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STAY is a pop/rock band from Boston, MA.
With official albums and EPs, they already toured with Romance on a Rocketship, For The Foxes, and shared festivals with All Time Low, We Are The In Crowd, The Ready Set, Asking Alexandria, VersaEmerge, Enter Shikari and others.
Currently with members changing, STAY once counted with Anthony Rainville, Nick Crist and Andrew Elliott.
... selengkapnya


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Oseasons® Chester Office Swivel Chair in White & Black
This luxury Oseasons® Office chair range will make a stylish and practical addition to any office or study. With a large array of features and customisations, these office chairs are specifically designed to achieve optimum comfort moulded to your own ergonomic needs allowing you to find the perfect working position.
Colour / Weave: White with Black Mesh & Seat.Items, Quantities and Dimensions: 1 x Chester Office Swivel Chair. W: 63cm, D: 64cm, H: 107-117cm. Item Weight: 19 kg
Features:Ventilated Mesh Backrest Adjustable Lumbar Support Gas powered Height AdjustFully Adjustable Seat, Arms and Neck SupportSynchronised-tilting mechanism with 5 lever locking3 Year Warranty for domestic use
Product Code: OSGH356WOC-BK
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subset: commoncrawl


text: I happened to be in a fitting room today with really great lighting and I was wearing my most favourite jacket ever, the Sing, Floss, Travel Jacket in Heathered Navy. I took the opportunity to catch an accurate picture of the color for those of you still wondering about it since it's been pretty hard to capture the correct color. Man I love this Jacket!!


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Things You'll Need
- Saw horses
- Clamps
- Tape measure
- Felt tip marker
- Straight edge
- aluminum-cutting blade
- Extension cord
Aluminum has many uses but may need to be cut to the correct size depending on its application. Cutting aluminum typically is done with tools such as cutting shears or by using a chop saw. However, aluminum also can be cut with a circular saw. Before cutting aluminum with a circular saw, determine what type of aluminum you need to cut, such as aluminum siding or an aluminum sheet.
Place the piece of aluminum you need to cut on a pair of saw horses. Secure the aluminum to the saw horses with a clamp.
Measure the piece of aluminum with the tape measure. Make a mark with the felt tip marker where it will need to be cut.
Place a straight edge over the mark, and make a cut line for the circular saw using a marker.
Take the old cutting blade off the circular saw, and attach the carbide or aluminum cutting blade.
Adjust the depth of the saw blade to the thickness of the aluminum. If the blade is not deep enough, you will not have a clean cut.
Plug the power cord for the circular saw into an electrical outlet or extension cord. Place the front edge of the saw's foot (base plate) onto the aluminum workpiece. Press the trigger on the saw and allow the blade to reach full speed, then slowly engage the blade into the aluminum.
Continue pushing the saw slowly until you have cut through the aluminum.
Wear safety goggles or a face shield when cutting aluminum to protect against airborne debris. Wear heavy work gloves at all times when working with metal.
Photo Credits
- the part of circular saw with sharp tooth image by Valentin Mosichev from Fotolia.com


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Our Journey
'Our Journey' – Join us at this Saturday Night's Program to delve into this important topic.
The night will include a short lecture followed by a Q&A session, open to all, to explore this topic further. Dinner and dessert will be provided.
Please invite your family and contact your friends. May Allah (SWT) accept your acts of worship and increase our Knowledge!
7 PM 11 August
14 Forthorn Place, North St Marys, NSW


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As teenagers in Lagos, Ifemelu and Obinze fall in love. Their Nigeria is under military dictatorship, and people are fleeing the country if they can. The self-assured Ifemelu departs for America. There she suffers defeats and triumphs, finds and loses relationships, all the while feeling the weight of something she never thought of back home: race. Obinze had hoped to join her, but post-9/11 America will not let him in, and he plunges into a dangerous, undocumented life in London.
Thirteen years later, Obinze is a wealthy man in a newly democratic Nigeria, while Ifemelu has achieved success as a blogger. But after so long apart and so many changes, will they find the courage to meet again, face to face?
Fearless, gripping, spanning three continents and numerous lives, Americanah is a richly told story of love and expectation set in today's globalized world.
My Takeaway
"I came from a country where race was not an issue; I did not think of myself as black and I only became black when I came to America."
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Americanah
First, it took me a little over a month to finish this book. Ridiculous — I know!! A myriad of readers have praised and raved about Americanah and I cannot deny the descriptions and writing is exceptional, and quite honestly phenomenal. . . I just did not enjoy and love it as I imagined I would (broke my heart a little). I felt the novel was too long and the pace too slow. I also had a hard time keeping track of the many characters in the book. Yet, there were things I absolutely liked about the novel. In particular, there was one tiny passage that immediately reminded me of my grandmother and childhood. "Back home (Ifemelu) would wash her underwear every night and hang it in a discreet corner of the bathroom." Incredibly, as a little girl my grandmother taught me to wash my underwear by hand and hang it up on the rack inside the bathtub (she also did it, as well as my mom and aunt). Believe it or not, I still do this every single day! I have never heard of anyone else doing this and so the passage tickled my soul. Also, my husband has always thought it is the weirdest thing and so of course I showed him the passage. In the end, although Americanah was not an ideal pick for me, I appreciated Adichie's unique perspectives, fantastic descriptions, and immaculate writing. I read and loved We Should All Be Feminists, and plan on reading her earlier novels, Purple Hibiscus and Half of a Yellow Sun.
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Harper Bee is a lifestyle brand designed exclusively for tween girls, offering a wide range of beautiful products from bedroom to bathroom and everything in between.
Harper Bee is locally owned and run Australian business with stores in both Westfield Chermside and Grand Central Toowoomba. Founded by Janine Burford and her daughter Jessica Wood, Harper Bee offers a range of age-appropriate clothing, jewellery, bedroom and bathroom accessories, stationery and other tech delights to allow girls to express themselves the way they want.
Harper Bee prides itself on encouraging girls to be themselves and celebrate their individuality. Harper Bee has a strong growing community of Harper Bee Girls across not only Australia but the world including countries like Japan, New Zealand, America and India.


