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Republican Rep. Tom DeLay's fate could hinge on a Stetson-wearing defense attorney who not only represented Waco cult leader David Koresh and helped a cross-dressing millionaire beat a murder rap, but is also a Democrat.
Why did Dick DeGuerin agree to represent one of the most fiercely partisan figures on Capitol Hill, a man who was House majority leader until his indictment on money laundering and conspiracy charges?
"I don't think there's anybody who needed me worse," said DeGuerin, who will accompany DeLay to his first court appearance Friday.
"Not that I agree with his politics. I'm defending what's happening to him. He's being prosecuted because of his politics. He did change the face of politics in Texas," said the 64-year-old celebrity member of the Texas bar. But he added: "I don't think he did anything wrong."
DeLay has been charged with illegally funneling corporate donations to candidates for the Texas Legislature in 2002. Texas law generally prohibits the use of corporate money for campaigning.
The fund-raising had major political consequences: It helped the GOP take control of the Texas House. The Legislature then redrew Texas' congressional districts in a way that sent more Republicans to Washington and helped the GOP solidify its House majority.
Attacking a fellow Democrat
DeGuerin's strategy has been to attack the man who brought the charges, Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle, a fellow Democrat whose office in Texas' capital city is responsible for investigating election abuses.
In court papers, DeGuerin has accused Earle of prosecutorial misconduct, including improperly sharing information with grand jurors, urging them to talk to the media and trying to coerce DeLay to plead guilty to a lesser crime.
"He looks at the law and he sees what he wants to see, and he prosecutes what he thinks ought to be prosecuted, rather than what it is," DeGuerin said.
Earle has denied the case is politically motivated and has said it is his job to investigate abuses of power.
As for DeGuerin's politics, his father worked for Lyndon B. Johnson while he was in Congress, and DeGuerin considers himself a loyal Democrat. He is not a prolific political contributor, but when he gives he largely backs Democrats.
But the candidate who has received the most contributions from DeGuerin is his former client Republican Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison. He has contributed about $10,000 to her campaigns between 1990 and 2006.
Good track record against Earle
DeGuerin won an acquittal for Hutchison on charges of misconduct and document-tampering charges in 1994 — a case also brought by Earle. Hutchison did not respond to interview requests for this story.
The lawyer is also involved in Texas' 2006 gubernatorial campaign as an unpaid adviser to Kinky Friedman, a musician, mystery writer and all-around wiseacre who is running as an independent. His slogan: "Why the Hell Not?"
DeGuerin said he thinks Friedman's candidacy can do something about the public's disaffection for the political process and boost turnout.
"He's going to bring people back to the process," DeGuerin said. "I've seen politics get so divisive and so polarized that I think it's a vulnerability."
Born in Austin, the liberal seat of Texas, DeGuerin graduated from the University of Texas Law School in 1965 and began his career with the district attorney's office in Houston. He got his big break when he was offered a job by Texas legal giant Percy Foreman, who defended Jack Ruby, the man who shot President Kennedy's assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald.
In 1982, DeGuerin struck out on his own, and his celebrity grew.
DeGuerin represented Koresh before he died with about 80 followers in a fire that erupted during a federal siege of their Waco compound in 1993. Hired by Koresh's mother, DeGuerin went inside the compound during the 51-day standoff that preceded the blaze and took part in negotiations between Koresh and the FBI. He blames the government for the fiery ending.
Successfully argued self-defense
DeGuerin last year won an acquittal for Robert Durst, the cross-dressing heir to a real estate fortune who was charged with murdering a neighbor in Texas in 2003. Durst admitted dismembering the victim and dumping the remains. DeGuerin argued that Durst killed in self-defense.
At trial, DeGuerin brings out the best in prosecutors, former state Rep. Terry Keel said. Keel, an Austin Republican who worked in Earle's office as a prosecutor, faced DeGuerin in a murder case that involved a Texas mayor who killed his wife and her boyfriend. The mayor was convicted but was spared the death penalty.
"Dick DeGuerin is a rare entity in that he is phenomenal at all phases of trial," Keel said. "He is a lawyer who will personally live the case. He will spend the amount of time it takes with his clients and anyone else, including witnesses if necessary, to totally indoctrinate himself into the facts. He is unflappable in the courtroom, and he's very talented in his interpersonal skills with the jury."
DeGuerin is a pilot who loves to fly to far West Texas. He also likes to go on trail rides with friends and is proud to show off his callused fingertips from his years of guitar playing. He is married, with two daughters from a previous marriage, two stepdaughters and two grandsons.
He has taught at the University of Texas Law School for 12 years. This semester, he is teaching Advanced Criminal Defense, walking students through his cases and how he beat prosecutors.
Third-year student Polo Gonzalez said DeGuerin told the class that lawyers should keep their clients quiet, so classmates were puzzled after DeLay's indictment to hear the lawmaker defend himself on talk radio, television and in the newspapers.
According to Gonzalez, when students asked DeGuerin about it, the lawyer responded: "I don't have control of Tom DeLay. He's his own man."


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NFL.com — Charles Davis
Round 1, No. 3, DT Quinnen Williams, Alabama
"Yes, the Jets are open for business with this pick, but if they stick, pairing this star from Alabama with DL Leonard Williams will make new defensive coordinator Gregg Williams VERY happy."
MMQB — Albert Breer
Round 1, No. 3, DT Ed Oliver, Houston
"There's been a drumbeat over the last week that the coaches here really like Oliver. Remember, DC Gregg Williams coached Aaron Donald with the Rams and surely he'd love a guy like Oliver. Enough to take him over Quinnen Williams? Maybe. For now…"
NFL.com — Chad Reuter
Round 1, No. 3, Edge Nick Bosa, Ohio State
"Bosa's the base end new defensive coordinator Gregg Williams will want in his front four."
Round 3, No. 68, C McGovern, Penn State
"McGovern can start at center for the Jets in 2019, where he started all season as a sophomore (and once as a junior) for Penn State."
Round 3, No. 93, WR Terry McLaurin, Ohio State
"Sam Darnold is going to love chucking the ball downfield to McLaurin."
Round 4, No. 105, CB Sean Bunting, Central Michigan
Round 6, No. 196, RB Benny Snell, Kentucky
Round 7, No. 217, TE Tommy Sweeney, Boston College
Pro Football Focus — Steve Palazzolo
Round 1, No. 3, Edge Josh Allen, Kentucky
"This is where my mantra to always take the best player is going to be challenged. I love Quinnen Williams, but given New York's courting of Anthony Barr and their need on the edge, Allen is an excellent fit. The positional value of an edge is slightly higher than an interior defensive lineman anyway, so I just talked myself into Allen as the pick after he posted the highest pass-rush grade in the nation last season at 94.3. He has legitimate, linebacker-like coverage ability if the Jets choose to tap into it."
Round 3, No. 68, OT Kaleb McGary, Washington
Round 3, No. 93, C Erik McCoy, Texas A&M
CBS Sports — Ryan Wilson
Round 1, No. 3, DT Quinnen Williams, Alabama
"Williams is the No. 1 player on our board and you can't go wrong taking him first, second or third overall. He dominates the line of scrimmage and while he's not an edge rusher, he's a pocket collapser who is just as good rushing the pass as he is stopping the run; according to Pro Football Focus, Williams ranked No. 1 in pass-rush productivity AND run-stop percentage. Now imagine him lining up next to Leonard Williams."

subset: commoncrawl


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Update: McCain injects Presidential Politics into U.S. – China row over Taiwan Weapons Sale
October 8th, 2008 27 comments
McCain seems to be getting a little desperate. He seems to be pulling all stops (including going negative and aggressive against Obama) and most recently also trying to inject some foreign politiking into his campaign. Read more…
Categories: Analysis, News, politics China, foreign policy, mccain, obama, presidential politics, taiwan


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Perfect for
(Thanks to Allison)
That's a pecker....I mean pepper!ReplyDelete
New follower here. Where have you been all of my blogging life? This is the funniest blog I've seen yet. OK - gotta go, need to tell all of my friends about this hilarity!ReplyDelete
When you love what you do then work doesn't seem like work!If creativity is what you are all about and if animation isyour first love, then rush to ZICA today! And let yourpassion lead you!Mercedes has set the pace in taking initiatives. In August, it signed up as the automotive partner for all motor sporting events at the Budhh International Circuit in Greater Noida for two years. The Mercedes SLS AMG-with top speed of 317 km/hr-will be the 'safety car' for all racing events at the circuit. It will also provide cars to race officials.
Toyota Ignition Distributor


