text:
I develop mathematical techniques for making accurate, quantitative measurements from optical image data.
I primarily work with fluorescence microscopy. Some of my work involves "optical nanoscopy" methods for super-resolution imaging -- the 2014 Nobel prize in Chemistry was awarded to three groups who pioneered these ways of using of visible light microscopes to measure structures far smaller than the wavelength of light. There is currently huge scope for improving on the mathematical methods that underlie this field, and for applying super-resolution to new materials and disciplines.
In my current research, I am particularly interested in methods for determining the geometry of fluorescent shell structures. These methods are valuable for studying multilayered objects such as viruses, spores, and bubbles. I am also interested in related methods for measuring complex fluid properties (rheometry) using optical microscopy and similar methods.
Super-resolution by Ellipsoid Localisation Microscopy (ELM)
We have developed a new optical nanoscopy method for inferring the exact size and order of concentric protein layers in concentric shell micro-organisms such as bacterial spores and viruses. [With Graham Christie.] By feeding the inferred parameters back into an equation for the shell's image, a super-resolved reconstructed image can be generated.
A simple computer program can identify images of bacteria spores, and fit an equation to the pixel values, enabling high precision inference of their structure
Raw image data
Time-resolved ellipsoidal shell visualisation
Inferred super-resolution image
This method of Ellipsoid Localisation Microscopy can be used to make fast, time-resolved axis and layer measurements on fluorescent shells, and may be used for dynamic measurements of bacteria (e.g. growing), viruses (e.g. transiting cell membranes) or bubbles (e.g. in complex fluids). With Zihui Zhang.
Plane 1
Plane 2
Although three-dimensional structures generally require more descriptive parameters, the principle of ellipsoid localisation microscopy can be applied to them, given more complex measurement data such as obtained from a bifocal microscope (also with Zihui Zhang).
Super-resolution by Fluorescent Shell Model Fitting
In collaboration with Bob Turner (University of Sheffield) we have developed fluorescent shell inference methods related to the ELM technique above, for inferring the layer order and growth of more complex shell structures such as cylindrical cell walls.
Super-resolution Single Molecule Localisation Microscopy (SMLM)
Super-resolution microscopy or "Optical Nanoscopy" -- which was the Nature Method of the Year 2008 and received the Nobel prize in Chemistry in 2014 -- is the name for a class of modern techniques for optical imaging at sub-diffraction resolution. The ability to use light to non-invasively study structures at scales previously accessible only to electron microscopy is a major step forwards for imaging biological and similar materials under physiological (i.e. wet) conditions. The Laser Analytics group develops super-resolution imaging platforms, as well as other advanced optical microscopes (such as fluorescence lifetime, anistropy, and spectral imaging) and applies them to various research projects though collaborations.
One of the most powerful super-resolution imaging techniques is SMLM (single molecule localisation microscopy). This microscopy technique is so new that the resolving power of the technology has advanced ahead of the theory about how the method works. This creates the needs for some interesting studies, for example I am one of the researchers who have mathematically studied what the resolution of a Localisation Microscope system actually is (see: http://www.optnano.com/content/1/1/12 for example), and how it may be optimised.
Hydration Imaging and Permeability Inference
Video data is rich in information, and good image analysis software can precisely infer hydration front kinetics in a tablet undergoing dissolution in bile acid. [With Krishnaa Mahbubani.]
The transmitted light image of a tablet undergoing hydration by water stained with a large dye molecule (a) can be analysed with spectral thresholding to identify regions that are (b) permeated with the dye, (c) hydrated but not stained, and (d) dry. This software analysis can then be applied to image stacks to infer the parameters of hydration kinetics for various materials.
Darcy flow hydration imaging. This project involves imaging the ingress of a hydration front into solid drug tablet, in order to quantify the permeability of tablets to water as a function of composition and fabrication route. Fully hydrated tablets become more transparent than dry material, due to decreased refractive index contrast between pores and solid, and hence the propagation of a hydration front can be tracked via transmitted light imaging. The permeation of water can be described by Darcy flow, with a permeablity constant that can be fitted to the hydration front velocity after using computational image analysis to track the hydration front through suitable stacks of time-lapse image data.
Single Molecule Tracking Rheometry
Liquid state Gel state
We have adapted our localisation microscopy software to evaluate fluid viscosity by tracking individual fluorescent proteins. We are currently working on correlating this data with single molecule fluorescence polarisation, which provides a readout of molecule orientation.
Super-resolution localisation microscopy is based on determining fluorescent molecule position at high precision (<10 nm). By time-resolving the tracks of fluorescent molecules it is possible to determine molecular viscosity, or to fit diffusion transport parameters to the observation - the latter can be used to measure effective viscosity at an extremely fine spatial resolution, however representing such observations as a 3D viscosity "map" remains a data processing challenge.
Fluid correlation velocimetry
We have adapted the established technique of fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (Elson 1974) to work with reflected terahertz pulses, which allows us to measure flow fields inside complex and optically opaque fluids [with Axel Zeitler]. Link to the paper in Optics Letters (2016).
Figure. Sketch of Terahertz Correlation Spectroscopy principle for velocimetry based on time-resolved echoes of moving reflectors.
Figure. Measured echoes of terahertz pulses. The red region shows a time-varying echo from a silica bead, and the blue background shows constant background.
Figure. Profile of lateral flow speed along a radial cross section of a Taylor-Couette viscometer, obtained by terahertz correlation spectroscopy.
Fluorescence anisotropy imaging relies on the fact that polarised illumination of a fluorescent sample will preferentially excite molecules aligned parallel to the light source polarisation. The resulting fluorescence light is itself partially polarised, but its polarisation decays over time due to rotational diffusion, and the timescale of polarisation decay allows the viscosity of a fluid to be determined within the very fine volume corresponding to the environment of a fluorescent molecule. This offers potential for measuring the rheological properties of fluid boundary layers involved in droplet transport within porous materials.
Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS)
FCS is an established confocal microscopy technique for measuring the viscosity and velocity of fluids containing dilute fluorescent dyes. I am interested in combining FCS with super-resolution microscopy, to measure viscoelasticity in fine structures, and to use wavelet transform signal processing to extract more finely time resolved data.
My PhD research involved developing non-platinum electrocatalysts for hydrogen fuel cells, and I remain interested in the topic of sustainable energy. A long-term goal is to develop optical imaging techniques able to address proton transport and rheology within the polymer electrolyte membranes used in low temperature fuel cells.
Quantitative Imaging group.
BA, Natural Sciences, University of Cambridge, 2005
MA, University of Cambridge, 2009
PhD, Materials Science, University of Cambridge, 2009
Research Associate, CEB, University of Cambridge, 2009 to 2013
Lecturer, CEB, University of Cambridge, 2013
Fellow of Churchill College
Generation of strength in a drying colloidal dispersion: How the fracture toughness depends on film properties, N. Birk-Braun, K. Yunus, E. Rees, W. Schabel, A. Routh, Phys Rev E (2017) doi:10.1103/PhysRevE.95.022610
Quantitative Affinity Determination by Fluorescence Anisotropy Measurements of Individual Nanoliter Droplets, Analytical Chemistry (2017), doi:10.1021/acs.analchem.6b02528
TriSPIM: light sheet microscopy with isotropic super-resolution, Optics Letters, 15 September (2016) doi:10.1364/OL.41.004170
RainSTORM: Structure validation via artifact analysis in localization based super-resolution microscopy (in preparation)
Terahertz correlation spectroscopy infers particle velocity and rheological properties, Optics Letters, 14 July (2016) doi:10.1364/OL.41.003289
Ellipsoid localisation microscopy infers the size and order of protein layers in Bacillus spore coats, Biophysical Journal, 17 Nov Issue (2015). Journal front cover. doi:10.1016/j.bpj.2015.09.023
CYK4 promotes antiparallel microtubule bundling by optimizing MKLP1 neck conformation. (Davies T, Kodera N, Kaminski-Schierle G S, Rees E J, Erdelyi M, Kaminski C F, Ando T, Mishima M) Plos Biology (2015) doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.1002121
Fluorescence anisotropy measurements of individual nanolitre droplets enable quantitative steady-state affinity determination, (submitted to Anal. Chem.)
ALS/FTD Mutation-Induced Phase Transition of FUS Liquid Droplets and Reversible Hydrogels into Irreversible Hydrogels Impairs RNP Granule Function, Neuron (2015) doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2015.10.030 (Contribution: single protein tracking)
Origin and compensation of imaging artefacts in localization-based super-resolution microscopy. Methods (2015) doi:10.1016/j.ymeth.2015.05.025
Structural analysis of herpes simplex virus by optical super-resolution imaging, Nature Communications (2015) doi:10.1038/ncomms6980
A quantitative protocol for intensity-based live cell FRET imaging, Methods Mol Biology (2014), doi:10.1007/978-1-62703-649-8_19
Direct Observations of the Formation of Amyloid β Self-Assembly in Live Cells Provide Insights into Differences in the Kinetics of Aβ(1–40) and Aβ(1–42) Aggregation, (Esbjörner E K, Chan F, Rees EJ, Erdelyi M, Luheshi LM, Bertoncini CW, Kaminski CF, Dobson CM, Kaminski-Schierle GS) Chemistry and Biology (2014), 21 (6): 732–742
Elements of Image Processing in Localisation Microscopy, Journal of Optics (2013) doi:10.1088/2040-8978/15/9/094012
Blind Assessment of Localisation Microscope Image Resolution, Optical Nanoscopy (2012), http://www.optnano.com/content/1/1/12
In Situ Measurements of the Formation and Morphology of Intracellular ß-Amyloid Fibrils by Super-Resolution Fluorescence Imaging, JACS (2011) http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/ja201651w
An Adaptive Filter for Studying the Life Cycle of Optical Rogue Waves, Optics Express (2010) doi: 10.1364/OE.18.026113
Electrocatalysis by Nanocrystalline Tungsten Carbides and the Effects of Codeposited Silver, Journal of Power Sources (2009) doi: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2008.01.002


