's statement that:
"About 1.5 million more people are working than would have been had the president never changed the tax code."
How on earth did he arrive at this estimate? Or did he just pull it out of ............. the air?Posted by: Kosh on October 31, 2003 12:34 PM
Check out this Mankiw speech for a hint of the source:
Mankiw refers to "simulations of a conventional macroeconomic model" showing that GDP would have been 2 percent lower mid-year absent the tax cuts, which somehow translates into 1.5 million jobs. Where you consider that to have been pulled presumably depends on the macro model in question ;-).
Is it an outrageous figure? Not necessarily -- if you consider a cost per job calculation (a la the one that got the Krugman stalkers fired up), you have (per CBPP) some $205 billion of the FY03 deficit attributable to the tax cut, which works out to over $135,000 per job (this year alone!). In short, there seems to have been plenty of stimulus, not well-targeted at all.
I'd also ote that Snow used this line in Chicago last week, and in fact Bush seems to have introduced it back in his August 2 radio address (per a Google search).Posted by: Tom Bozzo on October 31, 2003 01:07 PM
Focusing on monthly data is an exercise in futility. GDP growth was good and may herald a return to normal growth.
On the other hand, it may mean nothing at all.
I wouldn't bet anything on the apparent slowdown of consumer spending in September.Posted by: Charles on October 31, 2003 01:46 PM
>>Mankiw refers to "simulations of a conventional macroeconomic model" showing that GDP would have been 2 percent lower mid-year absent the tax cuts, which somehow translates into 1.5 million jobs. Where you consider that to have been pulled presumably depends on the macro model in question<<
It assumes that the Federal Reserve is a potted plant, and keeps interest rates on the same path no matter what the deficit. That's not an assumption anyone who knows anything about the Federal Reserve should make.Posted by: Brad DeLong on October 31, 2003 02:26 PM


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In response to this letter, I would like to state the facts of the incident.
A dog's leash is good insurance
Re: Needless death of unleashed dog, by Lou LaPlante, April 27.
In response to this letter, I would like to state the facts of the incident.
The dog was a yellow lab who was killed chasing a ball into the street after several failed attempts to pick it up on the run. The motorcycle was just driving down the street and the speed was unknown but may have been above the speed limit of 50 km/h.
The lab was trained not to cross the street until the command was given and to heel on command. I know of no lab that ever chased a car.
This was an unfortunate tragedy that falls into the category of an accident. The timing was cruel to the driver, owner and dog. Yes, a leash is good insurance.
DONNA SIMPRAGA, Windsor

subset: commoncrawl


text: Haiti Bible Mission is pleased to host Calvary Bible Chapel at their Jeremie, Haiti compound for the week. This week, Calvary's focus will primarily be ministering to the local orphanage through sports and teaching as well as some painting at HBM's church plant in Te 'Wouj. Calvary will also be running a VBS program at Te 'Wouj and the newest church plant in Kolimo. This church also braved carrying cement blocks up the mountian to Kolimo to continue construction on the building. Not an easy feat by any means.


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We have coached CEOs, CTOs, CIOs, Executive Directors, General Counsels, Department Chairs, Vice Presidents, Senior Research Scientists, Business Development Executives, and Architects, amongst other professionals who we have helped make the shift from technical expert to leader.
If you or your organization is looking to boost performance and satisfaction through professional development, please contact us to set up a time to speak. We want to support you.
– Vandy Densmore, Assistant Director, Human Resources


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On Helping Anger Become Action.
This is a post about anger.
Right now, in this time, this place, I am referring to the Zimmerman verdict, and Trayvon Martin, and the system that made it possible for 6 jurors to say that there was nothing legally wrong with Zimmerman's actions. I am angry. Right now this blog could become a space for us to voice our perspective over the events of the world. However our original purpose is to take on big ideas and try and break them down into smaller steps, and so we will keep our focus here. First, how to help our students - and ourselves - deal with anger in healthy ways, whatever the source of that anger.
There is a lot to be angry about these days. Our anger about the verdict. Our anger as teachers in the time of standardized testing and teacher evaluations based on test scores. Our kids' anger about this moment, or the unfortunate inevitable next one, or about school, or their parents, or their friends, or their futures.
As the verdict came out and I watched the reactions on Twitter and Facebook and on CNN and Fox, a refrain kept surfacing - Don't get too angry, now. Whether it was the constant referring to Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin - Trayvon's parents - as being so "patient" or "restrained" or "dignified," or whether it was the constant stream of people fearing, hoping, asking that no one get too angry on the streets. Whether it was my own head telling me not to let it get to me (to just let it go because after all there is nothing you can really do), I felt barraged by a message that told me my anger - and yours - is something to be feared, something to tamp down, something to avoid at all costs.
I get why. Anger, unchecked, can destroy. It can hurt. Whether it is the rioting of an angry community with nowhere to channel their rage, or the words you can never take back as you yell at a loved one, anger can wound in a moment what will take years to heal.
But there is a difference between not letting our anger take over and not expressing it at all.
When we don't feel or express our anger, it turns inward. It festers, turns into true rage, or bigotry, or depression. When anger turns inward it changes who we are, how we see the world. It hurts us. According to a psychosocial epidemiological study, suppressed rage is linked with higher mortality rates, elevated risks of certain cancers, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease in both men and women. Anger unexpressed becomes a form of self mutilation, a kind of soul-cutting that leaves no trace other than the edge of cynicism in our voices, or the subtle sag of our shoulders.
When we express our anger in healthy ways, we get it out of the way so that we can start to see the paths available to us. We create space for something more productive.
Our kids get angry, just as we do. Far too often, when angry, they vent to the wrong people, or in the wrong space. How many of our kids have gotten into a fight with someone during lunch when really they are angry at something that happened that morning? They wind up injuring, alienating, polarizing, making things that much worse for themselves. Far too often, when someone is angry around me, my first instinct is to calm them down, tell them not to be angry, show them why they shouldn't be. Far too often, I have tried to stop my students from being angry, just as I try to stop myself. This is not healthy, and it is not right.
It is important for our kids to know that their anger can be a powerful force in their lives, if used rightly. Their anger is not something to fear, but to channel.
There are healthy ways that we can be there for our kids during controversial or intensely personal times. Try finding some healthy ways to express and feel your anger, and then help your kids to do the same.
Healthy Ways to Deal with Anger:
1. Find a Release. We all need to vent from time to time. But it is important to know the best people to vent to. Usually it is not someone who disagrees with you, or the actual person you are mad at. Try calling a friend and asking, "Can I just vent for a second?" That way, your friend will know just to listen.
2. Find the Source. When we are angry, we are usually angry at more than the thing or event directly in front of us. For example, many of us are not just angry at the Zimmerman verdict, but the underlying, subtle, insidious racism that underlies every moment of this case. Take a moment and reflect - what am I really mad about? What's underneath it all? This will help you decide next steps.
3. Find the Calm. Just because we are angry, doesn't mean we should let that emotion run rampant through our bodies. At some point we will want to breathe, count to ten, meditate, go for a run, whatever it is that works to help our bodies calm down.
4. Find the Solution. While you may not actually be able to "solve" the source of the problem that is making you angry, there is almost always something you can do that will help. A conversation you can have, an organization you can get involved in, a change you can make in your own life. There is no better way to deal with anger than by taking a positive action.
Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned. -Buddha
Kate and Maggie.
Big Idea: Coping with Anger Tiny Detail: Strategies for Expressing Anger


