text:
Coll Bird Festival 2018
May 17, 2018 - May 20, 2018
Coll Bird Festival
18th/19th/20th May 2018
Is the corncrake your nemesis? Has your best sighting just been a fleeting glance and you didn't get that photo? Did you know that the best place to see the corncrake, along with a host of other fantastic and often rare wildlife, is the Isle of Coll? And, the best time of year is late April to mid-May which is why we host Coll Bird Festival at this time of year.
[one_half spacing="yes" last="no"]
Over the course of a 3-day weekend, Coll Bird Festival (in partnership with the local RSPB reserve) offers a variety of guided walks, boat trips, and talks. The ever popular puffin trips to Lunga are back and new, for 2018, is a boat trip to Tiree, a hunt for sand lizards and/or short-necked oil beetles, and an opportunity to listen to the enchanting night-time song of Coll at our dusk-watch. We also host a ceilidh and organise a beach clean with BBQ to finish off the weekend. Visitors can book a package deal or pick and choose individual events.
[one_half spacing="yes" last="yes"]
[accordian divider_line="" class="" id=""][toggle title="The Programme" open="no"]
For 2018 we are pleased to be offering the following:
- New 'Off the Beaten Track' walk led by 2 local RSPB staff (Friday) – 2 walk tokens, or £10 – for 2018 the RSPB team have created an exciting new walk which will showcase more of the Coll bird life than has been seen in previous years and let you see parts of Coll that the average visitor will never see. This is a longer walk, estimated at 4 hours, although not difficult and you will not be walking for 4 hours. Guests should plan to take a packed lunch with them.
- Walk Arinagour (Saturday) – 1 x walk token, or £5 – is back and lets you explore Coll's only village, where the different landscape, from the bay to the trees, offers habitat for birds not commonly seen elsewhere on the island.
- Dusk-watch (Friday) – 1 x walk token, or £5 – come and hear the enchanting night-time song of Coll. Spend time on the RSPB reserve enhancing your identification skills by listening to the magnificent dusk chorus, a true rival (on Coll at least) to the better known dawn chorus.
- Boat trips (Saturday/Sunday) – £45 (Tiree trip requires a small additional sum for the tour bus) – our popular guided boat trips are back again, and the firm favourite, the puffin, is on the programme again with our trips to Lunga. For 2018, we are also visiting Tiree, our neighbouring island. It may surprise you, but Tiree and Coll are very different and you'll enjoy the variety if you choose this trip, which will be led by Tiree's RSPB warden.
- The Hunt (Saturday) – 1 x walk token, or £5 – included in the programme as one of the walks, weather permitting there will be an RSPB-led hunt to find the sand lizard and short-necked oil beetle. The short-necked oil beetle was thought to be extinct until it was discovered by the local RSPB manager on Coll (and also at a site in South Devon).
- Talks (Friday/Saturday) – £5 (includes all 3 talks) – over the course of the weekend there will be 3 talks on a variety of bird-life and wildlife-based topics.
- Ceilidh (Saturday) – £10 – offering a chance to unwind and enjoy some traditional Scottish music (and dancing)
- Beach Clean (Sunday) – the beach clean is a great way to wind up the weekend and make a contribution to Coll which, being on the Atlantic, naturally 'collects' debris from all over the world. You never know what interesting items you might find.
To receive a full copy of the programme please email firstname.lastname@example.com
[/toggle][toggle title="Meals" open="no"]
As part of the Bird Festival there will be a substantial buffet (with bar) prior to the Saturday evening talk (booking required). Tickets are £12.
Both the Island Cafe and Coll Hotel serve lunches and evening meals and both use a variety of local produce as part of their menu. If your events take place over lunchtime you have the option of an early lunch at the Island Cafe, or you can book a packed lunch from the Coll Hotel and Tigh na Mara Guesthouse.
[/toggle][toggle title="Seabird Safari Boat Trips" open="no"]
In 2018 we are delighted to be able to support a new and local business venture, Isle GO.
You will travel to Lunga and/or Tiree in their brand new Redbay Stormforce 8.4 Rib, 'Stormbringer II'.
Please note that guests on our boat trips should be comfortable with walking over rough terrain and prepared to access the vessel via a series of steps or a ladder, depending on tide conditions. Please contact us if you have any concerns over accessibility and we will be happy to help.
For 2018 we have added a trip to Tiree which will be guided by Tiree's RSPB warden. Our IsleGO RIB will whisk us west across the wildlife-rich waters between Coll and Tiree, watching out for seabirds and cetaceans as we go. A minibus will take us from the pier at Scarinish across the fertile croftlands of Tiree to Loch a' Phuill. This rich shallow machair loch is home to large numbers of breeding ducks, swans, waders, terns and gulls, many of which do not breed on Coll. The loch is also a magnet for spring migrants, often including scarcer birds, whilst otters can sometimes be seen. We will check the loch thoroughly from the public bird hide and then walk to the nearby beach of Traigh Bhi to look for more shorebirds and seabirds.
Lunga is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest because of its abundant plant life. Many rare and endangered plants are native to the island. The flora includes Primroses, Birdsfoot Trefoil, orchids, Sea Campion, Thrift and Tormentil. Atlantic Grey seals inhabit the waters surrounding the island while birdlife includes Storm Petrels, Kittiwakes and Manx Shearwaters. Guillemot, Puffin, Corncrake and Razorbills breed on Lunga and on the Harp Rock, a sea stack separated by a narrow gut, which you can walk to on your visit. A trip through the Sound of Gunna provides the opportunity to see as variety of sea birds, stunning scenery and the possibility of seeing dolphins.
Most visitors take advantage of the puffin-therapy afforded by a trip to Lunga, where you can sit within a few feet of these iconic little sea-parrots and watch them interact. Lunga attracts over 2000 breeding pairs of puffins within a small area on a grassy plateau overlooking the sea, which makes for a fantastic spectacle.
[/toggle][toggle title="Accommodation on Coll" open="no"]
Accommodation is available at Coll Bunkhouse, which has 16 beds available from £22pppn.
Further accommodation is available in the village of Arinagour at the Coll Hotel, Tigh na Mara Guest House and Dun Fraoch B&B. An extensive list of accommodation options on Coll, including self-catering properties, is available here: Visit Coll.
[/toggle][toggle title="Costs, Further Info & How to Book" open="no"]
A number of events are run over the course of the weekend and customers can choose individual events or a package rate.
For visitors booking accommodation at Coll Bunkhouse there is a discount of 10% on bookings of 3 nights or more.
Package rate: £68 (£60 for RSPB Members). This includes 3 x walk tokens (equiv. ~ 2 hours each), 1 x boat trip, 1 x ceilidh ticket and entry to the talks. For walks, you can choose from the new RSPB-led 'off the beaten track' walk (2 tokens), the duskwatch (1 token), Arinagour walk (1 token) or the Big Hunt (1 token).
To register interest, please call Coll Bunkhouse on 01879 230217 or email: email@example.com.
[/toggle][toggle title="Transport – Getting to/from/around Coll" open="no"]
For a handy guide to getting to Coll, look no further than the Coll page on the Caledonian MacBrayne website which offers advice on travelling to Coll by car or public transport: Calmac Info on Coll.
For those of you arriving by public transport and/or without your own vehicles we will provide options for transport to/from events using local transport providers which will involve a small fee. Please contact us for further details.
[/toggle][toggle title="Our Partners" open="no"]
Once again the Coll Bird Festival is brought to you in partnership with one of Scotland's leading organisations. We're very grateful for the support of the variety of people who help us to organise this event. Please use the links below to read more about the work of our partner organisations.
[separator style_type="single" top_margin="20″ bottom_margin="20″ sep_color="" border_size="" icon="" icon_circle="" icon_circle_color="" width="" alignment="center" class="" id=""]
John McLaren, a previous visitor to Coll Bird Festival, has very kindly combined some video excerpts from his time on Coll and Lunga. Other than the boat trip to Lunga it doesn't feature the other Bird Festival events, but it gives you a real flavour of Coll and what you might expect from a visit:


text:
Compact, powerful, and built for instant success.
The portable and affordable Kornit Breeze is designed specifically
for small to mid-sized commercial digital t-shirt printing businesses.
- One-pass white and CMYK printing for fast production
- Print on multiple fabric types, both light and dark
- Includes NeoPigment™ process with integrated automated pre-treatment
- Fully automated web-to-print workflow
- Developed specifically for small to mid-sized businesses
- Combines high-end technology with entry-level cost printing
- Eco-friendly process and biodegradable ink complies with
strictest industry standards
- High reliability and maximum system uptime
Engineered specifically for small to mid-sized commercial digital t-shirt printing businesses, the portable and affordable Kornit Breeze is designed with an integrated automatic pretreatment, de-gassing, and maintenance system. The Breeze provides an ideal DTG solution to new or expanding businesses entering the digital t-shirt and garment print market. The Kornit Breeze arrives at your door ready for e-commerce and web-to- print, making it the right choice for both online and retail shops.
It can be connected to any computer with a USB port and requires only one operator. Print on dark garments faster and more efficiently with our one-pass white and CMYK printing process. T-shirt printers looking for the perfect balance between quality, budget and ROI will find it in Kornit's Breeze.
Print Heads: 6 heads
Max Printing Resolution: Up to 1,200 dpi
Ink Channels: 4 colors CMYK + White
Ink Recirculation System: N/A
NeoPigmentTM Ink Containers: 15o ml / 5 oz ink containers
Max Production Output *: Light garments: 32 / Dark garments: 25
Printing Area: Up to 14 x 18 in/ 35 x 45 cm
Printable Substrates: Cotton, Polyester, Cotton-Polyester Blends,
Lycra, Viscose, Silk, Leather, Denim, Linen, Wool and more
Humidity System: N/A
Backup Battery System: N/A
Max Weight: Approx. 210 kg / 462 lb
Power Requirements: 230/100 VAC, 50/60 Hz, 1 ph,
W+N+PE: Compressed Air Pressure
Integrated self-pressurized system: Operating system
Customer computer supporting: Windows 8, Windows 7 or Windows XP
Operating Conditions: 18°C-30°C / 64.4°F-86°F,
Humidity: 45%-95%
Dimensions: 45 x 59 x 27.5 in / 114 x 150 x 70 cm