text:
Yesterday we went to Rhode Island's own Washington County Fair and met up with some good friends. J enjoyed seeing the pigs & piglets {insert oink sound here that J makes every time he sees a pig, although it sounds more like a grunt}.
We had fun times with old friends and saw tons of animals!
A baa…
and a Rooster named Fabio who won first place for Sportsmanship. His young 4-H owner told me that he didn't place because his tail is in bad shape. He looked great to us though and who needs a tail when you have sportsmanship?!
At the end of our Fair adventure, J & I sat down at an empty picnic table to have a corn dog for lunch when two young women (20ish) sat on the other side. Cool, the more the merrier. That is, until one of them spit her GIANT wad of bright blue gum across the table to the dirt next to where J & I were sitting. Directly in the path where my husband would walk and for sure step in the giant wad of gum. (My husband was picking up his lunch while all of this occurred).
The conversation went like this:
ME: "Did you just spit your gum on the ground?"
her: *blank stare*
ME" "Excuse me, did you just spit gum on the floor?"
her: "yeah"
ME: "Someone could step in that. Are you going to pick it up?"
her: *blank stare for 10 seconds*
ME: "Seriously?!"
ME: as I pick it up with my napkin and throw it in the trash, "That's disgusting and white trash."
her: *blank stare*
ME: fuming & walking away with J "Keep eating those cheese fries."
Neither of them said a thing. Apparently spitting your nasty gum on the ground where someone will step in it is completely fine. Thanks to my pregnancy hormones I couldn't watch that without calling her out on it.
Who am I kidding? I would have confronted her not pregnant too, but it made me so much angrier while pregnant. I also looked over my shoulder for the last 20 minutes at the Fair in case they decided to jump a pregnant woman pushing her toddler in a stroller.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Nutrition for runners
Sam Adele buys her shoes from us. She also hits us up for running advice, about everything from interval training to nutrition for runners.
There are different categories of running shoes: neutral, stability, motion control, etc. For Sam, and nearly everyone else, one of those categories is most comfortable—in her case, neutral shoes. Think of neutral shoes as sneakers without non-essential stabilizing features. She's purchased a bunch of them—the Brooks Ghost, Saucony Ride, New Balance 1080, Asics Nimbus, and Mizuno Wave Rider. Fortunately, we have new neutral styles coming in all of the time.
When she brought her last pair of shoes, the Hoka One One Speed Instinct, she shared her dream of running a really fast Marathon. She had a lot of questions, but cared most about nutrition.
The International Olympic Committee has prepared guidance about nutrition for Olympic runners. The guidance is straightforward and well researched. It also dovetails with the standard guidance for all athletes, both the Olympians and the everyday runners.
So, we can all benefit from the IOC's nutritional advice, because Olympians can't afford training mistakes, and the stuff that works for them will probably help us, too.
Carbs are an important source of nutrition for runners.
Carbohydrates are the subject of intense scrutiny. People have come to different conclusions: carbs should be restricted to very low levels, there are good carbs and bad carbs, white sugar is a toxin, etc.
The world's best Kenyan and Ethiopian distance runners eat diets that are rich in carbs, sometimes as much as 76% carbs.
Should you change the amount of carbs you're currently eating and, if so, why?
If you are satisfied with your running—if you can run as long as you want, if you can run as fast as you want, if you feel good during and after the run—then you may not want to change your diet. You may not want to change anything!
But if you want to run faster or if you want to run longer, and if you are planning to do more intense workouts to become a faster or more enduring runner, then the IOC suggests that you eat enough carbs to provide adequate fuel for the training effort.
They make that suggestion because, once a runner's workouts surpasses a high enough level of speed and duration, the body will seek to fuel the effort through carbs. You will be better prepared for hard workouts if carbs are stored in your body. You can no doubt do hard workouts on a low-carb diet, but you can expect to perform better if enough carbs are present to meet the body's demand for carbs.
How many carbs do you need? Between 3 grams to 10 grams per kilogram per day, depending on the training effort.
Protein is another important source of nutrition for runners.
The IOC has observed that a varied diet of everyday foods will generally supply at least the amount of protein that you need.
Do you agree? Or do you need to take protein supplements?
Let's look at the numbers. The IOC tells athletes to get between 1.2 grams to 1.8 grams of protein per kilogram of bodyweight. The average-sized man in the US is 88.7kg (195.5 pounds), and would therefore need to eat 106 grams to 160 grams of protein per day.
The combined food items listed below contain about 160 grams of protein:
- 6 ounces of chicken breast,
- 1 hamburger
- 1 cup of navy beans
- 4 cups of milk
- 6 ounces of salmon
- 1 hard-boiled egg
If that sounds like more protein-rich food than you are likely to eat throughout the day, then you may need a protein supplement. If you can handle that amount food, enjoy your diet because it sounds delicious!
Nutrition for runners strategy: Meeting vitamin and mineral needs through a balance and healthful diet.
The IOC says that a diet that's largely plant matter—fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes—along with lean dairy and meats, should meet your vitamin and mineral needs, if you are eating an adequate amount of those foods. Dietetic professionals throughout the West recommend the same dietary pattern. If that's the way that you eat, then you're probably getting all of your vitamins and minerals.
But let's say that your diet isn't inclusive of those food groups. Or perhaps it is, but your diet gives you too few calories. In those cases, you may not be meeting your vitamin and mineral needs through food. You might consider taking vitamin and mineral supplements. Check with your physician for more information.
Hydration is important.
A runner can lose 3-8 cups of sweat per hour. It's important to replace the great majority of that fluid loss, by drinking water and other beverages.
Weigh yourself before and after your workout. The difference will help you calculate sweat loss. Water weighs about 8.3 ounces per cup. So, if you lost a pound during the run (assuming that you didn't drink anything), then you lost approximately 2 cups of water, and you need to replace around 2 cups of water.
The most important idea regarding nutrition for runners
Runners are different so needs are different. Diets should be personal; built up over time to accommodate the individual.
In the case of one runner, for example, it was a good idea to eat 400 grams of carbs on a hard interval day. He chose to eat so-called healthful carbs: lentils, baked sweet potatoes, wild rice, black beans, and raspberries. He ate a lot of fiber along with those carbs. All of that fiber caused severe gas and diarrhea.
He sought my help and learned that he could safely eat white rice, pasta, and fruit juice. He easily digested large amounts of white sugar added to tea—a trick used by some Kenyan distance runners—and that sugary beverage didn't negatively affect his blood levels.
A sports nutritionist can assist with the discovery process that each runner has to go through, a process that can be very time-consuming and detailed. Sports nutritionists (who are not necessarily registered dieticians) are specialists that have clinical experience helping athletes devise plans to achieve recommended nutrient intakes, in ways that work best for the athlete's training, travel and competition.


text:
So what's the story morning glory?
In this initial chapter of 'Goodbye Chinatown', Wolverine finds himself with an obligation that he has to tender to.
As you see, on the one hand, he wants to leave
, and open up a School in San
Francisco Westchester
– to his girlfriend, Melida's, chagrin.
Whilst on the other hand, he is the leader of the Black Dragons – acting
as a protectorate for organised shenanigans in the area – which is why he has
to comply with his Master, Po's, wishes, and halt a feud that has been brewing
within the vicinity.
During Wolverines investigations, he beats up some bad guys, reluctantly teams up with Gorilla man, and is then confronted by two large dragons, in a pathway that leads to
What is the most memorable sentence spoken in this issue?
Now this is a tough one for me to answer, as it could either be when Wolverine says to Melida 'Did I forget to mention that I am the Kingpin of the Chinatown Underworld?'. Alternatively, it could be when
says to Wolverine 'You are officially the worst Black Dragon ever. And need I
remind you, the last few were murderers and butchers'. And my particular
favourite was when Po says to Shen 'I trained him
[Wolverine] in the finer points of eighteen different styles of Kung Fu, and
yet he still charges headlong into a hail of bullets'.
Plus, I love the majority of Wolverines and Gorilla mans exchanges as well.
Was the story any good?
YES – YES – YES – YES. Can you tell that I loved this story? Heck, this is the type of tale that really floats my boat! It has a gruff nutter in it – an old wise kung fu master – a wiseass kid – and a talking monkey. What is not to like?
In addition to this, I loved how story, plot, character, and style, all meshed together, thus making this issue a very nice introductory issue to read.
Ron Garney draws a mean looking Wolverine – and he draws him as he should look too: scruffy – tartan shirt – angry looking – short – and a bit of an ass-whole as well. I also liked the way in which the art and the colour pallet really complemented each other – making this comic book look like a late seventies Shaw Brothers film – class.
On the flip side of this though, on occasion, Ron's Gorilla man does look a bit overtly done, coming across as too one dimensional in composition.
What is the best thing about this issue?
For me, the humour worked in this issue the best – making it a much more enjoyable read. I liked the way in which all the main characters appeared to 'take the p*ss' out of normal comic book conventions (such as the team-up premise). Also, I really enjoyed the oriental flair, making this introductory tale that much spicier.
What is the worst thing about this issue?
I have one slight niggle with this book, and that is all to do with Melida's skin colour. Is she black-black? Light-skinned black? Mocha? What? She seems to be changing hues by the issue – and this needs to be addressed for her sake alone – because how else is she going to fill in an 'equal opportunities' application, huh?
If you could sum up this issue in a phrase or saying, what would that phrase or saying be?
Animal House reference 'Toga-Toga-Toga'.
If this issue were a movie, an object, or a piece of music, what would that be and why?
For this story, two references come to mind straight away. Now the first one is the film 'Big Trouble in Little China' (for obvious reasons really), and the second one is the song by the Travelling Wilburys 'Tweeter and the Monkey Man' (ditto).
What do you think would have made this issue better than it was?
I cannot really think of a way to make this issue of Wolverine that much better really – except for a slight tweak here and a little nudge there.
Oh! One minute! A giant gay squid called Kevin, who wants to 'bump uglies' with
! Logan
Final thoughts...
I loved this issue – it was funny – it was well presented – it was enjoyable – and it was just my cup of tea.
Class act – I hope that it continues this way.
Marks out of 10? 9
WOLVERINE #17 Reviewed by David Andrews on November 11, 2011 Rating:


