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THE comedian Louis C.K. has a brilliant rant about an airline passenger who bemoans problems with in-flight Internet. As Louis C.K. said, grumping about the airline Wi-Fi ignores the miracle of flight itself. "Everyone on every plane should just constantly be going, 'Oh my God! Wow!' You're flying! You're sitting in a chair, in the sky!"
Advocates pushing for a $15 minimum-wage are at a similar moment. The Seattle City Council, with backing from Mayor Ed Murray, is racing toward a radical economic policy that would have been unthinkable even a year ago.
Yet Councilmember Kshama Sawant, and some of her allies in labor, are grumping about proposals to make this radical policy slightly more palatable for the business community.
At the City Council's first hearing on Murray's $15 proposal last week, other council members pondered allowing a sub-minimum wage for 16- and 17-year-olds, as well as allowing a lower wage for a month or two of training.
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The training wage idea is strongly backed by micro-businesses in Seattle's ethnic minority community to facilitating training of new immigrants with limited English. The teen wage idea acknowledges that employment rates for workers aged 16 to 19 in the Puget Sound have fallen by half since 2000, according to the Brookings Institution.
In response, Sawant said a lower minimum wage for teens means "condemning those low-wage workers to not having the best start in life."
Sawant said, "The whole idea of $15 is to go forward. A training wage takes it backward."
What's missing from that analysis is this fact: Those earning a training wage would make slightly less than what would be the highest minimum wage of any city in the country.
Under Murray's proposal, Seattle's minimum wage would be more than $18 an hour by 2025 — $6 more than what the state minimum wage, which automatically rises with inflation, would be. Even with a subminimum wage — usually defined as 85 percent of the standard wage — teens and trainees would be making more than $15 an hour.
The Seattle City Council should allow both. That would not make the council sellouts to business. It would acknowledge that Seattle is about to take off on a flight unfathomable just a year ago.
Editorial board members are editorial page editor Kate Riley, Frank A. Blethen, Ryan Blethen, Sharon Pian Chan, Lance Dickie, Jonathan Martin, Erik Smith, Thanh Tan, William K. Blethen (emeritus) and Robert C. Blethen (emeritus).


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subset: commoncrawl


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Seeker update:
Had a great visit from Craig and Peggy Ashworth. Craig's a good friend, but I hadn't met his wife. Instant family.
Work on the Seeker continues. Really have to mention Bill Thompsons' contribution. He's been planing the port side. First he finished off the side, then, without any hesitation, he started on the bottom. After a while, a good man develops a system. Bills' system is figure out the most efficient way of doing a thing, and then work like a machine until it's done. Today, he planed two thirds of the bottom, a lot of the time, laying on his back, with planer shavings falling like a blizzard on steroids. He just flat out doesn't quit.
Jonah continues to demonstrate skills beyond any reasonable expectation given his experience. We've developed an ease between us that makes the work flow. It's rare, and I'm thankful.
One single plank and the planking is done. It's traditional to have a celebration when the "shutter" plank is installed. I don't know about anyone else, but, I'll be celebrating.
More to come.
Seeker update:


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Almonds Inspire an absurd passion in the people who produce them and the people who consume them.
Product Extension
Piñatas filled with individual packets of Blue Diamonds.
To be sold in grocery and party stores.
Social Media
Users already post about their obsession for Blue Diamond. We'll find those tweets and animate them. The resulting cartoons can be shared through our social channels. These will comment on the customers obsession, rather than the companies.
CW: will bareford
ST: emy theodorakis


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Mine Mine Mind Stuff
I've been mediating a lot lately. I attend a regular mediation session which involves some discussion – we read a passage, meditate for twenty minutes, talk about our meditation experience. I've also been meditating at home for about 30 minutes a few times a week.
The group is made up of a couple dozen people from different backgrounds and with different spiritual identities. Some are Christians; the others are I don't know what. I doubt that anybody there is as nontraditional and ecumenically pagan as your humble Espresso Shaman. Without putting on airs, I think it's safe to say nobody there has logged as many hours in meditation or spirit traveling as I have either, but they're good folks and participating in the group helps me to remember to sit still once in a while. I tend to approach life like I'm storming the beach on D-Day, which is a lot of fun and the proper approach to some situations, but not all.
Joseph Campbell defined meditation as "the intentional stopping of the spontaneous action of the mind stuff." I think that's in The Power Of Myth, but I don't remember which episode. You'll just have to watch the whole thing. The benefit in stopping the mind stuff, he explains, is that it allows you to see things as they are. He uses the image of a lake: as long as the surface of the water is being rippled by the wind, all reflections are broken and fragmented. Only when the water is still are things reflected clearly. As long as the mind stuff is agitated, the mind cannot perceive anything but broken and fragmented perceptions.
That sounds pretty good, but it's never worked for me. I have a frantic and frenetic mind, enhanced by the liberal and frequent application of bitter, black beverages containing the best of all possible drugs, caffeine. My mind stuff doesn't stop. I have multiple tracks, all playing, all the time, a constant gamelan of brain noise. This isn't unusual. Everybody at the meditation session talks about the difficulty they have getting their mind stuff to stop. Everybody has some brain noise. Most people just live with it and don't even notice until they get to a mediation session and start trying to make it stop.
I don't try to stop the brain noise. I just let it go on and on, unimpeded. The clatter and din inside my head are just part of how I perceive reality and it doesn't matter. When I'm working on visual art, I sometimes have music going, sometimes not, but when I do, it's usually of the long-form, instrumental variety, the kind of stuff that can easily be tuned down to a low buzz. Some reviewers have mentioned the fact that some BDSR releases work better when they're background noise, which is true. I don't know if those reviewers knew or guessed that that was deliberate. The background noise application is something I'm actively striving for, without eliminating the possibility of active listening. It's a fine line, but there's good on either side, so it all works.
The brain noise doesn't mean anything. The stuff that happens inside the head is not real. If you can't tell the difference between what's happening inside your head and what's happening outside your head, then you, my friend, are a schizophrenic. This is a very basic observation, but it's one that had to be pointed out to me. Several years ago, I was talking with a knowledgeable friend about the noise in my brain and he said "So? Just ignore it. It's not real." I was somewhat blown away. It's so obvious. After that, mediation became easy. I stopped trying to accomplish anything with my mind stuff. All I need to do to meditate is to sit still. That's it. Sit still and let the mind stuff/brain noise do whatever it does. When I meditate frequently, ignoring the brain noise becomes automatic. I'm sitting here right now with all this jibber-jabber happening behind my eyes and I have no idea what the voices are saying.
People at the meditation session talk about how hard it is to stop the mind stuff. When it's my turn, I say I don't try. I just let it roll on. They look at me like I've just said something that's so fucking crazy it just might be right.
That's my only contribution to the group. Other than the possibility of ignoring the brain noise until it subsides to a low and easily ignorable drone around the edges, I have nothing to say about meditation.
Brown Hat the Espresso Shaman
The pun is always intended.
December 2018


