text:
Vulvas with a Difference
Faith Wilding
An age-old problem has resurfaced--with a difference--in the biotech century. The problem: What does woman (sic) want? This question, once so
exasperatedly asked by Freud--as a corollary to his finding that woman "represents a lack" (of a penis)--is once again being vigorously addressed in
the practices of (mostly) male scientists and doctors with new biotechnological and medical processes at their disposal. Freud¹s formulation of the
question presumes an essentially identical desire (for the penis) in all women regardless of age, race, sexual preference, education, economic status,
or geographical residence. It also represents "woman" as essentially lacking (because she has been found "wanting?") and as problematic, mysterious,
unknowable, and eternally unsatisfiable. Freud makes it clear that the "problem"--traditionally described by the term "hysteria"--is that women "want"
sexual pleasure; they want to know how to have it, how to get it, and how to control and ensure the supply.
In Europe and the US, nineteenth, and early twentieth-century responses to the problem of female "hysterical² anorgasmia and decreased or absent sexual
pleasure often called for medical interventions and were sometimes quite drastic, including painful body binding, purging, bloodletting, nasty douches
and bath regimes, confinement to bed, bland diets, and in worst cases, hysterectomy and/or clitoridectomy. Women experiencing "vaginal relaxation"(1)
and vulvar and vaginal damage due to too frequent childbirth, inadequate medical knowledge of women's genital structures and functions, and the total
ignorance of the mechanisms of the female orgasm, had nowhere to turn except to their doctors, because the traditions of women healers and midwives
with experience and knowledge of women's bodies had long since eroded in the moralized and rationalized body practices of the Enlightenment.
A valuable light is cast on age-old treatments of female disturbances by Dr. Rachel Maines (2). She documents that an effective treatment for
hysterical women since the Greeks had been "pelvic massage"--sometimes performed by male doctors, but more often by female midwives--to relieve women
of the sexual tensions, pelvic edema, and nervous depressions brought on by the lack of orgasmic release in marital penetrative coitus. Maines
chronicles the invention of the vibrator--originally designed to relieve doctors of the tedium of hand manipulation of women's genitals (pelvic
massage)--and its fairly rapid adoption as a tool of "personal care" in private households; and shows that this technological solution to the "problem"
of women's complicated sexual needs contributed to letting (male) lovers and husbands off the hook in terms of learning to satisfy their partner's
sexual desires. At the same time it supported the centrality of penetrative coitus climaxing in male orgasm as the dominant form of heterosexual
Meanwhile, in many north African countries such as Kenya, the Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, Mali, Egypt, and Chad (as well as in many parts of the Middle
East, such as Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Yemen, as well as large parts of Indonesia, and to a lesser extent in other parts of the world), varying forms of
female circumcision and female genital mutilation (FGM) have been practiced for centuries (see the World Incidence of Genital Mutilation map included
in this article). While there are deep and complex reasons for the origin and perpetuation of these practices, nearly all African and Western
researchers who have studied them--as well as the evidence of extensive testimony from women on whom these operations have been practiced--agree that
most of these procedures are extremely painful and dangerous to a woman¹s health; they usually destroy women¹s sexual pleasure, and are performed to
"purify" and control women¹s sexuality (3). Thus, though there seems to be no comparable social construction of female hysteria in these countries, it
is significant that the circumcision practices have the effect of controlling and curtailing women¹s sexual pleasure, which must somehow seem a threat
to social order and masculine power. And although they are often compared, female genital circumcision can in no way be equated with the circumcision
of men, even though some circumcised men do report diminished sexual sensation due to the loss of their foreskins. It is also important to note that
in the past decade or so in the US, there has been a fairly vocal revolt against the almost universally adopted medical (and sometimes religious)
practice of routine male circumcision right after birth.
The Biotech Solution
"You don't have to fly to LA or NY to get the hottest trend in the world of cosmetic surgery--labiaplasty and vaginal tightening, also known as a
"designer vagina." (Website)
Currently, biotechnologies and new microsurgical medical technologies (MedTech) are being used to pioneer new flesh technologies. MedTech is being
used by doctors to address the Freudian "lack" directly by re-engineering the body of the woman rather than by treating her psyche. Consider, for
example, this website text describing "Vaginal Rejuvenation through Designer Laser Vaginoplasty": "Designer Laser Vaginoplasty is the aesthetic
surgical enhancement of vulvar structures, such as the labia minora, labia majora and mons pubis"(4). Texts on these websites make clear that what is
lacking or inadequate is the woman's body and the structure of her sexual organs--not medical knowledge and sexual practices.
Though many men still complain that they cannot "find" the clitoris, recent research into the structures of the clitoris and vulva have revealed an
astonishing new terrain of erectile tissue and nerve networks which show that the size of the clitoris is much bigger than previously depicted in
medical literature. Part of the problem of the invisibility of the clitoris (the dark continent) is that the ancient methods of comparative
anatomical studies of male and female genitalia still permeate scientific and medical literature and practice. In a recent article, Dr. Helen E.
O'Connell and colleagues pointed out that even the nomenclature for the female genital parts is consistently incorrect: "We investigated the anatomical
relationship between the urethra and the surrounding erectile tissue, and reviewed the appropriateness of the current nomenclature used to describe
this anatomy. . . A series of detailed dissections suggests that current anatomical descriptions of female human urethral and genital anatomy are
Girls and women in the US are routinely taught to call their external sexual organs "vagina"
(as in the current Off-Broadway show, "Vagina Monologues"), rather than "vulva." The vagina is not
the homologous organ to the penis, and the incorrect nomenclature perpetuates the invisibility and
unmentionability of the female sexual (orgasmic) organs--the vulva and clitoris. The subversive 70s
feminist use of the term "cunt" (as in "cunt art") was a direct response to this problem of naming.
However, now that vast amounts of money can be made from new microsurgical and biotechnological medical interventions, some scientists/doctors
(in the US and Canada) have decided to "educate" themselves about the "problems" of women so they can fix them once and for all in the postmodern
("post-hysterical") way--through medical and bio-technology: To date there has been no such interest, (as that dedicated to the correction of male
impotence) let alone research, in vaginal relaxation and its detrimental effects on sexual gratification. . . The obstetrician and gynecologist is
looked upon as the champion of female health care. . . Your doctor is a scientist. His (sic) knowledge is based upon this science (the science of
obstetrical and gynecological specialty.) This science is founded upon research, bio statistics, established facts (sic), theories, and postulates.
If there is none of this science pertaining to vaginal relaxation and sexual gratification then it doesn't exist. It won¹t exist until we look for it.
Therefore, let it begin now! (6)
And so the scientist/doctors are off and running. Purely elective vulvar/vaginal surgeries that are done for "aesthetic reasons only" can cost between
$2,000 and $3,500 for a fairly simple "plumping" (liposculpture) of the outer lips of the mons, using "unsightly fat" suctioned from the inner thighs.
Or, you may be advised to employ labiaplasty to shorten and symmetricalize those dangerous, dangly vulvar lips that might interfere with horseback
riding, wearing pants, or be painfully drawn inside during intercourse. ("Labiaplasty is a reduction of the labia minora, the flaps of skin which form
the lips of a woman's genitalia and cover the clitoris and vaginal opening.") Or, for women from certain "ethnic" groups: "when a woman marries and
consummates the marriage she must bleed to prove virginity to her partner . . . since in this day and age (due to exercise, and physical activity) the
hymen is rarely intact...(some) women do request a hymen repair"(7). It is no surprise that this latter sentence is the only mention of "ethnic" groups
or practices that I found in the websites and online literature from vaginal rejuvenation clinics. I found no mention of the practices of female
genital mutilation, and of the connection between the new MedTech surgical practices and FGM, though these doctors must surely be aware of it. The new
vulvar and vaginal surgical technologies would be put to much better use in helping women seeking reconstruction and healing of sexual organs
mutilated and damaged by FGM practices, than in making unnecessary "aesthetic" interventions on perfectly healthy women.
Technologies with a Difference
"Women are multi-orgasmic . . . From this factual data, laser vaginal rejuvenation was designed in order to enhance sexual gratification for women
who, for whatever reason, lack an overall optimum architectural integrity of the vagina."(Emphasis mine)
For most affluent (white) Western women accustomed to rejuvenating their looks by plastic surgery, the re-engineering and aesthetic enhancement of the
vulva is a so-called "elective" procedure, and seems to represent a voluntary consumer excess not that much different from a nose or breast
job--although the term "voluntary" is questionable here, considering the disciplinary pressures of western beauty standards.
By contrast, for nonwestern women, female genital alteration, including many forms of female circumcision and infibulation, is generally a mandatory
ritual or cultural procedure usually practiced on women by women. With globalization and increased East to West migration, women from societies still
practicing various forms of female circumcision sometimes seek these services from qualified obstetricians/gynecologists in modern hospitals. Such is
the compelling nature of this cultural custom, however, that many mothers are still sending their daughters back to their countries of origin for these
ritual procedures, where they may be performed by the traditional female circumcisers, usually operating with rusty tools and no anesthetics or
disinfectants. Despite years of organization against Female Genital Mutilation practices on the part of many Africans and Westerners--which resulted
in legal bans of the practices in some countries like Guinea, Niger, and Sudan--the bans are no match for the compelling cultural rituals. In many
parts of Egypt, for example, though hospitals had been forbidden to perform clitoridectomies "the procedure was now carried out in barber shops and
similar, non-official places . . . and led to an increase of complications"(8).
The paradoxical situation then is that women from quite different economic, social/cultural backgrounds and geographical origins are undergoing vulvar
surgery and alterations for completely different reasons--and with differing results--all of which however have their roots in patriarchal gender
practices. The (western) aesthetic vulvar surgery is claimed (by doctors and patients) to enhance sexual enjoyment for the woman, although there are
no medically persuasive reasons or proofs given for this. In actuality there is a likelihood that nerves and sensitive tissues are being damaged, and
that erectile tissue--which is far more extensive than is depicted in standard medical and anatomy texts--is being reduced and replaced by nerveless
scar tissue. So even though in these operations the clitoris is not excised (although it sometimes is "repositioned") there is loss and disturbance of
sensitive tissues, and hence probably also of subtle and deep sensation (9). Undaunted by the contradictions, the aesthetic surgeon can win three
times: S/he treats the high-income Western spenders who are seeking "enhanced sexual gratification" through genital surgery; s/he treats the women
forced by their cultural traditions to alter their genitals with the result of controlling and curtailing or destroying female sexual pleasure; and
s/he reconstructs the deformities and traumas caused by botched circumcision operations.
Nowhere in the online or other literature from the aesthetic "rejuvenation" clinics which practice this new surgery is there any mention of other ways
of treating "vaginal relaxation," or of helping women achieve more sexual pleasure by other than medicalized means. Nowhere is it mentioned that during
second-wave feminism, for example, women gathered to teach each other about their sexual organs and bodies: how to have orgasms, how to give themselves
and other women pleasure, how to teach men to give women pleasure. Nowhere are vibrators, dildos, Kegel exercises, counseling, sensual massage,
pleasurable body practices, or other (non-medical) self-help practices mentioned. The literature works by seduction, promising scientifically enhanced
sexual pleasure and improved performance. It insists that women are (and ought to be) multi-orgasmic and if this isn't happening for you something may
be wrong with your body, and you should hasten to the nearest surgeon for the medicalized, technological fix. To cap it off, there is no awareness in
the literature of the explicitly heterosexual assumptions of this type of surgery, and of the way in which it reinforces the idea of female lack.
Neither do we see any discussion about the problematic of western doctors making it possible for nonwestern women (and men) to perpetuate their harmful
and painful "customs" by using "safe" and "modern" western technologies. This would seem to be an important medical ethics discussion. Although laws
have been passed in the US forbidding female circumcision practices, doctors are increasingly being called upon to do these operations, or to repair
botched genital jobs on women who come to emergency rooms. It seems that many Western feminists have been too reluctant to participate fully in this
discussion for reasons of false race consciousness, and lack of understanding how related it is to issues raised by the new flesh technologies now
pervading western culture.
(Anti) Aesthetics of the Vulva
"Aesthetic surgery of the female external genitalia has been neglected by physicians. However, awareness of female genital aesthetics has increased
owing to increased media attention, both from magazines and video. Women may feel self-conscious about the appearance of their labia majora (outer
lips) or, more commonly, labia minora (inner lips). The aging female may dislike the descent of her pubic hair and the labia and desire re-elevation
to its previous location. Very few physicians are concerned with the appearance of the female external genitalia. A relative complacency exists that
frustrates many women"(10).
Surely one of the strangest aspects of the new female genital surgery are physicians' website texts (such as the one cited above) that sound rather
self-conscious, and seem to be included for purposes of self-justification (or perhaps to pre-empt people wondering why a self-respecting doctor would
get into the vulva re-engineering business?) An examination of some of the terms used in these texts (for example, "elective vaginal enhancement,"
"female genital aesthetics," "vaginal rejuvenation,² or "optimal architectural integrity of the vagina,") reveals that there is an implicit set of
desirable traits or aesthetic standards for the female genitals--at least according to the doctors "lack" is now operable. These implicit aesthetics
for female genitalia need to be made explicit, and a subversive (anti) aesthetic suggested in their place.
What aesthetics of the vulva are revealed in an examination of these Web pages and of other mass-circulation images? The passage quoted above states
that "awareness of female genital aesthetics has increased owing to media attention, both from magazines and video." One can only assume that what is
being referred to here are features on "Designer Vaginas" in such magazines as Cosmo, but probably not the increased media coverage and feminist
activism regarding banning female genital mutilation. Referring to the terms found on the websites of "aesthetic" surgeons, it seems clear that in the
plastic surgery profession at least, female genitals are seen as lacking in youthful resilience and appearance, tightness, architectural integrity,
symmetry, dainty labia size, tasteful hair distribution, and plumpness. A template of the ideal vulva emerges: The tight, small, pulsing, plump, juicy,
glistening, pearly pink, virginal-yet-hot cunt found in pornography, art, or erotic literature. As can be seen on the website before and after pictures
of labia reduction operations, vulvas are surgically reconstructed to look very much like wounds. The crinkly, "redundant" labia--which shield the
exquisitely sensitive clitoris from too harsh an approach and too direct a touch, and which form a moist, protective surface of rubbing and touching
flesh that engorges with pulsing blood during sexual arousal--are drastically reduced. The entire vulva becomes a slit, a gash, a hole, a wound, an
orifice just right for penetrating male entry and direct access to the vagina. Here lack becomes "enhancement" through diminishment--a peculiar logic
indeed. The glowing testimonies of enhanced women that appear on the web pages talk only in the most vague terms of the wonderful new lives that this
operation has given them.
Advanced digital visualization technologies are currently giving new insights into heretofore invisible and unexplored territories of the interior
body (see the citation from the work of Dr. Helen O'Connell above). Seizing upon these technologies, scientists and plastic surgeons are leaping into
the breach to claim and redesign the newly discovered territories--much as the conquistadores and colonists did in the newly discovered Americas.
(In this connection, one wonders how, and whether, the sexual proclivities of different colonial cultures [Dutch, French, Portuguese, British, etc.]
were influenced by the differing aesthetics which seem to govern the various styles of African female circumcision?)
Because language and naming construct the medico/scientific perception and treatment of the body--as well as clarify the phenomenological experiences
of the body--women need to inform themselves about these new scientific discoveries of vulvar and clitoral structures, and feminists should insist that
scientists and doctors be educated in the feminist research about female desire, pleasure and sexuality. Only then will their eyes be fully opened to
the possible implications of the newly discovered erectile and pleasure structures.
Many consumers it seems, are all too willing to leave behind enjoyment of organically various bodies, and are looking to technology and science to give
them new ways of creating ideals for the new technologized body, regardless of what they may have to sacrifice and suffer by doing so. The existing
medico/scientific aesthetic for female genitals seems to have been affected only in some respects by the cunt celebrating 70s, the
feminist-jouissance-theory 80s, and the bad-grrl 90s. The jouissance and libidinal excess pursued by many feminists as a path to autonomy and power, is
being replaced in public discourse by the full-scale consumer spectacle of the cyborg porn babe, whose predatory surface is adorned by every well-worn
sign of coded sexuality that the market will bear.
An (anti) aesthetic of the vulva might posit first of all that looks and surface are not the important thing when it comes to vulvas. Instead,
sensation and feeling, and the excitation of deep structures are pre-eminent. Perhaps our scopophilic culture desires to establish once and for all a
visual "proof" of the female orgasm so it can be compared to that of the male? Could it be that a dangerous precedent was set in the early 70s, when
Masters and Johnson, the avowed champions of the female orgasm and of the multi-orgasmic prowess of women, began to measure and chart female orgasms
in the lab? Eye opening as this information was in so many ways, it doubled the efforts to quantify, measure, and represent the female orgasm, this
time by medical charts and graphs, rather than by psychological or poetic terminology. Masters and Johnson are still invoked by the new pleasure
surgeons, who, under the banner of championing female orgasmic capability and entitlement, wield their knives in order to give women the optimal
vulva/vagina for enhanced sexual satisfaction, for better loving through surgery.
Can feminists counteract these entrenched views and disseminate a new (anti) aesthetic of the vulva? How can we counter the medicalized or pornographic
images of vulvas that are usually the only ones offered for public view? Feminist artists tried to reclaim the cunt as a powerful pleasure source in
the early 70s; and the vulva as a sign of sexual contention and gender construction has made many appearances in the art of the 80s and 90s. In
everyday life, men, lesbians, and doctors see many more vulvas than most heterosexual women ever do. There are few possibilities for women to see
other women¹s vulvas in a pleasurable, convivial, or desiring environment. Most women probably have not even thought twice about the looks of their
vulvas (many haven't dared look), but this new worry is being created (in post-hysterical terms) by the existence and deployment of new flesh
technologies. Subversive tactics that critique the commercial impulses and point up the ridiculousness and potential physical danger of such operations
are called for. Rather than going for reduction surgery, for example, why not demand augmentation surgery, or other manipulations that will enlarge
the labia minora? Why not have parties where women can examine, compare, and explore the myriad different forms of vulvas? Why not set up spa days
(paid for by medical insurance) in which women teach themselves and their sexual partners about female sexuality and desire. Let¹s educate children in
the proper nomenclature and sexual and pleasure functions of the female genital organs. Above all, let¹s call for resistance to the unquestioned
technological "solutions" to issues that have profound psychological, emotional, cultural, and even political origins and histories. Let us not
obliterate the vulva as we now know it--before we do know it!
(1) Vaginal relaxation is "the loss of the optimum structural architecture of the vagina. . . the vaginal muscles become flaccid with poor tone,
strength, and support." According to statistics, 30 million American women suffer from this. Just think of that marketing possibility!
(2) Rachel P. Maines, The Technology of Orgasm: Hysteria, the Vibrator, and Women¹s Sexual Satisfaction. (Baltimore and London: The Johns Hopkins
University Press, 1999).
(3) "Types of Female Genital Mutilation: Circumcision or Sunna: Removal of the prepuce or hood of the clitoris, with the body of the clitoris
remaining intact. Excision or Clitoridectomy: Removal of the clitoris and all or part of the labia minora. Intermediate: Removal of the clitoris, all
or part of the labia minora, and sometimes part of the labia majora. Infibulation or Pharaonic: Removal of the clitoris, the labia minora and much of
the labia majora. The remaining sides of the vulva are stitched together to close up the vagina, except for a small opening, which is preserved with
slivers of wood or matchsticks". Alice Walker and Pratibha Parmar, Warrior Marks: Female Genital Mutilation and the Sexual Blinding of Women.
(New York: Harcourt, Brace & Co. 1993, p. 367.)
(4) Laser Vaginal Rejuvenation Center: www.drmatlock.com
(5) Dr. Helen O'Connell et al,"Anatomical Relationships between Urethra and Clitoris," www.wwilkins.com/urology/0022-53476-98abs.html#page1892
(6) Op. cit. Laser Vaginal Rejuvenation Center.
(7) Op.cit. Laser Vaginal Rejuvenation Center.
(8) Arnold Groh, Manual for the New Strategy against Female Genital Mutilation, p. 2. Based on the meetings of the United Nations Working Group on
Indigenous Populations in Geneva, July 26-30, 1999.
(9) This loss of sensation is comparable to that documented for circumcised men, who often report diminished sexual sensation because of the loss of
the foreskin, which is richly endowed with blood vessels and nerves.
(10) http://www.drmatlock.com/laservaginal.html
published in: "SexPolitik: Lust zwischen Restriktion und Subversion. Hrsg. Doris Guth und Elisabeth von Samsonov, vlg. Turia + Kant, Wien. 2001.