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Camp Outlook
Camp Outlook
By Brenda Baker
To have someone else, or something else, like God (maybe), decide for you that you won't be like everyone else? That. Just. Sucks.
Shannon is thrilled when her mom becomes pregnant. After years of hoping and praying, her mom and dad are expecting again and Shannon will have a little brother or sister to play with. They will be a normal, happy family. Shannon likes normal. As an experienced middle-schooler, she knows that she does not want to stand out, to be weird or different.
But when her baby brother is born, things do not go according to plan. Shannon doesn't know how to cope. Isn't God supposed to answer your prayers, especially the important ones? But God does not seem to be following the rules. So Shannon becomes an atheist. Twice. And she does something that is so out of character, not even she can explain it.
Shannon is sent – against her will – to Camp Outlook, which turns out to have its fair share of people who don't exactly follow the rules. While there, Shannon has several bizarre experiences, crushes on the student minister (who happens to look like Jesus), and starts to re-consider how important being "normal" really is.
About the Author
Brenda Baker, both a writer and performer, is best known as a singer for young audiences – she has recorded three CDs for kids. In 2005 Brenda founded Kids of Note, a choir for children with and without disabilities who love to sing. Brenda lives in Saskatoon with her husband, writer Arthur Slade, and their daughter.
Get the E-book
Product Information
Release: March 11, 2014
$11.95 Paperback
256 Pages
5.25 x 7.5
Children's Fiction
Ages 9-13 / Grades 5-8
Guided Reading: Z
Character Education
> Empathy
> Family and Friendship
Reflecting Diversity
> Abilities
Awards for Camp Outlook
High Plains Book Award - Young Adult Book Winner
2015/16 Red Cedar Book Award Finalist (B.C. Young Readers' Choice Award)
2015 Saskatchewan Book Awards - SaskEnergy Young Adult Fiction Award Winner
2015 Saskatchewan Book Award - City of Regina Fiction Award Nominee
Praise for Camp Outlook
"This isn't just a good book; it's an important book that will stay with readers. It deals with self-image, change, disability, tolerance and friendship without ever becoming an issues book. Camp Outlook is a must-have for schools, and a must-read for everyone else." - Readerly: The National Reading Campaign
"With its authentic camp setting, page-turning plot, readable dialogue... Camp Outlook will surely appeal to children in the recommended age group and would provide a topic of substance for discussion." - CM: Canadian Review of Materials
"A believable and relatable portrayal of an adolescent girl struggling with a new normal." - Publishers' Weekly
"Without becoming preachy or heavy handed, Camp Outlook invites readers to think about their own attitudes and actions. For those who have family members with disabilities, there may be moments of recognition and validation; for those who don't, there are numerous opportunities for reflection and self-evaluation." - Resource Links
"Tone is an important part of such a story, especially since the language of young people is mutating daily, but Baker does a good job of rarely sentimentalizing any of Shannon's struggles. This is philosophy writ large in a young person's mind." - Saskatoon StarPhoenix
"Author Brenda Baker, who clearly brings first-person experience with the issues raised in this novel, manages—through Shannon—to explore in an explicit, matter-of-fact way the emotions that come with knowing one's family will never again be what it was, and that a baby born with Down syndrome brings difficulties but can also bring great joy." - The Montreal Gazette
"In Brenda Baker's Camp Outlook, rebellious Shannon's sent to camp while her parents adjust to life with a new baby with Down syndrome. Baker's energetic prose and loving exploration of Shannon's existential questioning make this quick and emotionally compelling." - The Toronto Star
"Wow! What an exceptional voice. From the opening pages, you'll fall in love with Shan, the wonderful, wise, brave protagonist of this wonderful, wise, brave novel. I couldn't put Camp Outlook down – I laughed with Shannon, cried with her, and saw the world through her eyes when the book was done. Brenda Baker writes with great fluidity and poise, tackling big issues with humour, skill and page-turning plot. Terrific." - Alice Kuipers, author of Life on the Refrigerator Door and 40 Things I Want to Tell You
"Camp Outlook is a book that will make you smile 'like you've swallowed the sun.' It will also make your heart ache. Baker's brilliance as a writer is evident in every sentence. She tackles a tough situation with great sensitivity, infuses it with light and is never didactic. Shannon is one fiercely honest, funny, reflective, unsentimental character. Shipped away to church camp because her parents need some space, she unravels her tale. We fall a lot in love with her and the world she's discovering. This is simply one of the best books I've read in a very long time." - Sheree Fitch, author of The Gravesavers


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"Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up." -- Pablo Picasso
At Laurel Hall we understand the importance of the Arts and teach to the "whole" child to allow them to discover who they are and where their talents lie. We do this by instilling in all students that there are no mistakes in Art. When "mistakes" are out of the equation, the pressure of performance is removed, allowing the child's natural ability to reveal itself.
Kindergarten - 4th grade
The students participating in TK - 4th Grade Art are very busy learning and exploring the Elements of Art. We start with the basics and build on them so when they move up into Middle School Art, students have a strong foundation. We get messy, dirty and noisy, but we believe that is all part of the creative process.
We also believe that Art should stimulate the senses. The students are exposed to many different materials and mediums. They work with clay, paper mache, cardboard, wood pieces, various papers and wire. In addition, they experiment and learn about color with different types of paints, pastels and pencils. The use of recycled materials is also a part of the program to help teach the importance of preserving our planet. Students are also introduced to many different types of Art and artists.
5th - 8th grade
The Art Classes offered to our 5th grade through 8th grade students cover a wide range of information. As the students advance through their grade levels, they are introduced to more complicated projects, and have a greater expectation of independent concepts and applied use of materials. Our students are exposed to a variety of mediums, Art History and Contemporary Artists. We also discuss the many career possibilities based on how art touches so many different parts of life.


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So it is looking more and more like Mr. Lucky and I will be moving to Salt Lake City. He has an amazing job opportunity and we don't want to pass it by. So off we go into the wild blue yonder! I am very excited but a little nervous at the same time. I have lived in Massachusetts for my whole life and we're moving over 2000 miles away. It is going to be quite an adventure.
Mr. Lucky's company sent us out there last week for a visit to look at some housing options. Can I just say that the kitchens in the apartments we looked at were FANTASTIC! Nothing short of amazing! My current kitchen has about four square feet of counter space and 4 cabinets. The #1 complex on my wish list had an 8 foot kitchen island and a million cabinets (that may be an exaggeration) AND a separate pantry! Can you believe that? A pantry!
I am trying to convince Mr. Lucky that we need to rent in that complex by listing off all the amazing things I could cook in that kitchen. Everything would have a place and I'd have space to actually spread out and make some serious food. Care to help me convince him????? Please!!!
As we know more about this big move I'll keep you informed and maybe one of these days I will cook something. Maybe.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Moving on....
Posted by JEM at 12:37 AM 0 comments
Sunday, October 9, 2011
It's been awhile....
I last posted on August 19th. I think that might have been the last time I cooked something. Mr. Lucky and I have been trying to get some projects done and get the house packed up so we can put it on the market. I cannot even tell you how stressful this is. Once I am up and cooking again I will be back and posting. If I make it that long.
Posted by JEM at 10:33 PM 1 comments
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Hi Love ,
Can you relate to being your own worst enemy sometimes? (please tell me I'm not alone). I've been deep in the creation process of next year's calendar (stay tuned for more on that next time!) and am flat out astounded to be face to face with my own procrastination 'techniques'. It's freaking funny how much time I spend preparing to do my work instead of actually doing it.
I've always been ashamed of just how much procrastinating I do, even (or especially) when I'm up against my own deadlines.
Just for fun I made a list of all the things I did one morning to either distract from or get ready to make art.
It's liberating to out myself and I hope you find comfort in it or get a good chuckle, at least. And hey, if you're a chronic procrastinator like me, don't worry, we are all in this together!
Here's my list:
Search Youtube for inspiring videos, watch one (or three)
Walk the Dog
Organize all art supplies, color coding markers
Build special altar for project with specific crystals, search all over the house to find the 'perfect' ones
Reread the intentions from last week when I was originally suppose to start project
Make sure all pictures are straight on the wall (no joke, i did that)
File fingernails
Uh oh, really good song comes on Pandora so of course, stop everything and have a dance party
Look around for more dishes to wash
Burn something (incense, sage, etc)
Pull a few cards to add to the altar
Bring out all stimulating essential oils from medicine cabinet and proceed to douse myself
Think about what's for lunch
Look through old journals for more inspiration
START drawing (Oh boy I'm on a roll now!)
20 minutes later realize it really is time for lunch
Eat lunch
Take inventory just to make sure there's enough dark chocolate nearby to get through the afternoon of art making
Burn something
Make another pot of tea
Check Facebook to see if anyone liked morning post
Start drawing (YES!)
Oh my gosh, I could go on! Seriously crazy amount of avoidance going on here. BUT within all that is the creative energy AND the golden opportunity to practice what I preach.
Have you ever given someone REALLY great advice, only to realize as you hear your own words of wisdom that they are EXACTLY what you needed to hear yourself? Yea, me too. Like everyday.
I make the Life Is Beautiful calendar because I want to create a more loving world. AND I make the calendar because I desperately need those same words of encouragement and support. I can be hard on myself like you wouldn't believe. I can judge and shame and pick apart everything I even attempt to do. It's crazy! At the same time, my mission burns in my heart and most of the time, my heart finally wins.
SO if there is something you want to do, some whisper in your heart, don't worry about the process of getting there. Just keep that whisper alive. Just let that spark live on and somehow through the "2 steps forward 1 step back" dance of life, your heart will WIN.
I would love to hear about any part of your creative process where you need a little extra juice. I'd be honored to put your project/dream/wish on my creativity altar and send some good mojo your way.
As always, be kind to yourself and laugh as much as possible! Laughter truly is the best medicine.
Sending creative sparkles your way,
Sarah Love


text: Placement is one of the most important factors that every student takes into consideration while enrolling for a management course. iFEEL has always been successful in placing its students in the top notch companies. The faculty trains the students not only to get good academic ranking, but also to be ready to face placement interviews with confidence. There is a ...Read More »


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Click here for Bus Routing Information!
Valley View Education Center, located at 701 Hawkins Drive in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, houses the Alternative Programs for the EIS district. Students are referred for placement and a committee meets to determine if placement at VVEC is appropriate for the student's needs.
There are currently three alternative programs available to students: Elizabethtown Alternative Center (grades 6 - 12), Valley View Behavioral Health Program (grades K - 12), and Valley View Extended Learning Program (grades 9 - 12). All programs use a combination of classroom teaching, distance learning, and school-created packets to meet core academic requirements.
Valley View Education Center also serves as the location for our Panther Place Program and the Office of Exceptional Children.
To view the VVEC School Report Card, please click this link. Select Learn More located below School Report Card. On the screen that appears, under School Report Card, select Elizabethtown Independent from the District drop-down and then select Valley View Education Center from the School drop-down.