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Debunking 'Attributed by', auctions and estate sale finds./
I had a crazy week! First thing's first. I picked up some amazing items this week bidding on some online auctions. It is exciting and fun. I watched a great pair of Adrian Pearsall for Craft Associates sculpted arm chairs go for $1000 and they needed foam work! But lucky for me, my competition on MCM must have blew their load on the chairs so I was able to get a few very nice high end pieces for a good price! First off, I won a fabulous Danish bookcase/hutch by Poul Hundevad. It is 2 pieces with a lower cabinet that features a sliding felt lined drawer and maple adjustable shelves. The exterior is teak veneer and has adjustable open shelves. It is tall and has a lot of storage. Perfect for a pyrex display or other collectables or just housing your books. I do not typically have access to a lot of Danish so this piece was very exciting for me! It really is a great utility piece and useful in any room of the house. It is very large though and the top only fits in my Vanagon so delivery will be limited to the local region. I can help price freight companies and this will be listed on chairish by mid week most likely. Their rates with Plycon are usually very competitive. Here's a look!
The next amazing item has me stumped for now. It is a smaller glass top dining table perhaps a game table. Perfect for a smaller room or nook. It has a 1/2" thick glass top which sits on 3 1" thick lucite supports and three brass cross bars or sorts. It is beautiful and really high end. Most dealers attribute this to Charles Hollis Jones, the king of Lucite. CHJ was a pioneer in using lucite in his designs. All the big dealers are attributing to him but I want to see it for myself. It turns out that MR CHJ is very much alive and has a web site. I contacted him to see if I could solve this dilemma. Mr CHJ is a total sweetheart! I think he was pleased that I asked and he did confirm that this is NOT a CHJ design. SO, sadly, it is still unknown. Perhaps it belongs to Alessandro Albrizzi, who also was doing amazing things with Lucite in the 70s and does have some similar looking pieces. I have yet to crack it. I will say that this is a very high end piece. Lucite gained popularity especially with the wealthiest folk as pieces were not blocking a view. So when you had a home full of windows overlooking the ocean, you could, in effect, see right through the furniture and enjoy the outdoors. Pretty cool concept and this little piece has opened my mind a little further. It is a smaller table so seats no more than 4. For the right spot, it will be a charmer! Regional delivery is available, and it will be showing up in my chairish shop with shipping by Plycon later this week. Do not forget that if you are in Deliveright.com service area (mid atlantic states, south eastern states) I may be able to quote them for you as well! Here is a look at this beauty!
So in my correspondence with Charles Hollis Jones, he told me that is he currently featured in an exhibit at the Museum of Art and History in Lancaster, CA entitled 50 YEARS 50 CHAIRS. Pretty cool. I am trying to purchase a copy of a book about him from the museum for my resources. A very sweet man, it was very nice that he was cordial and I do think he was even pleased that I bothered to ask. Can you imagine seeing your name all over a bunch of things you did not create? Many of this era's iconic designers have already passed on and perhaps a family member is carrying on their legacy and offering insight to those who are still admiring their works. It was amazing to be able to correspond directly with one of these persons. This right here is one reason that I take time to research. Maybe I cannot determine it's origin, but crossing someone off the list is also progress!
I spent all day Wednesday picking up my winnings. 2 trips to the auction house, one in my Honda van and one in our VW Vanagon! It was a great day for a drive and I got to meet up with my friend, who had also won some things. We planned to get together on Friday to pick up some other winnings in North Jersey and hit some estate sales. It worked out great and not only did we have a great day, we probably were at 7 sales and I found a bunch of awesome items! If kitsch is your thing, I have got some! I am still listing things but got through a lot in the last few days. I will add some pics here. All are currently available in my etsy shop, chairish listings are processing. It was a very exciting day!
I was recently involved in a discussion regarding Mid Century fake plastic plants. They are not easy to find to when I saw this one, I grabbed it! Amazing bamboo cemented in 8-9" blow mold plastic pot. stands over 50" tall! It is amazing!
This was the bulk of my large finds and I have some cool smalls that will be listed soon. Reach out if you need more info about anything! Have a great week!
Xo Malissa


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Listing ID: 1256
Located 30km south of Cairns, the Gordonvale Hotel is a classic Queensland Pub established in 1899.
Ready for a new owner to walk in and start trading, this is excellent freehold investment.
The current building, which dates from 1929, boasts a fantastic corner location and offers the only accommodation in town.
Historic Hotel for its comfortable workers accommodation
Perfect investment for a couple
Fully staffed- staff happy to stay on
12 upstairs rooms- 10 air conditioned
Excellent occupancy rates
Reputation for great entertainment with live music, poker nights, Keno
Commercial kitchen- potential to expand menu
Wood-fired pizza oven
This freehold investment is the perfect excuse to move to tropical North Queensland. Gordonvale sits on the Mulgrave River and offers easy access to the coast.
A historic sugar-growing town, Gordonvale has plenty going on, with the Mulgrave Settlers Museum, a popular tourist spot. The Great Pyramid Race and Country Fair takes place every August and is a key event in Australian Mountain Running Association calendar.
The town boasts many active sports clubs, including football, Touch, AFL, rugby league and martial arts. There is also a pony club, 18-hole golf course, and a swimming club next to the high school.
This very sound investment offers buyers their own successful hospitality business plus a wonderful tropical lifestyle.
Price: $680,000 + SAV
Gordonvale, Queensland 4865


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Latest News
School treasurer facing fraud, grand theft charges
An elementary school treasurer who lost his job earlier this year after being accused of using school money to buy a car and other personal items is in jail this morning facing charges of grand theft and fraud.
Rovielle Elmond, once a treasurer at Morikami Park Elementary, was booked into the jail yesterday.
The Palm Beach County School Board voted unanimously to fire him back in November.
According to a special audit and a district investigation, Elmond loaned himself money from the school's internal accounts and later repaid the school with personal checks.
Auditors found that in fiscal year 2009, Elmond altered financial records involving more than $45,000 in school funds and that he borrowed about $4,600 to buy a car.
At least $2,600 wasn't replaced, the auditors found.
Elmond, who wasn't at the meeting and had worked for the district for two years, has said he wasn't aware school employees weren't allowed to use school money for loans.
The board voted to suspend Elmond without pay immediately


