text:
Sky News – First Edition
Senator the Hon Mathias Cormann
Minister for Finance
Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate
Senator for Western Australia
KIERAN GILBERT: The Finance Minister Mathias Cormann joins us, Minister thanks so much for your time. The Treasurer is playing down the prospect that the banks would or should pass the cost of the levy on to customers, but why wouldn't they? Whenever their wholesale borrowing costs go up, they always pass it on, don't they?
MATHIAS CORMANN: There is no reason for them to pass it on. The banks make about $30 billion in after-tax profits a year, this is a $1.5 billion levy as a fair and responsible contribution towards budget repair. The levy is designed in a way that it excludes day to day bank accounts, mortgage accounts, it is very much focused on those products that are outside the Financial Claims Scheme. There is no reason for the banks to pass this on and we will also have the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission do some work to put some scrutiny over their relevant pricing arrangements.
KIERAN GILBERT: But in terms of that argument, the wholesale borrowing, as you know, often comes from offshore or it is outside of daily deposits and so on as well, they pass those costs on.
MATHIAS CORMANN: The banks are making their pricing decisions, as you say, now. One of the effects of what we announced yesterday though is that we are improving the level playing field for the smaller banks and for the non-bank financial institutions, which will help them compete with the banks. If the banks are doing things that are not sensible on the pricing front, the increased competition from the smaller banks, because they will not be facing this additional cost, will help to keep the banks honest when it comes to pricing arrangements.
KIERAN GILBERT: Is this about providing funding for the Government guarantee, the bank guarantee, that has been in place since the GFC?
MATHIAS CORMANN: No. This is money that goes to our Budget bottom line. This is money that helps us get the Budget back into surplus. It is a contribution towards Budget repair. We have spread the effort for some time now, right across the board, and this is what we believe is a fair and proportionate contribution by the banks.
KIERAN GILBERT: So it is basically a Super Profits Tax?
MATHIAS CORMANN: It is a $1.5 billion levy a year, which comes out of about $30 billion a year in after-tax profits.
KIERAN GILBERT: Sounds like a Super Profits Tax.
MATHIAS CORMANN: We do not call it that. It is a major bank levy.
KIERAN GILBERT: The Howard/Costello era of debt reduction is apparently over, according to Peta Credlin, the former Abbott Chief of Staff.
MATHIAS CORMANN: That is wrong. We inherited a very steep spending growth and debt growth trajectory under Labor. We have arrested the growth in debt. Government net debt will peak next financial year at 19.8 per cent. It will reduce over the medium term down to 8.5 per cent. Spending as a share of GDP was on track to hit 26.5 per cent. It was just under 26 per cent two years ago. That is now going to go down to 25 per cent over the forward estimates period, which is just slightly above the long-term average of 24.8 per cent. We have made significant in-roads in getting spending growth under control. It is below two per cent a year on average. It was 3.7 per cent under Labor. Spending as a share of GDP is back down towards the long-term average, so – (interrupted)
KIERAN GILBERT: Tax as a percentage of GDP is up.
MATHIAS CORMANN: Tax as a share of GDP continues to be subject to our 23.9 per cent cap. We have imposed a cap on ourselves, a tax as a share of GDP cap of 23.9 per cent. That is the same cap today as what it was in the period of the Abbott Government.
KIERAN GILBERT: You are saying that the banks are making their contribution, the Bankers Association has said that this could threaten the whole system, the stability of the whole system, that is what Anna Bligh said.
MATHIAS CORMANN: I saw that comment, that was a crazy comment. That is just ridiculous.
KIERAN GILBERT: Why is that?
MATHIAS CORMANN: It is a very small – interrupted
KIERAN GILBERT: $14 billion wiped off the value of the banks yesterday on the market.
MATHIAS CORMANN: The market goes up and down. This is a $1.5 billion contribution out of $30 billion in after-tax profits a year. It is a small, it is a proportionate, it is a fair contribution for the banks to make, and you have to remember that we continue to pursue our ten year Enterprise Tax Plan. We continue to pursue our efforts to reduce Company Tax for all businesses from 30 per cent down to 25 per cent.
KIERAN GILBERT: But that is not going to be affecting the banks because you will not get it through the Parliament. In relation to the levy, we know that you will get that through, Labor has given it the tick straight away.
MATHIAS CORMANN: Well you are making assumptions here. People like you have made assumptions for some time about what we may or may not get through the Parliament. We have got a lot through the Parliament since the last election, including the first three years of our ten year Enterprise Tax Plan, including our reforms to make superannuation tax arrangements fairer and more sustainable, including a whole range of savings measures that people thought we would not be able to get through.
KIERAN GILBERT: The Medicare levy, if you were paying the deficit levy, high income earners, you are going to have that removed. If you were not paying the deficit levy, you are going to be worse off than those earning $400,000 or $500,000 a year, aren't you, with the imposition of the increase in the Medicare levy as of 2019?
MATHIAS CORMANN: Firstly, we are not removing it. It is coming off in the ordinary course of events. The Budget Repair Levy was legislated as a three year temporary levy and it is coming off as intended when it was first introduced. What we are doing on the Medicare levy is increasing it by a half a per cent on 1 July 2019 and that is because we are committed to delivering the National Disability Insurance Scheme. It is a scheme that is not fully funded. There is a significant funding gap and this will help us pay for – interrupted
KIERAN GILBERT: Wouldn't it be fairer, the Greens have argued that they have got concerns about it because of that discrepancy, as I say, if you are a high income earner, deficit levy goes, middle to low income earner, you get hit with a Medicare levy. Why not just keep the deficit levy, the debt levy?
MATHIAS CORMANN: Firstly, the Budget repair levy does not raise anywhere near as much and secondly, low income earners are excluded from the application of the Medicare levy and that will continue – interrupted.
KIERAN GILBERT: Up to $40,000. That is pretty low, isn't it. $50,000 to $60,000 is low.
MATHIAS CORMANN: It will continue in the same arrangement as has been in place and that gets indexed year on year and there is an allowance for the more kids you have, the higher the threshold that is excluded before you have to be subjected to the Medicare levy. The point is, this is something that is necessary for us to be able to fully fund the NDIS, which was not fully funded under Labor.
KIERAN GILBERT: Is the Medicare guarantee legislation a stunt?
MATHIAS CORMANN: Absolutely not. This is sending a very clear message and it is providing a very firm guarantee to the Australian people that under the Coalition and as a result of legislation in this Parliament, funding for Medicare benefits and also the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme is completely guaranteed in legislation.
KIERAN GILBERT: And why is that important? Is it a political response because of the Mediscare?
MATHIAS CORMANN: It is being very clear. Here is the funding and the Parliament has enshrined in legislation that this funding has to be guaranteed in order to fund the services that are funded under the MBS and that are funded under the PBS.
KIERAN GILBERT: On the housing affordability measures, why will they work and how will they not inflate already fired up prices?
MATHIAS CORMANN: Overwhelmingly the initiatives are on the supply side of the equation. If you have an affordability issue, that is because demand exceeds supply and a lot of the measures in our package are very much focused on bringing additional supply on the market, including of course the Federal Government releasing some of its land in order to deliver more houses on to the housing market.
KIERAN GILBERT: The Shadow Treasurer says it is very light on, almost mocking your housing affordability approach, that it is not going to have any impact at all.
MATHIAS CORMANN: His only idea is to whack on another tax, to take out the sledgehammer, which would have very bad consequences on our economy and very bad consequences for home owners. We have put forward a very comprehensive package which will make a real difference.
KIERAN GILBERT: What, finally your response to the suggestion that this could have been a Labor Budget, in terms of all the revenue measures and taxes?
MATHIAS CORMANN: I am not interested in the politics, I am interested in making the right decisions today for a better, stronger future, to put Australia on the strongest possible foundation for the future. If you look at the totality of what we have done since we came into Government, we got spending growth under control, spending as a share of GDP is back down to the lowest level it has been for many years. It is close to our long-term average of 24.8 per cent. There is $14.7 billion worth of spending reductions that we would have liked to have legislated through the Parliament, that the Senate is not going to support.
KIERAN GILBERT: So, this is Plan B basically?
MATHIAS CORMANN: This is making the pragmatic decision that if we want to get back into surplus, we need to get the Budget back into surplus because we got to stop borrowing from our children and grandchildren to pay for our lifestyle today. So if we cannot get spending reductions through, the only other way that we can get back into surplus is by increasing revenue through revenue measures.
KIERAN GILBERT: Minister, appreciate your time.
MATHIAS CORMANN: Always good to talk to you.


text:
Dentures LaGrange KY and Louisville Area
Natural Looking Custom Designed Dentures
A denture is an appliance that is inserted in the mouth, replaces lost natural teeth and provides support for the cheeks and lips. Dentures are worn during the day and removed at night.
Full and Partial Dentures
Custom dentures are a prosthetic replacement for lost teeth which match your remaining teeth. They are made with acrylic and/or acrylic with metal substructures.
They are called full dentures when all teeth on one or both jaws are missing and replaced with a denture.
When the dental appliance spans a gap of missing teeth it is referred to as a partial denture, where some natural teeth are still present in the jaw being treated. These can be made using a new-age material without metal clasps on teeth for a more natural smile.
Dr. Janet Visanescu works closely with each patient to choose the most esthetic tooth size, color, shape, and placement of the teeth before processing.
Most complete dentures are constructed from acrylic material and the teeth are made of plastic, porcelain or a combination. Dentures can be fabricated to fit over endodontically treated teeth.
Call our LaGrange KY office today office to learn more about custom dentures.
Family and Cosmetic Dentistry
La Grange, KY 40031
(502) 222-7874
based on 57 reviews

subset: commoncrawl


text:
You are using a version of browser which will not be supported after 27 May 2018. To continue to transact with MOM securely, please follow these steps to enable the Transport Layer Security (TLS) of your web browser, or upgrade to the latest version of your browser.
You need to notify MOM before conducting hazardous work such as asbestos removal.
When and how to notify MOM before starting asbestos work.
Copyright © 2019 Government of Singapore Terms of usePrivacy policy
Best viewed using IE 11, Firefox 27, Chrome 22, and Safari 7 and above