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After the Great War the magnificent stained glass windows were installed as a war memorial dedicated to the men of the Cinque Ports and the ancient towns of Rye and Winchelsea who, whether on sea, land or in the air, gave their lives in the War of 1914-1918, and in thanksgiving for those who returned safe to their homes.
The three windows in the south aisle are dedicated to the themes of Land, Air and Fire, and Sea. The work of Dr Douglas Strachan (1875-1950) they are regarded as some of the finest stained glass of the modern era. They were presented to the church as a gift from Lord Blanesborough of Greyfriars and dedicated in 1933 by the Archbishop of Canterbury, in the presence of representatives of the Cinque Ports and the Ancient Towns.
The altar and retable in the Lady Chapel were also presented by Lord Blanesborough at this time as was the splendid organ above the west porch.
The windows on the south aisle were also designed and installed by Dr Strachan, including the beautiful east window which dominates the view of the church when entering through the west porch. The unusual window over the sedilia in the south wall commemorates the heroism of the crew of the Rye lifeboat, the Mary Stanford, who lost their lives while going to the rescue of another ship during a great storm in November 1928.
The clock on the north side of the tower was overhauled in Jubilee Year 1977 and again in 1998/9 when the beautiful dial was repainted. The cost was partly born by the Friends of Winchelsea Church, a voluntary organisation started in 1966 to raise money to help maintain the fabric of this beautiful church and to whom the parish owes a great debt of gratitude for the maintenance work that has been carried out in recent years.