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Please click on this Facebook logo for a direct link to our facebook page. We actively and regularly post to our facebook page as well as our weblog providing community news, events, highway information and so fourth to keep the community up to date and we welcome and encourage the community to interact with us by leaving comments or by contacting us.
RCCE Village of the Year "Merit Winner" 2017
"Winner" of Essex County Council Community Work Award 2016
Vaughtons Council of the Year "Highly Commended" 2016
Welcome to Hullbridge Parish Council's website.
You will find a wealth of information about the Parish Council, what we do, also what is going on in the village by clicking on the headings on the left hand side; we hope you will find it interesting and get the information you require, but please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any further queires.
Residents and the Press are welcome to attend our Full Parish Council meetings which take place at the Hullbridge Seniors Centre, (behind the Doctors Surgery), normally on the second Monday in the month (excluding August) starting at 19.30hrs. There is a public question time, if you have a specific question it would be beneficial to let us know in advance (8 days prior to the meeting) so we can put it on our agenda, if required or gather the informaiton to provide you with an answer.
Our Committee Meetings you are also invited to attend/participate and these usually take place at the Parish Office (98 Ferry Road), to view times and dates of these meetings, please view our schedule which can be found in "Information about Your Council".
(This webpage is designed within the limitations of the Content Management System of essexinfo).
The village of Hullbridge is tucked away in the north west corner of the District and is home to 7,300 residents. It is surrounded by green belt on three sides and the River Crouch on the northern boundary. With over two miles of river frontage the parish is well used by the local boating fraternity, with hundreds of moorings and three yacht clubs.
Hullbridge contains various Businesses, Shops and Pubs/Restaurants, a Primary School/Youth Centre, Library, Recreation Ground, Allotment Site, Churches/Yacht Clubs/Community Centres-Groups Sports and Social Club and also has a network of well-maintained footpaths, which meander through the surrounding farmland, along the River Crouch and our Kendal Park Nature Reserve.
Along the river bank there are remains of evaporation pans where salt was made in medieval times.
(please Go to COMMUNITY to find more information about the Groups/Facilities etc. in Hullbridge)
Officer: Mrs. Anne-Marie Bates CiLCA - Clerk to the Council
Admin Assist: Mrs Juliette Mullett
Maintenance Staff: Mr. Martin Bewers / Mr. Jake Lillywhite
Opening Times
Monday 12.30pm - 2.30pm
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 10.00am - Noon
Friday - Closed
(If the Office is closed during the above opening times then the Clerk is either on a course, at a meeting, on holiday leave or its due to other unforeseen circumstances)
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Felony against soldier in man's beating dismissed
Prosecutors Friday morning dropped the felony assault charge against Matthew Nicholson, the 22-year-old U.S. Army soldier accused of beating a man he thought was assaulting two women.
After reviewing Nicholson's case, Chief Deputy District Attorney John Goold said going forward with the prosecution would benefit no one.
Nicholson was arrested earlier this month on charges he entered an Oakdale man's home and punched him several times. The beating sent Martin Lemas, 35, to the hospital.
Nicholson said he was only trying to help by responding to a plea from Lemas' son for someone to stop his dad from hurting his mother and grandmother. Nicholson helped Lemas' wife and mother out of the house and then got into a confrontation with Lemas, which ended with Lemas on the ground and Nicholson in handcuffs.
The arrest also put Nicholson's military future in jeopardy.
Merely dropping the case may not be enough. Nicholson's attorney, Martha Carlton-Magaña, said she will look into having his record cleared of the matter entirely. To do so, she will have to show there was no factual basis for his arrest.
"He still has an arrest record which no one is supposed to pay attention to, but they do," Carlton-Magaña said. "We may not get [the request] granted even though it's clear that he didn't do anything legally wrong."
Nicholson said the attention he has received since being arrested Sept. 1 has been overwhelming and unexpected.
"I was taught to do the right thing and that's what I try to do always," a blushing Nicholson said before cameras as he left the courthouse. "No one thinks I should've been arrested."
Lemas has maintained that he is the victim in the situation. He has conceded that he has a history of domestic violence, but did nothing wrong when Nicholson entered his home and beat him.
Neither woman Lemas allegedly assaulted wanted charges pressed against him and he wasn't arrested. His wife showed no sign of assault. His mother fled the house before police arrived, but spoke to police via phone.
Before Lemas' son approached Nicholson and his family, the two families had never met.
When people heard of Nicholson's situation, some scrambled to put money together for his defense. Carlton-Magaña offered to represent him for free. Modesto-based construction company owner Bill Rommel and Angela and Mark Garcia of Garcia Family Bail Bonds put up $5,000 to bail him out of jail. Hours later, he was released on his own recognizance.
Nicholson felt lost until his story spread and people approached him with offers of financial support and legal guidance, he said.
"I'd never been in trouble before, so I didn't know how [the legal system] works," he said.
His case continued to speed along Friday morning, when Judge Marie Silveira said she moved up his court date to take care of his case before she went on vacation. His court date was originally scheduled for later this month.
Nicholson will report back to Fort Campbell in October, he said.
"I still have a job to do," the Iraq-bound soldier said.


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Still growing here in a hot Iowa summer. Here are some of my favorite shots so far! Many more to come :)
Lovely photos but what is the first one? I can't figure out what it is? Please help. It would be nice if you would put some captions to describe the photos. Thanks and have a lovely weekend!


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By the waters of Babylon we sat down and wept … As for our harps, we hanged them up upon the trees that are therein. For they that led us away captive required of us then a song, saying "Sing us one of the songs of Sion" … "How shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange land?"
Many composers have set this heart-wrenching text, telling of the exile of a people from their homeland. JS Bach sets the poem as a solemn hymn, Palestrina as a multi-voiced motet.
The text is no less potent in the 21st century than it was in 500 BCE. The Australian Chamber Choir has commissioned Australian composer, Tom Henry to write a new work on this theme, called Uncertain Journeys.
3-week European Tour, with performances in Rome, Florence, Verona, Villack, Vienna, Austria, Innsbruck, Lindau, Tubbingen, Leipzig.


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The Dragonfly™ Performance Pro Mat strikes a perfect balance between comfort and performance. The sharp Dragonfly pattern is simple and sleek and provides a non-slip fabric like surface. Just enough cushioning to honor you and your joints with the protection and experience you deserve. Non-slip bottom is great for use on carpet or hard floors. Superior wear and longevity, this is the only mat you will ever need.
All orders ship withing 48 hours by either UK Mail or Royal Mail (for orders under 1kg) and for a flat rate, £4.95 for the mainland, £9.95 for the Isle and Ireland. If you require faster shipping, please contact us for assistance.
For full details, see our Full Shipping Policy.
If you are unhappy your purchase for any reason, you may return it for a full refund within 30 days. Just give us a call or send us an email and we will let you know how to return it.
For full details, see our Full Refund Policy.