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CLICK HERE to EASILY sign up for a FREE NEWSLETTER
MOON EMANATIONS OF THE DIVINE FEMININE IN AQUARIUS AND PISCES and the 11TH and 12TH HOUSES
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this book is a 'must'
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Soul Sistars
Current Articles
are to your left and
for 2017:
Moon in Aquarius
or Moon in your 11th House.
"Community "
AQUARIUS by Sharon Russell
(go HERE to see more art by Sharon! You can buy even just ONE card with free shipping....the card that goes along with your Moon sign will help you to remember it....and to relate to it!)
How about some (MUSIC) while you read?....just click on the 'music', it will open a new page and you can come back here and read while the music takes you away.....
Now, who could this possibly be?......Yes, my Moon is in Aquarius.
This is a cosmic Moon sign. In other words, some of these Moon people are 'way out there'!
If your Moon is in Aquarius, you are comfortable being original or a little quirky! You may be silently drawn to the future or the possibilities that lie there. Ths cosmos is a great mystery and you are intuitively tuned in to what is happening in the bigger world out there.
You might even believe in ET's and considering what you might say to one should you be so lucky to make contact!
This is one of the more studious Moon signs.
Studious, yes, but this Moon is also fun-loving and needs the childlike absorption of play. This counteracts their tendency for nervous anxiety. And by nature, there is a certain youthfulness and childlike quality which this Moon sign finds comforting. Romp and dance, sing and play. Be irresponsible for a while before you pick up your work. You need the freedom to be yourself. You are an individual and when you feel this, you feel free and happy.
Aquarius Moon is an AIRY Moon.
Because your Moon is in an AIR sign your emotional responses are sifted through your mind. You reason things out with your feelings. Odd, but true about you. Aquarian Moon is developing skills of detachment.
You are probably NOT comfortable getting mired in the emotions of others. Big dramas or being around others who act out their emotions through melodrama or a lot of tears makes you uncomfortable. You then may appear to be 'aloof' or uncaring. This keeps your individuality intact and a sense of knowing who you are.
Actually, you do care, but you will want to show it by communicating, listening and keeping your own center. Understanding and sympathy for others comes natural to you.
Your friendships can be a great source of comfort to you. Especially the ones who see you as a unique individual. You need to be able to come and go as you please. Sometimes you might appear abrupt to others. When you finish a conversation then you are ready to move on. Try to recognize the need to slow down your transition a bit for the sake of maintaining those all-important friendships.
This Moon is ruled by two planets: Saturn and Uranus. Saturn gives a tendency towards repression of feelings. This does not mean you don't have them, but you may not be in touch with them. When you are in a situation where you do not feel free to be who you are, then your fundamental identity feels at stake. In choosing a partner it is better to find someone who will let you remain an individual and not try to mold you into a character you are not.
You want the kind of love where two people can companion up for life and sit side by side rather than on one another's laps. The Saturn part gives you a tendency toward loyalty and ability to commit as long as your freedom is allowed within the relationship.
Michelle Obama has her Moon in Aquarius. This is a stable Moon sign unless it has aspects by Neptune that may confuse it....as in the case of Marilyn Monroe who was also a Moon in Aquarius.
With the Uranus co-rulership of Aquarius, you may find yourself having feelings that surprise you. They may seem to come right out of the blue.
Dixie and Sharon being themselves!
Sometimes Aquarian need to try on different selves when they are younger until they can find their true self and value it. This could bring about a feeling of succumbing to peer group pressure or feeling that you are different by being in the group that is different – and yet, that may not be the group for you.
You are trying something on, but if you do not feel the joy, the freedom, and essence of yourself than you may need to leave it behind and move toward your true heart. But do find the place you belong, because your tendency from the planet Uranus can be to remain too aloof and cut everyone out just for the sake of being a lone wolf, a rebel, an individualist.
Your moon sign will not be in its comfort zone until you find out who it is you are and what groups of friends you truly resonate with.
Moon in Pisces or Moon in the 12th House
Moon in PISCES
or Moon in your 12th House
by Sharon Russell (click HERE to see how you can get this lovely image!)
Let's look at this beautiful woman walking along a watery path towards the ocean. . She has a LOTUS by her side and is dressed in filmy misty blues with the Sun behind the mists or perhaps it is the Full Moon, What do you see?
She is graceful and poised, not quite of this world, but here nevertheless. She is a beautiful expression of the divine mystery of life. She, like the LOTUS, has arisen from the muddy depths of the unconscious to lead a life MERGED with the divine in some way. She may be spacey, but she is really trying to live within a container of holiness and Spirit. Moon in Pisces or the 12th house find deep comfort in meditation and prayer.
If you are a Pisces Moon Woman, you wish to be at ONE with the Great Mystery.
If your Moon is in Pisces or the 12th house, ah, what a lovely emotional disposition you have. You are loving and caring towards everyone.
Since your moon is your Comfort Zone as a Woman you must add in special times of comfort for yourself: a nice long bath or an extra long time to luxuriate in bed on those weekend mornings. Or give your imagination a place to flow with your creative project, song, dance, poem or art.
You must have some kind of water around you somewhere – either you live near the beach or a source of water or add a little fountain in your private sanctuary. Oh, and do have a sanctuary whether it be a place, a woman's group or your garden. You will feel more at home if you create this space for yourself wherever you go!
Here's our Carolyn....a true Pisces Moon and oh, does she love to dance!
Pisces Moon women have a vivid imagination. This is one of the most artistic, poetic, music and dance-loving placements for Moon. It will give you the gift of divine insight, ecstasy, enchantment, visions. You will have a delightful way of expressing even the simplest truths because you are open to the vast unbounded and limitless oceanic depths of your inner psyche, to the psyche of others, to the place where dreams and visions originate.
You will be sensitive to others, to their thoughts or feelings whether or not they speak them aloud. You FEEL them. You have a great tenderness of heart.
"Blue Lagoon" by Sharon Russell (see it HERE)
Pisces is a watery Moon. They truly BELIEVE in enchantment! Often, they themselves are enchanted with the ethereal beauty of being alive! WOW!!!
You are so dreamy and imaginative and sentimental. Your feeling nature is very developed but you do want to make sure that you are not going on sentiment alone....that it is 'True Love' if that is what you are after. And give it some time, because you, like the Venus in Pisces, may jump into love before love is really there. This may be your imagination!
Remember it tends toward romanticizing. By giving it a little or a lot of time (at least a year to get to know someone whom you may be trying to form a permanent attachment to,… so that you get all the seasons in your relationship) you can then better determine if you are living in a fantasy or if your dreams are really real after all! You might also consult an astrologer or friend to make sure that Neptune is not playing tricks on you! In any matter having to do with your feeling nature, it will be good to get outside advice from a grounded person.
Barbara Hannelore - remember her from "Moon in Aries or Moon in the first house"? Barbara uses her Pisces Moon on her web site. She works with the Moon by helping women become more loving and caring of themselves! Here is her lovely web site:
Barbara has a WONDERFUL HEALING WEB SITE for you to tune into to help you make your way through your monthly moon cycles! Barbara Hanneloré is the founder of Women's Way Moon Cycles, sharing a new paradigm for the menstrual cycle, for women who want to develop radical new habits of self-care and self-love! She is the author of the award-winning book, "The Moon and You" : a Woman's Guide to an Easier Monthly Cycle, and hosts her talks and classes both locally and online. Barbara is a Women's Wellness Coach with training in Expressive Arts, and has studied many healing modalities and sacred traditions throughout her life.
You may also want to read her new book which has won several awards!
In any new situation, if your Moon is in Pisces or in the 12th house, you may at first become disoriented as you feel the overwhelm of so many complexities to confront. You can't seem to leave anything out, or you may feel fear or disoriented with the unknown. But you can move beyond this into service or into the realm of creative imagination and find the enchantment of commonplace things glowing with the spirit that you share with them!
You are super sensitive emotionally and this can make you impressionable and psychologically vulnerable. Sometimes you may want to withdraw from others in order to protect yourself. Or perhaps you need a little distance to come back to your own center.
Pisces Moon or Moon in the 12th house need times of SOLITUDE.
For you with your Moon in Pisces, when you go to a party, ask yourself first: "Is this a group I want to associate with?" You have a tendency to pick up the general atmosphere around you and then bring it home with you. If the answer is "no" then don't go. Or if you do go anyway and afterward find this has happened, then a good dose of 'downtime by yourself' will replenish and nurture you back to wholeness.
Dear Pisces Woman, your sweet spirit is such a gift to the world that you may forget at times that you need to CARE FOR YOURSELF also. Make good boundaries, get to know what your limits are, and then work within them.
When called to move out of your comfort zone (that's your MOON), you may move best when you bring a little of your Moon into your work or family life. That is, you can bring your compassion, your imagination into the realm of work or the details of everyday existence.
Now, girlfriends, if you want to help support this web site so I can keep writing and writing and you can keep learning and learning, you can help by doing two things: send this link to a friend, or to all your friends so they can sign up for a free newletter...and then you and they can be on the same page when you talk about your Moon Signs.
The other thing is this: Purchase a card of your Moon sign - you will get free shipping even if you only buy ONE card. We have no minimum orders.
Also, if you are serious about Feminine Astrology, get Sharon's Book, LIGHTBEARER, the Soul's JOURNEY in Astrology. Sharon's images of the divine feminine in astrology will help you realign your innermost being with this new way of looking at astrology, a way that can help you to reconnect with your true feminine nature!
Well darlings, this completes our Moon by Sign and House exploration. Now, we're ready to begin CYCLES OF BECOMING, your 29 Year Lunation Cycle! This is my favorite teaching in astrology that I like to share with others. Are you on my list for a FREE NEWLETTER?....you won't want to miss this. I'm ready, are YOU? Cycles of Becoming is about the SOUL OF YOU...where it is, what Moon phase it's in RIGHT NOW!
Love to all your BRAVE and DEAR HEARTS!
Dixie Gladstone at Feminine Astrology
P.S. Did you get signed on for a free newsletter???????....I won't give out your name to anyone, this isn't that kind of a web site.
Website Content ©2013 by Dixie Gladstone | email@example.com


