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The Daily Journal named Haynes and Boone, LLP Partner M.C. Sungaila as one of the Top Women Lawyers in California. This was her 10th time (and ninth consecutive appearance) on the publication's list of 100 leading women lawyers in the state.
Separately, Sungaila also was nominated for the Orange County Business Journal's 24th annual Women of the Year Awards, which were presented May 3.
In a profile of Sungaila, the Daily Journal cited, among other things, two wins in two months that she secured at the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
Here's an excerpt:
The first [win] challenged a district court's invalidation of [an] employment arbitration agreement, and the appellate court ruled in Sungaila's favor in February, one week after her oral argument. Nabors v. Ridgeway, 15-56675 (9th Cir. Feb. 13, 2018). Then in March, she argued on behalf of Mentor Graphics Corp. as a respondent in an appeal over a district court's dismissal of a breach of fiduciary complaint. The plaintiffs were minority shareholders who argued on appeal that the parties' Delaware choice-of-law provision is unenforceable, and California fiduciary duty law should apply. The appellate panel affirmed the district court decision in April. Kaul v. Mentor Graphics Corp., 16-17139 (9th Cir. April 16, 2018). ...
A graduate of UCLA School of Law, Sungaila embraced appellate work after trying her hand at trials. "I felt badly for witnesses if I had to cross-examine them, so I realized I'm probably not a trial lawyer," Sungaila said. "Right after a trial I had, I wrote my first amicus brief."
The Journal also noted 9th Circuit wins in 2017 and 2016 on behalf of a gay Mexican man's asylum bid and a transgender woman from Mexico who also was seeking asylum in the United States, along with Sungaila's frequent work on amicus briefs.
To read the full article, click here. (Subscription required)
A partner in Haynes and Boone's Orange County office since 2015, Sungaila has briefed and argued appeals raising cutting-edge and core business issues and helped secure important rights for women and girls nationally and internationally. She was involved in two of 2017's five biggest appellate reversals in California cited by the Daily Journal. Also in 2017, she was named the Orange County Women Lawyers Association as Attorney of the Year and received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, whose recipients include seven U.S. presidents, Nobel Prize winners, athletes, leaders of industry, artists and others whose work has made a lasting impact on humanity, recognizing her combined professional achievements and humanitarian and pro bono work.
She has been named to the Who's Who Legal (Law Business Research Ltd) 2018 edition for Product Liability Defense. And the 2018 Chambers USA legal directory (Chambers & Partners) recognized her for appellate litigation in California.
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As the marketplace becomes increasingly saturated with similar products and services, it's important for an organization to stand out. A large part of this responsibility is left to marketing professionals, but public relations and corporate communications departments also help improve the reputation and visibility of a company. Heading these departments are vice presidents of corporate communications. Sometimes referred to as the vice president of public relations, this PR professional oversees the creation of media strategies in response to the public's perception of the company. Salaries typically reflect this high profile position.
PR Salary Overview
Public relations managers averaged $105,690 a year in 2011, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Being a national average, higher salaries in certain industries, such as wireless telecommunications, online shopping and apparel, can skew this figure. A better representation of earnings is often median wage. For this occupation, half of public relations managers earned $93,310 a year or less.
Vice President
A survey conducted by The Creative Group, a national recruiter for interactive, design and marketing talent, found that vice presidents of public relations at the corporate level earned $115,750 to $190,500 a year. The Public Relations Society of America reports similar earnings, estimating the average salary for a vice president of corporate communications at $145,700 a year, as of 2011. Senior vice presidents, on the other hand, earned closer to $163,200 a year, on average.
Local Variances
As with any career, location affects salaries, and corporate communications is no exception. In cities such as New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, vice presidents of corporate communications averaged $143,400 a year, according to the Public Relations Society of America. Those working in cities such as Boston, Dallas and San Francisco often garner higher paychecks, averaging $155,200 a year. Senior vice presidents, of course, earn more. In New York City, for example, a senior VP can expect a salary of $156,700 a year. If this same VP were to relocate to Boston, her earnings would likely increase to $174,500 a year.
Job Outlook
From 2010 to 2020, public relations managers are expected to experience a 21 percent employment growth, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is much faster than the projected growth for all occupations – 14 percent within this same time frame. Public relations and corporate communications departments are responsible for the image of a company. And since public opinion is directly related to earnings, organizations need VPs, directors and managers to respond to any change in this opinion.
2018 Salary Information for Public Relations and Fundraising Managers
Public relations and fundraising managers earned a median annual salary of $114,800 in May 2018, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. On the low end, public relations and fundraising managers earned a 10th percentile salary of $78,710, meaning 90 percent earned more than this amount. The 90th percentile salary is $151,970, meaning 10 percent earn more. In 2018, 81,200 people were employed in the U.S. as public relations and fundraising managers.
Video of the Day
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: Public Relations and Fundraising Managers
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook – Public Relations Managers and Specialists
- PRSA Job Center: Salaries for Corporate Communicators
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook: Public Relations and Fundraising Managers
- Career Trend: Public Relations and Fundraising Managers
Photo Credits
- Jupiterimages/Comstock/Getty Images

subset: commoncrawl


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Trojans get their man
Instead of dropping a bomb, Los Angeles (Calif.) Dorsey running back Stafon Johnson lifted the spirits of Trojan fans nationwide.
In front of a national audience on ESPNnews, Johnson announced he would sign a letter of intent to the University of Southern California next week. Johnson, rated the No. 2 running back prospect in the country, chose USC over Georgia.
"I just want to let everbody know The Prince is staying in California," said Johnson during his announcement on ESPNnews. "I want to thank my mom, my dad, my grandfather, my church . . . everybody that has been praying for me."
Johnson becomes the 18th verbal commitment of USC's 2006 class and the fifth five-star recruit penciled in to play next fall. While many assumed USC would be his choice all along, Johnson claimed his final decision was not an easy one.
At this time yesterday, his father Stan admitted that Stafon was leaning toward the Bulldogs. However, Trojans' running back coach Todd McNair convinced him to stay home for college.
"My chemistry with coach McNair has grown through the recruiting process," said Johnson. "I fell in love with Todd McNair - he calls me his son, his young dog. I just knew I couldn't give up on him."
Having held a 3.0 GPA for most of his high school career, Johnson became fully qualified to enroll at USC last March.
This past season, Johnson ran for 1,866 yards and 17 touchdowns on 212 carries. While Johnson was also rated as a five-star safety prospect by Rivals.com earlier in the year, he's projected to play running back at USC.
Excluding Johnson, Lake Butler (Fla.) Union County standout C.J. Spiller is only one other uncommitted running back in the country that holds a scholarship offer from USC. The five-star all-purpose back officially visited USC in November and will announce his college decision Feb 1 despite reports that he verbally committed to USC last weekend.
Stay tuned to USCFootball.com for more on Stafon Johnson's big announcement, as Ryan Abraham will be on site to get exclusive photos and comments from USC's newest commitment!


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METALLICA: Fan-Created, LOU REED-Free Edit Of 'The View' Available
A two-minute fan-created edit of "The View" from "Lulu" — the collaboration between Lou Reed and METALLICA — can be streamed in the Vimeo clip below. The edit features none of Reed's vocal contributions and consists solely of METALLICA's parts, with guitarist/vocalist James Hetfield telling us repeatedly that he is the view, the root, the progress, the aggressor and the "table," which in the song's official lyrics is actually written as "the tablet," as in the blocks of stone.
"Lulu" will be released on November 1 in North America via Warner Bros. Records and one day earlier (October 31) in the rest of the world through Universal Music. The CD was co-produced by Reed, METALLICA, Hal Willner — who has produced albums for Reed, Marianne Faithfull, and Laurie Anderson, among others — and Greg Fidelman. Fidelman also mixed the record.
METALLICA frontman James Hetfield sought to soothe fans alarmed by the music they've heard so far from the band's upcoming collaboration with Lou Reed in an interview with an Argentinian radio station. Hetfield said about the album, "It's definitely different. This is not the new METALLICA studio record . . . I'm sure there's some METALLICA fans that will think that 'This is the new METALLICA record. I don't like it. I'm scared.' And it's not. This is a project that was presented to us that we wanted to challenge ourselves with."
Hetfield added, "There will be fans that it will be difficult for them to understand, but we can't stop being METALLICA, we can't stop exploring what we wanna do as an artist. We don't like limiting ourselves. But we're not doing it just to mess with the fans; that's for sure. If they don't like it, wait until the next record where we're fully focused on METALLICA, which we're actually writing right now."
Hetfield described how the collaboration was born after Reed and METALLICA jammed together at the 25th anniversary concerts for the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. He recalled, "After the playing, [Reed] felt so good, he felt so alive that backstage there were some friends of his coming up to us and saying, 'What did you do to him? We've never seen him smile so much.' And then he just yelled down the hallway as we were leaving, 'We should do a record together' . . . He had told us that we're the band he always wanted to have."
On whether METALLICA and Reed will perform "Lulu" live, Hetfield said, "We would love to do some shows — I don't know how many, I don't know where. How many can we do together? It doesn't need to be 20 shows and it doesn't need to be one show — somewhere in the middle there, I think, to give everyone a taste of it and just see what it's like."
Lou Reed-free version of "The View":
"The View" (with Metallica only) from MetalInsider.net on Vimeo.
EPK (Electronic Press Kit):


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Nathan Klinkhammer is the Director of Payroll and Benefits for Portland State University, working with the Payroll, Accounting, and Benefits & Leaves teams. In this role, he oversees the staff who manage (among other things) benefits, retirement, FMLA/OFLA, and worker's compensation, as well as the experts who ensure that each month ends with paychecks for PSU faculty and staff.
Prior to his work at PSU, Nathan worked in the public and private sectors, most recently administering the retirement plans for the Oregon University System. Much of his career has been focused on translating regulatory and institutional policy into smooth customer-facing experiences and implementing business analytics to synthesize large data sets into relevant metrics used to drive organizational change.
Nathan attended Lafayette College in Pennsylvania where he earned a bachelor's degree in Biology and English. Those analytical and communication skills served him well in the next decades spent working in finance and human resources. Along the way, he also earned his master's in Management at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.


