text:
|Rediff India Abroad Home | All the sections
Congress didn't accept people's mandate: Modi
December 23, 2007 21:14 IST
Fresh from his impressive electoral victory, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi [Images] on Sunday attacked the Congress saying that the party decided to carry on a campaign against him instead of accepting the people's mandate.
Addressing a public meeting in his Maninagar constituency in Ahmedabad, he cautioned that 'people who have not been able to digest BJP's victory' will try to create hurdles in the state's progress.
"Instead of accepting the people's mandate, the Congress has already declared that they will continue with their anti-Modi campaign," Modi said, adding "I pray to God to give them strength."
"The people of Gujarat felt that the development work happening in the state should not be stopped. They felt that hurdles should not the created in the state's progress and so they voted for the BJP," he said.
Modi assured the people of Maninagar that once he assumes office for a new term he will not do any thing for which the people of the constituency will have to be ashamed of.
Terming the electoral victory 'as a golden moment for the BJP,' Modi said, "Apart from (Left ruled) West Bengal, no party has been able to continuously remain in power in any state for long."
"Since 1990, we (the BJP) have won five times in Gujarat," he said, thanking the people of Maninagar for electing him with a margin of over 86,000 votes.
"In Maninagar, Narendra Modi had no role in the victory because it was the people who fought for me," Modi said.
He said that in earlier elections Maninagar witnessed just 23 per cent voting but this year the turnout was as high as 61 per cent.
Modi attributed the party's win to the people of the state and the hardwork put in by BJP workers.
"This victory is the result of the sweat and hardwork that you have put in," he told his party workers.
The BJP leader also asked the people to be 'humble' in their victory.
Modi also invited the gathering to the Sardar Patel Stadium at Navrangpura in Ahmedabad on December 27 where a new BJP government will take oath. Earlier in the evening, Modi, dressed in a saffron attire, addressed a gathering of BJP workers at the party office in Khanpur.
"A Vijay Sabha (victory ceremony) will be held at the party office in Ahmedabad on Monday to celebrate the victory. I will talk to you in detail then," Modi told the gathering even as his supporters chanted his name and appealed to him to continue his speech.
Meanwhile, a festive atmosphere prevailed at the BJP office in Ahmedabad during the entire day. The workers burst crackers, threw 'gulal' and waved BJP flags as the news of the poll victory poured in. The workers, who had turned out in large numbers at the party office, danced and distributed sweets.


