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Write to TV: Out of Your Head and onto the Screen / Edition 2 available in Hardcover, Paperback, NOOK Book
- 0415710898
- 9780415710893
- Pub. Date:
- 05/01/2014
- Publisher:
- Taylor & Francis
Write to TV: Out of Your Head and onto the Screen / Edition 2
Learn to craft smart, original stories and scripts for a variety of television formats and genres, including comedy, drama, pilots, animation, made-for-TV movies, late night, and reality television. Hear directly from studio and network executives, agents, and managers on what they're looking for in new writers and how to avoid common pitfalls. Gain access to sample outlines, script pages, checklists, and countless other invaluable resources that will help you break into the industry and put you on the path to immediate success.
In Write to TV, Second Edition industry veteran Martie Cook offers practical advice on writing innovative television scripts that will allow you to finally get that big idea out of your head and onto the screen. This new edition has been updated to include:
- Tips and techniques from industry vets Jay Leno, Norman Lear, Paul Haggis, David Magee, Susan Rovner, Tal Rabinowitz, Jonathan Littman, Peter Jankowski, Steve Stark, and Doug Herzog that you can immediately apply to your own projects
- Expanded coverage of writing pilots, pitching, writing webisodes, writing for tweens, writing for late night, and rewriting
- Useful advice for navigating the confusing television hierarchy, including how to network, get an agent, land that first writing job, and even "do lunch"
- 25 new interviews with writers and producers of hit shows such as New Girl, Parks and Recreation, The Blacklist, Curb Your Enthusiasm, CSI, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and many more
- An all new companion website (www.writetotv.com) featuring blog updates, industry trends, a Q&A discussion forum with the author, and many other resources
Product Details
|Taylor & Francis
|Publication date:
|Sales rank:
|Product dimensions:
|6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 1.00(d)
About the Author
Martie Cook has over three decades of experience as a respected writer and producer of television and film. She has worked for all four major networks and PBS as well as for Warner Bros., 20th Century Fox, Columbia Pictures, and Universal Studios. A member of the Writers Guild of America West, Cook has written for hit television shows such as the top-ten Nielsen rated Full House, and the cult classic, Charles in Charge. She has served as a writer/producer for Entertainment Tonight, America's Most Wanted, and the PBS Emmy-award winning children's show Zoom. Recently, she sold an idea for a pilot to Jerry Bruchkeimer Television, Warner Bros., and NBC. Cook currently teaches screenwriting at Emerson College in Boston, MA, where she also serves as Assocaiate Chair in the Visual and Media Arts Department.
Table of Contents
An Overview of the TV Industry; Getting Your Scripts Read; Situational Comedies; Developing Your Sitcom Story; Sitcom Structural Outlining; Your Sitcom Story; Scripting Your Sitcom; Other Kinds of TV Comedy; Plot-Driven Dramas; Character Driven Drama; Formatting for Prime Time Drama; The Television Pilot; Finding an Original Premise; Made for TV Movies; Creating Compelling Characters; Writing Dialogue that Dances on the Page; How to Get a Pitch Meeting; A Mock Assignment; The Shoot; Writing the Script; In the Edit Bay and Beyond; Writing for Reality Television; How to Get An Agent; The Writers Guild of America; Writing Teams; How to Get Work as a Television Writer; Getting the Interview; Congratulations, You've Got the Job.... Now What?; The Power of Networking; Other Things That Can Help You Succeed


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February 9 Devotional
Come to Stillness: Take a few minutes to allow your mind and heart to be still before God.
Opening Prayer: Our Father, giver of all gifts, You love and choose us, your least ones. Increase our humility so that we might rejoice in the generosity of Your love and be mindful that the good in us comes from You, Creator, Redeemer, and Giver of Life, now and forever. Amen. - Macrina Wiederkehr
Scripture Reading for the Day: Nehemiah 8:1-12
Reading for Reflection: The difference between shallow happiness and deep, sustaining joy is sorrow. Happiness lives where sorrow is not. When sorrow arrives, happiness dies. It can't stand pain. Joy, on the other hand, rises from sorrow and therefore can withstand all grief. Joy, by the grace of God, is the transfiguration of suffering into endurance, and of endurance into character, and of character into hope - and the hope that has become our joy does not (as happiness must for those who depend upon it) disappoint us.
In the sorrows of the Christ - as we ourselves experience them - we prepare for Easter, for joy. There can be no resurrection from the dead except first there is death! But then, because we love him above all things, his rising is our joy. And then the certain hope of our own resurrection warrants the joy both now and forever. (Reliving the Passion by Walter Wangerin Jr.)
Reflection and Listening: silent and written
Prayer: for the church, for others, for myself
Tom Matthews serves as a translation consultant to Bible translation teams from multiple people groups in northern Tanzania and Kenya. Some of the groups are minimally reached for Christ and some are dominated by Islam. Pray today for Tom and Juanita for Godly wisdom in all aspects of their jobs. Tom really enjoys his work as a Bible translation consultant, but it is a remarkably challenging ministry. Imagine, for example, checking the translation of the Pauline letters to the Corinthians for a minority group that herds camels in a desert in northern Kenya.
Young Life Spain pursues and befriends teenagers to introduce them to Jesus. Drew and Sharalyn Goodman are in Madrid where Drew serves as an intern for YL. David Beltran leads the YL Spain team. Pray today for Drew, Sharalyn and David that they may effectively reach teens in Spain with the gospel.
Closing Prayer: Father, it is so easy for me to live automatically, so that nothing touches me or moves me. Give me the fullness of living in the now. In the name of your Son, who loved children and flowers and people, I pray. Amen. (Disciplines for the Inner Life by Michael Benson and Bob Benson)
More in Daily Mission Devotionals
September 1, 2019Mission Devotional - September 1, 2019
August 31, 2019Mission Devotional - August 31, 2019
August 30, 2019Mission Devotional - August 30, 2019

subset: commoncrawl


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More about audit services
Audit of annual, interim and consolidated financial statements prepared under the Lithuanian Business Accounting Standards and/or International Financial Reporting Standards
While providing our audit service in accordance with the legal requirements and financial reporting standards we have a purpose to form a view on whether the information presented in the financial report reflects the financial position of the organisation, financial results of its activities and cash flows, etc.
Apart from the audit report we also present to the attention of the company's management:
Our findings and recommendations with respect to the risks identified, which potentially could cause significant mistakes in the preparation of financial statements and calculation of tax liabilities;
Our recommendations with respect to the minimization of the risks identified;
Recommendations to improve the quality of financial accounting as well as on administrative and internal control aspects.
Operational and management audit
Consultancy on accounting processes and preparation of financial statements
Consultancy on accounting;
Consultancy on the preparation of accounting policy, its implementation and improvement;
Consultancy on the application of IFRS and Lithuanian business standards;
Consultancy on consolidation;
Consultancy on specific or complicated transactions and operations.
Preparation or adjustment of financial statements following the requirements of the IFRS
Audit of the projects financed by the EU structural funds
We Provide an opinion whether the expenses declared in the application for the financing from the European Union structural funds are in line with the requirements. Also, we assist the project developers to fulfil the requirements undertaken and help to avoid the risks related to non-recoverable expenses by providing consulting on the related matters;
Audit of financial reports, financial elements, accounts or records
Contact us
Justinas Basalykas
Managing Partner


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On this day in 1704, Thomas Bowrey was still staying at Tunbridge Wells unaware that the Worcester had been seized in Scotland. He had received news about some of the misfortunes that had befallen the ship and her cargo on the Malabar Coast of India and these appear to have been causing him most concern. There had been premature rumours in London for a few weeks that the Worcester had been taken but it was still the poor trading results of the voyage that was on his mind..
In a draft letter to Charles Sherer, his friend in India, a month later Bowrey scored out the following passage: Here is arrived this season the Worcester, in whome I was chiefly concerned, in whose yoiage we suffer much by the imp(r)udence of Mr Callant, the supracargo, who had opportunity of making a very great voyage, had he pursued his instructions.
On 14 August, clearly Bowrey still believed that the ship would soon reach London either not believing the rumours of seizure or assuming that the ship would quickly be released. It could not have been more wrong.


