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In case you missed it, RCC President Dr. Valerie Roberson had an interview with the Boston Globe regarding the major changes occurring on the RCC campus. We pasted the article below. If you'd like to view the original article, click here.
New president putting Roxbury Community College back on track
Aggressive turnaround plan paying off
By Peter Schworm | GLOBE STAFF NOVEMBER 17, 2014
Two years ago, Roxbury Community College was mired in controversy. Whistle-blower complaints prompted a federal investigation into troubling lapses in reporting campus crimes, while the state auditor's office launched a review of financial mismanagement at the college's athletic center.
The financial aid program was in such disarray the US government refused to distribute funds directly, forcing the school to cover grants, then seek federal reimbursements. Under siege on multiple fronts, the college seemed to be coming apart at the seams.
But president Valerie Roberson, who arrived last summer, has led an aggressive turnaround plan, paring a budget that was millions in deficit, cutting administrative staff by about 20 percent, and taking a hard look at the entire academic operation.
Roberson has begun to reach out to area high schools in hopes of boosting enrollment. She is also seeking to strengthen relationships with area colleges, hospitals, and businesses to help students land internships and jobs.
Roberson said she took the job with the understanding that the school had plenty of problems. But over the past year, the full extent of its troubles became clear, she said.
"It was just the tip of the iceberg," she said in an interview. "You find out the challenges are much more systemic, and we had to start at the foundation."
Gerald Chertavian, chairman of the college's board of trustees who was appointed by Governor Deval Patrick last year, likened Roberson's first year to a kind of triage, given the host of immediate problems the college faced.
Despite the sweeping overhaul, Chertavian and Roberson agree the college, long plagued by poor management and low graduation rates, has substantial work ahead. It remains under federal investigation for violating campus safety laws, while its financial aid program remains under watch. And rebuilding the college's reputation will take time.
Roxbury Community College is among the state's smallest, and enrollment has dropped by more than 300 students since 2011. But in the past year, it climbed 3 percent, a welcome sign of progress.
The college has also made strides in resolving the crises that roiled the campus two years ago, gradually regaining the trust of federal monitors. "We're a few innings into a longer game," Chertavian said. "And we need to hold ourselves accountable."
The stakes are high, education officials say. Community colleges are vital training grounds for so-called middle-skilled jobs, a growing segment of the employment market that often requires associate's degrees, and as springboards to four-year colleges for students from low-income backgrounds.
At Roxbury Community College, where the average student is 29 and is usually balancing classes with work and family responsibilities, classes can provide a path to a better-paying job or a career change.
Yet skepticism about the college has sent many students, even those who live nearby, to other schools, particularly Bunker Hill Community College. In response, RCC is trying to improve student services — making it simpler for students to find the right classes and receive financial aid — and reaching out to area high schools to rebuild a sense of trust.
"The college has to have a stronger relationship with college counselors and principals," Roberson said.
The college has begun distributing an informational magazine called "Career Focus," which highlights specific academic programs and their potential jobs. For example, a feature on the nursing program notes that licensed nurses earn more than $50,000 a year, while nursing assistants earn close to $30,000.
Richard Freeland, the state's commissioner of higher education, said Roberson moved quickly to address the repeated shortcomings that had drawn state and federal scrutiny, and made sweeping changes to the staff. "She cleaned house," Freeland said. "I've never seen a broader set of personnel changes."
A longtime community college administrator, Roberson came to Boston from Joliet Junior College in Joliet, Ill., where she was vice president for academic affairs. She was formerly president of Olive-Harvey College, a community college in Chicago.
Upon arriving, her most immediate problem was the financial aid department, which had come under scrutiny for violating federal policies.
"The federal government had totally lost confidence in their ability to manage this money responsibly," Freeland said. "There were problems almost across the board."
To remedy the problem, RCC now offers a support system that can guide students through the tricky process of applying for financial aid. The college retrained financial aid staff on the latest federal regulations, and has been in daily contact with the US Department of Education.
While the college must still handle some costs up front, the speed of reimbursements has accelerated, she said.
"We're making significant progress," she said. "They are gaining confidence."
The college was also facing a substantial deficit, with little money left in reserve. In the spring, the Legislature authorized $3 million to shore up the school's finances.
Roberson said the college was not spending efficiently and she tried to cut costs without hurting academics.
The college's administration is aggressively seeking more grants, and is working to bolster fund-raising, she said. Chertavian said financial stability is crucial to the college's success.
"This college both deserves and needs resources," he said.
The newfound sense of progress stands in stark contrast to recent years, when the college faced a series of controversies that led to president Terrence Gomes stepping down in June 2012.
The state auditor's office found a range of financial lapses at the college's Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center, and Roberson found the facility had been run with little oversight from the college. Under a new chief financial officer, the center has been brought into the fold, she said.
RCC had also come under investigation for failing to investigate and report sexual crimes on campus, including allegations against two employees.
In March 2013, the college released a report that found that senior administrators had not properly reported allegations of sexual assault and in one case had apparently paid a student to keep quiet.
Now, all mandatory reporters have received training on the proper procedures for handling allegations of sexual assaults and reporting them as required under federal law.
"We're in full compliance," she said.
In its most recent information required under the Clery Act, RCC said it had received no reports of sexual offenses on campus in 2013. As a commuter school with a small campus, the college will typically have fewer reports of crimes than a residential campus, Roberson said.
Students and recent graduates say they largely felt removed from the controversy swirling around the school, and that they didn't believe it affected the quality of the classes. Kevin Small Jr., 20, who graduated in the spring with a degree in business administration, said his overall experience at the school was extremely positive.
Small grew up in Dorchester and chose Roxbury Community College to help him adjust to college academics. He initially thought he would take just a few classes before transferring to a four-year school, but wound up staying the full two years.
"I didn't want to leave because the experience was so strong," he said.
Now a student at Suffolk University, Small said his time at RCC prepared him well.
Roberson said that while handling immediate problems has consumed much of her time, it gave her greater insight into the college's inner workings.
"It's been a tough year," she said. "But in a strange way, it helped. It forced me to get into the weeds."
Peter Schworm can be reached at email@example.com.


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For the first time in five years, the Diamondbacks, Suns and Coyotes were victorious on the same day.
On Tuesday, the Diamondbacks rolled past the Dodgers 6-1, the Suns (barely) beat the Kings 97-94 and the Coyotes took care of the Flames.
Before Tuesday, the last time these three teams had won on the same day was April 10, 2013.
The Suns, coached by interim head coach and fan favorite Lindsey Hunter, rode 21 points from point guard Goran Dragic to a 102-91 win over the Mavericks in Dallas. P.J. Tucker and Wesley Johnson added 17 points apiece, while Jared Dudley (the only current Suns player) scored 18 off the bench.
Oh, and the Morris twins still played in Phoenix.
A.J. Pollock hit two home runs and a double with four RBIs and a stolen base to lead the Diamondbacks over the Pirates 10-2. Starter Wade Miley allowed two runs over 6 2/3 innings as Brad Ziegler and (current Diamondbacks executive) J.J. Putz closed it out from the bullpen.
Gerrardo Parra, Martin Prado, Miguel Montero, Alfredo Marte, Cliff Pennington and some guy named Paul Goldschmidt also had hits in the win.
Boyd Gordon, Antoine Vermette and Dave Moss each scored a goal as the Phoenix (oh yeah, that was a thing) Coyotes beat the Oilers 3-1 in Edmonton. Goaltender Mike Smith stopped 29 shots and a certain captain (OK, Shane Doan) had two shots on goal.
To be fair, the Diamondbacks, Suns and Coyotes have a span of about two weeks every year in which they all play, and the Suns and Coyotes don't play on the same night too often.
But five years is still a long time to wait for a triple play of joy.
RELATED: Kevin Connauton scores again to lift Coyotes over Flames