text:
I found a Podcast version of Palladius' Lausiac History and enjoyed listening to it since it offers a good look at early monasticism. Since I had an audiobook form of this text, it's difficult to quote and whatnot, but a few stories stuck out to me.
The most interesting one was of Melania the Elder. Wikipedia briefly recounts the story from Palladius: "[s]he stayed with the monks in the desert near Alexandria, Egypt (today the area is known as Wadi Natroun) for about six months. When persecution broke out after the death of Bishop Athanasius in 373 and many of the monks were exiled to Diocaesaraea in Palestine, Melania followed and supported them financially. The governor had her briefly imprisoned, but released her when he realized her social status. She built a convent in Jerusalem, and a monastery on the Mount of Olives for the monk and theologian Rufinus of Aquileia." She also inspired her granddaughter to become a nun.
Other stories included the brothers who entered the monastic life but with different ideas of how to live that life. Their followers quarreled as to which was best, but a wise, old monk (maybe Macarius?) told them that each was equally good.
Another, I think his name was Nathaniel, when into the desert as one of the early Christian monks and built a cell. He was tempted by — I think Palladius calls it — the demon who assaults everyone, and Nathaniel left that place for a cell closer to civilization. This is clearly the demon acedia, who Evagrius says tempts monks to leave their way of life. (Acedia is everywhere in the old literature!) Once he realizes the demons plot to get him to abandon monasticism altogether, he returns to his original cell and destroys the demon.
There are stories of scoundrels (e.g., Evagrius and Moses the Robber) who went out into the desert and became very holy people, which is encouraging to the modern ear — affirmation that no one is beyond redemption.
There are rather comedic stories of saintly monks acting as holy fools. For example, Macarius heard of a monastery where the monks kept strict rules, each as they were able. In his old age, he dressed as a common person and went to the monastery to seek to join it. The abbot would not allow him in because he was too old and because the abbot thought the rule of life too strict for the disguised Macarius. But every test that was given was passed by Macaruis, so much so that the monks of the monastery called him a "fleshless man" — i.e., supernatural. His identity was eventually revealed as Macarius, and the abbot was honored that he had visited them to teach them a lesson in humility.
There are some troubling stories, too. I was especially struck by how negatively marriage was viewed by the desert folks; indeed, they did not see it as a sacrament but as a hindrance to life with God. These stories highlight the "otherness" of the desert fathers and mothers and add complexity to their legacy.
All in all, these sorts of histories are important to read because they encourage us to labor toward holiness. But they must be read with discernment, considering what is good for the modern Christian reader and what is unhelpful.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Monday, October 26, 2015
Halloween With Your Dog
Costumes don't bother Lily. She's curious, but never scared. People still smell like people, even little people that are dressed like Ninja Turtles or Power Rangers or Avengers. We've been doing the Halloween walk with her for the last 7 years. Still, we pay attention to her body language because we don't ever want to force her into a situation that makes her uncomfortable. As she ages, one thing is becoming evident: noise sensitivity. Loud noises bother her much more than they did as a puppy.
We have one street that really gets into the Halloween spirit. To get your treats, you must make it to the front door of each house - through mazes and hazes and flashing lights and loud pops and booming explosions. We stopped taking Lily up this street last year. She had always particularly enjoyed this street because it had her two favorite things: People and TREATS! The mazes didn't bother her (it probably helped that the dog saavy parents had schooled everyone involved in the mazes that we do not jump out at people with their pets; only unsuspecting kids and adults sans dogs) and there were always cookies waiting for her at the door (and usually the ones that mom never allowed because they weren't grain free, thus raising the value of those particular treats).
Last year, I noticed that she was no longer the happy-go-lucky girl that usually walked up the street, tail waging and face relaxed. Instead, I glanced down to see her tail tucked. She chose not to go up to the front doors for cookies. We listened to her and quickly curtailed the walk, taking her down a much quieter street - only to see the old Lil return.
When everyone thinks of Halloween and pets, they tend to focus on the chocolate aspect of the holiday. Obviously, we have to be extra careful about that - keeping the chocolate up and out of the way so that they cannot get into any of it. But we also have to pay attention to their body language. The 4th of July isn't the only holiday that can be scary for our pets. Each holiday carries it's own dangers beyond food (leftovers at Thanksgiving and Christmas are a concern, but so is a house packed full of people). We can reward our dogs for their loyalty by paying attention to their needs and comfort levels on holidays.
What about you - does your dog like Halloween? Do you dress your pets up for the holiday?
Posted by Jennie Bailey at 12:45 PM No comments:
Wednesday, October 14, 2015
Interview Wednesday - Shirley Truong
|A young Shirley multitasking phones and computer data
I started volunteering at a local rescue organization called Pet Orphans Fund (now known as Pet Orphans of Southern California) back when I was a junior in high school, so I would say around 2001 or so. My high school required each student to fulfill a certain number of volunteer hours. I wanted to volunteer at a place that would help cultivate my interest in helping animals in need. I am so thankful that I found Pet Orphans!
I continued to volunteer there for a couple of years, even though I completed my required amount of hours for school after a few weeks!
Aw, thank you for the compliment. My family has told me that I've always wanted to become a veterinarian. There are plenty of stories about how I used to play with my sister and cousin and have them be my clients with their imaginary pets that needed help. While growing up, my family always had at least one pet. Throughout the years, we had dogs, birds, fish, chickens, turtles, a tortoise, an iguana, salamanders, and frogs. Most of them were owned at the same time! My parents were very gracious to allow us to have all of those pets. I think that my interest in veterinary medicine grew as I had more exposure to animals and how to care for them. I can't see myself being as happy doing anything else with my life than keeping animals healthy and being there for them and their owners when they need help!
Which animal has been the most difficult to work with? Which has been the easiest?
This one is a tough call. Each animal comes with their challenges for different reasons. Personally, I would say that wildlife is a challenge for me to work with because you should ideally minimize speaking to them or getting too close so that you avoid imprinting on them. I love interacting with my patients, so it was difficult to refrain from petting them or talking around them.
The easiest to work with is probably the tortoise because they can't really run away or wriggle their way out of your hands!
Yes, definitely! I owned a pitbull mix for almost 10 years named Harley and he showed me what it means to have unconditional love. These breeds have qualities that every person in this world should have: loyalty, compassion, and intelligence. If you spend the time to bond with and train a dog of this breed, you will likely end up with a trusty companion by your side for many years.
You have rights as pets! Why?
I do! I have 2 pet rats, Oscar and Chuey. A little over a year ago, the research department at my school sent out a schoolwide email asking for someone to adopt Oscar because he had fulfilled his job as a breeder rat for a project and they didn't want to euthanize him. So, of course, I said I would take him!
I never owned a rat before, but heard from my brother and others that they are fun to have around...so, why not??
Once I got Oscar, I read that rats do better in pairs, so I adopted Chuey from my brother who had his hands full with two other rats of his own.
|She buys them toys but they prefer the boxes!
Not much, actually! The usual things like food, water, and exercise that you would provide for any other pet. Most importantly, they require adequate space and hiding places (small cardboard boxes work great!).
I keep my 2 guys in a cage designated for ferrets, that way they can have their personal space and also be able to walk around. They like to eat fresh fruits and vegetables (especially broccoli and grapes!) in addition to their rat food (I feed Oxbow adult rat food). I also set up a play pen for them to have time away from their cage for a couple hours each evening, as they are more social at night. Their cage and bedding need to be cleaned and changed at least once a week, which usually takes about 30 minutes or so. Overall, they're not too demanding!
Let's bring this interview full circle. Why do you feel volunteering is important for young people?
Volunteering teaches young people to find and do something that they enjoy and not expect anything in return, like a paycheck. I ask people all the time, "What would you choose as a job or career if you knew you wouldn't get paid?" That's basically asking someone what they would do as a volunteer. It's such an important concept because I think a lot of people strive to find a career that they love, and a good way to figure that out is to do it for free!
Thank you so much for your time, Shirley! What about you - any aspiring vets out there? Any rat owners?
Posted by Jennie Bailey at 12:01 AM No comments:
Monday, October 12, 2015
The Most Expensive Dog Ever
|Lily at 10 weeks.
When I say she is the most expensive dog ever, I'm not talking over her lifetime. I cannot bring myself to add up what we have spent on her over the course of her 8 years blessing our lives. We don't have to go that far back to get to the bulk of the money. My husband jokingly refers to her as The Money Pit. It's really not much of a joke.
$30,000 in the last two and a half years.
What could possibly cost that much?
Where do I even begin?
It started one blustery Wednesday. The day before Thanksgiving. Being a Mom, I hear when she moves. If she's up, I'm up. (This comes from her IBD, which used to plague her seemingly out of nowhere in the middle of the night, most of the time when I needed to be somewhere early. And she would go all night long. Poor thing. Her, not me. Sleep deprivation is something you get used to with kids and ill dogs.) She got up and I heard the tap, tap, tap of her feet on our hardwood floors. I beat her to the front door. Where she proceeded to shake her head so hard that she flipped herself sideways. She's done this before and it can be quite comical.
On this morning, it was not.
The side of her head smacked so hard on the kitchen floor that I felt it in MY teeth. When she got up, she was walking wonky. I watched her in the yard and her balance seemed off. I called out to my husband, "Something's wrong with Lily." He scooped her up and off to the Emergency Vet we went.
They ran preliminary neurological assessment and tests with no results to indicate it was neuro. They sent us home to follow-up with our own vet when they opened in an hour. But not before trying to argue with me that she had a seizure. (She did NOT have a seizure. I've had dogs with epilepsy. She never lost consciousness. It was a matter of seconds. But don't listen to the dog owner.) They suggested it was her heart. Did I forget to mention she has a heart murmur? Of course she does! She's Lily!
Our vet gave us grave news. After again insisting she'd had a seizure, she wanted to do a chest x-ray. When it came back, she saw a mass in the chest cavity. And sent us home to sob. Okay, my husband didn't cry. I did enough of that for both of us. The next morning, two other vets saw nothing but a heart on the x-ray. So off to the neurologist we went!
Tests to make sure her heart could withstand sedation, then sedation for an MRI and a spinal tap. Rule out brain tumors, check for infection. Chronic ear infections can lead to loss of balance. They found nothing. The diagnosis: Bells Palsy. In a dog. Which is all kinds of rare. So, naturally Lily had it.
|Tilty Dog.
It took months for her head to stop looking like she was always questioning.
It took months for her to regain her balance. You can still see a slight droop. Unless it's frigid out - then it all comes back and she has trouble with her coordination and part of her face paralyzes.
|Poor picture quality but you can see that one side is not like the other.
Next, we had to do an echocardiogram to check on her heart. She has a mitrovalve issue, but is otherwise heart healthy. Two walks a day help that. Agility during those walks help as well.