subset: commoncrawl


text:
High-volume tower tray
The MFC-L8900CDWMT combines the great features of the MFC-L8900CDWMT multi-function wireless laser printer with an upgraded paper capacity thanks to its additional 4 x 520 sheet paper input tower tray (the bundled Brother TT-4000) plus a tower tray connector (the Brother TC-4000) to make your printer truly ready for business. With its over 2,000 sheets capacity, less time can be spent replenishing paper, maximising device up-time and office efficiency.
Combine the boost in paper capacity with impressive scan and printing speeds as well as an easy to use touchscreen at your fingertips and you can be sure that this multi-function printer will be a great asset to your paper heavy business requirements.
Better reliability
Built to perform for longer and meet the demands of high output work environments, Brother's latest colour laser range has been totally remodelled with robust build quality that's even more resilient and hardwearing.
Brother's latest colour laser range is compliant with a number of environmental standards including German Blue Angel, and Nordic Swan. As a result, not only does it help your business work more efficiently, it is also more energy efficient, reducing impact on the environment and lowering your costs at the same time.


text:
Volume 16, Issue 6
May 8, 2017
The Bellagio is to be congratulated on a recent decision in its favor entered by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in the matter of Bellagio, LLC v. The National Labor Relations Board. We first reported on this case in August 2015 after the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) determined that the Bellagio violated an employee's Weingarten rights under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) by placing an employee on a suspension pending investigation (SPI) after he refused to complete a written statement without the assistance of a union steward. The Bellagio appealed this decision and successfully convinced the D.C. Circuit Court that the Board was wrong.
The federal court determined that the Board's findings "rest[] on a perverse reading of the record" and that the "actions of the Bellagio's supervisors were fair, reasonable and entirely consistent withWeingarten." The court also reversed the Board's determination that the Bellagio retaliated against the employee by placing him on SPI, finding that the SPI was not discipline and did not, without more, constitute an adverse action.
The court rejected the Board's conclusion that the Bellagio engaged in unlawful coercion by instructing the employee not to discuss his SPI. The court concluded that the supervisor was not trying to stop the employee from discussing his discipline with his coworkers and was simply enforcing the SPI by ensuring that the employee left the property - which, "given the circumstances in the case," was a "perfectly reasonable" instruction.
This common-sense decision from the D.C. Circuit Court is a welcome breath of fresh air for employers. Unfortunately, unless the NLRB vacates its decision in this case, the court's decision is not binding in the Ninth Circuit. Nevertheless, congratulations to the Bellagio and its supervisors for a great result. To read the court's decision, click here.
KZA Employer Report articles are for general information only; they are not intended and should not be construed to be legal advice. Reading or replying to such articles does not establish an attorney-client relationship. In addition, because the subject matters and applicable laws discussed in Employer Report articles are often in a state of change and not always applicable to every type of business entity or organization, readers should consult with counsel before making decisions based on the same.


text:
Bath Culture Shock (Part 3)
The re-opening of Holburne Museum has injected an additional boost to Bath's already thriving art scene. Contained in a late 18th-century house, built in the typical Georgian neoclassical style with golden Bath stone, and situated at the end of one of Bath's most impressive streets, the Holburne Museum is a magnificent treasure. Though until quite … Continue reading
Bath Culture Shock (Part 2)
Culture buzz continues in part 2 of our Bath Culture Shock series as Natalia checks out the vibrant art scene with the re-opening of Holburne Museum. The Holburne museum re-opened in May boasting a fine new architectural build and a brilliant exhibition showcasing Peter Blake's collections that have recently exhibited in London as part of … Continue reading
Bath Culture Shock (Part 1)
Bath has become a hub of cultural activity this month, focusing specifically around the visual arts. In this two-(p)art series, Natalia Komis takes a look at the very popular Bath Fringe Festival and the re-opening of the Holburne Museum. Bath Fringe Festival, which has been hot on everyone's to do list this week. With every day … Continue reading


text:
One night, at three weeks young, Florence was put to sleep in her crib, following all safe sleep guidelines. Two hours into her sleep, the Angelcare b...Read more
My little boy was born prematurely at 28 weeks, 5 years ago. He spent 9 weeks in the neonatal unit. He had a few episodes in hospital when he stopped ...Read more
Dear Angelcare, thank you. My message is slightly different than what I assume is your typical thank you note.I received an older Angelcare syste...Read more
The Angelcare Baby Monitor is worth its weight in gold. In January 2018, around 4 am, the movement monitor went off which signals that it hasn't d...Read more
I love the Angelcare AC403 Monitor. My little girl was born prematurely and we were in the hospital for two weeks due to sepsis. The Angelcare baby ...Read more


text:
Many of the websites that have the potential to become a national or international brands, they usually try to get as much features on their online website as much they can and they also focus on giving the best quality experience for their customers so that there are no issues in the development of the business to the next level.
In the United States, most of the businesses that are flourishing at a rapid pace, may need top service providers in the US like the Zopim and other chat services which make the best part of the available services which are needed for the direct interaction of the business to the customers through the website.
Along with the website handling services the main feature that most of the business site offers for the customers they have or the future prospects is the Website Live Chat through the Chat Bots and Live Chat Agents.
Though the Virtual Chat Agent or Live Chat Online services are provided by the Live Chat Software to provide Live Support or Live Chat for Website, but still human management also plays an important role in determining the success of the services.
It is therefore important to have a reliable service provider so that the website could be managed properly along with the chat services which are necessary in order to stay connected and get the most valuable information from the customers on a regular and continuous manner.
All these kinds of service help the website managers and the business owners a lot. Due to the fact, without getting connected to the customers and without solving their issues instantly, there is no way to run a successful business online until and unless you have the live support feature enabled on your website which makes sure you are not away from your market and will know everything firsthand.


text:
Sony has released a trailer for Uncharted: Golden Abyss today, and it's exactly what you'd expect from an Uncharted title. There's a new babe, a new bro and a new treasure to hunt down. It also looks like the other Uncharted titles, truly making me believe this could have been launched on the PS3. It just looks that beautiful.
This trailer, and the fact that the Uncharted series is one of the most premier series out there, proves Uncharted: Golden Abyss just might be the strongest offering in the PlayStation Vita library that we've seen so far. The absolutely striking visuals on such a small scale is also a nice touch. I want a PS Vita just so I can play this game alone. Hopefully we don't have to wait too much longer to get our hands on one.
You are logged out. Login | Sign up


text:
Roj Mohor Mah Tir, 1386 Yz.
As our Parsi brothers and sisters in America join many millions of their countrymen in observing the festival of Thanksgiving over this weekend, it seems to be an apt moment to think about what would be a truly Zoroastrian form of thanksgiving. Originally, Thanksgiving was a post-harvest festival celebrated to thank God for the rich and abundant harvest. Over the years, the seasonal and religious aspect has been quietly replaced by the excessive importance to ...Continue Reading ?


text:
Nicholas Denys writes the first documented account of Tolling in his two volume work which was published in 1672:
Description géographique et historique des costes de l'Amérique septentrionale: avec l'histoire naturelle du païs.
Denys was a lieutenant on a French ship of 300 which set sail in 1632 to colonize the Eastern seaboard of the New World. He rose to become Governor of what is now Cape Breton Island and founded settlements in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.
He wrote the two volumes on Acadia after he retired in Paris. They are based on his journals written while in the New World and represent the main primary account of Acadia in the mid 17th Century.
The Description and Natural History of the
Coasts of North America (Acadia)
By Nicolas Denys, Victor Hugo Paltsits


text:
Date(s) - 08/10/2019 - 08/11/2019
11:00 am - 12:30 pm
Main Street Arts
Summer Art Saturdays!
for kids age 5 and up
$8 if registering in advance ($10 day of)
11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 13
Mixed Media Paper Figures
Participants will assemble a paper figure using painting, drawing and mixed media collage materials including yarn and fabric.
Saturday, July 20
Marker Dyed Fabric Banners
Participants will create a fabric banner using beading, drawing and dying with markers and water.
Saturday, July 27
Mixed Media Underwater Scene
Participants will explore watercolor painting, printmaking, pastel drawing and paper collage to create an underwater scene.
Saturday, August 3
Design your Own T Shirt
Participants will design a t-shirt by creating handmade stencils and spraying ink with spray bottles.
Saturday, August 10
Stuffed Creature Creations
Participants will create a stuffed creature using simple and safe sewing techniques with fabric, buttons, felt, sequins and more.