text:
"I Will Hate You Till The Day I Die"
Unleashed on July 3, 2009
It's a bitchfest royale in this week's news, as two mediocre authors let rip at their critics – Britain's Alain de Botton ("a writer so grand nowadays that his entire works are written in the royal We" says the Telegraph) and American Alice Hoffman ("not an author whose work I believe can be taken very seriously" says the Literary Saloon). They've both gone completely potty this week in their juvenile and hysterical over-reactions to poor reviews.
In other news… the winner of worst writing contest is announced… Amazon cuts off two states to retaliate for new sales tax laws… and the infamous TSA is now detaining writers over the contents of their manuscript – police state, here we come.
[audio:ld/ld_245.mp3] Download the show as mp3 file
Subscribe to our shows by Email
Photo by MMMMichelle


text:
GreenSignal Bio Pharma Ltd on Tuesday withdrew its initial public offering after failing to garner sufficient bids from institutional investors, as it bore the brunt of stock-market volatility after the Indian government's shock decision to ban high-value currency notes and Donald Trump's surprise victory in US presidential elections.
The failure came despite the Chennai-based company lowering the issue price band and twice extending the bidding date by a total of six days. It also marks the first IPO to fail after edible oil maker NCML Industries Ltd withdrew its offering due to poor investor response in January 2015.
GreenSignal Bio informed stock exchanges that it was withdrawing the issue after the portion reserved for institutional investors remained just 21% covered at the end of the extended period.
A senior executive in the merchant banking division of Indian Overseas Bank, the sole financial adviser to GreenSignal's IPO, said the company scrapped the issue due to insufficient bids from institutional investors. "We will assess the market situation and may possibly look at an IPO again sometime in early FY18," the executive said, requesting anonymity.
The maker of tuberculosis vaccines required full subscription in the institutional category for the issue to succeed, as stipulated under capital market regulations. The company had reserved 75% of the issue for institutional investors. According to capital market regulations, if at least 75% of the net issue cannot be allotted to institutional investors then the company must return the application money.
The fear of the IPO failing also saw retail investors cancelling their applications. The portion reserved for retail investors was covered 8.46 times on Tuesday, compared with 8.58 times on Monday, 8.83 times on Friday and 8.91 times a day prior, stock-exchange data showed.
GreenSignal aimed to raise as much as Rs 116 crore initially, but later trimmed the target to up to Rs 110 crore after it revised the price band to Rs 68-76 a share from the original Rs 76-80.
Although the overall issue was fully covered at the end of the extended six-day issue period last week, the firm did not manage to attract even a single bid by an institutional investor. It then extended the issue again, which helped it get some traction from institutional investors on Monday.
India's IPO market had picked up pace after four years of slow activity in mid-2014 when the BJP-led government took over. In 2015, 21 companies raised close to Rs 14,000 crore, as per stock-exchange data. So far this year, 26 companies have tapped into primary markets, collectively raising more than Rs 20,000 crore.
The healthcare sector has been one of the best performers in terms of share price movement after listings. For instance, drugmaker Alkem Laboratories Ltd, which went public last December, is trading at a 60% premium to its IPO price.
Stock markets have slumped since the 8 November announcement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ban higher-value Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes. The BSE's 30-stock benchmark Sensex has declined roughly 6% since then.
Outflow of foreign funds has made matters worse. Foreign portfolio investors have pulled out Rs 3,470 crore (about $510 million) from the equity cash segment in the past two weeks, as per stock-exchange data.
Like this report? Sign up for our daily newsletter to get our top reports.


text:
King of Fuji Music, Alhaji Wasiu Ayinde Marshall has left the country for Canada on a 10-day medical trip. This will be his first visit to the North American country after he lost his daughter, Wasilat a few months ago. We learnt that the medical trip was long overdue as …Read More »
Daily Archives: April 4, 2018
DMX Must Pay $2.3M In Restitution For Tax Evasion
DMX was recently sentenced to 365 days in prison for tax evasion. Now, a judge has ordered the "X Gon' Give It To Ya" rapper to pay $2.3 million in restitution to the IRS. As reported by TMZ, the judge is allowing X — real name Earl Simmons — to pay the exorbitant …Read More »
Tyrese Gibson Expecting Baby Girl with Wife Samantha a Year After Their Wedding: 'It's Unbelievable'
A little more than a year after their Valentine's Day wedding, Fast & Furious star Tyrese Gibson and his wife Samantha are expecting a baby girl, they reveal exclusively to PEOPLE. "Both of our love and energy and magic and families are bonded forever because we're going to have this child," Gibson, 39, raved in …Read More »
Former Man U and Chelsea midfielder Ray Wilkins dies aged 61
Former England and Chelsea midfielder Ray Wilkins has died in hospital at the age of 61. Wilkins, who also played for Manchester United, AC Milan, Rangers and QPR, was being treated at St George's Hospital in London following cardiac arrest. Ex-England captain and Chelsea Midfielder Ray Wilkins in critical condition in London …Read More »
Reekado Banks – Pull Up
Mavin Records Flyboy Reekado Banks dishes out another Chart topper aimed tune which he titled "Pull Up". With his previous songs doing steady roatation, Reekado Banks Pull Up with another brand new monster hit. The Song was produced by Altims.Read More »
VIDEO: ClassiQ Ft. M.I Abaga – GUDU
Northern king of new school hip hop/trap, ClassiQ alias Arewa Mafia let's loose the official music video for his popular single "Gudu" featuring legendary rapper and the head of Chocolate City empire, M.I Abaga. The video was Directed by The Myth.Read More »
Runtown Set To Release Two Songs Featuring Nasty C
Nigerian singer, Runtown who is currently in loggerheads with his record label Eric Many over alleged breach of contract is set to drop two new songs today, April 4th, 2018. According to a tweet by the singer, fans should look out for the lyrical miracles of South African rapper, Nasty …Read More »
Korede Bello – Work It
Korede Bello bounce back with another Month-starter tune for the Girls dem. He titled this new pierce of work 'Work It'. 'Work It' speaks more about doing the dance work and all. This is certainly another Good entry from Korede Bello.Read More »
New Video: Phyno feat. Kranium – One Chance
Phyno's latest banger One Chance has a Video already! The 2018 single, featuring Jamaican superstar Kranium has been receiving positive responses barely a week since its release.Read More »
Eminem plays Escaped Asylum Patient in New Music Video "Framed"
Eminem finally unveils the music video for Framed, off his most recent album Revival. The horror-themed flick sees Eminem play the role of an escaped asylum patient/psychotic serial killer with multiple personalities. Framed is the third video of the album following visuals released for Walk On Water featuring Beyonce and River featuring Ed Sheeran. SOURCE : …Read More »


text:
Andover Branch
07557 344214
2 Newbury Street, Andover, SP10 1DN
Newbury Branch
07774 952323
154 Bartholomew Street, Newbury, RG14 5HB
Mon – Fri: 9am – 5.30pm
Saturday: 9am – 5pm
Sunday: Closed
Contact Us
When it comes to vapes and E-Cigarettes, Go Vapour is here to help you every step of the way. For any questions please use the contact form below. Alternatively, you can contact us directly by email, phone or pop into your nearest branch.