subset: commoncrawl


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Sotries that aren't dragged out and aren't what you would expect. Stories that sound like epic fantasies, but then something happens that drives it completely into a different direction.


text:
Macsen Apollo is proud to release his 5-song EP "Matters of the Heart".
Macsen Apollo, out of Oakland, California has made a name for himself through his long-time rap career. As part of the V.E.R.A. Clique the MC has released two group albums to date ("Very Essence of Real Artists" & "Fresh out the box") and is releasing his first solo effort "Matters of the Heart" on July 06th 2011. He has worked with well-known artists such as D' Wayne Wiggins of Tony Toni Tone, Joe Scudda of Justus League, Dahrio Wonder, APlus & Aagee (Compound 7) of the Hieroglyphics and Souls of Mischief and many more, and has earned respect for his outstanding drive and unique style.
"Matters of the Heart" is about Life and Love, about Trust and Betrayal. It is about those kind of relationships we all have experienced at one point in life.
Starting with the Aagee (Compund 7) produced track "Around the world" Macsen Apollo takes you on a journey, an emotional one, so real that you can relate to each and every line: "We can go around the world girl, just for one night", a song about the admiration you can feel for a person when you first meet, whose company you want to enjoy for a short enough time to leave them with untarnished memories. Very different from "Like this", a love story, about a connection so strong that it can take you to the moon and back. Yet producer Daniel J kept the sounds light for this to be a joint you can vibe out to in the sunshine.
After the love story, just like in real life, come the "Problems" which is a song about heartache, the pain you feel when you loose a woman you love, about the mistakes that lead to this loss and how it makes you feel in the end. About realizing mistakes you made when it's too late, and how you don't know what you have until it's gone. And a lot of times problems lead to "Heartbreaks", which is Macsen Apollo's true story of betrayal and hurt. The lies a woman told which eventually had to come to light and led to a dramatic break-up. Arranged beautifully by Kev Choice and accompanied by cuts from DJ Quest.
The EP is closed by "City Girl", which is a tale of friendship and admiration, the fragile kind of love that feels like a crush, the one you want so bad but just can't be because of the circumstances you are in.
In the end Macsen Apollo proves to be a real Emcee, a real person who is not afraid to share his life, his feelings and his experiences with anyone who wants to listen. "All Rap, No Gimmicks".
"Matters of the Heart" is being released digitally on July 06th and can be purchased via iTunes and fully previewed at Bandcamp.
Videos for the songs "Heartbreaks" and "Like this" can be watched at www.MacsenApollo.com.
Macsen Apollo is available for interviews, booking or any other inquiries. Please contact him at email@example.com.
Please visit Macsens website at www.MacsenApollo.com for much more information, including mp3′s, bio and contact info.
Purchase the EP here:


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Melbourne Music Week
Play On presents: Fia Fiell and Zela Papageorgiou
24 & 25 November 2017 / Mission to Seafarers, Melbourne
In a departure from its high-energy classical meets electronic nights Play On presents an evening of otherworldly sounds in the intimate setting of the Mission to Seafarers' Norla Dome. Ambient electronic artist Fia Fiell premieres a site-specific composition that draws on her background as a classically trained pianist and composer. The multi-channel work incorporates acoustic elements and weaves together meditative, microtonal sound-worlds to create a distinctive unearthly soundscape. Support provided by rising Melbourne percussionist Zela Papageorgiou. With a practice focused on sonic and textural possibilities, Papageorgiou performs music by John Cage, Iannis Xenakis, Anthony Pateras (Aus) and Carolyn Schofield (Aus).
Fia Fiell / Electronics
Zela Papageorgiou / Percussion
Photography by Alan Weedon


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Why Have B2B Brands Fallen Behind on Social Media?
While B2C marketers don't need such a targeted approach to draw new business—anyone can enjoy a Coke or crave KFC—B2B marketers can't take the same top-of-the-funnel strategy
Take a look at 2016's most influential brands on Facebook, according to Mavrck: Starbucks, Coca-Cola, MTV and Samsung Mobile top the charts, followed by brands like KFC, Nike and Target. What do these companies have in common? They're all business-to-consumer.
These days, it's rare to find a business not trying to make a social media splash. But why is it that B2C companies consistently outpace their business-to-business peers? According to Webbiquity, 88 percent of the B2B crowd uses Facebook—just 8 percent less than their B2C counterparts—so it's not for lack of trying.
The problem is one of strategy. Because B2C companies like Verizon Communications and Sony Pictures were the early adopters, B2B companies patterned their approaches after their B2C peers.
But while B2C marketers don't need such a targeted approach to draw new business—anyone can enjoy a Coke or crave KFC—B2B marketers can't take the same top-of-the-funnel strategy. For niche business services, taking a generalized checklist approach to social media simply doesn't work.
Why resist the checklist?
With a checklist mindset, social media management becomes a series of tasks: posting daily, responding to customers, adding friends and following clients. While there's nothing inherently wrong with these practices, unless you're using social as a channel to find target prospects, you're missing out on revenue.
B2B businesses that don't use social to target specific leads or gather buying behavior insights are wasting their time. Intel, for instance, is proof that B2B brands can make social work for them: It has more than 25 million Facebook likes, and it regularly engages other brands with user-generated content to build relationships.
But most B2B companies aren't like Intel. Rarely do B2B marketers even bother to measure the return on investment from their social investments.
According to Simply Measured's 2016 State of Social Marketing Report, 61 percent of marketers indicate that measuring ROI is a challenge. Additionally, more than 33 percent say that tying social to business goals is a hurdle they must overcome. Only 9 percent of marketers can quantify the revenue driven by social media.
A better B2B social strategy
The first step to a better social strategy is abandoning the checklist mindset. It's about choosing platforms strategically, being outward-looking and contacting top-scoring leads before they slip away.
Social media is a lot more than the sum of its separate platforms. Brands using a checklist approach often assume they need a presence on every site, but the truth is that your audience probably uses a couple of platforms and ignores others. If you're a wheelchair manufacturer, for instance, your clients are hospitals and assisted living facilities, which likely aren't on Snapchat or Instagram.
Don't spread yourself thin by trying to be everywhere at once. Use customer segmentation data to predict which platforms they use or, better yet, survey your clients. Learn their pain points, company histories and partners. Spend your social budget efficiently by using these details to speak to their needs on their favored platforms.
By discovering your audience's social habits, your strategy will naturally become more generous and outward-looking. Social success is all about listening and interacting. Blasting your own message on repeat is like talking about yourself at a cocktail party. The best friends (and clients) are found through give-and-take relationships. Mix up your content with links to clients' blogs, helpful hints and questions to engage followers. With this approach, you'll build your brand while answering questions and solving problems.
This is akin to when cocktail partygoers have settled down, taken off their dance shoes and started interacting in small groups. To forge connections with choice clients, use social media signals like hashtags, keywords, brand mentions and influencer mentions to identify target prospects.
Your goal is to offer personalized, resonant content that builds trust. Use Twitter's direct-message feature to turn public tweeting into friendship. Let's say, for example, your company provides marketing technology that helps with lead generation. If a marketer shares an article about #leadgen, you might send him your latest e-book about generating leads.
Once you've contacted target prospects through social, it's time to capture their contact information in your marketing automation system for easy follow-ups. Connect your social media activities to your marketing automation or customer-relationship-management system to track socially engaged leads. To see ROI from your efforts, you need to see how many leads have been generated through social media, how many have closed and the revenue influenced by social media.
Social media activity is a great signal of buyer intent and should be a factor in your lead scoring model. Let's say a lead just tweeted at your CEO. That person has shown interest in your brand, so you can increase his lead score. You could also draft an automated email and send the lead an article written by your own CEO on a similar topic. At Socedo, we've found that socially engaged leads have much higher email open and click-through rates than leads from other sources.
Social activity can also indicate when leads are further down the funnel. If a lead just posted about wanting a replacement for a competitor's product, that's a hot lead. Alert the appropriate sales representative to follow up and close the sale.
Social media is about human interaction, not a robotic, tick-the-boxes checklist. So ditch the list and craft a strategy around the clients you want to sign, and then get personal with them by starting conversations, sending content and nurturing those leads. You'll see the difference in ROI almost immediately—and you'll feel pretty popular, too.
Aseem Badshah is the founder and CEO of Socedo, a demand-generation system that helps marketers discover, engage and qualify leads via social media to increase revenue at scale.
Image courtesy of Shutterstock.