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NPR Premieres New Demo
The cat's outta the bag! I'm making a new record with Mike Mogis and some of the good folks of Bright Eyes/The Faint/Cursive, but first, NPR is premiering this exclusive bedroom demo of a new song called "If You're Gonna Build A Wall." The track is my reaction to being stuck home with a broken finger and bombarded by the 24-hour news cycle. It's just a sketch of what it will become in the studio, but the social and political issues in it are ones that have been on my mind a lot lately, and I don't think I'm alone in that, so I felt compelled to share it now. Hope you enjoy and share it, too. I'm on the road for the next month with David Wax Musem for the next month, so come say hi!


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Under the Dome
NC Sen. Fletcher Hartsell to face campaign finance hearing
Sen. Fletcher Hartsell, a Concord Republican, will face a Board of Elections hearing later this month to determine if he violated campaign finance laws.
On Monday, the state Board of Elections issued a notice for the hearing, which is set for June 17. The one-sentence notice does not detail the allegations against Hartsell's campaign organization. Board spokesman Josh Lawson said Hartsell and his attorney have been invited to the hearing, but he said he could provide no further details about the case.
The senator filed campaign finance reports in 2013 that indicated he'd spent nearly $100,000 of his campaign's money in 2011 and 2012 paying off debts on at least 10 personal credit cards.
The Board of Elections assigned an auditor in early 2013 to investigate the reports and determine if any laws were broken. Since then, few details have emerged about the inquiry.
Hartsell's attorney, Roger Knight, said Monday that the board hasn't provided the allegations against the senator. He stressed that all details of Hartsell's campaign finances have been in the public record since before the probe began.
"There's been no allegations at all that he's failed to report anything," Knight said. "Whether the statute gives the Board of Elections the authority to do anything after years and years is at least an open question. We filed a response to this on July 1, 2013. We have no idea what the board intends to do."
In 2013, Hartsell told The News & Observer that he could not promise that some of the spending from his campaign, which is financed by donors, did not cover some personal expenses, which would be prohibited under state law. He could not provide detailed documents about the expenses, but said he would gather as many as he could.
"I am not going to say there is not some instance that could be characterized one way or the other," said Hartsell, whose law practice includes a focus on governmental law. "Most of these things that I do are sort of a blended issue. I do the best job I can to keep up with it."
Several entries on the campaign reports appear to be unrelated to his campaign, according to the 2013 News & Observer report. They include payments for $2,244 for listings in a directory of lawyers and $1,500 for a scholarship at Concord High School that is publicly listed as being provided by Hartsell and his siblings in honor of their parents. His campaign also wrote his law firm a $3,000 check with a listed purpose, in part, of "charity contribution reimbursement."
More recently, Hartsell has faced questions about his private legal clients, at least one of whom has appeared before a Senate committee he co-chaired. He said last month he'll will back away from his work for North Carolina Learns, which is bringing a for-profit virtual education company, K12 Inc., to the state.
Staff writers Lynn Bonner and J. Andrew Curliss contributed to this report


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I've been horribly horrible at updating Caleb's progress. Kids are total time suck! Who knew? It's been crazy busy since school started back. Here's a quick update of what nine months at home looks like:
- Caleb is almost 22 months old.
- Caleb is very mobile now. He is all over the place! And I mean literally everywhere. He can run now. He can walk up and down stairs holding a hand. He's still so tiny and the stairs are big! He can crawl up and down the stairs alone. Thank goodness. I was wondering how I would haul two of them up and down the stairs!
- He is attending Mommy and Me gymnastics. He hates circle time and warm ups. He just wants to GO.
- He is a climber. I have given up on keeping him off the bench at the kitchen table. It would require me being at the table all day shooing him away. He thinks he just as big as the rest of them!
- He repeats everything, and he uses words in the appropriate context. He tells me that the fireplace is hot and that snow is cold. He understands absolutely everything we say. However, if he doesn't like what he's hearing ("Get off the table!"), he suddenly cannot comprehend the English language.
- He is so loving! When Waverly gets hurt and starts crying, he runs over to hug her and give her pats on the back. He's always been a cuddler, and we all love that about him.
- He is becoming more independent. Up until about a month ago, he still let me feed him all his meals. Suddenly, HE has to do it. If I don't let him, he refuses to eat!
- He is still crazy about his siblings, and he loves, loves, loves his Daddy. I truly can't imagine him as an only child in a quiet family. He's so full of life (and noise). He loves to be chased, tickled, and tackled. He is amazing at cheer stunts and wrestling.
So there you have it! In nine months, he has totally blossomed into a lively, adorable almost-two-year-old…tantrums and all. I think we'll keep him though.


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Broccoli Cheese Cornbread
Everyone loves broccoli and cheese. With some corn muffin mix and a few spices, this makes a great side dish. The cayenne pepper gives this sweet and savory cornbread a little "kick".
4 eggs
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
1/4 tsp. each salt, pepper and cayenne pepper
1 8.5 oz. box of Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix
1 pkg. frozen chopped broccoli, thawed
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 tsp. each garlic powder, oregano, basil and parsely
Combine all ingredients and mix well. Bake in a lightly greased 8 x 8 baking dish at 350 degrees F. for 30 to 35 mins.