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2 charged with reckless operation after police receive speeding complaint
MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) � New Hampshire police arrested two motorcyclists and charged them with driving more than twice the speed limit on Route 101 in Manchester.
Police say they clocked the bikers at 128 mph in a 55 mph zone.
Two state troopers responded after receiving a complaint at about 6:30 p.m. about a large number of motorcyclists operating recklessly as they travelled along Route 101 in the area of Exit 9. The two bikers were arrested as the got onto Interstate 93 south in Manchester.
Rembert Zambrana, 34, and Erin Crete, 31, both of Litchfield, where charged with reckless operation and transportation of marijuana.
They were released on bail and are due to appear in Manchester District Court on October 6.


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What are their car rental prices like?
You can always score savings deals when you rent a car through Sixt, but as you probably know, the price you'll pay depends upon the type of vehicle you choose and how long you need it. For the best deal, look for car rental prices under $25.
Where will I find Sixt Car Rental locations?
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Car rental locations in the U.S. and abroad. Sixt Rent a Car has over 50 locations across the United States, and they are also in over 105 countries worldwide, so it's easy to find cars for rent wherever your destination may be.
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Sixt Car Rental serves the United States from locations in Washington, California, Nevada, Arizona, Georgia, New Jersey, Texas, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, South Carolina, North Carolina and Florida. Sixt also has over 4,000 locations in more than 100 other countries in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, the United Kingdom, South and Central America, Mexico, the South Pacific and other regions. You can book your rental vehicle at Sixt.com for a low fee. You also can save by using your Valpak.com Sixt Car Rental coupon code.
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Here's a quick Photoshop trick that takes the guesswork out of rotating your images. Continue reading
On the Mend
I've been sick for a couple weeks now, but the antibiotics finally seem to be doing their thing. Updates with slightly more content should resume shortly.
In addition to wandering around in a haze and attempting to sleep under my desk, I've been working on graphics for a series of short films about Japanese internment during WWII. Certainly not the cheeriest topic, but interesting nonetheless. I didn't know much about it going in, so I'm learning a lot from this project — even if I can't go crazy-creative with the visuals.
I've also gotten to design several proposals for documentaries my company's hoping to put into production. I really like proposals. There's just something very satisfying about the process: you're taking something still in the planning stages, condensing it into a solid presentation, giving it a visual style and adding a bit of polish. It definitely makes potential investors go "Oh, you're really serious about doing this…" way more than a Word document can, and helps everyone involved get a sense of what the film will look like.
I always get really excited about film proposals and they in turn make me excited about the films.
Zora Neale Hurston: Jump at the Sun on PBS American Masters
It's Photoshop Phriday!
This week's Photoshop Phriday feature on Something Awful was "Reverse Magazines" — take a magazine, find the reverse of the title (i.e. Bad Housekeeping or Illiterate's Digest), and make a cover for it.
So I had some fun with Cosmpolitan:
My first Photoshop Phriday. And I got in! I'm very excited.
Check out the rest of the magazines, though — there are ten pages of covers posted, and lots of great ones.
Fanning the AEFlames
AEFlame is a free, immensely powerful After Effects plugin capable of generating gorgeous fractals which evolve over time. You can use it to create elegant abstract backgrounds, swirly patterns that bounce around to music, even images that look like something from deep space. Continue reading
No Schoolhouse Rock Here
People keep asking what exactly it is I *do* at my job. Continue reading
Stop working for free, guys.
Okay, so user-generated content is all the rage, and there are a million contests where you can make a commercial and win money.
I'm all for the democratization of television and whatnot. Putting your own short films on YouTube is one thing. But here you're doing a huge company's work for free. Win $57,000 for your video about ketchup? Sounds great! …until you think about how much Heinz would be paying an ad agency to produce just one nationally-broadcast commercial. But this way, they get a huge range of choices for free (tons of really creative people sent stuff in), and are getting the actual content they use at a discount.
Sure, it would be cool to see your work on TV, especially if you have talent and make interesting, original things that really deserve to be seen. But odds are good you won't win, and in most of these competitions the company takes ownership of all submitted ideas — whether they pay you or not. One of the cable networks had a "win the funds to make your sitcom pilot!" contest a while back that had some of my friends really excited… after all, they'd been kicking around some of their ideas for years. Then they realized the network got the full rights to every show idea suggested. Even if they didn't make the first cut they'd've been unable to sell their scripts elsewhere. ALWAYS READ THE FINE PRINT. Same goes for most of the make-us-a-commercial gigs. You could lose the contest, then they could re-make your idea later as a major campaign and you wouldn't see a cent.
Basically, what I'm getting at here is that if you're any good you shouldn't be working for free — especially for people who could easily afford to pay you. YOUR IDEAS ARE VALUABLE. Go make something amazing, and don't do it to sell ketchup.
Fractal Wallpaper
Abstract fractal wallpaper created with AEFlame.
(All files are 1680×1050.) Continue reading


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Cape Town - Johann van Graan is the only member of former Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer's coaching staff still contracted to SARU.
Meyer resigned from his position late last year following the Springboks' failure to win the Rugby World Cup in England.
According to Rapport, it's still unsure what Van Graan's role will be when the next Bok coach is named.
He was forwards coach under Meyer and also helped with the attacking side of things.
Meyer's other assistants - John McFarland (defence), Ricardo Loubscher (backs) and Pieter de Villiers (scrum) - have not been offered new contracts for the Springbok management team.
The new Springbok coach is expected to be named at the end of March, with the likes of Allister Coetzee, John Plumtree, Johan Ackermann and Rassie Erasmus mentioned as possible candidates.


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Flagstop Depot interiors
Does anyone know anything about the interiors of small flagstop depots (i.e: Chelsea on the KC, Alna Center on the WW&F, Sanders on the Sandy River)? I am curious whether they were finished or unfinished inside, if they had plaster or wooden interior walls, what paint colors were used, if they had furniture or benches of any sort, etc. question posed on Mainetwofooters
Narrow Gauge in the Sheepscot Valley, Gary Kohler's book, has a couple of "first time published" pictures of Alna Center. Page 79 shows a clear shot of a very neat flagstop, with milk cans out front and an 8 over 8 window on the end and the door open. You can't see the interior but there is a smoke stack on the roof for a pot bellied stove. The picture on the next page shows the building in near collapse in 1975, no roof now to hide the details. The back wall shows stud construction with 1″ horizontal sheathing under the clapboards. I would guess that the building inside for most/all of it's life was bare studs with the sheathing under the clapboards, but nothing else finished in the interior. Just the stove and perhaps a bench to sit on to get out of the weather. Gary's book also furnishes plans for this building, complete with a suggested framing layout. If it were finished, the usual treatment MIGHT be, wainscotting about 48″ high, capped with a rail of some kind, and horizontal boards above that, shiplapped perhaps to tighten the joints up, and a wood ceiling. Wood was cheap, easily worked, and provided some insulation from the weather. The wainscotting would provide the decorative touch needed to look prosperous. Stove and benches would likely complete the scene there as well, although the stove might be optional if there were no one to tend it. Vic H
WW&F stations, as far as Chris and I know, there are no interior photos of any WW&F station in operation, and no info has come to light regarding the interior color/colors. Gary Kohler M2FQ message on HOn30 group


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This purpose of this podcast, The HeART of Dating, is to unmask the ever so ambiguous world of dating in the Christian world. Dating is not explicitly discussed in the Bible, simply because at that time, dating did not exist! While there are resources spread out across the years, there are not many centralized areas where Christians can access dating advice, help, and guidance easily and in a fashion that is accessible.
The ultimate hope is that the HeART of Dating Podcast will start a healthy conversation for men and women and provide wise input and direction as we answer some tough questions and uncover some transformative ways to develop a healthy attitude and approach to dating as a Christian.
Kait is looking to interview Christian leaders who have a heart for this topic. Should you be interested, or know a Christian leader who has a heart for this topic, please contact Kait at firstname.lastname@example.com!
The HeART of Dating Podcast was started by Kait Warman, a lifestyle, wellness, style, and faith filled blogger with the purpose of showcasing how to thrive with purpose! You can find her at www.kaitness.com . Over the course of the last few years, Kait has developed a particular passion on the topic of dating in the Christian world. She was invited to speak on this topic including at her church conference, Vintage Church LA, and has written multiple blog posts regarding her personal experiences in dating, love, heartbreak and relationships. It has become evident that God clearly put this topic on her heart which has led her to launching this podcast!