text:
Lane's Creative Director Joff Casciani Explores California And The Pacific Northwest
Vinyl Gems at Daybreak Records
Seattle is a pretty hot ticket when it comes to record shopping, so I decided to spend three days doing some deep research into unearthing some vinyl gems. I had the pleasure of discovering a new addition to the Seattle vinyl scene, Daybreak Records, in the small Fremont District of Seattle.
Daybreak is one of the smartest and best selected record shops I've seen, perhaps anywhere in the world. The staff at Daybreak are true experts - knowledgeable, super helpful and on hand to give music advice. They'll also make offers on any albums or 45's you want trading in for credit!
One of the best corners of the shop is their listening station where you can have a break from digging and browse their LP accessories.
The Daybreak team have done some serious editing to present what the true record collector is looking for. A healthy mix of jazz, funk, international and rock sounds, this record shop is focused on only finding the best stuff.
Here's one of my favourite my finds:
If you like this, you might like...
'Eat This: Serious Beef at Bateau, Seattle'
'Drink This: Vif, Fremont District, Seattle'
'Drink This: Analogue Coffee, Seattle'
'Eat This: Della Fattoria Bakery, Petaluma, California'
'Go There: Heath Ceramics, San Francisco'
'Brazil - Your Weekend Inspiration: Discover The History Of Brazilian Modernism'


text:
The Truth Hurts. Have Some Cake.
Because this is the kind of thing I do to amuse myself.
And this last one doesn't really fit, but it's the ultimate birthday Truth Bomb:
Thanks to Candice J., Audra M., Katie W., Katherine K., Deborah F., the L family, & Kimberly B. for reminding us the truth hurts sometimes, but everything's better with cake.
Thank you for using our Amazon links to shop! USA, UK, Canada.


text:
We came across something unusual yesterday. One of our Linux admins is working on her PowerShell skills and came across an account where the cn was not was she expected. For us - we provision accounts such that cn is the same as samaccountname. In this case the cn had changed from the samaccountname into "First Last".
Looking at the timestamp of the change from repadmin /showobjmeta the change to cn occurred 2 minutes after the first 2016 DC in the domain started initializing on the 2016 DC. A check of the domain found another account where the same thing happened at the same time. (2 of 20K accounts changed)
I checked our test domains and saw that some accounts had changed there as well - ~2 minutes after the initialization process started on the first 2016 DC in the domain.
My Google-fu has not shown any results.
Has anyone come across this before?
Al Lilianstrom
Authentication Services
Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory
Forum info: http://www.activedir.org
Problems unsubscribing? Email admin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
CN changing with first 2016 DC in the domain
- 671 Views
- Last Post 07 June 2018
We came across something unusual yesterday. One of our Linux admins is working on her PowerShell skills and came across an account where the cn was not was she expected. For us - we provision accounts such that cn is the same as samaccountname. In this case the cn had changed from the samaccountname into "First Last".
We have two Win2016 DCs (remaining 9 are still Win2012R2). We use the same mapping of CN=samAccountName, but I've not seen any CN changes like this out of our 460,000 IAM-controlled accounts. Hopefully that's a useful anecdote.
Erik Coleman
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Thanks for the reply. I haven't been able to find any reason for this happening anywhere so I was hoping someone else had seen this. Looks like I'm alone on this one.
Al Lilianstrom
Authentication Services
Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory
Off the top, compare a known good account with one of the ones that has changed using ADSIEdit. Perhaps there's a setting or sub-setting on the changed accounts that contributed to the bit being flipped?
Philip Elder MCTS
Microsoft High Availability MVP
E-mail: PhilipElder@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Phone: (780) 458-2028
Blog Site
Twitter: MPECSInc
Skype: MPECS Inc.
Cloud: Canadian Cloud Worx
Please note: Although we may sometimes respond to email, text and phone calls instantly at all hours of the day, our regular business hours are 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM, Monday thru Friday.
Did you resolve this mystery yet, Al?
I don't have a 2016 domain yet.
However, yes - I saw automatic CN changes whenever a user was added to Exchange. (Ever since NT4 and Exchange 5.)
CN automatically changed from samaccountname to display name. (Looks like the display name - could be some other name attribute(s))
So, could there be an Exchange connection?
This is not a mystery, CN timestamp is always retrieved from the DC you query hence it will be different depending on the DC you target.
If you run:
Rpedamin /showreps DC1 CN=Administrator,DC=domain,DC=com
Repadmin /showreps DC2 CN=Administrator,DC=domain,DC=com
You will notice that CN timestamp is different and always last modified at the DC being queried.
This Weeks High Earners
- smrekar 2
- tafeltim 2
- Smita 2
- michael1 1
- Ravi.Sabharanjak 1


text:
K4 and K5.
Fostering a positive sense of self within our students, St. Mary's dedicated and highly qualified staff is committed to providing an environment that promotes self-esteem, leadership and respect for others. We engage students in the learning process and encourage them to develop to their fullest potential spiritually, morally, intellectually, physically, socially and emotionally. Our core curriculum consists of:
- Art
- Mathematics
- Music
- Physical Education
- Reading/Language Arts
- Religion
- Science
- Social Studies
- Spanish
- Technology/Computer
Explore each of our academic areas.
A St. Mary's education goes far beyond the classroom here. In addition to a rich variety of athletics and extracurricular activities, we also provide services to support our students and their parents, including:
- Web-based grading program with 24/7 parent access
- Guidance counselor
- Peer mediation
- Little Buddy program
- No Put Down curriculum
- Hot lunch program
The highly-accessible location of our school and parish make St. Mary Parish School convenient for students coming from Menomonee Falls, Germantown, Colgate, Hartford, Hubertus, Lannon, Milwaukee, Sussex and other near-by communities.
We welcome you to learn more about the St. Mary Parish School difference. Please contact us to arrange a personal tour.


text:
|Biosequences .. Software .. Molbio soft .. Network News .. FTP
In article <2i9jbi$l8g at apakabar.cc.columbia.edu> ahk8 at bonjour.cc.columbia.edu (Amanda H Kahn) writes: >...seeks advice regarding the scary world of graduate studies which she will >be entering all to soon. > > Hi there. I'm a newcomer to this group--I actually signed up because >this question has been plaguing me for a while. As a Jr. at Columbia in NY >(majoring in Bio, and doing some history on the side), I'm at that point >where I have to look in the mirror and say, "OK, so are you going to wield >a pipette, a stethoscope, or a stick of chalk for the REST OF YER DAMN LIFE?" >Like so many idealistic young science students, I want to go out there, make >a difference and so forth, AND manage to do something that I truly enjoy. >There was a Scientific American article back in November, I think, which dealt >with the truly pathetic figures for female PhD employment. Yeah, I think that >I want to be a scientist rather than a doctor (500 gram rats turn me on, but >people don't. Strange, huh?), but do I really want to spend my time fighting >against a male-dominated, exclusive system. > > I guess what I'm trying to ask is, is it as bad out there as people >say it is? And while we're on the subject of giving poor Amanda advice, if >I wish to do research, do I go for the PhD, MD, or both? > > Thanks, > Amanda.Kahn at columbia.edu > > Amanda, Statistics are really misleading. Sure, women PhDs are outnumbered by men, especially at higher levels, but that doesn't mean that you have to constantly fight against a "male dominated, exclusive system". The reasons that there are so few females in academic science are societal and sociological in addition to possibly a few male pigs in the profession. As you can see from some of the previous discussion here, it really takes alot of motivation, hard work, and enthusiasm to become successful. But just because you're female doesn't preclude you from trying. I would say, if you're at all interested in research, go for it! Remember, you don't have to plunge into grad school right after getting your B.S. You may want to work in a lab for awhile first to make sure this is what you want to do... Rae Nishi Assoc. Prof. Oregon Health Sciences University Portland OR


text:
Frank McDaniel, Esq.
Founding Shareholder, McDaniel Law Group, PC
Mr. Frank McDaniel is the founding shareholder in the law firm of McDaniel Law Group, PC. With over 32 years of experience in the practice of corporate, securities and taxation law, he strives to provide cost-effective, common-sense business solutions and innovative legal counsel. McDaniel's clients have ranged from early stage to large multinational publicly-traded companies, research institutions and investment firms involved in domestic and international transactions. More specifically, Mr. McDaniel has developed over the course of his career substantial industry-specific expertise within the fields of biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical device and other biosciences and healthcare, having provided corporate and taxation legal services in transactions involving well over 100 bioscience companies, clinical research organizations, research institutions and investment capital firms.
More specifically, Mr. McDaniel has extensive experience in the handling of debt and equity financings, including convertible notes and both common and preferred stock; taxable and tax-free mergers and acquisitions; reverse mergers; strategic alliances and partnerships; the formation of corporations, limited liability companies, joint ventures and shareholder arrangements; domestic and international licensing; supply and manufacturing, sales and distribution and product acquisition agreements (principally in the field of the biosciences); noncompetition, nondisclosure and nonsolicitation agreements; nonqualified deferred compensation arrangements, including Sections 409A and 280(g) change-in-control or "parachute" payments; employment and severance agreements; and stock option and restricted stock plans and agreements.
On behalf of his bioscience clients, Mr. McDaniel has negotiated bio/pharmaceutical and medical device-related domestic and international licensing, supply and manufacturing, sales and distribution and product acquisition agreements for small startups to large multinational and publicly-traded pharmaceutical companies, along with numerous national and international research institutions. Some of the research institutions with which he has negotiated licenses and other transactional agreements include the Allegheny-Singer Research Institute, Arizona State University, University of Alabama, Baylor University, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention ("CDC"), Columbia University, Cornell University, Duke University, Emory University, Morehouse School of Medicine, Institute of Gustav Roussy, Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia State University, University of Georgia, University of Massachusetts, North Carolina State University, Ohio State University, Oregon Health & Sciences University, Stanford University, Texas A&M, University of California - Los Angeles, University of California – San Francisco, University of Chicago, University of Florida, University of Pittsburgh, University of Rochester, University of Texas (MD Anderson), University of Texas Medical Branch, Vanderbilt University and Yale University. His experience includes not only the licensing of such technology, but also the negotiation of material transfer agreements, sponsored research agreements, testing agreements, clinical trial agreements, OEM agreements and other related agreements.
Mr. McDaniel holds a Masters of Laws in Taxation from Emory University. He was a founding board member and served as the second board chair for the Atlanta Bar Association, Taxation Section. Mr. McDaniel has also served as an adjunct professor in the Masters of Taxation Program at Georgia State University and Masters of Healthcare Program at Mercer University and has been a frequent speaker for local, state and national forums on topics relating to strategic alliances in the biosciences, mergers and acquisitions, limited liability companies, federal and state taxation and other healthcare-related transactions.
Mr. McDaniel serves as a member of the board of directors for Georgia Bio and chair of the board of directors for BioMed Investor Network, Inc., a biosciences and healthcare-focused angel network. He is the founder of the Innovation Summit (previously known as the Georgia Life Sciences Summit), for which he served as the chair for three consecutive years. He is the recipient of the Georgia Bio Industry Growth Award (January 2015) and the Georgia Bio Community Award (2004). Mr. McDaniel is a co-founder of the Atlanta Business Chronicle's "Healthcare Heroes" annual event. He has also been recognized by the Atlanta Business Chronicle as one of the "Top 25 Names to Know in Biotechnology" and "Who's Who in Health Care" in the Atlanta metropolitan area. Mr. McDaniel is also the author of three publications: "The Life Sciences Industry – Surviving the Toughest of Times Through Venture Funding and Strategic Alliances" – Health Law Handbook, Spring 2003; "The Emerging Field of Biotechnology: Investigating The Legal Issues" – Health Law Handbook, Spring 2002; "Integrated Delivery Systems in the Healthcare Industry" – Research Institute of America Tax-Exempt Organizations, Spring 1995.