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About me
NYT: Right About Trump's Foreign Policy for the Wrong Reasons
New Development in Russia's War on Terrorism in Syria
August 16, 2016
Trump's Aggressive Foreign Policy
August 16, 2016
Published by
Stephen Lendman
August 16, 2016
NYT: Right About Trump's Foreign Policy Address for the Wrong Reasons
by Stephen Lendman
The Times leads the unprecedented scoundrel media assault against one US presidential candidate in support of the worst of two unacceptable choices.
editors' latest broadside
followed Trump's Monday foreign policy address, a prescription for endless wars of aggression. A same day article deconstructed it – calling it dirty geopolitical business as usual vital to end once and for all.
Instead of blasting continued US imperial wars on the phony pretext of combating ISIS and other terrorist groups, Times editors called his speech "a collection of confused and random thoughts that showed little understanding of the rise of the Islamic State…"
Fact: Times editors never explain ISIS and all other prominent terrorist groups are US creations, a policy begun under Jimmy Carter against Soviet Russia in Afghanistan.
Times editors: Trump's vetting "approach to immigration that would impose an ideological test on newcomers and undermine the very American values of tolerance and equal treatment that he said he wanted to encourage."
Fact: Vilifying Muslims as gun-toting terrorists is longstanding US policy, notably after communism ceased to be public enemy number one with the dissolution of Soviet Russia – greatly exacerbated post-9/11 as a pretext for advancing America's imperium.
Times editors: Trump's speech "struck many listeners as an uncomfortable echo of McCarthyism."
Fact: The Wisconsin senator died in 1957. His demagogic/hate-mongering legacy is more virulent today than ever with bipartisan and scoundrel media support, especially from The Times.
Times editors: Obama and Hillary "dropped the ball in Libya after" ousting Gaddafi, and their ill-defined strategy in Syria has generated many legitimate questions."
Fact: Obama and Hillary as secretary of state waged naked aggression against countries threatening no others – committing Nuremberg-level high crimes.
Times editors: "Trump's attempt to blame them for unleashing the Islamic State and destabilizing the Middle East shows either misunderstanding or ignorance."
Fact: I've explained many times. ISIS and all other prominent terrorist groups are US creations – used as imperial foot soldiers where Washington deploys them.
Times editors: "The people and leaders of the Middle East are the ones who brought about the Arab Spring and its aftermath, first raising hopes for more democratic societies and then leaving the region in turmoil."
Fact: The misnamed "Arab spring" was made in the USA. The scheme was to replace leaders outliving their usefulness to America like Egypt's Hosni Mubarak, Tunisia's Abidine Ben Ali, and Yemen's Ali Abdullah Saleh, replacing them with more servile ones.
Times editors: "Iran is…a threat to the region, given its support for Hezbollah, Hamas…Assad…and its involvement in Yemen."
Fact: Throughout its history as the Islamic Republic, Iran neither attacked or threatened another country. It fosters peaceful relations with all nations.
Times editors falsely claimed Obama "largely abandoned" Bush administration "regime change and nation-building" policies. His wars of aggression in multiple theaters way exceed what his predecessor undertook.
Another Clinton co-presidency risks more of the same on steroids. Trump's foreign policy address shows he's part of the deplorable problem, not the solution.
Both candidates for the nation's highest office are too unacceptable to tolerate.
What's vital explain, Times editors suppress – instead one-sidedly support war goddess/racketeer Hillary, the worst of duopoly options.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at
His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."
Visit his blog site at
Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network.
Stephen Lendman
Stephen Lendman was born in 1934 in Boston, MA. In 1956, he received a BA from Harvard University. Two years of US Army service followed, then an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in 1960. After working seven years as a marketing research analyst, he joined the Lendman Group family business in 1967. He remained there until retiring at year end 1999. Writing on major world and national issues began in summer 2005. In early 2007, radio hosting followed. Lendman now hosts the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network three times weekly. Distinguished guests are featured. Listen live or archived. Major world and national issues are discussed. Lendman is a 2008 Project Censored winner and 2011 Mexican Journalists Club international journalism award recipient.
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Angelia Vernon Menchan
Contact information:
Website: http://acvermen.blogspot.com
Email: email@example.com
Phone numbers: 904 714 2272 904 303 2679
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Yesterday was one of the best and most difficult ever,
There were conversations that took place and were so long overdue,
And though they were so exhausting, they were freeing...
It also made me realize that my motto is so true...
The Past Ends at Midnight and Everyday is a New Day,
Sometimes a new day can happen within the same day,
When I got home yesterday afternoon, I was so tired, could barely pick up my feet,
Had not eaten all day...not a bite...but I called my children,
Told them to tell me anything they wanted to say, ask for anything they wanted to ask for...
Af first they laughed, then the heard the tiredness in me...
I had to explain to them, that the world thinks they know who we are and what we are about,
They both laughed and told me 'Mama you tripping'....
I then told them one more time, I am open to all criticism and requests today...
So bring it or leave it alone henceforth,
They both told me they were grown men and was just fine, thank you very much...
Then I sat down for a bit, still didn't eat, too much to do,
At four thirty my husband and I went to Gateway Bookstore...An AA Bookstore in the heart of the hood...owned by Activist Ms. Hughes, a former Black Panther, Harlemite and all around wonderful woman...she had told me earlier in the she wanted me to come back and meet with her partners, Drs. Bert and Judi Herring...
It was the most amazing meeting of my life, they have devised a program at Gateway books to tutor children in Urban neighborhoods and together we are going to work on a proposal for our children in the neighborhoods...I told them a little bit of my story...for the first time in a public arena, I truly exposed me, because I knew and God had shown me it was time...we sat up some meetings and I literally bounced out of there...
Finally, my man took me for a meal, we had our favorite spinach and artichoke dip and I told him,
'Baby if you got anything to say to me, bring it...I am open for it today...'
The waitress came by and rubbed my shoulder, even she could see how tired a sister was...
He looked at me with happy eyes and said, 'We straight'...
Purchase Schae's Story @
5 comments:
I see you're up early too :)
It's a good thing when the people close to us are Alright with us.
May God bless you on your tour. Have fun. You've worked hard to get to this point--so take the time to breath, relax and enjoy.
- December 13, 2008 at 3:16:00 AM PST
- Angelia Vernon Menchan said...
Sister Shelia,
I am an early bird, always have been...Thank you so much, you have been a consistent encourager and I appreciate...in the past couple days, your posts have made me feel better at dark moments...please send your address to my email, I have something to send to you next week...
- December 13, 2008 at 3:51:00 AM PST
- Gwyneth Bolton said...
Take the world by storm with your book tour, sis! I'm glad you and your wonderful strong menfolk are cool! :-) Have a blessed weekend!
much love and peace,
- December 13, 2008 at 6:12:00 AM PST
- 'Cilla said...
Sending Prayful thoughts, safe travel mercies,comfort, joy and fun spirits your way.... Enjoy the tour, Sistah Angelia :-)
- December 13, 2008 at 7:41:00 AM PST
- Jennifer C. said...
I kept you in my prayers all day today. I can only pray that everything was as God intended it to be.
I'm proud of you and the message you are trying to get out there for the masses; young and old.
- December 13, 2008 at 7:44:00 PM PST


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Because These Homeless Dogs And Cats Are #LookingForYou!
In the UK, an ad agency called OgilvyOne came up with a genius idea. Inside leaflets, passed out to shoppers at a mall, they placed a chip that coordinated and interacted with billboards overhead. Adoptable animals followed you throughout the mall from billboard to billboard–as if the animal was following you home. The chip could even sense the direction the shoppers were walking in. Isn't this cool? It would definitely get my attention! They need to do this in the U.S. too!
Kleptomaniac Cat Caught Stealing Laundry From Neighbor's House: Click "Next" below!
Julie Hunt Julie resides in Northern New Jersey with her two kids, two dogs, cat and partner. She has two published books which make excellent trivets if you aren't a fan of poetry. She tolerates people but LOVES animals. If she isn't blogging, she's most likely cuddling with her pups, Paisley and Skyler.


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A new patent from 2016 was discovered where it shows that Apple was thinking about putting a camera on the end of a wrist band for its watch. The company was going to go one step ahead by placing an optical sensor at the end of the strap that would take a photo-based on certain hand gestures.
One of the diagrams shows how you can lift the strap to take a selfie, but also twist the camera on a tiny swivel to take the photo in the opposite direction.
Another diagram show two separate cameras on both ends. The photos could also be taken by using Siri's voice controls or by pinching the wrist band.
There are issues with smartwatch cameras, such as being difficult to operate and sometimes quite cumbersome. The picture quality of these things is also terrible due to a lack of space to fit features.
For now, this product is canned, as no other reports from within the company have come out stating anything about this. Whether or not Apple goes ahead with this idea in the future is unknown. The camera quality on these devices are not exactly the best, and in the end, it is just better to use your phone instead.


