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Category Archives: Office Space
ACTIVATE FACEBOOK NEW PROFILE http://www.facebook.com/about/profile/ TOUR VIDEO #TDGV
Reverse-Sorted Tweets from rlavigne42: 17:35 PM Oct 19th – 14:36 PM Oct 21st
- Brand Conversation with Robert Lavigne http://pulsene.ws/am2T (via @Jon_Ferrara) Thanks for the shoutout on the interview Jon. Appreciated
17:35 PM Oct 19th from Tweetie for Mac
- @tusken Thanks for the RT on my recent interview Trevor. Blog Link: http://altaeeblog.com/brand-conversation-with-robert-lavigne/
17:39 PM Oct 19th from Tweetie for Mac
- RT @thebrandbuilder: RT @JessKalbarczyk: Our cell phone use, by the numbers – http://bit.ly/ch7sZf #cnn
18:13 PM Oct 19th from TweetDeck
- @mwbuckingham looking forward to announcement Marcus
18:15 PM Oct 19th from Tweetie for Mac
- Gotta love Toronto traffic! -Photo: http://bkite.com/bflw2 (via @shanegibson) Why I love working from my home office (and in the GTA myself)
18:23 PM Oct 19th from Tweetie for Mac
- We're building, building, building. (via @taskave) < watch for these guys. trust me on this one.
18:24 PM Oct 19th from Tweetie for Mac
- Shout-outs to @taskave's @matt416 @bgilham @n8garvie @heuristicmedia @skanwar #swtoronto in The Toronto Star: http://bit.ly/cJVKzy < +1
18:25 PM Oct 19th from Tweetie for Mac
- "social media tools have exposed the workforce to a variety of alternative means of communication in their daily lives." (via @MAltaee) #E20
20:00 PM Oct 19th from Tweetie for Mac
- @bgilham Keep up on this great startup. Looking forward to seeing you progress with the concept. Love the favour concept BTW.
21:04 PM Oct 19th from Tweetie for Mac
- @peterradzio says a lot about the emergence of gaming consoles to entertainment center social appliance
22:07 PM Oct 19th from Tweetie for Mac
- Microsoft Launches Office 365, Bringing Millions Into the Cloud http://j.mp/cxjmWe (via @ruhanirabin)
22:42 PM Oct 19th from Tweetie for Mac
- Less than 2 weeks since celebrating our 2nd Grand-Am Team Champ in as many years, & 2011 is starting to look like a great year! (via @C360R)
22:43 PM Oct 19th from Tweetie for Mac
- Let's. Get. Creative. (via @alkarim)
23:44 PM Oct 19th from Tweetie for Mac
- Slashdot Games Story | Disc-Free Netflix Streaming Arrives For the PS3 and Wii http://post.ly/15kZO
0:54 AM Oct 20th from Posterous
- Slashdot Apple Story | The Case For Apple Buying Facebook http://post.ly/15kfr
1:02 AM Oct 20th from Posterous
- Slashdot News Story | Microsoft Announces Web-based Office365 http://post.ly/15kgg
1:03 AM Oct 20th from Posterous
- RT @Intelliware_Inc: Martin Fowler at #att10 keynote on Agile. Pack house.
9:28 AM Oct 20th from web
- RT @colinbowern: "Turn late changing requirements into a competitive advantage" #att10
9:28 AM Oct 20th from MetroTwit
- RT @shawnbut: Martin Flowler: "Most agile projects do more planning than process-driven projects, but they do it continuously" #att10
9:30 AM Oct 20th from Twitter for BlackBerry®
- RT @colinbowern: "People are highly variable and non linear" yet process tends to assume they are otherwise #att10
9:30 AM Oct 20th from MetroTwit
- RT @shawnbut: Martin Fowler: "Scrum and XP are good starting points, but its important that the team decide their own process" #att10
9:31 AM Oct 20th from Twitter for BlackBerry®
- @animal appreciate the feedback. Feel free to link in and let's talk more about that guest spot. Always happy to help out with context.
9:34 AM Oct 20th from Twitter for iPhone
- RT @jungho_kim: Integration is Hard… so Do it Frequently, Do it Often!!! #att10
9:35 AM Oct 20th from Tweetie for Mac
- Listening to Martin Fowler at #att10. Collecting video interviews over the course of day with persevered and attendees. Tweet me to meetup.
9:37 AM Oct 20th from Twitter for iPhone
- RT @shawnbut: "With continuous integration your source code control becomes an important communication system" #att10
9:42 AM Oct 20th from Twitter for BlackBerry® Continue reading
#TDGv Agile: Agile Tour '10 Toronto Conference Coverage Announcement
UPDATE: The #TDGv Agile Playlist is now live and awaiting content from the event
A year ago, I was fortunate to attend and blog the Agile Tour '09 Toronto Conference. At that event, I received an iPod Touch that would become a key element of the architecture that supports the @RLavigne42 projects. This year, I wanted to give back to the event that gave to me.
I am proud to announce, that The RLavigne42 Podium will be providing video coverage of the *Sold Out* Agile Tour '10 Toronto Conference on October 20th, 2010.
Not only will I be capturing 720p highlights of the event, but I will be providing opportunities to the speakers to video tape a 3 minute summation of their presentation. I will have candid chats with attendees and colleagues. All of these will be part of the upcoming YouTube @RLavigne42 Segment – ##TDGv Agile. I will be providing a OOMP at the beginning event outlining my efforts for the day.
Until then, simply know – "Look for the @RLavigne42 bobblehead camera and introduce yourself."
The team has put together a fantastic line up of guests and well rounded Agile coverage. The Conference Program for Agile Tour Toronto '10 is keynoted by non other than Martin Fowler. Please check out the conference schedule for a detailed look at the speakers and topics. There is no doubt in my mind that this is a step up and a move forward for the team putting together this now yearly event.
Take Care,
If you wish to view past @RLavigne42 Segements, here is a handy list of recent projects.
#TDGv Promo
#TDGv Muay Thai
#TDGv Engage
#TDGv 101010
#TDGv Racing
My Thoughts Enclosed: The Three Gears of Enterprise Social Media Adoption
UPDATE Sept 27, 2010: Video Version Now Live
I was talking with my RHB-pal, Dave Howlett, on Facebook a few days ago about the problem with Social Media Experts. I made a point of stating how many of these so-called "experts" were quite often pushing social tools (e.g. Twitter, YouTube, Facebook) without a clear understanding on their proper use. I ended my mini-rant with a statement that many social tool adopters were left stuck in a broadcasting mindset, leaving them wondering why they weren't finding success. This lack of success was often leaving a bad impression on not only the toolsets being promoted, but more importantly a bad vibe on the entire consultancy process around their adoption.
Dave Howlett, who leads the Real Human Being Nation, shared his infinite Third Gear wisdom with me after my rant. Dave indicated that it was not the social tools themselves that were flawed, but that people were using them in the wrong gear. Not only was Dave 100% correct in his assessment, but he clearly established a link with Enterprise 2.0 / Social CRM success and his Third Gear philosophy.
First Gear on the Highway (self-directed behaviour) – characterized by speeding, swerving, tail-gating, etc "I'm the most important person out here."
Second Gear on the Highway (reciprocity behaviour) – characterized as being courteous to others as long as they are courteous to you (waving a guy in front of you and expecting a wave in return). The danger of second gear is that when the expected rewards/outcome does not occur, or not within a timely fashion, the individual resorts to first gear.
Third Gear on the Highway (the "good guy" or "amazing woman" behaviour) – doing the right thing whether people thank you or not. Detaching your actions from reward. Waving a car in and not getting upset when they don't wave thanks. This is the gear of independence, employee engagement, sales excellence, inspiration leadership.
Shortly after our discussion about the synergies of his RHB philosophy and the World of 2.0, Dave challenged me to come up with what I would consider to be the Three Gears of Enterprise Social Media Adoption. I make a point here of referring to Social Media Adoption as a generic term.
Enterprise 2.0 deals with leveraging Social Media within the enterprise to break down existing silos and increase the overall collaboration and engagement within the Enterprise. My good friend, and fellow XBOX360 Zombie killer, Dan Keldsen helped define Enterprise 2.0 as "a system of web-based technologies that provide rapid and agile collaboration, information sharing, emergence and integration capabilities in the extended enterprise".
Social CRM deals with leveraging Social Media outside of the enterprise to truly reach out to the customer base and engage them into the product development and support process. Paul Greenberg is widely acknowledged as having properly defined Social CRM as "a philosophy & a business strategy, supported by a technology platform, business rules, workflow, processes & social characteristics, designed to engage the customer in a collaborative conversation in order to provide mutually beneficial value in a trusted & transparent business environment. It's the company's response to the customer's ownership of the conversation."
So without further ado, here is my attempt to describe Social Media/Enterprise 2.0/Social CRM adoption issues using Dave Howlett's Real Human Being Third Gear philosophy.
First Gear of Enterprise Social Media Adoption
The RHB First Gear is based on self-directed behaviour. Most historical organizations and their employees clearly fall into a First Gear mindset. When implementing their social tools, they fail to gain traction due to the outdated and flawed mindset that "Knowledge is Power". Within that mindset they find themselves hoarding their content for their own self-directed purposes.
As I have often stated, Content is Free and the real value of information is in its Context.
Everything is now searchable and we are seeing a triving crowdsourced Q&A community on Linkedin, Google, and Facebook. As such, any perceived value that comes from hoarding content is now very much moot in a world that is becoming more and more knowledge transparent by the day. If you choose to hoard your knowledge, do not be surprised to find yourself surplanted by someone within the larger global workforce who is willing to engage for free or in an evolving world of micro-payments for micro-engagements. For the real value is in the contextual application of this freely accessible knowledge, and commercialized innovation should be your primary value proposition.
First Gear is also present when Social Media is used primarily as a Broadcasting mechanism. Although the information is no longer being hoarded per say, its bot-like mindset fails to engage the consumers in any dialogue. It is very much a "me, me, me" one-sided presentation of content that goes against the fundamental concept of the Social Web and thus the Social Enterprise. When people choose to engage with your content, you are already gone and focussing on your next PR release. Sadly many Social Media A-lister have reverted back to First Gear mentality after having found commercial success.
Second Gear of Enterprise Social Media Adoption
The RHB Second Gear is based on reciprocity behaviour. No longer is information being hoarded, nor simply broadcasted. Content is now shared with the expectation of engagement and reciprocation.
Collaborating with a Second Gear mindset is a very dangerous stage of adoption. This transitionary stage towards Enterprise 2.0 / Social CRM adoption is where most potential successes become unfortunate failures. The right steps are undertaken in the sharing of content, but it is done with an expectation level that is often unattainable in the infancy of adoption.
While sharing content in Second Gear, you expect your "wave in return". You expect to have your content ReTweeted, Liked, and Commented upon. When you fail to achieve this intended outcome, your real motivations of using Social Media becomes apparent.
When that wave/engagement doesn't occur, you gravitate very quickly back into a First Gear mindset. This is where many of the flawed prophets show their true colours. They fail to live up to the Social Media hype, because they themselves have unrealistic expectations and imcompatible behaviours to using the Social Media toolsets.
The reality is that it take a long time to build up the momentum behind Social Media utilization. You need to become patient in getting that engagement. You need to not focus on getting 20% engagement from the 80%, but find that powerful 20% that will generate the true 80% of the value. To achieve this, you need to be willing to let many people not wave back to be able to encounter those that do and this brings us to the value of Third Gear.
Third Gear of Enterprise Social Media Adoption
The RHB Second Gear is based on what Dave Howlett terms the "good guy" or "amazing woman" behaviour. While in Third Gear, your actions are dictated by the actions themselves and not the perceived or anticipated rewards that come with those actions. You know the wave will eventually come, and you will be that much richer for engaging with those that are engaging back.
Third Gear is where true engagement and collaboration materializes. When sharing content with this mindset you don't mind receiving constructive critism. You accept the knowledge that your content will be modified and mashed up into a much larger or divergent community.
Hutch Carpenter wrote a great blog entry where he discusses the impact of Metcalfe's Law and the Dundar Number on collaboration and engagement.
Metcalfe's Law states that "The value of a network is proportional to the square of the number of connected participants."
The Dunbar Number indicates that "the MAXIMUM number of people that a person could keep up with socially at any given time, gossip maintenance, was 150. This doesn't mean that people don't have 150 people in their social network, but that they only keep tabs on 150 people max at any given point."
Both Metcalfe's Law and the Dunbar Number play a large role in finding success in Enterprise Social Media Adoption using the Third Gear philosopy.
Hutch states that "traditional means of engaging in collaborative work, the Metcalfe's Law advantages of information diversity are limited by our Dunbar's Number ability to keep up with the new connections."
Many people have asked me why I choose to socially network with a community that is far larger than the Dundar Number permits. My reply is that I would rather find my "A-Team of 150" from a larger community, than merely turning to the 150 people that I have met in real life over the years.
So I use my Third Gear philosophy to wave many people into my network by sharing openly my knowledge. I know full well that many will not wave back or engage in a manner that I hoped for. However, for those few that choose to wave back and engage I will build a much stronger and personalized "Dunbar Group" within a community that has scaled to a level where leveraging Social Media drives my commercial endeavours.
The Three Gears of Enterprise Social Media Adoption in a Nutshell
First Gear of Enterprise Social Media Adoption (self-directed behaviour) – characterized by Hoarding of Knowledge and/or Broadcasting of Content leading to bot-like behaviours that fails to engage the intended audience into a collaborative encounter.
Second Gear of Enterprise Social Media Adoption (reciprocity behaviour) – characterized by Sharing of Content with unrealistic expectation. Using Social Media in Second Gear leads you to revert to First Gear when someone doesn't comment/like/retweet before gaining real engagement and collaboration.
Third Gear of Enterprise Social Media Adoption (the "good guy" or "amazing woman" behaviour) – characterized by sharing content to a larger community freely, openly and without reservation, with a likely outcome of finding the truly engaged and collaborative community that you were searching for.
Only through engaging using a Third Gear philosophy will you achieve the real value proposition that Social Media can deliver. Whether it is within your organization using Enterprise 2.0, or outside of your organization using Social CRM, your mindset and attitude in using the tools will determine your success or failure and not the tools themselves.
About Robert Lavigne, PMP (@RLavigne42)
Robert Lavigne researches and networks in the fields of Enterprise 2.0, Social Media, Social CRM and Personal Branding to compliment his existing Agile Development and Leadership experience.
This evolutionary knowledge furthers the delivery of Real Corporate Value (RCV). The use of modern social networking tools and related mindsets fully engages business relationships and departmental convergence.
Rob subscribes to the need for further contextualization of accessible content to achieve real returns in the field of Competitive Intelligence and Business Innovation.
Related Entries:
A Brief Background on the Emergence of @RLavigne42