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Firkfest Returns and You Don't Want To Miss It
Posted in Beer Events
At 2pm on November 8th, 2013 I created @CaskAleLA on twitter, and within 45 minutes I received the following message from some dude called @OCbeerblog: @CaskAleLA follow my other account: @Firkfest. Planning a cask ale fest 4/14. — OC Beer Blog (@OCBeerBlog) November 8, 2013 At the time I was fairly new to the Los Angeles beer community and didn't know Greg Nagel (OCBeerBlog) or how long this whole @CaskAleLA thing would last for. But


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Nyx Haul ~ Cup Cake Gloss, Blushes,10 Color Eyeshadow Palette
31 comments:
Great haul Cynthia! I love everything you bought! That cream blush looks beautiful. NYX is one of my favorite brands. I get mine at a boutique by my work.ReplyDelete
♥ Noelle
i love love love nyx products!! try their lipstick in tea rose.. hmm i need to check out the blushes!! xxReplyDelete
I love nyx! I have mysterious brown e/s and cream blush in glow. Love their lippies too! :)ReplyDelete
visit me @ www.bheii.onsugar.com
the cupcake gloss is so so cute!! XDReplyDelete
The cupcake glosses look so yummy... i love quirky packaging!! Sami xxReplyDelete
Love the cupcake gloss packaging :-)ReplyDelete
Thats a great haul and the gloss looks yummy....ReplyDelete
aww..the blush in glow looks so pretty !! and the eyeshadow palettes .. lemming so badly now !!ReplyDelete
cupcake!! delicious.ReplyDelete
Cupcakes glosses are soo cute ;)ReplyDelete
Those cupcakes are so cute :-)ReplyDelete
The cupcake packaging is so cute.ReplyDelete
aww its here :D LOVING the blushes and i dont know but i don't like the cupcakes for some reason :/ReplyDelete
Awesome haul, Cynthia! The cupcake packaging is too cute! xxReplyDelete
@Sarah- They are really small...n gimmicky :D. I won't be getting them again for sure. Once is enough.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousJune 27, 2010 at 6:52 PM
Yum.I love this:DDReplyDelete
Nice!! like those blushes..want to try them out!:)ReplyDelete
Hey, do you know where to get NYX products in delhi??? please let me know if you can. :)
Hey Seras, unfortunately Nyx is not available in Delhi. I personally haven't seen it here. U'll find some products in Mumbai thoughReplyDelete
Wow, so you finally got yrself NYX blushes.. I hope u like them :)ReplyDelete
The lipbalms are packaged so cutely. I too have the 10 eyeshadow pallete but - the Champaigne & Caviar one :)
- AarthiJune 28, 2010 at 4:04 PM
Wow.. Cynthia.. I had an eye on those Cake Gloss.. Waiting for your review on them :)ReplyDelete
@T ~ Oh I wanted C&C palette too, but I thought I should try these first.ReplyDelete
@Aarthi ~ I will do it soon girl :)
Ohh..that's too bad! :(...well, just have to find another way to get my hands on them!! ;)ReplyDelete
waiting for your reviews! :D
Cynthia where did you manage to get yr hands on NYX? I havent ound it in delhi!ReplyDelete
Mehak~ From Ebay girlReplyDelete
i love nyx products!! and i've just found out about joy's cosmetics store on ebay from your blog!! it's really worthed & much cheaper than other stores.. last week I made an order on ebay for one glitter from nyx and a jumbo eye pencil and it cost me 15uk pounds!! I thought it was a bit too pricey and now i've confirmed it. I'll buy them from Joy's store next time for sure x xReplyDelete
xxmandaxx- Great! Glad it worked out for u too :)ReplyDelete
Cynthia Is NYX powder Blush "PEACH" is really a nice peachy shade????ReplyDelete
Silverstargirl- Ya it's a nice light peach. I'll do swatches this weekend if u wantReplyDelete
heyaaaaa dis is Shruti..can any1 plzz tell me from where (in delhi) I can get NYX eye shadow palette containing 52 eye shadows??ReplyDelete
Hi! i need the cupcake lipbalm atleast 30 pieces by this saturday can i get it pls suggest im from MumbaiReplyDelete
I ♥ finding little notes in my Vanity Case, so do drop one. I read all of them & I try my best to reply to each & every one of them [check back in 2-3 days =D] but most times it's physically impossible! Either way, I love to hear from you & really appreciate you taking the time out to share your thoughts <3
Thank you for reading! :)


text: By Sandra McRitchie Posted 3 January 2014 In News Comrie Cinema & Events Club Presents……2014-01-032014-01-03http://www.comrie.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/logo.jpgComriehttp://www.comrie.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/logo.jpg200px200px Happy New year from all of us. Once you've recovered from Christmas & the New Year, put January 18th in your diary for a day of film…The Prates from the Wallace & Gromit Team & by request Les Mis in the evening. Tickets will be on sale soon at the usual venues!! See you there!!