text:
Saturday, October 31, 2015
The Yellow on the Broom by Betsy Whyte
Betsy Whyte was born into a traveller family in 1919 and brought up in the age-old tradition of the 'mist people' - constantly moving around the country and settling down in one place only during the winter. It was while the family were 'housed up' at this time of year that she received her education, attending a number of village schools before winning a scholarship to Brechin High School, where she was the only traveller child. She gave up the traveller life when she married in 1939 and started writing about her childhood in the 1970's.
The Yellow on the Broom is the first part of Betsy Whyte's autobiography. Not only is it a fascinating insight into the life and customs of traveller people in the 1920s and '30s, it is also a thought - provoking account of human strength and weakness, courage and cowardice, understanding and prejudice by a sensitive and entertaining writer.
'...this gifted woman, who had first become noted as a champion storyteller and ballad singer, the star of ceilidhs and folk festivals, was also a born writer...'
Hamish Henderson
'...a splendid picture of a vanished way of life, and a hardy people whom progress did not know how to value.'
Evening Telegraph
Reading this was much like sitting across the table from Betsy with a cuppa tea! She truly is a storyteller. This book is a precious look inside a long gone way of life. Set in Rural Scotland in the 1920s-'30s. These people lived hard lives, filled with prejudice against them but remained loving, joyful and optimistic. Trusting God to supply their needs and grateful all they had. Can't wait to read the second book, Red Rowans and Wild Honey.
On work...
Although Father and his brothers worked, I doubt very much if they would have worked to a boss for very long, or even for a full six months at a time. I have often heard them say 'The country folks are all so silly. They start to work at fourteen, or even earlier, and go on working right up till they are old men, never taking any enjoyment to themselves.' Few fates seemed worse to a traveller than this. Most of them were good workers, and few men could beat them at any kind of piece-work - as long as they felt they were working for themselves.
But to work for a boss? oh no, that was beneath their dignity. I've often heard such remarks as 'The big greasy farmer came in-aboot in a flat car, stepping out curling his mustache and shouted at me toga on with it. Me, the cold sweat running down my brow and my stomach croaking with hunger. No, no, I told him to stick his hay in his backside' - but that is not the word they used.
on babies...
We didn't bother putting up any tents that night. We gathered rushes and grass to make beds on. Bella lay with her baby cuddled in her arms. all traveller women did this, and never have I heard of one being smothered-although I have seen babies sucking away at their sleeping mother's breast. yet the mother would awaken instantly if the baby coughed or was sick or struggled for more space. So Bella's infant was cosy enough although we had no tents up.
(We were not allowed to call the baby his name yet because he had not been christened, and it was considered unlucky to call a child by name until it had been christened.)
Code of conduct...
It was Johnnie Whyte, my uncle, who was married to one of my father's sisters. He seated himself on the rail at the side of the cart. Now this Johnnie Whyte was an off-taking, impudent blowhard of a man. My father and his brothers could have murdered him at times but he had no relatives - and they would never dare to hit a man who was just himself among them, with nobody at his back.
Dangers of life on the road...
I remember one time, when I was about six, we were camped beside a wood near Kirkmichael. I don't remember what time of year it was, but there were five or six families of us working at cutting down bracken.
Anyway, we were not long in bed one night when a terrible gale got up-the like of which i had never heard before or since. 'Up with youse, as quick as you can, bairns! Hurry before we're all made in atoms!' It was dark inside the tent and everyone was groping for something to put on. I could hear zinc baths, basins and anything that was kept outside, rattling against trees and against the fence.
Once Daddy had lifted a corner of the tent door, which had been secured with a heavy stone, the force of the wind was too strong for us bairns to get out and it was impossible to speak. I felt Mother grab me and throw me over her shoulder. Then she was trying to get her plaid over me as she held on to my legs with one hand and also held her eight-month-old baby on the other arm. I don't know how long she fought the wind like this before she put me down, peering to see was I alright, still gripping my wrist tightly. Then she turned her attention to the baby lest it should be smothered, as she had been forced to cover its face with her plaid.
We were out of the reach of falling trees now, but huge branches were hurtling past us in the wind. I could see Daddy a bit in front of us and I was sure that something had hit him as he was stumbling, crawling and falling every time he got up. He had Katie in one hand and little Andy in the other. I could see Daddy's two white hips in the semi-darkness and, as there was something trailing about his feet, I thought his trousers had fallen down.
The wind was choking me as I felt Mother throw me over her shoulder again. I don't know how she managed to there, but next time Mother put me down we were at the other side of the moor beside a deep dry ditch. I felt Daddy pull me into the ditch. 'Are we all here?' Mother asked. She was pulling us to her to make sure we were alright.
Then she shouted to Father 'You are a clever man, you could have been over here and with the weans and back to help me.' Father was giggling and laughing. 'Maggie, no wonder I couldn't do anything- I've got my legs into the arms of my jacket!' Soon we were all laughing at Daddy. A huge branch of a tree hurtled right over our heads as we squatted in the ditch, bringing the laughter to an end. 'God have mercy on man,' Daddy wailed, 'we are all going to be blown into eternity.'...
And you'll have to read the book to find out what happens during this storm!
Peggy Ann
Posted by Peggy Arthurs at 12:00 AM
Labels: Book Report, Read Scotland 2015, Scottish writers
3 comments:
Yet again I'm amazed at the Scottish books that you manage to source, and they all sound so interesting.ReplyDeleteReplies
I got this one and the sequel at that wee book sale in Linlithgow!Delete
You did well there, it was just one of those incredibly lucky days. I've never seen a book sale there before, and we've been there umpteen times.ReplyDelete
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
The opponents of health care reform shout about socialism — big government is taking away our constitutional, guaranteed freedoms, our individual rights. Do these critics realize that the excessive and rapidly growing cost of health care is largely due to the fact that health care corporations continue to be driven by the greed for profit?
Therefore, when private corporations, or individuals, fail to live up to their constitutional responsibility, isn't the government forced to intervene to protect the freedom of its citizens by creating new laws and programs?
Sen. Olympia Snowe, a leader of moderate Republicans for health reform, is caught between her loyalty to the people of Maine and the health insurance companies. She received more than $1 million in campaign contributions from health care industries. (There may well be other senators, both Democrats and Republicans, who have also received such campaign contributions.) She is unwilling even to support a public option that would give millions of Americans the choice of purchasing government-run insurance.
The best option for health reform is a single-payer plan. It will both control costs and cover everyone. Instead of paying premiums to private for-profit insurance companies like Aetna, CIGNA and Wellpoint, all payments are deposited into one public pool.
Payments will be the same or less than are now being paid. Estimates are that $400 billion a year will be saved in administrative overhead, waste and profits. Everyone is covered — cradle to grave.
An insurance card guarantees the holder to see any doctor, any hospital, anywhere in the country.
No bills. No co-pays. No deductibles. No more bankruptcies from medical bills. No longer will 60 Americans die each day due to lack of health insurance — as they do now, according to an Institute of Medicine report.
Since Congress is unwilling to accept a single-payer plan, it has a responsibility to support the public option, a government-run health insurance program available to two groups — those who lack employer-provided health insurance, and employees of small businesses. By competing with plans from private health care providers, the public option would keep private insurers honest, force them to cut the cost of their plans, and avoid losing customers.
Those who cry about socialism should remember that the "good old days" have passed when many Maine school districts and private employers provided 100 percent coverage to employees and their immediate families.
Now a large amount of a family's salary supplements an employer's group plan. For every office visit, according to CIGNA, a $20 co-pay is required, $25 for a specialist and $100 to use the emergency room.
But that is not all. If a participant does not use one of their "in-network" providers, there are just two options: sign up for a considerably more expensive program, or pay the full cost of the "out-of-network" provider. The critics who look at health care in so-called socialist countries fail to observe that the above drawbacks American families experience with private insurers are similar to those in some countries where health care is fully provided by the government.
The key advantage of a single-payer plan is that even by paying higher taxes, an individual or family's insurance cost will be considerably lower.
Another advantage is that the rapid and dramatic increase in health care costs will be curbed and the services created under such a plan can avoid the flaws of existing programs.
And coverage will not be canceled when the cap of the private insurer has been reached.
Therefore, as the deficit continues to skyrocket, a health reform program that reduces individual and family costs while improving health care for all will benefit every one of us.
David O. Solmitz of Waterville teaches at Kennebec Valley Community College in Fairfield. Previously, he taught at Madison High School and Thomas College.


text:
The most recognizable brand in the world! Made from a secret formula, this unique blend of natural herbs and spices are used all over the world to flavor a wide variety of foods and drinks.
The "secret" was developed in 1824 by Dr. J.G.B. Siegert, a Surgeon General in Simon Bolivar's Venezuelan Army. He used his aromatic bitters to improve the appetite and digestive well-being of the soldiers. The word "Angostura" came from the town of that name in Venezuela where Dr. Siegert was
Recipe to try:
Pisco Sour
1 oz Lemon or Lime Juice
1 Egg white
1.5 oz Pisco
.75 oz Simple syrup
Preparation: Vigorously shake and strain contents in a cocktail shaker with ice cubes, then pour into glass and garnish with Angostura bitters.


text:
Me + AKG C1000S + Reason 6.5A little laugh to bring in 2013!
it is not working in Camtasia.. please help :(
Hi. ill be using this for my video. Thanks :D
4 commentss
Please log in to comment
Share url:
920 x 245
481 x 86
375 x 30
We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. By browsing our site you agree to our use of cookies.
For more information check out our cookies policy.


text:
In November, the European Union and the United Kingdom concluded the terms of an agreement for the orderly departure of the UK from the European Union. Gibraltar was part of that agreement. The Withdrawal Agreement includes a transitional phase until the end of 2020, which also covers Gibraltar.
This agreement is subject to ratification by the UK Parliament and by the European Parliament.
In the meantime, planning continues for the eventuality that the UK and Gibraltar leave the European Union without this agreement.
Before 29 March 2019
You can travel in the EU with guaranteed surcharge-free roaming. This means you can use your mobile devices to make calls, send texts and use mobile data services for no more than you would be charged when in Gibraltar.
In addition, the EU Roaming regulation requires mobile operators to apply a default financial limit for mobile data usage of €50. Operators are also required to send an alert once your device reaches 80% and then 100% of the agreed data roaming limit. These requirements apply regardless of where you are in the world, not only within the EU.
Surcharge-free roaming in the EU, known as Roam Like at Home, is underpinned by the EU Roaming Regulation - (EU) No 531/2012 - and its subsequent amendments - (EU) No 2015/2120 and (EU) No 2017/920. This Regulation also regulates what mobile operators can charge each other for providing roaming services and extends to the wider European Economic Area (EEA), which includes Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.
After March 2019 if there is a deal
If the UK-EU Withdrawal Agreement is approved, then surcharge-free roaming would continue to be guaranteed during the Implementation Period. Following the Implementation Period the arrangements for roaming, including surcharges, would depend on the outcome of the negotiations on the Future Economic Partnership.
After March 2019 if there is no deal
In the event that we leave the EU without a deal, the costs that EU mobile operators would be able to charge our operators for providing roaming services would no longer be regulated after March 2019. This would mean that surcharge-free roaming when you travel to the EU could no longer be guaranteed.
Leaving without a deal would not prevent Gibraltar mobile operators making and honouring commercial arrangements with mobile operators in the EU - and beyond the EU - to deliver the services their customers expect, including roaming arrangements. The availability and pricing of mobile roaming in the EU would be a commercial question for the mobile operators. As a consequence, surcharge-free mobile roaming in the EU may not continue to be standard across every mobile phone package from that point. Roaming may also be offered with different terms and conditions. This might affect the amount of calls that you can make, texts you can send and data you can consume, including applying limits that are less than the amount available in your bundle when you are in Gibraltar.
However, we should be clear that surcharge-free roaming for Gibraltar customers may continue across the EU as now, based on operators' commercial arrangements.
In the event that we leave the EU without a deal, the Gibraltar Government advice to consumers is to:
• check the roaming policies of your mobile operator before you go abroad
• consider what your operator is saying about surcharge-free roaming post-EU exit
• check your operator's terms and conditions in detail - particularly if you are a heavy user of mobile services in the EU
• be aware of your rights to change mobile operator ("switching")
• know how to turn off your mobile data roaming on your mobile device if you're worried about being charged for data usage in the EU
• ensure you understand the alternatives to using mobile networks when abroad. Wi-Fi is widely available, which would allow you to make calls, send texts and use data for free or with little charge
• understand which services might be expensive to use and which are likely to be cheap. For example, streaming live television or sending large video clips (MMS) could be expensive as they use large amounts of data
More information
This notice is meant for guidance only. You should consider whether you need separate professional advice before making specific preparations.
It is part of the government's ongoing programme of planning for all possible outcomes.