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Harvesting Grapes
One of the toughest things about growing your own grapes is beating the birds to the harvest! So understandably, gardeners can get in a big hurry to cut those beautiful clusters from the vine. But don't be too hasty in cutting the fruits just to one-up the birds. Make sure your grapes are ripe before you harvest.
Although color change is important in determining when to harvest grapes, it should not be the only consideration. Grapes change color from green to blue, red or white (depending on the cultivar) as they approach maturity. But most grape cultivars color up long before they flavor up. When fully ripe, the natural bloom or whitish coating on the berries should become more noticeable. The color of the seeds changes from green to brown.
One of the other factors to consider in determining harvest time is the size and firmness of the berry. It's helpful to be familiar with your cultivar's individual characteristics, but most grapes should become slightly less firm to the touch.
The best telltale sign of ripeness is the grape's sweetness, and, of course, the most reliable method for homeowners to test this is to taste them! Unlike some other fruits, once the grapes are cut from the vine, they will not ripen any further. So be sure the grapes are ready before you harvest.
Grapes don't require direct sunlight on the fruits to ripen and develop good color. Rather, it is the amount of light that reaches the plant's leaves that governs the quality of the fruit. The leaves manufacture the sugars that are then translocated to the fruit.
Netting can be placed over a grape arbor to keep the birds away from the fruits. Or you can place bags over individual fruit clusters, beginning when the grapes are about half grown. Use a sturdy brown paper-type bag that will allow enough room for the bunch to develop, and tie securely to the grape cane. Bagging also might help protect the fruits from inclement weather, as excessive rains close to harvest time can cause the grapes' skins to split. Of course bagging is not very practical for larger plantings, in which case netting is the best alternative.
Some grape-growers have experienced uneven ripening this year, particularly with their Concord grapes. According to Purdue Small Fruit Specialist Bruce Bordelon, this condition primarily affects only the Concord variety and occurs occasionally, especially in warm years. Uneven ripening is when some of the berries in the cluster remain sour, hard and green while others develop the purple color and soften during the ripening process. The green berries will be full-sized, but will not be sweet. For some reason, those berries never go through the increase in sugar and decrease in acids that commonly occurs during fruit ripening. It is not clearly understood why this phenomenon occurs, but hot weather is partly responsible.
Once you've made the decision to harvest, you can store the grapes, possibly up to eight weeks, depending on the cultivar and storage conditions. Ideally grapes should be stored at 32F with 85 percent relative humidity. If you have an abundance of grapes, a good alternative could be to process them into jellies, jams, juice and wine.
For more information, check out Purdue Extension Bulletin HO-221 "Grape Varieties for Indiana" at http://www.hort.purdue.edu/ext/ho-221.pdf. Additional resources include "Growing Grapes in Indiana" http://www.hort.purdue.edu/ext/ho-45.pdf and "Bird Damage in Fruit Crops" http://www.ppdl.purdue.edu/PPDL/weeklypics/09-12-11.html.


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GREATER NOIDA: Cash-strapped Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) has asked its sister authority in Noida for a loan of Rs 600 crore.
However, Rama Raman, chairperson of the three development authorities of GB Nagar, has given his consent for a loan amount of Rs 350 crore, which will be given at an interest rate of 9%. According to officials, the loan request was made by YEIDA CEO Arun Vir Singh.
Officials said the loan amount would be used to compensate farmers who need to be paid compensation of 64.7%, in keeping with an order of the Allahabad high court of October 2011. Nearly 25,500 farmers are to receive a compensation amount of Rs 6,500 crore.
"We need about Rs 300 crore for distributing land compensation across eight villages to construct a 60-metre-wide service road along the Yamana Expressway," Singh said. "This road has already been constructed up to Dankaur from Greater Noida for about 22km but now needs to be taken up to Jewar by another 36km. We also need another Rs 55 crore to compensate farmers for land in Sector 17 besides other land pockets for various development and infrastructure needs in the YEIDA area," he said.
According to sources, YEIDA currently has a debt of about Rs 3,200 crore. In an attempt to earn more, YEIDA recently hiked land allotment rates across all categories of land in its area. A hike ranging from 5% to 20% will be implemented with effect from January 1, 2016. "We have drawn up an action plan to earn more and are identifying prime slots. Having allotted 100 acres for setting up an electronic manufacturing cluster in the YEIDA area, we expect huge investments of about Rs 3,000 crore. Other than this, we are also taking on errant plot owners who have not yet deposited their dues towards property allotted to them by YEIDA," Singh said.
Property defaulters include more than 2,000 allottees
An amount of Rs 921 crore is outstanding from builders and allotttees and Rs 150 crore is also to be collected from residential plot owners. "Many of them have defaulted on their payments from the time the property was allotted to them," Singh said.


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Friday, April 16, 2010
Pink and Turquoise Bedroom
4 comments:
- Amy said...
that quote is adorable!
- April 16, 2010 at 10:49 AM
- Janelle Dobson said...
Cute stuff...I especially like that bathroom. So I'm trying to make a baby blanket and I was wondering if you could maybe help me out, since you seem to know your way around the blogs. What I'm looking for is a special car seat blanket- it is shaped almost like a cross (but with round edges) with the corners inverted. Its shaped that way so you can easily wrap it around the baby. There are slits in the middle of the blanket so you actually strap it into the carseat and not worry about it falling out. I've seen only two patterns but you have to pay for them...and who wants to do that! I'm still looking around on my own...but just in case you have time it and might want to help...that could be cool. Its not a big deal. Thanks!
- April 16, 2010 at 1:02 PM
- Embellish said...
I love this bedroom, I found your blog and showed my daughter who has asked me to recreate it for her... oh dear! Thanks for the inspiration!!! I have added a link to my blog embellishvintage
- May 10, 2011 at 10:19 PM
- Peggy said...
Hi! I love your blog and love the seating area. Hot pink is my favorite color. I used that picture on my blog today and linked to you. I'm a little confused, where are your links to your sources?
- June 12, 2012 at 2:31 PM


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Roses Close-Up
These are two of my favorite rose colors. See more photos of these and roses of other colors on my earlier post, Roses Are Not Just Red.
I like these roses so much I've even made greeting cards featuring them. You can get them at Zazzle and keep them handy. You never know when you might need to use one.
Pale Yellow Rose: Thinking, of you CardFriendship card with coral rose.Yellow Rose With Three Buds Cards
Mom Planted this Rose Garden
When she died and I inherited the house, I was depressed. It was early March. The roses were dormant. By April the roses were blooming again and I was sorry that Mom couldn't enjoy them anymore. They helped cheer me up, though.
They are always in bloom on Mother's Day, and they remind me of her. She never had a rose garden before she moved to Paso Robles. Maybe a few rose bushes, but no rose garden.
Some of My Rose Gifts from My Rose Photos on Zazzle
Mug with Rose ArrangementRose Garden Sticker: Take time. Classic Round StickerTwo pink roses within a heart coffee mugPink Rose Return Address Labelipad Case: Cecile Brunner Pink Roses Cover For The iPad MiniAn Arrangement of Roses Keychain
A Brief Walk Through the Rose Garden
Along the fence beside the street, one sees this view. It's the most unruly part of the rose garden. The gardener never really gets it under control.
As you will see, Mom's favorite rose was the small Cecile Brunner climbing rose. It would like to overwhelm and cover up all the other roses. You can see what's left of a chard I planted in front of the roses, too. It's bolting.
The view below is what you see if you go to the corner past the last rose bush on the right of the photo above. I am looking back at the corner where the back and side fence meet behind the tree.
In the middle of the garden, to the left of the photo above, you see more climbing roses. These have taken advantage of a pine tree that died and used it as a trellis.
Here's a closer look at the pine tree and the roses around it. This is also the southeast corner of the rose garden.
The photo below shows the view in front of the photo above, along the south side of the fence.
Below is the last rose bush in the garden. It's along the south fence closest to the house.
Do you have roses in your garden? Which of my roses do you like best? I'd love to have you leave a comment.