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I must admit, I love the cheesy public-domain elevator Muzak paired with the stereotypical 1950s fashion sense: girls in long skirts, guys in slacks and bow-ties. There's some cute site gags (DNA sequencing by typewriter) and cultural taboos (smoking at the bench!).
It looks like they had a lot of fun making this video. Enjoy it . . .and maybe apply for a job!
Happy Friday,
*Despite my earlier misgivings, it seems they're a real company, based on the Boston waterfront.


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Chalet del Sogno
This hotel is a real treat! Individually decorated rooms in soft, alpine colours – you can really smell the local larch and spruce woods used to create this beautiful retreat. It's just next to the high-speed Spinale gondola, and an easy walk to the centre. The highlight of the spa is an underwater gym!


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Demystifying Occult
The definition of occult ranges from "mystical" to "hidden from view" in the English language. In the first of a series of posts, Sadhguru demystifies and helps us understand a much misunderstood term.
The English word "occult" isn't very clear and specific. Occult simply means a certain capability, but because certain people used this capability in irresponsible and negative ways, the word "occult" has come to mean something negative.
Occult is just technology. Today, you can pick up your cellphone in India and talk to someone in the United States. Occult is just like this – you can talk to someone in the United States without the cellphone. It is a slightly more advanced technology. This will happen with modern technology after some time as it evolves. Already, I have a Bluetooth mechanism where if I just say the person's name, the phone dials for me. A day will come when even this is not needed. Just a small implant will do.
Occult is when you manage to talk even without Bluetooth. It is just technology on a different level, but it is physical. You are using your body, mind and energy to do these things. Ultimately, no matter what the technology, you are only using your body, mind and energy. Usually you use the other material to serve you, but the fundamental material that you use to manufacture a cellphone or any piece of technology is just your body, mind and energy.
Initially, you had to use a lot of material if you wanted to manufacture a phone. Now we are continuously trying to reduce that. A day will come when we don't need any material – that will be occult. Modern science and occult are bound to meet somewhere if some small changes happen in the understanding of what is what. The physical can be used in many ways. For example if you take information technology, what started as a stone tablet has now come to a tiny chip. What would take a whole mountain to be carved upon, is today stored on a tiny chip. The physical has become subtler. When you use the subtlest dimension of physical, we call it occult.
In many parts of the world, occult is passing off as a spiritual process, which is not good. When we say spiritual, we are talking about going beyond the physical, to bring an experience within you which is not of the physical. Occult is using the subtlest phenomena of the physical, but still it is physical.
As modern technology becomes subtler, the need for occult will come down. Let's say a thousand years ago, I was in Coimbatore and you were in Delhi, and I wanted to give you an instruction. You traveling all the way and walking down to Coimbatore or me walking up to Delhi would have been an impractical thing, so I spent time mastering my occult so that I could deliver this to you. But now that I have a cellphone, I don't have to do it. I can still do it but to prepare you to be receptive enough – to be clear enough to receive it and not doubt it – will take an unnecessarily long time. I would rather just call you. So, occult is becoming more irrelevant by the day because modern technology is advancing at a great pace.
So, when we say occult, because people have heard of some lousy occultist who tried to destroy someone's lives or cause disease or death, they think occult is always a negative thing. Socially, you may have been exposed to only that kind of people. But occult is also of the highest order. Shiva is an occultist. Not all occult is necessarily negative. Occult can be a positive force. It all depends on who is using it and for what purpose.
Editor's Note: Stay tuned next week, for upcoming posts on occult.
WOW! I have never heard anyone explain the occult this beautifully... unmistakably Sadhguru style. Simply great!
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yes, thats true, a knife is a knife , you can cut veggietables with it and at same time , you can kill some one.
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Shiva is greatest occultist great way to finish the article several people confused with it black magic and ignore the important of that. this is one the essential power which needed to regulate the world . Om Nama shivaya
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Sadhguru, How often do you use a bluetooth to call us? Is it not true that an intense thought and a longing heart will charge the air around with your Presence? I only wish the receptivity remains on, every single moment. Pranam.
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Namaskaram Sadhguru somebody a relative when we make a phone call just to talk to them I mean really that time they got something to say or something will be happening with them , so is it a conscious or six sense or occult or I don't know could you please share some thing on this, I bow down
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Law allows expats to own one real estate property
Sources disclosed there is a law that allows expatriates to possess one real estate property measuring 1,000 square meters maximum which should be used for private housing.
Sources said the laws in the home countries of the expatriates could be similar to that of Kuwait, so Kuwaitis are allowed to own real estate in those countries.
Sources explained any expatriate who wants to own real estate must have a valid residency permit, with substantial income, and has not been convicted of betrayal of trust or involved in a case related to honor. Sources disclosed the Ministry of Justice receives the expatriates' applications for ownership of real estate, along with the required documents related to the applicant and his family.
Once the required documents are completed, the application will be referred to the minister of justice who, in turn, refers it to the Cabinet. The legal ministerial committee will review the application and a decree will then be issued approving the application if the requirements are met, sources added.
Source : Arabtimes
Filed in: All • Info • Local News


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Campus Social Worker
Karinna Perez Cantu, LMSW
As the Campus Social Worker, I provide crisis intervention, resource referral, and counseling to students and families. I also provide assistance to families and students needing immediate help during times of an emergency.
My goal is to help students who are in need so that they can achieve their academic potential. Please contact me if you need assistance with school supplies, clothing or food or if you need more information.
I will also host Parent Seminars throughout the school year. Information on upcoming seminars will be distributed through our Principal's weekly emails and our campus calendar.
I can be reached at 594-2495 or at email@example.com.
Click here for more information on our district social work services. http://www.pfisd.net/Page/960


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Turkey announced on October 11th that it would officially reopen a pipeline from Iraq if the U.S. House of Representatives passes a resolution recognizing allegations of Turkish genocide against Armenians 85 years ago.
The non-binding resolution, opposed by the Clinton administration, would put the government on record as saying that the Ottoman Empire killed 1.5 million Armenians from 1915-1923, when the Turkish republic was established. Turkey admits that Armenians were killed, but denies a "planned genocide."
The pipeline was officially closed after the 1990-91 Gulf war in compliance with the U.N. sanctions imposed against Baghdad, although the line has been used to facilitate exports under the oil-for-food program instituted in 1996.
A senior official from the Turkish energy ministry said that: "Minister Cumhur Ersumer has ordered that the pipeline be made ready for full operation."
Turkish state pipeline company Botas is working to upgrade the pipeline on the Iraqi side, which has become run down due to a lack of spare parts, and the pipeline's Iraqi pumping station can now run at full capacity, although a cabinet decision will be needed to officially reopen the pipeline.
Angered over the resolution, Turkey has also alluded that it might stop U.S. planes from using an airbase to enforce a no-fly zone over northern Iraq.
Turkey claims that it has lost $30 billion in trade revenue, including $1.5 billion from the stoppage of the pipeline, as a result of its compliance with sanctions and has indicated that it will purchase all of the oil from the 1.5 million b/d pipeline, if Iraq has difficulty finding customers in Western markets.


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Gonococcal antimicrobial susceptibility surveillance in Europe 2009
Since 2009, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control has coordinated the enhanced surveillance of sexually transmitted infections in Europe.
Laboratory standard operating procedure for MLVA of Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium
This report describes the standardised laboratory protocol for molecular subtyping of Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium. It is based on the 5-locus multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) method.
Summary report: Joint ECDC/WHO Europe Meeting on Influenza Surveillance
This report, originally published by WHO/Europe, summarizes ECDC and WHO/Europe's first joint influenza surveillance meeting, held on 7-9 June 2011 and hosted by the Slovenian Ministry of Health.
Gonococcal antimicrobial susceptibility surveillance in Europe – 2010
In 2010, 21 EU/EEA Member States participated in the European Gonococcal Antimicrobial Surveillance Programme (Euro-GASP), testing a total of 1766 isolates.
Gonococcal antimicrobial susceptibility surveillance in Europe 2011
This report presents the results from the 2011 gonococcal antimicrobial susceptibility surveillance programme (Euro-GASP) and a summary of the second distribution from the 2011 external quality assurance (EQA) scheme.
Seasonal influenza - Annual Epidemiological Report for 2013-14 season
The 2013–14 influenza season was mild and dominated by influenza A viruses, with a co-circulation of A(H1N1)pdm09 and A(H3N2) viruses in most countries. Only two countries reported higher syndromic notification rates compared with the previous season.
Gonococcal antimicrobial susceptibility surveillance in Europe, 2012
This report summarises the surveillance results for Neisseria gonorrhoeae antimicrobial susceptibility in the EU/EEA. In 2012, 20 EU/EEA Member States participated in Euro-GASP.
Gonococcal antimicrobial susceptibility surveillance in Europe, 2013
During 2013, the European Gonococcal Antimicrobial Surveillance Programme (Euro-GASP) followed the biannual decentralised and centralised testing model used in previous years, requesting participating laboratories to collect gonococcal isolates during two periods (April/May and October/November).
Joint ECDC and WHO European regional influenza surveillance meeting, 2011
The annual regional influenza surveillance meeting is for influenza surveillance focal points to be provided with an update on regional and global developments and exchange information.
3rd Joint ECDC-WHO Europe influenza surveillance meeting, 2013
The third annual joint influenza surveillance meeting was held in Istanbul. The meeting focused on virological and epidemiological aspects of influenza surveillance, influenza vaccination, and new developments in the field of influenza prevention and control.