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State of the Art Stem Cells Provide Relief of Foot Pain
Foot and ankle pain is the most common complaint I treat on a daily basis. Many of these problems are caused by a new or old fracture or sports related injury, tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, acute and degenerative arthritis or scar tissue. I have been utilizing a relatively new and exciting treatment option, which is now available to treat many of these conditions, which would typically require surgery in the past. Injecting the patient's own stem cells into the injured or painful area has become an exciting, safe and very effective, non-surgical treatment.
The use of stem cells in joint, bone, tendon and soft tissue injuries is one of the most exciting developments in medicine in recent memory. The promise of repairing damaged tissue with the patient's own normal functioning cells instead of scar tissue is amazing. Stem cell research is occurring in most major medical centers in the U.S and around the world for conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease), spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis, type 1 diabetes, COPD (lung disease) and many others.
What is a stem cell?
The human body is made up of cells. A heart muscle cell looks and functions differently than a nerve or muscle cell. Initially they all came from a one-celled embryo that divided and changed. As the body formed this initial cell grew into separate and different cell types. Stem cells are remnants of those early cells with the potential to become any of the specialized cells that make up a human body and are found in our bone marrow.
Why stem cells?
The promise of stem cells is that once collected from you and re-injected into your injured or damaged area, the cells will alter the local cell environment and they can be used to fix damaged tissue. Different tissues have different ability to repair itself, however if they cannot, the best the body can often do is form fibrous scar tissue. If you have cartilage damage that causes arthritis, stem cells can potentially change into new cartilage. If you have a chronic tendon injury or tear, the tendon can heal itself with new tendon cells versus scar tissue.
Where do the stem cells come from?
Stem cells come from you! Not a company, donor or laboratory. To date, stem cells can be derived from bone marrow, fat tissue and blood. Typically cells are collected by a simple blood draw (similar to having a blood test) or from a small needle into the heel bone.
Where can stem cells be used?
Stem cell injections are used for many foot and ankle conditions, including;
Non-healing fractures
Tendon injuries
Chronic ankle sprains
Ligament injuries
Achilles tendonitis
Plantar fasciitis
Joint arthritis
Wound healing
I have been using stem cells that are derived from the patient's own bone marrow because they have been shown to provide the greatest healing potential. Once obtained, the blood is placed into a machine, similar to a centrifuge, which "spins" the blood and separates the stem cells. The stem cell rich portion is then injected into the injured or damaged area where they almost immediately begin to multiply and flourish. Stem cells have been found to replicate themselves and nearby cells begin to mimic them making healing possible and producing an anti-inflammatory effect that can help reduce pain. Additionally, stem cell injections contain hyaluronic acid (a naturally occurring protein), which lubricates joints and tendons, easing pain and helping restore mobility. It is a procedure that can be done comfortably under local or twilight anesthesia and takes 30-40 minutes.
Feel free to call the office at 201-261-0500 for an appointment to see if your condition can be treated by stem cell injection.


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INTRODUCING VALENTE New at Zoran Designs: a gorgeous jewellery collection that features stunning designs in sterling silver that has been white/black rhodium plated or yellow/rose gold plated and set with cubic zirconia (CZ). Valente is an affordable collection made to look like high-end diamond jewellery. Styles range from classic to contemporary and the jewellery is perfect for evening wear, special occasion and as wedding / bridal accessories. Prices start at just $38!
If the price point and loveliness of the collection isn't enough, we will also be donating 15% of proceeds from each piece sold during all of November & December to a fabulous local children's charity: CityKidz. Whether it's a dazzling addition to your jewellery wardrobe or a beautiful gift for someone on your holiday shopping list, it will go towards a good cause!
Here are some pieces from the collection. Prices are listed once you click on the image! Which strikes your fancy?


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Love is in the air.......and so is carbon dioxide
Prince William and Kate Middleton recently tied the royal knot on Friday April 29th in what is claimed to be the wedding of the century. The wedding attracted 1 million spectators outside Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey. This is hardly surprising considering that over 1900 guests were invited and countless news broadcast stations were in London to cover the historical tie.
However, amidst the glam and fairytale setting, there was a cost to the environment. It has been estimated that the royal wedding emitted more green house gases in one day (around 6800 tonnes of Carbon Dioxide), than Buckingham Palace produces in a whole year.
To put this into another perspective, the royal wedding produced the same level of green house gas emissions as what 1230 households in the UK produces annually. The contributions of the carbon dioxide emissions were analyzed, and it turns out that the long-distance travelling of celebrity guests like the Beckhams and the thousands of other people that flew to London to see the wedding.
The remaining 13 tonnes of Carbon dioxide that was generated from the wedding was due to catering, accommodations, energy use, and landfill. The amount greenhouse gases emitted by the royal wedding are astonishing; thankfully, an event of this proportion only occurs once every 13 years.
Although April 29th did have massive green house gas emissions, it is important to note that this royal wedding has been the most environmentally friendly one yet. The couple chose to have local flowers and serve local food; they also made sure that lights were turned off whenever they weren't being used.
The couple also requested donations to a list of charities as wedding gifts, upon which one of the charities was Earthwatch (an International non-profit organization that focuses on sustaining the natural environment).
Upon viewing the wedding I did think that it could have been made more environmentally friendly; however, I was pleased to see that the royal couple did take the environment into consideration and I hope they will continue to do so.


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The Novant Health Oceanside Family Medicine Oktoberfest 15K and The Joyce Irish Pub 5K race courses travel through the beautiful community of Brunswick Forest on paved running trails, through picturesque Meadow Park, across wooden bridges and over a 1/3 mile boardwalk through a nature area. The course is flat, fast and picturesque!
Most awesome 15K Finisher Medal ever!
Visit this link to sign up!
Race Features:
- Picturesque courses
- Custom 15K Finisher Medals
- Long sleeved soft cotton 15K and 5K race shirts (gender specific with ladies running one size small)
- 15K awards are nice trophies and 5K awards are running medals
- Killer post race party with adult beverages, good food, prize drawings & awards
- Inside bathrooms and locker rooms pre & post race.
Post Race Party:
The party and awards take place beside a small lake with free beer, good snacks, exhibitors and prize drawings for gifts from our sponsors and free race entries to 5 Star Race Productions events.
In case of bad weather post race activities will be inside the Fitness Center.
Shirts are guaranteed to everyone who registers by September 24th. We'll order extra but they are not guaranteed after the 24th.
The event is supported by the staff and residents of beautiful Brunswick Forest. www.brunswickforest.com
Team Entries: 15K teams consist of (4) and up to (8) members. Awards for 1st & 2nd place teams based on cumulative time of the first four finishers of each team. Team members are eligible for individual awards in their age groups or overall.
Enter the race as an individual and as you go through the registration process you will be prompted to see if you want to enter as a team member too. Establish your team or join an existing team. Teams are only in the 15K and runners or walkers can be a team member.
Packet Pickup at Outdoor Equipped -
Saturday, September 28th from 11:00 am - 1:00 pm at Outdoor Equipped in downtown Wilmington. Check out the awesome running shoes and gear at Outdoor Equipped while picking up your Oktoberfest race packets!
Packet Pickup also at Brunswick Forest -
Saturday, September 28th,
Fitness Center from 3:00 - 4:00 pm .
2701 Brunswick Forest Pkwy, Leland NC 28451
Race Day Packet Pickup:
6:15 am race day in the Fitness Center
Novant Health Oceanside Family Medicine is our 15K Title Sponsor. They have Board Certified Physicians and four convenient locatioins in Brunswick County, including their Waterford location in Leland. Novant Health provides excellent service with a caring, professional staff of Doctors, PA's, Nurses and technicians.
The Joyce Irish Pub in the Villages at Brunswick Forest is our 5K Title Sponsor. Enjoy an excellent selection of home made Irish food and a vast array of beer selections in a welcoming atmosphere. Visit their facebook page to keep up with their live music and special events calendar. Enjoy!
BRUNSWICK FOREST is an awesome planned community www.brunswickforest.com
STRICKS LP GAS for all your LP gas needs including home heating system tank fills, grill tank fills, great service and a large selection of Home Grills for sale at competitive prices.
Omega Sports: They have a huge selection of shoes, running gear, and they are a full service sporting goods with tennis, baseball, golf and all of it! Go see Omega in Hanover Center