text:
When my friend Sam was diagnosed with Stage III ovarian cancer, she knew she would have to undergo chemotherapy and radiation. Her first thought was about her hair, but wasn't a vanity thing. She hated the idea that by losing her hair during chemo, she would be advertising to the world that she was sick. Hats and wigs are fine as cover-ups, but nothing can replace the real thing. That's why many cancer patients are turning to a new treatment that aims to prevent the hair loss that so often occurs as a side-effect of chemotherapy treatment.
They're called cold caps, and they are used to cool and even freeze the scalp before, during, and for a few hours after chemo to prevent hair loss. The treatment, which has been widely used in Europe, is gaining popularity in the U.S. It's time-consuming, uncomfortable and expensive — but according to users, the results are worth it.
Essentially, the cold caps work like a tight-fitting ice pack worn on the head like a swim cap. (Like I said, uncomfortable.) The caps must be changed every half-hour to ensure they stay cold. As a result, patients who use this treatment must have access to a freezer and a runner who can bring them back and forth every 30 minutes. That's the time-consuming part. As for the expense, one popular system called Penguin Cold Cap rents treatment caps for $600 per month for a set of caps. According to the New York Times, some users have had success in getting insurance to cover the cost of the caps in lieu of a wig.
Another method, Dignicap, is simpler in that it uses cooling tubes rather than continual refreezing to cool the scalp. It's currently awaiting FDA approval, which — if granted — would make insurance authorization a lot easier to obtain.
In a recent clinical trial, researchers from the University of California, San Francisco tested the Penguin Cold Caps on 100 women who were undergoing chemotherapy treatment. The results have not yet been published, but Dr. Hope Rugo, the study's lead author and the director of breast oncology at UCSF, told the Times that "most" of the women in the study who used the scalp-cooling caps kept "most" of their hair.
Patients who have used cold caps say one of the best benefits is the privacy it affords them while dealing with their disease. They don't have to walk around town wearing that "I've got cancer" banner in the form of a bald head.
Cold caps work by reducing the temperature of the scalp and hair follicles. This has two benefits: First, it slows the metabolic activity of the hair follicles so they are less affected by the chemo. And second, it restricts blood flow to the follicles, limiting the amount of chemo chemicals that can cause damage.
With all of the expense, discomfort, and extra effort involved in using scalp-cooling, it's certainly not for everyone. But for patients who are worried about losing their hair, their privacy, and their identity while dealing with cancer, it offers a viable alternative to hats and wigs.
Related on MNN:
- Common medications that interfere with chemotherapy drugs
- Thyme: A new breast cancer drug?
- Kellie Pickler shaves head to support breast cancer pal


text:
The High School Football season is upon us even if it is more than a week away from officially starting around the region, a region where the weather in August has been historically kind. Before all the "classic" game action and bevy of TV games hits us in a week or so, reps and experience against live competition is underway via scrimmage action. It's that time when booster clubs slowly begin to ramp it up because they support a team/school/program that may have a shot at winning a state title.
Here are some results and notes from scrimmages held on Friday.
North Gwinnett 9 Stephenson 7: Stephenson's defense was swarming to the ball most of the night but the North Gwinnett defense struck first scoring on a short fumble return for a touchdown when Bobby Young stripped the running back and scored.
Lovejoy 27 Peachtree Ridge 21: Lovejoy amassed 330 yards of offense in only two quarters. Junior Wide Receiver Preston Williams caught two touchdowns. Williams missed all of last season with a hip injury after having a productive summer on the 7-on-7 circuits.
Tucker 24 Marist 3: Dominic Sanders scored three touchdowns for Tucker including 71-yard TD run in the first quarter.
Byrnes (SC) 42 Erwin (NC) 26: Byrnes' Shaedon Meadors had a 42yd touchdown reception and running back Isaiah Hill scored a 52-yard touchdown on a screen play.
Buford 47 Berkmar 0: Buford did well in the tune up and Berkmar will take morale victories and seek to improve as they play in the rugged Region 8-6A in Georgia. Buford plays in Class 3A.
Camden County 40 Milton 7: Harrison Poole scored touchdowns of 42 and 80 yards, he is a sophomore. Junior Antonio Wimbush scored on an 80-yard touchdown and recorded a sack. Ryan Johnson returned a punt 53-yards for a touchdown and Wimbush had a punt return over 30-odd yards as well. Camden threw the ball more than a couple of times meaning, it's in their playbook, they'll decide when to pull it out. Treyvon Paulk of Milton may have went over 70 yards on the ground but that is not official.
Gainesville (GA) 28 Grayson (GA) 27: Highly-touted and Clemson commit QB Deshaun Watson passed for 132 yards and 2 touchdowns. Aares McCall led Grayson on the ground with over 100 yards. Grayson scored a defensive touchdown in the game.
Valdosta 7 Ware County 6: Quarterback? Valdosta trailed 6-0 in the middle of the 4th quarter to the Georgia 2012 5A runner-up Ware County Gators before ending a drive, led by quarterback Jacob McMillan, in the end zone. Valdosta is searching for a quarterback since starter Cole Massengill went down with a season-ending injury in practice earlier this month.
Cedar Shoals 35 Oconee County 21: Senior QB Darius Jordan threw 4 TD passes for Cedar Shoals. Breon Mitchell had 2 scores, Tyler Hitchcock, Sam Hemphill and Ryan Huff also scored touchdowns.
Other scores of interest:
Mauldin (SC) 21 Greenville (SC) 14
Coffee County (GA) 21 Cook (GA) 7
Lowndes 41 Thomasville 0
Jacksonville (FL) 12 Brunswick (GA) 0
Walton 33 South Cobb 7
Hart County 44 Habersham Central 17
Gaffney (SC) 36 Woodruff (SC) 35
Mill Creek 20 Parkview 13
Hiram 26 Harrison 21
B.T. Washington (GA) 41 Douglass (GA) 0


text:
July 23 – 28, 2018
Paper Engineering from the Bauhaus: Josef Albers to the Modern Day
Eric Gjerde
One of the mainstays of the Bauhaus preliminary course for first-year students was working with paper – to make something more with it that still spoke to the essential qualities of the paper itself. These exercises led them on a path of self-discovery and observational "learning through doing."
Paper artist Eric Gjerde leads a course of experimentation and discovery in the spirit of Josef Alber's preliminary course, using historical paper art exercises and creations from the Bauhaus School as well as modern designs and ideas that build on the original concepts. Paper architecture, pop-up structures, origami tessellations, kirigami, and complex crumpling are some of the techniques students on this course will explore.
In this course we will follow a Bauhaus / Black Mountain College style form of discussion, open exercises and experimentation, and constructive group critique. Students will take techniques and create their own works within various design constraints, in line with Bauhaus methodology. Our intent is to open minds and expand horizons (while also having a lot of fun playing with paper!)
Best suited for: anyone dealing professional or personally with geometry, form and structure, and exploration of shapes and space. Like designers, architects or (paper-) artists. Some practical knowledge of paperfolding is useful but not required.
Course Languages: English
What to bring: materials and tools will be provided, but if you have preferred paper, cutting tools, rulers, etc. then you are welcome to bring them. In line with the original Bauhaus workshops we will be working with our hands and basic tools only in an entirely analog format.
Eric Gjerde (Minnesota, USA, 1978) is a paper artist who explores shape and structure using complex folding techniques he developed through years of experimentation. He began his journey into the world of paper 13 years ago, returning to a childhood love of paper in an effort to restore his creative spirits. This led to a deeper appreciation for the beauty of origami, resulting in the publication of his popular book "Origami Tessellations: Awe-Inspiring Geometric Designs". His main focus lies in tessellations — repeating patterns and forms that extend infinitely — and most recently in the development of new biological "living" paper mediums. Gjerde works from his studio in Minneapolis, together with his wife and artistic partner Ioana Stoian.
For more information: www.ericgjerde.com


text:
email@example.com +46 (0)8 756 32 30 Storängsvägen 21 A - Stockholm SE-115 42
You get everything in Fusion 9 plus advanced optical flow image analysis tools for stereoscopic 3D work, VR tools, retiming and stabilization. Fusion 9 Studio also includes support for third-party OpenFX plugins and Fusion's native SDK, unlimited distributed network rendering, and Studio Player along with a bin server for studio wide multi user collaboration that lets you track, manage, review and approve shots on complex projects.
Fusion is the world's most advanced compositing software for visual effects artists, broadcast and motion graphic designers, and 3D animators. Over the last 30 years, Fusion has been used on thousands of Hollywood blockbuster movies and television shows. Fusion features a powerful node based interface that lets you quickly and easily create sophisticated effects by connecting different types of image processing tools together. You get a massive range of tools, incredible VR and 3D support, GPU accelerated performance, unlimited network rendering and more! Fusion gives you everything you need to create exciting broadcast graphics, dramatic titles, and even major feature film visual effects!


