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The Military Spouse Career Advancement Account is a Department of Defense initiative to help military spouses (including activated Guard and Reserve spouse) prepare for portable careers.
There is a lot of information and it isn't all easy to understand. Basically, the program was tested in many locations last year and is expanding to the rest of the DOD. I'm having trouble finding exact dates, but I have seen it published that applicants should do the preliminary registration by the first week in May. In order to register, go to MyCAA Homepage and click on the Create An Account link. The registration process is pretty easy and doesn't require you to have a plan yet. At the MyCAA, you can also look for programs of study and participating colleges.
Links to more information include: Military One Source info page, MyCAA FAQ page, Army.mil announcement page.
This has the potential to bring advanced training to lots of military spouse. Without any firm details, it seems smart to go ahead and register today.
17 February 2010 Update: This program has been temporarily halted. You can find the most current MyCAA information at The Paycheck Chronicles MyCAA page.

subset: commoncrawl


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Friday, April 14, 2017
Gaming war and war as reality.
Lately there have been people on wargaming sites around the web wetting themselves with excitement over the gaming potential of recent flash points and, today, over the US letting loose the so-called 'Mother Of All Bombs'.
The reality is that thousands of lives are on the line right at this moment, and that most of those are innocents who happen to live in a particular place at a particular time, who go about their lives like everyone does, caring for their families, enjoying their friends, and hoping that when their time is up that they leave something of themselves behind that those who knew them will recall with fondness or with pride.
I love the challenge of trying to win a game. I enjoy replaying wars and battles from the past, seeing how the original commanders approached certain problems, and trying situations out myself on a board or on a map.
But I am uncomfortable with modern war, and, by extension, modern wargaming. It's kind of like war as porn. Glorying in technology, the roleplaying of good guys and bad guys, knowing that our guys are good because they're ours, no matter why they are involved or how they are used, and in spite of the current political reality and the moral separation of means and ends. We are told all that is possible is done to avoid civilian casualties, and while I hope that is true, is that enough to justify our involvement, the destruction our involvement brings, and the falsehoods that are used to get us there? The reality is confusion, hatred, uncertainty, fear, death, decay of morality and good purpose and awful destruction of person, family, place, community and society. It's sidestepped with a kind of smugness in wargames and by wargamers - "oh, but see, we're not celebrating it; in fact, WE of all people know just how awful war is..." - and yet there many of us are, thrilling to the deployment of new and destructive weapons systems, asking which games we can buy that model it, play-mooning about how long it will take for our order to arrive - or what the wife will say when she sees the credit card bill - when we should be asking why we are using these things at all, and where they are taking us. It seems that many wargamers are simply invigorated by it. In the end, it seems, a fair proportion of us want to go and blow things up just like they do on the TV.
Mostly, war does not touch us, except in the abstract, or by proxy. But this week, as the potential for crises rises, war suddenly does not seem like much of a game.
14 comments:
Aaron, in your situation and location, I can hardly imagine the tension that must be felt. You are living in the shadow of current events.ReplyDelete
There ought to be a clear distinction between "Gaming War" and "War." The former centers on recreating historical battles on the table from a perspective brought about through the passage of time and distance. The latter is a horrific experience lived in real time. I choose the former and wish to avoid the latter.Replies
Yes, that's how I feel, too. Regarding the situation here, I'm not worried about myself, but I'm certainly worried for my wife and children. It's the suddenness with which the situation has arisen and the apparent readiness to overturn established doctrine and process that is unsettling.Delete
Thanks for your comments, as always!
I agree with a lot if what you have written regarding hobby wargaming. I sometimes find the attitudes taken and views expressed by some wargamers about present-day conflicts very worrying.
Over the years I have taken part in what are termed professional wargames, where the subject of the wargames have been very up-to-date. These have essentially been staged to test possible reactions and/outcomes, to help train personnel, and to examine the options that might be available. These have never been 'fun' events, but they have been very informative, and I hope that my participation might have helped to prevent conflicts turning 'hot'.
As far as hobby wargaming goes, I seem to have drawn myself a historical line over which I tend not to cross. It is set at the end of the 1960s ... the point at which I would have been eligible to serve in the armed forces. After that date the events are a bit too recent for me to find wargaming them much fun.
All the best,
You make the point well. A poet once pointed out that "an idea isn't responsible for the people who believe in it", and, by extension, we must believe that a hobby isn't responsible for those who practice it.ReplyDelete
Some years ago I ran a "great battles" after-school class for 5th and 6th graders. All of the games were from 1944 on back, except for Ia Drang (1965). Things went very well as far as the game itself was concerned, but after it was over a teacher who had been in her room nearby came over and advised me her brother had been at Ia Drang--and didn't come back.ReplyDelete
I did not run Ia Drang again when I repeated the class the following year, and I probably won't again, Still too much pain.
Chris Johnson
Sometimes internet postings can feel like people are having a conversation in their own back yard, rather than seeing the internet being a space with a global audience, with respect and courtesy being the first casualties.ReplyDelete
Let's all pray that wiser heads prevail in these current events. I believe the world would suffer if the balloon goes up.ReplyDelete
Hoping for the best
Thanks for your thoughts and for sharing your own experiences, gentlemen. Much appreciated. I think I was unfair in writing this post. The wargamers I know in person and those whose blogs I frequent are sensitive to these kinds of issues, and I should not have presented a minority viewpoint and attitude as being more dominant thank it probably is. In, fact, I think I may have projected my occasional tentativeness around the 'ethical basis' (apologies for sounding absurdly grandiose, but I think you probably know what I mean) of my own wargaming onto others, which is doubly unfair. Thank you for being understanding and thoughtful in your responses.ReplyDelete
Best wishes to you all,
Wargamers, like citizens, come from all viewpoints and political backgrounds. I personally find the present US saber rattling both disquieting and unwise, considering he gravity of the potential consequences in both the long and the short term. My own personal cut off for wargames is circa 1900, and my collection is chiefly pre 1816!ReplyDelete


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Evening Standard)
A section of the London Marathon route saw an 89 per cent drop in air pollution race day, according to new figures.
3 days ago
The research, published by Global Action Plan, utilised data collected by monitoring stations managed by Kings College London.
Monitoring over a 12-hour period – from 7am to 7pm – experts found the air quality along Upper Thames Street improved by almost nine tenths.
Larissa Lockwood, Head of Health at Global Action Plan said, "Taking collective action to tackle air pollution every day can make a massive difference, as shown at the London Marathon.
"With traffic free streets pollution levels dropped by 89 per cent. Imagine if more people left the car at home every day.
"We would suffer far fewer health problems from air pollution."
Analysis of the King's College pollution data on the day of the London Marathon compared to the previous three Sundays in April 2018 found a significant drop in pollution levels across all pollutants.
The group cited the data as it renewed its calls for a "car-free day" in London on June 21.
A leading engineering organisation recently called for more research to be done on he effects of commuters breathing in dust on the London Underground.
The Institution of Mechanical Engineers called for "urgent action" to tackle the capital's "dangerous" levels of air pollution, including blackspots on the Tube network.


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Bubbles are hard to see when they are inflating.
It's also hard to see when they pop.
But that doesn't mean they don't exist.
In notes over the past few days, Julian Emanuel and the quantitative strategy team UBS outlined 3 major trades in the market right now that seem to look a lot like bubbles: long US healthcare, short US energy, and a bet against emerging markets.
This sort of analysis is important, said Emanuel, because bubbles can devastate investors.
Here's Emanuel in his note Wednesday:
"Bubbles are unique. Once identified, they often inflate to irrational levels – Tulips increasing 20x in three months at the peak in 1637, Nasdaq rising 100% from October 1999 to March 2000 after doubling in the prior year. So while US Energy, EM, and US Health Care, could be bubbles which have already begun to 'leak' by way of performance reversion in recent months, there is both sufficient air remaining which could subsequently burst, or alternatively, given valuation and earnings dynamics not yet at historic extremes, could result in further 'inflation' despite crowded positioning.
The UBS team used three metrics in order to evaluate how "crowded" different trades are.
- How many of the over 37,000 large, institutional funds are part of the theme.
- How correlated prices in a certain theme are. According to UBS this is a faster way of tracking large investor positioning than waiting for disclosures.
- Sell-side analyst sentiment, basically is there an incredibly high number of analysts with either a buy or sell rating for a theme.
"From a fundamental perspective, we would agree that heading into 2016, underweight energy and overweight healthcare appeared to be the two most crowded trades among US investors, albeit for varying reasons," said the note.
For healthcare, UBS said the crowding came as healthcare proved to be one of the few sectors that had the ability to raise prices, which led to strong profit growth and investor enthusiasm.
But UBS said this may be coming to an end as the political process has drawn scrutiny to "potential predatory pricing tactics in the pharma/biotech spaces."
On the other end, the amount of short position in the energy sector seems to have reached a breaking point.
Here's UBS:
"Given the collapse in oil prices over the past two years, and a significant amount of high-yield debt issuance in the energy space, the energy sector has been, unsurprisingly, the most 'crowded' short among US investors. However, the potential for oil-price stabilization plus substantial short covering, or an improvement in commodity-related sentiment, could cause this trade to unwind rather quickly, in our view."
So with a possible bottom for oil found, there is a good chance that the sector could revert to the mean quickly.
The third and final "bubble" is in betting against emerging markets as a way to bet on continued dollar strength. All of these trades, according to the UBS quant team, have reached a possible inflection point.
"The Fed's recent dovish rhetoric, and the selloff in the US dollar over the past several weeks, has likely provided the catalyst for DM equities to underperform their EM peers—a view that our EM equity strategist shares," said the quant team's note.
"In other words, our crowding indicator and fundamental evidence suggest that arguably one of the most popular macro trades (DMs over EMs) may have begun to unwind."