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This blog was originally published on: LinuxAcademy
Hello again everyone! October has come and gone in a flash. We had an amazing time at Texas Cyber Summit, and it was uplifting to see how this community comes together to educate and empower one another. During this time, I was honored to chaperone an aspiring group of cybersecurity enthusiasts who are a part of the Cyber Patriot program.
It was amazing to see how quickly these kids picked up and understood complex issues that honestly did not even exist when I was their age. They are growing up in a time when phishing and credit card skimmers are an everyday issue, and it brought to mind how we in the technical community often take for granted what we may consider "simple" security practices. As we wrap up Cybersecurity Awareness month, I have asked two of my favorite Cybersecurity enthusiasts, Justin Mitchell (whom you might remember from our previous blog post – October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month – and Ermin Kreponic, to join me in helping shed light on some of these topics.
Would you each take a moment and introduce yourselves?
*Justin:* Sure, so for those that didn't catch me in your last post, I'm Justin Mitchell, a Security Training Architect here at Linux Academy. I've been in the IT field for the past 12 years, with the last 8 being in Security. I've worked in several positions with the Federal government as well as in the healthcare field.
Ermin: Hi all, my name is Ermin, my last name is Kreponic, good luck pronouncing my last name… I am a Security Training Architect here at Linux Academy and a fairly relaxed, down to earth, approachable person. Over the course of my career, I worked on malware reverse engineering, surveillance, and tracking software, creating and fighting against botnets and a bunch of other stuff. That sounds really cool, but in reality, it involves me sitting in a chair for 12 hours a day or more with a liter of coffee. That is why I always religiously preach to have fun with what you are doing! And to love it! Otherwise, it will either be "just a job," or you will give up on it. In any case that is me, if you would like to know more or have some specific questions in mind, please feel free to reach out to me at any time via our community Slack in the security channel or via community posts on Linux Academy website.
As you both know I am writing this blog post as a part of Linux Academy's "It's Okay to be New" series. We had an opportunity to hear about Justin's journey earlier this month. Ermin, would you take a moment and tell us about how you got your start in Cybersecurity?
Ermin: Well I guess you could say that my computer days have started before school with a DOS computer; sadly they did not start with Linux, but oh well. I did not have a GUI and had to make due with the DOS command line interface (Windows CMD is generally terrible to me, PowerShell is a slight improvement). Later on, my dad gave me a copy of openSUSE on a CD (CDs – an ancient piece of technology used for data storage). I rushed over to install it and to see how it works, but there was no YouTube or readily available tutorials, so I had to ask people in person and ask for help; actually read books and manuals. It worked out somehow after a lot of struggle, and there was a sharp learning curve simply due to the lack of readily available tutorials and resources. Today this process is way, way, way, and I mean way, easier. Soon enough I got acquainted with the almighty Linux terminal, and it was an eye-opening experience. Commands were intuitive, and I could do pretty much everything. Sure enough, it did not take long for me to start playing around with stuff and start breaking and fixing things. Those were my baby steps. As time went by, I slowly over time acquired more and more knowledge and became more proficient at certain things. And this is really the moral of the story, there is no instant gratification, and it takes a lot of hard work and sacrifice, but enough of that. Being able to disconnect the whole college campus from wifi, or being able to virtually enslave an entire internet cafe and control all the PCs there, etc… Well, that can be classified as fun stuff! Right? NO! That would be illegal! And just because you are able to do something does not mean that you should do it. I had the fortune to have my family steer me in the right direction, where I was able to put my skills to good use and benefit myself and my clients. That is another lesson that I learned. You can make a good living not breaking the law. In any case, I went from one client to the other gathering experience, learning new stuff until I eventually was involved in creating facial recognition software for border surveillance. Another project involved reverse engineering malware jet; another required me to work on creating a botnet. Another notable one was the creation of a physical keylogger and so on and so on. That is my story in a nutshell…. If you have any questions please feel free to reach out!!!
I'm going to jump right into one of the subjects I have seen become more prevalent in the last year and that is credit card skimmers. For our readers who may be unaware, credit card skimming is a type of credit card theft in which a criminal will use a small device to steal credit card information from a legitimate purchase such as purchasing gas at the pump or using an ATM. The advice I always see on the news is to jiggle the reader to ensure its securely in place as well as look for the security seal at gas stations. Could you give us any additional things to look for or advice on how to stay secure during day to day transactions?
Ermin: Actually, this is one of those problems that is just getting worse and worse over time. Here is the deal, credit card fraud was rampant before, but with the coming of NFC and wireless cards it has quite literally never been easier to get someone's card credentials. Please keep in mind that when I say that it has never been easier, I am not stating that it is easy to perform this kind of fraud today, all that I am saying is that it got easier as opposed to before. People are using all sorts of technologies that they do not understand, and in a lot of cases are completely unaware of all the risks and dangers. A malicious individual can walk down the street with a proper device and gather a metric ton of data by just going close or rubbing on other people in the street and reading their NFC capable cards. In addition to this, you also have devices that are placed on the legitimate ATMs that read your card credentials. On top of it all, someone came up with an idea to break into a storage facility in Dubai where the devices used in stores are stored, and modify them with custom hardware from the inside. This custom hardware would capture card credentials, and then they would be transmitted wirelessly; to make this even worse, this data was gathered over a longer period of time and amassed. So people went about their lives and kept on using their cards completely unaware that their credentials were stolen…. You need to be very careful with new technologies and not use something just because it might be trendy or convenient; my advice is to keep it as simple as possible! Think about it, do you really need an NFC capable credit card? Why not create a daily limit at the bank, in most places this is free, phone notifications are also nice, and of course, survey the ATM before usage. Chances are that you might notice something out of place, and do not use the ATMs that are in dodgy, secluded places. Remember your behavior in most circumstances can either make you into a victim or save you a lot of headaches later on.
Justin: Ha, so credit card skimmers are a true pain! I don't know that the jiggle trick works all that well, to be honest. Anyways, probably the biggest thing to watch for is the same thing people should've been watching for the past 30 years: social engineering. It's actually just as effective today as it was back in the 80s, which is shocking. I think we've all heard the sob stories, right? "My car ran out of gas…. My grandma is sick… I'm a Nigerian prince and need someone to pick up my check and send me a money order…" These work, that's the reason we keep seeing them over and over and over again. Especially with the holiday season approaching, we'll start to see more of it, so just be cognizant of what's going on and don't be a sucker.
Many people decide to bypass this issue along with the long lines and holiday stress by shopping online. What are some tips they can implement to protect themselves?
Justin: The holiday seasons are weird, right? There's the scent of pumpkin spice in the air, the leaves are turning brown, and an increase in… crime? That's right! And cybercrime is no exception. As a matter of fact, it's now believed that the cybercrime black market is more valuable than the international drug trade! Did you know experts estimate that 50 million individuals were the victim of cybercrimes between the months of October through December in 2017? As folks are ramping up to figure out their Halloween costumes, carve their turkeys and looking for that perfect Christmas gift for their loved ones, cybercriminals are hard at work. Most online retailers see their peak performance during this time, sometimes recording sales at a whopping 100 times their sales during the rest of the year, which is why it is such a great target for these criminals. Use alternative payment methods when shopping online
Statistically speaking, if you shop online, your payment information is going to be compromised at some point. If you keep an eye on those charges and determine one to be fraudulent, you're going to contact your financial institution to issue a chargeback. Unfortunately, these chargebacks that allow you to reclaim stolen money sometimes take as long as 60 days. If using your debit card, this money could be pulled directly from your checking account, leaving you unable to access it when needed. When using a credit card, you simply wait on the chargeback to drop the charges from your card. Most institutions will also perform a chargeback on any interest that has been accrued as well. Of course, there are other payment options as well. Paypal and Square are two of the industry standard options that are widely accepted by most online retailers. You also have the ability to buy prepaid credit cards from many retailers. Any payment option that doesn't give direct access to your accounts is a much safer alternative to use for online purchases. Pay attention to your emails and watch for phishing and spam
Most retailers increase the amount of discounts they offer during this time of year. They want to get people in the door, and what better way to do it than offer 50% off of an item that you weren't going to buy anyways? BUT BEWARE! Ads that appear to be too good to be true, probably are. Many of these fake ads will lead you to nefarious websites or to websites that are already breached. It's also especially important to verify anyone asking you for sensitive info. If your bank calls you and starts asking for your details, hang up and call your bank's official number. The same basic principle applies to emails. Most financial institutions have a policy that they will NEVER ask for information via email. So, be extra careful with any emails you receive that appear to come from financial institutions.
Internet of things (IOT) has become a hot topic with more and more people connecting to the internet through more than just their computers. They are connecting their household items such as refrigerators, security cameras, doorbells, and even their pet's treat dispenser! Should people be concerned about the security of these items and if so what steps should they be taking to help protect their privacy?
Ermin: The primary problem here is the lack of security updates. For example, a smart refrigerator will probably never receive any security updates for its firmware, so if anyone ever finds any vulnerabilities they will probably never get patched. You, a user, will end up with a permanently vulnerable device in your house. The more devices existing in the house that have networking capabilities, the greater the number of points of failure! Again just think about it. Do you really need that smart refrigerator? Think about the risks associated with it! Do not, and I mean do not just blindly trust the manufacturers in terms of security.
Justin: The Internet of things (IOT) is kind of an interesting phenomenon. Things that you used to have to be in front of to operate, you now can control via an app on your phone. It's actually pretty scary, to be honest. Obviously, these IoT devices are built with functionality in mind and security is not even an afterthought. How many times has your device told you an update is needed and you thought: "I can't be bothered with this right now"? Probably more than you'd care to admit, right? Now, what if I told you that those updates included fixes that addressed major vulnerabilities that would allow an attacker to take control of your home automation systems? Would that change anything? Probably not, right? Because it's not convenient to have to go without that device for even a few minutes. That's exactly the concern that I have about these IoT devices, they go unpatched for days, weeks, months at a time, and where does that leave us in the grand scheme of things? The biggest step anyone could take is to install patches as they come available as these generally address vulnerabilities that are discovered in that device. Another simple step everyone could take is to enforce passwords on their home networks. It seems simple, right? But as late as 2016, as many as 20% of US households had no passwords or default passwords for their home networks. Let me make a quick comparison: what if I told you that 1 out of every 5 houses in the US didn't have a lock on their front door? You'd probably think those people are crazy, right? How could that many people not care about the contents of their home? That's essentially what you're doing when you don't even have a password on your home router! You're saying: "Hey, it's cool if you want to come in, hang out, eat my food, use my bathroom, and walk out with my TV."
I reached out on Twitter and asked our community, "What is a #CyberSecurity practice/standard/concept you wish more non-technical individuals knew about." The answer I kept seeing was password managers. I have been on the fence on this topic as I do feel that this may give individuals a false sense of security as well as a single point of failure. How secure are these password managers and are their steps that you would recommend we take when using them.
Ermin: I generally do not use them, nor do I like them, as they represent a single point failure. If a password manager is compromised, then pretty much all of your accounts are compromised as well. Then again, for the average user a web browser password manager should be good enough as long as there is a viable recovery method and that two-factor authentication is set up on some of the more important accounts. I personally do not write my encryption keys or passwords anywhere, I have a way of creating them and an approximation of how they will change over time. On top of this I make a note to type them in at least once a week so as not to forget them. When I go outside I am already logged into all of the services of importance and the device is remembered by the services, so I do not really type in my passwords in public. In a nutshell, if you are not an IT person and are not knowledgeable in regards to the subject, I would recommend you just use Firefox, Chrome or Safari and use their password managers in combination with two-factor authentication.
Justin: To your first point, they're still infinitely more secure than using the same password for multiple accounts. I think we've all fallen into this trap at one point or another, right? Maintaining a long list of passwords for each individual site can be cumbersome and takes a lot of management skills. However, it has been confirmed that attackers will often use breached credentials from one site to gain access to accounts on other sites. There's just too much at risk, in my opinion. For those folks that don't have the patience to deal with trying to keep track of multiple passwords, using a password management system, such as KeePass (TOTALLY FREE!), allows you to only have to remember one master password. These password management tools act as a sort of virtual keychain for you to store and manage your credentials. Now, to your single point of failure concern, yes. But, in theory, you should keep a backup of the password manager file on an external drive. It's honestly that simple. Another best practice is to still continue to rotate your passwords, at least every 90 days.
What are some of the trends that you are seeing in terms of Cyber Security threats that our readers may not have heard about yet? Or may not have thought to bring up to their friends and families.
Justin: I think one of the latest trends that no one is talking about is embedded system security. Embedded systems are everywhere, and traditionally these types of systems were segregated from our corporate environments. However, over the past couple of years, the line between corporate environments and these other systems have become more and more blurred. Since many of these devices are rarely thought about during our day-to-day security operations, they introduce vulnerabilities to our environments.
or those of us who may be a bit newer than others, could you expand on what embedded system security is?
Justin: I cover embedded system security in my upcoming Security+ Prep course, so if you're interested in learning more, check it out! But in a nutshell, every system that we come in contact today is made up of embedded systems. Your smart fridge, cars, printers, multifunction devices, smartphones, the list goes on and on, are made up of embedded systems. These are simply small devices that contain both hardware and software that allow these devices to perform their function in the overall scheme of the device that they're in. In other words, they're mini-computers that perform specific jobs that allow our devices to function appropriately. The reason they're such a huge concern to me is they literally impact us in our everyday life, and nobody is talking about them. NOBODY! These devices are subject to the same IP-based attacks than any other device on our networks, and organizations are not taking the proper procedures as a whole to protect these devices. No vulnerability scans, no patches, no compensating controls around them at all, and nobody is talking about this. It's scary! Thank you both for your time today!
That's all for this week's "It's Okay To Be New: Cybersecurity In The Real World." If you have any follow up questions or ideas on topics for us to cover please leave a comment below.