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These letters belong to my aunt Joan Punter ( nee Toller ). These contain interesting home front information and political views of the war. They were written by my Great Aunt Marie to her husband George Cruden. ( both now deceased. )
In several of these letter Marie refers to George as Peter Precious- as she was a Catholic from Ireland and didn't want to introduce him to her family as George ( the English kings name ) she called him Peter.
Nov 12/1944 138 Harrow Road Wallaton Park
My Dearest & Best x
Oh, what an awful day! I hope you had a good journey yesterday & will have a better one than last on your way home tonight. Its bitterly cold today & raining hard. Well. I haven't filed in any of the cards I have but will leave you to take your choice of cards for myself & Gidd & Bert, also for mother, & the family & I will send to my own ones. Don't bother about dolls, you boy- I've got a couple — Haby Dept had a delivery of a dozen ( a prize delivery they call it ) so I was just lucky in getting one —10/= but its got a china face; not too badly dressed as things go today, so that's that- but honestly they have had some lovely toys in their few years as children…. Kids little picture books are a price too. By the way, I went to the best bookshop here yesterday for 'The Wind in the Willows' by Kenneth Graham; they told me it is out of issue, no further publications are promised, so our luck is out there, as you say, she is so advanced in her reading that a small girls book wouldn't seem to fit her. Still it is possible there may be an odd copy somewhere about, so you could perhaps enquire at one or two of the big bookshops your way. Here is list of my collection- 3 fancy boxes, stationary ( not super, but still paper & envelopes in a fancy box, 5 writing pens- 2 this size paper & three the small popular size. Hairnets & Grips & I'll see about some combs- but are there those nice black ones about that you used to get? I know combs are awfully scarce, anyway- some face powder- & by the way that Lexicon game would be appreciated by Russ & Ivy I reckons. What about some Brilliantine? Brycream you could pass to one of them. They look as if they will have to be wartime parcel of bits & pieces- but the value wont exactly be cheap.
I'll send the pencil box to Val for her birthday- with some nice color crayons to fill it up. What about you sending a 2/6 Postal Order- to buy something it will cost you more & she will do well from us all. Wish the Blinkin' coupons system wasn't so megre- theres quite a lot I'd like to do!!! By the way I shouldn't tell your chaps how often you get home now, otherwise the luck of the draw will not come your way; when have your passes to go through? Went to see 'Song of Bernadette' again yesterday- & enjoyed it- Ger?y was quite impressed too. In a letter from Gerald? Last week she asked me to pass on all my old gloves, they would still do her for cleaning the grate & coal carrying. She little knows the fuss I've got to make of my gloves these days, let alone pass 'em on for stoves!! Them days are over aren't they? Gosh talk about gloves, I came across a list which you had made out quite seven or eight years ago- & the geol..ding always had gloves & chocolates- Oh! Wouldn't it be lovely to have a 2lb box of Lafontes now!!! Well, theres one thought- we appreciated them when we got them- what about the box I kept one year- until my birthday they would last that long now. Never mind dear the good times together again are not far distant we hope, & I hope hard times will never come back- we neeent work at all, & I still get paid for doing that sounds alright on paper- but in practice I bet they'll be some shocks. Well, cheerio love, hope you had a nice weekend. Don't leave that bedroom untidy will you? Cheerio for now xxx All my love & thoughts your own loving wife x Marie x
The War in Cambridge
As written by my grandmother Connie Toller ( nee Broom ), March - April 2005
Mrs C B Toller.
When war was declaired in 1939, my husband was in the Terratorials. He joined the R.A.M.C. by choice. I had one daughter, one year and ten months old [ Valerie Toller ]and was expecting my second child in April 1940. When the first siren went I grabbed my little girl and sat in a cuboard. We heard a plane overhead and didnt know what to expect. We wondered if we were safe at night. Later on we were given a table shelter for the dining room which was very strong.
When my second daughter [Joan Toller] was born in April my brother and his new wife came to live with me as they had just got married. If the sirens sounded I had 2 children to keep look after and it was frightening each time.
My mother lived across the road [Oxford Road, Cambridge] and she had a big dug out shelter in the garden and we used to go over there sometimes while Mr. Legge across the road yelled " Hurry up". We sat in this dug out watching the ear-wigs walking about until the "All Clear" sounded.
My husband didnt see his second daughter for at least three months, when he had a short leave. It was dreadful to wave to him when he went back. I felt devastated each time.
One night a plane came over our house making a loud noise and it crashed behind our house onto the recreation ground [Richmond Road] knocking down some small cottages. Some people were killed.
My four brothers were all away. My eldest brother [George Cruden] was in the Air Force, another in the Fire Service [Bill Broom] and 2 others [Russ Broom and Arthur Cruden] away working in special work, one in Peterbourgh and one in another town.
Food was scarce of course and we spent the coupons in our ration books, then we kept our eyes open on shops to see if anybody came out with some bananas or sweets, then we would try our luck.
My eldest brother who was in the Air Force working with some Americans was coming to mothers on leave so an American gave him a bottle of vintage port (or sherry) to give to his mother. My brother got a lift on a lorry to the station. When he sat down he relized he had left his precious bottle on the lorry. He rang the police station to see if the man decided to hand it in. He had kindly done so and the police put the bottle on a train to Cambridge and informed my brother of the time he could meet the train. All worked out well and my brother made for home with the gift for mum. She opened the door just in time to see the bottle fall from my brothers hands and smashed on the doorstep running away under his feet. I didnt ask him if he smelt it or dipped his finger in for a taste.
My husband was in France and worked in the General Hospital and was a Staff Sergeant. I went to Belfast when he was there for a time. My mother looked after my 2 daughters. I stayed with 2 lovely people and watched my husband on the route marches etc. taking charge and I was proud of him.
I had a lovely baby boy in 1945, my husband sent me a telegram to say "Nice work darling".
When my husband was on the boat [Dunkirk] crossing for home the bombs were dropping and sometimes very close. He said he kept praying "Please God let me get home to my wife and children". We were all very thankful.
He was an excellent soldier, devoted to duty and did well as he also did in everything at home and at work. Sadley he died in his sixties from Cancer. When he was dying he thought of us all and hoped I would be alright. I faced the future and am now 89 years old.
When he came home on leave one day he was carrying a big blue teddy bear for the children. He saved any chocolate and brought it home. He wrote to me nearly every day he was away during the war and we had made a sort of hidden code so I would always know where he was. I would start my letters in different words and ways, as he did, so I always knew where he was.
He told me about the time a few of the men were hidding as a plane was dropping bombs, it kept coming down low and they was on a corn field or similar. A man with real red ginger hair kept bobbing up to see where the plane was and on of the soldiers said " Get your so and so head down, they can see you."
One day someone bought a cat in the hospital as it had been hit on the road. My husband stitched its wounds after a whiff of something. It got on well and was the units pet.
When my husband came home it was wonderful. We decorated the house and put banners up etc. I had another daughter later. I've got a wonderful family and over 30 grandchildren and great grandchildren.
My husband lost a nephew and his best friend in the Air Force.
It was a welcome sight when Woolworths had sweets on the counter again. I remember buying a load of sweets which looked like different fruits and coloured. They were lovely.
After the war a dance was planned to take place in a hall nearby for all the local soldiers. They were presented with valuable fountain pens and anyone could go. So we made my dear mum look nice and I curled her hair and put a glittering chiffon on her. We hadn't been in the hall long when an elderly gentleman took my mother on the dance floor, I've never forgotton it.
Your Sincerely
Constance Toller
P.S. My husband recived several medals.
P.S. My children went to the street party in Richmond Road, We have a photo somewhere in the family.
Outings during the War
As written by my aunt Val Burroughs ( nee Toller ) March 2005.
During the war we didn't go away for holidays.
We used to walk from Oxford Road [Cambridge] to the 'Backs' - the backs of the collages, sometimes pushing our dolls' prams. We would enjoy the crocuses, daisies, lingcups etc. Occasionally when uncles were home on leave we would go as a family. When Uncle George was home, he and Auntie Marie would take us to the Botanical Gardens in Bateman Street.
My mother and my granny used to take us to the Folk Museum, one of our favorite places. We would admire the wax dolls in their dolls' prams especially. ( Enid Porter, the curator was a friend of my Auntie Marie in later years though, as far as I know ) We used to climb Castle Hill opposite the Folk Museum.
Val Burroughs.
Memories of School in Cambridge
As written by my aunt Val Burroughs ( nee Toller ) March 2005.
When I was 4 years old I started at Richmond Road school [Cambridge]. The building was partly a school- partly a church, St Augustines. Sliding doors concealed the church part and the stacks of chairs. Miss Chandler was the dearly loved and respected Headmistress; Miss North was the Infant teacher. They ran the school between them, helped by a monitress, young teen-age girls and the lady cleaner, care-taker and general assistant Mrs Mansfield. When we arrived in the morning, Mrs Mansfield would help you hang up your coat; she always seemed to be avalible to wash hands or knees, to deal with grazes, fasten shoes and cheer you on with her cheerful smile or grin. She wore a cross-over apron and I think had a few missing teeth that was obvious when she grinned at you.
I remember her holding up the school pet rabbit, by its ears, unfortunately, as climax of a poem we recited at the concert, " There once was a rabbit, developed the habit of twitching its nose".
At Christmas one year each child was asked to take a toy to contribute to a collection that was set out on the 'stage' a small platform at one end of the infant room. Then one, by one, Miss Chandler sent us to go and choose a different toy to keep for ourselves. I was too shy to search for onr I really fancied, I grabbed the nearest item, a worn tennis ball and took it home. I remember my mother saying " You've got balls already, why didn't you choose something nice?"
On May Day, we would celebrate in Mrs Golding's garden which was at the corner of West Road on Huntingdon Road. A cripple girl in my class was the May Queen. We all wore pretty clothes and bonnets and danced around the Maypole, sang songs like " Oh dear little buttercup, sweet little buttercup, bloom round the throne of our queen." We carried flowers and decorated the throne.
Sometimes we would go to play in the hay in Miss Salters land at the corner bend in Storey's Way. Miss Chandler would lead us all in a crocodile down to Mrs Salters. I remember our parents taking us home after an event at Mrs Salters and, one boy messed his trousers on the walk back. a soldier dad in uniform helped him out by wiping his legs with long grass plucked from the road-side!
Val Burroughs
As written by my aunt Val Burroughs ( nee Toller ) March 2005.
Toys, Games and Occupations.
As my mother was into toys herself, she would be on the look out for any toy that she could obtain second-hand. She was delighted with a pedal-car she found in a second-hand shop in Bridge Street [Cambridge] and we would visit Shrives the toy shop near Christ's Lane and Eaden Lilly's basement toy shop. I remember going with my mother to an art shop in Trinity Street and buying watercolours in the four primary colours. Coloured pencils were restricted to those four colours. After the war I remember being just thrilled to have a wider range of colours. A girl in my class at Cambridge High School for Girls arrived at school with a packet of about a dozen coloured pencils and we all clamored around her asking where she'd obtained them. She told us a shop in Newmarket ( Woolworths I think ). Then Derwent pencils came out in Heffers and my friends and I used to go there each Saturday to choose another colour to add to our collection at 9 pence per pencil, which was quite expensive.
My mother used to take us to a shop at the corner of Bermuda Terrace to buy colouring books or magic painting books.
My uncles used to make me toys like dolls houses, monkeys or clown acrobats that swung between two sticks you had to squeeze; a balancing parrot.
We used to spend our time on the allotments- so many of my memories are of playing there and on the local Rec. in Richmond Road, where there were swings, a long rocking horse with a row of seats behind the horse's head and a really long swing with handles all along for several seated children- an older child would stand each end to keep the swing momentum going. Miss. Chandler used to take us onto the rec' sometimes towards the end of the school day. Then we would gather by a tree for the final afternoon prayer before being collected by our parents.
Mum went to Belfast for three weeks holiday to spend time with dad who was a Sergeant in the Army. When she came home she brought a baby doll for my sister and a white fur dog with lead weighted feet. My auntie used to knit dolls clothes for us.We decorated twigs with sealing wax-"blossom".
When my dad was due to come home on leave I remember drawing a picture of him in his uniform using the 'khaki' chalk.
When I'd been to the dentist in Newnham, mum took me to the toy shop there and brought me an orange pop-gun. The same shop sold us a toy sewing machine on another occasion. It did chain-stitch.
I remember tracing outline pictures from the newspaper using toilet paper as tracing paper as it was smooth, shiny and transparent.
Val Burroughs ( nee Toller )
About Michelle's Archives
This is a blog page for the archives in Michelle's own collection. It includes many of Michelle's personal family archives, tales and scrapbook items to all kinds of general archive items mainly from around Cambridge and East Anglia but some even more further afield. Search for items or subjects of interest under the categories below, by date or keyword, name or place etc. Any problems finding something or if you've any questions or comments please do get in touch by using the 'Contact' page on this website.
Archives by date they were filed.
June 2014