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Before the age of Facebook captions and 280 character tweets, a company's tagline had to articulate its entire raison d'être, but when Audemars Piguet adopted its newest slogan in 2012 ("to break the rules, you must first master them") even they couldn't predict how apt their chosen marketing line would prove. In a few succinct words, that slogan encapsulates everything you need to know about the fascinating paradox of Audemars Piguet: a 143 years young watchmaker defined just as much by brazen modernity as its mastery over the art of haute horology.
Most famous for its legendary Royal Oak — a lineage of steel sport watches first released in 1972 — Audemars Piguet is amongst the so-called "Holy Trinity" of Swiss watchmakers (also including Vacheron Constantin and Patek Philippe). Operating from rustic Le Brassus in the Vallée de Joux — a cradle of traditional watchmaking since the 17th century — theirs is a heritage rich with accomplishment. In 1915, the manufacture produced the then-smallest five minute repeater calibre (15.8mm); before introducing collectors to the first ever skeleton watches just 13 years later. In more recent memory (i.e. 1986) the brand accomplished a notable double whammy with its Ref. 25643: the world's first (and then-thinnest) automatic tourbillon calibre. Most would rest on the laurels wreathed by such technical achievements — not AP.
In this instalment of History of Time, we examine how two facets of Audemars Piguet — namely, superlative manufacture and brash (even audacious) design — have made it into one of the most covetable names in Swiss horology today. From humble beginnings as a 50-man établisseur to the lightning-in-a-bottle genesis of the Royal Oak, few brands have written and then thrown out the rulebook quite like Audemars Piguet.
From Le Brassus with love (since 1875)
Like numerous heavyweights from the world of Swiss watchmaking, Audemars Piguet began life as a partnership between two individually formidable artisans. In 1875, childhood friends Jules Louis Audemars and Edward Auguste Piguet joined hands as établisseurs: designing and manufacturing movements for other Geneva-based watch companies.
Both men had previously been independent watchmakers — not uncommon for inhabitants of the Vallée de Joux, professional farmers who spent their long winters up-skilling as metal workers — and their respective credentials enabled effective delegation of responsibility. Audemars, who'd shown a keen interest in horology from a young age, designed and produced the movements, whilst Piguet was tasked with ensuring all finished products — sold to companies like Tiffany & Co — were correctly regulated.
The duo's first masterstroke came in 1882, with the introduction of the Grande Complication: a technically superlative pocket watch that (true to its name) housed no less than seven different feats of mechanical wizardry. The design proved to be formative and in the 10 years following the Grande Complication's introduction, roughly 80 percent of AP watches echoed its sophistication through the inclusion of one or more complications.
Today, the company attributes the Grande Complication (and innumerable other watchmaking innovations) to its spirited commercial independence. For four generations, the AP board of directors has been populated by members from both namesake families: a passionate and closely knit bunch who are, in many cases, bound by blood. For Olivier Audemars (Vice Chairman and great grandson of Edward August Piguet), "Audemars Piguet is more than a company. It remains responsible for the transmission of knowledge and know-how to future generations". This ethos — consumed with fine Swiss watchmaking's survival and longevity — drove the manufacture to break new ground with projects like the leap year cycled perpetual calendar, Supersonnerie and more recently, the Maison des Fondateurs: an ambitious horological museum, located on the grounds of the manufacture, set to open in 2019.
Indeed, historically, the independent spirit of Audemars Piguet has proved most indomitable in times of crisis; with the company's top brass earning a reputation for daring (occasionally dangerous) big picture thinking during the watch industry's most turbulent days. An obvious example of this dates back to the 1970s: during the early period of what watch nerds refer to as the Quartz Crisis. For Audemars Piguet, the decade would prove definitive.
Royal Oak: from avant-garde to all time classic
At a time when quartz watches — cheap, accurate, and widely available — were threatening to overshadow traditional Swiss manufacture, AP broke with convention to offer a product that ignored digital electronics in their entirety. Unfettered by the kind of internecine squabbling that plagues most luxury conglomerates, AP's familial leadership embarked on a decisive course to address what has since become a dominant section of the market — sports watches.
Confident that the company would survive the Quartz Crisis by producing models that appealed to a new generation of younger more active consumers, AP's directors approached Gerald Genta — legendary designer behind Patek Phillippe's Golden Ellipse and the Omega Constellation — to will just such a game changer into existence. In hindsight, the task before him was unprecedented: necessitating the creation of a luxurious yet ultra modern sport watch that could be worn at any time in any place. Throughout the early 70s, almost all design codes in Swiss watchmaking favoured elegant dress watches made in precious metals (e.g. yellow gold); and it's upon this blank canvas that Genta conceived of a worthy follow-up to what the company achieved in 1882.
Difficult though it is to comprehend, everything we now take for granted about luxury sports watches was the result of Genta's original and then-controversial design. When the inaugural Royal Oak reference (5402) was introduced in 1972, journalists were immediately divided. Measuring a brazen 39mm — modest by today's standards — the Ref. 5402 combined avant-garde looks with AP's superior quality of finishing. It introduced a radical new element in the form of stainless steel: offering superior protection to mechanical movements in a period when extreme sports were beginning to gain traction.
Throughout the 60s, a uniform aesthetic across Swiss watchmaking (i.e. round, small, thin) had also taken hold; and the arrival of the Ref. 5402 shattered that status quo in spectacular fashion. Its octagonal bezel, fitted with eight exposed screws, called to mind portholes found on Revenge class warships in the British Navy — Genta's classic design is named for one of five such vessels — while the tapisserie dial (executed with an intricate engine turned motif) reflected a deep and sumptuous spectrum of light. It radiated strength and clarity of vision, and for nearly 50 years has been the benchmark against which other (equally acclaimed) watches are measured.
Perhaps the biggest compliment that can be paid to the inaugural Royal Oak reference is its longevity. Since 1972, dozens of variations on Genta's original concept have been produced: including open worked models, ultra-thin experimental calendars, and in 1993 the equally celebrated Royal Oak Offshore collection. The latter — driven by design codes that hadn't drastically changed for over 50 years — was another feather in AP's annualised financial cap: with younger consumers, attenuated to 90s pop culture, favouring the Offshore's 42mm case, chronograph function and use of silicon rubber.
All of this spawned from an experimental steel watch (with a retail price equivalent to US$20,000 in 2018) invented in the era of the Quartz Crisis? Now that's ballsy.
For more stories from AP's Le Brassus manufacture, visit Audemars Piguet online.


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On 11 August, the environmental protection service of the Spanish civil guard SEPRONA announced the seizure of 45 tons of illegally treated tuna fish. Four people were investigated and face possible criminal penalties of up to four years in prison for endangering public health, as well as administrative sanctions. The investigation has so far uncovered three companies and three fishing vessels involved in the fraudulent scheme.
Investigators found that frozen tuna only suitable for canning had been illegally treated with substances that enhance the colour and then been diverted to the market to be sold as fresh fish. This treatment can pose a serious public health risk associated with allergic reactions to histamine.
To read more about this go to: http://ec.europa.eu/newsroom/sante/newsletter-specific-archive-issue.cfm?archtype=specific&newsletter_service_id=327&newsletter_issue_id=10314&page=1&fullDate=Mon%2013%20Aug%202018&lang=default