text:
This week we planted more than we harvested. We planted turnips, beets, broccoli, brussel sprouts, kale, radishes and several kinds of leaf lettuces. We pulled out the last of our tomato plants and one pepper plant. Our gourd and sweet potato vines are spreading everywhere. We picked bags of sweet potato leaves. I plan to lightly saute the leaves, put them into quart size bags and freeze. I made a tasty Asian rice noodle soup with the sweet potato leaves. The leaves are thick enough to hold up well in soup.
We picked more figs from our backyard fig tree. I drizzled the figs with a sweet sauce of melted butter, honey, cinnamon and salt then baked them for 15 minutes at 400 degrees. They were yummy on their own or on top of ricotta cheese.
Our Harvest Totals for this week: eggplant 2 pounds, figs 1.75 pounds, sweet potato leaves 2.5 pounds, hot peppers 1 pound.
Total Harvest this week: 5.25 pounds
Total Harvest this season: 262.35
Check out Daphne's Dandelions, the host of Harvest Monday, for more harvest totals from other gardeners.


text:
Sold for $62,500
on Apr 29, 2019
This wooded 1.9 acre lot is located on Rementer Road, a quiet county road across from the Tunnell Tract of Redden Forest and is ready for you to build your dream home. Lot has had a septic recon completed and would take either a full depth gravity fed, or a cap and fill gravity septic system. The land behind this lot has been owned by the Rementer Family for over 100 years. Dont hesitate. Come take a look and start designing your home!
For detailed information on buying a home or property, please complete the form below describing the type of home or property you are looking for. Someone will get back to you as quickly as possible with your results!
Home | Our Listings | Buyer/Seller Info | FREE Market Analysis | Contact Us | | Open Houses Page | Map Search | Quick Search | Foreclosure Search | Canal Corkran Sales | Short Sale Search | Shirley Kalvinsky | Randy Mason
Privacy Policy |


text:
By Councilmember David Grosso and Christina Henderson
Anyone who has ever experienced the contract and procurement process for the District government knows it is not for the faint-of-heart. Governed by an elaborate maze of rules and sometimes the rather subjective interpretation of the rules, procurement requires organization, advanced planning, interpersonal skills, patience, and a healthy dose of persistence. After only ten months on the job, Councilmember Grosso has probed a dozen of areas where the District's procurement practice could be improved, but, chief among those would be the Certified Business Enterprise (CBE) program. He is not alone in this critique.
As many of you know, the District requires that all construction and non-construction contracts over $250,000 have at least 35 percent of the total dollar amount be subcontracted to a small business enterprise. When we first learned of this requirement working on procurement issues, we could not believe this was a blanket rule even for non-construction contracts. Sure, an agency can seek a waiver from the Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD) if it cannot reach the 35 percent threshold, but as general practice, the blanket rule applies without regard to the needs of a particular scope of work. The recent dust-up over District's instant tickets lottery games contract which lapsed on July 20 is a perfect example of how complicated this can be for businesses. When the vendor, Scientific Games International, reported that it was unable to meet the 35 percent requirement because the majority of its costs—printing and delivery of the tickets—could not be subcontracted, it was suggested at a Council hearing in June that the Office of the Chief Financial Officer (the contract administrator in this case) "expand" the scope of work to make it easier for vendors to meet the 35 percent. In other words, there was suggestion that a D.C. contractor create the need for more work, that's not needed, thereby costing taxpayers more. With OCFO choosing to rebid the contract, it seems they went that route. This is the very thing that frustrates people about government—waste. (Update: Since publishing this blog, we have learned that OCFO rebid the lottery contract using the original scope of work. Only one vendor has bid; it was not Scientific Games International.)
The instant ticket contract debacle peaked our interest about the District's CBE program. Perhaps, we thought, the 35 percent requirement is tied to some sort of evidence-based look at the disparity in utilizing local small businesses for District contracts and best-practices around the country. However, the Council's recent attempt to raise the subcontracting requirement to 50 percent for construction contracts, made it evident that policy making for the CBE program has been far more arbitrary than anyone would admit.
Across the country, hundreds of cities and counties have small business enterprise programs in place. We examined the laws/ordinances, policies and practices that govern 15 localities to see if there are any lessons to be learned and shared. There were differences among each of the cities. For example, some cities business enterprise programs are only for minority or women-owned businesses. Others only establish subcontractor participation requirements for construction contracts, and not professional services or purchasing. However, there are two major practices that would be helpful for the District to adopt.
Citywide Goals. All 15 cities and counties we examined have two different types of participation goals when it comes to their business enterprise programs – citywide goals and contract goals. Citywide goals are generally set annually by the local governing body to determine what percentage of contracting dollars they would like to see awarded to local businesses that fiscal year. In some cities, the participation goals differ based on type of contracts, as well as classification of the business. They are not summarily adopted as goals for individual procurements. More importantly, the goals are informed by the current business climate in the city. Philadelphia's Code, for example, requires that their annual participation goals be based in part on: (1) the present availability of qualified disadvantaged business enterprises (DBE's); (2) the utilization of qualified DBEs in past contracts awarded by the City; (3) a forecast of eligible contracts to be awarded within the fiscal year; and (4) an updated Disparity Analysis of businesses in the Philadelphia area. From New York City to Milwaukee, WI to Orlando, FL, they all have similar methods for setting their participation goals. As with any strategic planning effort, this allows for regular evaluation of the progress of the business enterprise program using accumulated data to determine whether specific program provisions require modification, expansion, or curtailment.
Contract Goals. The District's blanket 35 percent subcontracting requirement for contracts over $250,000 stood out as an anomaly that appears to lack substance. Fourteen of the fifteen cities we studied set their goals contract-by-contract. In Denver, CO, the City enlists the help of 3 committees –Construction Goals Committee, Heavy Highway Goals Committee, and Professional Services Goals Committee – to help determine the various business enterprise participation goals for projects. So far this year, there have been goal determinations set as high as 40 percent.
In Houston, TX, the Office of Business Opportunity reviews scopes of work to determine specific participation goals based on a calculation that includes among other things available qualified businesses and past levels of utilization for similar contracts. In January, the New York City Council amended its business enterprise law to require that each agency set goals for individual procurements based in part by "the citywide goals and the agency's annual utilization plan, the size and nature of the procurement, and the availability of MBEs, WBEs and EBEs with the capacity to perform the specific types and scale of work involved in its procurements." This type of approach seems to have worked well for these cities. Not only do the businesses appreciate that the goals are not arbitrary and therefore achievable, it requires the city to have a strong understanding of what's happening in its small business community.
Tomorrow, the Committee on Business, Consumer, and Regulatory Affairs will hold a public hearing on two bills related to the District's CBE program, the Certified Business Enterprise Program Enhanced Reform Amendment Act of 2013 (B20-422) and the Small and Certified Business Enterprise Development and Assistance Amendment Act of 2013 (B20-181). Both bills include some necessary enhancements, but without addressing the way in which we establish participation goals for our local businesses the program will continue to have problems. See a quick glimpse of how D.C.'s CBE program stacks up against other cities around the country:


text:
Brandon College
San Francisco
We offer a variety of housing options for our international students and can make arrangements to suit all ages and budgets, from low-budget to deluxe rooms.
For students who are interested in learning about the American way of life and culture, a homestay is an excellent choice! It gives students more opportunities to practice their English skills outside the classroom.
All of our host families are carefully selected and monitored by the host coordinator to ensure your comfort. Many families host more than one student at the same time.
Residence Clubs are standard or economy student hotels which offer single or shared rooms to international students. All of our residence clubs are located in the downtown area, within easy walking distance to Brandon College.
This is a great option for individuals who like to be independent and who enjoy meeting students and making new friends from all over the world.
Residence Clubs
Click for more information about these residence clubs:
Want to be a Host Family? Apply here.
Brandon College - 551 Sutter Street - San Francisco, CA 94102
phone 415-823-0663


text:
There are shows we wish weren't canceled so soon, like HBO's Enlightened. Then there are shows that refuse to go away, like Two and a Half Men, where the only people laughing are the cast and producers to and from the bank. Lastly, there are shows guillotined before you're even aware of their existence. You don't miss them because you never or barely took a peek at them. Looking back they were always awful, so you couldn't feel disappointment.
Public Morals, Made in Jersey, Do No Harm, Anchorwoman, and the dozens of similar examples disappeared before you knew they were on. How amazing, it's like someone did all the hating for you. But it's worth considering, because, for particular TV junkies, they were deprived of knowing what went on in the Hasselhoff household, who really wanted to know what new project Mike O'Malley is working on, and if you were adopted, pick out your biological father on a nationally televised game show for a big money prize.
To those of you, we sincerely apologize these viewing experiences were taken away from you. now, with that moment of silence over, let's jeer at the The Fastest Cancellations in Television History.