text:
Transition into your evening with a guided relaxation session led by acupuncturist Mary Pat Finley, LAc and biofeedback specialist Eugénie Pabst, Psy.D.
You can change your body's physiological response to stress in a surprisingly short time frame. Spend 45 minutes with us and experience how a combination of breathing techniques and auricular (ear) acupuncture can help your mind and body let go of the stress of the day, and move into a deeper sense of ease and relaxation.
Benefits of relaxtion:
*improved sleep
*decreased muscle tension
*enhanced immunity
*eases anxiety and benefits mood
When: Wednesday May 11
Where: Balance Health+Wellness
1901 N. Clybourn Avenue, Suite 301
Chicago, IL 60614
Fee: $35 or bring a friend @ 2 for $60
Call 773-472-0560 for reservations.
Space is limited to 10 participants.
Registration and pre-payment required.
Category Archives: Acupuncture
Sleep Disorders & Acupuncture
A Good Night's Sleep:
There are a myriad of reasons a person may be having sleep issues or insomnia. Sometimes the stressors of the day make us restless and keep us up at night. Other times the source of the problem is a more serious issue like sleep apnea.
The average adult needs between 7-9 hours of sleep per night. Getting less than that puts us at risk for problems like mood issues and hormonal imbalances and even more dangerous health issues like heart disease and diabetes.
One of the major contributors to sleep apnea is an obstruction in the airway. At night, muscles of the throat tend to relax and collapse around the airway. This results in hundreds of tiny interruptions in sleep that many people are not aware is happening to them. Some of the biggest contributors to the problem is alcohol consumption, being a male over 65, and obesity.
Diagnosing sleep apnea can be tricky without a diagnosis from a sleep specialist. Some of the signs of sleep apnea are snoring, gasping at night and extreme fatigue during the day. The western medicine approach to sleep apnea is typically the prescription of a CPAP machine that forces oxygen into the airway. Suggestions around diet and weight loss are generally a strong and appropriate way to address the issue.
Acupuncture can be a very useful addition to traditional approaches to sleep apnea. The insertion of needles around the neck area are a safe and helpful way to energize the area and bring tonicity to these muscles. In addition to these acupuncture points your practitioner will use lung points and kidney points to support the body's endocrine system, thus assisting to regulate the hormones that contribute to healthy sleep. Acu points around the ear are typically used if weight loss is a primary concern.
If you feel that your energy is really lagging during the day, it may be in your best interest to rule out sleep issues. Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine can be an extremely useful tool to help you get better rest. Ask to speak to Mary Pat Finley if you would like more information on acupuncture and sleep apnea.


text:
Group Discussion 30th December, 1947 | Madras, India
A person who is arrogant can never find humility however hard he may try to 'become' humble. A person who does not recognise his nothingness but pursues ideals is like a man who, without ever knowing how to sow, ploughs and ploughs and never sows. Behind all your knowledge, all your degrees, titles and possessions, there is nothing. When you really acknowledge that you are nothing, you are everything because you know what love is. You ask me if there is free choice in the opposite. How can there be free choice? You choose only by comparison, when you have two things; and your choice is based on either pleasure or pain. It means memory which is the accumulation of experience. So, you really are not choosing. There are two things, memory and response; and there is no choice. You may say that you have listened to the dictates of memory.
Tags: change
Not a member yet? Create an Account


text:
Utilize our 40 years of roofing and siding experience on your next project.
Get competitively priced services
Siding options
Side your home with materials that will last. With Seamless Pros, you can choose siding options that allow your home to look great while never requiring maintenance work from you.
Pick a siding option for whichever look you're going for! From seamless options to vertical siding, you'll have your choice of high-quality materials. If you want to ensure that your home stays insulated, consider an insulated vinyl option when you meet with our experienced team.
• Vinyl
• Insulated vinyl
• Seamless steel siding
• 100% maintenance-free options
• Vertical siding
• Fascia and soffit


text:
Warning: Spoilers ahead for season two, episode 11 of "Riverdale," titled "The Wrestler."
"Riverdale" fans didn't have to wait long to find out exactly what Chic Cooper, Betty's long-lost brother, does for money.
On Wednesday's episode of the hit CW drama, Betty and friends discover that Chic is actually a "video gigolo."
Fans were surprised.
—Sarah Duguay (@llsupergirlII) January 25, 2018
—jesica (@Jesicaaa_74) January 25, 2018
—Krojačica Sudbine ♔ (@MonaLisa1797) January 25, 2018
—Bridget Miller (@ThisGirlBridget) January 25, 2018
Although some expected something similar thanks to some clues from last week.
—Bekz (@RLChickwbrains) January 25, 2018
—Courtney (@Court_Distefano) January 25, 2018
—Marley Kai (@marleykaii) January 25, 2018
When Chic was first introduced during last week's episode, he kicked his mother and sister out of his room at a hostel, because he was waiting for "a client." The first establishing shot of Chic flashes by in a second, but it shows a video camera pointed at the bed, giving fans a clue to how Chic makes his money.
On Wednesday's episode, Hal Cooper pressures Chic to explain why he arrived at their house all bloody. Chic explains that the owner of the hostel, Marcel, books clients for him, but that evening, he didn't want to work, so Marcel got violent.
"What sort of clients?" asks Hal.
"All kinds," Chic vaguely answers. "Ranging from nice to, hell, even nastier than Marcel. I can go into specifics if you'd like."
Alice Cooper changes the subject before the family can discuss Chic's job any more.
Later at school, Betty shares a photo of Chic to her friends. Kevin calls him a "hottie who looks incredibly familiar to me." Jughead asks if Kevin met him while cruising in the woods, but Kevin isn't sure. Turns out Kevin does recognize him, but not from the woods. Kevin calls Betty after he remembers.
"He's a video gigolo, a web cam boy, a cyber-trick," Kevin says over the phone.
A gigolo is a male usually paid to be an escort or a sexual partner. As an online gigolo, Chic could perform virtual sex acts or dates, but he could also set up meetings in real life. Betty is surprised to hear the news, so the two meet at school to discuss Kevin's discovery.
"It's fascinating," Betty says. "I brought Chic home to help my mom without knowing who he was. And now to find out he's actually multiple people performing online, how do I broach that with him?"
Turns out, she broaches it with him in a casual conversation.
After school, an angry Chic bursts into the Cooper house yelling about how his camera and laptop were taken by the hostel owner. Betty takes him an old Riverdale Register laptop later that night. The long-lost siblings eventually bond over their anxiety. Betty says she has a "darkness" in her and feels like Chic may also understand. She uses this conversation to tell him that she knows what he does online.
Chic, Betty, and Alice eventually go to Pickens Park for the town celebration when Hal angrily shows up and explains that he snuck on Chic's computer and saw what he does for money. Alice and Betty stand up to Hal, but the secret is out.
Later that night, Chic enters Betty room and tells her that he creepily stared at her the first night he stayed in the Cooper home.
"The first night I was here, I came into your room while you were sleeping," he says. "I kept waking up that night, trying to understand why would this girl go back to that place for me? But I think, maybe, I understand now. You're alone here."
Chic then explains his two main reasons for being an online gigolo: making money and having an escape. He says he uses it to "get away from the darkness I feel inside me, too." His words resonate with Betty and she asks to learn how he does it.
So while Chic's explanation for his creepy behavior still doesn't explain everything, it looks like Betty understands and trusts him. Fans will have to wait to see how far Betty goes into Chic's world.
"Riverdale" airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. EST on The CW.


text:
The luxury online resale site, RealReal is launching several beauty products and adding them to its assortment of expensive items. In keeping up with its luxury ethos, the brick-and-mortar e-commerce site located in the SoHo district in Manhattan and one Las Vegas pop-up outlet, seems to be testing out beauty products if they will also add up to their revenues.
Industry insiders reveal that beauty products were available at The RealReal's SoHo store since last year's holiday season as well as in its Las Vegas pop-up. Rati Levesque, the store's chief merchant said that they are testing a group of curated beauty products in their brick-and-mortar store as well as in their website. It seems that they want their customers' journey to be complete.
Levesque revealed that they want to be regarded as their luxury customers' dependable destination where they can find the best coveted luxury product selection for all categories from beauty to clothing. She also admitted that they are currently in the early stages of development but they are planning to invest heavily in the beauty category in the following months.
Apparently departing from its usual business model that is consignment-based, the beauty products that The RealReal is selling are new, according to reliable sources. But in keeping with the store's sustainable luxury niche, the brands of beauty products they are selling are of the clean variety.
These brands include the likes of Cap Beauty, In Fiore, Grown Alchemist, Rahua, Maison Louis Marie, Uma Oils, Ellis Brooklyn, Kahina Giving Beauty, Julisis, Babo, Olio E Osso, Pai Skincare and many more. Reports indicated that these items are sold directly to The RealReal and not through the usual third-party distributors.
It appears that The RealReal has joined the bandwagon of stores and companies adding beauty products to their merchandise. Last year, Madewell, Free People and Anthropologie launched their own distinguished beauty items. In addition, forever 21 has also opened Riley Rose stores, eight in all. They are selling products that are friendly to the Millennial's.
Industry experts believe that this is a way that these brick-and-mortar stores are attracting customers to their outlets as well as the authentication of their particular brand positioning. There are reports indicating that it is very likely that The RealReal's approach is more of the latter.
Whatever the case, Julie Wainwright, chief executive and founder of the company, stated in a Women's Wear Daily interview in October that they are launching home and beauty brands and selling these new products in their store. She observed that the lines are getting blurred somewhat. Wainwright also added that they will allocate space for special sales and admitted that they are already discussing this with some people.
The company started small with the founder working only at her home, in a kitchen table. She visited consignor homes using a U-Haul vehicle. Today, the store is a unique site offering luxury items on consignment. It now employs more than 600 people in multiple locations all over the United States.
The company is accepting and shipping its products all over the world. Established in 2011, RealReal now has more than 4.5 million people signed up and has sold more than 2 million products. In 2015, the company's total sales are $200 million, double the amount it sold in 2014.


