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Lord knows this week's post on stewardship of time is being proffered at a most ironic time of year. As a high school teacher in late May, my life is crazy busy right now. Seriously, I'm sitting in a sea of folded and unfolded laundry typing this. Time management is an issue.
Grading research papers, squeezing in instruction during the final weeks of school, and trying to manage my own life make me feel woefully underqualified to speak to an audience on the topic of time management.
Then I thought – what better time to talk to you than when I am feeling pressed? I can reflect for a moment on the importance of time management and think of how I can position myself better this time next year. We are walking together through this stewardship journey after all.
Let's get right to it:
Please hear me. I am preaching to myself here, as I struggle to balance my own time management.
If we do not declare ourselves masters of our calendars, they will overmaster us. I know this because it used to be my norm. My life was frantic and it wasn't good.
If we do not declare ourselves masters of our calendars, they will overmaster us.
Even now, there are swells of busyness that unsettle me and I must regain a foothold if I am to be master of my own calendar. Admittedly, this isn't always easy because commitments confine us sometimes. Here are some of the things I am working on to master my time:
1. Kid Calendar Control
Your kids can and will survive if they don't join umpteen activities and attend every social function they are invited to. This is a proven fact. I have three kiddos and they have all survived thus far.
Decide how much you are willing to run around during the week and then allow your kids to choose their activities. Mine are in Cub Scouts/Girl Scouts. We also have church twice a week. That's enough for us.
We have decided as a family that organized sports are not for us because they demand too much weeknight time and more weekend time than we are willing to devote. Besides this, they are disproportionately competitive for children so young.
Sports aren't like they used to be when I was a kid. Softball was in the spring and the season lasted about 2 months. Now, it is 12 months of any sport your kids want. This could honestly be a whole post in itself. Actually, I've got one in the works.
2. Harness the Power of NO
Learn to say yes wisely and say no firmly so that you can participate without becoming overwhelmed.
There is no shame in not accepting every invitation you are offered. You and your family may be invited to parties and other gatherings and feel an obligation to attend. You aren't obligated. Really!
Obviously for close family gatherings, you'll want to carefully weigh what you can do. But birthday parties to which the whole second grade is invited on a day when you have two other things to do? Nope.
At church, or even at work, you do not have a join every committee and attend every meeting that isn't mandatory. The world will go on without you. Learn to say yes wisely and say no firmly so that you can participate without becoming overwhelmed.
Saying no will feel difficult at first. However, you'll soon find it liberating to take control of your time by politely declining things that would tax your schedule. Trust me on this.
3. Make a Plan
I've found that without a plan, my life and time become a runaway train. If you want to get together with a friend, put it on the calendar – even if it is weeks or months in advance.
This is even more important for dates with your spouse. My husband and I are going out on Friday night to celebrate 25 years since we started dating. It's been planned for nearly 2 months.
This is something I need to reinstate after several months of being undisciplined. I need to be more intentional about putting social time on the calendar.
The editorial calendar for my writing is a hot mess right now (nonexistent). I've been writing right up to deadlines. This weekend, I am going to sit down and plan the whole summer of posts and work I want to accomplish.
4. Stop Wasting Time
Oh my gosh. We could really go down a rabbit hole watching YouTube videos, scrolling on Facebook, or watching bad TV. Let's stop. Cold turkey. We have better things to do.
When I sense I am spending too much time on social media, I will do a fast from it by removing the apps from my phone. If I know I am coming up on a busy time, I will do this to help myself be more productive.
Make a projected list of what supplies and groceries you'll need so you aren't constantly running to the store all week. When I plan well, I shop well. Poor planning causes wasted time.
5. Make Margin
Back in the early days of the blog, I wrote a post on MARGIN that addresses the overall idea that leaving "wiggle room" in your life in the areas of time, finances, etc. is a critical component to a healthy existence. I encourage you to click the link in this section and read the post.
Basically, the points above this one work together to create margin. When you have wiggle room in your calendar, you can have a spontaneous lunch with a friend, a last minute neighborhood gathering, or just a night at home to decompress and watch a movie as a family.
There are few things more wonderful than getting to Friday and realizing I have NO PLANS for the weekend. This is kind of the best feeling going at this point in my life.
One of my favorite sayings is that the best way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time. Bringing your time management and schedule into a healthy state will require some sacrifice and perhaps a bit of tension. This is normal and it is OK.
Very few good things come easily without a bit of pain in the process. I hope you will think about maybe just one of these points and consider how you can implement it as you begin the journey of mastering your time. Over the holiday weekend, I will be reading my own post and thinking about where I want to improve.
Very few good things come easily without a bit of pain in the process.
Let me know what your time management tips and plans are in the comments below.
He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.
-Ecclesiastes 3:11
Hi! I'm Tracy…Christ-follower, wife, mama, writer, blogger, speaker, teacher, dreamer. I love Earl Grey Tea and quiet mornings. Here at Earl Grey and Yellow, the focus is striving to be faithful and appreciate the small things. So glad you stopped by. Please have a look around and subscribe to our newsletter and social media to stay connected.