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New 2019 ChevroletEquinox LS SUV
- Stock: KS661383
- Fuel Economy
- 26.0/32.0 mpg City/Hwy
- Exterior Color
- Interior Color
- Medium Ash Gray
- Body/Seating
- SUV/5 seats
- Transmission
- 6 speed automatic
- Drivetrain
- front-wheel
- Engine
- 1.5L I-4 cyl
Highlighted Features
- Emergency communication system
- Premium audio system
- Wireless phone connectivity
- Exterior parking camera rear
- Split folding rear seat
- Perimeter/approach lights
- Remote keyless entry
- Steering wheel mounted audio controls
Detailed Specifications
Dealer Notes
Business's and Business Owners need to call for price. We do not make you trade a vehicle for qualification on price. Rebates are explained at reliablechevy.com Residential restrictions will apply so please call dealer for qualification.
KBB.com Consumer Reviews
- 5.0
This is a great upgrade from my 2012 Equinox
By Big Tee on Saturday, February 24, 2018The Equinox handles better then my 2012 Equinox and it looks better too. I love the equipment that came with the included package like heated seats and panoramic roof and dual climate controls up front. The back up warning system and blind spot warnings are excellent. The 2.0 liter turbo charge has nice pick up on the highway. The ride is comfortable and Chevy did a great job on the redesign.
- 5.0
2.0 turbo
By ted on Friday, March 16, 2018Premium fuel recommended per owners manual and decal inside gas door. The government web site stated tested as premium. From what I could tell by reviewing an article or two the vehicle probably runs well but performance will be slightly less(prob includes mileage)with reg..The dealer never mentioned this to me nor did another dealer to a relative that bought the 2.0.Manual says use premium if it knocks.I had a chance to back out of our deal but didnt because this a low mileage vehicle for us-love the car otherwise.
- 5.0
Fun 4000 miles
By bigdog on Thursday, March 15, 2018Ive driven 4000 miles in Iowa with much of it on snow and ice. The AWD works very well. I put 190000 miles on a 2007 Equinox AWD and really enjoyed. I think that the current model is more fun to drive, has all of the safety and technology that you could hope for AND Ive been averaging 31.4 mpg on the highway! It is comfortable for a small SUV. I drove the Ford Escape, Honda and Toyota Rav4. They are all excellent vehicles. Im really happy with the Equinox though - it just seems to do everything a little better for me. Im looking forward to the next 180000 miles!
New 2019 Chevrolet Equinox LSBack to Details
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New Arrivals
2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500…
- $41,370
- Truck Crew Cab
- Silver Exterior
- 5.3L V-8 cyl Engine


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- Sofas, Leather
- >
- Toledo Sofa by Stylus
Toledo Sofa by Stylus
SKU: Sty.
per item
The Toledo Sofa speaks of casual comfort. With wide deep seats, sides curved into the perfect armrests, and a gently tufted back for just a hint of style, it's the perfect edition to your home. See in-store for details and leather options.
35" x 39" x 86"


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Short double breasted jacquard jacket with long sleeves, bordeaux-brown color with green pois decoration.
Kittima is an Italian fashion brand, that combines exceptional quality with unconventional elegance. The Milan-based designer Kittima Kwangnok creates garments that are designed for the professional women's contemporary lifestyle and convey youthfulness through innovative luxury materials and techniques.
In the Kittima collections, raw materials are shaped with a great attention to details add an exquisite flair with Italian craftsmanship. Pieces play on an accentuated femininity, on contemporary concepts, such as outstanding volumes. Prints and colors are a touch of cheerfulness that brighten up the modern woman. All happening within the heart of Italy.
All payments are secured and safe. IVALO uses card payment method powered by Stripe. Facebook, Amazon and over 100,000 other web services use and trust Stripe. You can pay with all the common payment cards such as Visa, Visa Electron, Mastercard, American Express and Diners Club.
When you buy through IVALO, you buy directly from the designer who sends you the product from their own warehouse. Most of designers on IVALO use DHL, Finnish Posti or some local delivery partner. Delivery times vary depending on the designer. You'll be notified when the designer sends your order.
Every product purchased through IVALO has a 14 day return policy. The 14 days are calculated from the day you receive the product. If you don't like the product you can return it by filling out the return form and you'll get a return address for the product.
Sender will pay the return costs. When the designer receives the product, the payment will be refunded to the customers account.
You can contact IVALO at email@example.com or via the chat on ivalo.com


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Lahore Board Inter part 1 Result
Board of Secondary Education Lahore will announced the result of FA, FSc ICs part 1 2011 on 17th October 2011. This result includes the result of inter part 1, FA part 1, FSc Pre Engineering part 1, FSc Pre Medical part 1,ICs part 1 Lahore Board 2011. The first year Result of Inter, FA, FSc and ICs of BISE Lahore is announced today. To check the result of inter, FA, FSc and ICs part 1 2011 keep visiting us we will update you about the Lahore Board Results of Intermediate. On the day of result we will update the same page with the first year result of Inter, FA, FSc and ICs of Lahore board 2011 so stay with us and pray for yourself. Good Luck


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Romania – Ilinca feat. Alex Florea – Yodel It!
Yodele-eii, Yodele-oo! Romania has spoken: Ilinca and Alex Florea will represent Romania in Kyiv. It's been two months since TVR started the preparations for the Eurovision Song Contest and I can really say that the result was fruitful. After receiving a "full-house" of 12 points from the five judges the public followed their decision and handed the duo the ticket to Kyiv.
Over 25.000 votes were cast last Sunday during the final, which is a record, compared to the numbers from 2012 onwards. The song "Yodel it!" has received 10.377 votes from the public during the 60 minutes allocated for the televoting, while the second and third place were occupied by MIHAI and Instinct respectively.
Well, what can I say? I am absolutely in love with this song and I am not saying this just because I'm from Romania: it's because the song is not something you would usually expect at Eurovision: it's something different and I think Europe will absolutely love it. I am realistic though. I know we won't win the trophy on May 13, but we'll do pretty good in my opinion: Top 10, maybe even Top 5 (The bookies somehow agree with me, so why not?).
Ilinca comes from a family of musicians and has been studying music sincethe age of 7. She has participated at festivals within the country and results have gradually started to show up. At the age of 14 she competed in the Romanian X factor, as a member of a 4 girls band, reaching the live gala stage. At the age of 16 she took part in The Voice of Romania, reaching the Semi-Final, supported by Loredana. Afterwards, she collaborated with several cultural institutions within the country: Iaşi Philharmonics, Romanian Opera from Cluj and Drama Theatre in Braşov, where she has showcased her amazing musical talent.
Alex Florea has started singing at the age of 16. Mihai Trăistariu has guided his steps towards a music school and then to festivals. Now Alex is studying to get his master's degree in Theatre here in Romania. He also competed (together with his brother) in the Romanian X Factor in 2014, but they were rivals, and in 2015 he met success at Voice of Romania.
So Europe, what do you think? Will Alex and Ilinca reach a top spot in Kyiv or not?


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Fall 2019 VolunteersView Available Shifts
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Not registered for this event yet?View Available Shifts
Thank you for volunteering with the Carmel Dads' Club! The Carmel Dads' Club is organized and run almost entirely by volunteers from the families of our participants.
Please click "View Available Shifts" on the right hand side of this page to begin your online volunteer registration. Shifts available are for the Fall 2019 Sports Season only.
Important Volunteer Agreement Information:
Failure to sign up for a shift within the sport season OR failure to show for your scheduled shift will result in being charged $50.00 at the end of the season. It is possible your Carmel Dads' Club account will be placed "on hold" and you will be unable to register in the future if the assessment is not paid.
If you choose not to volunteer for a concession shift, please pay the opt-out volunteer fee of $25 any time before the season is over or post-season fees will apply. Email firstname.lastname@example.com to be removed from the concessions volunteer list. We will then apply the $25 volunteer fee to your online CDC account. This fee must be paid BEFORE the end of the season.
Key Volunteer Information you should know:
- Each family is only required to volunteer for one 2-hour shift per season. You do not have to do a shift per child, it is per family.
- Volunteering applies to ALL CDC families: Rec Leagues, Travel Leagues and families on KAP scholarship.
- Concession volunteers must be 15 years old or older.
- You may volunteer at any venue. Please note, not all sporting locations have concessions. You may need to volunteer at a different location then where your child plays.
- All shifts need to be registered ahead of time.
- You may change your shift no later than 48 hours prior to your assigned shift. Log onto this site and make changes. Please make sure to remove your old shift when choosing a new one.
- At the start of your volunteer shift, please report to the concession stand manager and sign the attendance sheet next to your name. This sheet is how we will confirm your shift is complete.
- In the event that a shift is cancelled due to weather or any other means that are beyond our control - you are still required to fulfill your volunteer obligations and reschedule for another shift within that sport season unless otherwise notified by the Concessions Coordinator.
- If your volunteer status changes during the season (i.e. you are now a HEAD coach, team sponsor or sport commissioner), please contact the office so that we may remove you from the concessions list.
Frequently Ask Questions and additional information about volunteering as a concession worker can be found at http://www.carmeldadsclub.org/Default.aspx?tabid=1026168
Please contact Karen Coons, Concessions Coordinator, at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Interested in learning more about the Volunteer Opportunities?
The various volunteer positions available are: Sports Commissioner, Head Coach, Concession Worker and Team Sponsor. If you have questions about the volunteer policy, please click on the link. http://www.carmeldadsclub.org/Default.aspx?tabid=1060073
Community Service Hours
Students over the age of 15 - We welcome students to fulfill community service hours at our concession stands. Please do not sign up for community service hours through the volunteer system - contact Karen Coons at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Thank you for your participation. Enjoy the season!