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Exam Board rules out creationism in UK classrooms
An examination board at the centre of a storm surrounding the teaching of creationism in UK schools has committed to re-visit its guidance to avoid the threat to science teaching that many feared, and to issue strict guidance to trainee teachers on their exam programme.
The 'Gateway Science' specification had caused controversy because teachers were asked to ìexplain that the fossil record has been interpreted differently over time (e.g. creationist interpretation).î
Related Articles
But now the Oxford, Cambridge and RSA (OCR) exam board has said they are ìhappy to commit to reviewing the wording of this part of the Gateway Science (Biology) specification for the next editionî.
They continue that ìmore immediately, we shall be issuing guidance in the many In-Service Teacher training (INSETs) and Network meetings we carry out during the year for the specification.î
The comments come in response to a letter from the British Humanist Association (BHA), which ñ along with teaching unions, scientists, educationalists and mainstream Christian theologians ñ has expressed public concern about creationist ideology creeping into classrooms.
OCR says that it envisages the guidance to teachers being ìalong the following lines: Only a creationist interpretation of the fossil record prior to, or contemporary, to Darwin needs to be explained in this context - such that students are able to understand the fundamental departure of Darwin's work from the religious norms of his time.î
Concerns had been raised that the inclusion of creationism in the specification might operate as a Trojan horse for those who wished to smuggle it and its cousin, so-called Intelligent Design (ID), into their science teaching. The new guidance makes clear that this should not occur.
Intelligent Design was condemned as non-science in a recent landmark judgement in Pennsylvania concerning the policy of the Dover School Board. Among those giving evidence against it was noted scholar John F. Haught, Professor of Theology at Georgetown University, and author of ëGod After Darwin? A Theology of Evolutioní.
Andrew Copson, education and public affairs officer for the BHA, commented: ìWe welcome the sensible decision of OCR. Too many creationists and advocates of Intelligent Design hide behind the claim that they want nothing more than for schools to 'teach the controversy'. Now it will be made clear that no scientific controversy does in fact exist.î
Educational commentators point out that there is a fundamental difference between the lively debates that take place within the fields of evolutionary biology and philosophy of science, and non-scientific claims of creationism, whose supporters are found in fundamentalist Christian, Islamic and Jewish circles.
The question of the fossil record raised in ëGateway Scienceí was thrown into relief by the recent visit to Britain of Australian creationist John Mackay, who sought an audience in schools and universities.
Evangelical Anglican vicar and geologist Michael Roberts told Ekklesia: ìJohn Mackay and other ëcreationistsí, who believe that the earth is only 6 to 10 thousand years old and that the fossils were laid down in the twelve months of Noahís flood are utterly wrong.î
Having made a careful study of creationist texts, he says: ìI soon found that they were wrong on three counts. First, they misunderstood standard geology. Second, their proposed alternative that all fossil-rich strata were laid down in the Flood results in absurdity. Thirdly, and most serious, was the frequent and systematic misquotation and misrepresentation of standard scientific sources.î
Adds Roberts: ìLike the majority of Christians, past and present, I see no clash between science and the Bible.î
Noting that in America campaigners have ìtried to force the teaching of ëcreationismí into schools in every stateî, Michael Roberts says that ìthe situation is not so advanced in Britain.î But he believes that, despite denials, academy schools are teaching creationism.
Today the Department of Education and Skills said that trust-backed schools, a widely criticized component of the governmentís education reforms, would be subject to the same rigorous inspection as other state schools. The Education Bill is currently entering the report stage in the House of Commons.
Education minister Jacqui Smith, replaced in PM Tony Blairís latest cabinet reshuffle, is on record as stating on behalf of the government that creationism and Intelligent Design should not be part of the science curriculum.
Vatican astronomer Guy J. Consolmagno, a Jesuit priest who has pioneered the field of gravitoelectrodynamics, recently described creationism as an unfounded superstition which undermines both legitimate science and theological understanding.
[Also on Ekklesia: Vatican astronomer says creationism is superstition; Schools minister says creationism has no place in classroom science; Creationists target schools and universities in Britain; Theologians and scientists welcome Intelligent Design ban; New education minister walks into row on faith schools; Christians to explore values in science and technology; Dawkins attacks creationist plans; Faith schools may allow extremists in, say critics; Education Secretary hits back over faith-based academies; US religious right plans a home-school revolution; Creationists plan six more schools; New Christian academy rejects creationism as 'rubbish']


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When most people think of doing book research, they immediately think of historical research. Those who write historicals have my deepest admiration. But contemporary authors have to do research for their stories as well. That's what I'd like to share with you today.
Every novelist must "jump" into their characters' skins, and that often means we must learn things we don't already know. How do we do this? The Internet is an invaluable tool, as is your local library or bookstore. Sometimes, though, your questions can't be answered that way and you have to go to your "source." Often that means interviewing someone by email, by phone, or in person. For an introvert writer who spends the majority of her time in front of a computer, this can be terrifying. Believe me, I know, as I still fight my fear of admitting to someone that I'm an author. After all, they might look at me like I'm an alien, or worse, they might try to bite off my nose, or laugh at me . . . or sneer.
Okay, so what sort of research might a contempory author need to do? Below are a few things I did for the books in the Seasons of the Tallgrass series, published by Zondervan.
In my first book, Snow Melts in Spring, the opening scene is one where a horse is terribly injured. Right off, I had to know technical terminology, and not only that, but I had to create a scene that was accurate and believable, not just something that looked good on paper. To get it right, I contacted a handful of veterinarians, asked them a bunch of detailed questions all the way down to possible accident scenarios, which would create the type of injuries needed for the story. I even shadowed one small animal vet for a day in order to get a feel for what a "day in the life" might look like for my character who was also a vet.
I also needed to know something about football. Again, not my specialty. For this research, I went to the children's section of the library and checked out an armload of books. Here's a good tip to know: Children's books are easy to read and they are chock full of valuable information. I also watched a lot of football games on television and asked my football loving friends and family hundreds of questions–all so I could write two or three scenes with authenticity.
It matters.
For my second book, Seeds of Summer, which releases the end of May, I needed to learn about the Miss Rodeo America competition because my main character, Natalie Adams is a former Miss Rodeo Kansas and first runner up Miss Rodeo America. My research for this story included visiting with those at the Miss Rodeo America headquarters, as well as interviewing and questioning the current MRA at that time, Miss Amy Wilson, Miss Rodeo America 2008.
The highlight of this research culminated when I met and visited Amy at her home in Colby, KS. Amy was a joy to work with and is such a lovely person. My visit to her home was an unexpected blessing, as she shared some special moments from her time as Miss Rodeo Kansas and then as Miss Rodeo America.
I learned that Miss Rodeo America has a host of sponsors who shower their queen with lovely gifts, some of which include: a wardrobe of Wrangler Jeans, Justin Boots, Bailey Hats , fully tooled Court's Saddle with custom Miss Rodeo America conchos and an official Miss Rodeo America trophy buckle from Montana Silversmiths. Accompanying the perpetual Miss Rodeo America tiara made by Landstrom's Original Black Hills Gold Creations, Amy was given a wardrobe of matching jewelry. These items, along with other prizes were presented to her throughout her reign. To see some pictures of these items, please visit my blog post here.
For my current project, book #3 – Blades of Autumn, I'm having to learn about running a cafe. So guess what? I've been visiting small town cafes and asking the owners lots of questions. Research such as this never ends, but taking the time to do this for your stories might mean the difference between someone loving your book or tossing it against the wall because it wasn't accurate. Sure, you'll never please everyone, but by doing the necessary groundwork, you'll at least know you did everything within your means to bring accuracy to the story.
Again, it's important. Your readers will thank you for it.
Blurb for Seeds of Summer: When opposites attract, sparks fly–like an electrical malfunction. That's what happens when former rodeo queen Natalie Adams meets the new pastor in Diamond Falls.
A heart-warming contemporary romance set in the Flint Hills of Kansas where a former rodeo queen abandons her dreams in order to care for her deceased father's ranch and her two half-siblings, only to realize with the help of a young new pastor that God can turn even the most dire circumstances into seeds of hope. Spanning the Seasons of the Tallgrass, each story in this series reveals the struggle of the people who live there and the dreams they have for the land until they come full-circle in a never-ending cycle, just as man comes full-circle in his understanding of God.
If you'd like to read a snippet from Seeds of Summer, I invite you to visit Country magazine, which recently did a feature interview with me for their April/May issue. While there, you may also enter your chance to win one of my books. This book giveaway ends May 31.
Deborah Vogts and her husband have three daughters and make their home in Southeast Kansas where they raise and train American Quarter Horses. As a student at Emporia State University studying English and journalism, Deborah developed a love for the Flint Hills that has never faded. In writing this series, she hopes to share her passion for one of the last tallgrass prairie regions in the world, showing that God's great beauty rests on the prairie and in the hearts of those who live there.
Visit Deborah at her web site or Country at Heart blog to learn more about her research for Seasons of the Tallgrass series.