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When a press release landed in everyone's inbox at Imbibe towers about Vita, a flavoured vodka that's 'designed to be mixed with water' and to 'attract health and lifestyle-conscious drinkers', our gimmick antennae began to twitch like Donald Trump's tweeting finger.
'Our secret formula means that Vita needs only still or carbonated water to bring out its natural citrus flavours,' gushes Victor Ruiz Lafita, founder and CEO in the press release. In a lively game of buzz-word bingo, the vodka drink is further described as 'low-calorie', 'refreshing', 'offsetting dehydration' and 'eliminating the need for sugary mixers'.
This stream of calorie-hating feel good-peddling psychobabble probably gives you some idea of who it's aimed at. Yes: millennials.
So we requested a sample, to see what all the bluster was about.
Pouring it out, the first thing you notice is the hue, a bag-in-box Chardonnay yellowish tinge that's a little disconcerting, suggesting that it might have been tasted once already.
'To develop this formula, we searched the Mediterranean region for the key ingredients… to create a unique vodka that releases a burst of natural scents, flavours and freshness when it comes into contact with water,' says the company happily.
It also releases a burst of natural scents when it comes into contact with your nasal canal. The aroma is intense, as if you've been smacked in the face with lemon-scented cleaner, lime cordial, PVA glue and wet cardboard.
'It reminds me of toilet air freshener,' said one office guinea pig, who we strapped down and forced to drink it at gunpoint.
This might not have been the exact profile Mister Lafita and co were going for. But because we're Imbibe and this is what we do, we grasped the bullshit by the horns and actually drank the stuff.
It's like someone has slit our tongue with a thousand paper cuts and then liberally doused it in Jif lemon juice. Tears spring to our eyes, and our salivary glands go into overdrive. Emergency surgery required!
We add some soda water and it certainly does the trick: that mental citrus whack is dialled right back. Though frankly, you could just be drinking soda water with some lemon slices floating in it – there's no real hint of booze at all.
And therein lies the real modus operandi of this vodka – it's a means of getting wasted for little to no calories, for people who don't actually like booze.
The millennials will love it. And there can be no greater criticism than that.