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There are enough new developments in this story to warrant it to be bumped and updated.
In Atlanta, a federal judge put a hold on parts of the GA anti-immigration bill.
"...In a 45-page ruling issued Monday, U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Thrash(cq) preliminarily enjoined the state from enforcing two provisions in the law that were supposed to go in effect Friday.
One of those provisions would empower police to investigate the immigration status of suspects who they believe have committed state or federal crimes and who cannot produce identification, such as a driver's license, or provide other information that could help police identify them. The other part would punish people who -– while committing another offense — knowingly transport or harbor illegal immigrants or encourage them to come here.
The judge said the civil and immigrant rights groups who are suing to block the law have shown they are likely to succeed with their arguments that these provisions are preempted by federal law. Republican state Attorney General Sam Olens(cq) issued a statement Monday, saying his office would appeal the judge's decision on these two parts of the law.
Also Monday, Trash threw out several arguments from the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, which include the American Civil Liberties Union and National Immigration Law Center. Among the arguments he dismissed were ones that say the new law violates people's constitutional rights to travel and their protections against unlawful search and seizure…."
In South Carolina, the Glam Girl Governor of the GOP will soon be signing one of those hate bills, herself.
"…Connie Bullard is just one of many across South Carolina who's concerned about Senate Bill 20 becoming law. "Just by looking at me, a police officer could stop me but once I say something with my strong accent yes, it will trigger the officer to ask me for my documentation," says Connie Bullard, SC Hispanic Leadership Council. Bullard says she was born in America. "They would make me feel very uncomfortable to go through all this paperwork they might ask me for," says Bullard. Under a provision in SB 20, a law enforcement officer has the right to verify a person's immigration status if they're stopped, detained or arrested for any reason. It also mandates that businesses use E-Verify as a way to check the legality of their workers.
"From a business stand point, I'm a business man and the e-verify is every easy to do. You go to the computer enter the information and have people check in a matter of minutes," Representative Bill Hixon, voted for SB 20. Others against the bill say it's racial profiling and will cost the state to enforce the
"I remember when Apartheid was being fought in South Africa you had to carry your papers to document what race you were. Are we going back to things like that?" says Susan Berkowitz, Director of S.C. Appleseed Legal Justice Center…."
SC's Glam Girl of the GOP Governor is going to be signing a restrictive and racist immigration bill in South Carolina that will cause the same problems we are seeing in Georgia.
This comes from the county where I grew up and lived most of my life.
We keep hearing that the unemployment picture is worse now than during the Great Depression. Yet, in Georgia, farmers are being forced to have their crops rot in the fields because of the new anti-immigration bill that was just passed.
From the Atlantic:
"..Importantly, the more competitive the final goods market (meaning the market for the product that the workers are being hired to make) the flatter the labor demand curve will be. If the market is competitive, then a small increase in prices will cause buyers to shift to a competitors products. This means that a firm's (or in this case, a farmer's) profits are sensitive to small shifts in input prices. In the case of agriculture, where one farmers crops are usually very comparable with another farmers, the market will be highly competitive and the demand curve will be flat. This problem is even more exacerbated when the demand is for Georgia farmers in particular, since retailers who buy their products can shift to farmers in competing states.
All of this is to say if you're going to stop illegal immigrants from doing a job you should be prepared for the job, and perhaps even the business itself, to go away. You may think this is worth it, but you should at least be acknowledging the risks and weigh them against what, if anything, you think is being gained..."
I thought a recent study said that Americans would work for a quarter an hour if necessary. Guess eight bucks an hour is not enough.
There is a problem here. Evidently no one wants to work for only $320 a week in the state of Georgia, where nearly 10% of the population is unemployed.
This is disgusting. If it were not such a social commentary on the fact that there ARE jobs people from Georgia will not do, The Pink Flamingo would be ranting and raving about the new anti-immigration bill. This transcends the bill to show something even more insidious.
"…The resulting manpower shortage has forced state farmers to leave millions of dollars' worth of blueberries, onions and other crops unharvested and rotting in the fields. It has also put state officials into something of a panic at the damage they've done to Georgia's largest industry.
Barely a month ago, you might recall, Gov. Nathan Deal welcomed the TV cameras into his office as he proudly signed HB 87 into law. Two weeks later, with farmers howling, a scrambling Deal was forced to order a hasty investigation into the impact of the law he had just signed, as if all this had come as quite a surprise to him.
The results of that investigation have now been released. According to survey of 230 Georgia farmers conducted by Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black, farmers expect to need more than 11,000 workers at some point over the rest of the season, a number that probably underestimates the real need, since not every farmer in the state responded to the survey.
"The agriculture industry is the number one economic engine in Georgia and it is my sincere hope to find viable and law-abiding solutions to the current problem our farmers face," Deal said in announcing the findings. In the meantime, Deal proposes that farmers try to hire the 2,000 unemployed criminal probationers estimated to live in southwest Georgia…."
All of this is a wonderful commentary on the mime the anti-immigration, anti-Hispanic bigots have been pushing for years. There ARE NO jobs Americans won't do. If this is true, and Georgia has nearly a 10% unemployment rate, then why are the crops rotting in the fields. If someone needs a job – there it is!
John Tanton's puppets will try anything to prove they are right, including this piece of stupidity by Mark Kirkorian.
Evidently Americans are too good to do these kind of jobs, contrary to the lies told by the Tanton machine.
"…"It would completely decimate the produce industry in the United States," said Tom Nassif, president and CEO of Western Growers Association based in Irvine, Calif. He addressed reporters in a telephone press conference Thursday along with other agricultural leaders, including Greg Wickham, CEO of Dairylea Cooperative based in Syracuse and also chairman of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives. Dairy is in even worse shape than the fruit and vegetable growers when it comes to labor, Wickham said, because dairies are not eligible to use the H-2A guest-worker program, which allows farms to bring in foreign workers on a temporary basis. "Dairy producers continue to have a workforce crisis," Wickham said in the phone conference.
Farmers advertise job openings and those ads mostly go unanswered, he said. When local Americans apply, they often quit after one to five days, Wickham said.
Many of the local dairy farms have turned to Mexicans and Guatemalans to milk cows and care for the animals. But those workers may not have legal documents to be in the country.
The House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday proposed legislation that the agriculture community has feared: e-Verify, to be phased in over two years. Wickham said if the legislation is approved, as expected in the coming weeks by Congress, "it could be the final nail in the coffin for the dairy industry," which is still recovering from drastically low milk prices in 2009.
Agriculture is vulnerable to e-Verify, which allows employers to immediately check a worker's employment status against federal immigration databases. The electronic system flags people who may be in the country illegally.
That makes up an estimated 50 to 70 percent of farm employees, said Craig Regelbrugge, co-chair of the Agriculture Coalition for Immigration Reform. Agriculture organizations have been pressing Congress for 15 years to overhaul immigration or improve guest-worker policies, expanding the number of workers and making the programs easier to use for farmers. But Congress hasn't adopted legislation to help the farms with their labor crisis, instead pushing more enforcement initiatives…."
In Georgia, it is backfiring to the point now where the governor is finally checking into facts and figures.
"...Gov. Nathan Deal is asking for an expedited report on how the crackdown on illegal immigration enacted by the General Assembly this spring is affecting Georgia agriculture. Farmers have complained in recent weeks that their crops are rotting in the fields and orchards because migrant workers afraid of deportation are bypassing Georgia in droves, even though the law doesn't take effect until July 1. Deal, who signed the legislation last month and has been a strong supporter of immigration reform, said he wants to get beyond anecdotal evidence and look at actual numbers.
Toward that end, the governor said he wants Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Gary Black to deliver a report on the issue by the end of next week. "We're trying to build a database instead of generalities and broad statements," the governor told members of the Atlanta Rotary Club Monday during a luncheon speech. "We want to get some facts."…"
Evidently Numbers USA is wrong.
Prison labor?
If it weren't so critical it would be laughable. Jay Brookman wrote:
The anti-immigration bullies have lied and cheated their way into destroying farms, ranches, and raising the cost of food in this country. The big lie is that there are no jobs Americans won't do.
"…The MSM report ad nauseam that illegal aliens are only "doing work that Americans won't." This mantra is mercilessly bandied about by illegal immigration supporters and echoes throughout the halls of Congress and the White House whenever the topic comes up. What is never mentioned, however, is that the illegal aliens are artificially depressing compensation and that illegal aliens are the only ones who will do the work at such low wages. In actual fact, illegal immigration distorts the law of supply and demand in a capitalistic society. Additionally it is grossly hypocritical to want to raise the minimum wage on one hand while the other hand winks at illegal aliens working at far below prevailing wages.
In any case, illegal aliens are not just picking lettuce and digging ditches any more. It wasn't that long ago that being a dry-waller, brick-layer, house framer, painter, roofer, carpet layer, plumber, or electrician was a decently compensated, middle class trade. Now it is increasingly becoming the work for illegal aliens at far less than the free market rate. While illegal alien workers are only a small portion of many of those job categories their willingness to work at dramatically lower rates artificially drags down the compensation for all workers…."
If the Tanton machine were right, the 10% of Georgians who are unemployed would be lining up to get all those farm jobs that the illegals won't take. It just isn't true. Looks like the far right hate that the anti-immigration, pro-abortion, pro-green demands of the Tanton machine has made a mess of things in Georgia.
"…Temperatures hovered in the low 90s with heavy humidity Thursday, but taking off a shirt to relieve the heat invited a blistering sunburn. Tiny gnats flew into workers' eyes and ears. One experienced Latino worker carried a machete that he used to dispatch a rattlesnake found in the fields.
By law, each worker must earn minimum wage, or $7.25 an hour. But there's an incentive system. Harvesters get a green ticket worth 50 cents every time they dump a bucket of cucumbers. If they collect more than 15 tickets an hour, they can beat minimum wage.
The Latino workers moved furiously Thursday for the extra pay.
Jose Ranye, 37, bragged he's the best picker in Americus, the largest community near the farm. His whirling hands filled one bucket in 25 seconds. He said he dumped about 200 buckets of cucumbers before lunch, meaning he earned roughly $20 an hour. He expected to double his tickets before the end of the day.
None of the probationers could keep pace. Pay records showed the best filled only 134 buckets a day, and some as little as 20. They lingered at the water cooler behind the truck, sat on overturned red buckets for smoke breaks and stopped working to take cell phone calls. They also griped that the Latinos received more tickets per bucket than they did, an accusation that appeared unfounded…."
One of these days the politicians are going to wake up to the fact that the anti-immigration movement is not mainstream. It is promoted primarily by FOX, and by some extremely unsavory creatures who do not like Hispanics. It is promoted by the rabid environmental movement who pretends to be anti-immigration.
They have played the Republican politician for fools.
Republicans have allowed it.

subset: commoncrawl


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Rob Ford didn't get elected mayor of Toronto because he has good hair, like the former mayor, David Miller, or because he's slim and has a good pedigree, like Justin Trudeau. He got elected by promising to go after the city unions and their spend-happy councillor enablers. Ford wasted little time talking about his main opponent, George Smithermen. He just kept pounding home the message that he would stop the gravy train and ensure, "Respect for Taxpayers." For anyone in Toronto, that was code for, "I'll get those greedy, arrogant garbage workers who forced you to endure a five week strike in the middle of a hot summer last year."
The memory of that strike was very fresh four years ago. One story that did untold damage to the union reputation was of a senior citizen forced by union members to walk a 1/2 kilometer in the hot sun, carrying her one allowed bag of garbage, so that she could drop in on the stinking temporary pile. Of course she had to walk back to her car too. This is just one example of how the union enraged the voters. Worse, Mayor David Miller spent most of the strike haranguing citizens and promising that they would be severely punished if they illegally dumped. Everyone knew he was in the union's pocket, especially after he caved in to their demands. I suspect he took one look at the polls after that debacle and decided to quit rather than face humiliating defeat.
In Ontario, people still remember last year's teachers' work to rule, and believe me, we parents are still peeved. I recall showing up at 6:30 at my son's middle school for a parent-teacher night. Many parents had rushed home from work, wolfed down a quick dinner, and hurried over to find out how their children were doing at school, only to discover that the teachers had all left in protest without notice three hours earlier. Most of us are on the school's e-mail list, so sending out a warning that the teachers would not be there would've been simple, but the teachers kept their protest a secret until the last minute because they wanted parents to be inconvenienced. They wanted to hurt us under the mistaken assumption that we'd all blame McGuinty and call our MPPs. It never occurred to them that we would blame the people who beat rush hour every day by leaving for home as early as 3:30 pm, even when there isn't a work-to-rule.
The greatest damage to the tories is being done by the Working Families, so it's time to attack them. It's very simple. Make the following statements over ominous music:
The unions, including the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation, fund the advertising of the Working Families.
In the last election, Working Families spent big money on ads attacking Tim Hudak and the Progressive Conservatives.
The Teachers' unions also supported Kathleen Wynn's bid to become the leader of the Ontario Liberal Party.
Now they're again attacking Tim Hudak and the Progressive Conservatives.
What are they afraid of?
It's time for a government that represents all the people of Ontario, not just union members. Paid for by the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario.
This ad will make all the advertising of the Working Families toxic. Each attack ad aimed at the tories will suddenly sound self-serving. Remember, most voters don't know who funds the Working Families, which is why their advertising is so effective. Educate voters and you will irreparably damage the brand of the Working Familes, and all their future advertising will only hurt their cause.
Obviously, numbers would be good. I'm pretty sure researchers can say exactly how much Working Families spent on attack ads in the last election, and I'm pretty sure it's a matter of public record about who contributed to Kathleen Wynn's bid for Liberal leadership and how much. It wouldn't hurt to mention that Wynn gave the teachers a huge settlement in exchange for labour peace as soon as she took control.
In order to pay for this advertising, simply cease all attack ads against Wynn. She looks like a grandmother, like everyone's grandmother, and attacking a grandmother makes you look weak.
Tim Hudak and the Progressive Conservatives need to remember that no union members are going to vote for them anyway. Attacking the unions is win-win.
Mike Downtown