subset: commoncrawl


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ess familiar, but probably more important clinically, is the normal hair ss elsewhere on the body: the trunk, pubic areas, axillae, and limbs.
These changes will be discussed in later chapters. Coarse facial hairs appear on the chin and upper lip of many women by about the age of 55, but do not increase further thereafter.
Many of the observations described here pertain to lighter-skinned persons and do not necessarily apply to others. For example, Native American men have relatively little facial and body hair compared to lighter-skinned men, and should be evaluated according to their own norms.
Start your inquiry about the skin with a few open-ended questions: "Have you noticed any changes in your skin?". . . your hair? . . . your nails?. . . "Have you had any rashes? . . . sores? . . . lumps? . . . itching?" "Have you noticed any moles that have changed in appearance?" "Where?" "When?"
It is usually best to defer further questions about the skin until the physical examination, when you can see what the patient is talking about.
Causes of generalized itching without obvious reason include dry skin, aging, pregnancy, uremia, jaundice, lymphomas and leukemia, drug reaction, and lice.
Important Topics for Health Promotion and Counseling
■ Risk factors for melanoma
■ Avoidance of excessive sun exposure linicians play an important role in counseling patients about protective leasures for skin care and the hazards of excessive sun exposure. Basal cell id squamous cell carcinomas are the most common cancers in the United tates and are found most frequently in sun-exposed areas, particularly ie head, neck, and hands. Malignant melanoma, although rare, is the most ipidly increasing U.S. malignancy, now occurring in 1 in 74 Americans. Jthough melanoma often arises in non-sun-exposed areas, it is associated with intermittent and intense sun exposure and blistering sunburns in childhood. Other risk factors include family history of melanoma, light skin, presence of atypical moles (dysplastic nevi) or >50 common moles, and immunosuppression.
Protective measures are three-fold: avoiding unnecessary sun exposure, using sunscreen, and inspecting the skin. Caution patients to minimize direct sun exposure, especially at midday when ultraviolet B rays (UV-B), the most common cause of skin cancer, are most intense. Sunscreens fall into two categories—thick pastelike ointments that block all solar rays, and light-absorbing sunscreens rated by "sun protective factor" (SPF). The SPF is a ratio of the number of minutes for treated versus untreated skin to redden with exposure to UV-B. An SPF of at least 15 is recommended and protects against 93% of UV-B. (There is no scale for UV-A, which causes photoaging, or UV-C, the most carcinogenic ray but blocked in the atmosphere by ozone.) Water-resistant sunscreens that remain on the skin for prolonged periods are preferable.
Detection of skin cancer rests on visual inspection, preferably of the total body surface. Current detection rates are higher for clinicians than patients, but the benefits of self-examination are not well studied. Recommendations about screening intervals are variable. The American Cancer Society recommends monthly self-examination, clinician screening at 3-year intervals for persons aged 20 to 39, and annual clinical examination for persons over age 40. Clinicians and patients should know the "ABCDEs" for melanoma: A for asymmetry, B for irregular borders, C for color variation or change (especially blue or black), D for diameter larger than 6 mm, and E for elevation. Look in sun-exposed areas for ulcerated nodules with translucent or pearly surfaces (seen in basal cell carcinoma) and roughened patches of skin with accompanying erythema (common in squamous cell carcinoma). Patients with suspicious lesions should be referred to a dermatologist for further evaluation and biopsy.
Preview: Recording the Physical Examination—The Skin c c c
Note that initially you may use sentences to describe your findings; later you will use phrases. The style below contains phrases appropriate for most write-ups. Unfamiliar terms are explained in the next section, "Techniques of Examination."
"Color good. Skin warm and moist. Nails without clubbing or cyanosis.
No suspicious nevi. No rash, petechiae, or ecchymoses."
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Everything you ever wanted to know about. We have been discussing depression and anxiety and how different information that is out on the market only seems to target one particular cure for these two common conditions that seem to walk hand in hand.


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Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering
The curriculum is designed to prepare graduates for environmental engineering careers and graduate studies. It is guided by the vision of offering the environmental engineering degree with the strongest chemical engineering flavor or any program in the country. The program benefits from the relatively unique context of a department that integrates environmental engineering and chemical engineering.
The department takes pride in the mentoring of undergraduate students. Each student who declares environmental engineering as a (potential) major is assigned an academic adviser from the full-time department faculty. Typically, the same adviser follows the student's academic progress and serves as a mentor from the freshman year through graduation.
Engineering Mathematics B (ESE 319) is strongly recommended for students considering graduate studies


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Wood Flooring
Wood flooring adds warmth and beauty as well as defines the style and ambience of any home. It's easy to care for and clean and can last through many generations of use. More important it's hypo-allergenic and environmentally sound. Wood flooring is considered to be one of most cost-effective materials. No matter what your budget is, it can easily fit your needs.
Taking into consideration colour, texture and performance of wood can lead you to the proper choice. There are several species of wood floor that you can choose from such us Oak, Iroko, Doussie, Teak, Merbau, Maple, Wenge, Walnut, Bamboo, Acacia, Ash, Pine, Kempas etc.
There are two types of flooring: internal and external use. Decking flooring is an elegant solution for outdoor surfaces (external), making them comfortable and aesthetically appreciable. Frequent decking flooring can be Bangkirai, Teak, Iroko, Massaranduba, Ipe, Jatoba, WPC decking etc
Solid parquet, engineered and laminate are types of wood flooring commonly used for internal applications.
Engineered flooring is real wood. It is a sandwich of 1/16" to 1/8" of finish wood on top and non-finish plywood or soft wood underneath. So, what we're looking at is 100% genuine wood prefinished-already oiled/varnished. It is easy to install and quicker to enjoy because there's no waiting for the sanding to be done and for the coats of finishing to dry. Moreover, provides better value in the long-run because it can be sanded again to revive the wood grain and erase scratches (1 or 2 times depending on the thickness of the finish layer).
Laminate flooring is a multi-layer synthetic flooring product. It is an ultra-durable product that looks like a real wood. Yet is less costly, easier to install and can last a lot longer.
Solid wood brings the natural elegance of forests into a home. Beauty and endurance can be indentifying for generation to come. Solid wood flooring is a warm, attractive and sturdy form of floor that offers householders a durable, reliable and impressive base to their interiors. The striking appearance is matched by a long-life expectation which, with the right maintenance, will see the floor provide many years of excellent quality service. All the above mention wood species flooring are available from our company. Solid Oak wood flooring is offered by our company both pre-finished (varnished, oiled, hand-scraped, brushed) and unfinished in various dimensions (70mm up to 200mm width) and qualities (SELECT, NATURE, RUSTIC etc).


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I finally got around to finishing the popular economics book Freakonomics, where "a rogue economist explores the hidden side of everything". You can read their current writing at the Freakonomics blog. You can find Part I here. Here the last and second part of my takeaways, mostly about parenting and it's outcome:
The first couple of pages of the book make the now popular but still uncomfortable claim that the rise in abortions after Roe v. Wade in the 1970's led to a decrease in crime in the 1990's. Essentially, the unwanted babies were more likely to become criminals.
The first couple of pages of the book make the now popular but still uncomfortable claim that the rise in abortions after Roe v. Wade in the 1970's led to a decrease in crime in the 1990's. Essentially, the unwanted babies were more likely to become criminals.
The American abortion statistics are shocking. In the first year after Roe v. Wade 750,000 women had abortions (1 for every 4 births). By 1980 the number was 1.6 million (1 for every 2.25 births). As of 2004, there have been 37 million abortions since Roe v. Wade.
The American story of abortion and crime is supported by a similar change in Romania.
Jane Roe (real name Norma McCorvey), from Roe v. Wade, converted to Christianity later in life and is now a adamant pro-life supporter.
More police and harsh punishment for laws is the best and easiest way to reduce crime.
The Broken windows theory of policing and the benefits of capital punishment are not supported by any data.
There needs to be, though there may not be, a better way for unwanted children to succeed.
I hate "social promotion".
Low income names are often normal names with weird spellings. Think Destinee, Bobbie, Tiffanie, etc.
Name popularity often goes from upper class, to middle class, to lower class. It seems a name's popularity is a signal for success, but the signal gets weaker as it becomes more popular. Maybe I should copy what Mark Zuckerberg calls his kids.
Bad parenting matters more than good.
Race makes no difference in achievement (earlier). It only happens to be correlated with other things that do (parent income/education, mother's age at birth, etc).
Surprisingly, single parenthood does not effect achievement at school. Neither do stay-at-home moms (though both probably has other impacts).
IQ of biological parents matter more than IQ of adoptive parents in early academic performance.
Parents often determine their children's possibility through genetics, but peers do most of the influencing (earlier).
Low achieving adopted children did fare better as adults compared to those who stayed in a low achieving household.
What parents are matters more than what parents do. However, what parents do can eventually effect who parents are.


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On the 23rd September Harmonica player Derek came into give us a little introduction to the Harmonica and the wonderful sounds it can make. He made it seem so easy
The Harmonica is a simple and relatively modern instrument dating from the middle of the nineteenth century. Its often associated with the 'blues' where it is sometimes called the 'blues harp'. A lot of people also call it a 'mouth organ'
You can visit derek's own website here!
All website content copyright © Millbank Primary School
Website design by PrimarySite.net


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Wildcare is a volunteer organisation whose members undertake practical natural and cultural heritage conservation projects on a voluntary basis – including reserve management activities such as track work, weeding, building maintenance and visitor services, community and school education, whale rescue, volunteer caretaking on off-shore islands, wildlife care and rehabilitation.
In partnership with Parks and Wildlife, the Migrant Rescource Centres, and refugee support agencies, Wildcare created the Get Outside(GO) project to provide new migrants, including refugees, with an opportunity to experience their new environment. This was intended to help create connections to their new home and their new community and to build knowledge, skills and confidence. The program benefits an individual's mental, emotional, spiritual and physical health and wellbeing, and helps to build a stronger and healthier community. Refugee and migrant participants enjoy exercise, experience peaceful settings, establish friendships with volunteers, practise English and build the skills and knowledge to share these experiences with their communities. GO enables them to better understand their new home and community, and ultimately develop a sense of wellbeing and belonging.
The Tasmanian Community Fund, has supported the leadership development component of the program. Some of them participate in leadership training weekends. The leadership program enables young people to build their group presentation skills, confidence and knowledge. They become voluntary leaders in future years of the program and are able to confidently lead their community members – for example, on walks into Tasmanian National Parks. The leaders ultimately make the program more sustainable.
Two GO leaders were employed by the Parks and Wildlife Service as bi-lingual Discovery Rangers over the last summer, providing information and guidance to Chinese visitors to Mount Field and Freycinet National Parks. Their participation in the program and the leadership training gave them the skills and confidence to provide excellent service to National Park visitors.