text:
Support HudsonAlpha's Breakthrough Breast and Ovarian Cancer Research Team
This group of scientists is committed to the goal of using genomic science and HudsonAlpha's state-of-the-art technology to find new breakthroughs in breast and ovarian cancers. Through collaborations with scientists around the nation, this team is working to find biomarkers that lead to earlier, more accurate diagnoses and new pathways for more effective and targeted treatments. Breast and ovarian cancers are complicated diseases but through the power of genomic science and medicine, HudsonAlpha is working to find answers that make a difference. Each day we strive to find new breakthroughs that will bring health, healing and hope to those around us.
Information is Power
At last year's Tie the Ribbons Luncheon, HudsonAlpha, in collaboration with Kailos Genetics, introduced a groundbreaking genetic testing program called Information is Power for members of the Huntsville/ Madison County community. This program provides genetic testing for the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes associated with breast and ovarian cancer as well as a set of genes that can predict possible increased disease risk. To date, more than 2,000 people have taken the genetic test and now have more power over their own health decisions.


text: Suzy's story Suzy is seventeen and lives in Dumfries. When Suzy was born, she had a brain haemorrhage, which led to hydrocephalus and cerebral palsy. She uses a wheelchair and requires support in all areas of everyday life. Her mum, Patricia, found out about Family Fund a few years ago and has received various grants, and this year Suzy was awarded a grant for a Lay-z Spa. "Suzy's condition has an enormous effect on our family", Patricia told us. "She is the youngest of eight siblings which makes things more difficult, especially financially. But the grants from Family Fund have really helped." "Over the last few years, we've had a cooker, a washing machine and days out as well as the spa. It's absolutely amazing what a difference it's made, it's a really invaluable help. This year, we applied for the inflatable spa for Suzy. It's really good for her because she can't weight bear, being in the water takes the pressure off and is very relaxing for her, she really enjoys it. If it wasn't for Family Fund, I would have needed to save and save and save to be able to afford these sorts of things and the financial pressure would have been so difficult. We're really grateful to the organisation for all their help, the difference it has made has just been great. Suzy turns 18 this year so we say goodbye to Family Fund, but keep up the good work!"


text:
Yellow vest protesters turn on tax inspectors as violence continues across France
French tax inspectors have appealed for police protection after "yellow vest" protesters attacked inland revenue offices in a dozen towns before an expected assault on Paris on Saturday.
Tax collection offices, which are located in hundreds of towns, have become the latest symbol of the injustice felt by activists whose mutiny over petrol taxes has ballooned into a full-blown crisis for President Macron.
Ministers and opposition MPs warned that the spreading mood of insurrection was in danger of threatening the French state.
About 65,000 police have been ordered into Paris and other city centres for the new demonstrations after aides to Mr Macron — a figure of hate for the movement — warned the public to expect extreme violence and even deaths in the capital.


text: REAL SWISS OVOMALTINE! Nutella doughnut is Here! We Deliver to You Share the Joy Joy in the box 0 1 2 3 0 1 2 Get Social With Us Facebook Twitter Instagram Calling all Krispy Kreme fans! Hashtag #KrispyKremeID and tell or show us your favorite Krispy Kreme doughnut! Loading Fresh Content... To Top


text:
I am unable, not share this overwhelming moment of my life. The year started with some exciting encounters, that included the finding of the woman whom I am named after Nadia. Zoe, our beloved dog, almost disappeared and was found by the tremendous efforts of my darling brother.
As life moves on, and my children are stepping out to their future, I felt as if a journey of life just rewound itself as Hiva stepped in her first career. Somehow all those challenges, trembling threats, unbearable difficulties, almost impossible attempts to make it amid storms of turbulence. Sounds of insistence that I will not make it … we will not make it. Somehow as Hiva is entering her own "I" definition of her universe, I feel this moment untie me from that chain of us into a new chain of Hiva's own path.
I feel as if God finally smiles…
View original post 106 more words


text:
Strapless Dresses for Holiday Parties0November 14th, 2013Dresses, Our Fashion Choice
Long nights, twinkling stars and a calendar studded with invites… it's time for the end of year festivities! Strapless dresses are a great choice for holiday parties. Depending on the party, you've got loads of styling opportunities, whether it is a family celebration, work reception or New Year's Eve at the club. Here's 4 strapless dresses that I would love to wear to holiday parties.
For me, the skin tone fabric trend is totally irresistible. This sequin strapless party dress by Scala has a golden tone embellished in geometric patterns. The look is very luxurious and extremely flattering. There's a confidence and determination in this strapless dress that sparks with élan.
Looking for that glimmer but don't want the embellishment? Try this metallic print strapless party dress. Its white bandage style skirt and draped bodice remind me of snow and stars. There's loads of opportunities to style this strapless dress for nights out all year long. Could this be your next "go to" party dress?
With its ruched body and two tone colors, this strapless party dress is definitely darling. Notice the trim along the black swoosh of color on the front. Available in lavender or black and white, this party dress will never go out of style but is far from predictable.
Here's a strapless semi formal dress that uses sequins to create drama. Black and turquoise is a great winter color combo that has great karma.
So there's my four picks. Which strapless party would you choose?Tags: holiday party dress, short dress by Scala, strapless dress, strapless sequin dress


text:
The Turcot Split City Hall
The cross-party cooperation that has lived impassively in Montreal's city hall for the past year has ended. Richard Bergeron has quit the city's executive committee and the mayor's approval ratings have never been lower.
The leader of Projet Montréal had been placed at the head of the city's urban planning department after Mayor Gerald Tremblay barely held onto power in the November 2009 election. The plan made sense as Bergeron clearly had an eye for improving the city's urban makeup.
With the partnership, a spirit of cooperation was supposed to prevail as Montrealers had clearly delivered a mixed verdict on the leadership in Old Montreal. Suddenly, that leadership has never seemed so isolated.
The breaking point, as everyone in the city is now aware, was the Turcot Interchange. A mass of sprawling and soaring concrete in the city's South West borough, the Turcot carries most of the city's traffic that goes north, east, south or west.
The current structure, finished in 1967, is in need of replacement. The interchange's concrete is falling off in clumps, lane closures are a daily occurrence and strands of rebar poke through at random intervals.
Quebec's Ministère des Transports wants to build a bigger version of the Turcot closer to the ground. Projected to cost $3 billion, the new Turcot would carry more cars and require the demolition of more of the neighbourhood of St. Henri, only now recovering from decades of disrepair.
The MTQ's plan makes sense for the Quebec-based ministry, as it would create more room for cars, theoretically reduce traffic congestion and create a reason to add more jobs to the existing bureaucracy in the national capital.
The problem is that those who would be most affected by the highway interchange—a mundane structure that would not attract nearly as much attention if it were not so monumental—are vehemently opposed to the project.
Until recently, so was the mayor.
In April, the mayor had supported a smaller interchange that would reduce the physical size of the existing structure, transport fewer cars into the heart of Montreal and emphasize public transit. The mayor has now reversed his support.
What this reversal says about Tremblay might explain his approval rating of 18 per cent, the lowest it has been in the mayor's scandal-ridden nine years. While voters knew they were electing a boring account without a vision for the city, they were prepared to settle for a man who would vote in the best interest of the city.
A massive new infrastructure project 50 years out of date and with a payback period of 50 years is not in the best interest of Montrealers, whether they be motorists or commuters.
When Bergeron raised the objection of his constituents, he was told that solidarity was more important than common sense. The Projet Montréal leader was elected to support the latter.
Now sitting in the opposition, Bergeron can go back to breaking the mayor's solidarity in council and calling in question the bad decisions being made in our halls of power. Maybe he can get to work refining his vision for the city while he's at it.
The big question is, can Tremblay hold on until 2013?
—Justin Giovannetti,
This article originally appeared in The Link Volume 31, Issue 13, published November 9, 2010.
By commenting on this page you agree to the terms of our Comments Policy.


text:
Working on a Dell Dimension 2400 and it was OK last week but has started to freeze or lock up at different times. It is running Win XP home and had plenty of free space and RAM. AVG is onboard and is fully updated. We ran a registry cleaner, there is no call for defraging and no new programs have been added. The freeze can occur soon after boot or after being on for several minutes and there is no pattern we can discern. Where do we go now?
You could try running a memory test. Or you could try snapping the RAM modules in and out 4 or 5 times to burnish the contacts. Your rig is over 5 years old. The contacts may be oxidized. One memory tester is at the link below.
Also visually inspect the motherboard for any bulging or leaking capacitors. You could also re-seat all connectors and add in cards. One last thing you could check is to see if the voltages are up to spec in the BIOS, if they are visible there. Voltage readings should be within +- 5% of the rated output.


text:
Carrie Lackey
Bachelor of Arts in
Emerging Media and Communication
Graduation Date: Dec. 2013
CBS Radio ("The Indie-Verse")
Summer 2012
"Sitting at home all summer would have driven me nuts. So when a professor approached me with the offer of this internship, I jumped on it."
As an EMAC major, a summer internship at CBS Radio was a perfect fit for Carrie Lackey. She got to work at the radio headquarters and focused mainly on an emerging station called "The Indie-Verse". She shared music news and info on festivals, connected with others in the indie music scene, and managed social media. She even got to produce her very own radio show and then perform it on the air!
This extensive internship helped her to surpass her insecurities about not having a lot of prior experience working in and writing about the music industry. Carrie notes that the internship "opened [her] eyes to the infinite possibilities the EMAC degree presents". She plans to seek out additional internships, perhaps with other radio stations, and also continue on for her Master's degree. She recalls that the Career Center helped to keep her accountable for herself as an individual and as a reflection of UT Dallas as a whole.
So what does this successful intern advise other students to do? "Apply for any and everything you're interested in. The worst you'll hear is 'no'."View additional intern spotlights


text:
City of Downey, CAHome Menu
Department History
The Downey Police Department opened its doors in 1957 on the site of the old Downey Elementary School. The Department operated at that location until 1984, at which time it moved to its newly constructed site, where it continues operation today. The Arch entry way of the old police station was saved as a tribute to the architecture and personnel that occupied the building for 27 years. The Arch was relocated to its present location off Civic Center Drive.
Downey Police Officers began patrolling the streets of Downey in 1957, serving 83,000 residents. The Department was authorized to hire a total of 50 officers (including both uniform and non-uniform).
In 1996, the "Eagle" style badge was redesigned to the badge currently worn. The shoulder patch, too, underwent a redesign, and the familiar 'Orange" patch was replaced with a more subdued Blue/Navy Blue theme.
In 1988, the all-white Downey Police car was replaced with the black and white police car in operation today.