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Taxation – ability to pay – amendment
I laid a successful amendment to the personal tax and benefits review to ensure that, before changes were made during the transitional period, that the ability to pay is considered. My short speech is below.
Document duty
Social security contributions – amendment
I laid a successful amendment against the personal tax and benefits review that followed along the lines of the previous Green amendment requring an investigation into the '20 means 20′ taxation for higher earners. This amendment sought the same in respect of social security contributions. I made a short speech along these lines in the States and it was supported 'au voix'.
Environmental taxes and mitigation measures
I supported the successful amendment to the personal tax and benefits report, seeking a review into the introduction of environmental taxes, along with mitigating effects for lower income households. My speech is below.
A progressive tax system – amendment
I laid an amendment against the personal tax and benefits review instructing the Treasury & Resources department to review the advantages and disadvantages of introducing a progressive personal tax system through tax bandings, with a lower rate for those on low incomes to a higher rate for those on the highest incomes. It was defeated on the back of quite erroneous scaremongering by certain Deputies, most notably Deputies Stewart who believed it would mean High Net Worth Individuals would not want to come to Guernsey as a result. This made no sense given that Guernsey has no Capita Gains Tax or Inheritance Tax. What was also forgotten was that the amendment only sought for this to be investigated, not that it should be. My opening and closing speeches are below and I stand by everything I said that day. The reference to the dark side in my closing speech is as a result of Deputy Stewart saying that is where I had gone with this amendment. Of course, he is the one that has not seen the light!
Opening speech
It is not unreasonable that the rich should contribute to the public expense, not only in proportion to their revenue, but something more than in that proportion.' Those are not my words but, perhaps somewhat surprisingly, those of Adam Smith in Book 5 of The Wealth of Nations, covering the Sources of General and Public Revenue of Society.
And it is in support of that argument that this amendment seeks to direct T&R to investigate the implications of and proposals, if appropriate, for the introduction of a progressive system of income tax with lower bands for lower earners and higher bands for higher earners.
Now there is always a lot of noise heard whenever the idea of charging higher rates for higher earners is mooted. That by increasing tax rates it will make Guernsey less competitive. Indeed, in the Appendices it states that increasing the tax rate for higher earners would put Guernsey at a disadvantage.
However, on the assumption that we are not talking about pernicious rates of tax, which I do not believe we need to do and certainly don't advocate, I question that reasoning.
For a start, I would question just how much more supportive of high earners we could be here. We have no Capital Gains Tax or Inheritance Tax for a start. Add to that low property taxes and the most well off in our society actually do comparatively very well compared both to other Islanders and high-earners elsewhere.
Quite frankly when I read in this report that and I quote, 'increasing tax rates or withdrawing allowances for high earners would increase the number of people who plan their affairs in such a way as to minimise their tax liability, I was flabbergasted! Don't make people pay more as they will seek to avoid it! Yes, I would say the more complicated a tax system the easier it is to avoid, but a higher tax band is hardly going to see hoard of people rushing to their tax accountants.
Arguments are often made that high earners are synonymous with entrepreneurs. Indeed, the report states that highly skilled individuals 'tend to' generate economic growth by developing businesses and devising new products and services. And that by charging tax rates which could discourage such people from moving to, or staying in Guernsey could be detrimental for the Island's economy and its growth potential, which, we are told, in this report, must be the States' first priority.
But I'd say, if generating economic growth is our first priority – what are we doing to encourage people to set up businesses in the first place? Surely we shouldn't set our income tax rates on the hope someone comes along but to actively help investment in our economy.
What support do we genuinely give real entrepreneurs? Those who may not start out on fantastic incomes but have great ideas with nothing in the way of government support to help make it happen? That's the barrier to growing our economy.
Now this amendment calls on T&R to not just look at a higher rate band but a lower rate band as well.
Appendix 1 Principles and Issues Document even states itself that in some cases the direct tax burden of lower and middle income households in Guernsey may not compare favourably with the UK or Jersey.
At present we have a recruitment crisis in nursing – this was made clear by the HSSD Minister in his statement on Tuesday. Our biggest source of skilled nurses is from the UK for a variety of reasons, but we are actually in a disadvantageous position in terms of recruitment as there are no tax benefits of coming over here, in fact quite the opposite. And neither does it help the recruitment of local nurses on an Island where the cost of living is high. A lower rate band would contribute to making Guernsey an attractive location for those key workers.
The report in front of us today is dismissive of any changes to the income tax system, other than looking at allowances. And even more strangely, amongst all the 41 recommendations there isn't s a single one that asks us to confirm our support of the structure of income tax. Only that we should be less dependent on it. I find that unacceptable.
Whether or not GST had been killed off, I believe further analysis needs to be undertaken of our income tax system with consideration of people's ability to pay. And let's not hear any one from the SSD or T&R Departments stand up and say we have got all the information we need in this report, it was looked at extensively and we have all the answers, after the comments they made about needing to look further at GST. That was their focus. If they are not happy they had enough detail on GST then there definitely wasn't enough research done on the income tax structure.
This investigation is needed irrespective of whether we have a GST system as well. The 20% rate has been treated as sacrosanct for too long. It is a shibboleth that needs to be challenged. Now is the time to do just that. I urge members to support this amendment.
Closing speech
I made a commitment in my Manifesto of 2012 that I would oppose GST should it be proposed to the States. Originally it has been the intention of the autohors to include GST as a recommendation in the Personal Tax and Benefits Review. However, as a result of the strength of opposition, this was watered down to 'let us keep looking at it'. I still could not support this recommendation as it would basically enable it to be easily brought in for the next term. The reasons for my opposition to GST are set out in my speech. I usually like to keep my speeches relatively short, but I felt the importance of this debate required a lengthy riposte. Fortunately, the recommendation was defeated. Of course, there is nothing stopping it being brought back in the future. I will oppose it unless all other avenues have been exhausted to be able to manage a balanced budget.
Last week I was attacked by a certain ex-Deputy for having an open mind. Apparently the fact I wanted to have further information before making an evidence based decision was seen as a bad thing – whatever hat I was wearing.
I am sorry, it may be considered a failing, but I always like to start with an open mind. And make evidence informed decisions. The last 4 months has shown me just how important such an approach is.
And, in terms of today's debate, what I can say is, I have read and researched the evidence for quite some time, to enable me to make an informed decision about whether we should look further into a broad based consumption tax now. And I have made up my mind that, based on all the evidence put in front me, from the research I have undertaken, not just from the last 6 weeks but over several years and from first-hand experience – no we should not.
Of course, when it comes to taxes, as well as death and childbirth, there is never a convenient time for any of them, but this isn't about not understanding the need for change. I believe we do need to rethink our approach, which is why I welcome this debate now and why I will be laying an amendment to seek to explore alternatives.
Now instead of repeating much that has already been said that supports my standpoint, I would like to focus on why I believe even considering GST, particularly now, will be dangerous to our economy.
But before I start I would like to know where is the comment from the Commerce and Employment Department? We were treated to a 12 page document from C&E on the perils of a width and emissions tax, but when faced with a report that will have a significant impact on virtually every business on this Island, we have silence. And I have to say I was astonished to hear that the C&E Minister Deputy Stewart would support further research into GST when his department is meant to encourage local businesses and look for ways to promote a positive environment in which to conduct business on Guernsey.
So why should we be concerned about the threat to our economy by even considering GST now? Well, firstly we need to consider business uncertainty.
We have heard a lot about how we must be very careful in how we discuss possible changes to our corporate tax system as this might cause business uncertainty. Well, the same goes for GST. If I were thinking of setting up a business involved in the provision of goods and services, particularly where I would be having to compete against those from off-island, I would think long and hard about setting up before I knew where the States were going on GST.
We are already an expensive place to do business, all a broad based consumption tax will do is increase costs and have inflationary consequences, in addition to adding to the administrative burden. And to pick up on a point my colleague Deputy Luxon made yesterday, remember, it is far easier for a large firm with a separate accounting function to absorb those extra costs than smaller owner-managed businesses.
Just looking at Jersey's GST website, there are pages upon pages of what you can and can't claim, advice for different businesses, various options such as partial exemptions as well as when and how to pay, that it will clearly be a more unproductive activity at a time when we need to reduce the obstacles we put in businesses way. And on that note I think the red-tape audit, which for me was an important part of the Economic Development Framework could not come soon enough.
Secondly, I am concerned about some of the assurances given in the report regarding the shape that a GST would take here.
The report talks about a turnover based threshold that would exempt some businesses from paying VAT, and there is an indication that this might be similar to that in Jersey, which is currently as high as £300k. However, as picked up by Deputy Conder, given the relatively small size of Guernsey businesses, where more than two thirds employ less than 5 people according to the latest Facts & Figures booklet, that threshold would have to be much lower to obtain the £50m claimed could be raised. But I suspect the truth is that businesses may be forced to register as the costs of not doing so may be prohibitive if they can't reclaim input tax. So, there's a Catch 22 – register and spend more time and money on administration, or don't register and incur increased costs of goods and services themselves. Lose, lose. The small businesses will lose out the most.
Thirdly, I have concerns about the assumptions of economic growth.
Paragraph 1.1.15 states that growing the economy is not within the mandate of the review, but assumes a modest level of economic growth. However, was that taking into account the introduction of a broad based consumption tax?
There is no getting away from the fact that GST undermines economic growth for two reasons. Firstly, it disincentivises productive behaviour by driving a larger wedge between pre-tax income and post-tax consumption.
And secondly, it makes for bigger government and bigger government means, in a static population, a transfer of people from the productive sector of the economy to the public sector, diminishing economic efficiency.
It would make perfect sense to consider talking to Jersey as a means of mitigating the administration costs, though I believe it will be of limited benefit unless we adopt Jersey's system wholesale. By the way I suspect the fact the reviewers think GST will be cheaper to administer than income tax probably says more about the adequacy of our income tax systems than about the administration of GST. And in terms of Returns Creator – Deputy Perrot, speak to those that have to use it and you may get another word back to describe it other than brilliant.
But of course, when considering administration costs, we shouldn't just focus on GST. As the Deputy Chief Minister stated yesterday, this is a package of measures, we should not look at GST in isolation. I agree we shouldn't. We shouldn't forget all the supposedly mitigating measures that will need to be brought in through pensions and benefits and how they will be administered.
These are not going to come at nil cost to SSD, or whatever department becomes the one administering benefits in the future. GST may possibly be efficient in terms of tax collection but how many more SSD staff will be needed to handle the increased benefits claimed?
And this brings me to the final and what I consider to be the fundamental reason why I can't accept recommendation 38 and it revolves around this one sentence in the report, and I quote, 'Data suggests that, while a consumption tax in isolation may be regressive, it is possible to mitigate much of the regressive nature through the pension and benefit systems.'
My greatest criticism of this report is that little consideration has been given to the ability to pay. In fact, that phrase is only used twice – one being a quote from a respondent to the consultation and the other, ironically, to justify the introduction of the £1 prescription charge for those who currently do not pay.
The only way I could conceivably accept a GST would be if there were exemptions. I fundamentally have a problem with the taxing of food other than, possibly, as a means of influencing behaviour. And Certainly at a time when we are seeing food banks appearing across the Island. And what about fuel and power? This could have serious consequences for those on lower incomes. But, the truth is we could not afford to make such exemptions. We are too small an economy. Or, if we did, the rate of tax would have to be put at a much higher level to compensate.
Deputy Perrot's likening the purchase of a litre of milk to a tax and calling it regressive is complete nonsense. Charging GST on a litre of milk is what is regressive. Definition from the Oxford Dictionary – (Of a tax) taking a proportionally greater amount from those on lower incomes: indirect taxes are, as a group, regressive
But we are told, there is more detail that needs to be ironed out – what after 2 years? It's hardly rocket science. It is broad based – so there are going to be very few exemptions, there will be a threshold, but then that is likely to be meaningless anyway, and it's going to be 5%!
And, if the writers of this report don't know broadly how this broad based consumption tax will work, how can they say it will raise £50m and how can they provide 16 pages of how their favoured scenario will affect a variety of households?
And, on that front, according to this report there will be people adversely affected. For instance, it states that 30% of couples with children will benefit, which means a huge 70% won't. Whether that means it won't affect them at all, or they are badly affected is unclear, as is how many of them may have to start claiming benefits. But is that what we want? Making more people dependent on benefits? Giving them even less disposable income that can be circulated in the economy?
That's not a future I want to see.
Life since 2008 has been bad enough for businesses, which has had a direct knock on effect on jobs and wages such that we are now seeing net migration. The introduction of a broad based consumption tax would cripple our economy at a time of ever increasing costs, red tape and though emerging, still fragile growth.
Back in 2012 I said it was imperative we got the Personal Tax and Benefits Review right. That if we got it wrong it could have a lasting detrimental effect for the future of Guernsey's economy. Getting it right means rejecting recommendation 38, supporting this amendment and supporting our local businesses and I urge members to do just that.


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Kamloops Immigrant Services is excited to welcome the West Coast Domestic Workers Association to Kamloops to present a Legal Clinic for Temporary Foreign Workers and Live-in Caregivers on September 20 from 10:00-2:00.
They will be presenting on a variety of topics, including employment standards, changes to the temporary work programs, how to apply for permanent residence, and more.
Participants will have a chance to meet one-on-one with a legal advocate after the workshop to discuss their personal situation. For more information, or to register, please contact Coby Piazza at 778-470-6101 or by e-mail at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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This Algorithm Generates 3D Hairstyles from a Picture
If you've ever wanted to duplicate a luminary hairstyle, there's a new algorithm that will assistance you. Bringing your coiffeur a print of someone with your preferred braid is easy, though what if your side form or a behind of your conduct looks totally opposite from a photo?
AutoHair is a new algorithm grown by PhD tyro Menglei Chai from Zhejiang University's State Key Lab of CADCG that can emanate a 3D indication of a braid from a mural print of someone. The algorithm can also be used to request opposite hairstyles to opposite conduct shapes and to make hair demeanour some-more picturesque in charcterised games and movies.
The four-year plan concerned researchers looking by 100,000 mural photos on Flickr and manually training a mechanism to etch healthy hair by imprinting particular hair segments. However, this process caused hair to demeanour "too well-spoken and flat, generally during a back." To make a hair demeanour some-more realistic, researchers also looked during hair models from The Sims and corrected a markings.
Though a algorithm is complete, Chai hopes to continue operative on generating 3D models from pictures. "Perhaps it's about a time to combine hair, face, and physique together, to redeem a whole tellurian from images, and make it animatable!" says Chai. "That would be awesome."
So your dream braid competence be achievable—just don't go to Great Clips.
Watch a video next to see a few of a some-more than 50,000 models tested.
[embedded content]
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The Bucks Great War Virtual Trail brings together photographs taken in the county between 1914 and 1919 and contrasts them with the current view of the same location, giving a sense of the immediacy of the past within the present whether it's the Royal Bucks Hussars at Buckingham, the Bucks Battalion leaving Aylesbury, the 21st Division at Halton, women munitions workers at High Wycombe, hospitals at Chequers and Cliveden, or the unveiling of the war memorials at Stewkley and The Lee.
This website of The Buckinghamshire Military Museum Trust ('BMMT') is copyright of BMMT. If any items on the site are republished or copied for research private study or for use within educational establishments the source and copyright status must be acknowledged and any reference quoted. Commercial users wishing to reproduce any item must seek prior written permission from the Trustees [on email address].
BMMT has taken all reasonable steps to ascertain any known copyrights. Any infringement is inadvertent and will be rectified on notification.