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16 October
Not sure where your organisation stands in terms of benchmarking against the best then take a quick Health Check and measure up. The survey reviews how well your procurement systems are embedded within your organisation and how the skills of your procurement teams are recognised and valued.
16 September
Hays have joined forces with CIPS one again to survey the private and public procurement sector. 2016 has proved to show a sustained growth in confidence in terms of economic prospects which have filtered through to procurement benefits.
16 July
In a previous article the M4siz strategic review process GOAL (Goal Orientated Action List) was introduced as a straightforward way of aligning strategy with operational planning. In this article we outline the process steps and in a series of future articles the way you can apply this tool to your business.
During challenging economic times procurement and supply become key performance measures for any business sector. Procurement strategies can be the major source of working capital and business improvement. Every Chief Procurement Officer (CPO) is faced with several challenges not least balancing staffing levels and technology to give the best capability within the organisation to control procurement processes.


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Thursday show 11-12-15
Obama administration: Transgender boys must be allowed to shower with girls at school
When it rains it pours. This morning Howard Portnoy wrote about a landmark referendum vote in Houston to repeal that city's LGBT-friendly Houston Equal Rights Ordinance, or HERO.
Read More
School to homeschoolers: Sign up or face criminal charges
Read more at http://www.wnd.com/2015/11/school-to-homeschoolers-sign-up-or-face-criminal-charges/#urpd84O2J0h2ehye.99A number of homeschool parents in Florida have been ordered by a public school district to register their children in classes within three days or face "criminal prosecution" under state law.
Read More
U.S. state draws line in sand against Islamization
A third South Carolina county has barred the door to any Third World refugees being resettled in their community, and at least two others are considering the same move.
Read More
'Free the Nipple' is so yesterday; meet campaign advocating female bottomlessness
Back in the day, people who were squeamish about mothers breastfeeding in public were denounced as prudish. When a new generation of women came along and demanded "topless equality" — the right to walk around bare-breasted in public — the prudish label was dropped in favor of sexist.
Read More
Fema can't account for up to $456 million in Sandy fuel funds
The Federal Emergency Management Agency can't adequately account for more than 70 percent of the money spent on fuel for New York in the aftermath of superstorm Sandy, a federal audit released on Friday found.
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New Temple Mount restrictions: no feeding babies
Jewish visitors to the Jerusalem's Temple Mount - the holiest site in Judaism - have long been subject to a list of restrictions demanded by Muslim authorities.
Read More
$134,730 NIH-Funded Study Explores 'Risk of Obesity in Food-Insecure Children'
The National Institutes of Health awarded $134,730 in taxpayer funding to the University of California San Francisco to understand the "risk of obesity in food-insecure children.
Read More


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A dry white wine with fragrant aromas of rose, jasmine and conference pear. The palate is wonderfully rich and creamy with a slightly honeyed character.
|Pinot Gris
|Wine Style Guide (White) 1 being dry and 9 being sweet:
|Sussex, England
|Vintage (Subject to availability):
|Food Match:
|Asian foods
|750 ml
Delivery Costs:
We aim to offer next working day delivery as standard providing your order is placed before 11am. Please note this is not a guaranteed service and may take longer during busy periods. If you choose a specific delivery date we endeavor to deliver on your chosen date, but again this is not a guaranteed service. We do not deliver on Saturdays, Sundays or Bank Holidays.
For orders under £70 a delivery charge of £5.95 will apply for deliveries to Mainland UK excluding the Scottish Highlands
For orders over £70 delivery is free to Mainland UK excluding the Scottish Highlands.
We do not deliver outside of the UK.
We can offer a delivery service to the Scottish Highlands unfortunately a delivery surcharge will apply due to high courier costs and the nature of the products which we send. Please email info@thepipstop,co.uk or call us on 01207 523555 for further information.
Local North East delivery is free for orders over £40 - we will email you with details of your delivery day if your address qualifies for this service.
Please allow 7 days for Local North East delivery
We are unable to accept any liability for products damaged when being shipped internationally. Any customs charges at the border of the country of delivery are the responsibility of the customer and not of The Pip Stop.
We are unable to offer next day delivery or free delivery to international orders.
We are a secure website working with SagePay.