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A former government director of comms, who shall remain nameless, had a nifty solution for what he used to call the "embed issue".
The challenge was how to keep tabs on people quietly hired in by policy officials to do some form of comms, but who slipped under his radar of responsibility for prioritising resource, assuring quality and assessing spend on his department's comms work.
The solution? Send an email round his department inviting those working in comms to come to a cheese-and-wine soiree hosted by their head of profession. Count the attendees, note down the unfamiliar faces, and then send off a professional appraisal request the week after.
It may be apocryphal (he never seemed quite that Machiavellian) but it highlights a longstanding tension around the use of embedded communicators in Whitehall. The best of this breed are perfectly good – informed about policy and able to address specific issues with a targeted solution.
They are not as well sighted on wider departmental objectives or other key campaigns, and often sit adrift from learning and development programmes, but they are professional and an extra resource. But the bad cases are black market comms: work commissioned off the 'comms books' without the specialist knowledge of the skills needed or the quality of work provided.
The significant squeeze on public sector finances has helped speed reform in this area. Government communication spend has dropped by 65 per cent in the past five years to £280m (with health accounting for a quarter of it). The pressing need to prioritise, flex resource and show value for money is bringing Whitehall departments round to a comms agency model.
Rather than have communicators sitting embedded in full-time positions within policy teams, irrespective of the fluctuations in demand, departments are appreciating the benefits of a centralised specialist function, to be deployed against the business plan and adapted as the prioritisation sharpens with budget pressure.
In 2012, a best guess of embedded communicators operating in the Department of Health, but outside the comms division, was about 55. It was probably at the high end for Whitehall departments, but not unusual. It is now just a handful, and almost all with reporting lines into the central comms team.
This stretches not only across departments but also to arm's length bodies. Departments and their agencies increasingly work to a group operating model, sharing some strategic objectives and responsibility for comms programmes, joining up on procurement where appropriate, becoming more integrated on building capability to the standards of the Government Communication Service, and sharing expertise.
It may seem the obvious modus operandi, but it has taken time and tightening purse strings for the Government to wake up to it. And where it still hasn't happened, there may yet be the need for another round of invitations to a (low budget) cheese-and-wine evening.
Sam Lister is director of comms at the Department of Health


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Daily Schedule
3:00-3:30- Snack
3:30-3:45- Indoor free time
3:45-4:15- Activity
4:15-5:00- Outdoor/Gym time
5:00-6:00- Classroom Free Time/Pick up
(Daily schedule is subject to change depending on activity schedule.)
Enrichment Activities:
We are always looking for more community connections to make and activities to offer. If you know of a great activity that we could offer that's not listed, or have a skill that you would love to share with the youth of our community, please contact Tami Keller at email@example.com or 231-526-4602 (8:00-3:00) or 231-526-4507 (3:00-6:00).
Community > The Harborage >


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Blue Barley Bebe Blue Wicker Moses Basket
Model No.
Price in GBP
Blue Barley Bebe Blue Wicker Moses Basket
Add a pop of colour to your nursery with a blue Moses basket, the perfect first bed for a boy!
This Scandinavian-inspired graphic leaf fabric is perfectly suited to the new and exclusive blue wicker Moses basket, complementing the pastel blue with a bold graphic print.
The perfect option for a baby boy's first bed without compromising on style!
Featuring coordinating Clair de Lune embroidery and delicate piping this basket is hand-dressed with lightweight & breathable cotton fabrics by our dedicated team in the UK.
Suitable from birth to a maximum weight of 9 kg (or until baby begins to roll over, pull themselves up or sit unaided).
Comes complete with an adjustable, removable hood, padded liner that covers the interior walls of the basket, two carry handles, coverlet, and a firm, foam mattress.
Fabric: 100% Cotton
Filling 100% Polyester
Dimensions (base): 66 x 29 x 26 cm
Dressings are removable and machine washable at 40 degrees.
Conforms to BS EN 1466: 2014
Handmade with love in the UK.
*Stand sold separately, we do not recommend that you move the basket while your baby is inside.
- Reviews (0)


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The blog of an over-excited, over-anxious twenty-something with plenty to rant about and even more to be happy for.
Sunday, 6 December 2009
Why Twilight is 'sticky'
The Twilight-hater phenomenon fascoinates me. People seem to be going to extreme lengths to hate something. It really is extraordinary. If I pick up a book or see a film I don't like I might moan about it for a while but after that I forget about it and move on. But Twilight seems to be 'sticky'.
There is a whole nation of haters out there who just can't find a new thing to hate. They are stuck on Twilight. And I for one am getting kind of tired of seeing the same old videos and tweets over and over:
"OMG these people are talking about Twilight. What losers!"
"Sparkly vampires? How lame. Get a shred of talent Mrs Meyer!"
"How can people waste their energy even turning the pages of the Twilight books"
"Going to see New Moon tonight. Erghhhhhhhhhh"
Now I have nothing against people hating Twilight. I am very much an 'each-to-her-own' kind of gal. For example, I personalyl didn't think the His Dark Materials trilogy was all that great (zebras on wheels? Really Pullman? REALLY?). But I do accept that some people love them. Everyone looks for something different in a book.
I like Twilight because it is ridiculous escapist nonsense that you can get lost in. No it isn't intellectual. No it isn't great story-telling. It is what it is - it is teenage drama with vampires and werewolves! Nothing more. Nothing less. Some people will hate that, some won't. Fair play, I say.
So here is my problem: I hate olives. I hate George W. Bush. I hate powdered mashed potato. I hate Van Wilder Party Liason. I hate The Godfather. I hate urban love songs. I hate Top Gear.
Yet how many times have I tweeted about each of those subjects in the last year? Not even once for each thing! So why is it that Twilight is so 'sticky'?
Now there are some haters I can relate to. People who have read the series. Like me these people aren't haters so much as 'people with senses of humour'. Twilight isn't a work of art. Bella is a terrible female role model. Edward may be hot but he is far from perfect. And Jacob is not much better. And of course there is Breaking Dawn... if you have read the fourth book then you already be hanging your head at the mention of it. Oh dear. But I can criticise all this stuff because I have read the series.
People who haven't are either going by the films which are - let's face it - tacky. Or by what other people are saying. And since when did the Nerdfighter community become about being a sheep?
It is funny because much of the hate comes from Harry Potter fans. It is almost as if they are scared of Twilight taking over HP as the biggest franchise, which they quite rightly don't think should happen. But HP fans here is a newsflash - it isn't going to. As long as you keep loving HP nothing is going to touch. Especially not a saga that stretches a one book story across four books.
What does bother me is that HP fans are those most used to defending their franchise. How many times has each HP fan had this conversation:
'Ergh, HP is rubbish?'
'Have you actually read it?'
'NO! I wouldn't want to - I know its rubbish'
'But how do you know if you haven't read it?'
'Er... You are SUCH a geek!'
And yet many HP fans are doing the exact same thing to Twilight fans but from the opposite view point. It is ok once in a while but it is just plain BORING now. Seriously. Get something new to hate.
(Now I do want to make something extremely clear at this point. I am not in ANY WAY comparing the two series. Harry Potter, without a shadow of a fraction of an atom of a doubt, is ten million times better. There is no question! I hate that I feel the need to point this out. But for some people not hating Twilight means you are automatically one of those girls who imagines herself being rescued by Robert PAttinson while putting glitter on their boyfriend. It is not the case.)
And... to continue my rant... even better is that people who do like the book now feel they have to try and excuse themselves:
"I saw the movie twice but but but only because two different friends wanted to go!"
"I read the book but ONLY because my friend forced me to!"
"I am Team Jacob but only becasue werewolves are always better than vampires"
Really? Aren't we a community that is all about embracing each others differences. Providing a place where people who have been ridiculed for liking certain things can feel safe. Apparently it is only true if you are a fellow Twilight-hater now.
I think people know they will get a reaction from it. If you are feeling lonely on twitter, or you are needing some more youtube comments - say soemthing Twilight related. It is easy to hate when every one is so willing. And by doing this you are only making the franchise bigger.
So in summary - I don't care whether people like or hate the books. What other people think has no effect whatsoever on how I feel about things. But stop going on about it. You talk about Twilight more than the fans.
It it just so... DULL!
Either stop talking about how much you hate the series. Get something new to hate. ORRRR talk about something you like. It will make you happy - it will make other people happy.
AND for the LOVE of god at least attempt to say something original! Erghhhhhhh!
Rant over for today :)
P.S. OMCB have you seen the Deathly Hallows trailer that was leaked? Let me know in the comments!!!
3 comments:
- A.J. James said...
Very well said love. I agree completely.
- 6 December 2009 at 21:37
- Bobby Jones said...
I agree that it is a little old and dull to continue hating on twilight.
I'm personally not a fan of the first book, and subsequently haven't felt the need to read the other books. I read the first all the way to the end, it was cheap, fluffy, filler that took me less than 8 hours to read from cover to cover.
I don't have the inflamed hatred for the books that others seem to carry, it's just a waste of time. I will however always suggest a better book/movie when people bring it up around me :P
- 6 December 2009 at 21:43
- Beth said...
Amen, Helen. I agree. And just as you said--the books are nice to read for what they are: a teenage vampire romance. I'll gladly admit that I read them and have seen the first film. I'll probably eventually see the second at some point. They aren't the greatest piece of literature ever, but the point might just be that they weren't meant to be the greatest piece of literature ever. You're right--the hate jokes and parodies are old now. We get it. It's not good literature. It might not even be fun to read for some. But I did enjoy it when I read it. Not because it taught me important things about life, but because it was a fun escape. The novels sucked me in and made me want to continue reading. That was it.
Okay. End of this comment. <3 Should've just stuck with "I agree." hehe. OMCB!
- 7 December 2009 at 04:52