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Lots to do today...trying to stay on top of it all!
I had grandiose plans to try to do something fun and exciting this week to share for Kid Friendly Friday at I Blame My Mother or Friday Book Project at Just For Fun, but those plans quickly lost their momentum with still battling a sick and very crabby 17-month old. Thankfully, he's on the mend and a little more back to his old self. I've actually seen him smile! I miss that...
I've also been doing a lot of prep work for this Monday's MOPS. I'm the creative activities leader and create the monthly newsletter, so needless to say the week before MOPS I'm busy doing some planning. Thankfully I've gotten myself into a routine and do a little each week. As of today I'm all ready to go! (Thanks to my mom for entertaining the kids yesterday and helping me prepare the craft. Do you have to leave on Tuesday?) I'll look forward to sharing March's craft with you hopefully sometime this week. If you'd like to see some of the crafts we've created so far, check them out HERE.
This weekend is going to be quite the blur! So, I've decided to take a 2-day blogging break, which is probably what I should do on the weekends anyway, but blogging is just so addicting, you know? Maybe I'll use the weekend for catch up on my blog browsing, which I am SO behind on. Don't worry, I'm hopefully headed your way...
Tonight my husband is having a Poker Night with the guys, so I'll be busy preparing some snacks for that. But, of course, that means hitting up the grocery store first. It's nice out, so maybe we'll go for a walk instead of drive. I think we need a little fresh air! Along with making the dip and buying groceries, cleaning (or at least straightening up) should be on the agenda, so during naps I will try to tackle this. Not what I wish I were doing, but it's gotta get done!
Tonight, the kids and I will be heading to my mom's house to hang out, so that we don't bother the guys. My mom accepted the challenge of having the kids overnight while I come home later in the evening and wake up early on Saturday to head off to the Creating Keepsakes Scrapbook Convention in Portland. This was a birthday gift from the hubby! I'll be spending most of the day at the convention with friends and then finish the evening with some scrapbooking at a local scrapbook store. I wonder if it's possible to get scrapbook burn out? I guess we'll find out!
And, because I have to share something fun besides just blabbing, here is the baby announcement I created for my good friend who just had her 2nd little guy at the end of January. Head on over to HB Creative Design for more photo cards that I've created if you're looking for something to do!
Try not to miss me too much over the weekend! Just kidding... I know you all have much more exciting lives than I do! I'll be back in full swing blogging mania on Monday and have some fun things to share next week!
And lastly, don't forget...it's not too late to link up for this month's Craft Challenge. It doesn't have to be anything new. It can be something you've already posted and created with the circle scalloped punch. I'll leave up Mister Linky until Thursday. If you haven't checked out the ideas that have already been shared, please take some time to do so! You will love what you see! I'll be announcing the giveaway prize for one lucky participant and next month's "mission" by Tuesday!
Friday, March 6, 2009
staying on top of it all
Lots to do today...trying to stay on top of it all!
13 comments:
- Sarah said...
You're the bestest Creative Activities Leader! Can't wait until tomorrow!! :-) See you bright and EARLY...
- March 6, 2009 at 11:38 AM
- Smith Family said...
Wow! Heather's announcement is BEAUTIFUL!!! Great job Heidi. I might have to have a 4th so you can design another one for me =)...probably not the best idea I've had all day.
- March 6, 2009 at 11:47 AM
- Katie said...
Have a great time at the convention, I am so jealous I've always wanted to go!
- March 6, 2009 at 11:56 AM
- Kelli said...
You are a busy a busy lady, when do you have time to sit down? I hope you have a great time at your scrapbook event, that should be a lot of fun. I need to get to my scrapbook store and work on my Florida book (from out trip last year).
Have a good weekend and we'll see you next week.
- March 6, 2009 at 11:57 AM
- Buzzings of a Queen Bee! said...
Enjoy your blogging break and the time with friends and scrapbooking! I am sure you will be super-refreshed by the time you get back on Monday! :)
- March 6, 2009 at 12:22 PM
- Tammy Williams said...
You are busy busy. Go ahead and take that break from blogging! We all need one at times. PS. I gave you an award on my blog if you want to pick it up there:) Have a great weekend.
- March 6, 2009 at 12:49 PM
- Unknown said...
Sounds like the scrapbook convention is going to be fun...glad I get to go and be with you all day!! :)
The card is adorable!!
- March 6, 2009 at 2:06 PM
- Leah said...
That baby announcement is adorable! :)
- March 6, 2009 at 5:33 PM
- boosmom said...
This reminds me of the announcement for Parker, very cute!
- March 6, 2009 at 6:53 PM
- heidi said...
Ha. HA HA! Obviously I'm NOT joining the cratfy person's challenge. Can I judge, thought? "she who doesn't, judges.' right? ;-) Have a TOALLY blast on your little time away this weekend. HB to you, Heidi!
- March 6, 2009 at 10:51 PM
- Cupcake Dessert said...
That announcement is just wonderful. I love everything about it. Great work!!
- March 7, 2009 at 6:29 AM
- Jerri at Simply Sweet Home said...
Hey, you have some awards waiting for you over at my site!
- March 7, 2009 at 9:34 AM
- Amanda said...
Have a fantastic weekend!!!!
Look forward to your blogging next week.
I wish I could joing your link party however I don't own a scalloped punch :-(
- March 7, 2009 at 11:01 AM


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I am a proponent for what Mozilla is trying to accomplish; online badges ensure that every skill in your skill set can be validated and shared in professional web services. In this blog, I summarize the key themes from the "white pages article" published by Mozilla about the technology and infrastructure for universally accepted online badges.
Some of the objectives of online badges include:
- Establishing a linkage and acceptance between formal and informal learning.
- Making informal learning channels, skills and types of learning "more viable, portable, and impactful"
- Independent organizations can issue their own badges and base their assessment on their own established rubrics – "a standard of performance for a defined population"
- Building credibility so these online badges will have weight in "employment decisions, school acceptances, and self-assessments".
- Validate emerging transferable skills that are not necessarily part of the curriculum in colleges.
Benefits of online badges include:
- Complements skills (more precisely than a degree).
- Provides more context when completing a course (than simply a grade).
- Evolves to capture changes in technology, skills, etc.
- Universally accepted by professional and personal web services.
- Portable across online platforms.
- Relationship builder for communities.
- Self-assessment for skill building.
Upon completion of a course, some colleges issue online badges and in the metadata provide context for the achievement – such as the teacher, score on the final test, and even a link to exam questions. Moreover, Mozilla has approached providers of free online classes (MOOCs) to consider adopting their approach.[1]
A framework of a badge is the badge itself, an assessment, and the infrastructure. An important aspect of an online badge is a mechanism where a third-party can validate badges they issue (for now, it is a combination of attached metadata and a hyperlink back to the provider).
Online badges are an excellent way to validate skills for a few reasons. First, some transferable skills are difficult to validate and online badges provide the necessary context. Second, new skills and requirements are always changing so online badges are a flexible enough to validate them. Third, it is always possible to apply a one to one or many to one relationship between skills and online badges.
I embrace the idea of a universal online badge system; however, there will be some difficulties.
- Too many providers of online badges can create redundancy and clutter. Since anyone can issue an online badge, providers can potentially collide by validating the same skills.
- There is a potential to become inundated with online badges. Professionals can have too many of them and it is difficult to make sense of their core-competencies.
- An open system for validating skills can create bogus online badges. Essentially any organization will be able to issue online badges, so some of these badges could be baseless – without any merit. Colleges have to go through a rigorous accreditation process to prove their credibility. A board member of AACSB (an organization representing the accreditation of business schools) says, "Accreditation is a signal of quality. And if you accredit everyone, it's not a signal anymore."[2] With the open online badge system, anyone viewing an online badge will have to spend more time investigating the credibility of the provider issuing it.
- The use of rubrics has to evolve to accurately to assess skill levels. Organizations issuing online badges have to continually design rubrics that assess the skills of anyone seeking a badge. And these rubrics have to be an accurate test that cannot be duplicated or shared, and there has to a way to ensure the test is taken by the right person. Colleges have sophisticated methods to counter plagiarism and cheating and disseminate credentials (such as a report card); it is difficult to "beat the system".
- Formal learning channels invest heavily in their established system and the credentials they issue will remain essential. College degrees and certifications remain an integral validation of your skill set. Most professionals will go to college and their degree will be a staple for much of their career.
- Security might be an issue. With the current infrastructure, it seems there might be security issues regarding hijacking and impersonations.


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The Power of Abortion Policy
That is by by Caitlin Knowles Myers, and the full title is "The Power of Abortion Policy: Reexamining the Effects of Young Women's Access to Reproductive Control." It is published in the most recent JPE, here is the abstract:
I provide new evidence on the relative "powers" of contraception and abortion policy in effecting the dramatic social transformations of the 1960s and 1970s. Trends in sexual behavior suggest that young women's increased access to the birth control pill fueled the sexual revolution, but neither these trends nor difference-in-difference estimates support the view that this also led to substantial changes in family formation. Rather, the estimates robustly suggest that it was liberalized access to abortion that allowed large numbers of women to delay marriage and motherhood.
In other words, the pill was less influential than you might think. And from the paper proper:
…policy environments in which abortion has legal and readily accessible by young women are estimated to have caused a 34 percent reduction in first births, a 19 percent reduction in first marriages, and a 63 percent reduction in "shotgun marriages" prior to age 19.
Between the 1950 and 1955 birth cohorts, the fraction of women having sex prior to age 18 increased from 34 to 47 percent.
…cohorts that experienced the most rapid changes in sexual behavior exhibited little change in fertility.
Lahey (2014)…finds that the introduction of abortion restrictions in the nineteenth century increased birthrates by 4-12 percent…
I thought this was one of the most interesting papers I have read all year. Here is an earlier, ungated copy.


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You want your marketing and communication efforts to be as effective as possible. For optimal results it is important to highlight what you do, and for whom. Only a few propositions or communication strategies attract and reach every consumer. Target audience analysis is therefore an essential instrument for anyone looking for an indication of what your target audience is, what motivates consumers and how they can best be approached or convinced.
Right choices and ROI
Determining and targeting the right audience is a difficult task. Most research agencies approach this challenge in a one-dimensional manner. Target audiences are described in terms of socio-demographic data or psychographic factors, for example. We go a step further by investigating what you wish to communicate as a company, what attracts your target audience, and how these two things correspond best. We approach these questions from various angles, and with this triangulation (or 360º) method we are able to identify the right fit, and assist you in making your communication efforts more efficient and effective. This benefits your return on investment.
How can target audiences be analyzed?
We use various tools to highlight target audiences in a multi-disciplinary way, and from various perspectives. By using different methods we signal the best chances for growth. We use both general and domain-specific instruments, for example:
- Segmentation (demographic, psychographic, values)
- Lifestyle
- Visual value maps
- Sensitivity for specific archetypes
- Social-cultural undercurrents and trends
- Media behaviour
- Sustainability issues
- Political preferences
- Persuasion tactics
How can you benefit?
An overview of your target audience helps you focus on essential consumer incentives and profiles, which will make a difference for your organization or brand. A good target audience analysis also helps you respond more effectively to relevant touchpoints, while offering pointers that will enrich your brand stories.
Target audience analysis research methods:
We have multiple target audience analysis tools available, to ensure that any question you have can be answered in the best possible way.
- BusinessLocus: a focus on the drives and workstyles of entrepreneurs
- Carementality: insights into the perceptions, needs and preferences of current and potential care clients and care employees when it comes to health, care and insurance
- Citizenship styles: a look into the motivations and needs of citizens
- Council and citizen panels: allows citizens and city council members to engage in meaningful discussion
- Customer journey mapping: maps all touchpoints between you and your customer so you know where to improve
- Digitality: unique insights into the drives and behaviour of the digital consumer
- EthnoMarketing: an approach that focuses on the multicultural society and all those who live in it with a non-Dutch background
- Glocalities: worldwide marketing intelligence based on connecting values, lifestyle and psychology
- Management styles: insights into the leadership- and managementstyle that fit your organization
- Mentality: a unique view of the motivators and lifestyles of your audience
- Personas: brings target audiences to life with customized customer profiles
- Segmentation research: helps you better reach target audiences by insights into their differences and similarities
- Shopper Decision Journey: walks you through the customers' buying process
- Vitality: unique profiles on the active (or not so active) lifestyles of your target audience