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The Japanese police have arrested a 73-year-old man in a rather extraordinary case. The man is suspected of keeping his son in a wooden cage for over 20 years. Yoshitane Yamasaki said he locked up his son, now 42, because he suffered from mental derangement and would sometimes become violent. The cage, 1m in height and less than 2m wide, was inside a hut next to Mr Yamasaki's house in the city of Sanda. The son, who now has a bent back, is being taken care of by authorities. A visit by a city official to Mr Yamasaki's home at the time alerted authorities to the 42-year-old man's confinement. Investigators believe Mr Yamasaki began confining his mentally ill son from the age of 16, when he began to "act up". For the time being, police have only arrested the pensioner for caging his son for 36 hours on 18 January. Mr Yamasaki has reportedly admitted all allegations, saying that he he fed his son every day and let him bathe every other day.
Japanese man caged son for two decades
A 72-year old Japanese man was arrested for keeping his son caged for 20 years.


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ELECTRIC WRANGLER: Jeep shows Wrangler Rubicon 4XE PHEV
This is the first look at Jeep's new electrified Wrangler, and it doesn't look much different at all.
All-new 2017 Land Rover Discovery spied testing
The all-new 2017 Land Rover Discovery has been spied testing and despite the heavy camouflage looks to have clearly adopted styling cues from the Discovery Sport.
Ford reveals seven modified F-150s for SEMA
Ford has revealed seven modified F-150s for the annual SEMA show in November, with trucks tweaked by MRT, Roush, Leer, CGS Performance and others.
Omix-ADA custom Jeep Wrangler JK Unlimited revealed for SEMA Cares
US Jeep specialist Omix-ADA has partnered with SEMA Cares to raise money for charity at next month's SEMA show with its custom Jeep Wrangler JK Unlimited.
Mitsubishi eX Concept SUV revealed
Set to debut at the Tokyo Motor Show at the end of this month, the Mitsubishi eX Concept SUV offers a glimpse at the brand's next-generation EV system and sundry other clever tech.
319kW Patrol Nismo revealed in Dubai
To celebrate the launch of the NISMO brand in the Middle East, the Nissan performance house has released a 319kW 2015 Patrol NISMO…
2015 HAVAL H2, H8 and H9 launched in Australia…
There's a new range of cars in Australia. Welcome, HAVAL SUVs from China. It launches here with its 2015 HAVAL H2, H8, and H9.
New version of Cooper Tire's STT released, the STT Pro
Cooper Tires has updated its long-serving STT mud tyre, it's called the STT Pro. Here are the key changes.
More refreshed 2017 Subaru Forester details…
Subaru Australia is saying nothing about the refreshed 2016 Subaru Forester, but in Japan it's already available for order with a host of updated safety equipment.
Refreshed 2016 Mazda BT-50 on-sale
The refreshed 2016 Mazda BT-50 has arrived Down Under and gone on-sale with key tweaks to its looks and interior.
Refreshed 2016 Peugeot 2008 DKR16 revealed
The refreshed 2016 Peugeot 2008 DKR16 has been revealed ahead of its attack on the epic Dakar Rally in January (2016).


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Larry Bird is often talked about in the same sentence as Michael Jordan or Magic Johnson, and that's definitely an accurate place for him to be discussed. No one quite dominated the 80's like Larry Bird who was a wrecking force to all of his oppositions. The Boston Celtic's legend has extremely impressive benchmarks, trophies and records – however it's what's under the surface that really makes him an inspiring character. Bird's life facts and events from growing up in poverty to dropping out of university and becoming a garbage man are some of the things that built his character strong from the inner realm. Here are the 5 most fascinating facts that set Bird apart from the rest…
Inspiring Fact #1: Larry Bird Overcame An Upbringing In Poverty:
Larry was the fourth of six children and he grew up with a father who was unemployed many times throughout his life and his mother worked at a Diner to make ends barely meet. Rumour has it, the family had a coal furnace which resulted in some very cold and harsh winters. Larry Bird has stated that escaping a life of poverty was one of his big motivations for a career in basketball. On some occasions, Larry would be sent to live with his grandmother when financial troubles dipped too low.
Speaking on his mother's unconditional love and care for her kid's:
"If there was a payment to the bank due, and we needed shoes, she'd get the shoes, and then deal with them guys at the bank. I don't mean she wouldn't pay the bank, but the children always came first."
Inspiring Fact #2: He Powered Through Difficult Adversities:
His father was an alcoholic. According to some sources, his father would, on a few occasions, spend his pay cheques at the local bar rather than bring it home to the family where the funds were very necessary. Larry and his father were extremely close regardless of the struggles, but things took a dive for the worst when his father shot himself in the head after a long list of unemployment and thought it was best to provide some sort of insurance money for the family. Larry was only 18 and felt abandoned but learned a ton from his father nonetheless, most of which were the hard working ethics that he ingrained in him.
Inspiring Fact #3: Larry Bird Dropped Out Of College And Became a Garbage man:
Apparently, Bird only attended Indiana University for 24 days before dropping out. He did not have enough money to pursuit university and also had a strange time fitting in to the lifestyle – as Bird was known to be a bit timid and shy too. He returned to his hometown of French Lick where he would also drop out from junior college as well. Upon leaving school and realizing the huge need for money, he took up a job as a garbage man where he actually quite enjoyed it admitting:
"I loved that job. It was outdoors, you were around your friends. Picking up brush, cleaning it up. I felt like I was really accomplishing something. How many times are you riding around your town and you say to yourself, 'Why don't they fix that? Why don't they clean the streets up?' And here I had the chance to do that. I had the chance to make my community look better."
This was another gift of his: To keep an optimistic-grateful attitude and a strong hunger for a better life. Eventually with this mentality, Larry Bird would be recognized by Bill Hodges who would push hard to get him into Indian State University where he would get his opportunity to prove himself. He would not let down whatsoever as he heavily contributed to taking the team to the very impressive track record of 33-0.
Inspiring Fact #4: "Larry Legend" Had Extreme Certainty In Himself & His Abilities:
Although he was a more reserved individual who didn't open up much away from the court, when it came to the game – he did not back down or take the passenger seat. In fact, he was extremely confident and demanded the ball when the game got intense. With great certainty – Larry Bird would predict the game scores prior to it even beginning and even told the opposing star players he was going to get it done in the big moments of the game. Whether winning or losing, he played with a fearless and self worthy demeanour. He was even known for trash-talking, especially with his biggest rival Magic Johnson, and if need be, would even get into the odd fight on the court.
"Leadership is getting players to believe in you. If you tell a teammate you're ready to play as tough as you're able to, you'd better go out there and do it. Players will see right through a phony. And they can tell when you're not giving it all you've got."
Inspiring Fact #5: Bird Practised And Perfected His Passion:
With a huge competitive mind frame and the understanding that perfecting was mandatory he claimed "I don't know if I practiced more than anybody, but I sure practiced enough. I still wonder if somebody – somewhere – was practicing more than me." Larry Bird would apparently take around 200 practice basketball shots every morning before he would go to school. He was said to have been a workhorse in his pursuit of mastering the game of basketball. Eventually this led Bird to become one of the most winning players of all time with a long list of accolades: He was a 3 time NBA champion, a 3 time MVP and he was the rookie of the year in his first year, just to name a few.
"Push yourself again and again. Don't give an inch until the final buzzer sounds."
Inspiring Fact #6: A Gruelling Work Ethic And Ability To Fight Through Any Pain:
Bird's own personal mantra was "I've got a theory that if you give 100% all of the time, somehow things will work out in the end." He definitely lived up to his own philosophy as he would persevere through many injuries in the later half of his career. He underwent back surgery to ease pressure in his lower back after many seasons of playing hurt while realigning his back prior to every game. He would often need to lie down during games as the excruciating pain would interrupt his play. He initially injured his back when he built his mother's driveway and was shovelling gravel. He also missed most of the the 1988-89 season after undergoing surgery on both his heels. Bird had an enormous pain threshold. He was known for his epic comeback from a concussion against the Pacers where he returned immediately to take his team to victory, even the Pacers would congratulate him on his out-of-this-world efforts.
Larry Bird gained this inner quality by learning from his father in his younger years. His father had a broken foot and Larry helped him fit his bruised and swollen foot into his boots. He would bare through and go to work regardless of the immense pain.
"A winner is someone who recognizes his God-given talents, works his tail off to develop them into skills, and uses these skills to accomplish his goals."
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Back in Belize
Sean Visintainer - 03/14/17
Turneffe Flats Lodge, a saltwater paradise.
It had been almost 8 years since I've fly fished in Belize. In 2006 the Silver Bow did it's first hosted trip to the island of San Pedro, a small tourist location just a short twenty min flight from Belize City. Numerous trips to there and elsewhere in Belize, one location I had never been, but always heard about was Turneffe Atoll. World renowned for it's bonefishing, Turneffe Island sits approximately 30 miles off the coast of the mainland and is an aquarium of saltwater species as well as wildlife. My trip to Belize was rather last minute do to a cancellation on our hosted trip with Bo Brand from the shop. However, I've never been one to plan too far out so last minute preparation is just my style.
Travel to Turneffe was rather easy thanks to the logistics experts at Fly Water Travel who work with great lodges like the famous Turneffe Flats Lodge. Once arrived at Turneffe, the lodge has you covered with excellent hosts, food, and guides. Since 1981 Turneffe's owners Craig and Karen Hayes have been hosting anglers, divers, and eco-tourist alike to this tropical locale in search of pristine marine environments and world class fishing. Our stay at Turneffe Flats included 6 days of guided fishing which only begins to wet the appetite due to the vast expanse of this large atoll environment. And if fishing all day long didn't give you enough fix, there was always bonefish tailing within eyesight of the lodge balcony while you sipped on a cold Belkin.
Bo and I with eight other guests enjoyed a variety of fish species over the week. From bonefish to permit, tarpon and snook, to alternative species like barracuda, jacks, and trigger fish, there are a diverse mix of fish roaming the shallows that will satisfy any angling skill level. For many it was their first time ever saltwater flats fishing and with skilled guides it didn't take long for many to be into the their first ever bonefish or other flats fish. For two of our guests, Rob G. and Dave L., they each got the opportunity to hook and land permit within their first two days on the island. While my permit story has an unhappy ending (knot failure, which we won't talk about), what I thought about the permit fishing was very impressive. After spending many days in other saltwater locations like Cuba and the Bahamas, I quickly realized that Turneffe, while most known for it's bonefishing, has ideal permit flats. Our guide Mark Hyde was an excellent saltwater guide, one of the best I've been with, and he polled and scanned the flats finding permit in adverse conditions when many would have either not tried or given up. Whether we saw permit or bonefish, I felt that not only the quantities were great, but the size range of fish was excellent too. Numerous shots at 30 pound permit and bonefish well into the 4-6 lb plus range kept you on your toes all week long.
The vibe for the week at Turneffe was a good one. The folks that travelled with us all had smiles on their faces even when fish didn't cooperate and talked about their next time they could come back to get revenge on the fish that got away. In the world of saltwater fly fishing, Turneffe offered everything I could have asked for from the beautiful scenery and flats, to the quality of fishing, comfortable accommodations, and service that went above and beyond making for a seamless week in a stunning tropical destination.
- Sean Visintainer