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Xiaomi Redmi 5 / Plus Global Rom Released
- January 16, 2018
- 0
The MIUI 9 Global Stable ROM released for Xiaomi Redmi 5 and 5 Plus which was launched at December 10,2017 in China.
The New Global Stable ROMV220.127.116.11.NDAMIEK for Redmi 5 based on Android 7.1 and Global Stable ROMV220.127.116.11.NEGMIEK with Android Nougat 7.1 for Redmi 5 Plus has rolled out to public users. The user needs to check their "Updater App" or visit the download link to get this ROM.
Download link for Redmi 5: http://bigota.d.miui.com/V184.108.40.206.NDAMIEK/miui_HM5Global_V184.108.40.206.NDAMIEK_6f80f691f1_7.1.zip
Download link for Redmi 5 Plus: http://bigota.d.miui.com/V18.104.22.168.NEGMIEK/miui_HM5PlusGlobal_V22.214.171.124.NEGMIEK_a6bb41f592_7.1.zip
Please do backup important data before flashing. If you flash fromStable ROM to Developer, wipe all data, otherwise, it might cause serious incompatible issues like FC, no network etc. In some instance, unlocking of bootloader is required.
For more guidelines visit: MIUI Forum
Source: MIUI Forum


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How To Remove Paint Off Clothes
It happens either by accident like sitting on a park bench with a sign that reads "wet paint" but you didn't notice it when you sat down. Or if you are doing your own house painting it is almost inevitable that you won't get any even small amounts of it on your clothes and or skin.
Have you gotten stuck wondering "How To Get Paint Off Clothes" we offer the following tips to help remove it from clothing as well as on hands or skin.
Removing Paint From Clothing or Skin
So you are doing some interior painting work around the house. Just opening up the can of paint can sometimes cause that drip or splash to get onto your clothes or skin. Don't despair it's never to late to remove it and it's easy too.
First find out what type of paint it is by testing it. Simply rub some rubbing alcohol on the paint stain with your finger tip or a rag or sponge. If any paint comes off then that means it is a latex, acrylic, water based paint. Which is easy to remove with just some water and soap. If it is an oil based paint then it won't rub off with the rubbing alcohol test and you will have to turn to using a chemical.
Is It Oil Based Paint or Water Based Paint
To best know what procedure to use when trying to figure out "How To Remove Paint" you should know what kind of paint it is whether it is an oil based paint or a water-based paint.
Latex, acrylic paints are water based and are quite easy to remove from either your clothing or your skin.
If you have painted with an oil-based paint product then the process is a little more lengthy.
Before resorting to chemicals such as turpentine or a paint thinner to try to remove paint from your skin, you can try using some vegetable oil right available in your home kitchen. Pour some onto a rag and begin rubbing in on your skin until the paint is removed. Most often times it will come off pretty easily.
If it does not come off with the application of vegetable oil then you have to turn to using a chemical remover. This would be a paint thinner a.k.a. turpentine. Watch this great video put together to show you exactly how you can. Video credit to https://www.9news.com/fixthis
Removing Water Based Paint from Clothes
Whether it's "wet paint" or it has dried up by the end of the day, removing it from your clothing or skin is pretty easy. Here are a few ways you can remove latex, acrylic water based paints.
If the paint on your clothing is still wet and hasn't had the time to dry and harden, simply scrape it off with either your finger nail or you can use the tip of a knife or end of a spoon. Rinse it under water, warm or cold will make no difference.
You can also rub some dish soap on it and work up into a lather then rinse. You may have to repeat a couple of times until all the paint has been removed.
Your chances of getting all the paint off your clothes improves the less time you give it to dry up completely. Don't wait a few days to remove it as this may tend to give you a permanent paint mark on your clothes. I mean you could start a new fashion trend right. 🙂
Removing Oil Based Paint from Clothes
We would first tell you to try using simple chemical free way with things you already have around the house before turning to chemicals.
Take for example, vegetable oil. We all have some lying around the kitchen it's a staple right. Well it also makes an eco-friendly oil based paint remover.
As soon as you've completed your painting project just take some paper towels or a sponge or rag and pour some vegetable oil on it. Rub it on your skin or clothes until all the paint is gone. It will most times work. In the case that it does not, then you will have to purchase a paint thinner or turpentine, commonly used by professional painters to take care of their paint brushes and paint rollers.
Step by Step video on How To Remove paint from clothes
Video courtesy of https://micheletheberge.com/paintings/
Although these days most house painting products are more water-based than oil-based as paint manufacturers have become more environmentally conscientious as well it is better for the health of the painter using it, where they are no longer breathing in toxic fumes, that cause illnesses and asthma allergies.
If you hire a professional house painting contractor to be working in your home and you accidentally get paint on you simply ask the painters what kind of paint it is and they'll be able to offer you the best tips on removing it.
Read more on interior painting tips and advice. Have questions simply drop us an email.
Email Us


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The Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE), Association of Professional Chaplains (APC), American Association of Pastoral Counselors (AAPC), Canadian Association for Spiritual Care (CASC), National Association of Catholic Chaplains (NACC), and Neshama: Association of Jewish Chaplains (NAJC) ("the Associations") met on Thursday, May 24, 2018 to explore types of partnership that would create the structure that would allow them as a unified entity and voice to accomplish both outward purposes for marketing, influence, and advocacy, and inward purposes for certification, ethics, and other mutual benefits. It was decided that the Associations draft and agree to this Memorandum of Understanding that states common objectives, responsibilities / conditions for participation, and timeline.
The Associations agreed that the changing demographics of religious affiliations, with the rise of those not adhering to any religion, the changes in the health care environments and the role of spiritual care, and the challenges to the spiritual care profession requires the Associations evermore intentional and dedicated, unified collaboration on the behalf of the spiritual care/chaplaincy profession. The Associations explored the feasibility of creating a 501(c)(6) (Trade Association) and discussed the value of a merger to advance the profession (and avoid some of the inherent limitations of a 501(c)(6)). In consideration of these options, the Associations unanimously agreed that the best next step would be to devote themselves to articulate how and for what purpose they intend to become Partners for Professional Excellence in Spiritual Care (PPESC). The assumption is: by structured collaboration we are poised to capitalize on strategic opportunities in order to ensure all those served by the Associations have the best possible spiritual care and to safeguard the future of the spiritual care profession.
In service of determining and articulating how and for what purpose we may seek to form a new entity, the Associations will
- Frame its partnership by:
- Articulating a unified mission and vision toward becoming a unified voice on behalf of the profession.
- Choosing a name by which this partnership will be known.
- Proposing a structure for mutual engagement and commitment that includes how to:
- Share responsibility/authority (representation, governance)
- Direct, drive, and support agreed upon projects (leadership/staff)
- Sustain the created entity (funding)
- As means to the partnership framework, target short-term projects including:
- Explore/determine the feasibility of using ACPE's Advocacy Committee as a voice for the whole, including a rep from each association, including agenda-settings and select activities for FY2018-19.
- Explore/determine feasibility of joint Professional Ethics Procedures/Processes.
- Explore/determine feasibility of a joint employment service, such as American Academy of Religion (AAR) and Society of Biblical Literature (SBL). https://www.aarweb.org/employment-services/employment-listings
The Associations will create a Steering Committee with each association being represented by two individuals: one board and/or one staff members. The Steering Committee will be responsible to lead and ensure the completion of the desired objectives of the MOU. The Steering Committee will function with a rotating leadership structure (facilitation and keeping of minutes) to direct and drive the process. Documents will be kept by APC with electronic copies to all participants of this MOU.
During the time of this MOU, each association will be responsible for its Steering Committee members time and expenses related to travel, lodging, meals, and any other related expenses their association chooses/needs for their respective representatives. All other agreed upon expenses during this MOU, such as fees for professional resources, research, etc., will be shared equally, not proportionately, by each association.
During this MOU any shared financial costs will be handled through ACPE as the financial group for this MOU. A bank account will be set up to be used for accumulation of revenue and payment of all expenses pertaining to the MOU activities. Each organization will agree to deposit $2,000 in their own currency (CAD/USD), in the joint account in order to cover ordinary expenses incurred prior to the receipt of any funds received specifically for MOU projects.
Decisions about any other major financial investment that might be identified during the time of this MOU will be considered on an issue by issue basis by diverse formulas, from shared equally to some form of proportionality, depending on the item. It is further stipulated that any of the original $2,000 deposit from each association will be returned to that association after the completion of the MOU objectives.
ACPE will sign all checks up to $2,500. Any expenditures over that amount will require the approval of the Chair and Vice Chair. The ACPE Executive Director will be a signor on the account.
The Steering Committee will engage the services of an accountant, if needed,that will monitor the income and disbursements of the MOU projects. The firm will issue a written report to the Steering Committee no later than eight weeks following the completion of this MOU.
All MOU expenses will be reflected on the balance sheet of the ACPE annual audit. Any surplus or loss will be shared equally by the Associations.
This MOU will be valid for 24 months, July 1, 2018-June 30, 2020.
The parties named above have caused this Memorandum of Understanding to be executed in multiple originals by their duly authorized representatives named below. This MOU will be reviewed quarterly by the signatories below.
________________________ ________________
ACPE The Standard for Spiritual Care & Education
________________________ ________________
` Date
American Association of Pastoral Counselors
________________________ ________________
Association of Professional Chaplains
________________________ _________________
Canadian Association for Spiritual Care
________________________ ________________
National Association of Catholic Chaplains
_______________________ ________________
Neshama: Association of Jewish Chaplains


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After the disappointment with last years Bournemouth Airshow – where we spent the day on the SS Shieldhall only to find ourselves moored much too far out to make photography practical – we decided to spend the money this year on a different airshow. With a choice between the Royal International Air Tattoo or Duxford Flying Legends we opted for the slower pace of Duxford as something a little different from the normal air shows.
So, clutching our VIP Gold Pass tickets, we set off at something silly o'clock in the morning and found that the roads were amazingly empty all the way there to the extent that we found ourselves slowing down to prevent us arriving too early! The Gold Passes mean preferential parking just a few hundred metres off the M11 so no traffic jam, and preferential entry into the Imperial War Museum entrance at Duxford so not much of a queue to get in. Once in we found the VIP area and grabbed front row seats, quickly followed by a Bacon Roll and a coffee. Seating is tight, with as many seats as possible crammed in to the seating area, so not much room to swing long lenses around. Standing up in front of the seating area is not allowed, which is politely but firmly enforced by the staff. There is however a large area just behind the seating blocks for people to stand and wave long lenses around just 20 meters back from the front seating row so no real problem in terms of distance from the runway. In hindsight I feel that a large comfy camping chair behind the seating blocks is the way to do it in the future.
Duxford Flying Legends is a little different from the other airshows in that it's all about Warbirds – so the emphasis is on vintage World War II aircraft doing their thing. There are not many places where you can see a total of 15 different Spitfires flying throughout the day, as well as a variety of other rare classics. Having said that it was the Red Arrows that started off the flying part of the day – the only jets that appeared all day – before an afternoon of pure propeller power.
Notable absence of the Battle Of Britain Memorial Flight and no Hawker Hurricane although lots of Spitfires. A Hurricane would have been nice!
The weather was a little dull which was a shame but that's air shows – you make do with what you get given on the day – but at least the slower pace of the aircraft meant slower shutter speeds with lower ISO levels required. I tend to shoot the Canon 7D II on Shutter Priority with the shutter speed set to 1/320th or less, the lower the better really for getting the prop blur. The ISO is set to Auto and the aperture looks after itself. Focus was set to AI Servo and on an expanded centre point. Lens used was a Sigma 150 – 600 Contemporary which I quite like for this kind of thing. One thing I did find was that panning the camera was quite difficult in the close confines of the seating area, something to think about next time.
After the show it took us about 3 minutes to get out of the car park and onto the M11 for the equally traffic free drive home! The Gold Pass does make a difference in terms of parking!


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The Legend v1.3.0.x WiN MAC
TEAM R2R | 01.01.2020 | WiN: 56 MB | MAC: 128 MB
(Win32/64; AAX*, AU, VST, VSTi)
Developed in cooperation with vintage synth specialist, The Legend is designed to faithfully emulate one of the most famous vintage analog synths. Moreover, numerous innovative enhancements greatly increase its versatility. Unprecedented precision: Every component, ranging from magesy download the voltage-controlled oscillators (VCOs), voltage-controlled filter (VCF) and voltage-controlled amplifier (VCA), have been modeled to an accuracy never seen before in software. The snappy filter and amplifier envelopes have been meticulously modeled, as well as the massive bottom end – even the most marginal effects like temperature drift or effects originating from magesy download the power supply have been taken into account.


text: …you might ask. Or you may think something like, "your last post was June 2011, lame-o!" Or you may not care at all. Whatever you're thinking… it's ok because I have been in baby bliss. Early last July I had another baby boy and it has been a wonderful time for our family. He is cute and little and smells good and makes silly sounds and… did I mention cute? He is 6 months old now so I am just now coming out of the infant fogginess… so back to blogging about things other than poop and naps… hope you find them useful! 😉


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One study for a larger painting I want to work on.
Tag Archives: snow
Winter Sunset
December's Full Moon
15.5 inches
Yesterday's snow
A little winter
Great day at the easel today. Finished two winter scenes. Lots wrong, but a lot right too!
Tis the Season
It's been a great month since we left the Little White House. We have spent our time visiting family and friends. To the point that some of them may be tiring of putting us up and feeding us! We have not been able to spend this much time in several years.
Although this has been great for us, it hasn't been as good for my art. I am not as confident as I should be to draw in front of others and I always feel selfish when I take time to draw instead of socialize. Drawing and painting demand my full attention.
I have set myself a few goals and am working on being a better artist, I am also going to enjoy these holidays by collecting as many hugs as I can!
Wishing a blessed holiday season and peace to all


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Only 5 boards and some nails! – BOOM here is my future closet desk! 🙂 (and has the instruction link attached to picture!!) is creative inspiration for us. Get more photo about home decor related with by looking at photos gallery at the bottom of this page.
We are want to say thanks if you like to share this post to another people via your facebook, pinterest, google plus or twitter account.
Right Click to save picture or tap and hold for seven second if you are using iphone or ipad.
Full size is 300X400 (Link to full-size image) pixels.


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John Perez, Head of Lender Services at DWF, comments on the latest FCA announcement, confirming their further support of consumer credit product users experiencing temporary payment difficulties due to COVID-19. John said:
As highlighted through the FCA Business Plan and recent consultations, operational resilience is a high priority on the FCA's agenda and has been given even greater significance in light of Covid-19. The FCA will be expecting firms to reflect and learn lessons about their operational resilience during Covid-19. So what lessons might firms have learnt about operating during a crisis and how can these be leveraged going forwards?
Andrew Jacobs, Head of Regulatory Consulting at DWF and Imogen Makin, Head of Financial Services Regulatory Investigations comment on the appointment of Nikhil Rathi as the new CEO of the FCA.
The Supreme Court has unanimously dismissed the appeal by the UK Government over the charging of business rates in respect of supermarket cash machines in England and Wales. This concludes a long battle for retailers which started in 2013 when the decision was taken to charge separate business rates on the sites of ATMs.
This article summarises some possible amendments to Italian regulation that could improve and develop alternative financing instruments, typically provided by FinTechs, in order to provide liquidity to the economic system.
Private Prosecutions are becoming an increasingly important tool for organisations wanting to protect their workforce and take action to protect themselves from rogue employees, this article highlights why.
This newsletter summarises the latest regulatory developments across Europe in response to COVID-19 and is relevant to individuals working in financial services across Europe. This edition focuses on the UK, France, Germany, Spain and Poland.
Our clients trust us to help them overcome the challenges the financial services industry faces. We understand the importance of delivering practical, commercial solutions quickly and efficiently.


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Independent FOH engineer Nigel Paul is using the Midas PRO9 digital live audio system for the band's ongoing world tour. Dream Theater has been on the road almost continuously since July 2011 in support of its 11th studio album, A Dramatic Turn Of Events. Clair Global is the audio provider.
For Paul, choosing a Midas PRO Series console was an easy decision. A career-long fan of Midas analog consoles, most notably the XL4, he became an early adopter of the PRO6 upon its introduction in 2008.
"After just ten minutes of feeling out the software and listening to the preamps and EQ, I knew this was the digital console I'd been waiting for," he recalls. "As mixers, we all think and operate a little differently, and certain design and ergonomic approaches will feel more intuitive to some than to others.
"As a long-time user of Midas analog consoles, I felt fundamentally at home with the PRO Series right from the start, sonically and functionally. There was a learning curve, of course, but for me it was smooth, straightforward and enjoyable."
For the input-intensive Dream Theater tour, Paul moved up to the PRO9, which expands the I/O capabilities while maintaining the same mix engine.
"I'm so glad the PRO9 came out in time for this tour," he states. "I need every one of the 80 inputs and 8 Aux returns it offers. We use 40 channels for drummer Mike Mangini alone!"
Dream Theater presents a very dynamic show, and Paul takes an active approach to the mix.
"This is a very busy show mix-wise and I like to be actively hands-on, so I prefer not to avail myself of the excellent 'scenes' features that the console offers," he says. "I do, however, take the fullest advantage of the POP groups and VCAs to ensure I can have any inputs immediately to hand, in the correct groupings, whenever I need access to them.
"I appreciate having 10 VCAs instead of the eight found on many other desks, and POP Groups was a very clever Midas idea; infinitely better than the layer approach."
Paul has the console's 10 VCAs set up as follows: lead vocal, background vocal, guitars, keys, Pro Tools playback, bass, drum kit main, toms/octobans, vocal reverb, and vocal delay. This gives him grouped access to each element of the mix with a single button push.
He deploys the six POPulation Groups with a different mindset, geared more towards the show's functional progression. His current six-pack of POP Groups comprises: all vocals; principal inputs for the acoustic songs; utilities (talkback, pink noise, etc.); all Aux returns; all cymbals and electronic percussion; and show start (CD, iPod, and video playback).
Another advantage of the PRO Series that Paul appreciates falls into the category of convenience, courtesy of both the system's DSP capabilities and its compact design.
"I use the on-board DSP for most of my effects and dynamics processing, supplemented by just a couple of preferred outboard pieces," he says. "My analog FOH set-up for Dream Theater used to consist of an XL4 loaded with 12 stereo modules, a 24-channel XL3 sidecar, three racks of dynamics processing and effects, plus a PSU rack.
"With the PRO9, all I have at FOH is the control surface, one small effects/playback/recording rack, and a work box." The system's DL351 and DL451 modular I/O boxes and the DL371 DSP engine are kept on stage, with connection to the PRO9 control surface accomplished via CAT-5e cables.
While Paul is a big fan of the PRO9's feature set, it's no surprise to learn that it's the sound quality that keeps him coming back.
"Midas Digital consoles maintain, and have arguably even improved on, the sonic excellence of the XL4. I consider that a remarkable artistic and engineering achievement. Everything is in perfect audio focus, with no time smear whatsoever, which makes a real difference to the discerning ear. The members of Dream Theater are very technically savvy and all about sound quality.
"Any time one of them has come out to join me for a listen during sound check, they have never failed to comment on how warm and punchy everything sounds. While I'd like to think that my mixing skills have some bearing on this happy state of affairs, it's also about having the right tools for the job. For me, that's the Midas PRO Series."
Having started their 2012 schedule with tours of Europe and the Far East, Dream Theater will be returning to the road with U.S. dates for their "Dramatic Tour of Events" beginning June 15.


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(Almost) nine years ago, I stood in my closet staring at a sea of clothing that no longer fit me. I was days away from returning to work after having my first baby. Returning to work and taking my son to daycare left me full of anxiety and I felt …Read More »
Home / Tag Archives: minimalist mom


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An update from Nielsen reporting on internet usage trends:
Currently, three quarters of Internet users worldwide visit a social network or blog when they go online — that's a 24% increase over last year.
Joe Average (the international version) spends 66% more time on these sites than he did a year ago — for example, your average user spent 6 hours on these sites in April 2010, while last year he spent 3 hours, 31 minutes.
Facebook, YouTube and Wikipedia make an appearance among the world's most popular brands.
Check it out here.
"Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless handheld"


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Then they told David, saying, "Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah, and they are robbing the threshing floors." Therefore David inquired of the Lord , saying, "Shall I go and attack these Philistines?" And the Lord said to David, "Go and attack the Philistines, and save Keilah." But David's men said to him, "Look, we are afraid here in Judah. How much more then if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?" Then David inquired of the Lord once again. And the Lord answered him and said, "Arise, go down to Keilah. For I will deliver the Philistines into your hand." And David and his men went to Keilah and fought with the Philistines, struck them with a mighty blow, and took away their livestock. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah. Now it happened, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David at Keilah, that he went down with an ephod in his hand. And Saul was told that David had gone to Keilah. So Saul said, "God has delivered him into my hand, for he has shut himself in by entering a town that has gates and bars." Then Saul called all the people together for war, to go down to Keilah to besiege David and his men. When David knew that Saul plotted evil against him, he said to Abiathar the priest, "Bring the ephod here." Then David said, "O Lord God of Israel, Your servant has certainly heard that Saul seeks to come to Keilah to destroy the city for my sake. Will the men of Keilah deliver me into his hand? Will Saul come down, as Your servant has heard? O Lord God of Israel, I pray, tell Your servant." And the Lord said, "He will come down." Then David said, "Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul?" And the Lord said, "They will deliver you. " So David and his men, about six hundred, arose and departed from Keilah and went wherever they could go. Then it was told Saul that David had escaped from Keilah; so he halted the expedition.
I Samuel 23:1-13 NKJV
Tag Archives: saved
Who Knows the Mind of the Lord
For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: "The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; For this is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins." Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. For as you were once disobedient to God, yet have now obtained mercy through their disobedience, even so these also have now been disobedient, that through the mercy shown you they also may obtain mercy. For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all. Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! "For who has known the mind of the Lord ? Or who has become His counselor?" "Or who has first given to Him And it shall be repaid to him?" For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.
Romans 11:25-36 NKJV
Whoever Believes on Him will not Be Put to Shame
Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, "The man who does those things shall live by them." But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?' " (that is, to bring Christ down from above ) or, " 'Who will descend into the abyss?' " (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame." For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." Romans 10:1-13 NKJV
Paul and Silas Imprisoned
Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, "These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation." And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And he came out that very hour. But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities. And they brought them to the magistrates, and said, "These men, being Jews, exceedingly trouble our city; and they teach customs which are not lawful for us, being Romans, to receive or observe." Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods. And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were loosed. And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, "Do yourself no harm, for we are all here." Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. And he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" So they said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household." Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household. Acts 16:16-34 NKJV
Provision in the Law for the Gentiles
And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved." Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question. So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, describing the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy to all the brethren. And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders; and they reported all things that God had done with them. But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, "It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses." Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter. And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: "Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they." Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles. And after they had become silent, James answered, saying, "Men and brethren, listen to me: Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name. And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written: 'After this I will return And will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins, And I will set it up; So that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord , Even all the Gentiles who are called by My name, Says the Lord who does all these things.' "Known to God from eternity are all His works. Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God, but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood. For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath." Acts 15:1-21 NKJV
The Boldness of John and Peter
Now as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them, being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand. And it came to pass, on the next day, that their rulers, elders, and scribes, as well as Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the family of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, "By what power or by what name have you done this?" Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. This is the 'stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.' Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. Acts 4:1-14 NKJV


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Customers Rate Cloud 9 Living:
Enjoy a bird's eye view of legendary Stone Mountain with this scenic helicopter tour!
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Enjoy a bird's eye view of legendary Stone Mountain with this scenic helicopter tour!
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Climb aboard a Robinson R44 helicopter for a flight over the magnificent and historic Stone Mountain!
Stone Mountain is commonly referred to as one of the largest exposed pieces of granite in the world and is more than 5 miles in circumference at its base. The top of Stone Mountain reaches 1,686 feet and is covered with bare rock and fresh-water rock pools.
Stone Mountain is also well known for its enormous relief on its north face, the largest bas-relief (sculptural carving) in the world. The carving depicts three historical figures from the Confederacy: Stonewall Jackson, Robert E. Lee and Jefferson Davis.
You'll depart from the Gwinnett County Airport and head west towards Stone Mountain. Your friendly FAA certified pilot will give you a whole new perspective aboard a Robinson R44 helicopter where everyone will enjoy a window seat.
Enjoy a truly memorable flight above historic Stone Mountain and experience the joys of flying aboard a helicopter!
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Each participant must weigh no more than 275 lbs, and the total maximum weight for all participants must be no more than 450 lbs.
Your pilot will assess the aviation weather forecast for the conditions at 2,000 feet for the the day over a 50-mile radius to determine if the flight can proceed. In the event of inclement weather, flights may be postponed or rescheduled in the interest of passenger safety.
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Our experienced team takes the risk out of gift-giving with handpicked experiences that are guaranteed to delight. We only work with top-rated experience providers and offer flexible policies to make giving a great gift a no-brainer—no matter who you're shopping for.Learn More »
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DIY Metal Wall Hangings
Even if you aren't familiar with metal crafts, this tutorial will show you how easy it is to create your own DIY metal wall hangings with just a few materials. You can create these simple works of art in about a day!
- Six (6) 5/32" round brass tubes
- 24 gauge brass wire
- 12mm round plastic jewels
- Three (3) 1/16" round copper tubes
- 1 yard of 2.5 mm antique copper cable chain
- ⅛" copper jump rings
- Pendant copper shape (1.5" x 2.5")
- Two (2) large moon copper shapes (1 ¾" x 3")
- Five (5) rainbow copper shapes (⅝" x 1 ½")
- Three (3) triangle copper shapes (1 ¼" x 1 ½")
- Two (2) 17mm square antique copper bails
- Wire cutter
- Chain nose pliers
- Metal tube cutter
- E-6000 glue
- White china marker
- Driftwood, wooden dowel, or other wood item (to hang your mobile)
- Non-stick craft mat
How to Make a Metal Mobile
This DIY metal craft is great for beginners who like the look of metal, but aren't sure if they want to invest in all of the tools. The pre-cut copper shapes make it easy to get the look you want without having to know how to cut the metal into the right shape. The first step is pretty simple. Just gather the shapes you'd like to use and something to hang them from (such as a piece of driftwood, wooden dowel, etc.) I'd like to hang this in my art studio, so I've chosen an old, wooden paintbrush. The aqua paint on the handle reminds me of copper patina, and I think it contrasts nicely with the copper color. Alternately, you could use a plain wooden dowel or driftwood and paint it aqua.
Lay everything flat to see how it will look. It's a good idea to lay it all on the floor and stand back so you can see your composition better. Arrange the metal shapes in a way that looks balanced and interesting to you. Use wire cutters to cut the copper tubes into 3.25" lengths and bend them slightly at an angle to form a wide "V" shape. Add them to the arrangement to balance the composition.
Once you have the look you'd like, take a photo or draw a quick sketch to remember the layout. Then use E-6000 to glue the copper bails to the large moon shapes and the jump rings to the triangle and rainbow shapes. Attach the copper jump rings to the pendants.
Allow a few hours to dry, then cut the copper chains to the length that you'll need for each strand of your mobile. Lay a chain strand next to each column of shapes and then turn the shapes over so that you're looking at the backs of the shapes. Add a dab of glue to each shape, then place the chain as straight as you can over the center of the column. Do this for each column and allow to dry. Glue the strands of shapes to the wooden paintbrush (or whatever you've chosen to hang your mobile from). Allow to dry flat. Use a non-stick craft mat to protect your surface and so the mobile or metal pieces don't stick to the surface. You can hang it on the wall with nails or you can attach wire to the paintbrush and hang.
How to Make a Geometric Metal Animal Mask
Search for images of your favorite animal and sketch out the basic shape of the head on paper. Simplify the sketch by using only straight lines. Once you have the sketch you'd like, measure each of the lines of the head and mark it on the paper. This will be your guide to how long each metal tube will need to be cut. Remember that the part of the face that will stick out will have to be cut a little longer than when they are just measured on a flat surface. Practice with drinking straws to get the measurements right. It's also a good idea to get a few more metal tubes than you think you'll need in case you make an error in cutting or need to improve your design as you go. The sketch below has been labeled with the correct lengths for the final 3D version of the mask.
To make a fox mask, you'll need to cut each of the following lengths:
|Number of pieces
|Length of piece
|Two (2)
|4 ¼"
|Five (5)
|3 ½"
|Two (2)
|2 ¾"
|Two (2)
|2 ½"
|Four (4)
|1 ½"
|One (1)
To cut the tubes, use a ruler to measure out the lengths and mark with the white china marker (this will rub off easily). Place the tube inside the tube cutter and twist the knob to tighten. Don't twist it too tight--just make it so that you can still easily twist the tube cutter around the tube. Tighten gradually as you cut further into the tube and continue to twist the tube cutter around the tube until it snaps. Continue until you have all pieces cut.
You should have 16 total pieces. Line up each piece onto your sketch or blank piece of paper and tape it down so you don't lose track of the shapes. This also helps you see how your mask is coming together and if you need to adjust any of the lengths.
Once you have the outline of the head taped down, cut a length of brass wire (about 18" long) and straighten it out. Then thread it through the top of one of the brass tubes that creates the ear. Make sure to leave a little bit of wire sticking out of the top, as you will need to use that to secure it to another end of wire later. Continue to thread the wire through each tube, connecting the tubes together. If you run out of wire, just attach another piece of wire by twisting the two ends together and then continue to run the wire through the tubes.
Once you have connected all of the tubes that outline the head, you can begin to attach the six tubes that will form the face and stick out. You may have to thread back through some of the tubes on the outline of the face. Just make sure that all of the tubes are connected and that the final six tubes are sticking up to form a point (the snout).
It's ok if these don't form a perfect point--just as long as they are even on both sides. Use the E-6000 glue to add a rhinestone. This will be the nose.
Once dry, hang your metal art up on the wall to display! Make several different animals and form a cluster or a row--this would look so cute in a kids' room.
I hope you enjoyed this metal craft! With just a few metal tubes and cut shapes, you can make amazing, artful DIY metal wall hangings!
Tools & Materials
5/32" Round Brass Tube 3 ft.$22.95 / 5 pack
24 Gauge Brass Beading Wire$3.59
12mm Round Plastic Jewels$4.99 / 16 pack
1/16" (1.6mm) Round Copper Tube$2.09 / 3 pack
2.5mm Antique Copper Cable Chain$2.00 / foot
1/8" Copper Jump Rings$1.99 / 50 pack
Copper shape: Large Moon 1 3/4" x 3"$6.99 / 3 pack
Copper shape: Rainbow 5/8" x 1 1/2"$5.99 / 5 pack
Copper shape: Triangle 1 1/4" x 1 1/2"$6.49 / 4 pack
Square Bail - Antique Copper$3.29 / 2 pack
Nipper Pliers Fine Cut$10.89
Chain Nose Pliers Precision$12.95
Metal Tube Cutter$6.49
E6000 (0.5 oz.)$3.99
Silicone Craft Mat$12.99


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The SUPPORT kick off meeting organized by Metropolitan City of Capital Rome and local stakeholders was held on Monday, May 15.
Many stakeholder groups attended the meeting, representatives of organizations and local authorities (Ministry of the Environment, Lazio Region, Lazio Innova SpA, Municipalities of Genzano di Roma and Albano Laziale) ESCOS and energy consulting companies (Engie Servizi, Cras srl, Igeam) universities and research centers (Enea, Uniroma Tre) and specialized media (rinnovabili.it).
SUPPORT project concerns the exchange of experience and good practices between public administrations providing strategic, technical and financial assistance to Municipalities in the development of energy policies and energy agencies, in order to develop local strategies and plans for a more efficient definition, coordination and implementation of voluntary energy efficiency and renewable energy tools in urban / metropolitan areas, such as the PAES or the Climate Change Adaptation Plans.
After describing project mission and main phases, specifying the action of metropolitan city of Rome within the POR-FESR 2014-2020 program, the working group shared with participants main criticalities and obstacles on effectiveness and coordination of actions and investments in metropolitan area. The role of the Metropolitan city, with the involvement of local stakeholders, will be to define and build action plans that overcome these criticalities and allow greater homogenization and effectiveness of structural, long-term interventions, with a lasting impact on energy efficiency. It means to facilitate and coordinate the implementation of PAES towards district policies, to coordinate and direct public investments (POR calls, in particular the ones related to action 4.1.1., "Promotion of eco-efficiency and reduction of primary energy consumption in buildings and public buildings") and to reach a "critical mass" for private investments, even though the safeguard of public interest, but also to work on raising awareness among citizenship, towards a sustainable use of resources. First critical issues and necessary intervention areas come out in the context analysis: lack of systematical collection of buildings energy consumption data, regulatory instruments for the Energy Performance Contracts (EPC), district level figures as Energy Managers, monitoring results of preview investments on energy efficiency of public assets, sharing data on emissions geo-localized maps, all instruments that allow actors to define and share effective actions.
For a systematic background analysis, an on-line online survey will be launched by the end of the month to collect data from different local stakeholders (divided into demand, supply, booster) and gather good practices already realized.
See pictures on library here


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Retirement Villages Roodepoort
The retirement villages Roodepoort has to offer are set in the famous red soil that gives the town its name. This quiet old mining community-based suburb has lots to offer its senior citizens.
Enter your requirements in the enquiry form on our home page and we will source a suitable retirement village for you, alternatively, have a look below, these are some of the best retirement villages Roodepoort has to offer…
Witpoortjie Retirement Village Roodepoort
Close to the Westgate Shopping Centre, Witpoortjie Retirement Village is set in beautiful colourful gardens.
Residents enjoy a library, hairdresser, chapel, dining room, pet friendly accommodation, aerobics, transport and so much more.
Didn't find what you're looking for? Access the largest directory of retirement villages in South Africa here.


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The teddy bear, garish but cuddly, is propped on top of the explosives it was designed to hide and detonate. An adult would probably have walked by, but to a child the wide eyes and fuzzy orange fur would have been irresistible.
"Why would Isis use something nice, like a bear or a rabbit? They used this toy because they know the peshmerga [Kurdish fighters] will not touch it, but children will," said Colonel Nawzad Kamil Hassan, an engineer with the Kurdish forces, who says his unit has cleared more than 50 tonnes of explosives from areas once controlled by the militants. Continue Reading.


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As you all know, we were in San Diego attending the ADA's 77th annual Scientific Sessions last week, and already reported on new technology we observed. At the heart of this gathering is of course the science -– loads of new studies completed around the country and the world over the past year that are now ready to be presented to medical peers.
The poster hall alone displayed a whopping 2,228 total research posters this year -- visiting which literally felt like being lost in a sea of research.
Some of the researchers regularly plant themselves next to their work to discuss with any curious passersby, while others have specific times scheduled to educate a crowd of people through audio earphones. Most of the information is embargoed, with late-breaking research being added each of the three days the poster hall is open.
Leading up to ADA, we scanned the mobile app and online program and abstracts for items of interest among the numerous official categories: complications, education, exercise, nutrition, psychosocial, clinical therapeutics, healthcare delivery/economics, pregnancy, pediatrics, epidemiology, immunology, insulin action, and obesity (just to name a few).
Needless to say, it's a lot to soak in.
From just a quick search: a few-hundred abstracts included variations of anything "cure" related -- from beta cell proliferation to islet transplantation and beyond. The terms "affordability" and "cost" generated a couple-hundred more results, of which roughly half dealt with the medication access and affordability issue on so many minds these days.
As we quietly observed the poster hall and also talked with some scientists, it was clear that cost and access for patients was one of the big themes (more on this tomorrow), along with concern about how the proposed federal budget cuts hitting the National Institutes of Health (NIH) could devastate the diabetes research community. We certainly hope not!
Celebrating research today, we'd like to share some of the topics that most caught our eye:
Affordability & Access to Diabetes Care
As noted, this was a big theme at this year's ADA conference, addressed in many research posters and weaved into presentations, panel discussions, and side conversations. Some specific studies that touched on this topic include:
Clinical Time Spent: In this first-of-its-kind study, researchers at the University of Washington Medical Center, including Dr. Irl Hirsch -- a fellow T1 PWD and vocal advocate on insulin pricing -- took a year-long look at the costs related to diabetes care in an academic clinic, specifically the "non-reimbursed time" that doctors and clinics spend on items such as prescription-filling, insurance prior authorizations, and patient interactions by email or telephone. The study involved 3,727 patients and 10,332 visits for the year, divided up between the team of 3.6 full-time staffers and using a web-based data analysis tool called Redcap.
The takeaway: A huge chunk more time is spent on non-billable tasks compared to those that are direct reimbursable patient hours, and this is clearly not a business model that clinics can keep up -- especially with diagnosis numbers rising.
State-by-State Costs: The CDC funded a study from the non-profit RTI International in North Carolina, examining both the direct and indirect D-costs in each state (all based on 2013 data). Indirect relates to missed work productivity, household production loss, and early death. No surprise that California had the highest indirect costs due to its size ($29.9B) while Vermont had the lowest ($339M); Washington D.C had the highest per-person costs, while South Dakota was lowest, and overall the inability to work came in at the highest level of all the issues related to D. In the end, researchers concluded that this data can be used to help motivate state governments and employers to focus on diabetes support among the workforce. A related study by the same group analyzed nursing home costs, with similar breakdowns and conclusions. The posters highlighted its new online toolkits for estimating economic burdens of diabetes and the potential impacts of D-interventions.
Considering Cost of Therapy: In this day and age where cost is so critically important to PWDs, it was interesting to see some clinical decision support software on display taking that topic into consideration. One was NC-based GlucosePath, software aimed at giving the healthcare providers more insight into pricetags as they're deciding what to prescribe for T2 PWDs. We found their research poster interesting, and certainly appreciated the presenters open-sharing and posing for pictures with their poster!
Competitive Bidding, YIKES Continued: In keeping with the ongoing saga of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)'s competitive bidding program, which we've reported on extensively over the years, new research showed it's only getting worse for patients -- as more people are dosing without doing the needed fingerstick tests or CGM monitoring thanks to a lack of access to supplies. This study provides fodder to the #SuspendBidding initiative to stop this competitive-bidding process until (at least) more research can be done on its effects.
Generating Buzz...
Heart Risk in T2: One of the biggest talking points for diabetes medications this year involved cardiovascular risk being cut down thanks to a variety of different drugs. In a hailed set of studies dubbed CANVAS, research showed the entire class of SGLT-2 inhibitors such as Invokana cut down the hospitalization CV risk for type 2 by 33% and renal failure by 40%, even though there's a concern about amputations as a result and experts debate whether these SGLT-2 drugs are interchangeable. Some believe this shows we're moving past the "era of metformin" in T2 treatment, though that remains a debatable point. There was also some question of whether Invokana should be used in type 1, but that wasn't a research-heavy topic at this year's sessions.
Closed Loop R&D: With Medtronic announcing the full launch of its Minimed 670G in the days before the SciSessions, and many other companies outlining their progress, closed loop and AP research were in full bloom. It didn't hit the overload point as it did in 2016, but there was some clear science showing the benefits of this next-generation technology; Medtronic alone had nine presentations while Insulet's OmniPod Horizon closed loop platform was a big talking point for that company. There are still almost two-dozen of these systems in the works worldwide, and it's exciting to see that all in progress. We were also happy to see our #WeAreNotWaiting friends Dana Lewis and Scott Leibrand proudly showing off their OpenAPS poster at this year's conference!
Psychosocial Effects: This has been a big topic for the ADA over the past several months, especially after the organization released its first-ever psychosocial position statement on this topic in November. We covered this a month ago, and at the SciSessions it certainly had a number of research backing it up and specific presentations delving into that science side. One study looked at depression in T2 and how interventions can help ward off those depressive feelings, while another study focused on eating disorders in youth with both T1 and T2 and showed how serious and widespread this issue this really is.
Words Matter: There isn't much research out there on this, but the stigma associated with language used is a growing trend in the diabetes science world and those practicing. Dr. Al Powers, the ADA's president of Medicine and Science, emphasized in his presentation that practitioners must be careful how they discuss diabetes issues and our entire D-ecosystem must tread lightly when it comes to painting a picture for the general public on diabetes. Another presentation that included three powerhouses -- T1-CDE Jane Dickinson, Susan Guzman and Melinda Maryniuk of Joslin Diabetes Center -- focused on how the words we use in diabetes care have both a direct and indirect impact on patient outcomes, even stopping some PWDs from going to see their healthcare team, out of fear they'll be judged or not properly cared for. They'll be releasing a joint ADA-AADE consensus statement on D-language later this summer, so we'll be on the watch for that.
D-Pregnancy: Interestingly, new data from the CONCEPTT (Continuous Glucose Monitoring in Women with Type 1 Diabetes in Pregnancy) trial out of Toronto found that multiple daily injections (MDI) may be more effective than insulin pumping during pregnancy, to lower A1C and prevent some of the potential pregnancy-related issues that can happen. They studied 123-125 women with T1 in their early 30s on pumps and MDI for this trial.
Insulin Action: By and large, insulin developments weren't a big-ticket item at this year's Sessions. Sure, a whole bunch of posters and presentations discussed various aspects of how one brand compares to another, and new faster-acting next-generation varieties under development. But it wasn't a show-stealing topic. MannKind and its inhaled Afrezza insulin mostly flew under the radar, though the company did have an exhibit hall booth and Afrezza came up periodically in some of the insulin-related panels and discussions -- for example, at the popular TCOYD-Close Concerns forum and at a JDRF/NIH Closed Loop dinner event, where it was mentioned briefly as being effective, but not a game-changer. One insulin session that did catch our eye was Eli Lilly's Dr. Christoff Kazda on a "novel formulation" of Humalog and two add-on chemicals designed to accelerate the absorption rate of the insulin. This so-called LY mixture is designed to be a fast meal-time insulin, and while the results weren't blockbuster-like, it supported the continued R&D on this for PWDs with T1D.
Glucagon, Too: While there also wasn't much talk of glucagon developments, the Lilly nasal glucagon (which I puffed up my nose in a clinical trial back in 2014) had some science showing it's effective, but it's still in clinical trials and Lilly remains non-committal about its plans for bringing this nasal glucagon originally created by Locemia to market. Also, Xeris Pharmaceuticals presented data on its stable liquid formulation and mini-dose glucagon under development, highlighting how effective that appears to be in studies.
The 'C' Word (and Prevention)
While it wasn't a key theme, research focusing on a diabetes cure and prevention efforts certainly carried its weight at the ADA event.
Faustman's Vaccine: Dr. Denise Faustman presented a poster at this year's ADA showing the progress on her Phase II clinical study for a vaccine that could prevent type 1. We reported on this back in 2015 when she was just starting her second phase, a five-year trial expected to run through 2020. With the latest interim results from her research, Dr. Faustman continues to believe the century-old TB vaccine could change white blood cells at a genetic level, basically "resetting them" and thereby reversing / preventing T1D.
Making Beta Cells Great Again: Yep, this was an actual title of some research presented. Different researchers were showing interventions discovered during decades of studies from trial sites across the globe, looking at preventative insulin treatments that could be used to boost the immune system and stop the attack on beta cells that causes T1D. One study looked at a longtime cancer drug Gleevec for its immunosuppressive aspects for possibly slowing the onset of type 1, while another explored the antigen GAD that in animals has shown to help build up the immune tolerance and possibly stop autoimmune conditions like T1D. These were all JDRF-funded studies.
Prevention, Of Course: The theme of T2D prevention alone returned 191 results in the abstract database -- as mentioned in a speech by ADA President of Healthcare and Education Brenda Montgomery's who also praised the national Medicare coverage of the Diabetes Prevention Program starting in January 2018. And yes, despite our D-Community's continued cry to stop using that language, many of the presentations and posters referenced "reversing" T2D. Oh well... hopefully these cries won't continue to fall on deaf ears...
Exploring Diversity Among Patients
Disparities Exist: Yep, they do. Researchers presented a handful of science on this across the board -- from data on hospital visits in the U.S., to Medicare-age cardiovascular events by state, to minority populations in different states and regions. Among those studies was one tackling an issue that has little research to date: how diabetes develops differently in certain races and ethnicities. Researchers used data from TrialNet's Pathway to Prevention Study screening program, covering more than 4,000 T1D PWDs and relatives between ages 1 and 49 -- 12% Hispanic/Latino; 3% African American; 1.4% Asian/Pacific Islanders; 79.3% were white; and 4.3% "other."
The differences in type 1 diabetes development among races/ethnicities discovered in this study are striking," said Dr. Mustafa Tosur of Texas Children's Hospital at Baylor College of Medicine. "Especially of interest is the dramatic differential effect of being overweight/obese for Hispanic/Latino children younger than 12 years of age, compared to non-Hispanic white children in the same age group. The research demonstrates that racial and ethnic differences should be taken into consideration when counseling family members who are at-risk of developing type 1 diabetes, and when designing preventive care and treatment options. Considering the obesity epidemic in children, which is more prevalent among minorities, and the frequency of type 1 diabetes is growing most in Hispanics in the U.S., these findings have important public health implications."
Health Literacy: While this is also an ever-increasing topic of discussion in healthcare it seems, we only saw four abstracts focusing on it this year. And the results were not surprising, showing that for patients in lower socioeconomic circumstances, using modern tech tools such as mobile apps and telemedicine isn't always feasible. And yes, it can impact BG monitoring and behaviors relating to D-care. There's little help for those who don't understand some of the basics in diabetes care, particularly in rural and minority communities, and published literature today (not to mention staff resources, insulin and education) is limited at hospitals and clinics in some of the poorest places in the world.
Across the Globe: A handful of posters addressed diabetes care around the world; it's good to see the global perspective being represented. One study from the IDF (International Diabetes Federation) looked at the rising prevalence of adults getting diabetes around the world. Other studies focused on the insulin access crisis in many places, including hospitals worldwide.
Note: Audio of a handful of presentations from the SciSessions are available online, and some webcasts will be available in the coming weeks (though it's not clear if these will be accessible for ADA members only).
We're not quite done with #2017ADA coverage yet, so stay tuned for more later this week...


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131 players, 374 days, one winner: Lifever!
Lifever has become the Panzer Corps World Champion by defeating AlfredoAllu in a tough and epic match.
The champion, Lifever, is going to be remembered in the Panzer Corps Hall of Fame, alongside last year's winner! He will also be featured as a Hero in Panzer Corps 2! Hail to the champ!
We would like to once again congratulate with Goose_2 for a perfectly run tournament which wouldn't have been possible without his dedication and passion. Thank you Goose!
But there is more! To celebrate the end of this epic tournament we are going to run a weeklong sale on the entire Panzer Corps saga, up to 90% off!
The sale starts today and lasts until January 30th! Don't miss this chance to complete your Panzer Corps collection! More details here.


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It is called the Internet of Things (IoT) - plural - for a reason. IoT encompasses everything from traditional IT devices like laptops and phones to next-generation technologies like virtual assistants (Alexa, Google Home) to previously unconnected technologies like TVs to everyday utilities like HVAC systems and even refrigerators. With this wide range of things, agencies are finding it difficult to catalog every IoT device, making the creation of policies and processes even more challenging.
Shadow IoT--connected devices that aren't managed or monitored by an organization's IT resources--is a real concern for IT teams. In one study, 90% of organizations found IoT devices they were not aware of using their network. These devices can include fitness trackers, digital assistants, and smart televisions. Once these devices are identified, huge security challenges still remain as many of them were not designed with security in mind. There is also such a wide range of devices and manufacturers that policies cannot be applied consistently across all of the different products and systems.
Even known IoT devices can provide security challenges and concerns. Historically, systems running building automation - lights, elevators, sprinkler systems, HVAC - were separate from the IT systems. Today, these Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) regularly connect to external networks and introduce risk back into the agency networks. As a workaround, a survey of IoT leaders found that 45% of respondents said they were deploying IoT devices on a dedicated network. Continue reading


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Gaspereau Riesling 2018
2018 was a challenging growing season, beginning with an un-seasonally warm spring followed by a monumental spring freeze in early June. The spring frost, or freeze as it is more correct, affected the young shoots of varieties in frost-prone areas. As a result, yields in affected varieties and areas were drastically reduced. Lucky for us, the Riesling, grown in the upper Eastern block of our estate, was virtually untouched. Likewise for the Riesling at two of our growers' Riesling sites (Fox Harb'r and Den Haan Vineyards).
The summer was warm and dry but our usual Indian summer was cut short in the fall, abruptly ending our usual period for extended ripening. The grapes coming in to the winery were healthy and clean and the acidity and minerality pronounced.
Each block of Riesling was individually hand harvested at a ripeness level that both allowed us to capture fresh yet mature flavours and to retain a bright acidity that gives the wine its refreshing lift. 100% of the grapes were cold macerated on the skins overnight prior to pressing. The Gaspereau and Den Haan Vineyards Rieslings were were cool-fermented together while the Fox Harb'r Riesling was individually cool-fermented. Both ferments occurred in stainless steel. This year, new to Gaspereau Vineyards, we held back a small amount of unfermented juice and added it back to the fermented wine prior to bottling. This juice is called Suess Reserve and is used to give added fruit and weight to the final wine. The Riesling 2018 was assembled and bottled thereafter in the winter of 2019.
- Gaspereau Vineyards
- White
- Nova Scotia
- 750 mL
- 11% Alc./Vol.
- $22.49


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Skin - Spotlight on Black History Month
This is the true story of Sandra Laing, a woman who was born and grew up during Apartheid in South Africa. In the Behind-the-Scenes featurette on the DVD, British filmmaker Anthony Fabian says that even though it's a very specific story about a very unusual case, the movie's message of "how do we treat people who are different from ourselves" is one that can transcend and be applied to any country, including the United States.
What makes this story very specific and this case very unusual is the fact that Sandra Laing's skin color is brown and her hair is that of a Negro's, yet her parents are Afrikaners. It's strange but true. A white couple actually gave birth to a black child. At first, people think that the white mother cheated on her husband with a black man. This was before DNA tests could easily prove paternity, but that isn't a question here. These two white people really are the biological parents of this little Negro child.
Once that is established, the issue becomes what do they do with this adorable, little black girl. Besides being a medical mystery, there are sociopolitical implications. This is after all 1960s South Africa, and during this time Apartheid was the law of the land. Apartheid is legal segregation of whites from nonwhites. It's tantamount to the Jim Crow laws in the American south during that same time.
Like with Jim Crow, blacks in South Africa were basically treated like lesser human beings. Instead of the N word, blacks in South Africa were called "kaffirs," and those called such were in fact treated like animals. One black character even comments that they were treated like cows.
In order to protect her from that, in order to ensure that their daughter wouldn't be treated like a cow or a kaffir, her parents implore the government to declare Sandra or Sandy a white girl, despite clearly looking like a black girl. Because of the nature of the situation and the behavior of the parents, this becomes both a good thing and a bad thing.
The film begins when Sandy is a young girl, dealing with being the only black girl in a predominantly white-controlled society. Eventually, the film jumps forward to Sandy as a woman, played by British actress Sophie Okonedo (Dirty Pretty Things and Hotel Rwanda). Okonedo plays Sandy as very soft-spoken, as passive, well-behaved and dignified.
One telling scene for her character is when Sandy goes on a date with a white man. They go to an all-white diner where people become obviously disturbed at Sandy's presence. Instead of staying and defying people's racism, she sneaks out. This is not to suggest that Sandy is a coward or weak. She's strong in her own ways and in many ways, and appropriately she gets stronger as the movie progresses. From the time that Sandy starts dating, she hits one hardship or difficulty after another, and the strength that Okonedo displays within Sandy is striking. It's amazing because it's unwavering and it does build.
The first great turning point is Sandy's strength finally being used to go against her parents. Thanks to the emotionally layered performances of Sam Neil and Alice Krige, we see that her white parents love their black child. Yet, since she was little, they wanted her to be white and even actively tried to make her white, using makeup and whatnot. This cuts two ways. They want her to have access to the better things that South Africa affords to whites. On one hand, they push her whiteness on a practical level but, as we subtly realize, they do so because they also believe that being white is better. Despite giving birth to a black child, her parents are racists to a degree.
The plight of the people in Swaziland and neighboring provinces are depicted with great empathy and insight. Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' By Sapphire (2009) drew a lot of comparisons as a modern version, but Skin is also a kind of new take on The Color Purple, but centering on a young black woman stuck between two worlds, not finding a home among the whites or the blacks.
Five Stars out of Five.
Rated PG-13 for themes, some violence and sexualiy.
Running Time: 1 hr. and 47 mins.