text:
Labour Day is past, kids are back in school, and churches across Canada are gearing up for all the busy activities of the fall season.
At the General Council Office, we are in the midst of massive upheaval unrelated to the change of seasons. After months of preparation, and weeks of camping out in temporary office spaces, we are in the final stages of our big office move.
No, this is not the move of the General Council Office to a new facility downtown, where a church has redevelopment plans that include office space for us. That process is taking longer than expected, so the current step is to move from two-and-a-half floors of our current lease down to one. This will achieve a large financial saving for the church, while allowing us the security of a little longer for the lease of these premises, pending another move later.
I have been wonderfully impressed by the goodwill of our staff, as everyone has worked through recent weeks in very disruptive circumstances. Second floor staff moved to the third floor in late winter, and the fourth floor had to be vacated in mid-August, so everyone has been together in one floor since then. Two, three, or four people are working in what was formerly the workspace for one, the Communications unit is working together in a former meeting room, and everyone is busy packing their green or gray plastic crates to move the contents of their offices to the space on the second floor. In the midst of it all, everyone is doing their best to do their jobs and serve the needs of the church.
Amazingly, instead of grumbling, I am hearing laughter and helpful words… as well as eagerness about getting on with the move to the renovated second floor.
The second floor is the same size as the floor we are currently packed into, but will be configured in a way that gives everyone their own small workstation. All open concept with no private offices. There are small meeting rooms for private conversations, but no large meeting rooms to accommodate 50 or 100 people as we had previously. The new office will be different, but after all the preparation, I find myself excited about it.
We haven't been allowed to visit the second floor during the renovations (hard hats and safety gear are required), so there is a lot of anticipation about what it be like when we finally are in our new spaces.
While we can't fully envision it yet, I know that we will learn to work together in some new ways, to use less paper (since we will have less storage space), and to be more conscious of how distracting conversations can be to neighbours. It seems likely that colleagues who previously worked on different floors will get to know each other better (that's starting to happen already) and I am hopeful that new opportunities to work collaboratively may emerge.
Meanwhile, just a heads up the church as a whole that our offices will be closed September 14 and 15 as the phones and computer lines are installed, and likely non-functional on the 18th too, as everyone unpacks their crates and prepares to live into the new reality.
-Nora Sanders is General Secretary of The United Church of Canada. This message was originally sent to subscribers to the General Secretary's Letter, "Note from Nora." Subscribe here.


text:
Concert: Bugs Bunny at the Symphony
By Andy J. Gordon
The Hollywood Bowl (www.hollywoodbowl.com) hosted a gorgeous night of light-hearted fun with its annual tribute to that "wascally wabbit," Bugs Bunny. This show is an update of one that has been running for 20 years, first in New York City as Bugs Bunny On Broadway, and for the past several years at the Bowl. For the anniversary, the show has been updated and now includes cartoon shorts of some of the other Warner Brothers cast of characters, as well as special guests. As always, the LA Philharmonic provided the musical accompaniment to the visuals.
Bugs Bunny in drag with the LA Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl.
The orchestra, conducted by George Daugherty, sounded fabulous. Warner Brothers provided special copies of the cartoon shorts, which retain the original dialogue and sound effects, but eliminate the music. This provides the musicians with the opportunity to synchronize their playing with the action onscreen. The effect is truly magical. Bugs Bunny classics like "The Rabbit of Seville," "What's Opera Doc?," and "Long-Haired Hare" are given new life with the live music arrangement. The special anniversary program also included shorts from Hanna Barbera. "Tom And Jerry In The Hollywood Bowl" was an obvious choice that worked beautifully. Appearances by the Scooby Doo gang as well as The Flintstones brought back memories for the adults in the audience, and thrilled the kids in attendance.
The great evening culminated with a fireworks finale exploding in the sky over the Bowl's dome. The Philharmonic played an energetic and precise version of Wagner's "Ride of the Valkyries" during the fireworks display. Children of all ages left the Bowl thrilled by the night's entertainment. Next year's Bugs Bunny tribute will surely be another night to remember. Be sure to mark your calendars.
Photos courtesy of Andy J. Gordon


text:
Living in Japan, I have a love and hate (but mostly love) relationship with Costco. They have a food court that brings me back to the states, and the sight of 100 count boxes of Tootsie pops and 5 lb boxes of chocochip cookies makes me nostalgic about college and the all mighty purchase order.
The area where I grew up didn't have a Costco nearby, so when I went for the first time, I was romanced by the tasty polish dogs (only a buck fifty, and it comes with a drink!) and the sheer fact that I could buy a 10 pound can of ketchup, 50 black Sharpies, a sofa, and pumpkin pie the size of a large pizza if I so desired. In college, I had a job that required me to buy food to feed large quantities of people at a time, and for a while, purchasing 4 flats of muffins, and 2 lb cans of hot cocoa mix was normal. Oversized food is one thing, Costco sized food is another. For some reason, I find ridiculously large food, or large quantities of food inherently comical and interesting. (on the flip side, I also find extra small food funny and amazing as well :P)
So what does Costco have to do with cheese crackers? As my mother says, I sometimes have eyes bigger than my stomach. The last time I went to Costco in Japan, I was persuaded into buying a 2 lb brick of sharp cheddar cheese. (they didn't have to try hard) I think you can guess where this goes…but the short of it is I ended up having a half a block left, and needed to use it all quickly before the cheese spoiled. I did think about just gnawing on the block, but decided that cheese crackers were the more socially acceptable option.


text:
In the past he has served as head coach for the American delegation at the International Ballet Competitions in Varna, Bulgaria in 1980 and in Moscow Russia in 1981. He was a panelist for the Benoise de la Dance Competition at the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow in 1992. He was on the Competitor Selection Committee, as well as a master teacher, for the sixth USA International Ballet Competition in Jackson, Mississippi in 1998. He also served as Master of Ceremonies with Anna Marie Holmes for this competition in the year 2000.
He has served on the Advisory Board for the National Endowment for the Arts, in Washington, DC, the Fulton County Arts Council for the state of Georgia and the Meet the Composer Foundation Panel in NY City. He continues to serve on the Advisory Committee for the International Dance Competition in Jackson, Mississippi, the International Dance Alliance LTD and on the National Board for Regional Dance America. Up until this year, he was Master Teacher and advisor for the SC Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities Dance Department.
Mr. Barnett has been honored by many dance organizations in this country and been an adjudicator or teacher in all five regions represented by Regional Dance America. He was the proud recipient of the State of Georgia's Governor's Award in the Arts for 1987. In 1996 he was presented with the ABBY Award for distinguished service in the Arts, presented by the Coca-Cola Company and the greater Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce of Atlanta, GA.
ROBERT BARNETT - Ballet
Robert was born in Okanogan, Washington on May 6, 1925. Due to his father's work opportunities the family relocated to Wenatchee, Washington in 1939, where he developed his interest in the arts, in particular dance. He attended Wenatchee High School, graduating in 1943, at which time he joined the Navy during World War II, serving until the summer of 1946. Using his knowledge of tap dancing, he appeared in several shows sponsored by the Army in Tokyo, Japan, while on temporary leave from his Navy duties. Upon completion of his service with the Navy in 1946, he began studying ballet seriously. Living in Los Angeles, CA, he studied under the tutelage of Bronislava Nijinska, made possible by the GI Bill of Rights. After a year and eight months of study, he was invited by the choreographer David Lichine to travel to Europe and join the original Ballet Russe, then performing in Spain and throughout Southern Europe and North Africa. When the Ballet Russe relocated to Paris, France in February of 1949, he continued his studies with two distinguished teachers, Lubov Igorova and Olga Preobrajenska. Returning to the US in the late spring of that year, he spent the summer performing at the Municipal Theater in St. Louis, Missouri and then moved to New York City, where by December he was invited to join the New York City Ballet. Within two years, he was made a soloist and went on to have the honor of having roles created especially for him by George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins and Sir Fredrick Ashton, director of the Royal Ballet in London, England.
In 1958, at the request of Dorothy Alexander, Founder and Artistic Director of the Atlanta Civic Ballet since 1929, he and his wife Virginia Rich Barnett, relocated to Atlanta to become principal dancers and associate directors of what would later become the Atlanta Ballet. In 1962, at the time of Ms. Alexander's retirement, Mr. Barnett was asked to assume the role of Artistic Director and he remained in that position until his retirement at the end of May, 1994. Serving the company for 36 years, he was responsible for bringing the coming from pre-professional status to be not only the first professional ballet company in the Southeast, but one of the most respected companies in the country.
Since his resignation, Mr. Barnett is called upon to teach, coach and stage his own choreographic works, as well as being authorized by the George Balanchine trust to stage Mr. Balanchine's works in this country and abroad.