Then came the Pancreatitis. If you have never experienced this with your dog, count your blessings. It is not fun in any way for your pet and it worries you almost to death (or maybe that's just me).
|She looks like she's had a night on the town.
In reality, it's the combo of nausea meds and pain killers.
She had recovered from that when I noticed an odd bump on her back. Remember the chronic skin infections? That's what it looked like at first. But it wasn't healing. And it was growing. It ended up about the size of a ping pong ball. So we biopsied it. The good news: it was not the mast cell cancer they suspected. The weird news: it was a rare cancer in a location it NEVER occurs. Because Lily.
They removed the cancer and felt very confident that it was all gone. Knock on wood, we're almost a year out from that and it hasn't come back yet. I stress yet because this is Lily. And weird things happen to her.
|Lily and her friend, fellow cancer survivor, Atlas.
Atlas also had a rare form of cancer.
This dog eats the best dog food (Stella & Chewy's raw patties, Honest Kitchen). Her treats are high quality. Her cookies are grain free. We spend around $600 feeding her every month. She's got RX Biotics and Enteric Support. She's got antihistamines and steroids. Only now, we can't do the steroids because her liver is enlarged so she just started on Atopica and we're hoping it doesn't bring the cancer back (because it's counter indicative). The only antibiotic that semi works is over $200 for each course. It all adds up.
Through it all, she never loses her gentle, loving nature. She races around the vets office, excited to see everyone even when they poke her with needles. It's hard not to get mad - not at Lily, but at the universe. Here is this good dog. This sweet natured, loving, goofball who lives for her pumpkin beef cookies and her walls and camping in Oregon and her Uncle Drew and her favorite cat Pip has been through SO MUCH. It never seems to end. And you get to the point where you just want HER to have a break. You're fine with having to get an extra job and work extra hours because that medical fund has to be built up since you never know what's coming next because Lily.
Because Lily.
|Typical Lily
She's worth every penny of that $30,000. She's worth another $30,000. But for her sake, it would be nice for her to get a break. Even a small one.
What about you - does your dog suffer from any health issues?
Posted by Jennie Bailey at 1:23 AM 2 comments:
Wednesday, October 7, 2015
Interview Wednesday - Kelcey Soderstrom and her Chickens!
What made you decide to get chickens?
I had wanted to have chickens in the backyard ever since I was about 10 and I am now 26. It took quite a while to convince my mother to let them take over a corner of the backyard, but I believe the rising prices of eggs in the supermarket was the final push that made her give the okay. I have always had a fondness for birds (I also have a cockatiel) and was absolutely enamored with the idea of raising my own chickens and getting fresh eggs every day. I also love that I know exactly how fresh the eggs are. The eggs in the supermarket could have been laid 3-4 weeks before you get them.
|Baby chicks!
I bought my 2 day old chicks at East Valley Feed & Tack 11084 Sheldon St. Sun Valley CA 91352 in March 2015. They were about $2.50 each and they carried 3 breeds at the time: Rhode Island Reds, Plymouth (Barred) Rock, and Ameraucana. There are lots of different breeds of chickens but these are some of the most common. I have 2 Plymouth Rocks (black and white variegated) named Snowflake and Obsidian and 2 Rhode Island Reds (rusty red/brown color) named Garnet and Ruby. Many feed/tack/livestock stores carry baby chicks in the spring. You can call them to find out when they will receive their chicks, what breeds they carry and whether they are sexed (usually done at the hatchery to make sure you are getting females - most cities have ordinances against roosters).
Was there a specific reason you went with the breeds of chickens that you did?
We did actually do quite a bit of research into which breeds we were getting. We wanted chickens that were strong layers but also with good personalities. Both the Barred Rocks and Rhode Island Reds are great layers! We are now getting 6-7 eggs a week from each of our four hens (7 months old now)! These breeds are also known to: have wonderful temperaments, love people and get along well in mixed flocks which mine definitely do. We are extremely pleased with our hens and I adore them. I like to think the feeling's mutual.
|Getting bigger!
Mature hens (once they are about 5 months old) are incredibly easy to care for and require less time than you think. In the morning and evening, I check their food and water containers, mostly just topping them off and usually a full clean of the water fount every 2-3 days or as necessary. Also I check for eggs. As you get to know your chickens, you will figure out when they lay and can collect eggs as convenient (to you and to them). Mine usually lay around lunchtime/early afternoon, but every chicken is different. Every week I add a fresh layer of pine shavings to their henhouse and every 4-6 weeks, I do a thorough clean of the henhouse and run, raking out all the old shavings and replacing them as well as raking out the dirt of the run. As baby chicks, they require a little more watching but nothing about their care is difficult or even time-consuming. You may find it time-consuming for different reasons though. There is nothing like holding a baby chick cupped in your palms and having her fall asleep. As babies, they need four specific needs met: heat, food, water, and sanitation. Usually a brooder box inside the house is the way to go so you can easily and frequently check on them and their environment. As long as they have these things, they will mostly sleep, eat and grow. Endless hours of entertainment as they go about their chick antics is a free bonus!
Have you heard the expression "going home to roost"? That is what chickens do every night. When darkness falls, chickens' metabolisms drop off rapidly, meaning they instinctually want to find a dark protected place to spend the night.
How long was it before you got your first egg?
The first egg showed up just after they turned 5 months old.
People who own chickens say they're actually very smart and that they each have distinct personalities - have you noticed this?
Smart is all relative. They are super smart about most things like the way they know the sound of the back door (Pavlovian style) and all come rushing over to see if we have some little treat for them. They bed down in cool dirt during hot afternoons. They instinctively know which plants are safe to eat which gave me serious peace of mind because of the curiosity. However they will also all peck at something until it tips over (like a potted plant or garden tool) so sometimes you have to protect them from themselves. They most definitely have distinct personalities which really became noticeable as they matured. Ruby, one of the Rhode Island Reds, is our largest hen and seems to be top of the pecking order due to her size, but not due to her smarts. I love her but sometimes she is 30 seconds behind current events. She usually gets first shot at the food or the largest portion. However Snowflake often gives Ruby a run for her money. Snowflake is almost as big as Ruby, but also smarter and faster. Garnet may be the smallest, but she is faster than greased lightning. Often times, she will make off with a treat or a bug before the others even realized it was there. Obsidian is very sweet and calm and just goes about her business, waiting for everyone else to eat first or get the first bite of something before she gets in on the action.
Do you have a favorite? (You can tell us. The chickens can't read. They'll NEVER know.)
Haha! I truthfully love each one of them for their different quirks. Snowflake is usually the one you will catch me talking to because she is usually up to something. I promise that curiosity not only did in the cat, but the chicken too. They love to investigate everything and anything but Snowflake is usually the ringleader of any trouble starting in our yard. All our chickens are comfortable with people and love to hang out with us when we work in the yard. However Snowflake also sees as useful perches and likes to climb onto laps and on shoulders if she can get up that high.
I almost forgot to mention my go-to chicken handbook if people are looking for a great beginner's guide as well as an excellent reference. It is seriously the only book I have ever needed. I tried reading other books but they were more tailored to country folk or people with farms or large scale operations. I still refer to this book frequently. I just love it! A Chicken in Every Yard: The Urban Farm Store's Guide to Chicken Keeping by Robert & Hannah Litt They cover every step of the process: preparation, picking your breeds (with a great breakdown of each breed), building coops/runs, chick care, hen care, health issues, food, laying and egg instructions.
Does anyone else have chickens? What is your favorite thing about them (besides the obvious: eggs)?
Monday, October 5, 2015
Wednesday the Fat Cat
About two weeks after they disappeared, I came home to find a kitten sprawled out in my parking space. She was glassy eyed and barely breathing. She had clearly tried to eat because the food dish was scattered. She was soaked from trying to drink water out of the bowl and it really was nothing short of a miracle that she hadn't drowned. She was top heavy - her head so much bigger than the rest of her tiny body.
I wrapped her in a towel, waiting for my boyfriend to get home from work. The plan was simple: take her to the vet and have her humanely euthanized to end her obvious suffering. She was on the brink of death anyway. Crawling with fleas, she was nothing more than a bag of bones. Staring at that tiny body, talking to her softly, I tried to give what little comfort I could before her end.
When Erik got home, he took her from me. I navigated the streets as fast as I could, racing toward the vet. Twice, he said, "Oh hon, forget it. She just took her last breath." She would then utter a small, weak cry to show him she was still there. Our vet was closed so we had to take her to an Emergency Vet. After evaluating her, they came in with an $800 vet bill. Um, what?
Blood transfusion: $500
"How much to put her down?" Erik asked.
That bill suddenly went down to under $200. She had flea anemia. They gave her a bath, kept her overnight on IV fluids, then sent her home with us. She was 12 weeks old and weighed a mere 10 ounces. She seemed so fragile. At night, she would crawl up between us on the bed and sleep so soundly we thought she was dead. I would shake her and shake her and shake her before she would finally open her eyes and give me the grumpiest look. Poor thing just finally felt safe enough to sleep deeply.
Her sisters were less than thrilled with her. Pip, our ever tolerant one-eyed cat, was a reluctant teacher. Having come off the same streets as Wednesday, she seemed to have a bit more sympathy for her. She showed her how to use the litter box, how to pounce on bugs or tricks of light. Sometimes, she even let Wednesday sleep next to her.
As Wednesday grew, she really GREW. Afraid of missing out on food, she can tend to overeat. Free feeding is hard with her because the minute you fill the bowl, she's at it even when she isn't hungry. It's been a struggle keeping her weight down. Our vet does not believe in low calorie food. She believes in feed proper amounts and exercising your cat. So, we feed Halo (and the girls get 1/4 small can of a high quality wet food twice a day). They get supervised yard time where they race around the yard chasing butterflies and bees and flies. It's their time to be cats. (Though I jokingly refer to them as prisoners who get yard time - someone will try to escape and usually a fight or two will break out.)
We've managed to keep her steady at 13 pounds. She would do better at around 10 pounds. The extra weight is hard for her to carry around. But she's otherwise healthy according to her yearly blood work. Having one overweight cat has been hard to balance with an underweight one. Keeping food away from one while encouraging the other to eat can be a struggle. How does one cat relax enough to eat when there is another clawing at the door knowing there is food she doesn't have access to? This is where the small spoonful of wet food comes in handy. Distract overweight cat with just a taste while underweight cat gets half a can of it.
If we had it to do over again, we would never have free fed the cats. It's been back and forth with the timed feedings, critical when you have a cat who cannot afford to lose any weight in addition to one who cannot gain anymore. When we go on trips, we don't ask our pet sitter to free feed. We leave the food down.
Apparently, it's common for cats who are taken from their litter too young, who have a rough start of being underfed, to end up being fat cats. Obese pets are a big problem for vets across the nation. Our animals are no different than we are: being overweight can cause the same health problems for them. We've lucked out so far with Wednesday, but we're very dedicated to keeping at it.
|Wednesday sleeping with her sister, Lily
What about you - is your pet overweight? Do you free feed?
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)