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Egyptian brand Psych is making totally awesome hoodies inspired by patterns and textiles.
Psych, a crazy little brand that popped up on our Instafeed, seems to be the Egyptian answer to finding the balance between really comfortable streetwear and psychedelic designs.
Psychedelic clothing has been a trend for a while now but it's not exactly easy to wear. Psych's first collection 'Psychotic' is the perfect example of cool clothing that's just the right amount of extra. "We wanted to do psychedelic clothes that're actually wearable. Most of the things you see around are either really weird patterns or have too many colours. We were aiming to find a middle ground," founder Omar Shawkat tells us.
Each item in their collection is high quality, 100 percent Egyptian, from the design on paper to the actual packaging (which is pretty cool in itself). This is while each design has its own creative, unique name for the hoodies as well like 'Down the Rabbit Hole,' and 'Omniscient.'
Keep up with Psych on Instagram here.


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Project: One Central Park East
Location: Broadway, Sydney, Australia
Year: 2013
Highly Commended Interior Design Excellence Awards (IDEA) Residential Multi category 2014
Client: Sekisui House Australia and Frasers Property
Architecture: Atelier Jean Nouvel, in collaboration with PTW Architects
Interior Architects: Koichi Takada Architects
Building Contractor: Watpac
Photography: Sharrin Rees and Sharyn Cairns
The talent of interior architect has been bought to bear on One Central Park East, to provide a distinctive identity for each tower. Koichi Takada has devised the materials, finishes and interior architecture of One Central Park East.
The relaxed finishes and natural ambience of One Central Park East apartments are inspired by architect Koichi Takada's love of nature and Nouvel's concept of One Central Park as a beacon for Sydney.
Each apartment is finished in the most tactile and honest materials – muted tones of driftwood, hammered stone, linen and woven grasses matched with copper and bronze.
Some units emphasise organic, cool finishes while others have a more intense, spicy flavour.
Takada has incorporated sliding timber screens of solid and perforated slats that open up spaces or conceal kitchens from living areas. Sliding the screens aside and the transformation is profound, and delightful.
Internal light gives the effect of a softly glowing lantern with a wooden tree-house, blending with the foliage outside.
All images courtesy of Koichi Takada Architects
Koichi Takada Architects
Koichi Takada
Koichi Takada has brought a Japanese sensibility to Australian architecture. His work is innovative and refined. Koichi melds the traditions of his homeland with today's stunning flowing forms – an approach he developed in New York, London and Tokyo.
Koichi Takada has won international competitions in Australia and Japan as well as several key architectural and interior design awards. The firm's projects are well recognized and have been extensively featured in Australian and international design magazines.
Koichi Takada studied and graduated from the School of Architecture at the City University of New York and the Architectural Association, London. Koichi studied his thesis work under Alejandro Zaera-Polo and Farshid Moussavi with Rem Koolhaas as a visiting critic.
While practicing at Atsushi Kitagawara Architects in Tokyo, Koichi worked on an invited competition of the Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney in 1997 and stayed in Sydney thereafter. Koichi has been associate director at PTW and worked on award winning luxury apartments in Sydney, and a diverse range of architectural projects in Japan, China, and the Middle-East.
Koichi established his own practice, Koichi Takada Architects in Sydney in 2008. The practice is now growing with competition winning architectural projects and a focus on the construction phase, with key multi-residential projects in Australia and key landmark projects overseas.
"We draw inspiration from nature
We learn from the process, formations, structures and natural life in the environment to inspire our design. Nature teaches us. There is more to architecture than the creation of beautiful forms, and it must involve all of our senses. The feeling of a soft breeze, the acoustics in a cave or the ambience of natural light through a tree canopy – these are elements we cannot draw, but try to involve in the experience of architecture."
Read more here
Koichi Takada Architects
61 Marlborough Street, 2010 Surry Hills, NSW | Australia
+61 2 9698 8510
+61 2 9012 0359
VISIT Koichi Takada Architects


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Sometimes I have to use the men's bathroom at the school where I work because I don't have time to wait the 90 seconds it will take for the women's bathroom to be free, and I feel like this could be a symptom of a larger problem in my life. When I was younger, I prided myself on always being punctual. I was usually even early because my life was empty and meaningless, and I was completely unsuccessful. Making time to go to the bathroom was not an issue. I remember I had a boyfriend who chose not to drink excess liquids before taking road trips because he did not want to waste time stopping to use the bathroom. He would tell me this as I slid into the passenger seat slurping the last sips of my 32 ounce diet coke. Road trips, like legislation, are based on the lowest common denominator, which is often me, so really he was just delayed and thirsty.
I recently took an online quiz called "How Productive Are You?" demonstrating on its own—just by logging in—that I am not productive at all. One of the key areas that need improvement for me is that I have too many distractions. The website suggests I keep an interrupter's log, which intrigues me, not because I think it will make me more productive but because it allows me to put the blame on others in writing and in chart form. The log asks for the name of the interrupter, the time, and a box for me to check if it was a valid interruption. I find this so exciting that I might quit my job just to spend all my time cataloging my daily interruptions. 6:34 p.m. the cat "jumped" in the bathtub with my son and then frantically skid across every dry surface in the house interrupting my game of Trivia Crack. Not valid. After a week of keeping the log, I am supposed to analyze and conquer my interruptions. One way to conquer interruptions is to pre-empt the interruption by holding routine meetings. This way instead of interrupting me, the people/cats will learn to save all non-urgent issues until this meeting.
I made all my students take the quiz, too, mainly because I did not have anything else planned for the day, and they all scored higher than me. I told them they are liars and they must have cheated, but then I realized that they just don't have that many distractions. Mainly because I let them go to the bathroom in the middle of class. Sometimes I will ask a compelling question and then one of them will raise their hand, and I get excited thinking that an engaging discussion will ensue, but it is just a kid asking to go to the bathroom. They are extremely efficient. Also, I am not sure being in my class keeps them from accomplishing their life goals There are students who could be running multi-million dollar companies on their laptops (or from the bathroom) while I draw diagrams on the board of the two houses in Wuthering Heights.
There is a guy I work with who likes to say, "Everyone has the same 24 hours in a day," and I usually try to do the math because I feel like I am wasting a significant amount of my 24 hours. For starters, I am asleep for at least six to eight of those hours, and then I am at work for another eight hours monitoring other people's bathroom visits, and then I need to subtract the hours when I am drunk or on my phone, which leaves me with maybe five good hours a day. Then I have to find time to schedule meetings with my kids and the cat and then pray that there is enough time left after all the interruptions have been clearly checked as not valid so that I can watch Netflix while curled up on the couch crying about how nobody will ever love me.
The real issue—that leaves me in a general state of panic—is not the allotment of time per day, but the amount of days that I have left, divided by the number of things that I have yet to accomplish. I am not an expert mathematician, but I think this comes out to a negative number or a radical. In a few short months I will turn 40. At this point I have to make some important decisions, like how much of that precious time do I want to waste standing in line for the bathroom? I have to start thinking about my lowest common denominator. I have a job, two kids, and a bladder, so I have to figure out how to make all of these things fit in with my current life goals, which include finding a meaningful relationship, making something out of my writing career (like maybe a fleet of paper airplanes), and fulfilling my dream of going to a swim-up bar (which really takes care of the bladder issue on its own).
Another goal that I plan to accomplish on my 40th birthday is getting my first tattoo. My main reasons for not getting a tattoo up to this point were more related to commitment issues than preserving an image, but when I am 40 there is only so much forever left. I also apply this to my dating life. Commitment doesn't seem quite so scary now because I don't have to promise my whole life to someone, just what's left of it. It is only like half of forever, and if we do the math . . .