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Emails that showed the panic that gripped the BBC in Countryfile presenter's age discrimination sacking
- Emails reveal BBC's slapdash approach to recruitment
- Another labels two stalwart presenters as 'no spring chickens'
- Veteran journalist now in line for six-figure payout
- BBC accepts ruling and apologises to presenter
- Tribunal blasts BBC obsession with 'ethnic diversity'
Victorious: Miriam O'Reilly at a press conference following yesterday's ruling
As Miriam O'Reilly celebrates her £150,000 payout, a series of sensational emails have emerged that reveal the BBC's panic over her ageism sacking.
In a landmark ruling, a tribunal declared yesterday that senior executives were obsessed with 'ethnic diversity', 'rejuvenation' and attracting younger viewers when they decided to axe the Countryfile presenter at the age of 51.
But a series of revealing internal corporation emails, published by the hearing, show BBC bosses drew up a 'risk assessment' at the time of
the Countryfile shake-up to head off expected claims it was 'dumbing
down' and 'pandering to a younger audience'.
Shockingly, it even made disparaging remarks about two of the stars who remain on the show – John Craven and Julia Bradbury – saying neither were 'spring chickens'.
In an email to executive editor Andrew Thorman, the BBC Publicity Department recognises they could be labelled ageist and sexist over the cull.
And in a contrived effort to deflect criticism, the email adds: 'To counter any suggestion of ageism I will position John Craven as a central figure in the new series.'
In another exchange between Mr Thornton and Countryfile magazine editor Cavan Scott the issue over swelling numbers of reader complaints is broached.
Mr Thornton tells Mr Scott: 'If it is an age thing then Julia and John are hardly spring chickens and if it is about personalities then it is subjective and all programmes need to refresh their output and that includes faces on the screen.'
Countryfile series producer Teresa Bogan even gives Mr Thornton her thoughts on 'additional ethnic talent', revealing the corporation's slapdash approach to hiring.
She adds: 'Do you want me to [look through their showreels] or would I be wasting my time (ie is Jay just gonna pick someone)???'
One of the axed presenters, Michaela Strachan, later shows her hurt at 'being dumped'.
She wrote to Andrew Thorman: 'I'm not even much older than Julia Bradbury. Did Jay need to make it quite so brutal?'
She adds: 'Oh, it's a cruel harsh world . . . Well, I'll bring my zimmer next time I come to Birmingham.'
The emails are a stark revelation over the inner workings of BBC recruitment processes and attitudes towards age and ethnicity that inspired Miriam O'Reilly to take the corporation to tribunal.
Scroll down for video report
Replacement: Julia Bradbury took over from Ms O'Reilly and three other female presenters in their forties on Countryfile
Miss O'Reilly, now 53, had been told to be 'careful about those wrinkles' before she and three other women were replaced by younger staff – two from ethnic minorities.
said standing up to the BBC had been 'the right thing to do, however
hurtful, however stressful it has been'.
She added: 'I never wanted to leave my job ... there are still years in me yet!'
Miss O'Reilly will now consider fresh offers from the BBC, which
issued a humiliating apology and said it would be happy to work with
her again.
Attack: Former BBC controller Jay Hunt had been accused of 'hating women' during the tribunal
The corporation – already under fire over the axeing of Arlene
Phillips from Strictly Come Dancing – has now been forced to draw up
fresh guidelines which will put a string of older stars on our screens.
Bosses, including the former BBC1 Controller Jay Hunt, were judged to
have shown 'complacency' in their casual attitude to the way they
treated staff.
It was alleged during the hearing that Miss Hunt 'hated women' – an accusation she vigorously denied.
She was also recorded as saying she needed 'to achieve social engineering to re-gear the channel'.
The tribunal said this meant 'finding presenters to reflect particular aspects of diversity to fit specific slots'. Miss O'Reilly revealed she had been offered a pay-off – thought to have been around £80,000 – to keep quiet and drop the case.
She described yesterday's ruling as historic, a verdict backed by employment lawyers.
Helena Derbyshire, of law firm Shoosmiths, said: 'This is the first
reported age discrimination claim challenging the assumption that
workers need to be youthful to be attractive.'
Miss O'Reilly revealed she had earned only £500 in the past two
years, as she struggled to find work due to the BBC's displeasure with
The saga began when she was dropped along with Charlotte Smith, 46, Juliet Morris, 45, and Michaela Strachan, 44, to make way for younger presenters such as Julia Bradbury, 40, and Katie Knapman, 38.
BBC bosses claimed the decision was nothing to do with age, but the need to 'refresh' and 'rejuvenate' the show.
But the tribunal's judgment was scathing of the BBC practices – in
particular of Miss Hunt and Andrew Thorman, the executive editor of
Miss O'Reilly told the initial 12-day hearing last year that even before she was axed she had been told to be 'careful about those wrinkles' in preparation for high definition television, to consider using Botox and offered a can of black hair dye.
Miriam O'Reilly began her career on a local newspaper before joining the BBC 27 years ago.
She started out at Radio WM in Birmingham as a news producer and went on to become a presenter and reporter on regional television news show Midlands Today.
Over the next decade she worked as a reporter and producer in news and current affairs, including a spell on Panorama, but left to become a full-time mother.
She returned to the corporation when she was 40 as a presenter on the series Farming Today on Radio 4.
Her appointment coincided with the foot and mouth outbreak which brought her a glut of high-profile work.
She also co-presented Radio 4's flagship environmental programme Costing The Earth.
In 2001, she was approached to join Countryfile and won a number of awards for a half-hour special she presented on the cost of fishing.
Ms O'Reilly also stood in for Jenni Murray on Woman's Hour when she was being treated for breast cancer.
In October 2008, she was told she would be axed from the flagship current affairs show when it moved to prime time.
The rest of her BBC work also trailed off.
Shortly after she launched her claim for sex and age discrimination, Ms O'Reilly wrote a piece for the Mail in which she described herself as 'a BBC person through and through.
'All I wanted to do was keep my job,' she said.
The veteran presenter, who had worked for the corporation for 25 years, said she knew this had 'the ring of truth' because of the prevailing 'ageist attitude'.
Yesterday at an emotional press conference, Miss O'Reilly revealed it
had taken a huge amount of courage to take a stand against the BBC,
particularly since it meant all other work had dried up.
'It was hard to take on the BBC because I love the BBC and I loved working there,' the mother-of-two said.
'I think it is one of the best broadcast organisations in the world but I felt that I was treated badly because of my age.
'Standing up to the BBC was the right thing to do, however hurtful,
however stressful it has been. I would like to go back to work for the
'I took this action because I wanted to work for the BBC.
'I never wanted to leave my job, I want my career. I am only 53, there are still years in me yet! Ageism is endemic, it is part of the culture of broadcasting.
'We still have a long way to go with ageism in visual media. It is
not just the BBC. We are seeing changes but we are not seeing enough and
it is not fast enough but we hope that after this case and the stand I
have taken it will happen a lot quicker.'
She said she had refused the BBC's earlier settlement because it
wanted her to sign a gagging order and would not accept recommendations
for age equality audits.
She said: 'When I was dropped from Countryfile because of my age, I
felt that after over 20 years with the BBC ... I deserved to be judged
on my ability and not on my appearance.
'I don't think having wrinkles is offensive, you know, we all get old, the alternative is pretty dire.
'I would like to continue working so long as I am good at my job. I
do not want to be judged by how I look – I know you can't frighten the
horses, you have to look presentable – but I do not believe that youth
has to be key to keeping your job.'
Miss O'Reilly told the tribunal she had been 'devastated' when she was told in November 2008 that she was being dropped after eight years of working for the show as a freelance.
The programme relaunched in April the following year in a Sunday evening prime-time slot with Miss Bradbury and former Blue Peter presenter Matt Baker, 33, along with veteran broadcaster Mr Craven, 70, who was kept on for a slot called John Craven Investigates.
It was also announced that they would be supported by presenters Adam
Henson, 44, Jules Hudson, 41, James Wong, 28, and Miss Knapman – the
latter two are both from an ethnic minority background.
In its judgment, the tribunal panel said the BBC had subjected Miss O'Reilly to direct age discrimination and age victimisation, though not sex discrimination.
Axed: Juliet Morris (left) and Michaela Strachan also left Countryfile as part of the shake-up
Retained: John Craven (left) and Adam Henson were two of the presenters to survive the cull
It said keeping Mr Craven suggested age was not a factor, but his
position was 'quite different' to that of the other presenters due to
his high profile.
Crucially, it said: 'If Miss O'Reilly had been 10 to 15 years
younger, she would have been given proper consideration to remain as a
presenter of Countryfile.'
BBC director general Mark Thompson apologised to Miss O'Reilly and said the BBC would be speaking to her to 'discuss working with her again'.
We'll change our ways, vows Beeb
By PAUL REVOIR
We didn't get it right: BBC Creative Director Alan Yentob
The BBC was yesterday forced to make drastic changes to its rules for selecting TV presenters following the Miriam O'Reilly verdict.
As the corporation was left reeling from the employment tribunal's finding, it tried to repair the damage by announcing that it was changing the guidelines on how it chooses on-screen talent.
Senior bosses are terrified of other women coming forward with similar discrimination claims against the broadcaster.
Within hours of yesterday's landmark result the corporation revealed it would produce 'new guidance' to ensure 'fair selection'.
As part of the changes 'senior editorial executives' will undergo 'additional training'.
BBC Creative Director, Alan Yentob, said yesterday: 'As a consequence we will be looking hard at training, especially senior editorial executives, about recruitment in this way; we will be reviewing our guidelines so that people feel that they get the help and assistance they require.
'I think there are questions here for the whole industry, these are not easy decisions, it is a creative industry and we need time to reflect on this and we are actually going to take this time to get it right, but in this instance we didn't get it right.'
Miss O'Reilly received a phone call from BBC director general Mark Thompson yesterday in which he apologised and told her she was welcome back.
Mr Yentob said: 'What we'll be saying to Miriam is if she wants to, we'd like to talk to her about further opportunities for employment.'
BBC insiders last night predicted the coming weeks will see a series of announcements handing older women prominent presenting roles.
It is already in the process of renegotiating the deals for older women newsreaders including Julia Somerville, Zeinab Badawi and Fiona Armstrong.
But critics say unless they are given more prominent slots – such as a major bulletins rather than occasional slots on the news channel – then the moves will still be regarded as a public relations exercise.
The BBC has pointed to its decision to move Rip-Off Britain - presented by Angela Rippon, Gloria Hunniford and Jennie Bond – to BBC1 'peak time' from day time as evidence it is addressing concerns.
A senior BBC insider said: 'This [ruling] does not mean you can't pick a presenter on the basis of what most appeals to the audience. But you need to do it in such a way that is fair and based on criteria and that the process is done properly.'
- Bizarre parallel universe where man throws ball to himself
- Loch Ness Monster? Mysterious figure swims through river...
- Cameraman and reporter 'harassed' in Molenbeek during report
- Woman records surgery and hears OR staff talking about her
- Huge 100-year-old alligator suspected of eating cows killed
- 'The Dragon Lady' opens up on her reptilian transformation
- Road rage caught on camera: driver tries ramming motorcylist
- Gay tourist beaten in Miami Beach restaurant over kiss
- Loveable baby Rhino just wants to cuddle her human friend
- Hillary Clinton defends Megyn Kelly, blasts Trump on The...
- Shopping retriever: Adorable puppy brings in the groceries
- Shocking moment woman drops baby onto floor during fight
- Snapped! Hunters catch and kill 15ft, 800lb alligator that...
- Hillary Clinton goes to bat for Megyn Kelly against Trump...
- 'Sarah Palin should be gang-raped by the burliest,...
- 'She's a handful': Woman secretly records her own surgery...
- Pausing mid-murder for a selfie: Feral girls aged 13 and 14...
- Furious Trump accuses Cruz of 'illegal' activity and...
- EXCLUSIVE: Caitlyn Jenner is STILL waiting to take the final...
- 'It was the first time that I didn't have to fake an...
- Ted Cruz insists he's 'always been faithful' to wife Heidi...
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- 'I was meant to have daughters': Gloria Vanderbilt tells her...
- 'Our eyes connected and I thought "Wow"': Hillary Clinton's...