subset: commoncrawl


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New Beginnings behavioral treatment programs are designed specifically to meet the needs of severely emotionally disturbed (SED) children, teens, and young adults. In addition we also have programs designed to serve severely mentally impaired (SMI) adults, families, and parents. Program services are tailored to promote the clients functioning in the family and community by offering more intensive levels of therapeutic guidance and support.
New Beginnings treatment services are supported by two rehabilitative mental health program components- Intensive Outpatient Therapeutic Services, and Residential Treatment services. The objectives of all program services are based on the principals of Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT). Interventions and treatments are tailored to focus on patterns of thinking that are maladaptive and the beliefs that underlie such thinking. To meet client needs, our program services are provided in the areas of rehabilitative mental health, intensive psycho-therapy (individual, group, or family), anger management, parent training, as well as other supports such as speech therapy.
New Beginnings accepts many types of insurance carriers including Amerigroup, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Health Plan of Nevada (HPN), Humana-LifeSynch, Medicaid, and Teachers Health Trust. Please contact our office for any and all insurance questions.
Additional Information:
Behavioral Treatment and Foster Care Agency
3450 W. Cheyenne, Suite 500
North Las Vegas, Nevada 89032
Office: 702.631.0230 - Fax: 702.631.0809


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Would we be better off scrapping homework?
I don't think it should be scrapped in the sense that it suddenly became illegal to ask a pupil to research or finish a project outside school hours. I'd like to reserve the option to have tasks which are set outside the lesson boundaries – including revision, which appears to be effective, particularly where study leave is given.
"A factory worker can clock off, go home, and the working day is done – so it seems odd that we're asking children to do so much. And it's no surprise that some of them then grow to hate it."
But as we traditionally think of homework, where there's a pressure on teachers to fill a certain number of hours per week with set tasks, which are then marked – yes, get rid of it!
At the moment, children are meant to achieve 100% school attendance, but then we tell them to go home and do more work. Children in schools keep going for quite a large number of hours – they don't get free lessons like teachers do. And if I was working in a factory, say, I can clock off, go home, and my working day is done, so it seems odd that we're asking children to do so much. And it's no surprise that some of them then grow to hate it.
Learning should be encouraged, but you shouldn't enforce it. Teachers try to enthuse people with a love of learning – and people need to want to learn. You can't stop someone from reading up on history in their own time if want to.
Homework is also tedious for teachers to mark, so we could reduce that marking workload. And the most effective way to learn is if feedback is immediate and given there on the spot, rather than after the homework has been marked. The feedback has to be oral and interactive, so it would be better if teachers spent time doing that face-to-face.