text:
Alan B.
Lesson Details
Acoustic Guitar
- Levels Taught:
- Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced
I have been working as a professional musician since 1987. In that time, I've played many roles alongside a wide range of established and emerging talent, from around the world, including band leader, accompanist, music producer, composer, arranger, co-writer, teacher, coach and mentor. Along the way, I have continued to pursue my passion for education, teaching private music lessons to amateurs, professionals and hobbyists from all walks of life.
My main acoustic guitar is a Custom Martin SP000C16RECST (1 of 75) with ivoriod binding, pearl around top, neck shape: low oval, pearl dots and Fischman pre-fix pick-up with on-board blender.
Alan teaches
- Teaches students:
- Females 9 to 80 and males 9 to 75
- Teaching since:
- December 1988
Beginner, intermediate and advanced are all welcome. I give the same attention to teaching amateurs as I do professionals.
Cancellation/Rescheduling Policy:
Forty-eight (48) hours advance notice is necessary to cancel or reschedule any lesson. Otherwise, students are responsible for the full payment. In the event of a last-minute reschedule, with your cooperation, I will always do my best to find us a make-up slot. However, I cannot guarantee one. This option is only available if it does not postpone any future lessons or exceed seven (7) days. Thank you, in advance, for your consideration and cooperation.
Founder/OwnerFeb 2010 - Present
As a music educator, I have worked with a wide range of clients, from around the world, from beginners and intermediates to advanced professionals including establish and emerging recording artists, bands, singers, songwriters and touring and studio musicians. I am a faculty member of the National Guitar Workshop and Workshop Live, the Web's ultimate online music education resource site.
As a studio and touring musician, I have worked with a long list of artists including 2011 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductee, Leon Russell, having sung background vocals on his 2007 record release, "Angel In Disguise."
As a singer-songwriter, I have appeared on radio and television stations and at premiere music venues across the U.S., released four independent records and been a regular performer at New York's The Bitter End, CBGB's, Wetlands Preserve, The Living Room and Mercury Lounge, and at Nashville's The Basement, The Bluebird Cafe, Mercy Lounge, 12th & Porter and The Listening Room.
As a songwriter, I have had more than one hundred (100) cuts including single and music video releases on recording projects with a wide range of recording artists.
Since July 2010, a venture into music licensing has yielded forty-four (44) synchs including fifteen (15) on primetime network television stations including FOX (The Good Guys), NBC (The Firm), FX (The Comedians), Amazon (Hand of God), A&E (Crazy Hearts: Nashville), USA (Burn Notice: The Fall Of Sam Axe - USA Original Movie), MTV (Real World: St. Thomas) and Oxygen (Bad Girls Club).
As a writer/producer, I have worked on projects with Haden Carpenter (Big Smo, A&E-TV), Amy Wilcox (Crazy Hearts: Nashville, A&E-TV), The LiNE (The Voice, NBC), The Worsties, The Wailin' Canes, Ben Cyllus, Tara O'Grady, Sam Hunter and Linda Emerson, and have enjoyed fourteen (14) song synchs on primetime network and cable television stations including FOX (The Good Guys), MTV (Real World: St. Thomas), A&E (Big Smo, Crazy Hearts: Nashville) and Oxygen (Bad Girls Club).
As a music professional, while in New York City (1996-2004), I spent four years working at Sony Music Entertainment. While keeping track of record producers, engineers, mixers and remixers worldwide for Sony's head of A&R, music legend, Peter Asher was my main gig, I worked on many projects for Columbia Records, Epic Records, Sony Classical, Legacy Recordings, Word and C2 with executives in the A&R, international, promotion, business affairs and legal departments responsible for launching and guiding some of music's biggest recording artists including: Bob Dylan; Barbra Streisand; Tony Bennett; Harry Connick, Jr.; Maxwell; The Neville Brothers; Billy Joel; Bruce Springsteen; Pink Floyd; Mariah Carey; Jennifer Lopez; Marc Anthony; Destiny's Child; Beyonce; Kelly Rowland; Jessica Simpson; Jeff Buckley; John Mayer; Train and Five For Fighting.
I am a BMI writer, and my songs are published and administered by Over The Bush Music (BMI).
Graduate Studies - Masters of Science in EducationAug 1993 - Jun 1994
Bachelor of ScienceSep 1989 - Jun 1993
Broadcast Music Inc.Aug 1988
One of three United States performing rights organizations, along with ASCAP and SESAC. It collects license fees on behalf of songwriters, composers, and music publishers and distributes them as royalties to those members whose works have been performed. In FY 2013, BMI collected more than $944 million in licensing fees and distributed $814 million in royalties.Show More
Photos & Videos
6 ReviewsWrite a Review
Alan is a fantastic teacher! Both for voice and guitar, he will be patient and thorough, building solid technique but also adding your emotional and creative abilities to be more musical !
Awesome instructor, musician, coach, person! Listened to me for just a few minutes and confidently outlined a plan to help me meet my goals. Goals he painstakingly sought to clearly understand. This is going to be a fun journey.
relaxed, progress, professional... perfect
A true professional in every sense of the word!
WOW - you guys read my mind so let me start with saying my teacher Alan is TERRIFIC - and I do mean TERRIFIC - when I first met him I felt so comfortable - his way of teaching is very patient and informative. Alan has a method of teaching that allows you to absorb valuable information while learning a skill. He makes the lessons simple and fun. Alan gives you the opportunity to learn at your own pace and that's wonderful for mature students that wish to learn something new. If I could - I would let everyone know that there is a chance to experience your musical dream - Just take a chance as a matter of fact take a Lesson.Show More
Ahh man, Alans great. He is patient and very good at explaining certain scales and techniques. He'll get you on that path you're trying to get on.


text:
The Cambridge Technical Service Group is here to help answer your questions concerning Cambridge equipment, parts, service, and repair. In order to better serve you we have 3 ways of reaching us.
Phone: 800-473-4569
Fax: 636-449-0900
email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Cambridge has live or virtual training seminars to further your knowledge on servicing Cambridge Engineering equipment.
schedule training


text:
Crime - Sacto 911
Sacramento judge rejects challenge to government's marijuana classification
In remarks from the bench on Wednesday, a Sacramento judge said she will reject a challenge to the federal government's classification of marijuana as one of the most dangerous street drugs.
The remarks of U.S. District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller were made during a brief status conference in the case of 16 individuals indicted in October 2011 on charges of conspiring to manufacture at least 1,000 marijuana plants in Tehama and Trinity counties.
Mueller assured the opposing attorneys she will file a written opinion by the end of the week.
The challenge has been closely watched by medical marijuana activists, the media and the legal community nationwide.
The judge's remarks were first reported by California NORML, a nonprofit, membership organization dedicated to legalizing cannabis. Representatives of NORML were in the courtroom.
Mueller said her duty is "to resolve the legal questions," and not to make public policy. She "treads lightly," she said, because the defendants are challenging a decision "made by Congress, which is the first representative branch of government."
She concluded "this is not the court and this is not the time" to declare a federal statute unconstitutional. However, contrary to prosecutors' arguments, she said she also concluded "the defendants have standing to bring this challenge" and "the court has jurisdiction."
Mueller said that the statute passes the "rational basis" test, and additional questions raised by the defense are for Congress to resolve.
She said the defendants did not meet their burden of showing discriminatory application of the government's zero-tolerance policy on marijuana.
In November 2013, San Francisco attorney Zenia Gilg, who represents defendant Brian Justin Pickard, filed a motion to dismiss the indictment, contending on constitutional grounds that scientific and medical evidence casts serious doubt on the accuracy of government findings that resulted in the listing of marijuana as a "Schedule I" controlled substance.
Gilg and co-counsel Heather Burke argued that "there exists no rational basis on which such a classification may be justified. In sum, the evidence is indisputable: cannabis can and has been used safely under medical supervision for decades."
Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel Wong's initial reaction was that Mueller has no jurisdiction, that it is a question reserved for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and Congress. When the judge told him she was going to proceed with an in-depth examination of the question, he said it would have to be handled by attorneys from the U.S. Justice Department in Washington, D.C., and that would take some time to arrange. She said that was not a problem, that there was no hurry.
In a brief filed in January, Gilg and Burke argued that the government's fiscal 2015 appropriations bill "leave(s) no doubt of the absurdity of this irrational classification."
The brief points out that the bill prohibits the U.S. Department of Justice from using funds to prevent 33 states, including California, "from implementing their own state laws that authorize the use, distribution, possession, or cultivation of medical marijuana."
Thus, federal law now shields medical marijuana distributors from prosecution, depending on the state in which they do business, and it now "recognizes the existence of marijuana as medicine," the brief states.
Taken as a whole, the defense attorneys claim, the situation violates the equal protection clause of the Fifth Amendment and the doctrine that all states are entitled to equal sovereignty.
But prosecutors argued in a reply brief that Gilg and Burke fell short of proving their case.
"The most defendants can muster is weak evidence that marijuana, or components within marijuana, might have medical application and should be further studied," the government's brief says.
This is the same matter the U.S. attorney general and two federal agencies "have evaluated in ... many scheduling petitions in the past 40 years, and which they are in fact evaluating now," the prosecutors stated.
They urged Mueller "to see this motion for what it is – an end run around the ongoing administrative process ..."
In a telephone interview Wednesday after the hearing, Gilg said she is "devastated for my client, but I have not given up. The issue is too important. We knew it would be a difficult battle and knew, no matter who won, it would be a decision ultimately made by" a federal appeals court.
She pointed out that, before there can be an appeal, there will either have to be a trial, or she will have to make a deal with the government calling for Pickard to plead guilty conditioned on the outcome of an appeal.
"I appreciate Judge Mueller giving us the opportunity to create this comprehensive record on the issue," Gilg said. "Such an opportunity hasn't been accorded by a federal judge in a long time. It took a lot of courage."
In a prepared statement, U.S. Attorney Benjamin Wagner said, "The question ... was not whether marijuana should be legalized for medical or recreational use, but whether decisions concerning (its) status ... should properly be made" in accord with the science-based process "set forth in the Controlled Substances Act and passed by Congress."
Call The Bee's Denny Walsh, (916) 321-1189


text:
is backordered. We will ship it separately in 10 to 15 days.
The Ribbon Chandelier Earrings are bound to turn heads with their striking shape and symmetry, made from many handmade filigree pieces to create the ultimate statement earrings.The earrings are made from 100% recycled sterling silver, measure 70x45mm and are also available plated in 18ct gold.


text:
Ankle Cuffs are still sexy, but "calf cuffs" are the new trend you better get on. By the time NYC heats up for Spring and Summer anyone whose anyone is going to have a pair of these on their calves.
P.S. These make for pretty cool upper arm bangles as well.
Check out Chromat Runway Show Feat Bond Hardware after the break


text:
A special thank you to San Jose's Blvd BombS for braving the rain this past Saturday and hosting a coat drive + handing out food for our guests at the BRC! We appreciate your help and partnership in ending homelessness together!
Special thanks to HomeFirst's Kenneth Rideout for assisting with the event and for being a great liaison!