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4 Important Things You Must Look For When Choosing a Lawyer
Have you ever been confused when choosing a lawyer? Because to get a suitable advocate to assist you when facing a case or something else, it is not as easy as we thought before.
Plus, 'hiring' the services of famous lawyers who already have big names is not a guarantee. Because they do not necessarily understand the psychological and material conditions experienced by their clients.
Not infrequently large lawyers actually seem to "underestimate" cases experienced by their clients. So the opinion that finding the right lawyer is as difficult as finding a mate, there is truth.
4 things to consider in choosing a lawyer, including:
1. Explore the area of expertise.
Each lawyer has different expertise, this can usually be known from their website pages. Therefore, do not choose a lawyer whose expertise is not in accordance with the problems we face, for more information : unemployment attorneys in Oklahoma
2. Find out their rates first.
Although the attorney's code of ethics has stated that they should not burden their clients with unreachable fees, it is not uncommon for many clients to complain about the high tariffs set by their lawyers. Therefore, it is not strange if the prospective client can call the office of the lawyer who will be appointed to ask for the standard rate. If it feels appropriate, then it can be continued with the moment of consultation.
3. Choose a lawyer who wants to take the time to listen.
Many lawyers who already have big names apparently do not have time to even listen to complaints and discuss with clients. It gets worse if it turns out the lawyer also does not have an assistant or partner who can replace his role in discussing with his client. Choose a lawyer who isn't too busy so you … Read More ...
How To Choose the Right OS for Your VPS Hosting
If you are developing a business website, then, soon you will have to start deciding on the hosting platform. With endless options available in the market today, it is indeed a tough choice to make when it comes to hosting solutions. Depending on your projected business growth (and site expansion), estimated budget, and your expectations from your hosting provider, you can choose the most suitable plan. If you are at the very first stage of your business with a low budget, then think shared hosting. But if you can afford a private server with customizable resources and need advanced security, then dedicated hosting should be your choice.
However, if you deal with high volumes of traffic or content on your site but you cannot afford dedicated hosting, then VPS hosting is your best and only solution.
Why VPS
VPS is like a midway between shared and dedicated hosting solutions. It gives you the advantage of private servers, each with their individual set of resources, but is overall cost-effective at the same time. With VPS hosting, there's another choice that you have to make. It is choosing the right operating system for your server. VPS runs on both Windows and Linux OS, each with its respective sets of features.
Here's a comprehensive guide to each OS of VPS hosting, so you can make a well-informed decision.
Linux VPS Hosting
It runs on the Linux- an open-source software. As such, site owners do not need to purchase any license to download, run, or upgrade the software. This radically reduces the monthly costs.
Linux based VPS hosting uses lesser resources in terms of hardware, storage, bandwidth, and data, which boosts site performance and minimizes chances of site downtimes.
It gives users complete access to the cPanel (control panel) and allows them … Read More ...
Why Guest Posting Is Critical In Any Marketing Campaign
Imagine a scenario in which your fresh out of the box new advanced advertising effort was bound from the begin.
This may seem like a bad dream for any business. Be that as it may, any advanced battle that doesn't utilize guest posts should be over before it's started.
There are a wide range of motivations to incorporate guest posting into your advanced promoting effort. Be that as it may, numerous organizations are as yet uncertain whether this will support their business or not.
Still wavering? Continue reading to find what guest posting can do to improve the situation you and your computerized battle!
Get More Subscribers
Before you plunge into guest posting, it's vital to build up an objective. To put it plainly, what is your optimal result from a great guest posting service?
For instance, you may conclude that you need to build the quantity of committed email endorsers that you have. Giving strong substance to an expansive number of clients by means of a guest post is a marvelous method to do this.
At last, customers will possibly sign on to your email list on the off chance that they feel you will routinely have content that is important to them. With even a solitary post on the correct site you can build up yourself as a wellspring of substance that will profit these clients on a continuous premise.
Building Your Brand
Past explicit subgoals, for example, getting more email endorsers, there is one larger objective for guest posting. What's going on here? Building your image, obviously!
According to a customer, your image's quality is an indication of how dependable you are. Put all the more basically: individuals are bound to pick the name they know over the name that they don't have the foggiest idea.… Read More ...
5 steps to get the best broadband for the office
We guide you through the process of buying the right broadband connection for your office.
As a business owner, you are obliged to install all the infrastructure required for smooth everyday operations. To this end, there must be enough office and pantry supplies, emergency electrical backup, sufficient working capital, etc. However, the most important piece of infrastructure is a good broadband connection.
How do you buy the best one for your office? Let these 5 factors guide you:
- Check for broadband availability in your area. A lot of service providers will put up advertisements about their best broadband plans, but it is all a wasted effort if their services are not viable for your locality. So the first step is to find out which service providers can install broadband connections in your area. You can find this out by keying in your search on Google by placing a marker for your locality. Or send a query to your desired service provider and have them ascertain the feasibility of providing a broadband connection to you.
- Check the latest plan prices. Once you identify the service provider(s) operating in your area, it is time to peruse their latest broadband plans. Look up leading providers like Airtel for the best plans. Airtel broadband connections are available in multiple plans split over 1 month, 6 months and 12 months plans. You also get excellent discounts when you sign up for Airtel broadband connections. If you are looking for broadband for a high-density use office space, then you should opt for the fibernet plan.
- Check the plan features. When you choose a particular plan, you must do so by comparing its merits against other options from other providers. Check how much data the plan provides each month, if there is data rollover option for unused
Things to Know When Searching For VPNs Tests and Services
If you want to find the best virtual private network so that you can increase your privacy, bypass censorship and geo-restriction, or so that you can enjoy in torrenting without copyright penalties, it is essential to find appropriate service that will meet all your demands.
First, you should know that VPN is an easy and quick solution to make your computer apparent so that you can mask your current whereabouts and surf from a completely different location. However, there are differences between services, especially when it comes to internet speed, which why it is vital to find the fastest VPN service available for your specific needs.
This particular technology will create a virtual network that will route all your network activities from both mobile device and computer through an encrypted tunnel, which will make it seem that you are on any location in the world where the server is located, of course.
That will allow you to bypass restrictions, censorships and to stay anonymous and protected while surfing online. The main problem is that you will be able to find a vast array of VPN providers and services on the market, and the question is which one is the best for your specific needs and requirements.
Why Do People Use This Particular Service?
By using this particular software, you will be able to create a wholly virtualized network that will provide you peace of mind when it comes to surfing. It will encrypt your connection, which means that no one will be able to see what you are doing and what type of data you are transferring.
If you want to maintain the data, especially when you are using public networks, which are prone to breaches, you can ensure that no one will snoop your traffic or steal different passwords … Read More ...
Important tips to keep in mind when planning an event
Defining goals can be considered as the first step in event planning. During this stage, you think about the exact reason behind why you spend a lot of time, money and effort on organizing an event. It can be an event that is organized to raise awareness about a cause, a fundraiser, or a way to bring people together and let them have a good time. Why you should develop event goals and objectives? The answer to this question will be just a simple sentence or a paragraph that incorporates several reasons. No matter how many reasons you have, you need to develop the event goals and objectives in a proper manner. In fact, all the goal oriented events should possess defined objectives.
Many different methods are available for the people who are engaged in event management process to develop event goals. Here is a list of some of those methods.
First of all, you will need to pay special attention towards the target population. In other words, you need to have a clear understanding about who the event is intended for. Then you can take required steps accordingly to plan the event in a proper manner. For example, you can create your promotional campaigns accordingly to grab the attention of target audience. You will also be able to identify the best marketing strategies that you can use to reach your target audience in a convenient manner.
Then you need to think about providing the infrastructure facilities needed by the guests who come to the event. That's where you should think about providing them with access to a reliable internet connection. Most of the people ignore this fact of getting event WiFi. As a result, the guests would end up with frustration. You need to make sure that it … Read More ...
WAN Networks and Telecommunication Examples
Do you remember when we used to have to visit someone simply to talk to them or give them a message? Probably not, and that's because most of the people alive today have gotten used to the telecommunications lifestyle such as sd wan benefits and what they can do for society. Think about it, how much money, time and effort would it have cost someone to travel to another country to communicate with a long-distance relative? Tons of it, but now, with the touch of a button and an internet connection, we can have a phone call or video chat with almost anyone in the world. In this article, we will discuss WAN and telecommunications
WAN & Telecommunications
WAN is an acronym that stands for wide area network and is used to connect smaller networks to one larger network. This is often done when a big company like AT&T or Cox communications set up their wireless towers in a city, and then sub-divide certain networks to reach certain customers. This can go deeper and deeper with networks creating sub-networks and those sub-networks creating even more networks. As I write this article, I am connected to my phone's internet via personal hotspot which creates a small network between my laptop and my iPhone.
My iPhone is connected to AT&T's wide area network (WAN) in the city of Escondido, California which provides connection to all of its residents. This area is probably connected to another network which provides internet connection to the whole city of San Diego, then the whole state, and then networks may connect states together, and it grows until AT&T or another telecommunications provider gives network connections to whole countries.
Telecommunications in and of itself is a term given to networks of people using tools to communicate. The word … Read More ...
Website Tips for Small and Medium Enterprises
For small business owners having a website must be carefully thought out. Will the website later support its business or just in vain. Many think that when they have a website, the business will automatically become more successful. Many things must be considered before you want a website to support your business, for more information : IT support for small business
1) Competitor Research
First, try to find 5 examples of your competitor's website for analysis. By doing this, you will quickly find out what you have to do and what doesn't. Often it's easier to work out what you want by looking at other examples. Learn from others' mistakes and take inspiration from their success.
2) Determine Your Difference
Website Tips for Small and Medium Enterprises next is Thinking and working exactly what makes your business different from the others. Are you friendly? Cheaper? More exclusive? By understanding what sets you apart from competitors, you will make it easier in which direction your website will work and how information reaches your clients
3) Target Your Customers
Knowing who your target market is very important. Remember you can't be everything to everyone. Focus on what you are targeting, rather than ending up with a website that is stuck in the middle and does not resonate with anyone.
4) Always Grow
Then Website Tips for the Small and Medium Enterprises next is Plan your website to be one that grows and develops with your business. It may have relevant special article columns on your website that can update and keep the site growing. Don't build your site without changing anything, once the website is finished, then leave it alone. By updating, expanding and building your website will remain relevant and attractive to your customers. Not only will it attract new visitors, … Read More ...
Five Tips to Improve Your Inventory
According to IHL group, a global research firm that specializes in software and technologies in hospitality and retail industry, both retail and hospitality companies lose as much as 1.75 trillion dollars. These figures are due to overstocking and out of stock products. Below we will give you five Tips for Managing Inventory in Metrc.
Maintain a Well-Organized Warehouse
Maintaining a well-organized warehouse can help you solve a leak that will significantly improve your finances. It is noteworthy too that an organized warehouse will enhance safety while reducing injuries involved by poorly kept products. You will also want to have your fastest moving products near the dock. Additionally, if your company is involved in shipping products, accessing them will be easy, and it will save you time.
Regular Inventory Check
Impulse checking of all your inventories will help you make appropriate decisions. It is paramount though to always categorize your inventory into three levels – excess/ depleted stock, safety and replenished stock. This will help you identify the minimum stock needed so that you can provide an insurance policy against supply related problems. Also, one thing you would want to avoid is a backlog of excess or obsolete products; categorizing your products and checking them frequently will help you avoid this problem.
Effective Software
If you wish to improve your inventory and possibly increase your finances, then you need to avoid the thumb rule. The thumb rule is where you suggest 15 days to have your products stocked safely. The problem with using this rule is that it only accounts for products which are uncertain with regards to deliveries. Therefore, you need a statistical software where a formula is created based on the product's history of deliveries.
Learn to Differentiate Your Stock Keeping Unit
Avoid using the same formula for … Read More ...
Modern Resume Templates Tips to Make Your Resume Look Outstanding
Let's see how to make your Office Resumes look different with the right formatting and the right choice of creative design.
1. Highlight Like an Ad Writer
Your resume is an advertisement of yourself. Then you must think about it like a copywriter who will write an ad copy.
Use the remaining part of your resume for your important achievements.
Use bold formats to highlight significant achievements and key words. The goal is to emphasize critical words that immediately inform employers about what they want to know about you. You will want your key points to stand out on the resume even if they only see them at a glance.
2. Use Different and Not awkward Fonts
Use a different font but remain formal and readable. Times New Roman and Arial are too common these days, so try non-cursive fonts like Calibri, Cambria, Helvetica, and Verdana.
The Garamond and Lucida sans fonts look classy but not too familiar like Times Roman, so it might make your resume look different and more modern.
3. Stop Playing with Your Resume Margin
A one-page resume with very thin margins will be difficult to read, and sometimes the information cannot be interpreted correctly by an applicant tracking system (ATS).
Don't sacrifice your eyes, or the eyes of the recruiter to squeeze your resume into one page. Use the right margin and don't be afraid to use two pages if you have to do it. There are ways to write a concise resume without sacrificing the readability of your documents.
4. Explain What Is in a URL
Adding links to an online portfolio does not guarantee the recruiter will click on it.
You must motivate them to do it. Add a brief description of what they can expect to see in your portfolio.
5. Consider … Read More ...


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U.K. - EuroMillions UK
UK Euromillions allows you to get in on all the EU lottery game action as you compete for two gigantic EuroMillions jackpots every week, drawn on Tuesdays and Fridays. The EuroMillions drawing takes place in Paris but with UK Euromillions you can participate via The National Lottery by choosing five numbers and two Lucky Stars. Match a minimum of just two main numbers to win a prize or match them all to win prizes that rise into the hundreds of millions of Euro range!
Lottery Odds And Statistics:
EuroMillions is Europe's largest rollover jackpot lottery game, perhaps because it is also one of the simplest games of chance ever conceived. Simply select five numbers from 1 to 50 and then add two Lucky Stars from 1 to 11.
Lottery Security And Results:
UK Euromillions, like all lottery games of the UK is managed by The National Lottery as operated by the Camelot group and is committed to maximizing revenue for National Lottery Good Causes that include many prominent charities. To date, Camelot has run the most cost-efficient lottery in Europe and generated more than £29 billion for the Good Causes. That means as a player you can be sure your payouts are always secure, but even more than that, every ticket you buy that doesn't win money for you is automatically winning money for worthy causes and the general good.
Lottery History:
As has always been the case, the total amount which goes to National Lottery Good Causes depends on the mix of sales across different games and sales channels, the level of unclaimed prizes – and the amount raised in investment income from National Lottery balances waiting to be allocated.
In the period up to March 2013, around 28% of total National Lottery revenue is expected to go to the Good Causes.
Getting in on all the action has never been easier than it is right now as Euromillions comes to the UK in a big way. Backed by The National Lottery and the simplest gaming format possible, your next seven number match could be worth hundreds of millions of dollars and even your mismatches do a lot of good for your fellow citizens via funding of so many worthy causes by Camelot.