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On the evening of Tuesday, May 6 hundreds of families of Junior High students filled the Jenison Center for the Arts to honor and celebrate the accomplishments of the over 500 students receiving honors and special recognition. Students were obviously excited and parents, obviously proud.
According to Mrs. Breen, Jenison Junior High Vice Principal, this is the most students they have ever had at honors night and being a building of just under 700 students total that is an extra reason to celebrate. One of the special awards given out was the Principal's Outstanding Educational Improvement Award which "allows us to recognize kids that might not be in the spotlight all the time but lets us spotlight some of their efforts that they've made this year behavior wise, academically, etc." Students are nominated by teachers as someone who has really made great strides in a few different areas. "That's one of the great things about Jenison Junior High. We have a feel for everyone that walks through the building, who they are, what their names are, what their background is, a little about their family. That's the great thing about the Jenison culture in general."
Honors were given to students for achievement in the following areas:
- MEAP Award
- Principal's Outstanding Educational Improvement Award
- Perfect Attendance
- Honor Roll
- Presidential Academic Awards
- Science Olympiad Team
- Student Council
- Reading Award
- Spelling Bee Room Finalists
- Above and Beyond [awards for Art, Life Skills, Tech, Music + Student Athletics]
The honorees also included 23 eight graders who received the Exemplary Achievement Award which has a two year requirement period. In order to be chosen for this prestigious award students must do community service, be on the honor roll every marking period and have involvement in a club or team. The student athletes award winners had to participate in four seasons of a sport, maintain at least a 3.0 GPA, have zero level two disciplinary issues and have all ones and twos work and class conduct marks on their report cards.
"I want to thank all the teachers who've impacted the students day in and day out with their care, support and encouragement. I think that goes for teachers Kindergarten through 7th and 8th grade who have worked with this student. We have them for two short years but there is a lot that's been invested." — Mrs. Heather Breen, Jenison Junior High Vice Principal
"Our teachers are amazing and they are some of the best anywhere because they plan such innovative lessons incorporating technology and challenging students to think more deeply and tons of lessons that are engaging for students and most of all, they make learning fun. They way they build relationships with students and tell them that they care about them is what makes it all happen." — Mr. Brett Cataldo, Jenison Junior High Principal
Way to go Junior High students! Whether you still have one more year or are moving on to the High School we are proud of you and can't wait to see where you'll go and who you'll be!


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What's Cookin Chicago. As a result of my group's popularity, other groups were created in various cities in the country including Canada! I've gotten quite a few emails from random folks asking if there was some way they could participate in my events from a distance, especially if they didn't have a similar social group in their area. The answer? Of course! I've decided to share my local culinary adventures with everyone via cyberspace with blogging events that are in tandem to the many types of events I host each month for fellow Chicagoans.
Click on the links below to see what Blogging Adventures are in store for July and details on how to participate... and you might even win the blogging event giveaway for each adventure you join in!
Foods we're highlighting this month include:
Fruit recipes - Due July 6th
Wolfgang Puck/California inspired recipes - Due July 12th
And of course, we can't forget the monthly Tasty Tools event! For July's Tasty Tools, we're highlighting Pastry & Basting Brushes! So if you plan on making a dish requiring the use of a pastry or basting brush, submit them to the event all throughout the month of July. All July Tasty Tool entries must be submitted by July 31st... and the round up will be posted August 1st. Here's how to submit your Tasty Tools: Brushes entry:
1) Make a recipe using a pastry or basting brush and create a blog post about it from now until midnight, JULY 31st.
2) Add a link back to my blog within your blog post, Joelen's Culinary Adventures.
3) Send an email with the following information to [email protected]:
- Title of the blogging adventure in subject line
- Your name, state, country location
- Your food blog name & link to your event entry with picture


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Our pet tinctures give your favorite furry companions all the benefits of our full spectrum hemp oil. Safe, high-quality and easy to administer, support your pet's health and quality of life without side effects.
FOR RELIEF OF ANXIETY AND PAIN: Give a serving to your pup, observe him feeling more relaxed and alleviate his pain.
VETERINARY GRADE HEMP OIL: Our Hemp Oil is veterinary grade and we guarantee that your dog will feel the effects.
500 MG PER BOTTLE / 16.6MG PER SERVING: Each bottle contains 500MG of Full Spectrum CBD extract, with 30 servings each containing 16.6MG.
ORGANICALLY GROWN IN COLORADO: All of the hemp we use is grown in nutrient-rich soil in Colorado. Our farmers operate under strict guidelines and use only 100% organic practices.
HAPPY PUPPY 180-DAY GUARANTEE: We guarantee that your dog will feel happy and pain-free after it starts taking our products. And if you don't notice a change in its behavior, you have 180-days to contact our store for an immediate, no-questions asked, full refund.


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Josh Clarke believes the Brentford squad need to 'come together' after a difficult start to the Championship season.
The Bees are rock bottom after four games, picking up just one point, but their play has merited much more than that.
And the academy graduate knows the club must continue to believe in what they do and keep going and the results will, eventually, come.
He said: "We're working on it. We're dominating games but nothing is happening. We've got to keep going and believe in ourselves. We've got to come together in times like this and hopefully push on.
"It's a rough time right now so we've got to come together, analyse what happened and hopefully push on."
Clarke was deployed last season as a right back but has been used further forward this year after the signing of Henrik Dalsgaard.
But the 22-year-old doesn't mind where he plays and his focus is on performing well at the club's Jersey Road training ground.
He added: "I couldn't tell you. I'm just keeping my head training well and hopefully something will happen in the end."


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STAY TUNED: Next Workshop coming soon (updated August 27, 2021 — Get vaccinated everyone so we can enjoy Life fully again and get into some gooood iMPROV!)
Improvisation or Improv is something done by talented and quick-witted comedians typically resulting in non-stop hilarity — right? From the likes of the late-great Robin Williams or more contemporary comedy actors like Amy Poehler, Tina Fey and Steve Carell, we are amazed at their quick-quipping repartee.
They perform in that out-of-the-box-thinking space which catches us off-guard and we wonder:
How do they come up with these amazing lines, characters or situations?
And how do they do it with such ease and speed?
In part, it's due to practice, practice, practice! Lots of Improv-ing leads to Improving! And it's not just about being funny!
Improv is an incredibly dynamic tool that allows one to access or improve core qualities and abilities that are already there. Like exercising a muscle, a mental one, that you haven't been using regularly. After just one class, many of the participants often say "I wasn't expecting that", as they discover this untapped potential.
Victor has created a unique Improv experience that is specifically targeted to the level and goal of the participants, allowing them to shift out of their comfort zones and explore new facets of their authentic self.
These custom-designed Improv workshops will provide the opportunity to:
- Think more quickly on your feet
- Challenge your current communication skills
- Improve your listening ability
- Increase professional acuity
- Unleash your inner creativity
- Become more adept at adapting
- Release your Improvisational Genius
At the end of most classes, participants don't want to leave— which is a testament to the case that you can gain valuable insights while HAVING FUN!
Victor's IMPROV Workshops are designed for both Personal and Professional growth.
If you have taken a workshop, I would love to get your FEEDBACK – Go to the Comment Section below.
Read the Professional Service Group's blogs/articles about Victor's Improv workshops:
How to Improvise For Effective Business Communication
How can IMPROV help me on-the-job or in the job-search?
Learn to Communicate More Effectively at Meetings, Interviews, or Networking Events
The The next workshop is coming soon in 2021!
Last workshop was in 2019 : October 09 2019 in Somerville!
Previous workshop in Princeton.
For more info or to register Please EMAIL Me at: email@example.com.
Current classes begin at 6:00 PM and run until 8:30PM. Although, I find that most of the time, the class gets extended beyond to 9:15! PEOPLE JUST DON'T WANT TO LEAVE! They are gaining insights, honing in on their messaging and HAVING FUN!!
It's all there in their comments below.
More information can be found at: IMPROV4ebc.com (Improv 4 Effective Business Communication).
Contact Victor for more info: firstname.lastname@example.com. Also if you would like to discuss scheduling an Improv workshop for your group.
About the Developer and Facilitator:
Victor's passion and purpose is about teaching people new skills and inspiring them to exceed their potential. It is with this purpose that gave birth to the Improv for Effective Business Communication Workshop in 2013.
From the first time he stepped onto an Improv stage, other players who studied under Second City recognized his unique Improv talents and ability. He sensed from the start that Improv could be a very effective vehicle for self-exploration.
He leads various versions of his Improv workshop to fit the needs of his audience (job-seekers, singles, those looking to improve communication skills, helping to find one's authentic voice, finding your life's purpose and team-building for business).
Victor has spent most of his career creating and presenting training and educational material, typically for the systems and products he developed. Currently, he is performing a variety of functions, including technical writing, blogging and social media strategy, for a local services management company.
He is a graduate of NYU.
Next Workshop: TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON!
Contact Victor: email@example.com


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It has been a very quiet week on the Sun. After the large filament rotated off the western horizon, flux activity decreased to low. There were only a few small c-class flares.
Late yesterday and today, however we've seen a little activity. The CH HSS from a mid-latitude coronal hole arrived late the Feb 15 period. It brought negative Bz, and Bt above 10. Together, those pushed the KP values up to 4.
Aurora were reported in Northern Europe, and the North East US. As of 11:00pm Eastern time the Ovation Oval was showing high chances for Aurora at upper latitudes. At the same time, skies were clear in the Much of the northeast and Northwest united states. Here's an image @northlightalert (follow!) posted to Twitter:
For today's featured tweet, Northern lights were observed at Mount Washington Observatory:
A faint #Auroraborealis (#northernlights) is visible to our distant north. More info here: https://t.co/DG01zNGUq2 pic.twitter.com/iNYtXx44fV
— MWObs (@MWObservatory) February 17, 2015


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Leadership Opportunities
2022 President, Eric Etzel, is asking Spokane Association of REALTORS® members to serve on various committees. Committee involvement adds immensely to brokers' lives and businesses. Call Eric at 509-995-2833 or e-mail him at firstname.lastname@example.com if you have any questions or concerns. This is your opportunity to become part of the decision-making process for our Association.
The following are the S.A.R.'s Standing Committees and Special Events Committees or Activities (click here for committee descriptions). Please indicate your preference by numbering 1-5 (1 being first priority). (Note: you may be on more than one Committee.) For a description of SAR Committees, click here.
If you would prefer, you may click here to download and print the form. You may email your completed form to Tami at the Association office firstname.lastname@example.com or you may fax it to her @ 324-8650.
Deadline to submit your form December 4, 2020.