text:
Postcode lottery: Two million children in schools classed 'not good enough' - «Школьная лотерея» в Англии: вероятность получения хорошего образования зависит от места проживания
|Postcode lottery: Two million children in schools classed 'not good enough'
| Postcode lottery: Two million children in schools classed 'not good enough'
Some have less than a 50% chance of attending a decent school because of the "stark inequalities" in England's education system
Children face a "postcode lottery" over their chances of going to a good school, watchdogs revealed today.
Some have less than a 50% chance of attending a decent school because of the "stark inequalities" in England's education system that are baffling experts.
And schools watchdog Ofsted is launching a probe in the New Year to find out why there are such wide inequalities after branding them "completely unacceptable".
More than 2m children - nearly a third of all pupils - are stuck in schools that fall short of being good or outstanding, just because of where they live.
Sir Michael Wilshaw, Ofsted chief inspector, said in his first annual report:"Mediocrity is not an option. We are raising the bar.
"We'll be asking a question - why is it parents in some parts of the country have less than a 50% chance of getting their children into a good primary school where there are other parts of the country where that chance is over 90%?
"It is a dramatic difference and it's not on. It's completely unacceptable and we need to find out what on earth is happening in these areas where there is such poor provision."
The report says a child living in Derby or Doncaster has only half the chance of attending a good or better primary or secondary school compared with a child living in Wigan or Darlington.
A parent in Coventry has only a 42% chance of sending their child to a good or outstanding primary school compared with a 92% chance of a parent living in the london borough of Camden.
Sir Michael said some of the poorest areas in the country have high numbers of good and outstanding primaries, but richer areas performed badly, such as Prime Minister David Cameron's Oxfordshire constituency, which is among the 20% of local authorities with the lowest proportions of pupils attending a good or outstanding primary school.
Four out of five children in Dorset and Northumberland attend primary schools that are good or outstanding, but only 59% can do so in Shropshire and 56% in North East Lincolnshire.
In poorer areas, such as the London borough of Lambeth and Knowsley in Merseyside, four out five children attend good or outstanding primary schools, but only 53% do so in Portsmouth and 42% in Coventry.
Sir Michael added: "If we aspire as a nation to move towards a world leading system, we have to reduce these serious inequities across the system."
The report says schools in England are getting better with 70% of schools now rated good or outstanding compared to 64% five years ago, but warns "there is still a long way to go before the nation catches up with the best in the world."
Sir Michael said better leadership and an improvement in the quality of teaching were driving the upward trend.
But the report said post-16 education was a "real concern" and urged the government to shine a spotlight on further education as it had on schools.
Ofsted inspectors found 35% of colleges are now less good compared with 30% at the end of 2010 and this year they judged 13 colleges to be inadequate compared with just four last year.
Ofsted said there was a "stubbornly wide" gap between the achievements of poor pupils and their richer classmates.
It has narrowed slightly in primary schools, it has "remained constant" in secondaries.
Shadow education secretary Stephen Twigg, Labour's Shadow Education Secretary, said: "Today's report shows the results of Labour's education reforms - including academies and better school leadership.
"There are half a million more children in good or better schools thanks to over a decade of investment and reform.
"However, there remains an arc of under-achievement which is holding back too many young people.
"Even in David Cameron's backyard of Oxfordshire, there are too many coasting schools."
A Department for Education spokesman said: "Sir Michael is right that standards in some local authorities are simply not good enough. There are still too many schools that do not provide a good enough education.
"We make no apology for introducing reforms to drive up standards in schools.
"The report recognises that sponsored academies - with strong leadership and real expertise - are the best way to turn around struggling schools.
"That is why we are identifying consistently weak schools and allowing experienced academy sponsors to take them over."
|Ваши голоса
|Обсуждаем эту и другие работы на Форуме Конкурса >>>
|Нет комментариев
|Подписаться на новые комментарии к этой работе
|Добавить комментарий
|Обсуждаем эту и другие работы на Форуме Конкурса >>>
|всего (сегодня)
|150 (0)
|0 (0)
|23539 (0)
|0 (0)