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Taking this leap to freelance is a big and exciting step but combine this with moving to a new country, and it adds a whole new level of challenge and uncertainty to the equation! If you're considering making this move, in this 2 hour mentorship session we'll talk through the steps to take the leap and move overseas as a freelancer.
We'll talk through topics like:
- How to determine what your services are
- How to manage the visa process and finances
- Getting organized for your new country
- How to find accommodation and coworking spaces
- How to network effectively and make the most of your new country
- Tips on kickstarting your freelance career.
I will also provide a handy checklist and spreadsheet template for you to help guide you through the tasks to consider. The session will held via Zoom and recorded for you (provided by Dropbox after the session).
Getting started
Please provide the following to get started:
1) A short introduction from you, what you're currently doing and why you're considering taking this leap
2) Your preferred availability (including time zone)
3) Your preferred country to move to
4) Any preferences of topics to focus on.
5) Email address to set-up the session.


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Foscam FI9851P 720P HD WiFi Indoor IP Camera
Foscam FI9851P 720P HD WiFi Indoor IP Camera
720P HD Indoor IP Camera - easy to use for anyone with plug and play setup help you start watching live video in minutes, captures more details with it's wider view angel at 76-degree and night version.
"Plug and Play" Setup Process
802.11b/g/n WiFi connection and WEP/WPA/WPAS WiFi encryption. Plastic housing. Very small design with 3.6in*3.6in*2.2in(L*W*H). The "Plug and Play" setup process is easy: simply scan the camera's QR sticker with your smartphone and it syncs with the camera automatically.
Wider view angel at 76-degree
HD 720P Resolution at 30fps. Wider view angel at 76-degree. Manual pan/tilt up to Horizontal 360° & Vertical 90° via hand only. Up to 33ft night vision with 13 powerful IR-LED lights. Day or Night mode switch automatically based on lights change or manually.
Detect Motion And Real-Time Alerts
Detect motion and send you real-time alerts through Email or mobile App. Configure your own alarm sensitivity or schedule. Detected capture image or video could be uploaded to Computer, FTP, Onvif NVR, NAS or Foscam Cloud. (Note: No SD Card slot built in this item)
8 Hours Free Cloud Storage with 12-Month Validity
Compatible with Foscam Cloud Storage and protects recordings against any footage loss that could result from damage such as theft of the camera or recorder. Live view, playback or download the recording from cloud. 8 Hours Free Cloud storage with 12-month validity is available on this camera.


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Sometimes, when we work on collision repairs, the client admits the damage was a result of nodding off behind the wheel. Even in this instance, the client was lucky that all he hit was a stationary object. Drowsy driving can result in serious injury or death. Please follow these safety tips if you're going to pull an all-nighter in the driver's seat.
Drowsy Driving Statistics
According to AAA, falling asleep while driving accounts for 12.5% of fatal collisions. Furthermore, one in three drivers have admitted to nodding off behind the wheel.
Drivers resort to various methods for staying awake while driving. Unsurprisingly, the most common method is the consumption of caffeinated beverages. Other ways include listening to loud music, singing to the radio, eating, and turning up the AC.
Combatting Drowsy Driving
We don't recommend any of the above methods. Drinking coffee or energy drinks, for example, produces an immediate surge of energy but is quickly followed by a crash. This is not good if you're going to be on the road for more than an hour. Research has also proven that methods like singing and turning up the AC are ineffective.
We believe these methods are more effective:
- Switch drivers with a well-rested passenger
- Avoid alcohol intake, even in moderation
- Avoid driving during nighttime hours if possible
- Take a power nap (15 to 20 minutes) before a long drive. You can also pull over for a quick nap halfway to the destination.
Be Aware of Your Energy Levels Before Driving
Consider yourself lucky if drowsy driving only resulted in a minor collision damage or scratch in the auto paint. Drop off your car at Absolute Auto Body to fix the damage. Our warranty covers the restoration work. Please be mindful that since drowsy driving could have grave consequences, you should avoid it at all costs.
Major Collision Repairs and Cosmetic Fixes
Two locations to serve you: Everett and Lynnwood


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Published 1 October 1981 in Volume 10 No. 2. Subjects: Literary influences, Short story writing, Writer's works.
Cite as: Jones, Rae Desmond. 'Authors' Statements [Rae Desmond Jones].' Australian Literary Studies, vol. 10, no. 2, 1981, doi: 10.20314/als.18319ad041.


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In 1996 there were 1.5 million opposite sex cohabiting families. That has risen to 2.9 million in 2012. The number of dependant children living in opposite sex cohabiting couple families doubled from 0.9 million to 1.8 million over the same period.
Emma Alfieri, Legal Executive in our family law team comments: "We have certainly seen a trend in growing numbers of couples who are living together without formalising their relationship and many find themselves surprised by their own situation. This is because many people do not realise that there is no such thing as "common law marriage" in England and Wales. As such, there is no protection for a (financially) vulnerable party. Whilst there have been proposals for a cohabitation law in England, at the moment there is no protection for cohabitants as such.
When there are problems and relationships breakdown, the law is not clear, as it is in respect of divorce and civil partnership dissolution.
Couples can and should consider having a cohabitation agreement drawn up to confirm the parties intentions at the outset.
If you would like further advice in respect of co-habitation, please contact our family law team who can provide you with detailed advice about your rights and how to protect them.