text:
When Alex and I built our net-zero-energy house in Seattle, we didn't have to worry much about snow. Seattle gets just under 6 inches of snow per winter. The Methow Valley couldn't be more different. Unlike mild Seattle, it is a place of extremes: extremely hot in the winter, very cold in the winter, and lots of snow—56 inches average per year.
With that in mind, we've come to be very conscious about our roof pitches. When mounting solar panels, this is always a concern, since there is a latitude-specific angle that theoretically captures the most usable solar energy. Dave calculated that at our latitude, a fairly steep roof (35–40 degrees) is ideal.
Solar Production at Various Angles of Tilt
We had originally hoped to have what's called a clerestory roof, which is like a gable with the roof sections offset at the peak. One of the original designs we considered had this roofline, which had a relatively shallow slope on the southernmost section of the roof, which is where we would mount our solar panels. We realized that this would slightly reduce our annual solar production, but we were willing to live with that in exchange for the modern aesthetic of the clerestory roof.
Our thinking changed, however, when we started considering shading from snow. As we dug a little deeper into the topic, we realized that at that shallow roof angle, snow would likely pile up on our panels and bring our production down to almost zero for large parts of the winter. And because this house would be a nightly rental, we couldn't count on anyone to try to clear snow from the panels during the winter.
After doing a little research, we found that others had studied the snow-shading problem and confirmed our worries. Renewable Energy World summarizes a 2012 study on snow losses:
Winthrop-based photovoltaic vendor Ellen Lamimam further reinforced our concerns that a shallow roof angle could have a big negative effect on our annual production. We asked her what pitch we needed for snow to reliably shed from our panels, and she provided some very useful information specific to Winthrop.
To translate what she said into degrees, a 9/12 roof is about 34 degrees, and a 12/12 roof is 45 degrees.
With these slope considerations in mind, we estimated that the best angle for our south-facing roof would be about 35 or 40 degrees, which would give us good year-round production and shed snow. That took us back to the drawing board and led us to choose a more traditional gabled roof over the more modern clerestory.
If snow still doesn't shed off of our roof, we may have to encourage our guests to try the old trick of bouncing a tennis ball off of our panels to start a mini-avalanche.


text:
Regatta Farley
The zip-necked Farley is a good length, but the sleeves are too tight, with no give in the fabric. Good high, snug collar, though. Difficult to wear as a mid-layer as the sleeves are too tight to go over anything else. Good warmth as a base-layer, though, and it dried quickly when wet. A decent-length zip, too.
A lightweight, budget-end fleece that makes a useful winter base-layer or a casual top. Better fitting sleeves would make it considerably more useful.
Colours: Pinball, bark, fossil, black
Sizes: S-XXL
Fabric: Polyester double grid
Women's version: Bambi
Contact: 0161 749 1313


text:
Pics of kids should only come direct from parents. So I'm thrilled to introduce you guys to Hazel!!! #NoKidsPolicy pic.twitter.com/qVvUTRdllP
— John Krasinski (@johnkrasinski) May 13, 2014
Actor John Krasinski has shown his support for Kristen Bell's campaign to keep the paparazzi away from celebrities' children by posting a photo of his baby daughter online.
"The Office" star and his wife, actress Emily Blunt, welcomed their first child, daughter Hazel, in February, and the star took to Twitter on Tuesday to share the very first photo of their bundle of joy, in which the tot is stretching her arms while laying in her bassinet.
He added the caption, "Pics of kids should only come direct from parents. So I'm thrilled to introduce you guys to Hazel!!! #NoKidsPolicy"
Krasinski and Blunt have joined the likes of Alyssa Milano and Minnie Driver, who have signed on to help Bell and her husband Dax Shepard raise awareness about their No Kids Policy campaign, which calls for a boycott of tabloids which buy in unapproved pictures of stars and their kids – in a bid to protect the youngsters from aggressive snappers.


text:
I feel like I actually do need to explain myself. My life had been such a mess lately and I feel like I am finally sorting it out, I am not there yet, but I know I will be asap. I am not quitting blogging, I was just on a long break, finally getting back into it, won't neglect it anymore. I am sorry if anyone is waiting for a email reply or comment reply I am working on it. Sorry for the delay in everything, wasn't expecting things to turn out this way. I am BACK and I will stay. I need to catch up on blogs too, haven't any for so long!
Twitter - Instagram - Tumblr - Bloglovin' - HelloCotton


text:
more from Maximum Fun
It's week 2 of MaxFunDrive 2016. Donate to the show at maximumfun.org/donate. This week, Alicia Tobin returns to talk ghosts, other people's child discipline, and small town commerce.
Download episode 418 here. (right-click)
Email us at "spy [at] maximumfun [dot] org" or phone us at (206) 339-8328.
Brought to you by:
(click here for the full recap)
Headless horseman
In Your Eyes
Water polo
Dr. Ho
Super Socco
The richest guy in town
Denny's claw machine


text:
Overview – Meru NP
This undervalued national park offers great wildlife viewing opportunities. Meru is a lot less busy than some of Kenya's more popular parks, and has an unspoilt feel. All of the Big Five are present. Elephant and buffalo are very common, and there is an enclosed rhino sanctuary containing both black and white rhino. The park is extremely scenic with tall doum palms growing along the park's many watercourses.
Pros & Cons
- Good wildlife viewing with some dry country specials
- Never very busy
- Stunning scenery
- Excellent birding with dry country specials
- Great accommodation options
- Animals aren't very habituated
- Predator sightings are hit-and-miss
Meru is home to the Big Five. Elephants migrate through the park and big herds can sometimes be encountered. Big cats are more difficult to spot, but it isn't rare to have a sighting all to yourself. Northern Kenya specials include beisa oryx, reticulated giraffe, and the odd-looking gerenuk. The rare Grevy's zebra occurs alongside the more common Burchell's zebra.
Meru is particularly scenic. The Tana River on the southern boundary is the largest waterway in Kenya, and several small streams run through the park. Beautiful doum palms and baobab trees are silhouetted against the sky, and with the red soil, make a striking background for arid-adapted animals.
Weather & Climate
The levels of precipitation change dramatically over the course of a year. Most of the Dry season (June to October) sees very little rain. This changes in October, when the rainfall edges up in advance of the Wet season (November to May), leading to a peak of wet weather in April. The opposite is true of temperatures at Meru, whose location near the equator ensures consistent daytime temperatures of around 32°C/90°F.
Best Time to Visit
The lack of rain in the Dry season (June to October) makes this the best time to get to Meru. The grass doesn't grow much, making the wildlife easier to spot, and conditions are generally better for navigating the park's lovely landscape. In the wetter months, high grass tends to obscure the animals, and elephants depart for drier ground.
Want to Visit Meru NP?
Meru NP Safari Reviews
- Expert Rating
- Wildlife
- Scenery
- Bush Vibe
- Birding
- User Rating
- Wildlife
- Scenery
- Bush Vibe
- Birding
Most Helpful Expert Review
Emma is an award-winning travel writer for Rough Guides, National Geographic Traveller, Travel Africa magazine and The Independent.
Where Elsa the lion roamed free
If you're longing for a Kenyan park which the crowds have yet to find, Meru is well worth considering. You have to work a little harder to see the animals here than in, say, Amboseli or on the open plains of the Masai Mara, but the...
Latest User Review
So far off the beaten track it's relatively undisturbed and the wildlife are thriving


text:
Until January 2nd,
I have setup a pretty Winter House next to the Mainstore with some Christmas and Winter items! I will try to add more items during the week.
Since I'm a little late, all the items below are at 100L$ each!
Cute glittery outfits for your Christmas or even your New Year eve.
Each color including :
– MESH Dress. XXS, XS, S, M, L sizes
– Non-rigged MESH Boots
– Non-Rigged MESH Hat
Available in Black, Blue, Green, Pink, Red/Black, Red/White and White
Coming with a HUD to change the Corset between 12 textures,
and the metal parts between 4 textures.
You can hide/show the corset.
XXS, XS, S, M, L sizes.
Tango appliers included.
You can find the previous Black and Red versions at the house as well.
Special versions of those cute sweaters and nice denim long denim skirts for the season.
* Winter Crush Sweaters :
Cashmere short sleeves sweaters.
Each color coming with Decorated and Plain versions. Tango appliers included.
XXS, XS, S, M, L sizes.
* Winter Vintage Denim Skirts :
Timeless long denim skirts.
Each color coming with a HUD to change the style between Plain, Lace, Ripped and Lace + Ripped.
XXS, XS, S, M, L sizes.
Have a wonderful Christmas ♥♥


text:
Why 'The Voice' star Christina Grimmie was missing from Emmys' 'In Memoriam' segment
Fans were noticeably upset over the fact that The Voice star Christina Grimmie was omitted from the Emmys' In Memoriam segment on Sunday.
In June, the 22-year-old singer was shot and killed after performing at an Orlando, Florida, concert. Grimmie competed on season six of NBC's singing competition series, which coincidentally won an Emmy that night for Best Reality Competition Show, and was a member of Adam Levine's team, finishing third.
See photos of Christina Grimmie:
See Gallery
RELATED: Henry Winkler Pays Tribute to Garry Marshall at the Emmys
The In Memorian segment was accompanied by a Tori Kelly cover of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" and featured several late singers, including Merle Haggard, Natalie Cole, Prince, David Bowie and The Eagles' Glenn Frey.
PICS: Stars We've Lost in Recent Years
On Monday, a spokesperson for the Emmys explained why Grimmie was not included in the aired segment.
"As is the case each year with the Emmys, the In-Memoriam segment is constrained by time and space," the spokesperson said in a statement to ET. "Every year, the telecast producer is unfortunately limited by the time available and cannot include every significant person who has passed in the telecast In Memoriam; therefore, we note everyone in the industry on our website In Memoriam and during a simultaneous In Memoriam crawl on our Backstage Live streaming program."
Grimmie's rep declined to comment.