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Having witnessed many different kinds of births, and many different kinds of parents go through childbirth – I began to see a pattern. It was not a particular book or technique that led to a satisfying birth experience and enjoyable postpartum period. It was something else. Something more difficult to put my finger on.
Parents (and parents-to-be) who strike the fine balance between being organized information seekers and being curious, intuitive and open – are the people who really seem to embrace this transition, no matter what. This is what Planning for Birth & Baby has been designed to cultivate. If a birthing couple can do this together – everything, almost always, works out beautifully. Having traveled the childbirth and alternative health landscapes with an open mind for years, my goal is to help parents find what they need and to support them along their unique paths to early parenthood.
Why choose 'Planning for Birth and Baby'?
- One-on-one support enables you to prepare for your unique situation so you can be ultimately relaxed and excited for your baby.
- Guidance making a Birth Plan makes a big difference. Having an 'outside' professional ask you questions you might not think to ask yourselves, and to help you gather and make sense of information, will shed light on what it is YOU need.
- Being as prepared as possible for after your baby arrives is paramount. This is key to a happy transition to parenthood and is so often glossed over in other prenatal material.
- Time to tune in together as a couple and get on the same page – we often don't make space for this as urbanites but it's an important thing to do before welcoming another person(s) to the family.


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@kellyyarkosky is our winner of the $100 gift certificate giveaway!
You can still win! We will be choosing another winner for a $100 gift certificate to The Vintage Pearl! Post your pictures of our jewelry on social media! Make sure to tag us @thevintagepearl and #thevintagepearl to qualify!
(Don't forget: to qualify you must post your picture on your page and tag us and #thevintagepearl . Photos posted to the comment section will not qualify for this) #bestmothersdaygift #mothersday #giftsfromtheheart


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A new NFL rule was collectively bargained to further protect players who've suffered head injuries.
During the Monday night preseason game against the New York Jets at Reliant Stadium, Texans running back Derrick Ward left the game after suffering a head injury during the first quarter. He did not return to the game but was available to talk in the locker room after the 20-16 Texans victory.
Ward now joins the growing group of injured running backs – Arian Foster, Steve Slaton and Ben Tate, who are all suffering hamstring injuries.
Ward and the Houston media in the locker room were reminded of the new rule, and he was unable to answer questions.
Once Ward or any player with a head injury is cleared medically, he'll be able to discuss the concussion as well as the injury problems the running backs have experienced in recent weeks.
In an early-Tuesday-morning message via Twitter, Ward gave his own update:
"Good morning everyone. Just so u all know I'm fine and will be back at practice tomorrow. Thanks for the well wishes! We looked great!!!"
Follow Anna-Megan Raley on Twitter and Facebook.