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Music has always been an important part of my life. My parents got a piano for me and I started lessons in the third grade. I sang in choir in school, played clarinet through college, and dabbled in cello, oboe, bassoon and bass guitar. The love (and talent) has passed to my children, as they also play instruments in school and tinker on the piano that my parents generously passed down to us. So when I discovered that one of my 2nd great grand uncles worked in an organ and piano factory, I knew it was perfect for this week's theme of "close to home".
Oscar Lindström was born in Skåra, Sweden in 1837 and immigrated to the United States in 1866. He settled in Mendota, La Salle County, Illinois and married another Swedish immigrant, Anna Norström in 1870. Perhaps woodworking was in the family blood as my 2nd great grandfather, Oscar's eldest brother, trained in cabinet making before immigrating to the United States. In the 1870 census, Oscar was listed as a varnisher and in 1880, was listed as working in an organ factory. Turns out, there was a burgeoning business in town known as the Western Cottage Organ Company.
The Western Cottage Piano & Organ Company was originally established as Tewksbury, Carpenter and Company in Mendota, Illinois in 1866. The firm first built a full line of reed organs and melodeons, but started adding pianos to their product line as the turn-of-the-century came close. Both pianos and organs were sold under the 'Western Cottage Piano & Organ' brand name. The company relocated to the larger town of Ottawa in 1887. Shortly before 1900, the firm introduced the 'Merrifield' line of pianos, a good quality, medium priced piano that was modestly successful. Instruments by the firm were known to be well made and the firm enjoyed a very good reputation for building higher caliber instruments.
Oscar must have kept his position with the factory through the company's move, as the 1900 census finds him and his family living in Ottawa, La Salle County, Illinois. His occupation is listed as piano polisher – even more impressive when you look at the craftmanship and intricate beauty of these instruments.
The Lindströms moved to La Porte, Indiana as Oscar is listed in the 1907 City Directory as a piano finisher. La Porte was home to the Hobart M. Cable Piano Company, established in 1900. In the 1910 census, he was still listed as a piano finisher, even at the age of 73!
As far as I can tell, Oscar and Anna lived out their lives in La Porte, Indiana. None of their children carried on in the woodworking profession, but perhaps a love for music and the beauty of instruments was passed down to their families as it has been in mine. I think I'll go play the piano now.
"Western Cottage Piano & Organ Company | The Antique Piano Shop." Dedicated to the Restoration of Antique Instruments | The Antique Piano Shop. Web.


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Damming Audit Report for Wiltshire Council
KPMG, the government appointed auditors of Wiltshire Council, have issued a damning interim report for 2009/10. In it they clearly state that overall the Council has not been fully effective. They particularly highlight significant weaknesses in the Information Technology (IT) control environment plus concern about PFI schemes.
The report raises fifty recommendations that Wiltshire Council must act upon and of these eighteen are considered high priority. KPMG further state that all these weaknesses have had a major impact on their audit strategy and because of this they will need to do a significant amount of extra audit work which will end up costing Wiltshire Council a substantial extra audit fee.
Jeff Osborn, Lib Dem Shadow Finance Member, said that he found the report very disappointing. He was most concerned about the revealed weaknesses in the organisation and that these must now be rectified for it to fully function in the interest of local tax payers. He added that it was even more disturbing that KPMG will be charging Wiltshire Council an extra audit fee. The current audit fee is £399,750. The extra fee will doubtless be in terms of tens of thousands of pounds. Again this is something the local tax payer will have to cover.
Leader of the Lib Dem group Jon Hubbard added, "This is a damming report about a failing administration. Time after time Liberal Democrats have been assured by the ruling Conservative group that everything is rosey and working well. Now, with this independant report by KPMG we find out the truth. For much of the year they couldn't even reconcile the bank statements!
"It's time that the Conservatives were honest with the people of Wiltshire and came clean about the financial mess they have got this council into.
"It's time for the cabinet member responsible to accept that they can't do the job and to step aside for someone who can."


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Hey plastic addicts. The first ever Hascon was last weekend and man did we get a load of new figures announced. Most of what was revealed are bit and pieces of various waves like Spider-man's Lizard wave and the Deadpool wave, most of which were confirmation of rumour listings.
It should also be noted that Hasbro had to hold back a bit as they still have a bit more to reveal in the NYCC next month so alot of these waves are not fully revealed.
Starting with the Deadpool / Sasquatch wave, we have Paladin, mercenary. He is most famous for being a member of Heroes for Hire. He will join Deadpool, Cable, Domino, X-23 and Deathlok Prime (Earth-10511) with Sasquatch. There is also one more figure to be revealed most likely at NYCC. It is rumour to be X-force Deadpool but that was released as a Exclusive. Release date is Late 2017 / Early 2018.
Next the Spider-man / Lizard wave, joining Spider-Punk, Gwenpool, Lasher and fan favourite Mysterio (BAF is Lizard) is the all-new, all-different Spider-woman. This is Jessica Drew second figure since Hasbro relaunched the line and her second out of 3 costume we need. She wore this a bit after the Spider-verse and when she was pregent. there is at least 1 figure left to be revealed, but the rumour has it as Spider-man Noir and Demogoblin. Release date is the same as the Deadpool wave.
Next is the Black Panther wave. Shown on the first night was a beard and shaved Namor and a "new" calm head for Black Bolt. Joining them is a new Comic book All-New, All-different Model Prime Iron Man. This is the first comic book Iron Man since the Groot BAF waaay but in 2014. That is nearly 4 years of Iron Men that were Movie figure and yet no comic book version. However this one is a much needed version as it is his more modern version. It is also the last figure we need to complete the ANAD Avengers (Shock! Hasbro has completed a team). They couldn't reveal the movie figure or the BAF but it might be the NYCC or just before the movie release. He also comes with a unmasked head.
Next is the Avengers wave which we know of only Songbird. Hasbro is holding back on fully revealing this wave (the movies not out it next summer after all) but joining her is King Cobra of the Serpent Society. Hasbro has hinted that this is not the last of this team which we have 5 now. Rumour has it that the wave will consist of Movie Cap, Iron Man, Vision and Spider-man and comic Taskmaster with Thanos as the BAF.
The Final wave revealed is the Apocalypse wave. During the first day, Hasbro did something special by showing how a prototype of a figure is made and painted. It just so happens that the the figure they were doing was Wolverine. Tiger Stripe Wolverine that is. The most expected figure looks great. During the panel he was joined by Storm, in her 80's punk outfit. This is the famous costume that she wore when she lost her powers and even beat Cyclops in combat to be the leader of the X-men. Lastly we got a new Psylocke in her most famous Jim Lee ninja outfit. She comes with a psychic knife and sword as well as a Psychic butterfly effect which was not shown but mention by the team. Also shown was a paint image of Apocalypse but he was on display. Maybe NYCC. There is not rumour on who else is in the wave so get guessing folks.
Exclusives now and Walmart is getting a rerelease of BAF Thanos with the Infinity Gauntlet. Waste of a figure in my opinion since he never wore it for this costume and is only done cause whiner complained he din't have it the first time. Read the fecking comics weebs.
It seems that for every movie Hasbro will have a exclusive 2 pack for TRU and Black Panther is now different. Unlike the Thor one, this one is fully comic book with 1 remake of Klaw and a new character of Shuri, both of which I predicted in my Ideal wave.
That basically it for the reveals. Wolverine and Iron man will be updated soon but right after that I will be doing something Special. You see NCS has gotten it's first ever fan request!!! Facebook follower, Shawn Ayala, request that I do War Machine. And you know something, yes I will. Thankfully I have done the research for this long ago (back with this was just a section in Marvelousnews.com's Forums.) so it won't take long to do. If any one else has a request don't hesitate to ask. Please. I'm bored with just the new reveals.


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By: Aditya Kashyap
In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Krannert Center, our class was privileged enough to attend a special performance of Wilson Poffenberger, a classical saxophone professional at the University of Illinois. Poffenberger was accompanied only by pianist Casey Gene Dierlam, and I was greatly appreciative of their musical chemistry and talent. The pieces chosen were all classical, many of which were written by famous composers and arranged for saxophone by Poffenberger himself. I greatly enjoyed all of the pieces and loved the intimate atmosphere of the performance.