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T'was the season for masochism, my dear gents, ladies, and other such creatures. T'was the season for atonement. The credit of all my youthful transgressions finally reached its limit and demanded payment. Carelessly leaving the seat down, blissfully j-walking, not offering my seat to the pregnant, one-legged, old lady on the train. Alas, my sins caught up with me. And lo, the gods decided it was time to get their pound of flesh.
And so Zeus said onto Hypnos, "Make his dreams swirl around the distant peaks of Fuji. May he perilously yearn for its cloudy heights."
And so Hypnos said onto Zeus, "How binding should I weave these dreams."
And so Zeus said onto Hypnos, "I 'unno, enough?"
And so the spiteful Hera added her 2 cents, for she was bored "Oh, make him do it in one day. Like make him think it's actually a good idea. And have him go down on the same day, too," she added thoughtfully, twirling her hair.
It was then that Boreas and Zephyr, Zeus' sons, stopped playing Xbox and joined in, "We could throw some harsh wind his way," Said Zephyr.
"Real harsh shit," added Boreas.
"And rain," concluded Zeus, "shit is always more dope with rain."
And so with the divine tides against us, my two friends and I made our way to Mount Fuji.
We spent the first night at a hostel in the city of Fuji. I will drop its name here, for it's well worth a recommendation. This cozy little nook goes by the name of NASUBI, Mt. Fuji Backpackers. It is conveniently close to Fuji station, a mere 9 minutes, and 15 minutes from Shin-Fuji station. You can get a shuttle bus that will take you to the base of Fuji from either of those stations. The hostel itself is clean and cozy, and as spacious as you can get in Japan. The host was absolutely the best part of it. He seemed to have either discovered the secret to happiness, or he was permanently stoned. Then again, maybe those two intersect. But seeing him roll the perfect cigarette on the porch one evening, I am inclined to place my faith in the latter. He spoke good enough english to answer just about any questions we had about acquiring gear and the how-to's of climbing Fuji. Also, he just gave us some free rain jackets right before we left, because peace and love, why not?
Also, to further esteem this hostel in my views, there was an N64 set up in the common room with just about every Mario World classic you can hope for. Nothing bonds world-wary travelers like breaking language barriers through competition in the age-old past time of gaming. Until of course, every language boils down to its most essential word, in our case being "fuck," in the case of our two newly found French friends "putain," and our one Israeli friend "ha-matzav-khara." Ahh, Mario World, destroyer of friendships.
So the next day we headed towards Kawaguchiko station, roughly an hour and a half away from Fuji city. On our way, we made a slight detour at Shiraito falls, which we were told were quite beautiful, which toats were.
After that pleasant detour, we were filled with the beauty of the Shiraito falls and we eagerly awaited grander beauty and sights on the distant Fuji. How naive, how very young we were.
We took the bus from Kawaguchiko station to the 5th station on Mount Fuji, which is where most people will start their hike. If you have need of equipment, worry not, there is an equipment renting shop right across Kawaguchiko station (which opens at 1PM). For the most part, you need warm clothes, a head-light, and a rain & wind jacket. During the summer season, you can have a 30°C temperature at the base, and 5°C at the summit. So make sure you bring warm clothes. Also, I strongly, STRONGLY suggest that you stock up on snacks and food at a convi store before you head towards Fuji. Everything is exceedingly expensive along the Yoshida trail. A bottle of water will cost you 600 Yen, when it's a mere 100 Yen at a convenience store (around $7 dollars and a $1.50 respectively, to the non-Yen savvy). Even cup noodles are sold for 600 Yen a piece along the resting huts, demonic amusement dancing in the eyes of the vendors. Then again it could have been the lack of oxygen and exhaustion, who knows?
As a person who is in average shape, or maybe just slightly above, I found the climb towards the summit to be one of considerable difficulty. The trek to the Seventh station wasn't bad. It's a bit steep, but you start getting used to the elevation bit by bit, and frankly, the surroundings are quite beautiful. There's still plants and lush greenery along the path, and with the mist that was clinging to the mountain that day, it was quite the sight.
So, first things first. Most people want to climb the summit in time for the sunrise. In order to do that, you have start your climb at around 10 PM (from the 7th station). If you have more money to spend, you can start at the 8th, 9th, or 10th station, each becoming more expensive respectively. We paid around 8000 Yen (~$90) each for our stay at the 7th station, and our accommodations made dodgy hostels look like palaces. Imagine a large living room, lined with 2 levels of beds along the walls. They fit about 200 people, so you are crammed like sardines to the point where you can barely turn in your own little space. You can't really get any sleep as people are constantly coming and going, so it's more of a resting spot before the big hike. I understand that this is a big tourist attraction, a world wonder and such, but paying 8000 Yen for that kind of experience definitely left a sour taste in my mouth. All the more because Mount Fuji is a world heritage site, and therefore, supposedly has international sponsorship.
So after our fretful rest, we packed our bags and started on our merry way. Past the 7th station, the scenery became more rocky and volcanic. The elevation was steep, and it definitely pays to stop and catch your breath every 15 minutes or so. There's always people in front of you and behind you, which normally I'd dislike in any other situation, but having people there with you really helps. I could easily have seen myself giving up if it had only been me and my mates, but when there's this constant stream of people going through the exact same thing as you are, it really drives you to keep going. There's definitely a group effort/mentality aspect to the climb. You see that they too get tired, they too stop for a break, and they too choose to persevere. You exchange smiles along the way, in on a joke that you're all sharing, and you trek ahead as comrades.
I hope you'll forgive my lack of photographs here. Since it was pitch dark, full with mist, and I had no tripod. So, I was unable to take any good photographs during the evening part of the climb. So words will have to serve where pictures fail. By midnight, we were above the clouds. You can't really see anything in the distance because it's too dark. However, the stars are all AROUND you. Not above, but around. You feel like you're in the center of a great dome of stars. They are really clear in the night sky, with no light pollution, and you feel like you are right next to them. The sight renders the meaning from the word "beauty". And always behind you and in front of you, you can see little dots bobbing up and down, the other climbers tracing serpentine patterns in the mountain with their head-lights. And they grow more numerous and frequent as the climb goes on, until they reach the edges of your vision.
A little bit before the top we reached a pair of Tori gates. From a distance I thought they were covered in frost, but up close it turned out that people had wedged coins inside the pillars themselves for good fortune, as far as I can guess.
The last one hour of the climb was probably the hardest and steepest. At parts you have to use your hands to navigate and balance yourself across difficult paths in the rock. Also, a pinkish glow had started to set on the horizon, a timer reminding us that the sun was hot on our tail and we needed to pick up the pace if we were to greet it at the top. Goverment employees were stationed every 100 meters or so to make sure everyone was OK and to give encouragement to the climbers, egging them on to try just a little bit more.
At around 4:45 AM we reached the top. We were greeted by a fierce wind and fierce cold to boot. Zephyr and Boreas probably taking the piss. However, even their godly douchery couldn't subtract too much from the beauty that eventually greeted us.
And they lived happily ever after? "Hahhahahaha, NO!" said Zeus as he chuckled like a child burning ants, which resembled humans on top of an anthill which strongly resembled a mountain. As the sun rose, the temperatures started climbing again. And as the clouds are now below you as opposed above, you get cooked something fierce. To add insult to injury, Hephaestus seemed to have joined in on the mortals roast, because the path back from the summit could only have been carved by a sadistic Greek deity. A serpentine path is carved into the volcanic rock all the way back down to the 5th station, at a very aggressive dissenting slope, made up of nothing but medium-sized rocks and sand. That's IT. There is no reprieve, no flat paths for your aching joints to recover, just 5-6 hours of a constant decline over the most uncomfortable, and eventually painful, terrain you can imagine. It no longer becomes an issue of stamina or muscle strength, but just a sheer, relentless battering of your joints and feet. Again, I feel very fortunate to have experienced Fuji's beauty, but for a site that is so famous and so well-funded, that was simply unacceptable. I can only imagine that the person responsible for planning the dissenting path strongly hated all things with feet, and was in a hurry to get to the sake bar before it closes. So he carved the most senseless and uncomfortable path in the rock and then ran away laughing maniacally, knowing he contributed to the maiming of millions of feet for the centuries to come.
We drove back on the same day, half awake in our car, hopefully eyeing the desolate roads for a welcoming "Ramen" sign where we could hopefully recovery some of our sapped strength. All in all, it was a great experience, if not an altogether pleasant one. I have read my fair share of Fuji articles by now, and I felt compelled to give my account as a great many of the other ones out there are definitely written with rose-tinted glasses. But you have the good, the bad, and the ugly, and in the end, it's all one big experience.
Hope this was helpful!
And so, Zeus having tortured the poor mortals to the full extent of his amusement returned to his daily life, which mostly consisted of stroking his epic beard, hurling the odd lightning bolt, and trying to impregnate mortals under every which guise in existence. And all was well.