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Mette Løyche Wilkie took up her position as Director of the Ecosystems Division on 1 June 2014.
Mette brings more than 25 years of experience in providing technical and policy advice to developing countries, partner organizations and international conventions on sustainable forestry, environmental management and rural development issues as well as an extensive experience in managing large and complex programmes.
She commenced her career in Africa and Asia, where she worked for more than ten years on long- and short-term assignments for the UN, bilateral aid programmes, NGOs and private consultancy companies in Sierra Leone, Bangladesh, Viet Nam, the Philippines, Sudan and Malaysia.
In 1998 she took up a position within the Forestry Department of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) at their headquarter in Rome, leading the work on identifying and promoting the implementation of best practices in sustainable forest management within a larger landscape approach.
From 2004 to 2011 she led FAO's Global Forest Resources Assessment Programme and successfully coordinated the 2005 and 2010 assessments of the status and trends in the extent of the world's forest resources, their uses, socio-economic values and management status. She also helped set up the Global Forest Observations Initiative under the Group on Earth Observations.
Prior to joining UN Environment she held the position of Deputy Director of the Forest Assessment, Management and Conservation Division in FAO as well as Deputy Coordinator for one of FAO's five organization-wide strategic objectives - leading staff and divisions through transformational change and towards the implementation of a matrix structure.
She has written extensively on forestry; Small Island Developing States; integrated coastal area management; mangroves; watershed management; land cover assessments; climate change; REDD+ and biodiversity issues.
Mette is a Danish national and holds a BSc and MSc in Forestry from the Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University in Copenhagen as well as an MSc in Environmental Management from the University of London.


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In addition to everything in STANDARD:
In addition to everything in PRO:
Intelligent Self-Service
Intelligent Self-Service Q&A: Powered by our proprietary AnswerGraph technology, customers receive succinct and accurate responses to their questions with answers drawn from relevant portions of pertinent knowledge-base articles.
Support for Images in Answers: Images and animated GIFs from knowledge-base articles are surfaced dynamically in the Solvvy UI.
UI Config Manager: Solvvy UI can be customized from the console to reflect the branding of your business, such as colors and fonts.
Multiple Orgs: Customers can deliver more accurate self-service resolutions by implementing a separate Solvvy instance specific to each user persona or user tier (e.g. free, paid, premium).
Coach App(Expert Training): Customers can provide input to the machine learning models by upvoting specific snippets as answers to user questions. Especially useful when customers update their knowledge-base or add new product features.
Multiple Personas: Solvvy can support multiple user personas by segmenting the answer it serves up based on user type.
CSAT Surveys: Customers can deploy CSAT surveys at the point of resolution that have far higher response rates than email surveys.
Non-Standard UI Customizations: Solvvy solution engineers can create highly customized UI and UX to comply with company-specific branding or other unique requirements.
Reporting & Analytics
KB Gap Identification: Solvvy analysts provide a report of gaps in your knowledge base by surfacing user questions that are not currently answered by any knowledge-base articles.
Solvvy Dashboard: Solvvy provides access to a reporting dashboard with a detailed overview of self-service resolution rate (SSR), customer query volumes and breakdowns, and knowledge-base usage analytics. In addition, customers can download the underlying data in CSV format to analyze in a tool of their choice or generate a PDF report for distribution.
Issue Categorization Reports: Solvvy analysts create a categorization of user questions, providing strategic insight into product and knowledge-base gaps.
KB Scorecard and Remediation: Solvvy analysts provide guidance into how to optimize knowledge base performance by leveraging insights and best practices from our extensive experience across millions of users.
Helpdesk/CRM System Integration: Solvvy integrates with most CRM and helpdesk/ticketing systems. We provide the ability to send data about the user and their interactions, so agents can resolve tickets more efficiently.
Native Mobile Functionality: Customers with app-native Help Centers can still derive the benefits of Solvvy by integrating our Mobile SDK or Wrapper.
Custom Integrations: Solvvy provides custom development work to integrate with the homegrown/custom helpdesk/CRM or the lack of APIs from the vendor.
Integration with Chat Systems: Solvvy can integrate with a variety of supported chat platforms, providing a self-service option before customers start a chat session with a live agent.
Multiple Integrations: Solvvy supports migrations between various helpdesk/CRM and chat systems.
Customer Success & Support
Dedicated Customer Success Manager: Each client builds a relationship with an assigned CSM who is responsible for helping them get the most value out of Solvvy's technology and capabilities.
Quarterly Business Review: Formal quarterly review of program performance, key metrics, and KPI's.
Onboarding Guidance: CSM will conduct a kick-off call to set business goals for the year and key milestones. This includes a 30-day check-in to identify quick wins and any main themes to address.
CX Consultations: CSM will provide in-depth consulting to review user experience in the support flow and suggest ways to improve it.
Monthly CSM Calls: Check-in calls where CSM will bring up suggestions around Help Center structure, content gaps, user flow, and ways to optimize contact forms to gather more information and speed up agent resolution.
Annual Business Review: Formal annual review of program performance, key metrics, and KPI's.
Premium CSM Support: CSM will acknowledge emails within a 24-hour SLA window during business hours and act as a business advisor.
Multiple Support Channel Options: Solvvy provides a single, consistent UI in front of your support channels. Omnichannel handoffs can reflect sophisticated support channel mappings in terms of hours, user personas, or locations.
Persona-based Routing: Ability to provide issue-based routing or to route customers based on context using custom tags, location, device, etc. This can be used to identify critical issues and skip directly to the right support channels.


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Search IDX Listings by using an Advanced Interactive Map.
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LGBT rights in Nepal
The Nepalese government, following the monarchy that ended in 2007, legalised homosexuality in 2007 along with the introduction of several new law sets. Based on the ruling of the Supreme Court of Nepal in late 2008, the government is looking into legalising same-sex marriage. According to several sources, the new Nepalese constitution, which is currently being drafted, will include same-sex marriage and protection for sexual minorities.
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Our house got hit with illness over the weekend, with my husband coming down with the strep and the toddler with a tummy bug. So far they've kept their germs to themselves, although I'm not sure how optimistic I am that I won't end up with strep, too. They're both on the mend, but I've been homebound with the two kids for a full 48 hours now and panic is starting to set in. I spent at least 36 of those hours doing continuous laundry, because I had ignored our regular laundry for at least a week, plus the extra laundry from one family member repeatedly vomiting in bed (is there anything sadder than a baby getting sick at 2 am? He really had no clue what was going on) and another breaking a fever (again, in the middle of the night).
To make the whole situation sadder, as if having a sick baby isn't sad enough, I had planned to take the boys on an overnight to San Antonio with my mom to do Fun Stuff (the zoo and children's museum). I'd really been looking forward to it, and having to cancel last minute was a real bummer. On the flip side, the weather wasn't looking great and you know what's worse than a last minute change of plans? Scrubbing puke out of a carseat.
So this morning I made an extra cup of coffee and ordered groceries to be delivered (God bless grocery delivery) while the boys binge watched Sesame Street. I just got a copy of Cook Once, Eat All Week, so that at least had me a tiny bit excited to make dinner (when I'd assumed I'd be eating Mexican food on the River Walk). I don't often buy cookbooks I haven't at least flipped through beforehand, but I kept seeing this one mentioned in various unrelated places and the concept (of meal prepping by making big batches of a few components that you use throughout the week) was one I could get behind. Everything is gluten free but not low FODMAP so I knew I'd probably have to modify or skip a few recipes altogether. I made the chicken fried rice from week 1 tonight and it was good; easy to throw together and I'd definitely make it again.
In between making coffee and ordering groceries, I watched a snail crawl across my kitchen window. When I checked on him again, a friend had joined him. When I checked again, they were both gone. The fact that I notice these things and that it delights me in any way is quite a surprise. When I was in high school, my dad took a 10 minute video of a hummingbird moth, which he'd never seen before and thought was the strangest thing (and this was way before camera phones, so picture my dad standing in our front yard with a camcorder, zooming in and out) and it was the biggest joke to us. My mom, while not the type to bust out the video camera, would always point out pretty birds in the backyard, which was vaguely annoying to me. She'd say, "Look, a robin!" And I'd respond, "oh, cool" while thinking, Why does she care? and being annoyed she'd interrupted whatever Very Important thought I was having.
Probably my parents knew, as I do now, that unlike childhood and adolescence, adulthood brings far fewer things that fall into the categories of Delightful and Unexpected. That when you can stop for a second and watch a snail slide across a window pain you can forget all the less than fun parts of parenthood, like having to clean up vomit and the emotional labor of remembering to do the laundry before everyone runs out of underwear. And, reader, I have to tell you that I even attempted to take a video of my snail friend and his journey across the window, but my camera was more interested in focusing on the backyard, and not the magic happening on the other side of the glass. (Sorry, Dad, for thinking you were being dorky 20 years ago. I get it now.)
The toddler took a decent nap, at least, during which I got the kitchen cleaned up and played around in my journal. I'm wrapping up Tammi Salas' The Proof of Life Project class, which has been wonderful, and has given me some new creative practices to play around with (like pulling a daily card; this is from the Inquire Within deck from Worthwhile Paper). I'm starting a new notebook on July 1 (which is both my birthday and the halfway point of the year) and I'm a little antsy for the fresh start.
In other news, I (finally) got Airpods at the end of last week and now that I've figured out how to use them (I don't adapt as well to new technology as I used to, which is… startling), they're changing my life. Perfect in equal measure for tuning out children and blasting Lizzo while cleaning the kitchen.
It's been a Very Long Day which means it's time to wash my face, drink a Topo Chico, read/ knit (currently reading Meet Cute by Helena Hunting which is just okay, and trucking along on my Find Your Fade), and try to come up with new and novel ways to entertain my kids tomorrow, without leaving the house or letting them OD on screen time.