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Iaito(居合刀)-Practice Swords
A modern metal practice sword, without cutting edge and are designed for iai/battō practice and are usually unsuited for sword-to-sword contact. These should not be confused with other fake swords, which are primarily made for decorative reasons andare not designed for impacting any type of targets. we make iaito blade utilizing 1050 steel, aluminium alloy and stainless steel for your iaido training needs. all of our iaito unsharp and with bohi to produce the proper sounding hasuji.
Quality Musashi iaito
Iaito - aluminium katana
|Aluminium alloy iaito
Practical iaito
|1050 steel iaito
|Musashi iaito
Quality Musashi iaito-TZ20151201
Musashi katana was forged use 1050 carbon steel, blunt edge suitable for iaido and Battōjutsu practice.
It is great sword for iaido practice. sinosword forged this iaito as iaijutsu pratice and Battōjutsu practice. the blade about 950g without saya, balance point about 10cm from tsuba. it will make easy when you drawing sword.
The Blade with bohi to produce the proper sounding hasuji.
Fittings material is brass, solid and durable.
Tuskamaki with hishigami, very tight. provide good protection when you drawing the sword.
Iaito - aluminium katana-TZ20130718
This sword blade created by aluminium, it is very light suitable for female iaidoka. you can easy to practicing Japenese sword drawing arts, or iaido. blunt blades ensure your safety when you use it.
The most important that you only to spend $55 on your first sword.
quality? full tang construction, real rayskin(samekawa) for tsuka, cotton ito...anyway, this is an excellent entry-level sword
If your girlfriend, or your wife is a iaido practicer , this iaito will be very suitable gift for her. we also accept custom make this sword for you
Aluminium alloy Iaito-TZ20110518
This iaito utilizing light almuminium alloy blade, suitable for beginer of iaido practicer. the most important is that you can drawing it easy, and produce very nice taichikaze(sword wind, you can hear the voice when you sword). Tsuka has rayskin inlays and dark brown ito wrapped. All fittings is made of solid brass. The saya has a kuroro high gloss black lacquer finish. this is classic iaito we recommended for those who plan to train battodo and iaido.
Customize order available.
Practical Iaito(居合刀)-TZ20160621
This Practical Iaito has an unsharp training blade forged from stainless steel. The blade provide the correct weight and balance needed for the rigors of repetitive drawing and sword motion practice, deeply groove (bo-hi) to provide audible feedback when swung properly. the quality brass fittings mounted. artificial silk ito wrapped on tsuka with hishigami, and genuine rayskin inlay. the saya finished with quality black lacquered, kurigata, koiguchi and kojiri are made out of horn.
1050 steel Iaito-TZ20130619
This katana not designed for sword-on-sword contact or actual test cutting. the blade forged using 1050 carbon steel with suguha(straight) wire brushed hamon. the deep bohi on both side of the blade, which allows for a lighter blade and audible feedback when swung.the koshirae(fittings) use iron and brass, durable for real use. quality artificial silk ito on tsuka, and tsukamaki with hishigami to make it pretty tight and good feel when you hold it. the saya finished with black glossy lacquer.
Musashi Iaito-TZ20130707
Our this musashi iaito made of 1050 carbon steel combination of reasonable price and functionality. it is much more durable than aluminum alloy Iaito, and very affordable practice swords are the ideal training tools for safely practicing the ancient art of Iaido. the blade has an un-edged and bohi on both side to provide the correct weight and balance needed for the rigors of repetitive drawing and sword motion practice. double ring musashi tsuba are made of iron, durable for day and night use.


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|This policy defines the governance model for campus data
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Spa Days
Relax, unwind and escape with our selection of spa days. There's a perfect spa experience for everyone.
436 spas found
Hoar Cross Hall
Twilight Spa
Includes access to exercise and relaxation classes, Antipasti platter, glass of Prosecco and full use of the spa facilities from 6pm - 9:30pm.
Valid for Tuesday and Wednesday evenings only
Celtic Manor
Tea Time, Me Time
- Afternoon Tea in The Olive Tree Garden Room
- Robe, towel and slippers provided
- Full use of the facilities
Hilton London Syon Park
Rejuvenate Spa Day
Includes a 25 minute Back and Shoulder Massage, a 25 minute Express Revitalise Facial, light lunch, robe, towel and slippers provided and 4 hours use of the spa facilities.
Blue Harbour Health Club and Spa at The Chelsea Harbour Hotel
Ladies Spa Day
- A choice of 1 x 30 minute treatment from:
- Back, Neck and Shoulder Massage
- Express Facial
- Scalp, Hands and Foot Massage
- Foot Massage
- Travel Through Time Afternoon Tea
- Robe, towel and slippers provided
- Full use of the spa facilities
Rockliffe Hall
Couples Getaway Spa Day
- Rasul Mud Ritual for 2
- 45 minute Warm Oil Massage
- 2 course lunch in the Brasserie
- Welcome drink
- 2 hour spa garden room experience
- Robe, towel and slippers provided
- Full use of the spa facilities
Rudding Park
Time for Two Elysium Retreat
On this luxurious day spa retreat, choose from either a Couples Connect treatment (Champagne and chocolates in a shared copper bath in the VIP treatment room, followed with a Garden of England Massage, using a trio of Rose, Camelina and Poppy seed oils) or Duo Masterclass (Champagne and chocolates in a shared copper bath in the VIP treatment room, followed by a soothing side by side back massage where expert therapists will teach you techniques for continuing the deeply therapeutic benefits of massage at home), both an hour and 45 minutes. Then make the most of Rudding Park's exclusive Escape Zone, a serene space to enhance wellness of mind, body and soul. Enjoy a refreshing herbal tea, seek skincare advice from the spa team, or simply immerse yourself 'In the Zones'. Your Time for Two Retreat continues with a Rasul Ritual, a traditional mud treatment where you apply smooth warm mud, selected specially for its mineral rich properties, to each other's face and body, and then relax in the steam room. You will also experience a private Art of Aufguss session, which involves a Master of Aufguss using essential oils to create a stimulating environment within a sauna, circulating the aromatic air using a towel. The retreat also includes the option to spend time at the Roof Top Spa with its extensive range of thermal and hydrotherapy experiences. The experience is complete with a three course lunch with Champagne at Horto Cafe, as well as unlimited non-alcoholic drinks and snacks throughout the day.
The Belfry
Body Glow Spa Day
- Includes 80 minute treatment time inclusive of Body Exfoliation and Full Body Massage
- Afternoon tea in Rocca's
- Robes and towels provided
- Full use of spa facilities.
Add a 90 minute Fire and Ice Experience for £25 extra
Macdonald Craxton Wood Hotel
Rasul Spa Experience for Two
- 55 minute Rasul Mud treatment
- Cream Tea
- Glass of Prosecco
- Robe, towel and slippers provided
- Full use of the facilities
Macdonald Old England Hotel & Spa
The Midweek Essential Spa Day
Includes a choice of 1 x 25 minute treatment from: Superfood Pro Radiance Facial, Pro Collagen Age Defy Facial or Freestyle Deep Tissue Massage, robe, towel and slippers provided and full use of the facilities.
£5 voucher towards a minimum spend of £50 in spa store and 20% off any additional pre-booked treatments
1 in every 8 guests goes FREE
QHotels – Oulton Hall Hotel & Spa
Twilight Spa
Includes 60 minute treatment, glass of Prosecco, robes and slippers provided and full use of the spa facilities from 4pm - 7pm.
- 60 minute treatment choices: ESPA Full Body Exfoliation and Back Massage, ESPA Express Facial with Scalp and Foot Massage, Aromatherapy Back Massage with Face and Scalp Massage, Fit For Business Back Massage with Legs and Feet Massage, Geleration Manicure or Pedicure.
QHotels – Slaley Hall
Discovery Experience
- Light lunch
- Robe, towel and slippers provided
- Full use of the facilities