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Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy, he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. 1 Pet 1:3
Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. Psalm 100:4-5


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Whew! After all that excitement of the past weeks, I am happy to report that the Operation Poppyfield was a success. The 1100 poppies made by our team and the helpful students has been planted in a sombre display in front of the war memorials. Check them out if you haven't done so yet.
And now I want to start a new cycle of the blog: The Dust Harvester. Because I am so busy with my Masters, my capacity to sit and learn with traditional methods is about full. That's why I have taken upon myself to let my brain cells rest a while and do some spring…well…autumn cleaning with all the equipment that we have inherited from the defunct science departments. You might be familiar with the mystery machine that turned out to be a device for measuring thermal conductivity of copper. I assure you, that is not the only thing that looks like it was touched by mad science. Some of those machines are OLD. Old enough that their leather straps turned to stone and their plastic casings turned brittle. Some of them look like they would make Dr. Frankenstein very happy. And I, as a person that will explore them with a damp rag for the first time in years, will try to get to the bottom of those devices and boxes that once turned students into scientists (hopefully not of the mad kind).
Monthly Archives: November 2014
Operation Poppyfield-conclusion and The Dust Harvester.
Whew! After all that excitement of the past weeks, I am happy to report that the Operation Poppyfield was a success. The 1100 poppies made by our team and the helpful students has been planted in a sombre display in front of the war memorials. Check them out if you haven't done so yet.
Filed under artefacts, long time ago
Taking a short break
I'm taking a short break this week. Next week I'll be back with more archival hijinks. See you then.
Filed under Uncategorized
Hush-hush no more
Now when there was a press release and everything, I no longer have to keep quiet. Do you remember the big thing we were all preparing for? Well, now I can tell you that we won an award for all our volunteering work from Archives and Records Association. And it is actually a national thing- the Archive Volunteering Award. The judges were unanimous and were very impressed that we did so much with so little.
There was the award presenting ceremony in our archives, that's why we all worked so hard. That evening the room was full of big wigs: we had three people from ARA presenting the award, guests from the Plymouth's Volunteer Centre and other outside organizations, various people from different Marjon's departments and even out vice-chancellor. We wanted to show our guest all the projects we made and when it was put all in one room it was a lot. When you work week-to-week on your part of the project, helping other volunteers with one thing or another, you really miss the scope of the whole undertaking. You think about your project as that small thing that you do for the reasons of your own and don't give it a second thought. But the world is watching and then you realize: whatever you do has an impact.
But don't take my word for all of it. Check it out for yourself:
Filed under Marjon pride, volunteers
Furniture future, furniture past.
Now that I've officially graduated everything became awfully nostalgic. I never thought I will ever feel anything but frustration at Marjon's mismatched tables and chairs, the horrible desk-chair combos, the lecture theatre with no leg room. Now I would bear all of those with a smile if only I would be allowed back.T_T
And speaking of furniture, I had a good look at what once was considered state-of-the-art school equipment. Behold the St John's College.
Ah, the gymnasium. Just look at that balancing bar, the austerity of that pommel horse. Maybe I'm sensitive, but they make me cringe. The back of it looks like the room doubled as a theatre. I haven't seen such multipurpose room since…well…ever.
It kind of looks like safety risk to me, but the past was tougher and made do with less than we are.
Here is the lecture theatre. To tell the truth I am amazed how little changed. Sure, now we have computer projectors in place of blackboard, but the essence of the construct
remains the same. Long uncomfortable and hard seats?- check, weirdly shaped table
with no room for all the things?- check, complete with students that suffer that abominations?-Check and check.
Ladies and gentlemen: the library. Ok I must say that it baffles me why a table has normal chairs at one side and a bench on the other, but as a working space this isn't half bad. The room looks well lit, there is plenty of space and there are no distractions anywhere in sight. With a bit of modernization it would fit our own standards pretty well.
Well, I covered the furnishing nightmares of St. John's. Next time I promise to show something nicer, as the Battersea House is in fact very beautiful place.
Filed under long time ago


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When I'm not writing, I make sure to spend some quality time with books–because my love of reading is what sparked my love of writing in the first place! Here are some of my favorite gems, originally posted on my review blog.
The Hunger Games (I volunteer as tribute–to read this book!)
by Suzanne Collins
I'll start with the first book in this phenomenal trilogy. The second the writing kicks off, you're drawn into this desolate world of Panem where the Districts starve and slave away while the Capitol feasts and enjoys their rich and fancy life. While District kids starve to death, the Capitol folks watch these kids kill each other for entertainment and also as the government's reminder to the Citizens that they're still powerless. #Panemproblems for real. More importantly, we watch all of this horror through the eyes of Katniss, a fiery buttkicking purveyor of awesome. This chick is like the ideal of strong independent teens.
Heartbreaking moment #1: When she takes Prim's place at the Games. We all knew it was coming, but who didn't admire the internal strength of a big sister who would protect her sister at all costs? When Prim's name is announced, the reader waits in tense silence for Katniss's daring declaration. "I volunteer as tribute!"
Heartbreaking moment #2: Rue's death. Man. That hits you HARD. She's exactly like Prim and the way Katniss interacts with her is identical, plus she's also twelve years old. And after they triumphantly blow up the food stock, you so want them to find a way to escape the games together. But what gave it even more impact was the note of rebellion where Katniss covered her in flowers and sang her to rest. She gave the gamemakers and audience her own personal fuck you and really told us what inner fire this chick had inside.
Heartbreaking moment #3: In a different sense than the tragedy, when she returns for Peeta and gets him the medicine he needs, she really shows she cares. Despite her concern for his well-being, she doesn't reciprocate the feelings he's so intensely proclaimed. But this disparity in what Katniss feels versus what Peeta obviously feels creates something that's rather painful to watch. If Peeta was a douchebag character, you might not feel bad, but he shows himself throughout the book to be self-sacrificing, humble and generally just a very sweet, honest person. So at the end of the book, when she tells him the truth, it's nothing less than soul crushing. The boy with the bread echoes throughout your mind with the final words, like the residual notes of a gorgeous song that's come to an end.
This book is amazing. It's one that reminded me why I love books so much and has reawakened a want to read around the world. The spark inside carries across in beautiful writing that haunts you long after you've finished the trilogy.
If you haven't read this book yet, add it to your Goodreads list!