text:
If you are looking for the best laser distance measurer to save your precious time in field measuring, do not hesitate to choose the Leica DISTO E7400x.
The device measures distances of up to 265 feet with impressive accuracy.
It also calculates horizontal distances over obstructions, volume, area, and height either directly or with the tilt sensor.
In this Leica DISTO E7400x review, I will expound on the key features, their benefits, advantages, and other factors that define this multi-purpose Laser Distance Meter.


text:
Every Divorce is different, with some more complex than others. However, it is important to consider all aspects of your financial situation prior to making any agreements. Some of the areas needing consideration in relation to financial issues are:
- Assessing your current Income needs and the implication of any maintenance agreements under discussion as part of the mediation process.
- Protection for your family and ensuring if anything was to happen to you, your dependants (children and/or elderly relatives) could maintain the standard of living you want for them.
- Ensuring protection of your income from maintenance orders.
- Understanding your tax situation and how best to manage your finances.
- Reassessing your saving and investment needs and priorities.
- Understanding you and your ex-partner's pension provisions and how these can be reviewed alongside all your other combined assets as part of an equitable settlement.
- Investing pension funds appropriately for your needs following Pension Sharing Orders or understand the effect of Pension Ear Marking orders on your retirement income.
- Effect of divorce on trust* arrangements or inheritance tax planning.
- Effect on your business and protecting share holder control following divorce, as well as business succession planning.
There are many other areas needing consideration, and as part of the initial consultation and any future meetings, I can help plan and prioritise your needs now and in the future, as well as discuss the impact of any proposals before agreement is reached.
The value of an investment with St. James's Place will be directly linked to the performance of the funds you select and the value can therefore go down as well as up. You may get back less than you invested.
*Trusts are not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.