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By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- Linfield College built a 21-8 lead in the first quarter, but Willamette University battled back to claim a 47-42 advantage just past the midway point of the third quarter in their Northwest Conference women's basketball game on Friday, Jan. 4 at Cone Field House. Linfield responded with a strong end to the third quarter, and the Wildcats achieved a 21-13 scoring edge in the final quarter, to defeat the Bearcats, 72-60. Linfield advanced its record to 5-7 on the season, 1-2 in the NWC. Willamette fell to 5-7 overall, 0-3 in the NWC.
Britanny Kochenderfer (Sr., G, Klamath Falls, OR/Henley HS/Idaho State Univ.) and Amanda Carpenter (So., G, Beaverton, OR/Sunset HS) hit the nets for a total of 42 points. Kochenderfer scored 23 points on 9-of-16 shooting, while Carpenter registered a career-high 19 points. Kochenderfer, who went 4 for 6 from 3-point range, also hauled down a game-high 15 rebounds. Drew Farmer (Jr., PG, Brookings, OR/Brookings-Harbor HS) scored six points, while Morgan Yamane (Fr., Moses Lake, WA/Moses Lake HS) finished with five rebounds.
Kochenderfer was just one point away from matching her career high of 24 points, set at Whitman College on Feb. 16, 2018. She has scored more than 20 points twice this season and has recorded double-digit scoring in each of Willamette's last nine game.
The Wildcats' efforts were topped by Molly Danielson with 27 points and 10 rebounds. She hit 11 of 18 field goals. Cameron Reuter tacked on 17 points to go along with five rebounds. Kory Oleson recorded 14 points, while Cassidy Schutz was credited with nine points and six boards.
Kochenderfer scored the game's first basket, but Linfield countered with a 9-0 run to move in front 9-2 with 6:46 left in the opening quarter. The run included a traditional three-point play by Oleson. A bit later, WU cut the lead to 12-6 on a jumper by Kochenderfer. The Bearcats wee also within six points at 14-8 following a layup by Kassin Hopkins (Jr., Connell, WA/Connell HS/Bellevue College) with 2:36 on the clock. Linfield closed out the quarter with a 7-0 run.
Willamette recovered well in the second quarter with a 20-11 scoring edge. Even so, Linfield held a 31-18 lead after Oleson put through a jumper at the 3:57 mark. The Bearcats scored 10 of the last 11 points in the half to pull within 32-28 at the break. The run included on 3-pointer each by Madison Ballard (Fr., G, Monroe, OR/Monroe HS) and Kochenderfer.
Linfield scored two of the first three baskets in the second half for a 36-30 lead, but it took Willamette just 2:10 to go on a 10-0 run and move in front 40-36 with 6:57 left in the third quarter. The quick surge by the Bearcats began with a 3-pointer by Kochenderfer and continued with a layup by Carpenter and a jumper from Kochenderfer. Carpenter completed the run with a 3-point basket.
The teams exchanged several baskets, with Kochenderfer's 3-pointer at the 4:11 mark giving WU a 47-42 lead. Linfield scored the final nine points of the third quarter to take a 51-47 edge into the final 10 minutes.
Maggie Smith tacked on a jumper for the Wildcats 28 seconds into the fourth quarter. The Bearcats reduced the lead to 53-50 when Carpenter scored and tacked on a free throw with 8:21 left. Willamette trailed 57-52 with 5:57 to go following a jumper by Hopkins. The Bearcats were behind by just six points, 61-55, with 3:20 remaining on a layup by Elizabeth Logsdon (Jr., F, McMinnville, OR/McMinnville HS).
Linfield extended its margin to 65-55 a bit later on a layup by Schutz with 1:35 to play. Carpenter scored next on a jumper for Willamette, but the Wildcats hit 7 of 8 free throws to lead 72-57 with 29 seconds on the clock.
The Wildcats shot 49.1% from the field (27 of 55), while hitting 2 of 6 from 3-point range and converting 16 of 22 free throws (72.7%). Linfield earned a 36-33 rebounding margin. Willamette made 23 of 59 field goals (39.0%), including 6 of 20 from beyond the 3-point arc. WU connected on 8 of 11 free throws (72.7%).
Willamette will play again at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington, on Saturday, Jan. 5. Tipoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. (PST).
Big Moment of the Game for Willamette
Amanda Carpenter hit a 3-point basket with 6:57 left in the
third quarter to give the Bearcats a 40-36 lead. She scored
seven points -- ending with the 3-pointer -- during a 12-4
run by Willamette to open the second half. Carpenter finished
the game with a career-high 19 points, breaking her previous
high of 12 points, set in two games earlier this season.


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Rehabilitation Services staff at Seashore Gardens Living Center knows the power of encouragement, effort, and form.Rehabilitation provided onsite include physical, occupational, and speech therapies. Sometimes a loved one needs rehab services along with skilled nursing care after a hospitalization. Sometimes a loved one needs therapy after a fall or medical procedure. Located close to medical offices and hospitals, the grounds offer opportunities for walking and moving so you can get back home.
We participate in Medicare/Medicaid and accept many supplemental insurance.
For more information call 609-404-4848 or email admissions at email@example.com
•Helps residents return to normal activities
•Increases strength, reduces pain, improves balance and endurance
•Teaches safe movement strategies
•Instructs on how to use adaptive techniques, skills or equipment
to overcome physical limitations and resume routine activities
•Educates on strengthening and coordination exercises
• Identifies strategies to help remember both past and upcoming events
• Breaks down and organizes information to ease decision making
• Demonstrates effective communication techniques
We participate in Medicare/Medicaid and accept many supplemental insurance.
For more information call 609-404-4848 or


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The Latest D-Link News
Product and Solution Information, Press Releases, Announcements
|D-Link 3G Mobile Wireless Router Offers New Level of Connectivity While on the Move
|Posted: Tue Aug 31, 2010 09:23:05 AM
reates a Reliable High-Speed 802.11n Wi-Fi Personal Mobile Hotspot Network Using Fast 3G Internet Access; Serves as a Powerful Backup for Conventional Internet Access
FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., Aug 19, 2010 - D-Link, the end-to-end networking solutions provider for consumers, businesses and service providers, today announced it is now shipping a portable router that creates a high-speed mobile connection while on the road, or as a backup for a local ADSL/cable Internet service network.
The D-Link® Mobile Wireless Router (DIR-412) allows users to access a worldwide broadband* Internet connection through a secure 802.11n Wi-Fi network from just about anywhere, to share with up to five Wi-Fi enabled devices.
Customers can use the mobile wireless router for home and small or remote offices by connecting to their DSL/cable modem, providing users with a fast primary Internet service while using their mobile Internet service as a backup Internet connection. If the users primary Internet access goes down, the mobile wireless router employs an auto-failover feature to ensure an uninterrupted connection by automatically connecting to the 3G mobile broadband network.
The Plug-and-Play capability of the D-Link Mobile Wireless Router means it can be installed quickly and easily to set up a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot just about anywhere. It is ideal for situations where an impromptu Wi-Fi network must be set up, or wherever conventional Internet access is unavailable, such as on RVs, trains, boats and remote office locations.
The DIR-412 is the perfect companion for business and personal travel. Its compact, lightweight, and comes with its own travel case, making it ideal for setting up or sharing an Internet connection in conference rooms, hotel rooms, or anywhere a Wi-Fi network is needed, said Herman Chang, Director, Product Management, Wireless, for D-Link.
With advanced network security, the DIR-412 ensures a secure Wi-Fi network through the use of WPA/WPA2 encryption. The user simply presses the WPS button to quickly establish a secure connection to new devices. The Mobile Wireless Router also utilizes dual-active firewalls (SPI and NAT) to prevent potential attacks and intrusions from across the Internet.
Featuring Wireless N150 technology, the DIR-412 provides optimal performance, extended wireless range and fast file transfers for superior reception throughout the home. It is backward compatible with previous version Wireless G devices.
Key Features and Benefits
* Creates a high-speed 802.11n Wi-Fi personal mobile hotspot network
* Provides Internet connectivity in areas without conventional DSL/cable service
* Compatible with mobile broadband USB adapters for EV-DO/HSUPA/HSDPA/TD-SCDMA networks from most major carriers
* Supports WAN failover for persistent connections
* Advanced network security with push-button encryption


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Deborah Potter of TV NewsLab has posted an article that has some good points about TV news, but there's one aspect of it that is off the mark.
Take the fact that so many local newscasts look and sound alike. Not just a lot alike. Exactly alike. TBS late-show host Conan O'Brien has been having a field day lately making fun of TV stations for the sameness of their news programs by stringing video clips together. There's nothing inherently funny about an anchor introducing a story about a new software program by asking, "Could this be the end of e-mail overload?" But it's hilarious to watch 28 straight-faced anchors in row deliver the identical line.
Here's an example of what Potter is talking about:
Yes, yes, it's funny to watch all 20 or 30 of those people reading the exact same sentence in varying tones and inflections, with a few brave souls attempting to even use a different word occasionally.
But for the people watching those newscasts in Dubuque, or Tulsa, or Sacramento, etc, they're only seeing it once – on their local newscast. It's not until a supercut like this is created does it show that some "fluff" stories are – gasp! – created and written somewhere else and then shared with scores of media outlets.
The thing is, it's not just TV news. It happens in all media outlets. One example is the Associated Press (AP) – their reporters across the country writes hundreds of news stories every day, and those stories get sent out to subscribers – a huge number of newspapers and TV stations. The stories are then cut and pasted (usually) verbatim onto news websites – local and national, large and small, TV and newspaper, etc.
Other agencies and companies do the same thing – PR firms (for instance) send out emails to every media outlet on their list with a pitch for a story or product, and they include some photos and sometimes a link to a video that can be used, and voila – the local TV station now has a two-minute story about seatbelts on school buses, or why Fluffy the cat and Tiny the mouse have become best friends despite their natural instincts, etc.
So if you were to do a Google search about – for example – a "rare pink diamond once owned by Indian royalty" then you would get literally hundreds of results, all of which have the exact same sentence in their lead: "A rare pink diamond once owned by Indian royalty has sold for $39.3 million at auction in New York City."
Behold, the "rare pink diamond once owned by Indian royalty!"