text:
Share this series
and show support for the creator!
Enjoying the series? Support the creator by becoming a patron.Become a Patron
Creator's note tendermiri
RUDE. Didja miss Ant? I sure didn't. -I have a Ko-fi account now! If you'd like to throw a few bucks my way but don't feel like pledging to my Patreon, this is the place to do it. :> Art is what pays my bills right now, I appreciate all your tips and pledges!! https://ko-fi.com/tendermiri


text:
NonProfit Basics
Quick View
NonProfit Basics: Understanding the Legal Side of Making a Difference
9.99 19.99
Taking the journey towards creating a non-profit can be long and complicated. There's often so much to keep track of understand. The following guide was created to give you a solid foundational understanding of the nonprofit sector.
Add to Cart


text:
The joy of Roblox can also be experienced on iOS, Android and Kindle Fire devices! You can download our app for free on your iOS device by finding it on the App Store or by clicking here.
The following information will help describe the interface as seen on iPhones and iPads.
In-Game Controls
Movement in games is controlled by two buttons in the lower corners. To move, drag the "joystick" in the lower left corner. To jump, tap the player icon in the lower right corner.
Attacking is performed by simply tapping the screen in the location you wish to attack. To select a different weapon (if available), tap on that weapon's icon. If your inventory bar is full, you can find and select other gear that you own that are also allowed by the game's restrictions by opening your backpack. This is done by tapping the backpack icon in the upper left of the screen. You can then drag an item into a slot on the inventory bar. To close your backpack, tap the backpack icon again.
For assistance with chatting inside of games click here.
Note: The option to record in-game is not available via the Mobile App.
The Top Bar
This bar will be at the top of the screen in most sections, though the options available can vary depending on the section you are currently in.
- Search: Represented by the icon, this option will display on the Home and Games screens. On the Home screen it allows you to search for other users. On the Games screen it allows you to search games.
- Buy Robux: Represented by the icon, this option is always displayed. Tapping on it will show you your current Robux balance and allow you to purchase more. For assistance with purchasing, click here.
- Notifications: Represented by the icon, this option will show you your current stream of notifications. There is a settings option to edit whether you want it to show your friend requests or private messages. You can also edit your Mobile Push notification options here.
The Navigation Bar
This bar appears at the bottom of your screen and is accessible at all times except when playing games. Its contents are as follows:
- Home: This is what displays when you first log in. Here you will have quick access to your friends, your recently played games, games you have favorited, your friends' activity, links to the most recent blog posts, and your friend feed.
- Games: There you can search for games to play. For more information on how to do this, click here.
- Catalog: (iPad Only) Displays the Catalog for finding and purchasing items. For assistance with this, click here.
- Avatar: Here, you can customize your avatar through: R6/R15, Clothing, Body, and Animations.
- Friends: This section will list all of the players you are currently friends with. You can go straight to their profile by tapping their name. For details on sending or accepting friend requests, click here.
- Chat: Here you can read and reply to any chats you have open with your friends.
- More: This will bring you a variety of different options, see below.
The More Menu
After tapping on the More button in the Navigation Bar, you will be given several more options. These are:
- Catalog: Displays the Catalog for finding and purchasing items. For assistance with this, click here.
- Builders Club: This opens a pop up window listing all the options and benefits of the levels of our Builders Club: Builders Club, Turbo Builders Club, and Outrageous Builders Club.
- Profile: This will load your profile as it appears on a desktop/laptop computer.
- Avatar: (iPad only) This page will allow you to dress your avatar just as you would on a laptop/desktop computer. For assistance with this, please click here.
- Friends: This will show your current list of friends, following, followers and requests. You can accept your friend requests here. For more information on this process, click here.
- Groups: Here you can view and participate in your groups. For more details, click here.
- Inventory: Here you can see all of the items you have purchased. For more information on this section, including how to have your avatar wear an item, click here.
- Messages: This is your Messages section. Here you can read and reply to any messages you have been sent. For assistance with doing so, click here.
- Events: This will list any special events that are currently going on such as holiday or cross promotional games.
- Blog: This is a shortcut to the Roblox blog.
- Settings: This section will allow you to change your password or the email address associated with your account. This is also the section that lets you log out of Roblox.
- About: (iPhone only) This will provide you the following options: About us, Careers, Parents, Terms, and Privacy.
- Trade: (iPad only) By tapping this, you can view all of your Robux purchases and sales, account summary, current and completed item trades and participate in the Roblox promotion program.
- Help: This is a shortcut to the Roblox help section.
- Log Out: (iPhone only) Option to sign out of your account.
Additional Help


text:
We arrived back in London later that afternoon and took a taxi to our final airbnb. I'll mention here that I loved the British taxis! They felt like stepping back in time and all our cab drivers were friendly and funny. We headed straight to an area called Covent Garden via the tube. We didn't have enough time our first 2 days in London to figure out the tube but this half in London we did! One of the best planning decisions I made was to get visitor Oyster cards for us. We put $30 on it for our trip and it was just enough to travel on the tube for 3 full days. The tube was so easy to use and navigate that Joe and I actually really liked using it to get around.
Covent Garden was full of shopping, food, and street performers that we thoroughly enjoyed. It felt very British with smaller roads, tiny shops, and locals everywhere.
Joe found a cigar and pipe shop named Segar & Snuff that reminded me of the wand shop in Harry Potter.
Joe got a handmade pipe here as his souvenir from London.
In Covent Garden, there is a small part called Neal's Yard. It's a colorful, quaint little section and is where we ate dinner.
Homeslice Pizza was a wood fired pizza place with the most amazing pizza I think I've ever had. We all split a huge salami, rocket, parmesan pizza and enjoyed talking with the locals seated at the table with us.
After dinner, we walked around the area some more and watched the street performers.
On Sunday, we headed straight to the Tower of London. I highly suggest the Yeoman Warder's tour here. It was so interesting and very entertaining! We loved it.
We of course stood in line to see the Crown Jewels and then climbed our way into the Bloody Tower. For lunch we got bratwurst on fresh baquettes from a little cart at the Tower of London. Next, we made our way over to Buckingham Palace. This was something we felt we needed to see for our first time in London but you really just look at it and then leave.
From here, my parents headed to the Churchill War Rooms and Joe and I left for Kensington Palace. At the station where we got off, there was a Tardis looking police box so I had to get a photo!
We then took the tour of Kensington and saw a few different sections of the palace.
It ended with a display of the fashion from Queen Elizabeth, Princess Margaret, and Princess Diana. I loved this wallpaper in the hallway!
It turned out to be a nice day so we enjoyed the gardens. Everywhere in London you could rent bicycles and return them at many stations throughout the city. We rented some at Kensington and rode around the gardens for a little bit. We watched families having picnics, getting ice cream, riding bikes, and riding a small carousel. Joe and I concluded that we would definitely come here on the weekends if we lived in London!
We met back up with my parents at The Volunteer, a pub on Baker Street. I got the roast beef and potatoes, but it wasn't my favorite on the trip. Since we were right next door, we had to take a photo of Sherlock Holmes address 221b Baker Street.
From here, we walked up to Abbey Road since Joe is a huge Beatles fan. This was disappointing since a large group of people were on either side trying to take photos along the crosswalk. Joe settled for a photo in front of Abbey Road Studios instead!
We were all hungry for dessert so we headed back to Covent Garden and got Shake Shack milkshakes. Not very British but delicious! That night Joe and my dad headed to a local pub while my mom and I relaxed at the flat.
Our last day in London came much too quickly. We woke up early and took the tube to Westminster Abbey. We ate breakfast first at an attached restaurant called The Cellarium Cafe. I got the french toast and bacon and Joe got a bacon sandwhich with a pot of earl grey tea. We took the audio guide tour through Westminster and enjoyed learning about the history of the place and who was buried there.
A local had told us to check out Camden Market so we did around lunch time. It was hectic and reminded us of Chinatown in NYC. None of us really enjoyed it so we left after only 45 minutes. I wouldn't recommend checking it out. We also tried to head to Leadenhall Market but this was closed because it was a bank holiday. By this time we were ready for lunch so we stopped at Temple Brew House.
We knew we wanted to do some shopping on our last day so we headed back toward the Covent Garden area again. Did I mention we loved this part of London? A few of the shops we enjoyed were Cath Kidston, John Lewis, Topman, and an area of old bookstores including a shop called Alice through the Looking Glass (this was closed but it looked very cool through the window). I got an adorable tote bag and dishtowel from the gift section of John Lewis off of Oxford Street.
Joe and my dad got some cool British icon socks from Topman featuring airplanes, taxi cabs, and the british flag.
After we were done shopping, we were ready for dinner. Our final dinner in London was at Nandos which several people had recommended to me. We all split a lemon & herb roast chicken with french fries. It was very good and one of the only places we visited with free drink refills! For dessert, we found a Wafflemeister and got delicious waffles with vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce.
On our way back to the flat, we made one last stop for me. King's Cross Station. I had to do the nerdy thing and get a photo at Platform 9 3/4 to end our last night.
It didn't rain one drop on our whole trip, but as we took off to head home it started raining. We couldn't have asked for a better trip! We all loved London the best, even though Paris was great, and Joe and I said we would definitely move to London for a year if we could. I'm already thinking about where we could travel to next :)
To recap, here were our top 5 things from London and Paris:
- Food
- Saint Germain de Pres
- Seine River Cruise
- Perfume shop
- Eiffel tower and Paris at night
- Covent Garden
- Bath
- Tower of London
- Kensington Palace
- The pubs


text:
Happy Tuesday! Today I am participating in Top Ten Tuesday hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.
Most weeks I have a really hard time thinking of ten things to include in my Top Ten list. That was not the case this week! When I saw this topic I was really excited because I knew it was one I could easily finish. I like the idea of going back in my reading reserve to the time before I was a blogger because I've only been a blogger for about a year but I've been reading for about the past 20 years. So without further ado and in no particular order..
Top Ten Favorite Books I Read Before I Was A Blogger:
1. The World is Flat by Thomas L. Friedman
I read this book soon after it was published while working my first internship for a major corporation. I remember how amazed I was that I was observing the things he described in his book (specifically the phenomenon known as in-shoring) as a 20 year old eating lunch at her desk in Kansas. The information in this book is probably somewhat dated now so it might be hard for a reader in 2013 to comprehend why I loved this book so much, but when it was published in 2005 it was pretty exciting (at least for me).
2. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
Say what you will about Anna (as a character) but I still think this book is both epic and beautifully written. I remember feeling a real sense of accomplishment when I finished this one.
3. A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
I had never heard of Hosseini or The Kite Runner when I picked up this book at the library on a whim. I had no idea what to expect, and this beautiful and sad novel completely blew me away. I have since read The Kite Runner, and while I did absolutely love it it just didn't have the same effect for me as this one did. There is something almost magical about picking up a book on a whim that is hard to recreate once you have set expectations.
4. Bel Canto by Ann Patchett
I absolutely loved this beautiful and unique novel. I had never really read much (or maybe even heard of) about Stockholm Syndrome before I read this novel, but I found Patchett's exploration of it fascinating.
5. Little House on the Prairie series by Laura Ingalls Wilder
I loved these books SO MUCH growing up. Santa Claus brought me these books for Christmas as a little girl, and I credit them with sparking my love of reading. I've read all of them more times than I can count, and many of them are now held together with scotch tape. It only takes one look at my Little House collection to see that they have been well loved.
6. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
This was the first Jane Austen book I ever read and still probably my favorite. I've read this book so many times, and I find something new to love about it every time!
7. The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
I loved this book from the first sentence. I think Wharton does a great job of creating very human characters, and exploring the fine line between personal freedom and societal expectations.
8. Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi
I thought this was a fantastic book about the power of literature to comfort you and change you. It moved me more than any other book I read that year.
9. Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
What can I say about this series that hasn't already been said? I loved these books when I first read them, I love them still.
10. The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
I loved this unique story when I first read it, but I have been really surprised by how much it has stuck with me.
What are the favorite books you read before becoming a blogger?