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Create Pheromone Oil: The Secret to Dating Brunettes
Staying warm does not just suggest being beautiful and standing out but, it also signifies getting nutritious as a human getting. Quite a few ladies will simply seek out the shallow definition of warm and operate with it. Here is the major cause the reason why we are residing inside a culture of really lovely brunettes that are extremely unhappy. When you genuinely discover how to be warm, you will be previously mentioned all elements be pleased. Getting hot also signifies being your greatest.
Your Ideal Seems Will Instantaneously Make You a Scorching Brunette
When you hold this inside brain, consider that you want to start out by changing your mind set. Elegance is a factor that is not only witnessed, but is also requires to become felt. You need to really feel elegance so that you can completely value being very hot. Hence, it will all begin from the inside, and you can do quite a few items to assure that you're sizzling on the inside of. Initially, appear at the values or perhaps rules you have with regard to daily life.
To be a Wholesome Person, You Need to Enjoy Daily Life and by Yourself
You have to also really such as people who are close to you and also respect them for who they are. When you have this kind of values to are living by, you will be in a place to actually know what is important in everyday life. You'll like what arrives and, you will be in a position to recognize some of the most vital items in existence.
- Alpha Dream This scent lasts up to 6 hours and only takes a few sprays to the arm of the wearer.
- According to reviews, the women seemed to go crazy over the man wearing this fragrance.
You are a Woman You Know that Exactly Why Pheromone is Used
Woman uses pheromone for drawing the attention of a guy and for looking more desirable. But it is not very easy to find the best pheromones for women. Every woman is not the same as other women and all of them are not same in nature or other thing. So if a person kind pheromone is suitable for you there is no guarantee that it will also suits your friend or your sister. Which means you need to find pheromones which are more suitable for you.
Max Attraction Gold An increase in confidence of the wearer of this scent is noticed, as well as the large number of women becoming interested in the wearer of this pheromone-laced fragrance.
Probably the most stable relationships will be the that could start with minor chemistry at all. These are the unions that are able to last long after the majority of of the others within group of friends have split up plus moved on. What works for these relationship is certainly compatibility, because of this that they are able proceed a long time. Despite the fact that endurance plus stableness are amazing properties to experience in a union, the lack of hormone balance may leave you contemplating "is he or she in to you?"
- The following list of the 5 top fragrances that contain pheromones for attracting women are described below.
- It's tough to know which ones will work and also those that won't, since there are many more pheromones than the single one mentioned above.
- Everyone's body differs, so the pheromones also react in a variety of ways.
- Fragrances that actually work very well for one guy may not work at all for the next.
Top Men's Fragrances With Pheromones:
Pherazone This powerful fragrance is graded at the top of the list for some men who have tried it. Many refer to it is a sexual magnets for drawing women towards the man wearing the cologne. Even if women are not physically flocking right to the guy, there are numerous accounts of an increase in smiles, eye contact, winks, along with other positive forms of body language.
Pheromone Concentrates Designed for WomenPureMones are unscented pheromones for women. We carry wide range of unscented pheromones for women: seduction pheromones, romantic attraction pheromones, charismatic feminine pheromones, and social pheromones for girls to attract and seduce men.
Learn More about This Product »
Usually the relationships that get started with some sort of heavy bang normally melt away out rapidly. Any sparks which fly initially end up becoming the sparks that perish above eventually making the happy couple speculating on just what occurred to be able to all that spontaneous chemistry which energized these people so much at first. Genuinely amazing to discover that intensity, the particular buzz of one's falling in love can give you. Everybody require to experience such a romantic relationship at the very least, once.
It's always these particular intimate relationships that may make you believe it's not possible in order to dwell with out one another, that always be together always. Despite the fact that intensity may be exciting in the short term, the efforts have a tendency to perish out quickly and should not wind up being maintained naturally in the long term. Many people are looking towards pheromones in an effort to maintain your chemistry burning much longer.
Alter Ego for Men
The pheromones a part of this kind of fragrance cause women to become a good deal chattier than usual. There is also a much more noticeable amount of friendliness going on with the women who come into contact with man wearing this scent.
Here are Some Tips about Choosing the Right Pheromones for Women
Above all the main thing is quality. You may find many types of pheromone in lots of shop but all of those are not good. So you need to search for a better quality product. Think that you buy pheromone from your nearby shop and also after using it you find that there is no effect at all. It must be very disappointing to you.
- Pheromones have been used as a form of communications between animals since the beginning of time itself.
- Animals are able to relay information about the location of a trail, mark personal territory, repel predators, and gather mates with various smells.
- These are certainly not the sorts of odors that can be picked up by the human nose.
- Instead, these chemicals tend to be detected with a special organ.
- The location of the body organ will depend on the animal.
- With regard to the human male pheromone androstadienone, it is the cortex and hypothalamus in the woman that respond.
Also for many romances where the chemistry didn't really reach the degree of atomic blast, pheromones could go a very long way in developing that chemical link many people want. Why don't we be honest, as humans all of us are actually a union kinds. We desire each other for several causes yet the most striking element is that people are made for partnerships. We all want to connect on an romantic level with another man, a loving intimate connection can very well be the greatest of this kind of encounters. That being the facts, each time possible we want to have that connection be as strong and important as is possible. Majority of us, typically, would like the whole package deal.
- Alpha 7 The scent of this pheromone-rich formula will be a huge hit with the ladies.
- It made a lot of the women around the wearer grow to be much more receptive of the man wearing Alpha 7.
- But how can you find a good product?
- For finding better quality pheromone you need to find a reputable shop first.
- An established shop does not sell bad item.
- Look for a shop which has a very good customer reviews.
- After selecting the go shopping ask their customer to know about their product.
- When the answer satisfies you then buy you desired pheromone.
It's difficult to envision that human technological innovation has already progressed to the stage that we is now able to bottle as well as package passion, and then sell it conveniently to be able to clients. It is a fact although that solutions can be the solution to making a zealous relationship. If the all-natural compounds wear off as they definitely unavoidably will, pheromones can actually be bought inside a spray bottle to maintain matters heading.
These days, we may come across our own best picture of somebody and are not able to experience that enormous volcanic eruption that people could be looking for in a potential spouse. That is okay, what exactly is most significant is compatibility. For all those though who is unable to live without the intensive love its possible you have the ideal concerning either worlds with the use of the advantage involving use of pheromones. As a result you accomplish the actual nearly impossible, the entire package deal of longevity together with rigorous obsession. Precisely what much more could you desire?
There Has Normally Been a Debate When It Arrives to be Able to Males and Brunettes
Men have plainly demonstrated that when it comes to homemaking, the work will be very best left to brunettes. A questionnaire has been done to ascertain the rumor that continues to spread. It has been stated that guys like dating blondes but may opt to marry them. The actual survey has shown that vast majority of men who are relationship are on this college of considered. They state that blonde women tend to be terrific when it comes to public image but, they will not choose them to be marriage lovers. Just about fifty percent of the men reported that when it comes to marriage, they would fairly go for a dark haired woman.
- The response to this pheromone varies between each woman and will depend on the capacity of the pheromone.
- Men can actually entice women free of charge, since males already produce this kind of pheromone.
- However, there are plenty of colognes, massage oils, and additives for aftershave that can be purchased for increasing this particular attraction.
- This particular pheromone is a metabolite of testosterone, so all men create it.
- Guys who seem to always have women flocking to them almost certainly produce a more potent version compared to other men.
- For the men who feel they need more androstadienone, there are solutions.
How to use Pheromones, Essential Oils & Perfumes to Attract a Lover
Female Animal Magnetism - Each woman has her own personal sexual attractant, the enticing scent of her female essence. Here we are offering a way for a ...
- Some of the many pheromone-enhanced fragrances do contain androstadienone, while others contain one or more kinds of other pheromones.
- The numerous combinations make it very difficult to choose from.
- It has been much easier to simply attract women free of charge by relying on personal pheromones already in place.
- However, if this is not working, then it never hurts to try one of the fragrances with synthetic pheromones added to it to see what the outcome is.
You can then Glimpse At Your Outside and Also Establish the Splendor You Want to Flaut
In case you are a very hot brunette, there will be a specified aspect that you will be in search of to show off. Absolutely everyone has splendor and how you highlight which splendor decides how warm you are. It is as a result paramount for you to review your self and look at your bodily features. There is a great deal of inspiration out there that will allow you know what is actually warm and what is not. 1 thing that usually manages to spark a lot of debate is actually when you have on some additional weight.
Becoming weighty is generally not regarded as very hot in society but, you can demonstrate this particular belief too always be incorrect. No matter your dimension, you can control in order to look hot by the way you existing and have all by yourself. It is not always easy to persuade folks but, the ideal issue is that you do not require in order to influence any one that you are a scorching brunette.
Another Way is Buy a Little Amount and Taste for a Week or Two
If you see the product is good then select big sum. But if it does not suit you try a different type of pheromone. Experimenting about this will give the better result for finding the most suitable pheromone for you personally. You can be sure that pheromones for women are really the right thing to improve attraction. If you use it you will be able to find the result yourself.


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The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment.
UN Environment work encompasses:
- Assessing global, regional and national environmental conditions and trends
- Developing international and national environmental instruments
- Strengthening institutions for the wise management of the environment
"To provide leadership and encourage partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations."
Key Activities:
- Chemicals and Waste
- Climate Change
- Disasters and Conflicts
- Ecosystem Management
- Environment under Review
- Environmental Governance
- Resource Efficiency
Year of establishment:


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Mr. Torus Snowman
I created a snowman today...what a wonderful thing to do on a snow day from school. I didn't even have to put my coat on to make my snowman!
The trees are glistening outside from the snow and ice...a winter wonderland. As I was making this snowman, I heard a crack outside and down came a huge branch from a pine tree. Luckily the tree was no where near my house and no one was underneath the tree because certainly the tree branch would have caused some damage because of its size. It makes me thankful to be home doing my crafts.
Here is the PDF file for the snowman.
Here is the .Studio file for the snowman. I used cardstock
Cut 24 of each torus piece (half moon circles). They are graduated in size...use the smallest torus for the top and so on until all three are made. The directions for making the torus are in a previous post. http://papercraftetc.blogspot.com/2013/10/a-honeycomb-pumpkin-decoration-for-fall.html
I cut the arms twice and glued them back to back because the paper I was using was white on the back and also I wanted the arms to be sturdier. The carrot nose is rolled into a cone like the witch's/wizard's hat from a previous post. Add the eyes, mouth and nose. The directions for the bow tie are at the end of a previous post http://papercraftetc.blogspot.com/2013/11/holly-wreath-torus.html
Glue the hat piece into circle and attach the brim to the outside of the hat piece. Bend the top of the hat as shown
I used a pair of scissors to make sure that the glue adhered correctly to the top of the hat.
Attach the hat band and the holly to the hat.
The directions for the broom are in a previous post...scroll down to the bottom for the .Studio file. http://papercraftetc.blogspot.com/2013/10/halloween-witchs-or-wizards-hats.html
Happy Snow Day!
#Torus #Christmas Ornament