text: Come home on the Banyan Tree lined road to this extraordinarily landscaped first floor renovated condo on prestigious Polo Island overlooking the Global Dressage showgrounds. This spacious open floorplan includes a custom kitchen with white shaker style cabinets, quartz countertops and Frigidaire stainless steel appliances. The three bedrooms offer two with en-suite bathrooms and the third currently utilized as an office and gym with custom built ins. Enjoy tranquil outdoor living with the large screened in patio area with water and horseshow views. Handscraped hardwood floors throughout the main living areas and bedrooms, crown molding and custom window treatments with solar screen roller shades are a sample of the features this condo has to offer.


text:
We are big fans of local and American made products and Mast Brothers Chocolate is no exception; they make great quality artisan chocolate in Brooklyn. They have a great product and an incredible looking store — but this video is the reason why people hate hipsters.
The two brothers ramble on for 10 minutes feeding up one bullshit story after another… talking about their childlike curiosity, love of water, adventure, and how chocolate is the food of the gods all the while religious hymns play in the background… a little full of ourselves, aren't we boys? Give us a break — you make chocolate, good chocolate at that. You're not "teaching my taste buds" anything, you're not bringing me on an adventure because you use nice paper to wrap your candy. So do us all a favor: grow up and keep up the good work, just don't lie to me about it.


text:
Technology to unleash the magical power of Referral marketing
The powerful NaXum commission tracking system gives you the flexibility to create a system that motivates and compensates your salespeople and affiliates for taking the actions you want them to take.
Want them to build teams? See large upfront packages? Get monthly subscribers? Whatever your goal may be, our team will work with you to determine the best compensation plan for your needs, even if it is a mix or hybrid of the proven compensation types in the market today.
Want to connect? Schedule a Demo Here


text:
On November 20th, Stacey Cheese, Director of Claims will be speaking at Worknet Occupational Medicine's Workers' Compensation Roundtable. Stacey will be speaking about how most carriers select panel providers, as well as state regulations, challenges, what affects the costs of insurance, and other topics.
Stacey Cheese to Speak at Worknet Occupational Medicine Roundtable
By East Coast Risk Management October 10, 2014 September 25th, 2018 News
Subscribe to Our Blog
Search Our Blog
ADA Affordable Care Act Americans with Disabilities Act Background checks benefits Business compensation compliance COVID-19 Department of Labor discrimination DOL Drug Testing EEOC Employment Equal Employment exempt Fair Labor Standards Act FLSA FMLA Form I-9 Harassment HIPAA hiring HR hr issues Human Resources Labor Laws non-exempt OSHA overtime pay Overtime Rules Paid Time Off Pennsylvania Policies PTO recruiting Salary Sexual Harassment state employment laws training USCIS Workers' Compensation Workers Comp


text:
Debt collector worries? Don't panic. Inform yourself.
No-one wants a debt collector at the door – but if it's going to happen, there's no point trying to ignore it. When you're faced with debt problems of any kind, facing up to them is important.
To do that, of course, you will need to know where you stand. It's also important to be aware of the difference between a debt collector and a bailiff as they both have different rights so will need to be dealt with in different ways. You might mistakenly feel that bailiff's are the sort of measure that only serious debt companies or even loan sharks might employ but actually – according to this recent article from the BBC – local councils are using bailiff's more and more (Somewhat excessively in the eyes of many) in the collection of unpaid council tax. So we can see that it's even more important than ever to know your rights and be prepared for every possible outcome. We think the tips in the following infographic are extremely useful and I'm sure that you will find them useful too. They have been supplied by debt management company Gregory Pennington.
What can't debt collectors do?
Like anyone else, debt collectors have to follow the rules when they're doing their job. In fact, there are strict rules about debt collection: the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has published specific 'debt collection' guidance that applies to 'all businesses engaged in the recovery of consumer credit debts'.
The guidance gives examples of the kind of methods that the OFT considers 'unfair or improper'. The OFT has the power to revoke a company's credit licence if it doesn't think they're fit to hold one, so debt collectors take this seriously.
For instance, they're not allowed to:
- Send you documents designed to look like official court documents.
- Present information in a way that exploits your lack of knowledge.
- Use things like Latin phrases or technical / legal language in their communications.
- Ignore any reasonable requests you make – like asking them not to contact you at certain times if you're a shift worker.
- Tell you that they can take action (like trying to make you bankrupt, for example) when they know that's not actually an option.
- Pressure you into borrowing more money or selling your property.
- Pressure you into paying more than you can afford without 'experiencing undue difficulty'.
- Send you postcards or leave you answerphone messages that could let someone else find out that you're dealing with a debt recovery business.
So that's the kind of thing they aren't allowed to do. To find out what you should do, check out the 'When the debt collector calls' fact sheet from Gregory Pennington.
'When the debt collector calls' fact sheet provided by Gregory Pennington
2 Responses to Debt collector worries? Don't panic. Inform yourself.
What an awful job to have being a debt collector but I guess someone has to do it. No they should not be harassing you but once they get sent to that third party they will stop at nothing to get the money out of you. A mate of ours worked for a company that would call people who didn't pay their utility bills on time. She said the amount of times the parents would get the kids to answer the phones to say there were not home was incredible. We all have debt for different reasons but sometimes just calling the company and explaining your situation is better than sticking the kids in the middle to do the dirty work. Cheers mate. Mr.CBB
Great post. It's sad how many people don' know what their rights are where collectors are concerned.


text:
Start the interactive install process by running the virt-install command-line program:
# /usr/sbin/virt-install
The following questions about the new guest OS will be presented. This information can also be passed as command line options; run with an argument of --help for more details. In particular, kickstart options can be passed with -x ks=options.
What is the name of your virtual machine? This is the label that will identify the guest OS. This label will be used for various xm commands and also appear in virt-manager the Gnome-panel Xen applet. In addition, it will be the name of the /etc/xen/<name> file that stores the guest's configuration information.
What is the install location? This is the path to a Fedora 7 installation tree in the format used by anaconda. NFS, FTP, and HTTP locations are all supported. Examples include:
Installation must be a network type. It is not possible to install from a local disk or CDROM. It is possible, however, to set up an installation tree on the host OS and then export it as an NFS share.
The installation will then commence. If graphics were enabled, a VNC window will open and present the graphical installer. If graphics were not enabled, the standard text installer will appear. Proceed as normal with the installation.


text:
At a recent employee-recognition dinner, people started comparing notes about the number of different managers they'd had and jobs they'd done since they'd been at Dyn.
One person had had four managers… Yeah. "But," someone else from this semi-competitive bunch interrupted, "you've been here for three whole years!" That person had had three managers in two years. Point, match.
Each move means a different group of co-workers and cube mates and different quirks and stressors to consider as we co-exist and collaborate.
As we thought about this around the dinner table, we came up with an equation (hey, we're engineers, ok?) to express the level of change in a workplace. We called it the Change Index.
Here it is:
Number of desk moves + Number of manager changes
Years of service
So, say you move three times and have three managers and are with the company two years. Your Change Index is three.
We went around the table. The high was seven (!); three was the low. All of these people had been successful in different settings and shown amazing versatility in the application of their talents.
Change is part of the culture in a business like ours and in a company that has grown as fast as Dyn has. Every company starts with a single person. We were only 100 employees a few years ago and now we're over 400. It's normal, around here, to occasionally feel a bit dizzied by change. Meanwhile, our customer base has growth and our mission expanded. The stakes are higher. Many of us at Dyn have had multiple jobs as we transition from generalists to specialists.
What does it mean to live in this change? Is it good or bad? High-growth companies go through lots of change and flexibility allows them to be successful at all levels. Luck favors the prepared and flexibility is key. Knowing that you're in an environment that's truly dynamic is important because it doesn't appeal to everyone. It does mean being able to make an oversized impact on the world, in our case, making the Internet better for our customers.
Change affects people in different ways and there are a few stories that might help others manage and live in a similar environment.
To someone who was hired and initially supervised by a company co-founder, it can be challenging to suddenly interact less with that person — and get less feedback from them — as responsibilities grow and oversight shifts. This kind of change can certainly make review time more complicated and, if we're not careful, less effective.
The nature of our business is such that new adaptations are often required in the space of a few hours (The joke is "But I was just told that we're not doing that feature." "Yeah, well that was before lunch…"). That requires tremendous energy and forwardness in thinking. It can also make it hard to slow down. What we try to do is be more deliberate about the future and more aspirational and get there in more manageable chunks. It's still a work in progress, but it's getting better.
But if, as an employee of a high growth company, you are experiencing the kind of change that makes your Change Index larger, this also means that you are probably someone who has a lot to offer, who is valued for being able to adapt skills across disciplines and help the people around you do better. In that way, we could also call it the Value Index.
Our physical workspace has also changed radically. (Seriously, our first real office in New Hampshire was so drafty that we wore gloves in the winter inside. All eight of us.)
Like all high-growth enterprises, we've experienced a few growing pains.
Bottlenecks can be created in reporting structures when you go from one employee to 400. And we have to be much more deliberate about sharing "tribal knowledge" as the tribe gets bigger.
One time, we ran out of space and I had an "executive office" but it was valuable space. So it became a workspace that I was joined by six people around a desk. We've gone through space constraints at our Manchester office, temporarily alleviated by numerous expansions and liberal use of Ikea desks. Our EMEA office is going through a similar crunch. My most recent visit meant a "desk" in the kitchen. Even today, I am seated in modular furniture, aka a cube. That does not prevent me from sitting in the cafe, by sales engineering, or otherwise around the office.
Maintaining openness, autonomy, and respect is key, and those are things that we're not changing. As one co-worker wrote recently, "If a process isn't working, we're not afraid to call it out for what it is…As long as the boat is being rocked for a good reason and with appropriate aplomb, we speak our minds to make our lives and our customers' lives better."
It's really important to us — and productive for the company — to make sure that our employees feel as engaged and involved as they did when there were just the eight of us in the drafty old space, or at least as close as possible. That kind of openness and respect for people's opinions has always been central to our philosophy.
We look for both internal and external yardsticks to see how things trend and calibrate how we practice our values and culture. For example, Dyn has been named one of the country's "Most Democratic Workplaces" for three years running by World Blu. These kinds of competitions/rankings might seem like great honors, but they alone are no substitute for constant and real feedback. And the feedback is only so good as the company is willing and able to change.
We have also hung on to an evolving lunch tradition. Early on, we had catered lunch three days a week. When we moved offices, we instituted "socialist sandwich Tuesdays." Because the office space was more expensive, we asked people to bring in lunch meats and bread for lunch (hence the socialist sandwiches). As we got bigger, that was harder to coordinate, so we started buying lunch. In our Brighton, UK office, they do Chinese food.
We also developed Geek Week where we encourage Dyners to celebrate their inner geeks. Everyone is passionate about something, and it's wonderful to see "lunch 'n' learns" where people talk about scuba diving, their online gaming clan, or coffee roasting.
And — this may seem like a small thing — we try to make sure that all the office furniture is the same, so that when people move, they don't have to adjust to a whole new setup.
There are some things I wish we didn't have to change. We used to have this ritual where we would inform people about raises via yellow sticky notes. We'd write their new salary on a yellow sticky and hand it to them. The yellow sticky was like a little brass band — a symbol of positive reinforcement … and more cash. What's not to love? When the yellow stickies stopped showing up, people freaked out a little. Weren't they doing well? Of course they were, we just had to be more formal about the process. We should have told everyone we were changing that ritual. And I wish we had replaced it with something equally fun but appropriately professional (which I am pretty sure is possible).
So, in addition to the big stuff — like maintaining customer focus, openness and autonomy and consistent benefits — we try to recognize the yellow stickies, those small rituals that bring consistency amid a culture of change.
My own Change Index, BTW?
I moved twice in each of our first three offices and four times in our current headquarters, plus I have had one supervisor change when we created a board in 2012. So ten moves plus one supervisor change divided by 12 years — so it's 0.8. And, even at that very low number, it's been quite the amazing ride.
We have deliberately kept some other things consistent. We remain relentlessly focused on results, and on our customers. We have maintained consistent benefits and flexible hours and telecommuting options while modifying other practices to fit a different scale. It requires constant work, but Dyn — like any company — is a people business.
Share Now