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Monthly Archives: August 2014
When the King Died by David Buchanan
Almost ten years ago, I was a diplomat of sorts in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia when King Fahd died. After twenty-three years of rule, his death came and passed with a short service and a quiet interment in a local cemetery. At the time, I joined the rest of the world with anticipation and foreboding. This was a different death, as far as important figures go, and in the end, I felt let down by it. I had such high hopes. I remember that other Americans in the country expected the worse. Some thought that when he died, we would all be kicked out of Saudi Arabia or the half-brothers would revolt or someone would strap on a backpack full of explosives and walk into a crowd in the center of Riyadh.
Over the previous months in Riyadh I had heard rumors about the King's slow approach to death. And when news came early one Monday morning, the rumors opened up even more. The security level on the compound where I live was raised immediately. Leisure travel was restricted. My mom emailed from Kansas asking if I was going to the funeral.
But nothing remarkable happened. Nothing.
Driving downtown before the funeral, we saw a few more police and a little less traffic. We met with our Saudi friends and drank the usual tea. The only time anyone spoke of the funeral was when I asked about it. The oldest man in the office, a sergeant who reminds me of a creative writing teacher I had in college, said, "He was king, yes. But he is just a man. A man who died. No biggie." He has a great sense of humor; "no biggie" was an expression he teased me about using. But that was his only comment, no eulogizing, no loud expressions of the late king's politics or reforms, no predictions of doom or revolt.
It was an attitude that seemed to baffle CNN as well. During the short, televised service in a large mosque, the headline read, "Only dirt and a simple stone will mark King Fahd's grave." And after the funeral, it changed to "King Fahd laid to rest after simple service." Just a simple service? Simple? Simple is no way to do anything these days.
I remember the media coverage. The cameras followed to the cemetery and the reporters tried to fill the silence. All they had was a crowd of robed Saudis and dozens of rainbow-colored umbrellas. There was little to speculate about. As the reporters reported on a crowd crowding around, the anchormen and anchorwomen seemed astonished this funeral was so quiet; so they filled up the silence with banter about whether or not George Bush Sr. had been invited.
Surely they were as disappointed as I. That's not the way to bury somebody. Where are the sidewalks stacked with flowers and teddy bears? Where is the twenty-one-gun salute? Where were the foreign dignitaries and the detailed itineraries? When the pope died earlier that summer, CNN got shots of people lined up for miles to file past the late pontiff. They could see it from space.
The CNN live report of the funeral made one thing clear about Western culture. We desperately love individuality, and we fetishize catastrophe. We expect major cultural shifts whenever the faces of those who lead us change or when an African disease infects an American doctor. We love to place blame and recognition alike squarely on the shoulders of one man or woman be it Hillary Clinton, George Bush, or Barrack Obama. We love to attach significance to every situation be it questions about undeserved war medals or a stain on a blue dress.
I still remember crawling into my bed in southern Riyadh during the summer of 2005; I was comforted by the smooth acceptance of one man's death by a country that depended so much on him. There's something to learn there about confidence and faith and hope. And CNN's inability to turn that into a story was the perfect monument to such a perspective. Dirt and a simple stone seemed about right. They still do.
Line of Advance is the digital literary journal for the creative writing of military veterans. Subscribe today to read the best in veteran writing.
The Long Walk & the Search for the Holy Grail
"Then I heard the voice of the LORD saying: Who shall I send? Who will go for us? I said: Here I am. Send me. Then I said: Until when LORD? And He replied: Until cities lie in ruins without inhabitants, houses are without people, the land is ruined and desolate." – Isaiah 6:8,11
Roger that…But what about when I get back? What about the dead? What about the wounded? What about the children? How can I look in the eyes of my own children, and not see the eyes of the other children? Why did I make it back and not my brethren? Why can't I sleep? Why am I so angry? Why am I so scared and still fighting to survive? Why have people I love turned away from me? Why can't I stop crying? Why do I feel like there is a giant black spider that comes out every night to suck the life blood out of me, and I'm tangled in her web? When is everything going to be OK again? Hello? LORD?
Brian Castner eloquently brings answers to some of these questions in his book The Long Walk: A Story of War and the Life That Follows. Brian has walked the walk. The Long Walk. He knows the path well. Our brother has lovingly written down his story for all of us. Like Hansel and Gretel, we can follow the path of bread crumbs into the enchanted forest. Then when the ravens come, snatching up the bread crumbs, squawking "Nevermore!" tauntingly and fly away into the trees of the forest- we begin to feel what Brian has felt. We begin to know what he has known. We begin to see what he has seen. We can take a walk in his boots. The Long Walk.
If you love a Soldier, you need to read this book. If you love a Marine, you need to read this book…a Sailor…an Airman…whatever, you need to read this book. If you work with veterans, as a social worker, counselor, psychologist, doctor, nurse, caregiver…whatever, you need to read this book. If you are one of us, you have probably already read it, but if you haven't, you need to bro. I found my copy at the public library. Yes, I know, I'm old school and went to the library or an actual book, not downloading an e-book or any of that gizmo stuff. That was six months ago. The librarian is pissed with me, 'Cuz I won't bring it back. I keep paying the fines, and then renewing it again. I read it from cover to cover, and folding down the corner of the pages when I connected with something Brian shared with me. Sometimes it's at the top of the page, other times at the bottom, and quite often it's both. So now I have this library book that follows me around. Sometimes I toss it in the back of my truck, meaning to return it to the library. Sometimes I lay it on the bed stand next to my laptop, meaning to write this book review. But I just couldn't do it. Not until now. Brian's story hit close to home. In fact, it's like hitting a home run and sliding into home plate, just to kick up some dust and get dirty, even when you don't have to, because you knocked it out of the park, Brian. I looked at his picture in the back of the book, and I was like Holy Sh*t! He looks just like me! Or I look just like him. We could be brothers. In fact, I feel like we already are.
"Don't be afraid of the soft sand, Lieutenant!"
These are words of wisdom. The man who spoke them, The Chief, he's dead now. But they will always stick with Brian, and with me. Now with you. You see, as you are doing PT, running your ass off in the mind numbing scorching heat and humidity to the point where you can't breathe because the humidity in the air is like a water soaked sponge and there's not enough oxygen in the nooks and crannies of the air to fill the alveoli in your lungs but you have to turn around and do another lap because the Chief is hounding your ass and molding you into the warrior you need to be and then you have to run up the big f*cking hill again and that's when you hit the soft sand so you double and quadruple the calories in your furnace while the lactic acid squeezes through your calves, quads, glutes, and hams until your legs want to detach themselves from your body and bitch slap you for making them continue but then you start sliding back down the hill again because the soft sand gives way and you slip and roll and get grains of sand stuck all over your sweaty skin and you look like a damn donut with cinnamon sugar sprinkled all over you and the salt from your sweat stings in your eyes and you start going blind but just run uphill on the downhill escalator of sand and grunt and get pissed off and roar out your war cry and spit sand out between your teeth as you grind them together and step through your bleeding blisters and push through the f*cking kill zone until you get to the top. You flip the switch. Out comes the War Beast. As soon as you do you are going to punch the first enemy you see in the chest with your bayonet and butt stroke the next son-of-a-bitch in the face and spray the whole f*cking bunker with a full mag from your M-4, toss in a frag, and slap in another mag without thinking. Just doing. But do you have PID? Positive Identification of that enemy threat to justify your violent action? Shoot or don't shoot? No time for that now, you must fireman carry Billy to the medics so he won't bleed out cuz there ain't no f*cking way your gonna let him die on you and the other guys in your squad need you right now cuz you have to scan your sector and somebody needs to call a 9-line medevac for Billy and somebody needs to stick him with an IV and somebody needs to bring up more ammo for the machine gun and the barrel is getting hot and the radio doesn't f*cking work and there's an IED in the road that can go off any f*cking minute and you need a grid coordinate to call in EOD and your taking fire from heavy weapons and you need to get some indirect fire and some air support coming in so now you have to turn around and do another lap…
"So don't be afraid of the soft sand, Lieutenant."
And then you come home. So now what? No, it's not just like CALL OF DUTY, so shut up already!…Well, there's green grass, and shade, running water, air conditioning, electricity, and a roof over your head. People are not actually trying to kill you. You can actually drink beer again. Eat all the pork you want, Infidel. Have a steak, eat a hamburger, get some tacos, go to a ball game, hang out at the pool. If you're lucky, you can even get laid again, and be in love. You can even go back to your old job. Hope it goes well. You should talk to God. Thank him for your life, and your many blessings…ask for forgiveness…pray for guidance…a way, a path to follow, because now you are going to feel lost.
You are the same person, but you are not. You don't FEEL the same. Are you starting to get it yet? That's the whole point of this book, so you can get it, and start to understand. Brian was an EOD guy. You know, Explosive Ordinance Disposal. He's the one the grunts call when there's a bomb, kinda like 911 for warriors. So Brian was in the thick of it. Every day. Every night. Multiple times. You are probably thinking of that movie, you know, The Hurt Locker. That film does a nice job of sharing the Iraq war experience for an EOD Soldier. Towards the end, it shows him back home again, stuck- in the grocery store with his wife and kid, just staring at rows upon rows of cereal. Then it jumps ahead, to him going back, back, back to Iraq. It pretty much skips the home front. So this is where Brian's book fills the gap for us all. It shares "A story of war and the life that follows…." You may have noticed a theme here; it's about PTSD. He calls it his crazy. I personally don't like this term. Anyone who has been exposed to the trauma of war and ends up with Post Traumatic Stress is perfectly normal. If not, then maybe you were crazy to begin with! But anyway, I understand why Brian just comes right out and calls it his crazy, people can relate to that. He wants them to be able to understand, to listen to the story, and to benefit from it. It's about the family. It's about 22 veterans per day committing suicide, and the reaching out with a loving hand to stop that from happening. Thank you, Brian.
There are really multiple meanings behind all of this. The Long Walk is literally the EOD's last resort. After you've exhausted every possible approach, and if they don't work, then somebody has to strap on the bomb suit, and take that Long Walk to go and diffuse the bomb by hand. It also refers to the Long Walk that every Soldier takes when they deploy to a combat zone, and never know if they will ever come back. It also means that Soldier's Long Walk back home, struggling with PTSD and trying to return to some happy state of normalcy again. Then of course, there is The Long Walk of having to go back and do it again. Any one of these can ultimately end in The Long Walk that families must face at the grave side, reaching out to hold onto The Flag of the United States folded crisply in triangular form, from a grateful nation—with the tear wrenching shock-wave of the twenty-one gun salute, and the echoing of Taps.
For those of us who have made it back home, Brian does a superb job of demonstrating the need for a release, that search for a solution, a way to succeed and thrive. I call it the "search for the Holy Grail." Like Percival, King Arthur, and the other Knights of the Round Table, we search the ends of the earth for the grail itself, if only to quench our thirst for peace. Brian finds one way through his running. It's like a pressure release valve for him, and for me, so that he can let some of his crazy out, and perhaps be able to sleep for a while that night, and to stay focused and in control enough to function effectively at work, and at home for those whom we love and cherish. There are many ways, and paths to follow that are out there. Drugs and destructive behaviors lead only to a dead end. Instead, find multiple paths. As a wise 92-year old WW II vet told me, "Find many joys in life."
For me, my faith is certainly a path to follow. But like Brian, I also have others. I started running. I started putting one foot in front of the other. I started moving out with a purpose to find a purpose. I struggled at first, but found myself back in the zone, and sometimes I feel like I'm running on a cloud. I ran my first marathon to raise money for the Wounded Warrior Project and to honor one of my Soldiers who was wounded in battle. I made it to the finish line. There was no way I was going to let him down. There is, of course, the traditional route. Go to the VA, file your claim, take your meds, talk to your counselor. I've done all that, and still do, but there still is a need for more than that. Yoga. That's working for me too. It makes me a better runner, more flexible, but also provides a routine, breathing, calming, healing…I joined Team Red, White, & Blue. www.teamrwb.org Hit the easy button. It's free to join and you get a free kick*ss T-Shirt. But you get more than that. You meet local veterans just like you, and lots of friendly supporters, and you go out there and stay active and social, instead of isolating yourself. I ran the Tough Mudder with Team RWB and had a blast. It's nice to feel part of a team again, part of something bigger than yourself, and to feel that camaraderie again. Do it all, just try it. You will find something that clicks for you—archery, biking, rowing, etc. Like in the Valor Games. Especially if you are physically disabled and were wounded, I know it's hard for you to find that release, it's not like you can just go running. But there are ways you don't even know about yet. My buddy Ben Donovan, he was wounded and walks with a cane. He can't run, but he does crossfit, and he tried rowing with Team RWB. He loved it. Next thing you know, they say, "Hey, Ben! Come here for a minute." So he checks it out. When he looks down, he sees a new sprint row boat. Painted on the side, Ben Donovan, they named the boat after him! Goose bumps…Now he is a leader too, recruiting more veterans to get out there. So join. Find many joys in life. Team RWB, WWP, IAVA, VFW, AMVETS, AMERICAN LEGION, TEAM RUBICON, whatever. Continue to serve again. It feels good.
So I hope you find your Holy Grail. Keep taking The Long Walk. Keep stepping out with one foot in front of the other. Fooorwaaard..March!.
Line of Advance is the digital literary journal for the creative writing of military veterans. Subscribe today to read the best in veteran writing.