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With Cuomo, M.T.A. and LIRR unions announce deal
Governor Andrew Cuomo and the leaders of the M.T.A. and its eight Long Island Rail Road unions announced a tentative labor agreement on Thursday, averting a threatened strike that would have crippled the region's transportation system and cost an estimated $50 million per day.
The accord was announced in a joint press conference at Cuomo's Manhattan offices around 1:30 p.m.
The governor says he had joined the talks Wednesday evening, after a more than four-hour negotiation session that produced little progress.
"This is a compromise by both parties after four long years," Cuomo said, using the words "difficult and complex" to describe the talks. "Compromise by definition means neither side gets everything they wanted to get. But it means we reached an agreement and we can work forward."
Both sides signed the tentative deal, and Cuomo signed as a witness.
Under the terms of the agreement, which must be ratified by union membership and approved by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's board, current LIRR employees will receive 17-percent raises over the contract's 6 1/2-year term. To pay for the raise, all employees will begin contributing to their health insurance costs. New employees will receive a different level of wage increases and will contribute more to pension plan contributions.
The deal will not lead to increases in rider fares—set to climb at the rate of inflation—and will not affect the ability of the M.T.A. to make needed repairs and upgrades, chairman Tom Prendergast said.
"Echoing what the governor said, the agreement reached today provides a fair and reasonable contract," Prendergast said.
Exact terms of the deal were not announced because union members have not had a chance to review the contract. Still, Anthony Simon, the leader of the union coalition, said he felt it was "definitely, definitely a ratifiable agreement."
"Everyone of us in this room always believed we could get to a deal and protect the public," Simon said, sitting on the right side of the governor. "It was a long road. It was a tough road."
The coalition of eight unions, which represent about 5,400 workers, have been in protracted negotiations for some time. Threats of a strike had intensified in recent days, after a breakdown of negotiations on Monday. Both sides blamed the other for the possibility of the strike, which would have begun early Sunday morning.
Cuomo says he got involved in the talks Wednesday evening, hours after he publicly called management and the unions back to the bargaining table. He said he had remained at a distance, given he has a "day job," but said that since the two sides were coming dangerously close to a strike, it was time for him to intervene.
"If the LIRR goes down, all of Long Island suffers," he said.
The deal comes 20 years after his Cuomo's father, Governor Mario Cuomo, faced an actual strike. That was the last time the LIRR's workers walked of the job.


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We supplier and trader of Musical Drums, Speaker systems, Givson Guitars, Sound Mixers, Musical Hardwares, Multiple channels Amplifier, Dual Channels, Musical Keyboards and various other instruments. These products are made up of standard quality raw materials, which are acknowledged for their aesthetic designs, antique finishing, durability and longer service life. Our products are low power consuming. We mainly focus on the quality and quantity of the product. Also offers customized products as per the client demands. We have an excellent team of technical and non technical staff, which supports us in the production process. These professionals keep contact to client on regular basis to understand their needs and then supplier the products as per client requirement. We work for client satisfaction. Our primary objective is to satisfied the customer by providing them standard quality products according to their requirements and at a reasonable price and in this process our professional support us in all well possible manner to achieve our goal.
The company supplies all top brands of musical instruments like Casio, Korg, Roland, Marshall, Zildjian, Paiste, Sabian, Behringer, Talkamine, Tailor, Hofner & Pearl. Also we have a wide Range Of Wind Insruments Like: Trumpets, Saxophone, Key Flute, Coronet, Clarinet, Trombone, and what not! Since the establishment, the company has been striving to satisfy its valued customers offering superb quality musical instruments at market leading prices. The company provides all types of musical instruments and accessories of world recognized brands.