text:
Grieving orca still swimming with her dead calf in Northwest
An endangered orca is still clinging to her dead calf more than two weeks after her newborn died.
Michael Milstein, a spokesman with NOAA Fisheries, says researchers on Wednesday spotted the 20-year-old whale known as J35 carrying her dead young off the tip of Washington's Olympic Peninsula.
The calf died July 24 and the image of the mother whale clinging to the dead calf has struck an emotional chord worldwide.
Milstein says researchers with Fisheries and Ocean Canada also spotted another member of the same pod - the 3 ½-year old whale J50 that is emaciated. The ailing orca was swimming with her mom Wednesday.
A team of experts led by NOAA Fisheries have been searching for the young whale to assess her health and potentially give her medication.
(Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)


text:
Eastern Shore Carpet Care is fully licensed and equipped to offer you a complete line of cleaning services. Our wide range of expertise covers all your needs for carpet and upholstery cleaning in the New Bern, NC and Havelock, NC area. Our combination of technical expertise, experience and excellence in service create complete customer satisfaction. Our full range of cleaning services includes:
Carpet cleaning
Did you know carpet cleaning is environmentally friendly? Regular carpet cleaning improves indoor air quality. When Eastern Shore Carpet Care services your floors with expert carpet cleaning, you'll not only enjoy more attractive surroundings, you'll breathe easier too!
Mattress cleaning
If you're not sleeping well, your insomnia might be cured with a good cleaning. Over time, mattresses accumulate dust mites, dead skin and other debris. Let the professionals at Eastern Shore Carpet Care transform your sleep with an expert cleaning.
Rug cleaning
Sometimes, you need more than a vacuum to freshen your rugs. Pets, children and heavy traffic all take their toll. Using industry-leading techniques, we provide thorough rug cleaning in New Bern, NC to revive your rugs and create inviting surroundings.
Upholstery cleaning
Why get a new living room set when our expert cleaners can make your current pieces look and smell like new? No job is too big or small. When your furniture needs freshening, Eastern Shore Carpet Care is your perfect solution.
Water damage
Carpets and upholstery soiled by water damage are one of property owners' worst nightmares. Eastern Shore Carpet Care removes your stress by removing moisture and dirt to prevent mold issues, restoring your surroundings to usable space.
Contact the experts at Eastern Shore Carpet Care today to schedule your next cleaning. Reach our helpful staff at 252-637-7799.


text:
- Jewel Changi Airport
Changi Airport's upcoming mega shopping mall Jewel has caught the attention of many both in Singapore and around the globe, what with its planned indoor forests, waterfalls and mazes.
Not only that, the F&B selection that visitors from all around the world can expect at the new mall has also been a hot topic of discussion, especially when rumours of a certain famous burger chain hailing from America setting up shop there surfaced.
Now news has emerged that Singapore's first Shake Shack will be located at Jewel but that is not all because cinema chain Shaw Theatres also plans to operate a cinema there, The Sunday Times reported.
Old-school American fast-food chain A&W is reportedly making a return to Singapore as well at Jewel; alongside popular local seafood restaurant Jumbo.
Jewel has less than a year to go before it officially opens its doors and the mall is about 134,000 square metres, which is equivalent to more than 20 football fields.
The ten-storey development will also include five basement floors and the first batch of tenants will be officially announced in the coming weeks.
To take a look at what Jewel has to offer, watch the teaser video below:


text:
Monday, August 31, 2009
Friday August 28, 2009
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Tuesday August 25, 2009
Monday August 24, 2009
Sunday August 23, 2009
Saturday August 22, 2009
Friday August 21, 2009
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Wednesday August 19, 2009
Tuesday August 18, 2009
Adam Lambert from the last row of the last balcony, worst
seats I've ever had at a concert. I kind of like the effect, he
was singing Starlight
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Saturday August 15, 2009
Purple Loosestrife~August 13, 2009
L. salicaria, a plant of European origin, has spread and degraded temperate North American wetlands since the early nineteenth century. The plant was introduced both as a contaminant of European ship ballast and as medicinal herb for treatment of diarrhea, dysentery, bleeding, wounds, ulcers and sores.
By the 1830's, L. salicaria was well established along the New England seaboard. The continued expansion of L. salicaria coincided with increased development and use of road systems, commercial distribution of the plant for horticultural purposes, and regional propagation of seed for bee forage. As of 1996, L. salicaria is found in all contiguous states (except Florida) and all Canadian provinces.
Invasion of L. salicaria into a wetland can result in the suppression of the resident plant community and the eventual alteration of the wetland's structure and function. Dense plant establishments in irrigation systems has impeded the flow of water.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Rockport MA.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Flea Market Fun
Friday August 7, 2009
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Monday, August 3, 2009
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)


text:
Brochures and information sheets about our products, applications and environmental issues.
Read technical papers and presentations that have been written by our industry experts.
Register here to receive news stories, showcases, technical presentations and literature as soon as they are published.
Huntsman Polyurethanes' Intermediates team oversees the supply of a number of products that are key to the manufacture of polyurethane chemicals and materials.
These include nitrobenzene, aniline, propylene oxide and propylene glycols.
The effective management of the supply chain and assets around the manufacture of these intermediates ensures the necessary co-ordination and alignment across the global business.
Commercial relationships with co-producers for these and other polyurethanes-related product streams - sales, purchase or swaps - are also included in Intermediates.
Most of the available capacity of these products is used internally to manufacture our polyurethane systems. However, some commercial quantities are available for non-polyurethane end uses.
For further information please contact:
For Nitrobenzene and Aniline:
Telephone: +1 281 719 4921
For Propylene Oxide/Propylene Glycol:Jeff CalenderTelephone: +1 281 719 4707 In Asia Pacific
Telephone: +65 3900 306
In Europe
Telephone: +32 2 758 9755


text:
Bishop McNamara (Forestville, MD) started the year undefeated, which helped them earn the top spot in the first six Super 25 Girls Basketball rankings this season.
If not for St. John's (Washington D.C.), that might have been the case again this week.
Full Rankings: Super 25 Girls Basketball Rankings
However, St. John's downed Bishop McNamara 67-65 in overtime on Tuesday night to move into the No. 2 spot in the Week 7 Rankings. Bishop McNamara falls to No. 4.
Miami Country Day (Fla.), which beat St. John's on Dec. 20, is the new top team in this week's rankings. The team has started the year 18-1, with its only defeat coming against Tampa Tech (Fla.).
RELATED: Super 25 Girls Basketball Top Star, Week 7
Five new teams — Roland Park Country (Baltimore, Md.), Wakefield (Raleigh, N.C.), Beaver Dam (Wis.), Redondo Union (Redondo Beach, Calif.) and Grandview (Aurora, Colo.) — have entered the rankings this week after not being ranked the previous week. Roland Park Country, at No. 21, is the highest-rated team out of the ones that were not previously ranked.
California has the most teams represented in the Week 7 rankings with three.


text:
Place your mouse on the Field Conditions Selection Above to view whether games are being played at your site today. Fields/Gyms are usually updated 1 hour before game time. Administrators can update Field conditions in the same manner as before.
This is No Longer the Main CYC Home page as of November 14th.
Go to www.cycstlscnty.net


text:
What the heck was it all about, anyway?
Back in December of last year, I started posting short stories involving characters on this wiki. I never really explained anything or gave it any background, mostly because I was curious to see how people would react if I showed them my stories cold, without any preconceptions. But I figured that now would be as good of a time as any to give a little background.
PDH Universe actually started all the way back in 2005-2006, when I first discovered that some Golden Age characters were in public domain. It started out as a modern-day story involving revamped versions of the original characters. After toying around with it for a while, I realized that I didn't really like it. The world I created was the world where legacies of decades-old heroes endured for decades at the expense of everything else. It felt... stifling. Limiting. So I put the idea aside and moved on to other create endeavors.
A few years later, I came up with an idea for a story that was, to put it frankly and honestly, superheroes meets Disney teen stars. The plot would involve superheroes and supervillains of old continuing their fight in secret under the guise of corporate struggles. One of those companies was Trenton Enterprises, led by the well-meaning but ruthless Axel Trenton. That idea didn't really go anywhere, but I filed the concepts and characters away for future use.
Then, a couple of months ago, I got an idea for a story involving characters that were based on the early 90s cartoons I grew up on and how they were trying to adjust to civilian life. Along the way, I couldn't help but slip in references to Golden Age characters. And then, it hit me - I could use some of my PDH universe ideas to fill in the backstory. I had to tweak the history quite a bit to make it fit. I am not sure where I started using Axel Trenton and other characters from the whole secret corporate war story idea, but once I did, they became important parts of both the history and the present (though, again, they had to tweaked to make them fit). As I downloaded more and more public domain comics, I added more Golden Age stuff in the background and linked some of the previously unrelated plot threads together. It's still very much a work in progress, and I constantly find myself going back and tweaking details to make everything work better.
Right now, I am working on a novel set in the modern section of PHD universe. But when I need a background idea I want to develop, some tangent I can't cover in the main novel, I write a story and put it here, because, hey, I might as well share.
To those of you who read my stories - thank you for your time and your comments. To those of you who haven't, please do - I am always looking for feedback, and the more people give me feedback, the better.
Oh, and for the record, PDH stands for Public Domain Heroes. It's not particularly clever, I know, but I used it for so long that it pretty much stuck.