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A majority of us have been avoiding being pregnant since we first grew to become sexually lively. HI Keverp – no I haven't talked about permanent birth control strategies as a result of this hub is extra geared for younger people that may probbaly wish to begin a family later on. Test your pack of tablets every morning to be sure to took your pill the day earlier than.
Obviously by now you'll know the end result of your 'missed pill' but I might encourage you to make use of condoms if possible as well as you bc capsule. I learned that from my OB after I told them I wasn't going to use contraception capsules after I had my second child.
Ther best thing about them is that you don't need to use any hormone based mostly contraception. I loved your hub, however I see no point out of a person accomplice getting mounted to prevent pregnancy and keep away from any kind from any out of relationship sex. That is as a result of most youngsters who change into pregnant have had unprotected intercourse after they have drunk an excessive amount of or have been using drugs.
This will likely sound silly however I've heard folks say that this is what they do to try to avoid getting pregnant! When you get a adverse 2 weeks after ovulation then the probabilities are you are not pregnant (although there may be possibly a 5{7aec90085c09dcc3be3a7a2b2bdb7e651024bbecab855c5a06c2b12d116a178d} chance that you are based on the stats).


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Published at Friday, January 25th, 2019 - 23:36:03 PM. Bedroom. By Conradine Berger.
Given the fact that the bedroom is a private space usually perceived as a relaxing and serene environment, the colors associated with its interior are usually pastels, neutrals and soft shades. However, you can create a beautiful bedroom décor even with intimidating colors such as black. It's uncommon to see a black bedroom but we have selected a few examples that show this type of décor can also be inviting and quite pleasant.
Alternatively, the bed can be the only black piece of furniture in the room. This will allow it to stand out by contrasting with the nightstands and dresser. If these are white, then a timeless color combination is established and it can be repeated throughout the room's décor in a lot of different ways.
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Dentistry by Isaac Gabay - Dentist in Mississauga | Invisalign Certified
Our practice caters to new and emergency patients of all ages. Services include general, restorative, cosmetic dentistry and orthodontic services.
We Enhance Lives with Beautiful Smiles
Welcome to Dentistry by Dr. Isaac Gabay! We have been implementing top quality dental care for the Mississauga locality for almost 15 years. Getting to know each of our patients is the core of contributing to the optimal dentist visit. We furnish our office as a friendly and relaxing ambiance, where your contentment and oral health are our number one objective.
At Dentistry by Isaac Gabay, our staff's focal point is your oral health, in terms of prevention and affording our patients quality, cutting-edge dental care. We truly regard communication as the key to developing a sensible and successful dental plan to exceed your requirements.
Whether you seek to uphold the smile you currently love to hone, or require more elaborate dental care, our well-trained and considerate staff is happy to help! New patients and your thoughtful referrals are always welcome. We yearn to be your Mississauga dentist!


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Patients come first at USMD Fort Worth
USMD is a hospital designed to be inherently better for patients. Our bright, clean facility caters to both kids and grownups, with separate entrances for adult and pediatric patients. It is owned by physicians, so the doctors can be fully invested in the well-being of the patients – and can call all the shots about the care they receive.
If staying overnight at USMD, our lower nurse-to-patient ratio will keep you comfortable and cared for in one of our private inpatient suites. Exceptional hospitality and positive patient care are always a priority.
No one dreams of going to the hospital, but at USMD, you'll see that better care doesn't have to be a fantasy.
Our services include:
- Back and Spine Surgery
- General Surgery
- Gynecology
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Otolaryngology (ENT)
- Pain Management
- Pediatric Dentistry
- Pediatric Otolaryngology
- Pediatric Urology
- Podiatry
- Reconstructive & Plastic Surgeries
- Urology


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$ 600.00
2 kayaks and a surf board
Offered by: Robin Anderson2 years ago |  10526 views
Condition: Used - Acceptable
Contact withSend Message Make an Offer
Paddles not included
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$ 400.00 (Negotiable)
Playstation 4
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We take security seriously so you don't have to.
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Have any issues? Feel free to contact us
Easy Posting
Take the hassle out of posting your goods.


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I would like to pass on some instructions to help get a better quilt block sewn for beginners and a refresher for others. It is important to measure & cut your fabric even, sew the right seam allowance, square up the units and press the seams to complete your block to the correct size. So I hope this is helpful. Moosegirl
Draw design & templates for measurments
Cut and check templates
Check seam allowance & seam ending
Square up units
sew one row and measure
block is square & correct size


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LED Reflector Bulbs
There's been a huge increase in LED lighting being used for domestic, commercial and retail purposes and we are proud to have been a part of that movement. High quality LED reflector bulbs like the ones that we supply are perfect for use across homes and commercial properties and are a direct replacement for existing R63 reflector halogen bulbs that have an E27 Edison screw base. LED bulbs are the perfect lighting upgrade, as they reduce energy consumption by up to 90% as well as guaranteeing a long performance life.
on all orders over £50
Customer Reviews
Reduce Energy Consumption With LED Reflector Bulbs
Our LED reflector bulbs have an average life of up to 45,000 hours, reducing the need for constant replacements, saving you both money and time. If you're looking for LED reflector bulbs that are both technologically designed to reduce costs and to look aesthetically pleasing for your home or building, then our range of LED bulbs will be perfect for you.
High Quality R50 LED Reflector Bulbs
Deciding to switch to LED bulbs and replace your standard bulbs can be a daunting process, but it doesn't need to be. With help from our experts who are always on hand to give you advice on the best LED lights for you and your needs, the switch has never been easier. We have three different types of LED reflector bulbs in stock and we are continuing to update this regularly in order to keep-up-to date with the new technologies that will further increase your energy efficiency.
There are numerous benefits to switching from standard halogen and incandescent bulbs to LEDS, with lowering your home or building's carbon footprint being the main one. LED's require much less wattage than traditional bulbs, as well as generating much less heat. Our R50, R63 and R80 energy saving LED bulbs are available in a warm white and a cool white so you can decide which look suits your needs best, and their frosted glass cover produces a light output of an incredible 630 lumen. All of our LED reflector bulbs give out a 120 degree beam angle of light and are specifically designed to give the widest beam angle available, so you can light up any room with optimum efficiency and lighting reach. This 120 degree beam angle is replicated in our R50, R63 and R80 LED reflector bulbs, and they give the widest beam angle of any SMD bulb on the market.


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Maybe it was Christopher Kane's barely one-year-old Boston Terrier, who'd put him in a domestic mood. "You definitely use more bleach when you have a puppy," he said of Bruce Tito III, who naps on a Versace baroque print pillow. "I am quite OCD," the designer admitted. "I'm not tapping things, but the smell of bleach is constant."
The muse for his spring/summer 2018 collection was the domestic goddess: "A real strong, perfect woman but she's slowly breaking inside," Kane said, deadpan, "like we all are," and then chuckled. It's the character Julianne Moore always plays in films: her world is a mess but her hair is perfect.
What Happened At... LFW
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The theme opened the doors to a realm of domestic components for Kane to re-appropriate, the way he tends to do it, from mops interpreted in silk fringe on dresses to drying clips holding garments together and raffia and nylon bin bags touching on things you'd find in the housekeeping aisle. Royal Doulton figurines, "which my mum used to polish relentlessly", were an inspiration. It was a natural progression from last season's factory theme – Kane brought over the sponges that defined it – but this time the humour seemed to have been replaced with something more sinister. "Fetish, kink... OCD around cleaning," he reflected.
This Season, Sparkle and Sequins Galore
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It was expressed in this season's affinity for just that - the seedy transparency we've seen all around the shows in New York and here in London, which Kane interpreted in freezer-bag dresses. But it also read like a what's what of spring/summer 2018 themes so far: the refined quality of shimmery floral sequins, sophisticated check, and ruffle textures - juxtaposed with frayed edges and garments falling apart. Glamour unravelling before our eyes. Where other designers have nodded at glamorous nightlife, Kane – always one for an unassuming reference – simply brought it down to earth, zoning in on the housewife instead. "Always a parody," he noted.
LFW Trend: Ruffles
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In a time when facades have never been as stoical as they are now, he painted a relevant picture of our desire to appear as if we're leading perfect lives, one Instagram post at the time. The collection's final segment featured evening dresses covered in crystals and decorticated into cage-like structures. Kane said they represented the icing on cakes. "We caged her in a gilded, iced cage because she's quite fetishy but she's also a perfect cake underneath." If you've ever watched Martha Stewart ice a cake, you'll know it's no laughing matter.
LFW: Front Row And Parties
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All seasons Christopher Kane
Christopher Kane
Spring/Summer 2020 Resort
Christopher Kane
Spring/Summer 2020 Ready-To-Wear
Christopher Kane
Autumn/Winter 2019 Ready-To-Wear
Christopher Kane
Spring/Summer 2019 Ready-To-Wear
Christopher Kane
Autumn/Winter 2018 Ready-To-Wear
Christopher Kane
Autumn/Winter 2018 Pre-Fall
Christopher Kane
Spring/Summer 2018 Ready-To-Wear
Christopher Kane
Spring/Summer 2018 Resort
Christopher Kane
Autumn/Winter 2017 Ready-To-Wear
Christopher Kane
Autumn/Winter 2017 Pre-Fall