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OMT WebOrganization and Management Theory Division of the Academy of Management
Bright and early at 8 am on Friday, August 1, I was already double-booked (in attendance, not presentation!) for the first PDW slot of this year's Academy Meeting. I was caught between two promising OMT–sponsored sessions: Navigating Institutional Complexity and Cultural Design and Designing Culture. Starbucks in hand, I selected the latter because its subtitle (Institutions, Values, and Entrepreneurs) offered to link PDW conversations to my recent dissertation focus on cultural production and competing values via Boltanski and Thévenot's orders of worth. Plus, I had other "institutional complexity" opportunities in the program, as well as a recent visit to Rome at the New Institutionalism Workshop.
Though not focused on the orders of worth literature specifically, this PDW produced a number of useful insights, illuminating research opportunities when connecting the notion of design to investigations of culture, innovation, and entrepreneurship. After a brief introduction by organizers Joel Gehman, Matthew Grimes, Tyler Wry, and Jean Clarke, the esteemed panel provided diverse considerations in developing a research program focused on the PDW theme. Below, I outline a few of the PDW deliberations and corresponding conclusions:
Siobhan O'Mahony opened the panel suggesting that "cultural design" implies intentionality that can be strategic, but not necessarily coordinated. As culture precedes markets, cultural work helps to define what is valued by markets. There is, however, an empirical and theoretical challenge—how do we nail down the "cultural work" that precedes markets? This open question merits future methodological development.
Violina Rindova asked how to bring the cultural side to entrepreneurship, possibly through ideas of cultural competence. In reaction to one of her recent paper submissions, a reviewer asked, "What is this, Bourdieu meets HBR?" This question highlights the legitimizing work ahead for scholars who see a clear connection between entrepreneurs and cultural influences. Violina sees a promising avenue by using culture as toolkits, investigating systematic processes at the organizational level that engage this toolkit, possibly through as-yet-undertheorized collective (rather than individual) schemas.
Klaus Weber stated that he was initially "befuddled" at the PDW's conceptual connection since he saw design as a situated social practice, user-centric and distributed. To him, the concept of design is more overtly cultural when it involves more than a single designer and becomes a collective process, where culture *is* the designer (or shapes the designs). In other words, cultural resources and communities matter because they structure meaning and share identity. Alternatively, the product of the design process is the shaping of culture—the object becoming the materiality of morality. Material objects or practices embed morality and prompt people to act in a certain way, and in this way culture and design connect through the materials of innovation and entrepreneurship.
Alan Meyer described his project with Jennifer Howard-Grenville and Matthew Metzger that investigated "collective identity resurrection," not through the "cool" strategic process, but through hot emotions and lived experience. Though this experience ("the most fun I've every had collecting data"), Alan described the immediate and quasi–spiritual quality of the community's active design of their cultural identity.
Majken Schultz described how every present or future corporate identity design demands a new past that illustrates the inevitability of the present and future. In other words, the past's cultural location provides narrative resources that identity designers use for entrepreneurship and innovation activities. Through these statements, Majken demonstrated issues of temporality in any cultural design investigation. She invoked the pragmatist philosophers' suggestion that a new future requires a new past.
Mary Ann Glynn focused on culture as an embodied meaning system enacted by a collective. Design is a cultural resource like any other resource—human, financial, etc—one that can be both produced and consumed. Given a choice, which resources do we pull down & use? Mary Ann emphasized culture as a collective property, and one that methodologically needs more studies with mixed methods to follow cultural traces through symbols, language, and stories.
Raghu Garud extended the idea of culture as a collective resource by noting that at 3M, culture was distributed through stories. However, these stories are not linear—context matters, especially as it relates to temporality and intertemporality, as Majken described. Raghu highlighted the problem with publication standards in management, where authors linearize both research and empirical processes in order for the editors to understand and accept the work. However, this linearization does not accurately represent the ongoing structuration and complexity of reality.
Ted Baker noted how few entrepreneurs have an identity as an entrepreneur. Instead, their entrepreneurship lies in strategically constructing an organizational identity among myriad cultural categories. This activity involves "vicious contestation" to define the culture and structure of organizations, using culture as a resource that entrepreneurs fracture in order to use the pieces and construct narratives.
At the conclusion of the panel's remarks, Mike Lounsbury pushed the panelists on the idea of intentionality, and how to engage methodologically with culture. To this, Mary Ann noted that not all cultural tools are available to everyone at the same time, so scholars can monitor the control of cultural tool use (i.e., When will you be outed as a fraud? Is that the determination of tool use?).
Raghu suggested that the use of language is intentional, and though we aim not to stumble, at times we do. This theme emerged later at the break-out table I joined with Siobhan, Violina, Howard Aldrich, Joel Gehman, and other attendees. We discussed the recent situation of Mozilla and their CEO Brendan Eich, who contributed $1,000 in 2008 to California's Prop 8, which sought to ban same-sex marriage. As Mozilla's mission "is to promote openness, innovation & opportunity on the Web," Eich's donation was seen by many stakeholders as conflicting with the mission of the company, and therefore improper behavior for the firm's CEO, resulting in significant negative press and boycotts. Our table's conversation examined how the mismatch between Eich's behavior and "Silicon Valley, a region of the business world where social liberalism is close to a universal ideology"* exemplifies the sensitivity firms must show to widely-held cultural values. In other words, culturally astute companies take culture seriously as a strategic action, and understand cultural shifts in advance rather than being "culturally lucky".
Howard Aldrich noted how changes in the selection environment can influence available resources. Customers can forget, and therefore, customers play a role in both the enactment of the good or service (e.g., "tall skinny half-caff") as well as provide expectations for the good or service. As an example, cloud computing relies completely on cultural acceptance of the model.
Referencing her dissertation work with Starbucks, Violina stressed the need for better theories of engaging strategically with culture. In her example, every strategic analysis of the commodity coffee industry would have indicated that there was no potential for growth or entrepreneurship. Instead, Starbucks became a designer of experiences, its creation "a cultural project." Further, Starbucks intentionally invested ahead of a growth curve, showing what actors can do when they understand cultural resources available for capitalization. This form of cultural investment extends beyond coffee, as Starbucks became early founders of the USGBC's green building certification product for chains/prototype stores, and more recently supports social sustainability by promising full tuition reimbursement for their employees pursuing a bachelor's degree.
With the Starbucks example, the table's conversation turned to developing design thinking in executive training, emphasizing the value of culture as an exploitable resource. The emergence of IDEO & Apple both provide exemplars for increasing the face validity of studying the transformation of strategically "unattractive" industries by leveraging a cultural project.
The break-out session was quite lively, reducing the "reporting back" plenary time. In keeping to the schedule, the organizers invited participants to the 4th Alberta Institutions Conference titled "How Do Institutions Matter?" in June 2015. This call for abstracts highlighted how little of the morning's conversations engaged notions of institutions, though we relied heavily on the related constructs of values and culture.
In summary, this session explored a number of promising new research directions to develop more robust theories of engaging strategically with culture. In many ways, this phrase "engaging strategically with culture" encompasses the intentionality Siobhan referred to at the start of the PDW when discussing the role of design in innovation and entrepreneurship. As a result, scholars' engagement with culture inevitably capture values that guide institutions and enacted institutional logics. I look forward to future work in this area from the scholars gathered at the PDW. Many thanks to the organizers for providing an invigorating start to my morning and to the conference!
Tags: Academy of Management | AOM Annual Meeting | PDW
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Wave Damascus with ZDP-189
William Henry's patent pending Wave Damascus features a ZDP-189 core (HRC 67) clad with alternating layers of stainless steel and nickel silver. The billet, 45 layers in all, is patterned with a custom die to create the undulating waves that emerge across the bevels of the blade. This material can be dark-etched for contrast, or etched and re-polished for a more subtle pattern.All Materials


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Holidays and hotels in the Cyclades
Which of the Cycladic islands is my favourite? That is the question anyone who has been on more than one of the Cyclades starts asking oneself. At first sight, the islands may all look rather alike: rough, barren, often mountainous, landscapes dotted with whitewashed villages and small churches; rocky shorelines punctuated by beaches, and skies that, somehow, manage to be of a deeper blue than anywhere else in the world. Those are the Cyclades you know from the postcards. Beautiful, stunning, seducing…
But stay for more than a day or two on any of the Cyclades and discover a more profound beauty, one that lies in the uniqueness of each individual island. Because beneath that surface of picture-perfect white and blue, you will discover that of each and every one of them has its own personality. Some you probably know: Mykonos party island and shamelessly romantic Santorini. Two islands where you can stay in luxury hotels and eat in gourmet restaurants. One with excellent beaches (Mykonos), the other famous for its Caldera villages and perfect sunsets (Santorini). But of course, there are so many others worth exploring. Naxos (great for family holidays), Folegandros (the smaller and more laid-back version of Santorini), Syros (with the beautiful capital Ermoupolis), Sifnos (famous for its food and ceramic's workshops), Milos (with some of the best beaches in Greece), Paros (the Cycladic all-rounder), Andros (the most unspoiled of the lot), and the list goes on.
Oh, and my favourite Cycladic island? That would be Serifos, the island love-of-my-life where I spend my summers.


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Dogged determination One woman's dogged efforts lead to New Milford's first pooch park
One woman's efforts lead to New Milford's first pooch park
NEW MILFORD -- Chrisanne Cubby is a dog lover with a penchant for persistence.
Five years ago, the now 59-year-old financial life planning coach and grandmother of three became a foster parent for Ramona, a black Labrador retriever to be raised as a guide dog. The training required she spend time socializing the pet with other dogs.
Since she lives near Baldwin Park, Cubby would regularly take walks with her dog in the park behind Schaghticoke Middle School. Though the area was popular with pet owners, Cubby found she was often competing with joggers, mothers with strollers and people unwilling to clean up after their pets.
One day, Ramona was nipped by an aggressive dog allowed to roam without proper supervision.
Cubby then decided to visit the Southbury Dog Park.
"But it was such a ride,'' she said.
So she started thinking about the possibilities of a dog park in New Milford.
In 2006, Cubby wrote the first of several letters to town leaders suggesting a local dog park. It soon became something of a quest.
"I did research all over the world, even Australia,'' said Cubby, now the owner of two former guide dog trainees, Ramona and Ives, a yellow Labrador retriever. She is also training two other retrievers, Blythe and Ellen, to become guide dogs.
Her two dogs are members of Delta Society's Pet Partners, and she performs pet therapy at New Milford Hospital.
On Wednesdays, she has a "Reading with Ramona'' program at the children's library.
Everywhere she went and to everyone she spoke, Cubby talked enthusiastically about a town dog park, slowly but surely rallying people to her cause.
In 2007, Cubby had a petition posted at The Barkery Boutique on Bank Street. She collected a large number of signatures and used that support to bolster her cause.
In 2008, she connected with Eleanor Covelli, assistant Parks & Recreation director, and in September 2008 she met with Murphy, who suggested they set up a meeting to find out what kind of support the idea might generate.
In September, Cubby arranged for a meeting at the railroad station that attracted about 70 people. With the mayor and Covelli's encouragement, the group started brainstorming. The mayor suggested the possibility of the town's Hidden Treasures Park, a 6-acre peninsula off West Street, as a potential site.
That property, however, was quickly deemed too rugged for some dogs and pet owners, and the mayor promised to keep looking for other possibilities.
In the meantime, Cubby and other dog park supporters began raising money to provide the fencing, gates and other accoutrements a dog park would require. The fence was projected to cost between $10,000 and $15,000.
In March, Murphy came to the dog park group with an offer she brokered with Kimberly-Clark Corp. executives for use of a flat acre next to the mill on Pickett District Road.
Cubby and her fellow dog park organizers embraced the idea wholeheartedly.
Hidden Treasures would still be available for those who like to hike more untamed land, but the Pickett District parcel would be the official dog park site, suitable for small and larger dogs.
Negotiations for a legal agreement between Kimberly-Clark and the town commenced as the dog park committee continued its fundraising efforts.
On July 27, the Town Council approved a five-year agreement with Kimberly-Clark that allows the park to open as soon as the fence is installed.
"If it wasn't for Chrisanne (Cubby), we wouldn't be where we are today,'' said Diane McCaffrey, a fellow organizer and the park committee's corresponding secretary.
"For as long as it took, Chrisanne never stopped trying. She just kept persevering. It's part of her personality. She wanted it, and she was going to make it happen one way or another.''
"She pushed it through from the beginning,'' said Covelli, who received a letter from Cubby in 2007.
A spiritual person, Cubby said regardless of life's struggles she has always felt God had a plan and purpose for her life, whether it was helping her children find their "wings'' or working with puppies to become guide dogs.
In her job, she works daily with people trying to establish life goals.
Four years ago, Cubby posted a top 10 list of things she wished to accomplish. She checks them off as they are completed, in no specific order, and has revised a few based on practicality.
No. 5 was the dog park, part of her stated goal of contributing to community. She still wants to write a book.
Having a romantic relationship isn't on the list.
She laughs about that. "Maybe I'll meet him at the dog park.''
Contact Nanci Hutson
at firstname.lastname@example.com
or at 860-354-2274.