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After Joe was unsuccessful in his attempt to epoxy-coat his vintage porcelain drainboard sink, he replaced it with a new Elkay Lustertone stainless steel drainboard sink. Even though the metal drainboard sink looks great, Joe says he would have preferred to keep his old porcelain sink top and have had the original enamel restored, refinished or replaced. But he didn't know of a source — and neither did I. Until now.
Thanks to reader TappanTrailerTami, who let us know:
I hate to mention this after-the-fact, but it could be something that Pam can investigate for us, and report on. There is a company in Illinois — Custom Ceramic Coatings — that does actual REAL porcelain enameling (the baked-on kind). I've seen them mentioned on a couple of different websites. I don't know how much the cost is, but I think it would be worth checking out and having the information handy just in case someone here wants to save their current sink. It is my understanding that they are the only company in the country to do real old fashioned authentic fired on porcelain enamel work.
UPDATE: We subsequently identified a second company — Independence Porcelain — that can do reporcelaining if you have a STEEL base; Custom Ceramic Coatings can do reporcelaining onto steel or cast iron.
And another UPDATE: Antique Baths Sydney (Australia) also has left comments that they do this work on both cast iron and steel substrates. Check out Antique Baths Sydney here. And, see the comments thread in this story for some back and forth with them regarding their shipping costs.
A note on terminology: I have seen the terms "Porcelain Enamel", "Enamel", and "Porcelain" each used to describe the top coating that is baked onto metal substrates on bathtubs, sinks and other products. As such, you may see the various terms used interchangeably on this blog by me and by others who are interviewed or commenting. To verify what types of products you have and what they are made of, do your own research including consulting with the original manufacturer or your own professionals.
Understanding potential lead hazards in old porcelain enamel bathtubs and sinks and tile of any age:
If you are the owner of an older porcelain enamel bathtub or sinks — or are considering buying one — please see my May 2, 2016 story Understanding potential lead hazards in old porcelain enamel bathtubs and sinks and ceramic tile of any age; this article focuses on raising awareness around three other potential sources of lead dust exposure in your home – old porcelain enamel bathtubs and sinks and ceramic tile of any era — and steps you can take to assess and, if required, address them.
Well, I followed up on Tami's tip, made a phone call, and yes — Custom Ceramic's owner John Ballantyne says that, indeed, he does true, old-fashioned re-porcelaining of sinks, tubs, stove parts and even vintage motorcycle parts. He does lots of (all the?) reporcelaining work for companies that take apart and re-manufacture vintage stoves piece by piece, for example.
John says can strip and then re-porcelain onto steel substrates, and usually, onto cast iron, although he tells me there is an issue with cast iron right now:
As I told you on the phone, I have been having some trouble with the thick heavy cast iron pieces since I had to change my porcelain supplier. My old supplier went out of business and we had things matched up pretty good. The stamped steel sinks are no problem. We are working with the porcelain for the cast and it has recently worked out on some pieces that had failed badly for outgassing. Once I try a couple of sinks that have failed and if they work out now, then I will return to doing the heavy cast iron again.
The porcelain re-enameling process is not cheap, because it is time-consuming and requires craftsmanship, materials and the tools and equipment. John explains that porcelain = glass. To re-porcelain a piece, he says, he first must blast away all the old porcelain down to the bare metal. He then applies a "ground coat" — a special primer, more or less — usually two coats, each fired separately. Then, he creates a special chemical mixture of ground glass and other materials — this is called "slip" — and applies thin coats in a wet spray, drying and firing in between. The firing all occurs at up to 1500 degrees F. The "outgassing" he refers to, is when there are problems getting the porcelain coats to adhere to the ground coats during the firing process. Expansion, contraction, chemical formulations — all must be just right or you get bubbles and pocks and flaking or worse.
John can create white porcelain, or color-match to about any color you want. Vibrant reds and yellows are more expensive, he warns, because the formula for these colors use cadmium, an EPA-controlled substance requiring special procedures.
Costs vary according to the piece. John read to me from his rate card: A 42″ sink runs $750-$800, plus shipping. As you can imagine, shipping can be a substantial part of the expense, too. For example, John is in Illinois, just across the border from St. Louis, and one-way shipping to California for a piece sitting in his shop while we talked was looking like $230. He says he works with a special shipper to help get the best cost possible.
That said, remember that it's probably at least $1,500 for an Elkay Lustertone stainless steel drainboard sink. And I bet if anyone ever started making porcelain drainboard sinks new, they would be in that price range or higher.
A 40″ stovetop, in white, with four burner holes, would be about $335, John said.
He can also do stove grates, with simple single grates starting at $50.50.
Currently, lead times are three-to-four weeks.
John says that he started his business in 1997, after running a large porcelain plant in St. Louis. He got his start when he reporcelained the exhaust pipes on his Harleys.
- Custom Ceramic Coatings — tell John you heard about him on Retro Renovation!
- Update May 2015: Custom Ceramic's waiting list is now two to three years long. Yes: Years. If you have a STEEL sink, try the other source have now profiled: Independencc Porcelain Enamel. Their timeline is weeks — but note, they cannot reporcelain cast iron.