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|Women In Trucking Association Celebrates Decade of Steering Toward Diversity
Plover, WI – Mar. 30, 2017 – The Women In Trucking Association (WIT) celebrates its 10th anniversary this month. Over the past decade, the nonprofit organization has made remarkable progress in its mission to encourage women to consider careers in the trucking industry, address obstacles that might keep them from succeeding, and celebrate the success of its members.
Founded by Ellen Voie in 2007, WIT has grown dramatically and now exceeds 4,500 members, including carriers, suppliers, industry professionals, drivers, and students. Approximately 16 percent of WIT members are men who support the goals of the program.
While women are still a minority in the transportation industry, WIT has made great strides in helping to raise awareness and increase the ranks of women through numerous initiatives. Highlights include:
"We're so grateful for the hard work and dedication of our members, board members and partners over the past 10 years," said Ellen Voie, WIT president and CEO. "We have a long way to go, but we'll keep working to engage more women at all levels of the transportation industry. Together, we can drive the industry forward."
Download web and high-resolution images of WIT's 10th anniversary logo:
Print: https://wt.memberclicks.net/assets/images/News/News2017/wit-logo-10-year-300dpi.jpg
Web: https://wt.memberclicks.net/assets/images/News/News2017/wit-logo-10-year-72dpi.jpg
About Women In Trucking Association, Inc.
Women In Trucking Association, Inc. is a nonprofit association established to encourage the employment of women in the trucking industry, promote their accomplishments and minimize obstacles faced by women working in the trucking industry. Membership is not limited to women, as 17 percent of its members are men who support the mission. Women In Trucking is supported by its members and the generosity of Gold Level Partners: Arrow Truck Sales, Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems, Daimler Trucks North America, BMO Transportation Finance, Expediter Services, Great Dane, J.B. Hunt Transport, Ryder System, Inc., U.S. Xpress, and Walmart. Follow WIT on Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn. For more information, visit www.womenintrucking.org or call 888-464-9482.
Call for Nominations: 2020 Distinguished Woman in Logistics Award
WIT Announces its 2019 December Member of the Month
Call for Nominations: 2020 Driver of the Year Award
WIT Provides Support for Promoting Women in Trucking Workforce Act
Nominate a Top Woman to Watch in Transportation!
WIT Announces New Partnership with Penske Transportation Solutions


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Transitions Support
Helping girls transition to the world beyond high school
Post-Secondary Transitions programming includes the Xanthe Scharff Workplace Experience Project, seed funding for alumnae to enter higher education, and entrepreneurship and livelihoods training for recent graduates.
Post-Secondary Transitions
Advancing Girls' Education in Africa actively pursues opportunities to help our graduates continue their learning beyond the four years of secondary school.
AGE Africa is dedicated to the long-term success of girls in Malawi. We are therefore committed to enabling each girl to put her education into practice beyond the time she graduates.
Many AGE scholars qualify for and pursue higher education such as University, Teacher Training College or Nursing School. Many of these opportunities are subsidized by the Malawian Government. When girls pursue Teacher Training College or Nursing School they are often guaranteed employment upon graduation.
AGE Africa supports all of our students who qualify for continuing education through the application and admissions processes. For these girls, we provide support in the following ways:
- University entrance exam coaching.
- Help with applications for admission.
- Application to private and government sources of funding.
- Small living stipends or transport costs for girls who have matriculated to higher education.
Idah's Story
Idah Savala, one of our alumnae, has become the first AGE Africa scholar to graduate from a university. She is now among the 1% of women in Malawi with a university degree.
With a degree in Media for Community Development from the University of Malawi, Idah plans to give back to her village. She sees herself as a positive role model for other girls in her village. When Idah visits her hometown she speaks with the young girls in the community and talks to them about her experience and the importance of an education.
Income generating activities
AGE Africa also continues to support girls who do not go on to university. We do this through providing advising during their job searches or by supporting their tuition costs while repeating their Form 4 years. AGE also encourages entrepreneurship and innovation. We want our girls to have the tools it takes to be successful and create effective change.
40% of our alumnae are enrolled in higher education institutions or currently preparing applications (compared to just 11% of female graduates nationwide) and 15% are engaged in wage-based employment or income generating activities.
"I want other girls to be inspired by my life. I want someone to look at me and say "because of you, I never gave up."
Diana comes from a family of six and was raised by her single mother who works as a farmer. As an AGE Africa scholar, Diana attended St. Mary's Secondary School, where she graduated at the top of her class and received a cash award of 20,000 kwacha (or $40) for her high marks. Diana used her award to start a small business that sold mobile phone airtime and saved the money she earned for college. With the support of AGE Africa, Diana continues to pursue her dream of becoming a pharmacist at the College of Medicine. She hopes to serve as a role model for other girls and to encourage them to work hard to achieve their goals. Diana is featured in the AGE Africa video produced for International Day of the Girl by the Girls' Opportunity Alliance that can be viewed here. Diana is also featured in her lab in the header photo for this web page.


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This is a focus issue I believe. Click the help button before you click finish. The CS4 updates we implemented created a problem where the last field updated doesn't register the update until you switch focus to another field. Essentially the button press used to act as the focus switch and it no longer does.
Since this interface only has one field, you can just click into another, so clicking the help button should work instead.


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Show Details
Fresh spreadable goat cheese, crafted in France and packed in a resealable container, a perfect center piece for a cheeseboard.
Camembert is an excellent choice for a cheese board served as the last course of a fine meal.
La Bonne Vie Brie is a deliciously creamy, soft cheese made of cow's milk.
Taste the zest and spice; a wonderful addition to the mild goat cheese flavor.
The tanginess of the cheese combined with the sweet and savory tastes of tomatoes and basil create a truly delightful flavor.
The unexpected pair of figs and olives makes this variety of La Bonne Vie Goat log memorable.
A smooth creamy high quality Brie that can be enjoyed in a variety of dishes or can be added to any cheese course.
A fresh culinary staple used to in recipes or to top pies, fruits and soups.
A traditional soft-ripedn chèvre and features an ivory colored center surrounded by a white bloomy rind.
Buttery and luscious, but as it ages, it becomes quite spicy and complex.
Creamy with a balanced truffle aroma.


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Connect to us here:
AllStar 28640 - IRLP 9457 - EchoLink NV5TX-L (4911)
The South Texas Link System is comprised of repeater owners joining one big network to have statewide communications. The main goal is to link the all parts of Texas including the little towns where no repeaters are present. We are always looking into filling in the gap.
If you are an end user, you can get access to any of the repeaters that are linked. If you want to connect to the system from your location, you can access our system by connecting to one of our gateways. There are several ways you can connect. If you have IRLP access, you can connect to Reflector 9457. If you have EchoLink Link (-L) or EchoLink Repeater (-R) access, you can connect to NV5TX-L (4911).
If you are a repeater owner and would like to join the South Texas Link System, please use the contact us link on the left. Please state you are a repeater owner along with your repeater general location, frequency, and information. We will send you information to see if your system qualifies to be linked. We are a fast growing system and adding repeaters all the time. There might be some delay as we are trying to get all systems linked, tested, and operational.
If you know of an area that needs to be linked, let us know.
9-4-2014 - David Floyd WD5IEH SK LoneStarLinkSystem.com
David Floyd WD5IEH, 59, of San Antonio, passed away unexpectedly Sept. 4, 2014 in Denton, Texas.
David was the founder of the WD5IEH Link System later renamed to the Lonestar Link System. A free open system for any Amateur to use. This system covered a huge part of South Texas from West of San Antonio to areas close to Houston and Corpus Cristi. David had spent much of his time, money and resources building a system which helped people in areas during disasters, bad weather, bike rides, river safari and much more. Radio was Davids passion and helping others was always a priority. He always welcomed everyone with open arms. He was a busy guy but always made time to help anyone. David had contributed so much to the Amateur community, he loved to go to Ham Fests and find the jems that made his system great. Many have help David achieve his goal, but with out him, it could never be done. His legacy lives on.
Memorial services will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 9 at 11:30 a.m. in Denton, Texas at Bill DeBerry Funeral Directors diours.com. The burial will follow the service at IOOF cemetery.
For those who wish to donate in David's memory, please consider contacting your local Animal Rescue organization.
Please visit his Obituary at http://www.deberryfuneraldirectors.com/home/index.cfm/obituaries/view/fh_id/13043/id/2666866
2-11-14 Carrizo Springs 443.300+ pl100.0
The Carriso Springs repeater is now on the air. Located in the center of town, the repeater has a very impressive coverage range based on the location and heigth of the antenna. Based on range tests, we were able to access the repeater an estimated 45 miles South on 83 close to the Border Patrol Checkpoint located just out of Laredo in Webb County. Other tests show 25 miles west on 277 to Eagle Pass. If you are able to access the machine from a remote location, please let us know what you find. We will be glad to post the results here. A coverage map is currently be worked on to estimate the coverage areas.
7-1-13 DStar Gateway and Reflector now OnLine!
Great news, The South Texas Link System now has a DStar Gateway and Reflector. First, the Gateway enables a connection from DStar side to the Analog side. This is accomplished by feeding the DStar data back into the AllStar system with software. The Gateway is then connected to a Reflector. A Reflector (or HUB) is a place where multiple DStar systems can connect. When a station connects to the reflector, their audio is then passed to the analog side and sent out to all connected nodes. If you have a DStar repeater, DV Dongle or DVAP, you can now attach to the system. The reflector is XRF444A. You must make a slight modification to your configuration in order to connect. This opens up even more stations you can connect with, not just the DStar on US Trust servers. If you have any questions, let us know. I will be posting the information needed to modify your system to enable the connection to XRF reflectors.
6-11-13 EchoLink Call Changed to NV5TX-L (4911)
The EchoLink callsign has changed from W5EVH-L to NV5TX-L. Please update your devices with the new call.
2-9-13 Added Status Page for all Linked System
Added the ability to access one page that has all the currently Linked systems. Includes AllStar and IRLP Gateways. Click on the link on the left column of the main page. Click on your refresh button to see the latest connections. The information on the page contains the following; AllStar HUB 28054, showing all the AllStar nodes connected to the system, AllStar graphical map of nodes connected, and IRLP Reflector 9457 showing all nodes connected to the Reflector. The South Texas Link System can be found on Channel 7 of the Dallas Reflector.
11/14/2012 New LIVE streaming
New LIVE streaming. Go to www.RadioReference.com and look for "South Texas Link System" Located in Webb County. This is a great tool to see how you sound like coming into the system. There is about a 34 second delay. Gives you enough time to have a QSO and compare your audio. The system also archives all Audio, you can access the Archives by going to the link above and logging in. There you will be able to pick the dates and times and the system will replay the audio. Very nice feature.
You can also use your Smart Phone or Tablet to listen to the feed. Check your App Store for a Scanner App. If you know of apps for Android or iPad that work, please click on Contact Us and let us know. We will add it to the page.
We have verified the following apps to work with iPhone and iPad: 5-0 Radio Free, Scanner+, ActnScanner, Scanner Free and Em.RadioFree.
10-8-12 WD5IEH Link System to Join STxLS
The WD5IEH Link System has now joined the South Texas Link System to provide a wider area of coverage. David WD5IEH has a great system covering areas including San Antonio, Victoria, Gonzales, Beeville and New Braunfels Texas. Some of the repeaters listed are also RF linked together. David has plans to add more machines like Austin and Corpus to the system by the end of the year.