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Sunday, 23 November 2008
Spot the Difference
15 comments:
I noticed that a while ago and you never see them together do you!!??ReplyDelete
I've definitely noticed the similarity! Fantastic! I would so love to see Jo Brand on Strictly. Doubt she'd go for it though. She's possibly one of the funniest women on the planet - and one of the most likeable too!ReplyDelete
Love the snoozy pics of the various members of the FMF household.
The do say 'let sleeping dogs lie' ;-)ReplyDelete
I read about the Jo Brand/John Sargeant thing. I'll bet John's a bit more graceful on the dance floor - Jo doesn't seem the sequins and rumba type!
Love both John and Jo - they're funny and warm. Far too nice for Strictly (oooh! bit of controversy!)ReplyDelete
I also think Martin Clunes might also be a relative of Jo and John - give him a few years and he will be the spitting image...maybeReplyDelete
P.S. I LOVE strictly!
I love Strictly too. Hmmm.....I think Daisie may have something there. Btw is Joe still speaking to you? lolReplyDelete
what great pics of the snoozy pair!i think the pics of Jo and John are hilarious! wasn't strictly great, but i soo didn't want jodie to go.ReplyDelete
Great doubles Gina! And isn't it funny how amusing both Jo Brand and John Sergeant are?ReplyDelete
Spot the Difference? Hmmm...Barley is lying in a nice neat little circle in a basket and Joe lying sprawled out all over the sofa so that nobody else can use it. And do you think that teenage-boy-pose is familiar to me???ReplyDelete
That must have been some night if your lad couldn't even make it upstairs to his bed!ReplyDelete
The Jo/John thing makes perfect sense .... even down to the names!
This is SO funny - every single week we have a debate about it! Google says 'no', though...don't believe it - they MUST be related!!!ReplyDelete
Love the snoozy pair xx bet he loves you for that!
You could have seen something similar on my couch on Sunday!ReplyDelete
Hahaha at JS and JB - we have often remarked on the similarity in this house!ReplyDelete
Hee hee - when you see them side by side it's actually quite scary!!ReplyDelete
John Sargeant and Jo Brand that is....not Joe and Barley!!
Love the sleeping pics!ReplyDelete
I love getting your comments and I love to read what you have to say so thank you for taking the time! I reply when I can by email... or if you are a no reply blogger, then I sometimes post a reply in the comments.


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Sunday, November 03, 2013
German sympathizers or agents shot down a plane? Huh?
Orson Welles is the man credited for the film classic Citizen Kane. He directs the film and acts in it and he directed other films as well and acted in a lot more films than he directed.
He died October 20, 1985.
Henry Jaglom is also an actor and a director. He directed Orson opposite Tuesday Weld and Jack Nicholson in 1971's A Safe Place. He's the original independent film director. He directed Dennis Hopper (1976's Tracks), Karen Black (1983's Can She Bake A Cherry Pie?), Vanessa Redgrave (1997's Deja Vu) and many more great performers and films.
Orson Welles and Henry Jaglom were friends and Orson asked Jaglom to tape their conversations which he did. He even had them transcribed and then handed them over to Peter Biskind who edited them into My Lunches With Orson: Conversations Between Henry Jaglom and Orson Welles.
The result? A lively transcript in featuring would be guest stars (Jack Lemmon, for instance, gets invited to sit down and join them while Richard Burton is sent packing).
Here's a typical excerpt.
HJ: Now, Lombard could not have been very bright.
OW: Very bright. Brighter than any director she ever worked with. She had all the ideas. Jack Barrymore told me the same thing. He said, "I've never played with an actress so intelligent in my life."
HJ: But Gable was certainly not bright.
OW: No, but terribly nice. Just a nice big hunk of man. If you're working hard that long -- if you have to be in makeup at five fifteen, and you get home at seven o'clock -- how much brightness do you want? The guys just wanted to stagger home at seven o'clock -- how much brightness do you want? The guys just wanted to stagger home -- and, if they could, get laid. Otherwise, a happy smile and get ready for the next day's work.
HJ: So Lombard was also killed in a plane crash?
OW: Yes. You know why her plane went down?
HJ: Why?
OW: It was full of big-time American physicists, shot down by the Nazis. She was one of the only civilians on the plane. The plane was filled with bullet holes.
HJ: It was shot down by who?
OW: Nazi agents in America. It's a real thriller story.
HJ: That's preposterous. What was she doing on a plane full of physicists? Do people know this?
OW: The people who know it, know it. It was greatly hushed up. The official story was that it ran into the mountain.
JH: The agent had antiaircraft guns?
OW: No. In those days, the planes couldn't get up that high. They'd just clear the mountains. The bad guys knew the exact route that the plane had to take. They were standing on a ridge, which was the toughest thing for the plane to get over. One person can shoot a plane down, and if they had five or six people there, they couldn't miss. Now, I cannot swear it's true. I've been told this by people who swear it's true, who I happen to believe. But that's the closet you can get, without having some security clearance. No one wanted to admit that we had people in the middle of America who could shoot down a plane for the Nazix. Because then everybody would start denoucning anybody with a German grandmother. Which Roosevelt was very worried about. The First World War had only happened some twenty-odd years before. They were getting lynched. And he was very anxious for nothing like that to be repeated.
Posted by Third Estate Sunday Review at Sunday, November 03, 2013


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Denim Delight: Be it any occasion, you cannot go wrong with denims. So pick your favorite pair of denims and team it up with a bright top. Slide in your favorite high heels and carry a sling bag. You are ready to make your weekend beautiful.
Cute dressy: You can wear your sundress or any other dress with some funky footwear and nude handbag. Accessorize your look with some gold jewelry and you are ready.
Hot party chic: If you want to add some fun moments of clubbing and party to your weekend, wear a dark dress and let the golden footwear and handbag do the magic. No matter how tired you are, you will feel fresh and happy for the weekend fun.
Cool and sporty: For the outdoor girls, who want to enjoy the sporty vibes on weekends, a comfortable and cool pair of shorts and T-shirt does the best. Team up with a cute back pack and cozy shoes to get going!


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Dear One:
This page will facilitate a few considerations you need to know before you consider purification. Please read the generalities and them review the specifics for your dosha.
I strongly suggest you contact us to determinate the nature of your treatments.
- Understanding Oleation and how to do it at home
- Triphala: Better than mother's care.
- How to do 3 days purification at home
- What is Monodiet therapy
- What to drink while you are in purification
- Parasite cleanse
- Kicharee purification soup.
- Samyoga: The art of food combination
- Incompatible food combinations
- Jaggery more than a natural sugar
- Turmeric purify drink
- Organic Ayurvedic toothpaste
- Castor oil: between torture and radiant health
- Tips to raise low blood pressure
- LIme and Rose Summer Drink
- Honey Orange Kombucha Cocktail
- Lemon Cumin Dressing
- Balsamic Citrus Dressing
- Cilantro Pesto for Mercury detox.
What to drink while in purification
Tulasi: the Holy Herb
How to balance pitta dosha
What to drink while in purification
What to drink while in purification
Tulasi: the Holy Herb
Kapha balancing detox soup- mung dhal-
Mung Dal- food of the goods


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Don't let the frustrations of relocation stray you from the happiness of the day! So many people could simplify their move if only they hired a moving company to help them. Read below to learn 6 of the biggest reasons to hire a moving company to help with your move.
1- Moving professionals have the equipment and skills needed to relocate your belongings with ease. This includes large appliances, furniture, etc. that cannot easily be moved per the usual.
2- The move is done and over with much faster if residential moving services in gaithersburg md are used. Don't you want to move into your home as quickly as possible? Moving pros make things happen.
3- Do you want to risk injuring yourself during the move? Hire a moving professional to lift all the heavy stuff and you can enjoy your new home rather than a trip to the ER with aches and pains.
4- Moving professionals are familiar with the area, so if you are relocating to unfamiliar territory, they certainly ease the strain of the day.
5- When you hire a moving company, it's easy to sit back and relax while someone else tends to the hard work. Sometimes, being the observer is far better than getting your hands dirty! This is one such occasion.
6- Experience is important, especially when moving from one location to the next. Moving professionals are backed by experience and expertise that gets you through the move with ease.
A moving professional is there to help with short and long-distance moves no matter how much stuff needs to be moved. Don't make things more difficult for yourself and attempt to move without expert help by your side. Moving professionals make the day so much easier!