text:
Next Episode of Rawhide is
not planed. TV Show was canceled.
Gil Favor is trail boss of a continuous cattle drive; he is assisted by Rowdy Yates. The crew runs into characters and adventures along the way.
John Shepard, a man Rowdy served with during the Civil War, shows up and Clay recognizes him as a bounty hunter. The drovers worry that he's after one of them.
A thief joins the drovers after accidentally killing the mother of a blind girl... who then accompanies the drovers to the next town.
The drive picks up an older drover, Simon Royce, who soon comes under suspicion when a hand turns up dead.
An abrasive older drover, Sam Hargis, befriends a new drover who is equally abrasive, and Sam views the newbie as the son he lost in the Civil War.
After Lissa Hobson's husband dies, the drovers find her and her baby in the wilderness. They take her in but Lissa neglects to tell them that her in-laws are after the baby and will stop at nothing to get it.
Rowdy and the drovers come to the aid of soldiers beset by Commanche Indians. However, when the Indians attack the herd because of their legitimate grievances with the soldiers, Gil and Rowdy have second thoughts.
With Gil away on business, Rowdy hires a wolver and his kin to take care of a pack attacking the herd. However, the wolvers have issues of their own and things get complicated when Rowdy gets involved with the daughter, Julie.
The drovers turn to Dr. Walter Harper in the town of Sugar Creek when one of their drovers is injured. However, Harper--and his fellow townspeople--refuse to have anything to do with the drover.
After a night of partying in a cow town, Rowdy wakes up the next morning and discovers that he's married. However, his new wife's intended has something to say about it.
A friend of Favor's, Lije Crowning, riles the drovers and almost gets one killed because of his bad attitude after he joins the herd.
A destitute miner rolls into the camp and offers to guide anyone interested to the lost city of Quivira... if they'll help him with the soldiers who drove him out.
The Cheyenne want the drovers' new traveling associate, undertaker Poke Tolliver. So do a couple who claim Poke has counterfeit plates and left them holding the bag.
Gil's mentor on the trail asks for a job... and hides the fact that he's going blind from glaucoma.
The drovers take in a saloon girl, but her presence soon sows trouble among the men.
The drovers stop a wagon train from lynching a mountain man, but then the man escapes with the daughter he was accused of attacking in the first place.
Gil comes to the aid of a drover who turns out to be a gunfighter trying to lie low so he doesn't have to kill anyone else.
Two Confederate POWs "arrest" Rowdy and take him to a trial in a deserted town, with a drunk ex-judge as the man in the charge.
Gil and Rowdy try to convince a saloon order to testify when Quince is arrested for the murder of a town's leading citizen.
The drovers stop off at a saloon and spot a photo of Gil: identified as a war hero and the dead husband of the owner, Abigail Fletcher. Gil decides to play along when he hears Abigail's hard-luck story, and soon gets into trouble.
Rowdy kills a man in self-defense... and a drover who could be the man's twin shows up at the camp to hire on.
The drovers come across two nuns who have cut down a tortured Comanchero from a rack. The nuns want the drovers to help, but the Comancheros want their prisoner back.
The only chance of averting a war between the Comanche and the white man lies with a former circus clown turned philologist.
A Gypsy holds a fortune-telling ceremony for Wishbone... who draws the black ace three times, foretelling death.
Rowdy takes pity on three stranded white children who were raised by the Apache and want to go back to the Indians who took them in. However, the Arapahoes are at war with the Apaches and want the children as hostages.
Gil and Hey Soos are on the trail and rescue a runaway stagecoach. They take shelter at a station against attacking Apaches, and soon realize that one of their number is an infamous bandit who the Apaches want for revenge.
A local tries to stampede the herd when Rowdy inadvertently takes it across private lands. The local is killed and his father, Don Francisco Maldenado, puts Rowdy and Gil on trial for the death.
While is Gil is away, Rowdy returns to the camp and finds a wedding underway... and a suspicious father-in-law lurking in the background.
Clint Eastwood(Rowdy Yates)
Eric Fleming(Gil Favor)
Sheb Wooley(Pete Nolan)
Paul Brinegar(Wishbone)
Charles H. Gray(Clay Forrester)
Raymond St. Jacques(Simon Blake)
John Ireland(Jed Colby)
William R. Thompkins(Toothless)
James Murdock(Mushy)
Steve Raines(Jim Quince)
Rocky Shahan(Joe Scarlet)
Robert Cabal(Hey Soos)
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text:
I recently asked an entrepreneur friend what it meant to be productive.
She said it's about "getting more done."
I was talking to another friend and he said: "it's about being more efficient with your time."
Here's the punchline:
It's neither.
Productivity isn't about what else you could be doing, and it's not about cramming more into less time.
Here's the realistic, pragmatic, no B.S. reason why:
You have a limited amount of attention, and a limited amount of motivational fuel in your tank.
You can work as hard as you want on something and that's fine, but some tasks require more fuel by nature. They require more attention, more motivation, more persistence, more consistency, more something.
The thing that no one seems to consider is the cost of switching between one task to another. It turns out, this is a huge problem.
When I was running my last software company, I found out that interruptions or task switches could massively derail my developers. How much?
It could take upwards of a half hour just to get them back in the zone.
A good developer costs 6 figures. I was paying my team $100/hr.
That meant it cost me $50 every time they had to stop what they were doing to do something else! Think about that!
Productivity is not about doing more things per unit time.
That's not sustainable. Even if you could work a 48 hour day, what would the next day look like? You're going to crash eventually.
So if productivity isn't about doing more, then what's it about?
It's about doing less.
Yep. You read that correctly.
Here it is again for effect:
Productivity is about doing LESS.
Do fewer things and you'll find that you get more of them done.
When you start getting more things done, well, congratulations. You're getting more done. You've now cleared your plate to go on and tackle other things.
Productivity only counts if you finish what you've started. It only counts if you've produced something.
Half of a novel is the same as no novel.
Half of an income report is the same as no report.
Half of a ticket to the Spurs game . . . well, good luck getting in.
It's not about doing 100 things at once. It's not about starting 5 businesses. It's not about being active.
Productivity is about checking things off a list, one by one by one.
Look at your list for today. What can you take away?
If you firmly believe that "it's all priority" and you just can't take anything off, you may want to reconsider why you're doing it all in the first place.


text:
9-Day Best of Japan Tour From Tokyo to Kobe
Immerse yourself in the wonders of Japan with an incredible 9-day tour from Tokyo to Kobe taking you to destinations that have never-before been featured on Luxury Escapes!
See all the best sights: the bright lights of vibrant Tokyo, iconic Mount Fuji, the timeless temples of Kyoto and Osaka, tour the Ritsurin Garden considered to be one of the best gardens in Japan, indulge in delicious cuisine in Kobe - the birthplace of the famous signature Kobe beef and more.
Enjoy accommodation in first-class hotels including Hilton and Sheraton properties, most meals including daily breakfast, knowledgeable English-speaking tour guide and tipping.
Only $2,699 per person (twin share), valued up to $3,500.
Get it here


text:
Google Cloud Data Fusion launched
By CyberVisionNews
1,544Apr 12
Less than a year ago, in May 2018, Cask Data, a Palo Alto startup specialized in big data analytics, joined the Google Cloud. Today we would like to congratulate our friends at Cask with a launch of their flagship product, CDAP, on the Google Cloud Platform as Cloud Data Fusion. CDAP (Cask Data Application Platform) […]