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Cheadle and Gatley Film Makers
Gatley Gardens
Gatley Choir
Cheadle and Gatley U3A
Gatley Photography Club
Gatley Photography Club is a group of like-minded individuals who all share a passion for photography. Anyone is welcome, whether you are a novice, keen amateur or professional. The aim is to improve our photography and learn from each other.
The group meets at the United Reformed Church on the last Thursday of every month, 8pm. The meetings aim to be active as the best way to improve photography is to practice and the group aims to provide that opportunity.
Very informal and enjoyable homework is given so that people can practice and continue to improve in between meetings.Weekend photography trips are also organised to local areas of interest.
Please feel free to come along to the meetings, or simply join us on Facebook (search for Gatley Photography Club, or E-Mail us at email@example.com for further details.
Gatley Barn Dance
Gatley Knitwits
Gatley KnitWits are a friendly multigenerational knitting /crochet group open to everyone…. even if you can't knit! We were awarded Knitting Club of the Year in 2018 by Let's Knit magazine.
We meet every second Saturday of the month and every last Saturday of the month. We currently meet at Gold Room, Gatley Hill House from 2-4 but this is subject to change so please check our Facebook page (Gatley KnitWits) or message Tracey (07793653581) for details.
Bring your knitting (or if you're new to the group we can teach you how to knit and supply you with everything you need to get started!).
We also knit for charity.
The meeting is free but please bring some change for a donation towards the room hire and tea or coffee.


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Three has confirmed hackers have infiltrated its customer upgrade database using employee logins. Police have arrested three men in connection to the breach.
The hackers used stolen information obtained from eight customers to falsely apply for upgrades from the phone network.
On Wednesday, the National Crime Agency (NCA) said it had arrested two men in connection with the security breach. A 48-year-old man from Orpington, Kent, and a 39-year-old man from Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester, were arrested on suspicion of computer misuse offences. A third man from Moston, Greater Manchester has also been arrested on suspicion of attempting to pervert the course of justice.
Nicholas Carter, a spokesperson for Three, told Reuters: "Over the last four weeks Three has seen an increasing level of attempted handset fraud. This has been visible through higher levels of burglaries of retail stores and attempts to unlawfully intercept upgrade devices.
"We've been working closely with the police and relevant authorities. To date, we have confirmed approximately 400 high-value handsets have been stolen through burglaries and eight devices have been illegally obtained through the upgrade activity.
"The investigation is ongoing, and we have taken a number of steps to further strengthen our controls. In order to commit this type of upgrade handset fraud, the perpetrators used authorised logins to Three's upgrade system.
"This upgrade system does not include any customer payment, card information or bank account information."
Carter also confirmed all eight customers who were targeted by the hackers have been contacted by Three directly.
The mobile company said it has been subjected to numerous attempts of handset fraud over the last four weeks, and these latest revelations are evident of that.
In response to this latest turn of events, Intercede CEO Richard Parris has been outspoken in his criticism towards how large companies deal with these kinds of security breaches: "Driven perhaps by a slavish devotion to short term margin and revenue growth, we now have what amounts to corporate blindness. The risks are well known, and the solutions are available, but rather than sort the issue, C-level executives and board members the world over simply hope their company isn't next on the hit list.
"Digital trust is essential in an increasingly digital world and, if company executives and board members refuse to take action to protect their customers, it may be time for governments and regulators to get much more involved."
PCR's Sector Spotlight on Security – in association with BullGuard – is running throughout November 2016 – click here for more articles


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Hotel La Cascade is a luxury hotel in Amritsar which is located Near Lawrence Road, Amritsar. Hotel La Cascade is a world of luxury, elegance and gracious efficiency. Hotel La Cascade, is set in the heart of Amritsar just 4 km from the renowned Golden temple and the historic Jallianwala Bagh, 3 kms from the railway station and a 20 minute drive from the Amritsar International airport. The convenient location and the services offered makes the hotel an ideal halt for both leisure and business travellers.
Hotel La Cascade offers numerous facilities to its guests to make their stay more comfortable and memorable. It provides facilities like room service, free newspaper, phone service, front desk, transportation services, wake-up service, daily housekeeping, round the clock front desk, round the clock security, laundry, travel desk, doctor on call, conference facilities and meeting rooms with audio/visual equipments and LCD/Projector. Guests can visit the Padrino Hall that serves Mughlai, Continental, Chinese, Italian and Indian Punjabi cuisine or Derballsaal Hall which is a multi-cuisine restaurant as well.


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The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Received: Borrowed
Publication Date: November 5th 2013
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Point of View: 1st Person & Feminine
Recommended Age: 14+
Pacing: Fast
Genres & Themes: Young Adult, Contemporary, Crime, Mystery, Love Triangle
Seventeen-year-old Cassie is a natural at reading people. Piecing together the tiniest details, she can tell you who you are and what you want. But it's not a skill that she's ever taken seriously. That is, until the FBI come knocking: they've begun a classified program that uses exceptional teenagers to crack infamous cold cases, and they need Cassie.
What Cassie doesn't realize is that there's more at risk than a few unsolved homicides—especially when she's sent to live with a group of teens whose gifts are as unusual as her own. Sarcastic, privileged Michael has a knack for reading emotions, which he uses to get inside Cassie's head—and under her skin. Brooding Dean shares Cassie's gift for profiling, but keeps her at arm's length. Continue reading


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Buying things that don't have benefits to offer – if this was a custom, then the world would never have been a better place. If you are unable to make a connection then we are here to tell you this with an example, let us say that if you were to buy every single thing that is not beneficial for you and that thing who it was made for gets short handed then outrage and chaos would have taken over people. and that is also why there is an old saying that says that there is nothing in this world that is made without a reason.
The world is greedy and it does many things to make sure that they get their benefits out of each and everything. Take a bottle of hand wash, when it is about to get empty, we add water in it to make it more useful. People are getting good at getting benefit out of everything. And if you want to your benefit and do benefit of the people around you and you can do that by starting from your home. What you need to do is cut down on power supplies, the power producing industries are big mafias and we can end their doings by making our own power. You must be thinking that how can we do that, well we can do that by getting the benefits out of everything. And there are several benefits of saving the power and you can do that by buying solar panels from the best solar panel companies in Pakistan and these solar panel companies will also guide you about what kind solar paneling is best for you;
- The first benefit is that they save your bills of electricity. In some parts of the world, the electricity is still a main problem where the electricity wires and system build up will take years and for them it is best that they make their own power. And, in some countries the electricity is expensive as heck and that is why for those people this is the best option to get least bill or no bill for that matter.
- This is like an investment because if you sell these back after sometime, they will be sold in cheap meaning to say that their reselling price is always good.