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FILM CRITIC -- At one point in the hit musical biopic "I Can Only Imagine," Bart Millard (J. Michael Finley), a Texan singer-songwriter touring with his up-and-coming Christian rock band MercyMe, receives a rude awakening from the industry he's trying to woo. "You're just not good enough," says one record-label rep, inadvertently echoing the cruel words of Bart's abusive father (Dennis Quaid) and triggering a wave of flashbacks to the boy's traumatized upbringing.
Those flashbacks made me roll my eyes, but they also filled me with a strange sense of guilt. As someone who considers himself both a lover of cinema and a follower of Jesus Christ, I must confess that the words "You're just not good enough" have generally summed up my own opinion of the many, many Christian-themed independent productions that have sprung up since the smash success of "The Passion of the Christ" 14 years ago.
That may be a harsh judgment to render against a group of pictures that, at least in their broad range of genres and stories, would seem to resist easy pigeonholing. Companies as different as Pure Flix Entertainment, Stoney Lake Entertainment and Sony's Affirm Films have churned out old-school period epics, sentimental heart-tuggers, pro-marriage romantic dramas, Rapturous disaster flicks, political provocations and flat-out comedies (not all of them intentional), most of which have nonetheless been filed under the handy if reductive term "faith-based entertainment."
These pictures have offered an oasis of sorts for Christian moviegoers who claim the industry doesn't reflect or respect their spiritual values. I'd respond that in some cases, those moviegoers simply aren't looking hard enough; if they were, brilliant dramas like Rodrigo García's "Last Days in the Desert" and Martin Scorsese 's "Silence" might have become the church-fueled hits they deserved to be.
But there is some truth to the notion that Hollywood doesn't always know how best to serve a significant portion of its audience. Look no further than the modest furor over Disney's adaptation of "A Wrinkle in Time," a movie I admired for its crazily unorthodox vision, but one curiously devoid of the biblical references that Madeleine L'Engle included in her original novel. If L'Engle -- a refreshingly free-thinking, non-doctrinaire Christian writer -- had a choice in the matter, I imagine she'd prefer a film stripped of overt religious references to one wallowing in grotesque spiritual kitsch, especially in light of the examples the "faith-based" community has given us.
I've liked my share of these pictures. I had a soft spot for "The Song," a lush marital drama set in the country-music industry, and wasn't entirely immune to the insistent, afterlife-peddling charms of "Heaven Is for Real." But for the most part, these examples have been rare and decidedly mixed blessings, small standouts in a sea of movies that haven't given adherents or atheists much to believe in.
How much value are we willing to ascribe to a work of art simply because it aligns with our beliefs? And how much can we trust our tears?
My reservations have little to do with standard criticisms like awkward performances or clunky production values -- venial sins, surely, for new filmmakers trying to find their way. What rankles about a cinematic sermon like "Letters to God" or a morally offensive wartime drama like "Little Boy" isn't the mediocrity of the craft; it's the calculation inherent in the enterprise. There's a smug complacency with which these movies preach a message ostensibly meant to set the world passionately ablaze.
I didn't check all these prejudices at the door when I recently caught up with "I Can Only Imagine," "Paul, Apostle of Christ" and "God's Not Dead: A Light in Darkness," the three highest-profile Christian-themed releases of the spring moviegoing season. But I watched all of them in a tentative spirit of optimism, intending to gauge the present state of what I have often hesitated to describe as art, and hoping to be pleasantly surprised. And at least two films in this cinematic trinity largely succeeded in overcoming my inner skeptic.
Let's dispense with the one that didn't. "God's Not Dead: A Light in Darkness," which opened Friday in wide release, is the third film in a startlingly successful Pure Flix franchise that began with 2014's $60 million-plus grossing "God's Not Dead." Directed by Michael Mason (taking over for Harold Cronk), "A Light in Darkness" resumes the legal misadventures of Pastor Dave (David A.R. White), who, as the story begins, has just been released from prison for failing to turn over his sermons to the government. (To understand why a court would subpoena a pastor's sermons, I'd direct you to "God's Not Dead 2," but you might interpret that as a recommendation.)
Dave returns home to find his college-based church under attack, first by an act of arson that kills his co-pastor, and then by the school itself, which wants to remove this lightning rod for controversy from campus. Dave calls on his estranged brother (John Corbett), an attorney and, wouldn't you know it, lapsed believer in need of a spiritual pick-me-up. The stage is set for a courtroom melodrama crawling with straw-man atheists, pseudo-introspective laments and specious arguments concerning the separation of church and state.
The result would be a lousy story even if it weren't such a tedious exercise in self-victimization. I know that many Christians feel they are the last members of American society still being denied the gift of tolerance, a belief to which they are no less entitled than their faith in God. But even allowing for a measure of legitimate grievance over the silencing of evangelical doctrine in mainstream society, this would not be a persuasive way to dramatize it. When Jesus warned his disciples that they would face persecutions, the suffering we see in this pernicious, self-admiring drivel is probably the very opposite of what he had in mind.
"God's Not Dead: A Light in Darkness" does end with the hopeful message that Christians should be quick to hear and slow to anger -- a lesson that plays out to more compelling, complicated effect in "I Can Only Imagine." The movie, directed by brothers Andrew and Jon Erwin (making quite a rebound from their execrable family-values comedy "Moms' Night Out"), has emerged as the sort of hit that indie Christian filmdom longs for and rarely achieves. As of this writing, it ranks third at the weekend box office, having grossed nearly $40 million (more than five times its production budget) since its March 16 release by Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions.
Millard's story manages to raise -- or at least stumble into -- significant questions about the power of art.
No one familiar with Millard's mega-hit signature song, also called "I Can Only Imagine," will be shocked to hear of the movie's robust commercial success. Nor will it come as any surprise to even the most naive moviegoer that Millard, the protagonist of this slick but sincere inspirational drama, will have to reconcile with his bitterly cruel father (played with ferocious self-loathing by Quaid). Then and only then can he reach that place of peaceful enlightenment where he can write the song, which will eventually become a triple-platinum hit and catapult MercyMe to superstardom.
But who needs surprises? I say this as someone who loves Millard's song and listened to it repeatedly during my college Christian fellowship days, sometimes lip-syncing into an invisible mic and envisioning a future divine encounter of my own. It may be catchy as you-know-what, but it's also a simple, soaring piece of song craft, overflowing with the kind of emotion that disarms my defenses even now. While the movie is not without its overly airbrushed moments, its telling of Millard's story manages to raise -- or at least stumble into -- significant questions about the power of art (whether it's an album, a movie or something else) that arrives bearing the weight of an ideology.
How much value are we willing to ascribe to a work of art simply because it aligns with our beliefs? And how much can we trust our tears? Any honest believer who has sat through a worship service has certainly asked whether they are hearing the authentic voice of God or simply being emotionally manipulated by the music -- and then proceeded to wonder if the two might not, somehow, be one and the same.
I certainly can't say whether the swells of emotion I felt while watching "Paul, Apostle of Christ" are attributable to the Holy Spirit or simply a competent level of artistry by all involved, and I'm not terribly interested in parsing the difference. By far the most intelligent, absorbing and stirring of these three movies, writer-director Andrew Hyatt's well-acted drama of imprisonment and martyrdom implicitly rebukes the "God's Not Dead" franchise by reminding us what actual persecution looks like. It returns us to a vision of ancient Rome (the film was shot on location in Malta) where some of Christ's earliest followers were routinely burned alive in the streets or condemned to death in the arena.
Hyatt's film argues ... that any attempts to seize political power or wage war in [Christ's] name are in fact a rejection of his truth.
But even these potentially rabble-rousing moments are dramatized with sober restraint, much like the conversations that play out among the apostle Paul (an excellent, grizzled James Faulkner), Luke the Evangelist (Jim Caviezel, forever the face of Jesus in "The Passion of the Christ") and their fellow Christians as they debate how best to ensure their survival -- and more importantly for Paul, the survival of the gospel.
"Paul, Apostle of Christ" may fall into that creakily venerable tradition of impeccably British-accented biblical pageantry, but from the first frame, Hyatt's approach is marked by clear-eyed intelligence and a refusal of the obvious. It's telling that Paul's dramatic moment of conversion on the road to Damascus, which a different movie might have saved for the climax, is relegated to a few quick flashbacks. This is a movie about the challenge of remaining true to one's beliefs after the spiritual high has worn off, the miracles have ceased and God seems to have fallen silent.
"What can a non-believer get out of it?" is a question that often gets leveled, not unjustly, at these movies, and in the case of "Paul, Apostle of Christ" I would say there's real value in a story willing to linger in its own uncertainty, and also willing to extend compassion in all directions. Hyatt's film argues, with eloquence and gravity, that Christ's message was predicated on sacrificial love, and that any attempts to seize political power or wage war in his name are in fact a rejection of his truth.
This is a lesson well worth absorbing, if the embattled state of modern American evangelicalism, torn between might-is-right ideology on one hand and a toxic level of self-pity on the other, is any indication. "Paul, Apostle of Christ" might be too small, too wise and too resolutely uninspirational to shift the balance. But at a time when too many filmmakers still mistake message-mongering for art, a picture that quietly dignifies the medium is more than sufficient for me.
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text: If you look up to the celebrities for your sartorial inspiration, you would quite often find them donning leather jackets despite having different tastes in fashion. Leather jackets can send a strong style statement and make you look trendy. They can make you look tougher without a lot of flashiness.