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Heirat im antiken Griechenland und einige Bemerkungen über Frauen
The fact is – and it is well to state it plainly – that the Greek world perished from one main cause, a low ideal of womanhood and a degradation of women which found expression both in literature and in social life. The position of women and the position of slaves – for the two classes went together – were the canker-spots which, left unhealed, brought about the decay first of Athens and then of Greece F.A. Wright, Feminism in Greek Literature", 1923
Greek Pair, Yale University Art Galery
William Stearns Davis
The Women of Athens
How Athenian Marriages are Arranged.--Over this typical Athenian home reigns the wife of the master. Public opinion frowns upon celibacy, and there are relatively few unmarried men in Athens. An Athenian girl is brought up with the distinct expectation of matrimony.[*] Opportunities for a romance almost never will come her way; but it is the business of her parents to find her a suitable husband. If they are kindly people of good breeding, their choice is not likely to be a very bad one. If they have difficulties, they can engage a professional "matchmaker," a shrewd old woman who, for a fee, will hunt out an eligible young man. Marriage is contracted primarily that there may be legitimate children to keep up the state and to perpetuate the family. That the girl should have any will of her own in the matter is almost never thought of. Very probably she has never seen "Him," save when they both were marching in a public religious procession, or at some rare family gathering (a marriage or a funeral) when there were outside guests. Besides she will be "given away" when only about fifteen, and probably has formed no intelligent opinion or even prejudices on the subject.
[*]The vile custom of exposing unwelcome female babies probably created a certain preponderance of males in Attica, and made it relatively easy to marry off a desirable young girl.
If a young man (who will marry at about thirty) is independent in life, the negotiations will be with him directly. If he is still dependent on the paternal allowance, the two sets of parents will usually arrange matters themselves, and demand only the formal consent of the prospective bridegroom. He will probably accept promptly this bride whom his father has selected; if not, he risks a stormy encounter with his parents, and will finally capitulate. He has perhaps never seen "Her," and can only hope things are for the best; and after all she is so young that his friends tell him that he can train her to be very useful and obedient if he will only take pains. The parents, or, failing them, the guardians, adjust the dowry--the lump sum which the bride will bring with her towards the new establishment.[*] Many maxims enjoin "marry only your equal in fortune." The poor man who weds an heiress will not be really his own master; the dread of losing the big dowry will keep him in perpetual bondage to her whims.
[*]The dowry was a great protection to the bride. If her husband divorced her (as by law he might), the dowry must be repaid to her guardians with 18 per cent. Interest.
Lack of Sentiment in Marriages.--Sometimes marriages are arranged in which any sentiment is obviously prohibited. A father can betroth his daughter by will to some kinsman, who is to take her over as his bride when he takes over the property. A husband can bequeath his wife to some friend who is likely to treat her and the orphan children with kindness. Such affairs occur every day. Do the Athenian women revolt at these seemingly degrading conditions, wherein they are handed around like slaves, or even cattle?--According to the tragic poets they do. Sophocles (in the "Tereus") makes them lament,
"We women are nothing;--happy indeed is our childhood, for THEN we are thoughtless; but when we attain maidenhood, lo! we are driven away from our homes, sold as merchandise, and compelled to marry and say 'All's well.'"
Euripides is even more bitter in his "Medea":--
Surely of creatures that have life and wit, We women are of all things wretchedest, Who first must needs, as buys the highest bidder, Thus buy a husband, and our body's master.[*/
[*]Way's translation.
Athenian Marriage Rites.--However, thus runs public custom. At about fifteen the girl must leave her mother's fostering care and enter the house of the stranger. The wedding is, of course, a great ceremony; and here, if nowhere else, Athenian women can surely prepare, flutter, and ordain to their heart's content. After the somewhat stiff and formal betrothal before witnesses (necessary to give legal effect to the marriage), the actual wedding will probably take place,--perhaps in a few days, perhaps with a longer wait till the favorite marriage month Gamelion [January].[*] Then on a lucky night of the full moon the bride, having, no doubt tearfully, dedicated to Artemis her childish toys, will be decked in her finest and will come down, all veiled, into her father's torchlit aula, swarming now with guests. Here will be at last that strange master of her fate, the bridegroom and his best man (paranymphos). Her father will offer sacrifice (probably a lamb), and after the sacrifice everybody will feast on the flesh of the victim; and also share a large flat cake of pounded sesame seeds roasted and mixed with honey. As the evening advances the wedding car will be outside the door. The mother hands the bride over to the groom, who leads her to the chariot, and he and the groomsman sit down, one on either side, while with torches and song the friends to with the car in jovial procession to the house of the young husband.
[*]This winter month was sacred to Hera, the marriage guardian.
"Ho, Hymen! Ho, Hymen! Hymeneous! Io!"
So rings the refrain of the marriage song; and all the doorways and street corners are crowded with onlookers to shout fair wishes and good-natured raillery.
At the groom's house there is a volley of confetti to greet the happy pair. The bride stops before the threshold to eat a quince.[*] There is another feast,--possibly riotous fun and hard drinking. At last the bride is led, still veiled, to the perfumed and flower-hung marriage chamber. The doors close behind the married pair. Their friends sing a merry rollicking catch outside, the Epithalamium. The great day has ended. The Athenian girl has experienced the chief transition of her life.
[*]The symbol of fertility.
The Mental Horizon of Athenian Women.--Despite the suggestions in the poets, probably the normal Athenian woman is neither degraded nor miserable. If she is a girl of good ancestry and the usual bringing up, she has never expected any other conditions than these. She knows that her parents care for her and have tried to secure for her a husband who will be her guardian and solace when they are gone. Xenophon's ideal young husband, Ischomachus, says he married his wife at the age of fifteen.[*] She had been "trained to see and to hear as little as possible"; but her mother had taught her to have a sound control of her appetite and of all kinds of self-indulgence, to take wool and to make a dress of it, and to manage the slave maids in their spinning tasks. She was at first desperately afraid of her husband, and it was some time before he had "tamed" her sufficiently to discuss their household problems freely. Then Ischomachus made her join with him in a prayer to the gods that "he might teach and she might learn all that could conduce to their joint happiness"; after which they took admirable counsel together, and her tactful and experienced husband (probably more than twice her age) trained her into a model housewife.
[*]See Xenophon's "The Economist," VII ff. The more pertinent passages are quoted in W. S. Davis's "Readings in Ancient History," Vol. I, pp. 265-271.
31. The Honor paid Womanhood in Athens.--Obviously from a young woman with a limited intellectual horizon the Athenian gentleman can expect no mental companionship; but it is impossible that he can live in the world as a keenly intelligent being, and not come to realize the enormous value of the "woman spirit" as it affects all things good. Hera, Artemis, Aphrodite, above all Pallas-Athena,--city-warder of Athens,--who are they all but idealizations of that peculiar genius which wife, mother, and daughter show forth every day in their homes? An Athenian never allows his wife to visit the Agora. She cannot indeed go outside the house without his express permission, and only then attended by one or two serving maids; public opinion will likewise frown upon the man who allowed his wife to appear in public too freely[*]; nevertheless there are compensations. Within her home the Athenian woman is within her kingdom. Her husband will respect her, because he will respect himself. Brutal and harsh he may possibly be, but that is because he is also brutal and harsh in his outside dealings. In extreme cases an outraged wife can sue for divorce before the archon. And very probably in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred the Athenian woman is contented with her lot: partly because she knows of nothing better; partly because she has nothing concrete whereof to complain.
[*]Hypereides, the orator, says, "The woman who goes out of her own home ought to be of such an age that when men meet her, the question is not 'Who is her husband?' but 'Whose mother is she?'" Pericles, in the great funeral oration put in his mouth by Thucydides, says that the best women are those who are talked of for good or ill the very least.
Doubtless it is because an Athenian house is a "little oasis of domesticity," tenderly guarded from all insult,--a miniature world whose joys and sorrows are not to be shared by the outer universe,--that the Athenian treats the private affairs of his family as something seldom to be shared, even with an intimate friend. Of individual women we hear and see little in Athens, but of NOBLE WOMANHOOD a great deal. By a hundred tokens, delightful vase paintings, noble monuments, poetic myths, tribute is paid to the self-mastery, the self-forgetfulness, the courage, the gentleness "of the wives and mothers who have made Athens the beacon of Hellas"; and there is one witness better than all the rest. Along the "Street of Tombs," by the gate of the city, runs the long row of stele (funeral monuments), inimitable and chaste memorials to the beloved dead; and here we meet, many times over, the portrayal of a sorrow too deep for common lament, the sorrow for the lovely and gracious figures who have passed into the great Mystery. Along the Street of the Tombs the wives and mothers of Athens are honored not less than the wealthy, the warriors, or the statesmen.
The Sphere of Action of Athenian Women.--Assuredly the Athenian house mother cannot match her husband in discussing philosophy or foreign politics, but she has her own home problems and confronts them well. A dozen or twenty servants must be kept busy. From her, all the young children must get their first education, and the girls probably everything they are taught until they are married. Even if she does not meet many men, she will strive valiantly to keep the good opinion of her husband. If she has shapely feet and hands (whereupon great stress is laid in Hellas), she will do her utmost to display them to the greatest advantage[*]; and she has, naturally, plenty of other vanities (see section 38). Her husband has turned over to her the entire management of the household. This means that if he is an easy-going man, she soon understands his home business far better than he does himself, and really has him quite at her mercy. Between caring for her husband's wants, nursing the sick slaves, acting as arbitress in their inevitable disputes, keeping a constant watch upon the storeroom, and finally in attending to the manufacture of nearly all the family clothing, she is not likely to rust in busy idleness, or sit complaining of her lot. At the many great public festivals she is always at least an onlooker and often she marches proudly in the magnificent processions. She is allowed to attend the tragedies in the theater.[+] Probably, too, the family will own a country farm, and spend a part of the year thereon. Here she will be allowed a delightful freedom of movement, impossible in the closely built city. All in all, then, she will complain of too much enforced activity rather than of too much idleness.
[*]The custom of wearing sandals instead of shoes of course aided the developing of beautiful feet.
[+]Not the comedies--they were too broad for refined women. But the fact that Athenian ladies seem to have been allowed to attend the tragedies is a tribute to their intellectual capacities. Only an acute and intelligent mind can follow Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides.
Nevertheless our judgment upon the Athenian women is mainly one of regret. Even if not discontented with their lot, they are not realizing the full possibilities which Providence has placed within the reach of womanhood, much less the womanhood of the mothers of the warriors, poets, orators, and other immortals of Athens. One great side of civilization which the city of Athens might develop and realize is left unrealized. THIS CIVILIZATION OF ATHENS IS TOO MASCULINE; it is therefore one sided, and in so far it does not realize that ideal "Harmony" which is the average Athenian's boast.
In their marriages, the husband carried off his bride by a sort of force; nor were their brides ever small and of tender years, but in their full bloom and ripeness. After this, she who superintended the wedding comes and clips the hair of the bride close round her head, dresses her up in man's clothes, and leaves her upon a mattress in the dark; afterwards comes the bridegroom, in his every-day clothes, sober and composed, as having supped at the common table, and, entering privately into the room where the bride lies, unties her virgin zone, and takes her to himself; and, after staying some time together, he returns composedly to his own apartment, to sleep as usual with the other young men. And so he continues to do, spending his days, and, indeed, his nights with them, visiting his bride in fear and shame, and with circumspection, when he thought he should not be observed; she, also, on her part, using her wit to help and find favorable opportunities for their meeting, when company was out of the way. In this manner they lived a long time, insomuch that they sometimes had children by their wives before ever they saw their faces by daylight. Plutarch Lycurgus
How to avoid getting married?
It is known that Thales was asked by his mother Kleobulina to get married. He was more interested of course in science and his reply was: O Mother I am too young to marry. This he repeated for many years until some day, when his mother again asked him to marry he replied:
Mother now it is too late! When he was asked why he has no children his reply was: "Because I love children!" (Diogenes Laertios)
By the way this reminds me a story of Einstein
When Einstein's wife told him to dress properly when going to the office he argued: "Why should I? Everyone knows me there."
When he was told to dress properly for his first big conference he said: "Why should I? No one knows me there."
[quoted in Ehlers, Liebes Hertz!]
We take a hetaera for our pleasure, a concubine for daily attention to our physical wants, a wife to give us legitimate children and a respected house. Demosthenes, On Wives & Hetaerae, c. 350 BC
A pessimistic view
Theophrast (in Hieronymus Adversum Iovianianum) discusses if it is wise to get married. First he says that if the woman in rich, healthy and beautiful one could consider to marry. But in reality this almost never happens.
A wife could be a problem to carry the philosophical studies. A wife would always comply that in comparison to other women she is very poor or why her husband looked one of the slave girls.
To feed a poor woman is hard and to endure a rich woman is a torture.
Why do we need children in order for our names to survive? If you become old probably your children want you to died soon to get your money who it is better to spent when you are alive.
His final remarks are that the wise men is never alone because he is surrounded by all good friends who are alive or are now dead. His free spirit he can move to any place he wants. What he cannot reach with his body he can touch with his mind. And if other persons are not if he needs them then he can speak with the Gods.
Many women have been renowned for their beauty (indeed, as Euripides says, "an aged bard can still celebrate Memory"). Among them was Thargelia of Miletus, who had been married fourteen times, and who was very beautiful in looks as well as clever, according to the Sophist Hippias in his work entitled A Collection. , Athenaeus of Naucratis The Deipnosophists Book XIII Concerning Women
Classification of women according to Semonides
Simonides of Amorgos has classified women into different categories from which we have to conclude that with maybe one exception of type of women marriage probably is not a good idea:
In the beginning, the god made the mind of woman in different ways. He made one from the bristling sow, for whom everything in the house lies disordered, scattered on the ground amid the filth. And she, unwashed in unwashed clothes, grows fat sitting in the shit.
Another, the god made from the crafty vixen, a woman clever at everything. Nothing good nor ill escapes her notice; for she often speaks evil of the good and good of the evil. Sometimes she is angry in one way, sometimes another.
Another, the god made from a bitch - a malicious gossip in the image of her mother. She wants to hear everything, know everything, and snooping in every corner she howls even if there is nothing to see. Nor could her husband stop her with threats, not even if in a fit of anger he should knock out her teeth, with a stone, nor by cajoling her with honeyed words, and not even if she happened to be sitting in company. Rather she holds fast to her uncontrolled yelpings.
Another, the Olympian gods shaped out of earth and gave her feeble-minded to man. This sort of woman knows neither good nor bad. The only thing she can do is eat. Not even if the god sends a dreadful storm does she, shivering, draw her chair closer to the fire.
Then they made another out of the sea, one who is changeable in mood. One day she laughs and is happy; a stranger will praise her, seeing her at home: "There is no other woman better than this one, nor fairer, amongst all mankind." But another day, she will not tolerate being looked at or approached, but rants and raves terribly, like a dog with her pups, implacable and disagreeable equally to enemies and friends. Just as the sea often stands motionless, doing no harm, a great delight to sailors in the summer season , but often seethes, churned up by the heavy-pounding waves. This sort of woman is especially like the sea in anger. And the sea has different moods at different times.
Another they made from the dusty and obstinate donkey, who under pressure and reproaches just manages to keep going, and toils at what is acceptable. And then she eats in her corner all night, and by the hearth all day. And in the same way, for the task of love, she takes a companion from whoever comes along.
And another they made from the weasel, a sort who is repulsive and miserable. There is nothing beautiful or desirable about her, nothing enjoyable or attractive. She is wild about love-making , but sickens her husband whenever he comes near. By stealing she does her neighbours great harm and often she gobbles up the unburnt sacrifices.
Another the gentle mare with flowing mane bore, one who manages to avoid the work of slaves and drudgery. Nor would she touch the mill, nor lift a sieve, nor sweep away the filth from the house, nor sit by the fire - to avoid the soot. She makes her husband aware of hard times. She washes every day in the stream, twice, sometimes thrice, and anoints herself with perfumes. She always wears her hair well-combed and shadowed over with flowers. Such a woman is a fair thing for others to look at, but is an evil to the man who owns her, unless he be a tyrant or scepter-bearing king, who delights his heart with such things.
Then there is the one who is made from a monkey. This one Zeus gave as by far the greatest evil to men. She is the most ugly to look at. Such a woman will go through the town, a laughing-stock for all mankind: short in neck, she scarcely moves (her head); she is flat-assed and skinny-legged; the poor man, who embraces such a horror. She knows all the tricks and games, just like a monkey; nor does she care about the laughter of others. She would do no-one any good; she thinks about and plots over one thing all day long, how to do someone the greatest harm.
Then there is the one who is made from the bee. The man who gets her is fortunate. For in her alone there lies no blame, and life blooms and flourishes under her. Loving to her husband she grows old with his love, bearing a fair and famed tribe of children. She is pre-eminent among women, and a heavenly grace encircles her. Nor does she take delight sitting among the women when they gossip about sex. Zeus graced men with such women, the best and the most prudent.
But all the other types exist and remain with man through the machinations of Zeus. For Zeus made women the greatest evil for men. If they seem to help, then especially does some evil result. For he does not go through a whole day with peace of mind, who spends it with his wife. ... from the time when Hades first received those who went to war over a woman.
Two happy days a woman brings a man: the first, when he marries her; the second, when he bears her to the grave. Hipponax, On Women, c. 580 BC
Antisthenes: If that is your conclusion, Socrates, why do you not tutor your own wife, Xanthippe, instead of letting her remain, of all the wives that are, indeed that ever will be, I imagine, the most shrewish?
Socrates: Well now, I will tell you (he answered). I follow the example of the rider who wishes to become an expert horseman: "None of your soft-mouthed, docile animals for me," he says; "the horse for me to own must show some spirit": in the belief, no doubt, if he can manage such an animal, it will be easy enough to deal with every other horse besides. And that is just my case. I wish to deal with human beings, to associate with man in general; hence my choice of wife. I know full well, if I can tolerate her spirit, I can with ease attach myself to every human being else.
Xenophon's Symposium
Some say that it was not Hipponicus, but his son Callias, who gave Hipparete to Alcibiades, together with a portion of ten talents, and that after, when she had a child, Alcibiades forced him to give ten talents more, upon pretence that such was the agreement if she brought him any children. Afterwards, Callias, for fear of coming to his death by his means, declared, in a full assembly of the people, that, if he should happen to die without children, the state should inherit his house and all his goods. Hipparete was a virtuous and dutiful wife, but, at last, growing impatient of the outrages done to her by her husband's continual entertaining of courtesans, as well strangers as Athenians, she departed from him and retired to her brother's house. Alcibiades seemed not at all concerned at this, and lived on still in the same luxury; but the law requiring that she should deliver to the archon in person, and not by proxy, the instrument by which she claimed a divorce, when, in obedience to the law, she presented herself before him to perform this, Alcibiades came in, caught her up, and carried her home through the market-place, no one daring to oppose him nor to take her from him. She continued with him till her death, which happened not long after, when Alcibiades had gone to Ephesus. Nor is this violence to be thought so very enormous or unmanly. For the law, in making her who desires to be divorced appear in public, seems to design to give her husband an opportunity of treating with her, and endeavouring to retain her. Plutarch Alcibiades
In Argos, by the side of this monument of the Gorgon, is the grave of Gorgophone (Gorgon-kilIer), the daughter of Perseus. As soon as you hear the name you can understand the reason why it was given her. On the death of her husband, Perieres, the son of Aeolus, whom she married when a virgin, she married Oebalus, being the first woman, they say, to marry a second time; for before this wives were wont, on the death of their husbands, to live as widows. Pausanias , Description of Hellas
The Greeks used the Amazons as the antithesis of what Greek
women should be, that is, they must be at home taking care of the family
from http://www.csen.org/WomenWarriors/ww.amaz.fr.html
Even so Zeus the Thunderer on High created women
as an evil for men and conspirers in troublesome works.
And in exchange for a good he gave a balancing evil.
Whoever flees from marriage and women's mischievous works,
being unwilling to wed, comes to baneful old age with
no one to care for his needs, and though he has plenty to live on
while he is living, collateral heirs divide his possessions
when he is dead. As for the man who is fated to marry,
if he obtains a virtuous wife, one endowed with good sense,
thoughout his life evil and good alternate endlessly.
But that man who obtains a wife who is thoroughly bad
lives having deep in his breast a pain which never subsides
fixed in his innermost heart, and this is an evil incurable.
Hesiod, Theogony
When a poor man marries and accepts property with the wife he gives himself rather than taking her.
Menander (Play unknown)
Hear, O ye people! Susarion says this, the son of Philinus, the Megarian, of Tripodiscus: women are an evil; and yet, my countrymen, one cannot set up house without evil; for to be married or not to be married is alike bad. Susarion comic poet from Megara probably 6th century BC
A rich wife is a burden. She doesn't allow her husband to live as he pleases. Nevertheless, there is one good to be gained from her: children.
Menander (Misogynes)
Never be too gentle with your wife, nor show her all that is in your mind...Women, I tell you, are no longer to be trusted.
Homer, Odyssey. Agamemnon describing to Odysseus how he had been murdered by Aegisthus and his own wife during a banquet.
My advice to you is getting married: if you find a good wife you'll be happy; if not, you'll become a philosopher.
Socrates (469-399 B.C.) Maybe this explains why Sokrates was such a good philoshopher from what we know about his wife.
Socrates married Xanthippe close to the age of 50, and he did that probably more because of wanting children than wanting a wife. Her name means blonde horse (xanthi for blond and ippos for horse)
I knew that the thunders of Xanthippe sooner or later would be followed by rain
Socrates response according to the history of Diogenes Laertios that Xanthippe once flew into a rage over an argument so badly that she poured out a full bucket of water over Socrates. He was 71 years old when he was sentenced to die. His three sons were still kids and Xanthippe, who visited him in jail, was still holding the youngest in her arms. She kept moaning until Socrates gruffly sent her home to better spent his last hours with some serious talking. His last request: "When my sons are grown up, I would ask you, my friends, to punish them, and I would have you trouble them, as I have troubled you, if they seem to care about riches, or anything, more than about virtue. . . . And if you do this, both I and my sons will have received justice at your hands".
Socrates: And is there any one with whom you are less in the habit of conversing than with your wife?
Critoboulos: Not many, I am forced to admit.
Socrates: And when you married her she was quite young, a mere girl--at an age when, as far as seeing and hearing go, she had the smallest acquaintance with the outer world?
Critoboulos. Certainly.
Socrates: Then would it not be more astonishing that she should have real knowledge how to speak and act than that she should go altogether astray?
Xenophon, Oeconomicus
Surely, of all creatures that have life and will, we women
Are the most wretched. When, for an extravagant sum,
We have bought a husband, we must then accept him as
Possessor of our body. This is to aggravate
Wrong with worse wrong. Then the great question: will the man
We get be bad or good? For women, divorce is not
Respectable; to repel the man, not possible.
Euripides, Medea
Oh Zeus! Why have you established in the sunlit world
This counterfeit coin, woman, to curse the human race?
If you desired to plant a mortal stock, why must
The means for this be women? A better plan would be
For men to come to your temples and put down a price
In bronze, or iron, or weight of gold, and buy their sons
In embryo, for a sum befitting each man's wealth.
Then they could live at home like free men - without women
Euripides, Hippolytus
What says the Bible?
Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression...he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. For the man is not of the woman: but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man
terracotta figurine of young man and reluctant woman on nuptial couch; Greek, Myrina (tomb 100 Atelier of Nicostratos); 150-100 BC Paris, Louvre
Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 1999
Wedding Vase from the Metropolitan Museum
Wedding Procession from the Metropolitan Museum
Til Death Do Us Part": Marriage and Funeral Rites in Classical Athens (student essay by Jana Shopkorn)
Ancient Greek Wedding and Marriage Traditions
A Quicktime movie about Women in Ancient Greece
The Cartoon History of the Universe, Volumes 1-7 Larry Gonick's View of Women in Ancient Athens
Is Christianity Oppressive to Women? (An interesting idea that the "misogynist" Church Fathers were influenced by Aristotle and others and their opinions about women, the question is why is still a difference between "official church" and the Bible?, why is there no woman pope if women and men are equal? )
http://www2.sfu.ca/nomoi/2004/07.htm Family and inheritance bibliography of laws in ancient Greece (marriage, divorce, etc)
Ancient Greece
Medieval Greece / Byzantine Empire
Modern Greece
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|Head Women's Basketball Coach
|(812) 866-7382
|Marian University (1991)
John Jones enters his 19th year on the sidelines for the Panthers and sixth as head coach. Coach Jones, popularly called "Jonesy" on campus, took over for former head coach Molly Jones (Hanover, 1986) at the beginning of the 2015-16 season. Molly Jones retired as the winningest female coach in school history with a career record of 405-296, including a 271-175 record in 17 seasons at Hanover.
Due to his tenure on the Panther bench, Jones has had a seamless transition. Building on the foundation that he and Molly established together and continuing the up-tempo style of offense should lead to success in the future.
Jonesy has surrounded himself with an excellent core of assistant coaches. Chris Hitchcock (Hanover, 1997) has previous collegiate head coaching experience and will serve as the recruiting coordinator, while Hannah Varel joins the program from Columbia High School (Ill.) where she served as an Assistant Coach.
A former player at Marian College (Ind.), Jones has collected more than 15 years of experience as a teacher, coach and administrator at the secondary and collegiate levels. Jones has a dual role at Hanover, also serving as associate athletic director.
Prior to joining the Hanover athletic department staff, he served three years as athletic director at Southwestern High School in Hanover. He graduated from Marian in 1991. Coach Molly Jones will continue to work with the team conducting individual workouts as well as serving as the academic advisor for the team.
The Joneses reside in Hanover and have three children; Kelsey (Hanover, 2015), Tyler and Coleman.
Follow us on twitter @HanoverWBBhoops.


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Supporting and enabling our Partners with opportunities in cloud-based telephony with 8x8, Zest4 can increase your revenue streams.
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Run account reviews for individual reporting groups and retrieve usage charges to highlight the main users of bundles or data.
View and raise tickets to our service team via the self-service menu and manage tasks to easily update your customers.
Designed by partners for partners, our portal has a wealth of information, tools and templates to make it easy for partners to do business with us.
Sometimes it's good to get out of the office and enjoy the occasional fun day out to celebrate your hard work. We took a lucky group of our partners to 'Palmer Sport' in Bedford, where we got a chance to drive some incredible cars.
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Introduce Yourself
If you want to find out more about becoming a Zest4 partner, just give us your details and we'll give you a call!
Any information we collect is used for our own internal purposes. We do not share personal identifying information with any third party without your permision. Our privacy policy explains how we protect your data.


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It strikes me that one of those projects just might be cleaning out some closets, especially if this time of year finds you buying new school supplies and clothes. There definitely is a connection between what (and how much we own) and our faith. Our faith also influences what we do with things when we decide we don't need them anymore. With all this in mind, when I came across this activity the other day, it seemed like it might be a great fit for a lot of us.
The Great Dresser Clean Out (from www.vibrantfaithathome.org)
1. Turn your Bible to Matthew 25:34-40 and read the passage aloud.
2. Discuss: Why do you think Jesus says that when we feed or clothe other people, it's like we are feeding or clothing him?
3. Ask each person to try on his or her clothes that you want to sort through (could do a particular season or type of clothes). Set aside anything that doesn't fit or will not be worn for some other reason.
4. As a family, gather all the clothes that will not be worn. Decide which, if any, need to be saved to hand down to other family members. Place these in storage.
5. Talk about who might be able to use the remaining clothes in the pile. Explain there are many people who are happy to receive gently used clothes. As a family, decide if the clothes you no longer need will be given to a specific family or to an organization that gives clothing to people in need (or to a thrift store that raises money for its charity).
6. Say the following blessing over the clothes you will donate:
Gracious God, we give you thanks for the many blessings you give us, including clothes to wear. Thank you for the many days we were able to wear these clothes. Bless the people who will be the next ones to wear these clothes. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.


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After upgrading Java to 1.6.0_26, MagicDraw becomes unpredictable.
The following issues appear: MagicDraw hangs on a splash screen. Any model or diagram cannot…
When Resource/Plugin Manager is started error is shown.
When Resource/Plugin Manager is started error is shown: java.lang.NullPointerExceptionat com.nomagic.magicdraw.resourcemanager.sb.b(sb.java:247)at com.nomagic.magicdraw.resourcemanager.sb.j(sb.java:223)at com.nomagic.magicdraw.resourcemanager.sb.e(sb.java:84) MagicDraw up to…
There is no Implementation toolbar on the Implementation diagram pallet in MagicDraw 17.0 SP1
To see the pallet, you need to upgrade your MagicDraw to a new version of…
After updating MagicDraw to version 17.0.1 exceptions can be shown on different actions.
After updating MagicDraw to version 17.0.1 exceptions can be shown on different actions. The exception…
How do I know what version of JVM I am running?
You may find this information in the About window (Help menu -> About) or If…
- Major Issues
- Performance
- Installation and Running
- Java Virtual Machine (JVM)
- Save, Load, Import, Export
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Make some noise for a gentleman who's come a long way." It's a muggy, breeze-less June night in New York, and some 200 fans have pressed into Bowery Ballroom under the pretense of watching local rappers with questionable names like Kosha Dillz and Quest McCody berate each other with questionable lines, like, "You sound like a character from 'The Legend of Zelda.' " Really, though, everyone is here for Eminem.
The rap superstar was rumored to be headlining this freestyle battle event, Red Bull EmSee: The Road to 8 Mile, named after his own Detroit origins and the Academy Award-nominated 2002 movie that chronicled them. Now, the night's host has finally confirmed that Marshall Mathers will take the stage.
From the moment he does — with "Despicable," a freestyle that was leaked in April to hype his new album, "Recovery" (Shady/Aftermath/Interscope) — Eminem looks furious. Neck pulsing, eyes alight, he plows through bars with the intensity of someone who has spent the past five years fighting just to stay alive, which, in fact, he has, due in large part to a lengthy and near-fatal addiction to prescription medications including Vicodin, Valium, Ambien and methadone. "Better not let up, better not let them breathe," he spits. "Last shot, give it all you got/Try to turn me down, bitch, get fucked with the volume knob/Fuck all you snobs."
His set ends not 10 minutes later, after performing two tracks from "Recovery": "On Fire," produced by his onstage hype man Mr. Porter, and the explosive "Won't Back Down," featuring pop outlier Pink on the chorus. Only when he says goodbye does Eminem hint at the calmer, now more sentient artist behind the lethal-as-ever rhymes.
"I do realize, man, for real, that if it were not for you guys I would not be standing up here right fucking now," he tells the crowd. "Honest to God, man — thank you to each and every one of you." As he leaves, fans scream and chant "Encore, encore!" to no avail.
full story: Billboard