text:
The Vessel: Write about a ship or other vehicle that can take you somewhere different from where you are now.
– Prompt taken from 365 creative writing prompts on thinkwritten.com
My Story:
"A ship is a woman's best-friend" . That's what my father said before he disappeared 5 years ago. There's two things that's interesting about that statement: 1. Though I was 20 years old at the time, no one treated me like an adult let alone a woman in my family. 2. I have never been on a boat before and from what i knew about my father he had never been on a boat before either.
Also why would he say that right before disappearing… He is a pretty logical man who just said the most illogical thing I had ever heard in my life…
At first I paid that nonsense no mind. Especially when we weren't sure that he was missing. After a week past and the family was in full panic and the police was 100% baffled by his disappearance, I revisited his statement.
"A ship is a woman's best-friend." Alright maybe he was trying to be all fancy and lyrical and stupid… ship… ships… SHIP… friendSHIP? relationSHIP? anime SHIPS? (#Lawbin ) None of those things make sense… Why would he choose to say that as his last sentence ever to me?
Fast forward to now. Five years later. I am an adult. I am a woman. I still have not been on a ship. If I am being 100% honest I have been avoiding ships because of my father uttering that nonsense. We still don't know what happened to my father. And more importantly we don't talk about my father.
Which is fine. My family is living their best life for the most part. Mother still occasionally gazes off in a daze when she is unoccupied and you can see a mixture of blank sadness if that makes sense. If eyes were the windows to the soul her windows are covered in a thick fog and probably creak something terrible when opened. But that's only if she isn't occupied… if she has too much free time. other than that she's living her best life.
The kids bounced back pretty good being so young they of course are super resilient towards tragedy. Around father's birthday and disappearance day, they tend to be a little quieter. they tend to peek out the window and door more than usual as if those two dates will influence father to magically appear. Other than that they are living their best life.
Me… I'm probably living the best life out of everybody. After father's disappearance I through myself into working on my future. I found an amazing two year job as a paralegal. I went to law school and graduated top of my class and started working at Ankara and Trian Law firm 3 weeks ago. The money is great. My work is great. My clothes are even greater. Like I said I'm living my best life.
My favorite part of the day is getting dressed to go to work. I always dress business casual. I always dress cute. I am a woman after all it's basically in my life's description. Today I'm wearing my orange dress that just covers my knees and has sleeves that stop just above my elbows. I love this dress because of the shimmery navy lace that goes around the bodice.
I stop at the Black owned coffee shop before going to work. 1. Everyone at work arrives with some type of beverage in their hand 2. Gotta support the community one way or another and until my debt from my many years of schooling is paid up it looks like i can only support in a small way. 3. I'm a sucker for frappuccinos.
I make my way into the building, on to the elevator and get off at the 16th floor. I shoot every random person I walk by a quick polite smile then settle into my office.
10 minutes later Rose comes to my office to tell me that Mr. Trian wants to see me. Rose has worked here for about 2 years now and I don't really know her. I do know she always seems skittish and jumpy like either she needs coffee or she has had too much. I took a sip of my drink with a slight frown. Doesn't she know she's suppose to be living her best life right now?
"Okay here I come", I chirp with a polite smile. Finally, I think to myself. Mr Ankara welcomed me to the building my first week here and I was wondering what took Mr. Trian so long to greet me.
We make our way to Mr. Trian's office making polite conversation. We arrive to his office and Rose gestures me in first.
Well i've never been here before so this doesn't even make sense having me go first but whatever. I struggle at first entering because the door was extremely heavy like super heavy. there is literally no reason for this door being this heavy.
Instantly I met the eyes of a very short and very grumpy looking man. I quickly walk over to his desk. "Hello Mister Trian, My name is Monique. I'm originally from Philly. I've only worked here for 3 weeks but I have enjoyed ever bit of it. Last but not least my favorite color is purple and my birthday is March 20th. Nice to meet you.", I say this with a big smile and extend my arm for a handshake.
Mr. Trian chuckles in amusement no longer looking grumpy. "Quite an intro you got there!", he says smiling.
Ha! I knew that would get him. Howard University drilled all of us to have our Howard Intro ready to go at all times and more than once it has won people over to #TeamMomo. Yes that is what I call everyone who likes me.
#TeamMomo #Can'tStopTheShine #DiamondsAllOverMyBody #ShiningAllOverMyBody #CardiMo
Mr. Trian starts his welcoming speech and Rose chimes in every now and then with something witty. After the speech I decide that Mr. Trian is cool people and me and Rose are going to become fast friends.
As Rose and I walk back towards the door, we see someone struggling to push it open. I glance at Rose questioningly. "Before Ankara and Trian Law Firm was here, this floor was a recording studio so this door is sound and fire proof."
Finally, the door open and meduim build man who also looked grumpy came in. Though this grumpy man looked kinda cute as I got ready to send Rose another questioning glance, he pulled a gun out from the back of his pants.
This man is no longer cute I decided then and there. I don't like this guy and he probably doesn't even work here! I'm just trying to live my best life and here comes Woody bursting in here like a cowboy. goodness gracious.
Me and Rose stop dead in our tracks and just stare at the man and his gun. None of us saying a word. I glance back a Mr. Trian and see him grumpily staring out his work.
Sidenote: Grumpy men are the worse.
He glances up and his jaw falls open and his face blanches. "Ah good! It looks like I have everyone's attention now… I was worried I would have to shoot someone to get you to look up Mr. Trian", the grumpy cowboy said.
For the record, he is not really a cowboy but he has a gun. So nice armani suit or not he is a cowboy.
Woody gestures for us to move out of his direct line of fire to the side of Mr. Trian's desk. It was actually kind of awkward walking back there because neither Rose nor I wanted to turn our back on the gunner so we just awkardly shuffled back and to the side trying to use our peripheral vision.
Okay well as long as I stay calm and do what he says I will probably come out alive. I hope the other two live also otherwise that would awkwa…
I tripped. Oh what an miraculously embarassing trip it was. I was at my destination. I literally made it to the side of Mr. Trian's desk. I had given up on the shuffle and turned my back to the gunner and walked quickly to Mr. Trian's desk. I turned around to face cowboy grumpy. And apparently my feet were more nervous than they originally let on and the next thing I knew I came crashing down. No it was not a graceful fall. I tried to break my fall by grabbing the desk. NOPE! I successfully grabbed the mail basket which came tumbling down with me and it and all its contents bounce off my head.
For the two seconds I was on the floor, I saw a letter opener on the ground. I've played enough video games and watched enough TV to know that I needed to pick up the letter opener. 1. I'll stab him! whoops no probably not. Thank you Call of Duty for making that a valid thought in my head though. 2. Me and Rose will use it to cut of the ropes if he decides to tie us up to rob the place… yeah that seems better… thank you super hero shows for showing me use everything to cut off ropes.
On second three, Rose is pulling me to my feet. My face is burning red with embarassment, while I dust myself off.
"Stop messing around!", Woody shouted at me.
I crossed my arms artfully concealing the letter opener and glowered at the floor.
"You know why I'm here Trian! Give it or people are going to start dying", Woody threatened.
Sweating now, Mr Trian stammered, " Look I don't know w-w-who you are what you want bu-"
Rose is laying on the ground with a bullet hole in her head.
oh shhiiiiiittttttt. This is just like a video game. This man is crazy. This is why we need more gun regulation. This man is playing no games. How am I going to get out of this alive?!
I stumble away from Rose's body. Until I realize I was closer to Mr. Trian. Nope don't want that especially since he is the actual target of this nonsense. I quickly back away from him closer to Rose.
Mr. Trian opens the draw of his desk. Tosses out a small satin bag. super small. like tiny. I'm not going to lie I'm a little disappointed that Rose died over something that small.
"Go get the bag!"
I walk up to the desk and pluck the bag from the desktop.
POP! Thud!
Mr. Trian is cluching a hole in his chest. A small pistol is now laying on the ground.
unbelieveable… Why didn't Trian shoot the guy when I tripped. Worse person ever. I would've shot everbody during my trip. Well the gun slinger obviously doesn't need me alive so he will probably kill me before he leaves the room. Especially me being a witness and all. Also ummm isn't Trian suppose to be like a big boss here. Like why hasn't anybody came in for a meeting or wondered where he is?
I know what to do. I will swallow the bag. If he kills me he would have to cut my body open to find the bag, which I doubt because that's gross. Atleast I hope that idea grosses him out… who knows… that guy is crazy. Hopefully, He will wait til I poop and keep me alive til then I will figure out a way to escape during that time.
" If you swallow that bag, I will shoot you out that window and carve it out of you later."
Well that was super specific. I guess while I was thinking it, my body subconsciously decided to go for it because the bag was right in front of my mouth.
"Don't worry I won't hurt you. I need you alive until I get out the building."
Did he… did he just basically promise to kill me after I get him out the building? I'm defintely not about that dying life that's for sure.
"Come on we're leaving!" He grabs the arm holding the small bag. Oh shoot I started panicking so I didn't even realize he had walked up to me. Idiot! on top of that my right hand is starting to cramp up from trying to naturally conceal the letter opener.
He guides me out the room. Didn't struggle with the door on the way out, I guess it was all for show when he was coming in?
He shot a bullet in the air. "eveybody get out the way! If you try to stop me or call the police everybody's dying!"
He jerks me by my arm again. He did that way too strongly and I start to trip again but he yanks me up at the same time to stop me from tripping.
I would've been embarassed if I wasn't so busy concentrating. This is it! This is my great escape! As I tripped I tried to roll away from him but his yank up instead propelled me towards him.
I shot out my hand to stop myself from physically being all over him. This guy is probably some type of pervert and I don't want him to get any physical ideas.
I… I conveniently stabbed the man. Also I was not expecting the noise that it made. The surprise did not last long out of reflex he fired the gun immediately but it wasn't aimed at me but still pointing in the air.
I pull out the knife and hear a hissing noise.
Again. This time I aimed for where I think his heart is.
Again. Same area I really want him to die.
Again. I'm honestly don't care where it lands.
I let out cry and push off against his body and try to make my escape. I trip. God jesus christ! it be your own feet I swear to god. And instead of dashing to safety, I crawl away giving myself rug burn in the process.
I look back and Woody is laying on the ground not moving.
I slump against a desk and start crying. I'm so lame I could've had an amazing escape. I laugh at myself while crying.
I look in my left hand at the satin bag. Defintely not going to open it… I've seen enough to know that would only cause my problems in the future. I look in my right hand at the letter opener that saved my life… and also turned me into a murderer I guess…? It's metal it's one of those colors where you can't tell if it's gold or silver. The handle has navy blue and white stripes on it. On the edge of the handle is a carving of a ship.
"A ship is a woman's best-friend."
-Byaah March 20th, 2018


text: There was recently still some availability at nearby hotels for the festival weekend. The closest hotel, the Ypsilanti Marriott at Eagle Crest is full but there are many hotels just 6 miles down I-94 at the State Street exit for Ann Arbor. You can search at www.ypsilanti.org/hotels.html and check out the hotels on State St., Briarwood Cr., Boardwalk Dr., and Victors Way. These properties are all just off the 1-94 exit and are the closest you will get to the festival. There is no hotel within walking distance (unless you are a pretty serious walker)


text:
- This event has passed.
Men's Cooking Class
February 26, 2019 @ 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm
|Recurring Event (See all)
An event every month that begins at 5:00 pm on day Fourth of the month, repeating indefinitely
Join us for cooking and health education! Have fun as you learn skills in the kitchen. Sit back and relax while you enjoy the meal you created.


text:
It's fair to say that when it comes to writing lists, I'm an epic failure. Not that I don't want to be organised, it's just that it always seems so much like handwork. However, after a chance conversation with the lovely Jason from the school where I work, he mentioned something called Bullet Journal. Now, normally I would've forgotten all about it but after realising just how many scraps of paper I had floating around the place, I decided to go and look them up.
Turns out that they are a ridiculously cool concept and now I'm hooked.
Seriously! I had to make three trips to the stationary shop to get just the right kind of journal and three days in, not only have been writing my lists, but I've actually been doing stuff on them (er, like do a blog post!!!)
What I love best about Bullet Journals is that it seems to work in conjunction with how I think, as opposed to against it. Plus, the website is super pretty!!
Of course when I spoke to Jason this morning, it turns out that he doesn't spend his entire weekend drawing cute little pictures all over his Bullet Journal (men are so weird sometimes), but I'm going to let him off because I'm too busy enjoying my new book. Has anyone else tried this? I would love to know what you think and if you have any tips to share!