text:
Sabbatical End and Saintly Sinners
Thank you so much for a month's respite from writing on Sayable. In reality, that grace wasn't yours to give, but thank you for not giving me a hard time if I saw you around real life. The month was good for me to just step back, remember why I write, or rather, for Whom I write. I hope the coming weeks will show evidence of fruit born there. If you're interested, I'm over at Deeper Church today on what one person called a Faukneresque piece and another person asked if there was unresolved bitterness stemming over in it. The truth is I did write this piece with the fire of a soul who longs for the Church to be free of her trappings. I did not write it with one local church in mind. I've darkened the doors of more churches than I remember in my life. They each gave me treasures and they each gave me baggage. And I love my church home, but last night around the dinner table, I sure was glad to hear my pastor talk about opportunities for repentance and areas of growth. Further up, further in.
Church Camp is where we learned about the power of the Holy Ghost and felt the damning when we didn't speak in tongues. Maybe next year, we thought. Maybe next year I'll have my junk together and the Holy Ghost will condescend to fall on me. But next year came and I was still swallowing my dry and unloosed tongue. This is where we learned about demons and maybe I have one. Maybe he isn't scared off by my verses and stars and Sunday School attendance. Maybe he knows the bible better than I do.
Continue reading The Saintly Sinners of Evangelicalism.


text:
Amber & Jason / Lake Tyler Wedding
I couldn't be more happy for my friends Amber & Jason. Amber has been a close friend of ours for years now, and it was a truly special experience getting to shoot a wedding with my wife was a brides maid, and my daughter was the flower girl. This gorgeous day went down at Lake Tyler Petroleum Club with floral designs by La Tee Da . Special thanks to Amber and Jason's families for treating me and my family so well and for having us as part of your day!


text:
Mustard/Brown Wool. 60% wool, 40% Polyester. Width 150cm.
Price per half metre €8.25 measures 50cm X 150cm price per metre €16.50 measuring 100cm X 150cm.
Multiple quantities will be cut as a continuous length of fabric.
Latest from the blog
Absolute Beginners Dressmaking course
August 14th, 2015
Lisa's Lust List Blog
August 6th, 2015
Cool Crisp Culottes
June 5th, 2015


text:
Shop this video: Instant organization for every room
Organize every room in the house with this brilliant 15-inch folding storage ottoman that looks more like a chic piece of furniture than a storage solution. This multi-purpose storage solution is also ideal for use as extra seating, a step stool, foot rest or even a coffee table. It's also large enough to hold shoes, handbags, board games, toys, throw blankets and more Assembles with no tools in just seconds!
More videos to shop:
Hot right now: Romantic lace-up tops
Layer on style in a mixed metal necklace
Mask flaws in the chicest way


text:
5 Steps to Help When You're Overcommitted/
We all love to feel busy. Busy means important. It's a psychological frame for our own desires to be loved, wanted, and needed. To fit in, to feel connected.
Being busy isn't a bad thing (though it's not a healthy life construct, says the queen of busy-ness…).
Busy-ness is a slippery slope to overcommitment, when being busy turns into a major stressor instead of a way for us to feel connected to the universe around us.
I hit moments every quarter when I'm suddenly, completely, irrevocably overwhelmed by my work. I'm a Yes Girl, and sometimes I agree to too many things, and the next thing I know, fifteen things are due within the same two-week period, and there's travel and PR and a book due, but I have to take time away from writing to deal with them. These "things" are everything from mentoring to blurbing books to reading for shows to judging contests to PR for book releases. It's the business of writing. And sometimes, it gets in the way of the creative process.
None are these things required. Honestly, I could easily shut myself up in my ivory tower and only ever create books. People ask me all the time why I don't. As they point out, the world isn't going to stop if I say no. But these are the ways I try to give back to the writing community. It's how I balance out my karmic debt.
I use all kinds of tools to dig myself out from my tendency to overcommit: Wunderlist, of course, and my Bullet Journal. But mostly, it's just me, wandering the house, grumbling to myself about what I need to do, consumed with a baseline panic that I'll never get it all done.
I know this is my MO. It happens a lot. My debut year, I co-ran a marketing organization, co-ran a writing blog, judged a massive year-long contest with over 360 books to read, plus wrote two novels and toured 13 states. I had so many balls in the air my balls were juggling balls of their own. (Ahem. See my blog last week...)
I swore I'd never do it again, yet here I am, 12 years later, still overcommitting myself, still juggling.
Now, I have learned the value of saying NO, and trust me, I use it liberally. I won't do something if I'm not 100% sure it's a good fit for me, that it will either make me feel good, or benefit someone I care about. If it doesn't hit the marks I've set, I say no. I also am very careful to say no to things that coincide with my big deadlines. I know myself well enough not to schedule an event, a trip, a bookclub anywhere near a book deadline. That's when I have to say no to EVERYTHING.
But there are lots of things that meet the yes criteria. So how do I dig myself out? For real, not just grumbling about it?
It's the old saw - how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.
First, I admit to myself I've gotten in over my head.
Admitting you have a problem propels you toward the action to resolve that problem, whether it's as simple as overcommitting or as serious as admitting you are depressed, or over-drinking. Admission is the first step to fixing things.
Second, I pull together every single project due over the next few weeks and take a long, hard look.
I prune away things that are part of said overcommitments but cancelling won't tear a hole in the fabric of the universe. The haircut that can be pushed two weeks, the lunch I said I'd host (90% of my friends are creatives with their own deadlines—they get it). Anything that can be rescheduled without causing heartburn, or outright cancelled altogether, gets the chop.
Third, I choose two projects.
Just two. Normally, they'll be a priority already because of their respective deadline, but sometimes because they're more cohesive together. And edit and a blurb book, for example. The trick is to allow myself to only focus on two things, believing the rest will be dealt, in the same method.
Fourth, I start breaking my day into chunks based on the two projects.
Using the blurb book and edit examples again, my day looks like this:
10:00 am – 12:30pm: read the blurb book
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm: work on my edits
3:00 pm: take a walk, clear my head, do some yoga
3:30 pm–5:00 pm: work on edits
5:00 pm–6:00 pm: deal with business, including PR, social media, etc. that must be handled, more exercise
6:00 pm – 7:00 pm: prep and eat dinner
8:00 pm – 10:00 pm: read some more
Fifth, and this is the most important step — finish.
Finishing is important. Write the blurb. Send off the edit. Then and only then will I tackle the next two projects.
If I stick to this program, within a week or so, most of the commitments are dealt with and I'm left with only my own work again. The space that creates brings harmony. With harmony, I swear never to get myself overcommitted again.
This method really does help whenever you're feeling out of control. Note the twice-a-day exercise slots, too. When I'm feeling exceptionally frazzled, a walk, some stretching, anything grounding really helps. If I'm in truly dire straights, I will take something to help me focus, but I avoid that at all costs. Most of the time, a cup of tea and some deep breaths whilst petting a kitten works just as well as a pill.
Now, if you'll excuse me, a timer is about to go off in the kitchen, and I have some plates to fill!
What's your favorite trick for dealing with overcommitment?
Never miss a post! Subscribe to the blog or get email updates.


text:
The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.Mahatma Gandhi
There is so much more to people than the tip of the iceberg that they choose to show us and it's all too easy to judge on that basis. When you take the time to get to know someone you realise what great weight they may be carrying or what depths that have kept hidden. And what awe-inspiring beauty lies beneath.
I spent last weekend staffing a women's personal development retreat in Surrey run by an international organisation called Women Within at Juniper Hall in Surrey. I only recently came to this organisation back in February when I attended the weekend for the first time as a participant. What I experienced there was nothing short of life changing - for me and the women around me. I found an acceptance and openness in a community that shares so much love, laughter, tears, communication and support based on ancient traditions of sisterhood. As I left that first weekend I knew I wanted to keep this connection and so volunteered for this recent weekend to enable other women to have the same experience. I am grateful to Christian for making the introduction to me through his own experiences with a similar organisation for men, The Mankind Project. And grateful to the incredible women who have come into my life to make it so much more joyful.
The next weekend is November 1st - 3rd.


text:
D.A.R. Aspen Snowflake 2012
Orange HOWELL
The Daughters of the American Revolution Aspen Snowflake 2012 will be available for the Continental Congress annual meeting for Daughters of the American Revolution. The Daughters of the American Revolution Continental Congress is a time-honored tradition that has been held in Washington, D.C. as the annual national meeting of the DAR membership since the organization's founding in 1890. Not to be confused with the United States "Congress," the DAR national meeting is named after the original Continental Congress which governed the American Colonies during the Revolutionary War.
The D.A.R. Snowflake Ornament celebrates America's Founding Mothers, and Orange HOWELL's owner, Paula Zanger's own family heritage. Orange Howell is the given name of her great, great grandfather, married to Fanny Bedwell. Paula is a direct descendant (on her Mother's side), of Mayflower passenger Elizabeth Tilley-Howland and John Howland a passenger and signer of Mayflower Compact who helped found Plymouth Colony, Robert Bedwell one of the six delegates to the first meeting of the Pennsylvania Assembly in Philadelphia in 1703, and American Revolutionary Patriots, Benjamin Barnard and Barachiah Macy.
Those in attendance include over 3,000 delegates representing the membership of 165,000 Daughters from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and many international chapters. Since its founding, the DAR has promoted historic preservation, education and patriotism and those objectives are reflected in all of the events of DAR Continental Congress.
Aspen Crystal Snowflake will be available at Neiman Marcus online, September 2012 and eshop on the Orange HOWELL website.