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(Copenhagen) The Danish government on Tuesday proposed a ban on Islamic full-face veils such as the niqab and burqa in public spaces, making it likely to become the next European country to restrict the wearing of the religious garment. Justice Minister Soren Pape Poulsen said in a statement:
"It is incompatible with the values in Danish society and disrespectful to the community to keep one's face hidden when meeting each other in public spaces, …with a ban on covering the face, we are drawing a line in the sand and underlining that in Denmark we show each other trust and respect by meeting face to face"
The centre-right government is expected to present a bill to parliament in the spring, with the support of the country's second largest party, the anti-immigration Danish People's Party, the proposed legislation is likely to be adopted. Any violation of the ban would lead to a fine of 1,000 kroner ($166, 134 euros). Repeated violations would be fined up to 10,000 kroner.


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Many people have heard of Mrs Beeton's Book of Household Management and everyone who has heard of the book probably has an image of Mrs. Beeton. For many she is a jolly plump middle-aged matronly woman of indefinable age wearing a flour covered apron. In fact her book was published when she was only 26.
Isabella Beeton (nee Mayson) was born on 12 March 1836, the first of four children. When her father died her mother remarried a widower with four children of his own. The pair went on to have an additional thirteen children. Isabella was the oldest girl amongst the twenty-one children. Her eccentric early life included living with some of her siblings in Epsom Grandstand, which her step-father owned, outside of the racing season.
Isabella married the publisher, Samuel Beeton, in July of 1856. In 1852, he had started publication of the English Woman's Domestic Magazine a monthly journal costing twopence which was to become the progenitor of the middle-class woman's magazine. Isabella's contributions to the magazine after her marriage, including the introduction of coloured fashion plates, dramatically increased its circulation figures.
From 1859–1861, she wrote a monthly supplement to The Englishwoman's Domestic Magazine In October 1861 these supplements were published as a single volume, The Book of Household Management Comprising information for the Mistress, Housekeeper, Cook, Kitchen-Maid, Butler, Footman, Coachman, Valet, Upper and Under House-Maids, Lady's-Maid, Maid-of-all-Work, Laundry-Maid, Nurse and Nurse-Maid, Monthly Wet and Sick Nurses, etc. etc.—also Sanitary, Medical, & Legal Memoranda: with a History of the Origin, Properties, and Uses of all Things Connected with Home Life and Comfort.
Samuel's family were from Suffolk, he spent a proportion of his early life with his Suffolk relatives, and the couple visited the area many times. Their first child, Orchant, who died aged 3 months in 1857, is buried in Newmarket.
Just over two years later a second son was born and was christened Samuel Orchart . He died on New Year's Eve, 1861, at the age of two years. The couple were to have two additional sons, Orchart who was born on New Year's Eve 1863 and Mayson two years later in January 1865. Isabella contracted the great 19th Century scourge of childbirth, puerperal fever, after the birth of her fourth son and died a week later, aged 28.
Isabella Beeton was not a chef nor a cook but a journalist. Many of her recipes came from other publications. She never knew how well known her book became nor the subsequent use of her name on publications that she had no hand in writing. Versions of the Book of Household Management and many others with the Beeton name can still be bought today.


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An unusual procedural motion that enabled one member to shut down the Senate's Monday session, visibly frustrating Senate President Therese Murray, has senators contemplating a rules change to prevent it from happening again.
An unusual procedural motion that enabled one member to shut down the Senate's Monday session, visibly frustrating Senate President Therese Murray, has senators contemplating a rules change to prevent it from happening again.
Even Republicans, who often employ procedural tactics to delay or postpone debate, were baffled – and in some cases, impressed – by the move by Sen. Susan Fargo, which precluded an expected debate on casino gambling.
After failing to muster a quorum Saturday, senators had been filing into the chamber for the start of debate when Murray asked if members had any object to "proceeding with the Orders of the Day," a standard request, usually unchallenged, which permits the Senate to begin work on its printed agenda.
Fargo immediately rose to object, and after several minutes of private discussion among members, Senate counsel and the Senate Clerk William Welch, Murray slammed the gavel and declared the session over. Fargo's move was unusual because it prevented the Senate from considering any of the items on its agenda, including local bills and a debt restructuring bill intended to balance next year's budget.
"This is news to a lot of us that that is an allowable action," said Sen. Thomas Kennedy (D-Brockton), a proponent of expanded gambling. "If it is, then obviously the member who continues to do that, or members, have to justify their actions. We can always address the rules if they're being used improperly."
Sen. Steven Panagiotakos, the Senate's budget chief, said with a laugh that the Senate's rules could need revising.
"In the Senate you have unique rules that may need to be looked at in the future," Panagiotakos said. "At some point, it becomes dilatory."
After the session, Senate leaders headed for Murray's office, and Senate officials said Monday afternoon they were still researching the rules to determine whether senators may continue shutting down business, or if Senate leaders have any recourse. Sen. Fred Berry (D-Peabody), chairman of the Senate Rules Committee, did not respond to repeated requests for comment.
Asked if she hoped expanded gambling opponents could prevent the bill's final passage with procedural delays, Fargo said, "I don't know that we'll be able to do that." She added, "I'm not sure it's a realistic goal. It might be a wish."
Some Senate veterans said they had never seen anyone object to proceeding with the Orders of the Day. Sens. Joan Menard and Robert O'Leary said after the session that they don't remember an instance where any senator objected to taking up the bills on the Senate calendar during a formal session.
Fargo's objection marked the fourth session dating back to last Wednesday that casino deliberations ended with a delay.
Sen. Robert Hedlund said senators are taking advantage of their options under the Senate's rules.
"There are people that are actually engaged in the process and I think really playing the role that maybe they should be playing given where they are position-wise," said Hedlund (R-Weymouth). "It's nice to see people engaged and it's nice to see people actually being cognizant of the rules and utilizing the rules that are available to them."
Senate Republicans were the first to delay action on the bill, with last week's efforts to force amendment titles to be printed on the calendar, followed by a "lay on the table" motion that automatically pushes debate over on bills until the next Senate session. "Opponents may have looked at what procedural maneuvering the Republicans were doing and this is a direct reaction to that," Hedlund said.
Asked about Fargo's motion after the session, Senate Minority Leader Richard Tisei smiled and said, "That was a good one. That was good."
On Saturday, Sen. Richard Moore (D-Uxbridge) forced an end to the session when he doubted the presence of a quorum and Senate leaders failed to round up the required 21 members to continue business. Moore told the News Service after Monday's session that when he doubted the presence of a quorum Saturday, he was unaware that it would end the session.
Republicans have raised their own process concerns, decrying a move by Senate Democrats to attach further amendments to their proposal to cut or roll back taxes.
Asked about those GOP complaints, Panagiotakos replied, "Some of the issues need further amendment."
The Lowell Democrat defended the process of layering amendments, calling it part of a functioning democratic body.
"The bottom line is if the majority doesn't want to take up the further amendments, the majority wins," he told reporters while walking back to his office.


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Spring is the perfect time to spruce up the outdoor areas around your home. Adding an extra special feature before the summer months arrive will make time spent in your yard or garden that much more meaningful.
Where to begin with adding something special? Here are three suggestions.
Decorate with sound
Adding a set of gorgeous, melodic wind chimes from QMT is an excellent way to add an interesting dimension to your outdoor space. Thanks to the beautiful sounds from the wide variety of wind chime sizes and tones, your garden or outdoor seating area can be that much more soothing and relaxing.
Selecting the chime that best complements your space can be challenging, but there are a few simple questions that will help you choose the best option.
The easiest question concerns size: would you like a big wind chime or a smaller model? The size of your chime will affect how it sounds as well as how it looks in your space. Weigh each of your options before you make your choice!
Display your chimes for maximum impact
In addition to choosing the right wind chime sound for your space, it's also important to consider exactly how you'll display your wind chime. Choosing the right display option can maximize the audio and visual impact of your chime.
QMT Windchimes offers a diverse selection of chime displays that can suit any chime or setting. From simple tree-based options to more elaborate wooden displays, we can offer the display you need to make your outdoor space come alive.
Bring birds to your yard for a new twist on outdoor decorations
It may not be decorating in the traditional sense, but adding a bird feeder or birdhouse to your outdoor space can add a new dimension of visual intrigue. Adding one of QMT Windchimes' attractive feeders or houses will not only bring the visual appeal of a beautiful, natural wood structure to your yard or garden, but it will also bring many beautiful new visitors as birds take up residence in your area.