- Understanding potential lead hazards in old porcelain enamel bathtubs and sinks and ceramic tile of any age.
- Do you want to buy a drainboard farmhouse style sink — new? There are options! See our complete Farmhouse Drainboard Sink Resource Page here.
I wanted to have my 1947 66 inch double bowl, double drainboard porcelain sink (on a Youngstown steel cabinet) done by John but I can't wait 1.5 – 2 years. I found a company in Independence, MO, close to Kansas City. It is Independence Porcelain Enamel – http://www.ipe-porcelain.com. It has been in business since 1922. I took my sink last Friday. Jeff tells me it will take about 2 weeks. It will be sandblasted and fired at 1600 degrees. It was a good size company and has been in business for a long time so I am optimistic for good results. Cost will be $550.
I have a sink exactly like yours, would love to have it redone without selling my first born. Thanks for info going to talk husband into road trip.
I spoke with Jeff in Independence, he doesn't do cast iron sinks. I was actually able to talk with John in Illinois. He's still looking at a 2+ year waiting list for sinks!
I spoke with an amazing architectural salvage guy in rural Missouri that has someone who will do cast iron tubs but not sinks (too much daily use with pots, etc) . The guy that does tubs is Bob his number is (573) 578-1331
I'd suggest powder coating- see my post above. So far I'm very pleased with the performance & plan to have my too large to be re-porcelained kitchen sink done this summer. It has to be better than the epoxy stuff.
Well, Pam, the spray on coatings certainly don't hold up worth a damn, so the alternative would be to throw out the sink but that's unacceptable to me. I think if one makes sure to use a sink protector, the wear & tear would be reduced. It's worth it to me to baby the sink a bit. I imagine it would be worth it to many with irreplaceable old sinks.
Powder coating holds up in marine environments so it certainly seems worth a try. The bathroom sink I had done is like new & that wasn't the case with the epoxy that I had to have redone almost yearly. John the re-porcelainer recommended it.
I could, Pam, if I didn't mind that it's pitted, chipped & rusty & looks terrible. It's in a rental property & is a very cool cast-iron double drainboard, high-backed sink & deserves to be kept!
I feel pretty optimistic about the powder coating based on John's recommendation to do it as well as the quality of the bathroom sink.
I have a 54″ Youngstown sink that came with my house. About 10 years ago, I redid the kitchen. I took the sink to a place in Denver that powder-coats. As I recall, not cheap (>$1k?), but it looked great. Ten years later, the sink is holding up OK. No chips, but the sink basin is no longer shiny smooth, so it stains. The rest is still shiny, and it looks good. I'm toying with the idea of the Elkay stainless replacement, though.
Looking to reporceline drains in the floor that are 12x12x8. Do you service Pennsylvania? And can you do it?
do you know if this guy is still in business? I've tried emailing and calling. No response. Thank you
Hi Jayne,
I just spoke with John after several attempts. He's just a one-man show and very busy, so don't give up. He's a really nice guy! I will warn you though, his wait-list is 2-1/2 – 3 years!!! Obviously, we can't wait that long as we're going to be renovating the kitchen in a couple months, so we're going to clean it up as best we can and install it, then when we're finally at the top of the list we'll bring it over to him. Not the idea situation, but worth it to preserve the sink and we can wait! Good luck!
I know nothing about restoration. I just found your blog today. I am a 29 yr old homeowner of a 1959 ranch (with the full on pink bathroom). The tub and kitchen sink are worn a bit (they have held up beautifully for their age). How do you tell if it is cast iron or steel? I just assumed they were cast iron (all of my dishes are chipped, haha). I had been thinking of looking into getting them repainted at some point. I have never heard about this porcelain coating stuff. Is there any kind of paint or other coating that is more affordable that can be done? I don't think I could afford the shipping from RI to IL. I will keep clicking around the site and see what else is going on with my home that I know nothing about. lol thanks for creating this resource!
Can you tell me who can do porcelain coat a oven interior and oven door for me?
I have a Youngstown kitchen sink w/integral drainboard. The metal cabinet it sits on is toast. A total loss with tons of rust. The sink top itself has survived very well. I have seen some sinks have 'legs' instead of cabinetry. Were would I find these 'legs' and could my sink top be retrofitted for the 'legs'? If not will standard cabinetry hold up to the weight of the top?
I just came across this beautiful cast iron porcelain single basin right sided drain board farm sink with apron front..i'm guessing from the 20's-30's. I am currently located in the DFW area, and NO ONE around here has any idea or any desire to point me in the right direction to restore/fix this beauty! I have been researching quick fixes because it does have some pretty good chips, rust on the front, but would like an experts opinion…I don't care if i have to retouch it every year or every ten…does the epoxy spot kits work? i would rather invest $5 every few months then just throw this sink out!
I have a Youngstown kitchen sink w/integral drainboard. The metal cabinet it sits on is toast. A total loss with tons of rust. The sink top itself has survived very well. I have seen some sinks have 'legs' instead of cabinetry. Were would I find these 'legs' and could my sink top be retrofitted for the 'legs'? If not will standard cabinetry hold up to the weight of the top?
Hi pam I have an old farmers double sided porcelain cast iron sink that needs to be redone. I live in NH and am looking for someone close. Do know of anyone


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MassRIDES Bike to Work Day
Date and Time
Friday May 18, 2018
Friday May 18, All Day
Your Employer
No cost
Contact Information
Peter Kuusisto,
Outreach Coordinator, MassRIDES
Send Email
Join cyclists across the country in celebrating Bike to Work Day on Friday, May 18th. Celebrate biking as a fun, healthy, and safe way to travel to work by opting to bike to work on May 18th. Employees of MassRIDES partner companies registered for Bike to Work Day who log their bike trips in Bay State Commute (baystatecommute.com) on May 18th will be automatically entered to win great bike-themed giveaways, including Kryptonite Bike U-Locks, bike fenders, REI gift cards, and more. If you're a commuter interested in having your company participate, please reach out to your Employer Transportation Coordinator or Human Resources department to enroll your company as a MassRIDES partner. For employers with questions, please visit www.commute.com, email Peter at firstname.lastname@example.com, or call 857-383-3853; MassRIDES is a free program of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) with a mission to reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality. In order to do this, MassRIDES partners with employers, colleges, and universities, to provide free commuter programs, resources, and solutions to help commuters and employers make smart transportation choices. https://commute.com/


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State Services Commissioner Iain Rennie has today expressed concern about any prospect of a register of political affiliations for State servants. Mr Rennie's concern follows reported comments from a Select Committee hearing that TVNZ may consider requiring staff to formally declare any political allegiances or political party membership, subject to the findings of TVNZ's current inquiry.
Around 165,000 State servants in a wide range of roles all around the country, including TVNZ employees, are subject to the State Services Code of Conduct.
The Code of Conduct requires State Servants to be politically neutral at work and to not allow their personal interests or relationships to affect their professional responsibilities.
In their private lives, State servants generally have the same rights as any other citizen when it comes to their personal political opinions and affiliations. This includes the right to hold political views and the right to freedom of association.
"All State servants must balance their professional roles and responsibilities with their private views and keep their job out of their politics and their politics out of their job," Mr Rennie said.
"It would not be appropriate for any organisation in the State Services to monitor or keep a register of their staff's political views or affiliations," he said.
State servants must ensure their actions are not affected by personal interests or relationships at any time. Any personal interests or relationships that have the potential to cause a conflict of interest must be actively managed.
The State Services Commission issues detailed guidance on the State Services Code of Conduct, "Understanding the Code". The guidance acknowledges that political involvement could, in some circumstances, be seen as a conflict of interest that would need to be managed, depending on the functions, responsibilities and seniority of the role.
The guidance states "Although political affiliations are similar to other interests requiring management to avoid conflict, it is not appropriate for organisations to maintain any register of such affiliations".
"Any State servant who feels they may have an actual or potential conflict of interest should discuss this with their manager as soon as they become aware of it," Mr Rennie said.
The State Services Commission recently issued guidance on the 2014 election, reminding all State servants of the need to remain politically neutral in their professional roles.
The State Services Code of Conduct and detailed guidance are available on the SSC website at http://www.ssc.govt.nz/code
A list of agencies covered by the Code of Conduct is available at http://www.ssc.govt.nz/code-organisations
Media enquiries: Lisa-Marie Richan, Director, SSC Communications and Head of Profession 021 244 1361


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Illustrate Your Own Recipe
This looks like a lot of fun!! "This workshop is for everyone who loves food, cooking and drawing; for all you foodies, crafters, artists, creators, and kitchen masters. Over the course of two hours everyone create a beautiful range of some yummy illustrated ingredients and dishes.
We will start off with different warm-up drawing exercises, where you'll be introduced to playing with different art mediums and look at how to capturing food illustration."


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Pandas make us happy. Snacky lunches make us happy. And yummy leftovers with extra good cheeses make us happy. We're combining all three into one lunchbox!
In this lunch, we combined extra yummy leftover ham, cut into bite sized slices, with two awesome cheeses I picked up at the deli. The more yellowed one is a monterey jack and the flecked one is a garlic white cheddar. Both are amazing. To go with those, I added a bunch of crackers to make mini stackers.
On the right, I had a great fresh honeydew that I had sliced up for the kids, along with some kind of granola bar. I always empty snack items into bins, so I can't remember what I bought initially. I accented all the food with cute panada picks, because pandas are awesome, and packed everything in one of our EasyLunchboxes.
Wednesday, May 10, 2017
Panda Snack Bento
Posted by Shannon at 3:00 PM
Labels: easylunchboxes, faith, snack
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The first thing that runs through your head? "I need a hair appointment!" You have us on speed dial (naturally) so it takes 30 seconds to get through to us. But...What is that...? Fully booked?!?! Then we hear the words "I just want a trim! It won't take long!"
We know how long it takes to deliver our Award Winning Service, and 'squeezing you in' won't give you a quarter of what we aim to deliver. We deliver what we call 'Swan Service' which means that on the Salon Floor, everything looks graceful and peaceful. Meticulously simple, almost automatic in fact! Whilst behind the scenes a lot of work is going into making that Swan look like it's gliding across the water! So here is how we make it look like a well oiled machine....Call it 'A day in the life of Tommy's'.
08:45am The Front of House Coordinators arrive in the Salon and begin their morning routines. This includes walking through the Salon detailing maintenance issues, creating task lists for the team during the day, and calculating figures and daily notes to pass on to the team about each Guests likes and dislikes.
09:00 All of our Team Members are trained to always be 15 minutes early for us, as well as outside appointments. Our morning meetings (called 'Express' Meetings) are held 15 minutes before our first service at 09:30, so everyone arrives at 09:00 if they want to settle in, grab themselves a coffee or tea, and have a chat about what happened at the BRIT or BHA Awards, or whatever the latest news may be!
09:15 - The Team are in full uniform, ready to have the meeting of what awaits them in the appointment book that day. Everyone who is on the floor that day is present, from Manager to Assistant, to hear what is coming up in the day, with each Guests like and dislikes, as well as Company wide news from the PR & Marketing Department and Directors as well as the logistics of the appointment book throughout the day.
09:25 - Team Members look through their columns on our computer to make personal notes on each appointment and create an action plan for the day.
09:30 - The Salon comes to life! And the day begins. As you can see by the appointment book, there are lots of appointments on any given day, as a lot of our Guests prefer to book ahead. Every single appointment in this week is pre-booked. There is very little time in between each appointment. All appointments include a dedicated consultation time, as well as a little breathing space to fit in the Guests who call to book their complimentary fringe trims.
Our Guest Managers manage the book like a military operation! This ensures that each Guest gets the full amount of time with their Stylist for their Service. They have a handbook filled with policies and procedures to follow, which help keep each Salon running smoothly and efficiently.
As you can see, it's pretty tight! Our Front of House Team are trained to utilise our Salon waiting list, which means that as soon as a cancellation comes up, the list is referenced for the people who have said that they can come at that time or that day. If you have a flexible schedule, it's obviously a great idea to book your next appointment ahead, and this can be changed with a minimum of 48 hours notice. But what if you aren't flexible on times and days? We appreciate people are busy, which is why we offer a scheduling system. We will put your appointment in at your preferred time, day, and recurrence. You work late on a Thursday and can't be in the Salon until 6:30pm on your favourite Stylists late night? No problem... We will pop an appointment in for you every six weeks at 6:30 on a Thursday evening, and you confirm the next one as you go.
So as you can see, we work super hard to make sure that everyone gets a time and date they prefer...All you need to do is book ahead! Whilst we do all the hard work behind the scenes to prevent those Bigfoots creeping into your bathroom mirror :)


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#10 – LA SAPIENZA directed by Eugène Green
What, at first glance, appears to be simple story of one man attempting to salvage his career and his marriage turns into a complex entanglement of history, spirituality and Baroque architecture.
#9 – BUZZARD directed by Joel Potrykus
Joshua Burge is fantastic as small-scale scam artist Marty Jackitansky; equipped with a Krueger-rigged Nintendo Power Glove and pockets swole with bogus check money, Marty humorously attempts to upgrade his lifestyle.
#8 – REALITY directed by Quentin Dupieux
Perhaps Dupieux's most accessible and mature film to date. Films within dreams, dreams within dreams within other films housed within other dreams. Films and dreams, dreamfilms folding back into themselves until the end and beyond
#7 – DA SWEET BLOOD OF JESUS directed by Spike Lee
A modern reinterpretation of Bill Gunn's Ganja & Hess. Zaraah Abrahams delivers a great performance as Ganja Hightower, easily improving upon the original even though the experimental slow-motion audio-layering is no where to be seen.
#6 – WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS directed by Jemaine Clement & Taika Waititi
Featuring one of the year's best supporting performances (Cori Gonzalez-Macuer), this mockumentary masterpiece of the day-to-days of vampire roommates continuously impresses with its comedy and its special effects.
#5 – APPROACHING THE ELEPHANT directed by Amanda Wilder
A non-talking head documentary, in the vein of Wiseman, about the opening of a free school in New Jersey and its early stage tribulations. Children are treated as equals, but more often than not the adults and children meet each other somewhere in the middle.
#3 – SABBATICAL directed by Brandon Colvin
Robert Longstreet delivers, perhaps, the best performance in his career, subdued and low-key, in a film that is meticulous and restrained as Colvin methodically builds to a somber confrontation, long repressed feelings finally boiling to the surface if only for a moment.
#3 – WILD CANARIES directed by Lawrence Michael Levine
A young couple's domestic squabbles parallel the murder mystery that may, or may not be, be afoot. Levine's lively script, along with the performances and comedic beats, culminate in one of the year's most rewarding comedies.
#2 – MAD MAX: FURY ROAD directed by George Miller
Creativity abounds in Miller's Mad Max; explosions galore, fire tornadoes, discernible action cinematography, amazing special effects…honestly, I shouldn't have to explain myself.
#1 – HARD TO BE A GOD directed by Aleksey German
A cinematic masterpiece of scope, creativity and ingenuity; German's long-suffering accomplishment is a marvel of filmmaking and world-building, one that (more than likely) will not be topped for some time to come.
Let us know in the comments how this list stacks up against your own, and be sure to click here for all our other mid-year top 10s.