text:
The Bridge Networks has joined Gencom Technology
The Bridge Networks has merged with sister company Gencom Technology. Both companies have been owned by the same parent since 2013, and the move is designed to enhance customer experience by combining strengths and streamlining operations.
The Bridge Networks business focusses on radio frequency broadcast, satellite and linking system projects, while Gencom provides systems integration and equipment supply for the broadcasting industry with an emphasis on video production, playout, and encoding.
To date, these two complementary companies have operated largely independently of each other but together they reinforce Gencom's position as a leading solution provider to the New Zealand broadcasting industry.
Darren Frearson, Director of The Bridge Networks and Gencom says, 'As both companies are owned by the same parent company, it's been business as usual during the transition without disruption. Clients are now benefiting from the considerable knowledge and experience the newly combined team can provide'.
To find out more about the complete range of Gencom Technology solutions now on offer please visit www.gencom.com and www.thebridgenetworks.com
For more information please contact Gencom Technology at email@example.com


text:
Let $f\in L^1(\mathbb{R})$ be of compact support and $\psi(x)=C \exp(-(1-x^2)^{-1})$ where $C$ is chosen so that $\int_{\mathbb{R}} \psi =1$. Show that the convolution $f*\psi(x)=\int_{\mathbb{R}} f(x-y)\psi(y) dy$ is infinitely differentiable.
With a change of variable you obtain $$ \int_{\mathbb{R}}f(x-y)\psi(y)dy = \int_{\mathbb{R}}f(y)\psi(x-y)dy. $$ Now, using the fact that $\psi\in\mathscr{C}^{\infty}$ ($\psi$ and all its derivatives are bounded because $\mathrm{supp}(\psi)\subset\mathbb{R}$) and $f\in L^1$ with compact support, the Dominated Convergence Theorem gives the differentiability you need. In particular $$ D_x\left[ \int_{\mathbb{R}}f(y)\psi(x-y)dy\right] = \int_{\mathbb{R}}f(y)D_x\psi(x-y)dy. $$
First prove the following statement.
If $g$ is any compactly supported smooth function on $\mathbb{R}$, then $f*g$ is differentiable, and $(f*g)' = f*(g')$.
To do this, you appeal directly to the limit definition of the derivative.$$ (f*g)'(x) = \lim_{h\to 0}\frac{(f*g)(x + h) - (f*g)(x)}{h} = \lim_{h\to 0}\int f(y)\left\{\frac{g(x+h-y) - g(x-y)}{h}\right\}\,dy.$$ The quantity in braces converges uniformly (in $y$) to $g'(x-y)$ as $h\to 0$, so you can pass the limit inside the integral to get that $(f*g)'(x)$ exists and is equal to $$\int f(y)g'(x - y)\,dy = f*(g')(x).$$
This proves the statement. Repeated application of it proves that the derivatives $(f*\psi)^{(n)}$ exist and are equal to $f*(\psi^{(n)})$.
$\begingroup$ Why can you pass the limit inside? Don't you need DCT? $\endgroup$ – newbie May 26 '13 at 22:09
Use that $$ \widehat{d/dx f(x)} = 2 \pi i \xi \hat{f}(\xi)$$ where $\hat{}$ denotes the Fourier transform and that $\widehat{f \ast g} = \hat{f} \cdot \hat{g}$.
Then $$ \widehat{(d/dx (f \ast g)(x))} = 2 \pi i \xi \hat{f} \cdot \hat{g}$$
Applying the inverse Fourier transform to both sides with either $(2 \pi i \hat{f}) \cdot \hat{g}$ or $ \hat{f} \cdot (2 \pi i \hat{g})$ gives you $$ d/dx (f \ast g) = (d/dx f) \ast g = f \ast (d/dx g)$$
From which you get that $f \ast \psi$ is smooth since $\psi$ is.


text:
A Gal's Guide to Making a Movie, Part 2: The Fear
A Gal's Guide to Making a Movie is a written series by Erin Bagwell the director of Dream, Girl and the founder of Feminist Wednesday. To view the whole series click here.
Part Two: The Fear
Once the idea has graced you with it's presence it doesn't take long before the fear to set in. The fear of the unknown, the fear of being laughed at, the fear of being misunderstood, the fear it's not good enough, and the fear of logistics- how do I even get this thing started?
Fear and creativity always do this dance, when you get a burst of brilliant light to is inevitably followed by a murky shadow of fear. And fear can be very paralyzing, which is why I think the best way to get around this sense of doom is to make sure not to overwhelm yourself, especially in the beginning.
People always ask me what they should do when they get an idea, and I always tell them to do the smallest thing imaginable to get you on the path.
What is the easiest, tiniest, simplest thing you can do to walk in the direction of your dream?
Think about it and then write it down. Seriously, if you have an idea write it down now! That's one small, tiny, simple way to get started by making your pen and paper your co-conspirators in the idea. Because the thing is once you start moving in the direction of your dream, there is a momentum that builds around you that keeps you in motion.
The first thing I did when I got the idea for Dream, Girl was google it. I assumed someone was making a documentary about female entrepreneurs already. I searched the internet and didn't find anything noteworthy which both puzzled and excited me- it meant my idea was original.
The idea for my film came to me like a bright light. I was drinking coffee at home, somewhere between self-employed and unemployed (more on that later), thinking about ways to monetize Feminist Wednesday, and then the idea light up my soul like a firework.
The second thing I did after google it was nothing. I let the idea simmer.
In my experience good ideas aren't easy breezy, meaning they don't just flutter away but they stick to your mouth like peanut butter. They are hard to cleanse. So I let the idea simmer. If it was a good one it would stick to my soul, and would be hard to ignore.
A Gal in Her Pajamas
I wrote in Part One: The Idea that big beautiful ideas magnetize to you when you are open to receive them- and, girls, was I ready to magnetize.
The year before the ideation of Dream, Girl was one of the hardest emotional years of my life. I was working a 9 to 5 at a job I loathed so much I would give myself anxiety attack to get out of spending the whole day at my computer doing nothing.
I was an interactive designer at a paper company that was too old fashioned to push their digital services. So I spent about a year working on pitches I would create to give myself something to do. I would come into work, assign myself some tasks to do, execute them, and present them to my superiors who wouldn't do anything with them, then I would go back to my desk and do it over and over and over again.
I'm an ambitious work horse and if I don't have anything to work on I basically go insane. I love deadlines, I love big audacious projects, and I love going above and beyond. This job was basically my living nightmare.
But wait there was more!
On top of being totally bored and unseen professionally my female colleagues and I were also being sexually harassed by our superiors. My boss once said "I looked so good that day that he almost broke his neck looking at me," and our CEO use to walk around and creepily touch the shoulders of all the young women in our office. When we heard his voice coming we would pull our chairs into our cubicles to try to hide from him.
I also found out later that the guy who worked above me made twice as much as I did- which would be fine if he did any work. While he watched soccer on his screen for hours (I wish I was kidding) I ran our department, I managed our client lists (when they came in) and assigned tasks to our production designers. I did his job and my job, for half the pay.
As you can imagine this job wasn't a great experience, and when the New Year rolled around I made a pact to myself to get out of it. I didn't want to be stuck there another day let alone another year.
But the perfect exit opportunity doesn't always present itself, sometimes when you can't find a door you have to take a window...


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As recruiting practices become more digital and more transparent, you need to use marketing techniques and social media to attract the right hires to your organization via a compelling employment brand. Your employee value proposition (EVP) articulates the experiences and rewards the organization provides in exchange for the employee's knowledge, skills, and abilities. Employment brand also reflects the culture of your organization and your candidate management philosophy. Use social networking to attract, grab the interest of passive candidates with your online reputation, and update your systems to better manage digital recruiting efforts.
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The Ship
Name: Volendam
Capacity: 1441 passengers
Weight: 61,214 tons
Built: 1999
Refurbished: 2006
Holland America Line's Signature of Excellence initiative for this ship focuses on five areas: space and elegance; sophisticated dining; gracious, unobtrusive service; extensive enrichment programs; and interesting destinations.
The theme aboard the Volendam is flowers and fresh displays. It has plenty of places on deck for solitude, and inside an extensive library, and impressive three-deck atrium with an elegant sculpture by Luciano Vistosi, inspired by the myriad of moods and colours of a kaleidoscope.
Enrichment and entertainment by day include its demo kitchen and wine tasting, and a favourite focal point is the Explorations Café. The Microsoft Digital workshops that will teach you to make a DVD of your trip or create your own web page or blog. Evening entertainment includes eight bars, a disco, and the two nightly Broadway-style productions in the Show Lounge.
A wide variety of shore excursions can be booked for reasonable costs (but book early). Fitness activities include two pools, two hot tubs, courts, jogging course, and of course Spa and Salon treatments.
Club HAL caters for 3 to 12 year olds, and The Loft and The Oasis for teens. Expect a mix of seniors, older couples and multi-generational families, and come dress-prepared for formal nights' dining and dancing.