text: Today was a snow day, so I went out in the snow. The girls and I met Jason Gendron at Cape Neddick Light. The precipitation was coming down very hard and was a wintry mix of snow and rain. Horrible stuff. Turning to face the lighthouse was nearly impossible without getting the lens all wet.


text: Holiday house in Bibbiena with pool, in Tuscany. Holiday houses Italy » Tuscany » Bibbiena » I05.030 General information Number of persons : 4-5 Bedrooms: 2 bathrooms: 1 shared pool Internet Pet at additional charge 7,9 Click for reviews Ask a question View all photos Bibbiena Subbiano Poppi Lago Trasimeno - San Feliciano Arezzo Florence - Ponte Vecchio Rating Our representative Hanny has rated this house as category 3. Distance to airportFlorence 64 kmRimini 126 kmBologna 177 km Distance toPoppi 9 kmCaprese Michelangelo 33 kmBagno di Romagna 35 kmArezzo 35 kmFlorence 64 km Home and location I05.030 is an apartment on the first floor of a house that is divided into two apartments (see I05.031). The house, originally the farmers' house, is located next to the main house on the edge of the terrain. From the windows there is a wonderful view over the valley (see photo). The ground floor is used as storage space. The property is a large family business engaged in tourism, agriculture and horses. The position of the farm is beautiful, on top of a hill, about 35 km from Arezzo. The whole estate occupies roughly 247 acres. There are various apartments, a few detached homes, a large swimming-pooll and horse riding. In the near area there are many sports facilities as well as historic and picturesque villages such as Poppi and Caprese, whereas Chiusi della Verna hosts an important Franciscan pilgrims' chapel. Golf court: Poppi at 5 km. Accommodations The accommodation: Floor: Living room: sitting area, dining area, cooking area. Sitting room: sitting area, fireplace. Bedroom 1: single bed 1, single bed 2. Bedroom 2: double bed. Bathroom: bath. Number of separate toilets 1. Exterior Garden. Swimmingpool: (15 x 8 m), The pool is for communal use, The pool is open: from 7/6 until 1/10. A part of the pool is for children. Garden furniture. Interior Fridge Dishwasher Oven Internet connection: Wifi Childrens bed: on demand, extra charge Heating: central heating Ask a question Average of the all the customer reviews This is the average of the reviews per subject, given to this house by earlier tenants, in reply to our polls. We haven't received any comments on this hous yet. Potential extra remarks made with the customer reviews The customer reviews consist of marks per part, given by the customers to the holiday house. With these reviews extra remarks or suggestions can be given. But many customers only give a review in marks. For this house we haven't received any remarks with the customer reviews. The average of these review in marks can be seen here on the left. Map All holiday houses on the map of the region Tuscany


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The first season of Jessica Jones premiered all the way back in November 2015. It was epic hardboiled detective story in the style of Humphrey Bogart's Sam Spade, and we needed more ASAP. It took Marvel two years and many other Netflix shows to get back to our favorite Hell's Kitchen boozer. Was Jessica Jones' season 2 worth the wait?
In short, yes. It's been a while since we've seen a solid outing from Netflix-Marvel, and this is a refreshing return to form. Krysten Ritter's gritty superhero gets darker in season 2, as she delves into the reason behind her powers. It's a stark contrast to Danny Rand's constant whining in both Iron Fist and The Defenders.
Ghosts of Hardship
The women in Jessica Jones are battling with some heavy personal demons this season. Jessica is still reeling from having had to kill Kilgrave. Trish (Rachael Taylor) is forced to face horrible ghosts from her time as a child star. Hogarth (Carrie-Anne Moss) has entered a self-hating cycle after her wife's death, one ultimately aggravated by frightful news.
Jessica Jones still isn't afraid to get down and dirty in depicting trauma. These women are haunted by their past and the prospect of their future, but they are also relentless. As the mystery of Jessica's powers opens before our eyes, the layers of powerless in her past become clearer. Of course, this makes the character's (figurative) strength all the more fascinating. It also leads to some of the best performances the show has ever seen, particularly from Ritter and Moss. For Ritter, I'd go so far as to say this is the best she's been since Breaking Bad.
Resilience seems to be the common theme for the three main female characters of the show. Their coping mechanisms vary considerably, which speaks highly of the show's nuanced and realistic writing, specially for a superhero story.
Female Vibes
Jessica Jones is very much a female-led show, and male characters are clearly supporting. Eka Darville's Malcolm, who is now Jessica's assistant and protégé, is great, but his role is nowhere near as juicy. Wil Traval returns as deranged Simpson for a short stint, leaving his mark. Terry Chen's Pryce Cheng, however, seems forced as a character, almost cartoonish. Out of the men, the best part and performance goes to Hal Ozsan as Griffin Sinclair, Trish's new love interest.
While perhaps Jessica Jones' weak spot is how the men are written, its well-defined female characters make up for it. Season 2 took its time to arrive, yes, but it also made a conscious effort to be empowering. Notoriously and for the first time ever, each of the 13 episodes was directed by a woman. The season even came out on International Women's Day!
The Other Defenders
Let's face it: Marvel needed a success. After Daredevil and Jessica first came out, it seemed this would be the home of gritty street Marvel. While Luke Cage followed that trend with some extra Harlem flavor, the following entries were lackluster. Iron Fist was notoriously bland, with a weak main character and a messy story arc. The Defenders, while fun to watch, wasn't nearly as good as the first couple of outings. And I, for one, couldn't be bothered to finish the first season of The Punisher.
Luke Cage returns for its second season on June 22, and Daredevil is expected to hit Netflix later this year. Unfortunately, Iron Fist season 2 is also confirmed, although the release date isn't clear yet. As for Jessica, although season 2 feels like a return to form, we don't know if we'll see her again. There's still no word on a season 3, nor on a season 2 of Defenders.
Let's hope we get to see Krysten Ritter punching bad guys in the face for an encore!


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March 23, 2013
SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The University of Notre Dame's women fencing team gained important position in the overall standings Saturday on the first day of the women's portion of the NCAA Championship at the Freeman Coliseum in San Antonio, Texas. Notre Dame (139 points) improved to second place behind Princeton (146 points) in the combined team competition.
Leading the way for the Irish was freshman foilist Lee Kiefer, who finished first in her weapon class with a record of 14-1. Kiefer narrowly claimed first place over Mona Shaito (Ohio State), who also recorded a 14-1 mark and had the same indicator as Kiefer (+45). Kiefer logged 74 touches to Shaito's 71 heading into day two.
Kiefer began her first round by beating Notre Dame teammate Madison Zeiss 5-2 before losing a tough bout against her older sister Alex (Harvard) 5-4. Kiefer finished with a 6-1 record at the end of the first round of pool play. Zeiss went 5-2 in the first round, with her two losses coming against both of the Kiefer sisters.
In the second round of the women's foil, Kiefer and Zeiss posted a 7-1 combined record, with Zeiss's only loss coming against Jackie Dubrovich from Columbia/Barnard, 5-3. Kiefer narrowly defeated Dubrovich 5-4. Zeiss downed defending national champion Evgeniya Kirpicheva (St. John's) earlier in the pool 5-2.
In the final round of the day, Kiefer swept both of her opponents from Penn State and Princeton, while Zeiss pulled off an overtime win against Ambika Singh (Princeton), 3-2. Zeiss, not far behind, finished the day in fourth place with an 11-4 record, an improvement over her 7-7 day one record as a freshman last year.
Several strips over, Courtney Hurley and Ewa Nelip displayed their expertise in epee, as both fencers went 6-1 in the first round. Nelip beat Margherita Guzzi-Vincenti (Penn State) 5-2, while Hurley posted her only loss of the round against Guzzi-Vincenti on the opposite end of a 5-2 score.
Hurley continued to roll in the second round, going 3-1, with the lone loss being handed down by her 2012 Olympic teammate Susannah Scanlan (Princeton) 4-3 in overtime. Hurley beat the Princeton's other epeeist Katherine Holmes 5-3 to split the series. Nelip, battling hard to keep up her first round momentum, defeated both competitors from Pennsylvania but fell in two overtime bouts to Scanlan and Holmes, 4-3.
Beginning the last event of the day, experienced sabreuse Lian Osier started her first round with a 5-2 mark. Teammate Johanna Thill got off to somewhat of a slow start but recorded noteworthy wins over Duke's Sean Cadley (5-1) and NYU's Jackie Leval (5-2). Osier outlasted Tiki Kastar (Temple) 5-4 in the second round, and defeated North Carolina's Gillian Litynski 5-2, to finish the pool 2-2. Thill also defeated Litynski 5-2.
Going into the final bouts of the day, Osier posted a 3-2 record to finish in seventh place with a 10-5 mark. Thill logged a key win over Allison Miller (Ohio State) 5-4 to finish day one 6-9, and in 15th place.
The NCAA Championship concludes Sunday, with bouting beginning at 9 a.m. (CT) inside the Freeman Coliseum. All three women's weapon classes will be in action, with an awards ceremony to recognize the individual women's champions and the combined NCAA champion immediately to follow.