text:
Center Policies
What is the make-up policy?
Families are allowed three makeups per session. Makeups for each class are available at any location run by Valley Cat Music. Make-ups may not be carried over to subsequent semesters and are non-transferrable. Please use the makeup scheduler on the valleycatmusic.com website to ensure there is space for you and your child(ren).
What is the cancellation policy?
You may cancel your enrollment and receive a refund or credit less a $25 cancellation fee any time PRIOR to the start of the semester. No refunds after the first day of classes (except as noted next); credits will be considered and the amount will depend upon number of missed classes. Non-attendance does not constitute a cancellation. If you are having trouble getting to class, please alert the director ASAP. NOTE: Teachers are subject to change or substitution at any time.
What is the minimum/maximum enrollment per class?
The minimum enrollment is five to six children, and the maximum is twelve children, so there will be anywhere from 11 to 25 people in your class (more when both parents, nannies, and relatives attend). If your class does not meet the minimum enrollment, you will be placed in your second choice class. If it's full and there is no other open class you are able to attend, then you may receive a refund (minus fees for materials and any classes that have already taken place). Remember, you can save your favorite class time by telling your friends about it!
Who can come to class?
Extra parents, grandparents or caregivers are welcome to attend the class at any time–-no need to ask unless your class is already full. If your older child has a school holiday, please check with the director to ensure there's space that day before bringing her or him to class. Whole-family music making is extremely valuable to your child's musical development, and we love it when more than one family member can join the fun. Sibling drop-ins are $20 for siblings under 10 (10+ are considered caregivers). Out-of-town visitors are $25 per drop-in, and permission is required to ensure there is space. See Drop-in Policy for more info.
Can we eat in class?
Nursing moms are welcome to breastfeed (or bottle-feed) at any time, but please do not bring other food or drink into classrooms. Non-spill sippy cups may be used after class, but please use them away from the activities to avoid inspiring other children to take sips from your child's cup. Please respect the fact that a few of the children have severe food allergies which can be triggered simply by the presence of certain foods in the room.
Can we bring our own instruments/toys/stuffed animals to class?
Please try to leave toys of any kind in the car as they can become a distraction for the other children. We make exceptions for transitional objects (loveys!) and, of course, pacifiers for infants. The class works best when every "object" is available to everyone.
What if my child is sick?
A runny nose, even clear, a cough or a temperature constitutes illness. Please consider the other families in your class when your child exhibits any of the aforementioned symptoms by keeping your child at home until three (3) days after the symptoms subside. Please use your allotted makeup days after a missed sick day.
What is my role in class?
Children are biologically wired to respond most to those with whom they have close bonds, so your role is to sing, dance, and be silly! Your active participation is the key to your children learning and growing musically. Support the creation of a music-only environment by not talking to your children or other adults during the 45 minutes (try singing your message instead!). It is difficult for a young child to ignore adult conversation, so please wait to socialize until after class. Refrain from giving verbal or manipulative directions, such as "Bang the drum" or holding your child's hand and hitting the drum for them; even suggesting a color for them to use can affect creativity. Children respond best by just seeing and hearing you doing (and enjoying) it yourself! Wandering toddlers are fine, but If you want your child to come back to you, avoid calling to him from across the room. If necessary, redirect your child physically back to you or the circle. Of course watch out for your child's safety, but mostly your job is just to relax and have fun!
How should we use the materials?
Play CDs at home and in the car as often as possible, especially during the first few weeks of class. Make it available to your child to listen to while she is playing or before nap or bedtime. Use songbooks to help you remember the songs or to play along if you play an instrument. Try using the songbook at storytime instead of a regular book, and sing through the songs as you go along. Looking at the printed notes on the page will help children understand that music is something that can be read, like words. Familiarization with notation will help them when they are more ready for formal music instruction.
Feel free to visit the online FAQ at any time for this and additional information. Thank you! We look forward to making music with your family. Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns.
Peace & harmony,
Deborah Dietrich, Valley Cat Music
Center Director/Instructor/Singer
Bringing Music Together® to the Valley... one paw at a time
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Web: www.valleycatmusic.com
Tel/Text: 323.528.6656 (323.kat.mojo)


text:
Merry Christmas Eve! Let's spend the time between now and the annual live-tweet of Alaina Watches Die Hard, The Best Christmas Movie In History, No I'm Serious, Don't @ Me, by discussing a) a book I finished reading six months ago, b) about witches. So, completely the wrong holiday. Whatever; deal with it.
As you can tell from the title of the book, Ms. Schiff's research attempts to find out what exactly led to the events of the Salem Witch Trials. She goes through the years 1690 through 1694 in deep detail, focusing on each family of Salem and their interactions, and discussed how political and interpersonal relationships could have led to exacerbating the situation with the witches.
The first quote I dogeared (and then transcribed into a Word document, because this was a library book and I didn't want to incur six months' of overdue fees just to be able to quote things afterwards) speaks to the mystery still attached to Salem:
Nearly as many theories have been advanced to explain the Salem witch trials as the Kennedy assassination. Our [nation's] first true-crime story has been attributed to generational, sexual, economic, ecclesiastical, and class tensions; regional hostilities imported from England; food poisoning; a hothouse religion in a cold climate; teenage hysteria; fraud, taxes, conspiracy; political instability; trauma induced by Indian attacks; and to witchcraft itself, among the more reasonable theories. [p. 4-5]
For as many details there are in the book – and there are plenty – there are no true, definitive answers. The source materials Ms. Schiff draws from are incredibly deficient – family diaries, incomplete court testimonies, and the biased opinion essays of pastors and preachers related to the trials.
While the bewitched commanded a rapt audience for much of a year, their voices are lost to us. Their words come to us exclusively from men who were far from thorough, seldom impartial, and not always transcribing in the room in which they heard those statements. They mangle and strangle the voices of the accused; they are equally inattentive to the accusers, not all of whose statements they committed to paper. [p. 12]
I think everyone here must be aware of the basic plotline of the Salem Witch Trials: young girls start acting weird and accusing other women in town of being witches and using their witchcraft against them, everyone believes them, and at the end of it all, nearly twenty residents were executed after being found guilty of witchcraft. In fact, everything the collective consciousness knows about the Salem Witch Trials most likely comes from our reading of The Crucible when we were in high school. But The Crucible was a parable Arthur Miller used to expose the hypocrisy and hysteria surrounding McCarthyism, and should not be considered a historical artifact, regardless of the fact that Mr. Miller used the names of actual Salem residents for his characters.
Ms. Schiff attributes the cause of the Salem Witch Hysteria to many things, including a general distrust of women, an incredibly oppressive religious atmosphere, and a contagious psychological disorder. Sadly, we will never know the true root of the issue, as that is lost to history. Thanks, Puritan judges and other people back then who didn't realize they should really WRITE THINGS DOWN.
Relatively early in her narrative, Ms. Schiff discusses the attitudes towards the women involved in the Witch Trials. She points out that this is one of the few times in history where the actions are directly related to the actions of women:
History is not rich in unruly young women; with the exception of Joan of Arc and a few underage sovereigns, it would be difficult to name another historical moment so dominated by teenage virgins, traditionally a vulnerable, mute, and disenfranchised cohort. [p. 131]
Additionally, she discusses the power surrounding these women, and how the mysticism of witchcraft increased that power:
The wrinkle with Salem's infernal onslaught of 1692 was that both the spirited victims and their oppressors were predominantly female. And in a New England first, women's voices proved so commanding that the spectral testimony of two dead wives could prevail in court against an articulate, Harvard-educated minister. [p. 145]
Think about that: this is a period of time before the United States Consitutiton was even a thought. Alexander Hamilton and George Washington hadn't even been born. The concept of "innocent until proven guilty" hadn't been put forth yet. So our modern concept of a "trial" is not even closely related to what occurred in Salem. In Salem in 1692, a judge could accept the "testimony" of deceased women over that of a minister who had graduated from Harvard. That is a crazy concept to wrap one's head around.
The accusations of witchcraft and witchery flew throughout the town, and created an oppressive atmosphere that centered on a form of gaslighting: fingers pointing at nearly every citizen of Salem, accusing them of witchcraft, and using previous actions as specious proof of interacting with the Devil:
For weeks the women had been stretched on the most pernicious of psychological racks: You are not what you think you are, they were hectored; you are what we think you are. [p. 235]
The biggest piece of new information regarding the Salem Witch Trials was actually a supposition or extrapolation: Ms. Schiff proposes that the cause was a form of mass hysteria, known as conversion disorder, where physical symptoms can arise following an emotional or mental crisis:
Where the seventeenth-century authority saw the devil, we tend to recognize an overtaxed nervous system; what an earlier age called hysteria we term conversion disorder, the body literally translating emotions into symptoms. [p. 386]
The witch hysteria began in the house of Samuel Parris, with his daughter Betty and her cousin Abigail Williams. Samuel Parris was the pastor of the town, and one of the more religious ones they'd had in town for a while. (Which is hard to believe, seeing as how Puritan the whole area was.) As Ms. Schiff states,
Hysteria prefers decorous, sober households, where tensions puddle more deeply; it made sense that the Salem minister wound up with more witchcraft victims under his roof than anyone else. [p. 387]
So what would have been the inciting event that caused the mass hysteria? Possibly puberty – I mean, think about it. The two girls in Parris's household that started the whole thing? Were 9 and 11. And in that type of oppressive religious atmosphere, who's to say what emotional trauma may have been caused by a religious interpretation of changing bodies? Or even having a thought that went against what had been taught for years upon years? After all,
It would have been easier at the parsonage to have a vision than an opinion. [p. 388]
We will never know what really happened with the Salem Witch Trials – the causes of that trauma have been lost to history. We can only make assumptions and attempt to decipher the few documents from that era that still exist, and recognize that whatever was written down, was written from the points of view of extremely religious views and interpretations. But we can't forget the Salem Witch Trials, or even attempt to ignore it. While the cause may have been conversion disorder, the unfounded persecution against a minority that led to the deaths of innocents was still the result.
The Salem Witch Trials endure in American history "not only as a metaphor but as a vaccine and a taunt" [p. 413]. We as a people use the Witch Trials any time someone feels unjustly persecuted. But instead of using it as a label, or a crutch, we should use it as a reminder: we have done this before. We have pointed our fingers, as a society, at fellow citizens and deemed them guilty of crimes that were not proven. We killed innocents out of fear of the unknown. That era is not a time we should hope to return to. We should look to that era as a warning of where we've been, and how far we've come, so as to not slide.
Grade for The Witches: Salem, 1692: 2 stars


