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When you want to see more clearly in your life, it is not rare to have to ask for help at certain moments because you do not find all the answers you want. It is essential not to remain on its doubts because that will prevent you from advancing and from blooming. I am a medium tarot card reader in Dallas who is there to bring you answers to all your questions from a sentimental, financial, professional, family or other point of view. I consult only by phone because for me it is the best way to bring you a solution to your worries without wasting time which is really essential. Indeed, you should never stay on a question without being able to find an answer. That's why I invite you to contact my psychic office through this phone number.
I have been a psychic for a very long time and I have been able to perfect my various natural gifts of clairvoyance over time. I have already been able to help a great number of people who were in doubt in their life and they were able to find a better life thanks to me. Of course, in some cases, this can mean giving you some hard answers, but I prefer to tell you the truth rather than making you believe false things that will not bring you anything. For me, being a medium in Midland is above all being honest with the people who come to consult me by phone.
I have been doing mediumship for many years because I was lucky enough to have this natural gift without even realizing it at first. But in addition to that, I took a lot of time to discover other divination arts in order to be able to bring you all the time my opinion which must be the most precise and especially the most true possible to allow you to see more clearly in your life. You should not hesitate to ask for a serious consultation by phone with a real medium in Midland.
A professional psychic in Midland, TX is waiting for you for a phone consultation to help you find your way back
Being a psychic opens many doors and allows you to have a rich life if you know how to use it well. I know from my own experience that there are more and more people who claim to be psychics, mediums, tarot readers and the like, but who do not have the experience and background that I do. I am sure that many of them are not able to really help you and bring you solutions as clear and honest as I do. I do not make any concessions on what I have to say and what I can foresee because there is an essential point which is to be able to keep a great honesty and an exemplary integrity when one must give an answer to a person who is in full doubt. So, you can now call my psychic phone number in Midland so that I can take the time to clarify all the points that are a barrier to a happy life.
I don't claim to be the best psychic in Midland but I just want to inform you that it is very important to be careful when you decide to contact a professional psychic. To know who you are dealing with is actually very simple, you just have to listen carefully and see if he is really able to answer you without even having to ask you any questions. Personally, I very often tell a person who consults me by phone what are the reasons for his call. I repeat once again that the most important thing for an individual who consults in a psychic office is to be able to trust and not to doubt the answers given during a telephone conversation. I can assure you that with me, you will always have the truth because I am only here to serve you so that you can as soon as possible find a better life.
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In order to help you in your love life, professional or other, it happens very often to use other divinatory arts in addition to my natural gifts of medium. But please note that this does not alter the precision and accuracy of my answers. When I receive a phone call to my clairvoyance office in Houston, I take your request into account so that I can use the best divination art possible.
I do this simply because I believe that there is a real relationship of trust between you and me and even more that must be created. Indeed, to help you, it is important that you feel good with me and to achieve this, I have to show you that I am here above all to help you. Moreover, if there are so many people who call me, it is because I have succeeded over the years in becoming a renowned medium in Midland and even in the whole of France. Now it is up to you to make the right choice to have a better life or not. If you really want it then know that I am at your disposal to help you get there with a simple phone consultation so do not hesitate any longer to call me.
I use taromancy by phone to enlighten you on your questions
Mediumship is a very powerful gift but it is even better to be able to use other divination arts when I want to bring you a solution and clarify your life. The reason is actually very simple, the tarot cards are a magnificent support to allow me to see your future or to understand what are the reasons linked to your past that prevent you from moving forward. Indeed, you must be aware that for most people, there is an event in the past that blocks you because it remains buried somewhere in you. Once you have succeeded in resolving this problem linked to your past, you are better able to find the right path for a better life. I have already had many people who consulted me by phone because they had a problem in their emotional, professional, relational or other life but they did not know that it was due to their past. With taromancy, I will be able to tell you where your blockage comes from and so you will finally have the answer to your blockage.
There are many tarot decks that are all very effective and accurate as long as the psychic, who uses them, is very competent in the matter which does not come overnight and without making any effort. Indeed, it is necessary to be able to understand all the cards and the combinations between them have very different meanings. In order to have a total mastery of tarot cards, one must spend a lot of time to understand this extraordinary and very powerful divinatory art which has been used for several centuries.
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Tarot cards in Midland, TX to help you answer your questions about your sentimental life
I know that relationships are very important for many of you and that you would really like to have a love life that can bring you a lot of happiness. But you are not able to do so and you often wonder what are the reasons for your failures in your love stories.
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To get there, it is both very simple and complicated because on my side I will bring you the answers you are waiting for but on the other side it is up to you and you alone to listen to them and to use my advice or not. In fact, I will in no way withdraw from you because it is up to you to make decisions. You should know that some people prefer not to know anything about their future or their past because they prefer to let things happen naturally, which is a very respectable choice. However, it is also very good to have a little help in order to make the right decision at the right time and it is for this reason that you should not hesitate to ask for a consultation by phone at my renowned medium's office in Midland.
I must also warn you that during our conversation on my clairvoyance phone line, I can tell you things that at the time may not please you or be hard to take. But it is often necessary to go through this to find the way to happiness. You can trust me because, as I have already told you, my medium's gifts do not betray me and they are always very precise and accurate.
Contact quickly the best medium by phone for a quick consultation without waiting
I think that after reading all of this, you are better able to understand why I can help you as a psychic in Midland. I use my innate gifts to help you and I must admit that it would be wrong not to let others benefit from them in order to have a better life and especially to have all the answers to these numerous questions.
In the time that I have been running my clairvoyance tarot card reading practice in San Antonio, I have been able to help quite a few people and I can even tell you that many of them were very skeptical about mediumship and my other psychic gifts. I have to say that this does not bother me because I know that very often these people do not want to or are not ready to hear the truth.
It is actually very easy for me to show a person what he or she should do to have a better life, but if they don't believe it, it's a shame. I know how much good I have already done around me and I can tell you that this is my greatest pride. Your future is yours and it is up to you to make the right decisions but if you need help or advice then don't hesitate any longer to call my cheap phone number so that I can listen to you to solve your problems. I am very often free for a phone consultation so it is time for you to not stay in doubt and have a new life that fits your desires.
Reviews on my tarot card readings
The best medium I have ever consulted
I have been dealing with psychics, mediums and others for a very long time but for the moment I have been more or less satisfied with my consultations. So I decided to test this medium and my first experience was great in every way. A cheap telephone psychic consultation that allowed me to see much more clearly on different things and in particular on the reasons why I didn't have a very good love life. I listened to everything this psychic had to say and she made me understand that my problems with my husband came from something I had been holding inside for too long and that I had to be able to get over it. Now I've been able to get back to having as fulfilling and great a love life as I wanted. I can only say thank you for everything you were able to do for me.
For my first phone consultation with a medium, I am really satisfied because it allowed me to understand many things about myself. I must also say that I had a lot of doubts about clairvoyance in general but thanks to this medium, I see things differently now. It is important to be able to find your way in order to have the best life possible. I won't hesitate to do another phone consultation if I have any more questions.
A real pro in clairvoyance who helped me to advance in my professional life
For quite some time now, I had been asking myself a lot of questions about my career because I was not progressing and especially I was less and less happy in my job. So I wanted to have an external opinion and I decided to contact this medium by phone. I can tell you that I made a very good decision by doing this because she allowed me to see much more clearly and to make the right decisions for my professional life. I was able to see my future differently and above all to be able to solve a lot of problems and tensions that I had been having for quite some time in my work. Today, I am a happy man who is moving forward and who is totally fulfilled in his job.
I am more than satisfied with my first psychic consultation with this medium. I think there will be many more because the various answers she gave me helped me a lot. I feel much better and if this is possible it is because this medium knew how to put forward the reasons that prevented me from moving forward and being happy. I am convinced that I will finally be able to invest myself much more serenely in my emotional life in order to find the happiness that has been eluding me for quite some time. If you have any questions then I advise you to do a phone consultation with this medium who knows how to use her own medium gifts to help others.
Very good! Very happy with this medium's office
If you have a problem and you can't find the solution, then I advise you to do as I did and not hesitate to consult this medium by phone. Moreover, I have to say that it is a cheap psychic consultation if I compare with others that I have already done. But the most important point is that she really took the time to listen to me and especially to bring me a lot of answers to my relationship problems as well as in my relations with my family. I was able to resolve many conflicts thanks to this medium and now I have a life that is much happier. So if I were you, I would not waste any time if you are looking for happiness.
A very high quality and professional medium
I can tell you that I was able to learn a lot from this psychic's phone consultation. But the most important thing is that it helped me to make some radical decisions that I didn't dare to do until a short time ago. Thank you for all your advice.
Satisfied to have been able to consult this psychic office
I hesitated quite a bit before deciding to call this psychic's phone number that a friend had given me. I told myself that I should have done it much earlier but as they say it's never too late to do it right. In short, this psychic is a real pro who is able to help you a lot as she did so well for me. Now I will know where to turn when I have a doubt about my life. You can go there without any worries.
Very good! A professional psychic
This telephone psychic consultation has enlightened my life a lot because I had a very big doubt about my companion. I wanted to know if these doubts were really founded or if it was me who was taking my head for nothing. Thanks to this psychic I know what is going on and I was able to make the best decisions for my love life. I feel really relieved because I can finally live again without spending all my time asking myself a lot of questions that were poisoning my life before. I recommend this psychic if you have any doubts because she will know how to guide you and another important point is a telephone consultation which is really cheap if I compare with other mediums I know.
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There’s a common analogy used to describe the many ways our world has been transparently constructed to the benefit of men at some difficult-to-discern disadvantage to women.
Fish never notice the water they’re swimming in.
We’re the fish, of course. The diminished agency and inequality of opportunity that women experience is the water we swim in. We’re so used to, and even dependent on, things that make it harder for women to find equal footing—family structure, employment dynamics, personal bias—that we don’t, or won’t, notice them. Only when we look back at the broad outcomes do we see the pattern manifest.
While the intent of the analogy is to expose an important but nuanced reality, there’s a level of comfort in it that allows us to live a little a bit easier with the gap. Most of us are the good guys. These things are hard to see. They’re not really our fault. One can’t fault the fish for the water after all.
In honest moments, though, many men will admit it’s not that nuanced. And the water? It’s not that hard to notice. For me, Annapolis in the 90’s, when I went there, is a clear example.
I remember the day Shannon Faulkner, the first woman cadet at the Citadel, dropped out. Our company leadership made the watch announce it in the passageways. Cheers erupted.
I remember women midshipman who dared to make an announcement in King Hall, during lunch, drowned out by the cheers of thousands of Americas best and brightest future leaders.
I remember my teammates on the bus banging on the windows and hollering like crazed lunatics anytime a woman passed by.
This list is by no means exhaustive. But it’s a fair representation of common behavior I witnessed.
The water was pretty dirty.
Normally, this is the part of the narrative where the one weaving it identifies himself as one of the “good guys” who didn’t partake in that kind of nonsense. That I never really understood what the hell was wrong with everyone. That I was raised by a single mother in a family came from a long line of strong women who held the families of deadbeat fathers together. And that I had no problem with women authority figures. That I didn’t resent the one woman I asked out at the Naval Academy for turning me down because at another university with better than 9 to 1 odds in my favor, it would be me who wouldn’t give her the time of day. That I was so evolved I assigned the deficiency to me, not to her presence at my pristine warrior institution. Or that I swore no unit I ever led would tolerate any infringement on the dignity of those who chose to serve, no matter who they were. And that all not holding the same standard as us “good guys” are shameful.
Though true, that’s not what this essay is about.
A few weeks ago, an alum who attended the Academy at the same time I did reached out to ask if I’d be interested in responding to the question “What does the term WUBA mean to me?” for a website being launched by women alumnae of Annapolis. WUBA was the acronym used for the working uniform blue alpha at Annapolis. It was also the derogatory term used to describe the women themselves with an assortment of graphic replacements for the real terms that I won’t spend time on. If you’re curious enough about what they were, just ask someone who went there. If they tell you they don’t know what you’re talking about, they’re not being honest.
The term was prohibited and punishable by significant disciplinary action years before I attended, as was any behavior considered to be sexist, unfair or derogatory towards women. The term and the behavior accompanying it were regularly present though. I can say in good conscience it wasn’t a term I used. But I can also say that I can’t remember a time when I forcefully objected to its use. Which brings me to my answer. What does the term WUBA mean to me? It’s simple.
I was conscious of the attitude that many of my classmates had towards the few women who chose the path we did. The patterns were so clear that it was a sort of litmus test. The reality was that many, most maybe, but certainly a plurality of my male classmates, shared the same views I did. That anyone who could keep up should get the chance. And it was clear, in that hybrid environment of college and military professionalism, the women kept up and then some. And so there was a tendency for many of us to simply not think or say much about it at all. It was also clear that there were some who took such exception to women’s presence at a service academy, that they made their stance clear as often as possible. And all that was required for their message to dominate the environment was for the rest of us to tolerate it.
After I graduated, my time in service sent me all over the planet to see, first-hand, conflicts of politics, religion and ethnicity. One of the volumes of life lessons I learned was the durability of intolerance. The least tolerant voices survive. They are clear and concentrated in their purpose. They aren’t burdened with the complexity of nuance or differing perspectives. They carry a simple message.
That message soars over the cacophony of thoughtful debate and empathy and caring. It’s clear and crisp. And dominant. And I’ve learned the only thing that counters it is a version of intolerance that insists the message of exclusion have no place in your presence.
Which brings me back to my answer. Regret.
In reality, the narrative that I learned not to tolerate bigotry or sexism in my life’s travels after Annapolis is a false one. I knew it then. I’ve always known it. It’s not that deep of an insight. And knowing it, I let too many opportunities to express it pass because I was afraid. I was afraid to express an opinion that I felt was unpopular at the time and risk ridicule by those more invested in the counter argument. And now, decades later when it is easier for my message to find a more supportive, less risky audience, when it is more popular, writing an essay expressing it doesn’t make up for my silence in the past. The moment is gone. My opportunity to be part of the solution has passed.
My regret is that simply not being one of the bad ones wasn’t good enough. My regret is that silence contributed to an environment where the women I served with had to alter their behavior for fear of overstepping bounds that should never have existed, in ways that it would take them years to unlearn.
We define ourselves by what we tolerate in real time and the causes for which we advocate when they do not serve our own interest. For a little while at least, I was defined by inaction when perhaps action might have helped.
This entry was posted in Sisterhood Blog by women. Bookmark the permalink.
Patti Bartlo ‘87 on January 8, 2019 at 14:50 said:
WOW. So the young men DO grow up:-). So do the women. We were all scared. I think you can forgive yourself especially after the writing of this article. If you have any daughters know that they have a dad with unique knowledge. Share it with them.
Bushnell on January 8, 2019 at 20:23 said:
I’m proud of your honesty Sean. You have proved your convictions through writing.
Bushnell on January 8, 2019 at 20:25 said:
Proud of your convictions!
Anonymous on January 9, 2019 at 04:33 said:
I was surprised how emotional I became while reading this article. I was there in the late Eighties, and the term was rampant. We, of course, shrugged it off and tried to redefine the acronym and claim it as our own…or at least claim it as a badge of honor with a knowing eyebrow raised. My daughter asked me once if I had problems with any of the boys at the academy, and I told her I hadn’t. Overall it was a great experience for me. But the water WAS dirty. The fact that most of us swam well through it doesn’t change that fact. Thanks so much for acknowledging that in your beautifully written article.
EJ Jewett ‘81 on January 9, 2019 at 05:39 said:
Wow! This is as good an answer as I have aver heard. Thank you for the sincerity and courage to speak up.
W.T. Door '84 on January 9, 2019 at 10:52 said:
Shannon Faulkner went to The Citadel. You lost me after that very easily checkable fact.
We didn’t have women in our class year in our company, and as a result my interaction with women at the Naval Academy was really limited. I learned early on that in the “good-bad continuum” it was mostly bad to get involved with female Mids, and so I didn’t.
To be honest, I never felt any animosity toward women at USNA, and like a lot of other midshipmen, I was almost entirely focused on making sure I graduated and escaped from the place. There really wasn’t a lot of time for me to worry too much about anything other than my own struggles. I did used to wonder why any woman would want to put herself through that place, and I questioned myself as to why I wanted to do it many times as well.
When we were firsties, a group arrived from some congressional office and asked some of us what we thought would make life easier for women. My answer was simple and remains the same today as it was 36 years ago: “Make the percentage of women at least 20% of the Brigade if not more. Only then, when there are so many more women there will it seem ‘normal’.” With numbers less than 10% of our graduating class, women stuck out and received much more attention – good and bad – than most of the men did.
women on January 10, 2019 at 06:54 said:
Thank you so much for sharing a glimpse into your experience and your honest thoughts. Thank you also for catching the VMI reference error, it is now correct.
M.Fox '91 on January 9, 2019 at 11:48 said:
Thank you for this. It explains what a lot of my male classmates in 91 probably thought and felt as we females were struggling in that deeply misogynistic environment. It helps me understand and be less angry.
Captain Maureen Fox, USN '91 on January 9, 2019 at 13:40 said:
I am so glad to read this. It gives me insight into what my male classmates (’91) were probably thinking, and helps me put aside my long-held anger at the situation we endured.
Stephanie Kish '86 on January 9, 2019 at 14:54 said:
Thank you for writing this excellent piece; I hope your views are the majority now and no longer the minority.
Bevin Keen '99 on January 9, 2019 at 14:58 said:
Wow! Powerful. Thanks for sharing, Sean.
Barbette Lowndes '80 on January 9, 2019 at 15:10 said:
I applaud Sean’s honesty. This reminds me of a conversation I had with a male classmate about 25 years after graduation. He was concerned about some of the scenarios in Sharon Disher’s book “First Class” and asked if he had been a jerk to me or the other women in our company. I was honest and said no, he wasn’t one of the bad guys, but he wasn’t there to help me when I needed him either. As Patti has commented, we all mature. Thank you to all the brave men and women who will admit we could have been better to each other and are willing to move forward.
JoAnna (Garcia) Sohovich '93 on January 9, 2019 at 18:19 said:
Truly inspiring insight and self-awareness, Sean. Thank you for your words because in reading them I found some peace–which means that perhaps the moment isn’t “gone.” There are echoes and reverberations and your essay has helped reshape then for me.
Stephanie Kish '86 on January 9, 2019 at 21:42 said:
Excellent piece of writing…here’s hoping that the views you express have been realized and adopted by the latest generation of mids.
Fran Utley Cloe '90 on January 17, 2019 at 17:53 said:
I read this today and I needed it because I just sat silent on a layover bus ride where I listened to a male colleague describe his failure to get a coveted position due to the hiring authority only hiring “blacks”. (Normally when I hear that statement in my profession it includes “and women” so I assume he demurred on that point due to my presence. My profession holds steady at 5% women and similarly low percentage of African-Americans) Nobody spoke up. Not me, not the other two guys. I can always speak up when I’m one on one with some one. I have rarely spoken up in a group and I was extremely provoked when I did`. I have not heard anyone else speak up in a group. There are PLENTY of opportunities to be part of the solution today. It is very, very difficult to do and I fail at it more than I should. And I, too, regret it every time. Keep working at it.
women on January 17, 2019 at 19:27 said:
Thank you so much, Fran, for sharing your experience. We completely understand and agree that this is difficult work that we must and will do it together.
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The Eastern Shore Post is the only locally owned newspaper on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. It is published each Friday and 12,000 copies are distributed free to readers at hundreds of locations from Pocomoke, Md., and Chincoteague, Va., to Cape Charles, Va. It is posted online Thursday evening, usually by 6:30 p.m. We are in the Four Corner Plaza at 25248 Lankford Highway, Onley. Mailing address is P.O. Box 517, Onley, VA 23418
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I think the worst thing you can do with an Airstream is to zoom across this amazing nation in an effort to cover miles quickly. Circumstances have forced me to do that on a few occasions, and each time I bemoan the missed opportunities along the way, the impromptu stops for roadside oddities and authentic experiences that fly past the driver’s window.
There’s always a good reason, of course. We have only so much time in this life and we can’t make more. It doesn’t matter if you are wealthy, esteemed, powerful, or famous—your day is still only 24 hours (until we have Airstreams on Mars), and your week is always going to be 7 days long.
Time is the key currency when you want to engage in slow travel. Like the “slow food” movement a few years back, I think you get a richer, more satisfying experience by roaming at leisure. The ideal way to get across the USA is to take a month or more with an Airstream, stopping everywhere that suits you and chasing 72 degrees whenever possible.
I’ve done that for a few years. Tallying up, I think I’ve crossed the country towing an Airstream roughly 35 times in the last 15 years, and most of those trips were happily puttering the blue highways at a rate of no more than 150 miles every few days.
So there I wuz … as the story often begins … storming the highways of the nation this past week in an effort to get home after four months of traveling. I could have delayed my arrival back home by two or three more weeks but I had been gone long enough.
I had spent enough of the currency of time on travel for a while. After a summer appreciating the humid northeast, I was ready to switch to the desert and dry out a little bit at home base. Call it the Temptation Of The Heat. Tucson was calling, with friends and family awaiting amidst the final weeks of the stormy & hot desert monsoon season.
Putting in the miles is hard on humans after a few days, and the equipment takes a hit too. I’ve never managed to complete a sprint across the nation without some sort of mechanical price to pay. Tires wear out or fail, windshields crack, and in the winter things can freeze unexpectedly. Last year we had a window blow out in the home stretch through Phoenix. There’s always something, even for someone like me who is meticulous about maintenance and preparation.
On a slow trip this stuff is easy to deal with, but when stuff happens in a balls-out dash it’s much harder. There’s no margin in the plan. Even a small glitch can make you feel like an astronaut aboard Apollo 13: wondering how to patch up the ship and limp home.
This time I was fairly lucky. I drove 2,135 miles from western PA to Tucson AZ in five days and the worst thing to happen was a nail in a tire of the Mercedes GL in the final 300 miles. I was so close to home at that point (and the tire was still holding air moderately well) that I didn’t even take the time to do the smart thing, which would have been to unhitch the Airstream and bring the tow vehicle to the nearest tire shop. Instead I took the quick way out, which was to add some air with the compressor that is part of my contingency equipment and keep driving to Tucson with a close eye on the car’s dashboard tire pressure monitor.
(For the record, I don’t recommend this. Play it safe. I was a maniac this time.)
The Airstream and Mercedes arrived looking bedraggled, coated with a film of the unique chemical goop that our Interstates produce—a mixture of unburnt diesel oil, carbon, tire particulate, dust, fryer grease and samplings of bug guts from 14 states. It’s not a good look but a trip to any truck wash will bring the Airstream back to life.
To break up the week I took a short day on Wednesday and stopped in Oklahoma City to look up my friend Edgar Cruz. Edgar is a marvelous, internationally-recognized Spanish guitarist who has performed at many Aluma-events in Ohio, Oregon, and Arizona. He’s got that amazing ability to play any song that he can hear, and retain literally over a thousand complex guitar arrangements in his head. He’s also a genuinely nice guy.
This evening Edgar was scheduled to be playing in an smaller setting at the University’s Jazz Lab so it was a fun and intimate evening for everyone who showed up. He hung his phone on the mike stand and we all texted him song requests, making the show almost entirely audience-generated.
Beyond that pleasant evening lay only another 965 miles of concrete, which whisked by fairly painlessly thanks to the wide open highways of the west and their commensurate high speed limits. And now the Airstream is parked and mostly unloaded, awaiting a deep cleaning inside and out so that it can be ready for another trip soon.
What’s next? Other than a short weekend in October, I don’t know. At this point in my life I’ve realized that it’s not really important to know what’s around the corner, and we’re only fooling ourselves if we really think we know. Years of traveling the highways and looking for new things has taught me that it is good enough to know that when I turn that corner, something will happen—and it will be alright. Until then, it’s just good to be home.
Written by RichLuhr · Categorized: Airstream, Roadtrips
Sep 17 2019
Completed the C&O … and onward
I’m sitting in a fairly non-descript RV park in Missouri, stopped over for a night on my way back home at last, and finally cataloguing all the photos from the bike ride. It has taken three days since we got off our bicycles in Georgetown, Washington DC, just to mentally process the events of that wonderful, epic ride from Pittsburgh to DC.
The early joke of the ride was that by the time we completed it, we’d be in shape to start it, and that certainly turned out to be true. By the tenth day and the 350th mile, we weren’t tired and sore and desperate to stop riding. It felt more like we’d just found our groove. If there had been another 100 miles ahead of us I’m sure we would have been happy to just keep pedaling. Our legs were feeling strong and despite 10 days in close proximity we were all still friends.
The C&O Canal trail was monotonously shady and peaceful. “The first day is the hardest” we were advised (and this was true thanks to rough trail conditions) but no one told us that the first day was also the most scenic and varied. Days 2, 3, and 4 flowed by without much excitement. Traces of the canal were always to our left, the North Branch Potomac to our right, locks and lock keeper’s houses dotting the route occasionally, and once in a great while we’d encounter an aqueduct. Over our heads were an ever-present canopy of sycamore and oak, and ahead we always had the trail.
But not much else. Soon we got to the point where we coasted past locks with scarcely a sideways glance, and I found Bert spending more time photographing turtles and signs than structures. Inspired perhaps by the fall-like weather and the early fallen leaves, I felt like getting off my bike and wandering the forest in search of chanterelles.
Distinguishing one day from another was mostly possible by the towns in which we stopped, and the restaurants and motels we patronized each night. Second night was a bit of a low point: a Red Roof Inn that we could only reach after a hilly 3-mile ride along a busy road, and for dinner there was a bad Chinese place (a choice I regretted), a Subway, McDonald’s, and Waffle House. Adam and Susan chose the Subway and I think they made the right call. We saved the Waffle House for breakfast. This, by the way, was their wedding anniversary—a un-memorable night capped off with a few hours of watching HGTV in the motel room.
Still, I can hardly complain. We had almost uniformly excellent weather for the entire trip (no rain while we were cycling), and on the third C&O night we stayed at a unique resort in Shepherdtown WV called the Bavarian. Not only did the resort feature a beautiful infinity pool overlooking the Potomac, but this little college town turned out to have a sweet & historic little downtown that kept us occupied all afternoon. We also had a fine little detour over the railroad bridge to Harper’s Ferry but be warned, taking your bike over the bridge requires carrying it up a couple of flights of stairs and walking it a long way (we left the bikes behind for this one).
On Sept 11 I was also reminded of the privilege we were enjoying. I heard that social media was filled with politicized rants and unpleasant hints of violence or disruption that day, but in our peaceful slice of the world there was nothing to hear but singing birds and friendly banter on the bicycles. It reminded me of the adage, “If you want to hate your country, watch the news, but if you want to love your country, ride across it on a bicycle.” It is very true. Even at points on the trail where the scenery was getting repetitive and I was feeling a bit homesick, I knew that it was a spectacular gift to be able to be out there, healthy enough to do this ride and enjoying the companionship of friends.
The 40-mile legs just kept slipping by more easily each day. Each morning we’d meet for breakfast at 7:30 and be on the bicycles by 8:45 or 9:00. We’d ride 2-4 miles to work out the cobwebs, then do 6-8 mile legs the rest of the ride, stopping primarily for photos opps, water, and “butt breaks” (and we’re not talking about cigarettes here). By 2:00 or 3:00 we’d be at our destination, and we’d find our way to the hotel, take showers, and re-group for dinner around 5:00 or 6:00. If there was laundry to be done, we’d put together a load that combined all our sweaty stuff. Everyone would retreat to their rooms by 8:00 and be asleep around 10:00. I spent most nights splitting a room with Bert, grateful that he does not snore.
I was also grateful that we all get along so well. We ran into other groups along the trail, and some of them were not having as good a time as us. The most common mistake we heard about was groups that planned aggressive itineraries. I thought we were being pretty lazy with the short 40 mile (average) legs each day until I heard from those who were doing 60 to 90 miles a day. They were in shape to ride that far, certainly, but none of them seemed to be having much fun after the second or third day of it. One group of three riders basically dissolved before our eyes after a spirit-breaking nine-hour day of cycling, barely even speaking to each other for the rest of the ride.
On the penultimate day of cycling we ended up crossing the Potomac at the famous White’s Ferry (above), and got a shuttle to Leesburg VA. That’s when the only glitch of the trip cropped up. It turned out that the minivan I’d rented for the return trip from DC to Pitt was at a rental location that closed at 1:00 on Saturday. No other rental car agency in the DC area could help us at that point. We got creative for a few hours and tried everything we could think of that might be able to transport four people and four bicycles: Amtrak, Greyhound, Uber, U-Haul, etc. but we just kept getting the door slammed in our faces.
The only solution we could find required me to rent a van in Leesburg and drive it down to DC while everyone else finished the ride. I did this, and managed to drive into DC, park the van near the trailhead in Georgetown, and ride the opposite direction fast enough to meet the group at the 14 mile mark (at Great Falls Visitor Center). To pull this off required an amazing combination of luck with traffic and some fast cycling, so we were all moderately shocked when it actually worked. Thus, I technically did not ride the entire C&O Canal, but I did the last 14 miles twice and ended up with a total of about 350 miles for the entire GAP/C&O through-trip. I’m quite satisfied with that.
A note to those who might do this ride. The ride technically begins (Mile 0) in Georgetown if you are heading west but the first mile or so is really not rideable since it passes through the urban landscape and is essentially a pedestrian sidewalk. For us, heading eastward, this meant we had to walk our bikes for much of the last mile, which robbed us of the spectacular finish we’d all envisioned, but it was still great no matter how it ended, and we’ve got the photo to prove it.
The final logistical challenge of the trip was to stuff four bicycles and four people, plus luggage, into a Dodge minivan. To be honest, I wasn’t really sure we could do it. It was more a case of “we have to make it all fit” because the alternative was too awful to contemplate, so we did.
We spent a night in Frederick MD (another place with a great downtown), had a celebratory dinner, and drove back to Pittsburgh the next morning, where we dispersed like a group of kids at the end of summer camp. There were sad faces and promises to plan future trips, hugs and quick reminisces, and then we were all headed in our separate directions.
For me the travel was just beginning. I drove two more hours back up to Tidioute PA where the Airstream was waiting for me, unpacked, stored the bike, did a final laundry, caught up on the most critical emails, and had dinner with JJ & Sandy. I still had 2,135 miles of driving ahead to get the Airstream back to home base in Tucson.
I’ve driven a quick 926 miles in the past two days because I really want to get home soon, and I only stopped early in Springfield MO to catch up on emails and this blog. So now you’re caught up, and so am I.
I’ve been out in the Airstream since mid May, and it has been a hell of a summer. In April I made a four month plan that included Alumapalooza, the WBCCI International Rally, visits to half a dozen friends’ homes, a 10 day bike ride, motorcycling, and many other small things. All of those things have been done, and I made many other wonderful stops that weren’t part of my plan as well (New Orleans, Atlanta, Montreal). The funny thing is, the best parts of the summer were the parts I didn’t plan or even see coming. It’s amazing what happens when you just step out the door and wander around. You might even find a chanterelle in the forest.
Written by RichLuhr · Categorized: Bicycling
Pittsburgh logistics
After arriving in Vermont with the Airstream, I figured life would get less complicated and I’d be free of the logistical challenges that accompany organizing a major event and a traveling store. I was right, for a while. But now it’s time to start thinking about the next steps of this summer, because it’s going to get tricky soon.
The big challenge of the day is the bike ride from Pittsburgh PA to Washington DC in early September. I’m meeting Bert Gildart, and our friends Adam and Susan, and the four of us will take ten days to ride 333 miles together, then shuttle together back to the starting point.
Those of you who are longtime readers of Airstream Life might recognize Bert as a regular contributor to the magazine. He has been writing destination articles illustrated with his own beautiful photography for Airstream Life for 15 years.
The logistics of a trip like this are complicated enough (gear, accommodations, weather) but I’ve got an extra detail to figure out because I’m showing up with an Airstream. I’ve got to find a safe place to stash the Airstream and tow vehicle for 11-12 days, then get myself, Bert, and our two bikes to the start point in downtown Pittsburgh. You’d think this would be easy—just get a campground—but there are no campgrounds close to the city, and finding transportation that will work for us has proved difficult.
This is a high priority adventure. Bert and I have been talking about doing this ride for years, and I think Bert’s experience will eventually become another article for Airstream Life. So I’m making a rare call-out on the blog: Is there anyone in the Pittsburgh area who can suggest solutions (or best of all, offer courtesy parking)?
Written by RichLuhr · Categorized: Bicycling
Yesterday and today have been full of mixed emotions for me. Being at Alumapalooza temporarily brought me back to a routine that has been part of my life for a decade, and for a while it felt like nothing had changed. I did many of the same things, met many of my old friends, visited places I’ve been to dozens of times. But all along I’ve known that it was the last time for many things, and it’s time to look forward to what’s next.
This is part of a tumultuous change that started for me when Emma turned 18. For the first time in 13 years there was Airstream travel without Emma. That changed a lot of things, as I documented in the blog last summer. Now everything is changing. It is the last Alumapalooza for me, at least as an organizer. This may be the last time I drive these roads and decompress (in the spot pictured above) with dear friends in early June. This year may be the last that I can be sure I will spend the whole summer in Vermont. I do not know what exactly the year 2020 will hold, but I am sure it will be very different.
For many people change is unsettling. They find comfort in routine and stability. I like a little routine but too much is dull and even scary to me. I suppose it might be considered a bit of FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) but I always want to know “what’s next?” In that way I share a philosophy with Wally Byam, the founder of Airstream, who wrote:
Don’t stop. Keep right on going. Hitch up your trailer and go to Canada or down to Old Mexico. Head for Europe, if you can afford it, or go to the Mardi Gras. Go someplace you’ve heard about, where you can fish or hunt or collect rocks or just look up at the sky. Find out what’s at the end of some country road. Go see what’s over the next hill, and the one after that, and the one after that.
I think of change and exploration as necessary for growth. If you own an Airstream you might share that philosophy. But the necessity of change is easy to acknowledge, and difficult to execute. To get there sometimes you have to prune away tradition and past commitments to make space for what’s yet to come—even when you don’t know exactly what’s going to happen.
So when people ask me (as several people have in the past few days) “What do you plan to do with your free time now that you’re not doing Alumapalooza?” I don’t have a ready answer. The pat answer is that I plan to do more writing, but of exactly what I don’t know. I plan to do more traveling, but exactly where I cannot say. Perhaps north, perhaps south, or around the world. Some travel will be with the Airstream, and some without. One must simply take a step at a time and see what happens. I think the unknown factor is the exciting part.
Today’s travel has brought me from the Cleveland area to Verona Beach State Park in upstate New York. The drive itself was uninteresting but I am at least one step closer to a new set of adventures. I’m taking one night here, and another night in the Adirondacks tomorrow. After that, Vermont for a few weeks, and then we’ll see what happens next.
Written by RichLuhr · Categorized: Airstream, Roadtrips
May 22 2019
The road is long … too long sometimes. If you’ve read this blog over the past few years you know how I feel about long days on the Interstate. It’s soul-sapping—the exact opposite of what good travel should be. I didn’t get into Airstreaming so I could play at being a over-the-road truck driver, stopping for quick gas-and-goes, eating whatever is convenient, and listening to the shriek of tires on concrete rather than birds in the trees.
But sometimes this is the hand I deal myself. I really should have left Tucson a week earlier so that this could have been a leisurely trip, but it’s so beautiful in Tucson in April and early May that I can never bring myself to leave. The attraction of this season was particularly enchanting and fun, so I delayed as long as possible knowing that I’d pay a price later. The price is 50 hours of drive time, day after day, along less-than-inspiring roads
I vow that next year things will be different. But that’s a topic for another blog. This week I have searched for ways to spice up the trip and you may recall that I opted to add 200 miles to my route (and stay clear of major storms) by going to New Orleans instead of through Dallas and Hot Springs. This turned out to be a brilliant move, affording me one precious wonderful night in the city to break up an otherwise tedious run ever since I left Austin.
I parked the Airstream in Westwego (across the Mississippi river) at Bayou Segnette State Park, and immediately set the air conditioning to “deep freeze” all night in the hope of finally drying out the interior. This strategy worked wonderfully. By morning everything was restored to a normal state of crispness rather than Shrek’s Swamp, and I was no longer in danger of sprouting mushrooms from my ears.
While the Airstream was desiccating, I took the opportunity to go downtown and meet some friends who were just wrapping up work at a conference. We went out for dinner at Galliano’s (excellent) and of course the traditional late-night coffee and beignets with conversation at Cafe du Monde, because that’s what one does. I’ve been hitting that place every few years since my college days back in the [cough] early 1980s. In the past my visits were usually not before midnight, but these days I’m a bit older and I was looking forward to getting to bed.
In my defense, it had been a trying day on the road. A planned 3.5 hour drive from Lake Charles to New Orleans turned into a 7 hour drive thanks to a major accident on I-10. In my experience this sort of “Interstate parking lot” traffic jam is actually better with an Airstream in tow because you at least have access to food and a bathroom, should either of those needs arrive.
I was fine for the 2.5 hours we spent creeping along the Interstate but I was witness to a fellow who was not as fortunate. As I followed his car at 2 MPH, I observed as he dumped the contents of a full water bottle out the window, and then battled his way to the breakdown lane to use that water bottle as a repository, much like Howard Hughes in his later days. I was tempted to offer my bathroom to the poor fellow, but then traffic accelerated to a scalding 5 MPH and his parked econobox disappeared from the side view mirror. Given the extent of that traffic jam, he may still be there trying to get back into the line of cars…
As I mentioned, my weather-avoidance strategy worked wonderfully. While New Orleans was just as humid as everywhere else I’d been lately, the skies were blue with puffy white cumulus as I hitched up in the morning and towed up through Mississippi and into Alabama. I couldn’t ask for better conditions, and I was sort of on Cloud 9 myself. My goal for Tuesday was to log at least 325 miles, and I did easily, ending up at the charming Tannehill Ironworks Historic State Park off I-59.
I promised myself that I would pay for 30-amp power in order to keep the Airstream dry, and I did but I didn’t really need to. The humidity here, at least, had dropped to a tolerable level and the outside air was cool enough for comfortable sleeping.
Sadly, the repeated frequent days on the road had allowed a slight backup of work to accumulate. Rather than wandering the park on foot and getting some exercise I spent the balance of the afternoon and evening at my laptop. I don’t recommend this. A person really needs to do something besides sit all day, and give both the muscles and the eyes something fresh to do. With each day of 7-8 hours I find a small deterioration in my flexibility, stamina, and sense of well-being. Four or five days of that and I’m in danger of becoming a tumbleweed.
In my case I’ll have to recover once I get to Ohio. The detour to New Orleans sucked up any margin I had in the travel plan, so there’s nothing to be done but cover at least 320 miles each day until Thursday. I have to be in Dayton on Thursday to pick up Eleanor at the airport, in Troy OH to pick up printed materials that afternoon, and in Jackson Center shortly after to receive about 50 boxes of store inventory. There’s a long list of other pre-event tasks that must be accomplished over the weekend too. Once Monday arrives, there will be little opportunity for anything but Alumapalooza—which is not bad thing, because the event is fun.
One day left of towing … and then I park with a sigh of relief in the Terra Port at the Airstream factory for 11 days. I’ll try to update the blog daily once the event starts, but if it gets overwhelming, forgive me!
Written by RichLuhr · Categorized: Airstream, Roadtrips
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Passionate about the beauty and sustainability of natural plant dyes, Nicola founded Madder, Cutch & Co, a hand screen print fabric company after a career in teaching.
After a career as a chemistry teacher, Nicola wanted to showcase the beauty and subtle colours of plant dyes and founded Madder, Cutch & Co - a hand screen print fabric company three years ago. Based in her incredible sewing 'shed' at the bottom of her garden, Nicola has built her company with sustainability at its core.
As a chemistry teacher, Nicola was aware of the non-renewable nature of synthetic dyes and the environmental impact they have. Sustainability was a founding principle for her business and from the start focused on creating a range of natural plant dyes.
People want to hear your story
start locally
Nicola has found value from building her profile in the local press. These articles were then picked up by national magazines who introduced Madder, Cutch & Co to a much wider readership.
Start locally
customer insight
By attending tradeshows and craft fairs, Nicola was able to meet her customers face to face and get direct feedback from each one.
Not only is this valuable knowledge that will help her refine her product, it is also a powerful way to build customer loyalty.
I discovered my customer was me!
stick with it
Rather than chasing a market, Nicola advises us to 'stick to what we believe in'. She tells us to hold steady and grow our business according to what we think and feel instead of jumping from one thing to the next.
Stick to what you believe in
creative control
After three years, Nicola has got a good sense of her customer and what they are looking for. She is keen to maintain creative control of the fabric prints and products she produces and is focusing on selling directly via her website rather than through third-party retailers.
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Getting to Täby can be quite tricky if you don’t know the place and you want to ride on bicycle paths. Anyway there are signs guiding you to Täby.
Passed Rybdo you need to cycle for some 4kms on a big road where cars drive pretty fast. There is no other way to get closer to Vaxholm from there but you can use the emergency lane when it is available and in Sweden car drivers are very kind to bikers.
Once out of the big road you can ride quietly for 10kms on a typical swedish road sorrounded by woods and with few cars passing. This road will take you to Vaxholm. There you can take a ferry which will bring you to the island of Rindö. The crossing takes about 5 minutes (time tables and other info here).
On the other side of Rindö another ferry will take you back on the “mainland”. From there you can enjoin other 15kms of quiet road which will take you close to Gustavsberg.
From Gustavsberg the way back to Stockholm is mainly on bicycle paths.
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I meet with many people to discuss their bankruptcy options and while most of these cases will work out perfectly for the client, some clients will often believe they are “ready” to file for bankruptcy when they may have created some potential issues for their case. They often will tell me they’ve “taken care of a few things”. Beware, there are some huge "no nos" before filing.
The following are six of the biggest mistakes people make before filing for bankruptcy. Even if you’ve recently done one or more of these, make sure you meet with an attorney right away to discuss what impact, if any, it would have on a potential bankruptcy case. You may still qualify to file for bankruptcy in Michigan, EVEN if you have done one or more of these, so it’s important you discuss with your attorney.
1. Pay back family and friends – Often a person will try to “pay back” any friends or family before filing for bankruptcy. This is a huge mistake. Paying back an “insider”, such as a close friend or relative, will be considered a preferential payment to that insider and can open up that insider to being pursued by the bankruptcy Court. See my separate post about “preferential payments” for more.
2. Pay off credit cards or other debts – Many times I will meet with people who have attempted to pay off a credit card before filing for bankruptcy with the intention of “keeping” that card. This can be a huge waste of money as most cards will be closed automatically upon the filing of your case regardless of whether there is a balance on the card or not. Please don’t waste your money trying to do this. This can also open up those creditors to the preferential payment issue discussed above.
3. Cash out retirement accounts – Retirement accounts are completely exempt in bankruptcy cases, so long as the money is actually held in a qualified retirement account. The worst thing you can do before filing a bankruptcy case is to cash out a retirement account. Once the money is no longer in a retirement account, it is no longer exempt and can be subject to your creditors. Talk to an attorney early on when you first find yourself in financial difficulty. Don't cash out retirement accounts while trying to stay on top of debt. Speak to an attorney first to find out your best option.
4. Transfer titles – Many people will try to keep assets, such as a vehicle, “safe” by transferring the title or deed to another person or family member. This falls under the preferential payment issue described above and can open up the person to which you have transferred an asset to litigation against them.
5. Purchase new items or make new charges – Do not make new charges to your credit cards before filing for bankruptcy, especially luxury items or vacations. This behavior can open you up to potential fraud charges.
6. Send money to friends or relatives - Do not send money to friends or relatives (or any other adult) prior to filing for bankruptcy. This puts that person at risk of being asked for the money back by the bankruptcy court as a preferential payment. If you are paying someone for a service, such as a cell phone plan, make sure the amount you are paying is reasonable and the same each month. The person receiving the money may need to document the expense if asked.
Even if you’ve done any of the above, ALWAYS meet with a bankruptcy attorney to discuss your individual situation to find out how these actions may affect a potential bankruptcy case. Call today to speak with an attorney. 269-381-4471
Don't do these 5 things before filing for bankruptcy in Michigan
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Articles by Allison Greenlee Korr
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All information provided on this site should not be construed as legal advice. Always meet with an attorney to find out your legal options.
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Earlier this year, the American Psychological Association released its much-anticipated 2014 Work and Well-Being Survey – a study that revealed a startling absence of trust in today’s employer-employee relationships. “This lack of trust should serve as a wake-up call for employers,” warned David W. Ballard, PsyD, MBA, head of APA’s Center for Organizational Excellence. “Trust plays an important role in the workplace and affects employees’ well-being and job performance.”
The APA’s survey cites a number of culprits for the lack of trust in today’s professional relationships, one of the most significant being that only half of U.S. workers believe their bosses are “open and upfront” with them. In fact, the study cites “effective communication” as one of the top three skills leaders should develop to build trust with their employees.
In his book “Overcoming Fake Talk: How to Hold REAL Conversations that Create Respect, Build Relationships, and Get Results,” nationally recognized business communication expert John Stoker offers a solution to the APA’s “call to arms” for greater trust in today’s workplaces. “We’re suffering from an epidemic of what I call ‘counterfeit conversation,’ or ‘fake talk,'” says Stoker. “This is an approach to communication that undermines our ability to have trusting relationships at work because we fail to talk openly and effectively about what matters most.”
Read more here.
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Dairy farms worldwide have milking units to keep the work moving faster without any limitation. The demand for farm-related products is continuously increasing compared to the years before.
The rising demand has made plenty of farmers adapt to modern technology to solve the daily challenges. Implementation of advanced milling machines has lowered the labor cost in many people’s lives.
See also : Cost to build 1-acre of solar farms
This article will delve into the details about the milking machine and other aspects of the product that will help you make an informed decision at the end.
When you look at the numbers, milking cows is not an overtly-used technique used to milk cows.
Despite the milking machine being more popular, the modern implementation of many farms. When you look at the statistics, only 5% of the herds in the United States use milking machines to milk the cows, when you compare this number to Canada, where a whopping 15% of cows are getting the milking machine treatment.
There are reasons why the number of milking machine implementations in the states is moving at a slower rate; this can be due to dairy sales, poor access to credit, lower profits, and more.
How much do milking machines cost?
Should you purchase a milking machine?
Do milking machines worth your money?
Cost of Labor for milking practice
How much do milking machines cost?
When you talk about the cost of a milking machine, you will first have to know that these machines act as an investment rather than a product. Like any investment we make in our lives, they are costly, but they prove very beneficial. When you look at the entire purchase of a milking machine as an investment, you will get another perspective about the purchase.
Over 9.31 million dairy cows; the average herd size rounds up to 187 cows. Taking care of all the cows can get laborious and strenuous for many people. Here buying a milking machine sounds so much of a better idea.
The cost of a milking machine falls between $100,000 to $200,000. And a device that falls between $100,000 to $200,000 can handle 50 to 70 head of cattle. Different types of milking machines will come in a mixture of price ranges.
It would be best to research the variety of machines available in your area. None of them will share the same functionalities, and different functionalities can help or ruin your experience with the device. Other milking machines include Herringbone, Tandem, Rotary, and Rapid-exit.
All of them offer something different to the table. Some of the machines might meet all of your needs. The machine type also needs to be different based on your needs; you can’t use the same kind of milking machine for cows and goats. Other animals require a device that suits their needs.
Should you purchase a milking machine?
There are plenty of pros to milking machines than negatives. But it would be best if you focused on both sides before you jump to any conclusion. Money will be the most significant factor; adding a milking machine will undoubtedly take out plenty of workloads, but they will add maintenance and initial costs, which can be a lot for farms that don’t turn huge profits.
Do milking machines worth your money?
Milking machines are not cheap in any way; they are vastly expensive. People always spend their time thinking about the product before making a purchase. If you decide to spend over $100,000 on a milking machine, it is better to gather some thoughts before buying it.
Looking at the other side and introducing a milking machine will bring the labor price by 25% to 35%. Multiple analyses show a variety of data related to miking devices, and most of the details show the labor cost price going down instead of rising.
Cost of Labor for milking practice
Labor costs can be high on the small business, but dealing with the price of a milking machine will not be forgivable. The sweet spot seems to be the number between 200 to 500 cows.
Many recommended that the economy flows so well when the equipment gets installed in a farm with above 500 cows. Many environmental benefits and risk management come with implementing a milking machine on a large farm.
Where you make the purchase will also have a role to play when buying these machines. Different sources will have their price range for the devices, and you might get a good deal and, at the same time, a bad one depending on the purchase source.
If you are interested in a milking machine, you need to read up on the company, the service they provide, the longevity of the product, and customer service.
Milking machines have been around for a long time, but not the implementation of these machines is viewed as low in the farms. Only a few farms have invested in milking machines, and the cost changes a lot of people’s minds when they read up about milking machines.
But you can get a better deal if you browse around a bit. If you know someone who has a cow or goat milking machine, you should take the details and compare it to the information online or from your local dealers. Comparing the price details will give you the current market price of the machines.
You need to also read up on reviews; if you found a product online, check the dealer status and history. The seller has to be authentic with a reputation. These are some ways you might get a better deal on the milking machine.
Milking machines are a new hot thing that just entered the market. It has been in the market for a long time. They do work and produce excellent results in a small amount of time. The labor cost is one of the issues that the milking machine takes away from the farm. Milking machines can do the work for 50 to 60 cows without breaking. Just be content with the people who have purchased the machine or online to get some information on the product you are interested in instead of making any preliminary decision.
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he 2017 Aspirations in Computing Awards ceremony, held on April 18, recognized 32 Minnesota high school young women for their technology related interests and achievements. Family, friends, teachers, and business sponsors gathered together to celebrate and support the growth and interests of Minnesota’s young women in tech.
Along with recognition, honorees were awarded prizes ranging from tech devices to job shadow experiences and summer paid internship opportunities. Photos from the event are available to view on Flickr.
The ceremony also recognized Minnesota’s 2017 Aspirations Educator of the Year Award recipient, Cindy Drahos, Burnsville High School, and Minnesota Educator Honorable Mention, Kaitie O’Bryan, Mounds View High School. Numerous other educators were in attendance to cheer on the students they endorsed.
On behalf of the National Center for Women and Information Technology (NCWIT), and the impressive array of sponsors and partners, Minnesota State IT Center of Excellence congratulates all the award recipients for their outstanding achievements. Your higher education and career path to exciting technology inspired opportunities, awaits you. Go for IT!
2017 Minnesota Winners
Sophomore at Wayzata High School, Maple Grove
Anika Ahluwalia is a State honorable mention. She has always had a passion for science, technology, engineering, and math. Since childhood, she has been interested in programming and building, having taught herself basic programming through Khan Academy. She has loved taking the Visual Basic Programming and AP Computer Science classes in her school. She placed in the Java, Visual Basic and Computer Security events at the Business Professionals of America Regionals competition this year and will be moving on to the State competition for the Java and Visual Basic events. At the Science Olympiad, she has won several medals in the “Game On” programming event and serves as its event leader for her high school. She is also a medalist in the Science Olympiad’s Towers, Hovercraft, and Optics events. She enjoys sharing her love of programming with others and has served as a volunteer for the “hour of code” at her school. During her freshman year, she was a member of the programming team for Wayzata’s Robotics Team. She enjoys playing tennis on the Wayzata’s girls varsity team and serves on the school’s student council. She looks forward to a career in the STEM field where she will be able to combine her love of programming with her passion for science and technology.
Senior at Kennedy High School, Bloomington
Kemilyn Bayer is a State honorable mention whose brothers have been a great influence on her hobbies and life goals. She has always loved the thrill of adventure in games since a young age. Because of her brothers, she has been introduced to the many wonders of computers and technology. In the eleventh grade, she took IT classes on HTML/CSS, A++, software, and hardware, which were all offered by her school through the Career and College Academy program. Kemilyn completed the classes easily, which opened doors to her dream of doing more with coding. Her passions are art and design, and she often uses programs such as Photoshop and Paint Tool Sai to create. In her spare time, Kemilyn creates videos and live streams her artwork process. She dreams of applying her artistic skills to the technology world, which is why she indulges in website design using HTML and CSS coding. Genesys Works offered her an opportunity to explore her interests in the IT field, placing her at Target Corporation. There, she works at Hi-Tech as a technical support engineer, where she meets with team members face-to-face to troubleshoot technical problems. Kemilyn plans to attend the University of Minnesota to pursue a bachelor’s degree in computer science.
Sophomore at Lakeville South High School, Lakeville
Zoe Berg is a State honorable mention and a 2016 Certificate of Distinction recipient. She started working with computers and robotics when she joined the Green Girls FLL team at the age of nine years. For three years, she was a lead robot builder and programmer using NXT Mindstorm. Over the past four years, she has been the lead CAD designer on her FTC robotics team, developing over twenty-five 3-D printed and laser-cut parts. In 2015, her designs contributed to her team winning the PTC Design award, which advanced them to the FTC World Championship. Last year, she was also the lead CAD designer on her FRC team. She taught herself Python and reinforced it by creating her own labs. Last summer, she interned at EAC Product Development Solutions where she learned advanced CAD, IoT, Arduino and C. Zoe is also seasoned in technologies such as Ubuntu, Python, HTML, RobotC, Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. She is passionate about teaching others about STEM and has logged over 200 outreach events over the past seven years. She has used her CAD knowledge to teach many students at her school and students from other robotics teams. Her favorite way to volunteer is teaching girls with disabilities about STEM every month using custom curriculum developed by Zoe and her team. Partnering with robotics team FRC 2220, she met with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to expand the Robots without Borders program. Zoe plans to pursue a career in mechanical engineering and robotics while staying active in the FIRST Robotics community.
Senior at Breck School, Orono
Elena Berman is a State award winner and National honorable mention. During her high school years, she has demonstrated great determination to learn and employ her skills on important issues of Alzheimer’s disease and behavioral science. Elena’s passion for programming began when she first learned Java. In high school, once she exhausted her school’s curriculum, she petitioned her computer science teacher to support her in a AP Computer Science independent study that she completed on her own time. Elena also conducted a yearlong research study at VitreoRetinal Surgery, during which she developed software that diagnoses Alzheimer’s disease using retinal biomarkers. She worked with a partner, using her programming abilities to code software that first allows a user to measure retinal scans, and the analyze the measure to indicate likelihood of Alzheimer’s disease. This year, Elena used her programming skills to analyze online interactions using a big data-set containing over 3 million data points. In college, Elena plans to major in computer programming. Her goal is to become a software engineer.
Junior at Bemidji High School, Bemidji
Shelby Bjerke is a State honorable mention who enjoys problem solving, engineering, and computing. She first discovered her love for these areas in middle school STEM classes, and her love has only grown. Now, as a junior in high school, she has taken every programming, computer science, and electronics class that her high school offers. She was often the only girl in her classes. As a freshman, she joined Girls Who Code. Over her summer break, she was a Guide-in-Training at a Girl Scout Boundary Waters camp that emphasized empowerment and confidence in young girls. There she encouraged girls to pursue interests in computing and engineering despite the negative social pressure that exist, particularly at the high school level. This year, Shelby is Head Programmer on her FIRST Robotics team and she taught herself and the programming team how to code in Java for the first time. She learned HTML and JavaScript in her computer science class, and also knows RobotC, a VEX programming language. Shelby hopes to major in electrical engineering and use her computer skills to develop new technologies and inspire a new generation of female STEM students.
Senior at Burnsville High School, Savage
Anna Swarna Bunce is a State honorable mention who remembers remembers playing on her grandfather’s computer as a young child. In middle school, she participated in a gifted and talented program through ISD 191 that focused on creating games from scratch. She has participated in the marching band, Olympic weightlifting, and bowling through Burnsville High School (BHS). She is also part of the BHS Tech Team. Anna has been involved with the Best Buy Geek Squad Help Desk at BHS this year and hopes to be Acer certified by the end of the year. Her teacher, Ms. Drahos, has been an influential part of Anna’s positive experiences with computer technology. Anna is currently a student leader in the IT Exploration class, where she assists in training the incoming students on the trouble tracking system and makes sure their questions are answered. She has spoken in front of the BHS school board on topics such as promoting coding in the classroom and her experiences with the BHS Tech Team help desk. As a result, Anna has been asked to be on an elite panel sponsored by Google and Best Buy to answer questions from administrators and other professionals from Minnesota School Districts. She plans to attend North Central University in Minneapolis in the fall to major in computer science.
Junior at Apple Valley High School, Burnsville
Emily DeBoard is a State honorable mention who has been excited by technology from a very young age. She carries her passion and inquisitive nature with her wherever she goes. She is a member of the E3 STEM program, the National Honor Society, and the National Art Honor Society at her school. Emily has enhanced her technology skills through participation in many SPARCS events. She has also been participating in the FIRST Tech Challenge robotics program for three years, which has been her favorite high school experience so far. On the team, she works on the 3D modeling and 3D printing, which she has grown to love. The soft skills Emily has mastered from her time on the robotics team will take her far in her future career, whatever it may be. Emily’s favorite pastime is drawing. She practices every day and enjoys doing traditional and digital drawings for fun and for her friends. Ever since middle school, Emily has dreamed of pursuing her art as a career in the form of animation or game design. She hopes to continue learning and growing with the new technology that will be available to her.
Junior at Mayo High School, Rochester
Celeste Dyrbye-Wright is a State award winner and National honorable mention who attends Mayo High School. As an avid learner, and a young woman pursuing her dream of becoming a computer scientist, Celeste started teaching herself computer science languages in the sixth grade. She Attended an academic summer camp where she took a class on artificial intelligence, from which she had two key take aways: one, it’s possible to learn a programming language in two and a half days; and two, she wanted to be on the brink of artificial intelligence research. When school started up again, Celeste joined her school’s First Robotics team, learned C++, and through hard work and dedication became the head programmer and remains in that position. She is a member of the National Honors Society and Spanish National Honors Society. She especially enjoys tutoring others. Celeste’s goal is to leverage artificial intelligence and other programming system to improve people’s lives.
Junior at Edina High School, Edina
Aarathi Garimella is a State honorable mention and also a member of the Math Team, Debate Team, FIRST Robotics Team, and the Vice President of the Interact Club. She has always been interested in STEM, starting from when she took apart her first CPU to see how it functioned, to the countless programming and robotics camps she attended during her early summers. Her interest in STEM grew as she began to learn more about computers and programming. As a sophomore, Aarathi took AP Computer Science to continue to foster this interest. She also joined her school’s FIRST Robotics team as a sophomore and began using her new skill in Java to help program the robots. She learned about the flexibility of computer science by being able to create a data collection program for scouting at tournaments. Now, as a junior, she has begun to teach the first-year members command based Java. She has mentored Junior FIRST Lego League teams and has started a Girls Who Code Club at her former middle school to give young girls an opportunity to explore computer science a little bit deeper. Aarathi plans to attend college in the future to pursue a career in the mathematics field.
Sophomore at Eagan High School, Eagan
Grace Hansen is a State honorable mention, whose mission in life is to pursue a career in STEM and to encourage other girls and diverse groups to get involved in science and technology. She joined the First Lego League Jr. in the second grade and has since been hooked on the FIRST Robotics program. In 2008, she was a founding member of her all-girls robotics team, the Green Girls. Grace participates on the build sub-team and also serves as an informal leader. Both she and her team have worked tirelessly to promote STEM education in their community. She has spent hundreds of hours with her team running camps, including monthly sessions at the PACER Center for Children with disabilities and for Dakota County Foster Kids. Her team teaches their own special STEM curriculum at the camps and Grace has even presented the materials in Spanish, to expose girls to STEM whose first language is Spanish. In her free time, Grace plays the saxophone and participates in soccer and track. She enjoys science and math courses in school, but her favorite class is AP Computer Science. As a junior, she is extremely excited to take classes in mobile apps and development and to learn Swift. In the future, she hopes to create and mentor more all-girls teams within the Eagan Robotics program. In college, she wants to major in mechanical engineering and minor in computer science.
Junior at East Ridge High School, Woodbury
Ashley Holton, a State award winner, has always had a passion for science, math and technology, with a particular aptitude for math. She has always been drawn to STEM and began to explore her interests in depth when she decided to take a Project Lead The Way (PLTW) computer science class during her sophomore year in high school. She is currently developing her computing skills in her AP Computer Science class and participation in FIRST Robotics. On her school’s robotics team Ashley is the co-lead of the software team, and lead of the awards team. Ashley also has developed an interest in artificial intelligence, taking online courses to begin exploring the possibilities of artificial intelligence. Ashley is a varsity letter recipient in basketball, track and field, participates in Key club, is the secretary and webmaster for her school’s Gender-Sexuality Alliance, and is the co-president of the STLF (Students Today Leaders Forever) club. She is excited to continue developing her passion for STEM by taking PSEO multivariable calculus, linear algebra, and brain science courses at Century College in the next school year. Ashley plans to study computer science and neuroscience in college.
Senior at Edina High School, Edina
Maylat Kassa is a State award winner who loves to take advantage of opportunities to learn. She was one of Starkey Hearing Technologies’ first interns, where she worked with electroacoustic, quality, and microelectronics engineers to design a standard Starkey hearing aid. There, she learned about the fundamentals of hearing technology, from the intricate layers of a printed circuit board/PCB to how to use schematic diagram software. At Starkey, she expanded upon her experience gained from PLTW (Project Lead The Way) classes she took at her high school, such as Intro to Engineering Design, Principles of Engineering, and Civil Engineering. Maylat is currently learning how to code in Java in AP Computer Science, and has experience with other coding languages as well. She volunteered at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center where she was involved in a doctor simulation. Working closely with anesthesiologists, EM doctors, and radiologists, who demonstrated the inner workings of medical imaging devices, such as spinal implants and heart monitors. Maylat plans to pursue pre-med and major in biomedical engineering at the University of Pennsylvania and hopes to become a radiologist.
Priya Kumar
Junior at Eastview High School, Apple Valley
Priya Kumar is a State honorable mention. She has been interested in computers since she was young, which led to her love for coding, video editing, and social media. This past summer she was chosen to participate in Kode with Klossy, a coding camp created by supermodel Karlie Kloss. At the camp, she learned Ruby on Rails, HTML and CSS and developed her first app called “Fit Me.” In addition to Kode with Klossy, she participated in the University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management’s camp for high school girls, Women Mean Business, where she learned about how her interest in STEM translated into the business world. Priya is currently enrolled in AP Computer Science Principles and is planning to take AP Computer Science her senior year. She is also the Minnesota Leader for CoderGals, a club for elementary school girls to learn how to code, and is working on starting the first Minnesota chapter at local elementary schools. In addition to her love of STEM, she also enjoys tutoring elementary school children, traveling, and making videos in her free time. Priya hopes to attend college to major in computer science and/or international business and minor in graphic design.
Senior at Breck School, Golden Valley
Archana Murali is a State award winner and National honorable mention. In 11th grade, her interest in computer programming was sparked by a research project she conducted on Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. Archana coded a program in Python programing language that can measure retinal scans and developed diagnostic software that compares biomarker measurements in retinal images. Archana plans on developing more software that can help people with a click of a button. She co-founded a Computer Programming Club at her school, which helps build relationships between students who are interested in computer programming and to inspire others to learn similar skills. She is a coding leader on her school’s FIRST robotics team and she enjoys working with automatic image analysis software and coding in Python and Java. Archana hopes to study biomedical engineering in college.
Senior at Hutchinson High School, Hutchinson
Julia Nelson-Troska is a State honorable mention and an AP Scholar. Julia’s first time utilizing computing languages was when she was twelve years old, where she made a website for a school project using HTML. As a freshman in high school, she was introduced to queries by her father, Jesse Troska, which inspired her to continue learning about computers. By the time she was a junior in high school, she knew she wanted to go into a computer-related profession. Programming is one of her favorite pastimes, and she has continued her studies of computers by learning Python, HTML5, Java, JavaScript and Ruby. Julia wants to share her love of programming with other girls by starting a group in her community for females in kindergarten through twelfth grade to teach them different programming languages and give them access to STEM opportunities. She would love to extend this group to females throughout the state. Julia plans to attend the University of Minnesota, Duluth to pursue a degree Computer Science.
Junior at John Marshall High School, Rochester
Oreoluwa Odeyinka is a State honorable mention and the first of four children, three of which, including her, were born in Ibadan, Nigeria. When she was eight years old, she immigrated to the United States and has loved every moment of it. Her love for computer science was sparked when she took her first web design class in the seventh grade and for the first time saw “Hello World” printed on her screen. Having participated in BDPA’s youth computer training and web design classes for the past five years, she has had the amazing opportunity to attend the national conference all five of those years. Oreoluwa is a youth volunteer at the Mayo Clinic and her church’s media section, and she actively participates on Student Council. Outside of school, she is on the four-time Big 9 champion speech team in the category of discussion, is a sprinter on the track team, and works at a tutoring center for children. Along with some friends in her school’s GPS program, she started a mentorship program for freshmen to help set them on the right path as they begin their high school careers. Oreoluwa plans on taking AP Computer Science next year to prepare her for college, and after graduation, she wants to pursue a career in medicine and computer science.
Junior at Apple Valley High School, Apple Valley
Marie Pena is a State award winner who loves to learn new things. Participating in countless activities in her community and school, she is constantly expanding her mind to everything she can, from being a member of a 2016 world champion FIRST Tech Challenge team, The Iron Maidens, to taking STEM based college courses through the E3 STEM program. She works diligently on projects that will improve the future of Apple Valley High School and its students. Marie’s passions lie in video gaming and technology. Starting at a young age, she helped her father build and fix computers, which evolved into formatting and configuring her whole family’s network of laptops and PCs. In school, she’s enjoyed taking courses on web design, programming, CAD, Cisco Networking, Cisco Microcomputer maintenance, Cisco Security+, and graphic design. She applies the learning to her family’s startup multimedia business and to other startup companies to help them achieve their goals. In the future, Marie plans on continuing to work with businesses and the STEM community while studying digital marketing, game development and computer science.
Senior at Rosemount High School, Rosemount
Anna Peterson is a State award winner who is always looking to learn more, especially in her math, physics, and computer science classes. Anna decided to go outside of her comfort zone and take AP computer science her junior year. Since then, she has valued every minute of the class and all of the opportunities technology has opened up to her. She has grown as a problem solver and thinker, helping her in all realms of her life. Along with learning Java in class, she spent a portion of her summer self-learning HTML and attending coding camps. Outside of the classroom, Anna is a member of the cross country, Nordic and track teams and Anna leads her student council. One of her most notable qualities is the immense passion she puts into everything she does. As a result, Anna sees herself harnessing that passion for computing and math into college and the rest of her life. She wants to study projects that incorporate technology with space and astronomy, eventually leading her to her dream job of working at NASA.
Sophomore at Wayzata High School, Maple Grove
Preeti Pidatala is a State award winner and National honorable mention. Her interest in computer science was originally sparked in elementary school, when she spent time exploring the basic game design software SCRATCH. Preeti further developed her interest in computer science in high school when she joined her school’s FIRST robotics program, where she found an exciting technological community. She took two programming classes: a class in C++ and a college level AP class taught in Java. Often finding herself one of very few girls in STEM classes, she strongly encourages girls to join STEM classes. Currently, Preeti is the leader of the programming team on her FRC team and enjoys sharing her interest in computer science with others. Preeti is looking forward to learning new programming languages and has plans to take cybersecurity and animation courses in the coming years. Apart from computer science, Preeti enjoys playing tennis and the piano. When she goes to college, Preeti is planning to pursue a degree in computer science.
Junior at Rosemount High School, Eagan
Victoria Pierce is a State award winner who loves Math and Science. Her greatest technical accomplishment is an app that she made that takes data from a small airline and maps the flight paths of different flights across the United States. In addition to her interests in technical fields, Victoria is passionate about the Arts and Languages. She plays guitar, violin, banjo and piano. At national music competitions, she placed first in several categories, qualifying to represent the United States at Worlds in the under 18 category. In addition, Victoria is passionate about writing and has written three novels about her childhood as a Missionary Kid in Jinja, Uganda, East Africa where she lived for ten years. At the age of 5, she moved to Uganda and began learning the language, Luganda. Since then she has studied Arabic and Swahili as well. In college, Victoria plans on majoring in Biomedical Engineering with minors in Computer Science and Arabic. She hopes to eventually earn a master’s degree in Physical Therapy. She believes that the combination of a medical degree with her experience in crossing cultures and languages could lead her to a career in the Middle East. Victoria’s goal is to help women who would otherwise not receive health care.
Senior at Rosemount High School, Rosemount
Laura Rietveld is a State honorable mention who helped start a Hack Club at her school this year. Through Hack Club, she helps kids at all levels of programming ability develop their skills. Laura is on the leadership board and helps design outreach activities and meetings to encourage other students to pursue a future in computer science. In 2016, she received a NCWIT Aspirations National Award of Distinction for all the work and leadership she demonstrated in computer science and technology. Laura has been on the chess team for four years, two years as captain, and has grown the program to include more than double the original number of students. She also tutors friends and their younger siblings, because she enjoys problem solving and helping people. She is currently taking an Advanced Data Structures course, and she completed the Advanced Placement Computer Science course last year. Laura plans to attend college to study computer science and mathematics.
Senior at Willmar Senior High School, Kandiyohi
Elizabeth Rivas is a State honorable mention, who moved from California to Willmar, Minnesota with her family in 2010. Elizabeth will soon become a first-generation high school graduate and college student. During her sophomore year, Elizabeth decided that she wanted to become a mechanical engineer after taking the following classes: Introduction to Engineering and Design, Digital Electronics, Gaming and Web Design, Computer Applications, Small Engines, and Advanced Small Engines. Elizabeth has also been a member of Willmar’s FIRST Robotics high school team for three years. She says, “Being a member of the build team meant we were always in the shop, machining parts and putting it all together for our robot. I want to become a mechanical engineer because I have a passion for fixing and improving everyday machines that help others.” Elizabeth is grateful for her step-dad, Saul Meraz, and her teacher, Mike Kroeker, who have helped her get to where she is today. They taught her valuable practical skills and encouraged her to do her best. Elizabeth plans to attend Dunwoody College of Technology this fall to major in mechanical engineering.
Junior at Math and Science Academy, Cottage Grove
Evelline Samson is a State honorable mention who took an interest in Computer Science and web design after learning HTML and CSS in her freshman year of school. During the summer of 2016, Evelline and a team of four other students represented the Twin Cities at a national level coding competition. Though the team did not place, Evelline gained valuable networking and teamwork experience from the event and continues to use this knowledge in the many clubs and activities she is involved in. Evelline is co-founder and leader in several clubs, such as the Social Justice Club and her library’s Teen Advisory Board. She is currently working to institute a summer Coding Program at the local library for kids. At her school, Evelline is a Teacher Assistant for the class, Science of Flight, and enjoys mentoring 6th grade students as they learn to navigate through Middle School. In her free time, Evelline loves to learn new languages, such as Java and Italian, read scientific articles about Biomedical breakthroughs, and ride her bike with her siblings.
Junior at DeLaSalle High School, Saint Paul
Alyissa Sanders is a State award winner and National honorable mention. Her greatest technical accomplishment is the first virtual reality game that she developed, which is especially noteworthy because she stepped out of her comfort zone. Target needed a high school coder to program ‘A day in the life of a Target worker’. Alyissa was selected to write the program even though she had no experience with virtual reality. After spending many hours watching videos and reading articles on how to build a virtual reality game, she decided to code the program in MakeHuman and Blender. The game allows the user to flip a cube of pictures and, through the images and content shared, get an idea of what it is like to work for Target. Alyissa’s mom, who has worked as an engineer for IBM, has been her source of inspiration. At the young age of seven, she was helping her mom fix computers, and has wanted to be an engineer ever since. She has been involved with BDPA, where she learned Web Design and Development, since her freshman year of school. She has worked her way up to level three and now assists the students in level one since she knows how it feels to struggle with learning JavaScript. Alyissa plans to attend college to study engineering and computer science, and a future goal of hers is to work for the FBI or Google.
Senior at Wayzata High School, Wayzata
Ashmita Sarma is a National award winner and a prior Minnesota award winner. In middle school she began creating websites with HTML, CSS, and Javascript. She competed at the Business Professionals of America State Leadership Conference and won first place in Computer Programming Concepts and second place in SQL Database Fundamentals. During her internship as a Systems Engineer at SPS Commerce, she learned Ansible and developed Python modules to tag objects in VMWare. Aside from her internship and shadowing opportunities, Ashmita also attended many tech meetups in her area, and she got the opportunity to speak at DevOps Days in Kansas City, where she spoke about her experiences with Ansible. In addition, Ashmita is doing artificial intelligence research at the University of Minnesota, and focusing on image processing. Ashmita has taught web development classes to students online, and she mentors at the Twin Cities and Rebecca CoderDojos. For her NHS service project, she is teaching Python classes to middle school students. Ashmita will attend college and major in Computer Science and she hopes to perform research in Artificial Intelligence and Robotics.
Senior at Wayzata High School, Maple Grove
Allison Sholl is a State award winner. She got what some may consider, a late start with computers, taking her first class, intro to computer technology, during her junior year of high school. After taking that course, she wanted to dive into technology and signed up for four more courses. After her fist time programming in Visual Basic, she knew computing was for her. The opportunity to solve problems with an entirely new way of thinking enthralled her. This year Allison took AP Computer Science Principles, which is a software engineering course. She developed a trivia app, created a maze game, and learned how to code in Python. In addition, she created a website about driverless cars, which she researched to get a better understanding of this important technological advancement. Outside of school, Allison has participated in various SPARCS events such as a day at Microsoft learning how to code and meeting with female mentors, and an event learning how to use databases through Trailhead Basecamp. Allison plans to attend college to pursue a major in management information systems or computer science.
Junior at Apple Valley High School, Apple Valley
Atalanta Stoeke is a National honorable mention and prior Minnesota award winner. Atalanta has been using computers since she was a toddler, but has only been taking them apart to figure out how they work since she was in the fifth grade. She has built computers from scratch, worked with CAD, and has programmed with Java, LabVIEW, Robot C, JavaScript, HTML, jQuery and CSS. She was the youngest person in her AP Computer Science class, and is currently taking multiple college-level computer classes including Networking and IT Security through her school’s STEM program. Atalanta is most proud of the fact that she is a founding member and programmer for the Iron Maidens FIRST Tech Challenge robotics team at Apple Valley High School (they are an all-girls team!). With her team, she has demonstrated for High Tech Kids and participated in more than 65 different STEM outreach events. She has testified before the Minnesota and US Congresses in support of five major STEM education bills and has presented to the US Department of Labor in support of women and diversity in STEM. Atalanta has also appeared in three Best Buy commercials! When Atalanta attends college, she plans to major in either artificial intelligence or computer forensics. She also plans on continuing to lobby in support of STEM education and play an active role in FTC robotics as a mentor.
Senior at Norman County West High School, Hendrum
Amanda Tommerdahl is a State award winner. One of her greatest accomplishments is having the courage to pursue a career in technology, despite being a young woman from a small farming community. Amanda’s high school offered very few technology courses and had only a few opportunities for advanced education. Her interest in technology only grew and she began seeking out her own ways of learning. Amanda is currently enrolled in PSEO at Minnesota State University, Moorhead, to complete college courses while still attending her high school. Amanda hopes to inspire other young women to pursue their interests, even if they are in a male-dominated field. Amanda believes that people deserve every opportunity to discover what they love and that sometimes you must go and find those opportunities on your own. After attending a GenCyber program in the summer of 2016, Amanda decided to attend Dakota State University in Madison, South Dakota, in the fall, to major in cyber security. She is aspiring to obtain a master’s degree and move to the Washington D.C. area to work as a penetration tester. Amanda’s goals for the future are to travel around the world, hike the Appalachian Trail, and expand her knowledge of computers and technology.
Cathylin Wang
Junior at Wayzata High School, Plymouth
Cathylin Wang is a State honorable mention. In middle school, she used W3Schools to teach herself HTML and CSS. For a short time, she worked as a freelance web designer and was commissioned to make online storefronts for several artists. In her sophomore year, Cathylin took AP Computer Science and learned Java. She has won regional and state competitions in Java, computer animation, computer security, and computer programming concepts through Business Professionals of America. She is currently using her Java skills to make programs that collect and process laboratory data in her research internship. Cathylin is also currently learning Python and working on creating a videogame.
Senior at DeLaSalle High School, Columbia Heights
Tien VoNguyen is a State honorable mention who is fluent in both Vietnamese and English, English being her second language. Her dedication to schoolwork and education has earned her a spot on the National Honor Society. She is involved in many extracurricular activities, including Soccer, Mock Trial, Step Team, National Art Honor Society, and Atlatl Society. She started coding last year as a part of the Technovation Challenge, a program where girls work in teams to build a mobile app and create a business plan to launch that app, supported by mentors and guided by a curriculum. Today, Tien is a Student Ambassador for the program and was flown to San Francisco for training, tech-based workshops, and the World Pitch for the 2016 winners of the Challenge. Tien also serves on the Technovation MN Board. Since participating in Technovation, she has taken several coding language courses and works with Python, C++, and App Inventor source code. She is looking to further educate herself on matters of the world, to better her skills in leadership and entrepreneurship, and to gain more experience in working with technology. Tien hopes to pursue biomedical engineering and computer science beyond high school.
Senior at Mounds View High School, Mounds View
Maddie Wang is both a National award winner and State award winner, and an entrepreneur who enjoys creating various tech-related startups. Growing up, video games drew her to technology because she felt empowered by the limitless possibilities of the digital world. Her first startup revolved around her favorite game Minecraft, where she generated $39,000 in profit. Maddie’s current start-up involves the development of a device that can prevent sexual assault and is officially incorporated and patent pending. Inspired by recent college rape scandals and her own experience in sexual harassment, Maddie realized how urgent social change is needed. Throughout this whole process, she learned that entrepreneurship combined with technology has the capacity to improve society. Maddie also founded an Art and Literature magazine for her district’s high school to put the “A” back in “STEAM.” She enjoys playing tennis, drawing/painting, playing viola, and web design. She has played her viola at All State, Minnesota Youth Symphonies, various quartets, and weddings. Maddie plans to continue her journey in college where a solid foundation in computer science can help her achieve her ultimate goal: to use technology to improve society.
Senior at Edina High School, Richfield
Vanessa Wang is a State award winner who became interested in technology after taking math and engineering classes. But, it wasn’t until her sophomore year that she discovered her love for computer science by joining her high school’s FIRST robotics team as a rookie Java programmer. Despite the challenges that came with having little programming experience, Vanessa found coding intriguing enough to sign up for AP Computer Science in her junior year. She enjoyed it so much, she decided to participate in the Summer Computing Academy Camp for Female Students to learn Python and explore how computing is used in research. She is currently a teacher assistant for AP Computer Science and enjoys sharing her enthusiasm with fellow students. Vanessa is an active member on the robotics team, and has sought to learn more about programming, such as creating GUIs and using Git. She has volunteered with FIRST Tech Challenge, Hour of Code, and Girls Who Code to help others find their passion in programming. Vanessa plans to study computer science in college, and hopes to incorporate her interest in electronics by exploring computer engineering as well.
Teacher at Burnsville High School
Cindy Drahos teaches in the business education department at Burnsville High School, and as an instructor for Normandale Community College in the Computer Information Management Department. She has earned a Masters in Arts in Education and certificate in Education Technology, and is currently completing her graduate level Certificate in Computer Science Education from the College of St. Scholastica. She teaches a variety of classes ranging from IT Exploration to the recently approved Advanced Placement Computer Science Principles class. Since she started teaching computer science, her class load has gone from 2 classes in computer science to a full schedule of teaching all classes in CS. Enrollment had more than doubled in the number of sections offered. Her class partners with Best Buy. The students work side by side with the Geek Squad Agent at the school’s help desk. Since the one-to-one device initiative she helped put together a summer training involving Geek squad representatives and students to train the broader student body for Chromebook deployment. Her students trained over 2000 students this past summer, in two days.She enjoys learning new technology and encourages students to be creative and have fun while learning. She’s a proud guide of two students who were recognized in the Congressional Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Competition in Minnesota’s 2nd Congressional DistrictApp Development Contest. She is an advocate for female engagement in technology, with one of her past students receiving the State’s Aspirations in Computing Award, and National Runner-up Award. This year one of her students is an Honorable Mention recipient at the State level. She readily supports students to attend the annual DigiGirlz event at Microsoft, SPARCS camps, works with Advance IT MN to bring in Tech IT Out! MN classroom presenters, provides field trips to technology companies, and eMentoring. She has assisted in training sessions at the CoderDoJo/Code Savvy. She is partnering with the Apple Valley High School STEM coordinator to bring the students together for a special event featuring the movie Hidden Figures, with industry professionals to speak after the movie. She definitely knows how to connect and network, to make good things happen for her students! Cindy has received the Carpenter Achievement Award through Best Prep, MnACTE Teacher of the Year, President’s Award MNACTA, Secondary Outstanding Business Educator Award and the TIES Exceptional Teacher Award. She is currently the Secretary for the Gopher State Computer Science Teachers Association (MN CSTA), serves on the BHS Digital Transition Team, the BHS Student Support Help Desk Planning Team, adviser for the Gaming and Programming Club, Tech Club, and Stock Market Club. She resides in Eagan, Minnesota, where she dreams up even more ways and partnerships, to benefit students.
Teacher at Mounds View High School
While taking a required computer science class for her math degree at Gustavus Adolphus College, Kaitie O’Bryan found an unexpected love for computer science and has been eager to encourage all students to explore the field in hopes that they, too, will discover their love for computer science. Kaitie O’Bryan is a math and computer science teacher at Mounds View High School. She introduced the school’s only computer science class to the building in fall of 2015 with a group of 20 students and grew the program to include 100 students the following year. Kaitie’s goal as a teacher is to support collaborative problem solving in all her classes, to provide students opportunities to be creative in class, and to empower all teachers to teach computer science in their classrooms. She is a strong advocate for female student enrollment and success in math and computing courses. She is especially proud to have guided and endorsed one of her students being being honored this year as a state and national Aspirations in Computing Award Winner. Kaitie O’Bryan is also a Knowles Science Teaching Fellow, and is the Treasurer of Minnesota’s Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) chapter. Kaitie resides in Minneapolis, MN.
Special Thanks to our Educator Endorsers
The following people provided support and endorsement to one or more of the selected award honorees. On behalf of the National Center for Women and Information Technology (NCWIT), the Minnesota Aspirations in Computing Award Committee, the honorees and their families, we wish to acknowledge and express our appreciation for their youth development support.
John Bartucz, John Marshall High School, Rochester
Shannon Braun, Eagan High School
Princesa Hansen, Breck School, Golden Valley
Nancy Johnson, Edina High School
Jehana Khan, Ridgewater College
Seth Knudson, Bemidji High School
Tika Kude, Wayzata High School
Leah Lencowski, Eastview High School, Apple Valley
Jim Lynch, Apple Valley High School
Thomas Reinartz, Rosemount High School
Donald Winston, East Ridge High School, Woodbury
This is the fifth year the awards program has offered an internship as a Grand Prize. This year we are delighted that eight companies are providing honorees a summer paid internship. Some companies are hiring numerous awardees. This year we extend our sincere appreciation to the noted internship providers. And, we congratulate the noted recipients.
Minnesota State Scholarships
This year’s program features a $4,000 scholarship to Century College,a $4,000 scholarship to St. Cloud University, and $2,000 scholarships to other higher education institutions within the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system. Minnesota is nationally recognized as a high quality education state, as well as a state possessing excellent employers, contributing to a vibrant Minnesota economy. This is especially true in the rapidly growing areas of technology products and services. We’re grateful to Maverick Software Consulting, STEM Fuse, Century College Foundation and SUPERVALU for teaming up to provide these scholarship opportunities. Their generous contributions establish the foundation to address scholarship needs for years to come, to support honorees and their families.
April 24, 2017 | Featured News . General |
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IT Center of Excellence
The ITCOE is part of the Minnesota State College System, and is hosted by Metropolitan State University
What is a Center of Excellence?
A COE is a dedicated team that works close with industry and educators to attract students to, and prepares students for, high demand industries in Minnesota that face workforce shortages currently and in the future.
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No one wants to admit to being the official leader of BLM. That’s because being behind bars doesn’t appeal to many. Even among leftists.
Pamela Moses, the founder of BLM in Memphis, was forced to face sentencing for illegally voting. Of course, leftists get away with this often, so it’s surprising to see a jail sentence handed down. However, that’s exactly what happened.
Now, Moses will serve six years and a day for her actions. Apparently, in 2015, she tricked the probation department into giving her documents that stated she was no longer on probation. Afterwards, she went out and got her voter registration card. I’m sure Moses thought her transgression would never catch up to her.
But Moses is no stranger to the life of crime.
In 2015, Moses pleaded guilty to tampering with evidence and forgery, both felonies, and to misdemeanor charges of perjury, stalking, theft under $500, and escape.
She was placed on probation for seven years and deemed ineligible to vote in Tennessee because of the tampering with evidence charge.
Moses has maintained that she was under the impression that her voting rights had been restored when she went to vote in 2019.
Whether or not Moses will be held to her sentence is yet to be seen. She’s already crying foul, claiming she was lead astray by the county. But ignorance is no excuse for committing a crime. At least that’s the way I was taught. Of course, I’m a conservative, so that whole rules and consequences thing is something I understand completely.
To be fair, Moses isn’t the only BLM leader tangled up in the headlines recently.
Scams and Shams
More dirt has surfaced on the terrorist group, BLM. Apparently, BLM has migrated to the real-estate business.
Canadian Black Lives Matter activists are furious over the group’s recent $8.1 million cash purchase of a mansion in downtown Toronto that once served as the headquarters of the Communist Party of Canada .
The U.S. charity that serves as the face of the BLM movement provided the bulk of the funding for the purchase of the 10,000-square-foot property in July. The purchase flew largely under the radar at the time, but anger has now reached a boiling point amid other revelations about BLM’s management and its finances.
“For BLM Canada to take money from BLM Global Network [Foundation] for a building without consulting the community was unethical,” Canadian BLM activists Sarah Jama and Sahra Soudi said in a recent statement. “For BLM Canada to refuse to answer questions from young Black organizers goes against the spirit of movement-building.”
Jama and Soudi said they resigned from the steering committee of BLM’s Toronto chapter after the leaders of BLM Canada refused to answer any questions about the purchase and tried to get them to sign exploitative nondisclosure agreements.
Typical leftist strategy: threaten to sue people and ruin them until you bully them into silence. But wait, there’s more!
What’s an organization to do when their lies are exposed? Buy houses.
Recall that one of the founders of BLM bought herself over $3.5 million in properties. Ironically, in mostly white neighborhoods. I’m sure she chose white neighborhoods, so she could keep an eye on the enemy. Because one would think that if police brutality were her chief concern, she would have bought homes in black areas of town so she could be close to the problem?
Patrisse “Con” Cullors co-founded the terrorist group Black Lives Matters. And the avowed Marxist did pretty well for herself, financially.
Cullors recently purchased millions of dollars in real-estate. And when confronted with the shocking truth of her being a hypocrite, Cullors explained, [pp] “I needed to take care of my family”. That sounds like an excuse even Bernie Sanders could appreciate.
Those within BLM wanted an investigation. However, Con-Cullors found her way inside the inner sanctum and Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook issued a fatwa against anybody who dared criticize the racist Black hypocrite. Thus, like Zuckerberg mandated on “vaccine hesitancy,“ he ordered his minions to bury any references to Con-Cullors’ larceny.
Sadly for the Left, this story didn’t go away.
Millions of people recognized the hypocrisy and continued pushing the story. And we proved to Facebook and other social media, you cannot keep the truth from surfacing. Cullors is a con.
And now, BLM must find a new leader. Because according to AP, Cullors decided to step down. Cullors stated:
“I’ve created the infrastructure and the support, and the necessary bones and foundation, so that I can leave,” Cullors told The Associated Press. “It feels like the time is right.”…
Of course, if BLM is sitting so pretty, why doesn’t anyone want to be in charge?
Tiffany LayneFebruary 9, 2022
3 minutes read
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I opened my mouth to pull in his pulsing erection ready to give him all I had. He was mighty in more than one way and I was ready to complete the mission. Well, as long as he could complete it soon. I was running off to work when he’d grabbed me by the throat, pushed me against the wall, and kissed me senselessly. Yeah, he was that kind of man. When he wanted my attention he took action. I was good with that. Loved it even. My panties immediately became wet and I knew whatever he wanted, he’d get. His fingers merely held me in place controlling me, not causing harm. Delicious.
Next, he pushed me to my knees and ripped open my shirt exposing his kryptonite. He instructed me to take off my bra so that he could focus. I did and his hardness became firmer, rock solid. I leaned forward and licked his pre-cum before sucking him inside. He pulled my neatly pinned hair a loose and gripped it pulling my head back. He pushed to the back of my throat and pumped his hips until I gagged. I knew what he was doing. And I wanted it.
My body awakened fully soaking my panties. I loved to please him in this way and my body wasn’t shy about letting him know. My nipples were hard and ready. My cunt was drenching my panties. My body ached. He’d taken me from 0 to 10 in no time. I could come from this sole act. He knew this. It was a way to get me off while getting him off. And it worked every damn time. I was a slut to his sexual needs, willing to go the distance. He relied on it and that’s why sex was always amazing between us. We relied on instinct and trust. A no fail.
Again he entered my mouth and he inched it back. In and then out. Deeper and deeper. Once he was far enough in, the one word sent me to the edge. Fuck.
“Swallow.” He groaned.
I did and he slid in and out of my throat. Cutting off air. My vision blurred and tears streaked my face. My body shook when he withdrew and like a fiend, I went back for more. Giving me a reprieve, he allowed the breathing break while he pinched and rolled my nipples between his fingers. My breasts were just as much kryptonite for me as they were for him. I could come from that too. Together? Watch out!
He pushed my head back to meet the wall and then he entered my mouth. He bucked inside my mouth and I relaxed my mouth.
“Swallow and pinch.”
I moaned loud before swallowing him and pinching my nipples. The longer my air was controlled by him the longer I pinched. My orgasm pounded so close to the surface I could taste it. He withdrew and swayed a bit. I leaned backward trying to regain my composure. My head was swimming and I didn’t know if I would make it again. I looked up to see him looking just as discombobulated. When he came forward again I whimpered for it.
“Swallow and pinch.”
I did and immediately I was taken under by bliss. There was no going back. I breathed around him before calming enough to swallow. When I did, my hands worked their magic on my nipples. I felt his cum shoot and my orgasm blasted through me. But it wasn’t enough. I wanted more. I lowered my hands between my legs and stroked my clit tipping another orgasm. He withdrew from my mouth and finished on my breasts while I came again like a good girl.
I stayed in that spot until I calmed completely. A mess I was. Cum on my lips, tits, and oozing from my cunt. I leaned back reveling in the moment. I heard chuckling and looked up at Him. He was just as spent leaning against the opposite wall.
“Going to work like that?” He asked.
“Yes. I’ll tell my boss I had an emergency at home.”
He laughed wholeheartedly as I stood. I kissed him after licking my lips and then ran to the shower to try to head to work, Take Two. I must admit, it was damn good too.
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Economically speaking, there are three fundamental ways of engaging in the world: Taking, Trading, and Giving.
And we've each done them all.
We’ve all taken something simply because we wanted it.
"That toy is mine," we said as a child. "That last piece of cake is mine," we’ve insisted as adults.
And we’ve all traded something we've had for something someone else possesses.
"Wanna trade shifts?" we've asked our coworkers. "I'll give you this Charizard for a Pikachu," we've said on the playground.
We’ve all given something of value to someone else as a gift.
"Happy birthday!" we've sung. "I picked this out just for you."
Taking, Trading, and Giving. We’ve all engaged in each of these practices.
And, if you’ve spent any time in church, you know that Jesus has something to say about taking. (Simply put, He's not a fan.) And you know that Jesus has something to say about giving. (Indeed, He told his followers "Give to those who ask, and don’t turn away from those who want to borrow.") But did you also know that Jesus also has something to say about trading?
But first, we need a bit of a history lesson.
Did you know that in the first century, access to resources, positions of influence or power, or social services and goods was all made available through an economic system we’ve come to call "patronage".
In the patronage system, a person with resources or status was called a “patron”. Patrons were powerful. And those without resources and without power - those who might be seeking seeking access to goods or services or loans or leadership - were called “clients”. Clients needed help.
So a client would come to a patron, and the client would say: “Oh great and mighty so and so, you’re so smart, and so kind, and so important. You are the greatest, most beautiful person I’ve ever met. You look perpetually 21. You can do no wrong. Just being in your presence is a privilege. Oh great and mighty so and so, turn your favor on me, and lend me some money so I can pay off my many debts. Give me a position of power in our civic government. Let me use a small plot of the land you own to farm food for my family. Turn your favor on me, and in return I pledge you my loyalty and my allegiance. I promise to speak well of you to everyone I meet. Give me what I ask, and I’ll owe you. My labor, my talents, my expertise - they will be yours to call upon when you ask."
Patronage is built on relational debts.
Patronage operates by creating a relationship of obligation between two people - a person who has, and a person who has not.
A patron agrees to give a client what the client needs. And the client agrees to be available to patron, to promote the patron’s fame, to defend the patron’s reputation, to use whatever skills or clout they might have for the good of the patron.
This is why Seneca, the Roman Stoic philosopher, insisted that patronage, the practice of exchanging personal favors, constituted, “the chief bond of human society”. Seneca said patronage was the glue that held it all together. Seneca said trading favors is how the world works best.
And any first century reader of the Acts narrative, any person who lived while Jesus walked on earth or while Luke wrote the history of the early church, anyone who was alive in the Roman Empire in 40AD, would have believed that too.
They would have believed that trading favors, that giving gifts and receiving gifts through relationships of obligation, that trading access to power and access to wealth in a web of interpersonal connections - was the way the world worked best.
That would have been what they were taught their entire lives.
It would have been immediately obvious to them.
And, it’s not too difficult to understand why. Let’s be honest: A patronage system can be a remarkably effective way of distributing resources in a pre-technological age? In a world before VISA or AMEX, patronage allowed individuals with no access to resources to receive access to resources by leveraging their labor or leveraging their commitment and pledging it to a patron.
Patronage opened doors even as it created debts.
It allowed someone who might have learned how to build a solid table or bake tasty bread or to paint a beautiful landscape to pledge that skill to a patron in order to get what they need.
But patronage has its limits.
And the problem is this: If your world is built around trading favors, what happens when you have nothing to trade? And what happens if you’ve fallen out of favor?
If access to goods and resources and assistance in your society is dependent upon your ability to offer something of value to someone in power, what happens if you’ve got nothing to give? What happens if you’ve got little to offer?
What happens if you’re injured? Or addicted? Or bankrupt? What happens if you’ve made some mistakes in the past and your reputation is shot? What happens if you're not the right gender? Or not the right color? Or if you didn’t come from the right family?
You see, the problem with the patronage system is that it had no true way to help the truly down and out.
Because patronage is built on the trading of favors. So it works well, so long as you’ve got something to offer.
And that reality - the fact that patronage could leave some of society's most vulnerable without help - was not just an accidental outcome resulting from mismanagement or misuse of the system. It was a practice mandated by by those who defined the system.
Indeed, Isocrates (the ancient Greek rhetorician) said:
"Bestow your favors on the good; for a goodly treasure is a store of gratitude laid up in the heart of an honest man. If you benefit bad men, you will have the same reward as those who feed stray dogs; for these snarl alike at those who give them food and at the passing stranger; and just so base men wrong alike those who help them and those who harm them."
Isocrates - like all the great thinkers of his time - insisted that any patron ought to scrutinize the recipient of their giving. He said any wise giver ought to assess if the person in need that they’re encountering is worthy of their help.
Isocrates - like all the prevailing teachers and philosophers of the ancient world - said that no trade should be wasted. And therefore that help should not be wasted on those who were too hurt to express gratitude, or on those who’d been so wounded by the world that they’d become defensive and ungrateful.
And this was the unquestioned assumption of any thinking person in the first century.
So when another first century teacher emerged, a teacher who challenged the existing cultural authorities, everyone took notice. Because he said that generosity should be dispensed more freely. He said that his followers ought to give generously without thought of repayment. He said:
“When you give a lunch or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or your rich neighbors—for they will invite you back, and in this way you will be paid for what you did. When you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind; and you will be blessed, because they are not able to pay you back. For God will repay you at the resurrection of the just.”
Jesus, in contrast to all the prevailing thinking of his time, taught that trading favors is not the path to blessing. Jesus said His followers should give freely - even to those who might never be able to pay them back.
And Jesus's first followers took this teaching to heart. Indeed, Luke documents the practices of the early church, saying:
"All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need."
Jesus said that his followers shouldn’t get caught up in the system of trading favors that dominated their cultural landscape. Jesus insisted that those who follow him ought to give freely without thought of repayment.
That's because Jesus knew that God is a giver. God is a giver.
He’s not a taker. And He’s not a trader. He’s a giver. He’s a giver that’s so generous that He gave His own Son, to give humanity what we could never obtain for ourselves. He gave Himself so that we might have His life - abundant life, eternal life. He’s generous.
He’s a giver. He gives us daily breath. He gives us big joys and small joys. He gives us friends and encouragement in hard times and tough moments. God is a giver.
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Well, it has been pretty crazy around here in Daytona, and it’s not slowing down any time soon. I have been keeping myself pretty busy with concerts, Bike Week, classes, and flying. As usual, I’ll start with the classes and then tell you about experiencing Bike Week first hand! Hooray!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
TTh – Physics 104 – Well, two tests down, two to go! I managed to get another A so I am pretty happy with that. Other than that, not to much going on in physics. It’s still very early in the morning and it is difficult to convince myself that I need to go. But somehow, I manage to get up and I haven’t missed a class yet. One thing that I have noticed is that a class can be very different depending on the professor. For example, last semester my physics teacher would assign homework very frequently, but this year I haven’t had a single homework assignment. So depending on who your professor is, your experience will be very different.
TTh – Basic Aeronautics II – Well I just got done with my last test in this class, and it’s already time for Round 2. We have been discussing multi-engine systems and we are going to have our first test covering multi stuff on this coming Thursday. On the last test, I had to study for quite a bit of time which is kind of unusual for me. Whenever I have a test coming up, I will study, just not for hours on end. Well, for my aeronautics test, that’s just what I did. I studied and studied and studied, so that means I’m going to have to do that again for this upcoming test. I’m looking forward to that.
MWF – Air Traffic Control I – We took our 2nd test in this class as well, and he still hasn’t posted the grades on-line yet. I’m not sure how I did, and to be honest I can barely remember taking the test. We took it a week ago so I have no idea how I did. Other than that, nothing too exciting going on in here.
MWF – Intro to Psychology – I also had a test in my psych class last week and I did pretty well. The test went over states of consciousness, learning, and memory. Psychology still seems to be one of my favorite classes and almost everything I learn I find very fascinating. Not to knock on my other classes, but the ideal gas law that we went over in Physics isn’t as exciting as learning about learning. So I’m still pretty happy with my psych class and I’ve been thinking about taking other psych classes over the next couple of years.
Flight – As much as I enjoy some of my other classes (such as psychology) I still think flying is hands down the best part of Riddle! If you read last journal, I talked about the three tests that you must pass in order to get your private pilot’s license: written, oral, and practical test. I took my written test last week and I passed with an 83%. I took tons and tons and tons and tons of practice tests and on average I got a 93%, but when it was time to take the actual test, the pressure is on and the environment is completely different. In order to pass the test, you need a 70%, so I’m in the clear with an 83%! Since I have finished my written, I am now studying for my oral test. I have also been doing some cross-country flights; I have done a total of 4 cross-countries, one of which was at night. Now, my next activity is a local solo which is like a normal flight, but I never see my instructor. Before when I soloed I was with my instructor and we flew to an airport, my instructor hopped out, I did some solo take-offs and landings and picked her back up and flew back to Daytona. Now I am 100% alone and on my own! I am pretty excited and I’ll be sure to let everyone know how it goes.
Well, Bike Week 2007 was a success! This past week bikers from all over the world came to Daytona to celebrate bikes. Surprisingly, I have never been to Bike Week in the past because traffic is usually horrible and there are way too many people. Well, this year I have been trying new things so my friends and I decided to go check it out. But we didn’t want to just drive over there and walk around like everyone else; we wanted to submerge ourselves in the culture. . . . So we rented scooters. We went to a local place right near the beach and paid $30 for two hours on these pretty nice scooters. I went with my friends Zach and Aaron and we had a blast. We were riding right next to the bikers and we kept up for the most part. Over by the beach, the speed limit never goes beyond 40mph and the scooters topped out at around 45mph, so we weren’t blocking traffic too bad. We were just cruising down A1A right next to the beach and just drove around for 2 hours. We ended up going down Main Street which is where the street is 100% lined up with bikes all along the sides and where everyone goes to check out all the cool bikes. You could walk down Main Street and see live music, choppers, all sorts of custom bikes, and three college kids on scooters. We drove right down Main Street and we definitely got some funny looks! It was fun to see bike week from a biker’s perspective . . . well almost.
Other than cruising around the beach on scooters, I went to a couple of concerts as well. I went and saw G. Love and Special Sauce and then I saw Pepper. If you are a fan of good music, I recommend checking out these two bands. A band called Redeye opened for G. Love and the Suppervillans and Mad Caddy opened for Pepper. Overall, every band I saw at both concerts put on one heck of a show. I hope that I will be able to check these guys out next time they make it to Orlando.
Well, Spring Break is right around the corner and I still have so much I need to do before it starts, so I am signing out! I don’t want to give anything away for my spring break, but I will tell you that I will be snowboarding . . . a lot of snowboarding. So I am pretty excited about that. Well, as always be sure to check out the pictures and videos website to see all the crazy antics of life down here in Daytona! I’ll be putting up some pictures of Bike Week and of the Scooter Boys (that’s what we heard someone yell as we went down Main Street and they also asked us to ‘pop a wheelie,’ but I would have fallen, so I didn’t). So be sure to check that out. I hope everyone is having a good year so far and continues to do so and I will see ya in 2 weeks! Adios!
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**Hometown:** DeBary, Florida **Why I chose Embry-Riddle:** Ever since I was little I knew that I wanted to fly, and ever since I knew about Embry-Riddle I wanted to go here.
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After an exhausting cleanup morning in May, my dog stood with ‘crossed legs’ at the door, demanding his running time. If only I had his energy. To please him (after all he is the man of the house), I took his chucker, ball and leash; and commanded him into my truck and went down the golf course road to let him loose and run. If he could talk, I could hear him say, “Yippee!”. And chasing after a vehicle to the chagrin of some motorists, is always the highlight of happiness (thank you for not killing my exuberant dog).
Another pleasure however, is catching his ball that I throw as far as possible with a chucker and for him to retrieve it. And said ball landed in front of the fence that encloses the lagoon, and behind it stood a young couple. First I thought I was imagining things – did I have too much sun exposure? No, they were real.
Both smiling with big backpacks standing between them and as I always react when surprised (mentally with my mouth open), I asked, “What are you doing here?”
The young man answered, “I’d like to try and fish”.
“In a lagoon?” I asked, looking at the ‘No Trespass’ sign a little further. “By the way” I continued, “Where are you from and where are you going?”.
We are from Quebec – going to Vancouver,” I could detect a slight accent. He continued, “by the way, my name is Simon” and pointing at the girl, “This is Corine, she does not speak too much English, but she understands. By the way, what is your name?”
After the introductions, I took a closer look at the two. They were clean, Simon had short, cropped hair and a trimmed beard. Corin was a pretty thing, long blonde hair, kept in a braid towards one side and behind a pair of big, hornrimmed glasses, sparkled blue eyes that smiled. First impression: trustworthy, AOK.
“So, you want to fish?” I continued our conversation, “But not in a lagoon – do you have time and like to stay a while in this area? I have a humble camp, not far from here, right by a lake, would you like to stay there?” Both agreed right away after Simon translated in French to Corine, what I had offered.
They stepped over the wire fence, loaded their backpacks in the truck which contained everything, except the kitchen sink, my dog behind the seats. Oh yes, and Simon retrieved a container with worms from a shady hiding place and off we went. I still had my bulky “Volunteer Clean Up sign” on the tailgate, and had to drop it off at the house. I grabbed some clean clothes, intending to have the first sauna of the season. Simon asked if we could stop at The Beer Store and of course, buy some groceries, for their time in the wilderness, “in case he did not catch fish” he added with a twinkle in his eyes. As this was such a spontaneous decision on both parties, and within 15 minutes we were rolling.
I felt I had to explain something to the trusting ‘hitchhikers’, because a few years ago as I met and offered the same stay in the wilderness to a German couple with their young son, it almost turned into a fiasco. Not knowing the bush, as we are used to, they were horrified when they saw the rocks, potholes, no oncoming traffic and a locked gate we had to enter. They surely thought I had evil on my mind until after some agonizing minutes in total silence, the bush gave way to a scenic lake with a rustic camp and some big sunflowers.
Simon laughed and said, “No problem, we are Canadians” and then he told a story where he felt uncomfortable during one of his hitchhiking trips, where he actually jumped out of a cab during a stop light. Yes, bad things happen unfortunately. By now we were chatting back and forth like old friends and as we arrived, I heard a lot of ‘Ah’s’ and ‘Oh’s’.
I put Simon to work to bring water up from the lake to make a cup of tea, and fill the water buckets in the sauna; while I fired up the oven (sauna) for a good sweat. Sitting on the deck, slurping a good stiff cottage tea, and seeing a loon couple swim by, enjoying the heavenly silence – we all agreed, “Life is good”. Following that with a sauna with eucalyptus vapours compounded that feeling. Simon was brave enough to test the lake after a good sweat with a dunk.
Now the question arose about their journey – When to pick them up?, or how to communicate just in case. I had intended to go back on the highway the next day to clean up another stretch, since the weather was good, and I had helpers. Simon said, “Corine has a cellphone, we can leave a message on your answer machine about the time…” Having had bad experiences with cellphones in the wilderness, I asked Corine to test it by calling my house and her smiling face told me that it worked.
I left the two, knowing they were responsible and at a safe place; I had also things to do.
The following day, after my cleanup, I heard a message from Simon, “Karin. we would like to stay another night. It is so nice, please pick us up on Sunday at noon.” They must have fallen under the same spell that I feel everytime I am out there, it is hard to leave the place.
The next day, I prepared some food for the two ‘kids’ (who know where they would find their next meal” and drove out to pick them up. Both devouring the schnitzel and between eating, they told me about a beaver they observed under the dock, and, and… Corine beamed, dark chocolate. Their enthusiasm was infectious. They also read some of my stories in the booklet (My Life in the Shadow of the Goose) and asked to purchase a copy. Even Corine enjoyed and understood, and promised to read them all.
It was Mother’s Day, and who knows where their mothers were. I dropped them off past the Goose, near the RV Campground, and after hugs and good wishes, many thanks, I left them to themselves, hoping they would find a pleasant ride and make it safely to where ever they were heading.
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Anthony Wang is on the show today to share with us how he’s able to use Plenty of Fish traffic to drive leads to dating CPA offers. He makes a VERY decent income with this and explains it all in his POF Playbook.
POF Playbook (CLOSED)- Anthony’s course on how he makes money with PlentyofFish.com advertising
Episode 118: How Anthony Wang Makes $300-$500 per Day with Plenty of Fish Advertising
Mike: Hi there everyone! Welcome to the Episode 118 of the Mike from Maine Show, the place where we do daily interviews were successful online entrepreneurs. This is your host, Mike Tomas. And first of, if you are watching the video right now, the video version of Mike from Maine, you’ll see that I am on POF.com. That is PlentyOfFish.com. And what that is, is it’s a dating website that’s free. And one of the ways that they monetize it is through advertising. And it’s, there’s tons of visitors that come through here, millions of visitors. I wanted to say 3 million per day but I am not sure on that but it’s a huge amount of add impressions. And they sell these add impressions to mostly internet marketers who will go and try to monetize it by sending people to different dating websites that are paid and will offer you a commission when someone signs up through your affiliate link. Now, it sounds all easy and everything but when you’re – when you’re paying for your advertisements, it’s on a CPM method. Meaning, that it’s going to be on per thousand, you’re going to pay per thousand views that someone or that the people are doing on the advertisements. So, that can go really quickly. And if your ads aren’t very well targeted or you don’t have really good images, they drop people’s attentions in, then that can just go through quickly and you’re not going get many clicks therefore you’re not going to get that many sign ups and your ardvertising budget isn’t gonna add up. And it’s, you’re not going to get a profit from it. Anyways, I have Anthony Wang on today to talk about how he does this and he’s actually making profits on it. He’s making anywhere between $300-$500 per day profit doing it. He’s going to tell us his whole story about that, how he’s doing it, how he’s got students that have already been successful. It’s definitely got my interest. Let’s get to the interview. Anthony Wang.
Mike: We are here today with Anthony Wang. Anthony, welcome to the show.
Anthony: Um well, I actually started out as a chemistry major in college. And marketing, business, sales are one of the last things that I expected myself to do in my 20 years. But basically, how I got in to this was, I’ve read a book called The Rich Jerk, it was a ebook, like one of the first affiliate marketing guides. You have probably heard of it. And basically, it was like how to make these little affiliate websites. And it just like fascinated me that people can actually make money online. So, I did that and to my surprise my first like website ever actually made money. It was a –
Mike: What was your first website?
Anthony: The domain name is called, learn-street-magic.com. It’s not up anymore because there’s a funny story and I’ll get to that later. But yeah, it showed me that I can actually make like money selling other people’s products online. I am selling like magic tricks, stuff like that. And, and then I wasn’t making like a full-time income but it just showed me what’s possible. So, that’s how I got introduced to it. And like what happened to the website later was, I was such a nube and didn’t really know much about like technical things that I forgot to renew the domain after a year and it just went away. And I didn’t even know that after it expired you can like still get it back. So I just let it go, if you can go way back in a machine and you can check what the website look like, I thought it looked like crap but that was like 2006 or something so maybe it wasn’t bad.
Mike: Did someone snatch it – did someone snatch it up when it expired?
Anthony: Yeah, yeah. Someone has a domain in it., like one of those parts, like annoying part was that. But yeah, it showed me what’s possible with internet marketing and I really didn’t do much with internet marketing until my junior year of college. So, I was set on being a pharmacist. And what happened on my junior year was I got a stomach illness called ulcerative colitis. So, it’s like a pretty serious illness. I was on the hospital for about a month. I’ve dropped 40 pounds, really sick. It’s horrible. Ah yeah, and like I thought I was gonna die, I thought my life was over, but luckily the doctors took care of me. My mother flew over from China to take care of me. And after that experience, I kind of realized how precious life really is. And I didn’t want like spend the rest of my life either in the lab like mixing chemicals, like are we getting cancer? Or behind the like a pharmacy desk and just counting pills all day. So that’s – I know I was reading a book at that time called The Alchemist.
Anthony: It’s a really great book.. Yeah, yeah It’s awesome. And that just inspired to like really go after what I wanted to do which is travelling. So internet marketing, it provides me with the lifestyle to just work from anywhere and basically just travel and go all over the world and just really experience life.
Mike: And obviously, we’re gonna talk about your Plenty Of Fish product today. But I, as I was looking over your sales page, I saw some pictures of some – the lifestyle that you are living. And it’s, it makes me like — when I see, honestly, I think when I see things like that , you see all these sales pages where people are showing like their convertibles and their big houses and big cars but to be honest when I saw that – I mean, it is obviously you and it wasn’t too off the wall like I think you were sky diving in one of them. And it wasn’t too crazy. So these are things that – what I’m trying to say was a genuine portrayal of the lifestyle you are able to live. How long have you been able to live that lifestyle?
Anthony: I say for like a year and a half now. So yeah, I totally agree with you, like some people, they have like their convertibles and mansions. And that’s cool like, if that’s what they are in to, more power to them. But me personally, I am so young, I’m 24 right now. If I had like an awesome car like, I won’t really care. It’s L.A. right here, like I will just be stuck in traffic for four hours in a day. It really doesn’t do anything for me. And for me like, I want to live my 20’s just traveling, seeing the world, getting new experiences before I’m old, you know. So, so yeah for about a year now I’ve been traveling. My goal is one new city every month and recently I have just been doing like American cities but pretty soon I’m going to head out to South America. Thinking about making a Columbia trip, also Peru and Brazil. So that should be fun.
Mike: How long have you been doing the one city a month thing? Anthony: Since you’re up last year, last March.
Mike: Okay. So, it’s been about a year now?
Mike: Have you, have you been in 12 cities or?
Anthony: Yeah about, I mean, like some months I’ll just go to Vegas or something. So, I kind of count that. But yeah. like there’s like a lot of places where you don’t really hear about. Like for example, like Budapest. Like I never would have expected that Budapest was a super cool city. Like, I got there, we only went there, me and my buddy went there because we were just like it has a cool name, like I never – don’t know much about there, let’s check it out. We got there, it was freaking awesome. The people are super nice like everything’s cheap. They’ve got a lot of amazing food. So yeah, that’s what I love, just like exploring and finding new places to check out.
Mike: Did you get a chance to go to Istanbul?
Anthony: Ah no, no. I heard great things about it though.
Mike: Ah that’s where, that’s where I live. So that’s why I ask everyone should come and visit Istanbul. It’s a great city to visit. On your sales page also you go over kind of how you got into making money the way that you are now with Plenty of Fish advertising and CPA ads. That’s what I – what I have understood. Can you tell us that story on how you got success? How you are able to provide this lifestyle for yourself?
Anthony: Sure. Yeah, so like when I first signed the internet marketing, I did the affiliate marketing. I’m following like The Rich Jerk formula, like little websites, SEO to the websites, promote affiliate products, review blogs, whatever, stuff like that. I have some success with it and I’ve also had a lot of projects that just bombs. But like, those limit with SEO and what a lot of people try when they’re new just because methods are free, the problem with that is your income is limited, especially if you go after like a narrow niche. Like a lot of people say like, “Oh yeah, find a niche that is unexploited, like so that you can dominate it.”, which makes sense but then you realize like, oh no one actually like cares about this niche. There is no buyers.
Mike: Is that the reason why no one’s monetize it and try to go for the keywords just because there is no money in it?
Anthony: Exactly, yeah. It’s like you can find some like super secure niche and you can get yourself rank for number one. You get five visitors a day. So yeah, I was doing stuffs like that. And I was doing I don’t know like maybe a good day I’ll have 100, like 50 dollars a day. And I thought that was cool. I mean, it was like a passive income. I just had a website up there, it’s making me some money. I thought it was awesome. And to me that was a success. But, ahh I met my buddy now. He’s my friend now. But at that time, we just
started talking about internet marketing. and he pretty just made fun of me for going down that route before, like having a little Adsense sites, Amazon sites, ClickBank products, like promoting stuff on Youtube, for like “mere pennies”. That’s what he said. And because he was using paid traffic which you can do a lot more volume and you can like scale up a lot quicker. You don’t have to wait like 10 months for your site to rank. Then, Google throws an update and then, you’re pissed. So, I mean that happened to me a bunch of times. So yeah, and then we got along pretty well, so I asked him if he could show me how to do Plenty of Fish marketing. And I was actually surprise that he agreed because he was making a lot more than I was at the time. And he could have hired like a lot of other people, like anyone would have been eager to learn his system. But we live close and we got along so he said yeah, I’ll teach you everything I do. The thing is you have to pay me 70% of everything you make. So –
Anthony: Yeah. So umm. I mean. It was worth it because, because within 3 days I was making like a hundred dollars a day. A couple weeks I had like 500 dollars a day and then it’s a skill that like has last me since our like our formal internship was over —
Mike: So how long, how long have you been making — sorry, sorry. How long have you been making, I guess it’s — what are you doing? Like 500 a day now? Is that – What is your average?
Anthony: Right now, I’m at like ahh, 300 a day because Plenty of Fish just changed their advertising guidelines. So, they just re- framed pretty much everyone’s adds. So other people had to start over, which is why now is a great time to jump in to Plenty of Fish if you’re new because like established advertisers are — you are at the same playing field now, because the advertisers or other affiliates with ads that have been running for months, like their ads got disapproved. So, you’re pretty much starting at the same page.
Mike: So, the method that you’re gonna talk about, is it based upon the changes or is it based upon the old way that Plenty of Fish was?
Anthony: Pretty much everything is the same, except the images that you use for your ads has to be tamer — Mike: Have you updated that?
Anthony: What was that?
Mike: Have you updated that in the product?
Anthony: Yup. So, yeah. What happened actually was one of the one-time offers was a pack of images, like my best converting images and literally the day after I launched my product, Plenty of Fish made their changes. So, half of my ads were wiped out, a lot of other people said they can’t get a lot of images approved. So, what I did was I started testing new images like crazy. And for the next month, I’m just releasing my best images to the members.
Anthony: Yeah. Plenty of Fish is a dating website. It’s a free dating website, online dating. It’s number one largest free dating website in the world. So, everyday there’s I think 3 million active online users. And how you monetize it is you put ads on there. And then the ads could link to your own products or affiliates. So, the easiest way to get started is to do a CPA network, find offers that will pay you like anywhere from like $3 to $12 per sign up and just promote those. So, that advertising platform is so like Facebook where you get to upload your own ads, you get to target by certain things like age, gender, country, something like that. and they approve you and then, you’re good to go. You can vary in your bids, all that stuff. So, it’s like a self-served advertising platform.
Mike: I mean, it sounds — it sounds simple, when you explain it like that. But then, I think okay, Facebook advertising can sound simple but it’s not. And if it was simple, then everyone and their mom would be out advertising at Plenty of Fish and making the kind of money that you do. So, what’s different that — what’s that I mean, I know you’re not gonna explain everything but what’s this secret that you can talk about here. What makes you successful and so many other people not.
Anthony: Well I mean, I think like the cortical secret to success is applicable in all areas, not only just in marketing but in life. Basically, you just gonna have to do things that other people aren’t willing to do. So, for example, for Plenty of Fish, what a lot of people do is they see another advertiser and another affiliate, one of their ad. So, they’ll just copy them and then they’ll think it is the same offer. Maybe they’ll change it up a bit. And in business, a lot of people recommend doing the same thing, just say copy from your competitors because that’s already working. And that makes sense in theory but if you’re always copying, you’re never gonna like hit that like the profits that you want because someone else is making more money than you and you’re only getting like a small portion of that. So, what I stress in the course over and over again is, I give you the like the fundamentals but I tell you to test a lot of different images, a lot of different ads. Coz most people, they’ll – there are certain ads that you’ll see over and over again, so they’ll use those ads but those ads actually burn out really fast because people are used to that — it’s called banner blindness. So, what happens when you start testing new ads is maybe the majority of them are not gonna work and they’re not gonna convert but you’re gonna file like a couple of killer ads that are gonna convert super well that nobody else is using. So, I’d say, the secret is just doing more than your competitors and doing things that other people aren’t willing to do.
Anthony: Yeah. It’s a CPM, you bid for every thousands impressions. It varies, man. And to be honest, click-through rate doesn’t really matter and here’s why. Coz it varies by like a lot of targeting options. If you target — there’s an option to target by log-in account, so you can have your ads only shown to new members that are logged in less than 50 times. So, basically you’re ads are gonna be shown to people aren’t really familiar with Plenty of Fish and they haven’t seen ads like a zillion times already. So, those guys are gonna convert the most. So, those people, that demographic, they’re gonna click your ads a lot more. So, a good click- through rate for that would be 0.3 —
Mike: Are you just advertising – are you just advertising to them?
Anthony: No. Some campaigns I target only the log-in count of 50, coz they convert the best. But it’s also only like I think 11% of the entire Plenty of Fish population.
Anthony: So, they convert the best but you’re not — you can’t scale up very well. Mike: So, your volume is gonna be less.
Anthony: Exactly, yeah. And other country is — I don’t want to say the name of the country coz I’m doing really well in it but they’re like the CTR is like 1 to 2%. So, every hundred people that see your ad, you have like 10 or 1 or 2 people click on it. Every thousand people that see your ad, you have like 10 to 20 people click on it, which is pretty insane for a CPM — for A Plenty of Fish —
Mike: How much are you paying — sorry, sorry. How much are you paying for a thousand? Are you paying like a dollar or 3 dollars or how does that work?
Anthony: No, no. A dollar is considered like higher, a higher bid. Bid start at, I think the minimum limit is about 16 cents.
Anthony: So, if you’re not targeting by logged account, you definitely wanna go lower. Lot of my campaigns are already running in the 20% range. And if you’re targeting by logged account, you wanna go higher because more people are bidding on that demographic.
Mike: — from those new users. So, it’s worth it to pay more because you’re gonna get that back in clicks essentially. Anthony: Right.
Anthony: Right. And I would recommend, when you’re first testing a campaign, you wanna bid — just target everyone. Don’t narrow down by logged account or some like crazy niche targeting. Just target — make it pretty broad. And once you find some ads that are converting, then you want to automize. So, take those ads and you can now target a little bit. And you can start running those ads by logged account because they’re gonna be your best ads, so if you are wise, it’s gonna be better, so it’s fine when you pay a little bit more for that.
Mike: Is this the first time you kind of release a course teaching people how to do this? Anthony: Yeah.
Mike: Sorry, my lead up — my follow up question would be, have you — how many people are in your course and have you had anyone that’s had successful result yet?
Anthony: Yeah. Right now, there’s about 450 members. I just — I scaled it to 450 because of support issues. There’s actually a comment section in the membership area. So, the members just ask whatever questions and then I go through that and I reply to them. And that’s there so everyone can see it. So, if someone else is — has the same question, instead of emailing me or researching it, they’ll just see that someone else has asked and my answers are right below there. And then yeah, yeah. If you go on the sales thread, just see that a lot of people are posting like screen shots of their CPA accounts with profit. So, yeah. A lot of people are seeing good results with it.
Mike: What are the start up cost for people doing this? Because it’s not like, like you mentioned before, when you do SEO stuff, a reason why a lot of people do that is because they think psychologically okay, it’s not gonna cost the same as it’s gonna — it’s gonna – have to put work into it but it’s not gonna cost hundreds of dollars like other methods can. How much should someone have to invest in doing this?
Anthony: I recommend $100 to $200 for testing and that’s definitely on the lower end. Ideally, you want like up to $1000 because then, you can — your test ad is gonna be a lot more accurate because you can drive more traffic to your campaigns and you will be able to see like, oh this campaign is not — it’s performing well, it’s not performing well. You have a better sense of whether to cut it or scale it. Whereas, you can get it done with another 200 bucks but your data is not gonna be as accurate because you’re not having as much traffic.
Mike: What kind of tracking software are you using?
Anthony: I use Prosper202. So, it’s sort of like the industry standard for affiliate marketing tracking. It’s free. I highly recommend it. The only thing is installation is problem for some people. So, they can just go on, like oDesk or Fiverr and just find someone to install it for them and actually after that, it’s pretty intuitive to use. And tracking is definitely very important. Some of my students, they’ve done CPA marketing before but they just for some reason, never tracked their ads. And when I showed them how to use Prosper202, they’re like oh my god, this is amazing. You can actually see which ads are making your money, which ads are losing money. So, yes. It’s definitely important.
Mike: I’ve heard of people complain, especially with paid traffic, how they’re afraid of going out there and just burning through 100, 200, 500 dollars and not seeing any results with it. What would you say to those people in a way of — so that they don’t go out there and get burned?
Anthony: That’s kind of a hard question to answer because you’re — with anything you do, with anything you do in internet marketing or in life, you’re gonna fail some of the time. Probably, most of the time. So, if you’re always afraid of losing money or whatever, then you’re never — you’re never gonna have like that, just that determination to succeed, like persistence, which I think
ultimately is what makes people successful in internet marketing. Like, you hear stories of how people just tried to over and over again. And that was definitely me for the longest time. I’ve tried everything, like blogging, SEO, Youtube, flipping websites. So, I tried a lot of different things and Plenty of Fish was like my first major, major success. And I think the reason I was able to make it work is that I was just so set on living this lifestyle of you know, like not having a 9 to 5 job, not going to work every day and at the same time, hating my life. I’ve really wanted that, it’s what Napoleon Hill says in his book, like a burning desire. So, I think once you have that, then nothing can stop you. So, even if you do lose money, if you have the belief that okay like, this is just a temporary setback and I’ll ultimately gonna succeed with this, then it’s not really an issue. But I would just say, if you’re budget is a little tighter, you just definitely wanna optimize for RLI. So, you wanna use landing pages because you’re gonna up boost your conversions, like what I’ll do is I’ll direct link to the offers, so it goes from my ad directly to the affiliate landing page. I’ll do that to test and if that’s going well, then I’ll throw a landing page to optimize it. But if you’re just starting out, you wanna use a landing page right away because that’s — because direct linking doesn’t yield as high conversions. So, you’re sort of saving money by doing that.
Mike: You’re saying that direct linking from Plenty of Fish directly to the affiliate offer has less conversion than creating a landing page.
Anthony: Generally, generally.
Anthony: I mean, I’ve had some campaigns where I was surprised because I put a landing page and that actually hurt conversions but that’s usually when it’s — when it’s like a niche offer. So, like I say that, say you’re promoting a dating offer for like single parents. And then, you’re targeting single parents on Plenty of Fish. So, the traffic — so, it’s converting great if you go straight from the ad to the landing page or to the affiliate offer. So, if your landing page, it can definitely help but it’s not really necessary a lot of times.
Mike: Interesting. And you go — and you go through all of that from creating the add to setting up, to finding up the affiliate offer to doing a landing page. Is that all covered in your course?
Anthony: The only thing is the — I don’t go over on how to create a landing page with html, all the technical stuff, just because I’m not a html wiz myself and there’s lot of tutorials. So, what I do instead is I give landing page templates. So, some of my best landing pages. So, they’re just gonna — they might have to learn a little bit of html but they definitely won’t have to start from scratch.
Mike: And you mention before that the one-time offer that you’ve had about the images, I think that’s not working. That’s not happening anymore. Is there any other kind of one-time offer —
Anthony: I said I replaced that.
Mike: Oh, you replaced it.
Mike: So, there still is a one-time offer. Anthony: I’m sorry?
Mike: There still is a one-time offer.
Mike: Okay. How much does that cost?
Mike: Is it something that people have — sorry, sorry. We’re going over each other here for a little bit. Is it something that is gonna be necessary for people to have or is it just one of those things that’s gonna be a little helpful?
Anthony: Yeah, it’s definitely not a necessary because in the course, I advocate finding your own images, testing a lot. But just for people who wanna save some time, instead of testing their own images, they can just use my best ones and I also put a limit on the one-time offer, so that it just doesn’t get so supersaturated. So yeah, I just help people who wanna save time. And there’s actually 2
one-time offers. The other one is an ad uploader. So, Plenty of Fish, basically if you use their ad uploader, you have to upload one ad at a time. So, after you upload your first ad, you have to find another ad image, like another headline. All that stuff, change your tracking link, give it another ad title and that’s just the second image. That’s fine if you wanna spend like 5 hours a day, like creating campaign. So, what the ad uploader does is basically it just poke, uploads images and you can have different headline variations and everything. So, it’s just a time saver for people who don’t wanna stand the entire day in front of their computers.
Mike: Well, Anthony. Thank you so much for coming on the show today and talking about Plenty of Fish and CPA advertising. Is there anything that we didn’t cover that you wanted to tell us about before we wrap it up?
Anthony: We covered a lot. It’s my pleasure to be here. It’s awesome. I’d say for the listeners out there who want to get into Plenty of Fish, my biggest tip I guess would just to — would just be treat it like, treat it like a real business. And don’t always — don’t always try to copy other people. Be innovating and have like, have your own goals that you want to strive for yourselves, because that’s gonna drive you to — to really put in the effort to succeed.
Mike: Great advice. And we’re gonna have links to the product of course in the show notes. If people wanna get in contact, where can they reach you at?
Anthony: They can just go to the website where the course is being offered which pofplaybook.com. Mike: Great. Thank you very much, Anthony.
Anthony: Awesome. Thanks for having me.
Mike: I hope you enjoyed the interview today with Anthony. If you’re interested in finding out about his Plenty of Fish method, go to mikefrommaine.com/pof, mikefrommaine.com/pof. And you can check that out. Of course, there’s also links in the show notes on mikefrommaine.com. Thank you so much for watching. Remember, there’s interviews here five days a week with successful online entrepreneurs. I appreciate it. See you tomorrow.
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John Banks says:
March 20, 2013 at 3:30 pm
I just purchased this through your link – as CPA is something I want to add to my portfolio. Now, whilst I think that the product is sound and the content is great with excellent video tutoring – he does forget to mention one fairly big thing in my opinion. The tracking software is free yes, but he recommends you host it on a Virtual Server which costs $46 a month. Hostgator etc is not up to scratch for this kind of service with the tracking. There is some “techy” stuff involved here too, you need to install MyPhP and MySQL and paste in several lines of code into your landing pages….
This said I am still going to give it a go. I just thought people should be aware of this.
Regards,
Mike From Maine says:
March 20, 2013 at 4:51 pm
Thanks for the extra info on this. Please come back here and share your experiences with this…I’d love to hear how it goes.
Pingback: Income update for May, 2013 - Married to my job...and my wife :-)
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With complex geometry and optical illusions, Pac Studio adds a warm space to an Auckland villa that instantly feels like home.
Story by Simon Farrell-Green
Photographs by Simon Devitt
It’s hard to dislike a bay villa, right? Right? The classic timber form appears all over central Auckland, in suburbs as varied as Kingsland and Remuera –– and frankly, even if you don’t like them and you want to live in central Auckland, modern heritage rules require that you do like them. As if to make up for the ravages of the 1980s, Auckland now employs one of the largest heritage teams in the southern hemisphere –– a group of people who love villas. Not only do they want you to keep yours, but they run a close eye over anything you might want to do –– right down to the chimney and how the house looks from the back.
And so it is that, regardless of your taste, if you happen to own or buy one of these lovely old wedding cakes (as my wife and I did not so long ago, having sworn we never would), altering it is going to require a rather deep breath. Mostly, that’s a good thing. Verandah to one side, an elegant bay to the other; they’re often less frilly than earlier houses, and they have a scale that would be hard to justify now.
The funny thing is that when you move in, the delights of airy stud heights, large rooms, tall sash windows and all that lovely timber work slowly work their magic on you, as you realise how innately liveable they are. Eventually you realise you’re kind of in love.
Sometimes, that love can go too far. In the case of this house in the Auckland suburb of Sandringham, otherwise well-meaning owners in the 1980s loved the bay on the front so much they replicated it on the back, creating a warped mirror-image facing out to the garden. With modern boundary controls in play, they had to squash it a bit, creating a series of awkward spaces and truncated rooms that made less and less sense as you progressed down the hall.
“We knew instantly on that first visit that something disastrous had happened to it out the back because the corridor wasn’t straight anymore,” says designer Sarosh Mulla of Pac Studio. Instead, it had a funny dogleg, a little door and then you sort of fell into the kitchen at the end of the corridor. Short story: the addition had to go.
The owners loved the scale and character of the original home – but they wanted to live in newer, more contemporary spaces that connected with the north-facing back yard. This can be tricky to achieve inside the confines of a character overlay. “A lot of what we were doing was reinstating the good work that’s been messed up,” says Pac’s Aaron Paterson. “You have to understand the thing you’re altering before you can do something else.”
In the original house, bedrooms and bathrooms have been reconfigured, their generous proportions intact with modern additions including an en suite. Out the back, a new extension to replace the old, at ground level. Here, the roof was key to the design, taking its cue from the original hip shape, with a central spine and four sloping sides. However, it has been cut in half, with one half rotated 90 degrees perpendicular to the other. As you enter the open-plan living area, warm, sarked cedar ceilings soar above – one above the kitchen and nook, the other over the dining area and a snug. Small covered terraces take off to the north and west.
Where Mulla and Paterson’s design becomes even more dynamic is in its levels. In essence, the new living area is a series of rooms spiralling down from the original floor level of the villa to the new back yard. Honouring that original floor level is a ‘dado’ line that runs around the whole room.
Views run diagonally through and across the spaces and out to the garden, with two roofs sitting above one open room that creates a distinct series of spaces. “A lot of it is about how you set up scenes for optical effects as you move through the space,” says Mulla. “The planning arrangement is relatively simple, but it’s mostly driven by how the topography works.”
Mulla and Paterson were acutely conscious of creating something subtle and detailed at the back of the house, rather than an aggressive box that rejected the villa form. “You use one to inspire the other,” says Mulla, “rather than thinking of the front as the ball and chain you have to drag around.”
It’s the kind of house where the fine details are as important and intriguing as the big moves. To shield the living areas from overheating, Pac developed a screen of timber battens across the back of the house. Their form is – again – inspired by the roof. Each batten is cut diagonally to create a shape which reassembles the pitched roof at one end and slopes back to make the shape of the hipped roof. The cut face has been painted a bright red, which is visible only from one side of the batten.
It’s a clever and delightful move – stand on one side of the back garden and it’s mostly red; stand on the other and it’s mostly grey. The effect flickers and moves, changing and dancing in front of your eyes. “It becomes abstract as you go across the back of the house,” says Mulla. “Everyone perceives it differently, and it’s about how your body walks through it.”
The final layer came from the client. A lover of colour, she wanted to do more than add layers of white to an old house. In doing so, she’s returned the palette to a richer, more energetic scheme. A family of greys is painted throughout the house, both outside and in, with deep-red timber window frames that bounce warm light into the house.
The ceilings are cedar, there’s orange and burgundy upholstery in the living area, and deep-green carpet in the snug. The bathrooms have bonkers peach and pink tiles that are modern, yet sympathetic to the original and there is – gasp – wallpaper in the bedrooms. “We wanted it to be really warm,” says Mulla. “Sometimes people forget how colourful villas were when they were first built. The colour palettes were absolutely nuts.”
And what’s not to like about that? “In a few years, we don’t want what we’ve done to be considered like the renovation we got rid of,” says Mulla. “We wanted to do something really high quality here – the original house deserves it.”
This story is from Issue
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Blogging has taken off in China in recent years; it is estimated there are now tens of millions of Chinese bloggers
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May 3rd is World Press Freedom Day. In recent years, the Internet has increasingly become the new battleground for press freedom. Repressive governments around the world are cracking down on bloggers and other online journalists who are breaking the bonds of censorship.
The revolutionary power of online journalism was clear in Iran last year.
Using Twitter, Iranian bloggers organized protests against the outcome of the presidential election.
Cell phone videos of the security crackdown were "Youtubed" around the world.
Iranian blogger Omid Memarian spoke in Washington about the election violence.
"If it was not for the Internet, God knows how many more people would have been killed on the streets of Tehran and other cities," said Omid Memarian.
A blogger's video posts of police brutality in Egypt caused an international uproar several years ago.
He has been sentenced to jail for his writings.
Similar posts are being met with a fierce response in many places.
The Committee to Protect Journalists says more online journalists are now in jail around the world than traditional journalists.
Deputy Director Robert Mahoney says in the past journalists could count on news organizations for protection.
"Now more and more of these bloggers are independent, freelancers even, they have no backing," said Robert Mahoney. "They are on their own when they're up against these huge oppressive government bureaucracies."
Blogging has taken off in China in recent years. It's estimated there are now tens of millions of Chinese bloggers.
But China's government has a "Great Firewall," filtering access to the World Wide Web.
Tienchi Martin-Liao of the Independent Chinese PEN Center says the firewall uses advanced technology developed in America.
She says American technology companies should follow Google's lead and stop cooperating with China.
"Do they want do the evil and make their business, or do they also want to make their contribution to try to help this country out of this dilemma, out of this controlling system," said Tienchi Martin-Liao.
Until now, tech-savvy bloggers and web reporters have been a step ahead of the censors. But press freedom advocates say repressive governments are becoming increasingly sophisticated.
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Our Garden Program in Georgia for May was rained out. We were supposed to get our garden planted and ready to roll but the weather did not allow us to. Instead we turned to our ministry partner Church of the Vine for an alternate plan. They graciously...
by Jeff Davis | Apr 13, 2016 | Blog
Every year our Georgia Chapter will run two additional trips/programs for young men that have earned them. The young men, selected by our mentors, that attend these programs have demonstrated leadership in their home, in their school, and during our programs....
by Jeff Davis | Feb 10, 2016 | Blog
Over this past weekend our Georgia Chapter held its annual squirrel hunt. It was a great weekend program as we are geared up and ready for God is going to do through these programs and mentors in the lives of these young men from single parent and fatherless...
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HomeUncategorizedPrecisely what is naked sports news
Precisely what is naked sports news
News programs already went through a a big makeover in recent times. We were treated to the stiff collared, hair neatly parted males and females getting replaced by more vivacious and interactive anchorpersons. We also saw the news formats change; from people simply reading outside of scripts to new presenters leading their unique personality to the program. The formats became more descriptive and segments became considerably more divided and comprehensive, each getting its share of air time and exposure. Television viewers adapted beautifully to this format, since they were those who got more information and comprehensive stories. News channels conversely, also looked out for strategies to make stories more informative and entertaining.
Digital age gave rise to a variety of satellite channels that would compete against each other to obtain higher ratings and attract more viewers. With this effort, networks began to spread across the globe and alliances began to be formed. Current affairs, sports news, entertainment news, all started to get more comprehensive. People got to see all sorts of games and events from all across the world. Most of the sports news segment are already covered and dominated by few media companies like ESPN, BBC Sports, Sky News and Fox Sports.
These networks have their own correspondents and reporters covering any action that takes place in the world of sports; be it a live game, game report analysis, game statistics, player information, calendar of major sports events, sports functions etc. All the news related to the sports world is presented through these channels. Often these established channels too have to go through major makeovers to reach the highest slot. In the recent times Sky Sports and Sky News has gone through this sort of major facelift. It changed the format of its shows, its studios and also the music. Additionally, it included several attractive female news presenters and reporters to gain a wider reach into the masses.
As the internet has become as a reliable source of constant information, most of these news providers have also gone online giving its viewers the bandwidth to gain access to information at all times. However, some news providers have gone on and taken news presenting to a different platform altogether. Now, it’s possible to see naked news on the web with simple applications such as QuickTime, RealPlayer and Windows Media Player.
This paid website enables its members to capture the news being read by naked presenters. This community allows members to catch all the interesting stories from the realm of sports, entertainment, current affairs etc. These daily news reports and features are brought from all across the world and presented by attractive and beautiful celebrity models. Members also get to see the auditions of these presenters and in addition gain access to the archives of the past programs which were already aired. The most recent sports programs that this channel has been covering include the soccer games in Italy. They’ve recently been airing the auditions of the new naked news anchors.
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In this Anzac Day edition of the Wrap, Queensland takes a leading role, with plenty of news on voluntary assisted dying, a Satanic challenge to religious instruction in public schools and an upcoming pro-life rally that is sure to stir controversy.
Don’t forget that the Weekend Wrap, which aims to help secular-minded Australians keep abreast of the latest news on current issues, is also published on our Facebook page!
We need your help to promote secular equality and TRUE religious freedom! A small monthly donation makes a big difference.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison told the Australian Christian Churches National Conference, hosted by the country’s largest Pentecostal church network, that Australia “needs the church” right now, according to social media posts shared by people in attendance (LADbible).
In a podcast interview, former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull rejected the suggestion that the mainstream media, especially Nine Newspapers and the ABC, were biased against religion (With All Due Respect podcast).
Government backbencher George Christensen has confirmed he will not be recontesting his Queensland seat at the next election, saying he is disenchanted with the lack of progress on conservative issues such as “enshrining religious liberty, protecting the unborn and ensuring freedom of speech” (ABC).
A Jehovah’s Witnesses charitable organisation which was accused by the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission of “operating outside of Australia” says the charity watchdog is no longer considering revoking its tax-free charity status (The Australian).
Collin Acton, the former head of chaplaincy for the Navy, is calling for the Australian Defence Force to consider replacing the chaplaincy branches in all three services with a new secular wellbeing support capability (RSA).
Australia’s Catholic Bishops have urged all Catholics to get vaccinated to protect themselves from COVID-19, saying it would be “morally acceptable” to receive a vaccine that had used cell lines from aborted fetuses in its production process (Catholic Leader).
QLD: The state’s education department and education minister Grace Grace are reportedly gripped with ‘Satanic panic’ as the Noosa Temple of Satan takes court action to challenge the government’s ban on Satanic religious instruction (Courier Mail).
QLD: Senator Amanda Stoker, who is assisting new Attorney-General Michaelia Cash to bring the Religious Discrimination Bill to the federal parliament, will be among the high-profile Christian speakers at the March for Life rally against abortion and voluntary assisted dying in Brisbane next month (Catholic Leader).
QLD: Former premier Campbell Newman, who is campaigning for the introduction of voluntary assisted dying in the state, has urged politicians to “take a stand” and reveal whether they support the proposed laws (The Age).
QLD: In retiring from politics to focus on his battle with cancer, Duncan Pegg has urged parliamentarians to visit terminally-ill patients and their families before casting their vote on voluntary assisted dying legislation (Courier Mail).
QLD: A senior Anglican has declared himself to be “agnostic” on voluntary assisted dying, saying he can see both sides of the debate (The Australian).
VIC: Law Institute of Victoria has urged the federal government to amend legislation that prevents telehealth conversations about the option for patients to access voluntary assisted dying.
VIC: Andrew Denton says the Victorian experience with legalised voluntary assisted dying (VAD) shows that the arguments used by anti-VAD scaremongering “which suggested the sky would fall in” are not true (4BC Radio).
QLD: A Jewish group has welcomed the state government’s referral of vilification and hate crime laws to a parliamentary committee for review, saying it was hopeful the inquiry would lead to better protection for the Jewish community and other multicultural groups (J-Wire).
Commentary and Analysis
Following the public condemnation of a range of newly released sex education videos for school students, Amber Schultz writes that religious values and repairing relationships have previously played a role in domestic violence initiatives developed by the Morrison government (Crikey).
The linking of the Prime Minister’s Pentecostal faith and his response to women’s rights and workplace sexual harassment is another illustration of Christianity being a soft target for critics, writes Denise Austin (The Age).
ABC investigative reporter Steve Cannane talks about the Church of Scientology’s controversial activities and its tax-free status in Australia (ABC Radio).
David Hardaker reveals that a young Scott Morrison wrote a detailed thesis for his Bachelor of Science honours degree on the topic of the local history of the obscure evangelical church known as the Christian Brethren (Crikey).
In reviewing changes to the statement of beliefs of the Australian Christian Churches, John Sandeman notes how the Pentecostal church network has taken a new view in its description of Creationism (Eternity News).
New Zealand’s royal commission into historical abuse in state care and in the faith-based institutions is revealing that the problem of abuse in the country’s Catholic institutions appears to be worse than in Australia, writes Dr Murray Heasley (Pearls and Irritations).
Some employees may be able to refuse to obey directions to be vaccinated for COVID-19 based on their religious beliefs, write Ian Neil SC and Nicholas Saady (The Age).
Cam Wilson writes on how retiring Nationals MP George Christensen made a name for himself because of his hardline stance on pet issues, including Christianity, freedom of speech and opposition to Islam (Crikey).
That's it for another week!
Until next time, please follow us on Twitter and on Facebook.
Don't forget to add your voice to the #DontDivideUs campaign against the Religious Discrimination Bill.
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No person should be disadvantaged by their personal belief choices, nor should any religion hold a disproportionate amount of power.
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The veiling experiences of two LGBTI+ women in Turkey open questions about the discursive constructions of femininity, masculinity, piousness, LGBTI+ secularity, and how these are used in political rhetoric.
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In a brilliant and personal essay on the history of Bidoon literature, Mona Kareem shows why literature cannot be thought along national lines.
Constitutional referendum in Chile: a late end to dictatorship
Published: 13 November 2020
On 25 October, one year on from the mass demonstrations in the country, the Chilean electorate voted by an overwhelming majority of more than 78 percent in favour of a new constitution and of 79 percent for an assembly comprised solely of citizens to write this constitution.
A federal climate force: How the German Greens shaped the climate package through the Länder
Published: 19 October 2020
Questions of environmental and climate policy remain relevant even during a pandemic, as the protests and debates about the stimulus package to fight the crisis show. The German states have taken on a deciding roll regarding questions of implementation – which started already during the negotiations for the climate package. The Greens contributed the most to the climate package's increased substance.
Published: 18 September 2020
Viktor Orbán has been successfully playing a big power game in the last decade, punching far above his weight. But his image as a negative hero in the Western World has clearly backfired now, with Orbán using the Covid-19 pandemic as a pretext to complete his authoritarian regime. Orbán’s moves are not purely the domestic political problems of Hungary – an authoritarian state within the EU could be deadly dangerous for the entire project. Germany has a very important role to play in the current situation.
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Equal power for women, a life with less violence and more justice are the goals that were set 25 years ago at the 4th World Conference on Women and in the Beijing Platform for Action. So far, gender equality has never been achieved.
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Published: 12 March 2019
After months of aggressive attacks by the Hungarian government, it's most likely that the three-decade history of the Academy as a free, autonomous public body will be brought to an abrupt end.
Democracy is out of order: CEU forced to leave Hungary
Published: 5 December 2018
The Central European University (CEU) announced that it is forced to launch all degree programs in a new location in Vienna in September 2019. The Hungarian Government has made it impossible for the university to ensure its operations in Budapest on the long run.
The lost amour of journalistic integrity: how violence develops and where it can lead
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This essayistic anachronism imagines Böll's novella The Lost Honor of Katharina Blum (1974) as if it were unfolding in contemporary times in an era of populism and rising conservatism, in which female sexuality is still richly milked as a sensational cover for abuse of patriarchal power.
Veronika Móra: “Solidarity is a very strong force”
Published: 24 July 2017
In Hungary, NGOs are now required to register as “civic organisations funded from abroad” if they receive financial support from a foreign source. The government is trying to delegitimise any organisation that criticises certain government policies, says Veronika Móra.
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Locating the right nursing school near Whitesburg KY may feel like a complex undertaking, particularly if you don’t know what to search for in a good degree program. As you may already know, in order to practice as a registered nurse, you need to receive the necessary education and training in order to become licensed. So it is critically important that you research and measure the qualifications of each college you are thinking about before enrolling in your final selection. The fact is, too many future students base their determination exclusively on the price of tuition and the distance of the school. Going with the least costly school or the one that is closest to your home is probably not the most reliable way to choose a nursing program. There are various key additional considerations to check into before you determine where to attend classes. But before we examine that checklist, let’s first discuss what the role of a registered nurse is in our healthcare system, together with the nursing degree choices that are offered.
Registered nurses are the largest occupation in the healthcare delivery system. RNs practice in many different medical settings, such as Whitesburg KY hospitals, private practices, outpatient clinics, nursing homes and even schools. Their general duty is to help doctors in the care of their patients. Having said that, the particular duties of a registered nurse will be dependent on their job or specialization in addition to where they work. A portion of the functions of an RN may include:
Performing physical examinations
Managing LPNs, LVNs and nurse aides
Informing patients and their families
Maintaining health records and charts
Nurses with a more advanced degree may have more advanced job duties and accountabilities. Nurse practitioners (NP), for example, must hold a Master’s Degree and typically work more independently than their RN counterparts. They can provide primary or specialty care services, prescribe medications, and diagnose and treat common illnesses or injuries.
Nursing Degrees Available
There are multiple degrees to choose from to become a registered nurse. And to become an RN, a student must attend an accredited school and program. A student can obtain a qualifying degree in as little as 2 years, or advance to achieve a graduate degree for a total of six years. Following are some brief explanations of the nursing degrees that are offered in the Whitesburg KY area.
Associates. The Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) is normally a 2 year program made available by community colleges. It preps graduates for an entry level job in nursing in medical facilities such as hospitals, clinics or nursing homes. Many use the ADN as an entry into nursing and subsequently attain a higher degree.
Bachelor’s. The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) offers more in depth training than the ADN. It is generally a 4 year program offered at colleges and universities. Licensed RNs may be qualified to complete an accelerated program based on their previous training or degree and professional experience (RN to BSN). Those applying to the program may want to progress to a clinical or administrative position, or be more competitive in the job market.
Master’s. The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) is commonly a two year program after achieving the BSN. The MSN program offers specialization training, for instance to become a nurse practitioner or concentrate on administration, management or teaching.
After a graduating student has obtained one of the above degrees, he or she must pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) so as to become licensed. Further requirements for licensing change from state to state, so don’t forget to contact the Kentucky board of nursing for any state mandates.
LVN and LPN Training
There are essentially two academic accreditations available that provide instruction to become either an LPN or an LVN. The one that can be finished in the shortest amount of time, usually about one year, is the certificate or diploma course. The 2nd option is to attain a Practical Nursing Associate Degree. These programs are more comprehensive in nature than the diploma alternative and commonly require 2 years to finish. The advantage of Associate Degrees, in addition to providing a higher credential and more extensive training, are that they provide more transferable credit toward a Bachelor’s Degree in nursing. Regardless of the kind of credential you seek, it needs to be Kentucky approved and accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) or another national accrediting organization. The NLNAC guarantees that the syllabus effectively prepares students to become Practical Nurses, and that the majority of graduates pass the 50 state required NCLEX-PN licensing exam.
Unlike many other licensed nurses, certified nursing assistants do not have to attain a college degree. CNA instruction can be acquired at Whitesburg KY area community colleges or at vocational or trade schools. The length of the training program can take anywhere from just one to 3 months, leading to either a certificate or a diploma. Under the 1987 Nursing Home Reform Act, students are mandated to receive at least 75 hours of instruction, 16 of which must be clinical or “hands-on” training hours. Keep in mind that this is the minimal amount of training mandated and that every state has its specific prerequisites. So it’s crucial to make certain that the course you enroll in not only satisfies the federal requirements, but likewise those for Kentucky or the state where you will be practicing. One tip is to check with the health or nursing board for your state to make sure that the training course is state approved. In addition to the training, each state requires a passing score on a competency test for certification. Depending on the state, there may be other prerequisites as well.
What to Ask Nursing Programs
Once you have chosen which nursing program to enroll in, and if to attend your classes on campus near Whitesburg KY or on the internet, you can utilize the following pointers to start narrowing down your choices. As you undoubtedly are aware, there are numerous nursing schools and colleges throughout Kentucky and the United States. So it is essential to reduce the number of schools to choose from in order that you will have a workable list. As we previously pointed out, the site of the school along with the cost of tuition are undoubtedly going to be the initial two factors that you will look at. But as we also stressed, they should not be your sole qualifiers. So prior to making your final decision, use the following questions to evaluate how your pick compares to the field.
Accreditation. It’s a good idea to make sure that the degree or certificate program along with the school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization. Aside from helping confirm that you receive a premium education, it may assist in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are oftentimes not provided in Whitesburg KY for non-accredited schools.
Licensing Preparation. Licensing requirements for registered nurses vary from state to state. In all states, a passing score is required on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) along with graduation from an accredited school. Certain states require a specified number of clinical hours be performed, as well as the passing of additional tests. It’s essential that the school you are enrolled in not only provides an excellent education, but also preps you to satisfy the minimum licensing requirements for Kentucky or the state where you will be working.
Reputation. Visit online rating services to see what the evaluations are for each of the schools you are looking into. Ask the accrediting agencies for their reviews also. Also, check with the Kentucky school licensing authority to determine if there are any complaints or compliance issues. Finally, you can call some Whitesburg KY healthcare organizations you’re interested in working for after graduation and ask what their opinions are of the schools as well.
Graduation and Job Placement Rates. Find out from the RN programs you are considering what their graduation rates are as well as how long on average it takes students to finish their programs. A low graduation rate may be an indication that students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. It’s also essential that the schools have high job placement rates. A high rate will not only confirm that the school has a favorable reputation within the Whitesburg KY healthcare community, but that it also has the network of relationships to help students obtain a position.
Internship Programs. The best way to acquire experience as a registered nurse is to work in a clinical environment. Almost all nursing degree programs require a specific number of clinical hours be completed. A number of states have minimum clinical hour requirements for licensing too. Find out if the schools have a working relationship with Whitesburg KY hospitals, clinics or labs and assist with the positioning of students in internships.
Attending nursing schools online is emerging as a more popular way to receive training and attain a nursing degree. Certain schools will require attending on campus for a component of the training, and virtually all programs require a specific amount of clinical rotation hours completed in a local healthcare facility. But since the rest of the training may be accessed online, this option may be a more convenient solution to finding the free time to attend classes for many Whitesburg KY students. Concerning tuition, some online degree programs are less costly than other on campus options. Even supplemental expenses such as for commuting and study materials may be minimized, helping to make education more economical. And numerous online programs are accredited by organizations like the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) for BSN and MSN degrees. So if your work and household responsibilities have left you with limited time to work toward your academic goals, perhaps an online nursing school will make it easier to fit a degree into your hectic schedule.
Attending a Nursing School near Whitesburg KY?
Perhaps you have already made your decision to attend a Nursing Program in the greater Whitesburg Kentucky area. If that is the case, then the following information may prove to be both educational and useful regarding the location of your future Alma Mater.
Whitesburg is a home rule-class city in and the county seat of Letcher County, Kentucky, United States.[2] The population was 2,139 at the 2010 census. It was named for C. White, a state politician.[3]
Whitesburg is home to Appalshop, a multi-disciplinary arts and education center founded in 1969 which produces original films, video, theater, music and spoken-word recordings, radio, photography, multimedia, and books. WMMT (FM) 88.7 (Mountain Community Radio), was founded by Appalshop in 1985.
Whitesburg's major newspaper is The Mountain Eagle. Founded by Nehemiah Webb in 1907, the weekly paper has been owned by the Gish family of Letcher County since 1956. The Eagle has won numerous awards for its coverage of strip mining and its environmental effects, education, and political corruption.[4]
Select the Right Nursing College near Whitesburg KY
Choosing the right registered nursing school is perhaps the most important step to starting a new career in the health care industry. There are various factors that you need to consider when deciding on a nursing school. These variables will be prioritized differently depending on your current career objectives, lifestyle, and financial situation. As we have highlighted within this content, it is important that you choose an RN school and a degree program that are both accredited and have excellent reputations within the healthcare community. By using our checklist of qualifying questions, you will be able to create a shortlist of schools to select from so that you can make your final selection. And with the right degree and training, combined with your hard work and drive to succeed, you can become a practicing RN in Whitesburg KY.
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Sullivan College of Nursing | Nursing School Degrees
The classroom faculty--who hold Master's Degrees in Nursing--bring a wealth of real-world experience, some of which are still practicing. The College of Nursing is approved by the Kentucky Board of Nursing in addition to the University’s SACSCOC accreditation. ... Kentucky Program of Nursing Benchmarks. Learn More. Finish in under 2 years! In ...
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Professionally Focused Degrees for Patient-Focused Nursing Careers. Slider Status. Request Information Request Info. Step 1 Step 1 of 2. Location: Area of Study: Program of Interest: ... There is a growing need for compassionate and qualified nursing professionals. To help meet the need, the College of Nursing at Keiser University offers career ...
Online Post-Master's DNP Nursing Program at NKU
The baccalaureate degree in nursing/master's degree in nursing, postgraduate APRN certificate, and Doctor of Nursing Practice programs at Northern Kentucky University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington DC, 20001, 202-887-6791.
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Investing like the New Zealand Super Fund is surprisingly easy – in concept. In practice, of course, it’s devilishly difficult. Otherwise, we’d all be rich.
To see why this is the case, let’s examine some of the key features of the Super Fund’s investment approach.
Thinking and acting long term. We pointed out last week that merely having a long investment time horizon wasn’t necessarily an advantage. What matters is thinking and acting like a long-term investor. The Super Fund’s description of the key advantage of thinking long term goes like this: “For us, the most useful definition of a long-term investors is ‘an investor who can hold any investment for as long as they wish.’”
An investor who is thinking long term never has to sell anything. That doesn’t mean it won’t sell, but just that it doesn’t have to sell – say, when the market has just collapsed and prices are suddenly much lower.
Thus, being a long-term investor is more a state of mind than anything else. It means that you won’t make foolish, short-term decisions: chasing returns, chasing hot managers, constantly changing your strategy, selling in a panic just because the market has declined significantly.
To avoid being pressured into making short-term, self-sabotaging decisions, the Super Fund communicates regularly with its stakeholders about what a long-term focus means and why they are invested as they are. Thus, when the market turns against the fund or when a strategy has underperformed for a significant period of time, there is less pressure to sell good long-term investments.
One investment strategy in particular needs to be undertaken with a long-term view in mind: taking advantage of the phenomenon of reversion-to-the-mean. Over time, returns in any asset class tend inevitably to revert toward the mean long-term return of that asset class. Unfortunately, the time it takes for prices to revert can be v-e-r-y l-o-n-g.
Consider, just as examples, the recent outperformance of growth stocks over value stocks, and the outperformance of US equities versus non-US equities, both of which have persisted for roughly a decade. If your family doesn’t understand why you are tilting toward value or international (if you are), they will likely be questioning your judgment. Communication is all.
Governance matters. Many pension funds and sovereign wealth funds face constant interference from the governments that funded them. And families, too, often have poor governance when it comes to investment issues – family members sometimes can’t agree or can’t make timely decisions. Poor governance virtually always leads to poor investment results.
If your family is exercising poor governance on the investment side, you need to fix the problem. Establishing an investment committee that includes non-family members might be a useful fix, since it will ensure that you have people with sound judgment in the room with you.
Using best practices across the board. At the margin there is disagreement about whether certain activities represent best practices, but for the most part those practices are well understood and are religiously followed by successful investors.
For example, paying attention to investment costs is a best practice. In this regard, the objective isn’t so much to minimize costs, but to optimize them. Avoid paying high fees unless the manager has clearly demonstrated the ability to outperform net of those fees. Avoid frequent turnover, which generates transaction costs and taxes.
Diversification is a best practice, as long as it isn’t taken to extremes. Properly done, diversification can significantly reduce the risk level of your portfolio without reducing its return. It’s one of the few free lunches in the investment world.
But don’t overdue diversification. Rather than having six US large cap equity managers, switch to one cheap index fund. Avoid active managers who are really closet indexers, that is, they own way too many stocks and have real conviction in only a few of them.
But always diversify at the asset class level. Just because US stocks have outperformed for a decade doesn’t mean that you should avoid non-US stocks. On the other hand, of course, your exposure to non-US stocks needn’t necessarily be the same as the global capitalization would suggest.
The Super Fund, for example, invests in seven equity markets (e.g., the US, Europe, emerging markets, etc.), six fixed income markets, eight currency markets, and one real estate market (the US). And it invests in these sectors via both public and private investments, and via both long-only managers and hedge funds.
Paying attention to price is a best practice. Investors who forgot this principle, and who paid 90 times earnings (or infinite times earnings) for tech stocks in 1999 found this out the hard way. Always compare the current price level of a market sector with the level at which that sector has traditionally sold. If the current price is extremely high, sell. If the current price is extremely low, buy. If you’re unsure, hold.
Strategic tilting of a portfolio is a more controversial “best practice,” but if done right it can both add to your returns and help you avoid serious losses. Strategic tilting is related to the mean reversion issue mentioned above. From time to time various sectors of the market can become very expensive or very cheap. Tilting your portfolio away from expensive sectors and toward cheap sectors makes sense, as long as you are – like the Super Fund – disciplined about it and thinking long term.
Trading liquidity for return is a best practice, assuming you can truly withstand the illiquidity and that the illiquid strategies in your portfolio are best-in-class. Most family portfolios own too much in liquid investments and not enough in illiquid investments, and that leaves a lot of return on the table.
On the other hand, don’t just buy random illiquid investments and expect to capture the “illiquidity premium.” Some illiquid asset classes are extremely difficult to navigate successfully. Venture capital, for example, is virtually impossible for most families to invest in successfully, simply because there are few best-in-class venture funds and those are almost always over-subscribed.
Next week we’ll continue our exploration of how we might invest like the Super Fund.
Please note that this post is intended to provide interested persons with an insight on the capital markets and other matters and is not intended to promote any manager or firm, nor does it intend to advertise their performance. All opinions expressed are those of Gregory Curtis and do not necessarily represent the views of Greycourt & Co., Inc., the wealth management firm with which he is associated. The information in this report is not intended to address the needs of any particular investor.
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I find it interesting, and frustrating, how much people talk about decisions that have already been made. Anyone who knows me well, knows that I value evaluation and self-critique. There is a time and place. But as I listen to the radio, watch tv, and pay attention to conversations, it seems that people talk a lot how they would have done something different with the challenges that face so many. Being a Monday morning quarterback is fun. And if we are honest, it feels good to poke and prod and ponder how and why others got something wrong that we are so sure we would have gotten right. I would have not married him. I would have gone a different way. I would have fought to stop that. I would not have purchased that house. I would….I would…They should…he missed…and so on. But what if we shifted this. It seems many of those conversations although full of words are actually quite empty of fruit. I think we should spend more time talking about solutions to current problems and future development, rather than talking about the solutions that should have been used for past problems and past development. What if we spent more time focusing on moving forward and not on critiquing the past.
I told you so’s.
This is not what I would have done.
Had I been there…
We would be here if…
It should have been done differently.
You know why we should get rid of these. They do not change reality. It would really be wise to quit wasting energy on what we can not control. The past is one of those things. And furthermore, we lack humility when we assume we would get a situation that we are not part of completely correct had we been part of it.
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Books; People; Ideas : These are few of my favourite things. As I live between day-to-day compromises and change-the-world aspirations, this is the chronicle of my journey, full of moments of occasional despair and opportune discoveries, of connections and creations, and, most of all, my quest of knowledge as conversations.
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- March 11, 2021
A large part of my work now is designing an educational programme that can sit alongside university curricula aimed at student 'employability'. We started this very predictably - with a mandate to ensure early preparation for the job market and industry connections - but as we assimilate various ideas and learn from experience, we know that we can't stick to the business as usual.
By business-as-usual, I mean the mechanistic employability programmes that are now so popular. A degree does not ensure jobs any more. Besides, the governments across the world are paying more attention to student loan books than they previously did and holding universities responsible for employment outcomes. Hence, it's common to see training programmes that prepare students for job search, CV writing and interviews.
There are clear limitations to what such training can do. These make two assumptions which are not necessarily correct: First, it assumes that the job the students will have eventually already exists and are being advertised; and second, they assume that the degree programmes adequately prepares the students for work-life and professional progression. But, in truth, automation, globalisation and shifting priorities of the governments and businesses mean that neither of these assumptions hold.
The alternative, focus on soft skills, has its limitations too. When it comes to behaviour, it's hard to change it through a short training programme, particularly if this training is an extra, not the 'main thing'. Soft skills are hard, particularly because the behaviours the modern workplace demand are often anti-intutitive and neither school nor family life prepare the student for these. Take, for example, the ability to work effectively with a group of people from diverse backgrounds and skills: It runs counter to our inherent comfort with the familiar, our desire to be in company with people similar to us and the school's disciplinary environments that we spend most time in. Or, for that matter, thinking creatively and critically, which can help progress a career but at the same time, can be quite detrimental to family environments and within traditional assessment frameworks.
There are also the practical difficulties. No university would want to accept that the students require sustained, long term training focused on 'employability': This effectively undermines the promise of a degree leading to good life that admission counsellors sell. A university has - and should have - other purposes, such as providing meaning in a world of information overload; a singular focus on employability can subvert the very logic why universities should exist (and why everyone should not go to a technical training school instead). Besides, many students - particularly those from rich and successful families with good GPAs - come to the university for social life, freedom and companionship; the employability focus can add to the stress and discourage such students from enrolling. Indeed, it matters a lot to the poor students without financial cushion, but our very model of academic excellence (and rankings) is built around the former type.
These practical difficulties are not just procedural. Modern universities are not secular temples of thought and contemplation, withdrawn from the real life. For the most part, they are very successful corporations, highly valued brands with a lot at stake, enmeshed in practical life and here-and-now concerns. It's not that they don't get employability: It's just that they get one type of employability so well and doing this is their core mission. University curriculum, methods and culture are perfectly designed to train a Professor - and that type of academic excellence is their core mission - and the whole system inside and around the university is geared to this one goal. This ideal is sustained by the modern middle-class opinion climate centred around meritocracy - a certain type of intellectual activity is considered more desireable than everything else - which promotes certain values and certain forms of behaviour. Therefore, it's incorrect to say that the universities don't get 'employability'; it is that they can't serve the needs of the businesses and present professions without becoming very different entities than themselves.
This, therefore, is the space we are dealing with. In our work, we want to go beyond the transactional and explore what 'employability' means, how it should be defined and measured and how this might fit around the life of a university student. As I mentioned above, we are seeing some principles emerging - and I intend to make these the subject of subsequent posts.
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- January 28, 2008
A friend has recently forwarded me a quote from Lord Macaulay's speech in the British Parliament on 2nd February 1835. I reproduce the quote below: "I have traveled across the length and breadth of India and I have not seen one person who is a beggar, who is a thief. Such wealth I have seen in this country, such high moral values, people of such calibre, that I do not think we would ever conquer this country, unless we break the very backbone of this nation, which is her spiritual and cultural heritage, and, therefore, I propose that we replace her old and ancient education system, her culture, for if the Indians think that all that is foreign and English is good and greater than their own, they will lose their self-esteem, their native self-culture and they will become what we want them, a truly dominated nation." The email requested me to forward me to every indian I know. I was tempted, but there were two oddities about this quote. First, the language, which
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- October 21, 2008
Introduction : The Business of Gift Giving Business gift giving has always been common and contentious at the same time. Business gifts are usually seen as an ‘advertising, sales promotion and marketing communication medium’ (Cooper et al , 1991). Arunthanes et al (1994) points out that such gifting is practised usually for three reasons: (a) in appreciation for past client relationships, placing a new order, referrals to other clients, etc.; (b) in the hopes of creating a positive, first impression which might help to establish an initial business relationship; and (c) giving may be perceived as a quid Pro quo (i.e. returning a favour or expecting a favour in return for something). The practitioners of gift-giving generally argue that doing business is often an aggregation of personal interactions and relationships, and gift-giving should be seen as a natural way of maintaining and enhancing these relationships. ‘Business gifts, especially one given in the course of the festive s
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- September 21, 2009
Today, Helen Goddard, 26, a highly popular music teacher of a City School for Girls, has been sentenced to 15 months in prison. Her crime was to carry out a year long lesbian affair with one of her pupils, who appeared in the court and admitted that the affair was consensual and it was she who pressured Helen into the affair. For Helen, a bright musician and a devout Chistian, this is an extraordinary lapse of judgement. Also, she was teaching in the £13,000 private girls only school in London. She was surely aware what the consequences of her action will be. The fact that she still could not stop herself tells us that lovers do not always act rationally, something we always knew. There is more in this affair than personal tragedies. For a start, this has all the dramatic elements: a bright, beautiful teacher more in Julia Roberts mould [as in Mona Lisa Smile], a stiff upper lip school [not unlike Wellesley] and a story like Notes On A Scandal with an added twist. Indeed, Helen
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- June 13, 2016
Buzzwords have disadvantages. Right now, experiential learning is one, and that means we put the label on everything and it stops to mean anything. Also, this means reasonable conversation about experiential learning becomes difficult - at times such as this, either you preach experiential learning or you are traditional, antiquarian and hopelessly out of touch. But, overlooking the limitations of experiential learning can cause big problems. Experiential Learning does many things - putting practice at the heart of learning is an important paradigm shift - but not everything, and it is important to be aware what it does not do. Usually, we equate the terms Project-based Learning (the method) with Experiential Learning (the idea) and Learning from Experience (the ideal), treating them as one and the same and using the terms interchangeably. Any talk about distinctive meaning of these terms is usually seen as pedantic, but really represent very different ideas about education.
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Abdicating to Taliban
- April 23, 2009
Nations are ideas. We try to fashion them as territories. But how can a river, a mountain ridge or sometimes an imaginary line in the middle of a field can explain the wide division in the lives, thoughts and futures of the people who live on different sides? Nations are not the people too. Indeed, people build nations and become its body. But the soul of the nation is an idea: People come together on an idea to build a nation. While that's what a modern nation is - an idea - and that way exceptionalism is not an American exception, very few nations are as completely defined by an idea as Pakistan. There was hardly any political, geographic or military rationale of Pakistan other than the idea of an Islamic homeland in South Asia. [In that way, the ideological brother of Pakistan in the family of nations is Israel] This, abated by the short term political calculations of some backroom colonialists, created a modern state which must be solely sustained on that singular idea. Reli
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- May 21, 2007
In most societies today, making profits are accepted as moral, if not especially praiseworthy. This was not as obvious as it appears today – people used to be embarrassed about making a profit not so long ago. Crazy as it seems today, it is worth thinking why it was so. Profits, as economists will put it, is the reward for risk-taking, for putting a business enterprise together in the pursuit of an objective. In this definition, remember, profits are not what it is commonly understood to be – the gross middle-line towards the bottom – but a figure net of entrepreneur’s earning [wages for his labour], dividends and interests on borrowed capital, and provisions for building and other physical assets [a sort of rent, offsetting what these assets could have earned if leased out]. This pure profit – surplus – accrues to a business as a reward to its organisation, for the act of entrepreneurship itself. Economists were divided on how this surplus comes about. The conventional wisdom was,
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The Road to Macaulay: Warren Hastings and Education in India
- February 14, 2018
Introduction: Hastings in the history of Indian Education Whether or not one includes Warren Hastings in the history of Education in India is a matter of perspective. If writing the history of education means writing the history of schools, the impact of Hastings' administration would be quite limited. If anything, the rapid implosion of local rulers in Eastern, Southern and Northern India during Hastings' tenure had meant a bleak period for the indigenous education system, as patronage and funds would have dwindled away for many of them. The Company administration really concerned itself with the schooling of the natives only after 1813, as Nurullah and Naik rightly pointed out ( see my earlier post ) and one can legitimately start the story at this point. However, if history of Education in India is to encompass the transformation of Indian Scholarship, on which foundation the new, colonial, system of Education would be built, the story must start with Warren Hast
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- July 24, 2010
There is no other city like Kolkata for me: It is Home. The only city where I don't have to find a reason to go to, or to love. It is one city hardwired into my identity, and despite being away for a decade, that refuses to go away. People stay away from their homeland for a variety of reasons. But, as I have come to feel, no one can be completely happy to be away. One may find fame or fortune, love and learning, in another land, but they always live an incomplete life. They bring home broken bits of their homeland into their awkward daily existence, a cushion somewhere, a broken conversation in mother tongue some other time, always rediscovering the land they left behind for that brief moment of wanting to be themselves. The cruelest punishment, therefore, for a man who lives abroad is when his love for his land is denied. It is indeed often denied, because the pursuit of work, knowledge or love seemed to have gotten priority over the attraction of the land. This is particularly
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India's NEP and the foreign universities
- January 07, 2022
India's employment data is sobering ( see here ). The pandemic has wrecked havoc and the structural problems of the economy - service sector dependence, uneven regional development and health and education challenges - are more evident than ever. Something needs to happen, and fast. To its credit, the government acknowledges the education challenge. Belatedly - it took more than 30 years - India has come up with a new National Education Policy. It is a comprehensive policy, which covers the whole spectrum of education and perhaps overcompensates the previous neglect by advocating radical change. As I commented elsewhere on this blog, it shows a curious mixture of aspirations, cultural revival and global competitiveness put under the same hood. However, despite its radical aspirations, the policy document often betrays same-old thinking. One of these is India's approach to foreign universities. The NEP makes the case for allowing foreign universities to set up operations in Ind
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The Road of Macaulay: The Development of Indian Education under British Rule
- February 12, 2018
The story of British influence on Indian Education, to which Macaulay's Minutes of 1835 belong, has been told in six distinct phases. Syed Nurullah and J P Naik's very popular and influential History of Indian Education calls these 'six acts' of the drama: From the beginning of Eighteenth Century to 1813 The British East India Company received its charter in 1600 but its activities did not include any Educational engagement till the Charter Act of 1698, which required the Company to maintain priests and schools, for its own staff and their children. And, so it was until the renewal of its charter in 1813, when the evangelical influence led to insistence of expansion of educational activities and allowing priests back into company territory. From 1813 to Wood's Education Despatch of 1854 The renewal of Charter in 1813 re-opened the debate, which seemed to have been settled in the early years of the company administration, between the Orientalis
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A larger question for you is what makes these types of statements maybe not clearly reflected on regulators’s pointers? | Applied Sustainability Group—Profit from Education
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A larger question for you is what makes these types of statements maybe not clearly reflected on regulators’s pointers?
Homechula-vista escortA larger question for you is what makes these types of statements maybe not clearly reflected on regulators’s pointers?
A larger question for you is what makes these types of statements maybe not clearly reflected on regulators’s pointers?
October 8, 2022 Comments Off on A larger question for you is what makes these types of statements maybe not clearly reflected on regulators’s pointers?
A larger question for you is what makes these types of statements maybe not clearly reflected on regulators’s pointers?
These concerns – on which to complete when a person does not want to getting ‘safeguarded’ – were asked as the no less than legislation Society’s conversation file off 1989 (Decision-and then make and you can Intellectual Inability: A dialogue File – I am frightened I can’t come across any hyperlinks to that). The new reaction of the Rules Commission were to suggest a statutory public rules security build, however these proposals were not taken fully to by government whenever they consulted on what became the MCA. not, some of the vitality proposed was mentioned in the s17 MCA, also it could well be argued that courts provides aided by themselves so you’re able to anybody else (such as for example powers from admission) during the instances like the Psychological state Believe Ors v DD Anor (2014), in which the legal authorised forcible entry and you may discipline in the home out of a woman for the foundation you to ‘you will find cause to trust one to P lacks capacity’ (s48 MCA) so you can do a mental ability assessment. The federal government did demand to the powers from admission more recently and you may there’s daunting societal opposition, despite significant (although not universal) elite support.
Safeguarding is not always a zero sum games between defense and ’empowerment’, and also as data files like MSP so show, very often empowering you’re the best way to safeguard her or him. However, there are cases where ‘making individuals safer’ dangers leading them to miserable. Cases where a guy refuses to be manufactured safer. These scenarios lay defending therapists really difficult problem. If they fail to do something to protect somebody, it risk ailment by acquaintances, professional regulators, for the severe case reviews, or because of the nearest and dearest or the public if you don’t coroners whom don’t sympathise with Munby’s rhetorical concern. Seriously specific day in the future we will have neglect claims, if not peoples liberties claims driven by the Rabone, getting regulators that chosen to prioritise what a person desires more than staying them safe. The outcomes of these claims would-be crucial for future years regarding adult safeguarding. Yet at the same time, Munby’s matter resonates – what’s the point out of staying anyone secure if they be miserable, disempowered, when they miss friends lifestyle or domestic, or versatility, but not of several threats try linked to one to? One of several key reasons for going to court you are going to just feel one – due to the fact Jackson J place it in the Lso are M – where ‘You can find threats regardless… obligation toward benefit would be to slip for the shoulders of the courtroom and never toward shoulders of your own people.’
These situations, in which a guy won’t feel left secure, portray among sharpest edges of the relationship between private citizens plus the state
Incase legislation was unclear having practitioners, it should be even worse for those who are topic so you can a ‘safeguarding’ intervention which they – otherwise their own families – target so you’re able to. What the law states in this region is quite away from the test put down inside Week-end Moments v United kingdom to possess interventions you to interfere which have Seminar liberties and therefore must be prescribed by-law. An average resident cannot with ease ‘foresee, to a degree that’s reasonable about activities, the results and that certain action could possibly get Chula Vista escort reviews entail’.
They underlies Jackson J’s statement when you look at the Re Yards (2013):
Is my principle from the why there are no obvious comments regarding governments of one’s limits of you skill on term out of safeguarding: squeamishness. So it border shall be at the very least due to the fact sharp given that detention significantly less than this new Mental health Act – maybe much more when the safeguarding interventions cause constraints on the get in touch with that have somebody’s friends and family. That cases are particularly, extremely, questionable. You merely need to glance at the indicates this new press defense these times about Legal from Safety, to adopt the fresh new responses with the powers regarding admission visit, to see as to why governments would be a bit ready to help local bodies and evaluator take-all the brand new problem, whilst dancing doing these issues when creating laws or posting guidance. They, we, want to buy both ways: everyone have to have its freedom and you may no one need to score harm or pass away. But we can’t have it one another means. Somebody, somewhere, establishes. And they commonly comfortable conclusion and also make.
Talking about a fraction away from participants – people was happy are safe – but they are yes a life threatening fraction and you may worth thinking about. How do it subgroup be acknowledged by protecting therapists, by process of law? Could it be because the straightforward as simply listening to the person and inquiring what they want? Regrettably, these types of analytical studies would not let us know that, and we do not know in the most common legal instances how it happened to people instance Mrs KK and you can Manuela Sykes after they went house (or in reality, whenever they ran family). Neither do we know very well what took place to people in which interventions generating actual safety more than just what a person says needed had been authorised.
What is fascinating me personally at the moment – and I might see people opinion anyone is wearing which theme – is exactly what is actually taking place on to the floor just before 2010? Did the fresh new declaration by the Munby LJ during the A neighborhood Expert v An excellent (A kid) that the MCA does not bring power to manage one facing the wants or that from their family (confirmed because of the Jackson J in the Neary) resonate with what safeguarding and other societal worry therapists experienced on the floor? Otherwise performed it make the statement you to ‘capacity try key’ during the Zero Gifts due to the fact a blank cheque to help you intervene in any manner they believed are compatible within the an individuals ‘best interests’, rather than a court application? For the Neary, Jackson J lines that it principle back to Magna Carta, but We inquire – try this a conviction which had been stuck into the protecting groups just before 2010? Is it one that is inserted during the safeguarding communities now? Have been these types of statements out of current common-law, otherwise was indeed they in fact comments of brand new legislation exhibited since the dated laws, since the process of law attempted to rule as to what are coming to rise above the crowd as the a potentially abusive mandate to protect individuals from overlook and you can punishment?
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Collierville Town Vice Mayor Maureen Fraser explains three ways schools could reopen this fall. “If everyone has to sit six feet apart, they [buses] can only transport 15 students.” Schools’ options, including transportation, are discussed, followed by an update from Collierville Town Economic Development Director John Duncan on the outlook for small businesses and new developments as Collierville businesses continue operating in Phase 2.
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Our mission is to capture the modernization and growth happening in areas full of small-town tradition and local charm. Wherever your Main and Mulberry may be, we’re here to tell the story.
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Personal Loan is an unsecured loan taken by any eligible applicant from a banking or non-banking financial company to meet their personal financial needs. Get best rate on Personal Loan in Secunderabad.
It will help you to meet your current financial problems. You don’t need to pledge any security or collateral while applying for a personal loan.
There are specific eligibility criteria and requirements which the applicant needs to fulfill to get the personal loan. The applicant is eligible to get a personal loan if you are a salaried employee or a Self Employed.
Salaried Employee:
A salaried employee needs to fulfill the following requirements:
The applicant must have minimum salary of Rs. 18,000 per month (Net Income).
His age should lie between 21-60 years.
Moreover, one should possess a CIBIL score at least more than 700.
His overall working experience should be 3 years and 1 year experience for current job.
Lastly, he must have a salary slips as proof to get the loan.
Most noteworthy: If a person receives a salary in cash, then he is not eligible to get the personal loan.
Self- Employed Individuals:
All the self-employed individuals need to fulfill the following requirements:
The age of borrower varies. Usually, it is between 25-65 years.
He should have filed an Income tax return of 2.5-3 lakhs.
Also, the applicant should be filing ITR from previous 3 years.
He must possess the CIBIL score of more than 700.
For residence proof, he should have his own office or house.
Also, he must have the working experience, at least of last 3 years.
Firstly, the applicant must carry 2 colored photographs in passport size.
After that, To get a personal loan he must have some documents for identity proof, Residential proof and Income proof.
Furthermore, For identity Proof, one can have a PAN card or Aadhar card or Voter Id card or Driving license or Passport. Anyone of these documents can be presented in the form of Identity proof.
Also, For Residential Proof, again, he can have a PAN card or Aadhar card or Voter Id card or Driving license or Passport.
In addition, For Income Proof, you must have your salary slip of last 6 months or the bank statement. If you are self-employed, then you need to have income tax return statement of the previous 3 years.
Personal loan interest rates of Secunderabad upon certain factors like income of the applicant, the amount of loan applied or the company. Usually, the interest rate of personal loan is 10.75% per annum. However, it may vary from time to time.
Pre-closure Charges:
When someone wants to close the loan before the completion of tenure of a loan, then this is called pre-closure. Personal Loans facilitate Pre-closure, but it includes some penalty charges. Generally, these charges are 0-2%.
Tenure of Personal Loan:
The applicant can choose the tenure of their loan as per their convenience. Usually, it can be from 1 year to 5 years.
Methods of Repayment:
Repayment of personal loan can be made in 3 ways:
EMI- Under this, the bank makes the installment of a part of the interest rate and principal after which the customer need to pay it per month.
Term Loan- The customer pays to the bank per month interest rate, and in the end he will pay the principal amount as well.
Overdraft- OD or Overdraft is a product which benefits the customer by allowing them to pay only for the used amount for that particular time. There is no interest charged on that loan amount.
Personal Loans are easy to apply. The application process can be done offline and online as well. However, applying online is more comfortable.
The most desirable thing about a personal loan is that it does not require any collateral. The applicant gets the loan on the basis of their salary or income.
Moreover, the documentation process of personal loan is very simple. Only the basic documents are required.
Also, the tenure of a personal loan is very flexible. One can freely choose the period from 1-5 years.
Moreover, there are no restrictions upon the use of loan amount.
Where can the Personal Loan amount be used?
A personal loan is a multi-purpose loan. But still, reasons are to be specified to get the loan.
Wedding- One can get the personal loan for wedding purposes. It normally involves large amounts.
Education- To get the excellent education you require money which you can get with the help of a personal loan.
Vacations-Vacations can be expensive, but this scenario can be solved with the help of a personal loan.
Medical- In situations like medical problems, there is a need for instant money. In this case, a personal loan can assist you with financial aid.
Besides these, a personal loan can be applied and used for several purposes as per the will of the applicant.
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Plexiglas 1 cm thick is recommended as shielding material. Thinner Plexiglas, although adequate to reduce exposure, does not have good mechanical properties.
Dosimeters cannot detect P-33 beta radiation due to its low energy.
Wear a lab coat and disposable gloves when working with P-33. Change gloves frequently.
Avoid direct eye contact - work behind a Plexiglas shield or wear safety glasses.
P-33 can often be substituted in an assay already using P-32. However, due to the difference in beta energy, you should increase exposure time approximately four-fold for P-33 according to the vendor's technical data specifications.
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Almost any type of accident can cause a serious injury. Whether you’re dealing with physical injuries, emotional damages, or both, your accident may have an impact on the quality of life that you’re used to living — some injuries might even lead to death. In one brief moment, you could be faced with lifelong damages due to no fault of your own, and your future could depend on the outcome of your personal injury case.
If you or someone you love has been seriously injured in an accident, don’t waste time contacting just any attorney. The De Castroverde Accident & Injury Lawyers in Las Vegas specialize in serious personal injury cases, and we can provide you with the legal representation you deserve.
For a personal injury case to have merit in court, you must have sustained substantial injuries or damages due to the negligence of another person. A full investigation of your claim and an examination of all the evidence involved will determine if your case will hold up in court.
When you meet with one of our attorneys, we’ll go over the type of accident, injuries sustained, and any other damages, such as medical bills that you’ve incurred due to the injury. At De Castroverde Accident & Injury Lawyers, we handle the following types of cases:
Bicycle or motorcycle accidents
Swimming pool accidents
Nursing home abuse
Whether your personal injury case should be taken to trial depends on what you potentially have to gain versus what you are risking. If the odds are better if you take your case to trial, it makes sense that you would. For example, if the other side is offering a settlement that is within the range you would likely get if you went to trial, then going to trial will likely have a good outcome for you.
Conversely, if the other side is offering a settlement that makes the cost, time, and risk of going to trial seem too expensive or not worth it, you may not want to. Some things to consider are:
Are the issues in the case clear?
Is the opposing party being unreasonable?
Are you prepared to wait for your trial date?
Will you gain enough to outweigh the cost and time of going to trial?
Can you handle the stress of a trial?
Is a judge likely to rule in your favor, or is there another way to gain compensation?
Unfortunately, there is no easy way to decide whether it is definitively worth it to take a personal injury case to trial or not. There are many factors to take into consideration, and the decision is best made with the help of a personal injury attorney at your side.
Liability in a Personal Injury Case
One of the most important aspects of a personal injury claim is determining who was liable for the accident. Deciding who was at fault in an accident and for injuries that occurred, as a result, will impact the entire case. Our team of skilled personal injury attorneys will prove who was at fault as they investigate the evidence, then they’ll present your case and prove who was responsible for the accident and that your injuries are a direct result of that accident, and you’ll get the compensation you deserve.
Statute of Limitations for Serious Injuries in Las Vegas, NV
In a personal injury case, it’s essential to move quickly, so the statute of limitations as defined by NRS 11.190 is not exceeded. This statute covers personal injury cases, including car accidents, wrongful deaths, slip-and-falls, and other types of serious injuries, and for most cases, the timeframe is limited to two years from the date of the accident to file a civil action lawsuit. Within this time frame, you’re advised to seek legal representation if you feel it’s appropriate. Once legal action on your lawsuit commences, you’re no longer limited to a specified timeframe before the case is presented and compensation is claimed.
When Does the Statute of Limitations Begin in Nevada?
In most cases, the statute of limitations starts on the day you are injured, or the day an injury is discovered, which is known as the Discovery Rule. This can change the start date for the statute of limitations from when you were injured to when you find out about the injury to give you time to file a lawsuit.
For various injury cases, the statute of limitations time runs differently, such as in the following cases:
When you are injured in Nevada but live in another state, the statute of limitations does not restart or delay starting when you go back home.
Worker’s compensation claims must be filed within 90 days of the accident to receive benefits. Wrongful death lawsuits must be filed within one year following the accident, and a claim notice must be sent to the employer within a week (seven days) of the wrongful death.
Injuries caused by negligence have a statute of limitations of two years but can also be lengthened in some circumstances.
Medical malpractice cases have a statute of limitations anywhere from two years from its discovery to three years or longer if a health care provider concealed their negligible actions.
Serious Injuries Involving Minors
The statute of limitations for personal injuries involving minors runs out when a minor turns 18 years old. This law applies unless it has been less than a year since the injury is discovered. For malpractice cases, the time range can run two years or more depending on the type of injury and how old the child is when the malpractice occurs. In sex abuse cases, the statute can run 10 years long
In any case, parents are responsible for acting on behalf of their children in personal injury cases, including those concerning malpractice.
Other cases when the statute of limitations may be delayed or prolonged include (but are not limited to):
When an attorney or other legal official conceals an illegal action that the plaintiff did not know about or could not have reasonably known about
When a defendant is outside of Nevada
When a death occurs, in which case an estate has one year to bring forth a claim
When a party is a citizen of a country the United States is at war with
When a case has been overturned and claims are brought forth, they must be presented within one year of the reversal.
Never assume it is too late to file a lawsuit before consulting with legal counsel. Due to the many exceptions and instances in which the statute of limitations varies, it is best to consult an attorney to understand the reaches and limitations of your case.
What Type of Compensation Can I Receive?
When a person sustains serious injuries in Las Vegas, the financial compensation awarded in a personal injury claim may be significant. This is because extensive medical bills, lost wages, and future damages are involved in these claims. To properly evaluate the worth of your catastrophic injury case and to represent your interests and financial needs, an injury attorney at our offices will typically work with medical professionals and expert witnesses in economics and psychology.
Nevada law distinguishes three different types of compensation that include economic, non-economic, and punitive damages, which can include:
Compensation for economic damages covers any financial losses you’ve experienced due to your accident and injuries, such as medical bills, rehabilitation and therapy costs, long-term care, and lost wages. This is also called compensatory damages.
Non-economic damages include emotional pain and suffering and the loss of your quality of life. If the injuries resulted in wrongful death, you could also be compensated for the loss of financial and emotional support, the loss of companionship, and more. Consulting with an attorney will ensure that you receive the full amount to which you’re entitled.
Punitive damages are often included as a means to further penalize the negligent party.
Limitations to Damage Lawsuits
In most personal injury cases, Nevada does not limit the number of damages you can receive from a defendant. In ordinary cases, you may be able to recover very large sums. However, some lawsuits are subject to “damage caps” or a maximum amount of money you can recover. These caps apply to malpractice, lawsuits against public employees or landowners, and some punitive damages.
Medical malpractice lawsuits are capped at $350,000 according to Nevada law’s on recoverable non-economic damages. In cases against state and local government officials and landowners, damages are capped at $100,000 and will not include punitive damages. The lawsuit is valid only if the public employee fails in the scope of their employment.
Punitive damages (“punishment” for wrongdoing) are limited in most cases, according to Nevada’s NRS 42.005 legislature on damages. This limit is at $300,000 if the compensatory damages (compensation for losses) are less than $100,000. Limitations for this amount do not apply to:
Manufacturers, distributors, or sellers of defective products
Insurers who act in bad faith toward providing insurance coverage
People who violate a state or federal law against discriminatory practices
Damages for injuries caused by hazardous materials
How Can a Personal Injury Attorney Help?
People who were seriously injured in an accident due to the negligence of others are sometimes awarded substantial compensation that helps them pay for any medical bills they’ve accrued, lost wages or a complete inability to work, and future damages that may happen because of their injuries. An attorney will make sure that your evidence is fairly presented and that you aren’t left with thousands of dollars in bills due to an accident that wasn’t your fault.
At De Castroverde Accident & Injury Lawyers, our attorneys will diligently fight to ensure you’re represented in court by someone who’s on your side. An appointment with one of our personal injury lawyers will give us a clear picture of your case, which will help us present your case appropriately. We’ll work with medical professionals and other experts to put together a defense in your favor.
We Can Help You Avoid Accepting Too-Low Settlement Offers
Even though you can file a personal injury claim or lawsuit on your own, the other party’s insurance company will likely offer you a settlement that’s lower than the compensation amount you ought to receive. This is why choosing the right personal injury attorney is essential. You should work with someone who has your best interests in mind and who won’t be discouraged if your initial claim is denied. You won’t need to accept the initial amount because working with the right attorney will mean that you’ll have more options.
Our team of legal experts will help you navigate the complicated laws and statutes surrounding a serious personal injury claim. For many years, we’ve provided the Las Vegas community with a reputable choice for legal representation that helps them win. We focus on getting you back to a high quality of living without the burden of substantial medical bills and other costly expenses resulting from your accident. Reach out to us today and schedule a consultation with one of our lawyers.
De Castroverde Accident & Injury Lawyers is a serious personal injury attorney law firm that specializes in personal injury claims, including severe burns, spinal cord injuries, amputations, brain damage, head trauma, burns, internal injuries, and broken bones. We promise to pursue the highest possible compensation for your injuries so you can focus on rebuilding your life and moving forward.
Contact us today to get the help you need. We’re available by phone during regular business hours or online 24 hours a day. At De Castroverde Accident & Injury Lawyers, we look forward to helping you with your personal injury case.
Once we receive your information, a representative from our team will contact you in order to start the process. If you have any questions regarding your case, check out our FAQs page or click on the questions below.
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3 top tips to help you integrate your fitness plan into your life. Not everyone likes routine but sometimes it is necessary to achieve results.
A fitness routine takes time and commitment, you know that if you want to see results you need to stick with it but that’s not always easy. You have spent time thinking about what you want to achieve and have either put together your own training program or maybe a fitness professional has done this for you, but even though everything is written out for you to follow you are still finding it difficult to actually commit to it. Does this sound familiar?
Maybe in the first few weeks you were keen and followed your plan but then things started to slip a little, missing a session here or there, maybe taking time off for a holiday and now you just can’t seem to get back on track. That’s fine don’t worry about it, it happens, it’s time to start again.
Here are 3 top tips to help you integrate your fitness plan into your life so that it becomes part of your daily/weekly routine. Not everyone likes routine but sometimes it is necessary to achieve results.
Integrating your fitness plan into your life is the first and most important step. Whether you use a calendar pinned to the wall, a paper diary or reminders on your phone, you need to have something where you can book out the time for you to dedicate to your fitness. The best way to creating a routine is to have the time already set aside. There will always be things you need to do and tasks demanding your attention, lack of time is regularly the number one reason people fail to stick to a fitness routine.
Look at your schedule for the week ahead and add in your workouts. If you are struggling to find the space to fit them in then you may need to prioritize your workouts over other activities. If you are serious about wanting to achieve your fitness goals then you are more likely to make the time. Could you go to bed earlier and then wake up earlier to fit in a workout? Would it be possible to fit in a lunch-time workout? If you are meeting a friend maybe it could be a workout meet up where you can catch up and exercise at the same time? Not only is it important to schedule your workouts but also remember to include rest days. These are important to allow your body time to recover. Once you have scheduled in your workouts try not to move them.
Nutrition is a major part of a fitness program and therefore also needs time dedicated to it, ensuring your meals are healthy, balanced and providing you with the fuel your body needs. You may find it beneficial to pre-plan your meals for the week ahead, this makes grocery shopping easier and frees up time each day where you don’t have to think about what to cook, whether you have the right ingredients etc. If you want to take it one step further you could even prepare your meals in advance.
If you don’t enjoy what you do then it is unlikely you will stick with it. This can be a challenge as the exercises you do are going to be dependent on your goals, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have choices about what type of exercises you do.
Think about what you can do to make the time during your workout more enjoyable, for example listening to some music, music can be great for motivational purposes. Maybe having someone else with you will make the workout more fun, it could be a friend, family member or even join a group. What about the environment where you do your workout – a park, beach, field, home, gym, whichever works best for you.
Also keep in mind that the more you work out the better you will feel, when you exercise your body releases endorphins which make you feel good, and the more you associate feeling good with exercise the more you will exercise. So you may need to push through it to begin with but your persistence will be rewarded by the changes you will start to notice, be it fat loss, increase in muscle, increase in stamina, more flexibility etc. There is nothing more motivating than seeing the improvements you have been working towards. There are numerous other benefits you will get from exercising regularly and future you will thank you for it.
The last tip is change, changing your workout plan is an important part of a fitness program. Your body needs to be challenged for it to make changes, when it is consistently challenged and for long enough it adapts to what it is being asked to do. Once your body has adapted (this could take 6 weeks or more – depending on your program and on your body) then you to should think about making a change to your program. If you start to plateau it could be time to change your program. Change will also prevent boredom.
The changes can be done in many different ways, different exercises, different amount of sets/reps, different weights, changing speed, distance, type of training e.g. HIIT, circuit-training, plyometrics etc. Don’t change everything all at once though, either change the type of exercise, or the weights or the amount of set/reps etc.
Well that’s it, 3 tips to help you stick to your fitness plan. So go on, schedule that workout in, have fun and keep at it.
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It seems that the news surrounding the legalization of marijuana in some parts of the United States has spurred the curiosity of numerous citizens. However, trying CBD oil and other weed strains can be intimidating for most people, especially for beginners who are looking to try their hand with this plant.
If you are one of those people who have yet to try this herb and the effects it can give, making a big deal about your first experience is important. After all, for your first time, having the best experience possible should be a top priority. To get the most out of this event, here’s what you should keep in mind.
Be Aware of the Local Laws in Place
Most states in the country have not yet legalized the use of cannabis and even pure cannabidiol. With this in mind, looking up the state laws in your area can do you a world of good. With state laws varying from one place to another, knowing how the business works in your area will prepare you should anything go wrong.
If you are unsure where to start, look into where you intend to buy your stash. Likewise, make sure you know how it is sold, where your cannabidiol oil is sourced, and how you plan to consume it. In the state of California, only people over the age of 21 can purchase weed.
Learn the Different Types of Strains of CBD Hemp Oil
Before you start your journey to marijuana, learning the difference between the different types of strains is essential. Of these, the indica strain can be quite soothing and relaxing. Known for managing different types of pain and for reducing anxiety and stress, this variant can easily put you to sleep after a few hours.
On the other hand, the sativa strain will most likely give you the boost of energy and creativity you need. With this, users tend to feel more alert and upbeat, allowing them to soldier on with the activities or duties they need to attend to.
Steer Clear of Blunts
Rolled up joints can use dried up weed that has been stored for a long time, thereby depleting its benefits and destroying its taste and desired effects. If you want to start out small, opting for CBD oil edibles or CBD vape juice is a great idea. Should you want to start your journey with small doses, eating gummies and even the perennial crowd favorite, the fudgy brownie, is enough to do the trick.
Your weapon of choice will play a great role in your overall experience. While some people swear by rolling joints, some people tend to go another route and choose vape pens. Aside from eliminating the outrageous and downright infuriating smell, it also allows users to enjoy hemp oil benefits at its purest. Though the vaping high you get can be less intense compared to smoking, the health benefits of hemp oil will certainly be present.
Not fond of smoking? Try CBD oil edibles. From gummy bears to cookies and full-on meals, these will certainly help you feel like you are on top of the world. Some may warn against starting with this level. However, since you know yourself and your preferences, we say you do you.
As a first-timer looking into the world of cannabis, starting out small, slow, and sure is the best way to go. If you have already caught a hand of what you are supposed to do, and your mind and body have grown accustomed to its effects, that’s the time you can increase your intake. Take note of these tips and your first experience might just be pure magic
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Published
4 days ago
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November 30, 2022
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When buying a dispensary, there are many vital factors to consider. The location of the dispensary, the amount of foot traffic, and whether or not the location has a parking lot can all be essential components in determining how much revenue a dispensary will generate. In order to ensure that your business is profitable and successful, you need to ensure that your store has an attractive interior design and exterior signage that attracts customers immediately.
In this post, we will discuss some of the critical aspects to consider before you decide to buy a dispensary.
What does it mean to own a dispensary?
The first thing you should know about buying a dispensary is that you’ll be taking on a lot of responsibility. When you own your own business, you are responsible for the day-to-day operations and must hire and fire employees, manage the inventory, and handle customer service issues. If you don’t have experience with all of these things, it may be helpful to work at another dispensary before purchasing one of your own.
It is vital to do research before buying a business.
Once you have an idea about what’s going on in your market, the next step is finding out whether buying a dispensary will be profitable for you. Before diving into the world of cannabis, it is crucial to do the proper research. Research is critical when buying any business, but especially in this industry. This is because there are so many factors that can affect the success or failure of your dispensary. To help you navigate these waters, we’ve put together a list of things to consider when buying a dispensary (and some resources to help).
Research the market: How large is the population? Are they willing to embrace recreational marijuana? What other dispensaries are there? Who are they competing with?
Research the competition: Do they have a brand identity that makes them stand out from other companies in their area? If so, how did they establish such a presence, and what can you learn from that strategy for yourself? What do other dispensaries do well, and where could you improve upon their model if given an opportunity to take over one day (which will happen sooner than later)?
Research regulatory environment: Does your state require licensing fees or taxes on businesses like yours? If so, how much will those cost each year going forward?
What is the cost of buying and owning a dispensary?
The cost of buying and owning a dispensary is another factor to consider before you buy a dispensary. You’ll also want to consider the cost of hiring employees, marketing and advertising, compliance with state regulations, and supply purchases.
The cost of buying your own building or space is an important consideration, as it can add up quickly if you don’t have enough capital saved up yourself. A location may cost $100K or more; this amount could include construction costs, equipment installation charges, and permit fees (if applicable).
Another significant expense is paying for labor resources such as managers who oversee operations on site and security guards who protect against theft or other types of crime occurring at night when customers aren’t present during closed hours.
In conclusion, we can see that buying a business has many challenges. It is important to do research before buying a business and make sure it is worth the investment. You need to consider the cost of buying and owning a dispensary as well as what it means to own one. The last thing you want is regret after investing so much money into something that doesn’t work out as planned.
Published
4 days ago
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November 30, 2022
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Are you considering getting a terpene spray bottle for yourself or a friend? Well, it is certainly going to make the whole job of aromatizing your favorite foods a lot easier! If you are wondering how to go about using it, then this blog will provide you with answers.
It can be quite a task to pour out the terpene into the food you want to use it on. If you were thinking of aromatizing your favorite dried herbs and flowers, the process can be cumbersome, to say the least. That is why a high-quality spray can be such a good option.
The system is pretty revolutionary in the world of terpenes and experienced vapers love it for the ease and convenience it brings. Not only does it allow for more homogenization, but it is also safer in many ways. Now let’s find out exactly how to use it.
How to Use Terpene Spray on Food?
The good news is that it is completely safe to use on food. People use terpenes to flavor different kinds of foods like baked goodies, popcorn, nachos and chips, cakes, and even sugar. So you put the spray bottle about 35 to 40 cm away from the food and then spray. Keeping the distance is going to ensure that there is homogeneity in the aromatizing. The spray will ensure that there are no excessive scents in any particular area of the food.
It is best to spray your food from both sides to ensure that all the flavors get in.
Make sure not to keep on spraying in the exact same areas for too long. Perhaps the most important thing to understand about terpene spray is that less is more. So use a little and you can always increase the amount later on.
How to Spray Terpenes on Flowers and Herbs?
Spread out your dried herbs and flowers in a wide dish. Then spray the terpene from a distance of at least 35 to 40 cm. Try to get a little in every part. Now put the whole dried herbs and flowers in an airtight container for at least 24 hours. This will ensure the homogenization of aromas.
Read Instructions Thoroughly
Whether you use terpene spray on flowers or cooked dishes, the important thing is to read safety instructions from the manufacturer. This will prevent any issues.
Always buy your terpene spray product from a reputed seller who maintains a high level of control over quality.
Can you mix terpenes with flower?
You can mix it in with your weed while it’s still in the grinder, or add it directly to your bowl before smoking. It is also possible to add terpene to whole pieces of flower or bud. Simply open the baggy or canister containing your weed, add a few drops, and shake to allow the terpenes to absorb into the flower.
Terpenes are the most abundant PSMs and have been extensively researched for their antimicrobial, insecticidal, and weed control properties. They also attract natural pest enemies and beneficial insects like pollinators and dispersers.
Is Medical Cannabis Popular In Germany?
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November 21, 2022
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The use of cannabis as a medicine has been documented in numerous cultures worldwide. It was first described in ancient Chinese texts, and cannabis was used to treat pain and other ailments. In Germany, the medicinal use of cannabis dates back to the 19th century when it was prescribed as an antispasmodic and appetite stimulant. However, there has been renewed interest in using cannabis for medical purposes in recent years. This is due mainly to advances in science that have allowed researchers to understand better how cannabinoids work within our bodies, specifically how they can be used to treat disease and other conditions such as seizures or muscle spasms associated with multiple sclerosis (MS).
Medical cannabis is becoming popular in Germany.
Cannabis is legal in Germany, and the county has a long history of cannabis use. Interest is growing fast, and many people are interested in its therapeutic potential.
For medical purposes, cannabis is legal under the Narcotics Act (Betäubungsmittelgesetz). Patients who qualify can access it through a doctor’s prescription and order directly from companies that produce medical marijuana oil as well as other forms of cannabis.
Recreational use of cannabis was decriminalized in 2017 for adults over 18 years old in Berlin; however, some regions within Germany still prohibit recreational use of marijuana.
Cannabis was once legal in Germany.
You’ve probably heard the term “Reefer Madness” before. It refers to an anti-cannabis propaganda film made in the 1930s that was so convincing it scared people away from marijuana for decades. But did you know that cannabis was actually legal in Germany until 1928? That’s right: not only was cannabis once legal in Germany, but it was also even used as a medicine!
In fact, many European countries had similar laws about how long their citizens could use cannabis without punishment by law enforcement agencies. These included Switzerland (where possession of any amount of marijuana was decriminalized in 2012), France and Italy (which both began allowing certain medical uses of marijuana by 2017), Romania (where penalties were lifted on January 1st, 2019), Poland (whose government announced plans last year to legalize medical cannabis) and even Australia where recreational use has been decriminalized since February 2016 with fines currently set at $200 AUD ($144 USD).
In Germany, medical cannabis is covered by health insurance. This means that you don’t have to pay for it out-of-pocket and will be reimbursed for the cost by your insurance company. Many counties, including South Africa, have begun to import cannabis to Germany.
The qualifying conditions include chronic pain, nausea during chemotherapy, muscle spasms in multiple sclerosis (MS), and more. In practice, this means that very few people need a prescription from a doctor: if you have one of these diseases or conditions that are severe enough to interfere with your daily life, then the drug should be offered as part of treatment. There are no restrictions on who can or cannot receive medical cannabis; it’s available to adults over 18 years old and minors under age 18 with parental consent (or parental participation).
Medical cannabis is widely used by patients in Germany.
You don’t need to be a statistician or medical expert to know that the number of patients using cannabis is increasing rapidly. It’s also clear that this isn’t just due to the growing acceptance of marijuana use in general: while overall acceptance has increased, medical cannabis has increased even faster.
In Germany, doctors can prescribe medical cannabis for a wide range of conditions, including chronic pain and insomnia. The number of patients using it is on the rise; there has been an increase from 23,000 users in 2016 to 70,000 users today (in 2018). That’s nearly a 300% increase!
The medical cannabis market is growing quickly in Germany.
Cannabis is legal to use in Germany, and German health insurance is required to cover all treatments. Cannabis dispensaries are proliferating across the country, with more than 900 currently open for business*. Most people who want to try medical cannabis in Germany will find a dispensary nearby—and many of these dispensaries provide advice on how best to use the drug while they are at work or school (or anywhere else).
Medical cannabis is widely used, and its use is increasing in Germany.
Medical cannabis is legal in Germany, and it’s covered by health insurance, which means that if you have a medical condition that can be treated with medical marijuana, you can get prescriptions for it from your doctor. In fact, the German government has been issuing prescriptions for medical marijuana since March 2017—and the number of patients receiving these prescriptions has increased every year since then.
The most common conditions treated using cannabis-based medicines include chronic pain and multiple sclerosis (MS). It’s also used to treat spinal cord injury pain, nausea caused by chemotherapy treatment, or other serious illnesses such as cancer, epilepsy, and glaucoma (high eye pressure).
The use of medical cannabis is increasing in Germany, and it is becoming more widely accepted by doctors and patients. The market for medical cannabis is growing quickly, as well. Patients can legally access the drug through their health insurance plans, making obtaining their prescriptions much easier than paying out of pocket.
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Similar to last year, we picked our pumpkins at the same farm where we did apple picking. We really got some giant pumpkins!
Both kids drew faces on the pumpkins for Brian to cut out (he was maybe less than thrilled about that, ha). The paper rings hanging from the porch were made by Jameson and hung there through the rest of the year!
We had moderately good helpers this year. Coraline gave up pretty early though Jameson wasn’t afraid to get his hands dirty!
We spotted a woolly bear!
Coraline was pretty insistent on being Darth Vader this year, or a Storm Trooper so she could shoot bad guys (nobody really corrected this idea). So I got her a Darth Vader costume and Jameson wanted to be Kylo Ren, so I loved that I got to match the kids again this year!
Jameson would’ve trick or treated all night (as would Coraline, though she was utterly spent). Jameson kept wanting to go to just one more house!
Brian and I both got to attend their Halloween party at school, Jameson got to attend too since he didn’t have regular school that day, so that was a great experience to have them all there again. Jameson is looking pretty old these days though!
It was a fun holiday with the kids having even more fun as they get older. I got Brian to dress up with me for our neighborhood haunted party. I took the photos this year for the event, so I didn’t get to hang out with the kiddos, which made me feel a little sad, but I was happy to have the opportunity! Here’s my set up, from which I have learned a lot I can apply to future events or sets for my new business, Rosy Days Photography.
children
Preschool Concert Lasts and Firsts
May 24, 2016 No Comments
Jameson and Coraline were both in the Spring concert this year. The theme was Sesame Street! It was pretty difficult recording and photographing them this time since they were on opposite ends of the stage, but we did our best. I did love seeing Coraline perform in ballet! Coraline was so excited for the concert and skipped from the car into the school!
Coraline tried to help her friend back into her sweater, which she was having none of, haha! As usual Coraline was super expressive and delighted to see us.
Jameson was also happy to see us in the crowd, but very seriously followed along with the songs for the most part.
After the concert, Jameson was greeted by a lot of his teachers, including his piano teacher. When she said that she was excited for lessons the following day, Jameson groaned and declared that piano was hard.
(I’m mixed still on whether I want to pay for lessons after this year, which he’ll have to attend outside of school once he starts kindergarten. We’ll see, but he’s definitely been expressing to us lately as well that he doesn’t want to do piano.)
Post concert sugar rush. It was Jameson’s last preschool concert and Coraline’s first!
School Days
May 9, 2016 No Comments
We forgot it was pajama and movie day. Jameson was sad. Coraline didn’t mind.
children
March 17, 2016 No Comments
Attended kindergarten registration last week! Jameson doesn’t have his screening for another few weeks yet.
We’ve started to make our plans for next year when our daily life for 5 years changes from daycare drop off, work, daycare pick up, playtime, dinner, bedtime.
Right now, the plan is to try and avoid morning care and let him get on the bus at our house, so he only will need afternoon care. We plan to use the same daycare for that rather than the city-run before and after program since we have Coraline attending there still. One pick up is better than two!
There’s still significant money savings, and part of my excitement is for that, I won’t deny it. But I know I’m going to miss simple homework-free evenings and simple mornings where breakfast is packed to eat at daycare instead of the earlier rising we’ll need to do to prepare for school.
children
January 6, 2016 No Comments
This year, Jameson got to be a reindeer (but not, he declared a little bit disappointed, Rudolf. He was pretty comfortable on stage this year I think, and he’s got one more spring concert before he’s done with preschool concerts, but I can be a little sad about his last Preschool Christmas concert anyway.
His friend Nathan has started coming back to our school after a couple year hiatus. Right now, he’s not in the full time classes, but they will be together again soon! They won’t be in the same class, but will see each other mornings and afternoons when they frequently combine the classes. We’ve enjoyed seeing them a few times with our neighborhood Halloween party and a few playdates, and Jameson still considers him to be one of his really good friends. (The term “best” is flexible and depends on the day!)
children
June 24, 2015 No Comments
Coraline isn’t quite big enough to participate in the preschool concert at their school, but she sure loved watching her brother sing! My favorite song this year was “You Are My Sunshine”.
I actually already owned the album from that particular artist they used, so we’ve been listening to it a lot in the car. I get my own concerts from both kids almost every day! Our favorites are “You Are My Sunshine” and “Let It Go” from Frozen.
Coraline likes to sing with me, though Jameson has always liked to have me sing or to sing himself rather than sing together with me, so I think it’s wonderful to hear them both singing together.
Jameson has helped sing to Coraline before bed a few times the past month or so, and one of their favorites Jameson introduced to Coraline was “Stinkle Stinkle little Stinky” which is a parody of Twinkle Twinkle about a skunk. It’s maybe one I could do without, though when they both hold their noses it’s hilarious.
children
Happy 3rd of July!
July 3, 2014 No Comments
I won’t be posting on the 4th of July, so here’s some early wishes for a Happy and fun 4th of July!
The kids had a parade at school today that Brian was able to go to. It was supposed to be outside, but started raining. He still got some great photos of the kiddos. They made t-shirts!
children
Learning to Spell
May 20, 2014 No Comments
Over the past 6 months, Jameson has been progressing from spelling his name like this:
(That is real, he spelled it that same way a few times, and his last name like this: 3u3ru)
To consistently using J and s-o-n at the end…
To spelling out his name correctly on a card for his grandma on Mother’s Day. This is, to my knowledge, the first time he has spelled and written his name in it’s entirety, correctly, on his own without tracing.
children
May 3, 2014 No Comments
Jameson sang in his very concert, a preschool concert put on by his daycare, on my birthday!
We had some drama getting his “buttons” on (shirt with buttons are just called buttons, and a terrible trial to get him in) and his jeans. He only ever wants to wear swishy pants and his motorcycle shirt or his caped Batman and Superman shirts.
Thankfully, with a little bribery, we were able to get him in his dress clothes and to the school on time. He was excited that his concert was at a big kid school, and thankfully his best bud Nathan was already there, so getting him to sit with his friends and leave wasn’t a big deal.
And the adorable video! We got some great close ups with him around 9:45 minutes. Jameson was so serious about singing, but I know he had fun. I’m so glad he participated; I was a little worried we’d only get to see his shy face.
After the show, the school at cookies and lemonade and punch for the kids. Jameson and Nathan hung out. Coraline was so great during the show, she was happy munching on her snack and playing with Nathan’s mom’s hair and sweater in front of her. Even though it was an hour and a half past her bedtime before we were home and sleeping, you would have never known it.
Before bed, Brian played a recording of his performance on his phone, and Jameson wanted to sing along. So I got a solo birthday performance from Jameson at home too! A wonderful birthday gift for me.
life with baby
July 17, 2013 No Comments
Not pictured: Dr. Browns; purchased or borrowed but not used: MAM and Similac bottles.
These are all the bottles (and nipples of different flows) that we tried with Coraline, except for Dr. Brown’s which I gave to our neighbor who uses them after Coraline refused. It was quite an adventure trial introducing bottle feeding to Coraline.
This was Coraline’s very first bottle, Tommee Tippee, around 3 weeks old, the very same time frame that we did for Jameson. She took it really well, and we all had warm fuzzies that she would have no issues with the bottle. Like Jameson, we opted to try her on the bottle once a week or so until we got closer to me going back to work, so a week went by before we tried her second bottle.
It was all a train wreck from there.
Little Miss Coraline refused her second bottle, screaming. We knew that she could take the bottle, which made it more frustrating than I think we would’ve been if she had refused from the beginning.
We tried a series of different bottles. We tried different positions, different people, and eventually different nipple types and flows. We had moderate success (read: 1/2 ounce after 45 minutes of trying) on the mOmma bottle (the funny looking round one) a few weeks later. However, feedings required extreme patience, complete awake-ness from Coraline (not tired at all), and no extreme hunger. Long term, we didn’t think that would work at daycare, so we continued trying.
The next bottle that seemed to work better for us was the Playtex Nurser, the drop in liners and a latex nipple. We first tried the silicon nipple, because I wanted latex to be a last resort. They don’t hold up as well, and I read how more exposure to latex can lead to an allergy. She actually didn’t seem to mind the nipple, but spent most of the time chomping on it and pushing it out of her mouth. However, any step away from the screaming was success, so I decided to buy more and try the latex nipples which texture seemed to be closer to natural.
Around this time was her 2 month doctor’s appointment, so we were starting to really feel the pressure to get her better with the bottle prior to me going back to work in 4 short weeks. The doctor gave us a sheet of tips and tricks to try with baby. Honestly, this sheet was helpful because all the ideas were in once place, but mostly they were a confirmation of what we had done, which is basically: some babies like this, others like the opposite, so… TRY EVERYTHING. Everything I read online was sound advice and all of it was on the sheet the doctor gave us.
The other reason the sheet was helpful was that I was able to pass it on to our daycare provider because she was not, in fact, ready to drink from bottles well by the time she had to.
The latex nipples were better, but she didn’t seem inclined to suck, so we tried another one of the recommendations on the sheet, which was try a faster flow nipple. She did even better with that (read: 1/2 ounce every time we offered the bottle instead of every once in a while, and down to 20-30 minutes instead of 45 to take it).
And that was where we left it when she had to start school. No more than a 1/2 ounce out of a bottle she didn’t scream at.
Needless to say, I wasn’t feeling very good about it. However, her first day that she already did better than she ever did at home. She did a whole 1 ounce! We got our hopes up that she would quickly figure this out and after a week would be eating like a champ.
However, we continued to have low milk intake day after day, and after a week at daycare, the baby who had been sleeping through the night began waking up (and continued through 4 months old). Our daycare provider decided to try a bottle they had there. She successfully took all the milk out of it! We were all excited until we found out it was a discontinued bottle (Tri-flow Bottles by Munchkin — I contacted them after searching online without success and discovered they had been discontinued for 5 years).
We took note though that she seemed to like the fast flow on it, and I opted to buy one more bottle which is similar, the Playtex VentAire with fast flow nipple.
We were thankful to have a daycare provider willing to clean out the one bottle after each feeding; after some more success that week on the VentAire, we decided to try the Tommee Tippee bottles that we already had so many of, this time in the fast flow nipple. We had success one day! But just one.
Alas, it wasn’t meant to last. Since then, we went back to the VentAire since it is the only one consistently getting reasonable milk intake. However, every Monday is like starting over. 6oz, 7oz, 10-12oz by Wednesday; every week. On the weekends we don’t do much attempts at bottle feeding since she has made it clear that she will not eat then. We had to skip a feeding one day because of her refusal and I had drank some alcohol. We were even at a different house and I was inside while she was out.
I have tried to supplement her with extra feedings in the evening and a “dream feed” before I went to bed, but that started to delay her eating until later in the day at school as well as at home on the weekend; wake ups are continuing even with a 10pm feeding.
Instead, we are planning on weaning her of the extra feeds based on our doctor’s recommendation and get back to our original schedule and eliminate overnight eating entirely. I know she can do it, since she was doing it pre-daycare days. I hope that she moves to eating more from the bottle during the day. I purchased more of the VentAire and we have decided that is the best we’re going to get. I can only hope that eventually she’ll get better at the bottle, or move more quickly to food.
It’s frustrating, knowing that she doesn’t like the bottle as much as she likes me. However, I am grateful that with Coraline eating less from the bottle, it has allowed me to build up a stash of milk that I don’t need to worry about supplying her with food each week.
Interested in some slightly used bottles? Check out my ebay listings (Playtex Nursers already sold): Lot of Tommee Tippee Bottles & Nipples; and Lot of Misc Bottles
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The 78-year-old activist was beaten, heckled and pushed to the ground in what the police are calling a pre-mediated attack.
New Delhi: Social activist Swami Agnivesh was assaulted on Tuesday in BJP-ruled Jharkhand allegedly by BJP Yuva Morcha workers. The 78-year-old activist was attending an event in Pakur when he was attacked by a mob as he stepped out of a hotel.
The attackers hurled slogans like “Jai Sri Ram” and “Go back Agnivesh”, beat him, pushed him to the ground and tore at his clothes. The attackers had reportedly been aggravated by Swami Agnivesh’s “anti-Hindu” comments.
Manohar Manav, an associate of Swami Agnivesh, who was accompanying him when the attack took place, told The Wire that both of them had come to Jharkhand to participate in a programme of Adivasis. “We were coming out of the guest house and heading towards the venue when we were attacked by activists of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha.”
Manav said it was around a 100 strong mob which attacked them. “We had not received any threats or warnings before the attack. It came completely as a surprise. We were walking down from the guest house at around 1 pm. and were approaching our car when the Hindutva group just attacked us. They kept accusing us of working against the interests of Hindus,” he said.
Chief Minister Raghubar Das has ordered the police to thoroughly probe the incident.
A video of the attack has been uploaded to social media.
Swami Agnivesh attacked by mob in Jharkhand. Blames BJP youth wing for the attack. BJYM alleges that he was inciting tribals. pic.twitter.com/JxsqJvSEq8
— Aadesh Rawal (@AadeshRawal) July 17, 2018
“As soon as I came out of the venue, BJYM and ABVP activists attacked me without any provocation. They alleged that I was speaking against Hindus,” Swami Agnivesh told PTI. “I thought Jharkhand was a peaceful state, but my views have changed after this incident,” he told.
“I had offered to hold a dialogue with them. But nobody came to speak to me. I was going to a seminar with my tribal friends when they launched an attack. They were carrying black flags and without any warning pounced on me. They punched, kicked and dragged me on the ground,” Swami Agnivesh told NDTV.
“I pleaded with them with folded hands… But they didn’t think it was necessary to tell me why they were raining blows on me. They just went on and on,” Swami Agnivesh said.
Manav said at the time of the attack they felt that they would probably be lynched by the mob. “It appeared to be a mob lynching kind of attack,” he quipped. He said the attackers had after raining blows on the two of them allowed them to go back into the guest house. “We were then brought to the local hospital.”
Accusing the Raghubar Das government of the BJP of orchestrating the pre-planned attack, he said from the manner in which the attack went on for nearly ten minutes and how the attackers stayed put at the spot for another hour-and-a-half, kept raising slogans and were still not arrested, it clearly appeared to be a handiwork of the government.
Manav said on coming to Jharkhand, Agnivesh had also sought time from the chief minister but was not granted a meeting. On the reason for their visiting the state, the associate of Swami Agnivesh said they wanted to oppose the attempts by corporates, in collusion with the state, to grab the lands of Adivasis.
The BJP, which has said that the incident isn’t surprising considering the activist’s “track record”, vehemently denied that any of the party’s workers had been involved in the incident. “They weren’t workers of our party. We condemn this but his track record is such that this reaction doesn’t come as surprise. Pakur has recently been in news for religious conversion,” Jharkhand BJP spokesperson P. Shahdeo told the Indian Express.
According to NDTV, 20 men have been detained and the police is sifting through CCTV footage and other evidence to find the culprits. The attack appears to be pre-meditated, the police said. Superintendent of police Shailendra Prasad Burnwal told PTI that he did not have any prior information about Agnivesh’s programme in the district.
This isn’t the first time Swami Agnivesh has been assaulted by a mob. In 2011, he was attacked twice while attempting to deliver relief supplies to a village that had been torched to the ground in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada district, allegedly by security forces. His attackers in this instance were several special police officers of the Chattisgarh police and members of Salwa Judum.
In an interview with The Hindu, Agnivesh had that said “the first attack occurred early in the morning when a crowd of SPOs and Judum members surrounded the vehicle, pelted him with raw eggs, knocked off his turban and pushed him around”. All the relief material was also stolen.
In 2015, he took on Vishwa Hindu Parishad chief Pravin Togadia over his “communally charged” comments on how Muslims alone are to blame for cow slaughter in the country.
“The Hindu display of devotion towards cow is so fake and flimsy that thousands of cows are left to roam on the streets to rummage from the stinking garbage,” he said, in a statement that can be found on his website. Adding that “Prime Minister Narendra Modi should effectively put a check on the likes of Togadias”.
“It is sinister to use the cow issue to fan communal politics and to polarise votes on Hindu-Muslim lines,” he said.
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In March 2021, Microsoft announced that four previously unknown or ‘zero-day’ vulnerabilities in its Exchange Server software were being exploited by highly skilled and sophisticated hacking groups. Widespread exploitation of critical flaws in Exchange Servers 2013, 2016, 2019, and possibly 2010, began at the end of February, forcing the technology behemoth to release critical software patches in early March. Over the past few months, the types of exploitations seen vary from email account compromises to domain controller compromises, data exfiltration, and the deployment of Black Kingdom ransomware.
The Microsoft zero-day vulnerability attacks are significant because of the ubiquitous nature of the risk and the enormous number of companies that use Exchange Servers for day-to-day business operations. Furthermore, a systemic cyber event of this nature would usually be considered a rarity, but much to the concern of cyber insurers, the Exchange Server zero-day attacks followed shortly after another catastrophic cyber incident – the SolarWinds attack.
Read next: Aon on where Canadian companies need "meaningful improvement"
In December 2020, it was revealed that tech giant SolarWinds, which serves around 300,000 customers worldwide, was breached by state-sponsored hackers who abused a vulnerability on an update for its popular IT management software. SolarWinds revealed that as many as 18,000 of its customers downloaded the compromised software update, which allowed the bad actors to spy on businesses and agencies for nearly nine months.
The potential for more systemic cyberattacks of this nature - or even the possibility that huge events like SolarWinds and the Microsoft zero-day attacks will become cyber’s “new normal” - is a “very frightening prospect,” according to Katharine Hall, Aon’s cyber solutions leader in Canada. As a result, cyber insurers have reacted quickly to these events by tightening up their underwriting guidelines, reducing capacity, increasing retentions, and even introducing things like coinsurance and sublimits for ransomware.
“While we won’t get a sense of the total loss from these events for a while yet, I can pinpoint specific dates when our larger insurers called us to say: ‘We’ve looked at [these events] and we don’t think we’ve adequately represented the risk in our books, so we’re going to make these significant changes.’ Events like SolarWinds and the Microsoft zero-day vulnerability attacks made the insurance industry really analyze their books to determine whether they were collecting enough technical information to truly understand their exposure. I think a lot of insurers felt that they weren’t,” said Hall.
Read more: CNA pays out $40 million ransom to lift malware from its systems
These huge cyber events have also added urgency to the industry’s efforts to tackle the issue of “silent” non-affirmative cyber coverage, which refers to potential cyber-related losses stemming from traditional property and liability policies that were not specifically designed to cover cyber risk. Underwriters are taking hard internal looks at their books to ensure that they’re underwriting risks that they understand and that their policies were priced for.
“What we’ve found is that coverage is being stripped off all those other policies [crime, property, boiler and machinery policies] and focused on the cyber policy, and companies need to be able to articulate [the technical information] that insurers need in order to be comfortable writing the risk,” Hall told Insurance Business. “Events like SolarWinds have triggered responses from the insurance companies, and we won’t go back to how it was before. You used to be able to get a cyber insurance policy, and not have to answer one technical question. Not one! I think these events have woken the industry up to the level of detail and the level of diligence needed in order to properly understand and manage the risk.”
Related stories:
Cyberattacks by nation states are becoming more aggressive
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The Doctor and Mel welcome aboard new friend Hebe for her maiden voyage into the depths of three watery adventures
It’s been a busy year for Colin Baker, and one that’s seen him wearing many hats. In the new Doctor of War series he plays ‘the Warrior,’ an alternate version of the Doctor fighting a very different Time War. And in the final volume of Stranded he took over as a new version of the Curator. One who is either a successor of Tom Baker’s, the result of changes in the timeline, or just symbolic of some gift of the Curator to slide between incarnations at will. (To be honest, it was a little confusing.) But now he’s back in the rainbow explosion of a frock coat we know so well. Yes, the Sixth Doctor is back for three more adventures. And in Water Worlds he’s got a new friend in the form of Ruth Madeley’s Hebe Harrison.
Water Worlds works hard (and mostly succeeds) at balancing acknowledging Hebe’s wheelchair use against too many ‘teachable moments’
Ruth Madeley is, by any definition, is a bit of a casting coup for Big Finish. The BAFTA nominated actor will be most familiar to Doctor Who fans from Russell T Davies’ near future drama Years and Years. You know, the one predicting Russia would invade Ukraine and that the US Supreme Court would overturn abortion rights. As Hebe, she’s a marine biologist trying to escape a base under siege (and, really is there any other kind?) when the Doctor and Mel arrive, answering a mysterious summons. She’s also, notably, the first wheelchair user to come aboard the TARDIS.
Water Worlds works hard to strike a balance between acknowledging Hebe’s unique status and avoiding down-the-lens sermonising. It’s not always totally successful, though it settles down as the set goes on. This aspect of the set is at its best when exploring the impact of Hebe’s life experiences so far on how she views the unusual challenges of life in the TARDIS. Less successful is when Hebe is condescending to the Doctor and Mel, making (strangely unchallenged) assumptions about them. But then, those pair have more knowledge of being manhandled, imprisoned, and possessed than the average listener. So perhaps such arguments might have just blunted the central point the script is making.
Ruth Madeley joins Colin Baker and Bonnie Langford in the TARDIS in Water Worlds. Original photo (c) Joanne Warren
The Rotting Deep is straight up survival horror with something in the darkness picking off the inhabitants of a decommissioned oil rig one by one
As for the stories themselves, The Rotting Deep kicks off the action with an apt allusion to The Rime of the Ancient Mariner. “The very deep did rot: O Christ! That ever this should be! Yea, slimy things did crawl with legs. Upon the slimy sea,” goes Coldridge’s epic poem and it’s a reasonable summing up of the action here. A distress call brings the TARDIS to an old oil rig under siege by wild life gone, well… wild. Homicidal gulls (no such thing as ‘seagulls’ according to a marine biologist, though a linguist might disagree) attack from above. Meanwhile, sea stars (no such thing as ‘starfish’ either, apparently) and octopi attack from below. And in between a rum mix of survivors hope for rescue.
There’s Hebe, of course, who’s there to assess removing the decommissioned rig. She’s concerned it would do more harm than good now a reef has established itself around the rig’s concrete feet. But among the others there’s also a rather odd strand of environmentalist who wants the rig ripped out regardless of the damage to the local sealife, a celebrity host of sensationalist ‘Shark Week’ style documentaries, and A.M. the cook (James Smillie doing his best Private Frazer impression as he predicts doom an’ gloom an’ death for all, and probably the best thing in The Rotting Deep.)
The focus on introducing Hebe as a fully rounded character pushes plot to one side for a rather straightforward runaround
Perhaps in deference to the need to firmly establish Hebe as a personality, there’s not an awful lot of plot to The Rotting Deep beyond that. Various sea creatures feature in a number of tense and gripping attack scenes. Whatever is at work on the rig steadily picks off the people aboard one by one. And then the Doctor identifies both the cause and the solution. There are a shadows of what may have been a more complex script remaining. Trails of strange, unidentifiable slime and sabotaged food supplies, come to naught in the final version. While some of the deaths are unexplained, people just walking into the darkness, never to be seen again. But as a piece of straight forward survivalist horror it’s an extremely effective delivery mechanism for getting Hebe into the TARDIS.
Virge Gilchrist also stars in Water Worlds as Helias, the Gillean scientist who foretells disaster (c) Big Finish Productions
The Tides of the Moon brings our trio back four billion years to our own moon as it faces total destruction
Joshua Pruett’s The Tides of the Moon rather goes to town with the 2020 discovery of isolated water molecules trapped in rock samples retrieved from Earth’s moon. It takes the TARDIS four billion years back in time to imagine a moon almost entirely covered in ocean. A moon that’s home to the sophisticated alien civilisation of the Gilleans. Soon, the Doctor, Hebe and Mel find themselves in a distinctly Hartnell era shaped plot. With the TARDIS engines subject to some mysterious local interference, and the Gillean city, the only land available, forbidden to outsiders, the friends are stuck between a rock and a wet place. Worse, moonquakes are becoming increasingly frequent and violent, threatening the Moon’s total destruction. Of course, in the best traditions of Krypton, the Clutchfather is stubbornly refusing to listen to his head scientist’s warnings.
The central idea of immediately bringing Hebe on a tour of spectacular water worlds in a fine one. And, in retrospect, it underlines the strangeness of the 80s Doctors picking up people with very particular interests, like botany, computing, or mathematics (though not telebiogenesis) and that rarely, if ever, being a factor in where they might like to visit. But Hebe’s delight at having a whole new world of water to explore is infectious.
Hebe learns some valuable lessons vital for any TARDIS traveller and events test her in ways she didn’t expect
The Tides of the Moon also begins the process of softening some of Hebe’s more brusque and sarcastic edges. She wheels into the Gillean city like she owns the place and sees the inhabitants primarily as scientific curiosities. But that initial arrogance forces a harsh lesson. Though it’s true that rather than just grumbling, Mel could have actually said out loud how in her experience the penalty for entering forbidden cities, touching forbidden objects and, really, just about anything forbidden is always, always, death. Though you may find yourself pondering about the Gilleans having harsh laws about strangers at all, when they’re their world’s sole inhabitants.
Hebe’s character growth, like her introduction, results in a balancing act with the other needs of the plot. It’s a more intricate affair this time, with bipedal shark-creatures the Sheega invading the city each night, the missing chapters in the official Gillean history, and that countdown to destruction. But both the mystery, and the intertwined solutions, fall into pretty familiar patterns, freeing up the listener’s mental bandwidth to focus on Hebe’s reactions to it all, and the slowly growing trust and friendship between her and Mel.
Big Finish stars Bonnie Langford (Mel) and Colin Baker (the Doctor) (c) Big Finish Productions
Final story Maelstrom is the first indicator of what future adventures with Hebe as an integrated member of Team TARDIS might be like
Water Worlds concludes with Maelstrom. It’s the point at which Hebe first feels properly assimilated into this new TARDIS dynamic. It’s the first entry to feel like a story with Hebe in it, rather than a story about Hebe. As such, it’s probably our first real indicator as to what further adventures for this trio will be like. Arriving on an alien planet whose waters cover almost the entire surface, the tide almost instantly cuts our heroes off from the TARDIS. Rescued, they’re brought to an old ship doomed to a never-ending version of Noah’s voyage. Veludia has drowned in a planetwide flood, the few survivors taking to giant boats. But it’s now been centuries with no sign of the tides receding, and this last surviving ark is nearing the point of breaking up.
Maelstrom features a post-apocalyptic water world worthy of, well, Waterworld, as the Doctor, Mel, and Hebe are pulled into the ethical quandaries of survival
Writer Jonathan Morris builds Maelstrom on a central moral conundrum. The Veludians use a ‘mind-drive’ to store hundreds of minds who share a handful of available bodies as and when their skills are needed. Their entire species facing the ultimate extinction. So how can they ignore the three new bodies coming aboard giving a chance of survival? Unfortunately, all sides of the debate seem to accept that the computer files at the heart of it qualify as ‘souls.’ And even the ethics of a renegade scientist’s experiments on the local sea life is considered through the prism of what it means for the people, not the animals, caught up in them.
Similarly, the Doctor’s attempts at a resolution to the crew’s problems will divide opinion. The story presents it as an act of compassion, allowing for some element of grace and acceptance. But it may be one of the most morally outrageous abuses the Time Lord has ever committed. Which will largely depend on the listener’s point of view, metaphysics wise.
Water Worlds focus on Hebe’s character development hints at a more structured version of the Sixth Doctor’s own softening in the future
Water Worlds is a successful introduction for the Sixth Doctor’s latest companion. Hebe is a difficult character to love straight away, but there’s plenty of potential on show in these three stories. Perhaps, echoing the original plan for ‘Ol Sixey himself, her rude shell is a deliberate first stage in her journey. And, if the Sixth Doctor’s adventures have told us anything, it’s that Big Finish, and especially Jac Rayner, are the masters of that.
Doctor Who: Water Worlds. Cover by Claudia Gironi (c) Big Finish Productions
The Sixth Doctor returns, and he’s thrown straight in at the deep end! Travelling the galaxy with Melanie ‘Mel’ Bush and their brand-new companion, marine biologist Hebe Harrison, there are wonders to see, dangers to face and plenty of peril beneath the waves.
The Sixth Doctor Adventures: Water Worlds is now available to own for just £19.99 (collector’s edition CD box set + download) or £16.99 (download only) from the Big Finish website.
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Peter is a regular contributor to Blogtor Who and has also written for Doctor Who Magazine's Cosplay feature. His art was published in BBC Books' Doctor Who: 100 Illustrated Adventures, while a number of his essays appear in the You and Who series of books. He lives in Ireland with a wife who's remarkably understanding of being dragged across to the UK to take photos of him outside police boxes and a son who was plonked down in front of "Rose" at eight months old and hasn't looked back since.
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Vice President Kamala Harris, left, points to Los Angeles mayoral candidate Rep. Karen Bass, D-Calif., after speaking at a campaign rally in Los Angeles, Monday,…
Vice President Kamala Harris, left, points to Los Angeles mayoral candidate Rep. Karen Bass, D-Calif., after speaking at a campaign rally in Los Angeles, Monday, Nov. 7, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Fierce fights over US House, LA mayor top California ballot
by: MICHAEL R. BLOOD, Associated Press
Posted: Nov 7, 2022 / 05:50 PM CST
Updated: Nov 7, 2022 / 05:50 PM CST
Vice President Kamala Harris, left, points to Los Angeles mayoral candidate Rep. Karen Bass, D-Calif., after speaking at a campaign rally in Los Angeles, Monday,…
Vice President Kamala Harris, left, points to Los Angeles mayoral candidate Rep. Karen Bass, D-Calif., after speaking at a campaign rally in Los Angeles, Monday, Nov. 7, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
by: MICHAEL R. BLOOD, Associated Press
Posted: Nov 7, 2022 / 05:50 PM CST
Updated: Nov 7, 2022 / 05:50 PM CST
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Candidates across California knocked on voters’ doors and pleaded for support at rallies in a late-hour campaign push Monday, hoping to sway the outcome in races that will play into control of the U.S. House, determine the next mayor of Los Angeles and test the longstanding Democratic grip on the nation’s most populous state.
Vice President Kamala Harris campaigned on behalf of Democratic candidates at the University of California, Los Angeles, where she sought to inspire turnout in a midterm election year when the party in the White House historically loses seats in Congress.
California has a string of competitive congressional races that will play into House control, with Democrats defending their fragile majority. Harris also put in a pitch for Los Angeles mayoral candidate Karen Bass, a Democratic congresswoman who joined her on stage and could become the first woman and second Black person to hold the city’s top job.
With Republicans appearing poised to take control of the House and possibly the Senate, Harris warned of a continuing threat to reproductive rights nationwide, after the Supreme Court in June stripped away women’s constitutional protections for abortion. Echoing President Joe Biden, she also touted legislative victories that will provide more money for water and transportation projects, and warned of threats to democracy with the country politically divided.
“We know elections matter, and the stakes remain high,” Harris, a former California attorney general, told the cheering crowd. “When we fight, we win.”
There is little suspense in marquee races on the ballot: Gov. Gavin Newsom and U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla, both Democrats, are heavily favored to capture new terms after facing only token opposition from Republican rivals.
But with Biden unpopular nationally and voters pessimistic about the direction of the nation and the economy, there was a chance for House upsets even in strongly Democratic California, where the party holds every statewide office and dominates the Legislature and congressional delegation.
The Legislature was expected to remain firmly in Democratic hands, and Democrats were favored in contests for statewide offices.
The last Republican to win a statewide election in California was in 2006.
The threat of foul weather across California posed a possible challenge for Republicans, who were expected to see a large Election Day turnout at polling places after former President Donald Trump’s repeated, unfounded attacks on the security of mail ballots and election integrity.
Election Day also could provide hints about the future for Newsom and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
In recent months Newsom has fanned speculation about a possible presidential run if President Joe Biden changes direction and doesn’t seek a second term. The governor is looking for a commanding victory Tuesday, which could provide a springboard for his next step.
There also is widespread conjecture about 82-year-old Pelosi’s future if Democrats lose the House. She is expected to easily win reelection in her San Francisco district, though some speculate it could be her last term. She spoke for the first time Monday about the assault on her husband at the family’s home in San Francisco.
At a weekend rally in Long Beach, Newsom urged Democrats to shake off doubt and passivity and go to the polls.
“Don’t be pessimistic,” Newsom said. “We can turn this country around.”
In Los Angeles, Bass and rival Rick Caruso made their closing arguments, with Bass joining Harris at the UCLA rally and Caruso continuing a bus tour through the city’s neighborhoods.
With City Hall in the midst of a racism scandal that led to the resignation of the former City Council president, and over 40,000 homeless people on the streets, Bass is the Democratic establishment favorite, while Republican-turned-Democrat Caruso is testing if the city might take a turn to the political right and expand the police department.
“Is everybody going to get your ballot in?” Bass asked at the UCLA rally, setting off a peal of cheers. “We have a crisis in our city.”
Ads were running nonstop on television. In one, Bass appears with former President Barack Obama. Another spotlights the third consecutive race between U.S. Rep. Mike Garcia against Democrat Christy Smith, in a district north of Los Angeles.
Competitive House districts are something of a rarity in heavily Democratic California and cut against its national reputation as a liberal stronghold. But pockets of conservative strength remain, even as Democrats hold a commanding edge in voter registrations – nearly 2-to-1 statewide.
In a closely matched race in a district anchored in Orange County between Rep. Michelle Steel, a South Korean immigrant, and Democrat Jay Chen, a Navy reservist and the son of immigrants from Taiwan, Steel spent the final full day of campaigning reaching out to voters.
“She is knocking on doors, she is working the phones,” said campaign adviser Lance Trover. She posted photos on Twitter showing her visiting homes with Jessica Millan Patterson, chairwoman of the state GOP.
“It’s time to get inflation under control, crack down on crime and lower gas prices for working-class families,” Steel wrote.
Chen posted a photo of himself in a room crowded with volunteers, getting ready for a precinct walk. He urged supporters to “sign up for one more shift” to knock on doors in the district.
Endangered Democratic Rep. Katie Porter, who is locked in a toss-up race with Republican Scott Baugh in Orange County, urged supporters to get their ballots in.
“We can win this,” she wrote on Twitter. “Be sure to remind your friends and neighbors to make their voices heard!”
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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How Anaplan pivoted from a 1:1 direct mail strategy to a multi-touch live event campaign designed to grow pipeline.
ABM senior specialist at Anaplan
Marketing was tasked with increasing deal acceleration and engagement with top-level executives.
Anaplan’s marketing team upped its direct mail game by leveraging Sendoso to source, scale, and ship personalized corporate gifts designed to attract C-suite attention.
Results
Marketing surpassed registration and conference attendance goals for the Executive Experience at Anaplan Live!
of opportunities touched
18%
teams leveraging Sendoso
opportunities touched in the first 18 months
I think the big benefit to Sendoso is the high personalization and high value of the touch that we can do. An email can only have so much warmth in it.
Anaplan is taking personalization and high-value gifts to the next level with corporate gifts that won’t go unnoticed. It’s part of an account-based marketing (ABM) pivot designed to engage C-suite stakeholders. Anaplan paired gifts that wow with the power of Sendoso to touch an impressive number of opportunities.
Anaplan touched 42% of the total pipeline representative at Anaplan Live! within months of the company’s biggest event of the year.
It’s all part of a bigger, more strategic direct mail build-out designed to target C-suite executives.
“We’re trying to reach executives at Fortune 500 companies,” explained ABM Senior Specialist Brevan Peavey. “It’s not that easy. You’ve got an executive assistant who is gatekeeping everything.”
Multi-touch direct mail that wows
The ABM team used Sendoso, a series of integrations, and strategic gift choices to invite 400 people to the Executive Experience at Anaplan Live! But they didn’t rely on typical swag to get noticed.
Anaplan sent 300 custom coins. However their boldest play was targeting top VIPs with personalized figurines to drive registrations.
On the back end, Peavey created one campaign that contained two separate paths, using Salesforce and Marketo to integrate with Sendoso to automate each send. Direct mail was split into two tiers.
Tier 1: 300 Executive Experience invitees received a custom flip coin. One side encouraged recipients to attend Anaplan Live! in San Jose, California. The other side playfully suggested they stay home or at the office.
Tier 2: 100 VIPs received figurines designed in their likeness holding an Anaplan briefcase.
Both gifts included a physical invite to the Executive Experience and a series of targeted 1:1 emails. Account executives were tasked with following up with the tier 2 VIPs. The goal was to build a relationship between the target and the strategic growth team.
The response was strong, with registrations exceeding the team’s goal by 150%.
The direct mail didn’t stop with the impressive invites. The marketing team designed a multi-touch campaign to keep the VIPs engaged. VIPs received additional gifts two weeks before the event and after the conference.
Within weeks of the event, the campaign touched 42% of the total pipeline represented at Anaplan Live! and is expected to grow over the next 12–18 months. Peavey said he’s already been asked to run a similar campaign next year. It’s easy with the right integrations.
“Sendoso and the Marketo integration has made gifting a lot more dynamic and scalable with the click of a button.”
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Renter’s insurance is specialized insurance procured to replace items and goods that may be stolen or lost in a catastrophic event such as a fire or explosion. These items are not covered by the insurance policy of whomever owns the property that is being rented, so if you loose your valuable, autographed Magic Johnson basketball in a flood, fire or by theft without renter’s insurance, you are liable to replace it and the rest of your own goods.
Fundamentally, your renter’s insurance policy is there to protect your goods and personal property. If you are staying in someone else’s home or apartment that is furnished for you, the furnishings provided are not your goods or personal property - they belong to the property owner. You should check carefully your renter’s policy with the owner of the property, as they may stipulate that you carry a renter’s insurance policy specifically cover any damage to the furnishings on the property that are your fault. In this event, the owner may insist that you make a claim on your policy to recover the value of their items that were lost according to the rental agreement you signed.
This does not mean that if you are staying in a house or apartment that is furnished by someone else that you should not have a good renter’s insurance policy. No matter how little stuff you may think you have, you most likely still do have valuables that you would miss if they disappeared one day either by theft or accident. Protect yourself with a good policy, even if it only provides a minimal amount of coverage, and prepare for that coverage by taking inventory of your personal effects using photographs, a good list, and, if possible, receipts for your purchases, which will make filing a claim that much easier should the time ever come.
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What is Umbrella Insurance?
The best way to think of umbrella insurance is as extra coverage in case your insurance maximums on your home or auto are reached and surpassed in an incident. Typically umbrella coverage is only needed or picked up by those who have assets in excess of $100,000 that can be sued [...]
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Sally Thorne is the USA Today bestselling author of THE HATING GAME, 99 PERCENT MINE, SECOND FIRST IMPRESSIONS and ANGELIKA FRANKENSTEIN MAKES HER MATCH. She spends her days climbing into fictional worlds of her own creation. She lives in Canberra, Australia, with her husband in a house filled with vintage toys, too many cushions, a haunted dollhouse and the world’s sweetest pug.
Books by Sally Thorne
by Sally Thorne - Comedy, Historical Fiction, Historical Romance, Humor, Romance, Women's Fiction
For generations, every Frankenstein has found their true love and equal, unlocking lifetimes of blissful wedded adventure. Clever, pretty (and odd) Angelika Frankenstein has run out of suitors and fears she may become the exception to this family rule. When assisting in her brother Victor’s ground-breaking experiment to bring a reassembled man back to life, she realizes that having an agreeable gentleman convalescing in the guest suite might be a chance to let a man get to know the real her. For the first time, Angelika embarks upon a project that is all her own. When her handsome scientific miracle sits up on the lab table, her hopes for an instant romantic connection are thrown into disarray. Her resurrected beau has total amnesia and is solely focused on uncovering his true identity.
Second First Impressions
by Sally Thorne - Comedy, Fiction, Romance, Women's Fiction
Position Vacant: Two ancient old women residing at Providence Retirement Villa seek male assistant for casual exploitation and good-natured humiliation. The salary is generous and the employers are 90 years old, so how hard could the job be? Ruthie Midona will work in Providence’s front office, and be at the beck and call of the wealthy and eccentric Parloni Sisters, forever. Teddy Prescott devotes his life to sleeping, tattooing and avoiding seriousness. When Teddy needs a place to crash, he makes a deal with his developer dad. Teddy can stay in one of Providence’s on-site maintenance cottages but only if he works there and starts to grow up. An unimpressed Ruthie knows how this sweetly selfish rich boy can earn his keep --- and be out of her hair in under a week. After all, there is a position vacant.
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Stookey Companies is a family-owned promotion business that has been in existence for over 15 years in Iowa.
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The Financial services industry is comprised of investment firms, brokerage houses, banks, insurance companies, credit and payment processing companies, real estate companies, and other businesses. This industry has also experienced globalization, as companies such as Berkshire Hathaway (founded in 1839) are focused on offering credit cards and travel services. Some of these companies are listed below. Despite the changes in the financial industry, some of the major players continue to thrive.
Regulatory environment
The European Economic Area (EEA) has a regulatory regime that aims to protect retail customers and imposes onerous requirements on firms. The resulting regulatory environment is difficult for financial services businesses. While national regulators are generally concerned with protecting consumers, other issues are more specific to the industry. For example, EU law has strict requirements for the design and manufacture of credit cards and e-money products. In addition, consumer protection laws and expectations for advice have also been tightened.
In the late 1980s and early 2000s, banks began merging to form a single, larger banking sector. The changes made to the regulatory system encouraged consolidation of bank operations. Technological advances made it possible for banks to offer their services at lower cost. While the benefits of consolidation to institutions are clear, they may not be as apparent to consumers. Consumers may associate consolidation with closing down bank branches. In reality, these types of mergers often result in fewer branch closures, a lower overall interest rate, and a smoother customer transition.
As the fintech ecosystem grows, big banks have not taken a standard approach to partnering with startups and fintechs. Instead, they have developed in-house incubators, partnerships, white labelling strategies, and internal digital platforms to build out new services. Some big banks are already doing this, with JPMorgan Chase’s recent launch of a new digital bank in the United Kingdom and Capital One’s assertive approach to digital banking.
Investment banks
The role of investment banks is to provide financial services for big projects. They help companies raise capital for expansion and research, and they act as middlemen to channel money into specific projects. Their clients generally require more complex financing than most businesses, so they provide a variety of services. Listed companies tend to use investment banks for these purposes, and many others turn to them for their expertise and recommendations. Read on to learn more about the role of investment banks in the world of finance.
Discount brokerages
There are several major differences between discount and full service brokerages. Discount brokerages do not provide investment advice or a wide range of other services, such as tax planning and estate planning. They also charge higher fees because they are actively managed. While many retail investors opt for full service brokers, some do not need such robust services and prefer to save money on trading commissions. In these cases, discount brokerages may be an attractive alternative.
Insurance companies
A subset of financial services is insurance, and a company can provide a variety of services to protect an individual or business from the risk of loss. These services include coverage for liability, property damage, and death. In addition to insurance carriers, some companies provide agents and brokers to help customers select the right policies. Underwriters evaluate the risks and liabilities of insuring clients, and they may also serve as financial advisers to investment banks. Insurers often sell reinsurers to protect themselves from catastrophic losses.
Transaction accounts in financial services are common types of bank accounts that give customers instant access to their money. They are designed to provide the cash liquidity required to pay bills and make daily purchases. Checking accounts are an example of transaction accounts, which have high liquidity requirements and are ideal for day-to-day spending. In contrast, savings accounts do not earn interest and are generally used for storing money for long periods of time. But both transaction accounts and savings accounts have their benefits.
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Posted by revenaisreve on September 29, 2017 at 6:03 pm
So we have all our bases covered, let’s talk about each of the fragments? I think it would be cool to write something short about them, one by one, starting with the Fraylily and moving down to fragment 15. Just post a few sentences or a paragraph of your reaction to what happened at that time?
Rimor replied 5 years, 2 months ago 5 Members · 6 Replies
Member
September 29, 2017 at 6:59 pm
I don’t know if you wanted one person to take each fragment, or what. But once I started I couldn’t stop so here’s all of them from my perspective.
I’d say just talk that you’re moved to talk about and the fragments you cared about.
Fraylily 1: I arrived just after this but reading back on it felt like an epic journey. It’s amazing how hard I felt it was to truly catch up to what was going on, given later people had to do the same thing only 13 or 14 times longer.
Eye of the Moons 2: King Rabbit touched my psyche in inappropriate ways. Here’s let’s send you stalker pictures of an innocent woman’s backside as I follow her around for dark reasons. All the while let me bombard you with clues and nag and harass you when you aren’t fast enough for my unclear, but terribly important, timetable. Best. villain / secret helper. Ever. Solving these puzzles felt like a true challenge, and was when I realized what a great team we already had here among the Mountaineers.
Obenhedge 3: The Minnying of Ojarad was at the same time ultimately frustrating, yet simply elegant. No attempt to find a deeper meaning behind this ever bore fruit that I saw, and I spend dozens of hours looking for one. In the end, we just had to compile the poem in order. On the plus side this was the first time I got to speak with Cole Sumner. Cole remains one of my favorite people to this day.
Siren’s Lace 4: Imagine a Sudoku, a crossword puzzle, a game of 80’s trivial pursuit, a session of D&D and travel guide to New York city walk into your room and say they’re going to take you on a magical train ride to magic-town. Then imagine you’re chasing a ground breaking prodigy child from 30 years ago while being harassed and stalked by a group of cloaked wearing weirdoes. Then imagine this is a dream, and you wake up and find out reality is even better. That was Fragment 4. Fragment 4 should have a place in the Smithsonian so future generations can finally solve the parts we couldn’t figure out…like where those bloody block maps went, or which cat or frog statues we were supposed to be using.
But when fragment 4 finally finished, and we learned about Sacha I think it’s safe to say we all felt all the feels.
Brachursis 5: Fragment 5 was mostly a scene setting Fragment. We deciphered a document, I got to use flag semaphore for the first time in a dozen years. This fragment was the gateway to our introduction to the Cagliostro and Lauren, so it was well worth the trip.
Galluskulk 6: Oh dear heavens, the Map of Fairyland. I stared at that map at least two hours a day for weeks. If Fragment 5 was a 100 yard dash, this fragment was a marathon. Ten clues. One massive map. Good luck. In the end the Book of Briars itself had to step in and tell us when we were right, because otherwise we would have gone back and forth about the meaning of each clue forever. If there was a mountain to climb, it was this fragment. Every clue solved felt like an epic accomplishment, and we worked very hard for every step we moved ahead.
Furomaris 7: Lauren and Cole meeting at the Morgan library is what most people remember of this fragment, as well they should. But before we even got there there was a month of reading through old books, counting every single word, and piecing together Sullivan’s path through the world as he prepared to cast his protection spell on young Deidre. We began to learn some truths about what was going on, and the depth of the rabbit hole we had found in that first well were truly awesome. Then came the Last Translation, and the terror of what could be found beyond the veil sank in a bit.
Tigranula 8: Our first spell. It was crazy and impossible to try, but no one hesitated a second to jump into it. I played mostly the role of magimystic administrative assistant, making sure things moved along and every knew what to do. From the end of fragment 7 to when the spell was completed was only a matter of hours. But those hours set a tone, and empowered us in ways none of us could imagine in the story of the Book of Briars.
Galifanx 9: Another page from a mysterious journal arrived. Clues of the heavens led to us to creating some intricate wheels of the heavens. As with other first fragments this set up the groundwork of what was to come.
Gladitor 10: Ah Kemetic Soultions. We barely knew how much we’d come to hate you. This was our introduction to Aether and his strange predicament.
Durkonos 11: I’m going to do this without screaming in anger or crying…probably. First off. Kemetic Solutions would be like if you took King Rabbit, cloned him a bunch of times and made them cyborg nazis on top of everything else. I haven’t been so angry in a long, long time at the thought of them torturing children on that chair . I quit trying to open the Book of Briars for six hours before finally turning my anger into a more righteous fury to be used against these people. But in the end, it was connecting with Augernon and Marty that really hit home. Both tormented men in their own ways. Both got a bit of chance to express their pain here, and I swear I’m not crying, you’re crying.
Aorthora 12: I actually wasn’t around a lot for fragment 12. Changing jobs kept me busy, but I listened along with everyone as Marty and Aether moved through Kemetic Solutions, and the final encounter within. What happened was a briliant encounter and very satisfying ending. At least until the original Book burned. I must have sat there for an hour just staring at it. Not sure how we could ever get past this moment. Definitely my darkest moment in this whole journey.
Inlaudetus 13: Talking to Augie again…for the first time was incredibly powerful. Could we change things? Should we change things? Do we even know what things to change? It was here we began to see the ultimate plan to opening the Book of Briars. It was here we really had to weigh our actions against our goals.
Obscuirotempus 14: Knatz, our later Benefactor. Never have I so badly not wanted to solve a fragment. Every time we had to implant thoughts in her head was like a stab in the neck to me. I have personal issues with the concept of controlling or directing another person’s thoughts. I’m not going to lie, I felt bad every time we sent her another dream. I was not comfortable mucking around in someone’s head, and I was relieved when we were done.
Gnascorius 15: Ascender has always been one of our greatest inspirations, and one of our greatest enigmas. How did we manage to have that long a conversation with him, and still manage to find out almost nothing more about him? He’s good, that’s how. Moving the Book to our time. The preparations. The encounter with the Storm. Deidre’s brilliance. The heartbreak and fear we felt about losing Marty. I have never been prouder to be a Mountaineer than I was in this fragment.
Member
September 29, 2017 at 9:12 pm
Is it okay if I talk about Assessment 3?
Member
September 29, 2017 at 9:34 pm
You talk about whatever you think will help make the Book whole again, 5.
Member
September 30, 2017 at 12:14 am
Fraylily 1: I wasn’t actually around for this fragment, but I remember in later fragments, coming back to the things that went on here and feeling bad that we roped in this seemingly random Tumblr user into our antics.
Eye of the Moons 2: This was my introduction to the Book and the forum and, well…I didn’t totally understand what was going on? At this point, my mind hadn’t totally wrapped around the world and the story. But I knew we had to watch videos of fields and find secret words.
Brandon… When I think of all the people who we couldn’t save, I feel the worst about not being able to help him. We didn’t even know what we were doing when we were posting on Deeds’ blog. We learned more about Cole, although at the price of frightening him with a strange dream.
Siren’s Lace 4: Wow. Talk about feels. We finally learn who Brandon was, and we learn the heartbreaking backstory of Sacha and the way her noble mission was tainted over time. I remember having a lot of fun with this fragment, and it was absolutely massive, and a little stressful, but it also felt cool to be a kind of secret agent. Looking back on it, the twists and turns in this fragment alone were just absolutely mindblowing. I was also massively digging those D&D vibes, and piecing together someone’s campaign notes was really neat.
Brachursis 5: I feel like I was comatose for this fragment, but I think it’s because it was solved very quickly. I do remember feeling like a cool hackercat for getting into someone’s email address.
Galluskulk 6: Ah, yes, the unknown illiomancer. I actually don’t remember much of this fragment, except that I’m pretty sure fragment 6 is when I thought to contact Marty. I just remember being like “Heyyy, we have this email here, and we vaguely know who he is…so let’s give it a shot?”
I’m not sure we ever quite learned about Marty’s mysterious connection to The Cagliostro, now that I think of it.
Furomaris 7: The race against Lauren to get Seven Cradle Songs. We were all really stressed out at this point, and we didn’t quite know what to expect when Cole got to the library. During this time, I also remember emailing with Marty…we didn’t know if we could trust him yet, but we were trying to leverage the information from Cags’ emails in order to get more information.
Towards the end of 7 and beginning of 8, we also had a big debate on what to do with the Calling of the Corners spell, and if we should give it to Lauren or not. Some of us really want to help Cags, but no one knew what would happen if Lauren performed the spell, and we were worried about the after effects. We didn’t want to cause more harm than good.
Tigrantula 8: This fragment was an absolute whirlwind. I think this was the fastest spell we ever did, aside from the very brief spell we did with the book quotes to fend off the Storm. This was our first spell and we didn’t quite know what would happen… There was a lot of excitement in that, I think.
However…there was also a lot of sadness in this fragment. The final performance of The Cagliostro. We couldn’t save him. I am still broken up about this.
“Perhaps I have traveled beyond the lying veil, to the source of all this power. Or perhaps I am atoms scattered in the dark. Either way, I am free.”
Galifanx 9: This was another fast and furious fragment. We learned that Lauren knew about us, and she gave us some useful information. I feel a little naive back in this fragment, having no idea of what was to come…
Gladitor 10: Marty returns! But he brought with him some bad news. He’d been researching Kemetic Solutions, and his photos revealed secret messages. A plea for help. Nobody knew who Aether was, or Constance. But we found Constance on Tumblr, I messaged her and she helped up piece together the Joradian Safeguard.
Durkonos 11: Everything about this fragment broke my heart. Constance lost her memory, just like the rest of Aether’s friends and family. The Low podcast, reminding us of the Cagliostro. Marty opened up to us about his past, the struggles he went through after the Lachmann case. And the hunt for “B Sanvig” leading us to poor Augernon, who sacrificed himself to save his friends from the Storm. But there was also the Oracular Eye. We chose hope and illumination. We are not a group that despairs. I’ll always remember that.
Aorthora 12: This fragment was an absolute punch to the gut. We did the coolest magiq ever, the blindfold spell was probably my favorite spell we’ve ever done. And we did something amazing, more than mundane, as Aether said. But… Itsuki’s dead. Marty, Aether, Portentia, and Climber were in danger. And Sacha wasn’t a bad person, she was literally being brainwashed. And at the end… we got the fragment, but at what cost? The Book and the Council sacrificed itself to save us.
Inlaudetus 13: Ha, the start of our time journey, which freaked us all out. None of us knew what to expect, and that was scary. But it lead us to Augernon, and he lead us to the fragment. It felt like there were so many ethical debates, about time travel, about taking the book from the past.
This fragment we got to know Knatz, and follow her on her reluctant journey. I felt weird and sad influencing her dreams, but I’m glad it worked out okay in the end. That last message broke my heart though, the final words of the ’94 Mountaineers…
Gnascorius 15: We finally learned more about Ascender and who he was, why he was as cryptic in the modern day as he was. He sacrificed so much for us. And learning the fate of Teddy…wow, just surreal. Facing the Storm was scary and surreal, but the whole thing will be defined by my fear of Marty sacrificing himself. I was so worried about him, and him being safe and the Book being back in action made me feel so much better.
Looking back on it all… This past year was filled with so much wonder, but so much loss at the same time. Not everyone has made it on this long climb to the top of the mountain. Brandon, the ’94s, Sullivan, the Cagliostro, Itsuki, Nate… Even Augernon and Constance and Sacha… I’m sad that they can’t experience this with us, but I know we have to continue on for their sakes.
Member
September 30, 2017 at 12:34 am
But there was also the Oracular Eye. We chose hope and illumination. We are not a group that despairs. I’ll always remember that.
This is one of my first, and fondest memories of the Fragments. Finding this incredible lost piece of magiq on our own doorstep, reading what it’s fiery beauty revealed and mulling over it’s cryptic prophecies and what they meant has left an indelible mark on my memories of Basecamp and the Book of Briars.
Member
October 1, 2017 at 3:05 pm
My best memory has to be in Fragment 13 when @Robert said “I may have eaten the Time Donut”
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This site contains all you need to know about the Summer Research Opportunities Programme (SROP) hosted in the tri-campus University of Toronto Psychology Department, Graduate School of Management, and the Rotman Research Institute.
Info for Students
Info for Faculty
Frequently Asked Questions
Application Building Activities
Would you please provide instructions for writing the research statement?
Posted bypagegould November 6, 2020 November 9, 2020 Posted inFAQ, Student Application, Students
The goal of the SROP is to support your path to graduate school in Psychology, Management, or Neuroscience. In graduate school, you will need to have a research focus. While you do not need to know that focus precisely now, the SROP is designed for students who are considering a research career. So, if you are considering a career in research, what do you want to study? What skills or experiences do you have that you think will be useful in a research environment? These are the things that we hope to learn about you through your Research Statement.
The primary goal of your research statement is to describe your research interests. We want to know more about the topics that you are passionate about researching and what you find interesting about them. We want to know about the methods or skills that you seek to gain through more training, as well as research skills or relevant experience that you already have.
By “research interests,” we mean: What topics you want to research? What knowledge do you want to discover or share with the world? It is fine if your research interests are specific (“morality”) or broad (“psychology”); What matters is that you feel compelled to know more about the topic.
You have 250 words for the research statement. Typically, academic sentences are about 20 – 25 words, which means you have about 10 – 13 sentences in total. Here is an example of how you might use these sentences:
It is best to begin with a clear statement of research interests as Sentence 1.
For Sentences 2 – 3, it would be good to define, elaborate on, or provide more nuance about your research interests. If you can cite past research or describe the relevance to a cultural event, those two things are both compelling.
For sentences 4 – 6, you might try to briefly connect your overall research interests to each of the faculty research projects that you identify in your application. For each faculty research project you identify in your application, describe how the project is relevant to your research interests described in the first 3 sentences.
Now would be a good time for a new paragraph! For Sentence 7, you might describe the skills that you will bring to the research project (e.g., good people skills, experience with statistics).
For Sentences 8 and 9, you could describe how you gained the skills you described in Sentence 7
For the remaining Sentences 10 – 13, you would say what skills or experiences you are specifically hoping to gain as a budding researcher by participating in the SROP. If you want to be really fancy, then you could connect what you want to gain from the SROP to your research interests from Sentence 1 (e.g., how the SROP will help equip you to embark on your own future programme of research).
Please note that you do not need to use the structure described above. We are providing this template to help people who are not sure where to start write a strong statement. We invite you to write a statement that inspires you: If it inspires you, then it will inspire us.
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When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” – Luke 3:21-22 NIV
There is something that we tend to forget, as children of God. In our day to day lives, we forget that we are already loved. We forget that we are already redeemed. We forget that we are already forgiven. We tend to subconsciously work for our salvation. We work to please God. Yes, it is true that our actions should be done for God’s glory. But we do them out of love, not to gain His approval. We already have His approval. Once we accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we cannot become move loved than we already are.
A couple of years ago, pastor Louie Giglio released an exceptional book called Not Forsaken. It is an eye opening book, that helps us to see our relationship with our Heavenly Father in a new light. Around the time when he released this book, the morning show on my local radio station had him on the air (The Morning Cruise on the Joy FM). You can hear one of the clips here. It was two years ago, but something that Louie Giglio said stuck with me:
I think so many people are living FOR something, instead of living FROM something. When Jesus was baptized the Father didn’t say, “This is my beloved Son and we’ll see how He does. This is my beloved Son, and you know what? We’re gonna give Him three years.” He said, “This is my Son, in Him I am well pleased.” He hadn’t walked on water, He hadn’t fed five thousand, He had not raised the dead, nor healed the sick, or died for our sins. What had He done? Oh, He was a Loved Son. That’s who He was. So Jesus moves out into this public ministry FROM acceptance and FROM the blessing, not FOR acceptance and FOR the blessing. And so many people are confused about who they are. And they’re floundering looking FOR the acceptance, looking FOR the blessing. When God wants them to know they already HAVE the acceptance and they already HAVE the blessing. And that’s where they live FROM now, as they move out to do and be the people he’s created them to be. – Louie Giglio
How amazing it is to know that we are fully loved and fully accepted. I pray we can keep this in mind today and everyday. Let our words and actions be for God’s honor and glory. But let us remember that we are not working for approval. We already have it. Thanks to Jesus. God loves us beyond measure. It is not something we earned. His love is a precious gift that we received, as His children.
If you are also participating in the Gratitude Challenge, today is day 74 of 100. We are getting close to the finish line!
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com
7 Comments on “Luke 3”
December 3, 2021
I’m thankful that we are loved unconditionally and accepted in Jesus. We don’t have to work to earn that acceptance. We live in a works based society so that can be a difficult concept to grasp at times but it’s true. Thanks Bridget!
LikeLiked by 1 person
December 3, 2021
You are right, it can be difficult to grasp. But if we can get into this mindset, we will have so much freedom from the chains that we have wrapped around ourselves. Thank you for stopping by, Dawn!
LikeLiked by 1 person
December 3, 2021
Doing things From a place of acceptance and blessing – wow, that blew my mind a bit. I like how it was explained.
I think it is a fine line that can get misunderstood easily – doing things for God in response to His love and grace and doing it for his acceptance
Enjoyed todays study Bridget 🤗
LikeLiked by 1 person
December 3, 2021
You are absolutely right, it can be a very fine line. It might take a lot of intentional seeking to see what motives are in our hearts. When we find we are trying to gain approval, we can prayerfully hand it over to God. But that might mean doing so, many times over! Thanks, Manu! You always give me extra input to ponder, and I love that!
LikeLiked by 1 person
December 3, 2021
we got
blessed
as in third James
dig?
LikeLiked by 1 person
December 5, 2021
“We tend to subconsciously work for our salvation.” This is so true! I especially liked the clip from the author and how he points out that Jesus steps from faith, acceptance, and blessing rather than for those things. This is such an important lesson for us to understand that we have the same authority and can move forward from that authority and acceptance, and not have to seek it, because we already have it. Additionally the lineage caught my attention as well, some amazing names who represent faith and righteousness!
A verse I have written in a journal, that I go to and speak out when I feel there is something preventing me or my family from something is Zechariah 4:7. In the verse Zerubbabel, who is in the lineage of Joseph, says “who are you o great mountain that stands before me? You shall become a mere molehill…”. I heard this in a sermon from Joel Osteen in 2010. He pointed out that too many times we talk to God or complain about how big the mountain is, but we should be talking to the mountain about how big God is. And that when we speak with the authority of the Son of the Most High God, all the armies of Heaven are behind us. Jesus clearly stepped into His role FROM that authority.
LikeLiked by 1 person
December 5, 2021
You make a great point. Too often when we face a trial, we fret and worry and dread the outcome. But God goes before us and He has already sent victory into motion. What an amazing God we have! Thank you so much for sharing that!
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July 16, 2020 PFLAGLI Assisted Reproductive Technology, coronavirus baby, coronavirus in utero, covid baby, COVID-19, Covid-19 in utero, In the News, Science, Surrogacy
Researchers said the case strongly suggests that Covid-19 can be transmitted in utero. Both the mother and baby have recovered.
Researchers on Tuesday reported strong evidence that the Covid-19 can be transmitted from a pregnant woman to a fetus in utero.
A baby born in a Paris hospital in March to a mother with Covid-19 tested positive for the virus and developed symptoms of inflammation in his brain, said Dr. Daniele De Luca, who led the research team and is chief of the division of pediatrics and neonatal critical care at Paris-Saclay University Hospitals. The baby, now more than 3 months old, recovered without treatment and is “very much improved, almost clinically normal,” Dr. De Luca said, adding that the mother, who needed oxygen during the delivery, is healthy.
Dr. De Luca said the virus appeared to have been transmitted through the placenta of the 23-year-old mother.
Since the pandemic began, there have been isolated cases of newborns who have tested positive for the coronavirus, but there has not been enough evidence to rule out the possibility that the infants became infected by the mother after they were born, experts said. A recently published case in Texas, of a newborn who tested positive for Covid-19 and had mild respiratory symptoms, provided more convincing evidence that transmission of the virus during pregnancy can occur.
In the Paris case, Dr. De Luca said, the team was able to test the placenta, amniotic fluid, cord blood, and the mother’s and baby’s blood.
The testing indicated that “the virus reaches the placenta and replicates there,” Dr. De Luca said. It can then be transmitted to a fetus, which “can get infected and have symptoms similar to adult Covid-19 patients.”
A study of the case was published on Tuesday in the journal Nature Communications.
Dr. Yoel Sadovsky, executive director of Magee-Womens Research Institute at the University of Pittsburgh, who was not involved in the study, said he thought the claim of placental transmission was “fairly convincing.” He said the relatively high levels of the coronavirus found in the placenta and the rising levels of virus in the baby and the evidence of placental inflammation, along with the baby’s symptoms, “are all consistent with SARS-CoV-2 infection.”
Still, Dr. Sadovsky said, it is important to note that cases of possible coronavirus transmission in utero appear to be extremely rare. With other viruses, including Zika and rubella, placental infection and transmission is much more common, he said. With the coronavirus, he said, “we are trying to understand the opposite — what underlies the relative protection of the fetus and the placenta?”
NYTimes.com, July 16, 2020 by Pam Belluck
Click here to read the entire article.
The post Baby Was Infected With Covid-19 in Utero, Study Reports appeared first on Time For Families.
Source: Time for Families
PFLAG Long Island is a part of a national organization of parents, families, friends and allies united with the LGBTQ community to move equality forward. Our meetings include lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning persons, as well as parents, allies and friends who all share their experiences. We provide an opportunity for dialogue about sexual orientation and gender orientation, in a friendly, confidential and supportive environment.
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After a year of monitoring and five weeks of reviewing questionnaires, I'm ready to name the finalists for CRM Watchlist 2013. Remember, these aren't the winners. Each winner will get a review. This is just a list. There is SO much more analysis coming it will make your head spin.
Okay, ladies and gents, it’s time to get down. This is the first of the announcements after having been over let’s just say a large number of questionnaires with lots of pages (ranging from 9 to 56), completely eliminating my holidays – okay, not completely. I managed to get in a party, meal and celebratory libation – or two – or three.
What’s a constant source of delight and amazement to me is how much things change over a year and yet…they don’t really. There are companies that are consistently on the list year over year and make me look really good about what I said because they had an impact. Yet, mixed among those companies are a significant number of companies who emerge as likely players in 2013 due to their combination of top flight products, great management, wise strategies, solid thinking, visionary execution, great cultures, intersection of market trends and a little luck, pure and simple.
Make no mistake about it; even though there is no set number of winners, it is very difficult to win a place on the Watchlist. In 2013, as I will explain below, I made it even harder and you might see a number of companies who you would expect to ordinarily be on the Watchlist not on it. There will be multiple reasons for that. You’ll know all in due time.
What is the Watchlist?
For the novices out there, the CRM Watchlist has been around 5 years as of 2013. It’s an award designed to single out technology companies that will have a significant impact in the coming year in the market with customers, and in the industry they represent. It skews to the larger companies rather than the smaller companies simply because larger more established companies have a better chance to win because they can afford to do those things that have an impact more so than small companies can. However, small companies are definitely in the mix and thus are often among the winners – because they wow me with their stuff and they tend to flow with the trends in the market.
Apparently, companies place some credence in the Watchlist because I had 153 entrants this year (of 173 registrations) and some from incredible companies that I didn’t know.
Just to be clear and to meet whatever regulatory requirements I have to:
Many of the companies that are finalists and possible winners in 2013 are or were my clients
Many of the companies that didn’t make the finals but entered are or were my clients.
Many of the companies who didn’t enter are or were my clients.
Many of the companies who are finalists and possible winners aren’t or weren’t my clients.
Many of the companies that didn’t make the finals aren’t or weren’t my clients.
Many of the companies that didn’t enter aren’t or weren’t my clients.
I will be willing to let you know which winners are or were my clients if you’d like to know. Just pop me a line at my email – [email protected] after they are announced.
To be entirely clear, even though wildly different standards and rules applied, the same deal has always applied. There are no biases either positive or negative based on my being paid for the consulting or thought leadership that I provided to them. Zero. The above six statements stand. As do I, on principle.
There is a sea change in how I’m dealing with the contest this year – and it will be the reason that there are some expected companies not on the list. For the last four years of the contest, I pretty much did all the work. In the beginning of the year I would start by tracking upwards of 200 companies that I was interested in and by the time of the Watchlist, I had a pretty solid picture of what I thought the companies were doing and what they were up to. After reviewing what I had, I would have an open enrollment period where companies who I hadn’t tracked could request a questionnaire that they had to fill out. Typically I would get about 80 or more requests for the questionnaire in the two-week period. Then I would evaluate the 200 plus open enrollments and reduce it by about 70% to about 60-70 finalists. Each of those finalists would be evaluated by a fairly large set of weighted criteria. After evaluation scores were tallied, typically, there were three categories that the finalists fell into. The scores showed me a guaranteed winner, a guaranteed no go and a judgment call. Typically, the largest group fell into the judgment call area. It worked out to a modified version of a bell curve if I have to give it a name. Maybe I’ll turn the Watchlist into The 56 Group Bell Curve for Market Impact. My very own Magic Quadrant or Enterprise Wave. Kidding. Totally kidding.
When it got to a judgment call, a number of things played into it. First, the granular scoring. These were weighted categories. If they scored well in the areas that I cared about the most – that was a good thing. If they were a clearly established company, two things could matter – did I see them as stagnant or did I see them wielding their size in ways that had an impact and an even more likely impact in the upcoming year. Also, I would discuss the company with my friends who also do what I do. Then I would make the call. About 25-30 or more made the winners circle. Each of those got a full bore written review. In fact, if you’re interested, I’ve got an eBook of the 2012 CRM Watchlist, which includes 110 pages of reviews of the Watchlist winners. Again, you want it, request it at [email protected] and it is yours free of charge.
There was also a 6 month review list – a list of companies that I felt were short on a few things that they needed to do to have an impact. I gave them 6 months to take care of those things and would see if they should be put on the list. Problem is of course, I am not so stupid to think that these companies – or any of the winners either – read the reviews – 6 months or otherwise, and said, “hey, whoa, we need to drop what we’re doing and get onto Paul’s stuff right away. To hell with everything else! Move it, everyone! You read what Paul said!!” Uh. Huh. So, needless to say, for example, none of the companies on the 2012 6 months review list managed to make the winners circle after the reviews were done – 8 months later. Okay, so I’m not so prompt. Sue me.
While I’m thrilled that the Watchlist has actually become meaningful to many of the companies that are participants, I also know how much of my time it actually takes. It’s not a metaphorical statement or a funny one when I say it takes up my entire end of year and well into the beginning of the New Year. That’s in addition to the fact I monitor and assess around 200 companies throughout the year as part of my normal work. So I decided to make some changes and there is one big rule change for this year.
For the first time, in order to qualify for the Watchlist at all, a company had to request and fill out a questionnaire. There were no exceptions to this.
That means, even if I normally track you and even if you are a huge company who will obviously have an impact in the coming year and even if you’ve won the award in the past, if your company doesn’t submit the questionnaire by the due date, you can’t even qualify.
There are two exceptions, neither of whom have to fill out the questionnaire.
One exception to the rule is the Lifetime Achievement Award, which was instituted in 2012 with the first winner ever, Peppers and Rogers Group. This year’s will be announced next week as the opening of the CRM Watchlist 2013 awards. Right now my lips are sealed.
The second exceptions is the winners of CRM Idol are guaranteed a winning place on the Watchlist. You win CRM Idol, you win the Watchlist. You’ll see the names of the CRM Idol 2012 winners in the finalist list below but trust me, they won.
Beginning in February 2012, I put out the call for the Watchlist 2013. Get a registration form which gave me contact information, when it was submitted, you get the Watchlist 2012 yearbook and the appropriate questionnaire – either the vendor questionnaire or the consulting/systems integrator questionnaire. Those are the two categories that are judged. There is no and will never be a cost for this competition so the only thing I required was that if you submitted the registration it was with the intent to submit the questionnaire because as soon as you registered I began to track you for the Watchlist. The response was surprising. I had 173 requests for the questionnaire. Far more than expected. The other thing that I felt warm and fuzzy about was that all the winners from last year except one requested it. Needless to say, that one won’t win this year. I will also let you know who probably would have won but didn’t because they didn’t submit the questionnaire. Yeah, I’ll out them unless I have a change of heart.
So, I have all the questionnaires now. Evaluations for the finalists are now done.
There will be a new set of Watchlist posts that will be somewhat different than last year. It will go like this:
The Rules, Criteria and the Finalists List – That would be this post. See below for the criteria and the finalists.
The CRM Watchlist Lifetime Achievement Award – This is an institution that is related to the technology industry that has done exemplary work and has had continuous impact for a long, long time.
The CRM Watchlist Winners List -This is just a winner’s list not the reviews or analysis. Weirdly, this post was my highest viewed post of 2012. Not sure why but it was.
The CRM Watchlist broken down by categories – This is several posts that will roughly organize the winners into the categories that they approximately fit. This is a fluid group because the winners are tied to the trends in the market as well as their own independent impact “index.”
In addition to the elimination of the 6 months review I’m adding two new categories to the winners. A very small handful of companies who didn’t win (1-2 in each category) will be named either Ready to Leap or One To Watch.
Ready to Leap
This is a company that is a year or so away from being a real impact player in the market. There are usually just one or two things that prevent it this time. But they are definitely close. These qualified as finalists but typically at the very low end of the scale because they are a year away. They are awesome companies and well worth knowing now because you get in before they become too good for you (Uh, LOL here. Kidding.)
One to Watch
I don’t think I could have been a whole lot clearer about this contest being skewed to larger and more mature companies. The winners will tend to be companies that have invested the time, effort and have the product and management chops to really whack the market, even with shortcomings. But there are a few entries that are babes in the woods that have a thing about them that stands out no matter how completely new they are. I’ll give them, (and the Ready to Leapers) a badge for display because they are worth tracking over time. They just need to mature.
As you would imagine, a lot factors in to the choices of a winner when it comes to the Watchlist. So I’m going to give you what criteria are considered, though I won’t tell you how I weigh them – and that has a significant impact on the scoring and the judgment calls.
As stated for the 8th time, being a large established company that has substantial market presence already improves your chances for victory. But it doesn’t guarantee it. If you are a smaller company, you really have to wow me. Every year, several companies do. For example, last year, Blackbaud, which isn’t a small company, but was not often on the radar screens in the CRM world then, had the highest scores of any contestant. Nexj who are focused on the insurance industry and health services was a “walk on” – a company that filled out the questionnaire who I had never heard of. They were a winner too. Check out the finalist list. You’ll see now familiar names.
So here are the criteria and an explanation of each.
Financial Performance -. How well has the company done in the last 12 months? Part of this is for understanding how the candidate companies think about their top and bottom lines. How well have you done year over year? Why? Because I need to be able to gauge the success you're having as a business and the stability you have relative to your financial performance. How important is that relative to the other criteria? If you know me, you'll have a good guess. If you don't, try to find out. But not from me
Management - This is a look at who the candidate companies' top and CRM/SCRM management are. Remember this is a CRM Watchlist so there are two things that I'm looking at. First, the management that is directly involved in CRM or the component technologies that are relevant to this. So it might be a VP of Product Development or Product Marketing for example. Second the C-suite commitment to the CRM or, again, component technologies relative to the rest of the portfolio of products and services.
State of Technology Products/Services - Since I'm looking at both technology companies and the consulting services providers, the product portfolios that are appropriate to the Watchlist from the vendors and the services provided by the SI/Consulting firms in the CRM(ish) domains are obviously something that I have to look at thoroughly. The way I look at them - quality of the existing portfolios; the road maps; appropriateness to the market; customer perceptions of the value-in-use of the products. How well they support the jobs customers want them for - not the feature function list.
Partnerships/Alliances - who do these companies, hang out with- at least the tech vendors and the SI/consulting institutions? Is their partner mix a wise one? Are they getting results with their channel/ecosystem? Are they fair to their partners? How do they think of the partner channels? What do their partners think of them? What kind of programs do they have for the partners? How successful are those programs?
Mission/Vision - What is the CRM related mission and vision for the company? Do they even have one? If they don't, how is CRM thought of in the context of the universal corporate mission and vision?
Market Presence/Impact - What kind of impact and presence does the company have in the market? That means how they are perceived, how they participate, what their messaging is and how it coheres with their actions in the market. How does the company run their external operations - outreach to customers? What are customers' perceptions of them?
Thought Leadership - This is different than market presence. For example, there is one major company who has a strong to dominant market presence and only a weak to modest hand in thought leadership. This means how you move the needle forward when it comes to thinking about ideas - which could be in your domain - say, analytics" - but it also looks at how you relate to analysts, bloggers etc. and how much you participate in the idea marketplace in the community - independent industry conferences etc. and what materials you are putting out there be it a white paper, an event, a video, a conference of your own. It also means how much you support your vision and mission or your messaging with a body of knowledge.
Corporate Culture - Finally, how does your mission/vision and belief structure affect your company and how it supports its employees and its customers? How well do you treat your employees? What do your customers think of working with you - not just of you? Are you flexible enough a culture to be able to change when need be. How imperious is management or how empowered are the staff etc.? Plus many other "touchpoints." This is all part of the equation.
In addition to the change in how to get into the contest in the first place, there are several other under the hood changes for 2013. Each year as far as the criteria goes, I take into account the market trends and what it takes to penetrate and show well in those markets. For example, if this were the first year of the CRM Watchlist a company that applied that was a social media monitoring company, who were few and far between had a far better chance of winning because there was still a chance to be a market maker (not a market creator) and the market was nascent and hot. That clearly isn’t the case now, though that doesn’t mean that they can’t win now. It’s just that what it takes to win for a company like that is more substantial than it might have been in the “distant” past.
The practical implications to the “system” I have, if you can call it that is that the weights are applied to the criteria shift. This year I refined even the score levels because I need a more granular look at the contestants. In addition, I no longer have a guaranteed winner threshold but instead a guaranteed finalist threshold, though as last year, I still have a guaranteed loser threshold, and a judgment call area that I’m working with. That means that if you are a finalist, you made either the guaranteed level or the judgment call level. But not only are the weights are different and the scoring system different than last year, but I will rescore the finalists based on a separate set of external criteria which requires some additional research on my part.
What this means is that there will be fewer finalists and even fewer winners than last year. That said, keep in mind there is no set amount of winners. Theoretically a finalist – who is a company that made the top two thresholds of the scoring, could win. Theoretically all finalists could win. That’s never happened but it could. The reason that any company makes the finals is that I think that they have a half decent shot at making a real impact in 2013.
Okay, now for the plum in the pudding as they said in the 1830s. Your finalists are now being announced.
This list bears explanation because it’s a little more complicated than in the past.
First, to be absolutely crystalline.
This is just a list of the finalists, not the winners. That will be soon enough. Be patient, grasshoppers. These lists are in alphabetical order. There are several categories. The two major categories (both of which are weighted differently) are Vendors and Consulting Companies/Systems Integrators.
Second, you’ll note that we have finalists’ names in the Company to Watch category but not the Ready to Leap. To reiterate – Ready to Leap is a company that made the finals but is not a likely winner but still just a year away from being a winner. Companies to Watch are companies that are at least two years away from being considered serious Watchlist contenders but have something worth paying attention to. The finalists for Companies to Watch didn’t make the cut for the general finalist list – they typically weren’t mature enough but there is something intriguing and noteworthy about each one of them. As I said earlier, this list is skewed to larger companies since it’s an impact award, but these are companies that have that potential. The finalists for Company to Watch are listed here. I’ll choose two winners in each category when we announce. The winners of Ready to Leap are among the finalists in general. You’ll have to wait for the two winners in that category.
Third and finally, you’ll note that there are some companies that you would expect on the list that aren’t there. For example in the vendor category companies like IBM, Zoho, and Exact Target and among the consulting/SIs, Deloitte, Cognizant, PwC, Infosys, Dachis Group and others. The dealio there is that they didn’t submit the questionnaire so they didn’t qualify. Too bad. While there are a couple of disappointments, all in all, no skin off my nose. Apparently, none off theirs either. So we all come out with unscraped honkers.
The ones who are listed here are among those who went to the effort of filling out what is a lengthy questionnaire and for that, I thank them for taking the time and making the effort. I know that there are a lot that didn’t make it to the finals but there is always next year, and in many cases, I now know who you are as will others. Not making the finalists list doesn’t make you bad, just not a finalist.
But those that came through and preliminarily scored well are on this finalist list. Again, this is just a list presented with the name of the company and a link to their website. This is no more than that. The meat of the Watchlist comes with the winners.
Roughly one third of the vendor entries qualified as finalists in the CRM Watchlist:
Avectra
Gigya
Moxie
Xactly
Roughly a little less than half of the consulting/systems integrator entries qualified as finalists.
Ready to Leap
These are companies that are just about there but not quite enough to be real impact players. But oh so close. They were able to qualify as finalists and thus, will be drawn from the finalists. Two of them will win this award. Not quite the same as the winner but well on the way. Vendors and Consulting/Systems Integrators are treated as the same for this category.
Ones to Watch
These are the vendors that are still at least couple of years away from having a big impact but they have some real promise. It means that their current offering is purchase worthy but they are missing some of the other pieces that they need to be an impact player. Only two will be chosen from this list as winners.
So congratulations to all the different finalists. And apres moi, le deluge. The winners and reviews are next. Watch for it at a theatre near you. Rated PG-13.
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“The Aircraft will be in good condition.” What is “good condition”? Does it mean “satisfactory to Lessee”? Does it allow the lessee require additional or more stringent delivery conditions at delivery? The goal for the lessor in the delivery conditions is agreeing a set of requirements that are achievable (don’t overpromise) and, just as important, objective. If a lessee were to ask me to add this delivery condition, my response would be “Let’s agree a detailed set of delivery conditions that will make you comfortable that you are getting a satisfactory aircraft, but I can’t promise you the aircraft will be in ‘good condition’ because I don’t know what that means or requires.”
“All damage to the Aircraft will have been repaired.” Really? All damage? Even the scratch on the underside of the armrest in row 23? The requirement should be re-drafted as follows: ” All damage to the Aircraft outside of maintenance manual limits will have been repaired in accordance with the SRM or as approved by the Airframe Manufacturer.”
“The Aircraft will be ready for immediate operation by Lessee in Lessee’s normal operations.” This one is scary. Does it mean that the lessor has to make the aircraft comply with all operational requirements of the lessee’s regulatory authority (even though the lessor promised only an FAA- or EASA- compliant aircraft)? Does it mean that the lessor has to outfit the aircraft with lessee’s standard safety and galley equipment? Does it mean that other parts (avionics, wheels and brakes, etc.) need to be swapped to the lessee’s standard to allow use “in Lessee’s normal operations”? My response to this request would be the same as above: “Let’s agree a detailed set of delivery conditions that will make you comfortable that you are getting a satisfactory aircraft, but I can’t promise you that you will be getting an aircraft that is ready for immediate operation in your ‘normal’ operations because I don’t know what that requires.”
It’s rare that an aircraft, even a new aircraft delivered from the manufacturer, meets all of the agreed delivery conditions. In a transition between lessees it’s almost certain that there will be delivery condition discrepancies. Different lessors address this issue in different ways, but the basic point is that the lease agreement should provide that the lessee cannot refuse acceptance of the aircraft when tendered by the lessor other than because of “material” delivery condition discrepancies. The definition of “material” is going to be a discussion item with the lessee and it should be addressed in the lease agreement–and not left for delivery. My standard approach is to say that the lessee may not refuse acceptance so long as the lessor has complied with its obligations regarding an export certificate of airworthiness (or certificate of airworthiness) and the aircraft is capable of being used by the lessee in its commercial operations–note not “normal commercial operations,” just “commercial operations.” (The lease will also need a mechanism for the correction of the discrepancies post-delivery, the preferred mechanism (from my POV) being that lessee rectifies the discrepancies after delivery with the lessor to reimburse the lessee for the lessee’s out-of-pocket costs (or for an amount agreed in the acceptance certificate).)
Often during these negotiations the lessee will point out that the lease agreement requires “perfect tender” at redelivery, but not at delivery. Why is that? Well, my usual response is that “the lessee has control of the aircraft during the lease term, is responsible for arranging the return maintenance and part of its business is managing aircraft maintenance; on the other hand, the lessor is primarily a financier of aircraft and, in a transition, is relying on the previous lessee to perform its obligations–consequently the lessor should not be held to the same perfect tender standard.” While I think that this argument is a good one, I do have some sympathy for the lessee’s point of view on this issue–and have agreed from time to time to apply a “materiality” standard at return, but only so long as the new lessee is willing to accept the aircraft with the return discrepancies without the lessor incurring any incremental costs.
4. Give the Lessor Adequate Time to Perform
As I discussed in Part 1 of this post, in a transition of an aircraft between lessees so much of the work required to make the transition successful is outside the control of the lessor–and so the lessor should have an extended grace period during which the lessor can satisfy the delivery conditions. In addition, a short grace period for the lessor’s delivery obligations may encourage the lessee to “run out the clock” by delaying inspections, delaying comments on the condition of the aircraft, providing serial (daily) comments, nitpicking the condition of the aircraft, etc. until the grace period has expired and the lessee is able to terminate (or renegotiate) its obligations. Keep in mind that a failed transition really is a disaster for a lessor because in most cases it will result in the aircraft being on the ground (and not earning rent) for a significant period of time–and so an extended grace period is a necessity for a lessor.
What’s the right grace period for a delivery? From three to six months (possibly longer). From the lessor’s perspective the minimum amount of time will depend on a lot of factors, including the reputation of each of the returning lessee and the new lessee for competence and fair dealing and the type and amount of work to be performed at return and for the new lessee. Any factors that add to the uncertainty should result in the lessor pushing harder for a longer grace period.
Like with the perfect tender issue, the lessee will likely point out during these delivery grace period negotiations that the lessee has no (or a very short) grace period in its obligation to return the aircraft in the required return condition at the end of the scheduled lease term. The issues here are the same as the perfect tender issues discussed above, and like the above I do have some sympathy for the lessee’s “mutuality” argument so long as the delay in return does not adversely affect the next lessee’s obligation to lease the aircraft.
During the delivery delay negotiations the lessee will often ask for a per diem “delay penalty” payment–for example, if the delivery if delayed for more than 30 days from the scheduled delivery date, then the lessor will pay the lessee an agreed amount for each day of delay in excess of 30 days. If you get this request from a lessee, first, you should highlight to the lessee that a delay will likely have negative economic consequences for the lessor as well. Second, keep in mind that a delay in delivery may be, at least in part, caused by the new lessee’s delay in accepting the aircraft–and the lessor’s agreement to pay a delay penalty to the lessee may only encourage further delay. Third, also keep in mind that if the returning lessee believes the delay in return is being caused by the lessor (e.g., because of additional return work requested by the lessor) or by the new lessee (e.g., by the new lessee’s unreasonable demands) then the returning lessee may, rightly or wrongly, stop paying rent before return, in which case the loss of rent together with the penalty to the new lessee will be a double financial blow to the lessor.
What do I suggest? If the returning lessee is obligated to pay a penalty in connection with a delay in the return of the aircraft, offer to share that amount with the lessee if and when actually received from the returning lessee. Otherwise each party should bear its own costs of delay.
And of course under no circumstance should the lessor be obligated to pay the lessee for the lessee’s “losses” in connection with a delayed delivery. The lease agreement should in fact expressly provide that under no circumstances will the lessor be liable for any such losses. The foregoing should go without saying, but you should be careful about the interplay between the lessee’s delivery condition condition precedent and the language of the delivery procedures–for example, I have recently seen in a signed lease agreement (paraphrasing) “Lessor will not be liable for any losses of lessee incurred in connection with a delay in delivery (other than caused by a failure of Lessee’s conditions precedent to be met).” Since one of the lessee’s conditions precedent was that the aircraft be in the required delivery condition, the lessor is this deal indirectly (and I’m pretty sure unknowingly) agreed to pay for the lessee’s losses in connection with any delay in delivery caused by the failure of the aircraft to meet the required delivery condition.
To sum up, as lessor’s counsel you should make sure the lease agreement’s delivery procedures and conditions are drafted so that your client (1) knows exactly what is required, (2) has the capability to meet the requirements, (3) has sufficient time to meet the requirements and (4) is not penalized for delay.
That’s it for now.
Posted in Delivery Conditions, Drafting | Tagged Delivery Conditions, Drafting
Miscellaneous Thoughts on the Miscellaneous Section
Posted on April 18, 2016 by Brad Johnson
When I was a young associate at a law firm and just starting to learn how to draft documents, I worked for a partner who had a unique approach to reviewing my work. After I handed him my draft (this was post-computer (barely) but way before email) he would weigh my draft in his open palm and invariably say “feels light.” When he handed back his handwritten markup, his comments were almost always spot on, but I noticed that the most marked up section of every draft was the Miscellaneous section. I wasn’t the only associate to observe this pattern and it became of the subject of some humor: “your draft is malpractice per se, except for the Miscellaneous section, which is brilliant.”
And, to this day, when I get to the Miscellaneous section of a draft (whether I’m drafting or reviewing) I force myself to slow down and apply some of the things I learned, like the following:
1. Redundancy. Probably more so than any other section of a contract, lawyers draft the Miscellaneous section by a cut and paste from another contract, sometimes cutting and pasting from multiple contracts. And of course this leads to a Miscellaneous section that has both a “Severability” clause and an “Invalidity ” clause, both of which of course say exactly the same thing. Another common redundancy: a “No Amendments” section and a “Variation” section. Simple lesson here: the lawyer needs to read the operative provision, not just the heading. In fact most Miscellaneous sections have a section that says just that–it’s called “Headings” and it’s often redundant with a clause in the Interpretation section of the same contract that says the same thing.
2. Lack of consistency. There are a few sub-issues here:
(a) The most common mistake resulting from “cut and paste drafting” is a mismatch between parties and defined terms with the rest of the document. But there are also often substantive mismatches–e.g., Miscellaneous provisions addressing payment matters (e.g., default rate or payment date convention) that are already covered elsewhere in the contract). Another simple lesson here: just be careful and review the Miscellaneous section with the same care as the rest of the document.
(b) Most large commercial transactions involve multiple documents–e.g., a loan agreement and associated security agreement. Each of the documents in a transaction should have matching Miscellaneous sections. Better yet, the main document should have a Miscellaneous section that expressly applies to all “Related Documents” or “Operative Documents” or whatever term you like for the transaction documents; this approach not only ensures consistency but cuts down on the length of the ancillary documents (and I’m amazed how few people do this).
Rule of thumb: If in a document (or set of documents) you say the same thing twice but in different ways you should assume the other side is going to find some way to use that against you. If you must say something twice, use the same words.
(c) For most commercial attorneys there is really no excuse for not having your own boilerplate Miscellaneous section stored in a Word document. If you’re the drafter, it’s a simple cut and paste from the boilerplate; if you’re the reviewer the boilerplate serves as a handy checklist and source for drafting comments. Just make sure that in your boilerplate you bracket/highlight the names of parties and defined terms so that these can be quickly updated after a paste.
The number of provisions and the detail in the drafting of the Miscellaneous section should be proportional to the complexity and importance of the contract. If you’re drafting a one section letter agreement with a short performance period, you don’t need three pages of Miscellaneous provisions. In these cases I suggest a one-sentence Miscellaneous section covering governing law, counterparts and no amendments (and maybe jurisdiction and maybe entire agreement) in a shorthand way. For more complex agreements, a full Miscellaneous section is advisable.
What is a full Miscellaneous section? Below is my list. Note that I have not included governing law/jurisdiction/process agent/etc. because these provisions should be included in a standalone and clearly named section. Also I don’t include general payment provisions (e.g., application of payments) or default remedies (e.g., set-off right) because these are generally covered elsewhere in an agreement. The Miscellaneous section should be limited to provisions that don’t fit neatly in other sections of the contract.
No Amendments Except in Writing
Severability
Headings [if not contained in the “Construction” section]
Entire Agreement
Third Party Rights
Delegation by [Lessor] (to [Servicer])
I hope the above is helpful. I know you are not going to wow a client with your drafting of the Miscellaneous section–in fact it’s probably in your best interest never to mention the Miscellaneous section to a client–but you can take pride in a job well done. And I know one law firm partner who would appreciate your effort.
Posted in Drafting | Tagged Drafting
Posted on January 24, 2016 by Brad Johnson
A common drafting comment in contract negotiations is “can we add ‘except as otherwise provided herein’ at the beginning of this sentence?”
My usual (admittedly suspicious) response when the comment is directed at my draft is always “what do you have in mind, what section in this document ‘provides otherwise’?”
If the lawyer on the other side cannot (or will not) give a good example, my response to the request will be “no.” If the lawyer can provide a good example, then I will try to limit the exception to the example provided.
Usually a lawyer will request the “except as otherwise provided herein” exception where the drafting involves a broadly drafted waiver or limitation of liability–usually near the back of the contract where the wording is often boilerplate. And the lawyer on the other side will say it is unreasonable for a boilerplate provision to trump a specific commercial agreement contained elsewhere in the contract. Sounds like a fair comment, right?
If you are requested to add this exception to your draft, my advice is: be very careful.
As discussed in another post the purpose of the disclaimer in an aircraft lease agreement is to place, as between the lessor and the lessee, all risk and responsibility for the condition of the aircraft after delivery on the lessee.
A not uncommon lessee comment on the lease agreement disclaimer is “can we change it to read ‘as between the lessor and the lessee, once the aircraft is delivered to the lessee, the lessor has no responsibility or liability with respect to the condition of the aircraft except as otherwise provided in this lease agreement?”
Like I said above, this comment sounds fair, but with this suggested addition the lessee’s lawyer may be trying to make the lessor’s obligations as to the aircraft delivery condition survive the delivery.
Although many lease agreements are (surprisingly) not very clear on this issue, the lease agreement disclaimer is intended to relieve the lessor from all responsibility with respect to the promised delivery condition of the aircraft–once the aircraft has delivered. In other words, once the lessee has inspected the aircraft and signed the acceptance certificate (with or without waiving certain delivery conditions), the lessee should have no further rights under the provisions of the lease agreement dealing with the delivery condition of the aircraft (in the absence of a specific negotiated agreement with the lessor–which would be unusual).
In this context the more problematic delivery conditions are those that look past the delivery date. For example, an engine delivery condition that says that each engine will have least a certain number of hours of operation until the next anticipated removal–or an AD compliance condition which provides for the lessor to clear AD for a certain period of time after delivery. But even delivery conditions that relate only to the delivery date are fair game for the lessee if, notwithstanding the acceptance certificate, such conditions were in fact not met on the delivery date AND the disclaimer is not clear that the lessee has no recourse under the lease agreement’s delivery conditions once the lessee has accepted the aircraft.
Consequently, if you get the request to add “except as otherwise provided in this lease agreement” anywhere in the disclaimer I strongly suggest you follow the general advice above by asking the lessee’s lawyer what “other provisions” he or she has in mind. If the answer is “the delivery conditions” then the answer should be a strong “no.”
A couple additional related notes:
You may remember the ACG vs. Olympic Airlines case from a few years ago. My reading of the case, including the underlying transaction documents, is that an “except as otherwise provided in this lease agreement” clause in the disclaimer was a material factor and issue in the dispute. Plus the lease agreement had some very vague delivery conditions (the aircraft would be “airworthy” and “in a condition for safe operation”), allowing the lessee to claim, credibly, that the aircraft was in fact not in the agreed delivery condition on the delivery date. If you Google “ACG Olympic Airways” you’ll see lots of links to the court opinions and discussions about the case.
It is common practice to address delivery condition discrepancies in the aircraft acceptance certificate, usually by allowing the lessee to return the aircraft with the same discrepancy or with the lessor agreeing to rectify the discrepancy post-delivery. When drafting rectification language, the lessor’s obligations should be drafted so that compliance can be achieved objectively and unilaterally by the lessor, without agreement or cooperation by the lessee (e.g., “Lessor will deliver to Lessee’s base a replacement armrest within 60 days after the Delivery Date”). The rectification language should not say something like “Lessor will cause the Aircraft to comply with the delivery condition in Section [__] within 60 days after the Delivery Date” because, among various other reasons, the disclaimer in all likelihood (unless drafted very broadly) will not apply to that provision and the lessor’s agreement could be read as an ongoing warranty of compliance with that delivery condition.
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Finally, I got my hands of Harsha’s Dell Latitude D810 and also managed to get connected to the internet from the hotel! Consequently, I can manage to write that blog entry of mine, which has been on the pipeline for quite some days. I will also try to finish off a story that started immediately after I reached here. :-D!
First of all, some important points to start off with…
-> A laptop is simply the best machine to write your blog on. Simply super, the way your hands just move around the super soft tiny keyboard. Kinda answers my question as to why the authors would go in for a laptop that is light, small and doesn’t have a super cool [or hot] machine with sizzling graphics subsystems and inhumane amount of main memory!
-> Internet in Germany is blazing fast. In office, the net gives me about 200-400MBps. Yeah, you heard that right. Consequently, I am piling up setups in my harddisk! Yes, the crack sites are blocked. But then, @ home, i wouldn’t have a websense equivalent, and cracks are never too big to download!
-> I _have_ decided, even at the cost of dying hungry, I am gonna get that laptop of mine by the end of this week! And also at the cost of getting myself kicked outta my new apartment, which I will be shifting to by Tuesday anyway :-D!
-> 15.4″ in the laptop is more than enough. I am using a 15.4″ inch display right now, although running @ 1680*1050 resolution. But my laptop will most probably running it only @ 1280*800 resolution, which mite be tolerable, once I am used to it :-D!!
Ok, now back to the topic at hand – Life in Deutschland! A briefer has been provided in my previous post. A lotta changes from India, and Bangalore. Well that must have sounded more like the obvious statement. Lemme elaborate.
Bangalore – lotsa people, close and not. Always there’s an ear to which I can go yap yap, which might be recieved or not. I used to look forward to the nots, and then try and make discussion from that. It also helped that there were darlings in Bangalore. Life was easy in office. And at the end of it, altho I was coming back to a 2BHK shared by 4 people, there was always someone around to see me at home. If nothing, free calls to pals inside Karnataka, thanks to Hutch [altho I have a rant prepared in the drafts], else a call to people even outside the state was always there. Not to mention, calls galore from all the people that care for me. Blog posts, when I get bored. Or just call up the tons of people important to me, and life’s back in its full splendor.
Germany is a LOT different. Especially the town/city I am living in, Erlangen is a lot different from Bangalore. It’s a University town. The whole town would probably be the size of Koramangala, well slightly bigger and has one-sixth the population of Koramangala spread out in it. It’s got about a lakh of people. 60% comprise of Siemens employees, 30% of University students, and the remaining 10% form the local population of Erlangen. It’s specially famous for its University and its biology/medical related courses. It’s the home of Spiral CT technology. For the uninitiated, that’s _THE_ ultimate thing that revolutionized the Computed Tomography market. It enabled volumes to be generated easily while scanning the body with X-Ray!
Consequently, it’s got a fair amount of people who are walking around and cycling during the summers for a town of its size. I will be writing a detailed post on Erlangen next. Will detail more on that.
The first thing you notice as soon as you land in Germany are the people or the lack of them. Compared to India, this place is almost desolate. The next thing you notice is how typically European it is. It’s got the typical European architecture with its set of row houses and greenery all around amidst a few hi-rise buildings and apartment complexes.
The other thing that I was shocked inspite of knowing was the WARM welcome. Germany is WARM, HOT even compared to Bangalore. I reached to experience the Hi 30s temperature. It was a shock to experience the Trivandrum like heat after being te cool, comfortable, pleasant Bangalore weather for a year. From the low-mid 20s to the hi30s, my body did take some time, well it is STILL not completely adapted to the dry heat.
I reached Med Apart, a service apartment very close to the Siemens MED SW building, which is headquarters of Siemens Medical Solutions. The house where one of the most popular medical platform was conceived. The service apartment was a disappointment, a single room accomodation. Neat and cute, but still small, even compared to my measly quarters @ Taverekere in Bangalore. Harsha had come to pick me up from Nuremburg, which has one of the cutest airports I have seen in my life btw. I took a taxi – a Merc E class, with an orange haired lady driver. I had read long ago that you are supposed to tip anyone and every1 providing a service here, whether it be a taxi driver or a waitress at any of the cafes. Believe me, it’s TRUE :-D!
It took me quite some time to get used to the heat here, at the cost of being redundant. It took me a weeks time to figure out how to work out the shutters in the apartment and until then, I was sweating the nights away coz I just couldn’t go to sleep easily. Believe me, I can go to sleep anywhere and that helped, but still it was TOUGH to go to sleep and I didn’t like it one bit. As I type this, the temperature is much more comfortable, thanks to some clouds and some itsy bitsy rain. It’s almost like Bangalore for that matter… My feet are getting slightly cold sitting so close to the shutter, which acts as my window and the entrace to the balcony…
The other things I took some time to figure out to operate were
-> The pressure cooker that Navin gifted me [very very sweet of him btw]. Took me some time to realise that I really shouldn’t use it as a bartan to cook Top Ramen in it :-D! And then anyway, I realised the place was decked with enough crockery anyway. So, decided to use that. The major test of my culinary skills would be from Wednesday, when I would have shifted into the new apartment and will cook rice in the pressure cooker, probably for the first time! I had a rice cooker, and then a cook to help me out with the rice. And there was always Ro..
NOTE TO PEOPLE COMING TO GERMANY: Please DON’T carry a pressure cooker with you thinking that it’s not available here, as I was made to believe. It’s available allrite! I checked and cross-checked with my own very lens laden eyes. It’s available in one of the marts in Erlangen. :-D!!
The German Public Transportation System: Getting to office
Before coming to Germany, again I was made to believe that Germany owns and is proud of one of the best public transportation systems in the world. [Apparently, it’s common in European Union as well]. Well, good to say that it is TRUE! I was amazed at the spinning weaving system. It essentially comprises of 2 systems, from what I have seen, but I was told it’s actually 3 separate systems. The 2 that I have experienced are the Bus Services [including Tram services in bigger cities], and the Train services [Deutsche Bahn]. The third one present in bigger cities, like Nuremburg are the Metro Services.
P.S. It’s raining like crazy and to a person sick of the summer here already, it’s a god given gift. The temperature’s dropped suddenly and my feet are really cold now. I have put some coffee to brew in the percolator [Yeah I managed to work that one very fast and well as well]. Cream and sugar [Zucker in German] is what I pick extra from the coffee shops :-D!!
However, there were shocks even in ze transportation system. This place closes DOWN, and i mean SHUTS DOWN completely by around 7,8. There are buses, but NOT all the routes after 7 or half past 7. That’s for another post. The train services continue tho, till what time I do not know. [NOTE TO SELF: Find that out.. You don’t wanna get lost/stuck again]
And yeah they are punctual, in all probability to the minute. The usual bus that I take from where I stay – Doris Ruppenstein Strasse[Strasse = Street] to BahnhofPlatz [Bahnhof is German for Railway Station], reaches Doris Ruppenstein Strasse Bus Stop [Bushaltestelle] at 7:21am. I take it after getting a bite to take away from the Wiehgartner’s Backerie [Bakery] and board it exactly at 21 minutes past 0700 hours. It reaches the Bahnhofplatz and I am supposed to board the train, an RE [Regional Express] to Forccheim [that’s the place where I work]. That trip takes about 13 minutes. I catch the bus from Forccheim Bahnhofplatz to And Der Lande Siemens [Industry Land Siemens] at 26 minutes past 8. I reach office about 12 minutes from there, taking a circuitous route. I hope to save some time from all this, once I get my bicycle, as all these buses take quite a circuitous route! With a bicycle, which is used aplenty here, you can just ZIP through the most part. :-D!
The various classification of trains in DB:
Harsha had enlightened me on this – there are 4 classifications of trains in the German Railway System – the RB, RE, IC, and ICE. namely standing for Regional Bahn, Regional Express, Inter City, Inter City Express. Relating it to India, RBs are a lot and are equivalent of the passenger trains. They stop at every station possible. The REs stop only in major towns and stations. The ICs stop only in major cities, and the ICE stop only in the huge major cities and travel across the European Union!!
And in terms of speed as well, they are in ascending order. Personally tho, I call the RB, the SCREECHER. When it applies its brakes, it emits an unearthly sound, the kind made by the Nazguls in LOTR. :-D! Another experience, which I hope to capture is one of these hi-speed trains passing by you in the station, or more preferably, open terrain, where in you’d be able to appreciate the speed at which they travel. These include the IC, ICEs and some of the goods trains!!
Btw, you don’t have to pay everytime you enter a bus/train, especially if you use it as your mode of commutation. There’s something called the Mobicard, which you can get b/w 2 cities, having many classifications – in my case – before 9am, from Erlangen to Forccheim, including bus services for a month. That would cost you about 99.90euros [100 quid]. With this you have unlimited travel power, in the city of Erlangen in the buses, any train [RB/RE and NO IC/ICE] from Erlangen to Forccheim, and any bus commutation within Forccheim.
And they keep coming up with various offers to even travel various parts of the European Union. :-D!!
Food: How does this vegetarian survive there?
Yeah, I was given many scary stories before leaving that Germany is the land of non-vegetarians. Even the non-vegetarians claimed that they had bad food there. It’s too bland, and blah! I dunno about the non-vegetarian food, but the food at the Siemens canteen, in Forccheim, speaks of decent continentatl cuisine, and at times, some excellent Italian cuisine as well.
Breakfast: I usually grab a chocolate croissant [Shochkolade Croissant] and a cuppa coffee for breakfast. Somedays, I go for the chocolate, or the blueberry muffin as well. Once, I have shifted to my apartment, I am gonna get to some cereal and cold milk, couple it maybe with some eggs and orange juice as well! Plans, yes, if I have the time and the patience to prepare. I tried the cereal and milk part. I had it for one night and the next day morning breakfast as well. However, the milk curdled that night and since then, well the cereal box is lying like that and the curdled milk carton has long since been dumped :-D!
Lunch: Lunch is as of now at the Siemens Canteen. As I have already mentioned, the food is decent. I ave an option between the vegetarian [Vegetarisch] section, which usually has
Some boiled vegetables – usually corn, peas, carrots
Some cheesy dish – usually lasagna, pasta with sauce, and some days cheesy potatoes. This is usually considered the main dish
A boiled mix with some form of sauce of vegetables again
A sauce – Usually tomato based or white sauce
I am planning to pack lunch if I can prepare some extra dinner. Would be nice to cut down on all the cheesy fat that I can spare
There’s also a salad counter, comprising of cold cuts and some veggies – the usual, lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, and a choice of dressing – French and Italian
Dinner: I usually try and skip this part, owing to the extra calories that are going in during lunch. However, eventually I end up with a Subway Veggie Delite Salad. :-D!! I tried cooking one day and the Top Ramen packet that I took also gave me company for 3 days. Else, I usually have a sandwich or a salad. Plans are to cook in full form tho, especially since I have to pass some time now!
As far as the groceries and other needs go, there are some 3-4 supermarkets in Erlangen! There are the Norma and the Aldi series of supermarkets, which you can generally find near you, from where you can buy the provisions, the fruits etc. There is also this supermarket near the Bahnhof, which I oft visit with Harsha, called Kaufland. I have also heard that the rice there is good. Will have to check that out next week.
Miscellaneous:
As far as the minutae in Erlangen is concerned, the chief concern for me is spending time. Shops, which are Goverment regulated, come to a close by 7! Latest by 8. The restaurants and some backeries are open for longer times, but then, there’s not enough transportation for me to check them out yet.
There are 4 Indian restaurants in Erlangen, including a Punjabi Dhaba sorta thingy, which also specialises in the Italian cuisine btw. Loads of Pizzerias, and bakeries are present here.
The coffee is bitter and requires quite an amount of cream and sugar to make it Indianish, but I am slowly beginning to appreciate hardcore, black percolated coffee. It’s costly :-D!
I am making a bit of money collecting recyclable coffee cups in office, which other people drink and now have made it a habit to just dump it my place! I get 5cents per mug. I have about 25 now. Have to recycle them on Monday!
Another interesting thing that I learnt about the German education system is that, people generally complete their education, usually ending up with AT LEAST a Masters, most of them Doctorates, by the end of 28. If they don’t go to the University, they are usually working as an apprentice for some trade by the age of 16.
The beer mugs in the beer garden are HUGE. I realised that when I went for the Anna Fest, which is something like a Summer Fest. The summer fest is held in every office/town/city/state. It’s the time the Germans really do go out and party ;-)! The beer mugs can hold a liter of beer each, and Germans can easily chug down an easy 3-4. :-D!
There are vegetarians amongst the Germans as well. [Shocking].
Candy, especially gummy bears and all, contain gelatin, which could contain animal bones. So beware vegetarians, before you delve into eating some of these.
I am uploading the pics to Flickr! I shall of course, write another article about Erlangen, which should also hopefully be up by Monday. And maybe one on the Anna Fest and the Beer Gardens. But for now, I have to go and watch LOTR – The Two Towers :-D!! Will update more, and maybe modify/add to the same once I get hold of some more details, but my brain is slowing down and my hands have started to ache typing so much.
Related
July 30, 2006 @gurupanguji
July 30, 2006 at 5:53 am
wow….long post…but i guess its been long due.
Kool man..sesski…I can use almost 50% of your post here for how my life goes on, its pretty same…cereal,milk,bread etc. HEHE
The small differences are:
I hardly use the public trnspt system – the ofice is just a 5-min walk away from the office! (save some money ateast that way) But i am planning to learn and the rent a car…will save some time walkin to local hangout places.
July 30, 2006 at 5:54 am
July 30, 2006 at 9:50 am
I am making a bit of money collecting recyclable coffee cups in office, which other people drink and now have made it a habit to just dump it my place! I get 5cents per mug. I have about 25 now. Have to recycle them on Monday!
How very Indian of u!
July 30, 2006 at 11:19 am
You almost wrote a friggin travel guide for Germany! Very elaborate.Very cool.
The whole recycling deal…hmmm…i really can’t picture myself doing that!
Enjoy!
July 30, 2006 at 2:03 pm
Well, as far as recycling goes, it serves a dual purpose. One for cleaning up the place. And of course, some moolah on ze way.. Dude, otherwise they are paying me peanuts. The street singers come in a car and go in a car. I couldn’t even begin to imagine owning one here, unless I complete a year. :-D!
@ stan_da_man: Dude, more posts are coming up. LOTR is holding me back, but today I will type in, oh-yes. Type in I will
@ The Fragger: Dude, I cannot leave my roots behind!
@ prestidigitator: Hehe, and I thought I have missed out on a lotta stuff :-D!! Btw, yeah, only I am doing that. I don’t even drink the vending machine coffee anyway. Btw, heard of another deal y’day! PET bottles of coke and cola and all. They get you 10cents for recycling at the supermarkets. Hmmm… I have some left anyway. Btw, I still dunno what you guys found wrong in the whole process :-D!
@ stan_da_man: Dude, yeah! I had a chance to experience hi-speed travelling, but the windows were up, so couldn’t exactly experience 130+. Most of the AutoBahn, there are no speed limits. And I have heard people getting caught for drunken driving, coz they were driving too slow :-D!! Now, that’s hilarious ;-)!!
Ashish says:
July 31, 2006 at 1:47 pm
nice article man!!
u reminded me my visit to US!!!
specially when my Air-India flight got stuck in Frankfurt because of some mechanical problem and I need to stay there for one night!!
but it was damn cold at that time.
but ya their transport is good…every single vehicle is merc…..
enjoy…..
July 31, 2006 at 2:39 pm
Danke Ashish and welcome to the blog, or I have seen that email address somewhere else as well. Will have to check that :-D!!
Ashish says:
July 31, 2006 at 8:08 pm
i have been reading ur blogs for quite sometime. i have also posted comments earlier.
July 31, 2006 at 8:10 pm
Well thanks man!! :-)! Anyhoo, still wouldn’t stop me from giving you a warm welcome now would it? :-P!
being vegetarian for dummy says:
September 28, 2006 at 12:02 pm
I will make it a point to bookmark your site.
sandeep says:
May 31, 2007 at 8:01 am
I am from India, looking for email address of Punjabi Pizza in Erlargen, Germany.As this feb I visited his Erlargen,had good food over there.Again I am planning to visit germay in Feb-08.Would like to contact him for a Indian Restaurent in Messe Nurenberg during BIO Fach.If any body know e mail address of Punjabi Pizza.Please email me at [email protected].
Does some body also told me about resonable hotels or Flats around Nurenberg for a week for 7-10 persons.
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This page contains all the articles that were uploaded in April 2018, chronologically sorted, from old to new.
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2018-04-08
Roger is always right
Roger Waters is so rich that if he wants some orange juice for breakfast he buys a plantation first. So it probably doesn't bother him that his concert memorabilia cost you an arm and a leg, if you want to have them shipped into Europe.
In July 2017 some vigilant Pink Floyd fans remarked that Nick Sedgwick's 'top secret' book In The Pink could suddenly be found at the London Their Mortal Remains exhibition. The forbidden book appeared out of the blue, without an official announcement, and it was rumoured that there were only a handful of copies around, some even claimed less than twenty. (Read about it at: In The Pink hunt is open!)
Luckily this wasn't true and copies could (and still can) be purchased from Roger Waters' webshop. Unfortunately this is an America only webshop, meaning that for a 30$ book you have to add a 26$ transport fee to have it shipped to the ancient world. That is not all. Once the book arrives in the European Union our friends from DHL need to pass it through customs clearance. There is a silly amount of import duties to be paid, something in the range of 1,50$, but the additional administration fee is the tenfold of that. In the end the book nearly triples in price before you can hold it in your hands. It wouldn't surprise me if Roger Waters Music Overseas Ltd has some shares in the transport mogul with the yellow red logo.
When Roger Waters wants to go hunting in Great Britain with his pals Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood, he hires a private jet for the day. Fine for me, but opening a European webshop to financially help his hundreds of thousands of fans is apparently way out of his league. It is a bit ambiguous for someone who claims he writes his music for the people who are living at the wrong side of capitalism. Probably he only means Palestinians. Palestinians are good. Palestinians matter. I wonder if DHL charges less if Palestinians order something from Waters' webshop.
OK. Fuck all that. This rant is over. It's time to stop and smell the roses. Let's finally start with one of those spectacular Holy Church of Iggy the Inuit reviews.
But first for the uninitiated. Who is Nick Sedgwick and what has he got to do with Pink Floyd?
The condensed story is that Sedgwick and Waters have been buddies since their Cambridge days. When Pink Floyd hit the road to fame and fortune they lost contact for a while, but some years later they met again on a golf course. Roger Waters liked to have his friend around and the friendship persisted until Sedgwick's death in 2011. Sedgwick left behind a manuscript, dating from 2004, part autobiographical, part about his interactions with Waters and the Floyd in the mid-seventies. Waters promised to posthumously publish the book (read about it at: Immersion). It would, however, take until 2017 before this was done.
Nick Sedgwick may have been Roger Waters' bestest friend, but he never automatically agrees with all of the Floyd's idiosyncrasies. He starts the book with the observation that hardly a year goes by without one or other 'anniversary of some seminal moment in the band's long and illustrious career'.
The industry around Pink Floyd is flourishing 'particularly those most agitated by the impulse to turn a quick profit'. P11.
This hasn't changed since 2004, unfortunately. Our next book review (give us a few weeks to read it first) will be about a biography that has jumped on the Floyd's Early Years bandwagon, for instance.
For me the book has three parts, and not two as some reviewers say. In a long and winding (and slightly dull) introduction Sedgwick remembers the Cambridge days with Roger, David, Syd, Storm and the other clan members of what David Gilmour later baptised the Cambridge mafia. Nick was a bit an outsider in the group, more an observant than a participant.
He has his own opinion of the urge of the Cantabrigian tribe to suddenly act 'cool', like digging Howl and experimenting with LSD and other mind-altering substances. Drugs immediately created some victims and the sudden interest of some of his acquaintances to travel to the East was, in the observant and ironical eye of Sedgwick, none other than 'a neat fix for rehab'. As a disciple of a Hindu holy man, leading a life of no meat, no drugs, no sex, your hip credibility remained intact, what could not be said of the Church of England.
One of the people who wanted to get initiated was none other than the peer group's 'golden boy' who went by the name of Syd Barrett. Sedgwick doesn't buy the theory though that Syd's rejection by the Sant Mat movement contributed to his subsequent problems.
Whether or not Syd's breakdown was caused by excessive drug use, thwarted spiritual ambition, the stresses and strains of early celebrity, or by the sudden eruption of repressed anxieties and dilemmas caused by a combination of all three is impossible to determine with any degree of accuracy. P23.
Nick Sedgwick agrees he never felt comfortable in the presence of Syd, who was popular, eagerly sought after and always welcome. Syd Barrett may have been cooler than cool, but at what price? The shock for the band came years later when they recorded Wish You Were Here. Nick Sedgwick was around as well:
When I joined the band for lunch one day (there) was a bald fat person dressed in loose and lace-less hushpuppies, and a pair of outsize trousers held up by a length of string. (…)
I sat for twenty minutes or so, eating lunch, exchanging random news, acutely aware of the alarming presence at the head of the table that somehow seemed to dominate the proceedings. Despite the large number of people – the Floyd, engineers, EMI employees, personal assistants – these were noticeably stilted. I avoided eye contact, examined food and ashtrays during lulls in conversation. Next to me, Roger, no doubt wondering how long it would take me 'to get it', seemed increasingly amused by my discomposure. A few more minutes of strained joviality passed, then Roger nudged me gently. “Have you copped Syd yet?” he said. My head snapped up, and I swivelled open-mouthed in Syd's direction, instantly processing the message in a visceral shock of recognition. (…)
The hair was gone – from his head, from his arms, and even from his eyebrows – and, if he stood erect he would not have been able to view his feet without tilting his head forward over his belly. Only his eyes were familiar. (…)
Syd drank orange juice almost by the bucket, chewed Amplex tablets, and observed the action. I asked him what he thought of the music. There was a prolonged pause, then he answered. “It's all… all a bit Mary Poppins.” P24-26.
Nick Sedgwick does not agree with the blind adoration some fans have for Syd Barrett and calls it absurd and morbid. Syd disappeared too soon and his work, even the one with Pink Floyd, is too fragmented to speak about an oeuvre. The legend of Syd is not about him being a genius, the legend is about Barrett disappearing from the spotlights before he could become a genius. It's the James Dean syndrome and the fact that Syd Barrett didn't die but just went crazy only adds up to the legend. You can't deny Sedgwick feels somebody should have tried helping Syd (and all those others) before it was too late.
School
Barrett and Roger Waters went to the Cambridge and County School for Boys (aka Cambridgeshire High School), David Gilmour and Sedgwick to the Perse Preparatory School For Boys. Perse boys were nicknamed 'Pigs', while High School boys were called 'Oiks'. Not everyone was keen to see these would-be beatniks, but a safe haven was Storm Thorgerson's parental house, where nobody objected smoking dope.
Sedgwick went to Essex University and when the Entertainments Secretary was looking for a band he offered them The Tea Set, who played a gig for 35£. The band was such a success, playing Bo Diddley hits, that they returned for a second and third gig, now for a whopping 45£. Six months later they were in the charts, as The Pink Floyd, but Nick didn't have any contact with them, busy trying to make a living.
The introduction of In The Pink is written in beautiful, elaborate, erudite sentences that are not always adding to the story. It is a rather slow (and a bit tedious) start, like one of those Pink Floyd instrumentals that seem to go on and on for ages, before the song finally breaks loose.
Luckily it gets better.
Holidays in the Sun
Several years later Dark Side Of The Moon turns the band into a worldwide success. It not only makes the band members instant millionaires, it also obliges them to overthink their careers, their future and their role in the band. Especially Waters is not very happy with the situation and when Nick Sedgwick contacts him out of the blue he is more than happy to renew the friendship with someone who is not a part of the band's inner circle. They will remain close friends for the next decades to come.
The second part of the biography is about this renewed friendship. Roger Waters more or less clings to Nick and wants to have him around as much as possible. Sedgwick is a much needed confessor to whom Roger Waters can ventilate his opinions about the band, the world in general and the ineluctable breakdown of his marriage with Jude.
Understandably Sedgwick is not completely unbiased when he writes about his pal, take this part for instance where Waters is complaining about the lack of creative input from the rest of the band. The year is 1974 and no one, except Roger Waters, seems to be interested in a Dark Side follow up.
This would quickly make him the most energetically creative member of the band, and one day in the not too distant future would inevitably draw him into conflict with some of its other members who, either through lack of inclination, a lack of sufficient talent, or simply through having different priorities, felt no such similar requirement, but who nevertheless still insistently saw themselves as equal partners both in terms of their contributions, and in terms of their reputations. P62.
This might be a possible truth but one that comes straight out of one of Roger Waters' brainwashing rants from the late eighties. If you ask me it unmistakably shows a contemptuous disdain for the others and – as a matter of fact – I think it is utter bollocks. Wish You Were Here is for one third a Richard Wright record, Animals and The Wall would be nowhere without David Gilmour's voluminous input (and let us not forget Nick Mason as well).
Nick Sedgwick's life will also change, thanks to his friend, as the square teacher and free-lance journalist becomes a showbiz member, more or less against his will. At the Pink Floyd offices where Roger Waters is having a meeting with Peter Barnes about copyrights, the question is asked if Waters would like to write some lyrics for an Italian progressive band. Waters winks at his friend, saying:
You're the writer, Nick. Why don't you do it? (…)
You might even earn a few quid. P64.
When Sedgwick responds that he hasn't got no clue how to write lyrics, he gets the following important life-changing lesson.
It doesn't matter. Christ, we're not talking about art. You simply fit words together. Just write gibberish. That's what I do. Hell, these guys probably don't even speak English. P65.
The encounter with the Italians, at Naples, who don't speak a single word of English indeed, is one of the funnier anecdotes in the book. Sedgwick has the decency not to name them but an internet search shows it was the band Uno (an offspring of Osanna) who recorded their one and only album in 1974. This album exists in two versions, an Italian one, with three English songs by Sedgwick, and an international version, all written by him. There are more Floydian links to discover with this release, the international version has a cover by Hipgnosis and one of the songs, a shameless Floydian clone named Goodbye Friend, has backing vocals by Liza Strike.
Although Nick Sedgwick is genuinely ashamed about his lyrics, created with the help of 'amphetamines, gin, Walker's Rhyming Dictionary and a vast compendium of colourful clichés' (P66) he continues to be the lyricist for a follow-up band Nova on a couple of jazz-rock albums. Despite the help of Pete Townshend and Phil Collins they never acquire any popularity though.
Greece
A large chunk of the second part of the biography is when Roger Waters invites Nick Sedgwick on holiday in Greece, just after the military coup of July 1974. Here we get a first hand impression of Waters' married life, that is slowly crumbling down. Sedgwick remains loyal to his friend and that is why Jude mostly comes out as a one dimensioned Xanthippe, picking on Roger for the most trivial reasons at the most inappropriate moments. It really takes a good read between the lines to figure out that she could have some valid reasons to whine about. Being a rock 'n' roll widow, for instance, with Waters fucking groupies on tour. Or the fact that Waters easily put aside his left progressive political beliefs once the band went gold. Her constant struggle to survive as an independent pottery artist versus his apparent nonchalant way to suck in all those millions.
We learn that Roger Waters is ambitious, that he never doubts his capacities and that he always wants to be the leader. If the two friends play golf, it is Roger who plays to win, and who will win. The same goes for table tennis, water-skiing, fishing or scuba diving.
I don't think he ever did anything simply for the fun of it, he needed to excel. P91-92.
There will be no average results for Roger and this may well have been pretty uncomfortable for his wife, who also has a stubborn character. Judy explains that when Roger Waters was seventeen, he simply decided to be rich.
He'd spend a day or so cold-bloodedly weighing up the effectiveness of his various options, then had gone out and bought a guitar. P90.
Even on their holidays there is no rest for him and he mostly inveigles Nick into some aquatic activity. (I'm really starting to think that the only reason he invited Nick Sedgwick on holidays was to have someone he could constantly boss around and do things with.)
Roger himself became restless lying idle in the sun. (…) On rare occasions he'd work, scribbling on scraps of paper a line or couplet he might later be able to extend in a song. Sometimes he'd pick up an acoustic guitar and strum it inconclusively for five minutes before stopping with a comment along the lines of: “Ah well, that's another ten thousand quid.” P97.
The thing, and that is probably what continually vexes his wife Judy, is that
a) he isn't ironic at all and
b) it probably is the truth as well.
After the umpteenth quarrel with his wife, Waters sits on the terrace of his Greek villa, drumming his fingers on the table. Nick brings him a beer. Roger is deadly serious when he gives the following explanation for his problems in his marriage.
You know what the problem is, don't you Nick?
I'm always right.
That's the fucking problem. P101.
Here is a man who is tiring to the extreme for a lot of people around him, and while he claims to be someone of great intelligence, he only partly understands how condescend he can be.
As I am around for most of the time, why don't you give me a job?, Nick Sedgwick may have thought, and for once, Roger Waters agrees. After a sabbatical Pink Floyd is back on tour and Waters has the idea to make a book about their life on the road, in his words (quoted by Mark Blake): ‘the definitive book on the experience in Pink Floyd’.
Storm Thorgerson is the project leader and graphics coordinator of the book. Jill Furmanovsky is recruited to take some pictures and Nick Sedgwick is going to write the text.
The Rare Pink Floyd website has one of the early synopses of the book, two of those are known to exist and are in collector's hands, showing that this was not going to be a 'pretty boys having fun on the road' picture book, but a serious biography touching at different aspects of the band.
Chapter 3: The Piper at the Gates of Dusk
Chapter 6: The Structure
Chapter 7: Everything under the sun
It is agreed that Nick Sedgwick will follow the band, first on the 1974 British Winter Tour, then on the early 1975 North American Tour. His impressions of the British Tour are the third part of this book. These are detailed notes – gig by gig - about the Floyd's performance, the sound quality of the concerts, the backstage quarrels and discussions from the band and roadies.
If there is one constant, it is that none of the Floyd are eager to go on tour, and it shows. Their technical preparation hasn't been finished. They have a new Bereza PA-system that hasn't been thoroughly tested and is still showing many flaws. On top of that their sound engineer Rufus Cartwright is someone who has never mixed a live show before and who only has studio recording experience. David Gilmour has difficulties to cope with the new situation.
He admits to having had periods of despondency throughout this time, largely because the machine grew suddenly so big, complicated, and alarmingly expensive. In fact, he says, it pissed him off to such an extent that on several occasions he considered resigning. P158.
It's the feeling of about everyone in the band.
What was fun and convenient to begin with, a route to success next, might well be a source of frustration now. It may be that it's time for the Floyd family to separate, for the siblings to find out what each can or can't do on his own. P179.
The only one who doesn't feel like that is Steve O'Rourke. He is afraid to loose the goose with the golden eggs and doesn't want to return to his dog-meat selling days. He invariably (and often a bit pathetically) tries to motivate the lads to stay together and give it another try.
When the Floyd finally sack their sound man and replace him with a seasoned professional the band clearly gets a boost and plays more confident, but still not what is to be expected from a band ranking in the top 5 from greatest shows on earth. Backstage there are huge rows between the roadies, blaming each other for what went wrong and meanwhile the PA system still sucks.
Of course not everything is doom and gloom and Sedgwick notes a lot of funny things as well. On November, the 18th, Nick Mason has booked a table for midnight at the Blue Boar transport cafe on the M1. Roger Waters explains to Carlena Williams and Venetta Fields what is so legendary about the place.
The M1 was the only motorway in the country, and all the bands used to stop off at the Boar for a meal on their way back to London after gigs. There used to be a guy who served behind the counter who had this massive growth on his ear. It seemed to have got larger every time we stopped by. Then one time he didn't have it any more, he'd had it removed. The joke was that it went into the sausages... P208.
Nick Kent, professional insults & Co.
There is some kind of a wake up call when Nick Kent publishes a vitriolic review in New Musical Express after the November Wembley shows, again troubled by bad sound, bad lighting, bad movies, bad everything (Link: Floyd Juggernaut: The Road to 1984?) It forces the band to discuss their present lethargy and the English civilised way to ignore problems, hoping they will disappear by themselves.
But first there is anger.
David Gilmour: The boy is definitely mentally deranged. P214.
Nick Mason: People like him (…) should have their heads cut off. P215.
The only member to disagree with the rest is Roger Waters.
I think it's excellent that he's written this stuff. (…)
He's trying to prick a bubble. P215-216.
Finally, they all more or less agree there is a lack of communication within the band, but there is no immediate solution for that. It is easier to blame technical problems.
A Bereza sound technician is hired to find out what the trouble is with the mixing table. His professional opinion is that despite the dozens of people working for the band, the thousands of pounds worth of equipment, Pink Floyd is running the whole damn thing on luck (P221). Again some people are sacked and others promoted. The British tour is almost over when the band finally discusses their own input or lack thereof.
“Your lack of enthusiasm is amazing.” David Gilmour reproaches Rick Wright who sullenly agrees. Roger Waters asks Nick Mason: “Where the fuck are you?” A lot can be said about the sound quality, as Nick, nor Rick often can't hear themselves, but the general consensus is the band hasn't been getting it on, on this tour. David is strict: “Every note should be played as if you really feel and mean it.” According to Roger Waters, the fact that the fans still like it, isn't a valid point. He unwaveringly predicts one of the leitmotivs of an album yet to come.
The audiences would get off even if we were pretending to play.
That night Waters tells his manager he no longer wants to use Pink Floyd as a kind of crutch. It's time to put himself at risk, personally and creatively. As we all know Stephen O'Rourke must have persuaded him not to go ahead with those plans. At least not immediately.
Just before the American tour starts, Nick Sedgwick hands over his notes to the band. David Gilmour and Rick Wright are not amused, as a matter of fact they are quite angry and find the account biased. The book project dies a silent death although nobody really tells it with so many words. Hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way.
This certainly is a book for Floydian anoraks and not for the occasional fan. Reading it forty-four years after it has been written one can ask now what the hassle it was all about. But it is true that the band and its organisation don't come out like professionals. There is also a fair share of coke and other drug use, mostly by the roadies, but band members, their manager and the author all have a go at it, despite the Floyd's reputation of being choir boys.
The last – third - part of In The Pink is the one that was written for the aborted Hipgnosis Pink Floyd book, but what we really read is a 2004 reworked manuscript of the 1974 original, so we will never know what has been amended from the version David, Rick and Nick got to read. But, amended or not, for those who like a lot of gossip of life on the road it can be quite an eye opener.
Sources (other than the above mentioned links):
Direct link: Roger is always right. Posted on 2018-04-08 at 14:45.
2018-04-20
Presupposition
Writing about music is not easy, how do you describe a rock ‘n’ roll lick to someone who isn’t familiar with the piece? Author Alain Pire had a ‘for private use only’ playlist of the tracks he dissected in his doctoral work 'Anthropologie du Rock Psychédelique Anglais' (2011), that I could listen to while I savoured his prose. Without this auditory companion his book would’ve been less fun and just a quasi-nonsensical catalogue of 109 psychedelic tracks. (Read our review here: AnthropoLSD)
Perhaps that is why I put Rob Chapman’s 'Psychedelia and other colours' lexicon (2015) aside after the first one hundred pages or so. It felt like a cookbook to me, lots of recipes, but nothing to eat. I should have the guts starting it all over again, this time with YouTube at my side.
Actually, I’m not in the business any more of absorbing everything Floyd related that is thrown at the fans. I bought Gilmour’s Pompeii but there isn’t a single hair on my head thinking of ever putting it in my Blu-Ray player (actually I don’t have a clue how to operate that thing). My Russian friend Stanislav told me it is musically perfect, but also soulless, and I value him enough to take his advice for granted.
The Early Years box is in my possession but I fear I will die before listening to it in its entirety. Someone who has heard it completely is rock journalist Bill Kopp and for people just like me he wrote a book about it, Reinventing Pink Floyd: From Syd Barrett to The Dark Side of the Moon.
Why another book about Pink Floyd, I hear you say and Kopp starts his biography with the same question. According to the author the period between the Floyd's debut to Dark Side Of The Moon is a shadowy mess for the average fan, with a wealth of gems that are often overlooked. I can only agree. Why this average fan, who only knows Dark Side and The Wall anyway, would suddenly be interested in the history of the Floyd's earlier albums is still a mystery to me and Kopp can't answer this either. Take me, for example, I have Hotel California in my collection, but I don't feel temped to read a biography about The 'early' Eagles.
But even I, crusty old dinosaur, can’t deny that with the publication of The Early Years a lot of new material has seen the light of day, at least officially, and that the previous biography about the Floyd’s early days, the one from Barry Miles, is already a decade overdue.
Every good biography claims to dig out something new and this is not different for Reinventing Pink Floyd. At Yeeshkul Bill Kopp unfolded his cunning plans, but I don't think that he really found something earth-shattering. Interviewing Ron Geesin, Peter Jenner, Jerry Shirley, John 'Willie' Wilson, Davy O'List and Steve Howe is a great thing. Putting on your achievement list that you also interviewed members of tribute bands and 'Syd superfan' Robyn Hitchcock much less so. That's undervaluing your work before even starting it.
In the Why (Another Book About) Pink Floyd chapter the author starts by giving his personal history of the band with some nice descriptions of The Wall / The Final Cut era, but he cuts a few corners too many. The Wall was performed live in four cities, not three, as he pretends, forgetting Dortmund. David Gilmour did not co-write the highly redundant Not Now John, he merely sings most of the slightly insulting and easy forgettable lyrics. Nick Mason only skipped drums for one track on The Final Cut (he can hardly be heard on A Momentary Lapse Of Reason though). Being careless in his statements is a repeating pattern and Yeeshkul member Hallucalation has listed 11 factual errors for the first pages alone (but that man is a walking music encyclopedia).
It feels good to see the term ROIO appear again although I fear only cassette tape traders will remember what that was. Bill Kopp is an American author, so he is well aware of the few Dark Side Of The Moon singles and uses the American version of A Nice Pair that has a live version of Astronomy Domine. (Here he cuts a corner again by claiming that Rick Wright co-composed the track and that Harvest was an American subsidiary of EMI.) His theory though, that Syd Barrett may have lifted the intro from The Electric Prunes song 'Are You Lovin' Me More (But Enjoying It Less)', is a tempting one. Julian Palacios already remarked the same thing in his 2010 biography Dark Globe but I had forgotten about it.
Kopp's biography mainly consists of listing and analysing the songs of each and every official album, one by one, from the Floyd's debut to Dark Side. With The Early Years box-set as his companion he also minutiously describes the early singles and demos, out-takes, (alternative) live versions, movie tracks and others... The BBC radio gigs, that can be found in a scandalously amateurish way in the Floyd box, are also the subject of Kopp's very detailed dissection. Where The Early Years set has some hiatuses he consults those bootlegs (sorry, ROIO) that clearly show the evolution of several Floydian suites: Dark Side Of The Moon, Echoes, Atom Heart Mother... you name it, he plays it.
Note: Over at Yeeshkul Neonknight, and some of his accomplices, are working on the definitive BBC radio compilation. So far quality greatly exceeds the one from the 'official' release, plus they seem to have unearthed some tapes Pink Floyd Ltd. didn't know they even existed. It's still a work in progress, though.
It is in those detailed descriptions where the cookie crumbles, dear sistren and brethren of the Holy Church of Iggy the Inuit. What to make of the following exposé at page 72 that I randomly picked:
Rick Wright's organ becomes a more central melodic element, and while the reading contains its fair share of improvisation, there's a greater musicality to the instrumental work. Gilmour elicits all manner of otherworldly squeals from his guitar, while Waters turns in a hypnotic bass line that displays the progress he has made as a player. A new, stomping two-chord interlude has been introduced into the song, set against a section in which Gilmour plays more atonal figures on guitar; the call-and-response between the two sections serves both to heighten tension and root the more abstract parts in a more conventional musical foundation (P72-73).
Without knowing what song and performance this is about, this is the kind of gibberish art critics put on catalogues of their newest fad. Paragraphs like the above come thirteen in a dozen. (The song is Interstellar Overdrive, by the way, played at the Beeb in December 1968.)
In my long career as a Floyd lover I have listened to a lot of Pink Floyd early tours live tracks, and I remember some of those pretty well, but some of Kopp's descriptions fly way above my head. As such the book should only be consulted with the right track playing through your digital audio player. I'm sorry, but I simply don't have the time for that.
Tomorrow.
Now about the new spectacular things Bill Kopp found out. Actually it is only one. Steve Howe, from Tomorrow and Yes (and about a million of spin-off-bands), once was asked to step in for Syd Barrett.
“One night we were playing somewhere else.” says Steve Howe. “I was rushed to London to stand in for Syd. I was delighted; I love playing with people I hadn't played with before.”
But once he arrived, he was met by Steve O'Rourke of Pink Floyd's management team Blackhill Enterprises, who told him, “Well, thanks a lot, but actually Syd's just about going to make it.” (P42.)
Did you catch the obvious error in the above, BTW? Like I previously said, Bill Kopp likes to cut corners. (Solution.)
Update April 2017: According to Hallucalation, over at Yeeshkul, the Steve Howe anecdote has been published before, on the liner notes of his Mothballs (1994) compilation.
Kopp is also pretty sure David Gilmour stepped in for Syd Barrett on at least one December 1967 show, but fails to make this rumour hard. It has been published before though, for instance in Glenn Povey's Echoes book from 2007 where it is written that the evidence comes from Jimi Hendrix's drummer Mitch Mitchell (who claims that Gilmour may have been around for several Pink Floyd shows). Apparently the public was most of the time so high they never spotted the difference. If it is true, of course. Opinions differ.
Things Left Unsaid
While Kopp gives very detailed reports of the Floyd's live tracks and their studio counterparts, he is pretty fragmentary on all other biographical subjects. The first American tour isn't mentioned at all and Barrett's alleged drugs intake only gets a quick mention. While his book wants to highlight the hidden musical gems from the band, there isn't a word about the Hipgnosis artwork that has been a part of the Floyd's mystery for decades. At the other side there are some comparisons to American psychedelic groups, i.c. Grateful Dead.
Much of what Pink Floyd called 'John Latham' sounds like what the Dead would call 'Space' or 'Drums' (P51).
His detailed dissection of Floyd tracks brings forward an interesting theory about The Committee. The soundtrack contains a mysterious anomaly on the first piece of music, played backwards in the movie.
It features a most unusual mix of sounds: drums sound like Indian tabla, guitars sound like sitars (or electric sitars), and the keyboard sounds seem to be coming from an early modular synthesizer. It's worth noting that none of these instruments had made an appearance on a Pink Floyd recording previously, and none - save synthesizer - would in the near future (P67).
So there is a big chance, according to Kopp, that this backwards 30 seconds track has been recorded by another group of musicians. Now who recorded a lost twenty-minutes track for this movie, months before Pink Floyd messed with it? None other than Syd Barrett, probably with Brian 'Blinky' Davidson and Steve Peregrin Took. David Parker dug up the EMI paperwork for this session in Random Precision. (Read all about it at: The Rhamadan – Committee Connection)
It is an interesting theory, to say the least. Kopp also pretends Barrett's twenty minutes solo piece circulates amongst collectors, but that's the first I have ever heard about that. Peter Jenner and Max Steuer pretend not to have it in their archives and suspect the other one to have ditched it. Unless, of course, it still resides in one of Nick Masons' cupboards.
Estelle Miller (Mimsy Farmer) in More, during the Seabirds scene.
While Kopp is generally more argus-eyed than Hercule Poirot he surprised me by not being aware of the Seabirds cock-up. In their ads for The Early Years Pink Floyd Ltd. pretended to include an unreleased More song, fans had been looking for for decades, called Seabirds. However, these fans were unpleasantly surprised when they found out that the Seabirds track in the collection was in fact another take on the well-known Quicksilver (from the same movie). The Pink Floyd management had to issue excuses, but this was just another sign that the Floydian historians did a messy and mediocre work while assembling the box. (See also: Supererog/Ation: skimming The Early Years)
And so the book continues with surprising me on one, but disappointing me on another page. On a concert on May 15th, 1970 in New Orleans, Roger Waters had a throat problem and announced that 'Jude' would do the screaming on Careful With That Axe, Eugene. (And from Nick Sedgwick's autobiography we know she could scream, see Roger is always right.) This genuinely intrigues me, but that concert is one I don't have on my 158 GB Pink Floyd bootleg folder (P139).
Trying to recover from that, Kopp doesn't seem to know, two pages later, that David Gilmour also played the bass on Meddle's One Of These Days (P141).
Actually, so I figured out while reading, this book isn't a biography but an infomercial for The Early Years box. It's not that I didn't like reading it but it omits too much biographical material to be of interest for the 'average 'Pink Floyd fan. You know, those fans that don't know what gems there are hidden in the Pink Floyd's pre-seventies catalogue. The book clearly is written for people who already are aware of the Floyd's history and their legacy. Pink Floyd is a legendary band and as a NME journalist once described it:
The musicians go together like salt and vinegar on fish and chips - it is that sort of tasteful relationship (P168).
This book has a lot of chips, salt and vinegar, but clearly not enough fish. In my opinion it is very overpriced as well. But if you like musical analysis and if you are a Floydian anorak and if you think 35$ is not too much asked for a 200-pages book, be my guest and grab it at your local book-store.
Many thanks to: Azerty, Hallucalation, Neonknight, Stanislav V. Grigorev.
Solution: Steve O'Rourke was Pink Floyd's legendary manager, but after they quit Blackhill Enterprises, that was Peter Jenner and Andrew King (with the rest of the band). Back to text.
Sources (other than the above mentioned links):
Direct link: Your Possible Pasts. Posted on 2018-04-20 at 11:34.
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When it comes to your child's pre-teen and teen years, being camera shy should never get in the way of having timeless beautiful images!
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Time to plan your wardrobe, props, locations, etc.. Let's schedule a zoom meeting to finalize all of the fun details, to ensure that every look and every image will bring a smile to your face. Plus, I will have you send me images of your homes walls, so I can design artwork sizes just for you!!
After the session, we will schedule an in-person where we get to relax, enjoy a glass of wine or non-alcoholic bubbly, sit back and enjoy a beautiful slideshow of all of your images.
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4 Benefits of IoT-based Smart Buildings that Extend Beyond Power Savings, for Light Commercial Buildings
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Benefits of IoT-based Smart Buildings that Extend Beyond Power Savings, for Light Commercial Buildings
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Smart buildings Iot have many definitions on the internet, but I liked this one from True Occupancy: “A smart building is one that uses technology to enable efficient and economical use of resources, while simultaneously creating a safe and comfortable environment for occupants”. Energy is a key resource that smart buildings can help use more efficiently.
Light commercial refers to smaller-scale businesses, such as banks, clinics, fitness centers, restaurants, salons and small shopping centers. These are mostly under four stories and less than 25,000 square feet, usually 1,000 to 10,000 square feet. The < a href = "tcm:1082-1350">energy efficiency of such buildings is often neglected. Therefore, light commercial building operators often face high energy bills. This can be tackled by making the buildings ‘smarter’.
Buildings typically need to have a Building Automation System (BAS) to be smarter. Using a BAS, a business can manage building operations better and save energy. Traditional BASs are cost-intensive and are basically overkill for light commercial buildings. The initial costs often fail to justify the returns and viability over the long run for such buildings. And, relevant and timely data is critical for the smooth operations of these buildings, which in turn are critical for the businesses.
There are solutions like the CORTIXedge™ system, which offer a cost-effective, scalable, and comprehensive solution for such businesses. It is an Internet of Things (IoT) enabled system which comprises intelligent hardware, a user-friendly orchestrator and a multi-functional software. This enables building operators to manage buildings without dealing with the complexity of technology, cost of deployment, connectivity, data security, the diversity of equipment and connecting to multiple clouds.
Business leaders across industries have realized that IoT enables intelligent analytics on energy consumption and usage data, which can be used to reduce energy consumption. Today, however, it has become key for light commercial building operators to be able to provide healthy indoor environments while at the same time managing operating costs. The focus is not only on saving energy.
Turning their buildings into IoT-enabled smart buildings can help building owners and operators optimize their building operations across their network. It can do more than just save energy for them – such as improve occupant comfort and reduce maintenance bills.
4 key advantages of smart light commercial buildings BEYOND energy savings
Automated Building Operation
The pandemic has made facility managers realize the importance of remote building operations. It has made clear that in the light commercial segment, smooth day-to-day operation is highly dependent on being data-driven and carrying out the right actions at the right time.
With the help of an IoT-enabled cloud-hosted platform, IoT gateways are integrated with wireless / wired IoT sensors with critical equipment to automate their operations as per business criticality.
The data gathered from these sensors is fed to condition-based machine learning (ML) algorithms for intelligent, and informed decision-making.
Condition-based Maintenance (CBM) of Critical Equipment
IoT-based sensors provide insights not only for predictive maintenance, but also to implement condition-based maintenance for critical equipment like HVAC, lighting, and fire safety systems to avoid breakdowns.
Condition-based maintenance is a repair or replacement method, based solely under defined conditions or health of critical equipment. It is a useful method that allows action only when required and not one that is based on a calendar.
The focus of condition-based maintenance is to look for early red flags to identify the impending failure of equipment. The system is designed to measure a specific parameter of an equipment’s health such as contamination, vibration levels, or temperature.
When the system encounters a critical point, you take pre-determined action steps on the equipment advancing towards a functional failure. Then you schedule a condition-based maintenance intervention, rather than wait for the next scheduled preventive maintenance cycle.
Continuous analysis of equipment operational performance enables early identification of problems before it leads to a breakdown. With the help of an IoT cloud platform designed to support CBM, businesses can reduce downtime, improve asset longevity, and reduce maintenance expenses.
The virus outbreak has sensitized facility managers and building owners to prioritize occupant health over comfort to prevent contagious infection. IoT enables a connected system of information exchange with its ability to connect to heterogeneous devices, manage information, accurately track locations and occupancy ratios at different time slots, and preserve privacy.
An IoT-based platform deployed at smart buildings can adjust the indoor air quality and take specific actions like manage temperature levels, relative humidity (RH) percentage, and even CO2 levels using intelligent thermostats and sensors, through IoT gateways.
For example, occupancy sensors can communicate with the BAS to provide information that will help the IoT platform understand whether the facilities have the right spaces for staff requirements.
Building Fire Safety and Security
Through its gateways and sensors, an IoT-enabled platform can continuously track the health of fire safety and security systems. The most common issue with any security system is its availability when it’s needed to safeguard the building and occupant.
Through its intelligent algorithms, IoT-enabled cloud-hosted platforms can improve the upkeep of the fire detection system in the following ways:
Scheduled and Autonomous Servicing/Maintenance of Connected Devices.
With systems capable of sending and receiving data, it enables first responders to receive real-time data and location details of the building that signaled the alarms. Accessible from a central server, this information could help identify and plan the safest way to combat the emergency.
Transforming light commercial buildings into intelligent and efficient facilities is heavily dependent on feeding accurate and reliable data to a system that enables achieving specific business goals. ML algorithms and intelligent analytics are a layer on top of such systems that help identify patterns and advise appropriate actions to help run such buildings better.
Businesses should spend time on identifying the right open protocol systems to get the flexibility of deploying IoT for certain use cases to begin with, and then tackling other use cases by scaling such systems up with relevant additions. This is the first step towards making such buildings data-driven and ready to achieve multiple goals beyond saving energy.
November
Author
Ashish Jain, Senior Manager, Solution and Energy Management at EcoEnergy Insights
Ashish is responsible for architecting IoT solutions and implementing strategies to deliver tangible values for Multisite chains. He is keen on exploring and implementing cost-effective intelligent IoT Infrastructure.
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Admittedly, Las Vegas is a wonderful town to have fun, relax and probably drink. It’s pretty easy, though, to drink too much or be “overserved,” then leave the establishment and get into a car accident due to drunk driving. This is a dire situation, and many residents and guests of this exuberant city have this experience.
Also, you may believe that if you feel you were overserved, you could sue the bar or restaurant for their negligence in serving you too much. This is a fragile legal line, though; you must obtain an experienced Las Vegas car accident lawyer if you expect to prevail.
If you, or anyone else, was hurt in a drunk driving accident in Nevada and you’re all over 21 years of age, usually, you won’t be able to sue the bar or establishment that served you. There are caveats, however; if you, as the drunk driver, were a minor, and the one serving you was a host and not a licensed establishment, then you’re most likely free to sue.
In Las Vegas and all of Nevada, the legislation is significantly lacking regarding recovering damages from a bar or any alcohol-serving establishment. However, with the help of an experienced Las Vegas personal injury law team, you may still directly pursue compensation from the guilty party if you’ve been the victim of a drunk driving accident.
However, some laws state that no person may sell or provide alcohol to anyone who is obviously intoxicated. Then, admittedly rarely, any person that sells, furnishes, gives, or causes to be sold any alcoholic beverage to an obviously intoxicated person may be guilty of a misdemeanor and be held accountable.
So, due to the legal vagueness of these laws in Las Vegas, if you have been injured or held liable, you must obtain the thorough, skilled, and empathetic legal guidance of a knowledgeable Las Vegas car accident law team. They will do a detailed analysis of the circumstance of your unique case and know exactly how to mount a legal argument that will get you the compensation or legal help you need and deserve.
As stated, it’s usually challenging in Las Vegas to sue the bar or establishment itself for you leaving the bar drunk and getting into an accident. The same holds if you are the victim of a drunk driver who just left a bar.
The law more clearly states that no person, including the bartender, may sell or give you alcohol if you are obviously intoxicated. If they do, and the patron leaves the bar and gets into an accident, it’s possible, with the representation of an excellent car accident law team, that they could be held responsible.
This is a “gray” area, though, but any restaurant or bar does have a particular “duty of care” for its customers, and it is usually an offense if they serve you (or anyone else) if they are already drunk.
If the bar staff is even in doubt about whether a patron is drunk, they should refuse to serve them. Approaching a drunken customer may be tricky, and confrontation should be avoided. However, the staff must provide clear reasons for their actions as they could save the patrons or your life!
These cases, however, can be legally complex, and only with the proper legal guidance and thorough investigation of your case will you be able to obtain needed compensation or possibly have your liability mitigated.
Suppose you have been “overserved” by a bartender or employee of the establishment, and someone has been seriously injured in a car accident. Under the appropriate legal circumstance, overserving could be a defense.
If you drank voluntarily and became over-intoxicated, it commonly cannot be used in your defense if you were injured or injured someone else.
However, “involuntary intoxication,” or being overserved by a bartender or employee, maybe a defense under specific legal circumstances. This defense, however, is commonly used if you are charged criminally.
Let’s say someone in your car or the other was killed or very seriously injured. Your lawyer could use an “involuntary intoxication” defense to help you or to help obtain the total amount of compensation you need to move on with your life.
This defense, though, may be highly complex to draft successfully. If you were severely injured, the help, aggressive stance, and knowledgeable guidance of your Las Vegas auto accident lawyer would be invaluable!
Does Nevada Have “Dram Shop” Laws?
In some states, the owner of a bar or restaurant may be able to be sued if an intoxicated patron is involved in an auto accident after leaving the establishment.
“Dram shop laws” govern lawsuits that involve injuries caused by anyone who bought alcoholic drinks at bars or restaurants.
However, Nevada’s “Dram shop law” provides very little protection if you’ve been injured or are held liable for a drunk driving auto accident.
If you’re the victim of a car accident caused by a drunk driver or are held liable, horrific injuries can be involved, and you could be in a very dire legal situation.
So, in many cases, you, as the person held liable, look for someone to sue to either mitigate your liability or obtain the desperately needed compensation.
If the person who caused the accident (and it could be you) consumed alcohol at a bar or restaurant before the crash, is the establishment or its employees partially responsible? In most states, the answer would be yes, they are, under the state’s dram shop law. Nevada, unfortunately, is not one of these states.
There are only a few situations when Nevada’s minimal dram shop law applies; they are:
The law explicitly disallows a dram shop claim against a business or person who serves alcohol to someone 21 years old or older.
It allows a dram shop action to be filed against a business or person who sells or furnishes alcohol to anyone under age 21.
The law also allows a dram shop action against a private social host who provides alcohol to a minor or will enable them to consume alcohol on their property.
I’ve Had a Car Accident, and Believed I was Overserved; How Can I Proceed?
You now begin to see that even if you were overserved in a Las Vegas bar or restaurant, it is always challenging to attempt to sue the establishment itself. However, if you are held liable, and the accident is severe, you could face dire, life-changing consequences.
The laws pertaining to these incidents are, at best, reasonably gray in Nevada. You must obtain the legal guidance of a professional, knowledgeable, and aggressive Las Vegas car accident law team. You have rights, so consult with your lawyer as soon as possible and ensure your rights and legal options are all utilized to get you the best outcome possible.
How Long Do I Have to File a Spinal Injury Claim in Las Vegas?
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My pastor, like many, encouraged our congregation to read through the Bible this year. I am going through it at a painfully slow pace, but I will get to the end…just maybe not this year. We will see about that. I have decided that I will periodically offer some of my thoughts and observations on my reading and I invite you to share your thoughts in the comments section at the end of the post or on Facebook or Twitter.
I want to start with some observations on the story of Abram (he will be later called Abraham). This story fascinates me because it is where the opening story of the Bible emerges from the shadowy fog of prehistory into the realm of a history that is more verifiable. It also the place where a theological shift happens. The first two chapters of the Bible start off gloriously with a perfect creation. By the third chapter of Genesis things start unraveling as Adam and Eve make their fateful choice, and humanity starts a downward spiral of rebellion, murder, sexual sins, and deceit that results in humanity being destroyed in a cataclysmic flood There are hints in those chapters that all of creation, not just humanity, is fallen from it’s original perfect state. Eventually we reach the point where the story hones in on one individual -Abram- whom God will choose to begin the process of redeeming and restoring the now broken creation.
We meet Abram living with his wife, father, and brothers in ‘Ur of the Chaldeans’. (While the view that Ur is in southern Mesopotamia is predominant, some scholars think it is actually in modern day Turkey. I think I learn toward this second view myself.) Abram is introduced (Genesis 11:26) as the son of Terah, who has begun a journey from Ur to Canaan with Abram, Abram’s wife Sarai, and his grandson Lot. For unknown reasons the family stops at Harran in what is now southern Turkey (there doesn’t seem to be any dispute on the location of Harran). Then at the beginning of Genesis chapter 12 we read of Abram’s call by God to “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you”. Abram sets out from Harran at age 75 and begins the journey to Canaan. Once he reaches ‘the great tree of Moreh at Shechem”, “The Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” (Genesis 12:7)
I want to slow down here and examine a few aspects of the story. I am always interested in the ‘behind the scenes’ aspects of the Bible. What prompted Abram to follow God? How did he come to know God at all? What might have been going through his mind? The Jewish historian Josephus gives a fascinating account in which he describes Abram as being,
“a person of great sagacity, both for understanding all things and persuading his hearers, and not mistaken in his opinions; for which reason he began to have a higher notions of virtue than others had, and he determined to renew and to change the opinion all men happened then to have concerning God; for he was the first that ventured to publish this notion, That there was but one God, the Creator of the universe”.
Josephus goes on to describe that Abram came to this monotheistic conviction by observing “irregular phenomena that were visible both at land and sea, as well as those that happen to the sun and moon, and all the heavenly bodies” and noting the inadequacy of worshipping these phenomena and celestial bodies. Eventually Abram’s beliefs created a ‘tumult against him’ from the local Mesopotamians which prompted him to leave on his journey to Canaan. (Josephus Book 1, Chapter 7) While this account is not in the Bible, neither does it contradict the Biblical account. Scholars do know that moon-worship was important at Harran, and the Mesopotamians worshipped many gods, celestial and otherwise. In Joshua 24:2 Joshua says this to the Israelites, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel says: Long ago your ancestors, including Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor, lived beyond the Euphrates River and worshiped other gods.” While no explanation is given as to how it happened, it is clear that Abraham (Abram) forsook the polytheism of his father, ancestors, and his culture to follow and worship Yahweh. It is plausible that the reason for this is that Abram was, in fact, a scholar/astronomer who began to question the polytheistic explanations of the world around him, and through that began to know and follow the true God.
Why does this matter? As I said before, part of it is I am simply fascinated by this sort of historical look at Biblical stories. I realize it is a bit speculative, but if it is really true that Abram was a historical person, then I want as full a picture of that reality as I can get. But it is also important to our understanding of faith. Faith is often discussed as if it is an irrational ‘leap’ with no rhyme or reason. I hear people mention how God has called them do ‘crazy’ things, and sometimes it seems the more crazy they think it is, the more convinced they are it is God calling them. I have always been a little skeptical of this approach, as it doesn’t quite fit the view of faith that I glean from the Bible.
We have to realize that the Bible doesn’t always attempt to fill in the details of what happened, or provide every bit of background. It usually has a big picture focus on who God is and how he has worked in the redemptive narrative of history. From the perspective of the Biblical author of Genesis (often attributed to Moses), the importance of the story was that it was God who called, and Abram who obeyed, and thus God began the plan to bless all peoples on earth. But if we take this as the whole story, we can come away with the idea that without any preceding events God suddenly asks Abram to leave his homeland and everything he knows and boom! Instantly Abram obeys with nary a doubt in his head, whistling ‘How Great Thou Art” as he walks out the door. But I just don’t think this is how it actually happens.
I cannot be certain that Josephus account is accurate, as any time we are dealing with the distant past there are a lot uncertainties and ambiguities. I do think it seems plausible, and provides an insight into what might have been going on in Abram’s mind that led him to abandon polytheistic idolatry, follow a new God, and uproot his family to an unknown destination. The are many ways God speaks to us, and Abram feeling a call to move may have been accompanied by hostility from his neighbors over his disbelief of the local deities. There may have been other factors as well. The Bible mentions that Abram’s brother Haran died in Ur prior to the journey, and Jospehus records that their father Terah was in such mourning that he ‘hated’ Ur and thus desired to move to Harran. Again we don’t know for certain this is true, but it certainly helps us to think of Bible ‘characters’ as real people, and that God moving and working in their lives was not separated from the normal events of life that all people experience in some fashion. God’s call on Abram would have been amplified and confirmed by these events, helping push Abram and his family in the right direction.
The idea that Abram would take his family and leave his homeland to live in a foreign, unknown land, does seem ‘crazy’ on the surface, but when we realize that moving to Canaan was accompanied by other circumstances (whether it is exactly like the Josephus account, or by other circumstances), we can see that God was preparing Abram in many ways, and he did not ‘cold call’ Abram out of the blue. It was something that I think would have been on Abram’s mind for years, and God’s call to Abram to move probably did not catch him by surprise. When Abram arrived in Canaan and God told him “To your offspring I will give this land”, he would have looked back and realized that a whole series of events led to this moment, and he would have seen God’s hand working amidst many disparate events.
I have also seen this play out in my own life, where I have had dreams lurking in the back of my mind that never seem to quite fade away; being intermittently stirred by a conversation here, a Bible passage there, a lingering thought emerging on aquiet walk, until the day when the dream actually begins to become real. To me, on the ‘inside’ of my faith journey, the events transpiring will make sense, but to those observing are often very surprised by them. This sense of preparation is how God helps us to know the difference between decisions made in His will and those that are, in fact, actually crazy. There is a sense of settled peace that comes when you can look back and see how the journey of your life has arrived at this particular moment, and how so many unrelated pieces now fit together. However, this level of discernment also requires a deep relationship with God to be able to distinguish what is truly a dream given by God and what is simply our own desire. I find that often the two are mixed together and it is only by making painful, sometimes embarrassing mistakes that I have learned to better perceive the voice of God. And this is why I love the story of Abram – we see him living out faith in real time, having moments of great triumph and moments of embarrassing failure. He doesn’t know how the story he is in will end; rather his faith is based on an ever deepening relationship with his God. And that is what I aspire to emulate.
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The Works of Josephus: Updated Edition, Complete and Unabridged
Josephus’s writings on ancient Jewish thought, background, and history are now more accessible than ever!
This renowned reference book has served scholars, pastors, students, and those interested in the background of the New Testament for years. The insight given into the Essene community, the destruction of Jerusalem and the interpretations and traditions of the Old Testament in first century Judaism is invaluable. The outlook of Josephus, a late first century Pharisee and historian, on Jesus and the New Testament documents is enlightening and provocative. As an original reference, The Works of Josephus is essential to a full understanding of the first century, the time of Christ and the New Testament.
Obeying God’s command to leave his own country, Abraham faced famine, war, and Pharaoh’s might before settling in the Promised Land. But why are we still discussing the faith of this desert nomad thousands of years later? Shedding fresh insight on Abraham’s story, Swindoll addresses that question and others in this compelling biography. 280 pages, hardcover from Tyndale.
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Zahid Hussain May 8, 20216:43 am Reply
Kevin May 8, 202112:02 pm Reply
Thank you! I appreciate you taking the time to read my post!
mpogo November 14, 20216:39 pm Reply
That was a thoughtful post for a new Bible reader. I wanted to say a couple of things that might help you clarify some of your concerns: not one character in the Bible found God, but God revealed Himself to them. If you think of the Exodus 3 account of Moses and the burning bush and the Acts 9 account of the apostle Paul’s conversion, that is how we find out there is a God. God did ‘call’ Abraham, likely He then gave him faith to believe in God. You had a lot of thoughts that probably cannot be answered with certainty, ever. On preparation, I read, in Abraham Kuyper’s book about the workings of the Holy Spirit, that He is the one who leads and prepares people whom God plans to redeem – in Ephesians 1, Paul stated that those people were known to God when he created the world.
Based on my own studies of the Bible, I got a lot of meaning out of Paul’s writings in Romans and Galatians that helped me make sense of the covenants God made with Abraham and Moses. Paul connects the Old and New testaments with his understandings.
The first post I put in my blog is about the covenants. I wrote it for Baha’i people I knew, it was using Bible covenants to disprove the most basic ideas of the Baha’i Faith. I learned much about the entire Bible by doing that post, it took me 6 months to write, a 22 page pdf. See sheeplywolves.com the only post about the Bahai Faith.
God bless you in you studies of His word
Kevin November 15, 20213:39 pm Reply
Thanks for the response. I agree with you that no finds God apart from His revelation to them.
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I actually hadn’t realized what a can of worms I was opening when I started the research for today’s episode, which is on the topic of manners and politeness. It began innocently enough – as an English person, for whom manners are pretty important, I started to wonder why my almost three-year-old doesn’t have better manners yet. It turns out that it was a much more difficult subject to research than I’d anticipated, in part because it draws on a variety of disciplines, from child development to linguistics.
And at the heart of it, I found myself torn between two different perspectives. The parenting philosophy that underlies the respectful relationship I have with my daughter, which is called Resources for Infant Educarers, or RIE, advocates for the use of modeling to transmit cultural information like manners – if you, the parent, are a polite person, then your child will learn about manners. On the flip side of that is the practice of saying “what do you say?” or something similar when you want your child to say “please” or “thank you,” something that I know a lot of parents do. My general approach has been to model good manners consistently but I do find it drives me bananas when my daughter says “I want a [whatever it is]” without saying “please,” and RIE also says parents should set a limit on behavior when they find it annoying. So I have been trying to walk a fine line between always modeling good manners and requiring a “please” before I acquiesce to a demand, and I wondered whether research could help me to come down on one side or the other of this line and just be sure about what I’m doing. So this episode is going to be about my explorations through the literature on this topic, which are winding and convoluted – actually both the literature and my explorations are winding and convoluted, and by the time we get to the end I hope to sort out how I’m going to instill a sense of politeness in my daughter, and how you might be able to do it for your child as well.
Other episodes referenced in this show
004: How to encourage creativity and artistic ability in children (and symbolic representation)
026: Is my child lying to me? (Hint: yes!)
005: How to “scaffold” children’s learning to help them succeed
034: How do I get my child to do chores?
006: Wait, is my toddler racist?
Becker, J.A. (1988). The success of parents’ indirect techniques for teaching their preschoolers pragmatic skills. First Language 8, 173-182.
Lansbury, J. (2014, January 16). They’ll grow into it – Trusting children to develop manners, toilet skills, emotional regulation and more. Retrieved from: http://www.janetlansbury.com/2014/01/theyll-grow-into-it-trusting-children-to-develop-manners-toilet-skills-emotional-regulation-and-more/
Suzuku, M. (2015, October 23). Bowing in Japan: Everything you’ve ever wanted to know about how to bow, and how not to bow, in Japan. Retrieved from: https://www.tofugu.com/japan/bowing-in-japan/
Hello, and welcome to the Your Parenting Mojo podcast. I actually hadn’t realized what a can of worms I was opening when I started the research for today’s episode, which is on the topic of manners and politeness. It began innocently enough – as an English person (honestly, despite the strange accent) for whom manners are pretty important, I started to wonder why my almost three-year-old doesn’t have better manners yet. It turns out that it was a much more difficult subject to research than I’d anticipated, in part because it draws on a variety of disciplines, from child development to linguistics.
And at the heart of it, I found myself torn between two different perspectives. The parenting philosophy that underlies the respectful relationship I have with my daughter, which is called Resources for Infant Educarers, or RIE, advocates for the use of modeling to transmit cultural information like manners – if you, the parent, are a polite person, then your child will learn about manners. On the flip side of that is the practice of saying “what do you say?” or something similar when you want your child to say “please” or “thank you,” something that I know a lot of parents do. My general approach has been to model good manners consistently but I do find it drives me bananas when my daughter says “I want a [whatever it is]” without saying “please,” and RIE also says parents should set a limit on behavior when they find it annoying. So I have been trying to walk a fine line between always modeling good manners and requiring a “please” before I acquiesce to a demand, and I wondered whether research could help me to come down on one side or the other of this line and just be sure about what I’m doing. So this episode is going to be about my explorations through the literature on this topic, which are winding and convoluted – actually both the literature and my explorations are winding and convoluted, and by the time we get to the end I hope to sort out how I’m going to instill a sense of politeness in my daughter, and how you might be able to do it for your child as well.
So the first thing we should acknowledge as we set out on our journey, that both politeness and impoliteness are awfully difficult to define, they are contextually appropriate, and they are culturally appropriate as well. In fact, politeness and impoliteness seem to be difficult to define *because* they are contextually appropriate and culturally appropriate. So we might agree that it is rude to interrupt people when they are speaking, and yet I’m sure we can all imagine a time when we were excited to tell someone something and we interrupted them – perhaps repeatedly – so we could do it. We might even be able to find a culture where interrupting people isn’t that rude at all.
We might all agree that saying “please” and “thank you” form the basis of good manners and yet how many of us ALWAYS say these things at the appropriate times? I pride myself on my manners and yet I know I don’t ALWAYS use them (although I do make an extra special effort to use them when my daughter is around). And manners are, of course, highly culturally appropriate – you only need to think of how strange it seems to Americans to bow to someone else to show deference and respect, which is, of course, commonplace in Japan – there’s a helpful guide linked in the references to the exact number of degrees your bow should be in each of a variety of circumstances that require different levels of deference and respect in Japan. But there are some countries in southern Europe where the translation of “please” into the local language is apparently a term that connotes begging and is seen to be rude, so even something as simple as that is not universal by any stretch.
If we start to think about the purpose of manners, I like to look first to the ethnographic literature to see how things are done in other cultures, because I think this helps to ground our explorations with a view on whether us Westerners are doing things in a way that the rest of the world thinks is crazy or not. For this I turned to our old friend David Lancy, whose book The Anthropology of Childhood I’ve referenced many times on the show. I was surprised to find that manners are actually quite universal in nature – what precisely are the social graces that one needs to master varies by location, of course, but the concept of manners does seem to exist in an awful lot of cultures – and so does teaching children about those manners. In a majority of cases it seems as though the mother teaches the child manners so it appears more attractive to other potential caregivers, which reduces the burden of parenting on the mother. Kwara’ae mothers in the Solomon Island drill their children on terms to use for their relatives and polite ways of conversing with them, and these sessions contain not only information about family structure but also about values of delicacy and peacefulness. Four-year-old Fijian children are expected to bend over in an exaggerated bow to show respect to passing adults, and will be scolded or hit if they don’t show sufficient respect. Javanese mothers repeat terms of politeness over and over and correct their children’s mistakes, so one-year-olds can do a polite bow and say a polite form of “goodbye,” while an aristocratic five-year-old will have an extensive repertoire of graceful phrases and actions.
David Lancy notes that there is actually considerable evidence that children will learn appropriate prosocial behaviors in time – despite the importance of social instruction in many areas of the south pacific, Samoan children begin to pick up the distinctive features characterizing people of rank and authority without being explicitly instructed. Apparently there are many societies that value “proper” behavior a great deal and that don’t engage in any kind of enforced compliance or training since, after all, the success of the human species actually rests on our VOLUNTARY compliance with social norms. The English well-known ethologist Desmond Morris claimed in his 1967 book The Naked Ape that there may be an instinctive basis for greetings and other similar rituals, but it seems to me that children would pick them up a lot more quickly than they do if this were the case. Six years seems like an awfully long time to wait for a behavior to emerge that is so important in navigating social situations that the child encounters from much younger ages.
French children are well-regarded for their table manners with wrists being held on the edge of the table when the hands are not being used for eating, for example. The gulf between French and American children’s manners prompted the bestseller Bringing up Bebe, which teased us with descriptions of French parenting that alternated between these strict mealtime rules and a great deal of laissez-faire parenting that permits a great deal more parental relaxation than under the typical American model. David Lancy points out the supreme irony that Americans spend such a huge amount of time teaching their young children things – all kinds of things, in an effort to help them get ahead, much more time than we spend teaching them about things related to kin terminology, politeness, and etiquette (even though it might feel to you as if you spend quite a lot of time saying “what’s the magic word?”). He attributes this discrepancy to the importance of kin terminology, politeness, and etiquette in interdependent societies where the whole is valued more than the individuals within it. Western society, and particularly American society, values individuality to such a great extent that being able to recognize one’s feelings and expressing those feelings are far more important than what anyone else might think or feel.
I’ve been trying to think about what it is about these words “please” and “thank you” that are so meaningful for us as parents and that leave me, at least, so ticked off when they aren’t used. Particularly “please” which I find much more triggering when it’s omitted than “thank you.” Certainly it’s possible to be polite without using them – something like “would you kindly pass the salt?” is polite doesn’t use “please,” although perhaps the average three-year-old is less likely to come out with this variation that they probably don’t hear very often. Maybe it’s because we feel taken for granted much of the time and once we’ve asked our preschooler to say “please” a number of times we feel as though they ought to remember the routine, and that if they can remember how to say “I want some banana,” surely they can remember to say “I want some banana please” – although one study did find that a polite request by a child was less likely to be granted than a neutral “I want some banana” kind of request, perhaps because mothers in particular are conditioned to comply with distressed or angry requests. If the child is already distressed then we don’t want to escalate the situation by denying the request, but if the child says “please” and they’re asking for something we don’t want them to have they’re probably in a mood in which we can negotiate with them. It does seem as though we’re shooting ourselves in the foot a bit, though, by denying more requests when they are accompanied by a “please” than when the child stamps their foot and says they want the thing.
On the flip-side, though, I can imagine how frustrating it must be to be a child and not be able to reach the bananas, or the milk, or the scissors and glue, and to always have to ask for everything an adult thinks must be kept out of your reach. So we use these phrases to get people to do things for us, and to show our appreciation for doing things for us, because in our society these things have become routinized. As one researcher noted, routines are a way of guiding a person’s normal interaction in social situations, and if everyone shares the same “rules” about what those routines should be then the interaction goes more smoothly. For this reason, researchers have found that young children who have improved social and emotional skills do better in school, although I would argue that so much of “doing well in school” in the early years pretty much does consist of being able to sit still and keep quiet when the teacher says “be quiet” and not get into disagreements with other children so in a way it’s kind of a “well, duh” that children with better manners do better in school.
So what I really want to get to the root of is: how much do our toddlers and preschoolers understand about all this? Should we teach them the routines of politeness before they understand what the routines mean, or should we wait for the child to understand what it means to be polite and to feel grateful before we expect them to start saying “please” and “thank you”?
Professor Jean Berko Gleason did a fair bit of important work on manners, and we’re going to talk about several of her studies, although most of it was in the 1980s and I think we can assume social conditions have changed a bit since then. In one study she and her co-authors wanted to understand HOW children learn politeness rules which, she says, are even more difficult to understand than rules of grammar, which children obviously struggle as well because, like with manners, grammar has lots of rules but also lots of exceptions to those rules. The researchers use a definition of politeness which says that the amount of “work” that needs to be done when making a request is determined by three parameters – firstly, the degree of imposition of the request (so, “could you pass the salt?” and “could I borrow $1,000 from you?” require different levels of politeness, even if you’re asking both questions of the same person), secondly the social difference between the requester and the grantee, and thirdly the power differential between the requestor and the grantee. The researchers wondered how children learn the rules of politeness in all of its many and varied forms when no parent ever says to them “you can be rude to me but you’d better be polite to your teacher because there’s more social distance between you and her than between you and me.” But children do receive lots of information from two other sources – firstly parents teach by modeling, for example, by trying to minimize threats to their children’s social standing, or “face,” by making polite requests that help their children “save face” or using more polite forms of requests when asking for special favors from their children. Secondly, parents do directly teach children about what forms of politeness to use in certain situations, usually taking the form of “say please” or something similar. Unfortunately, the researchers didn’t make any attempt to analyze how effective were the different methods of teaching.
In another study, Professor Berko recruited eight families, four with girls and four with boys all aged between three and five. With the families’ permission, she left a tape recorder in an inconspicuous spot in the dining room and recorded the conversation that occurred during the evening meal. She points out that “it should be noted that the fathers had more occasion to say please or thanks since they were being served.” One might hope that in modern families at least some men are participating in some cooking, or at least helping to get their own food, although I have to say that that’s not the case in our house. Professor Gleason found no evidence of differential treatment of girls and boys, but each of the eight families did engage in some attempt to get the child to produce what she called “politeness forms” like “please” and “thank you.” She believes that by insisting on the use of the word “please,” that parents are indicating to the child that the class of utterances known as requests requires some kind of special treatment; that you can’t just make the request for the thing you want without adding this word, and in this way the parents help the child to “gain pragmatic awareness before syntactic competence,” by which she means that the child becomes able to use the appropriate convention to get what she wants before she really understands what the word means.
Other researchers have noticed that the majority of requests for politeness from children are not direct (as in “say please”) but are rather indirect (as in, “what do you say?”), and while indirect requests are actually a pretty effective method of getting children to say the required word, researchers haven’t fully understood why we parents don’t just say “say please” all the time. They hypothesize four reasons – that because people believe that children who lack manners have been raised poorly that the indirect request allows the parents to save face because they draw less attention to the child’s error (which I don’t think is really the case), that parents use indirectness as a way of venting frustration when their child is impolite (which I can say probably is the case for me a lot of the time); that parents are teaching their child how to be indirect, or that parents want the child to think of the correct thing to say by themselves, which sounds good until you realize just how routinized these interactions become with the average three-year-old and you see that they know *exactly* what is expected when they hear “what do you say?”.
In another study, Professor Gleason invited 22 children aged between two and five and their parents into a laboratory playroom for a session as part of another ongoing study, greeted the children, at the end of the session an assistant entered the room to give the child a gift for participating in the study, and then said “goodbye.” The goal was to see whether children would say “hi,” “thanks,” and “goodbye” at appropriate points in the course of the visit, which apparently only one three-year-old boy did on one of his two visits to the lab. Children responded with “hi” or “goodbye” about 25% of the time, but produced an unprompted “thank you” only about 7% of the time. When the child didn’t produce the three phrases spontaneously the accompanying parent almost always prompted the child to say it, with the most prompting occurring for the “thank you,” and the child actually saying “thank you” 86% of the time when they were prompted. The children usually repeated the parent’s words exactly, so if the parent said “say thank you for the gift” the child would say “thank you for the gift.” The children never added anything like “thank you for giving me the toy” or expressed any other indication that they really knew what the routine meant. When their child received the gift, 15 parents said “thank you” themselves, 11 of which were mothers and 4 were fathers, a difference that was statistically significant, with a similar result in with the “goodbyes.” Professor Gleason speculated that the upper middle class parents in her sample might not even try to elicit the appropriate terms as much as members of groups of lower socio-economic status, who may be less permissive with their children. She also noticed the potentially profound implications of mothers exhibiting more polite behavior than fathers, and wondered whether a two-year-old knows that she is a girl and that she is supposed to talk like her mother rather than her father? For those of you with boys, you might want to have a conversation with the adult male members of your family about the importance of manners as well, although I should point out that Professor Gleason was involved in another study using a much larger sample size that didn’t find any difference between maternal and paternal use of manners.
So if our children don’t fully understand the words they’re saying, how do they know which words to use? The phrase “may I be excused” is an example of what Professor Gleason calls an “unanalyzed chunk” – a set of words that the child aged three or four knows go together but isn’t really sure what the individual words mean and can’t use them in other settings for several more years. Other researchers have suggested that children use these chunks of language as an interim strategy until they fully understand what they mean and can recombine them into new forms. And they don’t even need to be completely fixed routines, but may have open slots that the speaker can fill in with word that are appropriate to the immediate situation. Much of a preschooler’s life is highly routinized, and Professor Gleason thinks that the words adults use – and tend to use over and over again, the same each day – are processed by children as chunks rather than as individual words that can be recombined into other sentences.
As an example of this, I have for years now asked my husband over dinner every night “So how was the office, dear?” in the tone that I imagine a 1950’s housewife might ask her weary husband, just after she puts his slippers in front of his feet and his tumbler of whisky on the rocks in his hand. It’s sort of poking fun at the fact that while I do have a full-time job, I’m lucky enough to work from home and so I have “been at home” all day while my husband has had to drive to his “real” work at the office. My daughter and I were eating dinner together one night when she turned to me and said “How was the office dear?” with obviously no understanding of what it meant, but she had heard it used at the dinner table for months and decided to replicate it. I almost fell out of my chair laughing but after I picked myself up I told her how my day at my “office” was, and since then she has asked the same question on almost a daily basis. She has been to her Dad’s office, but I know she doesn’t have a concept of what he does there every day or what it means to ask how the office was, but she knows it is a chunk of words that we use and understand and will respond to if she uses it. She only uses it at the dinner table, because it’s part of our dinner routine, so it’s relatively useless as a chunk of information. The form “Can I have more [of something]” is easier to understand and so might be one that a child experiments with – you may hear “please can I have more banana” or “please more banana” or “more banana please” as the child figures out what forms are acceptable ways of asking for banana and which will earn a reprimand.
Shifting gears a bit, apologies are also both linguistic and social tools, which Professor Gleason says can restore damaged relationships, mitigate loss of face, and preserve social standing. Linguists categorize apologies as both performatives, which means the apology is achieved when the words “I’m sorry” or their equivalent are spoken, and as expressives, which is the sincerity of the feelings of remorse being expressed. Unlike the use of “please” and “thank you,” which are highly routinized, the use of “I’m sorry” is much more situationally specific – these situatioons don’t occur nearly as often, and they require the child to understand that a violation of some kind of norm regarding social interactions has taken place and that this violation can be remedied. Professor Gleason studied nine children aged between 1 year 2 months and 6 years 1 month. The youngest child to say “sorry” said it at age 1 year 10 months after his mother said “Can you say you’re sorry?”. Children increasingly used the word “sorry” in the course of their play (things like “So sorry, tow truck!”) between age two and four. There was also a drop in direct parental prompts (where the parent says “say sorry!” and a rise in indirectly elicited prompts where a transgression is discussed but the apology isn’t specifically requested or required, over the same period. The study also describes three ways that parents teach implicitly teach children how to apologize. For example, when a child is working on a puzzle with her mother the child says “Oh, you forgot, Mommy,” and the mother says “Oh, I’m sorry I made a mistake” – so by explaining why she’s saying “sorry” the mother helps her child to understand when she, too, can use that language. The second of these is the sympathetic apology, when the child says he doesn’t feel well and the parent says “Oh, I’m sorry” – it’s more of a showing of sympathy than owning up to any sense of responsibility for the child’s not feeling well, and is apparently indicative of the extent to which parents go out of their way to help their children ‘save face.’ And finally, when a mother causes a cart to hit her son and she says “whoops, excuse me!,” her three year old son says “why you said “scuse me”? And the mother says “because I was afraid you were hurt,” again teaching the child about an appropriate use of the word.
Stepping back from the research a bit here, saying “sorry” is one area where we have definitely used modeling rather than telling our daughter to “say sorry,” probably partly because I feel that I have an alternate option that I’m comfortable with – if my daughter causes some kind of hurt to another child, I say very sincerely to the other child “I’m so sorry that happened.” My daughter’s preschool actually doesn’t tell the children to say sorry either – instead, when someone gets hurt, they encourage the other children to ask the hurt child if he’s OK, and to think of things they might be able to do to help him feel better. Initially I thought this sounded like a much better approach to me but then I realized that since two-year-olds don’t have much of a theory of mind, which is to say that they don’t understand that other people think things that are different from what they think themselves, asking if another person is OK is kind of just as meaningless as the forced apology. We’ve talked about theory of mind a couple of times, in our episode on symbolic representation in art and also in the one on lying, and you can actually test whether your child has theory of mind yet – you should take her to the kitchen and get the cookies out of the cookie jar and put them in the fridge. Then you ask her “when your Dad, or whoever he other parent is, comes in to the kitchen, where will he look for the cookies?”. If she says “in the fridge” then she doesn’t have theory of mind yet, because she doesn’t understand that her Dad couldn’t possibly think the cookies would be in the fridge. If she says “in the cookie jar” then she understands that it’s possible for her Dad to have a false belief about where the cookies are, and that she knows the truth about where they are. So until children have theory of mind, they can’t truly apologize or, I think, fully understand what it means to ask someone if they’re OK. But my daughter does produce this behavior without prompting when I bump myself or when I say “ouch” for some reason, and I suppose what’s happening is that we are scaffolding her ability to apologize by helping her to understand the kinds of situations that require apologies before she has the mental capacity to understand what it means to apologize. If you don’t recall in detail what the term “scaffolding” means then basically it’s the notion of providing support for a child as they learn about an idea and gradually withdrawing that support over time and we did a whole episode on that as well.
Professor Gleason concludes her article on apologies with an anecdote about a mother whose 3 year, 3-month old son says “you’re the biggest stinker in the whole world!” at which point she pretends to cry, and the child says “I’m sorry I said that.” By overplaying how much she was hurt the mother highlights the importance of atoning for breaches of social conventions, and her son offers a sincere apology that both offers a statement of remorse and acknowledges his wrongdoing, although it’s difficult to tell from the transcript whether the incident was more playful or manipulative. This apparently represents a pretty sophisticated grasp of the apology routine and so is something I’m watching out for in my daughter’s behavior – she does spontaneously produce “sorry”s but very sporadically, and almost always at home and not toward other children, and I haven’t yet heard her say what she’s sorry for.
So that’s some of what the research says about the development of manners. Honestly, I feel so personally torn on this issue. I had read an article by Robin Einzig, a parent educator who is very familiar with the RIE approach to parenting (but not 100% wedded to it), several months ago that’s called “model graciousness” – I’ll put a link to it in the references for this episode. The article is about what parents should do when their child refuses to do what the parent is asking, so not exactly about manners, but pretty close for our purposes since we often want our child to exhibit good manners just like we want them to do what we ask. So the point of the article is that if your child does something she’s not supposed to, like pour a glass on the floor, you explain that the milk needs to get cleaned up, and you get two cloths and give her one and you say “let’s clean it up together; would you like to wipe or hold the container while I wipe?” and she refuses or laughs or runs off, then what you’re supposed to do is not put the child in time out, or force her to clean it up, or leave the milk on the floor until she cleans it up, but to model graciousness. That means you clean up the milk yourself, and you trust that when she is ready (the next time the milk spills), she will help you. You’re supposed to “quiet the anxious voices in your head that say “If I clean it up, she’ll never learn responsibility” and quiet the resentful voices in your head that say “I’m sick of doing everything for her when she’s perfectly capable of doing it herself” and quiet the punitive voices in your head that say “she spilled it; she needs to clean it up.” The idea is that if you trust that she will help you to clean it up then one day she will, because she will, because she will have been watching you all that time and learning from you and she will know what it means to be helpful and generous and altruistic. And if you want her to be that person then you, the parent, have to be that person and help others and accept others’ emotional or developmental limitations, and model graciousness.
So if we apply this idea to the development of manners, which I think we can because I had an extended instant message chat with Robin where she told me we can, we are to model graciousness in the way we speak to others as well, and that when our child is ready, she will be gracious with others as well. It’s an approach that fits so well with so many aspects of RIE; for example, we trust that my daughter’s body will be ready to do what it needs to do in its own time, so we never “walked” her and always let her climb by herself if she wanted to – she could actually climb a play structure for 3-5 year-olds before she was even walking. The daycare she goes to has a kind of spinner on the playground that she’s been watching the older kids use for months, and we were hanging out there after school recently when she wanted me to put her on it. She had been trying to climb up facing forwards and couldn’t quite get her legs through. I told her “if you can’t do it by yourself, then I think that means your body isn’t ready yet.” She kept at it and in the end she realized that instead of climbing forward onto it she could actually back up into it and scooch up with her butt, and got up by herself – which she would never have realized if I’d just lifted her up. Now she can get up and down by herself and has been figuring out how to make it spin faster and slower, which she can’t do when the teachers are holding it for her and making it spin slowly in case she gets scared. She’s one of the more graceful three-year-olds I know; she certainly does fall down, but rarely seriously because she can look at a situation and know her limits and assess whether or not it’s safe for her, because we trust her body and so she trusts her body.
Robin Einzig trusts children absolutely to develop politeness skills in the same way – she believes that if *we* believe they can and will do it, then they will, when they are developmentally ready. The problem we run into, of course, is that society believes children should be ready to be polite usually a long time before children are developmentally ready to be polite. And the problem with that is that because so much of our own identity as people is wrapped up in our children once we become parents, that any criticism of our child’s manners becomes a criticism of our parenting, and, implicitly, of us. I mean, who hasn’t been in a real-world situation just like Professor Gleason’s lab setting where someone gives something to your child, your child takes it, and there’s a pregnant pause while everyone waits for the “thank you” that isn’t coming. It’s happened to me, many times, and I feel my own anxiety rising as I hope my daughter says it because don’t I trust her to say it when she’s ready? And what am I supposed to say – to her or to the person who gave her the thing – if she doesn’t?
Robin puts it this way: It’s a matter of framing. I do not see parenting as akin to a recipe–put this in, get this out–or as a project in which we set out to produce a product that does or behaves in a specific way. I see parenting as an exercise in faith and trust and risk and perhaps most of all, an exercise in growth for *ourselves.* I see it as an opportunity to share our lives with another fully actualized human being, whose path is their own. ”
I know some parents will start drilling their child on how to say “please” and “thank you” starting around age 5 or 5 ½, perhaps because it seems as though by that age they really *should* be saying it by then, but Robin says that “if you have even an ounce of “how long must we wait” in you, then you have an expectation or a time clock or some sort of fear that it won’t happen,” and that she doesn’t operate that way. Magda Gerber, who founded the RIE approach to parenting, said that readiness is when they do it, whether that’s age four or age six or never at home but often when around others. She said her own daughter started saying please at around age two or three at home, but not really consistently, and she was never required to say it, and around age 9 or 10 she suddenly became so polite that people would compliment her manners to her parents. That’s not to say that every child will go through the same process because that’s not the case at all, of course, but if we require that our children produce certain behaviors then they are likely to do it when we’re around, but as soon as we turn our backs they’ll be rude to all and sundry. So much research on other topics supports this idea; if you force a child to eat vegetables to get another food then they end up liking vegetables less, and if you pay a child to do chores then they’ll do the chore as long as the reward is dangled but as soon as the reward goes away, they won’t do the chore any more.
But I do also recognize that manners and politeness is *not* the same as eating vegetables and doing chores; manners are something that are supposed to be a social lubricant, and *people notice* when they are absent. I should also acknowledge, though, that my own tolerance for what I view as a lack of manners is probably lower than most people’s. So Robin told me that if she was in a restaurant and the waiter asked what drinks the table would like and she said “I’d like a ginger ale” in a nice tone of voice and with a smile and eye contact rather than “could I please have a ginger ale,” that she didn’t think that would be rude at all, whereas I think “I’d like a ginger ale” would be just on the verge of acceptability and that in England, where I’m from, it would definitely be rude. And as a side note, this speaks to the difficulties that children from other countries and cultures and especially who speak other languages have in attempting to mesh their own understanding of politeness and respect with that of the culture they’re now in, especially when teachers specifically and the dominant culture in general tends to hold pretty negative views of children from the non-dominant culture. But I asked my husband what he thought and he said he didn’t think “I’d like a ginger ale” sounded rude at all. So I think partly it’s that I do have different expectations about manners than most people, and especially the average American, but it’s also partly that society has a double standard and lack of respect for children that some people call “childism.”
Childism is embodied in a lot of different ways – when she stubs her toe and cries and someone says “stop crying, you’re fine” instead of empathizing with her. It’s asking a parent if the child would like a banana when he can answer perfectly fine for himself. It’s grandma forcing the child to give her a hug or a kiss when the child clearly doesn’t want to. And it’s requiring that the child says “please” for something when the adults around him don’t say it to each other, or to the child, simply because it’s something society says we should do. Society assumes that the adult knows what manners are and may have forgotten or chosen not to use them in the particular moment, but assumes that the child does not know how to use manners unless they actually do it, so we ask them to prove it over and over again.
So I want to push back on that, because that’s kind of what we do on this show. Society says we should dress girls in pink and boys in blue and buy dolls for girls and trucks for boys and we know that science says that young boys and girls really aren’t that different and that the differences we see are mostly those that society has imposed on them. Society tells us “don’t talk about race” because it’s scary and we might say the wrong thing but we know that science says that *not* talking about race with your kids is one of the most effective ways to create racist kids. Society says to give your kids rewards for doing everything from pooping on the potty to doing chores, but we know that science says that extrinsic rewards are not a good way to motivate children in the long term. So when society says “children have to say “please” even when adults don’t have to,” perhaps we should push back on that. Robin reminded me that there are lots of ways to be polite that don’t involve saying “please;” one I use myself a lot – often in writing for work-related things – is “kindly,” so “would you kindly do this thing that I need you to do and I know you don’t really want to do?” But we can’t really expect a young child to come out with a statement like that that we don’t often use in conversation because we know from the research that they tend to use linguistic routines until they fully understand something.
So what *are* we supposed to do? Well, luckily for us, Robin Einzig has some suggestions for us. Firstly, she says that age three is really too young to reliably expect children to say “please” and that we shouldn’t require our three year olds to say it. We can model the language we want to see, so if the child says “I want a banana,” the parent can say “You’d like a banana, please? Sure, I’d be happy to get you one.” The parent doesn’t require that they say “please” to get the banana, but the child still hears the routine and is supported in understanding the social convention, even as we don’t judge the absence of a “please” from them. If we’re at a restaurant with a five-year-old who says to the waiter “I want a ginger ale” then we could put a gentle hand on his back and say to the waiter “he’d like a ginger ale, please.” And if we think our child maybe has a harder time than most at reading social cues and grandma is holding a banana out but won’t actually hand it over until the child says the “magic word,” the parent could lean over and whisper to the child in an encouraging way “I think it’s really important to Grandma that you say “please,” without actually requiring that the word be said.
I do want to be clear that there is no scientific research that I’ve found, at least, which has conclusively shown that if you model politeness and provide these kinds of supports where needed that your child will grow up to be genuinely gracious and not just polite when you’re giving them the stink eye, but as we’ve seen the research on the coercion of children in other areas of their lives, it rarely produces the result that we intend. The studies like Professor Gleason’s tend to lump all aspects of “prompting” together, no matter how coercive they are. We do also have pretty good evidence that children learn through modeling adults – both from social learning theorists like Albert Bandura but also when our own children copy the things we say and the exact tone in which we say it. I had noticed the discrepancy between my demands for my daughter to say “please” and the lack of coercion that I use in other aspects of her life, and I’ve been particularly struck by the fact that I don’t force her to say “thanks” or “sorry” but she more regularly uses those words than the “please” that I do require that she use. But I didn’t know what else to say instead. And now I do.
So I plan to make the switch to this kind of language pretty much right now. Because I can see that even if I’m no longer requiring that my daughter to say “please” to get a banana, if I do say “You’d like a banana, please?” then I am still teaching her about manners; I’m not just throwing her out to the wolves and leaving her to figure it out for herself. But I’m also aligning my approach to manners with my approach to most other aspects of my parenting, which is to say that I don’t make rewards contingent on good behavior, or pooping in the potty, or pretty much anything else. So I will no longer withhold food from her until she says “please” for it, even if it irks me that she won’t say it by herself, and even if it is more effort for me to model the sentence for her. And the other nice thing this approach does for me is to help me save face as a parent, when I’m with other parents or in a restaurant or another setting where “polite” behavior is required, and my daughter doesn’t produce the requisite “please” at the right time, I can still show people that good manners are important to me, and that I am helping my daughter understand when to use manners, even if she’s not quite ready to do it yet. To use more technical language, we accept the importance of the child’s competence in understanding what the words that they use mean, rather than require performance of linguistic routines before that competence occurs, because it is only through that competence – through understanding the true meaning of “please” and “thank you” and the offering of things and gratitude for being offered things, that children fully grasp the much larger ideas of helpfulness and generosity and altruism that we all hope they come to understand.
So I hope this has been a fun ride for you guys, because you have literally watched me shift my approach over the course of writing this episode. I’d also like to extend my thanks to both Professor Gleason and Robin Einzig, who took the time to explain their differing points of view on this issue.
We’ve referenced a lot of previous episodes in this show so if you want to go back and revisit those there’s a list of them, along with all the references for the research we’ve discussed today, at yourparentingmojo.com/manners.
Also published on Medium.
Jen Lumanlan (M.S., M.Ed.) hosts the Your Parenting Mojo podcast (www.YourParentingMojo.com), which examines scientific research related to child development through the lens of respectful parenting.
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Hi! I just enrolled in a FREE Tame Your Triggers online workshop, which you can receive as a series of nine daily emails starting July 8th. It's for parents who feel 'triggered' by their children's behavior, which leads to frustration and anger, and who can't see a way to get out of this pattern. In the first week we'll learn about the main causes of triggers, and in the second we'll learn what we can do to feel less triggered and to manage our feelings better on the fewer occasions when it does still happen. I thought you might be interested in learning along with me - if so, please go to yourparentingmojo.com/tameyourtriggers and sign up before the end of the day on July 8th!
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Western Carolina Democrat and French Broad Hustler (Hendersonville, N.C.), 31 Dec. 1914. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress.
Exactly one hundred years ago, the Western Carolina Democrat and French Broad Hustler published an editorial welcoming the arrival of 1915. The article speaks about 1914 with rhetoric familiar to modern day musings about the transitions and fresh beginnings associated with the New Year.
The article concludes by bidding both the paper itself and its readers well. Despite the continuing uncertainty of war in Europe, the paper gave “a sincere wish that one and all may realize, before its close, that the year 1915 has been exceedingly kind to them.” To read more from the article, visit the December 31, 1914 issue of the Western Carolina Democrat and French Broad Hustler.
Author Rebecca BowersPosted on December 31, 2014 January 21, 2020 Categories From the Stacks, History, NC Historic Newspapers, Tar Heelia, Tar TalkTags Chronicling America, civil war history, History, NC historic newspapers, NDNP, new year, resolutions, WWILeave a comment on A Fresh Start for 1915
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After rejecting rail transit proposals at the polls six different times, Kansas City voters approved a light-rail plan in November, 2006. This plan, however, has proven infeasible, with costs at least 50 percent greater than its promoters projected. Implementing the plan would require cutting bus service by as much as 40 percent. While the City Council formally repealed the plan in November, 2007, many people in Kansas City still believe that some form of light rail or streetcars would be worthwhile. A close look at other urban areas that have built light-rail transit during the past three decades offers many lessons for Kansas City transportation policymakers.
Light rail is not only expensive — typically costing as much to build as a four-lane freeway (and a mile of streetcar line typically costs as much as two freeway lane miles) — it suffers cost overruns averaging more than 40 percent.
The average mile of light-rail line carries only about 30 percent as many riders as a single mile of freeway lane — and streetcars about 10 percent as many. This makes light rail and streetcars more than 10 times as expensive for moving people than freeways.
Rail transit also costs considerably more to operate than buses on comparable routes.
Rail transit takes years to plan and build, and there is no guarantee that people will still want to go where the rails lead when they finally open. This gives transit agencies a tremendous incentive to become social engineers, trying to bribe or coerce people to live near rail stations.
Only three of the 13 formerly non-rail regions that have built new light-rail lines during the past 30 years have experienced an increase in percapita transit ridership.
In most regions that have built light rail, public transit’s share of passenger travel and commuting actually declined. In the few regions where that share increased, the gains were so small — less than a quarter of 1 percent — as to have an imperceptible effect on congestion.
When they operate in streets, light rail and streetcars actually add to congestion and disrupt coordinated traffic signals.
Rail transit has been especially unsuccessful in regions like Kansas City, where only a small percentage of jobs is located downtown.
Light rail is dangerous, killing three times as many people in accidents as buses, for every passenger mile carried. Light rail is also the scene of far more robberies, assaults, rapes, and other crimes than any other form of urban transit.
Most light-rail lines consume more energy and emit more greenhouse gases, per passenger mile, than the average passenger car. All of them consume more energy per passenger mile than a Toyota Prius, or other hybrid-electric cars.
Neither light rail nor streetcars stimulate urban redevelopment. Often, however, they do stimulate subsidies to urban redevelopment, which are simply one more type of burden to taxpayers.
This information suggests that light rail and streetcars would not be a good fit for Kansas City. Instead, this study recommends that the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority contract out bus operations to private companies, which is likely to save 30 to 40 percent of costs. This, in turn, will allow a 50- to 60-percent increase in bus services, including several new bus–rapid transit routes. These improvements should result in far more new riders using public transit than would be gained from light rail — without increasing the cost to taxpayers.
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In other words, pick profile photos that communicate who you are as a person. You may be able to find more information about this how to tell if someone super liked you on tinder best online dating service for dade city florida similar content at piano. Not only did the app allow me to pick and choose who I wanted to reach out to, but I also felt safer on Bumble since it has features that give you the option to verify your profile in order to avoid being catfished. This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. Bots aside, even if you live in a small town or rural area, you will find plenty of prospects. A similar story presents itself when we deconstruct black women in popular culture. For Nicole, a year-old Afro Caribbean single mother from Brooklyn, receiving overly sexual overtures from non-black men on apps has become an unwelcome norm. It will go a long way. Alternatively, black women are viewed as hypersexual because of things like the legacy reverse image search tinder pictures meet women for pnp chattel slavery, which also suggested that black women are more masculine and animalistic than other women. So we spoke with seven Black women who advised on their favorite dating apps that check these boxes. Going buzz dating app good canto chinese pick up lines dating apps as a Black woman is like searching for the bare minimum. To further ensure that each ATP survey reflects a balanced cross-section of the nation, the data are weighted to match the U. There are more singles than ever in the dating pool. The users who are old enough to be completely over dating games that tend to be consumed by them see this as a benefit. The League. To my surprise, the most inclusive app has been Tinder. Because Friend Finder is more of a community than strictly a dating site, there are various ways to meet people and other ways to enjoy the site. AdultFriendFinder is an adult site, so that means explicit photos are welcome and encouraged. Coffee Meets Bagel The concept behind this dating app was to set up a casual online dating experience. So, when we see Asian men and black women having a harder time, part of it has to do with beauty standards and part of it has to do with the ways people are socialized to imagine how Asian men or black women behave inside and outside of relationships. Plenty Of Fish. To online dating is harder black bi sex social sites on the app in the first place, you must apply by submitting your LinkedIn profile, current job status, and what university you attended.
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To answer the question, yes, dating sites do work. Mimic that energy by always shining a positive light while you are chatting with new friends or matches. Zoosk utilizes behavioral matching to facilitate genuine connections between folks who may live thousands of miles apart. Really, Hornet is more of a social app than an explicit dating app, one meant to cultivate meaningful connections. Some are great choices if you're looking for a long-term relationship, and others are ideal for something a little less serious. Find out with our income calculator. The crowd is generally young, cool, and interested in dating. So, they become idealized due to being considered very sexual but also very feminine. Type keyword s to search. Take our quiz to find out which one of our nine political typology groups is your best match. The ratings online daters give their overall experience do not vary statistically by gender or race and ethnicity.
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Tip for using The League to find a long-term relationship: The League tends to be a tough crowd and the app comes across as a little judgmental. The authors found that racial filtering on mating forums exposed black women to more exclusion and rejection than white, Latina and Asian female daters. The authors of a new book are arguing for race-blind dating apps — and the removal of filters for race and ethnicity. Here are 10 facts from the study, which is based on a survey conducted among 4, U. The app was originally supposed to match you based on mutual friends you had through social media platforms. Another reason why CMB works so well is that the algorithm takes your previous swipes into account when curating the next batch of fresh bagels for you. You swiped right for a reason, right? There is a new security feature, which makes Tinder feel safer. This gives us confidence that any sample can represent the whole U. About Pew Research Center Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. Members span all age groups but tend to be on the younger side. Silver Singles Dating over 50 can be quite a challenge. Contact The Author Name required. More From Pride. About one-in-ten U. Additionally, the entire process of meeting someone new is so much faster by comparison. To further ensure that each ATP survey reflects a balanced cross-section of the nation, the data are weighted to match the U. The authors declined to publicly reveal which digital dating platform they used for their research per a data-share agreement with the website.
Tip for using Match to find a long-term relationship: Match is known for their intense matching algorithm, so take your time with the questionnaire and try to make your profile as detailed as possible. Even in a polarized era, the survey reveals deep divisions in both partisan coalitions. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano. Related Story. They can also comment on it, which makes initiating a conversation so much more interesting than on other dating apps. At the same time, personal experiences with online dating greatly differ by sexual orientation. Physical intimacy is an essential part of any relationship, and AdultFriendFinder has no problems in that department. If all the apps were personified, The League would be the most narcissistic. The women-message-first concept also combats those incessant creepy messages that ladies on dating apps are used to getting. Coffee Meets Bagel The concept behind this dating app was to set up a casual online dating experience. Most apps function best in urban cities, but POF does the job well anywhere. Some are great choices if you're looking for a long-term relationship, and others are ideal for something a little less serious. Tip for using Zoosk to find a long-term relationship: Clean up your social media profile.
To my surprise, the most inclusive app has been Tinder. White men: congratulations! For some, travel is one of the most important aspects of a relationship. Zoosk For some, travel is one of the most important aspects of a relationship. Once free local personal ads for women seeking marriage text pictures to people online dating pick your photos and basic preferences, you can choose through dozens of hilarious or serious prompts to add to the profile. This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. Type keyword s to search. While most dating sites attract a mix of serious and casual daters, some options generate more success for long-term relationships. When you sign up, you will be put through a rigorous personality quiz. It learns your trends and preferences based on actual activity rather than just a questionnaire. Emily A. Here are 10 facts from the study, which is based on a survey conducted among 4, U. At the same time, there are some gender differences in how hard or easy users say it was to find compatible partners.
Black women and Asian men are the two groups most notably at a dating disadvantage. But make no mistake, Grindr can be a place for love. Contact The Author Name required. Dating over 50 can be quite a challenge. Tip for using Friend Finder to find a long-term relationship: Treat this community like a social media platform rather than strictly a dating app. Daters often hesitate to jump on the what to message a girl on a dating site examples self introduction online dating dating bandwagon. Going on dating apps as a Black woman is like searching for the bare minimum. Today's Top Stories. The women-message-first concept also combats those incessant creepy messages that ladies on dating apps are used to getting. Is there an advanced matching algorithm? There are even some celebs who have found love on POF. More Life. Alternatively, black women are viewed as hypersexual because of things like the legacy of chattel slavery, which also suggested that black women are more masculine and animalistic than other women.
Scruff might have a reputation solely as a hook-up app, but not so, according to its CEO Eric Silverberg. Tip for using AdultFriendFinder to find a long-term relationship: Keep an open mind, sexually. While it can feel a little cumbersome, know that Match is only doing its job. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano. Report an error. You need to make the first move before those matches disappear. While most dating sites attract a mix of serious and casual daters, some options generate more success for long-term relationships. The app was originally supposed to match you based on mutual friends you had through social media platforms. Coffee Meets Bagel. Because there are so many daters on POF looking for all sorts of relationships, POF has implemented a pretty advanced search feature that allows you to whittle down the crowd. This particular report focuses on the patterns, experiences and attitudes related to online dating in America. Zoosk uses it to determine your matches.
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So what gives eHarmony its secret sauce? Type keyword s to search. They have so many. The research trio found that discrimination is laced into the algorithms of mainstream dating apps and websites. Public perceptions about the safety of online dating vary substantially by personal experience. Tip for using Silver Singles to find a long-term relationship: Make it clear that you are seeking a long-term relationship. It is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts. Your Best Life. Online dating provides a fast and curated approach that leads to more relationship success. That makes our stomachs turn a little. About The Star. This exclusion of Asian men is a particularly visible problem in the gay community. It will go a long way. Asian and Latin women are most popular with the gents. They actually work. Going on dating apps as a Black woman is like searching for the bare minimum. Which apps will introduce you to singles who are serious about commitment and not just another hookup? But love is an investment you should be making for yourself, right? But why? Toronto Star Newspapers Ltd.
Quiz: See where you fit in the Political Typology. Reach her at facebook. Are flirting lines through text is there a difference between casual sex and fwb the product of a racist society? Sponsored by Corvelay Media. While most dating sites attract a mix of serious and casual daters, some options generate more success for long-term relationships. Filtering for race on dating apps has led to rampant racism. So, we take the following into account when judging each dating app:. To get on the app in the first place, you must apply by submitting your LinkedIn profile, current job status, and what university you attended. You swiped right for a do men find plus size women attractive single women in punta gorda florida, right? Members span all age groups but tend to be on the younger. Zoosk uses it to determine your matches. Tip for using Zoosk to find a long-term relationship: Clean up your social media profile. Inflation has risen around the world, but the U. Silver Singles.
Zoosk takes the concept of online dating and allows users to connect internationally. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! About Contact Us Feedback. Is it free or affordable? We all are. Zoosk uses it to determine does tesosterone levels help attract women dating service not online matches. It also has the biggest name recognition within the space. Rather than dragging army dating online free dating sites completely free through a tedious questionnaire, Zoosk synchs up your social media profiles to analyze your behavior. Scruff might have a reputation solely as a hook-up app, but not so, according to its Dating app for senior after date text pua Eric Silverberg. It will open up the possibilities for you by introducing you to more people! At the same time, there are some gender differences in how hard or easy users say it was to find compatible partners. Are you in the American middle class? They want to meet their match—a partner who will complement them and walk side by side and support them in their careers. The League allows you to be very picky with your preferences, even allowing you to select which races you prefer to see. Roughly six-in-ten online daters in the U. You can do this by posting it in your profile or by opening each chat by explaining what you want out of how to make a good dating site username female flirting techniques app. A smaller share of U.
However, there are also folks who say the exact opposite. Thanks for contacting us. Uncomfortable yet? So we spoke with seven Black women who advised on their favorite dating apps that check these boxes. After finally engaging in consensual sex, he ghosted her. The concept behind this dating app was to set up a casual online dating experience. Which apps will introduce you to singles who are serious about commitment and not just another hookup? So much ugh. Take our quiz to find out which one of our nine political typology groups is your best match. The research trio found that discrimination is laced into the algorithms of mainstream dating apps and websites.
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Wild, right? Undoubtedly, yes. Hinge differs itself from the competition through personality-revealing prompts in an attempt to allow matches to get to know each other better. While Hinge has introduced a ton of successful couples to each other, the draw to Hinge has more to do with the fact that using the app is fun! Well, eHarmony is allegedly responsible for around 4 percent of all marriages in the U. More From Dating and Relationship Advice. This gives us confidence that any sample can represent the whole U. Many daters cite Hinge as their absolute favorite dating app. Reach her at facebook. We've received your submission. Top Stories. So, when we see Asian men and black women having a harder time, part of it has to do with beauty standards and part of it has to do with the ways people are socialized to imagine how Asian men or black women behave inside and outside of relationships. You swiped right for a reason, right? The reason it makes the list is that some people like to approach dating in a casual way before getting into anything super serious. One of the biggest ways to stand out from the competitors on an app like Scruff? To my surprise, the most inclusive app has been Tinder. Tip for using eHarmony to find a long-term relationship: Use eHarmony if you are genuinely ready for commitment.
So, we take the following into account when judging each dating app:. While JSwipe is a dating app that caters to the Jewish community, it was founded on a universalist mindset, according to creator David Yarus. To answer the question, yes, dating sites do work. Share this link:. Tip for using Zoosk to find a long-term relationship: Clean up your social media profile. To encourage followthrough, the bagels only last for a week. About one-in-ten U. What is elite singles all about whats best eharmony or match com half of U. Friend Finder also caters to all genders and sexualities, giving it a really warm and welcoming feel. Comment required. But love is an investment you should be making for yourself, right?
Grindr is often regarded for its contributions to hook-up culture since it allows you to instantly meet up with people that can be as close as feet away. Another thing we love is that POF, and all features like unlimited messaging, is totally free. A study about dating preferences along racial lines on OKCupid came to a similar conclusion: Black women had a hard time matching on dating apps, as did black and Asian men. While most dating sites attract a mix of serious and casual daters, some options generate more success for long-term relationships. So, how did users go from being ignored to harassed? From that, the free dating app Lex, which is short for Lexicon, was born. Lesbian, gay and bisexual online daters report positive experiences — but also harassment. The platform allows ghosters and players to run rampant. Asian and Latin women are most popular with the gents. Tip for using eHarmony to find a long-term relationship: Use eHarmony if you are genuinely ready for commitment. In other words, pick profile photos that communicate who you are as a person. This will give your potential matches an icebreaker when they reach out to you. You could courageously strike up a conversation with a stranger at your neighborhood bar or you could ask a friend to set you up with one of their friends—but if you're like most people, you probably turn to the online dating apps.
We denounce with righteous indignation in and dislike men who are so beguiled and to demo realized by the charms of pleasure moment, so blinded by desire, that they cannot foresee the pain and trouble that are bound.
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Technology-Related Tips and Musings from Susie Simmons, a 6-12 Technology Coach at Bonny Eagle School District in Maine
Other Apps
March 02, 2015
If you are like me, you likely have a TON of extensions and add-ons in your Google Chrome. They can really help a ton! But they also use up your battery life and slow down your computer. Ugh! That is where Extensity comes in handy because it lets you turn your add-ons off/on as needed. I do see the humor of adding an extension to manage your extensions, but it has already been helpful to speed up my computer. Basically, it adds in an icon to your Chrome broswer that lets you see all of the extensions and apps that you have in your profile and then turn them on/off from there.
It's super slick! I highly recommend checking it out if you haven't already. Let me know what you think!
Other Apps
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Let’s talk about hydrogen peroxide. Not only is it great for scrapes and cuts, but there are hundreds (or more!) of hydrogen peroxide uses out there. The more I read and learn about it, the more intrigued I become. If you are looking for a great product that can be used for cleaning, disinfecting and beauty purposes, this is the one!
What Is Hydrogen Peroxide and How Can I Use It?
Most of us have seen hydrogen peroxide in the brown bottles at the drug store, but what the heck is that stuff anyway? Hydrogen peroxide is a chemical that releases oxygen into the area it is applied to. Oxygen acts as an oxidizer, which can kill bacteria.
There are different concentration strengths, and each has a purpose. In general, however, the hydrogen peroxide uses we’ll discuss here will require a 6% or lower dilution.
Also, if you ever wondered why it was sold in brown bottles, it’s not just for brand recognition. It’s because hydrogen peroxide is degraded by light. What does that mean for you? Basically, you shouldn’t keep it in the light too long or it won’t be effective. Once it leaves the bottle, use it right away.
How to Clean with Hydrogen Peroxide: 10 Tips
There are many hydrogen peroxide uses that have to deal with cleaning items. However, before we get into what you can clean, I have to get a tiny bit technical first (I know) about the difference between cleaning, disinfecting and sanitizing. Cleaning is removing visible dirt from an area. Sanitizing is clearing off non-visible debris and killing some bacteria. Disinfecting is killing bacteria and other microbes specifically. Hydrogen peroxide is a disinfectant.
That being said, here are some of the items you can disinfect with hydrogen peroxide:
Cutting boards and counters. We all do a pretty decent job of keeping counters wiped and clean, but when is the last time you disinfected them? Next time, instead of reaching for your typical chemical-laden disinfectant, try grabbing a bottle of 3% solution and pouring it undiluted into a spray bottle.
Refrigerator and dishwasher. If your appliances need a good disinfecting, spray on some hydrogen peroxide. Let it sit a few minutes, then wipe clean and rinse.
Clean sponges. Anyone else always slightly grossed out by your kitchen sponge? This is one of the most helpful hydrogen peroxide uses in my opinion! Make a mixture in a bowl with half warm water and half hydrogen peroxide. Let your sponge soak for 15 minutes, then rinse.
Get tough residue off pans. When combined with another miracle cleaning item, baking soda, hydrogen peroxide can be made into a paste to help get tough residue off of pans.
Whiten bathtub grout. Again, create a paste of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide, apply to grout and let sit overnight.
Disinfect and whiten the toilet. If your toilet has hard water stains, you can use hydrogen peroxide in the toilet to disinfect and whiten.
Boost your clothes whiteness. One of the most popular hydrogen peroxide uses is in the laundry room. When a cup of peroxide is added to laundry, it can whiten whites. Do not used hydrogen peroxide on colored clothes, however, as it will remove color.
Remove stains from fabric. If your laundry pile frequently has clothes with blood, grass, dirt or other difficult to remove stains, make sure to have hydrogen peroxide available. Simply add a capful directly to the stain, let it sit five minutes and rinse well. Repeat as needed.
Clean floors (and brighten them). If you are dealing with stains on tile floor, make a paste of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda, apply it to your stain and let it sit overnight. If the stain is a particularly tough one, you can even cover the paste with plastic wrap while it works its magic.
Clean toys and play areas. This is an excellent way to disinfect toys without using harmful, dangerous chemicals. Use a spray bottle of hydrogen peroxide to clean toys then wipe with a damp cloth. Or, you can simply fill a container with a mixture of 1:1 hydrogen peroxide to water, soak toys, rinse, and dry.
First of all, it’s important to note that the classic hydrogen peroxide uses on cuts and nicks is no longer recommended. As a kid, I remember my mom pulling out the hydrogen peroxide bottle from under the sink nearly every time I got a cut or scrape (which was often!).
However, these days it is actually recommended that you do NOT use hydrogen for this purpose, as research has shown it can do more harm than good by irritating skin cells.
Outside of those types of hydrogen peroxide uses, there are a few other health-related ways to use it. Here are some of my favorite:
Gargling to treat a sore throat. Dealing with a sore throat? Gargle some 3% hydrogen peroxide. It kills the bacteria without causing scarring. Just don’t swallow!
Treating foot fungus. A light spray of hydrogen peroxide can help keep athlete’s foot at bay.
Softening calluses and corns. Soak your feet in a tub filled with a diluted hydrogen peroxide/water mix and your feet will soften.
Last, but not least, there are many hydrogen peroxide uses that can help in the beauty department. Here are just a few to consider.
Brighten your teeth. Hydrogen peroxide can be used as a mouth rinse to help keep your pearly whites bright. Don’t swallow the mixture, however, as it can be very irritating to the stomach and cause vomiting.
Clean makeup brushes. Start by washing your brushes with soap and water, then give them a swirl in a bowl of hydrogen peroxide. Rinse and dry!
Whiten teeth with a DIY toothpaste. Mix a paste of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide and use to brush your teeth.
Boost your skin routine. To kill off bacteria and lower your chance of acne, give your skin a swipe with a cotton ball damped with hydrogen peroxide, then rinse with water. If you have sensitive skin, dilute the peroxide first!
Use it to bleach your hair. Feeling particularly brave? Try using hydrogen peroxide to lighten your hair. Mix 2 1/2 cups of water to 2 tbsp of peroxide and rinse your hair with it in the shower after you shampoo.
So, who is heading to the store to start stocking up on hydrogen peroxide bottles? It’s pretty amazing stuff!
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Tania is a freelance writer and blogger. As a type 7 enneagram, she is known as the life of the party, but on her nights off, she can be found with a good book and a glass of champagne, spending time with her one-year-old daughter and husband at a local park, or working on her DIY blog, Run to Radiance.
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Smart Parents Rich Kids > Top News > Jeremy Clarkson told to close Diddly Squat farm café after planning breach
Jeremy Clarkson told to close Diddly Squat farm café after planning breach
Posted by October 7, 2022 October 7, 2022
Jeremy Clarkson has been ordered to shut his farm’s café and restaurant after he “ignored” warnings from council officers that he was in breach of planning regulations.
Clarkson, 62, has appealed against an enforcement notice issued by West Oxfordshire district council in August, which gave him six weeks to comply with their demands.
The star of Clarkson’s Farm, the Amazon Prime show, opened a 40-seat restaurant in an old lambing barn in July, months after local councillors rejected his plans for a bistro in a newer barn because it would spoil the protected rural landscape.
Clarkson told The Times at the opening that he had found a “a cunning little loophole” which allowed him to change the barn’s use without needing planning permission.
At the time, the council said it was looking to ensure the venue was “compliant with local and national planning law”.
In August it ordered Diddly Squat Farm, in Chadlington, to undertake a catalogue of measures within six weeks of it serving the notice on August 12.
They included stopping the use “of any part of the land as a restaurant or café”, removing all tables and chairs, catering vans and mobile toilets on site, as well as all “landscaping materials”.
It said there was “unlawful” use of the farm and the shop and restaurant’s “nature, scale [and] siting is unsustainable and incompatible with its countryside location within the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty”.
The council said the farm must also stop selling products other than those made on the farm, those made within a 16-mile radius of it, or others that the council has allowed.
In a statement, it said: “Council officers have worked with the owner and planning agents of the business, over many months, to investigate breaches in planning control, advising on how the business can be operated in a lawful way and trying to reach a solution.
“The business continues to operate outside the planning permissions granted and advice has been ignored. The activity has also had a significant impact on the local community.”
However, Clarkson’s planning agents have denied the farm breached planning laws and said some of the requirements were “excessive”.
It also said a map served by the council was wrong and that the notice “should be quashed in its entirety as a result”.
The agent added the proposed six-week period to undertake the ordered work would be too short and have a “serious and detrimental impact on the business and livelihoods of those employed at the site” and that six months would be a “more reasonable timeframe”.
Papers served by the Planning Inspectorate show it has accepted Clarkson’s appeal as valid and that representations must be made in coming weeks.
Since opening his farm shop in 2020, Clarkson has faced a barrage of complaints from the nearby village of Chadlington, Oxfordshire, about horrendous traffic, damage to grass verges and speeding cars drawn to the area by the show’s international success.
What started with Clarkson gaining planning permission in November 2019 for a small farm shop selling local produce, a lambing shed and ten car parking spaces has morphed into hundreds of cars parking in a field, a café serving hot food and alcohol and thousands of fans queuing for hours to buy branded T-shirts, caps and bags.
Clarkson doesn’t have planning permission for most of these new additions but fans drive to the area from as far away as Newcastle and Glasgow for the day.
His application for planning permission to build a new 70-space car park was rejected by the council earlier this year.
Clarkson has argued that he needs to sell his own beef and produce through his own restaurant in order to survive the drop in government agricultural subsidies.
October 7, 2022
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Health is a state of full health, devoid of illness or infirmity. The Globe Wellness Organization specifies health as “a state of complete physical, mental, as well as social health”. Throughout background, different interpretations of wellness have been utilized for various purposes. The most common interpretation today is a state of healthiness, or the lack of condition or imperfection. Various other interpretations are more specific to specific conditions, such as prevention, therapy, or monitoring of a specific problem.
Health and wellness might be specified by many different requirements, including the physical setting and also a person’s lifestyle. It may include mental well-being, health and wellness behaviors, and also various other variables that affect a person’s wellness, such as revenue, employment status, and also family performance. It is essential to identify that an individual’s health and wellness may depend on lots of variables, beyond simply physical wellness, such as just how frequently they work out and also the stress and anxiety they experience. While many individuals associate healthiness to genetics, various other aspects can be as important as way of life.
The WHO defines wellness as “a state of complete physical, psychological, and also social health.” That definition excludes those with chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, or cancer cells. Today, the globe’s population is aging swiftly, with about 6.5 million individuals over 65 years of ages. This pattern, in addition to the makeover of the meaning of health, has actually aggravated the discordance between the experiences of people with persistent illnesses and the dominating definition of health and wellness.
While the Globe Health Company has actually specified health and wellness as the lack of disease, there are many various other meanings of health. One definition explains it as a lifestyle, while one more specifies it as the ability to cope with everyday needs. A 3rd interpretation describes health as a state of balance between an individual’s interior and external setting.
Health promo can benefit a specific and their community by lowering the prices associated with medical therapy. It can additionally improve bone thickness and muscle stamina. Moreover, normal physical activity can avoid cardio as well as kind 2 diabetes mellitus. Correct rest is additionally necessary for a healthy life. Lastly, a diet low in refined sugar can have significant health benefits. Refined sugar is filled with empty calories and spikes blood glucose degrees. This sort of food is not suggested for diabetics or people with diabetes or heart issues.
The right to wellness is a fundamental human right. Thus, it is a lawful obligation for countries to make certain accessibility to high quality health care. This means federal governments are needed to offer health-related education and learning as well as clean water. Furthermore, governments are responsible for safeguarding the civil liberties of their populations. The right to health is linked to gender equality, so the provision of appropriate health care is crucial. If you want advertising health and wellness in your neighborhood, see to it you have a look at these sources.
Socioeconomic problems also play a role in identifying health. For instance, individuals with a higher revenue are most likely to have much better health than those with lower earnings. Additionally, the setting in which they live is an additional factor. People that have much better education and learning are more likely to have far better health. Along with these factors, the social as well as digital atmospheres additionally affect health.
Wellness is crucial for living a long and happy life. A healthy lifestyle can prolong an individual’s lifespan and keep their minds energetic and healthy. Good health will also stop disease as well as promote healing. Nonetheless, an unhealthy lifestyle can hamper an individual’s ability to do everyday tasks. A healthy diet plan and ample workout are vital to maintaining health.
In the majority of tribal societies, health care is not a right. In the US, health care is a system of entities that give items and solutions to people. This environment includes health insurance business, pharmacies, as well as pharmaceutical firms. There are additionally group purchasing organizations, drug store benefit managers, and also business health care systems. In many cases, medical care is straight covered by an employment contract or self-insured coverage.
In the USA, there are numerous different types of wellness experts, consisting of wellness teachers. Some of these professionals operate in community companies, supporter for healthy way of livings, coordinate wellness screenings, and perform area organizing. They also design and assess programs related to diet plan, exercise, as well as prevention of condition. They may likewise develop instructional materials and also collaborate with the media. Others may be associated with research and development. All of these people might deal with the same or different companies.
While a person’s physical health is important, the state of their psychological health is equally important. Poor psychological wellness can affect a person’s capacity to function. It can affect one’s financial well-being and movement.
Health and wellness scientific research is the branch of science that researches human health. This branch of scientific research consists of the research study of the body and its features, study on health-related issues, and also the application of knowledge to boost wellness. These sciences are progressively made use of to boost the quality of life and stop as well as treat disease. In addition to fundamental research, health and wellness scientific research includes health education, biomedical engineering, and also biotechnology. If we intend to improve the quality of life for everybody, we have to initially address the social aspects that influence wellness.
The advancement of health care systems, infrastructure, as well as services throughout the world have actually been type in advancing the idea of international health. Because of this, global wellness has actually evolved from the control of transmittable diseases to the development of health care systems and also frameworks. It has actually been a major issue for worldwide organizations, nations, and also individuals.
Health and wellness equity can be achieved by integrating the work of public health as well as neighborhood. This cooperation is vital in advertising neighborhood depend on and social link. It also enhances accessibility to wellness details by dealing with the social, socioeconomic, and geographical diversity of the neighborhood. The information given should be local and culturally appropriate. Furthermore, it ought to be easily understood by varied target markets. Especially for the people with disabilities, low literacy, as well as low English-language skills, health and wellness information have to relate to the area’s demands. Extra resources
In addition, health and wellness is an intricate ecological community that encompasses the sectors that offer health services as well as items. As individuals come to be clever consumers, the free enterprise will respond to their requirements and needs, making certain exceptional top quality and effectiveness. As the market completes in health care, costs will drop as well as top quality surges. This would likewise be valuable for the entire healthcare environment.
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March 22, 2020 January 30, 2022 Categories Leap of FaithHealing, hope, victory2 Comments on FINDING FAITH; a 2020 survival guide
Photo by Alex Woods
So how do we find a faith worth taking the leap for?
For me, that faith was found through the actions of another. When someone demonstrated UNDESERVED love to me, it gave me something REAL to put my faith in. I found a faith that will NEVER fail because I found the One whose very nature DEFINES what it is to BE faithful!
For most of us it is easy to love people who love us. However, when we are hurt or betrayed, love becomes a challenge. Loving an enemy seems almost impossible. Everyone experiences times when love is a hard-fought act of will! The thing is, loving others the way God loves us, has the potential to change their lives. My Dad exemplified this kind of love.
My biological father was a violent and abusive alcoholic. My parents were divorced when I was 7. My mother has mental illness issues and suspect taste in men. Following the divorce, a parade of very abusive men came in and out of our lives. By the time I was 12, I had become accustomed to managing the dangers these men posed. When my mom remarried, everything changed.
In my experience, no matter how nice men were in the beginning, abuse was always just a miss-step away, hidden behind the smile. As a result, I was horrible to my mother’s new husband in a way only an abused, distrustful 12-year-old can be. I flatly refused to talk to him. I was deliberately disobedient and spiteful. I encouraged my sisters to be disobedient. Even though I sat next to him at dinner, I wouldn’t look at him or pass food.
After six weeks of silent warfare, I finally condescended to speak. In my most sarcastic voice I asked: ” So what are we supposed to call you? Uncle Chuck?” I grabbed the seat of my chair and braced for the blow I was certain was coming. He met my defiant gaze, and lovingly said: “I don’t know, but I would like it if you called me Dad.”
In that moment I experienced the full weight of God’s grace. I broke! Later that evening I asked my Dad how he could treat me with such love when all I had given him was contempt. In response, he introduced me to the faith that has sustained me through thick and thin; faith in Christ Jesus.
I believe Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for my sins and I have given my life to God. The relationship that has been forged in this act of faith has enabled me to have hope in whatever situation I find myself in because I know I am not alone. I KNOW that the One who walks beside me is FAITHFUL in ALL things. God is ALWAYS with me guiding, protecting and cherishing me. God is my comfort, my wisdom, my teacher and so much more! He enables me to manage whatever life throws at me and brings good and joy out of it all!
God is faithful, reliable, trustworthy, and therefore ever true to His promise, and He can be depended on; by Him you were called into companionship and participation with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 1 Cor. 1:9 AMP (emphasis added)
God is calling us into a relationship , into companionship with Himself through His Son Jesus Christ. This RELATIONSHIP of faith is open to EVERYONE. Simply pray:
Lord God, I am a sinner. Please forgive me of my sin. Help me turn away from sin and follow you. I surrender my heart to you. I believe you are Lord of all creation. I believe you died on the cross to pay the penalty for my sin and you rose from the dead to conquer death. Come into my heart and be Lord of my life. Amen (Romans 10:9-10)
Published by Tamella K White
Tamella White is a Christian writer, speaker, wife and mother. Through the lens of daily life and personal narrative, she focuses on how a relationship of trust in and obedience to God can create a fulfilled, purposeful and joyful life. View all posts by Tamella K White
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Scott Morrison has now been Prime Minister for over three years. That means he has spent more time in the job than Turnbull, Whitlam, Rudd, or Abbott did. In those three years he has built a reputation as a man whose word cannot be trusted, and as a man who has given both his Ministers, and his back-benchers, a free pass, no matter what they are caught out doing, or saying. All they need to do is to vote with the Government.
Some say a one seat majority can do that to a Government, but the scandals and the behavioural issues during Morrison’s ascendancy have plumbed new depths. Morrison himself has been implicated in many of them, but even when his hands have been demonstrably ‘clean’, the behaviour he walks past has only served to highlight his elastic ethics, and a seemingly wilful blindness regarding community expectations.
If it wasn’t so tragic, it would be amusing to track the disappointment of those who confuse the crude hucksterism of the Hillsong Church with Christianity. Practising Christians need to stop bleating about his disavowal of Christian principles, and wake up to the fact that the so-called “new churches” are just another dodgy import from the U.S., like the gym equipment advertised on afternoon television.
Many of us have expected this most overtly ‘Christian’ of our leaders, to call Enough!, as new rorts supersede older rorts, as racist dog-whistling continues apace, and Ministers asking for ‘favours’ from other Ministers continues to undermine the very character of our democracy.
Mr Taylor, for example, has had little luck lowering carbon emissions, possibly because he is so busy asking for favours from his colleagues. Sometimes he receives favours even when he has not asked for them, as in the case of the water buyback scheme. It is a most accommodating Ministry.
The changing landscape of newspapers in particular, and the broader media generally, has shaken up the quality of reporting, and the idea of holding power to account, has been almost universally degraded. In the case of the Murdoch media, standards are so low that one might as well watch a game show, as expect objectivity.
Consider the rabid response to the ABC’s Four Corners episode this week. A report, using sourced opinion from Fox News insiders, criticised what is known throughout the thinking universe, as Fox News’ correct calling of Arizona for Biden, and then the shameful sacking of a loyal employee for doing his job, demonstrates their passion for objective news. You cannot then publish over forty articles attacking the show, and to then deny a campaign of vilification.
Years after the bushfires of 2019-2020 the bushfire relief is still being parcelled out, mainly to coalition seats. Some of the victims of the bushfires are still waiting to have their land cleared, but bad luck if you live in a Labor seat. Car parks, sport grounds, buying land, or water, from donors, stacking the AAT with drones, keeping Christian Porter in the Ministry, accepting George Christensen’s and Andrew Laming’s support-they all speak of incompetence and a lack of moral fibre.
After the utter shambles of Robodebt, the Morrison Government has the hide to start it up again. This time they are sending out debt notices to people who were overpaid during the pandemic last year. Many of the debts are very small, but when you try living on less than $300 per week, repaying debt with the threat of legal action is not only dispiriting, it is cruel.
It also exposes the awful double standards of this rabble of a Government. Firstly they pursue the poor for unproven debts. Their next step is to be found to have acted illegally, and ordered to repay all the debts recovered. As a kind of grace note, they then terrorise the same demographic (the poor), to repay any over-payments, caused by their own indifferent drafting, and hopeless messaging, regarding those pandemic payments.
Treasurer Frydenberg is seen by some as a future Prime Minister. This must be seen as a distinct possibility, because John Howard, Tony Abbott and Scott Morrison have all succeeded to the job, and we all know the level of their capabilities. So it is clear that ability is not a pre-requisite for success. It makes Bill Hayden’s comments on drover’s dogs winning elections somehow relevant.
Frydenberg managed to waste $25 billion of taxpayers’ money on JobKeeper last year. He overlooked inserting a claw-back provision, which is a standard measure by which the ATO claws back money over-paid to corporations.
Close to $9 billion was paid to firms whose turnover not only failed to decline as forecast, but actually increased. So the young, inexperienced Treasurer of Australia has lost $25 billion of our money, and doesn’t have a way of getting it back. His leader, Scott Morrison, thinks asking for its return would be to engage in the politics of envy.
Do you trust him to open up the country, safely?
So, would you put him in charge of opening up the country, in the midst of the Delta variant, which is now running rampant through Sydney? Firstly he wanted the country opened up, then he wanted to follow medical advice and close it down; then he wanted to ‘hurry up’ the medical advice, then he wanted to lock down, then he wanted the states to accept full responsibility for everything, then he wanted to give us hope as we waited for the dawn. Lately he has been cherry-picking medical experts, searching for the opinion du jour, which might suit his latest shift.
The vaccination of all Australians was not a race, then it was still not a race, but it was more important to finish well than to start well. Amidst all the tap-dancing around the truth, and the weird word choices he makes, ask yourself why he chose AstraZeneca as opposed to Pfizer. And if he is so concerned about costs, why pay PWC $11 million to not deliver them? Did the Government have a claw-back provision if it was unable, or unwilling, to provide vaccines on time?
I have seen some estimates of the relative costs of the two, with AstraZeneca costing around $6 a dose, while Pfizer can command $22 a dose. Could it be that our leader chose the cheap one, with the attendant problems with vaccinating the country? The problems are immense. No talk of reaching milestones will remove the necessity of vaccinating special needs groups, and workers in crucial industries.
Groups like the aged and the disabled need vaccination, but their carers and nurses do, too. Aboriginal communities need to be vaccinated, because many have underlying health issues. Children are noticeably being infected by this variant, so can he include them when calculating vaccination rates?
Considering his Government’s almost total lack of competence, I would not put him in charge of getting the morning tea. I certainly trust Daniel Andrews way more than I do the twits in Canberra.
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5 thoughts on “How can we trust Morrison’s word, or his motives, on anything?”
If Frydenberg wants to succeed Morrison he’d better get to work on his cruelty. I’m not convinced a drover’s dog has the cruel streak necessary to succeed and follow John Howard, Tony Abbott and Scott Morrison into the Prime Ministership. Each was more openly cruel than the last; Turnbull provided only a brief respite. The voting public seems so afraid that they will support cruelty in all its forms.
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Mark Buckley says:
My theory is that they rely heavily on most voters not caring at all. This is exacerbated by their lowering of educational standards, by diverting money from the public system to the private.
Then what purpose does the cruelty serve. Mark? Is it gratuitous? Perhaps it’s a necessary part of maintaining inequality?
Mark Buckley says:
No I think they don’t even notice. It is like the little person is immaterial. If we look back to 19th century England, the poor were seen as sub-human & with beast-like feelings. Just disregarded. Not even cruel, just disconnected?
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In contrast to the chorused complains against the - as lobbyists put it - “glacier speed” of new drug approval in Japan, the chronology of Alimta shows quite the opposite. Let’s follow:
In June 2005, it became clear that in addition to factory workers, many people living near the former factory operated by machinery maker Kubota Corp. in Hyogo Prefecture, had developed asbestos-related disorders, including malignant pleural mesothelioma. Soon similar health problems were reported in other areas such as Gifu and Nara prefectures. According to the statistics released by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, 7,924 people across the nation died of mesothelioma in the 11 years since 1995. Due to the difference in collecting the primary data in different prefecture, the actual number patients is thought to be higher and not expected to peak until 2030
In the second half of 2005, the asbestos became a household word after an extensive coverage by the media. A package of bills aimed at providing financial support to people suffering from asbestos-linked diseases was enforced in 2006. According to the compensation scheme, the Government plans to collect 7.4 billion Yen within 4-year period starting 2007 to cover the compensation including treatment for victims and the affected families
In November 2005, the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry has decided to shorten the review period for a new drug to treat mesothelioma (Alimta) to one year form the average time of two years. Meanwhile, Nippon Eli Lily Japan KK has been conducting dose-finding trial from February and late Phase II trial from October 2005
A submission for approval of Alimta in Japan was made on June 26, 2006 for treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma in combination with cisplatin. On June 28, 2006 six manufacturers of cisplatin products applied for revision of “Indications” in the Package Inserts of theirs respective 6 products (in 10 formulations). The approval review was completed by December 7, 2006 and the Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare granted on January 4, 2007 a Manufacturing & Sale Approval to Alimta (vials 500 mg) along the revised cisplatins. Overall, the review took only 5 months
In another speedy leg, Alimta has been given a reimbursement price on January 19 and the company is planning to start the sales on January 22, 2007. Due to the limited pre-approval trials, as one condition for approval, the maker is obliged to recruit at lest 300 patients in Phase IV study. The drug will be initially introduced at around 400 hospitals nationwide specialized in chemotherapy
Jouhoublog is a joint blog - post or send comments to .
Technorati Tags: MHLW; Japanese regulatory affairs
Filed under: General, Approvals, Medicinal products, Anticancers
Posted by: Kanri @ 6:39 pm
If the approval of Iressa happened to be if not a cloud, but at least cloudy, it also has a silver lining. Both in response to the public criticism and along with the newer obligations concerning the pharmacovigilance, the authorities have decided to start disclosing information on advirse events (AEs) reported for medicines approved in Japan. Although it is hardly to assume that the disclosure step has been prompted solely by the Iressa saga, yet the reaching of Iressa incidents to the general public nonetheless served as a catalyst.
Remarkably, the AEs data - previously elusive even to professionals, are now readily open to the public. Many pharmaceutical companies in Japan have fallen to third party providers to make available even for professional audience - such as physicians and pharmacists, and even the most innocent pieces of information - such as photographs of the packages, against charges and detailed registration. The Government took an opposite approach to have all the data posted at no charge and accessible without any tracking. Commendable.
Jouhoublog is a joint blog - post or send comments to .
Technorati Tags: MHLW; Japanese regulatory affairs
Web site to offer information on drug side effects
The Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices Agency on Tuesday launched a Web site that enables people to search for lists of side effects, symptoms and associated diseases brought on by a variety of medicines. The site, www.info.pmda.go.jp, includes a database of all side effects as reported by drug manufacturers. The first data to be made public by the agency was in April 2004, with accounts detailing 732 medicinal products and 2,477 related case studies that include information such as age, gender, disease, details of the side effects, the drug and other medicines taken concurrently. The site also includes case studies for the 63 people whose deaths during that period were brought on by side effects from medicines they were taking. Twelve of these deaths were linked to the lung cancer drug gefitinib, marketed as Iressa. Warnings also are included for cases in which the side effects were found to not be connected to health problems. The PMDA will make information from May 2004 onward available in due course, aiming to put a system into effect before the end of March 2008, with updates every six months. Until now, such reports were limited to cases involving previously unknown side effects, or where revisions had been made to warnings over usage. The new system was conceived of in the face of increasing complaints from citizens’ groups and others organizations demanding all the information be made public, as only 1,872 of the 25,000 or so drug-related side effects last fiscal year had been disclosed. The agency, an independent organization, has also begun posting on its Web site easy-to-understand explanations on dosage and side effects. Beginning with 54 kinds of drugs, including oral diabetes medication, the next medicines to be posted will include antirheumatic and antiasthmatic drugs. (The Daily Yomiuri, February 9, 2006, p. 3)
Warning before approval
Filed under: Approvals, Medicinal products, Anticancers
Posted by: Kanri @ 8:07 pm
Femara - an aromatase inhibitor - is known to be submitted and currently under a review by the Japanese regulatory authorities. Yet, as distributed today by the mass media, the warnings issued by Novartis AG were forwarded to the physicians in Japan as well. As read between the lines - under the provision of the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law (PAL), any unapproved drug could be imported for individual use in Japan as long as the custom official is shown a prescription by Japanese doctor. Obviously, Femara (the name is misspelled in the original news release below) - another of the unapproved anti-cancer drugs in Japan has been imported by significant number of female patients treated domestically.
Jouhoublog is a joint blog - post or send comments to .
Technorati Tags: MHLW; Japanese regulatory affairs
Swiss firm warns breast cancer drug can harm unborn children
Thursday, December 1, 2005 at 07:15 JST
TOKYO — A Swiss pharmaceutical company has decided to warn gynecologists in the United States, Japan and other countries not to prescribe women a breast cancer drug during pregnancy or before menopause, as it may harm unborn children, officials of the its Japanese associate said Wednesday.
Letrozole, distributed by Novartis AG under the name Femera, is commonly used to prevent relapses of breast cancer. Animal tests have proven that the drug can cause fetal abnormalities and its use in pregnant and pre-menopausal women has been banned.
What is more difficult?
Filed under: Approvals
Posted by: Kanri @ 10:03 am
One of the unapproved anti-cancer products, recommended so far by the Committee for the Examination of the Use of Unapproved Medicinal Products for domestic development is thalidomide, which was once registered and in 1962 withdrawn in Japan. The task for clinical development with a sole indication for treatment of multiple myeloma is being undertaken by the Fujimoto Seiyaku KK. The Osaka-based company is small, discloses its staff (about 300), but not the revenues. Apparently, it is run in a very traditional way, so one may wonder how it will survive the PR barrage while developing the notorious compound. On July 20, 2005 in what it seemed as a rare press conference the Fujimoto’s management reported the progress in planning the clinical trials: IRBs of 22 hospitals accepted the protocol and the recruitment of patients through informed consent has started. However, the trials are amidst of a considerable controversy. While for years the Japanese branch of International Myeloma Foundation (IFM Japan) has lobbied for official registration (in contrary to private use legal import), the relatives of the 60s disaster victims are voicing strong concerns regarding the safety. Surprisingly or not, no references of any kind about thalidomide on the web site of Fujimoto have been posted.
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Meghan Markle is getting ready to join the Royal Family this weekend as she exchanges vows with Prince Harry
Author
Release Date
Wednesday, May 16, 2018
Meghan Markle is getting ready to join the Royal Family this weekend as she exchanges vows with Prince Harry. What will she have to know as she adjusts to the English lifestyle?
Sharon Schweitzer, an international etiquette, culture and modern manners expert, who is founder of Access to Culture (https://www.protocolww.com/), says these are some of the things Markle will have to learn:
General cultural differences that Meghan Markle will have to become aware of:
‚óè Americans tend to be more direct, confident and loud compared to our English counterparts which - while part of the allure of America’s culture of progress and diversity - can sometimes be taken as brash or even discourteous. This includes swearing, sarcasm, exchanging insults and criticism.
‚óè Brits generally value professionalism, discretion and formality in actions, behavior and appearance. This ranges from high levels of professionalism in the workplace to politeness in public, and is especially true with dining etiquette, in which Americans tend to be much more informal.
‚óè One key to understanding British behavior is picking up on subtle cues and reading between the lines, where an American is more likely to be straight to the point.
Cultural faux-pas that Meghan Markle will need to be aware of:
‚óè Complaining, especially in the moment or directed at someone.
‚óè Blocking exists, or standing on the left side of escalators, which is meant for passing.
‚óè Forgetting your P’s and Q’s. Brits are extremely polite; be generous with your manners.
‚óè Making small talk on the Tube when everyone’s headed to work or home.
‚óè Buying yourself a drink when out with friends without picking up a round for the group
‚óè Talking or yelling loudly, especially not making a scene. Cool, polite and collected is the expected behavior.
‚óè Inappropriate discussion topics, which include religion, politics and money
‚óè In the UK, people don’t just eat, they dine, often with friends and loved ones and with polished table manners.
‚óè In British dining style, you keep your fork on your non-dominant side when taking a bite, unlike the American “zigzag” style where you switch hands.
‚óè Americans will sometimes cut up several pieces of food before actually eating to avoid so much hand switching; however, the rule is one bite at a time. Otherwise, your food gets cold and it resembles the way a parent cuts up food for a three or four-year old.
‚óè When finished eating, you should put your utensils down neatly on the plate (tines down) at the 4:30 position.
Differences with British wedding culture that Meghan Markle will need to know:
‚óè Weddings in the UK take place in a church or in a licensed venue due to government regulations
‚óè British brides buy their bridesmaids’ dresses
‚óè The maid of honor is known as the chief bridesmaid in the UK, and they sit during the ceremony rather than stand
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The name Zion'Gaïa is derived from this vision of creating a place where everyone can live in a healthy and balanced way. We are destined to live in harmony with ourselves and in harmony with Gaïa. Life will be based on the values of love, peace, respect, tolerance, sharing, caring, personal and collective development. Zion'Gaïa wants to reconnect humanity to our roots. As an integral part of nature, we must move forward hand in hand with love and respect in order to grow spiritually and harmoniously.
Our Mission is to create a space to re-establish the relationship where humans and nature complement each other to enable a self-sufficient, abundant and harmonious way of life.
Our vision is to reforest this area by planting native tropical trees as well as to create an edible forest which will house an ecological center for people on site to live self-sufficiently. People living on the project will organize workshops to share and teach techniques of permaculture, reforestation, agroforestry, gardening, bioconstruction, and processing of natural products. We hope to inspire others to realize that we can live in integrity with nature.
The land where project Zion'Gaïa is located is composed of 28 deforested hectares on the banks of the Zio river.
The area was heavily deforested in the 1990's, leaving the land with very little tree coverage, our main motivator in planting trees.
The land is located near a small village called Kovie Kopé where there is no electricity or running water. The way of life is very simple but the joy of living is there in abundance.
The word Gaïa comes from Ancient Greek, which portrays both the "mother goddess" and Earth as a living entity. Gaïa refers to Mother Earth, the one that gives us everything we need to live.
Our values not only include respect for the environment, but optimism about living in a sustainable economy that does not compromise the natural resources of future generations. In addition, we believe in integrity, responsibility, transparency and coherency.
Tropical Climate
"It is possible to live two months without food and two weeks without water, but you can live only a few minutes without air. The Earth is not a heritage of our parents, we borrow it from our children. Love is the greatest force of the Universe and if there is environmental chaos on the planet it is because there is a lack of love for it. There is enough in the world to support the needs of all men, but not to satisfy their greed "
The Plateau region in southern Togo is a humid tropical climate with an average temperature of 27ºC.
From December to February, the Harmattan winds coming from the North bring a period of drought. The first rains start in March and are abundant during the months of May-June and August-September. The rains begin to decrease in November.
Zion'Gaïa
In 2014 and 2015, we began working on the project by replanting a few hectares with trees from the area. We planted one hectare in agroforestry with cacao, banana and fertilizer trees, dug a well, built a temporary hut, and planted some crops (corn, cassava, yams, beans, peanuts ...)
Why plant trees?
Zion is used to describe a healthy spiritual sphere, such as Paradise on Earth. It is a symbol of unity, peace and freedom. Geographically, the term refers to the Promised Land, designated as the area around Ethiopia, and more generally the African continent.
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Even though I'm not much of a resolution-maker, I must say I was anxiously awaiting the arrival of 2016. Last year was just flat out crazy. I felt like my mind was constantly spinning and I could never get caught up on my sanity even after the wedding was over. That kind of big event can create aftershocks that last for months, especially when you have a busy schedule ready to greet you the second you deplane from the honeymoon.
Although stressful, 2015 will always be special, March 7 in particular. It's hard to believe it's already been 10 months, when it feels like 10 minutes. It's sad to know this monumental moment will never happen again, and it will probably be a very long time before I have all of my best friends under one roof again. Many of them had babies last year, so I know 2015 is one we will all never forget. But at the same time, 2016 comes with a huge sigh of relief knowing, barring something unexpected, I have a much calmer year in store.
As we were ringing in the new year, I saw many people posting all of their goals and resolutions. I was overwhelmed reading them- much less imagining trying to achieve them on top of the stress of daily life. This must be why many resolutions fail. I'm sure in some cases it's a lack of commitment and dedication, but in a lot of ways, we simply don't have the time and energy to be Super Resolution Barbie 2016. In one sense, shouldn't we be resolving to do LESS and enjoy life more?
Huge aspirations aside, let's run through what most of us are already doing in our day-to-day life. It's probably some combination of things from this list:
-Working full time
-Participating in clubs, organizations, community groups
-Cleaning the house
-Doing yardwork
-Feeding ourselves and our families
-Parenting (which deserves multiple slots on this list)
-Taking care of pets
-Caretaking for elderly family members
-Taking on a second job or special project
-Maintaining a marriage or relationship
-Spending time with friends and family
Now put a bunch of pressure on yourself to fulfill a daunting resolution on top of all of that. Cue anxiety attack.
Let me point out setting goals is very important. I think it's a great idea to lay out objectives at the beginning of the year and work toward them with commitment. But let's be realistic. Maybe it makes more sense to choose one or two items on that list and improve upon how you do them rather than adding 10 more.
I'm getting to the point where I want to resolve to give myself a break. And I don't mean time alone, vacation, relaxation, etc...that sounds too, but I mean a break in my own head. I often beat myself up over not being productive enough and finishing my to-do list. But sometimes it's okay to take a day, (or five) to be a little lazy. It's so hard for me to do that because I sit there thinking about all of the things I should be getting done.
But the truth is, stress and lack of sleep are detrimental to our health. Rest is important, even though our 24/7 society would have us believe otherwise. If you hop on social media and you're likely to find someone who has climbed Mount Everest and read War and Peace by noon and you're still in your pjs...which makes you feel like a huge slacker.
There is a lot of pressure... and if we're honest with ourselves, we'll realize a lot of it is self-inflicted. There isn't a to-do list master who comes to punish you for not cleaning the bathroom nor will you turn into a pumpkin if you don't fold the towels right now. Take a nap, read a magazine, watch three episodes of "The Leftovers"...yes, the bathroom will still be dirty and the towels will still be in the laundry basket when you're done, but the world will still be turning. If you're getting anxiety just thinking about leaving that stuff undone, I know, I am right there with you. This doesn't come easy for me, either.
I wish you a 2016 of not being a slacker, but just cutting yourself some slack!
Posted by HAW at 4:03 PM 1 comment:
Labels: 2016, new year, relax, resolutions, rest, stress
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"Everything that can be counted does not necessarily count; everything that counts cannot necessarily be counted." -Albert Einstein
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As some of you already know I just got a new Android phone, which could usher in a new era for mobile blogging. At least for myself. Good news is that I already loaded WordPress on my Android phone, so I can start mobile blogging.
The maker of my new Android is Pantech. I had never heard of them before purchasing, but I think they are part of AT&T. Which is kind of funny, because I have Verizon. Anyways, I wanted to just talk about my leap to “The 21st century” as my wife calls it. She says it is a really cool place to be. Yet to be determined!
Here are my favorite 5 things about the new android, plus 5 things that drive me up the wall. Finally, I have a link for you to get a free Android.
I have two video cameras on the phone. How cool is that! While I have not figured out the whole wifi to Youtube thing yet. I am confident that I will figure something out. Otherwise, I can just use my USB connection to my computer, like I did for my video for my webinar tomorrow.
Skype takes on a whole new meaning now. It is cool, except for the keyboard, which stinks. Will discuss more later.
I can now record things with my voice! I speak, my phone listens. Me masterful with power of voice! But, seriously really cool stuff here. Not just because I am saying, but also because this means that I can talk and blog now.
My camera is now a 5 Megapixal camera with complete zoom options versus my old Blackberry which was a 3.2 megapixal with 2x zoom only.
It is so much lighter on the WordPress app. It is easier to comment on other people’s posts and also just use the WordPress app in general.
The darn touch screen is the death of all that is good in the world. I miss my keyboard. Where are you old friend?
The video upload is a challenge for mobile blogging, because it takes away some of the mobile part and tethers you to a laptop.
Did I mention that swipe technology for typing is an absolute nightmare. I was skyping Kim Castleberry from Ask Kim last night about some projects and she asked if I was drunk, because my typing was that bad. She thought it was funny, I wanted to toss my Android.
These next two are not so much a mobile blogging challenge as a challenge with Android. First, my contact list now automatically imported all of my Google plus contacts. That is not bad by itself, but the challenge is that I then have to go to Google plus to contact them. What is the point of adding that into my contacts if there are not other ways to contact them. An additional, 1000 people is not always good to have on a contact list. Clutter!
My calendar does not work. How can I schedule my amazing thoughts, events, and meetings? Will figure out shortly.
So, there you have it. My renewed foray into mobile blogging and Android phones.
For those who are interested in possibly getting a free android phone CLICK HERE!
Dewane Mutunga on October 17, 2011 at 11:17 pm
Andy,
I admire anyone who’s able to blog from their mobile phone. I’m just not one of those people, it just doesn’t feel comfortable to me. Maybe a video but even then it’s a longshot.
admin on October 25, 2011 at 10:56 pm
Thank you! It is an interesting way to create a blog.
Rosemary O'Shaughnessy on October 18, 2011 at 1:38 pm
Hi Andy,
Many thanks for this update , I use a iPhone myself and it is great to see your frank review about the good and bad points of your Android.
admin on October 26, 2011 at 12:39 am
Just read your comments about the benefits of using an iPhone for voice recognition and both the Android and iPhone have cool tools.
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2020 gave us some time to rethink the way we provide life-changing experiences through tourism. Not any kind of tourism though: adventure travel involves not only scenic wild places in remote locations, but also passionate people who like to share their passion for the outdoors and for human connections.
In 2020, the words “social distancing” are omnipresent.
But also the words “solidarity” and “together”.
And we are deeply convinced that, when all borders open and people can travel again, this reshaped tourism will be about the people. Yes, maybe with smaller groups and more distance between travelers: but that distance has to do with centimeters, not with the power of the human connection.
And in 2020 more than ever, connection reached a whole other level. The “#BlackLivesMatter” movement is a fantastic example of how humans can gather for something important, both locally and globally. We were amazed by the commitment of humans to struggle not only against brutality, but for the respect of life itself. We know the huge power of tourism to transmit these values and change peoples’ lives, which is why we are pleased to introduce some amazing example of how it is possible to involve people of all cultures, religions and colors, to provide a more meaningful experience for all. Because in tourism, everyone matters.
Local farmers
While buying local products, you support both the local economy and families whose income sometimes entirely rely on tourism. EcoCamp Patagonia supports local family businesses in the nearby city of Puerto Natales. In this peaceful city of about 20,000 inhabitants, there are dozens of local farmers that grow organic fruits and vegetables. We are proud to have long term relationships with local farmers who provide us with lettuce, onions, tomatoes, etc. While it is true not everything can grow in Southern Patagonia – some fruits are come from central Chile – we increased the amount of local products in our food to make it less dependent from importation and therefore decrease the ecological footprint.
When you are a business with a true commitment to sustainability and a spirit of community like EcoCamp, you want to work with people who share the same values. Working in a place like EcoCamp goes far beyond the beauty of the place and the wage. Here, there is a community of people who love (to take care of) nature and who are willing to spend up to 11 days in a row in the national park. All of them sleep in domes and like to connect both with the guests and fellow team members. There is a training for all team members, so everyone can learn about the lifestyle at EcoCamp and minimize their footprint in this fragile place. There is a team of almost 100 people working for EcoCamp both on-site and in the office of Puerto Natales. Everyone matters: guides, drivers, maintenance, housekeeping and cleaning, front desk, administration, operations, accountability, yoga, massage, waiters, kitchen, etc. (not to mention the team of more than 30 persons at Cascada Expediciones). And while we try to employ as many locals as possible, we also work with people from all around Chile and other countries, with no distinction of sex, religion, colors, etc. Only the values we stand for!
While Patagonia is not particularly well-known for its indigenous cultures, there are still indigenous population inhabiting this vast territory. And their very valuable legacy must be protected! Most people have heard of the gaucho culture – these Patagonian cowboys living working with the cattle and the sheep – but few of them know the words “Kaweskar”, “Selknam”, “Aonikenk” or “Yagan”. All of them are indigenous people. These populations quickly decreased after the first settlers conquered the region. They are considered exctinct as a tribe. The exploration of gold and the introduction of farming in the Tierra del Fuego island led to a drastic decline in the number of the Selknam people, which is now considered a genocide.
Further North, the Kaweskar used to navigate through the fjords of Patagonia with canoes of eight to nine meters long. They continued their fishing, nomadic practice peacefully up to the late 19th century, when Europeans began to settle in the area. They suffered infectious deseases brought by the settlers. Kaweskar families were relocated in some specific areas like the Wellington Island and Puerto Natales.
While almost all of them lost their native language and nomadic culture, they are a few dozen remaining. The Pueblo Kawesqar project was recently founded to help this ancient culture survive through projects within the community. The projects involve handicraft workshops and the design of lunch boxes using elements of the Kaweskar culture.
We invited one of the members of the Kawesqar community at EcoCamp: Carmela. As a teenager, she canoed with her family for months through the wild fjords of Patagonia. In 2020, she could see Torres del Paine National Park for the first time of her life. Our team members had the opportunity to listen to her life stories, learn a bit of Kawesqar language and practice some handicraft.
In a place where the indigenous culture almost went extinct, a project like “Pueblo Kawesqar” is incredibly valuable. But we are deeply convinced indigenous communities should be supported everywhere that’s possible. Indigenous people of Chile form about 10% of the total population: the Mapuches (Southern Chile) form about 85% of this number.
EcoCamp is a business that is run in a way to have a (very) low footprint and build a community, that makes it sustainable. We respond to the concept of the 4 C’s, designed by the Zeitz Foundation. EcoCamp is therefore commited to caring for environement conservation, embracing local culture, supporting the local community and being a viable business that cares both for the planet and the people. This last point matters, as it refers to the people we work with, and with whom we’ve built a long-term relationship. In our gift shop dome, you’ll find handicrafts (clothes, decoration items, creams, etc.) produced by small businesses over Chile. Here you can buy woolen clothes that directly support an animal refuge in Central Chile (Refugio Animal Cascada) and therefore protect animals. Some organic wellness products were produced in Puerto Natales, so it’s not simply about supporting small companies, it’s about supporting a full name: we know every single person we work with. And having the word “human” at the heart of your business completely changes the value of commerce.
These people that work for a cause
If a hotel like EcoCamp would only rely on people inside the organization, its power of tackling issues of sustainability would be very limited. In a fragile place like Torres del Paine National Park that is under the pressure of increasing tourism, there are lots of big issues. Just to name a few of them, two huge forest fires ravaged the park (in 2005 and 2011) due to the irresponsible behavior of tourists. With an increase of about 20% of visitors per year, famous trails such as the towers’ base are under pressure and the erosion is serious. Finally, some tourists do not follow the guidelines of “taking the trash with them”. Fortunately, some courageous people are working hard to tackle these issues.
The Torres del Paine Legacy Fund is a small organization that works in the park to build sustainable trails. They recently designed an alternative trail to the French Valley with the help of volunteers – including EcoCamp workers! Their hard work and effective collaboration with CONAF (the National Parks’ administration in Chile) allowed them to decrease the erosion on the trails while building some amazing trails with international standards. They are also involved with reforestation and community projects (including the Kawesqar)!
Another cool project is the “Fiesta de la Limpieza” (translate by “cleaning party”), an initiative started by a local guide – Javier Rojel – that aims to remove all the trash that can be found in the park at the end of every season. With the help of people and organizations in the area, this yearly event enabled the removal of hundreds of kilos of trash since it started in 2016.
A place like EcoCamp wouldn’t exist without people like you, who travel with the aim of staying somewhere unique while caring for their footprint. We are proud to welcome people for all around the world – all of them participate in the amazing spirit of community that can be experienced at EcoCamp.
And wherever you travel, we can only recommend you to choose places that care for both the planet and the people.
Because if you travel with a cause, you can also make a difference.
Written by Timothy Dhalleine
Driven by an insatiable wanderlust, I have left my native Hesdin in the north of France in a bid to uncover the tales the soaring peaks of Patagonia and the immensity of the Chilean desert have to tell. I am currently exploring the magic of Torres del Paine National Park while reaffirming my idea of a more sustainable world and my passion for nature as Guest Engagement Manager of Ecocamp Patagonia.
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| 10,010 |
From blue skies and cool temps, a special dinner at Ted Kennedy Watson’s weekend home, a delightful backyard lunch hosted by friends, Jeanne and Dana (more to come on both of those events) and a backdrop from my hotel that is straight out of a movie….I have fallen in love.
As I’m still processing all I have done, today I’m just sharing some visual highlights from Pike Place Market, the original Starbucks, Watson Kennedy, the Space Needle and the Chihuly Garden.
Much more to come, but the photos speak for themselves. I can’t believe today is my last day. Trust me….I’m going to make the most of it!
Have you seen Seattle?
Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: chihuly, living, pike place market, seattle, sights of Seattle, space needle, summer travel, travel
Comments
The enchanted home says
July 29, 2015 at 11:15 am
I love this post and these pictures are seriously coffee table book worthy!! First I am jealous and wish I was there:) The peek into the luncheon was spectacular and cannot wait to see more. Sounds and looks like a fantastic and fun trip, Elizabeth!! Happy traveling:)
Karena Albert says
July 29, 2015 at 12:59 pm
I have not been to Seattle Elizabeth, can you believe it!! The Chihuly exhibit is breathtaking and I would be trilled to take in the sites and go to Watson Kennedy. Seeing friends as well!!
The Arts by Karena
I Dream Of says
July 30, 2015 at 5:26 am
Hi Elizabeth, What a treat to have you here! I just loved being able to spend a bit more time with you, and, of course, introducing you to some of my favorite things and people in my hometown. Thanks so much for visiting! Safe travels and hope you come back to see us again! XOXO
The Buzz Blog says
July 30, 2015 at 8:21 pm
Elizabeth – we're so jealous!! We know you had a ball in Seattle and can't wait to see more pictures.
Elizabeth@ Pine Cones and Acorns says
August 2, 2015 at 3:34 pm
Elizabeth, I agree with Tina your photos are fabulous! I am a huge fan of Seattle and hope that you enjoyed every minute!
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| 4,186 |
I didn’t walk so much as stumble inside. The air was thick and heady with mold and plantlife. Bushes and green leafy things existed in the light of bioluminescent algaes, coating everything in a strange mixture of greens and blues. The Regent stood at the center.
“The city came under attack,” I said. What was I supposed to say? About the dead bodies? About the… about the thing they’d made.
“It did,” The Regent agreed. “I had to make sure the wards stood intact. Otherwise, they might have gotten in.”
Omoi sputtered with so many warnings that I felt the node grow hot in my skin, and I flicked through them and adjusted the protocols on what would trigger them.
It wouldn’t do to be blind now.
I stepped towards her, and she stepped to the side. The corpse in the center of the nine circle had long been reduced to mere bones. The tree had grown through his stomach.
His skull, just over the eyes, was rimmed the sacred tongue. It sparkled with a light that didn’t reach the walls. It had been inscribed while he was still alive, down to the bone.
I was standing at the edge of a great rite-circle. A grand equation of reality bending proportion. Like what was inside of the Omoi, but twisted out into real space.
Like the sigils that hung from the walls of USEC for protection, but larger still.
A great rite circle that just happened to be beneath the Seared Oak.
That the Regent was praying with.
I didn’t have to all my memories to know what was going on. I’d seen this in my dreams, in nightmares that played behind my eyes, divorced from context.
I’d seen this on the news in the ruins of Alaska, I’d seen this reflected in a dozen messy murders on the evening stations.
This was a rite circle. Things had been sacrificed here.
“This is the Second Saint,” The Regent introduced, gesturing at the corpse at the center. “Responsible for all of Crow kind’s existence. And life, in general, on the gulf coast.”
I took a hesitant step forward. Fresh plant life crunched under foot.
“Hell of a boast,” I said, standing beside her.
“No boast,” The Regent said. She took a step to the side. Where she’d been standing, and-
I kicked dirt out of the way. On the ground of the greenhouse, the conditions of the divine equation sat there. Images of- no, not the watcher. Not even the Kind Lord. Nor Lord Movement, Physical, Fire.
The most unlikely of gods. The Bystander.
Lord Knowledge. His symbol appeared again and again, the great eye. A bartering, a contact…
The symbols read off of my tongue like I still knew them. Could you ever have a language destroyed?
Or perhaps it was an effect of Lord Knowledge himself, that even this far into the future all who read it would know what had happened.
“We barter on behalf of USEC an audience with Lord Knowledge,” I read, peering down at the dirt.
My eyes kept sliding away to look at the body in the center, impaled by the tree.
“What’d they trade? And what for?” I asked.
“The Second Saint,” The Regent said. “They were running out of time. They had hope that someone else would wake up.”
Her eyes were on me now. I knelt down. Tried to negotiate some of the trickier runes, waited for Omoi to clear out the mess of warnings.
Went to the first warning. I’d never seen a class 5 before.
The God himself had intervened. That’s what a class 5 was. Instead of indirect, instead of the presence of a vast comprehending base of knowledge drifting across a planet ruining how space and time worked, this was a cognizant and conscious decision.
My heart quickened in my chest.
“What did they trade?” I asked again, staring at the corpses. The words were entangled in their body. I read over them.
The world had no life left. Infertility was flourishing. Life itself would come to a halt.
That’s what they were bartering with Lord Knowledge for. A replacement.
Like the one I was supposed to be making, only…
Only I’d run out of time on that. They weren’t willing to wait.
I looked around. What had they traded?
What had they traded?
But all I could see were the makeshift symbol we’d made for humanity. The same one that I’d used, the scramble of lines that had been centered into the whole of the space humanity took up in the cosmos.
All they’d offered had been…
My eyes drifted down. Omoi called up a map.
Below us, the cryopods sat. The roots disappeared into the floor.
I did the math. Connected the dots.
Hypothesized what the deaths of an entire sleeping base could power.
My knees gave out. I hit the ground, dust kicked up in my path, and I stared at the nine dead scientists. All they’d offered had been humanity. All they’d had to offer was humanity.
“They traded your kind,” The Regent said. “Imagine, believing in something, anything at all, so much that you’re willing to trade everything you know, and the lives of everyone you know for it.”
If the world was dead, there would be no activation of the fail safe. The entire world was affected by a single anomaly, a single emanation of the gods.
That was overselling it. It was a patchwork of them, keeping reality intact instead of letting it fade like the other worlds. We’d failed to ascend.
I was sick. Bile was tracing my throat. It burned. My eyes were burning, water rimming the edge of my vision. Like a haze, I could picture their desperation. Total planetary extinction as life failed to proliferate. They’d reached for anything, anything at all, but all they had to offer had been…
I read over the equation. Looked at the center of the room, where the tree gleamed with old power, old manipulations.
Saw new things written there.
The Regent looked at it, stroked feathers across it. “This is the wards I was talking about.”
“Right.” I said. I slowly hauled myself to my feet. I couldn’t let it hit me.
But it did.
Thousands of people had died here. They’d thrown thousands of people into this rite circle.
Billions had died when the bombs fell. I should’ve been-
What did it matter when I couldn’t think in terms of those scales?
“The King and I derived these out of the Warden Graves we visited,” The Regent said. “It took a lifetime to learn them, and even longer to figure out how to tap into this place.”
“This is where life comes from now?” I asked. Incredulous.
“Some of it,” The Regent said. “I want you to think about all of the Warden Graves out there, Jess.”
Omoi brought up the map. Hundreds of locations spread across it.
“Oh,” I said intelligently. I knew what she’d say next.
“Most of those had living staff left behind to manage things,” The Regent pointed out. “This is one place that we know succeeded. But they were in contact with other bases.”
But with over a hundred others… just here in the US alone…
Was this how the fey had been made? A hundred tries to make life work again after the end, and they’d managed to staple together something stable. There had to have been a few missteps.
“And that’s why I admire humanity,” The Regent said. “There hasn’t been a Grave I’ve been in that didn’t try something or another, or didn’t spend their entire time trying to save this world. They never gave up.”
“What about mine?” I asked.
“Yours was dead before it had a chance,” The Regent said. “Invaded by cultists and they killed everyone who was supposed to bring you out of it.”
Ah. Like always, the Watcher had made things terribly inconvenient.
I’d have laughed but then I’d start crying again.
“Something to aspire to,” I said.
“The wards keeps the queen out of the city,” The Regent said. “When her portals open, they’ll slam shut before much gets through. It’s what I’ve been working on since… well, the King went missing.”
I was piecing it together. Sure, I didn’t have the memories of the language of the gods in my head anymore, but it was easy enough to pick up and conjugate. To read the gist of it, if not write it.
Here was a symbol for transference, a symbol for a tree and then a symbol for something I’d never seen in my entire life.
“That’s the living element,” The Regent said. “I’m at a crossroads here. The wards have grown weak; they’re supposed to be attuned to me with the King gone, but… well, sacrificial rites are what they are.”
“You gave up your name,” I realized. I squinted at the last symbol. Balance the equation. “And Tane.”
“Tane wasn’t given up,” The Regent said. “I made sure she would be safe. I gave up other things. Memories of who kindled me. I know who they are empirically, and I know what they look like, but the memories are simply gone. Some other things that weren’t important at the time, but I miss them now. But that’s the burden of power I guess, isn’t it?”
She laughed.
It was hollow.
“It’s growing weaker,” I repeated, reaching forward. My fingers traced over the carving. I could feel it like a mother knew when her child’s heart was nearing the end.
“Having most of the tree burned didn’t help,” The Regent said. “The tree’s still alive. Old trees like this can come back, if everything goes well. Might take a few centuries, but I’ve been focusing most of my attempts to keep it intact.”
“So what are you going to trade it?”
The Regent paused. “I’m not sure. I’m rapidly running out of pieces of myself that I’m willing to give up… or can give up without compromising the city. There’s only so far you can sharpen a knife before it breaks.”
I swallowed. She admired humanity for giving up their dying years trying to stop it. I almost admired her for what she was willing to do for the city. Was it for the love of Crows, or the love of the King?
I pinched in and pressed my finger against the final symbol. Felt the ridges of the smooth contortions, like a great whirling set of drills had grazed it while shooting for the heart of life.
“I’ll do it.”
The Regent cocked her head to the side. Stared at me.
Her dark eyes met mine, and then she offered a knife to me. Long, twisted, the tip invisible. It was made out of bones.
“Pick something you can afford to get rid of.” The Regent suggested, not unkindly. “You don’t have to do this.”
It was heavy in my hands. I spun it about, felt it shift. Well balanced.
“How do I work it?”
“Slash your palm,” The Regent said. “And give it away. The Bystander will take it from you and add it to their storage of all knowledge in the universe.”
I stared at the edge. Saw how Omoi vainly tried to keep it censored, popping up with dozens of warnings.
But I knew this sort of trade. I knew it in my bones, in the harsh taste of metal in my mouth, in the screaming void where my memories of darker times had been devoured.
I brought the memory into the front of my head. That blind terror when Prince had stood over top of me. That part of me that pitied him. That wanted to help him.
The part that had shrivelled up and died when I’d put a bullet in him.
I curled it up, coaxed it into being (Omoi brought the memory up in a video for me to watch but I ignored that too) and let it fill my mind.
And I brought the knife down on my palm.
And I told the Bystander to choke on my feelings of uselessness, the despair I had at the thought of facing the greatest woman I had ever met in battle. All that self loathing, bubbling up to the top.
The sigils inscribed gleamed an elder red, and smoke rose up from the root of the Seared oak. I wanted it to hurt, in a sick way, from the sin that had made it, and how it had long since devoured everyone who had trusted USEC to protect them, the cold womb of the state a foul place to rest.
There was no lessening of that burden. The buzzing thoughts and emotions didn’t escape like a hoard of wasps, and I didn’t feel any different apart from the aching cut in my palm.
“Did… Did it work?” I said, looking down at my palm. Then I looked back up into the sigils and found a new one had appeared.
Then it hit me.
A hook slammed into place behind my eyes, digging into the brunt of the harsh buzzing memories. Like ten fingered hand, it tugged at nothing at all and my identity, my soul, and found something it recognized. A great eye stared at me from a million miles away and found that I
I could give no more.
The stars gleamed across the edge of my vision, a single tear ran down the corner of my right eye and down my face, rolling across skin that hadn’t felt the touch of another human for five thousand years and I could see the face of a gleaming god and knew that I knew that I knew and
It was proud of us.
It was proud of us
It was proud
And I was good
[WP] You have just died and find yourself being drawn towards a bright light at the end of a seemingly endless tunnel…
[WP] The Multiverse Police Have Found You! Turns out, any fiction that is written creates a new universe…
| 12,720 |
Today is my birthday and the gratitude and love I feel for all the love my husband, kids, grandchildren, parents, grandparents, siblings, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and friends have bestowed upon me is deeply humbling! Thank You, my heart overflows!
Who has touched your life and showered you with Love?
July 9
Open your heart and let Love lead the way!
July 8
The magic is in You!!
July 7
July 6
Sometimes we minimize our own worth but if we asked our partners, our kids, our grandchildren, our family and friends what we are worth they would tell us that we are Priceless! You are more precious than gold! Remember that no matter what you are going through right now You Matter. You have touched a life, you have made a difference being here.
Your life is a glorious manifestation of the Most High, an important part of the intricate tapestry we call life. Remind yourself every day that You are Worthy, You are Valuable. You are as spectacular as the sunrise & sunset, You are as majestic as the highest mountain and as powerful as the ocean. You are as brilliant as the sun and as glorious as the stars in the sky! Always remember your value for YOU ARE PRICELESS!
July 5
Every wound creates a crack in the masks we wear to let the Light in. Once inside the Light will heal, comfort us and give us a deeper capacity for love, humility, connection, and understanding.
July 4
Let today be the day you celebrate your own independence!!
July 3
Don’t let fear or doubt rob you of your dreams. If you doubt you’ll miss the opportunities the Universe will send you. If you don’t try you’ll never succeed. If you let fear hold you back you’ll never manifest your dreams. Believe, have faith, try, learn and grow from every experience.
July 2
What weighs you down and holds you back? Wouldn’t NOW be a good time to let it go?
July 1
Don’t be afraid to ask…ask for help, ask for guidance, ask for whatever you want or need; ask your family, ask your friends, ask your mentors, ask the Universe! The answer could be YES!
June 30
Repeat to yourself “I am Priceless!” It can sometimes be difficult to say but if you ask the people that love you to say it to you it will be very easy! Know your vale and know your worth for You are indeed Priceless!
June 29
Your beliefs have led you to where you are today. They fuel your every thought and dictate every step you take. You cannot change your life until you change your actions and you cannot change your actions permanently until you change your beliefs. Your beliefs hold the power to change the course of your life.
Take a close look at your beliefs, the ones you hold deep in your heart and mind. The beliefs you have about yourself and about the world. Question them: how long have you held them, where did they come from, what events and people impacted your beliefs? Analyze them and ask yourself if they empower you? Do they serve your highest good? Do they allow for personal growth and global contribution? If not change them and develop new empowering beliefs. What is one belief that empowers you?
June 28
Read something inspiring, play music that inspires you, do incantations and affirmations, meditate do whatever it takes. Be inspired today!!
June 27
Our minds want certainty and security, it’s the way we were programmed to keep the species alive, but sometimes our lives need a change, a shift. It’s our job to quiet the mind and fine the magic and the wonder of Life amidst the uncertainty. The best is yet to be!
June 26
Gratitude can make a huge difference in your life. When you have gratitude for the gifts in your life your soul will smile and the Universe will send you more. What are 3 things you are grateful for right now?
June 25
Get clear on what you want and you will have power you didn’t even know you had. You will have the Universe on your side, doors will open, a way will appear and magic and miracles will grace your life.
June 24
Love every bit of you…the light, the dark, every shade and every layer. It all has made you the brilliant expression of Life that is YOU.
June 23
Open up to your heart’s desire, your inner most longing, your soul’s yearning to express itself…that is your sacred calling.
June 22
The Creative Consciousness that rules the Universe is always for a fuller expression of the Itself and of You! We may not always know why certain things happen in our lives but when we trust in the Universe we will always be moved into more.
Spend time deepening your connection to the Creative Intelligence that flows through all things and you will grow. You will gain clarity and guidance; you will gain peace and joy; you will gain unconditional love and light, and you will gain abundance and power. The Universe will flow through you opening doors,bringing synchronicity and unexpected miracles into your life, Deepen your connection, let the Universe guide you and watch yourself grow!!
June 21
Hope all the dads out there have an amazing day celebrating fatherhood!!
June 20
On this, the longest day of the year, let us remember to keep shining our Light for all the world to see!
June 19
There will always be people in your life that don’t agree with you but when we remind ourselves to see the Light in others we shine our own Light even more. We don’t know what another has gone through in their life but when we see their Light we raise the vibration of Love & Light in us, in them and in the world.
June 18
Give thanks for the beautiful people in your life that know what unconditional love is and practice it.
June 17
You’re stronger than you know. Stand tall and let your inner strength guide you through any tests life brings you!
June 16
Stay safe, be well and trust in the Divine.
June 15
There have been some dark days during these unprecedented times but remember when we focus on the Light we will get through it. When we focus on the Light we can see clearer, listen more carefully, learn more, grow more and create a world that is better for ourselves and for everyone.
The Light will always show us the way. It will always lead us to more; more understanding, more compassion, more Love, more joy, more growth and more abundance. It will always lead us into more of who we are meant to be on this incredible journey we call Life.
June 14
This was the father daughter dance at my wedding with my dad. It would turn out to be the last dance I ever had with him. I’m so glad I was able to savor and fully embrace that precious moment. It is a gift I will treasure forever. Embrace the precious moments in your life always!
June 13
Do you have faith in the direction you are going or are you guided by avoiding fear?
June 12
Sometimes the head and the heart aren’t ready to listen to each other. When this happens go into the silence of your inner knowing as often and as much as possible so the heart and the head can hear the wisdom within. That wisdom will guide you bringing alignment, clarity and peace.
June 11
Trust what’s deep inside you and grow into the magnificent expression of the Divine that you are meant to be!
June 10
June 9
June 8
Today’s Monday Motivation is dedicated to all the graduates this year. My nephew graduated yesterday and the ceremony and celebration were very different than first planned as I’m sure it has been for every graduate. We all have had to adjust our lives and our celebrations but we can still believe in each other and the endless possibilities that Life offers.
During these unprecedented times of social distancing and protesting the injustices in our society strengthen your belief in Justice, your belief in Yourself and your belief in Others. Let us rise up and meet these challenging times with Love, Understanding, Education, Faith, Strength and Action. We can ALL Do it, Have it and Be it.
June 7
Be patient with yourself and where you are right now!
June 6
June 5
June 4
Be star in all this darkness and let your light shine!
June 3
An apology can be a first step in creating a life that heals, supports, encourages and uplifts all people.
June 2
June 1
You are not alone. You are part of the the tapestry of Life, connected to the Power and Presence that was in the beginning is now and every shall be. Your power comes from your inner wisdom, your inner strength, your inner connection to the Source of all that is.
Use the Power that comes from Source, the Power than comes from within to give you strength, provide guidance and help you move you into more. As you strengthen your connection to the Creative Intelligence that rules the Universe you will strengthen your own Power.
May 31
Right now more than ever we need hope; hope for a vaccine for this pandemic, hope for the success of so many small businesses that are suffering, hope for equality and justice, hope for peace, hope for a better world for all!
May 30
Let go and let God!
May 29
Take time to really see the people you come into contact with. Look beyond the exterior and their actions and see their core, see their heart, see the truth of who they really are; glorious, wounded, beautiful, afraid, brilliant, unsure but most importantly a child of the Divine. Let’s try to see each other more clearly and understand each other with tender, love and care. We’re all on this journey together and we can take each other higher.
May 28
Some days you just have to hold on and make it through the day. Just remember tomorrow will be a new day with new energy and new opportunities. Love yourself through the day no matter what.
May 27
May 26
Surround yourself with people, places and things that inspire you!
May 25
You are worth investing in. Your mind and your spirit need your attention and your focus. Your mind needs positive thoughts, new information and moments of silence to bring clarity and reach it’s full potential. Your spirit needs prayer, meditation and a creative outlet to express the song within.
Take time to invest in your body as well as your mind and spirit. Your body needs movement, exercise and nutritious food to remain healthy. You need all three to expand into the full expression of Life that you are meant to be. Love yourself and invest in the glorious manifestation of the Most High that is YOU!
May 24
A smile, a word of encouragement, a random act of kindness are just some of the things that can make a difference. What can you do today that will make a difference in someone’s life or in the world?
May 23
It begins with you; find peace, love, joy and abundance within and your world will reflect that.
May 22
Hopefully this pandemic has given you time to be still and enter the silence of your own heart. Let the Love and the wisdom within guide you as we begin to imagine and slowly step into a new normal. Let Love decide what your new normal will be!
May 21
Let all the creativity and wisdom that is within you come to fruition.
May 20
Life can throw us some unexpected situations! When that happens it helps to ask your self “how can I learn and grow from this?”
May 19
Every day is a gift…appreciate it, embrace it and give thanks for it!
May 18
It begins with you; your thoughts, your feelings, your beliefs, your words, and your actions. You and what you are experiencing in your world depend on all those things. You can’t control everything in life but you can control those things which means you can control much of how you experience life and where you will go.
Nothing in life has meaning except the meaning we give it. We are making it all up. We give meaning to everything that we experience. Experiences may be difficult and we can look at them as lessons to learn and grow from or we can look at them as obstacles to hold us back. It’s up to each one of us to decide who we are to become. It starts with you! Who are you becoming?
May 17
May 16
Change those limiting beliefs about yourself and the way the Universe works and you will change your life. It is an Abundant Universe and you are worthy of all it has to offer!
May 15
I love Emerson’s quote “These roses under my window make no reference to former roses or better ones; they are for what they are… there is simply the rose; it is perfect in every moment of it’s existence!” It reminds us to appreciate the beauty and perfection of who we are. The rose doesn’t compare itself to others nor should we. There is only one you; glorious, perfect and beautiful!
May 14
The world needs your love now so let it flow freely from within!
May 13
May 12
Your power comes from the Divine, strengthen that connection and and you strengthen your own power!
May 11
Just like a farmer that reaps the benefit of the seeds he/she plants into the soil and nourishes whatever seeds you plant will grow. A farmer will never get watermelon from pumpkin seeds he/she will only get pumpkins. We don’t know how the soil makes a watermelon we just know and trust if we plant the seed, water and nurture it the soil will work it’s magic and the watermelon will appear.
Your thoughts are the seeds, the Creative Consciousness is the soil. Whatever seeds you plant into the Creative Consciousness will grow. If you plant seeds of love, joy, abundance, peace you will reap the benefits of those things. If you plant seeds of fear, pain, stress, limitation you will experience those things as well. Nurture the thoughts of the things you wish to experience and watch the Universe work it’s magic to make them grow!
May 10
To all those that mother and nurture may you know how valued you are and how much you are loved. May your day be filled with Love & Joy!!
May 9
We are all connected and together we create the wonder and the beauty of humanity!
May 8
Spring brings with it new growth, renewed hope and endless possibilities! The time is now to grow into the Light you are meant to be and the world needs your Light now. No matter what you are doing and no matter where you are keep growing!
May 7
Miracles come wrapped in the many forms, look for them today.
May 6
During this time of social distancing and isolation think about something you have always wanted to do and begin it! It’s never too late!
May 5
Just as you are!!
May 4
There is a saying that is “Ignorance is bliss” but ignorance isn’t bliss, it can even be dangerous. Ignorance can hurt you, hold you back or lead you in a direction that can take you to a dangerous place. Knowledge on the other hand can empower you, move you forward and take you in the direction to move into more of who you are meant to be.
Knowledge is power! There are many ways to increase your knowledge. You can learn from books, learn from meditation, learn from keeping an open mind, learn from exploring and learn from every experience you encounter. With knowledge comes wisdom and power. Use this new power to improve your life and to make the world a better place.
May 3
Add your own unique expression of color, of you, to the world. It makes the world so much more beautiful!
May 2
The greatest computer isn’t on your lap or on your desk it’s the Source of All That Is and that ever was. Get your guidance from the Divine!
May 1
The sun will shine again, this too shall pass. We will get through this together. Look for the moments that shine, the moments that bring Love & Light to your day. Let that Love & Light lead the way to a better future, a better life for us all.
April 30
Fill your life with the simple moments that speak to your heart, fill you with joy and take your breath away; they’re the ones that really matter!
April 29
You are worthy of all the Good the Universe has in store for you!
April 28
The doors meant for you will open; keep going, keep trying, keep taking one step at a time!
April 27
If ever there was a time to be still it is now. The Universe is trying desperately to teach us something, many things. Let these unprecedented times of isolation and solitude bring us to our knees; to pray, to meditate, to give thanks, to remember what is most important.
We have an opportunity to make our lives and the world better. Use this time wisely. Be humble and be reflective. What can you do to make your life and the life of others better? Who can you be to make the world a better place? How will you change your thinking, your beliefs and your actions so the world can reflect the greatness that is within all of us instead of the pain and the fear? The time is now to listen to the magic the Universe!
April 26
There is always a lesson to learn. Keep learning and growing!
April 25
Gratitude is the way to joy!
April 24
One of my favorite quotes is by Howard Thurman “Don’t ask what the world needs, ask what makes you come alive and go do it because what the world needs is for more people to come alive.” What wakes you up? What do you love to do? What lights you up? What makes your heart sing and sets your soul on fire? What makes you come alive? Whatever that is go do more of it. Do more of it every day. The world needs your love, your light and your fire. The world needs you to come alive now!!
April 23
A smile, a word, a random act of kindness are all ways to show love. Touch someone with your love today!
April 22
This was a wonderful surprise for my intelligent, beautiful, amazing, compassionate daughter who continues to bring me the greatest surprises of my life. Today I celebrate her, I celebrate Earth Day on our magnificent planet and I celebrate Life! What do you celebrate today?
April 21
All the wonder of you is patiently awaiting your recognition. Let the greatness that is you shine through.
April 20
Patience is the ability to keep a good attitude while waiting. We are all learning patience these days. The climb is long and slow. It’s not a journey we wanted to take but it sure is providing opportunities to strengthen our patience muscle.
Keep a good attitude and help others when they need it. Do things that help you feel good; read, write, exercise, watch things that make you laugh, anything that lifts your spirit and your vibration. Remember we will get through this together.
April 19
Shift your energy and you will shift your life!
April 18
The Universe is becoming quiet now. Listen closely and you can hear the whispers of the Divine.
April 17
These are difficult times for many but when we really look we can find the good in it. We have time to evaluate our lives and re-prioritize our days so we spend our lives giving energy to the things that are most important. Make the most of this phase in our lives.
April 16
Including you! Keep moving into more!
April 15
Let Love be your guide, don’t let fear hold you back from who you are meant to be!
April 14
Laughter is the best medicine! Laugh and let you mind and body heal today!
April 13
Last week was Holy Week for Christians around the world. No matter what your beliefs are the teachings of Jesus are great lessons for all of us. Jesus taught people to love one another, even our enemies; to treat others the way we want to be treated; to have faith; he taught forgiveness; he taught that we are one and he taught that we should not judge each other.
Many of his teachings are about loving one another. By forgiving people we love them. By treating others the way we want to be treated we love them. By not judging others we love them and when we believe that we are one with others we will love them. Jesus taught the greatest commandment is Love. Whoever you are and wherever you are on life’s journey remember to Love One Another Always.
April 12
On this sacred day for so many may Jesus’s teachings of Unconditional Love, Eternal Peace, Forgiveness and Oneness fill your heart and guide you every day! Have a Glorious Day filled with Abundant Blessings!!
April 11
What you look for you will find so look for the Joy in your life!
April 10
With so many people getting sick and so many passing there is great sadness in the world. Some days the sadness is difficult to ignore and that’s okay. What is happening is sad so let the sadness move through you. Know there will be better days ahead, the sun will still shine, the earth will give birth to new life and we will get through this together. Hang in there. Let us love ourselves and each other through the sadness.
April 9
Find the good in each new day!
April 8
We have been given an opportunity to look at life anew and change how we spend our days. What will you change to make your life and the life of others better?
April 7
Despite the uncertainty in our lives now we must keep moving forward. This pandemic will pass and we will get through it together.
April 6
This pandemic has given each of us an opportunity to stop and take a look at our lives. An opportunity to reevaluate our lives, to look at what is most important and prioritize our lives. Take the time to go into the silence and really decide what your life and your future will look like.
Normal wasn’t working for so many but having to change our lives and spend time alone or with family is giving us time to decide what our new normal will look like. What will your days look like? What will you make sure you do more of? What are the things that you will let go of? Use this time to create a life that will lead you to a life that brings out the best in you and in those you love.
April 5
Where is the love? Let us all show the world that love is right where we are!
April 4
Let your emotions move through you.
April 3
Chaos often precedes change. Changes are coming to our lives and to our world. Choices are going to be made that will make a difference in how we live. Make sure they are changes and choices that are grounded in Love. Let Love lead us out of chaos into a better life and a better world.
April 2
Do your best to find the good in every situation, always look on the bright side!
April 1
Hold on! We will get through this together!!
March 31
Enjoy the precious gift of each new day!
March 30
This pandemic is forcing the whole world to be still, forcing us all to be alone (or possibly with our loved ones) with our thoughts. We have been given an opportunity, a gift really, to examine our lives, our thoughts, our words, our beliefs and our actions. Use this time to go into the silence of your own heart, mind and soul.
How would you feel or what would you do if someone you know were to have the virus. Are you happy with the way you treated them? Have you said everything you wanted to say or done the things you wanted to do with them? Was love the way you will remember the relationship? Use this time to heal, nourish and nurture your relationship with yourself, with God, however you perceive God, and with your loved ones.
March 29
Through all this social distancing we are being given a gift to stop the business of our lives and surrender to the Light of the Divine. Unwrap the gift with tender love and care!
March 28
Each one of us has something unique to bring to the world. Let your Light shine!
March 27
This darkness we are in right now will help us all see the Light! Use this time to mediate, to pray, to read, to love and to let the star that is you shine even more!
March 26
The world needs you LIGHT and your LOVE now more than ever! SHINE your LOVELIGHT brightly for all the world to see!
March 25
The past offers fond memories and valuable lessons. It’s good to remember the lessons and the memories. Visit them then move on!
March 24
Seasons come and go; last week we enjoyed warm spring weather and last night winter returned with several inches of snow creating a beautiful winter wonderland! Life is full of surprises but the important thing is to go with flow. There are lessons to learn, beauty to enjoy and magic to appreciate with every season in life.
March 23
Sometimes when it rains it pours and today it is pouring but… it’s going to be okay. We have been given an opportunity to experience something new. An opportunity to go within and deepen your connection to the Divine. An opportunity to discover what really matters. An opportunity to use your imagination like you never have before. An opportunity to reach out to comfort and care for others. An opportunity to pray or meditate even more.
You have been given an opportunity to read, sing, dance, write or do whatever your soul wants to do to express itself. Use your gifts and your soul’s desires to make a difference in your world and in the world around you. Use the situation we face today to cleanse, renew, learn, grow and become more of who you are meant to be.
March 22
You are loved! Sleep well tonight!
March 21
Change for the world begins with you. Be the change you want to see in the world.
March 20
These are unprecedented times! We have to consciously rise above the fear and panic that sometimes surfaces or we can get sucked into it. Imagine that your heart is a faucet (whenever you turn a faucet on full blast nothing can get back into it) and turn your heart on full blast so that love inside gushes out of you in everything you think, do and say. Love comes from the Divine and is unlimited so you will never run out. Strengthen your connection to Divine and let the Love flow. We need to shower the world with our Love and shine our Light as bright as possible right here, right NOW!
March 19
So much going on these days. How will you learn and grow from this?
March 18
There is much uncertainty today but we will overcome this. Your Spirit is Light & Love, let it Rise up!
March 17
Everybody is a little Irish today! Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
March 16
The Light of the Universe flows through your veins; it is in every atom of your being, every cell of your body, every beat of your heart and it is in every breath you take. Let the Light of the Divine refresh you, rejuvenate you and renew you. Let it bring peace to your mind, rest to your body and joy to your spirit.
You are a magnificent manifestation of the Most High, a glorious expression of the Divine, a unique demonstration of Source, a precious gift to the world. You are perfect whole and complete right here right now. So it is!
March 15
There is a quiet strength within you whenever you need it!
March 14
Everything is moving you into more of who you are meant to be.
March 13
Get the most from what you are experiencing right now. Appreciate the beauty, joy, love, wonder and wisdom of it all. You may or may not be where you want to be but you are there for a reason. Cherish the good and learn and grow from everything!
March 12
You are a warrior! You got this!
March 11
March 10
If you are experiencing a difficult time right now pay attention; there is a message hidden in the mess.
March 9
Few things are constant in life but change is one of the only constants. Change happens if you are ready or not. Change happens whether you want it or not, it happens whether you see it coming or not. Sometimes change happens when you least expect it.
Sometimes change brings delight, sometimes it brings fear or unwanted circumstances. Whether you are ready for it, want it, see it coming or least expect it learn to embrace it. Change often brings new information, new opportunities and new growth. Embrace change, learn and grow from it and let it lead you into more.
March 8
See it in your mind and you can experience it in your life!!
March 7
It begins with you…find yourself first!
March 6
Read inspirational material every day. Choose a few positive affirmations and repeat them throughout the day. One of my favorites is: Good and more good is mine an ever increasing good is mine, there is no limit to the amount of good that is mine, good flows to me, good flows through me, good flows from me and good multiplies all around me.
March 5
March 4
March 3
May they all be sweet surprises!
March 2
Sometimes life flows easily and effortlessly, sometimes it’s like you are swimming against the tide. Spend time in silence, develop a meditation practice, learn to be still and life will flow easier. There may still be trials and tribulations but there will be less of them and you will be able to handle any challenges with grace.
Meditation has many benefits; it can keep you centered, grounded and healthier. Mediation deepens your connection to your higher self and to the Divine. Meditation raises your vibration, brings clarity and guides you. It will allow the Universe to flow to you and through you easily and effortlessly. Meditation is great for your body, mind and spirit.
March 1
Yes you are! Remember that! Blessings today and every day!
February 29
February 28
The Universe is on your side, it is always for you moving into more of who you are meant to be. Trust that it will support you all day every day and doors will open, miracles will happen, synchronicity will grace your life and good will flow to you in expected and unexpected ways.
February 27
February 26
Connect with the Unconditional Love of the Divine and let it seep into your every fiber of your being!
February 25
May it be so!!
February 24
You can’t conquer hate with more hate, that will only add to the hate that is all too prevalent in our society today. We may dislike what a person does or says or what a situation presents but hate will not help anyone or anything. When we show love to all situations and all people we raise the vibration of ourselves and our world.
Only Light will cast out the darkness. As a light switch brings light to a dark room letting your light shine bright will help bring light to the darkness in the world. Light and Love are unlimited as they come from the Divine so have no fear that you will run out. Replenish them both by strengthening your connection to Source and let your Light shine and your Love flow.
February 23
Throughout the day take a moment to stop, place your hand on your heart, breathe into your heart and connect with Divine Love! I call them 10 second check-ins and they feel wonderful!
February 22
Love with the purity of unconditional love!
February 21
No matter the question love is the answer.
February 19
Love comes from the the Creative Intelligence that was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. There is no limit to it so let it flow through you always.
February 18
Love is the answer! Always!
February 17
All things are possible with Love. Deepen your love; the love from the Divine; the love for you, the love for all of humanity, the love for all that roam the earth, the love for our planet. Deepen all those things and you will discover your true power!
February 16
Heaven is all around you in the Love that you find, the Love that you share, the Love that you are!
February 15
Love is in the air, it is all around you so tap into it and let it be your guide. Let Love guide you to peace, abundance, health and joy!
February 14
Happy Valentine’s Day! Today we celebrate Love in the USA. I love that we have a day to celebrate Love even though it is worth celebrating every day. Take time today to let the people you love know just how much they mean to you!
February 13
Love, sweet Love can heal the world. Let if flow freely from you.
February 12
Let love flow through you in everything you think, do and say every day!
February 11
Love is always with you, always watching over you!
February 10
Love is your Soul purpose, Love is where you came from and Love is who you are. Love can help raise the consciousness of our world. Love can shine a light to help us out of the darkness. Love can heal wounds. Hate will never overcome hate only Love will. If it seems like Love isn’t working just increase the dosage!
People want and need to be loved. Unfortunately there are walking wounded among us but they shine a light on the wounds in us all so we can heal them. We need more candles to help us find our way out of the darkness so have faith, let Love guide you and remember everything is moving us into a fuller expression of who we are meant to be. Keep shining your Love!!
February 9
February 8
February 7
Love cleanses, heals, restores, enriches, guides and protects. Let Love wash over you consistently, effortlessly, always!
February 6
The Universe often gives us second chances; second chances at love, at work at friendships etc. What would you do differently?
February 5
Your first Love is you! Fall in Love with you and move from that space into more.
February 4
Love the precious gift that is you!
February 3
I love that there is a holiday to celebrate Love. I like to spend the whole month sharing thoughts on Love. Bruce Springsteen is one of my favorite musicians. His music and his wisdom move me and teach me. Love will indeed better us and we must work for it’s blessings.
How do you work for Love’s blessings? Do you meditate or pray? Do you listen to you heart, the love inside and let it guide you? Do you treat others with respect and compassion? Do you have faith that everything is helping you move into more of who you are meant to be? Do you look on the bright side? Do you learn and grow from everything? What can you do this week to work for Love’s blessings?
February 2
February 1
I love that there is a holiday to celebrate love but let’s celebrate Love every day!
January 31
Life is precious and often uncertain so let the Love inside flow. Love comes from the Divine and is unlimited so let it flow from you out into the world. Let it flow through you into everything you do.
January 30
There are angels among us. Be open to their gifts.
January 29
The Universe sends you lots of opportunities to uncover the greatness of you!
January 28
January 27
When one door closes another one opens. Unfortunately sometimes people spend so much time trying to get back in the same door they miss the opportunity another door can present. Stop knocking on the door that closed, stop struggling to pull it open again, stop looking longingly at it! Let it go!
There are many doors and opportunities just for you. Focus on the possibility a new door will bring you. Focus on what you want to find behind the door. Focus on getting ready for the new experiences the next door will bring. The Universe closed that old door so you could find the door that is meant for you. Have faith and keep moving forward. Your door is waiting for you!
January 26
Let’s love one another despite our differences!
January 25
Hang in there, keep moving forward…you got this!
January 24
You, your life is a gift. No matter is going on in your life appreciate the gift that is you. Give thanks for the love and the lessons; the light and the laughter. Let gratitude fill your heart, your mind and your world.
January 23
Shift your energy to the energy and the power of Love!
January 22
The Universe provides; your job is to make the connection to Divine strong!
January 21
May grace, joy and love be ever present in your life!
January 20
I lost a friend this weekend that took his own life. As I wrote his eulogy it reminded me of my favorite uncle who went into deep depression after he retired years ago and of George Bailey from my favorite movie “It’s A Wonderful Life”. These men were wonderful men, loved by everyone that knew them. It makes me so sad to think that they had no idea how much they were loved. They had no idea of how important they were or the role they played in the lives they touched.
Do you know how much you are loved? Do you know the role you have played in so many lives? Do you know how precious you are to the the Creative Intelligence that I call God/Divine? Let me remind you that you are Loved, that you matter, that you make a difference. We all have been given this precious gift of Life to walk each other home to ourselves. Do something this week to embrace this truth and help another remember the truth about themselves. It really is a wonderful life!
January 19
Let the Power of Love fill your mind and direct your life!
January 18
Tap into the Light within you!
January 17
It is an abundant Universe with unlimited possibilities! Delete any limiting beliefs you have about yourself and about the world we live in! The possibilities are endless! Embrace new empowering beliefs about you and the world and your life will unfold in miraculous ways!
January 16
The sooner you become clear about what it is you want to experience the sooner the Universe can send it to you!
January 15
January 14
Sometimes the hardest person to forgive is yourself but it is so important. Forgive yourself and you can forgive others.
January 13
There is no one in the world quite like you. You may look like others in your family; you may have similar interests as others; you may share some beliefs with others; you may have similar gifts or strengths as others and you may share wisdom with some great teachers but you are the only You. You are one of a kind. You are a unique expression of the Divine.
Come to appreciate your looks, your ideas, your interests, your beliefs, your strengths and your gifts. Embrace everything that makes you you! Stand out. Be strong. Be brave. Walk tall. Speak your truth. Share your gifts. Share your wisdom. Share the wonderful, exquisite expression of the Divine that is you with the world!
January 12
The Light you shine today will lead to a brighter tomorrow.
January 11
You are connected to the Divine/God/Source always! Let the Light & Love from Source flow through you in everything you think, say and do.
January 10
Self awareness of your own Divinity leads to self love which will lead you to see the Divinity in others and give you the ability to love others. Begin with you!
January 9
Find time to go into the silence of your own heart and soul and wisdom will abound.
January 8
Begin it!
January 7
When you are in the flow of Universal Love life will take you on a magical ride!
January 6
If you can see what it is you want you can have it. See if in your mind’s eye, see it as clearly as you can with as much detail as you can. You also have to feel it, you have to believe it and you have to take steps daily to move towards it.
Feel it with enough emotion to move your body into action. It is done to you as you believe so believe with every fiber of your being. Take one step at a time in the direction of your goal, learn and grow with every step and you will know which steps to take next to make you dream a reality.
January 5
January 4
Let life flow through you and move you in new directions.
January 3
Take time to think about what you want to accomplish with the gift of this new decade. See it in your mind’s eye and make a plan to work toward it. Take one step at a time walking in the direction of your vision. Go as far as you can see. Each step will give you new information and help you see how to go further. Keep going and make this year, this decade extraordinary!
January 2
It’s a new day to begin something new. Write a new chapter in the story of your life.
January 1
The beginning of a new year, a new decade is here. With it is a new opportunity to create something extraordinary. Begin!
December 31
May 2020 bring you More Light, More Love, More Laughter and More Life! May this new year and new decade be filled with abundant blessings for you, your family and friends!
December 30
As 2019 comes to a close and we begin a new year, a new decade think about what the last decade has brought you; the memories, the lessons, the love. What have you learned? How have you grown? Who and how have you loved? What memories have you made? What have you accomplished? Whose lives have you touched?
Think about what you would like to experience in the new decade. What would you like the next year and the next decade to look like? What would you like to accomplish in your health, your relationships, your career, your spirituality, and in the development of your consciousness? In these last days of 2019 take time to reflect on what has gone before and plan for what is yet to be.
December 29
December 28
Take time to reflect on the love and the lessons the year has brought you.
December 27
Hours turn into days, turn into months and into years before you know it. As the year comes to a close remember to take the time to savor the sweetness of each magical moment the day brings. Let that sweetness brighten your day and carry you into the New Year with renewed Hope, Love, & Joy!
December 26
Let the child within bring you Light, Grace, Joy & Love.
December 25
Merry Christmas to all who celebrate! To those who don’t celebrate may the spirit of Christmas which is Love fill your heart, your home, and our world.
May your day be filled with the Warmth of Family & Friends; the Wonder of Magic & Miracles; the Beauty of Radiant Light and the joy of Divine Love!
December 24
Where you find Love you find Heaven… it is all around you!
December 23
The Universe is listening to you and feeling your vibration. It responds to your vibration by bringing experiences of the same vibration to you. If you want to experience specific things do these 3 things. First ask; put it out to the Universe with a pure heart. It is done to you as you believe so the second thing is to believe with every fiber of your being; believe that it is already done. Next fill your mind, heart and body with joyful expectation and open your arms to receive.
There is Magic in the Season, Magic in the Universe, Magic in the Air, Magic in You. Allow it to come to you, through you, from you and multiply all around you. Let it raise your vibration and raise the vibration of the Collective Consciousness. Ask, believe & receive the Magic of the Universe!
December 22
Celebrate the Love that is at your core today and every day!
December 21
Take a moment right now to just close your eyes & take a deep breath. The magic is in you, feel it and let it flow out into the world.
December 20
When you stay in the Presence of who you really are at your core; which is Unconditional Love, Divine Light, Eternal Peace, Absolute Abundance, Pure Joy, and Creative intelligence; everything and everyone become an opportunity for you to shine your light even brighter.
December 19
There is always something to learn from every experience. Learn the lesson and walk across the bridge to another side of you.
December 18
The Magic of the Universe is in YOU!
December 17
Let pure Love flow through you in everything you think, do and say!
December 16
Being raised in a family of 9 children and being in the middle of 5 boys I used to think that surrender was a bad word. It was certainly something I wouldn’t do but I have learned that surrender is the bravest thing to do. To let go of the ego and surrender to what the Universe has in store for you takes courage, it takes having faith in something more.
Surrender to the highest part of you, surrender to the Light within, surrender to your heart’s deepest desires, your soul’s yearning for itself and surrender to the gifts the Universe has bestowed upon you. Surrender to the Creative Intelligence that was in the beginning is now and ever shall be world without end. Let it be your guide and watch your life unfold in magical ways.
December 15
What makes your heart happy? Focus on those things and give thanks for the gifts they bring.
December 14
You are worthy of every Good the Universe has in store for you.
December 13
We are reflections for each other. What you see in another is in you. If you see the Goodness in others it is a reflection of the Goodness in you. If you see negativity in others it is in you as well. When you find yourself judging others take a look at yourself. Are you being honest with yourself? Is there something you can learn from the experience? We can learn and grow so much from our interactions with others.
December 12
With all the darkness in the world remember this darkness will give way to the Light!
December 11
You may not know what is going on in another’s life but everyone needs love! Love one another!
December 10
December 9
Your mind, your heart, your light; the things within you not outside you are things that matter. The vibration of these things bring you the experiences in your life. These are the things that bring you heaven on earth and opportunities to learn and grow from. These are the things that are worth your time and your money.
Invest on the inside by feeding your mind, your heart and your light. Feed your mind by reading inspirational, creative, educational material; feed your heart by reaching out and touching someone, by listening to someone, by being there for someone; feed your light by meditating. You can make a difference in your life and in the life of others when you invest on the inside.
December 8
Never Give Up! Everything is helping to reveal how strong you are.
December 7
December 6
There is a Light within you that is always connected to Source/Divine Love/Creative Intelligence! It is Pure & Perfect. It is infinite & everlasting. Go within to See the Light, Feel the Light and Be the Light!
December 5
There are only angels all around you, loving you, teaching you, helping you learn and grow into more!
December 4
May peace grace your being, your home and your world!
December 3
December 2
You have within you a Unique Light that will lead the way, a Light that will cast out the darkness, a Light that can bring peace and wholeness to you and to the world. Be still so you can See the Light, Feel the Light and Be the Light always!
During this month that celebrates the return of Light let your Light shine bright for all to see. You need it, your family needs it, you friends need it and during these dark times the world desperately needs it now!
December 1
Follow your own inner voice, it knows the way!
November 30
We are each infinite expressions of the Divine!
November 29
Yesterday was Thanksgiving in the U.S. A day to give thanks for all the blessings in one’s life. As I sat around the living room after dinner with my husband, 4 children, 4 daughters and son in law and 7 grandchildren I couldn’t help but feel eternally grateful for the bright beautiful souls that chose to be part of my family. There was nothing fancy about the day, no fancy restaurant or fancy clothes, no gifts or presents just the gift of being present with each other, present to each delicious moment; enjoying the love we share. Simple, honest and pure but still magical.
Be grateful for the wonder and the magic of everything even the little things; sometimes it’s those little things that touch your heart the most!
November 28
Give thanks for all the Good in your life!
November 27
Whatever you focus on you get more of. Focus on the things that you are grateful for and the Universe will send you more!
November 26
Give thanks for all the gifts in your life and watch the miracles appear!
November 25
You are always immersed and surrounded in Divine Love. It is what you are made of; it is who you are; it is what we all are at our core; it is in everything and everyone; it is the Creative Intelligence that swirls throughout the Universe; it is the Force that was in the beginning is now and ever shall be.
Take time to connect with the Love that you are; let it flow through you, fill you up and surround you in a bubble of Unconditional Love & Radiant Light. Let that Love & Light comfort you, heal you, strengthen you and guide you. Give thanks and know you are always held in the arms of Love.
November 24
When you are grateful for what you have the Universe is delighted to bring you more!
November 23
Focus on things to be grateful for and those things will expand.
November 22
You are a magnificent manifestation of the Most High; you are Divine Love, Radiant Light, Eternal Peace, Absolute Abundance, Creative Intelligence, Pure Joy, Perfect, Whole & Complete. This is who you are at your core… so is every other person you meet. Some of us may be wounded, some of us may have forgotten who we are but when you remember who you are you can help others remember who they are.
November 21
It’s all within you just waiting for you to remember and uncover who you really are at your core!
November 20
It is done unto you as you believe so believe with your whole heart!
November 19
It’s gratitude that makes us joyful!
November 18
I love the month of November because in the United States we celebrate Thanksgiving. I love that there is a day designated for being grateful. A day where millions of people from all different walks of life, different backgrounds, different religions, different views of the world are all giving thanks for the blessings in their life. It is one of my favorite days.
It’s easy to be grateful for the big things but it’s important to be grateful for the little things as well. We sometimes take the little things for granted but if we were to no longer have them our life could change tremendously. This week give thanks for the little things in your life, the things that you sometimes take for granted. You may discover those little things are actually some of the most important things in your life.
November 17
You are part of and connected to everything in the Universe. There is no separation there is only Oneness!
November 16
Home is at the core of your being…It is Love & Light. Everyone in your life is helping you walk home, helping you walk home to Light & Love!
November 15
What are you grateful for?
November 14
Abundance is who you are…always!!
November 13
Indeed! I give thanks for all the miracles in my life!
November 12
There is always something to be grateful for. Give thanks!!
November 11
Seasons change, tides change. life changes. It surprises us; sometimes sweetly and sometimes not so much. It can bring us joy or sorrow, and light or darkness. Life is forever changing; we are forever changing, moving into more of who we are meant to be.
Time moves quickly; days become weeks then months and turn into years before we know it. As we age the years fly by. Our children become parents and our grandchildren seem to grow even faster than our children did. Through all the years, through all the trials and tribulations Love remains. Love can expand, Love can enlighten, Love can conquer, Love can comfort. We may loose our parents, our family or friends but Love remains.
November 10
The past can offer so much; sweet memories, valuable lessons, moments that brought you to a higher level. Savor the memories of the past, learn the lessons and give thanks for the growth but don’t stay stuck in the past. Keep moving forward!
November 9
Abundance is all around you…give thanks for it all!
November 8
Spend some time in the silence this weekend; meditate or do whatever you can to hear the guidance from within, surrender to the wisdom from the Divine, and then let the Universe work it’s Magic!
November 7
Abundance is your birth rite as a child of the Divine!
November 6
You are Love; you are Loved!
November 5
You can’t control everything around you but you can control some things and you can always control how you respond to everything.
November 4
Be fierce in your commitment to yourself. Be fierce in your dedication to being the best version of yourself. Be fierce in your devotion to honoring your needs. Be fierce in believing in your dreams. Be fierce in fulfilling your heart’s desires. Be fierce in listening to your soul’s yearning for itself.
This is your life, your story, your song, your dreams… Make the most of each moment in your day. Be still, ask great questions, listen to the wisdom of the Universe, follow the guidance, be fierce and take actions that move you in the direction of your dreams.
November 3
Enjoy the road home to yourself!
November 2
There is only one you!!!!
November 1
“Good and more Good is mine, an ever increasing Good is mine, there is no limit to the amount of Good that is mine. Good flows to me, Good flows through me, Good flows from me and Good multiples all around me. The Universe supports me always!” Repeat every day as often as possible!
October 31
Love the glorious manifestation of the Most High that is YOU!
October 30
The Universe is on your side. Surrender to the magic and miracles and move into more of who you are meant to be!
October 29
Let go and let the Universe surprise you!!
October 28
When you look at anyone today try to see who they really are at their core. Try to see the light in their eyes, the joy in their smile, the love in their heart, the wisdom in their mind, the creativity of their imagination, the abundance that flows through them, the perfection of their soul.
Try to see who they really are and you just might help them see it in themselves. You just might increase your awareness of those same things in yourself. You just might make a brighter day for someone and for yourself. You just might make the world a little more beautiful!
October 27
It’s all within so whatever you are searching for; whatever question you have, whatever guidance you seek; begin by looking within.
October 26
The Universe is Absolute Abundance and so are you. Don’t let the little things block you from all the good the Universe has in store for you.
October 25
Seasons come and seasons go. Life is forever changing, moving, flowing… Embrace the seasons in your life. Accept the change, continue to move
forward and go with the flow.
October 24
Don’t let the illusions around you make you forget the truth.
October 23
Love comes from the Divine and is unlimited so let it flow!
October 22
Follow the path your dreams are laying out for you.
October 21
A gentle touch, a sincere smile, a kind word, a listening ear, a thoughtful act..all of these things and more express Love. You may not know what someone is going through, you may not know their story but know Love can make a difference. Love can heal a broken heart. Love can touch a soul. Love can fix a wound. Love can erase sadness. Love can comfort one in need. Love can move mountains. Love can change your world and change our planet. Let love flow from you in all that you think, do and say this week!
October 20
Sometimes little things can make a big difference!
October 19
October 18
Life is in constant flow; it changes, it moves, it ebbs and flows. Keep moving with the current of Life. Don’t fight against the current, flow with it and let it move you into more of who you are meant to be.
October 17
October 16
All of them!!!
October 15
Sometimes we get bogged down with the details and forget the big picture. Remember what’s really important, remember the big picture and go from there.
October 14
Love is the way, love is the answer, love is who you are!
October 13
Gratitude is the way to happiness. Give thanks for the gifts in your life.
October 12
Life is a precious gift, cherish this day!
October 11
Close your eyes and just believe in the power and the magic of who you really are at your core. You are a magnificent manifestation of the Most High. You are Divine Love, Radiant Light, Absolute Abundance, Eternal Peace, Pure Joy, Creative Intelligence, Perfect, Whole & Complete Right Here, Right Now! Close your eyes and Believe!
October 10
Your Light, your Luminosity, your Brilliance; these are your gifts to share with the world.
October 9
You have within you a strength you haven’t even tapped into yet. Know you are a warrior, know you have that strength and let it move you into more.
October 8
October 7
In order to reach your full potential you must keep expanding your comfort zone. To expand your comfort zone you must reach, stretch and grow. Try something you have always wanted to do. Try something you have never done before. Do something that excites you or do something that scares you.
Your body does the same thing physiology wise whether you are excited or afraid; the heart races, the sympathetic nervous system increases activity, and the brain begins to signal the increased production of hormones. When you are excited or afraid your emotions become more powerful. The only difference between the two is in your brain. The next time you try something that scares you tell yourself you are EXCITED and dare to reach for the stars. You are of course, made of stardust!
October 6
Take some time to breathe in the glory of the day!
October 5
The season is spectacular, the changing leaves are spectacular and YOU are spectacular!!
October 4
If you are not experiencing the life you desire stop and take some time to become aware of your consistent thoughts. Your thoughts dictate your beliefs and your actions which dictate your vibration which dictate what you are experiencing. Change your thoughts and you will change your beliefs, actions, and vibration which will ultimately change your life!
October 3
It’s okay to take some time to stop and let your body, mind and spirit rest.
October 2
Embrace the gift of today!
October 1
Yes you are!! Right here, right now!
September 30
The Divine, the Universe, God, Source, (whatever name you use), is only Love. It only knows Love. It only speaks Love. It only shares Love. Love is the core of what it is and the core of who you are. It only says I Love You!
The Universe is for you, always moving you into more of who you are meant to be. It does not judge you, it does not punish you, it does not wish you harm. It does reflect back to you whatever you are vibrating. Raise your vibration to the energy of Love, surrender your life to the energy of Love and watch miracles shower you with Love.
September 29
Beautiful words spoken by my grandson one glorious morning as he sat enjoying the view of the harbor.
September 28
Let Life flow through you!
September 27
Begin to let Love be your guide. Begin to listen to your soul’s desire. Begin to shine your Light. Begin to move in the direction of your highest good. Let it Begin!
September 26
Take notice of the simple pleasures that surround you each day.
September 25
Know, State, Accept, Announce and Believe with every fiber of your being.
September 24
Don’t fight against the current, relax into the rhythm of life and flow with the current.
September 23
Today is the first day of autumn here and change is happening. The days are shorter, the nights are cooler, the air is fresher and the colors of the leaves are beginning to change into vibrant shades of red, orange, yellow, pink and gold. It is my favorite time of year!
With all the changes happening in nature we often find changes happening in our own life. School is back in session for many. For some it is the first day of school, whether it’s preschool or college it is a major change for a family. For others it is the first day of work or a new job; a major step in life. It’s also a time for many weddings which will bring on significant changes for a couple. Whatever changes are happening in your life remember change symbolizes growth. If you are changing you are growing and that’s a good thing. Keep growing!
September 22
September 21
Choose the paths that lead you in the direction of your soul’s yearning!
September 20
We can sometimes complicate our lives. There are so many choices facing us every day, sometimes it can be overstimulating or overwhelming. Try to simplify your life and focus on what is most important this weekend.
September 19
Reach, Stretch, Grow, Expand your comfort zone by doing something that scares you today.
September 18
Life is precious, you are precious; be gentle with yourself and be gentle with everything you touch.
September 17
The ABCs of Life!
September 16
The clouds, the storms, the darkness, all of it is meant to help you reach higher, meant to help you grow. All of it designed to help you remember who you really are: a precious child of the Divine! It may not always feel like it but remember the sun shines behind the clouds, there is calm after the storm, and there is light to cast out the darkness.
Remember to look for the sun, the golden nuggets of wisdom hidden in the storms. Remember to remain calm when things are spinning all around you. Remember to let your Light shine as bright as possible to help you (and others) make your way out of the darkness. Remember to rise above the clouds no matter what.
September 15
Forgive yourself, like yourself, love yourself; right here, right now!!
September 14
We don’t always know the answers, things don’t always make sense but learn to appreciate the mysteries of Life. Some day things will make sense.
September 13
The Universe supports you; it supports you experiencing abundance, love, peace, joy, and serenity for that is who you are at your core. Have faith! When you have faith you shift your energy out of fear and away from the blocks that hold you back. When you have faith you raise your vibration and you open the door to endless possibilities. May you have enough faith to allow magic and miracles to fill your life with love, peace, joy, & abundance.
September 12
Your thoughts, words and actions today will define what you experience tomorrow. Make sure they are taking you in the direction you want to go in.
September 11
There are important lessons to learn from the past. Lessons about love, life, compassion, understanding, togetherness. Learn from the past and keep the lessons.
September 10
Today I am celebrating my wedding anniversary. It took a long time to find each other but we finally did. He is my dream husband, we had my dream wedding and my dream honeymoon. Dreams really do come true so never stop believing! May your dreams come true!!
September 9
The quality of your life is directly related to the quality of your questions. We ask questions every day; become aware of the conversation you have with yourself. What questions do you ask yourself? Do they empower you or do they diminish you? Your brain is like a computer if you ask it a question it will search for the answer. Great questions will lead to great answers which will lead to a great quality of life.
Ask questions that bring answers to empower you not diminish you. Questions like; Why doesn’t anyone love me? How come I never have enough money? Why can’t I lose weight? are dis-empowering, they diminish you. You don’t want your brain searching for those answers. On the other hand questions like: What am I grateful for? How can I let more love flow through me today? How can I make my body stronger and healthier today? What can I do today that will take me to the next level? are all questions that will bring answers to take you higher. Ask yourself questions every day that will make you ponder, expand your vision, help you discover something, take positive action or awaken you and you will have a great quality of life.
September 8
September 7
Repeat every day throughout the day: Abundance is flowing to me, through me, from me and abundance multiplies all around me!
September 6
If one door closes, don’t feel sad it closed, don’t keep trying to open it, don’t worry about what is next. Have faith and just remember there is a door that is meant just for you.
September 5
There is always More!
September 4
Surrender to your inner voice and let it be your guide.
September 3
September 2
You have 7 major energy centers called Chakras; the first is your Root Chakra, located at the base of your spine, this represents the feeling of being grounded connected to Mother Earth, it is red; the second is your Sacral Chakra, approximately 2″ below your belly button, it represents abundance, creativity and sexuality, it is orange; the third is your Solar Plexus Chakra approximately 2″ above your belly button, it represents confidence, personal power and sense of self, it is yellow; the fourth is your Heart Chakra; located at your heart, represents your ability to love and be loved, it is green; the fifth is your Throat Chakra, located in your throat it represents your ability to communicate, it is blue; the sixth is your Third Eye Chakra, located on your forehead between your eyes it represents your intuition or inner vision, it is violet; the seventh is your Crown Chakra, located at the top of your head it represents your connection to Divine, it is white.
To open your chakras imagine energy flowing from Mother Earth to your Base chakra then flowing through all the chakras. See the energy spinning in each chakra as a ball of light the corresponding color for each chakra flicked with crystals so it sparkles. Energy flows to each chakra and from each chakra to the next one connecting them. It also flows out the front and back of each chakra. When you get to your crown chakra see the energy coming out the top of your head flowing into the Universe connecting with the Divine. When your Chakras are open and the energy is spinning freely through them you are, you feel, you do, you love, you speak, you know and you understand!
September 1
Growth can take time but the harvest is so worth it!! Keep growing!
August 31
Remember what really matters!
August 30
You are made in the image and likeness of the Divine which means you are Love, Light, you are Peace, you are Joy, you are Abundance, you are Creativity, you are Intelligence and Power. You are perfect whole and complete right here right now! Start today to uncover the greatness that you already are!
August 29
There are people that will cheer you on, make sure you keep them in your corner.
August 28
You are worthy of all the Good the Universe has in store for you!
August 27
Today is my granddaughter’s 5th birthday. She is such a precious gift! She sees beauty everywhere, even in the smallest things. She has helped me see just how beautiful the world really is. Take some time today to stop and appreciate the splendor and beauty of Life!
August 26
Today is a new day filled with endless possibilities! Yesterday’s thinking brought you to today but yesterday is over. Today is a new day, a new opportunity to begin a new life. Fill your day with new thoughts, new beliefs, and new actions that will take you to a higher level. As you bring these into each new day you will see your life begin to shift. Believe this shift will bring better days. Believe that today and every day will be brighter.
August 25
You are one of the greatest miracles there are!!
August 24
Trust that your life is unfolding as it should!
August 23
You can’t always choose ever person you come in contact with but you can choose to bring more people into your life that inspire you, encourage you and help you see the greatness that lies within. Surround yourself with those people as much as you can!
August 22
Let your life flow and unfold from our soul’s knowing.
August 21
Don’t focus on where you have been, focus on where you are going!
August 20
You have everything you need to be the hero of your own story!
August 19
Gratitude is so important. It is the first step to receiving more. Far too often people focus on what they don’t have. They focus on what is missing in their life and focus on what they lack. Whatever you focus on you get more of be careful what you focus on.
Spend this week paying attention to what you focus on. Spend time paying attention to all the things you can be grateful for. The simple things that happen every day; a kind word, a friendly smile, a thoughtful gesture. Look around you and notice the beauty of the day. Notice the wonder of the world around you and the wonder of your own being. Give thanks for the miracle of your body, the miracle of the Universe. Give thanks for everything, even the little things we sometimes take for granted.
August 18
I spent the day at Storyland with my kids and grandchildren and boy did we Delight in the Day! It’s important to remember the child within!
August 17
It all starts with you! Choose happiness!
August 16
The world is made up of all kinds of people. People that are different from you. People that have different beliefs from yours, people that act differently, struggle differently, praise differently, work differently, play differently, heal differently, love differently, live differently… All these differences may try you at times or frustrate you; some may inspire you and teach you. No matter what remember to love yourself and them through it all. We’re all on this journey together!
August 15
You are enough, right here, right now!
August 14
You are never alone!
August 13
Go as far as you can see, from there you will see how to go further.
August 12
There is a strength of character to you that you haven’t fully realized yet. There is a depth of love within you that you haven’t tapped into yet. There is a precious gift that only you can give that you haven’t even unwrapped yet. There is something that you are to share with the world that you haven’t touched upon yet. There is a greatness to you that you haven’t discovered yet. Discover your greatness!
Discover the love. Discover the gift. Discover the greatness that lies within. Share all of it with the world. Your greatness is needed in the world now more than ever!
August 11
Love you, love your family, love your friends, love everyone with a pure heart. Love without expectations, just love.
August 10
It is often the darkness in our lives that teaches us to shine.
August 9
“These roses under my window make no reference to former roses or better ones; they are for what they are…there is simply the rose; it is perfect in every moment of it’s existence!” Ralph Waldo Emerson
I love this quote as it reminds us to appreciate the beauty of who we are. The rose doesn’t compare itself to others nor should we. Embrace the gift that is you. There is only one you; splendid, perfect, beautiful; a glorious manifestation of the Most High! Appreciate the beauty, the perfection and the wonder of you!
August 8
Life is full of surprises, some sweet others not so much. Either way try to see the gift each surprise holds.
August 7
Thank you for being here, thank you for shining your light, thank you for being you!
August 6
Pour love and light into your thoughts about what you want to experience and it will come to be!
August 5
There may be times in your life when you feel confused about something. You may not know which way to turn, which path to take, what to do. This confusion is often because your heart and your head are not aligned. Your heart tells you to do one thing but your head says do something else. This can certainly cause confusion, leave you feeling stressed and stuck.
To gain clarity and clear up the confusion align your heart and your head. To do this you must quiet the mind chatter and the emotions. You must go into the silence of your own being. You have an internal guidance system that knows which way to go. Be patient and be still for as long as it takes for the answer to reveal itself. The answer will come for your soul knows the way. Trust that still small voice and surrender to the Divine guidance for it will align your heart and your head. It will bring clarity, relieve stress and help you move into more.
August 4
Let art move you into a greater understanding of truth.
August 3
Today I am off to NYC to see Barbra Streisand, one of my bucket list items. I totally agree with her quote, LOVE is the most important thing!
August 2
We all have times in our life when darkness falls. We may not know what to do or where to turn but remember to look for the stars, look for those specs of light that can lead you out of the darkness.
August 1
July 31
“Whenever we manage to love without expectations, calculations, negotiations, we are indeed in heaven.” Rumi
July 30
What you are experiencing now is a reflection of yesterday’s consistent thoughts, beliefs and actions. Change those things today and you will change your life.
July 29
Nothing in life has meaning except the meaning we give it. We are making it all up. We decide if something is positive or negative; good or bad; valuable or worthless. We decide if an experience is something that we can learn and grow from or if something has wounded us beyond repair. We decide!
Whenever I find myself in an undesirable situation I ask myself “What meaning am I giving this event?” I ask myself “How can I learn and grow from this?” I know that I am giving meaning to each event in my life. The meaning is based on my beliefs which I can change if they do not serve my highest good. What beliefs and meanings do you give the events in your life?
July 28
We are all connected to the Divine, connected to the Source of All That Is, connected to each other all the time!
July 27
July 26
Truth has an energy as do lies. People may not know for sure if you are telling the truth or not but they will feel your energy. I had a friend years ago that I found out lied about many things. I didn’t know much about that person to know if he was lying or telling the truth but I knew something was wrong, something didn’t feel right. I knew I couldn’t trust him; it was the energy that surrounded him and it was the energy of lies. Truth will bring positive experiences to you in the long run and lies will bring negative effects. Make sure your Energy is the Energy of Truth always!
July 25
Celebrate the wonder and the magic of the beautiful, unique expression of the Divine that is You!
July 24
We all make mistakes. We all stumble and fall. When you stumble it’s important to say I’m sorry and ask for forgiveness.
July 23
When I was young we had the best water fights during the summer rain. My 5 brothers and 3 sisters would fill pails of water and chase each other around the yard, carefree and laughing the whole time. I can still smell the rain and feel it on my skin. I can still remember the joy, the laughter and the love! What memories bring you joy and love?
July 22
Sometimes we can get bogged down on the physical demands of the day or get caught up going through the motions of the day. There are so many details to take care of, so many things on the to-do list that require attention. The world seems to draw you into the illusion that it is finite, that you are finite, that you are limited.
Take time this week to remind yourself that you are an infinite being. You are made of stardust, you have unlimited possibilities. You are Light, you are Love. You are an intricate part of tapestry we call Life. You are a pure expression of the Divine. Remember, you are a glorious manifestation of the Most High right here, right now!
July 21
Let the brilliant light of the summer sun shine through you in all you do today! Let the glow from within sparkle, shimmer and shine!
July 20
Keep walking in the direction of your dreams and they will come true!
July 19
I am Radiant Light, I am Unconditional Love, I am Eternal Peace, I am Absolute Abundance, I am Pure Joy, I am Creative Intelligence, I am Perfect, Whole and Complete, and I am Guided each and every day! Repeat daily!
July 18
You have everything you need within; all the love, all the strength, all the answers…go within!
July 17
Every choice you make today brings you either closer or further away from your heart’s desire…choose wisely!
July 16
You are part of the Mystery and Magic of Life, part of the Infinite expression of Life.
July 15
Reach for the stars, reach for your heart’s desires, reach for your dreams. As you reach you expand your comfort zone, you learn, you grow, you become more of who you are meant to be. As you reach for the stars you align with the Magic of the Universe.
There is Magic in the sky, Magic in the Universe, Magic in following your heart’s deepest desire. Reach for the sky and be among the stars. Reach for the sky and Expect Miracles!
July 14
Have Faith in the Universe, Faith in Good and more Good coming into your life, faith that you are guided always, faith that magic will grace your life each and every day!
July 13
July 12
There is something unique, something precious, something you are meant to share with the world. I love you! I believe in you! I am grateful for the Light that you are and for the precious gift that you are to the world! Let your Light shine brightly to help cast out the darkness!
July 11
Believe in your greatness. Never give up on you, your light, or your dreams!
July 10
All the stories are gone, all the wounds are healed and the light is shining through!
July 9
Believe in your own greatness with all the strength and courage you have!
July 8
We were visiting family and friends over the weekend with our new puppy, Baxter, and he showed us that angels can show up in many forms. One of our friends has seizures and our puppy seemed to intuitively know this. Our friend had a seizure and Baxter followed him to the bathroom when it was over then continued to follow him for the rest of the evening giving him much appreciated love and attention. It was such a sweet thing to witness.
Be open to the sweet surprises and magical moments where angels gently let you know they are here. They often show up when you need it most and when you least expect it. They show up in a variety of ways and let you know you are loved beyond measure through the good times and the not so good times, through the joy and the sorrow. May angels grace your life every day this week!
July 7
Make sure you take some time today to just look around you and enjoy this glorious planet
July 6
Let your light up the day!
July 5
Whatever you focus on you get more of, whatever you look for you will find. Focus on the joy in your life, look for the joy in all the glorious ways it shows up for you and more will come to you! Find the joy this weekend!!
July 4
In honor of Independence Day in the USA here’s to you finding your own independence and setting yourself free from the things that suppress you.
July 3
Be free to express your authentic self; all that you are and all that you are meant to be!
July 2
Let the inspiration you receive from the Divine move you into action! New ideas bring new thoughts, new emotions and when you take new actions you will experience new life!
July 1
Miracles really are all around you but you have to pay attention to see them. You have to open your heart to welcome them. You have to deepen your connection to the Source of all miracles to deserve them. You have to surrender to the Divine to bring them to you.You have to be ready to receive them. Are you ready?
Are you ready to pay attention? Are you ready to open your heart? Are you ready to deepen your connection to Source? Are you ready to surrender? If you can do those things you will invite miracles into your life. Are you ready for your miracle?
June 30
Remember the little things that bring out the sweetness of life!
June 29
Life is a journey of becoming and expressing all you are meant to be!
June 28
Rain, darkness, things you don’t always think of as positive often hold sweet surprises for you. Look for rainbows when it rains, look for stars when it’s dark and look for the precious gifts hidden in each and every moment!
June 27
The Universe brings a sweet melody to your soul, rhythm to your life and beautiful music to the world. Keep dancing with the beat of the Universe.
June 26
Once you can see yourself experiencing whatever it is you want it is on it’s way to you!
June 25
Be true to who you are at your core no matter where you are, no matter what is going on.
June 24
Pay attention to the messages the Universe is sending you. Those messages may be hidden so you have to take time to stop, look and listen. Stop the business of the day and stop the noise in your mind through meditation. Look within to find your own knowing, look around you for doors to open and synchronicity to appear. Listen to the guidance from your higher self and listen carefully to every whisper from the Universe.
Your soul is trying to express all you are meant to be. The Universe supports you and provides opportunities for that expression. The world needs the full expression of you. Your life deserves 100% of YOU right here, right now!
June 23
Last night at my brother’s Celebration of Life Service this beautiful rainbow appeared, it reminded me that life is precious and fleeting. We don’t know how long we have on this glorious planet. My brother was taken much too young. Rejoice in the moments of celebration, cherish the moments that touch your heart and savor every delicious moment that you get to be here!
June 22
Do at least one thing, small or big doesn’t matter, just do one thing that makes your soul sing and your heart happy today!
June 21
What whispers to you in the still of the night? What makes your heart sing?What message does your soul yearn to share? It’s good and necessary to get paid for something but what would you do even if you did not get paid… that is your calling, that is what you’re made for. What were you made for?
June 20
Every phase of life has it’s magic, learn to appreciate them all.
June 19
Some people have a difficult time saying I’m sorry. If you’re one of those people forget the ego, forget having to be right, forget whatever it is that holds you back from apologizing and say I’m sorry.
June 18
Keep moving forward. Keep taking one step at a time. Life is a journey and there are no mistakes, detours maybe but not mistakes. You’ve got this!
June 17
Life is full of adventures, full of opportunities to learn and grow. Sometimes things run their course and come to an end. Sometimes the lessons are learned and it’s time to move on. Sometimes there is no more to give, no more to share, and no more to receive.
When one door closes another opens. New adventures await you bringing new roads to walk, new courses to take, new people, places and things to enrich your life. Be open to the new opportunities life brings your way. Every ending means there’s a new beginning. Let it begin.
June 16
Happy Father’s Day to all the dads, step dads, foster dads, uncles and all the men out there that touch lives in a positive way!
June 15
This is the season of color and beauty, savor the magic!
June 14
Say yes to knowing that abundance is all around you. Say yes to seeing abundance and give thanks for the abundance that surrounds you. Say yes to knowing abundance is your birthright as a child of God. Say yes to knowing abundance is the Truth of who you are. Say yes to knowing you are absolute abundance. Say yes to allowing the abundance of the Universe to flow through you now. Say Yes!
June 13
No matter what the picture of your life looks like right now keep drawing!
June 12
June 11
Laughter is the best medicine and it’s also good for the healthy body and soul so make sure you laugh today!
June 10
Life often gives us second chances, even third. Chances to choose a different course, to make a new decision, to right a wrong, to appreciate a moment, to walk a different path, to make the best of a tough situation, to take the high road, to raise your vibration, to turn the other cheek, to learn the lesson, to let grace flow through you, to give the gift, to receive with gratitude, to trust in the Universe, to see the good in all things, to love unconditionally, to allow abundance to flow freely, to light the darkness, to let your inner light guide you, to take the trip, to sing the song, to write the book, to dance like no one is watching…
What will you do with your second chance?
June 9
Life is full of mystery and magic. We don’t always know or understand why some things happen but have faith and remind yourself to appreciate all the mysteries and the magic of Life.
June 8
It doesn’t take much to make a difference in a life, in a community, in the world. Do one thing today to make a difference.
June 7
Life can be full of surprises; some are delightful and bring us joy and others not so much. Appreciate the gift of every surprise whether it be a valuable lesson or a precious moment of joy.
June 6
On this the 75th anniversary of D-Day let us all remember the price many people paid to bring peace to the world. Let thoughts of Peace ring out loud today. Let Peace fill your heart, your home and our world!
June 5
May your day, your life and our world be filled with Peace!
June 4
There are miracles all around you!
June 3
One of the things people often forget to do is let go. They declare who they are, they align with Source, they proclaim what they want to the Universe, they put positive thoughts into their mind, they give thanks for it’s manifestation but they forget one important step: they forget to Let Go.
Letting go is the last step in manifestation and the step people often forget. Your job is to get clear on what you want, align your energy with what you desire, align with Source, know it is done in the mind of the Divine then Let Go. Let go and let the Universe work it’s magic.
June 2
Your loved ones that have passed on are never too far away from you. They are in the clouds in the sky, in the breeze blowing through your hair, in the rain upon your face, in each glorious sunrise and sunset. They are always with you showering you with love and sending you miracles.
June 1
Let your Light shine bright to eliminate the darkness!
May 31
We are all Light! We came from Light and will return to Light. Even the people that hurt you the most! They loved you enough to lower their vibration and come into this lifetime to teach you a great lesson. They had to forget they are Light themselves to teach lessons and help us experience things like forgiveness. Remember they are Light and maybe some day they will remember that too!
May 30
Sometimes life can get crazy and your mind needs to flip a switch to get back to center. The easiest way is to stop for a moment and take 4 deep breaths in through the nose and relaxing as you breathe out through the mouth. Just Breathe!
May 29
Break free from the chains and the limits you put on yourself. You are an unlimited expression of the Divine!
May 28
You are becoming who you are meant to be with every step you take, every door you open.
May 27
When you have a decision to make know that you have within you a connection to the Divine that knows all the answers. You are part of the Divine, part of the Source of All That Is. There is no separation, only Oneness. This Creative Intelligence that rules the Universe can answer any question, it can guide you to the highest and best.
Strengthen that connection to Source and know that all the answers you will ever need are available to you. Ask for guidance knowing the answer will be provided then spend time in the silence so you can hear the answer. You are guided and you know just what to do!
May 26
Every time I find myself in a situation I ask myself “How can I learn and grow from this?” Oh the lessons I have learned!!
May 25
Take time to appreciate all the people that have touched your life, people that have helped you through the good times and the bad. I am forever grateful for these hands!
May 24
Memories can bring a variety of emotions. Some are happy and fill us with joy, some are sweet and fill us with tenderness, some are glorious and fill us with love, some are difficult and fill us with sadness or fear, some are profound and change the way we think forever.
It’s okay to visit the past. It’s okay to remember those sweet memories and relive the love, joy and tenderness. Let those memories fill you with a renewed sense of well being today. It’s okay to remember those difficult times as well but don’t live there or get stuck there. Remember the lessons you learned, remember you made it through and let those memories give you strength today.
May 23
Sometimes we get bogged down on the little things and we forget about the things that really matter. No matter what is going on in your life focus on the big picture, focus on the things that really matter!
May 22
Whenever you have a question repeat this throughout the day then let it go and listen for the guidance from the Universe.
May 21
Begin to deepen your relationship with Source. Begin to listen to your inner guidance. Begin to take one step in the direction of your dreams. Begin today!
May 20
We all came into the world with a Light within, we all came into the world with joy, grace, innocence and beauty! We are all glorious manifestations of the Most High. We all were given the potential to fulfill our dreams, to make a difference, to live a joyful, graceful and love filled life. We are all miracles that come from the Source of All That Is.
Remember the love and wonder of being a child. Remember the simple things that brought you joy. Remember the twinkle in your eyes that light up the room. Remember the beauty that filled your life. Remember the innocence of each new day. Remember the grace of you just being you. Remember, You Are Born of Stardust and You Are A Miracle!
May 19
Begin each day connecting to Source so Love can guide you!
May 18
Take time to really appreciate the wonder and beauty of the simple moments.
May 17
Let go of any stories, any pain, any blocks, anything at all that holds you back from expressing Life to the fullest. The one in a million expression of Life that is YOU needs to be seen, needs to be expressed. Let Life in, let it flow to you, through you, and let it flow from you always!
May 16
The world needs your light today! Let it shine!
May 15
Love is where you came from, love is where you will return. Love is who you are at your core! Come to love the LOVE that you are!!
May 14
Spring is a time for new birth, new growth. Let the light within help you give birth to something new and help you grow into more of who you are meant to be.
May 13
The windshield in every car is much larger than the rear view mirror for a reason. You must keep your eye on the road to see where you are going. Focus on the road in front of you, on where you are going not where you have been. If you keep looking backwards you get lost.
The same is true in life. If you focus on your past you can’t see where you are going. You can get lost in the past, lost in the pain, lost in the mistakes you think you made, lost in the memories. Take the lessons from everything on your journey but keep your focus on where you want to go. The best is yet to be!
May 12
Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms, grandmothers, godmothers, aunts, and fur moms out there! Hope your day is filled with pure love and deep appreciation for all you do!
May 11
Surrender to the Light within that is connected to Source/God/Spirit and watch the Universe guide you in magical ways!
May 10
The Creative Intelligence that was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be has only one thought about you and that thought is LOVE!
May 9
Today’s Thought for the Day is dedicated to an amazing woman, one of my dearest, closest friends, a Goddess and soul mate for sure. Today is her birthday so I celebrate the gift she is to the world. Take time to connect with someone special today and just BE!
May 8
You being you is not only enough, it is PLENTY!
May 7
Delight in the glorious gift of the day!
May 6
I saw my first hummingbird of the season today. It was so tiny and so beautiful! It filled me with wonder to think about the journey it had just taken. It flew all the way from Central America or Mexico to my home just outside Boston. During migration a hummingbird, the smallest bird, flies thousands of miles, their heart beats up to 1,260 times a minute, and its wings flap 15 to 80 times a second. They are truly miraculous!
Sometimes it’s the smallest things that fill us with wonder. Take some time this week to notice the little things. Whether it be a tiny bird, a flower, a lady bug, a spider or an ant just take a look at them and really notice them. Think about how they came to be, what their existence is like. Think about the story behind them and let them fill you with wonder.
May 5
Stay grounded in Mother Earth, build a strong foundation but keep reaching for the stars!
May 4
I always loved the Star Wars movies. The Force is such a great way to explain the Source of All That Is or God or whatever name you use for the Creative Intelligence that was in the beginning is now and ever shall be. May you feel the energy of the Force flow through you always!
May 3
It doesn’t take much to make a difference. A friendly smile, a reassuring touch, a shoulder to lean on, an ear to listen or a special moment shared. They all have the power to heal, to transform a life, to make a difference. See how many souls you can touch this weekend.
May 2
Life is full of surprises, some exciting and wonderful, others not so much! When those unexpected and perhaps unwanted things occur always ask yourself “How can I learn and grow from this?” There is often a gift or a lesson hidden in them.
May 1
Spring brings with it rebirth, new growth and the hope of a brighter day. Let it bring you hope for better days, growth in your love for self and all humanity, and rebirth of the greatness within.
April 30
Make sure your internal dialogue supports your growth!
April 29
Miracles can come in all shapes and sizes, they happen all the time throughout eternity. They will grace your life even more when you realize that you ARE the Miracle. Don’t think that they are something outside of you or that they will save you, know that YOU are a miracle right now. You are part of the Miracle of Life, part of the Creative Intelligence that was in the beginning is now and ever shall be.
Miracles don’t happen to you they come through you. You are a conduit for them to come into manifestation. You are a vehicle for their transformation. You are part of the process for miracles to appear. Embrace the knowledge that you ARE the Gift, you are the Light, you are the Miracle right here right now!
April 28
It’s the variety of colors that add to the beauty of our planet just as it’s your own special color that adds to the beauty of your world!
April 27
Focus on where you want to go and on the things that will get you there!
April 26
Looking on the bright side of things will never hurt you, it will only help you. It will help you move past the darkness, help you move into the Light and help you move into more Good! Look on the bright side of everything this weekend!
April 25
Be grateful for the good things that come in those small unassuming packages. They are gifts to treasure!
April 24
Flowers need light to grow, so do you! Let Divine Light help you grow!
April 23
The seeds you have planted into the Creative Consciousness take time. Make sure you nurture them and don’t step on them.
April 22
Today is Earth Day! A day dedicated to nurturing the planet that sustains us. Celebrate Mother Earth by doing something to make this glorious planet a better place today!
April 21
May the love and the lessons Jesus taught be with you today and always!
April 20
Jesus taught forgiveness no matter what, he taught us to love everyone without conditions. He taught us that we are all connected to God and to one another. Lessons that are just as important today as they were 2000 years ago. Practice forgiveness, love and seeing yourself in everyone you meet today and every day.
April 19
If you want a way out of fear, out of confusion, or out of pain go within. Go within and let the Light that is within you, the Light that is always and forever connected to the Divine guide you. Let it guide you into love, clarity, joy, and peace.
April 18
Follow the dreams that make your heart sing!
April 17
Be open to the miracles in your life no matter what size they are.
April 16
Focus on the things you want more of in your life and more will come to you!
April 15
The Universe supports you, it holds magic and miracles to help you reach your full potential. The Universe provides opportunities, it opens doors, and brings synchronicity. None of this will come to you if you are not listening to the whispers of your soul.
Make sure you spend time in the silence by meditating or praying. Make sure you feed your mind positive, life affirming thoughts. Make sure you do whatever it takes to stop the monkey mind that can sometimes block the flow of Light, Love and Truth. The Universe is always moving into a fuller expression of Life and it will help you move into a fuller expression of who you are meant to be if you stop, look and listen to it’s whispers!
April 14
Be open to the magic of the Universe!!
April 13
Have faith that everything is happening for your highest and best. Let go and let the Universe work it’s Magic!
April 12
There is a light within you that knows the answers, a light that can lead the way. Let that light shine brightly and let it be your guide this weekend and always.
April 11
There is often darkness before the Light. Open your mind and your heart to see the Light!
April 10
April 9
As the Earth gives birth this season allow the magic and wonder in you to blossom and grow!
April 8
Your thoughts are seeds planted into the Universal Mind. The Law of the Universe must obey for it is the Creative Soil through which all things come into manifestation. You are like a farmer planting seeds, if you plant pumpkin seeds you will grow pumpkins, you will never grow watermelons from pumpkin seeds. The same is true for you; you will not experience love and abundance if your consistent thoughts are of fear, lack or limitation. Your thoughts are seeds and they dictate your beliefs, actions and your vibration. The Universal Mind is the soil. Your life is the manifestation of your thoughts, beliefs, and actions, which all determine your vibration. When your vibration is in harmony with the Abundant Universe doors will open, opportunities will arrive, synchronicity will appear, magic will happen, and you will be guided to move in the direction that serves your highest good.
Whatever seeds you plant into the cosmic consciousness will become manifest. We do not question how the plant springs from the soil we only know that if we plant pumpkin seeds, pumpkins will grow. We don’t always know how our desires and dreams will come to be that is the job of the Universe. Our job is to plant the seeds, water them, nurture them, follow the guidance from the Universe, make sure we don’t step on them as they begin to grow and watch our lives grow into the beautiful manifestations they are meant to be.
April 7
There is beauty within you and all around you!
April 6
April 5
When you nourish things they will grow. Pour light, love, positive thoughts and emotions into the things you want to experience and watch them grow!
April 4
Get clear and the Universe will support you!
April 3
Fill your mind, your heart and your day with peace!
April 2
It knows which way to go!
April 1
It’s finally spring here! The days are getting longer, the sun is becoming warmer, the flowers are starting to poke their heads through the soil, the trees are beginning to blossom. The birds are happily singing and the frogs are noisily croaking in the pond. Life is bursting forth all around me!
Each day is as if the Earth is giving birth to new growth, new life. It’s a time for new beginnings, a time to come into the full expression of Life that is you. Use the energy of spring, the energy of Mother Earth to take action and move into more of who you are meant to be.
March 31
All things come from the Creative Consciousness that was in the beginning is now and ever shall be. Deepen your connection to that Source and watch yourself GROW!
March 30
Believe and keep moving in the direction of your dreams.
March 29
Expect good to flow into your life. Look for wonderful moments to surround you. See the beauty and wonder that are all around you What you focus on will come into your life, what you look for you will find.
March 28
No matter what obstacles appear to be in your way remember everything is happening to set you free.
March 27
No matter where you are or what is going on in your life right now keep growing!!
March 26
If you find your self surrounded by people that don’t inspire you try adding people to you circle that see the best in you. People that believe in your potential. People that inspire you!
March 25
Sometimes the monkey mind can tell you you’re not enough; not good enough, not smart enough, pretty enough, skinny enough, rich enough, talented enough… the list can go on and on but the Truth is YOU ARE ENOUGH!!
You are good enough just as you are. You are good enough right here, right now! You have within you everything you will ever need to live the life of your dreams. Get in touch with the love within, the strength within, the power within, the wisdom within and let that guide you in the direction of your heart’s desires.
March 24
As you wake each morning before you even get out of bed stop for a moment or two place your hand on your heart and breathe in love, give thanks for the gift of a new day. At the end of the day as you slip into bed take another moment to breathe in love and give thanks for at least one thing.
March 23
Take one step in the direction of your deepest desires, just begin.
March 22
Take time this weekend to really see people. Don’t be fooled by the mask some may hide behind or by the fear behind any anger. Don’t be fooled by the brilliant disguises. Try to see the truth of who each person is. Try to see the Light, Love, Peace, Joy, Creativity, Abundance and Wisdom that is the truth of who we all are at our core.
March 21
March 20
What didn’t you receive when you were a child? Was it love, certainty, variety, significance. Whatever it was it is one of the things that you are to bring to the world.
March 19
You are more than your body. You are an integral part of the Universe, part of the magnificent tapestry called Life.
March 18
Light is where you came from and light is where you will return. Light can guide you and let you know which way to go. Light is within you, light is all around you and Light is who you are at your core.
There is much darkness in the world but don’t let it dim your light. Let your light shine brightly in everything you do, everything you say and everywhere you go. Your brilliant Light is needed now more than ever. Connect with the Source of All That Is, Connect with the Light within and come into the Light!
March 17
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! May a little bit of the luck of the Irish be with you always!
March 16
My younger brother passed away this week, the first sibling in my family of 9 children to pass. It broke his heart to leave but there was too much damage to his body to stay. He was much too young. It made everyone in my large family grieve and it made us all stop and think about our own lives about our own mortality.
It made me think about how I spend my days, how I love the people in my life, how I forgive, what I give energy to, where I focus, why I have the beliefs I do, what is most important to me. We don’t know how many days we have but we do have today. What will you do with the gift of this day?
March 15
Try to see the gift and the beauty of everything!
March 14
Keep flowing with all the ups and downs and all the twits and turns.
March 13
Every day is a gift! Give thanks!
March 12
Let the Creative Intelligence that rules the Universe guide you!
March 11
I used to think surrender was a bad word, that it was a sign of weakness. Maybe it was from being raised a girl in the middle of 5 boys. Maybe it was from trying to be in control all the time. Maybe it was from trying to protect myself. Whatever it was I have learned that surrender is not a bad word at all and it is certainly not a sign of weakness. Surrender is one of the bravest things I have ever done.
The Universe has magic and miracles in store for you. No matter what is going on in your life right now have faith that the best is yet to be. Trust that all is in Divine Order. Look for signs of synchronicity, watch for doors opening, allow all the good the Universe has in store for you to flow through you. Connect with the Light within, let it be your guide and watch your life unfold in magical ways.
March 10
March 9
It really all is in Divine order!!
March 8
March 7
It may be difficult to forgive someone but it is more difficult for your soul to hold on to the pain and not forgive them. Forgive to let your mind, body, heart and soul be free!
March 6
Don’t get bogged down in the minor things, remember the big picture. The Universe has wonderful surprises in store for you!
March 5
Never give up on your dreams, they are your soul trying to speak to you!
March 4
There are times in your life that challenge you and leaving can be one of them. No matter what you are leaving breaking away from something takes courage, strength and faith. Leaving can make you expand your comfort zone. It can make you reach, stretch and grow. Whether you are the one leaving or someone you love is leaving the exit can push you to be more loving, more compassionate, more open, more trusting, more understanding. Leaving can make you tougher, braver, stronger, and it can make you move into more.
Leaving can be difficult but know we all have been there. Know you are not alone. There are family, friends, guides, teachers and even strangers that send you love and hold the highest and best for you. May you find the faith, the inner knowing and the inner strength to surrender, let go and leave whatever is holding you back from the next great adventure.
March 3
Let love lead the way. Let love lead your day, today and every day!
March 2
It’s not easy but when you are patient you relax and silence the mind chatter making trust easier. When you trust you can hear the wisdom from within easier, when you listen to that voice within you can increase your faith. As you increase your faith you can see that everything really is in Divine Order!
March 1
The day my mother died she taught me just how powerful we all are. She was in the hospital in a different state but she mentally contacted my sister and me. We called each other and said let’s go see mom today then we called our other sisters and that afternoon we were all on a flight to see her. When my father left the hospital to pick us up at the airport my mom made her way home to the Light. While she passed we were on the plane watching the most beautiful sunset I had ever seen. My father picked us up at the airport and we went straight to the hospital. My father found out he had lost the love of his life surrounded by his four daughters. My mother choreographed that day. She mentally told us to come so my father would not be alone and she sent us that sunset to comfort us and let us know she was going home. She sent the same gorgeous sunset the day I got married. She was there watching over us, rejoicing with us!
You have the power of the Universe on your side.
Use it to be all that you are meant to be!
February 28
Some days are bright and sunny and some days are just blue. It’s all okay. Sometimes we need the contrast. Let it be and know tomorrow the sun will shine!
February 27
Don’t take love for granted. Cherish the people in your life that support and love you for you!
February 26
Try something new, take a chance, expand your comfort zone, test yourself, reach and grow!
February 25
Connect with the Creative Intelligence that was in the beginning is now and ever shall be. Let the Unconditional, Universal Love from Source fill your heart, let it fill your mind, let it fill your being and let it spill out into everything that you think do and say.
Let Love heal the wounds that have left you bruised and broken. Let Love mend the fences and bless the relationships in your life. Let Love bring forgiveness to your heart and may you be forgiven by love where forgiveness is needed.
Let Love fill your home and your world with peace and joy.
February 24
February 23
The essence of your being, the truth of who you are is love, joy, peace, and abundance. Let if all flow through out into the world.
February 22
Spend your time this weekend with people that accept you, people that love all of you, and people that inspire you to move into more of who you are meant to be.
February 21
Love is inside you and all around you. Love is everywhere!
February 20
Love is at the core of your being, love is what you are made of and love is who you are!
February 19
February 18
No matter what you are going through now or what you have been through in the past love yourself. Love yourself through the pain, the sadness, the joy and the glory. Love yourself through the difficulties, the confusion, the mystery and the magic. Love yourself through the unexpected twists and turns. Love yourself through the peace and abundance. Love the wounded child, love the strong independent adult, and love everything in between. Love all of you all the time!
February 17
Love is the answer always!
February 16
You are never alone. The Love of your ancestors and those who have gone before you is always watching over you!
February 15
How do you want to be remembered? What do you want people to feel when they hear your name? This weekend ask people who know you what words come to their mind when they think of you. Are they words that show love? Are they words that inspire? Are they words that make you feel good about your life? If not think about ways you can change to leave a legacy of LOVE!
February 14
May your heart be filled with peace. May your day be filled with joy! May your life be filled with LOVE!!
February 13
Touch someone with your love… be it a smile, a look, a touch, a word, or a random act of kindness. Let love move you today!
February 12
Love you, all of you, as you are, right here, right now!!
February 11
I love that we have a holiday to celebrate Love. I celebrate Love and live Love always but in February I devote most of the month to messages about Love for Love is the most powerful force in the Universe. Love is the answer to all your questions. Love is the light that casts out the darkness. Love is what you’re made of. Love is where you came from, Love is who you are and Love is where you will return!
February 10
February 9
Let the energy of a new day with new possibilities inspire you today!
February 8
As you make your way through the weekend remember Love. Choose love to guide you, choose love to answer your questions, choose love to communicate. Wherever you go, whatever you do choose LOVE!
February 7
Breathe in love, let it fill your being and spill out into everything you say and do!
February 6
Love is what you’re made of, love is who you are, love is why you’re here!
February 5
Let love rule your day and rule your life!
February 4
The ABCs of living life to the fullest. Let them remind you of who you are and where you want to go. Let them inspire and motivate you into becoming more of who you are meant to be!
February 3
Any time you get knocked down learn something, get up and create something spectacular.
February 2
Some roads may have many twists and turns but they lead to some beautiful destinations!
February 1
Unfortunately there is too much darkness in the world, too much confusion, negativity and fear. No matter where you go this weekend or what you do let your inner light shine. Let it shine so brightly it lights the way for you and for others. Let it cast out the darkness, let it bring clarity, positivity and love to the world today and every day!
January 31
Break free from any limiting beliefs you have about you and what you can accomplish. Embrace the greatness within; your dream life is waiting!
January 30
Emotions are just energy, nothing to be afraid of or try and stop. Feel them and let them move through you.
January 29
The quality of your questions are directly related to the quality of your life. What questions do you ask yourself consistently?
January 28
Gratitude for what you have leads you into more but your gratitude must be real, it must be felt with your whole being. You can’t fool the Universe; you can’t just say thank you and expect more, you must feel deep appreciation and genuine gratitude with every fiber of your being for something you have now to raise your vibration then the Universe will send you more.
What are you truly grateful for now? Let the energy of deep appreciation and gratitude fill your heart and wash over your entire being. Let if fill you up, let it surround you and let it lead you into more.
January 27
The world needs you to fan the flames of the spark within. The passion in your soul is your gift to the world, share it!
January 26
The choices you make today will determine your tomorrow so choose wisely!
January 25
We all win at times and other times we lose. It’s part of the game of life. No one has ever gone through their life without a loss. Our losses and our victories can teach us something, they can point us in a new direction or they can teach others something. It may not always seem like it but it’s all good. Everything is helping us move into more. Win or lose remember to learn, to get up and no matter what keep on playing!
January 24
Change one negative belief you have about you or the world and you will change your vibration which will change your life!
January 23
Whatever you do, wherever you go express all of you!
January 22
Some things take time. Be patient, trust, listen, have faith and keep following the directions of your internal guidance system.
January 21
60,000 thoughts a day would be impossible to monitor but you don’t have to. What you can do is place empowering thoughts into your mind consistently. Read inspirational or motivational things every day. Repeat incantations and affirmations twice a day. Start a gratitude journal and begin and end each day giving thanks for all the blessings of the day. Let the feeling of gratitude grow in your heart and in your mind. The more you do these things, the more you shift your energy.
Embrace empowering words and actions each and every day. Let them become part of your daily rituals. Let them become part of who you are. It takes commitment, discipline and consistency but it is worth it! Gratitude brings more things to be grateful for. Empowering thoughts, affirmations and incantations bring more personal power. Inspiration and motivation feed your mind and shift your vibration which will shift your life experience.
January 20
You have the power of the Universe with you. Let it flow through you.
January 19
Life is full of surprises. Let it take you on a fantastic ride!
January 18
Your journey is like no other. Your inner most desires are trying to guide you to your destiny. You may not know where they will take you at first but trust your inner guidance, The Universe has magic and miracles in store for you. Have faith that your soul knows which way to go and blaze your own trail!
January 17
January 16
I am a channel for God’s Love to flow through!
January 15
Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.” Begin it today!
January 14
Take a moment to really think about your beliefs about the world, about life, about love, about you. Some beliefs you have may not even be yours. They may be beliefs passed down from generations or they may be societal beliefs. They may be beliefs from past pain or traumas you have experienced.
Think about your beliefs and if they do not take you higher, if they do not serve your highest and best, if they block the flow of good, the flow of love, joy or peace then let them go. Release any limiting beliefs and remind yourself that you are a child of the Universe. remind yourself that the Universe is always on your side. Adopt beliefs that take you higher; beliefs that allow love, joy and peace to flow through you. Embrace the beliefs that encourage the flow of good in your life and help you to reach your full potential.
January 13
The Universe wants you to make it happen, I want you to make it happen, everyone that loves you wants you to make it happen…whatever your “it” is keep swinging and make it happen. I’ll keep cheering you on!
January 12
Your internal guidance system comes from Source. Deepen your connection to Source and you open the channel. When the channel is clear the reception is clear and you can see which way to go. Your soul is trying to guide you into more of who you are meant to be.
January 11
Let your passion burst into creation!
January 10
When you know who you really are, when you are full of unconditional love for yourself and others nothing can throw you off center!
January 9
When your heart and head do not agree conflict and confusion arise. Align your head and your thoughts with your heart, your inner knowing, and peace & clarity will follow.
January 8
Grace flows through the air, whispers through the breeze and yearns to be expressed through you. Be a conduit for Grace to flow through.
January 7
It may not always be easy to use your voice but stand tall and be bold enough to use it anyway. It may be difficult to hear the whispers of your heart so be brave enough to go into the silence of your soul often so it is easier to hear. It may seem impossible to live the life you have imagined but be strong enough to fight off the disbelief and do whatever it takes to live the life your soul desires.
January 6
Let today be the day you decide to be free from any negativity, any fear, any pain, any stress, any worry, any guilt, any limiting beliefs.. anything at all that holds you back from expressing who you are meant to be!
January 5
Pay attention to those small moments and savor the beautiful gifts they bring!
January 4
It’s never too late to start something new. Is there something inside whispering to you? Is there something you are yearning to express? Is there something that you have always wanted to do? Begin something that speaks to your heart this year.
January 3
Get very clear about what it is you want to experience, see it in your mind and heart as already done and the Universe will align with your energy to bring it to you!
January 2
The possibilities are endless. Begin to explore them today!
January 1
A new year, a new beginning, a new chance to write a new story. It’s your life, your story, it’s all up to you. What story will you begin to write today?
December 31
Spend time in the silence of your own heart. Ask yourself these questions. Where do you want to go and what do you want to accomplish in the new year? Write down the answers that come to you. Go into the silence again and ask yourself how you can make those things happen. Listen to the whispers of your soul and write them down. Come up with a few things you can do that will take you in the direction of your heart’s yearning. Adjusting your direction by even one degree and can alter the trajectory of your life forever. Adjust accordingly!
December 30
December 29
You have a blank page in front of you, write a new story!
December 28
As 2018 comes to a close and the new year approaches take time to reflect. Reflect on this past year. What have you accomplished? What did you want to accomplish but didn’t get a chance to? What have you learned? How have you grown? What worked for you and what didn’t work for you? What are your best memories from the year? What do you want to accomplish next year? How can you support yourself in the coming year? Reflect on the past year and create a plan for the new year.
December 27
There may be mountains to climb but you’ve got this… Keep climbing!
December 26
You have to BELIEVE you can be, do, have, what your heart desires to SEE it manifest in your life.
December 25
Merry Christmas to all who celebrate! To those who don’t celebrate may the spirit of Christmas which is love fill your heart and your home.
May your day be filled with wonder, grace and love!
December 24
For some it is a day to celebrate the birth of Jesus. For some it is a day to remember the teachings of unconditional love, to remember that we are all connected to each other and to the Divine/Source/God/Creative Intelligence (whatever name you use). For some it is a time to celebrate with family and friends. For some it is the most magical day of the year. For some it is just an ordinary day. We can make it mean whatever we want. What does Christmas mean to you?
Whatever it means to you have a bright and beautiful day filled with Peace, Love & Light! Have a glorious week!
December 23
The Magic is in you! Believe it, Feel it, Know it! You are part of the Magic!
December 22
December 21
Tis the season of Light & Love. Come into the Light. Let if fill your being with Love. Let your Light shine brightly for all the world to see! Let Universal Love flow to you, through you, from you and multiple out into the world. Let your Light shine brightly in everything you think, do and say!
December 20
You are alive to experience the gift of another glorious day. Rejoice!!!
December 19
Let the pure expression of the Divine that is you fly free!!
December 18
December 17
The storms in your life often hold precious gifts. It may not feel that way as you are going through them but know that each storm has a lesson to be learned, knowledge to be gained and in the end beauty will be revealed.
Next time you find yourself in the middle of a storm stop for a moment and look for the gift. Look for the lesson, the wisdom and the beauty. No matter how difficult it is to see, no matter how long it takes keep searching for the gifts of wisdom and beauty that is hidden in the storm.
December 16
Take a leap of faith and let the Universe teach you how to fly!!!
December 15
Let the Love within bring you magic and miracles!!
December 14
The people that you surround yourself with have an influence on how far you go in life. Surround yourself with people that support your well being and your successes. Bring people into your life that inspire your vision of your life and motivate you into reaching your goals. Spend more time with people that help you grow into the person you are meant to be.
December 13
You are a glorious manifestation of the Most High. You are Light, you are Love. Let the point of Light that is you illuminate your corner of the world.
December 12
Open each door, walk proudly down each path knowing everything is leading you toward the person you are meant to be!
December 11
Everything you need is within. Go deep into your soul and let the light, the wisdom, the guidance and the love GROW!
December 10
Miracles don’t have to be larger than life, they don’t have to be earth shattering, and they don’t have to be life altering. They can come in all shapes and sizes, they can come in all forms and experiences. They often are sweet, simple surprises that can let you know the Universe is on your side. Pay attention to those little miracles, those small moments of synchronicity that grace your life. Appreciate them for the gifts that they are and you’ll find more coming your way!
December 9
December 8
Let your light shine bright for all to see. We need it now more than ever!
December 7
It is done to you as you Believe so believe with all your heart and soul. Believe with every fiber of your being. Believe that the Universe supports you. Believe the Universe has magic and miracles in store for you. Believe that good and more good is yours, that an ever increasing good is yours. Believe that good flows to you, good flows through you, good flows from you and that good multiples all around you. Believe with all that you are and it will be done! Believe!!
December 6
There are precious moments and hidden jewels awaiting your discovery and your appreciation. Hold on to them, they really are the big things.
December 5
December 4
Begin your day grounding yourself in the vibration of unconditional love and from that place move through your day.
December 3
The trees need the sun; plants need water; animals need oxygen; the earth needs the sky. We need the sun, plants, water, oxygen, animals, the earth, and we also need each other. No person is an island.
It’s okay to reach out to another. It’s okay to ask for help. You gain the benefit of another’s knowledge, you give someone an opportunity to help and you continue the beautiful cycle of reciprocity. We are all connected and we all have something to share with one another. We can take each other and the collective consciousness higher by sharing our abilities and our needs.
December 2
Surrender to the guidance from within for your soul knows the way!
December 1
With so much darkness in the world be a beacon of Light! Too many have lost their way and need direction. Shine your Light so brightly that the path becomes easier to see.
November 30
You are more powerful than you know. You are more gifted than you know. You are more creative, more intelligent, more glorious and more loved than you know. Believe it in your heart. Know it in your mind. Declare it with your words. You have the power to create the life you dream of right now.
November 29
You got this!
November 28
Face your fears then conquer them and keep expanding your comfort zone. A brilliant future awaits you!
November 27
November 26
The beauty and wonder of you is your authentic self. The real you. The you that sometimes you may hide from the world. The you that may even scare you at times. The you that knows you are connected to Source/God always. The you that knows that God’s love is your love; that God’s peace is your peace, that God’s joy is your joy; that God’s abundance is your abundance. The you that knows there is only One, that we are all connected. The you that surrenders to what the Universe has in store for you. That is your authentic self.
Be true to the total expression of your authentic self for it is the reason you are here.
November 25
Become aware of your connection to the Divine, strengthen that connection and watch miracles fill your world.
November 24
Gratitude is food/drink for the soul, you can’t over eat or over indulge so eat up and drink up. It feels good and it’s good for you!
November 23
Try it! It really does change Everything! What are you grateful for today? Focus on those things that fill your heart with gratitude and watch more love, more joy, more of whatever you are grateful for and more sweet surprises come into your life!
November 22
Keep counting your blessings and there will be more to count.
November 21
Find gratitude for what you have and you will find happiness!
November 20
What you focus on expands so focus on the things that you are grateful for!
November 19
When you fill your being with gratitude miracles find their way to you!
November 18
Being jealous of other’s triumphs only holds you back from your own triumphs. Rejoice in the goodness other’s experience and that energy is sure to bring more good to you!
November 17
Allow the Energy that flows through you move you into more!
November 16
As you are right now!
November 15
Today I begin a brand new journey in my own life. I begin it with an open heart full of gratitude! What are you grateful for today? Shout it out loud!
November 14
Follow those secret yearnings deep inside your soul!
November 13
The color, the different shades, the subtle nuances, the degree of contrast, all the various aspects of you bring color to what makes you YOU! Be grateful for all of you!
November 12
Two people can have the exact same experience but give that experience very different meanings. Two people brought up in the same house can use how they were brought up as an excuse for a life of misery or as momentum to live the life of their dreams.
How we interpret the events in our life depends on our beliefs or on our model of the world. Is the cup half full or half empty to you? Do you focus on what you have or on what you don’t have? We are the ones that give meaning to the events in our life. We are making everything up as we go. How do you interpret what you experience in life? Does your interpretation serve your growth or limit you? Examine your beliefs, your model of the world and consider seeing things as an opportunity to grow and live the life of your dreams.
November 11
11-11-2018 (11). Numerology wise today is magical day. May the magic in the air fill your life with sweet surprises!
November 10
Begin and end each day by giving thanks for the hands that hold yours and for all the things that carry through life’s twists and turns! Give thanks for all the things in your life that make worth living!
November 9
Your internal guidance system comes from Source. When the channel is clear the reception is clear and you can see which way to go. Keep the channel open, keep your heart open, keep your reception clear so your soul can speak to you. Your soul is trying to guide you into more of who you are meant to be.
November 8
Life sometimes surprises us and sends us in different directions than we thought but trust that some day it will all make sense.
November 7
Remember who you are, love who you are. Through the good and the bad, through the ups and downs; Love all of you!
November 6
The Universe has magic and miracles in store for you. Be still, listen to your internal guidance and let the Universe work it’s Magic!!
November 5
Don’t worry about being like everyone else. Don’t worry about what other people may think. Don’t worry about doing what you think you are supposed to do. Let all that go. Just be you!
Your path is yours alone. Walk it tall, walk it proud, walk it the way that only you can. Be the unique expression of the Divine that is you. Be the glorious individual manifestation of the Most High that you are meant to be today and every day!
November 4
You matter! You add a new dimension, a new color and a new perspective to life. You are an intricate part of the whole picture, an intricate part of this glorious tapestry of life!
November 3
Keep growing!!
November 2
A wonderful way to connect with Source is to be in nature. Go for a walk and breathe in the fresh air and the wonder of this glorious planet we live on. Stop for a few moments; connect with the Creative Intelligence that was in the beginning is now and ever shall be; go into the stillness and the silence of your own being and allow the Light and Love of the Universe to flow through you.
Have a peaceful and blessed weekend!
November 1
What are you grateful for today?
October 31
October 30
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Byadmin December 9, 2016 March 18, 2022
Thought for the Day April 30 As the month of April ends and May begins open up to the changes of the seasons, the changes of the temperature, the changes of the scenery & the changes in you. Let the changes your heart wants to express come to fruition. Let the changes your soul wants…
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Here you can find out There ping pong balls recyclable? Yes, ping pong balls are recyclable. There are also some organizations that may take used ping pong balls to use for special events, however, these organizations are very scarce. To answer the first question, ping pong balls are typically made from celluloid or plastic. In fact, a typical ping pong ball is between two and 2.25 inches in diameter and has a mass of 0.14 ounces.
What are ping pong balls made of? Are Ping pong balls Recyclable?
How to recycle ping pong balls?
Why should we recycle Ping Pong Balls?
The benefits of recycling Ping Pong Balls
What happens when Ping Pong Balls are recycled?
Can Ping Pong Balls go into landfills?
What are ping pong balls made of? Are Ping pong balls Recyclable?
It is actually quite surprising that a ball with such a small size can weigh so much! This means that most ping pong balls are surprisingly heavy for their size. However, some custom-made ping pong balls have been created which weigh as little as 0.02 ounces, so there is some variety when it comes to the weight of these tiny instruments of table tennis.
As far as actual materials go, whether or not a ping pong ball is recyclable may be subject to debate. If you search “are pong balls recyclable” in Google, the result will be a mixture of answers regarding if they are recyclable or not. Some sources say that, because ping pong balls are typically made from celluloid or plastic, they are 100% recyclable. However, others state that while ping pong balls can technically be recycled, it would require their destruction which means that no one really does because there is not much use for them once they’ve been used up (meaning the balls would have to be melted down and re-molded).
See also Are Ping Pong and Table Tennis The Same Thing? | Complete Guide
You may check this also: How Heavy is a Ping Pong Ball? – An Exhaustive Guide
How to recycle ping pong balls?
One way to recycle your used ping pong balls is by sending them back to the manufacturer. However, many people don’t know what becomes of their worn-out ping pong balls for this reason. So if material recovery isn’t an option, then one must find another way to dispose of them properly. Below are some examples of how to do just that:
Option 1: Putting them in a recycling bin. If you already have a blue bin reserved for recyclable items at home or work, then simply place your used ping pong balls inside and take it outside once it’s full/you get a chance.
Option 2: Littering the ground. This is probably not the most environmentally friendly solution, but it’s certainly easy to do. Just open the trashcan in your kitchen/office/wherever you store garbage, remove one of the smaller bags inside, and throw in your ping pong balls (at least five or six) before sealing it back up.
Option 3: Flushing them down the toilet. This is only valid if your local water management board approves of this method. If you’re not sure, contact them directly using their website. It might be a good idea to hang onto used ping pong balls until you can talk with someone about its disposal.
*Please note that these are only suggestions on how to dispose of worn-out ping pong balls; they may not always be applicable in all circumstances.
Why should we recycle Ping Pong Balls?
Scientists estimate that there are over 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic debris, weighing 269,000 tons, currently afloat in our oceans.* Ping pong balls are typically made out of Poly-Ethylene Terephthalate (PET), which joins the ranks of other plastics that do not biodegrade. It is possible for these materials to disintegrate into smaller and smaller pieces, known as microplastics, but it could take thousands or even millions of years for this to happen.
See also How Many Ping Pong Balls Fit In A 747? | Volume
The effects of plastic pollution on marine life include habitat disruption, damage to vital organs like the heart and liver, reduced reproduction rates, and death. Aside from entering our food chain, toxins from plastics can build up in an organism’s fatty tissues over time – often resulting in death.
The benefits of recycling Ping Pong Balls
Not only is it possible to gain several new Ping Pong Balls from your old ones, but recycling also has benefits for the environment. Recycling prevents pollution by reducing the need to produce new materials that would otherwise be produced using man-made products or mined natural resources. This limits air and water pollution caused by incinerators, reduces the number of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, and conserves nonrenewable resources, which will become increasingly important as society’s demand for them grows in line with population numbers.
What happens when Ping Pong Balls are recycled?
When old Ping Pong Balls are sent off to be recycled, they are melted down and formed into pellets for use in manufacturing other plastic items like toys. The process is much the same as when plastic bottles are recycled to create new, sturdy products. The recycling process is much cheaper than creating new Ping Pong Balls from scratch in factories because it uses less energy. However, there is a small amount of waste produced in this process that can be harmful to the environment if not disposed of correctly.
See also Will Ferrell Ping Pong | Balls of Fury 2022
Can Ping Pong Balls go into landfills?
Recycling pays off because doing so prevents these plastics from ending up in our landfills, where they would take hundreds of years to decompose and release toxic chemicals like chlorine gas into the air. While recycling does produce some greenhouse gases due to the energy required at each step of the process, fewer emissions are released overall than when completely new materials are created by using raw materials or crude oil.
All in all, recycling is rapidly becoming the preferred method for waste management because it preserves our environment while continuing to provide us with the same materials we want and need. Recycling one ton of paper saves 17 trees, 2 barrels of oil, 3 cubic yards of landfill space, and 60 gallons of water. By recycling just one aluminum can, you save enough energy to run a television for three hours. So, the next time you play a game of Ping-Pong, don’t forget – when in doubt, recycle!
Are Ping Pong Balls Recyclable? Are Ping Pong Balls recyclable? Data shows that Yes! The average person uses about 500 million plastic bottles per year. However, it is estimated that only 1 out of 6 are recycled. This means the other 5 are disposed of in landfills or incinerators which can cause harmful pollutants. With so many people using plastic bottles, it can be hard to get rid of them all. So why not recycle them?
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• Says country has highest measles outbreak with more than 14,000 children infected, 60 killed in recent outbreak
• Country ready to rollout cervical cancer vaccine by August 2022, plans to introduce malaria jab, says UNICEF
• Only 19.3m of 111.7m persons targeted in Nigeria have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, says NPHCDA
Rekia Auwal was nine months old. Her parents were displaced from a remote village in Borno, after an attack by insurgents. Rekia died after having fever and skin rashes for days, without medical intervention.
Musa Ndanusa, six years old, native of Sabon Gari in Kano, cannot walk. He was crippled by the wild polio virus (WPV). Nnenna Oguwoke struggled to attain 52 years. She was diabetic and hypertensive. She died of complications arising from COVID-19.
Rekia, Musa and Nnenna belong to the over three million Nigerians that have never had a single dose of vaccine; while some lost their lives, others are maimed for life.
Rekia and Nnenna would have lived, if they were fully vaccinated against childhood preventable diseases and COVID-19. Musa, on his part, wouldn’t have lost the use of his limbs, if he had the oral polio vaccine or injectable polio vaccine.
COVID-19 vaccines are also now available to prevent and reduce the severity of infection. Indeed, vaccine preventable diseases are still the most common cause of childhood mortality, with an estimated three million deaths every year, mainly in Africa and Asia.
According to a study, titled, ‘Factors influencing childhood immunisation uptake in Africa: a systematic review’ and published in the journal BMC Public Health, an estimated 29 per cent deaths among children aged zero to 59 months were due to vaccine preventable diseases.
Immunisation is considered one of the most successful and cost-effective public health sustainable interventions for human beings against diseases. In fact, routine immunisation plays a key role to significantly reduce child mortality due to vaccine preventable diseases.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), immunisation has been estimated to prevent three million deaths, globally, every year. Between the years 2000 and 2016, a decrease of 84 per cent in the measles mortality rate was recorded worldwide due to measles vaccination. Likewise, a reduction in pertussis mortality was also recorded globally from 390,000 deaths in 1999 among children younger than five years of age to 160,700 deaths in 2014 as a result of vaccine effectiveness against pertussis.
According to the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI), every child in Africa must receive one dose of Bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG), Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV0) and Hepatitis B Vaccine (HBV1) at birth, Penta1 & OPV1 at six weeks of age, Penta2 & OPV2 at 10 weeks of age, Penta3 & OPV3 at 14 weeks of age and measles and yellow fever at nine months of age.
DESPITE the benefits of childhood immunisation, routine vaccination coverage for all recommended EPI vaccines has remained poor in Africa with countries such as Nigeria remaining at 31 per cent, 2018; Ethiopia (43 per cent; 2019), Uganda (55 per cent; 2016) and Ghana (57 per cent; 2014). The coverage is higher in countries such as Tanzania and Kenya, where in 2016 and 2014, it was 75 and 78 per cent, respectively.
Diphtheria Pertussis and Tetanus (DPT3) coverage is also low in Africa. Nigeria has attained only 50 per cent coverage.
Chief of Health and Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV) /Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) at the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), Eduardo Celades, in a chat with The Guardian: “We are seeing over the last few years that the country has improved by two per cent a year, however, this isn’t enough. We need to really accelerate the growth. What has happened over the years, the COVID pandemic that has of course affected vaccination and most especially the capacity of our weak in-house system to deliver the services that the people need. So it is like we are seeing progress but there is insufficiency.”
Celades added: “Also, what we are seeing is the huge inequalities within the different regions and within the states. For example, in Sokoto in the North only 11 per cent of the children are immunised against Penta 3, the national average is 56 per cent so this is a huge gap. Same way, we compare for example the North West with the South East. In North West the coverage of Penta 3, which is the best vaccine we use, as proxy for vaccination coverage is 29 per cent, which is one out of every three children is vaccinated. In the South East, it is the opposite; it is 81 per cent. So inequality is a big problem.”
The UNICEF chief said another big issue that the country is facing is the large number children that have never received a single vaccine and Nigeria has one of the highest number of seed adult children and this is not only the North West, it is also in the big urban cosmopolis like in Lagos and “for us this is one of the priorities we should be focusing from equity lenses.”
On what can be done to locate these children that have never received a single vaccine, Celades said: “Many of them are in areas affected by violence and the percentage of such children is 29, which is very massive. It is roughly three million children. The issues are that they live in conflict-affected areas in the North East and those are the poor rural areas. We believe we need to capture these data to be able to track these children. Informed data to be able to get targeted support like what we are trying to do with NPHCDA and as well as the Federal Ministry of Health to really identify these children and do a full outreach to get to the places where people normal don’t get access to healthcare.”
He, however, said Nigeria has been making progress in vaccination. “Demonstration coverage that we have on Penta 3, which is the best indicator we have is 56 per cent compared to 2018 that we had 50 per cent,” Celades said.
A pentavalent vaccine, also known as a 5-in-1 vaccine, is a combination vaccine with five individual vaccines conjugated into one.
Pentavalent vaccine frequently refers to the 5-in-1 vaccines protecting against diphtheria (DPT), tetanus, whooping cough, hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenzae type B, which is generally used in middle- and low-income countries, where polio vaccine is given separately.
Another pentavalent vaccine is the 5-in-1 vaccine that protects against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, and Haemophilus influenza type B, which was used in the United Kingdom (UK) until 2017, following which a 6-in-1 vaccine became available containing the additional protection against hepatitis B.
On the benefits of routine immunisation and diseases that can be prevented from routine immunisation, Celades said: “Since vaccines were invented almost a hundred years ago, it is the most effective way to save lives and at this moment the country has 14 different vaccine-preventable diseases. So with the COVID-19, we have four antigens for COVID-19. So many diseases can be prevented like measles, which at the moment Nigeria has the highest outbreak. More than 14,000 children has measles in this current outbreak and I think more than 60 children have passed away due to this disease, which would have been completely prevented with measles vaccine; the same with Yellow fever, cholera, polio, typhoid vaccine. Penta has five different antigens; so we have different diseases that can be prevented by vaccination, which are cheap, most effective, and safe. For us, we believe vaccinating your children is a way to show respect for your neighbours, your community and to show love to the children because you are protecting them and the next generation. I can’t think of any other public health intervention that is more effective than vaccination.”
Why mothers are not disposed to immunisation
SPEAKING on reason many mothers are not disposed to taking their children for immunisation despite the benefits, the UNICEF Chief said: “I would say the biggest problem we are facing in Nigeria is having a functional primary healthcare system and easy access, especially for children. We don’t have enough doctors and nurses in primary healthcare centres. The country has 110,000 nurses but we need four to five times more to be able to deliver the services that we need. For doctors, we have about 25,000 in the country and we need three times more than the present number. We need good financing for the healthcare system, we need good data, we need good supply logistics, good call chain etc. We need good access for everyone; it is safe for him or her to visit, it is affordable etc. Only when you have a good service delivery and good access then you have vaccine access. But I don’t think it is a problem for only children; COVID-19 is a new vaccine for adult and that survey is showing that more than 60 per cent of Nigerians are yet to receive the COVID vaccine if it is readily available for them. So, I don’t think that is the main issue but I believe our efforts need to be addressed to strengthen the distribution.”
On what can be done to ensure that those children that missed out on vaccination during the lockdown are immunised, Celades said NPHCDA and the Federal Ministry of Health are working on this with the support of UNICEF and WHO and other partners are trying to do some campaigns to reach the children they missed during the lockdown. What they are doing, he said is to integrate the campaigns. “So on the June 17, an integrated company of measles, yellow fever and COVID-19 is going to be launched in three states- Gombe, Lagos and Ogun. In October more than 10 campaigns would be integrated as planned, including measles and COVID etc. Many people missed opportunities over the past couple of years, so we need to recover the time that we lost so that these children wouldn’t remain unvaccinated. So, we are trained to intensify routine immunisation but also to do campaign to reach the ones that haven’t been reached and we believe with this approach, measles vaccine for example would be offered to the children and as well COVID vaccine would be offered to the caregivers. That would be a way forward to reaching children,” he said.
On doubts over safety of vaccines, he said: “Of course, vaccines can have adverse effects but most of the cases are very mild. Maybe you can have a little fever after a shot of vaccine, very mild. What we know is that vaccine has the potential capacity to save lives and the positive effects outweigh side effects.”
A PUBLIC health specialist and Executive Director (ED)/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NPHCDA, Dr. Faisal Shuaib, said: “Immunisation is important because vaccines are used to confer immunity against specific diseases or infections. Vaccines train the body’s immune system to develop antibodies against diseases and strengthen the immune system. It works to stimulate the immune system to develop defence mechanisms (antibodies) to prevent severe infections.
“Immunisation saves lives. It protects an individual, the family and the community from becoming ill with unpleasant and serious infectious diseases, which have a risk of complications and long-term side effects. If vaccinated persons get infected, they do not usually come down with severe infection or illness. The more people are vaccinated, the fewer otherswill be infected, and the less widely a disease can spread. Immunisation also helps to protect future generations by eradicating diseases. So, many people are being vaccinated to try and wipe out as many infectious diseases as we can everywhere in the world, though new infectious diseases are appearing around the world.”
Shuaib, who served as the Incident Manager/Head of the Nigeria Ebola Emergency Operation Centre during the July – October 2014 outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease, said there has been very significant improvement in the routine immunisation performance in the country.
Shuaib, in addition to serving as a Senior Technical Advisor to the Minister of State for Health on Immunisation and Polio Eradication, was also the Chief Operations Officer/Deputy Incident Manager of the National Polio Emergency Operation Centre.
He said there has been an improvement in average national Penta3 routine immunisation coverage from 33 per cent in 2017 (Multiple Cluster Indicator Survey/National Immunisation Cluster Survey – MICS/NICS) to 71 per cent in 2019 (SMART Survey) and 56.4 per cent (2021/2022 MICS/NICS) in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic. Shuaib said the Global Vaccine Alliance (GAVI) High-Level Mission to Nigeria in February 2022 applauded this performance in the routine immunisation. He said a lot of efforts are ongoing through the National Emergency Routine Immunisation Coordination Centre (NERICC) to sustain the achievements made.
For the COVID-19 vaccination, Shuaib said about 31,286,532 (24.4 per cent) of the 111.7 million persons targeted in Nigeria have so far received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccines; 15,214,480 have received second dose and 19,272,722 (17.2 per cent) have been fully vaccinated, as at June 4, 2022. And, this performance is higher than the less than 10 per cent Nigeria COVID-19 vaccination being reported by WHO Global.
Shuaib said the coverage is below the earlier set COVID-19 vaccination target of 50 per cent by June 2022 for several reasons. “First, were the difficulty in getting adequate vaccines at the commencement of the vaccination exercise in 2021 and then the misinformation, myths and rumours about COVID-19 disease and vaccination pre- COVID-19 vaccines rollout in the country. Again, most of the vaccines available in Nigeria are two doses vaccines when some other countries are using the single dose vaccine and so no challenge of getting them to return for a second dose. The main challenge the team is facing now is the believe by most Nigerians that there is no more COVID-19 and the perceived low risk of the disease in the country; and this is contributing to the current hesitancy and resistance to the COVID-19 vaccination,” he said.
He said there has been recent engagement with the Global Manufacturers of the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine and there are very strong commitments for the vaccine to be delivered to Nigeria for introduction in 2023. “So, HPV vaccines will be introduced in phases into the routine immunisation schedule for girls at nine years from May 2023,” Shuaib said.
Shuaib said adverse event following immunisation (AEFI) is a medical occurrence following immunisation, and not all persons have AEFI after vaccination. He said it is the body’s response while stimulating the immune system to produce antibodies that help to fight diseases.
The public health physician said common AEFI seen following COVID vaccination and most other routine vaccines for children and adults, include the following: mild fever, headache, mild body weakness, cough, heaviness of the arm, pain at site of injection, swelling at the site of injection. He said these usually resolve within 48 hours after administration of the vaccine. Severe reactions following immunisation are extremely rare.
The public health physician said there might be adverse effects following immunisation, just as may be observed after taking some other drugs. He, however, said from research, the AEFIs associated with all brands of vaccination is usually very minimal and severe reactions are very rare. “It is not possible to predict every individual who might have a mild or serious reaction to a vaccine, although there are a few contraindications to some vaccines. By following contraindications the risk of serious adverse effects can be minimised,” Shuaib said.
Director of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (ACDC), an institution of the African Union (AU), Dr. John Nkengasong, said only about 15 per cent of the population in Africa has been fully vaccinated. “Because of this, the trajectory of the pandemic on the continent remains unpredictable and uncertain. With low vaccination rates, we run the risk of being hit by new variants that may severely impact the effectiveness of vaccines globally and limit people’s lives once again,” he said.
WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, said: “Having been beset by poor access to doses, costly delays and shortfalls, Africa’s COVID-19 vaccination progress so far is no mean feat.
“Africa’s youthful population has helped the continent weather the COVID-19 pandemic. While protecting young people at high-risk of COVID-19 paramount, focusing efforts on vaccinating older people, health workers and other vulnerable populations will ensure we stay a step ahead of the virus.”
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| 18,174 |
Where do we go from here?
9 May 1987
[see also Sri Sabaratnam:Revisited - Nadesan Satyendra, 17 July 1999]
"...Let us begin by first recognising that the responsibility for the absence of unity amongst us, must lie with each one of us - it must lie with each Tamil without exception and by the same token, it is only, we, who together can help to set the matter right. But unity cannot be built by rhetoric. It cannot be achieved by oratory. It cannot be achieved by moaning about its absence. Neither will unity be achieved by murdering those with whom we disagree. Nor again by assassinating the character of those who differ from us.
Unity will grow only around reason. Unity will grow when each one of us engage ourselves, not in endless talk, but in work in support of the Thimpu declaration - a declaration which as we have seen, was the expression of the unanimous will of the Tamil Liberation movement. As we engage ourselves in that work, we will further our understanding of the nature of the struggle in which we are engaged. As we further our understanding, we will also see the need to interact honestly and openly with each other...
Let us recognise that there may be influences which may be inimical to the interests of the Tamil people which may infiltrate our movement, but the surest safeguard is not secrecy but the scrutiny of a fearless reason and a movement which is at all times rooted in our people. Let us not be afraid to reason with each other to unite: let us unite around reason."
Let us ask ourselves some basic questions - what is the nature of the struggle in which we are engaged?...
The Tamil national struggle is not the struggle of 'somebody out there' - it is a struggle which concerns each one of us...
There is a need for us to understand the nature and content of Sinhala nationalism as well...
Sinhala chauvinism has fed on the latent fear of the Sinhala people of the Tamils of neighbouring Tamil Nadu...
Demand for the recognition of the Tamil nation cannot be separated from its socialist and egalitarian base...
The armed struggle of the Tamil people is not taking place in the stratosphere...
We need to look at the Indian Ocean region as a strategic arena in the larger world context...
The fundamental premise of India's foreign policy is to deny any intermediary role to extra regional powers in the affairs of South Asia...
The way in which big powers intervene in the affairs of smaller powers...
What is to be done?...
We are met here today to honour the memory of Sri Sabaratnam, the leader of the Tamil Eelam Liberation Organisation who together, with a few hundred other brave and honest Tamils gave their lives an year ago, in the cause of the Tamil people.
Sri Sabaratnam stood tall for that which he believed to be right. In his death as in his life, he followed in the footsteps of Nadarajah Thangathurai and Selvarajah Yogachandran, who too were murdered, whilst engaged in a struggle to free their people. The poignant words of Nadarajah Thangathurai uttered from the dock in a musty court house in Colombo, a few months before his murder in July 1983, retain their eloquence and significance today. He said:
'Truth does not require platforms and spotlights. It has its own power. We are not persons who suffer from some mental disease. We are not lovers of violence. We are honest fighters belonging to an organisation which is struggling to liberate a people'.
As I stand before you today, I am reminded of my first meeting with Nadarajah Thangathurai. It was at the high security Panagoda Prison, in early 1982, a few months before I commenced his defence at the trial at the Colombo High Court for offences under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. I remember telling him that whilst I would defend him to the best of my ability, it was unlikely that a Sinhala Judge acting within the framework of the Sri Lankan judicial system would do that which was fair and that it was inevitable that he would be convicted on the basis of alleged confessions, even though they had been extracted by torture.
I told him that if he had retained me in the belief that my appearance on his behalf would lead to an acquittal then I felt that I should declare to him at the very beginning that I for one did not believe that I would be able to achieve such a result. I shall always remember Nadarajah Thangathurai's response. It was immediate and spontaneous. He spoke in Tamil:
'When we first involved ourselves in this struggle, we knew that a situation such as the present one may arise - please do not feel sad about this'.
It was a clear and straightforward response from some one who I shall always regard as a clear, straightforward and honest human being. The second accused at the trial was Selvarajah Yogachandran, sometimes known as Kuttimuni. And there was yet another accused who was not in the dock but who was tried in absentia at that trial - and his name was Sri Sabaratnam.
And so it was that Nadarajah Thangathurai, Selvarajah Yogachandran, and Sri Sabaratnam were content to utilise the court arena provided for them by Sri Lankan state, not so much to defend themselves but to defend the Tamil liberation struggle and place the true facts of that struggle before a wider public, both in Ceylon and abroad.
On the first day of the trial, the objection was taken on behalf of Nadarajah Thangathurai, Selvarajah Yogachandran, Sri Sabaratnam and the other accused that the Colombo High Court did not have jurisdiction to hear a case about an incident that had happened in Thamil Eelam - and the accused refused to plead guilty or not guilty to the charges framed against them.
Today, all those accused are dead - murdered in cold blood and with deliberation - and perhaps, it is not out of place for me reiterate something which I had said at the end of that trial of Nadarajah Thangathurai, Selvarajah Yogachandran and Sri Sabaratnam, in January 1983, in the High Court of Colombo. My words were, and I repeat them today:
"In relation to my clients I would state this publicily and for the record. I have felt humbled in the presence of persons from my own community, who have been willing to give that which is the most precious thing that humans can give - their lives - for the liberation of their people - and before them I bow my head."
And, this evening, in all humility, I bow my head again, in memory of Nadarajah Thangathurai, Selvarajah Yogachandran and Sri Sabaratnam and thousands of other Tamils, belonging not only to the Tamil Eelam Liberation Organisation but also to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, the Eelam Peoples Revolutionary Liberation Front, the Eelam Revolutionary Organisation, and several other groups and who have willingly given their lives during the past several years - given their lives so that reason may prevail - and given their lives so that those of us who may have been fortunate enough to survive, may also stand up for that which is right .
It was the rejection of reason by successive Sri Lankan governments, during the past 40 years and more that has also constituted the rationale for the armed struggle of the Tamil people in the defence of their basic and fundamental rights: basic and fundamental rights which were crystalised in the four point Thimpu declaration in August 1985:
1. recognition of the Tamils of Eelam as a nation.
2. recognition of the existence of an identified homeland for the Tamils of Eelam.
3. recognition of the right of self determination of the Tamil nation.
4. recognition of the right to citizenship and the fundamental rights of all Tamils who live in the island of Ceylon.
The Thimpu declaration served to give direction to our national struggle not only because it was the expression of the unanimous will of all the liberation organisations engaged in the struggle but also because it was founded on reason.
But that was in August 1985. Today, we are in May 1987. And during the past 18 months and more, the negotiating process that was initiated at Thimpu has slithered along the slippery path of expediency and in the meantime more and more lives continue to be lost. And so we ask: what is it that we, as Tamils, should do? We ask: where do we go from here?
As always, it is reason that must show the way. To change anything we need to understand - and we understand anything only to the extent that we are able to change it.
Theory and practice are the two legs on which we need to walk - theory informs practice and practice will refine our theory. And let us recognise that reason will not emerge in secret conclave behind closed doors. Reason will not emerge from a conspiracy of silence about the issues that really matter. There are ofcourse, those who respond to any attempt to openly examine the issues that confront us in a rational way by saying: do not rock the boat. And they do have a point. We must not rock the boat. At the same time, it is also true that we are all in the same boat and the direction that the boat should take must surely have something to do with the concerns of all of us as a people.
A national struggle is just that: the struggle of a nation. It is not the struggle of any one individual or group. After all, that is also what democracy is about. The democratisation of the Tamil national struggle will not weaken it - it will strengthen it. But democracy is not something that can be 'given' to a people - it is something that we, as a people, must build for ourselves.
We cannot mobilise our strength on the basis of a mindless acceptance of that which we know to be wrong. People are not fools. Where they see wrong, their support lacks commitment. It does not endure. Where they see no direction, they keep away. There is apathy. Let us not be afraid to learn from the mistakes that we have made. There is need for self criticism. We need to have the strength to do that. The future cannot be built by denying the lessons of the past.
Experience is a strict instructor and we must learn from our mistakes. At the sametime, let us not believe that post mortems are an end in themselves. They are useful only to the extent that they help to guide our actions in the future. It is only those who are without sin, who can cast first stone. A struggle for freedom is not a sectarian search for revenge. We can go forward only by calmly but firmly reasoning with each other and by taking care to keep the channels of communication open.
Let us, in all humility, reason with each other because it is only around reason that unity will come. It is in this spirit that I would like to share with you some thoughts this evening, so that we may think together about some of the issues that confront the Tamil people today - think together - because as I have said, there is a need for more and more Tamils to interact with each other, honestly and sincerely, and with humility - a humility born out of the knowledge that no one is the font of all wisdom.
Let us ask ourselves some basic questions - what is the nature of the struggle in which we are engaged?...
Let us ask ourselves some basic questions. What is the nature of the struggle in which we are engaged? Is it a struggle for education, security, employment and economic well being or is it a struggle to preserve one's language and one's culture? Or is it both? Can one achieve one without the other? And if it is a national struggle, are the Sinhala people too engaged in a national struggle? Is there a difference between our nationalism and their nationalism?
Again, will our struggle be allowed to take its course without the involvement of international influences and what are those influences? What is the international dimension of our struggle and what is India's role?
Most importantly, what is the contribution that each one of us can make? Our thinking must be related to that which each one of can do - otherwise we will be building castles in the air. The questions that I have asked are not new. Sometimes answers are given on a subjective basis - on the basis of something that President Jayawardene may have said yesterday and something which Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi may have said the day before. But whilst it is useful to pay attention to that which political leaders say, it is also important to recognise some of the structural features which influence and continue to influence their decisions. It seems to me that there is a need to look at some of these issues in greater depth.
The central issue of the struggle of the Tamils of Eelam is the demand to be recognised as a nation. But, what do we mean when we speak about the Tamil nation? What does it mean to us? Is it merely a nice word? Does the Tamil nation have anything to do with our own growth and existence? Is it some rarefied theoretical concept or is it something intimately related to our existence? If it is related to our existence, in what way is it related?
Is it related to our existence simply as an idea that we talk about - at seminars and on public platforms? Again, is it related to our existence because we become emotional about our language and our culture? Is that what nationalism is - a sentimentality? Or again is it that nationalism is merely a convenient vehicle for improving the economic conditions of our life?
Or is it that our national togetherness is a group identity which is related to all these three elements - our mind, our emotions and our physical existence - an identity which has grown through a process of opposition and differentiation spanning more than two thousand years? And, in the end, is not the demand for national self determination no less and no more than a demand for equality?
If we understand this, we may begin to recognise that national self determination is not some rarefied theoretical concept. It is when we are treated differently that we become different - it is when we are treated separately that we become separate.
More often than not, amongst a people, the idea of a nation emerges first in the more socially mobile because it is they who have immediate experience in their own lives of the lines that are drawn against their further growth, and it is they who are determined to change the structures which stand in the way of that growth. The demand for national self determination is concerned with the growth of each one of us and with the growth of our children and our children's children. To the extent that each one of us recognises this reality, to that extent it will increase the strength of our commitment to the struggle.
The Tamil national struggle is not the struggle of 'somebody out there' - it is a struggle which concerns each one of us...
The Tamil national struggle is not the struggle of 'somebody out there' - it is a struggle which concerns each one of us.
The political force of Tamil nationalism is rooted in the direct personal feelings and the material interests of large sections of the Tamil people. It is when we understand the nature and content of Tamil nationalism that we can interact amongst ourselves on a proper footing - and it is when we ourselves understand that we can also communicate our understanding to the external world.
The Tamil nation is a deep and horizontal togetherness - deep because it is rooted in the material conditions of existence of the Tamil people and horizontal because it prevails despite the inequalities amongst us.
It is a togetherness which has been moulded by suffering. Suffering is a great teacher. That was the lesson that was taught by Gautama, the Buddha. Our suffering appropriately enough in Buddhist Sri Lanka has served to educate us about our identity and cement our togetherness - that it did not matter whether we were Jaffna Tamils, or Colombo Tamils, or Batticaloa Tamils or Trincomalee Tamils or Badulla Tamils or Indian Tamils - that it did not matter whether we were so called 'high caste' Tamils or so called 'low caste' Tamils - that it did not matter whether we were public servants, professionals, teachers, students or farmers, employees or employers, well educated or ill educated, qualified or not - that which did matter to the environment in which we lived and to ourselves, was that we were Tamils. Distress has bound us together. Thus bound together, we have begun to find our strength.
There is a need for us to understand the nature and content of Sinhala nationalism as well...
But it is not enough for us to understand the nature and content of Tamil nationalism. There is a need for us to understand the nature and content of Sinhala nationalism as well. Indeed, as we understand one more, we understand the other better. Again nation-ness is not something peculiar to the Tamil people and the Sinhala people.
Nation-ness remains the most legitimate political value of our times. Ofcourse nations had a beginning. They will also have an end. It is in that sense that a nation is a historical category. Nations have not existed from the beginning of time. Neither will they continue to exist till the end of time.
A matured nationalism will lead to a greater internationalism in the years to come.
In Europe the growth of nations came in the wake of the Industrial Revolution. Where land was the dominant means of production, people tended to be tied to the land and they lived in communities separated by relatively large distances. The industrial revolution brought with it the steam engine and the railroad. It also brought with it the printing press. It also brought the need for markets for goods manufactured at relatively low cost in factories using not horsepower but steam and later electricity.
The growth of nations in Europe was linked to the breakdown of the feudal system and the emergence of the new capitalist economy. It was the new emerging bourgeoisie which provided the thrust for the growth of that nationalism. It was the 'national' bourgeoisie which provided leadership in the formation of nations in early Europe. All this amounts to traditional wisdom today.
But in the Indian subcontinent, Ceylon and elsewhere, within artificial state boundaries which served the interests of the colonial master, industrialisation was stifled and the local economies managed to provide agricultural commodities and raw material for the industrialising West. It was after independence that the countries of the Third World were faced with industrialising in competition with an already industrialised West.
The structural constraints of a dependent post colonial economy brought with it certain fundamental consequences. Richard Falk of the University of Princeton put it well:
"To participate actively in the world economy as a late comer, it is necessary to enter on terms that serve that wider market at the expense of the domestic population...the logic of the global market is such that a Third World country has little to offer other than commodity exports (that generally divert productive resources from the domestic economy) and cheap labour (that attracts foreign investment).
This cycle has dreadful political effects as well; the export compulsion capitalises agriculture at the expense of marginal peasants and domestic demand, while the investment compulsion both depresses real wages and represses the efforts of workers to resist. In such a context a Third World leader is necessarily alienated from his people, serving interests that are primarily external to those of his country..." [Richard Falk - The World Bank in the Phillipines, Institute of Food and Policy, San Francisco 1982]
Again, the smaller the country, the smaller is the market and therefore weaker is the national bourgeoisie - and the weaker the national bourgeoisie, the more dependent it becomes on the global market and those who influence it. In Ceylon, successive Sinhala leaders have become increasingly linked to the external global market forces and Sinhala chauvinism is the vehicle through which they have sought to bridge the ever widening gap between themselves and the Sinhala people.
Sinhala chauvinism has fed on the latent fear of the Sinhala people of the Tamils of neighbouring Tamil Nadu...
This chauvinism is an exaggerated and distorted Sinhala 'nationalism' which seeks to divert the attention of the Sinhala people from the problems of development within the structural constraints of a dependent post colonial economy. On the one hand it preaches Sinhala Buddhist nationalism. On the other hand it opens the economy, builds tourist hotels and encourages the growth of a non Buddhist culture. It is often caught in its own contradictions.
Successive Sinhala governments have sought to use the constitutional framework of a unitary state to perpetuate themselves in power by pandering to Sinhala chauvinism. The Sinhala political leadership has, through a series of legislative and administrative acts, ranging from disenfranchisement, and standardisation of University admissions, to discriminatory language and employment policies, and state sponsored colonisation of the homelands of the Tamil people, sought to establish its hegemony over the Tamils of Ceylon, as a way of securing its own power.
These legislative and administrative acts were reinforced from time to time with physical attacks on the Tamils of Ceylon with intent to terrorise and intimidate them into submission. It was a course of conduct which led eventually to the rise of Tamil militancy in the mid 1970s with, initially, sporadic acts of violence. The militancy was met with wide ranging retaliatory attacks on increasingly large sections of the Tamil people with intent, once again to subjugate them. In the late 1970s large numbers of Tamil youths were detained without trial and tortured under emergency regulations and later under the Prevention of Terrorism Act which has been described by the International Commission of Jurists as a 'blot on the statute book of any civilised country'.
In 1980 and thereafter, there were random killings of Tamils by the state security forces and Tamil hostages were taken by the state when 'suspects' were not found. Eventually, in the eyes of the Sri Lankan state all Tamils were prima facie 'terrorist' suspects. And in 1983, the Tamils were deprived of the effective use of their vote by an amendment to the Constitution which the International Commission of Jurists has declared to be a violation of the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights and which has rendered vacant the Parliamentary seats of the elected representatives of the Tamil people. And it is this 'democracy' which the Sinhala political leadership has sought to preserve by recourse to torture, extra judicial killings and by armed force.
Reason shows that Sinhala chauvinism has sought to feed on the latent fear of the Sinhala people of the Tamils of neighbouring Tamil Nadu and has sought to encourage the belief that a 'Sinhala identity' can be secured only at the expense of erasing the identity of the Tamils as a 'people' in Ceylon if not now, at least at some future date - a Sinhala chauvinism which has sought to subjugate the Tamils of Ceylon by attempting to 'assimilate' and 'integrate' the Tamil people into a so called 'Sri Lankan nationality' within the confines of an unitary state whose official language is Sinhala, whose official religion is Buddhism and whose official name was itself changed to the Sinhala 'Sri Lanka' without the consent of the Tamil people.
It is a Sinhala chauvinism which in pursuance of its objectives, has logically, sought to deny the existence of the Tamil nation in Ceylon and which, in addition, seeks to masquerade as a 'Sri Lankan nationalism' by denying the existence of the Sinhala nation as well.
Reason shows that nothing, exemplifies the intellectual dishonesty of the Sinhala political leadership more, than its continued denial of the existence of its own constituency namely, the Sinhala nation in Sri Lanka.
Demand for the recognition of the Tamil nation cannot be separated from its socialist and egalitarian base...
Here, it is important to recognise that Tamil nationalism, in common with many nationalisms of the Third World in the 20th century, differs in a significant way from the nationalisms of Europe in the 18th and 19th centuries. As we have seen, it was the new emerging bourgeoisie which provided leadership to the struggle of the nations of Europe. But, in the 20th century, the structural constraints of a dependent post colonial economy, have had their influence on the growth of the Tamil nation and the Sinhala nation in Sri Lanka.
On the one hand, a weak and dependent Sinhala bourgeoisie has mouthed the slogan of 'nationalism' to secure its continued hold on power, whilst serving interests on which its power was dependent - interests which were, at best, unconcerned about the true welfare of the Sinhala people.
On the other hand, so far as the Tamils were concerned, to the extent that they were excluded from even the meagre state power wielded by the Sri Lankan State, the demand for national self determination grew out of the response of a people who were denied their economic and fundamental rights.
It was a struggle of those who neither owned nor controlled the means of production and to whom the demand for equality was not only a demand for equal treatment vis a vis the Sinhala people but was also a demand for equal treatment amongst the Tamil people as well. The demand for the recognition of the Tamil nation cannot be separated from its egalitarian base. It is futile to ignore this hard reality.
It is idle to pretend that the national movements of the Third World may be led by the so called 'national bourgeoisie' - the bourgeoisie in Sri Lanka, whether Tamil or Sinhala, are too weak and too dependent to do anything but seek to survive by strengthening their ties with those external forces on whom their survival depends.
We said that we need to think together and understand the nature of the struggle in which we are engaged - and to me, the structural attributes of a post colonial economy appear fundamental to any proper understanding of the issues that confronts us.
The armed struggle of the Tamil people is not taking place in the stratosphere...
It is said that foreign policy is often the external manifestation of domestic institutions and power centres. The open economy brought with it trade, aid and Western influence into the Indian region. Here perhaps, is the point of departure to consider the international dimension of the Tamil national struggle.
The armed struggle of the Tamil people is not taking place in the stratosphere. It is taking place on the ground and in an increasingly small world, the territorial boundaries of states have become porous. No state is an island. And the struggle of the Tamil people has reached beyond the island of Ceylon. It is to the Indian region and the international arena that we must turn, if we are to further our understanding of the nature and content of the struggle in which we are engaged.
Crucial perhaps to an understanding of India's role is the circumstance that India is a large country with a large market and therefore a relatively large and powerful 'national' bourgeoisie which found expression through the voice of Indira Gandhi. Whilst such a national bourgeoisie may have links with industrialised West, at the sametime it has also sought to protect its own interest by import controls and licensing. India will not easily welcome an open economy because it also seeks to compete and it feels that it is large enough to succeed.
The fact that the Indian government has supported the struggle is self evident. The fact that such support has been a qualified support is also self evident. And by that I refer to the often repeated statement of Indian policy makers that they do not support the creation of a separate Tamil Eelam. If we are to understand the nature and extent of India's support, we must ask ourselves why it is that India has given its support to the Tamil struggle?
It is sometimes said that India has given its support to the Tamil struggle, on humanitarian grounds because of the presence of more than 100,000 refugees on its soil. These refugees are a burden on the Indian government and it is in India's interest to secure a settlement which would enable the refugees to return to Sri Lanka. Whilst this is undoubtedly one aspect of the matter, we need to ask ourselves whether the presence of a hundred thousand refugees in a country with a population of more than 700 million would by itself lead to that country committing its resources to support a militant movement.
Again, it is stated that India is concerned with the effect on Tamil Nadu where more than 50 million Tamils reside. This may well be a long term consideration. But at the same time, the Central Government may be mindful that overt support for a Tamil militant movement may well strengthen separatist tendencies within Tamil Nadu. Why then does India support the Tamil struggle?
We need to look at the Indian Ocean region as a strategic arena in the larger world context...
We need to look at the Indian Ocean region as a strategic arena in the larger world context. We live in a bipolar world dominated by two super powers, the United States and the Soviet Union. The nuclear deterrent has prevented direct conflict. But the confrontation continues by other means. In the 1950s, Europe was the arena of the cold war. In the 1980s, the Indian Ocean Region has become an important area for the confrontation between the super powers.
Professor L.William Dowdy, Chair of Military and Strategic Studies at Acadia University, Nova Scotia, Canada has remarked in a recent study:
"The British announcement in 1968 of withdrawal east of Suez by the end of 1971 marked the end of the era of British hegemony in the Indian Ocean. The super power competition that has escalated in the area since the British withdrawal can be seen in historical perspective as yet another attempt by external powers to establish a strategic condominium over the Indian Ocean...The interests of the United States revolve around the need to ensure access to Persian Gulf oil for itself and its allies...
"For years the United States, consistent with the Nixon Doctrine, depended upon local surrogates to defend its core political, economic and strategic interests in the Indian Ocean area. But the fall of the Shah in Iran and the presence of the Soviet Union in Afghanistan led Washington to develop a new approach to its security interests in the late 1970s. By actively seeking to enhance its access to naval, air and communication facilities throughout the area, by improving the operational capability of British owned Diego Garcia, by increasing the level of Indian Ocean naval deployments, and by creating the Rapid Deployment Force, the United States has substantially improved its capacity to project power into the Indian Ocean and has thereby declared its intention to take a more active role in the region's affairs.'
"Whether these military responses are appropriate to what many see as essentially political and social problems in the area, is however another matter. The fact is that the Secretary of State of the Reagan administration declared in 1981 that 'our broad strategic view of the Middle East recognises the intimate connections between the region and adjacent areas: Afghanistan and South Asia, northern Africa and the Horn, and the Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean'. Similarly the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs testified that 'our approach takes into account threats and developments in contiguous areas. We will carry out a coherent and consistent policy in full awareness of the interrelationships between tensions in different regions and theatres'"
It is not only the United States which is interested in the Indian Ocean Region. I quote again from Professor Dowdy:
"The Indian Ocean region is of importance to the security of the Soviet Union itself. On the one hand there is Moscow's preoccupation with the maintenance of stability on its borders and of a measure of influence, if not control over its neighbours. The Indian Ocean also offers a backdoor to China by which the Soviet Union could relieve military pressure along their common central Asian border if necessary.
"Thus like the United States, the Soviet Union has an abiding interest in maintaining sea lines of communication throughout the region. Moscow also sees the region as a possible operational area for American strategic missile submarines that should not be allowed to move about unchallenged. Finally, the Indian Ocean is an arena in which the Soviet Union competes for influence with the United States as part of a global search for strategic advantage. It has discovered that in addition to hunting submarines, warships can be used to reassure friends and to discourage potential enemies."
The fundamental premise of India's foreign policy is to deny any intermediary role to extra regional powers in the affairs of South Asia...
It is in this frame that India's own strategic policies must be considered. The fundamental premise of India's strategic policies can be simply stated - and that is to deny any intermediary role to extra regional powers in the affairs of South Asia.
Mr.Onkar Marwah, Joint Director, Asian Centre, Graduate Institute of International Studies, Geneva, has commented:
"The maritime corollary to (this premise of Indian strategic policy) has been to find a means by which extra regional powers could be persuaded to minimise their physical capacity to intervene with sizeable conventional military forces in South Asia...Since India perceived a reduction in super power presence as being equally beneficial to other states in the Indian Ocean Region, the Indian objective was generalised, packaged, and presented as the Indian Ocean zone of peace proposal...
"Containing 60% of the world's proven oil reserves, the region around the Persian Gulf is considered crucial to the future of the world's free market economies. After the Soviet lurch into Afghanistan, the region stretching from Pakistan to Egypt and from Kenya to Iran has been declared to be of vital importance to the West, in whose defence all means including force would be applied against ay aggressors - presumably the Soviet Union.
"Beginning in fact earlier than the Soviet presence in Afghanistan, the United States instituted policies to create a Rapid Deployment Force that could, in a relatively short time, introduce upwards of two hundred thousand troops, along with all ground, marine and air support, into any area of Southwest Asia…the emphasis has been on the rapid and massive application of American military power in the region...(and) the significant point for all the states of the northern and northwestern Indian Ocean rimland is that one or another from them, as befits need, is likely to be invited, or coerced into collaborative, antagonistic postures by the two superpowers.
"The organisational framework of the U.S. central command that covers the area, excluding India but including Pakistan in its jurisdiction, should be seen for what it is: a temporary exigency that merely affirms present U.S. confrontation objectives, not those that may arise in the future. The overriding reality is to be seen in the massiveness and permanence of US deployments in the Indian Ocean region. Further they can only increase, not decrease in the future. Assuming that the Soviets are not sitting idle, one must reckon with the certainty that they too are marshalling counter RDF airlift capacities and developing logistical supply lines to their own southern borders.
"At some future date, the Soviets may also seek a level of deployments in the Indian Ocean capable of neutralising the US sea based capabilities ...Indian policy makers assess that the cutting edge of the second cold war is going to be the Northern Indian Ocean and that India is perilously close to the area of contention...Given Western premises for action, Indian analysts realise the importance that the Indian Ocean region has assumed in American defense planning as a function of the global confrontation with the Soviet Union.
"They therefore view the current level of forward deployments as only the beginning of a much more massive projection of power that will continue to be fleshed out, improved and honed for the rest of this century. Further it is felt that Diego Garcia by itself will prove insufficient for burgeoning US needs and capabilities. Other Diego Garcias will be needed and therefore sought... (and) the states of the area will have to contend with all the blandishments, pressures and interventionisms that need is likely to entail...In certain respects (however) this inexorable turn in American policies contains the seeds of its own defeat. The Soviets, safe behind their own borders, could, and probably will, adopt low cost non confrontational tactics that continually bait the Americans and engage them in interventions.
"With every intervention, implied or real, the American exposure will increase and anti Americanism will rise. The possible use of surrogate troops instead of their own would only partially deflect the increase in hostility. More likely, the surrogate troops would themselves, along with the home state, become the focus of resentment. Indeed one might surmise that based on their current and evolving pattern of strategic engagement, the prospects for achievement of long term American objectives in the area have been rendered more rather than less difficult...
"But (another) anxiety among Indian policy makers relates to the expected search by the Soviets for their own Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean region. The effort if made, will be directed among islands and island states in the western Indian Ocean. That puts states such as the Malagsay Republic, Mauritius, the Seychelles and the Maldives on notice against interventions, coups d'etat, bribery and coercion from both superpowers - one searching for a base and the other seeking pre-emption...
"And a final set of dangers is seen to arise in systemic form. With their proximate power and presence in the Indian Ocean Region and the varied incentives to control and to rationalise the situation to their respective advantages, both the superpowers will be prey to invitations for support in the internecine quarrels of the region.
"As prospective losers seek one super power patron, their adversaries will invariably run to the other superpower. This happens even now, but the difference will be that with the nearness of their capabilities, the involvements will be deeper, longer and more provocative in exacerbating the local conflicts. It is feared for instance that in addition to facilities in Pakistan, the United States may also be in search of bases for its RDF in Sri Lanka (Trincomalee naval installations) and Bangaladesh (Chittagong harbour).
"Such moves, if undertaken, would create immediate negative repercussions in India-Sri Lanka and India-Bangladesh relations. India's hardened reactions would complicate the settlement of the Tamil problem in Sri Lanka and it would make more difficult a settlement on the issue of illegal emigration from Bangladesh into the Assam province of India."
Clearly, the primary Indian objective will be to prevent the fall out from any of the possible super power actions from affecting India's own economic development, political stability and flexibility of choices.
The way in which big powers intervene in the affairs of smaller powers...
Let us recognise that these are not the day dreams of academics in Universities.
The way in which big powers intervene in the affairs of smaller powers is brought out in a recent book by President Carter's former National Security Adviser Brzezinski. He writes that on the occasion of Chinese leader Deng's first visit to the United States in January 1979 -
"I informed the President that Deng told Vance and me that China approved of our decision to support the Shah in Iran, that in the Chinese view the United States should be more active in strengthening Pakistan, and - somewhat ominously - that Deng wished a private meeting with the President on Vietnam.
I sensed from the tone in which Deng asked for this that we would be hearing something significant, especially given mounting indications that the Chinese would not sit back idly as the Vietnamese continued their military occupation of Cambodia. when we sat down together in the Oval office, I had a general sense of what was coming...
None the less, there is a difference between anticipating a situation and actually experiencing it. There was something grave and very special in the calm, determined and firm way in which Deng Xiaoping presented the Chinese case. China, he said, had concluded that it must disrupt Soviet strategic calculations and that 'we consider it necessary to put a restraint on the wild ambitions of the Vietnamese and to give them an appropriate limited lesson'.
Without detailing at this stage what the lesson specifically would entail, he added that the lesson would be limited in scope and duration. He then calmly diagnosed for us various possible Soviet responses, indicating how China would counter them. He included among the options 'the worst possibility', adding that even in such a case China would hold out. All he asked for was 'moral support' in the international field from the United States".
So it was that socialist China invaded socialist Vietnam in February 1979 - a twenty day invasion to 'teach Vietnam a lesson.'US support in the international arena helped to bring China and the United States closer. We need to bear in mind that whilst a tilt by Sri Lanka towards the United States may concern India, a tilt by India towards the Soviet Union will be a matter of concern to both the United States and China.
When I speak of 'India', I am reminded of something that an Indian who works for a human rights Organisation in Geneva once said to me. He said 'You know, the current joke is that in India, the upper middle class and big business are pro Western, the bureaucrats are pro Soviet and the revolutionaries are pro Chinese - and so, to which India do you refer?" The actions of Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's government can be properly understood only in the context of the interplay of these different forces within the Indian political frame.
Sufficient, perhaps, has been said to set some of the parameters relevant to Indian foreign policy objectives in relation to the Tamil struggle. These parameters were not unknown to Sri Sabaratnam. It was in August 1985, before I went to Thimpu, that Sri Sabaratnam said to me in Tamil:
"There are two types of power. One is 'Thongura' power where you hang on to some body else and seek to derive power from them. The other is the power that accrues to you when you serve your people. Thongura power is not power - because with it, you can only help yourself, you cannot help your people. The only true power is that which comes from your own people."
Sri Sabaratnam, spoke as the leader of an organisation which had received military assistance from the Indian Government, but who was also mindful of the serious limitations of being the recipient of such help.
What is to be done?...
It is appropriate therefore, that on the anniversary of Sri Sabaratnam's death, we should give some thought to some of the basic issues that confront the Tamil national struggle today. The way forward is clear. We need to build on the platform of the Thimpu declaration. We need to understand, and bring that understanding to others that the Thimpu declaration sets out a principled framework for the negotiating process and that it is on the basis of the Thimpu declaration alone that justice can be secured.
We need to understand, and bring that understanding to others, that there can be no peace without justice. And above all else, that which is foremost in many Tamil minds today, is the pressing and urgent need for unity because in unity lies strength and today, we as a people need that strength. We need to speak with one voice in order that we may be heard. A divisive cacophony will influence no one. But how do we bring about unity?
In 1902, some 15 years before the overthrow of the Czar, Lenin wrote:
"All without exception now talk of the importance of unity, of the necessity for gathering and organising but in the majority of cases what is lacking is a definite idea of where to begin and how to bring about this unity."
These words of Lenin, may be of some relevance to all of us who are engaged in the Tamil Liberation struggle. Let us recognise that absence of unity is not something peculiar to the struggle of the Tamil people.
There are some amongst us who mourn about the divisive nature of the Tamil people. They moan that each one of us is too much of an individualist - too full of himself. And they usually end up by saying with self pity that 'this is the trouble with us Tamils'.
To moan in this way, is to be defeatist. It is also a convenient way of avoiding the difficulty of facing up to the issue and doing something about it. In a sense, it is also to be racist - because to moan in this way is to ascribe 'divisiveness' as a racial characteristic of the Tamil people. The Tamil people are no more divisive than those who belong to any other nation.
The differences in approach that exist amongst us is only a sign that our struggle is in the process of maturing. Divisions have existed at various stages in all struggles and Lenin's words are a reflection of the divisions that existed in the struggle against the Czar. And so my fellow Tamils, let us not moan. Let us not be diffident. We are not without hope. Let us not cry helplessly. We are not helpless. Let us ask what is it that each one of us can do to bring about unity. Again it is reason that must show us the way.
Let us begin by first recognising that the responsibility for the absence of unity amongst us, must lie with each one of us - it must lie with each Tamil without exception and by the same token, it is only, we, who together can help to set the matter right. But unity cannot be built by rhetoric. It cannot be achieved by oratory. It cannot be achieved by moaning about its absence. Neither will unity be achieved by murdering those with whom we disagree. Nor again by assassinating the character of those who differ from us.
Unity will grow only around reason. Unity will grow when each one of us engage ourselves, not in endless talk, but in work in support of the Thimpu declaration - a declaration which as we have seen, was the expression of the unanimous will of the Tamil Liberation movement. As we engage ourselves in that work, we will further our understanding of the nature of the struggle in which we are engaged. As we further our understanding, we will also see the need to interact honestly and openly with each other.
The resources of the Tamil people are three fold: the Tamils of Eelam, the Tamils of Tamil Nadu and the Expatriate Tamil Community. There is a need to mobilise all three resources. Again each one of us cannot do same thing. To each according to his ability. In the words of the Gita - to each according to his Dharma - his or her way. Can we help in this process? We can give our time or our money or both. What else can we give?
There is a need for us to interact and there is a need for us to set up appropriate institutional fora where such interaction may be furthered. Let us recognise that there may be influences which may be inimical to the interests of the Tamil people which may infiltrate our movement, but the surest safeguard is not secrecy but the scrutiny of a fearless reason and a movement which is at all times rooted in our people. Let us not be afraid to reason with each other to unite: let us unite around reason.
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Click for links to complete image scans. The watershed between the two documents is Activision's 1986 acquisition of Infocom.
These scans were posted by Jason Scott as part of the research he's done for his upcoming Get Lamp documentary.
I don't have a lot to add to the observations in the GSW column. Zork 1 was the biggest hit, and stayed strong throughout the company's existence. Hitchhiker's Guide was their second biggest game; then Zork 2, Deadline, and Zork 3. (But the Zork sequels never did half as well as the original -- a pattern echoed, for example, by the Myst series a decade later.)
I am surprised by the relative weakness of Sorcerer and Spellbreaker -- the latter was hit by nasty stock returns in 1986. (Was there some marketing or distribution screwup there? A lot of the numbers in the '86 column look too small, even assuming the report was written partway through the year.) Contrariwise, Cutthroats was a bigger hit than I ever realized. Probably my biases towards fantasy and against "mundane" fiction are showing. Of Infocom's later games, Wishbringer, Leather Goddesses, and Beyond Zork were the strongest -- but Zork 1 and HHGG just kept on selling.
And then there's Cornerstone, whose story I need not tell.
Are these the numbers I should be trying to beat when I launch my commercial IF career into triumph? Heck, I don't know. Probably not. Even comparing the sales numbers from 1981, 1985, and 1989 is somewhat apples to pomelos, given the enormous expansion of the computer game market over that era. Today's market makes 1989 look like a grape -- and then it's split and split again (consoles, casual gaming, MMO gaming...) and merged with a dozen other industries (movies, cell phones, advertising...) If I imagine a successful IF career today, I see something that runs between casual gamers and reading/blogging devotees. (Yes, folks, people read on the Internet.) Hasn't happened yet, no. I'll let you know.
on September 22, 2008 No comments:
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
I noticed a few months ago -- I guess when the E3 PR wave was cresting -- that a new Silent Hill game was coming. Also a Prince of Persia game, and a Tomb Raider game, and now a God of War game, and this "Mirror's Edge" thing looks pretty slick, and it was about then that I realized that I was going to wind up buying myself a PS3 this Consumptimass.
I had tried to avoid it. I have a PS1 and a PS2, but when Sony started piling on the screw-you features (I am not your blu-ray sales rep) I said "You know what? I'll pay a third as much, and ride out this generation of consoles on the Wii. The decent games will be cross-platform anyhow."
As it as turned out, Tomb Raider was cross-platform. Everything else quietly receded into the distance. I played a lot of PC adventure games.
So, okay, I'm getting a PS3. But I haven't been paying attention to the market. Two years' worth of games came out, and I don't know which of them are worth looking at. Time for me to trawl the minds of the Gameshelf Collective. What released PS3 games should I grab?
Assume that I like action-adventure games -- the titles I mention above are a guide. I also liked the Soul Reaver series, Fatal Frame, Sly Cooper, Ratchet+Clank, Okami, and (inevitably) Ico and Shadow of the Colossus. Beyond Good and Evil was decent but I wasn't bowled over like everybody else. I'm okay with the more fight-y action games like Onimusha and Devil May Cry, except that I'm not quite good enough to be their target audience (DMC3 was way the hell beyond me). Squad combat and shooters are not my style.
That's a one-dimensional picture, so feel free to mention the quirky and weird as well. (I liked Rez and Katamari too.)
What should I look for in the used-game bin?
on September 17, 2008 No comments:
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
So Spore is out. Everyone I know is either playing it or talking about it. This includes people who do not play videogames. So to that degree, Will Wright has pwned the planet.
As a gamer, the biggest discussion I see about Spore is that DRM argument. (Don't buy Spore (yet) says my friend peterb, and then goes on to talk about the completely terrible game experience that so many people are having. Boingboing inevitably picks up the topics, etc.) The notable statistic is the Amazon product page, which shows -- as I write this -- 1911 one-star reviews hating on the DRM, versus just 166 with higher ratings (two stars or more). For a game released four days ago.
Now, I'm pretty sure this Amazon review thing is a stunt. No videogame gets that many reviews that fast. Katamari Damacy, a hit for the past four years, has just 244 reviews; The Sims 2 (the previous Will Wright megablast, also four years old) has 889.
More importantly, Amazon reviews are notoriously a big pile of hooey. They're one step above Youtube comments, and you can find 1900 Youtube commenters willing to fart in five-part harmony just by turning over a rock and filming it.
However, it's a valid stunt. Fred Benenson, an early commenter on this mess, calls it "dis-organized collective action". Nobody thinks 90% of Spore players are dissatisfied customers -- but the dissatisfaction with crappy usage restrictions has made a big visible splash this week. That will resonate with the vast silent majority of game players, who grumble about stupid policies but eat the shit sandwich because it doesn't usually affect most of them.
And if this turns out to be organized collective action, hey, it's community organization. That's how stuff gets done.
I have nothing to add about the Spore experience, because I didn't buy Spore.
I bought the Spore Creature Creator -- the play-with-dolls part of the game, which was released a few months ago by itself -- because it seemed like a quirky idea and I wanted to support that. As it turned out, none of my computers can run the Creature Creator. (The Mac desktop isn't Intel, the Windows box has horrible sound-card pops, and the laptop is still on OSX 10.4.) One day I will upgrade the laptop, or the Windows sound drivers, and the thing will probably work then.
Then I looked at Spore, looked at all the hoo-ha, and bought Spore Origins -- aka iPhone Spore. Ten bucks in the iPhone App Store. No activation codes. No three-machine limit. No being arbitrarily yelled at for being a thief. You download it, tap the icon, and you're playing a bacterium.
Obviously the iPhone is not a DRM-free device. It is restricted up the wazoo. But Sporigins isn't any more restricted than any other iPhone app. I'm using it under the terms that I've already bought into. So, there's no resistance there.
Similarly, I'm looking forward to playing Bioshock this fall. Bioshock was released using the same oft-maligned SecuROM copy-protection that Spore uses. I will bypass this -- legally -- by buying Bioshock for Playstation. DRM? Sure, but it's not infecting my computer with anything, and it's not making the PS3 any more broken than it is out of the box. So the hell with it.
(This is not a blind "I don't care about DRM on iPhone/PS3" position. I will be able to play that copy of Bioshock for as long as I can find PS3s on eBay. That is an important criterion and I wouldn't buy a console without it. The iPhone is a less certain proposition, but the active jailbreaking community gives me some assurance that if and when Apple lets the iPhone drop by the wayside, I will be able to monkey my apps into it if I really want to. Or, more likely, into some kind of emulator.)
Electronic Arts wants you to believe that your computer is broken out of the box. If they're right, you don't care about SecuROM, you don't care that your software doesn't work reliably, and you don't care that your game purchase is a rental. This is a political position which they will win or lose, depending on how many people they convince -- and how many people are convinced they are wrong. That's why a wave of Amazon reviews, stunt or not, is at the heart of the matter.
on September 10, 2008 No comments:
Thursday, September 4, 2008
I've written a couple of short articles about role-playing games on web forums. (Including one game I ran myself for a few weeks.)
The context of those posts was Myst fandom. But my original inspiration was a Harry Potter fanfic RPG called Nocturne Alley.
I don't know how the thing got started; it only hit my attention at its end, in mid-2004. That was the culmination of a two-year arc of Livejournal posts. A group of people took the roles of characters from the HP books -- one each, and their real identities were not public. And the characters started keeping public journals. And commenting in each others' journals. And stuff happened.
The game started in Hogwarts Year Five, I believe. (The fifth book was not yet out at that point, so they were working in as-yet-unmapped territory.) Naturally, being fanfic, it diverged rapidly from Rowling's plan. (Sirius and Remus wound up married. That sort of thing. Fanfic.)
It was a long-running, collaborative performance which contained a wealth of detail and characterization. More detail, in fact, than anyone can possibly assimilate. There's no way you can read Nocturne Alley. I've linked to the LJ community page, and there's an indirect index too, but you'd spend weeks re-reading everything. This is an art form which, in an odd way and despite being online, exists only in real time.
(A single link I found interesting: questions answered by an organizer, afterwards.)
So why am I mentioning this now? Because Alternity has just started. This is a new Harry Potter game, and it starts from the beginning -- September 1, Harry's first day at school. Only not as in The Philosopher's Stone. In this scenario, Voldemort, er, won. As Lord Protector Marvolo, he controls England... and he's just sent his eleven-year-old adopted son Harry Marvolo to Hogwarts.
The conceits of the game:
It's in real time. Today is September 4th, 1991, game time. The first-years are in their fourth day at school. Christmas is Christmas, summer break is summer break, and -- at least in plan -- Alternity will run for seven real years.
Journal posts are journal posts. The game consists of what people say in their (public) journals. There are no transcripts of what is "really" happening, unless a character chooses to write about it.
Journals are public. (Voldemort's Ministry of Magic wants to encourage discussion that they can eavesdrop on.)
One exception: the good-guy conspiracy has managed to set up a private conference. (Posts marked "Order Only" are presumed visible only to Order of the Phoenix members.) It is implied that the bad guys can do something similar. Naturally, first-year students are not trusted with such secrets, no matter how well-raised they are.
Some announcements and public discussion appears on the community page, but most of the action will be on the friends page. Follow if you dare.
(Well, that's easy to say. I don't know how much I'll be following myself. My daily net-reading habits are not set up to just add a stream of livejournal. I try to avoid passive reading; if I don't take action to go look, I don't see it. And seven years is a long time. But I'm interested in how these things run.)
on September 04, 2008 No comments:
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Re: The Newhall Land and Farming Company application for Project XL for a General Permit on the Santa Clara River, Los Angeles County, California, Dated August 24, 1995
Pursuant to a telephone conversation with and at the request of Ms. Julie Frieder of EPA, we are submitting the following additional information concerning The Newhall Land and Farming Company application for the above project.
Ms. Frieder requested additional information on three subjects:
A. Benefits of the proposal over results which would be obtained under existing regulations.
B. Relationship of the proposal to the Santa Clara River Enhancement and Management Plan, and
Benefits Over Existing Regulations
The river management plan and general permit:
Maintain fifteen miles of the Santa Clara River and its tributaries in a natural state with preservation of soft bottom and habitat.
Past and existing practice of flood control within Los Angeles County has been to size drainage channels (including rivers) to handle storm waters without the obstruction of vegetation. This is accomplished by constructing a narrow channel with a hard (concrete) channel bottom or soft bottom with all vegetation removed. The river management plan, called natural river management, proposes retaining a much wider channel allowing flood flows to pass without the removal of existing and potential future habitat growth. The wider channel also does not accelerate flood flows, which would result in scouring of the river bottom due to faster velocities.
Past practice has been for the flood control district to periodically remove habitat within the flood control channels to maintain flood flows. The natural river management retains the habitat and does not require its removal. Furthermore, bank stabilization is accomplished with ungrouted rip-rap, not gunited cement. This maintains groundwater replenishment similar to natural levels.
Protect threatened and endangered species.
The natural river management concept retains the natural habitat within the river, thereby preserving the habitat used by threatened and endangered species, including the Unarmored Three-spined Stickleback fish and Least Bell's Vireo bird. A Section 10 consultation will be conducted in conjunction with the approval of the General Permit. However, there is no need for a "take" permit to be issued because the comprehensive planning incorporates flood control concepts which preclude the need for taking and also results in a minimum of habitat modification; modification would probably be much greater under a piecemeal approach.
Add significant area to the river system outside the statutory legal limits of "waters of the United States".
A wetlands delineation and jurisdictional determination of this reach of the Santa Clara River shows a total of 700 acres within the jurisdiction of the ACOE. The natural river management plan proposes to incorporate 1300 acres within the river corridor, an additional 600 acres over that which would be included under existing strict application of the jurisdictional limits. A piecemeal approach or individual permitting would probably result in less total acreage.
Establish mitigation banks to provide biotic function and value prior to construction.
Under existing processing of individual Section 404 permits, mitigation is done piecemeal, resulting in the temporal loss of habitat, and mitigation ratios of greater than 1 to 1 are typically required. Under the natural river management concept, mitigation banks are proposed to create habitat and biotic function and value ahead of actual construction. This would result in the maintenance of function and value at existing levels rather than the temporal loss under individual permitting procedures. A mitigation bank and restoration area has been established under a previous permit in this area and is very successful, providing evidence that mitigation banking can be achieved in the area.
Provide assurances for fish migration by eliminating the use of stabilizers.
Under existing practices, flood control measures typically accelerate flood flow velocities thereby creating scouring. To offset the effects of scouring, stabilizers are built to retain the channel bottoms. These then interfere with the migration and movement of the endangered Unarmored Three-spined Stickleback. The natural management concept allows flood flows to pass without accelerated velocities, thereby precluding the need for stabilizers and their interferences with fish migration.
The natural river management plan would be an integral part of the overall river enhancement and management plan. Furthermore, it provides a model and precedent for other reaches of the river. For example, as discussed above, the natural river management plan precludes the use of stabilizers to maintain the channel bottom and thereby allows for fish migration. The implementation of this concept would prove valuable as a model for downstream reaches where efforts are being made to restore Steelhead Trout and accommodate their migration up the river.
This concept also would demonstrate the ability to maintain a continuous natural river and habitat linkage (wildlife corridor) along with urban growth and development.
We envision EPA's role to be as facilitator to the issuance of a General Permit. As indicated in our August 24, 1995 application letter we are requesting:
EPA assistance in coordinating federal agencies timely review and cooperation in the processing of the permit and the necessary consultations, and
An interpretation of federal law that the temporary construction impacts do not preclude the determination of "minimal" impacts and that a General Permit is the appropriate form of permit.
The long processing time incurred so far demonstrates the need for the timely processing of a large-scale permit. Construction activity continues to met the population and employment growth in the area and demands that individual Section 404 permits be processed. This results in piecemeal permitting of this reach of the river.
Federal budget cuts at US Fish and Wildlife Service usually result in the greatest detriment to the permit review and consultations. US Fish and Wildlife has indicated this is an important project they want to work on, but budget considerations may motivate them to reduce their efforts on the project.
In a previous scoping response, EPA indicated it could "elevate" the project. This overhanging threat is of concern and in our opinion has made the ACOE more cautious, resulting in a much slower process. EPA adoption and involvement in the project and its efforts to assist in the timely cooperation of other federal agencies would minimize the necessity for individual piecemeal permitting.
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When it comes to the medical massage then this is the care that is given to a patient and this involves the medical care. With the medical massage then one is able to relax well and also one is also able to recover well and also improve the mood they have been having. When it comes to the...
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Providing hassle-free Mount Cook Airport transfer services seven days a week, Taxi2Airport is the worlds premier website for booking airport transfers. We specialise in transfers to and from airports around the world and work with the best group of drivers and cars. Book your next Mount Cook Airport transfer and save time as well as money during your next trip with Taxi2Airport. Our taxi and airport shuttle partners offer a wide range of vehicles, from sedans and limousines for business and leisure travellers to minibuses and bus for larger groups. Whether you are travelling on business or holidays, we provide a convenient and affordable airport transfer from Mount Cook Airport to get your trip started right. You can also book a taxi to Mount Cook Airport when travelling home or to your next destination.
Affordable Transfer from Mount Cook Airport
For a comfortable and affordable Mount Cook Airport transfer, trust Taxi2Airport. In addition to transfers to your business meeting or hotel, we can also provide a transfer from Mount Cook Airport to virtually any place you need to be. This includes transport for both small and larger groups. We also provide larger vehicles that are ideal for families and groups of friends. Whether you are visiting your destination for a getaway or to do business, we have a vehicle that suits your budget. More importantly, our drivers will ensure you reach your destination on time and with as little hassle as possible. We strive to take the stress out of travelling to and from the airport, giving you more time to enjoy your holiday or prepare for your business meetings.
Mount Cook Airport Transfers with Taxi2Airport
Taxi2Airport is available 24 hours a day, providing real-time details on available vehicles and convenient online booking. We offer easy booking online for your transfer from Mount Cook Airport. We take pride in providing low prices without compromising customer service. Changes and cancellations to your transfer from Mount Cook Airport are also hassle-free, giving you the best possible flexibility in case your travel plans change. Once you book your Mount Cook Airport taxi, you simply meet your driver upon arrival. All taxi companies and drivers for your Mount Cook Airport transfer are fully vetted to ensure the highest quality of service and safety. We only work with experienced drivers and regularly evaluate our partners performance. With a presence in more than 50 countries and over 2,000 airports, it is little wonder why more and more travellers are turning to Taxi2Airport for their Mount Cook Airport transfer needs. Book your transfer from Mount Cook Airport today at Taxi2Airport
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This is the block We have been helping travelers making their travel surprisingly easy and enjoyable since 2003.
The service of Taxi2Airport.com is available worldwide in more than 130 countries!
We are proud that our customers give us the highest rating in the industry!
Airport taxi transfers
Planning to go on holiday by plane, or perhaps on family visit or for another reason abroad? Then you probably need to go to the airport to catch your flight. But how do you arrange your holiday transfer? Letting someone bring you or pick you up is not always possible and parking your own car at the airport is not a cheap solution. Then you can choose for a cheap airport transfer by an experienced holiday taxi company. An airport taxi will pick you up at your home address whenever you want and will take you to the airport you need to go to. Taxi2Airport.com offers you a cheap airport taxi transfer with reliable service and security. Your transportation to the airport can’t start better; leave the rest to our airport shuttle.
How to book a transfer to or from the airport?
If you’re looking for a taxi transfer to of from the airport, you can book it easily via our booking platform in a few steps:
Fill in the booking form on top of the page
Choose one of our reliable taxi cars
Add extra options to your booking, for example a baby seat or meet & greet with the driver
Fill in your contact details and choose an online and safe payment method
When you fill in the booking form, don’t forget to fill in the number of persons who will drive with the holiday taxi and the number of suitcases that you’ll take with you. Besides that, you can let us know where and when you want to be picked up and where you want to go to. It is also possible to book a return. In that case you book both ways at once. There are several cars to choose from for your transportation to or from the airport. After you have made a choice for your holiday transfer and which kind of car you want to use, you can book some extra options. For example, you can let us know that you want the driver to pick you up in the airport with a name plate. Or you can tell us that you need a baby seat or booster seat for your child. The next step is to fill in your personal information, in order to reach you if necessary and send you the booking voucher. After that, you will reach the payment page. At Taxi2Airport you’ll see several payment options. You’ll pay in advance for your holiday taxi transfer so you won’t be faced with unexpected costs during your airport shuttle. If you don’t want to pay the full amount in advance, you can pay 15% in advance and the rest of the amount after the ride. Your airport taxi transfer begins without any worries and our cars will do the rest.
What is the price of an airport transfer?
The price of an A to B taxi transfer depends on the distance that you’re travelling. We have agreements with our local partners in every country about the price per kilometre. When you’ve filled in the booking form we know the distance of your journey. We multiply the number of kilometres with the price per kilometre and guarantee you the lowest price! We want to be transparent and offer you different cars so you have the choice for an airport shuttle!
What kind of airport taxi’s do we have?
We offer several taxi’s to serve everyone’s needs:
A Minivan
Not all the cars are available on all the airports. Per airport we have made a relevant selection of taxi’s. We try to meet your needs. The cars that we show you are already selected based on your travelling company.
An airport taxi to your destination
When you have booked a city trip and you have taken care of your flight and your hotel, there is one thing left to arrange; the ride to your hotel! Because the easiest way to get to your hotel from the airport is by a hotel taxi transfer. In that way, you are fast, carefree and you can start your trip in a comfortable way. It is also possible to book a roundtrip. When your A to B transfer brings you to your hotel, of course it is also possible to bring you back to the airport at the end of your stay. So for all your trips you are at the right address with us!
The airport taxi transfers that relate to Taxi2Airport are carefully screened. We work closely together with the best companies, which have service and customer friendliness as their number one priority. During or after your transportation with your holiday transfer you won’t be faced with unexpected costs. You will know in advance what the price of your taxi will be, so you can pay your transportation before leaving and start you holiday in a pleasant way with our airport shuttle.
A save and smooth holiday transport to the airport
As an experienced airport taxi company, you don’t have to worry for delays. Our cheap airport transfers keep a close eye on your flight and they will know if you’ll arrive earlier or later, so your ride will be on time. In this way, the driver will not arrive too early or too late and you can get in your holiday without worries. If, unfortunately, something should happen, such as for example a lost piece of luggage, then you must contact the taxi company. The contact details of your airport shuttle are listed on the voucher, which you received from Taxi2Airport after completing the booking. Of course, our holiday taxis will do everything to make your transportation as smooth as possible. If you have any questions about our holiday taxi or the transportation, you can call our Customer Service Centre. Your arrival with an airport shuttle couldn’t get any better with airport transfer company Taxi2Airport. Your transportation from and to the airport can be arranged anytime and anywhere you want. Your holiday taxi will be right on time, so you can relax the whole journey during your transportation. If you have any questions about your holiday transfer, you can contact us and we will be happy to help you. Our airport cars will make your holiday taxi transportation the best you’ve ever had!
Airport taxi reviews
If you want to be sure that we have a good service, you can check the customer reviews on this page. Our customers have given a rating from one to five and have written a review. We constantly monitor this reviews to check if our drivers are performing well. By doing that we can guarantee that you always get the best service when you’re travelling with Taxi2Airport.com.
Do you charge extra for debit or credit card payments?
No. There is no additional charge for paying by debit or credit card.
Will anyone else be travelling in the vehicle I book?
No, we only offer private transfers, so the price you pay reserves the vehicle exclusively for your group.
My company requires an invoice, can you supply one?
Yes we can provide you with an invoice if required. Please contact our Customer Service Center after making your booking to request an invoice.
Where can I view my booking information?
In the self-service portal you can find the latest status and information of your booking. When information changes, for instance when the local transfer company and the driver are assigned, you will find this information immediately there. You can log in to the self-service portal using the booking reference and your last name.
What vehicle-categories do you offer and what are the differences?
Sedan (1-3) Transfer service carried out by regular taxi cars (sedan). The vehicles can usually be recognised as taxis. Each car can carry a maximum of three persons and suitcases. Exclusive (1-3) For travellers who appreciate convenience and efficiency at an affordable price. Well-equipped sedans are used, such as the Mercedes E-Class, BMW 5 series, Volvo V60, Lincoln Town Car and the Mercedes Viano. Limousine (1-4) The highest standard in passenger transportation, carried out with privately owned vehicles such as the Mercedes S-class, BMW 7 series or Audi A8 and very skilled and discrete drivers. Minivan (1-5)/Minibus (1-7) Minivans are vehicles for transporting groups. These vehicles can also be used in Economy and Business class. Transportation by minivan is for a maximum of seven to eight persons and standard-sized pieces of luggage. Bus/tourincar (1- on request) For transportation of more than 7 or 8 persons, our car service providers use coaches. It is possible to book a coach for up to 55 persons plus luggage. Special requests, such as child seats, are subject to availability and can be booked at request. Should you require additional care, please inform us at the time of your booking. Toll roads, parking and any other fees are included in the transfer price.
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I beg to differ. You keep saying this, but as I've been saying, facts apparently say otherwise. That Perscan computer. The manual leads one to believe it's an actual computer system on the ship itself, not just some background thing placed there for the player's convenience. Yes, it shows where the location of the intruders are at all times and what their status is. Gives me status on their life signs, how fatigued they are, etc. Right out of Star Trek. I know whether they're in the library, galley, fitness center, engineering, etc. So, if we know where they are. Why the search thing? You see, if technology is good enough to detect ships and details of said ships, deep within the sector of space you're in.. why should it not be able to detect details and location of unauthorized personel within the confines of your own command craft? Why are we doing the Scooby-doo-search-for-clues routine? Send all available marines to the intruders' location, en-masse, and wipe them out! When they've got enough experience, then maybe you can use them for something more serious like ground deployment. THAT makes sense. Policing the ship should be easy, but attacking an enemy city should be more difficult. That may not be 100% realistic, but still has a lot of realism to it. After all, intruders aren't going to know a ship quite like the security force that protects it. I'll say it again... should be extremely dangerous for any intruder to board your ship.. no matter how new the marines are. Especially if they really ARE marines. Intruders should be the warm-up, not the wipe-out. Haven't you been looking at the replies from other people? Bladelord and canshow, yeah, i haven't ignored you guys. They suggest sitting around for days until your marines are even worthy of the chellenges ahead. That right there should tell you something's wrong. I don't want to sit around for ages and ages until my in-game characters are finally able to simply answer the game's challenges. What successful RPG, simulation or strategy game has EVER been released that made you do that? I've got things to do in life, got a job, etc. I want to get going now. I'm easily patient enough to handle the repair times and all, but one has to draw the line somewhere with all the waiting. I'm not 100% against the others suggestions. I kind of like BladeLord's idea of setting down on a planet then running around in a shuttle while they get experience from.. well, sitting on their duffs. You keep arguing for the sake of realism, denny. How realistic is that? Besides, you're avoiding my primary statement/question. You've been doing so all along. Realistic or not.. how good is it in GAMEPLAY terms if an intruder force of half the size of your marines can wipe out said marines and a lot of the crew before going down? Then, yet another intruder alert happens like 3 minutes later? There's no reward for bringing in prisoners that you've sacrificed troops, crew and ship to capture. Yet, there's severe penalies for using the star station to simply escape an impossible situation. -250 exp and -5000 to your finances? It's like.. eh? I almost wonder if some designer got angry and stuck in something nasty for whatever reason. Maybe to punish poeple who didn't play the game the way he liked. Kind of defeats the purpose of freeform. So, denny, if you give any straight answer, give me just one. Answer the following scenario. You're flying a super cruiser or armed transport. Got 10 marines (amount is the same on both ships). Your marines just got their butts handed to them by some intruders. 8 marines have like 30-50 fatigue, the rest are injured in medibay. 3 minutes later.. intruder alert! You know that you'll either be wiped out by the new intruders or take heavy losses. Of course, we all know there's more intruder alerts in the near future. What do you do? Or, would you have already taken the un-realistic course that the others suggest? Dock at a Star Station, go off and watch TV or something while marines become supermen from standing around in the Operations room? If you do answer the scenario, you'll either give me the answer I'm looking for or simply prove me right. Maybe both. Either way, I'm probably going to do BladeLord's suggestion. At least that's some way to DO something while I wait for the marines to become marines. I'm just irritated by the fact that intruder alerts just keep happening every 3 minutes in some games. That and the fact that your "marines" can barely handle even one situation.
July 13, 2008
7 replies
Styles replied to Styles's topic in Battlecruiser Series
I didn't come here to get into a debate. I'm sorry if I came across as flaming or blasting the game, because I'm not. The entire concept behind BCM is one of the best I've seen. I say that with honest sincerity. The only reason why I act like it doesn't make sense is this.. From what I understand, the commander does not know where the intruders are by way of crew reports or if noticing systems are damaged. One knows where intruders are by way of security systems. The manual says something about that. I see this reflected in-game by way of Perscan computer. The manual says your ships security systems identify hostile forces on your ship in section 9.2. I think of how police always get backup before going in. They know that right out of training. I was thinking that a marine squad would do even better. I found it odd that we were forgeting all this high-technology and maybe military training and, instead, we split up and search and make each individual marine vulnerable. A lone marine would not just jump into a room with 3-5 enemies, no matter how green they are. Heck, the more green they are the less likely, I'd think. First few times into combat and you're scared, not courageous. Certainly not enough to take those kind of odds. I'd be running out of the room, calling my buddies on my uniform's comlink. Probably do that if I were experiened too, since it's what kept me alive the first few times lol. Chicken? Ok, I'm chicken. You first, Rambo. Jokes aside.. you see.. no matter how much sense or how little sense you make of it (probably just depends on the individual).. the bottom line is this game experience is getting ruined. My crew is getting wiped out 10-20 minutes after starting by something I can't seem to prevent. Or... can I prevent it? That's all I want to know. What's the workaround? How do I keep these marines alive and out of medibay so they can become experienced? If you want to say it's sensible, then I'll take your word for it. I'm just some old geek who's been playing games since the 80s. I just want to know how to take out these intruders without the bad experience.
July 11, 2008
7 replies
Styles posted a topic in Battlecruiser Series
Heya, I just downloaded the now-freeware battlecruiser millenium. The learning curve didn't seem as bad as some reviews painted it. So far, I like it a lot. However, there's one little recurring issue- intruders. Example Playing Terran Commercial ship (armed transport) starting at Genesis star port in Earth area. Before I get started let me say that yes- the marines were all prepped for combat. After first launching, I even turned right around and re-entered the star station to give the marines time to prep. Anyway, less than 10 minutes after getting started I have an intruder alert. 4 intruders. They kill 2 marines and injure the rest of the marines so severely they'll be out of action for what is probably a few real-time days worth of game-time. System engineers are likewise as hurt as are half the flight officers and a couple of command officers. It's essentially a disaster before even getting out of the starting gate. I obviously can't run back into the star station when intruders appear as I'll suffer EXP and financial penalties if I do. Though, I would guess that experience doesn't mean much to the scientist or commercial castes themselves. Happens almost every time I play some ship that has marines. Doesn't seem to matter what race/caste it is (though I've mostly been trying scientist and commercial types). What I'm looking for- I'd like to play the game sort of like the trader, yet with a ship that's a little more than those unarmed transports. Something with ground vehicles to putter around in while the mining drones are working, etc. Marine troops that you can keep out of medibay long enough to exparament with. I love BCM. Everything in it seems so.. perfect. Except for that darn system of handling intruders. Especially when playing a less-than-military type ship. Here is my only real point of contention -- "Assigning marines to search detail" Why are we doing it the old World War 2 type way? I can see where the intuders are at all times (using Perscan), why can't my AE just tell the Combat Officer where the intuders are so he can send all available marines there, all at once, to overwhelm the intruders? Why even take the chance that someone will get hurt? The BCM manual admits marines tend to die like heros. I'm sorry, but that's wrong. The #1 priority of any military type is to survive the engagement. The #1 way to survive is to overwhelm your enemy by force or by arms. Those 3-5 intruders should be facing all 10 marines trying to overwhelm them.. not just some lone marine who stumbled into the room and started shooting. The very picture of that is wrong. Even in our current car-and-airplane type age, military types are far more organized and careful than this. Heck, even police in your hometown won't go into a dangerous situation alone- they call for backup before going in. They even tend to call for backup when simply pulling over a drunk diver. Never take chances. SOP. Should be extremely dangerous for ANY intuder to try and board your ship. I'm not flaming, basting, trolling or anything like that. I really like BCM. It's perfect for what I'm looking for in a.. well.. "space game". I know of nothing else quite like it. Haven't liked a space adventure game this much since Starflight. It's just that darn intruder system is keeping me down. Tired of having marines (and other crew) wiped out by an intruder force of half their size. Tired of it happening right when I get started. What can I do?
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August 14, 2015
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How you can Plan for an Essay Assessment
The annoying essay assessment. Regardless if you love it or not, during your lifestyle you may be sure to encounter an examination comprised fully of essays. Inside the days to weeks top rated anywhere up to the exam perhaps you may genuinely feel restless or utterly tired to all your tummy. On the plus side, with a little arrangements and employ, you are able to change any pre-assessment jitters into feelings of self-belief, which will assist you to safely and effectively take on any essay check-up.
Guidelines Update Section One of Some: Involved in Group Edit Head over to program. It may seem self evident, but step one to acing an essay exam, is to attend type. By doing this, you will not only be ready to take note of the instructor’s mindset on the subject, but is likely to engage in elegance chats, which can help to help you your understanding belonging to the field. More to the point, pupils that regularly engage in lesson are frequently associated with the content and are more likely to try to remember a more significant portion of the guidance.
Regularly take part. It’s critical to locate a involvement practice which works for you, regardless of whether that is prompting notion-provoking problems or writing comments to the reading. 2 Productive engagement just means relating to oneself in some manner, so even though you may never feel at ease communicating at span ahead of your peers, make an attempt to try to ask a subject now and then.
Complimentary personally from disruptions. Put away your mobile phone or pc tablet while focusing on listening and spending good information. Now is not sufficient time to work on research for one more classification as well as to catch up with associates on Myspace. Require remarks. Another significant benefit to studying at type, is the remarks you have. However some instructors can provide describes, there is not any substitute for your own personel remarks, as you know your grasping and examining form most effective. In be prepared for your essay examination, this is going to end up being one of the most invaluable specific tools, so do your favour by using type and capturing decent notices. Usually have a notebook computer around. It is always helpful to use one note pad per content or lessons, so that you will never mistake your own self while looking lower back. Ensure that you time frame your information to help you easily research or look for the field fabric discussed upon the examination. Any time you battle with using remarks, request the coach whenever you can record the lecture. You can then return and play the documenting and also have notices from your very own tempo or analyze any elements of the lecture, that is focused to the test. Do the measurements. Filling in reading tasks not merely really helps to get you ready for classification, but helps you save double the attempt subsequent. 3 In other words, you will not be required to cram with the exam if you are keeping up with the readings, that make be prepared for the exam considerably less upsetting.
Acquire information of what you have read through and possess issues well prepared for class. Stick to the schedule for reading projects. Frequently numbers are shattered out in a manner that is both the reasonable and topical ointment. If, even so, you find all by yourself not capable to take care of the readings, consult with your instructor with regards to a itinerary that matches your unique really needs. One exle is, if measurements are allocated for every other day of course, you might want to destroy it out these types of you are checking out a part daily. Understand the format of some essay. Familiarize yourself with how to Write an Essay. An excellent essay need to have an intro, a physical body together with a summary.
Outline for you your responses. Staying your articles at heart (belonging to the evaluate phase), write an outline for you to would-be essay inquiries. Consider to produce a subject phrase followed by set up your supporting stuff, beneath, utilising bullet issues.
Do not hold off until the evening before to outline resolutions. As you are studying and planning your style supplies, develop opportunity problems during the process. You may then return and professional review and modify as appropriate. Some instructors do define a word count up for essays. Don’t give full attention to counting words despite the fact. Jot down what you could and search for the opportunity to flesh out your right answers without being way too wordy.
Recognize different types of problems. Like any other examine, essay tests are comprised of various types of basic questions. It assists to grasp early in advance, that which you may well face for you to put into practice answering each one of these. Here are a couple illustrations: Establish – normally limited and one on one resolutions will be alright. Express – takes a more detailed reply to. Compare and contrast – watch out for acquaintances.
Dispute – deal with this from your own very own mindset. Change your answers. Practice renders best. Now that you’ve designed an initial write on your reactions, critique what you’ve written. Watch out for chances to expound following or make clear the content. Most importantly, be sure you are instantly addressing the question which has been inquired. If you are not, return and look at the related items. This is a good possible opportunity to proofread your career and to look for any grammatical blunders too. Have a friend, dad or mom or peer look over your essay on top of that. It is usually useful to create a recent range of eyes review your labor and offer suggestions.
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Nato is a type of pasta made from durum wheat flour. Durum wheat is a high-quality wheat that is used to make pasta because it has a high gluten content, which makes the pasta dough more elastic. Nato is a short, tubular pasta that is about 2-3 inches long. It is usually sold in packages of six or twelve.
Nato is a popular pasta in Italy, where it is known as nidi di rondine. It is also popular in Greece, where it is known as koulouri. Nato is a versatile pasta that can be used in a variety of dishes. It is a good choice for dishes that call for a chewy pasta. Nato can be boiled, grilled, or baked.
How to Prepare Nato
Nato can be boiled in a pot of water or cooked in a microwave. To boil nato, bring a pot of water to a boil, add the pasta, and cook for 6-8 minutes. To cook in a microwave, place the pasta in a microwave-safe bowl, add water, and cook for 2-3 minutes.
Nato can also be grilled or baked. To grill nato, preheat the grill to medium-high heat, add the pasta, and grill for 2-3 minutes. To bake nato, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F, add the pasta, and bake for 10-12 minutes.
Nato is a delicious pasta that is perfect for a variety of dishes. Give nato a try today!
1 What is NATO dish?
2 What is natto taste like?
3 What is natto food made of?
4 How is natto used in cooking?
5 Is natto healthy to eat?
6 What is the best way to eat natto?
7 Does natto make your breath smell?
What is NATO dish?
The NATO dish, also known as NATO fry, is a simple yet delicious dish that is perfect for a quick and easy meal. This dish is made with ground beef, onions, and tomatoes, and it can be cooked in a variety of ways. Here is a quick and easy recipe for making a NATO dish at home.
1 pound ground beef
Instructions:
1. In a large skillet, cook the ground beef over medium heat until browned.
See also Steak Cooking Time Thickness
2. Add the onion and cook until softened.
3. Add the tomatoes and season with salt and pepper.
4. Cook until the tomato sauce is heated through.
The NATO dish can also be cooked in the oven.Simply preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and cook the beef and onion mixture in a baking dish for 20 minutes. Then, add the tomatoes and bake for an additional 10 minutes.
This dish is a quick and easy way to get a hearty and satisfying meal. It can be served with rice or pasta, or it can be eaten by itself. The NATO dish is also a great way to use up leftovers.
What is natto taste like?
Natto is a traditional Japanese food made from soybeans. The beans are fermented and then left to incubate for a period of time. The end result is a sticky, gooey food that has a strong, pungent odor. So what does natto taste like?
Well, natto is a bit like cheese in that it has a strong, distinctive flavor. Some people describe it as being earthy, while others say it tastes like soy sauce. It’s definitely an acquired taste, but once you get used to it, natto can be quite delicious.
One thing to keep in mind is that natto is a very healthy food. It’s high in protein and fiber, and it also contains important nutrients like vitamin B2 and vitamin K2. So if you’re looking for a healthy, yet unique, food to try, natto is a great option.
What is natto food made of?
Natto is a traditional Japanese food made from soybeans. The beans are fermented with Bacillus subtilis, a bacterium that produces nattokinase, a powerful enzyme that has been shown to have a variety of health benefits.
Natto is typically made by soaking soybeans overnight, cooking them until they are soft, and then fermenting them for 12 to 36 hours. The end result is a thick, sticky, and smelly paste that is usually eaten with rice.
Despite its unpalatable appearance and strong smell, natto is a popular and nutritious food. It is a good source of protein, fiber, and vitamins B1, B2, and B6. Natto is also high in antioxidants, which may help protect against cancer and heart disease.
See also Rinsing Rice Before Cooking
There are several different ways to prepare natto. It can be eaten cold or warm, as a side dish or a main course. It can also be used in soups, stews, and other dishes.
How is natto used in cooking?
Natto is a popular Japanese dish made from fermented soybeans. While it has a unique, slightly stinky taste, natto is also high in nutrients like protein, fiber, and vitamin B2. It’s often eaten as a breakfast food, but can also be used in other dishes.
One popular way to use natto is in natto rolls. These are made by spreading natto on a sheet of nori seaweed, then rolling it up with some other ingredients like avocado, cucumber, or pickled ginger. Natto can also be used in place of eggs in dishes like omelets or scrambles.
Natto is a great source of protein, and so it can be a useful ingredient in vegan and vegetarian cooking. It can be used to add flavor and nutrients to dishes like rice bowls, curries, and salads. Natto can also be used as a condiment or dip.
If you’re new to natto, it may take some time to get used to the taste. But with a little experimentation, you’ll likely find some fun and tasty ways to use this unique ingredient in your cooking.
Is natto healthy to eat?
In Japan, natto is a popular breakfast dish. It is made from fermented soybeans and has a strong, pungent flavor. Some people love it, while others find it quite unpleasant. But is natto healthy to eat?
Natto is a good source of protein and fiber, and it is also high in vitamins and minerals. It is especially rich in vitamin K2, which is important for healthy bones and teeth. Natto also contains antioxidants that can help protect against disease.
So overall, natto is a healthy food that provides a variety of nutrients. If you enjoy it, then feel free to include it in your diet. But if you don’t like the taste, there are plenty of other healthy foods to choose from.
See also How To Cook Tortellini
What is the best way to eat natto?
Natto is a traditional Japanese food made from fermented soybeans. It has a strong, pungent flavor and a slimy texture, and is usually eaten with soy sauce, mustard, and rice. While natto is not to everyone’s taste, it is a highly nutritious food and has a number of health benefits.
So, what is the best way to eat natto? There are a few different ways to enjoy this unusual dish. One option is to mix natto with rice and other seasonings to create a sort of natto rice bowl. Alternatively, you can spread natto on a slice of toast and top with a bit of soy sauce or mustard. Or, if you’re feeling adventurous, you can add natto to a salad or soup.
No matter how you eat it, natto is a healthy and unique addition to your diet. It is high in protein and fiber, and it contains a number of beneficial vitamins and minerals, including vitamin K, magnesium, and zinc. So, if you’re looking for a new and interesting way to add some nutrition to your meal, give natto a try!
Does natto make your breath smell?
Does natto make your breath smell?
Natto is a traditional Japanese dish made from fermented soybeans. It is known for its strong smell and flavor. Some people worry that natto might make their breath smell bad.
So does natto make your breath smell?
The answer is it depends. Natto does have a strong smell, but whether or not it makes your breath smell bad depends on your personal taste. Some people find the smell of natto to be unpleasant, while others find it to be quite tasty.
If you are not a fan of the smell of natto, you may want to avoid eating it before going out. However, if you are able to tolerate the smell, there is no need to worry that natto will make your breath smell bad.
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Saturday, March 14 will mark the 34th Anniversary of the release of the film, Crossroads. The coming-of-age musical drama starring Ralph Macchio, Joe Seneca, and Jami Gertz became instantly popular among members of the blues community, due to its semi-fictional Robert Johnson story line connection, and tons of killer music performed by artists including Arlen Roth, Ry Cooder, Steve Vai, and Sonny Terry.
Almost everyone remembers the “Cuttin’ Heads” scene. Who could forget a guitar duel between Lightnin’ Boy Martone and Jack Butler at a club in hell? But there’s so much more to the film than just that finale. To learn more about Crossroads we went to the man who wrote it; singer-songwriter-screenwriter John Fusco.
The original story came from a school thesis – Fusco describes what gave him the idea in the first place. “I wrote Crossroads as my Bachelor’s thesis as I had only come off the road as a traveling musician in the south a few years earlier,” he shared. “In fact, I was a high school dropout and had to go to night school and get a GED diploma to try to get accepted into NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. I came into the Dramatic Writing Program with a satchel full of stories from the road.
“(I) Had long been fascinated by the Robert Johnson story — not only because he was the King of the Delta Blues and his music held canonical status among my blues-rocker influences like the Allmans — but also because his story was so rich in mythic Americana. Which is the stuff I love as a writer. I had actually come up with the idea during the summer before I started at NYU, while I was working a blue collar job to pay for school. My girlfriend (now my wife) was working at an assisted living home and she called me to tell me that an elderly African-American man from the south had been admitted, and that he played harmonica.
“On my drive over to meet him I did the writer’s ‘what if’ game. What if he turned out to be a forgotten blues legend? And what if he wanted to get back home and settle unfinished business. A deal at the crossroads? And that’s how it all started. I had already traveled around the South with old blues guys, so I had the experience to create a drama around that concept. I basically went down the Robert Johnson rabbit hole and put the pieces together, centering on the line from the titular song, ‘my friend boy Willie Brown.’ Who was he? Could he be this mysterious cat in the rest home?”
The story was so good, it won an award – Fusco’s student screenplay won first place in the national FOCUS Awards (Films of College and University Students) and was sold to Columbia Pictures while Fusco was still a student. It may have been a bit overwhelming to a young college student at first.
“I was 24 and became something of a curiosity in Hollywood,” Fusco told us. “Was this a talented NYU film student, or a formerly homeless kid who came off the road and wrote something strangely original? I was broke and tending bar while going to school full-time, so winning the FOCUS award and being flown to L.A. had my head spinning. Columbia Pictures bought the script from me for six figures, and the next thing I knew, every major Hollywood director wanted to do it as did every young star. Lasse Hallstrom, the Oscar-nominated Swedish director behind My Life As A Dog wanted to do it and the producer did ask my feelings about it. I was all-in. Lasse fucking Hallstrom?? But then Walter Hill read the script and wanted it. Hill was an idol of mine, so he became my #1 choice. The studio and producer felt that he could capture the rugged road quality and American mythos.”
Lots of young stars came to casting calls – “Sean Penn wanted to play the Lightnin’ Boy,” Fusco says. “So did Tom Cruise. But Ralph was hot off Karate Kid and box office ruled the day. Karate Kid ultimately hurt Crossroads from standing on its own. Truth be told, I never saw the movie before I wrote Crossroads. Mentor-student cross-cultural material has always been part of my story well. I think you can look at nearly every movie I’ve done (Young Guns, Young Guns II, Thunderheart, Hidalgo, etc) and see that. But because of Ralph’s famous presence the similarity in storylines was blown out of proportion. Critics like to go for low-hanging fruit and that similarity, made bolder because of the lead, did my film a disservice. Imagine Crossroads directed by Lasse Hallstrom and starring Sean Penn. By the way, Ralph passed on Back to the Future in order to do Crossroads.”
How to pick the perfect bluesman – Joe Seneca was ultimately chosen to play the role of Willie Brown. Besides being a seasoned actor, Seneca was also a singer-songwriter performing at upscale clubs in New York, and writing such hits as “Talk to Me,” and “Break It to Me Gently.”
Fusco told us, “I wanted real-life bluesman Roy Dunn to play Willie Brown. I got to know Roy from a stint he was playing at a bar called Preachers on Bleacker Street in Greenwich Village, near the NYU campus. I would work on my script at a back table, listen to Roy, and then hang out with him. So he was a real influence in my shaping the character. So was Sonny Terry, who I knew and idolized and who would later become the harmonica behind the movie! I brought the producer to come see him, and he was smart enough to know that a role that big required a real actor. So he then took me to Broadway to see Ma Rainy’s Black Bottom. We fell in love with Joe Seneca — and Bob Judd (who plays Scratch in the film). Joe was a remarkable talent and also the real deal as a singer-songwriter. And what a gentleman. I loved the man.
And what about “guitarist from hell” Jack Butler? – In the film’s decisive scene, Lightning Boy stands in for Willie to cut heads against Jack Butler. The outcome would be nothing less than Willie’s (and Eugene’s) immortal souls. Butler, as described by Scratch “discourages a lot of up and coming boys,” and therefore had to be somebody with major chops. The final choice as we all know was virtuoso rock guitarist Steve Vai. But there were plenty of other players that wanted that part.
“I wish I had more insight into how the final choice was made,” Fusco says. “Again, I was a 24 year-old former bar musician being told that Jimmy Page, Johnny Winter, and Keith Richards all wanted to play a role that I created. Ry (Cooder) and Walter (Hill) were very secretive about this particular process. I remember getting the phone call that a decision was made and locked — and that it would be Steve Vai. I admit that I was thrown and confused, but it all became clear very quickly that Ry knew what he was doing and it was the best choice of all.
“I ran into Jimmy Page in a bar in the West Indies years later. True story. He told me how badly he wanted that role. We hung out for days and he played his acoustic guitar in me and my wife’s cabana while he was writing new songs.”
According to the film’s musical consultant Arlen Roth, both Frank Zappa and Stevie Ray Vaughan were briefly considered as well.
Did Macchio actually play guitar in the movie? – The short answer is yes, in some parts. Director Walter Hill had hired guitarist Arlen Roth as a musical consultant and to teach Macchio to play, sort of. Roth visited Macchio’s home, four days a week for months teaching the young actor blues techniques, including finger-picking and slide. Although Ralph was set on actually playing in the film, Roth, Cooder and Hill knew that would be impossible, but Roth tutored Macchio well enough for him to fake the parts on screen.
Fusco adds, “He (Roth) was first and foremost the guy that Ry sought out to assign to Ralph as his guitar mentor and ‘crash course’ teacher. They pretty much lived together for the few months leading up to production. Arlen was also on set all the time and a part of the amazing musical pedigree we were absorbing every day, down there in the Delta. Ry and Steve Vai are mostly responsible for the licks we hear when Ralph plays. But I want to emphasize that Ralph did much of his own playing and it was impressive. He is a smart and diligent kid. Wait, he’s not a kid any more, but he still looks the same.”
As a side note, to this day Arlen Roth has not been officially credited for his work on the film. However, Fusco, Vai and others remember his importance. In a 1987 interview with Guitar World Vai said, “Arlen worked very hard on the project. He taught Ralph Macchio how to hold and finger the guitar to make it look realistic. And he recorded a lot of the slide guitar parts throughout the film, along with Ry.”
Were the “jook joint” scenes filmed in actual Delta clubs? – Although there was a lot of filming that took place in the Delta, the “jook scenes” were actually filmed on a sound stage. That’s not to say there weren’t some other scary times.
“Shit got real,” says Fusco matter-of-factly. “We had LA crew mixed with local crew and there was some palpable prejudice. Some of our African-American camera guys were not accustomed to being called ‘boy.’ One night, Joe Seneca and I went to dinner at a restaurant on the Mississippi River. The place was less than half-full and they would not seat an old black man and a long-haired white boy. Then I remember someone yelling, “Hey!” And it was the late blues harp monster Juke Logan. He and Arlen were sitting at a table and they called us over. The staff didn’t like it, but we sat down.
“We did scout into the deepest nooks of the Delta, to jooks and fish frys, searching for our ‘house band.’ Me, Ry, Arlen, Juke Logan — getting paid to explore jook joints and find undiscovered blues talent. Like Frank Frost (who along with John Price, Otis Taylor, Richard “Shubby” Holmes, and Terry L Evans made up the house band). We did not shoot in actual jooks, we built them.
“Look, just a few years earlier I had been right there where we were shooting, and I saw a lot of shit. It found its way into the script. You know the scene with the guy getting jumped in the motel room with the girl? I had lived all of that. Today when I sing about running for my life down Highway 8 south of Rosedale, I’m not making it up.”
Akosua Busia. Joe Seneca, and Ralph Macchio at the boarding house.
There were actually two different endings to the film – (Spoiler Alert) When Lightning Boy defeats Butler in the duel, he and Willie are instantly transported back to the crossroads to begin the next leg of their journey. But that’s not the way it was originally written.
“My original screenplay has Willie dying on a Greyhound bus,” Fusco told us. “Walter Hill’s father died that week if I recall, and it was very hard for him to shoot. So he shot an alternate ending that I did not like. My script was very different, more of a gritty realistic drama rather than a metaphysical romp that portrayed so many things literally and lyrically. My duel at the end took place in a defunct rail yard in Clarksdale. Kind of an underground blues competition between guitarists. It was left to the viewer to determine if it was really the Devil or not.
“Today, the movie has achieved a kind of cult status among musicians. The guitarists who have personally reached out to me to say so include Luther Dickinson, Cody Dickinson, Devon Allman, Duane Betts, Eric Krasno, and many others. Because of that, I am okay with the final outcome of the movie, but somewhere deep inside it still hurts.”
There were other scenes that ended on the cutting room floor as well – A few scenes never saw the darkness of the theater. There was a scene in a cemetery, a Gospel scene in a church, and someone who cut heads with Jack before Lightning Boy took up the challenge.
“My absolute most meaningful memory was rebuilding a church in Beaulah, Mississippi that had been destroyed in a storm,” Fusco shares. “We removed a massive tree that had crushed it and rebuilt the church for a gospel service scene (cut from the film) and then handed the restored church back to the community. Knowing that this came out of something I wrote made it all worth it.”
The person who cut heads with Butler (and lost) was none other than “Shuggie” Otis, the son of R&B pioneer Johnny Otis. Shuggie himself is a funk, rock, blues, R&B and psychedelic soul singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who wrote the hit song “Strawberry Letter 23,” recorded by the Brothers Johnson.
Ralph Macchio, Jami Gertz, and Joe Seneca in a Beaulah, Mississippi church. Scene cut from the film.
Ralph Macchio and Jami Gertz in a Delta cemetery. Scene cut from the film.
After all was said and done, did the film please its author? –
“It was a dream come true,” says Fusco. “Unfortunately, Walter Hill did not like having the 24 year-old writer who had lived the story on set. I forced my way on and just hung out with the blues guys and the local gospel community. I would learn from that experience to always attach myself as a producer and wield more power — or you don’t get my script.
“Aside from the opening with RJ, it (my favorite scene) would be ‘Good Man Feelin’ Bad’ the scene in the room, pouring rain outside, when Willie opens up about his life and Lightnin’ finally starts to get it on his ax.”
Screenwriter John Fusco and actor Ralph Macchio on set.
After 34 years, Crossroads has stood the test of time, a cult classic among musicians and blues fans alike. The Robert Johnson story, the legends of Willie Brown and Lightnin’ Boy and the incredible soundtrack make this a film that will be watched over and over again.
As for Fusco, you can see his original screenplay in the history of the blues archives at the University of Mississippi. He continues to write both scripts and songs, and has a new album with his band the X-Road Riders due out sometime this summer. But that’s another story…
*Photos courtesy of John Fusco with the exception of the theater poster.
JD is currently associate editor and social media manager for American Blues Scene. He's also the former host of Blues Influence on WREN radio.
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Compliance officers are in high demand in today’s fast-paced business world; therefore, the trend is not slowing down. The reason for this demand is simple – a new regulation is issued every seven minutes! So, let’s dive into the impacts, challenges and potential solutions.
What is Regulatory Compliance?
Businesses need to follow a set of laws and regulations in order to comply with local, state, and federal jurisdictional requirements. Regulatory compliance typically describes the process of identifying such regulations and taking actions to abide by these legal instruments. Furthermore, there are many risk management guidelines and frameworks that vary by industry, such as the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA), Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) for the healthcare industry, and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) for businesses that trade in Europe within the data privacy and security industry.
Corporate regulations were introduced in the 20th century to tackle the root causes of business abuse and scandals. Unfortunately, these attempts to address the root cause only brought about further instances where businesses found loopholes and the need for further legislation. This cycle brought more complexity to the regulatory compliance process and has even accelerated in this century. Corporate regulations have continued to evolve through periods of dramatic legislative interventions by federal lawmakers and major incidents such as the GE and Westinghouse price-fixing scandal in the 1960s. Modern compliance programs have increasingly become part of business practice for most corporations with some businesses having an entire department delegated to this process. As a result, businesses have increasingly started to push back on regulation that slows down innovation while legislators continue to discourage abuse and scandals.
Why is Regulatory Compliance Essential?
Non-compliance can be costly, as evidenced by the $17B in penalties issued by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) between 2016 and 2020, leading to over 400 companies being suspended from operations.
As another current example of noncompliance, as of September 24, 2021, WPP (a 12 billion GBP advertising conglomerate) agreed to pay $19 million to settle charges that it violated the anti-bribery, books and records, and internal accounting controls provisions of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) in connection with its subsidiaries in India, Brazil, China, and Peru.
The consequences of non-compliance can be segmented into 5 categories:
Fines: This is the most obvious and common consequence with legal costs and those of the prosecution adding up quickly.
Imprisonment: Company leaders and employees can be imprisoned in some cases. As an example, the EPA has initiated more than 50 criminal cases in 2021.
Reputational damage: The financial impact for fines could be dwarfed by the long term reputational damage, leading to loss of clients. Enterprises strictly monitor their vendors for regulatory noncompliance and don’t hesitate to cut ties in the event of such incidents.
Loss of key employees or prospect hires: Regulatory investigations seriously hinders the chances of attracting the best talent.
Loss of operations: In some cases, regulators shut down the operation of a company temporarily or permanently until the incident has been resolved. The loss of income could lead to bankruptcy.
Top Challenges with Regulatory Compliance
The main challenges to maintaining regulatory compliance are:
Emerging regulatory trends
“Broad horizon” refers to the diversity of regulations a given business needs to comply within their jurisdiction.
As an example, a manufacturing business will need to comply with various regulations that span across multiple topics such as:
Employment Law
Fair Competition
Environment, Health, and Safety
IT Safety and Security
“Constant changes” captures the fact that every seven minutes, a new regulation is issued. Staying on top of regulatory changes for corporate boards and compliance officers remains a major challenge because regulatory change is accelerating by 10% every year.
“Determining emerging regulations and compliance trends” is another key challenge that carries significant risk. On the one hand, compliance officers need to understand the impact of regulatory changes and suggest edits to evolving regulations during the proposed rulemaking process, on the other hand, government relations teams need to monitor evolving bills and make submissions compliant with lobbying regulations in order to influence future legislation. With the number of bills, laws, and regulations exploding in recent years, companies are finding it challenging to track this manually.
“Escalating cost” for corporations and small businesses is a problem since the regulatory compliance teams required to track new regulations and bills and set up risk and controls are doing so manually.
How to Maintain Regulatory Compliance?
Regulatory compliance starts with companies building a law library to represent the regulations they need to monitor. Here are the key steps in this process:
Identify applicable regulations;
Understand requirements and associated risks;
Establish controls tied to risks;
Track changes to regulation to update risk and controls as needed to stay in compliance; and
Scan the horizon to anticipate future legislative changes by analyzing bills and enforcement actions.
The function of regulatory compliance is benefiting from technological evolution, where Machine Learning and Natural Language Processing are bringing innovative new ways to standardize this step across industries and jurisdictions.
“SEC.Gov | Selected Division of Enforcement: Accomplishments: December 2016 – December 2020” SEC.Gov | HOME, 30 Dec. 2020, https://www.sec.gov/enforce/selected-division-enforcement-accomplishments-december-2016-december-2020
“SEC.Gov | SEC Charges World’s Largest Advertising Group with FCPA Violations.” SEC.Gov | HOME, 24 Sept. 2021, https://www.sec.gov/news/press-release/2021-191
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Posted on 24 November 2011. Tags: Adopt a Monument, Germany, Heinrich Heine, history, Joyce Kilmer Park, Lorelei Fountain, Municipal Art Society, poet, sculpture
By 1905 vandals had already assailed the Lorelei Fountain, but nothing near the destruction it would face over the next 80 years. (Photo courtesy of Public Design Commission of the City of New York)
The Lorelei Fountain is less conspicuous these days—with all its limbs in tact and graffiti nowhere in sight.
On a recent warm November day, a smattering of jurors, government workers and locals gathered around the base of the gleaming 20-foot statue in the Joyce Kilmer Park. They sat across from the Bronx Supreme Courthouse, eating sandwiches and smoking cigarettes, unaware of the statue’s tumultuous history.
The shrouded siren high on a pedestal, with mermaids, dolphins, waves and a skull encircling its base is more than a century old, having survived an ocean trip, two world wars, vandalism and urban renewal. Traces of the statue’s rocky history can only be seen in its faintly mismatched stones, revealed by the maintenance workers giving it a biannual power washing.
“Everyone exposed to it is exposed to the wider art world,” said Phyllis Cohen, director of the Municipal Art Society‘s Adopt-A-Monument program responsible for restoring this and 37 other monuments around the city. “It’s really what public art should be.”
The statue depicts Lorelei, originally created by Romantic poet Clemens Brentano in his 1801 novel Godwi, but brought to international renown by famous German lyric poet Heinrich Heine, to whom the sculpture is dedicated. In his poem “Dei Lorelei,” Heine writes about the perilous rock on the Rhine as a fair-haired siren seeking revenge for her broken heart by luring sailors to their deaths.
After Heine’s death, a committee made up of prominent literary minds proposed honoring him with a monument in his hometown of Düsseldorf. They chose German sculptor Ernst Herter for the project.
But Heine was known for his vocal opposition to the rise of German nationalism, a position that lead much of his work to be banned. He was also a Jew operating in Germany amid growing antisemitism. Therefore, the committee struggled to find a place for the sculpture in Germany.
Meanwhile, in New York, German Jews were enjoying new-found prosperity. Arion, a German American singing group, decided to give the fountain a home across the Atlantic. The committee intended to place the Lorelei Fountain at the southwest entrance of Central Park, but citizens’ groups complained about the statue’s nudity and ornate, Baroque style.
“Central Park didn’t find it aesthetically that pleasing,” Cohen, an art historian, said. It was quite elaborate, and Classical style was in vogue.
Yale professor Jeffrey Sammons chalked up New Yorkers’ reluactance to darker reasons in a lecture he gave last spring. “German Americans sensed nativist hostility,” he said, “and some suspected an antisemitic undertone.”
Whatever the real reason, Arion finally found a location for the statue in the soon-to-be-developed Grand Concourse―at the time a grandiose boulevard with a large population of wealthy German Jews, according to Constance Rosenblum’s book Boulevard of Dreams, about the area’s history.
The fountain was dedicated on July 8, 1899.
“The monument was unveiled yesterday amid the cheers of thousands of Germans who gladly called themselves Americans, and shouted lustily in praise of their adopted country,” wrote an unnamed author in the New York Times the following day. (The Times did not yet use bylines.)
The writer, however, was less positive regarding the piece itself, calling it “disappointing.”
“The naiads at the foot are graceful and finely conceived, but the chief figure does not convey to the American mind any conception of the Lorelei,” the author wrote. “The figure is chiseled in too heroic lines, and would represent Brünhilde better than the Rhine maiden.”
Considering what came afterward for the Lorelei Fountain, the critic’s words were mild. Immediately after it was installed, vandals assailed the fountain, which required “round-the-clock” police protection, according to Rosenblum. The “drama,” Rosenblum wrote, was due in part to the mermaids at the base of the siren.
They were “lusciously naked, their cold marble breasts temptingly exposed for the delectation of every prepubescent boy in the West Bronx,” she wrote.
The statue received negative attention throughout its first century, from an axed-off arm to a head knocked off by nearby demolition.
Natural forces were no kinder, causing the marble to erode to a “sugary consistency,” said Cohen.
Meanwhile the wealthy Jews moved away, ceding space to poor Hispanics and blacks. Poverty and arson spread across the area. Over the next half a century, the Lorelei Fountain was moved to the northern side of the park and subsequently covered in graffiti. Vandals left not one mermaid’s head in tact.
During a particularly grave stretch, the fountain was painted completely black, then red, then ineffectually white.
“It was an angry time,” Cohen said.
By the time the Municipal Art Society gathered together $1.87 million in 1998―with the help of the city and private donors, including a $310,000 gift from the Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Foundation in 1997―the monument was virtually unrecognizable.
“It was a mess,” Joan Berkowitz, the leading conservationist in charge of repairing the statue said.
In the course of a year, Berkowitz and crew took apart the fountain piece by piece, cleaned off the years of graffiti and natural sediment, and sent pieces of the statue to specialists in the city and in Canada. Sculptors cast new limbs, heads and other parts into marble. Conservationists replaced the fountain’s plumbing and moved the whole thing back to the park’s more visible south side. Berkowitz “stitched” the pieces back together using long stainless steal pins and filled in the cracks.
Considering the scale of the operation, the transition is impressive, even if not immediately evident to everyday parkgoers.
Waleska Jean-Louis, 38, was one of several jurors in the park when Cohen and team cleaned the monument. On lunch break, Jean-Louis sat on a bench facing both the Lorelei Fountain and the court.
“I didn’t really know what it was,” Jean-Louis said as she looked up at the statue for the first length of time. “So far it looks clean. I never would have known it had graffiti.”
She said she enjoyed the presence of the Lorelei Fountain, nonetheless.
“It adds to the park’s appeal,” she said. “It’s very nice to come and sit and have some sort of art to look at.”
After she glanced at her watch to see the lunch hour had passed, Jean-Louis and a fellow juror walked back to the courthouse.
Amid her hurry, she stopped at the base of the fountain for a long moment to take in a little bit of history she’d missed.
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On the evening of 6 April 1994, the aircraft carrying Rwandan president Juvénal Habyarimana and Burundian president Cyprien Ntaryamira, both Hutu, was shot down with surface-to-air missiles as their jet prepared to land in Kigali, Rwanda….Assassination of Juvénal Habyarimana and Cyprien Ntaryamira.
What happened Burundi 1994?
Ndadaye’s successor Cyprien Ntaryamira was assassinated in the same plane crash with Rwandan President Juvenal Habyarimana on 6 April 1994. This act marked the beginning of the Rwandan genocide, while in Burundi, the death of Ntaryamira exacerbated the violence and unrest, although there was no general massacre.
When did Paul Kagame become the president of Rwanda?
The president is elected every seven years by popular vote, and appoints the prime minister and all other members of Cabinet. A total of 4 people have served in the office. The incumbent president is Paul Kagame, who took office on 24 March 2000.
What role did Paul Kagame play in the genocide?
Paul Kagame, (born October 1957, Rwanda), Rwandan military leader and politician, who, as leader of the Rwandan Patriot Front, defeated Hutu extremist forces to end the 1994 Rwandan genocide. In 2000 he became president of Rwanda.
How many presidents has Rwanda had since independence?
A total of four people have served as President of Rwanda (not counting two Acting Presidents). The current President is Paul Kagame, since 24 March 2000.
Who is first president of Rwanda?
Under the leadership of Grégoire Kayibanda, Rwanda’s first president, the Party for Hutu Emancipation (Parti du Mouvement de l’Emancipation du Peuple Hutu) emerged as the spearhead of the revolution. Communal elections were held in 1960, resulting in a massive transfer of power to Hutu elements at the local level.…
How did the Rwandan Genocide end?
The genocide ended when the Tutsi-dominated rebel movement, the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), captured Kigali. The RPF overthrew the Hutu government and seized power.
What happened in Burundi and Rwanda?
Over the course of the short period from April through July of 1994, beneath the cover of an ongoing civil war, extremist members of Rwanda’s Hutu ethnic majority targeted the nation’s Tutsi minority for rape, torture, and murder. Political moderates and some members of the Twa minority were also victimized.
What happened to the Rwandan president in 1994?
On April 6, 1994, Rwandan president Juvénal Habyarimana, and other officials including, Burundian President Cyprien Ntaramiyira, were killed when their plane, returning from yet another round of discussions with international mediators, was shot down.
Who is the president of Rwanda?
The president of Rwanda is the head of state and head of exceutive of the Republic of Rwanda. The president is elected every seven years by popular vote, and appoints the prime minister and all other members of Cabinet. A total of four people have served as the President of Rwanda. The incumbent president is Paul Kagame, since 24 March 2000.
Who was the leader of the Rwandan genocide?
In October 1990, Rwigyema led a force of over 4,000 rebels from Uganda, advancing 60 km (37 mi) into Rwanda under the banner of the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF). Rwigyema was killed on the third day of the attack, and France and Zaire deployed forces in support of the Rwandan army, allowing them to repel the invasion.
What happened in the Apocalypse in Rwanda?
The Assassination of the Presidents and the Beginning of the “Apocalypse”. On April 6, 1994, Rwandan President Juvenal Habyarimana s personal plane, a gift from French president Francois Mitterand, was shot down as it returned to Rwanda, killing Habyarimana, Burundian president Cyprien Ntarymira, and members of their entourages.
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The On-Stage WS8550 appeared on our recommended list for Table Style Keyboard Stands from February 2017 until March 2020 when it was removed due to being out-ranked by the K&M Omega 18810, K&M 18820 and K&M 18953.
Back in February 2017 and March 2018, the WS8550 was the highest rated Table or T- style stand under $100 but the price went up during 2019.
It is suitable for most 49-key and larger keyboards. The 8 rubber pads (2 on each of the extended arms) can be adjusted to firmly hold a wide range of gear.
With its variable width and depth it's also well suited to holding many DJ Coffins and Mixing Consoles.
Our analysis of customer reviews revealed that this is a versatile stand which is quite well regarded by keyboardists and DJs so it's worth considering if your budget is limited.
Height: Adjustable between 8 set positions from 24” to 33”
Width: Adjustable from 29” to 47”
Depth: Adjustable from 15” to 27”
Construction: Steel, welded and bolted
If you can stretch your budget a bit further then there are some much more highly rated stands available which you'll find in our guide to The Best Table Style Keyboard Stands.
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Novel–Rebirth To A Military Marriage: Good Morning Chief–Rebirth To A Military Marriage: Good Morning Chief
Ding Jiayi couldn’t assist but truly feel stressed when she observed such a large flight terminal after alighting coming from the jet. She didn’t even know which place to go next. She is in a madness. She didn’t realize if she could traverse across the airport, significantly less the capital.
If Qiao Nan was looking at her, she may have presented Qiao Nan a good defeating. She needed to permit Qiao Nan discover ways to prioritize concerns!
Was that the att.i.tude Ding Jiayi needs to have if she was seeking support? How outrageous!
Ding Jiayi, who continued cursing Qiao Nan in her center, experienced never paused to contemplate why she always looked like an unbeatable giant facing Qiao Zijin who has been always happy to endure the brunt for her. Why then was she so fragile facing Qiao Nan, believing that Qiao Nan needed to arrange all the things for her?
Was an att.i.tude Ding Jiayi needs to have if she was demanding aid? How silly!
That wretched woman was probably praying she would get lost within this spot. Doing this, she wouldn’t need to be concerned about her mother at some point! Extra fat chance! She would never allow that to occur. Not just would she make it through, but she would even live her life well and exist an extensive daily life! Qiao Nan acquired superior not dream of eradicating her!
She taken care of Qiao Zijin as her daughter. But each and every time she thought about Qiao Nan, she noticed which it was Qiao Nan’s responsibility to take care of her. It was like their jobs of mum and daughter were actually reversed.
Huffing, Ding Jiayi gained some energy and decided to generate a phone right to Qiao Nan. “h.e.l.lo, it’s your mommy!â€
That wretched female was probably hoping she would go missing in this particular put. Doing this, she wouldn’t be concerned about her mommy down the road! Excess fat opportunity! She would never allow that to come about. Not simply would she survive, but she would even survive her daily life well and stay a good living! Qiao Nan got far better not desire doing away with her!
She wasn’t highly knowledgeable and identified only some basic figures. Aside from, this was her newbie choosing a airplane. At her get older, it was subsequently only appropriate for someone to be taking care of her. But Qiao Nan acquired remaining her inside the lurch! If anything would eventually her, it could be entirely Qiao Nan’s fault! Was Qiao Nan not scared that she would turned into a child without any mom? Was she wanting that her mother would go into a car accident?
Simply how much evil obtained she fully commited in the prior existence that she got obtained her retribution by means of a child like Qiao Nan?
Soon after coming to that realization, not just have Qiao Dongliang change all the hair at home, but he even modified these phones significant-level of quality models.
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Qiao Dongliang believed which he would not manage to rein in Ding Jiayi as a result of Qiao Zijin. Considering the fact that which was the situation, it absolutely was much better for them to not survive together and hurt the other person. Sooner or later, Ding Jiayi experienced far better tolerate Qiao Zijin. He didn’t mind lifestyle on their own. In Ping Cheng, he still obtained his aged neighbours and outdated colleagues. Without Ding Jiayi, he would be able to continue with his life the same.
Huffing, Ding Jiayi obtained some toughness and resolved to generate a call instantly to Qiao Nan. “h.e.l.lo, it’s your mom!â€
The amount satanic got she devoted in the prior living she possessed obtained her retribution available as a daughter like Qiao Nan?
Qiao Dongliang recognized that he would never manage to rein in Ding Jiayi due to Qiao Zijin. Considering the fact that that has been the scenario, it had been better for the children not to ever live together and hurt each other. Later on, Ding Jiayi obtained better deal with Qiao Zijin. He didn’t thoughts dwelling on their own. In Ping Cheng, he still got his classic nearby neighbors and older peers. Without Ding Jiayi, he could continue with his life all alike.
“Whose mum?†Miao Jing resolved with a frosty tone. How could Ding Jiayi be so positive about shouting that right away? She had the desire to retort her.
Rebirth To A Military Marriage: Good Morning Chief
If Qiao Nan was before her, she could have provided Qiao Nan an effective overcoming. She simply had to allow Qiao Nan figure out how to prioritize concerns!
“Oh, it’s you.†It had been the previous chief’s wife, her in-regulations. While they were definitely conversing on the phone additionally they couldn’t see one another, Ding Jiayi reflexively enable out a grin and her color was incredibly polite. “In-laws, I’m seeking my girl. Would you get her to your cell phone, remember to?â€
Didn’t she adore Qiao Zijin significantly? And didn’t Ding Jiayi only have one child, Qiao Zijin? Considering that she only acquired one daughter, Ding Jiayi acquired more effective not imagine making the most of the benefits of owning Nan Nan to be a girl. Miao Jing would fulfill this desire of Ding Jiayi.
With the aggrieved mentality, Ding Jiayi performed it in for almost 2 hours during the air. Her view ended up bloodshot the moment she landed. Everyone reacted differently to jet trips. There was people who obtained nauseous. As a result, no one thought that it was actually peculiar for Ding Jiayi to respond in this way. Apart from, there are individuals that slept throughout complete aircraft trips. Perhaps, her vision had been reddish colored because she had just woken up.
Simply how much evil had she fully commited in the former lifestyle that she experienced received her retribution in the form of a child like Qiao Nan?
Soon after dangling up Ding Jiayi’s call, Miao Jing was still infuriated. Because of this, Miao Jing created a get in touch with to the one that has been delivered to go with Ding Jiayi up. “She’s already during the airport terminal but the truth is don’t have got to pick her up. Just give her Qiao Zijin’s handle. You could keep coming back your home.â€
Who had been the actual debtor during this life? Other people above and beyond Ding Jiayi could comprehend the situation certainly. Just as how Qiao Nan had when lamented to Qiao Dongliang, maybe, she experienced due Ding Jiayi an excessive amount of in the earlier life-time that she had to pay off her to this kind of magnitude now. All she requested ended up being to have practically nothing with regards to Ding Jiayi immediately after she repaid her financial obligations.
“What variety of mum do you find yourself? Don’t you know that Nan Nan has training at school currently? You think which the Zhai family’s is important are much less essential compared to the Qiao family’s? How daring people!†Only a mislead like Ding Jiayi would be able to cease Nan Nan from going to college just to let that mindless Qiao Zijin go in her location.
“Why not?†Miao Jing was infuriated. “Nan Nan’s the little princess-in-law from the Zhai spouse and children now, not the little girl from the Qiao family. Do you actually think you’re the empress? You generally drop your temper looking at Nan Nan but assist Zijin like she’s your excel at. Our Zhai family members doesn’t greet you. Examine yourself. It appears as if you don’t need to have our guide now that you’re within the cash. Okay, I’ll explain to Nan Nan in regards to this to ensure she won’t have to bother about it. I’m holding up.â€
She wasn’t highly well-informed and known just a couple straightforward personalities. Apart from, that was her very first time going for a airplane. At her age group, it absolutely was only ideal for an individual to be taking care of her. But Qiao Nan possessed remaining her inside the lurch! If something were to happen to her, it may be entirely Qiao Nan’s negligence! Was Qiao Nan not worried that she would develop into a youngster without any mother? Was she expecting that her mom would wind up in a crash?
Miao Jing was terribly unwilling to guide Ding Jiayi and Qiao Zijin. A great youngster like Nan Nan had been dragged down by each of them. Even if aching Nan Nan so seriously, they still dared to treat Nan Nan using that conceited att.i.tude. How shameless!
“Oh, it’s you.†It was actually the previous chief’s partner, her in-legislation. Though they have been conversing on the telephone and so they couldn’t see each other well, Ding Jiayi reflexively permit out a smile and her sculpt was incredibly courteous. “In-law, I’m seeking my little girl. Could you possibly get her to your cellphone, please?â€
“Oh, it’s you.†It absolutely was the existing chief’s partner, her in-laws. Whilst they have been speaking on the phone and they also couldn’t see one another, Ding Jiayi reflexively simply let out a grin and her develop was incredibly well-mannered. “In-laws, I’m interested in my child. Might you get her to your phone, make sure you?â€
Didn’t she adore Qiao Zijin greatly? And didn’t Ding Jiayi end up with one daughter, Qiao Zijin? Since she only got one little girl, Ding Jiayi got superior not have dreamed of relishing some great benefits of obtaining Nan Nan as being a little princess. Miao Jing would carry out this wish of Ding Jiayi.
“Whose mom?†Miao Jing addressed using a cold strengthen. How could Ding Jiayi be so confident in screaming that without delay? She had the need to retort her.
That wretched young lady was probably praying she would go missing in this particular position. That way, she wouldn’t need to worry about her mommy in the foreseeable future! Fats opportunity! She would not allow that to arise. Not just would she survive, but she would even are living her living well and live a long everyday life! Qiao Nan got more effective not have dreamed of eradicating her!
If it got to her most much loved little girl, Ding Jiayi’s temper possessed never been great. “What? She traveled to education? Thats a laugh! She didn’t even complete high school graduation. Why doesn’t she just survive a simple lifestyle? What’s the purpose of planning to institution? She recognises that I’m emerging and also that her sister’s death, and she doesn’t even hang on in front of the mobile phone! How dare she!â€
Miao Jing was terribly reluctant to aid Ding Jiayi and Qiao Zijin. An effective kid like Nan Nan had been dragged downwards by each of them. Even when negatively affecting Nan Nan so poorly, they still dared to manage Nan Nan with this conceited att.i.tude. How shameless!
“Oh, it’s you.†It had been that old chief’s spouse, her in-regulation. While they were definitely conveying on the telephone and in addition they couldn’t see one another, Ding Jiayi reflexively allow out a smile and her tone was incredibly respectful. “In-law, I’m searching for my child. Can you get her to your smartphone, please?â€
“Why not?†Miao Jing was infuriated. “Nan Nan’s the daughter-in-law of the Zhai family now, not the child in the Qiao friends and family. Do you actually think you’re the empress? You always get rid of your temper looking at Nan Nan but offer Zijin like she’s your excel at. Our Zhai loved ones doesn’t greet you. Check out oneself. It appears as if you don’t demand our assist ever since you’re on the investment capital. Alright, I’ll tell Nan Nan in regards to this to ensure she won’t need to worry about it. I’m hanging up.â€
That wretched female was probably hoping she would go missing during this place. That way, she wouldn’t need to be concerned about her mother later on! Excess fat chance! She would not let that transpire. Not only would she survive, but she would even exist her everyday life well and survive a long-term daily life! Qiao Nan acquired greater not think of getting rid of her!
Posted on June 3, 2022 by Frank Cheerful and tagged .
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The world-renowned SiGMA awards recently announced their nomination for the 2022 SiGMA Awards Europe, honoring enterprises that have made remarkable contribution to the industry this year. After winning “Corporate Social Responsibility Contributor of the Year” award in 2021, BBIN once again got the nod for “Live Casino Provider of the Year”.
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BBIN Delighted to be Nominated for the First SPiCE Philippines
Following a highly successful 1st Strategic Platform for iGaming Conference & Exhibition (SPiCE) in India, the organizer will soon hold their first SPiCE 2022 in Cebu, Philippines from Oct 26-28. The event will showcase the latest products and results in research & development from the industry, providing business networking and cooperation opportunities for all the participants. There will be an award ceremony to honor and acknowledge the outstanding achievement of the companies in the gaming and betting fields. Without doubt, this three-day conference is going to be a great platform for industry heavyweights to gather together, exchange information and promote business prosperity.
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BBIN Nominated for SBC Awards 3 Years in a Row
The acclaimed 2022 SBC Awards has previously commenced the award selection process. Now in its nineth year, the award is organized by a group of media and experts who shared the same passion in the industry. After a careful selection process through countless operators and suppliers from across all major sectors, the organizer has released the shortlist recently for the 2022 SBC Awards on their official website.
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The 6th AIC (Arena of Valor International Championship) was in full swing; the match was the first international AOV game that kicked off this year. The competition featured a total of 16 teams from around the world to compete for the highest honor. Every game was jam packed with excitement and thrill as each team was trying their very best to win. Unfortunately, MAD Team lost to its strong rival from Thailand— Bacon Time in the group stage and was bowed out of the match.
The Arena of Valor Stage for the Tough Ones
The 6th AIC (Arena of Valor International Championship) will commence on June 17, 2022 ; the game is scheduled a few months earlier this year for the first time. The GCS region ( Garena Challenger Series ) will feature three top contenders—MAD Team, Bikertopia (BRO) and ONE Team. It will surely be a thrilling match to watch for their fans.
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Thank you for your interest in the Lake County Jail Ministry. The following information will give you an overview of the life challenges facing formerly incarcerated individuals. In this resource guide you will find facts as well as personal stories. We hope that this will inspire you to join us in bringing hope to these men and women through God who comforts us and gives us hope.
The United States penal population of 2.2 million adults is the largest in the world. In 2012, close to 25% of the world’s prisoners were held in American prisons, although the US accounts for about 5% of the world’s population. Arrest rates for drug offenses began to climb in the 1970’s with mandatory prison times for these offenses becoming more common.
Those who are incarcerated in the US come largely from the most disadvantaged segments of the population. They comprise mainly minority men under age 40, poorly educated and often carrying additional deficits of drug and alcohol addiction, mental illness, physical ailments, and a lack of work preparation or experience. Currently, the fastest growing segment of the nation’s incarcerated population is women.
Released prisoners have a high probability of being rearrested. In Cleveland, 83% of prisoners surveyed had at least one prior conviction and many reported multiple convictions. Nationally, the majority of released prisoners who are subsequently rearrested are arrested for parole violations rather than the commission of new crimes.
Approximately 50% of people in prison or jail meet the criteria for substance abuse or dependence per The Center for Prison Health & Human Rights
Opiod Pills – 8.71%
Cocaine (crack) – 7.67%
Children of incarcerated parents are six time more likely than other children to become incarcerated themselves
Regardless of age range, a father’s incarceration increases aggression, especially for boys
In the US, 1 in 6 incarcerated males reported physical or sexual abuse before 18 years
Approximately 56% of male inmates reported childhood physical abuse/trauma vs sexual abuse
Over 25% of incarcerated men reported abandonment during childhood or adolescence
More than 50% of incarcerated women reported physical or sexual abuse prior to imprisonment
Juvenile incarceration rates are 12 times higher for children of divorce than 2-parent families
Adult children of divorce are less likely to pursue higher education resulting in lower paying jobs
Increased vulnerability to drugs and alcoholism in adolescence
Challenges of Re-entry
For many inmates, the time prior to release can be one of intense fear and insecurity. They are not returning to the same world they left behind – things have changed. The former inmate must make a myriad of decisions about life, often alone. Successful re-entry ministry involves addressing needs in all areas of the returning citizen’s life: social, intellectual, spiritual, emotional, environmental and physical. When an inmate returns to the community, they will need a positive support system in place that encourages a healthy lifestyle, positive behaviors, and self-sufficiency.
Employment. Released individuals have a difficult time finding and maintaining employment in the year following re-entry. Social service providers in Cleveland identify the lack of employment opportunities for returning prisoners as the most important obstacle to successful re-entry. Released individuals who find employment generally work in low-skill jobs often at much lower wages than they earned prior to incarceration.
Housing. Sixty-three percent of released prisoners in Cleveland lived in more than one location in the year following their re-entry. These former inmates were more likely to live with a parent or sibling than they were prior to incarceration and less likely to live with a spouse than they were prior to incarceration. Many will live in a homeless shelter sometime after release however this living environment makes it more difficult for the formerly incarcerated to resist drugs and find work.
Transitional housing provides housing for a fixed length of stay and usually offers a variety of support services to assist clients in achieving self-sufficiency.
Barriers to securing housing include lack of appropriate identification or references. Rental agencies and landlords may not be willing to rent to a formerly incarcerated person.
Transportation. Transportation challenges represent a significant barrier for individuals attempting to access services with nearly one in four released individuals reporting difficulty with transportation. These difficulties range from lack of ability to access public transportation to the ability to use one’s own vehicle. For example, reinstating one’s drivers license, purchasing license plates and paying for insurance.
Clothing and Food. Access to basic necessities such as food and appropriate clothing represent two of the most overlooked needs of any returning inmates.
“Poor” is a subjective term. To those who are homeless or starving, someone living in Section 8 housing with government assistance probably seems well-off. There is an imaginary and ambiguous threshold separating the haves from the have-nots.
Being poor is reconciling your financial state in terms of pennies rather than dollars. It’s filling every receptacle you’ve got — bathtub, sink, buckets, pitchers while you still have water because you know yours is about to be shut off. It’s staying in an empty apartment with no electricity and an eviction notice on the door, because you know there’s a 30-day grace period, and if you don’t figure something out by then, you’ll be on the street. It’s watching your own blood depart your body from a thin tube as you give plasma for the second time in a week and already calculating when you’ll be able to give again.
Poor is the burning embarrassment you feel when your fifth-grade crush, behind you in line at the grocery store, snickers when your mom is seen paying with food stamps. It’s the sticky summer heat in your one-room apartment, and how the springs of the thrift-store sofa bed you share, pokes into your back no matter how you positioned yourself. It’s the rumble of emptiness from your stomach, and the tastes and textures of powdered milk and generic peanut butter and government cheese that comes from a box, that serve as a constant reminder of your position in life.
Being poor is using the restroom at the gas station down the street and stuffing your pockets with toilet paper because you’re out at home. It’s the scornful glances, the treatment you receive, because it must be your own fault you’re poor.
Being poor is endlessly chasing dollars, and sometimes doing things that are illegal. Nobody understands poor people unless they’ve been there, and it’s hard enough to be poor without also being misunderstood.
Upon release from jail – without access to food, clothing, shelter, transportation, personal identification, and other key necessities – former inmates may see no other option than to return to illegal activities in order to meet their needs. Communities must prepare to receive released men and women back into the community and work hand-in-hand with community service providers and churches to ensure that released persons receive needed resources and guidance after release. These efforts may make the difference between recidivism and successful transition to the community.
Family Legacy of Incarceration
Every generation wants to leave a positive legacy for the next one. But what is the impact when the legacy is a negative one? A legacy that leaves wounds, scars and memories that others would rather forget? A legacy of incarceration is one that has proven to have a high probability to repeat itself and the effects to ripple into future generations.
A legacy of incarceration is a young child being reminded by others that the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree and quietly believing the lie. It is lying in bed at night not understanding where mom or dad went and why can’t they come see you or tuck you in. It is the stomach aches as you leave the prison visiting room unable to spend more than a few hours with your parent; not even being allowed to hug them good-bye, sit on their lap or wrestle on the floor like you did when they were home. It is waking up on Christmas and running downstairs only to find that the real gift you desire is not something, but someone who can’t be there. It is smiling at all the Birthdays and special events while crying on the inside and wishing for it to be different. It is secretly berating yourself, scanning the past to figure out what you did that caused them to go away. It is wondering why you feel punished for their “time-out” from society and wishing you could somehow fix it so they can come home.
This legacy tears families apart and leaves gaps and questions unanswered. Questions like, “Why isn’t anyone else talking about this, and why did my caregiver tell me not to tell others where mom or dad is?” It is countless unanswered questions and tears by others that are never explained or discussed, so you learn to paint on a smile and do your best. It is getting so accustomed to this new normal that when mom or dad return you are unsure of how to act or who to listen to.
A legacy of incarceration is when friends find out your parent is in prison and you hear the snickers behind your back and feel left out of the group. It is also being reminded daily of how your last name was dragged through the mud in the news and made headlines even though your first name is different.
It is realizing that one day your loved one will be returning home and counting down the days, hours and minutes on a calendar, only to be crushed when they are denied parole and the future is uncertain. It is not knowing when they will be home, or worse, the fear that they will go back again and you will be left alone.
A legacy of incarceration is when the only recent picture you have of your parent is in the prison visiting room trying to look happy when you know in twenty minutes you will be asked to leave.
The family legacy of incarceration is one that impacts many victims and creates a cycle of uncertainty, fear and shame that can negatively affect children for years into the future. Children of incarcerated parents often become incarcerated themselves since their “normal” childhood included that element. No child does a report for school entitled, “I want to Grow up to be a Felon,” and yet statistics show that children of the incarcerated are about three times as likely as other children to be justice-involved. With the odds stacked against them and the stigma society applies to these children, it is no wonder we see this legacy play out negatively in their lives.
My son, Andy, is a drug addict. As I write this, he is 7 months clean. I know this, because he has been in jail for 7 months. When Andy was arrested the first time following an overdose, I spoke to his NA sponsor to tell him what was going on. He was not surprised. He told me that this was not necessarily a bad thing. That he had a similar experience in his past and that jail was a wake up call to change his life. I asked him what his mother thought. He told me she was glad to know that he was in jail, because it meant that he was alive and that he was not using.
We have been through several detoxes, rehab, and jail and prison time with our son. I know exactly what that other mother felt. At least he is alive and he is not using. There is still hope. Hope will get you through.
In the beginning it was hard to tell people what we were going through. Afraid that they would judge us harshly; afraid that they would judge Andy harshly, in part because of his actions, and in part because of how much it hurt our friends to see how we, as his parents, were suffering. It’s easier to tell now because so many people are going through the same sorrow and because the things I feared did not happen. Our friends have supported us without condemnation of our son, and that is a huge blessing to us.
Substance abuse (alcohol and drug) is a contributing factor in the majority of crimes leading to incarceration. Up to 50% of incarcerated individuals suffer from some level of addiction. The lure of the high often leads to multiple stints of incarceration. Rehabilitation programs are an important step toward healthy community reentry.
Physical and Sexual Abuse
How does one sum up how it feels to be abused and how that impacts your life? You were just beginning to understand what feelings were in your life when someone introduced to you a whole new set of emotions such as shame, pain and numbness. When you have been abused it taints how you view your whole world. Sexual abuse that happens at the hands of a trusted person in your life opens new doors of emotional and mental abuse.
It is believing the lie that you deserve what is happening and somehow it is your fault. Abuse is carrying around a box, a place to stuff your feelings, or worse yet, not feeling at all.
It is waking up with uncertainty and not knowing what to expect or how to act. It is putting on a smile when you are crying and screaming on the inside.
It is a game of trying to avoid the abuser at family gatherings, church or other social settings so you are not left alone with him.
It is analyzing your every action and words as you walk around on egg shells, and yet feeling like it is your world that is cracking beneath your feet.
It is questions in your mind every day, wondering what every person’s motive is and what they want from you.
It is a new attitude that arises: living life on the edge, pushing the envelope. This becomes normal because inside you have concluded, “What does it matter anyway?”
It is realizing one day how little things anger you and set you off, not acknowledging that you are suffering from PTSD. Feelings of being out of control come upon you so you lash out as you try to self-preserve. It is another confirmation of your failures. The lie that you have no value or worth swirls in your head louder and louder.
Sexual abuse is emotions and outbursts that are not predictable or rational. The abuse and dysfunctional life that was introduced, groomed and encouraged lives on, just in a different form.
One in six incarcerated males reported physical or sexual abuse before 18 years. And more than 50% of incarcerated women reported physical or sexual abuse prior to imprisonment.
Love never fails
The good news of the gospel compels us to serve as witnesses to the love of Jesus Christ in action. We support, respect and nurture every individual as they are. We create space for transformation to take place. And we show compassion to those who are hurting.
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Ms. Germany is the principal attorney and owner/manager of The Germany Law Firm, P.C., an elder law, estate planning, and probate boutique firm. She is licensed in both Alaska and Colorado and has practiced in the areas of domestic law, elder law, probate, and estate planning.
An active member of the Colorado Bar Association (CBA), Ms. Germany is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), an American College of Trusts and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) fellow, and former co-chair of the CBA Elder Law Section. She is a frequent speaker and lecturer and past adjunct faculty to paralegal programs and has taught Colorado Legal Education courses in Colorado. She frequently teaches continuing legal education courses to attorneys and various groups at national conferences on topics including special needs planning, guardianship, elder fraud, and financial exploitation/abuse. Ms. Germany has also served as a Deputy Public Administrator. She and her team are passionate about helping you and your family prepare for the future.
Attorney
Amy Wegner Kho practices principally in the areas of estate planning, succession planning for family businesses, specifically with farms and ranches, and estate administration. In addition, her practice encompasses probate and elder law, including Conservatorships and Guardianship, and probate review of personal injury settlements. Prior to focusing on estate planning and elder law, Ms. Kho has practiced in the areas of real estate, local government law, and natural resource law.
Ms. Kho’s interest in estate planning is rooted from her childhood spent on her parents’ cattle ranch, where she saw many families ripped apart because no will or estate plan had been put in place. After witnessing the heartbreak of historic farms and ranches sold to intestacy battles or estate taxes, her goal is to help families create estate plans and succession plans for family farms, ranches and other businesses in order to respectfully ease the transfer of assets after death. Due to her connection with the agriculture community, Ms. Kho loves working with family businesses regarding business planning and charitable planning and facilitating the farm and ranch succession planning.
Ms. Kho is an active member of the Colorado Bar Association, where she currently serves on the Elder Law Section Executive Council and the Agricultural Law Section Executive Council. Ms. Kho has taught CLE classes to other attorneys such as Succession Planning for Farms and Ranches: Making it a Success and Elder Law Basics. As education is a passion for Ms. Kho, she often presents in the community regarding topics such as Estate Planning 101; Critical Estate Planning; and several topics related to special needs planning.
Education
BA in English, from Boise State University
Masters in English Literature from Boise State University
J.D. from the University of Denver College of Law
Licensed:
Ms. Kho is admitted to practice law in Colorado and Idaho
Attorney
Patricia Rankin practices primarily in the areas of estate planning, elder law, estate administration, probate, guardianships, and conservatorships. Prior to focusing on elder law and probate, Ms. Rankin practiced in the areas of Equal Employment Opportunity Claims, family law, and insurance subrogation. Ms. Rankin spent several years working for the probate court of the 17th Judicial District Court and has seen a wide variety of simple and complex matters for elder law and probate.
Ms. Rankin’s interest in estate planning stems from courtroom observations of guardianships, conservatorships, and estate administration disputes. In many instances, the families experience long-lasting effects from their grief. She is focused to assist families in creating estate plans to prevent the family anguish which occurs when there is no plan in place to care for aging family members or for managing an estate when they become deceased. She has experienced firsthand from her own family the challenges which arise for a family in making care decisions when the elderly are diagnosed with debilitating diseases such as Parkinson’s and Dementia.
Ms. Rankin is an active member of the Colorado Bar Association, Elder Law Section, and Trust and Estates Section. Ms. Rankin is currently serving on the Elder Law Section Executive Council and the 17th Judicial District Senior Law Committee. Ms. Rankin has taught numerous classes on estate planning basics, conservatorships, and common law marriage.
Education
BA in Social Sciences from Colorado State University with a double minor in Political Science and History
J.D. from Creighton University School of Law
Licensed
Ms. Rankin is admitted to practice law in Colorado
Rachel Wallace specializes in all areas of guardianships (a person responsible for the health, care and well being of another person) and conservatorships (a person responsible for another person’s assets and financial affairs), formal and informal probates of decedent’s estates, both testate (when there is a Will) and intestate, (when there is no Will) and has previous experience drafting estate planning documents and powers of attorney. Rachel has completed several continuing education courses and seminars within the field of Estates and Trusts and is a Licensed Notary Public.
Certificates & Memberships
Boulder County Bar Association member
Education
Legal Assistant
Kate joined the Germany Law Firm P.C. in September 2021. Kate received her bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University in Communication. Kate has experience in accounting, office management, and is driven and skilled in organization. She is eager to provide quality support in assisting clients and is thrilled to be a part of the Germany Law Firm.
Legal Assistant
Cathy joined The Germany Law Firm P.C. in April 2015. She originally hails from Scotland but has lived for many years first in Canada and then in the U.S. She studied secretarial studies with French, German and shorthand at Aberdeen College of Commerce in Scotland and has worked for many years in various administrative assistant roles. She enjoys being apart of the team at The Germany Law Firm and assisting clients with their estate planning and elder law needs.
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©2022 The Germany Law Firm. All Rights Reserved. Attorney Advertising. This website is designed for general information only. The information presented at this site should not be construed to be formal legal advice nor the formation of a lawyer/client relationship.
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