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Bullying never goes unpunished, at least that is the message that canton police are sending with one of their most recent sentences. 43-year-old William Bailey has been sentenced to a month in jail after making fun of a young girl with Cerebral Palsy. Baily was caught after a video was released of him making fun of how the girl walked at a bus stop in October. The video of him imitating her reached Television news. In a statement on Tuesday, Bailey apologized to the girl and family. For more on this story, click HERE
Like Magic 106.3 on Facebook to stay updated with the latest entertainment news and original interviews!
- Tyler Perry's Full Cast of 'Single Mom's Club'
- Will And Jada Spend The Weekend TOGETHER . . . In Hawaii . . . As A FAMILY!!
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Strictly speaking Ralph concentrates on unsigned UK Indie music so when Aussie band Millar Jukes debut single 'Love Me All Night' was brought to my attention, the first reaction was to pass it over to Sydney music blogger Something Gold Something New. On digging deeper however it turns out that Millar Jukes (aka David Jukes) is the brother of Vigo Thieves (who Ralph's previously blogged) vocalist/guitarist Stevie Jukes, so I was intrigued and took up the baton myself.
Millar, originally from Wishaw but who now lives in Melbourne started making music after listening to American singer/songwriter Ray LaMontagne and got together with some like minded musicians to take his sound to a wider audience.
Building on the Americana folk/rock influence (very much like Scottish band The Holy Ghosts) they've produced a foot stompin', country/bluesy sound (overlaid with his distinctive 'Southern Comfort' vocals) in the new single Love Me All Night'. Millar along with Jasmin Fiske on bass, Ty Noble on drums, Matt Sandilands on lead guitar and Si Facius on keys has developed a very listenable, current folk/rock sound and judging by the recent reviews ('Melbourne's best kept secret and with more good tunes than you can shake a hay fork at') of their single launch night, will be going on from strength to strength.


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Court solutions
Experienced Legal Team
At Ian Walker Family Law and Mediation Solicitors we have one of the most experienced teams of family lawyers in the South West.
Representing clients in Court is what we do and what we have all done throughout our careers.
Law Practice
The practice of Law is about Rights.
All Laws set out obligations and responsibilities that individuals or organisations or the state have toward others. They set out what rights people or organisations have against each other.
Often these rights compete against each other. For example a child has a right to grow up free from abuse. A parent has a right to a family life [free from interference from the state]. But if a parent is abusive toward their child [or it is alleged] the State [social services] will intervene to protect the child. The Court will then interpret various Laws including the Children Act 1989 and other rules to decide what to do.
Laws are written in a way which set out rules. They cannot cover every situation to which a rule might apply. They need interpretation to be applied to situations in our daily lives. The Court is assisted in making decisions by looking at decisions and guidance by the more senior Courts in other cases. But no two cases are the same and the Laws and guidance don't always provide instant or easy answers. In Family and Children cases the Court often has a choice in what it decides to do. The Lawyers will try to persuade the Court to make a decision more acceptable to their client.
Call our experienced Family Law Solicitors, Divorce Lawyers or Mediators now
Exeter (Head Office): 01392 248113
Bath: 01225 809399
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Torquay: 01803 895228
Wells: 01749 987446
Weston-Super-Mare: 01934 806223
Yeovil: 01935 804466
Or find your local expert:
It is just the same with financial cases. The Divorce law sets out a range of factors the Court has to consider in making decisions. These have been subject to different interpretations over the years. What is also a surprise to non-lawyers, is that in a lot of cases, whilst there are a range of decisions a Court could make, the actual powers the Court has and Orders it can make are relatively limited.
The Court can only make decisions based on the evidence put in front of it and the strength of the arguments made by the parties.
The job of a good Solicitor is to understand what the dispute is about. It is to understand what their client wants to achieve. It is to gather evidence to support their client's case. It is to understand the evidence being brought forward by the other parties' legal team.
The Solicitor will advise their client about whether their objective can be achieved. If not, what can realistically be achieved? It is to find the best way to present their client's case in Court. But it is also to seek to negotiate an outcome acceptable to their client if they are instructed to do so.
Keeping up to date
The Law is constantly evolving. We have invested in the best Legal Practice Support Service for Family Lawyers. This gives all of our team easy access to an extensive library and updated practice materials which means we are always up to date. These materials can be accessed by us anywhere with an internet connection.
We also invest in training and maintain accreditations.
Having such an experienced team also helps. It is very rare indeed that we will come across a problem that non of us has tackled.
Asking you the right questions
What is just as important is that you understand that your solicitor has the skills to understand what you really want; what you realistically want; what they realistically can achieve for you [which may be less than you want]; how much you can afford to spend. You need to have confidence in Your Solicitor and they need to be able to be honest with you about what is realistic. You then both need to discuss and agree the best way to achieve as much as is realistic.
We know the Law. What we need to do together is to set an achievable goal and agree a realistic plan to try and get there.
Legal knowledge is essential
Also essential are realism, good tactical sense, the ability to gather relevant evidence, the ability to communicate what you want, and finally the ability to keep costs under control.
Often negotiation is a better way to a fair outcome, but not always.
Going to Court
Below is an explanation about how the court process works
Things to remember
- The Court will at all stages try to encourage the parties to find a solution to the dispute through mediation (except where there is a clear safety issue)
- The above chart shows the different stages in a case. In complex cases, there can be a number of extra hearings.
- The process is about gathering evidence and getting the case ready for a final hearing. It is about ensuring that the Judge has sufficient evidence to enable him/her to make a decision
- The Judge could make a decision that neither party wants.
- It is rare for one side to be ordered to pay the costs of the other side in a family case
How the costs build up
- Cases always cost more than you think!
- Initial quotes are based on the information available to the Solicitor at that time.
- As the case progresses more information becomes available and the dynamic of a case can change.
- The parties can forget that their Solicitors charge by the hour!
- The costs are dependent on the actions of both sides. You cannot control the actions of the other side.


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The Fortune of the Rougons by Emile Zola
This was my summer vacation Zola for 2013. I started it in La Baume, Savoy and finished it a week later.
It is the first of the Rougon-Macquart series of novels. Like all the others I have read it is very readable. It is set very much in the context of historical events, in this way it is similar to La Debacle. Reading Zola makes a good way to learn 19th century French history.
I do find Zola a sympathetic person. He is interested in progressive ideas, but is not doctrinaire. I found the love of Silvere and Miette for each other and their tragic ends quite moving and not too sentimental. Of course, Zola's real force is exposing the hypocrisy and venality of 2nd Empire bourgeois life. To that end 'The Fortune' does a great job. Where better to start than at the very beginning.


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Discovering the world of scicomm
Although I started my PhD with an unwavering passion and bright-eyed enthusiasm for research, about halfway in to my PhD there felt like there was something missing. I was a student with a single focus – my PhD. As a young scientist with a variety of experience, I wanted more from science but I couldn't put my finger on what. As with any other life-problem, I consulted google and starting searching for blogs about the experiences of other PhD students – did they feel the same way? Within an hour I had fallen down the rabbit hole of science blogging, and after a few more hours I had created a Twitter account and was searching the 'scicomm' hashtag.
The more blogs and twitter threads I read surrounding scicomm, the more I needed to be involved, and the more I realized that I LOVED teaching other people about science in general conversation. Of course scientists need to communicate their work! Of course science needs to be more inclusive! Of course the public need a greater awareness of the science around them! It all just made sense.
Scicomm is brilliant because it bridges the gap between scientific research and public opinion. For many people, their only source of science is the media, which can be exaggerated and skewed. However, for the general public, it is not up to them to question the reliability of tabloid science. To increase public understanding and trust in scientists, it is our responsibility to communicate in an effective and approachable manner. Science isn't just about cold, hard facts, and scicomm can spark the curiosity of people, and help them to connect with science and the world around them.
On a personal level, getting stuck into scicomm has allowed me to explore my creative side with my blog and my writing, and it has also brought about some exciting new opportunities.
This is then beneficial for everyone, as science has an impact on every human on the planet. A more positive relationship between scientists and the public can have a positive influence on policy and society. This can help the public to make more informed decisions. For example, advancements in the fields of biomedical science can influence national vaccination programmes and NHS healthcare strategies. Chemical and biological research can lead legalization and classification of various drugs and the safety of food manufacturing. Technological advancements can influence national security and data protection. Research in engineering progresses the infrastructure of buildings, train services, and generally the towns and cities around us.
Behind every scientist is a person
As well as this, it allows scientists to share their 'human' side. The life of a scientist is not well-known and is rife with stereotypes and fear; communicating science helps to give 'non-sciencey' people an insight into day to day life in the lab. Plus, it can transform learning about science from a typical classroom setting or textbook-based approach, to an informal dialogue about cool stuff. This can be particularly valuable in engaging young minds and inspiring them to pursue further education in STEM subjects.
On a personal level, getting stuck into scicomm has allowed me to explore my creative side with my blog and my writing, and it has also brought about some exciting new opportunities. When PhD work isn't going very well, it can keep the motivational cogs turning in your brain and allows you to take control of science, even when you can't control your lab work – scicomm can be rewarding when research isn't, so it is personally and professionally worthwhile to pursue both of these in parallel. It also helps you to become more in tune with your strengths and weaknesses as a scientist – be that writing, public speaking, or even just your overall confidence.
In conclusion, scicomm is just great. We live in an age where social media is a powerful tool – why not use this to inspire the next generation of scientists, demystify relatable science, and keep scientific conversations going.Fancy writing for Tipbox? Got an awesome story to tell? Then we want to hear! Drop us an email at email@example.com with story pitches, ideas, hilarious bants, or maybe you just want a bit of a chat. Whatever it is, we want it. And then we'll share it. You may or may not become instantly famous.