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My family and I are not doing any major traveling this year, but in 2015, we moved back to the US after several years of living in Africa (yeah, I have a lot of travel-themed pages!) The Creative Memories Gallivant collection is fantastic - great colors and so many embellishments to choose from. Much to my delight, they coordinate with the new navy cardstock - thanks for navy blue, CM!
Here are the layouts I did for that exhausting, but exciting, 24 hours of travel.....
I get excited about "map" paper, because we've lived so many places and have actually criss-crossed the globe.
I clustered some Gallivant stickers and gems to make my page title.
These luggage tag embellishments were a perfect way to show our itinerary (those are airport codes for Antananarivo, Madagascar; Paris, France and Chicago, Illinois) I used skinny strips of paper to made the strings.
I love using pocket pages for all the extra pictures - it speeds things up and adds some visual interest.
The journaling cards from the Variety Mat Pack are pretty basic, which means you can dress them up with the embellishments of your choice.
If you follow my blog, you know I'm a big fan of quick-and-easy pages. This is navy cardstock with a couple simple borders (the swell was made using the Decorative Trimmer), a card from the Mat Pack, and some of the adorable die cuts. Creative Memories color-coordinated collections make pages SO easy!
Now I will send you on your way to our last blog, by Stefani over at Crop with Stef. Whatever your summer brings, I hope we have given you some creative inspiration! Now, go take pictures of your summer fun!
Here are all the contributors today from Creative Life Scrapbooking; click on each to see their ideas:
Julie (you are here)


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How Do I Clean My White Ssg Grand Prix Gloves?
English_Roper posted a topic in LeatherworksI was given a pair of white SSG Grand Prix riding gloves by a friend, and said friend forgot to mention that she had wiped her lipstick cover lips with the back of her gloved hand while wearing these gloves. I would like to know how you clean them. It says on SSG's website that they are machine washable, but do you wash them in warm or cold water? And any ideas on how to get the stain out? Thanks!


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|Left arm before
|Left arm after
|you can see some of the hairs pulled out
Tonight I decided to be brave and epilate my underarms. I knew it was going to hurt but kept telling myself that it couldn't be that bad. Gosh was I wrong!! I was only going to take pictures to show but after the pain from doing my left underarm first I decided to film myself doing my right arm. I almost did not even want to do it. I could actually hear and feel the hairs being yanked out of my skin. This is far worse that epilating your legs. This is also worse that waxing because when you wax they pull everything off in one pull. With epilateing each individual hair is pulled separately. This is very painful.I do not recommend this to anyone who is sensitive at all. I am not sensitive but honestly this hurts!! I am still going to use it though. If this decreases the growth of underarm hair than I am all for it. I know that the pain will decrease in time, To me the pain is worth it.
I am a BzzAgent and I received this product to test and review.
here is the link to my video


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I was recently contacted by the lovely team at Boutique of Molly to pick some of the pieces from their collection. Once I picked my items I waiting for them to arrive in the post.
On first glance, I couldn't believe the quality of the garments, I'm often wary of buying from names/companies I haven't heard of before, I love supporting new and independent stores, but I have been bitten by unfinished and unwearable pieces in the past. However, the pieces from Boutique of Molly were of an amazing standard and cut.
These are the pieces I decided to purchase, I like to invest in pieces that I can style differently and wear all year round. I feel like strips are such a classic statement and are seen in collections from Spring right through until Winter.
This Grey & White dress is beautiful and form fitting, I like to style it with black tights, ankle boots and my long sleeveless coat. The only advice I would give for this dress is GO A SIZE UP! I'm tall meaning the dress is a little bit short on me but because of how I like to style it, I'm happy enough with the length.
I absolutely love the black and white striped crop, it feels very Parisian and I often imagine myself drinking a coffee at some street side cafe.. but maybe that is because I need a holiday!
I like to style this with black cigarette pants, ballet pumps, a light jacket
On a day to day basis I work in an office but sometimes have to go out for client meetings, events or like to head out after work – pieces like this make my life so much easier, they are perfect to dress up and down.
I would really recommend Boutique of Molly to anyone and can't wait to have a look at the other pieces they have!
You can find these pieces and their new collection at http://www.boutiqueofmolly.com
I have already seen a dress that I must have.


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2 tablespoon olive oil
1 small - medium onion, chopped
1 medium green pepper, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 pkg. tofu (lite tofu works too)
2 tablespoon soy sauce
2 cups tomato sauce, any variety
1 tablespoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon cumin powder
1) Saute 1st 4 ingredients (oil, onion, pepper, garlic) until tender.
2) Add tofu and soy sauce to pan. Cook until tofu starts to brown slightly.
3) Add the tomato sauce, chili powder, and cumin powder. Stir and let cook for a minute or two.
4) Serve hot on toasted burger buns, rolls, or bagels.


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Although it may seem implausible, IKEA is attempting to do away with parking lots.
Well, kind of.
Navigating an IKEA parking lot — an infernal place populated by overstuffed Volvos, grunting men, and lost monkeys — is a quintessential part of shopping at the meatball-slinging Swedish home furnishings emporium. After all, IKEA is a destination that you drive to, sometimes traveling a great distance. IKEA's car-dependent locations, typically built on the suburban fringes where land is cheap and plentiful, have always been a sticking point for a company so dedicated to environmental sustainability.
The going-to-IKEA process — for many, a trip to the store truly is a grueling, all-day process —goes something like this: Drive for 45-plus minutes, park the car, have lunch in the cafe, spend a couple of hours shopping for cheap wine glasses and guest room linens, wait in line for eternity to check out, eat a frozen yogurt, pack up the car, hit the road. The end.
However, as detailed by Bloomberg TV, the retailer is slowly but surely distancing itself from its signature sprawling parking lots by launching a pilot program that explores the feasibility of erecting stores that aren't plopped down in far-flung locales wedged in between highways and cornfields; stores where you can quickly pop in and out; stores that aren't surrounded by state fair-esque parking lots.
More compact (25 percent smaller) and expensive to build than its car-centric brethren in the sticks, the first experimental urban format IKEA opened to customers earlier this summer in the Altona district of Hamburg, Germany. Branded as an IKEA Citystore, the location targets shoppers who can easily get a decent amount of loot home via public transportation, foot, bike, or taxi. The Hamburg-Altona Citystore, the first IKEA outpost to be located within an urban pedestrian zone, even offers car-less customers special cargo bikes that are free to rent for the first three hours.
To be clear, the Hamburg-Altona Citystore does have some parking spots available to customers although not nearly as many as the retailer's 47 other German outposts including two additional locations in and around Hamburg. Thus far, the store's goal of attracting 60 percent of its customers by public transit, bike, or foot has been wildly successful as the car park is persistently — and refreshingly — barren.
"It is an absolute pilot project for us. We want to get closer to people and know people are consciously choosing not to have a car," explains Johannes Ferber, IKEA expansion chief for Germany. "We want to learn from this project and see what we can improve that we can then apply in other locations."
Aside from IKEA, another big big retailer that has experimented, to some degree of success, with scaled-down locations in dense urban cores is Target. The Minneapolis-based retailer launched its CityTarget format in 2012 with locations in Seattle, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, and Portland, Ore. Target has since aimed even smaller with the introduction of a TargetExpress concept store in Minneapolis this summer.
It's also worth mentioning an IKEA store sporting both an oversized parking lot and a range of alternative transportation options (free shuttle buses connecting the store to nearby subway stations, a water taxi service, a public bus stop right out front, dedicated car-sharing spots, etc.) that already exists in the Red Hook section of Brooklyn. As someone who lives right up the road from IKEA Brooklyn, I can tell you that although the parking lot might not always be a madhouse, the line for home delivery service is consistently insane.
Again, the thought of going to IKEA sans car might not register for some. But for those looking to make smaller/more frequent trips to the retailer or even just popping by just for a quick lunch, the urban IKEA concept makes a whole lot of sense. What do you think?
Via [Bloomberg], [Reuters]
Promo image: Anna B/Flickr
Related on MNN:
- IKEA eyes space-strapped urbanites for 2014 PS collection
Shopping is 45 percent of U.S. miles traveled, study finds


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Sammy McIlroy knows the statistics paint a shocking picture of how Northern Ireland are faring in world football.
But when he arrived back at Belfast yesterday with his squad, he expressed his determination to get things right.
Losing is one thing, losing to a team that had won just one of their previous 21 competitive matches is a different matter entirely.
The Irish's European Championship campaign already looks over after an 86th-minute goal from Artur Petrosyan condemned them to defeat in Yerevan's Republican Stadium.
They now have only one point after three games and are unlikely to threaten Spain and Ukraine, who finished all-square on Saturday.
McIlroy said: "I know I will be heavily criticised but there was little wrong in the way we went about this."
What he would give for a goal and a victory.
The Irish have failed to score in seven matches - their worst-ever record. Steve Lomas was the last man to score in a defeat by Poland in a friendly a year ago.
They have not won a match in 17 months since beating Malta.


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October 31 is already here and the city of Barcelona is ready to celebrate a very American festivity, but year after year it has been gaining followers, Halloween. The Castanyada is also celebrated in Catalonia, a celebration that unites families around the tables with sweets such as sweet potatoes, roasted chestnuts, panellets and sweet wine.…Leer más
Ideal rooms for groups of friends
Are you planning a trip of friends to Barcelona? Are you looking for a hostel to enjoy Barcelona this Christmas? Are you looking for a multiple accommodation for 6, 8, 10 or 12 people? Traveling with friends is one of the greatest pleasures of life and enjoying a few days of tourism and fun in…Leer más
The best outdoor plans of autumn
Enjoy an outdoor dinner, a beer in Las Ramblas or a picnic in the Ciutadella Park are still possible in Barcelona. In October, the temperatures are mild and there is a very pleasant climate that will allow you to enjoy the city without haste and discover postcard autumnal corners. There are still days of terraces,…Leer más
Factory Hostels Barcelona, your most familiy hostel
Darío and Cristina decided a few years ago to join their passion for travel and for the city of Barcelona in a business where they could transmit their experiences and knowledge. The result was Factory Hostels Barcelona, an accommodation located in the heart of the city, next to Park Güell and that has seen them…Leer más


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Does Grow Taller 4 Idiots Work - Read This Grow Taller For Idiots Review
Does Grow Taller 4 Idiots Work
In a pop culture where the physical attributes of a person matters most, having a beautiful height is a plus factor. Not only that it adds to the confidence level of the person, but also, height has been one of the primary requirements in some of the white collar jobs. If for example you are an aspiring professional basketball player because of your skills, you may not get in because you are not able to meet the height requirement. Does Grow Taller 4 Idiots Work
This is why people in this kind of situations are so desperate that they are willing to take some medications to grow taller. Lucky thing for the marketers out there because their target consumers are becoming bigger and more diversified. For those who want to grow taller, there are products like the Grow Taller for Idiots which will provide you the basic steps to attain your desired height and of course, these kinds of programs will not fail you if encouragement would be the main topic. So here are some of the things you need to know about Grow Taller for Idiots review:
The name might bite you but it basically wants to tell you that with this program, you will have an idiot-proof way of learning how to grow taller. Its promise? To help you grow two to three inches taller in just about six weeks. Grow Taller for Idiots is actually a comprehensive e-book talking about a wide variety of factors in which you can grow your height. Does Grow Taller 4 Idiots Work
It is divided into several chapters in which its first discussion would be about nutrition for growth. This program recognizes the need for a balanced and healthy diet for a person to acquire his maximum height possible. In this chapter, the program will explain to you how vitamins and minerals work for the increase in your height.
The next chapter would essentially discuss about proper posture for improved height. Here, you will be encouraged to develop a good posture for your bones and muscles to grow properly.
The third chapter is primarily concerned on your sleeping habits. According to the program, if you lack enough hours of sleep, then you might be missing out the opportunity to grow taller. Preliminary and advanced exercises are also tackled here. This e-book contains illustrations on the simple and intensive exercises that you can do to maximize your height potential.
Several Grow Taller for Idiots review has been recommending the program for people who live normal lives or basically those who have spare time with them. Of course, one cannot accomplish the hints and tips provided by the e-book of there is a large time constraint.
Instead of taking pills or undergoing hi-tech surgeries to add few more inches to your height, this e-book encourages you to take the long but effective way of getting taller. The advices contained do not facilitate or promote the use of any drugs to boost your height; rather, it is an advocate of leading a healthy and active lifestyle.
This Grow Taller for Idiots review basically suggests that adding few inches to your present height is not solely dependent on taking medication drugs or syrups. Rather, it is the sense of discipline that we must have in order to attain our goal. Does Grow Taller 4 Idiots Work


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Our Guarantee
This Mediterranean home has a unique floor plan with a turret dining room and media room that leads to a cellar. The master suites enjoys complete privacy in the right wing while the two additional bedrooms share an expansive corner behind the kitchen area. Grand ceilings and cozy nooks give this home its unique interior look.


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The Left - Wrong On Taxes Again
Liberal high tax advocate Mathew Miller trys to paint tax opponents as liars and misrepresenters in his not very witty L.A. Times Op-Ed today
Conservatives love to cite facts like these: The top 5% of taxpayers pay more than half of federal income taxes; the top 1% pay more than a third all by themselves; and the bottom 80% of earners pay less than 20%.
. . . . .
But this is not the full picture. Any fair-minded person should want to know two other things: What percent of total income do these different slices of earners actually earn; and what share of total federal taxes, not just income taxes, do they pay?
. . . . .
The conservative worldview inexplicably ignores the payroll tax — predominantly the FICA deductions for Social Security and Medicare — as well as excise taxes on things like liquor, gasoline and tobacco. Those taxes take their biggest bite, proportionally, from lower-income Americans.
. . . . . .
The top 1% of American taxpayers earn 17% of the income and pay 23% of total federal taxes; the top 5% earn 31% of the income and pay 40% of the taxes; the bottom 80% of the earners make 41% of the income and pay 31% of the taxes. These numbers are from 2001, the most recent available data; Bush's tax cuts have since made the burden on top earners lower. In other words, for all the conservative whining, we have a modestly progressive federal tax system.
Uh, except that he completely forgets a couple of important points.
First, he ignores the double taxation on corporate profits. Rich Americans, who's wealth is usually tied up in stocks or other investment holdings, are invariably taxed at a higher corporate level as well as a personal level when they liquefy those investments.
Second, Payroll taxes are higher on those who earn more. For some reason, Mr. Miller thinks that most wealthy Americans just found their wealth growing on trees. Sorry, but that doesn't happen. These Americans earned a substantially higher salary than those in lower tax brackets and therefore contribute a substantially higher share of the payroll taxes as well.
Finally, I would imagine that the wealthy also pay a disproportionate share of sales and excise taxes as well. They like to drive $100k Mercedes and $65k Hummers. Don't you think the sales tax on those is just a wee bit higher than on a $5k used 10 year old Honda? Plus, those bigger cars invariably consume far more fuel ... hence the wealthy pay more in fuel taxes.
How about other consumer goods? Hmm, $5,000 plasma TV or $250 20" Sony. Want to take a guess which costs significantly more in taxes. The rich drink more expensive booze and hence pay more in taxes. $75 bottles of Johnnie Walker Black vs. $2.50 bottles of Mad Dog 20/20. Guess which includes more taxes. $20 Montecristo Cigars vs. $2.50 packs of generic cigarettes. Guess who pays more in taxes. The rich also eat more expensive food ... and pay more in taxes.
Of course the same holds true across the board. In any category imaginable, the rich will pay more in taxes because they choose to purchase items that cost disproportionately more. Heck, the Sharper Image Store is really nothing but a devious plot to pry more money out of rich peoples hands. There is nothing the store sells that anyone REALLY needs. But the rich spend a fortune there, and their state budgets are all the better for it.
Sorry, the tired old liberal "tax the rich" argument still doesn't hold water.
Which brings us to the obvious question, one that could be posed to the president at his press conference tonight: Why do leading conservatives stress only part of the picture? Either they're not that smart, or they think the rest of us — especially in the media — aren't that smart.Well, most conservatives I know are pretty smart too. But almost everyone I know thinks the media is filled with a bunch of ignorant fools and based upon Mr. Miller's reasoning, they are well justified to do so. Either that, or Miller was deliberately misleading the L.A. Times readers.
I'll let you make the call. But the conservatives I know tend to be very smart people.
UPDATE - John from The Crease (who's an accountant, btw) emails in with some excellent points. Wish I had thought of them
First, there's his paragraph:He also reminded me that the rich are hit with two additional taxes that the poor have no experience with, the Luxury tax on things simply because they are expensive and the death tax.
"The top 1% of American taxpayers earn 17% of the income and pay 23% of total federal taxes; the top 5% earn 31% of the income and pay 40% of the taxes; the bottom 80% of the earners make 41% of the income and pay 31% of the taxes. These numbers are from 2001, the most recent available data; Bush's tax cuts have since made the burden on top earners lower. In other words, for all the conservative whining, we have a modestly progressive federal tax system. "
OK, so let's look at what he's really saying. He's saying basically that taxes, to be "fair," should be a function of the income slice that group earns. OK, by his own numbers then the top 5% of wage earners, who earn 31% of all income in the US, are overtaxed as they pay 40% of all taxes. Likewise, the bottom 80% (He's conveniently missing 15% of wage earners in his "analysis," by the way) earn 41% of all income and pay 31% of all taxes.
OK, so to be "fair," is Mr. Miller saying that taxes should be lowered by 9% for the top 5% of wage earners, and increased by 10% for the lower 80%? BY HIS OWN ANALYSIS the "rich" are overtaxed.
Second, income tax is the debate here. Payroll taxes like FICA and Medicare are distractions at best, mainly because of two very good reasons:
1) Theoretically, at least, money paid into FICA is paid back at a later date. Therefore, it's fraudulent to include that in this study.
2) The rich make little or no use of Medicare. They don't have to. Therefore, the poor are getting a disproportionate benefit from Medicare when compared to what they're paying in, because the rich are footing the bill. So properly, the added benefit should either be factored in as income, or more honestly, the Medicare tax (as all payroll taxes) should be ignored as irrelevant.