text:
July 23, 2016
This year again we will be having the Co-Ed Division Tournament! Get your friends together and email to register!
Saturday July 23 (Pride Week!)
Recreational Co-Ed Division
16+ Men & Women(no ringers please) The convenor can allow higher calibur players into the tournament but they must be able to play down to the level of the tournament
3 game guarantee
6 team max
Western Fair District Sports Centre
Costumes and Mascots are encouraged!
Raffle table with great prizes!
Individual and team registration is open on the forms below!
Team fee: $575 + Fun team name is required! Team deposit of $150 is required to enter
Individual fee: $60 (goalies play free if needed for a team) Individuals may request to be on the same team as others. We will honor as many requests as possible while keeping the teams balanced and fun!
E-transfer is available at email@example.com
Don't forget to check out the Pride Guide for more events!
Pride London Website
Also you can check us out on Facebook!
July 18, 2015
Thank you Pride London, tournament organisers and everyone who came out to play in the tournament today! It was a ton of fun and we will do it again next year! As a bonus, we were on TV!!!
July 19, 2014
Congrats Last Minute Ladies on winning the very first cup!
Thank you everyone who participated and helped with our 1st Annual Pride Cup Tournament!


text:
All options for Adult Dating in Nanaimo at a glance.
Single? Happy to mingle? Do you believe that you are enjoying your single life, but nonetheless would like some chances to meet another person for a hot date? Do you think you're stuck in a sexless relationship and only wanting to spice up your sex life? In case you responded yes to any of these queries, it's time you look into the right occasions, spots and adult dating apps in Nanaimo. Just keep reading as outlined here is vital details about different individuals who're excited about fuck buddies and also those who are looking for long-term relationships.
Finding no strings attached partner for relationship is simple since adult dating in Nanaimo has all! Just use these effective recommendations and soon you will get a hot mate to satisfy your dreams by using the best sites and apps.
Below the best options for Adult Dating in Nanaimo:
1. For those who know exactly what they want
Apps and sites to meet people
Timid people can quickly make their score for a sex date without the need of going for a celebration: People can conveniently meet new people via popular flirting apps and adult dating websites without a great deal of trouble. In order to find a casual sex partner, the young men and women register themselves with these apps and online dating sites. Look through innumerable profiles and view them in detail absolutely free. Unless you interact with a female you have always wanted and plan to speak to her, you don't need to pay anything. If you're planning a one night stand in Nanaimo, it is a very easy process as here DatingAdvisor offers you astounding services.
Advantages: Getting in contact with people is easy and quick
Downside: Just after paying, men can communicate with members
Our Conclusion
BeNaughty Try out for free!
Adult dating sites help you to cut out the embarrassing interactions of figuring out if you are both searching for a similar thing. They also help connect individuals who know what they're looking for and are honest about their wants. Since these online websites are focused on adult dating in Nanaimo, it is simple to find an appropriate companion that has the same sexual desires like yours.
These are the best sites for Adult Dating
2. For the party people in Nanaimo
Perfect events and partys to get in touch and flirt
Festival Of Trees
Held in the town centre at Christmas you can enjoy a display of festive trees all beautifully decorated by local people.
World Championship Bathtub Race
This is exactly as the name suggests, it's people racing in heavily modified bathtubs. A fun event held in the summer.
Kinsmen Beer Festival
If you enjoy a nice craft beer then this festival it a must-see. Taste samples of local brews in April every year.
3. For the brave ones
Places and public locations in Nanaimo good for a flirt
Protection Island
A small island with no bridge means you have to travel over by water taxi, once there enjoy the habitat and chat to locals.
Neck Point Park
Fantastic lookout points of the ocean and surrounding islands. Especially nice in the evening for a hand-in-hand stroll with a date.
Nanaimo Museum
Only a small museum but it has interesting features about Nanaimo's history. Could be a good place to start conversations with like-minded people.
Nanaimo DragonFLY Zip Line Adventure
Taste adventure for a day at DragonFLY. Perhaps an ideal place to get close to a date as you are strapped to a zip line!
Harbourfront Walkway
Take a stroll along the ocean edge and enjoy the views. If you're lucky you may spot sea planes taking off and locals catching crabs.


text:
Miss Minnie Mouse Costume
Rate this costume:
3 votes
|add a comment
More views: (click to enlarge)
Miss Minnie Mouse
|Costume type:
|Costumes for Women
This homemade costume for women entered our 2014 Halloween Costume Contest.
A word from Anna, the 'Miss Minnie Mouse' costume creator:
I, Deanna am wearing the costume. The idea came when my mom bought me the light up bow. My mom recently passed away, with Minnie Mouse being her favorite character I thought it was the perfect costume. I made the "Minnie" dress by hand. I went to the Jo-Ann fabric store and purchased pink fabric as well as polka dot fabric. I designed and sewed my own polka dot Jumper Skirt, as well as the pink tub top. A family friend hand knitted the gloves for me. The bow was bought from a local vendor. I put the classic black dot on my nose to signify Minnie Mouse.


text:
I was recently visiting with a friend of mine who was expressing dissatisfaction in her career and was telling me about her new plan to do a complete career shift. Now, we are in our 30s, well educated, and the thought of going back to school (and adding to already crippling loan debt) can be rather daunting. Instead, she told me that she was planning to take some free classes via iTunes U and MIT OpenCourseware. I had never even considered the potential of these courses for career changes – especially for those who already have college and graduate degrees. However, the opportunities for those who wish to do their own professional development in field as well as broadening their own opportunities are truly boundless.
There are many resources out there, the most famous of course being iTunes U. With access to an iOS device or simply a computer with iTunes (free software), anyone can listen in (audit) classes on a variety of topics: history, philosophy, computer programming, marketing, business, and more. These are not cheap or hapless classes – rather, they're from world famous institutions like Stanford, Yale, Harvard, Cambridge, and Oxford (to name a limited few). Heck, if you're interested in the Classical World, you can listen to my own educational podcasts (from my years at TCU).
One of the most famous recent announcements has been the Harvard-MIT EdX initiative. Harvard and MIT have come together to offer online course enrollment for a grade (but no degree) for those interested. So, 'regular joes' can enroll in some of the most prestigious university courses for no cost and even receive a grade (although no credit).
So while you may not get a Harvard Degree, these courses are an excellent way for adults to hone their own professional skills, indulge a hobby or interest, or even give you the prominent background understanding to change careers!