text:
It's hard to even imagine being able to approach your ex girlfriend when you are at a point where you don't know for sure how she feels about you. When you know that she likes you, then it doesn't take much to give yourself that little push to go ahead and approach her confidently. The sad thing is, most guys get off on the wrong foot when they try to approach their ex girlfriend and I don't want to see you make the same mistake. The way that you approach her plays a very pivotal role in whether or not you and her end up back with one another. So, you can see that this is something that you are going to have to get right.
Here are some tips that will help you so that you CAN approach her the right way and set yourself up for success:
1) You have to get your mind right before you do anything else.
Getting back an ex girlfriend is part action and part mental. Really, the mental part of it is the biggest factor in what happens next. So, you want to get your mind in the right place before you go ahead and approach her. That means that you are going to have to get over the broken hearted feeling that you probably carry with you right now. Toss it aside and think about what it will be like when you have her back in your life. Get to work on making any improvements that you can make so that she will feel more attracted to you NOW than ever before.
2) Do NOT ask her out on a date or make her feel like it is a date.
If you ask your ex girlfriend out on a date, right away she knows what's up. There is no mystery there. She knows that you want her back and since you are asking her out like that – she has ALL of the power in the world. You don't want her to have all of the power. Plus, being that the «safe» thing for her to do is to say No, what do you think she is going to say to you? On the other hand, if you ask her to hang out and you don't make it seem like a date (no dinner and a movie, here), then you can get «under her radar» and you are a lot more likely to hear her say Yes to you.
3) Treat her as if this is the FIRST time that you and her are hanging out.
It might sound strange, but if you can reframe the situation in your mind so that it seems like this is the first time hanging out and you are just trying to get to know her, it is going to be much easier to make her want you back. Why? Because that feeling that a woman feels when she knows that a guy is genuinely curious about her is electric to her. And, since you are acting like she is new in your life, you are not going to bring up old issues. So, you end up just having a good time and you and she will BOTH feel those sparks that you normally feel when you are first getting to know someone.


text:
Heyyyy Heeyyy Chica! The summer time is coming to an end and OMG I don't know about you but I am ready for some cool weather. Growing up I always looked forward to the summer time. Ah, those where the days. However, as an adult I loooove the colder months. It's something about layering and cozening up by the fire place while sipping on a glass of wine that makes the day so much better.
With the new season approaching it is time to start preparing your wardrobe. I know it is tempting to shop all the summer sales BUT remember you may not wear that item until next year. So much can change in a year so don't waste your money. Save that money for new additions to your fall wardrobe.
I know it can be hard to get started, so I have 5 ways to help you jump start your wardrobe.
1. Get to the Basics- Building a wardrobe without the basics is like building a home without the property. The basics in your wardrobe are items that can help you create multiple outfits with ease. Depending on your personal style your basics may be different.
2. Audit your Wardrobe- Have you ever purchased the same thing twice? Okay, it's just me and my shopping problem..moving on. Building a wardrobe is so frustrating because you don't know what you have in your closet. Knowing what you have helps you prepare for what you need. I recently audited my wardrobe and found a summer maxi dress I loved last year. I put it on and instantly fell back in love. A few other things I just didn't love so much so they are being donated. This audit will open space for new items and show me how much my style has changed. A proper audit should be done to your wardrobe every season or at least twice a year.
Things to trash or donate:
A. Items with holes.
B. Items that are discolored.
C. Items that do not fit.
D. Items that do not cater to your personal style.
E. Items that have not been worn in the last year.
3. Get Inspired- Over the next few weeks start looking at your favorite blogs, magazines, Pinterest boards and even Instagram to start the thinking process. Also, look at old designs and styles you loved to keep your style authentic. If you find yourself wearing red over and over add that as your signature your authentic style.
4. Focus and plan- DO NOT go out and buy all the cute clothes on sale. I know it is hard! Stay focused and create a plan before you leave the house. If you get very tempted and spend frivolously I recommend doing a little online prepping.
Use the following checklist before you step in the store:
Use the following checklist before you step in the store:
A. Check to see if the items you need in your wardrobe are on sale. Be very specific: color, size, pattern, fabric and etc.
B. Ask yourself "Does the price match the quality?", "Does this item cater to my personal style and flatter my body?", "Can I transition this item into different seasons and wear with other items?"
C. Add items to your checklist with the price and if possible the item number. Yes, knowing the item number is important. When currently shopping for a client the item she needed was on sale but the store did not have the item. By knowing the item number I was able to call the two other stores and locate the item. A simple phone call can save you gas and money.
5. Get creative- After auditing your wardrobe get creative with the items that remain. How can you wear them differently? If you bought a blouse for a specific outfit consider how you can wear it with other items.
Now you are on your way to a great wardrobe.
Need additional help with building or creating your wardrobe and authentic personal style?
In the month of August I am giving 8 FREE 30 minute consultations to women who are ready to take their wardrobe/personal style to the next level. No more stressing about what to wear to work, business meetings, speaking engagements, special events and in daily life. Schedule your FREE consultation today!


text:
The Olde Bell Hurley Wedding
Sorcha and Graham approached me last year to photograph their Berkshire Wedding in early 2012. It turned out that The Olde Bell Hurley wedding was to be my first one of 2012. I hadn't met Sorcha or Graham before the big day but I was welcomed warmly upon seeing them at The Olde Bell.
The day started out with some bridal prep photography of Sorcha and her gorgeous bridesmaids in the bridal suite while the boys enjoyed a few pre-wedding tipples in the bar downstairs. The weather forecast for the day was interesting to say the least.
Heavy snow was due to arrive almost exactly the same time as my coverage was due to end. Of course, its a shame almost that the snow didn't arrive during the day from a photographic point of view but it was a relief to get home that night, despite a five hour delay on the motorway and the liberal use of some salt and a shovel to help me out on occasions.
Sorcha look absolutely stunning as her and her father walked down the aisle of the barn across the road from the main inn. Graham appeared perhaps a little nervous, though I know he was very excited about seeing Sorcha for the first time. The ceremony itself was lovely and Sorcha and Graham enjoyed some laughs, and some tender moments too in front of their gathered friends and family.
Once the ceremony was over, Sorcha, Graham and their guests moved across to the Malt House for a drinks reception before returning to the barn for later for some speeches and dancing. As I left, the snow started falling and it really was a beautiful scene for a beautiful wedding. The Olde Bell Hurley Wedding of Sorcha and Graham was my first of 2012 but has already become a firm favourite of mine. A lovely couple, funny and friendly family and friends too.
If you were a guest at The Olde Bell Hurley Wedding then please feel free to view the full gallery here.
If you are considering a wedding at The Olde Bell Hurley please don't hesitate to contact me.
As usual, a small selection of some of my favourite photographs from the day. Please feel free to leave a comment or share via social media.


text:
There are many reasons for exhibiting pride in our state. We have had our share of war heroes, politicians, educators, and other notables. How aware are you that many inventions for war, health, and everyday use were invented in Connecticut?
Between 1790 and 1890-over 20,000 patents were granted in Connecticut. Among the inventions of note are the following: Colt Revolver, the tooth paste tube, Frisbee, tape measure, Whiffleball, can opener, and the Submarine. As a young man I recall my relatives talking about a window locking device and automatic door opener that Stanley Works of New Britain were involved in creating and producing.
Space does not allow detailed bios on those inventors. However may I suggest a class or family trip to The Museum of Connecticut History, they have a wonderful program. Students ages 10 and up would enjoy a visit that features some hands on experimenting, who knows you may have an Edison or Bell in your family
There is a need for future necessities, and necessities are the mother of invention. A call to the Curator, Mr. Patrick Smith at 860-757-6693 will do it.


text:
Home |
Latest |
Library |
Most Watched |
Top 10 |
Opening |
Coming Soon |
New @ Netflix |
Blog |
Animal Kingdom screenwriter David Michod writes and directs this post-apocalyptic western about a lone wolf drifter who joins forces with a wounded man to pursue a sadistic band of thieves. A decade after the collapse of the western world, Australia has become a lawless wasteland. As desperate outsiders pillage the country's precious mineral resources, taciturn Eric (Guy Pearce) travels from town to town searching for signs of life. Then, one day, Eric falls prey to vicious thieves who steal his car. In the process of making their getaway, the thieves abandon Rey (Robert Pattinson), their wounded partner-in-crime. Meanwhile Eric vows to reclaim his most treasures possession by whatever means necessary, and forces Rey to help him track down the men who left him for dead. Scoot McNairy and David Field co-star in this grim tale of revenge from writer/director David Michôd (whose script for the 2010 crime drama Animal Kingdom took the Best Screenplay prize at that year's Australian Film Institute awards).
Need help downloading? Please see our Download Tutorial.
Contact |
Advertise |
Subscribe to our newsletter: