text:
Story by
Anna Heim
Anna Heim is the founder of MonoLibre and a freelance writer for various tech and startup publications. She is a polyglot French news junkie Anna Heim is the founder of MonoLibre and a freelance writer for various tech and startup publications. She is a polyglot French news junkie with a love for technology.
Intel Capital has invested undisclosed amounts in the Brazilian online fashion startups Fashion.me and Coquelux, the Brazilian magazine Exame reports.
Previously known as byMK, Fashion.me is a three-year-old startup that now positions itselfs as a social network for fashion.
"In the same way LinkedIn is a social network for professionals, Fashion.me will be the global social network dedicated to fashion, without all the 'noise' and off-topic conversations our users would see on other networks like Facebook," its CEO Flavio Pripas told us.
As for Coquelux, it is an invite-only buying club for luxury items, which offers its users heavy discounts on curated goods from prestigious fashion brands during a limited period of time. "What's great is that Brazilians love brands," Coquelux's French CEO Pierre-Emmanuel Joffre told Exame.
In both cases, this is the first round each of these startups has raised, Exame said. Yet, both have a global vision and a good understanding of the startup world. Fashion.me first connected with Intel Capital when he participated in TC Disrupt in NYC in 2010, and it was also one of the startups showcased at the event's Startup Alley this year.
As you can imagine, Pripas is quite thrilled about today's news: "Intel is the perfect partner for our growth, as it gives us access to a global network of entrepreneurs and companies," he says.
As for Intel Capital, it started investing in Brazil in 1999, and soon became one of the most active foreign funds. Thanks to its local team, Brazil is the Latin American country where it invests the most. Out of Intel Capital's 40 bets in the region, 25 were Brazilian startups. According to the fund, this represents a total investment of US$75m, out of the US$140m it spent in Latin America.
More interestingly, the fund's interest in Brazil shows no sign of slowing down – it invested in 5 startups this year (including Fashion.me and Coquelux) and expanded its Sao Paulo-based staff to 4 members.
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Amdocs Jobs for Java Developer
August 24, 2020 JOBS, 2015 BATCH, 2016 BATCH, 2017 BATCH, 2018 BATCH, 2019 BATCH, EXPERIENCED JOBS
Amdocs Jobs for Java Developer
Table of Contents
|Java Developer
|Bachelor's degree in Science/IT/Computing or equivalent
|Job Location
Job Title: Amdocs Jobs for Java Developer
Who are we?
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- We make sure that when you watch a video on YouTube, message friends on SnapChat or send your images on Instagram, you get a great service anytime, anywhere, and on any device.
- We are at the heart of the telecommunications industry working with giants such as AT&T, Vodafone, Telstra and Telefonica, helping them create an amazing new world for you where technology is being used in amazing new ways every single day.
In one sentence:
- Responsible for design, develop, modify, debug and/or maintain software systems.
- Responsible for one or more specific modules within a large software system scope
What will your job look like?
- You will design, develop, modify, debug and/or maintain software code according to functional, non-functional and technical design specifications.
- You will follow Amdocs software engineering standards, applicable software development methodology and release processes, to ensure code is maintainable, scalable , supportable and demo the software products to stakeholders
- You will investigate issues by reviewing/debugging code, provides fixes and workarounds, and reviews changes for operability to maintain existing software solutions.
- You will work within a team, collaborate and add value through participation in peer code reviews, provide comments and suggestions, work with cross functional teams to achieve goals.
- You will assume technical accountability for your specific work products within an application and provide technical support during solution design for new requirements.
- You will be encourage to actively look for innovation and continuous improvement, efficiency in all assigned tasks.
Note: Apply Before the Link expires!
All you need is…
- Bachelor's degree in Science/IT/Computing or equivalent
- 1 to 6 years of Java Development
- Experience in Linux/Unix and Sql is a must
Also Search for Amdocs Jobs:
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Why you will love this job:
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Amdocs Jobs for Java Developer
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
Time machine to late September 2009 …
It's a quiet Friday afternoon, and I'm trying to learn my way around Twitter. A steady stream of tweets with the odd looking designation of "#FridayFlash" keeps catching my eye. Easily distracted and always looking for an excuse to put off my writing, I'm drawn in.
"What could zees be?" I ask out loud. (My alter ego always has a French accent.)
Curiosity gets the best of me. I click one of the tweets and enter into a world I never knew existed. It's a world of horror and humor, intrigue and romance. Action, adventure, heartbreak and suspense. I've entered the surrealistic wonder world of #FridayFlash.
What is this wonder world, you ask? According to creator Jon Strother, #FridayFlash is an Internet meme designed to increase your visibility as a fiction writer. According to me and most of the writers who participate each week, it is so much more than that.
Since entering that world over a year ago, I've met some wonderfully supportive and encouraging people, I've read some remarkable stories, and my writing has come a long way. Finding #FridayFlash was like falling through a trapdoor into a hidden fantasy land, and it's a land open to all; writers and readers, alike.
Icy Sedgwick offers more insight in this Fuel Your Writing interview posted this week: #FridayFlash — Interview with Jon Strother.
There's so much more to say about #FridayFlash, but the important information is covered in the interview and in the links I've included. Now I need to hurry and publish this post, because that time-machine-depicting optical illusion up there is freaking me out. It really is not moving. Is it?


text:
I saw hundreds of signs on the Mall today. One was notable for its clarity.
David Annino expressed the equation another way: "We are stronger together than we are divided."
Today at the Rally for Sanity in Washington, John Stewart's closing speech supported that contention:
Americans live their lives more as people that are just a little bit late for something they have to do—often something that they do not want to do—but they do it–impossible things every day that are only made possible by the little reasonable compromises that we all make…
…Because we know instinctively as a people that if we are to get through the darkness and back into the light we have to work together. And the truth is, there will always be darkness. And sometimes the light at the end of the tunnel isn't the promised land. Sometimes it's just New Jersey. But we do it anyway, together.
Jeff Jarvis hailed Stewart's final thoughts as notable tonight in the Huffington Post:
Stewart's close was pitch-perfect, presenting optimism, perspective, honesty, and humor in exact proportion.
He brilliantly separated himself from media, politics, and government, setting him closer to us, the people. In other circumstances, that might sound like a populist's positioning: Stewart as Evita (don't laugh for me, New Jersey). But that's why the apolitical nature of the event matters: He wasn't selling an agenda or buying power. He was leading and inspiring. He was recognizing and supporting the best in us.
Stewart was raising a standard for how our alleged leaders should respect us so we could respect them in return. "Because the image of Americans that is reflected back to us by our political and media process is false," he said. Stewart was doing nothing less than resetting the relationship of the powerful to the public. He was re-empowering us. His speech and his event were profoundly democratic. Not Democratic or Democrat–democratic.
As a sharp media critic himself, Jarvis recognized the rally as a larger critique of the media. The New York Times review of the rally also espouses that view: the "Rally for Sanity will be remembered, in part, as an engrossing act of media criticism," tweeted Brian Stelter.
Media criticism aside, the strength of Stewart's argument lies in his invocation of the shared character that has distinguished the American people throughout the country's relatively short history.
"You go, then I go." When we act collectively, we're greater than when we're divided. It's an ancient lesson that flocks of birds, swarms of ants and schools of fish have fluidly demonstrated in nature for millennia, and yet it's one that humans seemingly must learn and relearn as we grow.
Given the scope of the challenges that lie before the nation in the 21st Century, the need for co-operation is as pressing as ever.


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Lockheed Martin's Latest Aegis Combat System Evolution Demonstrates Extended LoS Capability In Latest Test
Aug 23, 2013 ASDNews Source : The Lockheed Martin
The Lockheed Martin and U.S. Navy team's (NYSE: LMT) Aegis Combat System successfully completed the first live firing test that proves the system can defend beyond its line of sight by integrating data from a remote sensor to intercept a target.
The latest Naval Integrated Fire Control-Counter Air (NIFC-CA) test marks the first test at sea, and the second consecutive time this year, where Aegis used remote data to successfully intercept a target. Using the Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC) to interpret data from remote sources, Aegis launched a Standard Missile-6 (SM-6) missile from the USS Chancellorsville (CG-62) to intercept the target.
"The latest NIFC-CA test demonstrated how the Aegis Combat System has taken a significant step forward in increasing interoperability with remote systems to extend the distance that we can detect, analyze and intercept targets," said Jim Sheridan, director of U.S. Navy Aegis programs for Lockheed Martin. "We continue to use our advanced solutions to provide the Navy with the robust and reliable capabilities needed to defend our nation from sophisticated threats."
As a result of the successful NIFC-CA test, Aegis proved once again that it can transform and adapt to threats and address a changing defense landscape. The U.S. Navy and Lockheed Martin are committed to modernization programs for the Aegis Combat System on cruisers and destroyers to extend service life and provide new technologies to the ships and their crews. Ships receiving Aegis system upgrades will field Open Architecture and Commercial Off-the-Shelf technologies that will reduce total ownership costs and ensure military readiness for ongoing missile defense needs.
Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs about 116,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration, and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products, and services. The Corporation's net sales for 2012 were $47.2 billion.
commenter cet article …


text:
by Todd Walker
My legs felt like a bowl of jello sliding down an old wash board. I crouched in a non-human silhouette stalking in Ultra Slow Motion. A twig beneath my foot snapped and my prey jolted his head toward the sound. I froze and hoped my screaming quadriceps would support my motionless body until he dipped his head to graze again.
What was my prey? A deer realistically mimicked by our instructor, Mark Warren. This was my first of several classes I've attended at Medicine Bow in the north Georgia mountains.
I discovered Mark and his primitive school of earthlore from reading his first book, "Two Winters in a Tipi: My Search for the Soul of the Forest." With every turn of the page, I knew I had unearthed a rare gem in the mountains of Southern Appalachia. That was over three years ago. To date, Mark has published his fourth volume of "Secrets of the Forest" and two books in a historical novel trilogy on "Wyatt Earp: An American Odyssey." These books reflect Warren's lifelong pursuits as a naturalist, instructor of Cherokee survival skills, and wild west history.
Over a year ago, I shared my thoughts on the first book in the Secrets of the Forest series, calling it, "The Best Outdoor Education Book I've Read." I should amend my statement to include volumes II and III in my assessment. Knowing Mark's passion for archery and canoeing, the last volume in the series, which I've yet to read, I'll bet he saved the best for last. For now, I want to highlight Volume III…
Eye to Eye with the Animals in the Wild and At Play in the Wild
The opening of this article was one of many exercises our class took part of in a two-day class at Medicine Bow. Reading this volume brought back my Real World experience as vividly as the day I studied a one-foot square plot of earth for slight changes Mark secretly made. Revisiting my field notes from the Stalking and Tracking class reveled just how much knowledge and experience had been shared that weekend. However, I had one regret – not taking better notes. Not a problem. I now have at my fingertips his many years of experience in a beautifully illustrated, photographed, and written field guide.
Who would benefit from this book?
The obvious benefit is for hunters pursuing game with traditional archery equipment. Hunting an animal with primitive weapons requires that one be as close as possible to the intended prey. In doing so, an ethical hunter shows respect and thanksgiving to the animal for providing nourishment and many sustainable resources.
Observers and photographers of wild animals would do well to practice stalking and tracking. Many phantoms of the forest you've only dreamed of capturing in your lens will appear when practicing these techniques. No telephoto lens required.
Anyone wishing to challenge their physical prowess should add stalking to their workout regimen. The level of functional fitness needed to stalk wild animals is different from any sport or recreational activity I've ever experienced. Mark told us that martial artists found the most success of anyone attending his stalking class. Even more so than professional athletes.
The main benefit I personally received under Mark's instruction was the complete immersion in nature. Slowing down to a snail's pace uncovered small, "invisible" wilderness details unnoticed when trekking full speed with human locomotion.
An analogy Mark used was that of a rock tossed into a pond. The impact ripples to every shoreline. A stalker's task is to minimize the wake in the animal's living space. One's goal is to become part of the "wild" world and not merely a visitor.
"Stalking and tracking are symbiotic. Tracking teaches where to stalk. Stalking teaches how to interpret a nuance in a track." ~ Mark Warren
Educators will find lessons, exercises, and games throughout this volume. In our age of electronics, parents have the challenge of disconnecting kids from devices and coax them into trading virtual screens for forest streams. Mark offers hundreds of ways to make this transition fun, educational, and experiential.
If you are searching to find a unique gift for someone special this Christmas, I would recommend checking the book link at Medicine Bow. I've not found a more comprehensive book detailing the lost art of tracking and stalking.
Keep Doing the Stuff of Self-Reliance,
~ Todd
P.S. – You can also keep up with the Stuff we're Doing on Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook… and over at our Doing the Stuff Network.
P.P.S – If you find value in our blog, Dirt Road Girl and I would appreciate your vote on Top Prepper Sites! You can vote daily by clicking here or on the image below. Check out all the other value-adding sites while you're there…
Thanks for Sharing the Stuff!
Copyright © by Survival Sherpa: Content on this site (unless the work of a third-party) may be shared freely in digital form, in part or whole, for non-commercial use with a link back to this site crediting the author. All links in articles must remain intact as originally posted in order to be republished. If you are interested a third-party article, please contact the author directly for republishing information.


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I've been a total bah-humbug this season; I love Christmas but many factors in my life this year somehow don't make me feel like being suuuuuper festive.
Yeah, well done universe from stripping the Christmas spirit from one of the biggest Christmas lover.
Having said that, I cannot resist a good Xmas jumper, so here is my selection, just in time for the last leg of office parties and of course, Christmas jumper day, the 16th December.
Primark always delivers on the Christmas jumper (and great price tag) front. Although there are many great ones (even a little santa/elf dress), I have to go for this little black jumper. With a Christmas tree. WHICH LIGHTS UP. £16.
Topshop keeps it stylish with this pretty metallic star jumper which won't look out of place after Christmas. £55.
I love a naughty jumper and Missguided always have one. This is £18.
The selection at Boohoo is fabulous – from naughty to nice and going through the quirky, I could not just pick one – so here is this adorable reindeer (£15), the loved up emoji (£12) and Festive AF (£15).
A few cute ones over at ASOS, including pretty pastel plus size ones. My pick goes to the mistletoe (£18 on sale).
If you are looking for classy Xmas jumpers, head to next; I picked this Christmas pudding (£26) one, which is just too adorable!
Talking about classy ones, how about this polar bear (£25) number from River Island in non-christmassy black grey and pink? So cute!
F&F for Tesco has jumpers for the whole family, and the prices are good too. My pick? This #Elfie (£14) that comes with a headband, pointy ears and all. Had to be done.
Love? I'll have my share in wine, thank you very much. Matalan (£15) said it!
This Peacocks number is telling us exactly what we want to hear: calories don't count at Christmas (£22). It is a long line jumper so can double up as a dress.
And conceal the bulge from the multiples Xmas meals and drinks. Just saying.
I could not resist adding this pretty nerdy fox one from Whispering Smith & Bravesoul at Amazon (£18.50-20).
Also too cute too pass is this loved up reindeer jumper from New Look (14.99). Everyone: aaaaaw <3.
Finally, George at Asda has come up with this sparkly fairy festive jumper (£12). So popular that is only available is larger sizes now, but I would probably buy and wear oversized!
Personally, although the options are very lovely, I think last year's Christmas jumper game was stronger….
What about you? Found any Xmas jumper you love?


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I'm delighted to announce a new book by the gifted and prolific author D. Wallace Peach: Liars and Thieves (Book One of Unraveling the Veil)
Behind the Veil, the hordes gather, eager to savage the world. But Kalann il Drakk, First of Chaos, is untroubled by the shimmering wall that holds his beasts at bay. For if he cannot cleanse the land of life, the races will do it for him. All he needs is a spark to light the fire.
Three unlikely allies stand in his way.
A misfit elf plagued by failure—
When Elanalue Windthorn abandons her soldiers to hunt a goblin, she strays into forbidden territory.
A changeling who betrays his home—
Talin Raska is a talented liar, thief, and spy. He makes a fatal mistake—he falls for his mark.
A halfbreed goblin with deadly secrets—
Naj'ar is a loner with a talent he doesn't understand and cannot control, one that threatens all he holds dear.
When the spark of Chaos ignites, miners go missing. But they won't be the last to vanish. As the cycles of blame whirl through the Borderland, old animosities flare, accusations break bonds, and war looms.
Three outcasts, thrust into an alliance by fate, by oaths, and the churning gears of calamity, must learn the truth. For they hold the future of their world in their hands.
Purchase Liars and Thieves HERE
A question for Diana– What was the biggest challenge for writing this story?
Probably making sure that the magic system was consistent and made sense. In the past, my magic system has been very limited (an amulet, a magic book, a single unique skill). This series was much broader with each race having specific skills that vary in individuals. And the skills grow. It's tricky to make the magic appear logical as well as limited enough that it doesn't solve every problem.
D. Wallace Peach started writing later in life after the kids were grown and a move left her with hours to fill. Years of working in business surrendered to a full-time indulgence in the imaginative world of books, and when she started writing, she was instantly hooked. Diana lives in a log cabin amongst the tall evergreens and emerald moss of Oregon's rainforest with her husband, two dogs, bats, owls, and the occasional family of coyotes.
Connect with Diana:
Website/Blog: http://mythsofthemirror.com
Website/Books: http://dwallacepeachbooks.com
Amazon Author's Page: https://www.amazon.com/D.-Wallace-Peach/e/B00CLKLXP8
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Myths-of-the-Mirror/187264861398982
Twitter: @dwallacepeach


text:
Myself and three Ticket colleagues (Jim Carroll, Tony Clayton Lea and Lauren Murphy) were each recently asked to compile a list of the '50 Best Irish music acts right now'. As expected there's lots of debate about it over on Jim Carroll's blog. There were lots of bands I voted for that aren't on the list, and some I didn't vote for that made the final 50. Either way, it's great to see a light shined on so many bands and the list proves that Irish music is in a fairly robust health. Well done to David Holmes for bagging the No. 1 slot.
Here's a list of those included in the Top 50 who have contributed to Musical Rooms so far. Watch out for upcoming contributions from Spook of the Thirteenth Lock, Ann Scott and Dark Room Notes.
(49) David Turpin
(46) Mick Flannery
(38) The Jimmy Cake
(29) Julie Feeney
(23) Messiah J &The Expert
(20) Oppenheimer
(19) Chequerboard
(8) Adrian Crowley
(6) Villagers
(5) Lisa Hannigan
(4) Fight Like Apes
(2) Jape


text:
The Hill Palace, ChottaNikkara Temple and Tripunithura Temple… the Princess Diaries continued!
Posted by divyapalat
And then it was off to the Glorious Hill Palace- a place where both my fathers parents (both of them were cousins) had been born and raised and where the Maharaja had lived from 1914- 1932. My grandfather who unfortunately I never met was born 1921 and my grandmother who died at a very young age (and who also I never met 😦 ) was born in 1926 at the Hill Palace and my Father is lucky to have photographs of them playing together and growing up together in this beautiful, beautiful palace!
I had been really waiting to see the Hill Palace and I was right. It is indeed one of the most magnificent palaces I have ever seen! With layers of Gardens and fountains in front, the Palace , at one time must have stood out as a glorious white swan amidst a lake of green ! With a deer park (huge) which still have beautiful deer and with several building nestled among the lush greenery- the Hill Palace is easily one of India's most glorious and most underrated palaces. After visiting it, I hope to write to the ministry and I will try and restore my family's old home to part of it's former glory. It seems only fitting. It seems only fair.
The Palace is looked after well, considering their obviously limited finances. The Government employees are proud of the Palace and the wood seems to be polished regularly and care has been taken to preserve all the incredible paintings, jewelry and artifacts. But with an entrance fee of Rs. 20, it is difficult to even keep a Palace of this size clean- so restoring it to it's former glory is impossible. Sponsorships and Funding must come in and we should try and preserve this proud testament to India's glory days.
The gardens are now but shadows of what they would have looked like. Where the would have been 50 trees, there is now one aged weed and where there would have been brightly coloured flowers there is one token bush. The fountains are dry and chipped…. A new coat of paint and landscaping would easily restore the gardens to their lush beauty.
I entered and immediately i saw my Family Crest carved beautifully in wood. The Family Crest is everywhere – on the top of the Hill Palace,in different rooms, etched in glass everywhere! Immediately we were click happy and I asked to get some photographs taken.
In most parts of the Hill Palace, photographs are not allowed especially in the Crown room and where the Jewellery is stored- but because we were family- a wonderful government historian proudly took us around to rooms that hadn't even been opened to the Public yet; showing us artifacts they were restoring and rooms that would soon be open to Public.
Another interesting thing to note…is like the Taj Mahal in Agra, you must walk thru this Palace barefoot. The Palace is kept clean and the tiles are original and is wonderful to walk on the cool flooring and marvel at the care and attention that had been taken when this palace was built. It was also so far sighted of those that constructed the palace to choose the right materials for the Palace. Even in the humidity and heat of a Kerala afternoon the floors were cold and the windows kept a steady stream of air passing through. With out air conditioning , we were still able to walk a few hours without even breaking a sweat!
And so it was off to the Crown room! And we saw the crown and the throne and the room where the Maharaja would conduct his daily business!The Palace in itself has several buildings with the traditional centre courtyard. The women, families and children would live and play in the other buildings. I'm assuming a simple game of hide and seek could run a couple of days with the amount of space this exquisite Palace has! 🙂 Unfortunately those building have yet to be restored and sadly some of the of them are being used as administrative offices and the rest of them just left vacant.
Achan (Dad in Malayalam) and I posed in front of his great grand father picture (The Maharaja of Cochin) and I know I was dreaming of being a Princess and roaming this beautiful Palace as my home.
I was snapped out of day dreaming with the stunning light emanating from the rubies and emeralds and the room where all the jewellery and armor is stored. And then we wandered off to see the carriages … beautifully kept and a wonderful memory of a simpler, grander time!
After a quick stop at the Deer park , I sadly said farewell to a new Palace I had just seen but which seemed so familiar to me….! I will come back. I must restore it.
And then it was off to the famous temple ChottaNikkara. Legend has it that my great, great grandmother Parukutty Nethyar Amma ,got married very young. Like all young girls, she wanted many things. Her husband, said to her that if she wants so much, then she should perhaps ask the Devi and so she did. She prayed for fame, fortune and prayed with all her heart. When the Raja abdicated , she was at the temple when the Priest asked her whether she had moved to her new house- the Palace. She went home, to find that her husband had just been named the first Maharaja on Cochin State. The temple is beautiful. With great amount of faith, I went and prayed. I was so proud to just be able to walk the space my great great grandmother had and be able to share some of the faith she had!
No photographs are allowed in the temple.
And then finally we ended up in the Tripunithura Temple where the kings came after their coronation. Interestingly ,in Gurvayoor the Krishna idol is standing, in Tripunithura – he is sitting and when you go to Trivandrum, he is lying down!The temple has a massive courtyard where the elephants were brought and made to stand! We were overjoyed to see one hungry, very naughty elephant troubling his Mahout as the evening set on this PERFECT DAY!
From Hill Palace, both these temples are very close by and MUST SEES!
Posted on March 13, 2013, in Asia, India, Kerala, Kochi, Personal and tagged amma, armor, buildings, carriages, chottanikkara, cool, crest, crown, deer, Devi, divya, down, elephants, flowers, fountains, garden, gardens, grand, grandfather\, grandmother, hill, India, jewelry, jewels, Kerala, kochi, Krishna, Lord, lying, Maharaja, nether, original, paint, palace, park, parukutty, restore, royal, royalty, simple, sitting, standing, temple, tiles, travel, trees, tripunithura, With, wood. Bookmark the permalink. 7 Comments.
raman Menon | March 13, 2013 at 11:41 am
Loved your article.
Thank you!
Rayma Nayar | March 13, 2013 at 11:42 am
Must have been very nostalgic
It was… for my father… who has photographs of his parents playing the Palace!
Himanshu | March 13, 2013 at 11:51 am
Wow…what a beautiful place…lived it through your article…as always :)….we need to do something for sure to restore some of these beautiful places to their former glory…and do the best we can…I am with you my friend.
We must Himanshu. It won't cost anything for corporates and big companies and it will restore our incredible history while still keeping it open to the public at such a nominal rate!
Himanshu | March 13, 2013 at 11:58 am
You bet. I think we should put some structure to our thoughts and approach the right people. The ASI could also help in guiding us.


text:
Signs Opus 16, are six short pieces composed for the classical guitar and were made for the intermediate guitarist. I made them as 'melodic' and 'easy-listening' as possible without being too traditional and predictable. They can be played separately or all six as a series of pieces. You are welcome to play them in any order you prefer.
Please follow and execute any directions and fingerings; many times these indications are an integral part of the music.
They are labeled:
1. Don't Walk On The Grass!
2. Don't Feed The Animals!
3. Keep Out!
4. You Are Here!
5. Keep Right!
6. No Smoking!
Level: 2-3
Pages: 8 (9 pages incl. cover page)
There are no reviews yet.
Only logged in customers who have purchased this product may leave a review.


text:
I can hardly put into words how angry I am about the murder of this WWII hero and the blacks that did it. The media will not mention the facts: Blacks killing innocent whites because of their skin color. Heck, the media barely reports about the out of control black on black crime! When the rubber hits the road, my money is on us goood ol' boys coming out on top.
An 88-year-old World War II veteran was savagely beaten by two teenagers in a parking lot in Spokane, Wash., on Wednesday evening, KXLY-TV reports. Delbert Belton died in the hospital Thursday morning from the injuries he sustained in the brutal attack.


text:
When I was taking a walk through the Jardin des Tuileries in Paris I enjoyed seeing groups of green chairs scattered throughout the park. I liked the arrangement of chairs here because they seemed so casual and friendly, and they were quite comfortable too. When I look at this picture I notice that the middle chair is between two other chairs. It is also between the bench and the lawn. Then I noticed something else. If you look in the upper left hand corner you will see the Eiffel Tower between some trees. It looks like Paris in May provides lots of scenes that fit this theme.
For more information about the topic check here.


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We might not be officially in a recession if the entire economy is added up, but the figure of 0.5% growth for the last quarter is rather unspectacular, and we hear that the recovery might be rather slow and might even head into a second dip. Personally, I think a Loch Ness Monster recovery is more likely, where we have several dips over the next decade. But in any case I think these overall growth figures actually miss the point and miss the very different effects experienced by different parts of the economy. In spite of what we keep hearing, it is simply not the case that 'we are all in the together'. The recession affects different parts of the population in very different ways. And the consequence is that society is being polarised along the axis of suffering. A divided society cannot prosper. Even as I write this blog entry, we are already seeing demonstrations in the US as a result of the enormous polarisation and now they have spread globally under the banner of anti corporate greed. But corporate greed is only one factor here and not even the most important. We need to fix the economy, but we also need to do it with sensitivity to polarisation.
Let's look at the different parts. On one extreme we have those made redundant with little hope of finding another job, those already struggling who have had to take big pay cuts, those whose businesses depended on bank loans they were unable to get, and those whose businesses depend on optional expenditure. On the other we have those in secure jobs with annual increments and even pay rises, those working in businesses in sectors that people have little or no choice to buy from (food, energy, public services, finance, transport etc), and those who manage or own businesses in those sectors. Those at one end face severe difficulty, while those at the other end have secure income during times of often reduced prices , so may actually benefit from the recession, especially for those for whom increases in fuel and food prices affect a small amount of their overall spend. There are large numbers of people at both ends. The middle ground is occupied by those in jobs that may be threatened, on zero or low pay rises, who have some money but don't feel confident and consequently are paying off debts or putting money aside in case of bad times ahead instead of spending.
These three parts are feeling the recession very differently, but there is little recognition of this by government, which behaves as if everyone is suffering equally. Tools that government typically uses to affect inflation such as interest rate rises affect those already suffering most far more than those not suffering at all. Instead of spreading the pain across the population, government prefers to kick those on the ground and leave those standing alone. Those affected most form an important part of the economy but are usually the ones to suffer first and most.
Polarisation of a society is dangerous. Resentment builds, and tensions may build until they become violent. The current demonstrations are unlikely to be a one-off. If one part of a population always takes most of the pain, they can reasonable be expected to object. The seemingly united 99% taking part in today's demos is very likely to fragment as the realisation spreads that they are far from similar to each other, and one part of the 99% is taking a great deal more pain than another. They will soon split into rival groups.
Even within wealth groups, the effects have been diverse. During the recession, many rich people have lost fortunes, but others have made them. Owners of some excellent companies in optional spend sectors will have seen their profits slump, and the value of the business plummet, or even gone out of business. Meanwhile, others have thrived. If this were due to business acumen, (and sometimes it is) no-one would mind. But actually, it is sometimes far from the case. Some businesses are cash rich, but are sitting on the cash, reluctant to spend. Perhaps this is because of fears of increased risk, or perhaps it is so that the senior executives can take larger salaries and bonuses.
The evidence is that some companies at least are behaving very badly, using recession as a means to beat down prices from suppliers, reduce external spend by their employees, reduce training, and keep down salaries, not because of genuine thrift or concern about risks, but through simple exploitation of the opportunities that recession provides to take advantage of the weak. If a company spends less on supplies and staff-related costs, but can keep its own prices and income high because it is in a sector where people have to spend, then obviously their profits can rise significantly. This is not business acumen, it is exploitation and even in some cases profiteering and such behaviour should be condemned, not rewarded. It is these exploitation factors more than anything that the demonstrators globally are protesting about.
I think polarisation issues should be kept in view during recovery. We certainly need to rebuild the economy, but kicking those that are suffering most won't help. The middle ground wants to spend but dare not, afraid rightly for their futures, and are concentrating on building reserves or paying off debts to limit risks. Persuading those in secure employment or with thriving businesses to spend will help, and is the only approach that can reasonably expected to help instead of making things worse. Only that part of the economy has genuinely fluid cash and they must be encouraged or forced to put it back into circulation. So far they have been spared the pain, not primarily because of their own efforts, but mainly because they are in sectors that have been relatively immune. When we look at the overall nature of a capitalist economy, a relatively free market is important, but the market ultimately is the property of the society that permits it to run. It is one of the selections of democracy, not a universal right. The reasonable exploitation of markets has to happen with the consent of the democracy so has to be treated with respect for those who allow it. Because of exploitation going beyond what the electorates consider reasonable, and the fact that respect appears to have evolved into contempt, this consent is being challenged right now.
Modern life depends on a solid foundation of essential services, upon which are built layers of added value. Both are needed for a proper quality of life, and foundation layers should not be immune to economic stresses that affect the country as a whole. We need them, but we also need the other sectors if we are to have a quality of life worth living, and those who add the value are ultimately as important as those who make up the foundation.
Other axes of polarisation
There is also a large and growing divide between the private and public sectors. Private sector people who are struggling themselves are increasingly resentful of having to pay heavily for what are far better terms and conditions for people in the public sector who often seem to do irrelevant jobs and often perform poorly. If the public sector continues to refuse to recognise this and tries to defend their differential with strikes, it will increase this divide still further.
Still another polarisation dimension is age. Intergenerational conflict is inevitable because of the huge debts accrued by government during the years till now. Tomorrow's adults will not easily forgive the enormous pain they will suffer paying those debts off, especially while being forced to watch comfortable retirements that they are funding, but will have no access to.
The recession is not a cause of these other polarisations but it certainly helps amplify the stresses. So we need to build a recovery to help reduce the polarisation, but polarisation needs to stay in sharp focus while we do so.
Need for proper leadership
The economic crisis is really one of confidence. Things were working fairly well before the banking crisis (even if massive debts were building up), and the decline has mostly been caused by reduced confidence. It needs a strong injection of confidence before things can improve. As I blogged at the start of the crisis, the economy was fundamentally strong and there was no need to enter decline, but lack of confidence has caused it to fall apart. Confidence that the rest of the economy will improve will be self fulfilling, but can only really be created by the government. We don't have anything like strong enough leadership currently. The lack of effective leadership is now a major and potentially persistent problem for the economy. People have to be able to believe their leaders and want to follow them before we can get moving again. That doesn't look terribly likely at the moment.
Sorting taxes
Another ingredient in a rapid recovery would be a sound tax base that encourages entrepreneurs but is conspicuously fair to all. There are probably a number of ways this can be done. I'll introduce my own suggestions in another blog. A key factor is that all must pay and according to their total income, regardless of how they get it. Also, a central issue for the protesters is that the rich are becoming ever richer, even during the recession. Some rich people pay their dues properly, but some avoid paying taxes by roaming around the world, never staying anywhere long enough to incur local tax demands. It may be too hard to introduce global taxes, or to stop tax havens from operating, but we must find a tax system that is simple, fair and watertight within the UK.
The most obvious solution is to getting money flowing instead of piling up is to introduce a tax on capital. Some other countries have one, so it is not without precedent. Taxing money left in the bank encourages people or companies to spend it, whether individuals or companies, helping to get the economy moving again.
Dealing with public-private polarity
At the moment, people in the public sector (on average, though their are many exceptions) are paid more and also get far better pensions than their private sector counterparts, in spite of working less efficiently for fewer hours on fewer days, with more sickness absence. This is clearly unsustainable. Public sector terms and conditions need to be brought into line with the private sector, taking account fully of actual productive hours worked and quality of work. If like can be compared with like, then public sector conditions could reasonable be levelled to the 50th percentile of private sector equivalents. Taking job security and other perks into account may even justify levelling to a lower level.
Part of the reason polarity is such an issue is that those made redundant often have to survive on what welfare provides. Most of us would agree that welfare should provide a dignified but basic standard of living as a safety net. At the moment, it is something of a lottery, where those who know how to work the system get much more than those who don't, and it could reasonable assumed that the latter are those who are most in need, since the former group have demonstrable skills that should be put to more productive uses. With the current system, means testing and sudden jumps or falls at thresholds makes it very unfair and often deters people from seeking work. The costs of administering such a bad system are around one third of the total costs to the taxpayer. If admin could be simplified, then up to 50% more generous payments could be made. One way of doing this would be to give everyone a basic living allowance. A well designed tax system will still ensure that everyone contributes according to their ability, and if everyone receives the benefit, it could still all be perfectly fair.
If the degree of polarisation is reduced and everyone can feel that the system works fairly and that all contribute and all get a fair reward, then society can prosper, the economy grows, and everyone is better off.It is in no-ones interests to keep a system where large groups in the population are treated differently. When some badly treated, they won't contribute, their resentment grows into demonstrations and then violence, the economy doesn't thrive,and everyone suffers.


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(2016) Documentary (Music Box) Shep Shell, Izak Sagi, Aida Zasadsinska, Giora Sagi, Melanie Shell, Dr. Erik Somers, Alon Schwarz, Laurence Harris, Janice Rosen. Directed by Alon Schwarz and Shmaul Schwarz
The end of World War II found Europe in shambles. Millions of people were displaced, often their families scattered all over hell and gone. There are some parallels to the refugee crisis currently facing Europe and the Middle East.
Izak Sagi lived in Israel. As a young boy, he believed that his parents were his biological parents. When local kids taunt him by telling him that they are not, Izak confronts his parents who reluctantly admit that they aren't. His biological mother is Aida, a beautiful blonde from Poland who now lived in Canada. Aida comes to visit and then returns several times afterwards. She is oddly reticent to tell Izak about his birth father whom she'll only identify as a "good man."
In 2013 when Izak is 67, he learns that he wasn't an only child. It turns out that Aida had a son just ten months younger than Izak. His name is Shepsyl and he lives in Winnipeg (great choice!); he lived there with Aida's ex-husband whom Shep (as he now calls himself) doesn't have fond memories of – in fact, Greg had cut Shep completely out of his will when he died in 2008.
Izak is overjoyed to meet the brother he never knew he had; Shep is willing to meet but a little more cautious. Izak is a heart-on-his-sleeve kind of guy to begin with; Shep is a little bit more world-wary given his background. The two men have a joyful union at the Winnipeg Airport – I don't know if "reunion" is the operative word since the two had been separated since Izak was three – but Izak is clearly over the moon and can't stop calling Shep "brother." It takes a little longer for Shep to warm up to Izak.
Still, the emotional reunions aren't over yet. It turns out that Aida is still alive and at 89 years old living in a Montreal assisted living facility. Izak conducts Shep to the facility and for the first time in his memory, Shep has a mommy. He is hoping that Aida is happy to see him and she truly seems to be.
But there are some nagging questions and Aida isn't very forthcoming about them. When asked directly, she claims she doesn't remember or doesn't wish to discuss the matter. Laurence Harris, the online genealogy researcher who helped Izak and his family find Shep, helps locate other relatives and friends of Aida who are equally vague. It seems that Aida has secrets that she's not willing to part with, not even to set the hearts of her children to rest. However Laurence finds one more revelation that shocks both of the brothers.
Alon and Shmaul Schwarz are the nephews of Izak making their feature film debut and the story is so powerful and emotional that the somewhat prosaic style the brothers have in shooting the movie can be forgiving. I would have liked to have seen a more deft touch on the editing; it felt that certain scenes went on a bit too long, others felt rushed. At times that can be frustrating.
If you come to this film expecting every question to be answered neatly with a ribbon tied around it, you are going to be very disappointed. Aida died shortly after her first meeting with Shep – the film opens and concludes with footage from her funeral – and took with her to the grave the answers to many of the questions the two men really needed to know. Why did she seem to favor Izak over Shep? Why keep the brothers' existence secret from each other but tell other family members who eventually spilled the beans? Who was the mysterious man in a photograph on a riverside beach that Aida identified as Izak's father – but wasn't her husband who appears in another photo on the same beach apparently taken on the same outing? Why did she and her husband divorce? Why was she so reluctant to talk about those events even though it would clearly ease the minds of her children to know these answers?
Some questions are never meant to be answered and the only people who can answer these questions are gone now. As frustrating as that is for the viewer, one can only imagine how frustrating it is for the two men who have to live the rest of their lives with those nagging questions hanging over their heads. However, they can take solace in knowing that their family circle has grown more than a little bit larger – and anyone will tell you that you can never have enough family love.
REASONS TO GO: The film is very powerful from an emotional standpoint. Izak and Shep are compelling subjects and very different men, understandably.
REASONS TO STAY: This feels very much like a missed opportunity.
FAMILY VALUES: The movie's themes are pretty adult and there's some mild profanity.
TRIVIAL PURSUIT: The Bergen-Belsen Displaced Persons camp is now a military base and off-limits to the public.
CRITICAL MASS: As of 12/2/17: Rotten Tomatoes: 100% positive reviews. Metacritic: 82/100.
COMPARISON SHOPPING: Sky and Ground
NEXT: Jane


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Charlie said….. Marla said….. Patrice said…..
He said, she said. It's a game that gets played in a lot of businesses. Not having a defined "pecking order" that is understood by every person in your organization can lead to a lot of unneccessary headaches. Here's a quick lesson about avoiding this business pitfall.
Who is in charge when you're not in your restaurant? Who is your second when you are/aren't there?
Every good business structure includes a management tree. At the top is the owner(s). Just below, the CEO or General Manager. Underneath may be assistant managers, shift supervisors, trainers, tenured employess and new employees. Any which way the hierarchy of your restaurant shakes out, it's very important that your entire staff understands who is in charge at any given time.
Not having a set chain of command leads to confusion. To a new employee, any person in your business is someone to be obeyed and learned from. As I'm sure you know, different employees of yours have different methods for doing the same thing. One may be better, one may be worse. Either way, the only way things should be getting done is yours. This is only possible with accountability through creating a chain of command that allows you to police your systems and correct errors within the system.
When creating a system of hierarchy, avoid this one common mistake; do NOT give equal, shared authority to two different employees. Sharing authority equaly creates stalemates and sets you up to lose track of who is accountable when the wrong decisions are made. He said, she said.
Create a management tree. Don't split authority. Hold your staff accountable.
Brandon O'Dell
O'Dell Restaurant Consulting
Office: (888) 571-9068


text: Bluebs! …as my friend endearingly calls them. It's blueberry season, and since I'm now hooked on fermenting fruit– check out this post on how I fermented strawberries — I had to try it with blueberries! The turned out even better than the strawbs! I also came across an incredibly simple, quick, and healthier version of a blueberry crisp that I'm excited to share. I brought it to a BBQ and folks loved it! It's adapted from pinch of yum, and also happens to be gluten-free and vegan. With 4th of July just around the corner, both of these would be wonderful to share at picnics or grill-outs!


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UA: Pride On The Line In Final Two Games
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas won't be going to a bowl game this winter, missing out on postseason play for the second straight year.
Senior Julian Horton is disappointed. He and the rest of the Razorbacks had much higher aspirations for coach Bret Bielema's first season. But he said Arkansas doesn't have any plans to treat the 2013 season as if it's over.
"It's about pride," Horton said when asked about Arkansas' motivation with a bowl game out of the picture. "We've got to have pride in what we do. … We've got to keep building each and every week and be motivated for these last two games.
Pride is about all Arkansas (3-7, 0-6 Southeastern Conference) has left to play for after suffering its seventh straight loss at Ole Miss last Saturday. The 34-24 loss secured a losing record for the second straight season, leaving a sour taste around the program as it began another bye week with Tuesday's practice.
The seven-game losing streak means Arkansas has two games left in 2013 before beginning the long offseason. It will play Mississippi State in Little Rock on Nov. 23, then travel to play at LSU in the season finale on Nov. 29.
Running back Korliss Marshall said the reality wouldn't alter Arkansas' approach when it returns to the field in two weeks.
"I feel like we still have something to play for, even if we don't have the opportunity to go to a bowl game," Marshall said after the Ole Miss loss last Saturday. "There's no reason for us to just throw two extra games away."
Arkansas coach Bret Bielema hopes the rest of his team agrees with Marshall.
"We've got two games to show what kind of pride we have," Bielema said.
It's an unusual position for Bielema, who guided his Wisconsin teams to a bowl game in every season dating back to 2005. He left the Badgers last winter after leading them to the Rose Bowl for the third straight season.
But Arkansas' reclamation project has been more difficult than imagined.
Its tumble has reached historical levels as well as the losses continue to mount.
The Razorbacks equaled the school's longest losing streak with its seventh straight defeat last Saturday. They also dropped their 1oth straight conference game dating back to last season, which is the second longest streak in school history (20 straight Southwest Conference games between the 1940 and 1943 seasons).
If that's not enough, the 2013 Razorbacks also became just the fourth team in the 99 years Arkansas has been affiliated with a conference to be 0-6 in league play (1941, 1942 and 1990). The 1941 and 1942 Razorbacks were the only teams in school history to go through conference seasons without wins, finishing 0-6. Arkansas must win to avoid becoming the first Arkansas team to lose nine games in a season.
Avoiding that dubious distinction is one of many motivations for the Razorbacks.
"We're playing for everything," Arkansas safety Alan Turner said. "Of course we're going to play for the seniors because we don't want the seniors to go out like this so we've got to try to win these last two games. But also, we're playing for the guys that are going to be back next year. So we can just establish ourselves for next year."
Bielema said he's disappointed his team won't get to go through bowl practices, which allows for an additional month of work on the field. It's a luxury, especially for programs like Arkansas that could use the practice time as it builds.
Arkansas offensive coordinator Jim Chaney said the early end wouldn't change the Razorbacks' motivation as they prepare for the final stretch of the season.
"That's what we all do," Chaney said. "That's what I've chosen as my profession, so there's never a throw-away ballgame. Every ballgame counts, every play counts. And I do believe our kids understand that. … In classes you have six or seven exams, as coaches we have 12 exams and you want to do as good as you possibly can on those exams."
Chaney believes the Razorbacks will continue to compete even though the countdown to the season's end is underway. So does Horton, who was part of Bobby Petrino teams that went 21-5 over a two-year stretch in 2010 and 2011.
The Razorbacks are disappointed they won't be playing in a bowl game once again, but understand there are two important opportunities left in the 2013 season.
"We're being prideful about our program," Horton said. "We are Arkansas, and we're trying to get back to the way we used to be. Each and every week we're trying to get better and keep being motivated to go out there and get wins."


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Limited Adventure
After a strong performance on the 28th in which Phish took no less than three jams into uncharted territory—"Cities," "Carini," and "Rock and Roll"—it seemed as though they were setting the table for a daring and risk-strewn four nights. But in the following three shows combined, the band took exactly two jams outside the box in "Piper" and "Light," while also sitting in a smooth funk groove for about two minutes in "Golden Age." And that was it—an entire New Year's Run worth of exploration. Dwarfed by each of the modern era Holiday Runs of '09 and '10—both of which produced several timeless pieces of improvisation—this MSG stand was noticeably void of adventurous jamming, a staple the band's 2011 playing. Sure, Phish put on some tight rock and roll shows in New York City, but this is Phish, they can do that in their sleep.
Let's summarize the highlights. "Piper" was certainly the crown jewel of the run, when, in a single moment, the band jumped onto the same page and crafted a layered and looped-out, psychedelic masterpiece that touched the divine. Synced like no other time during the four nights, Phish sculpted a jam that stands head and shoulders above the rest. "Carini" turned into a truly blissful and harmonic collaboration before smoothly landing in "Tweezer." "Rock and Roll" certainly pushed the envelope with varying rhythmic cadences along the way, and when the band couldn't really connect in "Light," despite Page's best efforts to start something, they brought the piece down for the run's Theremin jam. This part of "Light" became increasingly engaging—the most interesting music of the evening—but Trey pulled the string way early for an absolute trainwreck into "Golden Age" as the rest of the band was deepening. Then, as "Golden Age" was just getting somewhere, the band stopped for "Theme."
Throughout 2011, Phish's focus returned to innovative improvisation; the true rebirth of psychedelic Phish music. No longer were jams formulaic, but original and forward-looking, as the band carved new musical pathways for themselves, specifically with the late-summer addition of "storage jamming" to their repertoire. Think about the jams at Bethel, Super Ball, The Gorge, and UIC or Denver. And then think about these past shows—there's simply no comparison. My initial question is, "Why?"
An obvious theory is the 3 1/2 month layoff between performances. But when Phish was off for 6 months between 1/1/11 and Bethel, the time off certainly didn't seem to effect them when they came out with two of the strongest shows of the year. Perhaps the band didn't rehearse enough before this run, as Trey and Mike have been off pursuing other projects, and they wanted to play it safe. Perhaps, and most likely, the band just decided to treat the Big Apple to some high energy rock shows—a trend at MSG this era—and if one looked around during many of the straightforward shredders, most everyone was loving it. But something seemed off, the band's spirited and airtight interplay was noticeably absent, even within their contained jamming .
Pronounced most on the 30th, in a first set in which he flubbed several parts of several tunes, Trey seemed to have his own issues and agenda for much of the weekend. More than a few times there were onstage struggles between Big Red and his band mates as he tried to pull them out of jams, and as usual, Trey always won. The music of the final three nights, less "Piper," didn't possess the daring spirit that has infused the band's jamming from Bethel through Denver—it just wasn't there. Happy to play recital-esque shows, even "Ghost" and "Sneakin' Sally" didn't get any whole-band improv during the second set of New Years' Eve—arguably the marquee set of the year! Conservative to the core, it seemed like something was holding Phish back this weekend. Or maybe they just couldn't hook up? As the final three shows of the year produced a total of one keeper, it certainly isn't a far-fetched theory. But after a marathon summer of proficient jamming, less a show here and there, this run felt out way of place. With so much straightforward rock jamming and song-based sets, dare I say that the final three nights of 2011 felt a little like a far tighter version of June 2009? Hmmm…
Perhaps all of these conjectures are ridiculous and the band accomplished exactly what they wanted to—a high-energy celebration over the final days of the year. But for many of us going to see Phish for a bit more than fun and a good time, it certainly felt like something was lacking. After a year of improvisational triumph in which Phish recaptured their musical magic on a consistent basis, the band closed out the year with some extremely vanilla shows in the World's Most Famous Arena. Has Madison Square Garden become a modern platform for energetic jamming rather than a mecca for Phish's standout performances? This past week, it certainly was.
Jam of the Day:
"Piper" 12.30.11 II
The most impressive whole-band communication of the run; a gorgeous Phish jam.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/phish2011-12-30d02t03.mp3]Tags: 2011, New Years


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Atelier 88 is no longer just a pipe dream, it is actually happening! This week is our busiest yet and we have a full house now until the end of the week. Just as one bedroom is vacated, the phone rings and bingo, another booking, time to don the Marigolds and pinny yet again. I'm still overwhelmed by the amount of washing and ironing, but I've definitely got Guest's Breakfasts down to a fine art and, speaking of which, the printing press is now installed in the studio. Hooray! and what a vision of loveliness it is.
When this chambermaid isn't swilling out bed pans, or burning toast, I'm working in the office as In House Marketing and Events Manager. I've given myself this rather grandiose title because it makes a nice change from my normal job title of Mrs MOP, or Hotel Receptionist 'Hi, I'm Lottie, How can I help you?' (which incidentally, the school careers advisor said would suit me down to a tee… miserable old bat) Sadly my pay grade stays the same, but the upside is that at least it gives me the chance to sit down for five minutes and muck about on Facebook though I lie through my teeth to Wing Commander Neville Nevin (WCNN) and tell him that I'm doing something muy importante like updating the website or working on our marketing strategy ha ha!
And really, apart from saying 'Hello', the point of this post is to share our new website with you. WCNN has been busy writing courses and I've added my own creative flourishes here and there. There's still a bit of work to do on it, minor details that need sorting, more photos need to be added but I'm feeling happy with the way it is looking and I hope that you like it too!
Before I go back to being Mrs Mop, while I still have my Marketing and Events Manager hat on, do check out the courses on the website and in particular, the special promotion for our art courses that we are running in May. It's a fantastic offer and we promise that it will be a lot of fun.


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Scrooby is a country village in the north of the county of Nottinghamshire.
Just to the north of the village, a toll-house used to exist on what was then called "The Great North Road".
On July 3rd 1779, it was the scene of two truly horrendous and violent murders.
In this largely rural and peaceful community, the tolls were always collected by Scrooby's toll-bar keeper, William Yeadon. On the date of the slayings, William Yeadon, was being visited by his middle aged mother, Mary Yeadon. This particular evening, he had been playing cards with John Spencer, a man from the village of North Leverton with Habblesthorpe. After the Yeadons had gone to bed, however, Spencer returned to the toll-house in the early morning and attempted to steal the money that had been collected as tolls the previous day. Gaining re-admittance to the building under a pretence that a drove of cattle wished to pass that way, Spencer then tried to carry off the strongbox under the cover of darkness, but unfortunately for everyone concerned he made far too much noise. Later it was thought that he had carelessly rattled the coins in the old wooden box too loudly. Mary and William were made immediately aware of what Spencer was trying to do, but the latter reacted with extreme violence…
"In a most barbarous manner he fractured their skulls by repeated blows with a heavy hedge stake."
Spencer seized the money and then made the best of his opportunity to ransack the house. The murderer was interrupted by travellers as he dragged one of the bodies across the road to dispose of it in the nearby River Ryton. He was arrested shortly thereafter by a search party, but managed to escape. After he was apprehended for a second time, Spencer was taken to Nottingham and put on trial soon afterwards at the Shire Hall in High Pavement.
There was, of course, only one possible outcome, and Spencer was duly found guilty, taken on foot up to Gallows Hill and hanged on July 16th 1779.
That was not the end of it though, as the rest of his sentence was that Spencer be taken to the scene of his crime in Scrooby, and
"to have his body hung in chains with the hedge stake in his right hand… near the place where the awful deed was perpetrated, on the gibbet post, near the Scrooby Toll-Bar".
This was after his corpse had been liberally smeared with pitch and tar.
These gruesome steps were taken "in accordance with the express words of his sentence". More horror was to follow however, as I discovered as I sat one evening flicking through my back copies of "The Armagh Guardian" newspaper. In the June 9th 1846 edition I found an interesting account which was itself quoting the "Doncaster Chronicle"…
"After the lapse of a few weeks, a party of soldiers conveyed a deserter passing by the place, the sergeant fired his carbine, loaded with ball, at the corpse, and hit it, which caused a stench, almost unbearable for several days afterwards. The circumstances becoming known, the party was followed, and the sergeant taken, and on being subsequently tried by Court-martial he was found guilty and degraded on the ranks. Years rolled on, and the body gradually became less and less, until nothing was left but the chains which originally shackled it, and these in course of time fell and were secretly conveyed away. For several late years the post, with its withered and weather-beaten arm, was the only vestige left of that deed of blood which sixty-seven years ago filled the minds of the inhabitants of the surrounding districts with horror. But Time, which levels all terrestrial objects with his corroding breath, had for years past been gradually gnarling this once loathing stump to its core, and on the 15th of April 1846 actually accomplished his task, and it fell to rise no more."
On the other hand, what is reputed to be the upright of the ancient Scrooby gibbet is currently preserved in Doncaster Museum.
Not surprisingly, after the murderer's decaying body had been left dangling for so many years…
"the creaking cage and bleaching bones occasioned the haunting of the place by either disturbed spirits, or morbid sight-seers"
The hill, in Spencer's honour, still keeps its name of "Gibbet Hill". Nearby is the modern "Gibbet Hill Lane". Nowadays, of course, Spencer's rotting bones have been replaced by an owl sanctuary and a garden centre. What may conceivably have been the original toll-house, the scene of this dastardly crime, is still visible on the A638 leading north from the village, just before its junction with the green road.


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There are a lot of guns in the world. The figure is something like 639 million firearms, or to put it another way, one gun for every 9 people on the planet. Yet the average person knows diddly squat about guns. People probably have a better idea of how Nicki Minaj managed to become a star than express knowledge about guns. Most of our knowledge is likely to come from movies:
Or professional Russians:
As an author I really wanted to make sure I didn't base my gun knowledge upon misinformation, otherwise I'd have to work as a reporter covering the gun debate. So here are a few myths to be busted.
Machine guns are not monsters of death
They may fire great big bullets at hundreds of rounds per minute but machine guns really are given the fashion magazine airbrushing treatment. A great big gun letting off a whole lot of explosions in a short amount of time has a habit of getting hot. Really hot. We're talking change the barrel over every minute hot! Yes, that's right, at the maximum rate of fire your machine gun needs a new barrel every minute to keep firing without causing problems – which I imagine as a gigantic explosion like Bugs Bunny sticking his finger in the end of Elmer Fudd's shotgun. But it isn't just the barrel changes, most of the time you aren't actually firing the machine gun at people, you're firing it at super mean looking inanimate objects, or as the military call it, suppressive fire (250,000 rounds for one kill!!!). Essentially the machine gun is a tool that performs a very different role from the one gun noobs think it does. Well, unless you don't mind the thing catching on fire (yes, I know that isn't technically a machine gun):
Guns aren't really death machines
For death machines, these gun things really don't kill enough people. In science we talk about effects, rates and how to blow up stuff with the things you find under the kitchen sink, as such it is hard to look at the gun deaths and gun injury rates and not think guns kinda suck at their job. The USA use guns to kill roughly 30,000 people a year, one third of those are homicides, but that is less than half the people they injure with guns, roughly 65,000. But that isn't really fair, because not every time a gun goes off is it being used to shoot at someone else or a particularly nasty piece of paper. If you just look at homicides and attempted homicides, guns are still only getting the job done 21% of the time.
Guns suck for self defence
Not everyone can have Chuck Norris camped out in their house for self defence, nor carry Steven Segal around where-ever they go. But as mentioned above, guns really do suck at their job. Whether it is only being 23% effective in legal interventions, or the fact that you're 4.5 to 5.5 times more likely to be shot for carrying a gun, you really start to think running away looks like a better option, even if you are as fat as Steven Segal has gotten lately.
Handguns are about as accurate as the horoscopes
A handgun is a really convenient weapon to carry around with you, but if the side of a barn is more than a few metres away, you're not particularly likely to hit it. Even cops can't hit much with these things, even when the bad-guy is less than 15m away. Half the problem is that bad-guys shoot back, which means you don't stand around collecting holes, you run for cover, which really ruins your accuracy. But I've already mentioned that guns suck at their job, well, your handgun might hit the bad-guy 55 times and still not kill them.
Guns sure do help kill people
As much as guns suck at their job, as I've just pointed out, guns still do a better job of killing than many of the other methods we've devised for killing each other. Sure, people love their tools to kill one another, but guns are a really good tool to use for killing one another. I can't wait to see the military being sent off to war with hammers and cars instead of a gun.
Being shot doesn't mean you can fly
The trick to flying is throwing yourself at the ground and missing. So being shot clearly can't make you fly. Don't know why people think that shooting someone can disobey this simple fact, let alone Newton's Laws of Motion. But what good is a trope if it isn't always on display?
Semi-auto rifles are not assault rifles
Every time someone refers to a semi-auto rifle as an assault rifle, or worse, the made up term assault weapon, a puppy dies. You don't want all the puppies to die do you? Well then, it is time to learn the difference between the military configured select fire rifle, called the assault rifle, which is capable of fully automatic and (sometimes) burst fire, and the civilian one trigger pull, one shot, semi-automatic rifle. I know, they may look the same to the untrained eye, but some people think cars are all the same thing too.
Mags, clips, high capacity…
While we're on the topic of rifles, I have a dictionary and an abacus for people talking about magazines, clips and high capacity mag clips. A magazine is something you read, a clip is something you watch and high capacity is a Japanese train at rush hour. Different guns have different sizes of magazines (which may or may not be loaded with a clip), which means 30 rounds may be high capacity for one gun and normal capacity for another. Also, when one of these these rifles go through 700 rounds per minute and even soldiers only carry 210 rounds, from a standard 30 round magazine, then no gun fight is really lasting that long.
It's a suppressor not a silencer!
Remind me, is +120 decibels loud or quiet? It sure is a lot quieter than a normal gunshot sound (+160db), but calling it "silent" is like calling bagpipes a little annoying. When the best suppressors on the smallest calibre weapons still manage to be as loud as a jack hammer or AC/DC, then suppressors have again gotten the Hollywood make-over. But 30db is a decent drop from ear splitting to "say what" territory, so I'd say these things should be compulsory.
There is no smell of cordite
If someone describes the smell of cordite in the air after a gun fight, you either know that the book is set before 1950 or that there is a sub-plot about a time traveller who comes from the past to assassinate a future self. It seems really odd that so many books use the time traveller sub-plot, because it is usually a one off. It would be far more interesting if this was built upon more, maybe have Gengis Khan show up to knock down a wall, or something, as well.
Less guns are a good idea
Shooting is fun, hunting is very primal, but at some point your neighbours start to get worried when you look more like you are going to war than to the shooting range. Aside from guns sucking for self defence, they also suck at not shooting your loved ones, are handy for suicide, and unless you are in a warzone, more guns in society equals more gun violence. But it is also worth thinking about what gun figures actually mean, like 300 million guns in the US, enough for one for every American despite there being only about 80,000 gun owners. Sounds like a lot, but that means each gun owner has a rifle, a handgun and a shotgun, which is clays, targets and pistols at the local range on the weekend. Perfectly reasonable to go shooting, just not at your local school.
Update: another mythbuster article:


text:
1Hunnud "If I Ever" produced by Fresh Money , via Wildlyfe Ent.. With a heavy bass line and a familiar sound, Feesh Money samples "Shai" to give 1Hunnud what is sure to be a street classic and Bedroom favorite.
A3C Festival [Schedule & Line-Up]
Performers Include: Rick Ross, Bone Thugs N' Harmony, Redman and Def Squad's Erick Sermon & Keith Murray, Bun B, Cam'ron, Too $hort, Austin Millz, Bryan-Michael Cox, Chase N. Cashe, Cormega, DJ Nabs, DJ Jelly, DJ Toomp, K.A.A.N., Kelechi, Kid Capri, Lowkey, Mr. DJ, OJ Da Juiceman, Planet Asia, Rapper Big Pooh, Bahamadia, Scotty ATL, Sosamann, Starlito, Smokepurpp, Sy Ari Da Kid, Kweku Collins, J.I.D, Tall Black Guy, Zoey Dollaz and HUNDREDS MORE STILL TO BE ANNOUNCED.
A3C Conference [Schedule & Line-Up]
Speakers Include: Anthony Saleh (Freebandz), Brandon Hixon (De La Soul), Justin Boland (Pandora), YesJulz (YesJulz Agency), James Andrews (SMASHD Group), James Cuthbert (Sprite), Ryan Leslie (Artist/Entrepreneur), Too $hort, Mike McGarry (Fitzgerald & Co.), Aaron Reid (Epic Records), Shanti Das, Corey Smith (MLB), Jonathan Mannion (Photographer), William Warren Jr. (Mitchell & Ness), Steve DiCecco (Reebok), Kameron Dabney (Dailymotion), Fab 5 Freddy, Bassel Naaman (DASH RADIO), Demont Callender (AM Only) Vanessa Satten (XXL Magazine), Organized Noize, Maurice Garland (Hip Hop Wired), Ernie Talbert (Under Armour), Jeff Sledge (Atlantic Records), Brian Young (The Shade Room), Reggie "Combat Jack" Osse, Keinon Johnson (Interscope Records) and Joshua "Hip-Hop" Kyambo and DOZENS MORE STILL TO BE ANNOUNCED.


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Definition of zonk out
zonk out
- to lose consciousness.
Last edited on Sep 21 2009. Submitted by Walter Rader (Editor) from Sacramento, CA, USA on Sep 21 2009.
- to fall asleep.
Last edited on Sep 21 2009. Submitted by Walter Rader (Editor) from Sacramento, CA, USA on Sep 21 2009.
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|Definitions include: to beat severely.
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text: On Mon, 10 Dec 2001, Javier Iglesias wrote: > There was a post some time ago that mentioned problems > using NetGear FA311 NICs > (-> http://www.netgear.com/product_view.asp?xrp=1&yrp=1&zrp=5) > with some "specific AMD chipsets" > (-> http://www.beowulf.org/pipermail/beowulf/2001-October/001668.html) That wasn't a specific report. It was pretty much "something doesn't work". > We are experiencing some problems getting the highly > recommended FA310 cards > (-> http://www.netgear.com/product_view.asp?xrp=1&yrp=1&zrp=4) The FA310 (Lite-On PNIC-2 or ADM Comet chip) is completely unrelated to the FA311 (NatSemi DP83815 chip). Any problem common between the two is likely from the motherboard, not the NIC. The only current errata with the natsemi driver is that some chip revs apparently have a different multicast filter setup. The driver changed the multicast setting with the v1.09 7/17/2001 release, but there was recently a report that the new filter setup does not work correctly with all boards. > I would like to know if someone tried mounting > those FA311 NICs on Tyan Tiger MP (S2460) motherboards > (-> http://www.tyan.com/products/html/tigermp.html) > and if they got into troubles at all. Donald Becker becker at scyld.com Scyld Computing Corporation http://www.scyld.com 410 Severn Ave. Suite 210 Second Generation Beowulf Clusters Annapolis MD 21403 410-990-9993


text:
Twitter Hit with $124 Million Lawsuit Over Private Stock Sale
By Nate Raymond
and Jonathan Stempel
NEW YORK -- Twitter Inc. was sued for $124 million Wednesday by two companies that said the social media darling defrauded it into pushing forward with a doomed private sale of its shares to stoke investor interest for its initial public offering.
In a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan, Precedo Capital Group and Continental Advisors accused Twitter of using the aborted sale as a means to give the money-losing company a $10 billion market valuation and higher IPO price.
"Twitter never intended to complete the offering on behalf of Twitter stockholders, in the private market, thereby causing substantial damages to the plaintiffs in the loss of commissions, fees and expenses, as well as through their business reputation," the lawsuit said.
The financial firms seek $24.2 million of compensatory damages, $100 million of punitive damages, and other remedies.
Jim Prosser, a spokesman for Twitter, didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
The lawsuit comes as anticipation builds for Twitter's IPO, widely considered the most highly awaited since Facebook Inc. (FB) went public in May 2012.
Last week, the San Francisco-based company said it would offer its shares at between $17 and $20 each, valuing the company at up to about $11 billion.
Twitter was holding its first large investor lunch in New York on Wednesday. Institutional investors who met with Twitter this week say they are optimistic about its upcoming IPO and see it as a more conservative offering than Facebook's splashy IPO.
Like many Silicon Valley start-up companies, Twitter has paid employees and contractors using private stock.
According to the lawsuit, it was worried about repeating some problems afflicting Facebook's $16 billion offering. %VIRTUAL-article-sponsoredlinks%In particular, the lawsuit said Twitter sought to avoid the potential for excess supply of company shares by controlling the buyers and sellers of those shares in the private market.
Precedo, an Arizona-based broker dealer, and Continental, a Luxembourg financial adviser, said they were contacted by GSV Asset Management, an approved buyer of Twitter stock, about marketing a fund that could only purchase Twitter shares.
GSV allegedly had negotiated an agreement with Twitter in which it would arrange the sale of up to $278 million of shares owned by employees and others, in blocks of $50 million.
Precedo and Continental said they lined up commitments for the first $50 million block, and set up road shows in the United States, Europe and Asia where GSV managing partner Matthew Hanson disclosed material non-public information about Twitter.
But they said Twitter eventually blocked the sale after learning that Precedo and Continental had attracted investors willing to pay $19 a share, considerably above the $17 or less offered in other private market transactions.
The firms now say Twitter "never intended" to allow the private stock sales to go forward.
"Twitter's intention was to induce Precedo Capital and Continental Advisors to create an artificial private market wherein Twitter could maintain that a private market existed at or about $19 per share for the Twitter stock," they said.
The case is Precedo Capital Group Inc. v. Twitter Inc., U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 13-07678.


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Wholeheartedly Living Your Dreams — While Fearlessly Co-Creating Even More
I adore the view from my morning reading chair!
I am so grateful for the ritual that begins the gift called today each weekday in our house. On this day, I felt the warm embrace of a loving universe as I read with my two little ones reading nearby. So good for the soul…my babies happily enjoying literature as a daily habit, my puppy content in my lap, a sweet phone call from my dear husband wishing me a happy day right in the middle of the experience and so many great lessons in literature for me to devour and contemplate. There I sit with a heart full of gratitude as I thoroughly enjoy every minute of it.
The words, images and messages on my chosen cups this day provide a wonderful balanced blessing. I love dreaming big. I have many more things I can easily see myself doing and truly feel called to accomplish in the years to come. Sometimes I get impatient with myself and dream of doing more now or feeling as though I must push harder to make things happen sooner. But, the truth about dreams is that I am already living many big ones now. I must feel what is around me now as deeply as I feel the urge to lay the foundation to create future dreams to come.
A morning reading ritual doesn't just happen, it is the fruit of many of my dreams that have already come true. Some dreams I had since I was a little girl and some I didn't even know I wanted until I was in the middle of creating them in unknown territories completely out of my comfort zone. Co-creating these so-called circumstances I find myself in now was no coincidence; they didn't just happen to me. We can always look around us and be sure that whatever Life we see and feel we are living—we made it so. We create our reality. From the largest to the tiniest detail, we co-created it all and we decide how long we keep the dream alive and/or when we create new ones…big and small. We truly live all that we know and can only dream up that which we truly believe and are ready to receive.
So, the other day I was making the kids' sandwiches while they finished their morning studies. I had just completed another module in the course I'm taking about creating a conscious business or igniting my visionary ignition switch. All the wonderful information I had just been given about publishing, self-publishing, building a platform and much more was swirling around in my head. I am really enjoying the course and feeling very inspired by it. I also feel a bit pressured by it at times or in need of reminding myself that there is plenty of time and not to worry about it or let it stress me out (the course teachers do a great job of reminding us about this too). It is all wonderful information that will be there for me when I'm ready to use it. A good friend once shared a daily mantra she uses to calm herself. She simply says, "I have plenty of time. I have all the time I need." I like this mantra. I've been pulling it out and using it again lately. Thank you Jennifer.
Anyway, I had a distinct moment while spreading Vegenaise on the kids' sandwiches. I sort of snapped out of the swirling head stuff. It was interesting because I was truly inspired and feeling quite grateful for the discussion about my passions I had just enjoyed listening to. I know I am meant to hear this great information and I know it will bless me in many ways over the years to come as I navigate my journey through all the things I feel called to do. But, as I looked down at the kids' four pieces of bread, it hit me how truly great it is to make their sandwiches. I was overtaken with gratitude that they were there in the next room and would enjoy lunchtime with me very soon. I loved thinking of our morning studies and the writing workshop we would do together in the afternoon.
It occurred to me that I could put lots of pressure on myself to get a platform built, get a brand going, figure out how I want to publish, find ways to reach more people, etc. and be sorry if I don't balance it just right. I could spend the next few years really focusing on that and making it happen. It may keep me so busy that I forget to enjoy making the sandwiches. Then, in a few years when the kids may not be around as much, I could have all those things necessary to pursue my dreams, but I would really really miss making their sandwiches. I may long for the days when I used to do that if I'm not truly present and really indulge in it now. Being here now and somewhere else later is always the way. I just need to balance living the dream and creating the new ones. I have to believe it can be done. I can do it well in peace with Divine guidance and timing if I listen well from my heart. Not from my head.
I remembered with love the days when the kids were learning to write the alphabet. They would sit at the kitchen counter waiting for their sandwiches and I would write letters in mustard on their bread for them to guess. Oh, how that seems like yesterday and a lifetime ago at the same time. When was the last day we did that? How did it stop? Oh, how fun that was! They even asked for that recently and I think I was "too busy" to do it just then. Argh!
Anyway, there is no answer to the exact formula for following dreams. Our soul knows why we're here and if we let our soul drive our life more than our head, it will work out just fine. All things can and do happen at the perfect time. Of course, balance, trust and listening to the Divine is the answer to everything. So, I finished up making lunch and allowed a space in my experience there in the kitchen where I felt thrilled by the memories of mustard letters, gratitude for the experience of making sandwiches the kids still love to eat with me on this day and comforted by the dreams that live and grow in my heart and the code of my soul each day to keep me inspired through many more versions of me and my day-to-day life to come.
The image above of Snoopy and Woodstock (or Wubberbock as my son called him for years and we still fondly say today) dreaming together is such a thing of beauty. Two unlikely friends, dreamed up and shared from one man's imagination with so many…what a gift! I see love and acceptance shining all around them, blue skies and possibility everywhere, what a wonderful world this can be and so much more. I love how Snoopy and Wubberbock just go about their business doing what feels good to them at that moment in time. Perhaps that is where the balance finds us.
The beautiful words that held my coffee this day remind me of how our soul might advise us if it could gently remind us where we come from, who we are and why we are really here. May we feel the blessing of truly being here and feeling the miracle that it really is.
May we dream big…while we dwell in a state of awakened
realization of the dreams we've already created.
We can balance both.
Love will show us how!
Sending you love and joy on this day and all the days to come!


text:
150 seek 'green inspiration'
Around 150 people continued a crash course on "going green" Saturday when they attended the second day of the third annual Energy, Efficiency and the Environment Conference at Crowder College.
Saturday's activities began with an hour-long talk from Bob Dixson, mayor of Greensburg, Kan., the town that decided to rebuild as a totally "green" community after being destroyed by a tornado last year.
Afterward, attendees attended workshops of their choice, each having related in some way to "The Costs and Benefits of Going Green," the theme of this year's conference.
One of the sessions, "Holistically Green Homes: 18 points for Energy Efficient Living," was hosted by Orlo Stitt, owner of Rogers, Ark.-based Stitt Construction and a pioneer in "green" building.
Stitt began in the business more than 30 years ago.
"It was a geek thing when we started, but now it's kind of cool," he said.
Though still a niche market, both totally "green" and energy-efficient homes are nevertheless in demand, Stitt said.
He said elements of alternative and renewable energy, as well as plain home energy efficiency, has to be dovetailed with one another if they are to truly be successful. It can't just be any one thing someone does to really save on energy costs, he said.
"I'm seeing a lot of local groups who are focusing on initiatives to build better homes, to build better businesses, to bring green jobs to the area," he said. "I think the political atmosphere is getting good for that. It's going to be growing."
Attendees also had the opportunity to stop by 14 different vendors and peruse energy-saving products.
Debbie Kenny, owner of Totally You Global Technology, of Joplin, mostly sells "green" air and water purifiers.
The FreshAir purifier, for instance, is a small box that can be set anywhere in the house and cover the entire home. It uses about as much energy as a 70-watt light bulb.
"How many people could afford to put a purifier in every room of their house and pay the electric for all of those fans and motors?" Kenny asked. "That's a whole lot of energy wasted."
C.J. Brummett, who works for Wal-Mart, said he started saving upwards of $100 a month on his utility bill after he and his wife, Jennifer, began taking some energy-saving measures around their home.
This included installing a more energy-efficient heat and air system, putting plastic over the windows in the wintertime, insulating cracks and crevices and buying power strips for all plug-ins (even when switched off, lamps and appliances still run at about 70 percent if just plugged into the wall, Brummett said).
He now goes around, under the Wal-Mart name, displaying common energy-saving products that most anyone can afford. Lining his information booth at Saturday's conference were low-energy compact fluorescent light bulbs, spray foam insulation, low-volume showerheads and electric timers, among other items.
"These are things that really work and that I really believe in — that's why I'm here," Brummett said.
Kenneth Christen and Matthew Plummer are both enrolled in Crowder's alternative energy program.
They attended this year's conference to catch up on the latest in their chosen future career fields, which they see as the wave of the future and the common-sense thing to be involved in.
"If we can get the power we need without buying fuel every day or every other day, why not?" Plummer said with a shrug.
"And we've got to try and save our environment," Christen added.
"That's a bonus," Plummer agreed.
Neosho Daily News