text:
Agricultural Museum, Brook
The Museum is sited in a magnificent and historically important 14th century barn, an early 19th century oast house and part of a Victorian stable block which houses modern toilets, an offics/store-room and an education room with audio-visual facilities.
Most of the site, which also includes a secure grassed area suitable for picnic meals, is fully or reasonably accessible to disabled visitors, but this does not include the first floor of the oast house. The collections concentrate on the agriculture of Kent, mainly in the period when horses and oxen provided the power on the farm.
Included in the collections are large items such as wagons, seed drills and reapers, smaller equipment associated with farming and allied crafts and a wide range of small tools and other relevant items.
We have a small handbook to help visitors who wish to look round on their own and also an audio tour provided on an MP3 player for use by those who would like some help other that that of a person al guide. Many, but not all, of our volunteer helpers can provide personal guided tours, and these are always arranged for group visitors.
Audio tours
Coaches welcome
Conference / Meeting facilities
Groups welcome
Guide Dogs, Hearing Dogs and Registered Assistance Dogs welcome
Guided tours
Pets welcome
The Street,
Entry Price
Adults: £2.50
Children: Free
Concessions: £1.50
Groups: £2.00
Child age range: Free for children under 16
Min visitors per group: 5
Max visitors per group: 30, or by arrangement


text:
Lori Anderson creates jewelry for her web site, Lori Anderson Designs, and wrote the blog An Artist's Year Off. She's also a contributor to Art Bead Scene and is the creator of the Bead Soup Blog Party.
Sunday, August 14, 2011
These are a Few of my Favorite Things (The Jewelry Edition)
Lori Anderson creates jewelry for her web site, Lori Anderson Designs, and wrote the blog An Artist's Year Off. She's also a contributor to Art Bead Scene and is the creator of the Bead Soup Blog Party.
22 comments:
Thank you for including me Lori! Gorgeous pieces--that first one by Bullfinch & Barbury (a favorite shop of mine too) is spectacular! i love her bangle sets. and the chocolate and peach one at the end is just breathtaking. yes! t-shirt and jeans--that would make it the star of the show.ReplyDelete
I like your choices, but I love the Chocolate and Peach necklace, I agree I would wear that with a T-shirt and jeans too and it would look fabulous.ReplyDelete
Love these! Especially the necklace made with sea urchins!ReplyDelete
These are great. I am particularly impressed by the last 2 though. I checked out their sites. The flowers are fantastic and so is the lampwork in the bracelet. BTW, what's the fall hair color? More pink or something different?ReplyDelete
Hey Lori :)ReplyDelete
I'm so honored to have a piece amongst your favorites and that you like it even though it has a Goddess focus! Thanks so much Lori! That's a really great bunch of art that you've shared with us. Lots of yummy eye candy!
What a lot of "yummies"! I love them all.ReplyDelete
Oh, Lisa - I'm hearing the twilight music playing in my head!! Not more than 5 minutes before reading this post I was looking at that very last necklace on etsy, and she has a handful that I would love to have!!ReplyDelete
I ADORE Bullfinch and Barbury! I love everything in that shop, and would happily give it new homes! Photos 4 and 6 are also new faves!ReplyDelete
Thank you for sharing, I now have some new favorites and hearts. Simply beautiful designs with lots of creativity.ReplyDelete
yum, yum and yum - and the cassie donlen bracelet - that is one I'm really longing for!ReplyDelete
Amazing selection of jewelry, you sure have a great taste!ReplyDelete
Thank you so much for featuring our sea urchin necklace!
Esther & Estella
Hi Lori,ReplyDelete
thanks for sharing with us this beautiful works;) my absolut favorit is the "Gleaming Curiosities - Savoy Truffle"
I need to win the lottery...right now!!!!!!!!!ReplyDelete
I am soooo in lust for each one of those pieces !!!
I really ,really ,really want that Chocolate and Peach necklace !
I would not only wear it,
I'd hang it on my wall and gaze at it daily.
It has glorious Roses,irresistible Ribbon ,and the word Chocolate in the name ....sighhhhhhh
how can anyone not love it!!!
m.e. :)
Wow, gorgeous work indeed. While I do own a piece or two that fit this bill, I normally shy away from 'large' or 'chunky' and vibrant colors, but I've come to admire the talent behind it that created these pieces; the people who can just look at them and know which colors will work to make that bright palette be eye catching and not stomach turning lolReplyDelete
That bracelet is absolutely stunning, and despite it not being in my usually wardrobe choices... I would find excuses to wear it too :D Thanks for sharing this beautiful display and I hope your headache finally left you in peace!
How fun to see the eye candy! Thank you for sharing your enjoyment~~Starting my Monday morning off with loveliness~~ReplyDelete
Thank you for introducing me to Diana Palma's work. Wow. I loved it so much I went and visited her shop, looked at some videos on how to make polymer clay flowers on YouTube, wrote a blog feature on her for tomorrow and will probably buy one of her tutorials!ReplyDelete
I do French beaded flowers and I can just see combining the two techniques. Wish she was my neighbor!
BTW, I love reading your blog. Your "voice" really resonates with me.
Beautiful blog, designs, and colors.ReplyDelete
Happy Day!
-Eva Maria
You found some great stuff, Lori. That incredible bracelet by Lune had me drooling all over the screen so, um, sorry about the mess ;-) Thanks for sharing, though!ReplyDelete
- Anonymous2:55 PM
WOW, I would wear that Lagoa piece in a heartbeat! The bracelets at Bullfinch & Barbury are AWESOME.ReplyDelete
Thanks for your lovely comments on my blog.
I hate to hear that your head is being a pain. . .
BUT, thank you for sharing these beauties with us. I literally sucked air when I saw that last one! And, the face that you used the term 'puffy heart' has me chuckling. Thanks for the smile!
What a beautiful variety of lovely jewelry. I really like the first best- Itr reminds me of my grandmother, dishes, dish cloths , doing the dishes with her after one of her scrumptious meals. They each pack their own punch. Hope your headache disappeared!ReplyDelete
thank you for shareing. I am inspiredReplyDelete