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#BridgingtheGap with Style and Grace watching couple matching outfits
The first thing you notice, no surprise, is that Heidi Nazarudin has style and is always wearing the best outfits by the swiss avenue. And I don't mean simply that she dresses well, or always has the latest. Real style goes beyond the exterior. People like Heidi Nazarudin are simply born with it.
The second thing you notice is her voice. A little Dutch, a sprinkle of South African perhaps? And something else, but what? There's just enough international mystery and authority in that voice that you lean in a little, slow down. Pause. That voice makes you want to know her.
"Uh oh, I'm outta my league here," was my first thought when I checked out her site, TheAmbitionista.com for the "Bridging The Gap Campaign". The woman has a giant following as an established brand in the style and fashion blogosphere.
You can check out https://matchinggear.com/ for a new fashion style to make you feel comfortable and at the same time match with your children or partner.
I should mention here that until about seven years ago, I was the clueless yokel who bought clothes two sizes bigger than me, as long as they were ON SALE. I'm the gal that production scouts for make-over shows are scouring mini-malls to find; the one they love to get their claws into for fashion intervention segments. A romp through my closet might have scared Heidi away. True confession, I still have a pair of suede shoes from… gulp… college. But here's the thing, while Heidi has to be acutely conscious of labels for her work, she isn't at all interested in assigning labels to people. Which kind of made her the perfect person for me to interview for the #bridgingthecap campaign.
Partnering up with Heidi provided the opportunity for two women, at different stages in our lives, to rummage around in each other's closets ( if you'll pardon the pun) and find all of the positive ways in which we line up.
Clicking around on TheAmbitionista.com, I was hooked. Heidi's beautifully constructed website draws you right in. I was nodding and drooling and relating and it was a great reminder that women, no matter what our age, stage, or orientation, when we let down our hair and pull off our masks, most of us are far more similar than we are different. And the "differences?" Thank the little baby Moses in a basket of rushes for those! It's the differences that give us texture, make us interesting, and allow us to learn from one another.
Heidi has her finger on the pulse of what's trending, useful and functional, whether it's the latest luxury items or a new mass product that lets working women go about their daily lives stylishly and effortlessly – she's all about products and services that saves time, money and lives up to its promises. Heidi has almost a million followers on her main social media channels and they all over the map, aged 25-40.
"Style is not about age, or price point, it's about being more approachable," says Heidi. And she demonstrates a wonderfully balanced sense of high/low. Some of the designers and brands she works with are Rolls Royce, Louis Vuitton, Fendi and Christian Dior – all the way to H&M and eBay (where she has completed 6 campaigns with them in 2017).
We chatted about how advertisers and brand managers are always trying to put consumers (and her!) into a box by age, income, region or ethnicity and nothing rankles her more than that.
When our conversation turned to age, my being in my 50's and she closer to the millennial generation, we both bridled at the misconceptions and definitions. "Millennials are this….women over 50 are all that…" Nope. Zip it, we laughed. Nobody puts baby in a corner. Not these babies, anyway. "The truth," says Heidi, "is that we can all learn from each other."
"Age is a number," says Heidi. "Literally. I have friends of all ages from the 20's to 60's and none of us looks at life that way. You can't group people by age. It's insane."
One of the top misconceptions that fumes her is that women over 40 don't buy clothes. And we talked about the very skewed perception because those women are exactly the people with the disposable income and the ability to wear it.
I asked her if there were any hard and fast rules in fashion and her answer made me laugh. "If you're wearing the exact same clothes as your daughter, that could be a sign that you need a new look." Wait, so was the polka dot halter top, daisy duke cut-offs and five inch stilettos the wrong looks to chaperone at the Justin Bieber concert? I'm kidding! Sheesh, have a little faith, I'm not that hopeless!
What's my fashion pet peeve as a Fierce 50 gal? Where did all the sleeves go? Why are all the gorgeous dresses sleeveless? What if I don't want my arms to show, even if the skin isn't quite hanging off the bone? What if I'm cold? Why do all of the female newscasters look like they're attending some black tie at the Russian Embassy, complete with plunging cleavage and GI Jane arms? Heidi had some great answers for me from the designer side, which led to another whole conversation about clothes and comfort. The lady knows her stuff. She needs to start designing.
Before we rang off, ( Heidi was whispering down Sunset Boulevard, or maybe Rodeo Drive in her car when we spoke, which seemed pretty romantic as I microwaved a Lean Cuisine) I asked her what she would tell her 20 year old self?
"I would tell the 20-year old me not to care too much what my friends think," she answered without hesitation. "Do what's right for you, and stop worrying so much. Don't let other people define you or put you down."
Amen to that, sister.
#BridgingtheGap Campaign
Please join us in Reciprocal Mentorship … reach out to someone in your opposite demographic and share your stories, your hearts, and your dreams. You will find that we have so much to offer each other. Come on along! Bridge the Gap.
Karen BrooksOctober 18, 2017 at 10:45 am
I love this article you wrote Lee. I have met Heidi and she is down-to-earth and supportive of people she meets. She is a wonderful person. Great match for the campaign. Heidi is a rising superstar and you showed us that.
Karen @wearwithpassion xoxo
CatherineOctober 18, 2017 at 11:01 am
Beyond brilliant. Love uniting two Boss Babes. And you're style is fun and whimsical. I don't take myself seriously either sister and I think it's a beautiful quality in a woman. Thank you both from the bottom of my heart.
Comments are closed.


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Happy birthday Lilly!
Thanks for being awesome.
March 4, 2014
Eight Is Great!
Posted by Michael Agneta at 3:00 AM
Labels: Lilly
6 comments:
Congrats man, seems like an awesome daughter. PS thinking about a flats boat?ReplyDelete
Awesome - happy b day to your family!ReplyDelete
Happy Birthday from California Lilly.ReplyDelete
From Mile High Colorado, Lilly. Have a fun filled day.ReplyDelete
Hi Lilly!!! So much spunk and energy in that girl... ha! Hope Lilly is having an extra special day...ReplyDelete
Happy birthday to my adopted daughter.ReplyDelete
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


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Question: Once we have made the Bluetooth connection with the evoko minto for web conferencing it works great. But it is stuck in "pairing mode" and does not lock in the bluetooth connection. Requiring a reconnection of bluetooth every time the computer is turned off.
Answer: Just like when using the Minto with a smartphone you actively have to connect the computer and Minto with BlueTooth each time. This BT profile has been chosen since it is not a "personal device" (such as a headset which is used only by one person), but an "office device" used by multiple people at the company. If you would have automatic pairing and 5 people attending a meeting, all with their laptops and smartphones that previously have been connected to the Minto, any of the 10 devices could be connected to the Minto. It will then be the first one in range instead of the one you want to use.


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Yibaneh Frequently Asked Questions
Below are some of the Frequently Asked Questions and Answers about the Apprenticeship
Housing Questions
Where will I live, what does my living situation look like, and is the Communal House Kosher?
Apprentices will live in a house adjacent to the Pearlstone property. The house has 4 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms and will be shared by eight apprentices. Apprentices should expect to have roommates. The basement of the house is rented to a full-time tenant.
Yes, the Communal House is Kosher and vegetarian. We realize there is a spectrum of the way people observe kashrut and as such have implemented a kashrut policy based on the input of many staff and community members over the years. Though Pearlstone's dining hall is supervised by the OU, the house is not.
What will we eat?
Apprentices will prepare their own food together in the communal house. The apprenticeship community will have a shared budget for food for cooperative shopping as well as Kosher organic farm-to-table produce from our farm. Apprentices will also enjoy the staff lunch that is provided Sundays-Thursdays in Pearlstone's dining hall. The staff lunch may not be strictly vegetarian but options generally exist to maintain a vegetarian or vegan diet based on the variety of offerings in the dining hall.
Do I need a car?
If you have a car, feel free to bring it to Pearlstone! Our campus is about 20 miles north of Baltimore City and there's plenty of shopping and restaurants close-by, so many have found it helpful to have a car when living here. If you don't have a car, that's fine too!
Can my friends come to visit?
Guests are welcome to come and visit, stay with you, and volunteer on the farm. Our first priority however is the safety and comfort of those living and working at Pearlstone. All guests need to be approved in advance by the apprenticeship coordinator and discussed with the apprentice community. If community members are uncomfortable with a guest, s/he may be asked to leave. Guests may only stay for up to 4 consecutive nights.
I'm not very religious. Will I feel comfortable at Pearlstone?
We pride ourselves on having a diverse and pluralistic Jewish community at Pearlstone. While we maintain a kashrut policy that we hope will please everyone, we are excited about the many different expressions of Judaism that come forth in a pluralist environment. If you are the type of person who is ok stepping a little bit outside of the box, learning new things, and being respectful of the way others practice even when it is different than you, then you will feel comfortable here.
To see pictures of the apprentice house click HERE
Work Questions:
What will my work hours be and what will I be doing?
At Pearlstone, we strive to maintain an 8 hour work day, though hours may fluctuate based on the season. Furthermore, apprentices will have chores and responsibilities that extend beyond the standard work hours. In addition to work blocks, the workday may include educational workshops, community meeting, morning spiritual practice, and more. The work week will also fluctuate with on days and off days, i.e., in some months we work Sunday through Thursday and in other months we work Monday through Friday.
The apprenticeship program aims to integrate all aspects of Pearlstone's work into the experience of its participants, though the majority of your work time will be spent on the farm or in the program department, depending on your track of choice. Apprentices will also work in the retreat center's kitchen, with maintenance, campus, and with housekeeping. Pearlstone places a high value on collaboration, and as such, every member of the team often helps out in all different areas of the organization.
Do I get paid?
Apprentices will be paid for the work they perform. Bi-monthly paychecks will be issued. Apprentices are offered very reasonable room and board as well as a variety of learning/experiential opportunities including, for example, a Permaculture Design course (certification at completion), torah studies, environmental education classes, yoga, etc.
Do I get days off?
Apprentices work 5 days a week. For the most part this means either a Monday – Friday or Sunday – Thursday schedule. Apprentices will have be granted eight (8) personal/vacation days throughout the season. These days will generally be scheduled in advance for you. If you need additional or alternate days off, you will need to submit a leave request to your supervisor at least two weeks in advance for the days off you wish to take. Apprentices will receive all other benefits for which they are eligible in accordance with Pearlstone's Employee Handbook.
To see a sample daily schedule, click HERE
Learning and Spiritual Opportunities:
What will I Learn?
As an apprentice you will participate in formal and informal educational experiences in Jewish learning, agricultural skills, educational programming, and more. These will include classes and workshops led by Pearlstone's programming and farm staff as well as a host of Baltimore's best Rabbis and educators. There will also be occasional field trips to local farms and educational sites. Participation in learning sessions is a vital but ultimately voluntary component of the apprenticeship.
What is Morning Spiritual Practice?
Each morning, as we rise together and prepare for the holy work of tending to the earth and tending to our souls, we have the opportunity to raise more than just our bodies, because collectively we are capable of raising the whole world. Morning Spiritual Practice is a unique opportunity for apprentices and members of the Pearlstone staff to come together and start their day in community with song, prayer, meditation, and reflection. Throughout the season, everyone will have multiple opportunities to lead this special time. With each community member's leadership, we will encounter a new experience grounded in the framework of our ancient Jewish tradition.
What is a community meeting, what does that consist of?
Living in community is an incredible experience filled with joy and excitement, but it also takes work. Community meetings give the apprenticeship cohort the opportunity to work through issues that have arisen within the group, create space to talk about chores and responsibilities, and review the coming week's schedule. These meetings are also an opportunity for us to check in with each other, share where we are, what is happening in our lives, and what support we may need from others.
What are Shabbat and Chagim (Jewish holidays) like at Pearlstone?
Shabbat is of great importance to us at Pearlstone. This sacred rest period nourishes our bodies and souls so that we can continue to do our work together building a more beautiful and sustainable world. Throughout the season, the apprentice community is encouraged to create for themselves rituals and practices for celebrating Shabbat. There will be community Shabbatot during which some Pearlstone staff will join the apprentice community to celebrate. Many holidays are a mix of work and rest, celebration, and worship. Apprentices are expected to work all Signature Immersive Retreats including Pesach, Shavuot and Sukkot. When working retreats, apprentices are invited to join retreat center meals.**
**Apprentices will need to pack their own lunches for Pesach camp.


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All of the products I review on this site are paid for out of my own pocket. Sometimes my postings are pretty thin because I just didn't have the money to spend on new goodies. As I have said in previous posts, I don't accept freebies or sample products because I don't feel I can fairly assess something that has been given to me. There is always the expectation of a favorable response and that I will encourage others to purchase. I feel bad for turning down some very nice people, but I want to keep my blog independent. That's the way I roll.
I don't know how this will shake out in the blogging and You Tube community, but I can say it's about darned time! Read the FTC long version below. Celebrity spokespeople can now be held liable for unsubstantiated product claims. Is this the death of the celebrity infomercial?
Here's the FTC long version: FTC Press Release
The Federal Trade Commission will require bloggers to clearly disclose any freebies or payments they get from companies for reviewing their products.
It is the first time since 1980 that the commission has revised its guidelines on endorsements and testimonials, and the first time the rules have covered bloggers.
But the commission stopped short Monday of specifying how bloggers must disclose any conflicts of interest.
The FTC said its commissioners voted 4-0 to approve the final guidelines, which had been expected. Penalties include up to $11,000 in fines per violation.
The rules take effect Dec. 1.


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preSAGE member Prasanta Ghosh, a Professor in SU's Electrical Engineering and Computer Science department, is coordinating a meeting for professionals in the energy sector titled "Smart Grid Workshop: State of Technologies & Future Research Directions," assisted by Shalini Suryanarayana, the department's Smart Grid Program Director. The workshop takes place on July 19, 2013 on SU's campus.
This workshop will introduce intertwined topic areas to show the complex nature of the smart grid, including power distribution systems with distributed sources, optimization, control, communication, cybersecurity processes in power systems, and how advanced technology will positively impact energy suppliers, manufacturers, consumers, and society.
Workshop Outline
1. Distributed Resources: Cost and Gas Emission Optimization
2. Renewable Energy Sources: Integration to the Grid
3. Bridge to the Grid: Power Electronics
4. Real Time: Wide Scale Visibility of Grid Performance
5. Wireless Communication and Smart Grid
6. Cybersecurity: Availability, Integrity, Confidentiality
For more information, contact Shalini Suryanarayana.


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I woke up this morning at 3am thinking about Maria Callas singing "La Mamma Morta". I'd watched the movie Philadelphia a few days ago. And the sound of this opera was there in my mind.
I started up MacBook computer and went online to YouTube and found the scene in the movie where the attorney who will represent an AIDS victim meets with his client. The attorney is played by Denzel Washington. The man stricken with AIDS is Tom Hanks. In the background Maria Callas is singing. Hanks interrupts their conversation because he is overcome with emotion by this music that he loves so much!
At first the attorney is bored by this interruption. He does not connect with the emotion of this moment. And then, by the sheer power of Hanks words and the music, the attorney is overcome. Here are two of the greatest actors showing why they are the best. Denzel Washington with only his eyes and mouth displays the depths of emotion.
All of this going on in just one scene has captured my soul. I want to share it with you. Please click [here] to view! Oh Lord! My tears do flow when I watch this scene!
Pulled out all the stops
The producers of the movie "Philadelphia" pulled out all the stops when making this movie. Fabulous music produced especially for this movie
They used Bruce Springsteen [link].
And they used Neil Young [link].
Location: El Chaco RV Park
Elevation: 15 meters


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This content has been archived. It may no longer be relevant
Instilling a passion for science
The Indiana Department of Education recently identified a great need for producing more Science, Technology, Education, and Mathematics (STEM) K-12 educators in Indiana. By engaging college students in rigorous and creative STEM education programs, IUPUI is preparing the next generation of science educators.
Bryan Ramirez, one of IUPUI's recent STEM education graduates, is now in his third year of teaching 6thgrade science at Westlane Middle School. Bryan feels as though his teaching career has been a rewarding way to put his biology degree to good use.
"I love teaching middle school because the kids are at the age where they're still incredibly open-minded," Ramirez said. "Especially 6th graders – everything is so new to them. It's a great time to instill a passion for science and learning."
A standout student
As the director of the Woodrow Wilson Indiana Teaching Fellowship Program and an associate professor of biology, Kathleen Marrs interacts with hundreds of students each year. So when she says that Ramirez stood out to her as a young freshman it really means something.
Marrs noticed that Ramirez was not only a strong student in her biology course – he also had a knack for explaining information to his peers. She recommended he apply to become a Biology K101 recitation leader through the Bepko Learning Center. Ramirez got the job and flourished as a recitation leader, helping students gain a deeper understanding by supplementing lecture materials with hands-on activities and discussions.
"Bryan is fantastic. He really connects with his students, and has a great time finding creative ways of helping them understand biology," Marrs said. "Becoming a biology recitation leader really helped him realize in a short period of time how rewarding teaching was to him."
A well-connected education
Ramirez served as a Biology K101 recitation leader for six semesters, and two summer sessions. The financial support of being a Bepko recitation leader and a Robert Noyce Teach Science scholar helped Ramirez complete his bachelor's degree and teaching certificate in a short three years.
Teaching may run in the family – many of Bryan's family members still teach in his hometown, Venezuela – but Ramirez is thankful for the connections Marrs and IUPUI helped him make as an undergrad.
This article in its entirety was published on the IUPUI School of Science website.


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Our sisters over at SELF recently published this list of diet superfoods, which somehow puts me in mind of apples wearing little capes, leaping tall buildings in a single bound:
steak, eggs, kale, oats, lentils, goji berries, salmon, apples, buckwheat pasta, blueberries, almond butter, pomegranates, chiles, yogurt, quinoa, sardines, tarragon, parmesan, avocado, olive oil
I noticed three things about this list right away.
1. It has more than a few items in common with this list of delish beauty foods.
2. Happily, it includes a ton of stuff that I'm already eating.
3. It awakened in me what I can only call my monkey-like compulsion to conquer and check off list items. ("A list of 20, eh? You'll have to do better than that to stop me! I've checked a million little boxes in my day, and I'll check a million more before I'm through! Muhuahahahhahaaa...")
So as I did my pre-shopping meal plan on Sunday, I tried to see how many of these superfoods I could chow through in five weekdays. You can check out the complete plan after the jump.
The good news is that I snack on apples constantly and always cook with olive oil, so that's two down...eighteen to go. The bad news is, I don't like sardines (to all you little-salty-fishy fans, I know, I'm sorry) and I didn't have any luck finding almond butter, goji berries, or pomegranates at the supermarket (which...weird? right? They're not that uncommon). And I didn't manage to include any steak, avocado, or tarragon, but if you have any ideas about how I can sneak them in, I'm all ears.
breakfast: whole wheat english muffin with egg
lunch: spicy minestrone with kale and parmesan
dinner: Moroccan quinoa with yogurt (I've made this recipe three times this year so far, and I apparently Cannot. Get. Enough.)
breakfast: oatmeal with blueberries and almonds
lunch: leftover Moroccan quinoa
dinner: sesame soba noodles
breakfast: oatmeal with blueberries and almonds
lunch: leftover noodle salad
dinner: mellow lentil curry with yogurt and eggs
breakfast: english muffin with egg
lunch: leftover curry
dinner: salmon with chile-roasted cauliflower and salad
breakfast: more oatmeal
lunch: more minestrone
dinner: with buddies