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Who Said Nothing In Life Is Free
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Today is set aside in the church's calendar to celebrate Mary, the Mother of Jesus. The title by which she is most well-known in the Western world is as the Blessed Virgin Mary, and that has tended to lead to a preoccupation with Mary's virginal status. The Roman Catholic tradition followed this road to an interesting set of conclusions unique to that tradition and not shared by the rest of the Christian world: the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception, which maintained that Mary was born "without sin", thereby setting her apart from the rest of humanity, and the doctrine of the Assumption, which says that upon Mary's death, her body was taken up or "assumed" into heaven. All of these factors, at least two of which have to do with a desire to maintain Mary is some set of purity, have, I think, obscured what this feast day really calls us to reflect upon: the courage required to give birth to God in the world.
In the Eastern Christian world, the most well-known title for Mary is the Greek word "theotokos", which means God-bearer. It is a title that does not emphasize Mary as a virgin, and the Eastern church deeply disagrees with the Roman Catholic idea of immaculate conception that separates Mary from the rest of the human race. The title God-bearer emphasizes, instead, what Mary did: she was the bearer of God incarnate in Christ into the world. And, in a very real sense, her courage to do so is a model for the courage that all followers of Jesus are called to have, the courage to allow Christ to be born in us, and the courage to be bearers of the Christ into the pain and brokenness of the world.
To me, this seems like a particularly urgent calling in today's world. Across the country and around the world there is a rising tide of fear, hatred, prejudice, violence, nationalism, homophobia, and misogyny. We stand facing environmental crises that are so overwhelming that many people are tempted to deny their existence. It seems that a world we had thought to have made progress toward a more enlightened way of living is slipping back into darkness. And, sadly, too many people are using religion as a justification for that slipping backward, and in doing so, are twisting our religious traditions out of shape.
So on this day when we remember the courage of Mary is saying "Yes" to becoming a bearer of God's light into the world, let us also remember that this same invitation is given to us. May we, too, have the courage to say yes. May we have the courage that shines through in every word of Mary's song:
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; *
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed: *
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him *
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm, *
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, *
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things, *
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel, *
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
The promise he made to our fathers, *
to Abraham and his children for ever.


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Gentle Readers, I great you at 4 'o' something in the morning with a brave heart and excited tidings. I normally wouldn't be awake at this time but our pup had a bone treat and that means a wee bit of the 'squirts'. She was trained fantastically to alert us to potty moments and it was my turn this morning and now I am awake. The morning birds have started their song heralding a new day: the grass is dew-soaked and the lights from the nearby community college made a giant nimbus of yellow light in the morning mist.
My excitement comes from having gone on my vacation to The Blue Ridge Mountains just outside of the jeweled city. Asheville. The club I belong to is MAGMA and still to this day they are an exceptional family of rock hounds and mineral collectors. As usual my tent was pitched next to RB and his wife C and my dearest friend and adopted aunt, Pat. One member is truly an unsung and gentle hero who brought his giant rock saw for our club's Kentucky Geodes. That saw ran all week thanks to the watchful volunteering of some members! All we had to do was line up our stones in order and they would be sliced open or slabbed to request. It was like a jewel box being opened every half hour or 45 minutes as another breath taking wonder was pulled out. We even had the marvelous Kay cooking her heart out in the camp kitchen for our dinner. At five dollars a plate to recoup her grocery costs, the plates were mounded with delicious hot food. Yours truly baked three cakes to accompany the start of the week and once people learned my golden rule, 'the uglier it is the better it tastes', the cake flew off the serving plate. We had new vendors who were enthusiastic collectors, jewelry makers, and crystal experts. Uncle Bob's Rock Cave was there and I was thrilled to finally meet someone that I only knew as an internet pen pall on Face Book. A fabulous metaphysical merchant had his wares and I watched during the heat of an Appalachian afternoon as he prepared mailing envelopes by the dozen for his Etsy shop. Die hard diggers turned up with beryl from the Crabtree Mine, thulite and garnet from the Sink Hole Mine, garnets and tremolite/actinolite from the LittlePine Garnet Mine, and of course mineral deposits from the ever surprising road cut for a new highway. Just being able to visit and talk with fellow enthusiasts who did NOT ignore me for being a woman was thrilling. A sad truth inline is we all age out and the Saturday Feast was followed by a heart felt toast to fallen member, John D. I teared up then and am tearing up now. He was a founding member, a rogue, a veteran rock hound, and above all else well loved by everyone. For myself who still has the health of a migraine sufferer it was Wonderfull to stay at camp and see the treasures as people came in with their buckets. Kay even spent a few outings at the abundant thrift stores of Asheville and is a shopping diva; her finds being as wonderful as the rocks found. One member who I will label S, had been digging in Peru for 6 months and had thin slices of Peruvian agate that knocked my socks off. And my wallet even opened for a few slabs, and we all know how terribly thrifty I can be. Our die hard and veteran leader Rick brought out some stunning pieces the first night and after ten minutes it looked like piranha with dollar bills around him. I picked up two matching cuts of petrified palm from Camden NC and will somehow find shelf space to proudly display their beauty. Luther is a quiet and unassuming man but his vending items covered several tables and were as stunning and fun as usual. Bradley Prospecting showed up and had geodes cut, plates of fossils to sell, and crystals from across the South East and areas between: only a true lover of this earth could have had such an inventory.
And, well, it also rained every evening four five days straight. It was that glorious mountain rain shower that creeped in with dark grey clouds then left in the early night to a starry sky and near full moon. When the moon was full and round dearest TL made a fire and proved once again that he is a modern alchemist and created magic moments for some of us until two in the morning. Truth be told we are not all young anymore so there were long faces the next morning but the crackling fire and wonderful company was well worth it. I got to pet and adore some of the best behaved dogs even when some turned into overly playful puppies. One of our vendors brought a friend who is a massage therapist and she charged a dollar a minute: I paid for two during the week and am indebted to her for deciding to set up her table in a side room. Part of Friday and all of Saturday was dry and the Southern heat beat down on us, which was a sweaty day for the diggers but did dry out some of the mud. Lucky me my tent stayed dry through out although I am now packing an air mattress. I gladly say goodby to sleeping on a thin foam mat and my sleeping bag: migraines require pampering; and I was well taken care of by members: A piece of decadent and adorable birthday cake was even held aside for me. God bless you all for the love.
My Dearly Beloved was my unsung hero because he drove me up and then returned to come get me. While I would liked to have stayed far longer the Boy Scouts need their camp back. So a most loving thank you to my husband who made this trip possible.
I wil also sing the praises of Motel 6, inexpensive but clean and at the perfect juncture in the road home: You have my business now. And an eternal Thank You to Bob for telling me about the Newport exit! Darlin' you really saved us money and time.
Blatant Promoting of Great People
Levi: MoldaviteLife.com. Metaphysical and healing stones, artist/wire wrap, stones, tektites
Beth Huntzinger: ashevillehealer.com. Massages therapy and Reiki
Carol and Mark: Driftwood Silver and Stones, email@example.com Silver Smiths and Gems
Bob: Robert Jordan Photography, email@example.com Photography and crystals/stones
Bob (the other Bob): Uncle Bob's Cave, Barnyard Flea Market in Greer, SC (worth the visit!); Crystals, wire wrap, geodes, stones, slabs, geodes, Amethyst
Tony: Bradley Prospecting, https://www.etsy.com/shop/BradleyProspecting Also on FB. Crystals, stones, minerals, geodes, collections
Rick: email@example.com, ncpirate.com; bone hunters.net Author, salvage/restoration, diving, fossils, stone, crystal, private collections
There are many more fine and fantastic people who vend at MAGMA events and shows. This is one of the finest group of 'extended family' anyone could ask for. I certainly hope that my Gentle Readers have gotten the same 'warm fuzzies' from this post as I got seeing my friends and soaking up the stones for a week.
May the Late Summer Sun warm you, the cool breezes bless you, and the path before you always have green grass and clear water,
Be Well.


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Nov 06 2017
Perturbations & Rotation
What makes the CoreVYO stand-out from regular resistance bands or other harnesses is having 2 attachment points, one on either hip it provides us the unique ability to create resistance and/or assistance from 360 degrees. This is allows us challenge an athlete's body position, specifically the lumbo-pelvic-hip complex (core), in the sagittal, frontal, and transverse planes.
Depending on the perturbations, or stimulus from the pull on the bands, we have the ability to directly impact the magnitude and direction of resistance on an athlete. We can challenge the ability to accelerate/decelerate, resist/assist, or we can apply random perturbations to a movement pattern. Whether you're specifically targeting resistance/assistance or randomizing the direction and magnitude of pull on the bands, the perturbations place a demand that will challenge and develop core strength and control.
While we want to apply resistance in a movement, it's important that we're not frequently compromising the biomechanics of the athlete with the magnitude and frequency of the perturbations. The key here is that we are challenging our athletes in their movement patterns without changing the way they perform a movement by applying too much or too little tension.
Assistance vs Resistance
As almost every sport is rotational in nature, we get really excited about the ability to attack rotation, and to train these movements in a functional environment. Whether it's in the gym/clinic or in a sport specific environment, we have the ability to create perturbations to resist or assist these movements.
Let's take a hockey player shooting as an example. If the player is shooting left handed, the individual holding the bands can assist rotation by increasing the pull of the band connected to the right attachment (front hip). To increase the resistance of the movement, pull on the left attachment on the back hip
Take a look at it being performed here.
Partner vs Individual
CoreVYO can be utilized with a partner/trainer or individually – either way a rotational affect can be created during movement patterns. Here are a couple quick things to keep in mind.
When working with a partner:
- Whenever possible, hold the bands in opposites hands to create an X pattern. This will allow you to create a greater rotational demand
- When the bands are behind the athlete this will increase demands on the anterior chain
- If the bands are held in-front of the athlete, this will increase demands on the posterior chain
- To increase the vertical demands, hold and manipulate the bands below the harness, as low as you comfortably can
- To increase the level of difficulty for the athlete, randomize the pulling of the bands, stay active and try to challenge the athlete in 360 degrees. Keep them guessing and engaged on the quality of their movement.
Working alone:
- Attach each strap to a fixed surface
- Adjust your body according to our prescribed 6 working zones
- To increase the demand, step further way from the anchor point to create more resistance while not compromising your biomechanics!