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What Happens if My Visa is Expired or Cancelled?
If you are in Australia and not an Australian citizen, you should always have a valid visa. Australian temporary visas usually have an expiry date. If you happen to overstay your visa or if your visa is cancelled, then you might find yourself without a visa. So the question is what happens if you overstay your visa?
When can I overstay my visa?
The simple answer to is that you should not overstay your visa. If you find yourself without a visa because your visa expired or was cancelled then you will be considered an 'unlawful non-citizen', which is a frightening name for a person without a visa. If you do not do something about it, you may get deported and removed from Australia under Australian laws.
What to do if my visa is expired
Check, check and check your visa conditions & validity period
You should always check the expiry date on your visa grant letter. You can also search what visa you hold and the expiry date through the Visa Entitlement Verification Online system. Once you know when your visa will expire, you can then know your options and apply for another visa to stay in Australia before the expiry date.
Before your visa expires
You should seek legal advice as to what visa options you qualify for. You also need to lodge a valid visa application and pay the correct filing fees at the right time. It is generally better to try to lodge an application as early as possible before your expiry date.
If you lodge your visa application in Australia, you might be eligible to be granted a bridging visa depending on what visa you had at the time you lodged your new application. A bridging visa will allow you to stay in Australia lawfully until your visa is decided. Always check your bridging visa conditions as they may have restrictions on international travel and work rights. For more information on bridging visas, check out our blog on bridging visas.
Be aware of invalid applications
Sometimes a visa application can be invalid which means it was not lodged correctly and is not accepted by the Department of Immigration. The reason for invalid applications could be due to:
- your immigration history , maybe you had a refusal or a cancellation before;
- because the wrong form or manner (online vs paper) was used to apply for the visa;
- the filing fees were not paid because of insufficient funds or any other reason.
If your application is invalid you will not receive a bridging visa and you may find yourself unlawful if your first visa has expired. Sometimes it is safer to engage an agent or a lawyer to lodge your application on your behalf. We recommend that you seek legal advice prior to lodging your application or if your new application was deemed invalid.
After your visa expires
If your visa has expired and you find yourself without a visa, then you will be unlawful. In this case, the first step to do is to immediately seek immigration assistance from a migration agent or a lawyer. Every case is different and that is why you will need tailored legal advice.
If you are in Australia without a visa, your options will be limited. We summarised some of the options that you may have in those situations:
- leave Australia;
- apply for another substantive visa (if possible); or
- apply for a bridging visa E to allow you to leave Australia;
- take any negative decision on review if you are still within the correct timeframe;
- other options depending on your circumstances and plans.
Staying in Australia without a visa can have serious consequences as the government has the power to detain unlawful non-citizens and remove/deport them from Australia.
What to do if my visa is cancelled
A visa can be cancelled for various reasons. The Australian law allows for cancellation on either
- Discretionary grounds, i.e. the decision maker has the power to either cancel or not; or
- Mandatory grounds, i.e. they must cancel under the Migration Act.
For example, your visa will be cancelled if:
- you provided false information on your visa application or entry card;
- you breached one of your visa conditions;
- your circumstances changes and you no longer qualify for your visa;
- you commit a crime and fail the character test.
All those reasons can lead to a cancellation of your visa. Before your visa is cancelled you should generally receive a Notice of Intention to Cancel and you must respond within 5 business days. If the Department goes ahead and cancel your visa, you will be an unlawful non-citizen. If you had other visas at the time, they will also be cancelled automatically. Your options might be limited to:
- taking the cancellation on review and seek revocation of the visa cancellation;
- apply for a bridging visa (if possible) to allow you to wait for a review or prepare your affairs to leave Australia;
- leave Australia immediately;
- other options depending on your circumstances and plans.
If your visa is cancelled, you may be banned from applying for other applications once you leave Australia for a period of time. If your visa was cancelled because of a criminal record i.e. character issues, you may be banned from Australia for life.
Follow your visa conditions to avoid cancellation and always check your visa expiry dates. Plan, plan and plan well ahead of time. If you are approaching the end of your visa validity period, seek legal advice if you wish to remain in Australia.
Useful tips
- Australian visas are more complex than what you may think. We recommend you seek legal advice before applying for a visa application. Please contact us for more information.
- Always check when your visa will expire and ask for help if in doubt.
- Follow your visa conditions and if your circumstances change, discuss them with an agent first to help you with other plans;
- If your visa is cancelled, you will need to seek help immediately as you will have very strict timeframe to appeal the cancellation.
About the authors
This article was written by Marial Daniel, a solicitor and a registered migration agent (MARN: 1575322) of Teleo Immigration Specialists.
Teleo has successfully represented thousands of applicants over the past 10 years, including complex matters, visa cancellations and review applications.
The director of Teleo Immigration Specialists, Dr Etienne Hugo (MARN: 0004435) has over 17 years of Australian immigration experience and is one of only 35 accredited specialists immigration lawyers in New South Wales. Etienne is admitted as a lawyer in NSW and also the High Court of Australia. He was awarded both his BLC and LLB degrees with distinction and subsequently completed a LLD (Doctor of Law degree) from the University of Pretoria. He obtained his Immigration Law certification from UTS with distinction. Dr Hugo is a Fellow of the Migration Institute of Australia and regularly presents papers on Immigration Law. He has also taught at ANU in the graduate diploma for Immigration since 2006.
If you wish to seek advice or apply for an Australian visa, please contact us on email@example.com .
DISCLAIMER: Immigration law is complex and is subject to constant regulatory and policy change by the Department of Immigration. The information provided here may therefore be out-dated and no longer accurate. The information provided above is a general guide only – it is not tailored for your specific circumstances or immigration purposes and you must under no circumstances rely on this information for immigration planning or the lodgement of an application with the Australian government or related bodies. In order to ensure your eligibility is accurately assessed and to allow for tactical decision making that would best suit your desired immigration outcome, it is essential that you consult with a capable immigration advisor registered with the relevant Law Society and/or OMARA. We direct new client enquiries to schedule an initial consultation with our office – email: email@example.com. During an initial consultation we have the opportunity to obtain a complete set of facts that will allow us to explore all the available options. Another reason we engage clients within the context of an initial consultation is to protect our firm from potential professional liability which may flow from providing a brief, unconsidered opinion. As a paying client you/ us have the benefit of professional indemnity insurance. Liability limited by a scheme approved under the Professional Standards Legislation.
If you would like ImmiAdvisor to blog about a specific topic please email firstname.lastname@example.com
IMPORTANT NOTICE: ImmiAdvisor recommends you obtain your own independent immigration, legal, accounting, financial or taxation advice as appropriate. It is solely your responsibility to evaluate the accuracy, completeness and usefulness of all information provided through this blog/website. In no event will ImmiAdvisor Pty Ltd be liable to you or anyone else for any decision made or action taken by you or anyone else in reliance upon any information contained on or omitted from this blog/website.
Categories: Applying for an Australian Visa