text:
Mary Tobin
from the Field
Calabria-Apennine-Tyrrhenian / Subduction-Collision-Accretion
A Joint American-Italian Project to Monitor Earthquakes on
the Most Active Seismic Belt in Italy
Report 1: Snow Falling on Station Sites(read
report 1) (2) (3) (4) (5)
by Nano Seeber, Seismologist
at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory
Finding ones' way in the web of twisty
roads is challenging enough in sunny Italy; try it
in a blizzard! Today we made it across Volturara Pass
behind a snowplow. The going is indeed getting tougher
as the winter sets in the southern Apennines with unusual
fierceness. But Italy seems to abound in those little
indispensable surprises, such as the lady at the petrol
station half buried in snow that took the time to explain
how foolish we were... and she showed us the only negotiable
way. In any case, the warmth of our Italian hosts is
amply compensating for the un-Italian weather.
Today we installed a station in the
Tyrrenian coast town of Cetraro, provincia di Cosenza.
This is our second station in Calabria and the second
one with a direct view to the island of Stromboli.
After building the thermal protection for our broadband
sensor out of the floor scrap in an abandoned pigpen,
we found ourselves invited to an impromptu lunch, where
elegance and taste could melt any amount of snow and
ice. We were guests of Mr. and Mrs. Tundis and their
daughter Simona, a student at the Cosenza University,
who kindly led us to Agostino, the uncle down the street,
who owns the ideal station site. That broad band has
no choice but to do a great job.
This joint project involves researchers
from Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (LDEO):
Michael Steckler, Leonardo Seeber, Arthur Lerner-Lam,
and Maya Tolstoy; and researchers from the Istituto
Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV): Alessandro
Amato, Gianni B. Cimini, Claudio Chiarabba, Marco Cattaneo,
and President Enzo Boschi. Support provided by the
Continental Dynamics Program of the US National Science
Foundation. Additional support provided by the NSF
EAR Instrumentation and Facilities program through
IRIS, and the OCE MG&G program through the OBS
deployments and support of the OBSIP facility.
Additional collaborators include:
Universita di Cosenza (Prof. Ignazio Guerra); Protezione
Civile (government agency and local volunteer networks);
Comuni (Town governments); Grottaminarda; San Andrea
in Conza; Montella (Avellino); Venosa (Foggia); San
Giovanni a Piro; Craco (Matera).
For more information,
visit www.ldeo.columbia.edu


text:
Just back from the Para-Alpine World Cup in Canada where she won four medals, MARIE BOCHET, one of POMA's product ambassadors, showed up to give the SKI CLUB POMA a few lessons.
The kids in the SKI CLUB POMA had a fun-filled, active day in Villard de Lans, which included slalom and downhill trainings, and an awards ceremony!
Thanks and great job, Marie!


text: Three days after he went missing, a promoter of well-known publishing house Navneet Publication, Navin Shah, was found dead at Malpur village in Aravalli district on Friday. Ahmedabad crime branch sources said they have arrested two persons for kidnapping and murder of Shah for ransom. Senior crime branch officials said Shah was kidnapped from near hotel Gorbandh near Vaishnavdevi temple ... Read More »


text:
Hello Beauties,
Today I will be reviewing the LAVANILA Healthy Fragrance in Vanilla Grapefruit. I first received a sample of this a while ago and have been meaning to purchase it ever since. I got mine from Sephora, but you can also get it on pretty much any eco green beauty site. I have used and still continue to use the Healthy Deodorant from this brand in Vanilla Coconut, which I really enjoy. What I love about LAVANILA is how their products are free from all the nasty chemicals, such as synthetic fragrances, petrochemicals, and replace these with luxurious natural and organic ingredients that are safe and high performance. What I look for in an all natural/organic brand is safety and performance of their products and this brand truly delivers.
About LAVANILA:
"LAVANILA delivers a new generation of healthy, luxurious fragrance and body care products. Rich in natural and organic ingredients, all products are free from harsh chemicals and clinically proven to be effective, safe, and nourishing.
LAVANILA is free of: petrochemicals, phthalates, propylene glycol, mineral oils, silicone, synthetic dyes, synthetic fragrance, sulfates, parabens, aluminum, and chemical sunscreens."
Description of Vanilla Grapefruit Fragrance:
"An uplifting citrus, this addictive blend of juicy pink grapefruit, fresh lime, crisp cedarwood, and warm Madagascar vanilla is fresh and inviting. Kissed by sunshine, this unique scent lifts the spirits.
Each fragrance starts with a warm base of Madagascar vanilla and layers on a unique blend of pure essential oils for an exquisite expression of nature that captures a mood, a memory, or a moment in time. Hailed as the world's first healthy fragrance, natural technology infuses organic sugar cane alcohol with skin-saving botanicals and antioxidants for a modern twist on the classic art of perfumery."
Pink Grapefruit, Lime, Bergamot, Orange, Cedarwood, Madagascar Vanilla.
Exotic. Sensual. Addictive.
Ingredients: Alcohol denat. (from Organic sugar cane), Botanical fragrance blend, Deionized water, Lycium barbarum (Goji) powder, Terminalia ferdinandiana (Kakadu plum) fruit extract, Epilobium angustifolium (Canadian willowherb) extract, Olea europaea (Olive leaf) extract, Alteromonas ferment extract, Chrysanthellum indicum (Chamomile) extract, Oat amino acids, Glycerin (Vegetable), Vanilla planifolia.
My Thoughts:
The first time I used this, I absolutely fell in love with the warm vanilla, citrusy scent. You can definitely smell the vanilla more than the other notes, and it's quite a unique vanilla smell (maybe because it's from Madagascar). It's a very sexy, sensual, and warm scent that lingers on your skin for a very long time. It also gets better the longer you wear it. I find myself addicted to smelling the scent throughout the day. I am someone who is very sensitive to scents as I am headache prone, however this is very nice and subtle and never gives me a headache, which I love. As the world's first healthy fragrance, I think they have done a tremendous job. I love the packaging as it's very luxurious and convenient to throw in your handbag. The ingredients are so spectacular and healthy for the skin, but also the high performance of the perfume is amazing. I love how you can read and identify each ingredients as there aren't any hidden nasty chemicals. I have smelled the other scents, but this one by far is the most gorgeous and seductive scent. I would definitely recommend you give this product a try! It's also cruelty free, vegan and free of parabens and aluminum.
Size: 0.33 oz Eau de Parfum Rollerball. You do get the standard size of rollerball perfume. This is also a great way to try out the fragrance and to see how it wears on your skin. It's also great for someone who can't use up perfumes and tends to get over scents really quick. This also comes in a 50ml bottle.
Price: USD $19. For the size and quality of ingredients, I think the price is very reasonable.
Rating: 5/5
Where to Buy: http://www.sephora.com


text:
The Church of St. Michael Parish Choir desires new members. The Choir rotates between the 4:30 p.m. Saturday and the 10:30 a.m. Sunday Liturgies from September through May, or you may join us for a season as your schedule permits. All sections are welcome. Cantors are also needed. Rehearsals begin on Tuesday, September 12th at 7 p.m. in the choir room.
Contact Mary Wainright at 253-6583 for more information.
This article originally published on St. Michael's web site as Join the Choir.