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Critically, surgeons must have the right amount of training with the robot.
New York, New York (PRWEB) April 18, 2013
The FDA is reportedly investigating the safety and efficacy of Intuitive Surgical's da Vinci system. The investigation follows a significant increase in reported problems with the surgical robot, including possible links to at least five deaths, reported ABC News. Patients scheduled for surgery should discuss the risks and benefits of robot assisted surgery with their doctor, said New York medical malpractice lawyer David Perecman.
The da Vinci surgical robot is used for include prostate removal, heart valve repair, and organ transplant.
According to ABC News, the FDA has received reports of approximately 500 incidents linked to the robot since January 2012. The reports were filed by hospitals or Intuitive Surgical. While there is no proof any of the problems were caused by the robot, and many didn't injure patients, there have been a few disturbing incidents. The report said in one instance, a robotic hand would not let go of tissue grasped during surgery. In another, a robotic arm hit a patient in the face as she lay on the operating table.
The rise in the use of robot systems for surgery prompts the questions of whether surgeries performed using robotic systems are safer for patients than conventional surgeries, and if doctors are receiving adequate training before using the system.
"Hospitals should only promote robotic surgery and other new technology, if it's the right option for the individual patient," said Perecman. "The surgeon must also make sure the patient knows there are options, as well as the risks and benefits."
"Critically, surgeons must have the right amount of training with the robot," he added.
Currently, hospitals and surgeons get to decide 'if and when a surgeon is ready to perform robotic cases," reported ABC News. There is no expert consensus on the amount of training that is needed. This means that surgeons using the da Vinci robots may be operating with insufficient training. This increases the chance that patients may suffer serious complications or injuries.
If injuries are caused by doctors or hospitals who negligently use and operate this equipment, an injured patient may have a medical malpractice claim.
Claims against the operating doctor or hospital may also focus on negligence. Essentially, the health care provider did something wrong that caused injury. When a doctor makes a mistake, even a minor one can have long-term or deadly consequences.
The million dollar da Vinci robotic system is installed in one in four U.S. hospitals and was used to perform 367,000 surgeries last year, according to ABC News.
Patients scheduled for da Vinci Robot Assisted Surgery should ask for details on the surgical method proposed. They should also inquire about the surgeon's qualifications, the training process the surgeon was required to go though, and how many times the surgeon has performed the recommended procedure.
Compensation in malpractice cases can include coverage of medical bills and lost wages, as well as damages for pain and suffering. Damages can also be paid for future losses such as future medical expenses and wages.
Lawyers at The Perecman Firm can provide knowledgeable, aggressive representation for victims of medical malpractice in New York. Contact The Perecman Firm at 212-977-7033.
About David Perecman and The Perecman Firm, PLLC:
For the past 30 years, the New York construction accident, medical malpractice, auto accident, and civil rights violation lawyers at The Perecman Firm, PLLC have handled all types of New York medical malpractice cases. David Perecman, founder of the Firm, has been recognized for his achievements as an Honoree in the National Law Journal's Hall of Fame, in New York Magazine's "The Best Lawyers in America" and The New York Times Magazine "New York Super Lawyers, Metro Edition" for the years 2007-2010. The prestigious U.S. News & World Report ranks The Perecman Firm among the top 20 personal injury firms in New York City for 2011-2012 and 2012-2013.
The Firm has recovered millions of dollars for its clients. Among the more recent victories, Mr. Perecman won a $15 million verdict** for a construction accident (Index 112370/03) Supreme Court, New York County, a $5.35 million dollar verdict*** for an automobile accident (Index 2749/04) Supreme Court, Kings County, and a $40 million dollar structured settlement for medical malpractice (Index 2146/03)****Supreme Court, Kings County.
The Perecman Firm serves Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, Long Island, Westchester, Upstate NY, Morris County, and Rockland County.
**later settled while on appeal for $7.940 million
*** later settled for $3.5 million
**** total potential payout
"Lawyer Advertising"+
"Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome."


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The U.S. Renal Data System's 2015 Annual Data Report shines a light on the huge economic toll of kidney disease, analyzing the prevalence, variety of treatments and burden of the illness. The researchers involved in this comprehensive study hope that it will help identify the best and most cost-effective ways to treat the disease.
Here are some important take-aways on Medicare spending from this report.
- In 2013, Medicare spent $50 billion on chronic kidney disease among people 65 and older, and $31 billion on those with kidney failure.
- In 2013, spending on prescriptions for Medicare Part D patients with chronic kidney disease was 46 percent higher than prescription spending for general Medicare patients—$3,675 per patient versus $2,509.
- Spending for prescriptions for Part D patients with kidney failure was $6,673 a year per patient, 2.6 times higher than for general Medicare patients.
- Spending for prescriptions for dialysis patients had the highest cost at $7,142 per person per year.
- Just over 69 percent of Medicare patients with chronic kidney disease were enrolled in Medicare Part D, as well as about 74 percent of patients with kidney failure.
Medicare Spends Billions on Chronic Kidney Disease, Medical Xpress, March 29, 2016
U.S. Renal Data System 2015 Annual Data Report: Epidemiology of Kidney Disease in the United States, American Journal of Kidney Disease, March 2016


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Hey Friends,
Recently I got a requirement where client asked me to disable Sorting. They don't want any user to rearrange the data based on any field. Here is just what needs to be done.
Open list page and navigate to Repeater Property – Here you will find IndentationColumnName property. Just change it to 0 and we are done.
There are many properties in multiples places across NAV which we don't bother to experience but it can literally make our life easier.


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Official hours spent reading: 0
Actual hours spent reading: 3*
Pages read: 140
Books read: Kitty Steals the Show
Food eaten: toasted teacake
Coffee count: 2
*Subtract standard 20% internet faffing time.
Introductory Questionnaire
1) What fine part of the world are you reading from today?
Bournemouth, UK. I was hoping to go outside but it's clouded over a bit so I'll stick to the sofa and bed.
2) Which book in your stack are you most looking forward to?
Care of Wooden Floors by Will Wiles (which I chose for book group).
3) Which snack are you most looking forward to?
The goats cheese and red pepper dip looks pretty good. I am rather fond of celery dipped in stuff.
4) Tell us a little something about yourself!
Well I've already admitted to liking celery. It's probably a moot point to say I really like books. I have recently become obsessed with limited edition geek t-shirts from places like Qwertee and Threadless.
5) If you participated in the last read-a-thon, what's one thing you'll do different today?
Well I started early this time. I haven't managed a readathon without sleep yet so I'm prepared to doze off around 2am and I'll attempt to wake up at 6am. Aim is to read for 24 hours even if I'm a little outside of the official window.
Hour 1 - Let's Get Ready to Rumble!!!!


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Mid-air drama on Air NZ flight
Air New Zealand has stood down two pilots after a mid-air drama in which the airline said the first officer was locked out of the cockpit during a trans-Tasman flight.
The incident on a Perth-Auckland flight on May 21 followed "some tension" between the pair, after the flight's departure was delayed when the first officer was required to undertake a random drug and alcohol test, the airline said.
"This departure delay frustrated the captain who prides himself on operational efficiency," Air New Zealand's manager of operational integrity and safety, Errol Burtenshaw, told AFP in a statement Sunday.
During the overnight flight, the first officer left the flight deck for a comfort break and then had coffee with a cabin crew member in the galley area.
When he tried to return to the cockpit the crew member spent up to two minutes attempting to call through to the captain to advise that the first officer was at the hijack secured cockpit door, but the calls were not answered.
"The captain did not respond or open the door because he was approaching a navigational waypoint and in his cockpit monitor saw a cabin crew member rather than the first officer ringing," Burtenshaw said.
"The first officer became concerned that the captain did not answer the calls and used an alternative entry method to gain access."
Burtenshaw said the airline had conducted an investigation into the incident and a report had been sent to aviation authorities.
Following the incident, the captain was stood down for two weeks and the first officer for one week.
Both have undergone counselling and additional training, Burtenshaw said.
The cabin crew, who "became quite anxious" about the inability to contact the captain, were also offered counselling.
Get The New Paper on your phone with the free TNP app. Download from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store now


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Miami Beach is one of the South Florida's most amazing cities, a coastal resort city full of hotels and restaurants with enticing
flavors, exotic ingredients and tastes.
Miami Beach is famous for its beach parties, nightclubs and the Art Deco architecture.
The Art Deco District is the largest collection of Art Deco architecture in the world and in this area you can admire hotels,
apartments and other structures built between 1923 and 1943. South Beach, where The Fritz Hotel is located, is most touristic area of Miami Beach and it goes
from 1st street to about 25th street.


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The introductory meeting/Q&A with Coach Jenkins will be held in the McConnell Room across from the Athletic Office in the Tiernan Center on Tuesday, May 1st at 6:30 PM.
Athletes interested in playing boys soccer, and their parents, are encouraged to attend.
We hope to see you on May 1.


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Gift sets with IAN'S ALLEY - Rum gift sets
Ian's Alley Gift Sets
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This Rum is adored for its lime juice, vanilla, ginger ale and orange juice flavor notes.
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