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Harvest Festival
On Friday 5th October, we celebrated Harvest with a wonderful service of celebration and thanks at the Church. This year, the theme was a, 'A Perfect World' and each class gave a presentation that reflected an aspect of this such as education, medicine, kindness and peace. It was a lovely service that allowed us to remember how lucky we are and to think about others who may not be as fortunate.
Thank you to Reverend Steve,all the parent helpers who accompanied us and all the staff and children for their hard work in preparation for our Harvest Festival.


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Earthjustice and a broad coalition of partners have been fighting for years to convince the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to ban an entire class of poisonous neurotoxic pesticides. Every year, these pesticides, called organophosphates, poison farmworkers and others who come into contact with them in communities near agricultural fields.
Over the past decade, an extensive body of scientific evidence from institutions like UC Berkeley and Columbia University shows that even at minimal levels of exposure organophosphates damage children's brains and lead to such alarming deficits as reduced IQ, autism and attention disorders.
After multiple Earthjustice lawsuits, the EPA has finally started the process of banning food uses of one of the most widely used of these pesticides, called chlorpyrifos. But it's time for the agency to ban not just all uses of chlorpyrifos, but this entire class of neurotoxic pesticides, to keep them out of our food, our drinking water, our schools and yards, and our bodies.
A total ban is what communities need and deserve, especially the farmworker communities that have disproportionately borne the burdens of pesticide poisonings and learning and memory impairments in their children.
We can't let these pesticides continue to poison people. Take action today.
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OLD-SCHOOL Social Networking
I got into group singing by accident. I was going to fortnightly drum classes in London and I got the dates mixed up. They alternated with African Harmony classes and I turned up not recognising anyone. With a drum. I have to say I was greeted quite warmly by the teacher so I stayed. It was a revelation. I'd always been keen on connecting people and this seemed to do it quite effortlessly. Within an hour we'd built up a group vibe which was relentlessly authentic.
That was 20 years ago and I've been facilitating groups ever since. I got the whole of the Albert Hall singing a couple of years ago, but mainly I work with corporate conferences of a few hundred people. The movie above shows a return to my roots though – a bunch of strangers singing in a hired hall in North London.
They were lucky on this particular night because I invited some good friends, Stephen Jeffreys (guitar), Rocky Racoon (melodeon) and Zak Dajani (bass) to join us. Usually it's just me my drum and a whole bunch of enthusiastic voices but we had the added support of melodic instruments for this workshop. Yes, we all could have stayed at home safely Tweeting, and there was a certain amount of that going on in the pub afterwards, but I also saw some people mute their phones and actually talk out loud to each other, old-school.


text: So Apple ignored the publishers who rolled over and settled with the Department of Justice and so this past Wednesday received a guilty verdict from a federal judge. Digitaltrends.com posted an interesting article on what the fallout for consumers could be: http://www.digitaltrends.com/apple/apple-e-book-fallout-what-it-means-for-your-wallet/. It is unlikely that we will see eBook prices drop across the board. All this really means is that I will buy fewer and eBooks from traditional publidpshers. Still that this even happened is scary. Imagine if the folks who run Red Robbin went to McDonald's and said, "you know you selling hamburgers for 99 cents hinders or keeps us from selling 12 dollar burgers." Never mind the quality difference a burger is a burger right? Either way this would never happen yet Apple managed to pull it off until the DOJ came calling. Every once in a while the government gets something right.


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photo diary | a Bahamian weekend
Spontaneously packed up the Jeep and drove 7 hours North with my childhood best-friend, Kaylee. To start off our adventures, we explored the colorful, Earthy town of Asheville. It's always refreshing to get lost in a different city.
Hours later we checked into our Airbnb- a modernized, glass house in the midst of thick forestry. The views were delightful, the sounds were peaceful. We fell asleep listening to crickets and awoke to birds chirping, greeting one another.
A notable part of this trip was our eating habits. Kaylee is a vegan and has been for quite some time now. I was willing to commit to this, not only to make life a bit easier for her, but to embrace a healthy, natural lifestyle while we connected with the Earth. We stopped at a local farmers market and stocked up on tons of fruits, veggies and proteins to help us make it through the trip.
The Blue Ridge Parkway/ Pisgah National Forest. My oh my, how I felt alive here. I can't put into words the state of mind both Kaylee and I were in. However, it's safe to say we were happy, blissful and at ease. We felt so connected with ourselves and the Earth. Around every corner was a beautiful adventure, and Earth patiently waiting to be explored. We encountered lush nature, ethereal views and breath-taking waterfalls. With no cellphone service and the great outdoors surrounding us, we used our experience to inspire us- to get back in touch with ourselves while leading a wholesome life of simplicity and spontaneous adventures.
A special thanks to Kaylee Davis, for being such a wonderful friend to me for more than a decade. This trip wouldn't have been the same without you. I'm so grateful to have met you and to still have your beautiful soul be apart of my life. I love ya endlessly.
San Juan, Puerto Rico:
St. Thomas:
Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis:
Saint Lucia:
Ventured to Savannah, Georgia with an old friend.
Strolled along the streets of Saint Augustine
Found myself in awe of the views in Panama City Beach
And embraced even the gloomiest of days.
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Luray Caverns, Virginia
Filled with stallagmites and stalactites, these underground caverns were a true work of art. At about 200 feet into the earth, the air that filled my lungs was a cool 60 degrees, setting a true cave-like tone. I'm still completely blown away by the magnificent creations that lie below the earths surface.
Shenandoah National Park
This was my first time at a National Park and I can't even begin to describe how alive I felt. Between the vast horizons, fresh air and lack of civilization, I can definitely say I was high on life. I was surrounded by mountains and tree tops. Butterflies played around my hair as the sun kissed my skin. This experience allowed me to feel renewed. It allowed me to reconnect with myself and become one with the earth. If you've never been to a National Park before, I would highly recommend it.
With my birthday being the first day of August, the day always seems to pop up abruptly and surprise me. However, that didn't stop my family from planning a weeks worth of fun and adventures.
It started on the 31st of July with a lovely dinner party at my house. Some of my closest friends came over to eat, laugh and make memories. We didn't take many pictures, because we were all too busy living in the moment, but I did manage to find this gem. It truly captures how full of joy I was that night. I think those are the best types of photographs- ones that capture rare moments and raw emotions. They speak for themselves.
I took the whole week off from work to relax and find my inner zen. We all deserve to find a peace of mind and make time for yourself, so I considered this a little birthday present to myself. It felt nice having time to focus on me again, doing the things that I love and the things I never get a chance to do.
The next thing on the birthday week list was traveling to Orlando, FL! We stayed in a hotel that was a walk away from Disney Springs (AKA the newest part of Downtown Disney). I must say, Disney really outdid themselves. I've always loved the atmosphere of Downtown Disney, but this new portion carries you away to another world. Sometimes I questioned if I was still in Florida.
The next day we had an early start and headed to Discovery Cove! We were greeted at the entrance by a friendly sloth. I was honestly freaking out because how often do you get to pet a sloth??We all geared up in our wet suits and set off for a day of adventures. We snorkeled with fish, sharks and stingrays and we relaxed in lazy rivers. It was absolute bliss.
Here's the squad geared up for our SeaVenture. We put on a huge helmet/tank over our heads; they kept our faces completely dry and provided us with lots of oxygen. We walked around on the sandy floor as fish and stingrays swam above us, under us and right by our sides. Our last stop was Sea World! We got rained out towards the end, but still saw lots of awesome fish and rode crazy rides.
Overall, I had a lovely birthday. It was filled with so many surprises, from trying new things to spending time with the people I love dearly. Heres to 19!