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There are many actors' autobiographies but good novels about the profession are thin on the ground. Even fewer are those with a setting of regional small scale professional theatre.
Caroline Ross's book has a backdrop familiar to many on Tyneside (myself included) who've been involved in the theatre scene here since the Stone Age and one of its delights is spotting the lightly disguised characters or occasions.
Small Scale Tour (not the most exciting title) is fiction, of course, and like any writer of imagination Ross makes up a lot of it. Elsewhere I often paused to mutter "A-ha!" at the familiarity of people or circumstances.
Caroline Ross is married to Teddy Kiendl, one-time artistic director of Live Theatre. Kiendl somehow survived directing my own first professional production for Live to make a successful career.
The couple now live in Wales and this is Ross's second novel. Like the first, The War Before Mine, it spans two periods. Both are on Tyneside but 30 years apart, firstly when the main character, Ham, was a part of the still fairly new and impecunious Kicking Theatre Company, and later when he returns to audition for a revival of the play which was their first production.
By the second period Ham is, as we luvvies say, mainly 'resting', stacking shelves for his eccentric Afghan corner shop employer, but still dreaming (as actors are prone to), of that big break.
By now Kicking Theatre Co is in swish new premises with a clutch of marketing people and Ham's interview with the somewhat mechanical new female director seems a universe away from the chaos, passions, insecurities, emotional disasters, confusions and blind faith he remembers.
Or is Ham merely unable to adapt to a new age? Is he jealous of what Kicking Theatre has become?
The writing is humorous and perceptive and uses an imaginative device of inserting sections of invented theatre text into the narrative (Ham is now trying to make it as a writer as well). It allows the unlikely inclusion in a Tyneside novel of the Greek god of wine, Dionysus.
The book has at its heart the earlier love affair between Ham and fellow actor Jane, both now auditioning for the new production. Can they reconnect or has the world left them behind?
The book powerfully evokes that strange, irresistible, infuriating, creative, insecure and often sexually charged world in which a group of young people live hand-in-glove as they trundle their play round one night stands. It's a world that could easily be romanticised but Ross avoids this. With two deaths at its core, Small Scale Tour can often be painful.
Naturally, it's fascinating stuff for a playwright – the cut and thrust of writer and director, the hasty re-writes, the clashes on casting. And the nuts and bolts of the exhausting business of one-night touring is also here. We feel the author has actually lugged that set up those stairs.
But possibly because, unlike her husband, the author observed this thespian behaviour from a certain distance, the book is not too incestuous. It is capable of standing back to create memorable non-theatre characters such as Afghan corner shop owner Mr Khan.
It can also make telling social observations, as when the actors visit the dysfunctional mother of the young working class lad Matt who they've taken on as part of a government scheme.
At such times, when the differences in lifestyle are laid so bare and with such powerful writing, the phrase 'working class theatre' can seem a bit too easy.
The main playwright working for Live Theatre at that time was CP Taylor. He was an inspiring person (his widow Liz still lives in Northumberland) and the fictional Cuff is only a lightly disguised version (indeed, the play the company are about to revive in the book is The Blaydon Races, which was the title of Taylor's first play in the 1960s).
The novel is unlikely to be a bestseller. The public like to think of their actors in the glitzy world of chat show, celeb mag, West End and Hollywood, rather than sticking up the set in a draughty Blaydon Hall.
To be fair, most actors yearn for that world also. It is only later they realise the significance and importance of that draughty Blaydon Hall.
It is to the credit of Small Scale Tour that it understands that significance and importance too. In many ways, this fine book is an homage to the same.
Small Scale Tour by Caroline Ross (Honno Modern Fiction, £8.99)


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We are often asked to make a collection of donations in memory of the deceased, which are sent either in lieu of or in addition to floral tributes. Cheques should be made payable to the charity chosen and handed or posted to us, together with a covering letter. The donor's names are listed for the family's information and the final amount forwarded to the fund or charity.
As of 2017, we are able to set up obituaries on our website which generate a Just Giving page. This total is kept entirely separate from the donations we collect. Often, this can be a useful tool as people are able to donate very quickly. If this is something you would like us to do, just call or ask your funeral arranger during the arrangements.
Floral tributes
We can help you to organise a wide range of high quality floral arrangements.
Download a copy of our floral arrangements brochure (PDF):
If you are arranging your funeral service through either our Reigate or Redhill branches then floral tributes can be arranged through:
- Greensleeves: Call Sam on 01737 766 911 or see their website: www.greensleevesonline.co.uk
- Willows: Call Clare or Shirley on 01737 248 484 or see their website: www.willowsreigate.co.uk
- Holborn's Flowers: Call Russell on 07375520026 or email: firstname.lastname@example.com
- The Reigate Flower Hut: Call 07779 024250 or see their facebook page: www.facebook.com/reigateflowerhut
For Godstone, floral tributes can be arranged through:
- Pipers: Call 01883 712 000 or see their website: www.pipers.florist
For Tadworth, flowers can be arranged through:
- The Flowerpot: 01737 813 338 or see their website: www.theflowerpottadworth.co.uk
- Flowerwise: 01737 373 884 or see their website: www.flowerwiseepsom.co.uk
For Crawley Down, flowers can be arranged through:
- Bay Tree: 01342 713131


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My Heart, Your Home
Our first album released especially for children!
Filled with creative arrangements, each of these original songs are filled with the fun energy of childhood while delivering a powerful, Biblical message. The enthusiasm and sweetness of young voices will delight listeners of all ages.
This project also includes a full-color, 16-page lyric booklet especially for those little singers who want to join along with the music!
- Joyful Shout
- Sowing the Seed
- Growing in Wisdom
- I Will Live for You
- He Is Faithful
- As I Go
- Let the World Praise
- Stand in Truth
- Call for Freedom
- Share
- Be Strong
- Great Adventure
- Trust in the Lord
- Jehovah Reigns
- Shalom
- Alpha Omega
- Guard Your Heart
- Choices
- Your Grace
- My Heart, Your Home