text:
What is an Assisted Opening Folding Knife?
This special type of folding knife uses an internal mechanism to finish opening the blade once the holder has partially opened it. There is usually a flipper or thumb stud attached to the blade. In some respects, these knives can be compared to switchblade knives. In fact, the two are often confused.
Switchblade knives are automatic. You press a button and the knife springs open. However, while assisted opening knives look the same, they must be assisted to begin opening and then with the press of a button or stud they open fully.
There are many advantages to owning a spring assisted flipper knife.
First, switchblade knives are illegal in the USA and many other countries. While they are quick to open there is also no safety mechanism. If you hit that button by mistake, a switchblade will spring open.
If you are stopped with one on you, you could face weapons charges
Spring assist knives will not spring open unless you start the process manually. They are fast but safer to open. They won't open as they are coming out of your pocket or worse yet, while they are still in your pocket or backpack. That button which demands an assist may save your life.
Once a switchblade breaks down, it is literally useless. Without the mechanism, it won't open. You have to repair or replace. On the other hand, an assisted flipper knifed will still open even if the mechanism no longer works. It just won't open quickly, and it will have to be opened manually.
Lots of spring assisted knives open very fast. In fact, with practice, their speed may be comparable to a switchblade.
Moreover, spring-assisted knives are more reliable than switchblades. They are less likely to have parts break.
While more expensive than manual knives spring-assisted knives are significantly less costly than switchblades both to buy and to maintain.
While spring-assisted flipper knives may be relatively fast, they still require that extra step of starting them to open before pushing the thumb stud. This could be timed you cannot afford.
The other problem is that the spring assist mechanism can wear out or break. Costly repairs may ensue.
Because of their mechanism spring assist knives are more fun but less reliable than manual knives.
If you are looking for a spring assisted flipper knife for sale, we have many fine products from which to choose.


text:
Providing imported tea, espresso drinks, specialty coffee and handmade sandwiches, in a comforting atmosphere. With knowledgeable barista's, delicious treats and details to travel the globe, whether you are coming in for a swift cup of coffee, staying for a lunch with pals, or coming in to meet one particular of our Travel Agents, the Travel Mug Cafe brings the greatest to the table.
Automotive kettles are water boilers are usually less kettle-like than travel kettles for hotels and international travel but if you need to have a caffeine repair on the road and either do not want to take the time to pull into a service station, begrudge paying their rates or basically travel in locations exactly where such items are couple of and far amongst then they are excellent.
If your agent issues a paper ticket, make positive you save the passenger receipt (the last coupon) for your records all through the travel. Remarkable lens. I'm a massive fan of road trips, took a mapless/directionless/GPSless trip in college as my Senior Project. Gotta way the ideal ideas I learned was. Usually have money, constantly have a tent+sleeping bag, and be positive to have a well stocked cooler. Just love this colour and I know that this will also be the choice of so numerous little girls. Offered its colour, they will adore writing or pasting or drawing things on it. This is beautiful and tends to make me want to jump in the automobile! If only I did not have all the responsibility! Thanks.
I am fascinated by the idea of Time-Travel. As a result, I study each and every book and see every single film I can see on the subject. I've noticed most of these motion pictures, but there are 1 or two I'll have to locate and see. I've never ever noticed The Time Machine (the version shown right here, anyway) or Time Right after Time, and I've been trying to track down 12 Monkeys for a whilst now. In case you have not observed it, I have a Top Ten Time Travel Novels lens that you might get pleasure from seeking at.
I have stayed in some messed-up places even though on the road before: crabs in the shower drain, bats shitting on my sheets, my bed folding in half in the middle of the night, a rat in my backpack – you name it – but it is all that a lot significantly less tolerable when you are trying to operate. Head north down methods once again. Save at Save sphere on left, but do NOT enter door beside it. Go back to Y intersection and go Appropriate. Save far more nights for Zion, a single or two. It's just such a beautiful location to plant yourself and relax and enjoy – or gear up if that's what you want. Much a lot more social than the North Rim in my encounter, it's an interesting location to meet friendly, new people.


text:
The Vanilla Visa Card Scam
The Vanilla Visa gift card is a scam with many different components. It is sold as a gift card, though many of these Vanilla cards are reloadable debit cards as well. What are the problems with this prepaid gift card?
The Vanilla Visa Card's Problems
When you buy these cards and activate them at the register, you can't immediately use them online. You have to wait at least 24 hours before you can register them online, which must be done before you can use them for online purchases with any other site. Even if the website sees the purchased amount for the activated gift card on the website, you still cannot register it and use it online at that time.
For the first full day, any attempt to register it by entering in my zipcode and trying to proceed was denied. This wasn't the only problem with the website. I received a warning that the Vanilla Visa website has a broken HTTPS, as well as problems with its SHA-1 Certificate. The TLS connection was secure according to my browser. This is another reason why I called customer service as soon as I was able to find a phone number for their customer service department—and the difficulty of getting a good phone number to reach Vanilla Visa support (only shown after multiple failed attempts to associate a zip code with it) is a strike against this Visa gift card.
I was never able to register my gift cards online through Vanilla's website and had to call the Vanilla Visa phone number at 1-800-571-1376 to get a zipcode associated with it. And after I had my zip code associated with it per my conversation with customer service—it still didn't work that day or the next.
Other Problems with Vanilla Visa
The card's instructions say vendors may put a 24 hour hold on money, but there is no such warning in the instructions or the vendor website stating there is a card registration itself. In fact, the website's "important things to know" says you can use the Vanilla Visa card immediately after purchase. Not true online, though I don't know if this is true in an in person transaction, though given the poor customer service and general reputation, I doubt it.
If the Vanilla Visa gift card is used fraudulently, Vanilla Visa has a bad reputation for not helping people even after you provide a lot of information. There are also reports that they demand copies of driver's license pictures and other information that puts the victim at risk for identity theft. And you don't want to put this information into their site since it is insecure.
The card states in 2016 only to be used in the United States, but they previously sold them internationally without this warning. The cards could no longer be used internationally after mid-2012. This information is clearly stated on their customer service recordings and in small text on the gift card packaging.
After buying two separate Vanilla Visa gift cards at the same time from the same store and a dozen attempts, I was never able to get a zipcode associated with them to actually use them online as was my intent when they were purchased. I never tried to use these gift cards as debit cards with a vendor.
Comparison to American Express Gift Card
The American Express gift card I purchased after giving up on the Vanilla Visa had the same 5.95 fee to activate as the Vanilla Visa gift card for a $25 balance.
It takes 30 minutes to activate after purchase. As soon as it activates, you can use it for purchases including online purchases. I was able to use the American Express gift card I bought the same day I bought it, whereas after three days of trying to use Vanilla Visa cards, I gave up and bought the American Express.
You can use any zip code, including your home zipcode, for the purchase without calling a phone number or giving away personal information.
Research your Visa gift card options before you buy, because some of them are usable online or in person within hours of purchase - and don't buy a Vanilla Visa gift card.
This article is accurate and true to the best of the author's knowledge. Content is for informational or entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for personal counsel or professional advice in business, financial, legal, or technical matters.
Questions & Answers
I had bought a vanilla gift card from a CVS pharmacy store of $25 but when I went home I tried buying something online but it didn't let me, so I waited for 24 hrs to try again but it still didn't let me. Then I checked my transactions, and it says I have $0 in my card and that the money had gone to a PayPal account. What do I do?
It sounds like someone has already used the card. You can't really do anything about it, since the issuing company doesn't care. You can try to print the records and go back to CVS to beg for a refund, assuming the transaction log shows that the transfer to Paypal happened before you bought the card. If the transfer is listed as happening after you bought the card, they'll say you already moved the money and there is nothing to do.Helpful 51
If my friend asks me to buy a vanilla prepaid card so he can send me five hundred when I have the card, and he asks me to take a picture of front and back of it, what should I do?
Do not do this. If you buy the card and take a picture of the front and back, they will get the card number and security code. They'll be able to drain money tied to the card. And they may not transfer money to the card.
If someone wants to send you money, they can do this through a wire transfer, Paypal, or check.
Prepaid cards come with fees and a risk the funds will expire. Just have them send you the money some other way that reaches your account. The fees are equal or less in these other methods, and you won't be ripped off.Helpful 40
My boyfriend moved to New York and said he wants to send me money but told me I have to buy a vanilla card and I have to add $40 to it for him to be able to send me money, is this true? $40 is a weird number.
He can send you money via money transfer services like Western Union, money orders through the post office, money sent via apps and banking websites. He could mail you a check. Yes, this is weird on many accounts.Helpful 36
My boyfriend asked me to purchase a vanilla prepaid card for him to send me 2000$. He says it has to be loaded with at least 25/30$ first - is that true?
Yes, you'd need to pay an activation fee for it to work. No, don't do this. If he needs $2000, do a wire transfer, a bank transfer, or so forth. Don't risk a money transfer method that charges so many fees and is so prone to scams.Helpful 26
I have received a Cashiers Check for $ 1,815, and a request for me to buy $ 1,500 on One Vanilla gift cards. The difference of $300 is a payment for surveying the shop where I buy the gift cards. I do not want to accept this offer so what should I do with the check?
This is a scam. This is fraud. Do NOT cash that check.
They want you to put real money on a gift card and send it to them. The check is either fake outright, so you lose your real money when you send it to them, or they are laundering drug money, and you're guilty by association for aiding them.
You can take the check to the police and report their request and their information. Or you can take it to your local bank, NOT cash it, report the fraud and let them track it down.Helpful 24
© 2016 Tamara Wilhite
My boyfriend asked me to buy a OnaVanilla visa gift card of $5 and activate it with $100 then he will send in $2000 is this true or a scam?
Not something I am familiar with (store bought 'credit cards'), but out of curiousity I have to ask...
There is a $5.95 cost to getting a $25 card?
To Commonssense the article was written a year ago and Vanilla Visa has done some updates. I personally had a horrible experience with them and I am letting everyone who will listen know about them and you can read 600+ other people terrible experiences at https://www.consumeraffairs.com/credit_cards/vanil... My son bought me a $100 gift card on 12/24 for Christmas and on 12/25 the card was hacked and the money drained. The funds were transferred to a fake company called spandravy.com in San Jose, CA. Vanilla Visa Fraud Dept is horrible and their MO is to deny claims. I have been reading that most gift card companies don't have botnet defense to keep this kind of stuff from happening. So the best thing is to go old school and give cash.
This is where you are wrong. I bough a vanilla visa debit card and I could immediately use it after activating it. You need to be 18+ in order for you to activate it and the number on the back has absolutely no problems.