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Dimitra Simeonidou
Dimitra Simeonidou is a specialist in Smart City infrastructures.
Dimitra Simeonidou specialises in high performance networks, data centre networking, Software Defined Networking and Smart City infrastructures. Many of her areas of expertise overlap with industrial challenges and research objectives. For instance her research into the convergence of optical, wireless and other technologies through SDN to provide the ICT networks solutions of the future. This has resulted in the development of numerous collaborations with industrial partners such as; BT, BBC, NEC, Huawei and many others throughout her career. Dimitra and her group are also instrumental in forming SME, Industry and University collaborations through European and national funding.
She is a co-founder of two spin-out companies; Ilotron (2000) which was subsequently acquired by the US Company Altamar in 2001, and Zeetta Networks - a University of Bristol spin-out. Zeetta is delivering SDN software platforms for enterprise networks.
She is also the CTO for the Bristol Is Open (BIO) project , contributing the architecture for the smart city ICT infrastructure. BIO a joint venture between the University of Bristol and Bristol City Council, delivering the world's first programmable city-wide test-bed and enabling research and innovation in critical future communication technologies for smart city infrastructures. A key aim of BIO is to encourage and support local innovative SME's to lead the development of digital technology within Smart Cities. In recognition of leadership within Smart City research Dimitra has recently been awarded the Royal Society Wolfson Research Merit Award.
Get in touch
Francis Frith
Engineering BusinessAccount Manager
0117 946 3930


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A Dani O'Malley NovelBook - 2012
The year is 1 AWC--After the Wall Crash. The Fae are free and hunting us. It's a war zone out there, and no two days are alike. I'm Dani O'Malley, the chaos-filled streets of Dublin are my home, and there's no place I'd rather be.
Dani "Mega" O'Malley plays by her own set of rules--and in a world overrun by Dark Fae, her biggest rule is: Do what it takes to survive. Possessing rare talents and the all-powerful Sword of Light, Dani is more than equipped for the task. In fact, she's one of the rare humans who can defend themselves against the Unseelie. But now, amid the pandemonium, her greatest gifts have turned into serious liabilities.
Dani's ex-best friend, MacKayla Lane, wants her dead, the terrifying Unseelie princes have put a price on her head, and Inspector Jayne, the head of the police force, is after her sword and will stop at nothing to get it. What's more, people are being mysteriously frozen to death all over the city, encased on the spot in sub-zero, icy tableaux.
When Dublin's most seductive nightclub gets blanketed in hoarfrost, Dani finds herself at the mercy of Ryodan, the club's ruthless, immortal owner. He needs her quick wit and exceptional skill to figure out what's freezing Fae and humans dead in their tracks--and Ryodan will do anything to ensure her compliance.
Dodging bullets, fangs, and fists, Dani must strike treacherous bargains and make desperate alliances to save her beloved Dublin--before everything and everyone in it gets iced.
Look for all of Karen Marie Moning's sensational Fever novels:
Praise for Iced
"Moning returns to the heady world of her Fever series, and the results are addictive and consistently surprising. . . . The best elements of Moning's sensual, shadowy epic are still here, from the sensual and enigmatic Fae to the super-alpha heroes and the breathless pace of their escalating conflicts. At its heart is a heroine whose development is likely to become the stuff of legends as this unforgettable, haunting series continues to evolve." -- RT Book Reviews
"This is one of my favorite 2012 reads . . . It's engaging, hilarious, amazing and Dani is going to be one heck of a woman." -- USA Today
"A gripping story that combines excellent storytelling with believable characters that are rendered both superhuman and superbly human, with emotional fragility and psychological vulnerability in an unstable world fraught with danger . . . Fast-paced, with nonstop action set in a fascinating urban fantasy world of Dublin under siege, this is a smart, bold and textured success." ─ Kirkus Reviews
"Moning is a master storyteller. I don't know how she does it, but she begs me to get on my knees and pay worship to the woman who has brought me the best, most labyrinthine stories and characters I've ever had the privilege to get to know. She weaves brilliantly, unapologetically, and without exception, and she has threaded the needle into me and I've been pulled, over and over, into her tapestry, and I don't think I'm ever getting out. Iced is no exception." -- The Bawdy Book Blog (five-starred review)
From the critics
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This book seems to be a regurgitation of Mac's story when it comes to the romance and other parts of the story... however I feel like there is some kiddie porn in how a fourteen-year-old is being monopolized and lusted after by men much older than she is. The stupidity of the characters is also very annoying. While I read the whole book; I was not thrilled by it. Seemed rather flat and dragged on and on.
Book 6 of Fever series, preceded by Shadowfever and followed by Burned. This is the 1st book of Dani's Trilogy. It follows where Shadowfever ended. Dani is a fourteen year old girl with superpowers - fast freeze-framing and killing fae with her handy sword. She is fun, fearless and quite intelligent. She is so full of life - that she shines like the brightest star - no wonder everyone likes her. She is still very young and I hope in the next book, she gets to grow up a bit. I like the whole book; the "so called" loved interests are quite interesting and I wonder who KMM will chose to stick around and win Dani's heart. I have a feeling it might be Ryodan - but I just find him too controlling and cold & I don't like how he treats Dani or Jo. I really like Dancer - I hope he has a secret identity hidden somewhere. I also like Christian - I hope his real self comes back - I miss him.
Hated this book. Don't like Dani O'Malley the least little bit - I find her character obnoxious, abrasive, and useless. I also don't like how she was basically enslaved and how a fourteen year old is being lusted after by people much older than she is. The stupidity of the other humans characters is also annoying. Not reading anymore of this nonsense.
For a novel set in Dublin (Ireland, not Iowa) there is a dearth of Irish names. This includes the "Fever" series.
i liked it, and wasn't sure that I would have
Sometimes a subsequent series doesn't live up to the original but this one certainly does! Moning's writing pulls you in and doesn't let go. I couldn't put it down and can't wait for the next book. I think Moning fans will be happy with this next series.
Great read. Plenty of action and adventure, but has Dani really matured or learned a lesson? Would have given it five stars except for the ending.
This novel satifies my urge for more of the world Moning created in the Fever series. It was easier to relate to Mac because she was an adult and didn't begin as a "superhero", but I think Dani can easily take her on for spunk and likability. I am loving her interactions with Ryodan, Christian, and Dancer. I suspect Dani will probably be visiting some Fae realm in a future installment and come back aged (to overcome the icky 14 year old with multiple suitors issue). Fun times to be had with this bunch for sure.
This whole world KMM has created is just awesome. If you're just starting her books, I strongly suggest you start at the beginning of the Fever series. Dani's story is fecking great :) Some people may be put off by the few sexual innuendos that are in the book (Dani is only 14), but you have to keep in mind she's been on her own a long time and her 14 is much different than our 14. And while KMM gets really close to crossing the line, they are just sexual hints at this point of what could be in store for Dani as she grows into a woman. There will be 2 more Dani stories (I cannot wait!) and then KMM will return to Mac and Barrons.
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The wise man ensures his survival before enjoying it. The fool dies enjoying it. - Ryodan
You'll never be just anything. A tsunami can never be 'just' a wave. -Ryodan
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