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NICEIC is the UK electrical contracting industry's independent voluntary body. They offer leading certification services, Building Regulations Schemes, products and support to electrical contractors and many other trades within the construction industry. Over 25,000 contractors are registered with NICEIC and take advantage of their products and services.
NICEIC registration not only demonstrates to customers and specifiers our skills and professionalism, it also gives you peace of mind that our products and services are the best in the industry.
Finishes & Interiors Sector
FIS (formerly AIS) membership is not automatic and applicants are subject to strict vetting procedures. In the case of contractors, this includes inspection of recent contracts to assess workmanship standards. The main criteria for membership is that companies should:
- Conduct their business in a manner that reflects credit on the AIS and themselves.
- Adopt and commit to the principles and practices laid down by the FIS.
- Act with the utmost integrity towards others and exercise high standards of business practice and workmanship.
- Not mislead clients, architects or other employing bodies by fact or implication as to the performance of their products or systems.
- Ensure that they are conversant with and adhere to relevant British Standards (and, where appropriate, international and European Standards) and other relevant technical Standards, Regulations and practices.
- Insofar as they are able, ensure that their products or systems are tested and / or comply with the recognised Standards specified by the client or statutory authority.
Construction Line
Constructionline is the UK's largest register of local and national pre-qualified construction and construction-related services. Set up in 1998, Constructionline is designed to streamline procurement procedures, reducing supplier and client costs and wasted time and effort at the pre-qualification stage, rendering the construction industry more efficient and effective. To qualify for membership companies must comply with requirements appropriate to public and private sector procurement and as agreed with the Department of Trade and Industry.
Bbi have been a member since 2002.
This SAFEcontractor certificate is awarded for the following services:
- Ability to Sub-Contract works
- Building Services Management
- Carpentry
- Ceilings & Partitions
- Construction
- Electrical Equipment
- Flooring / Carpeting
- Furniture
- Interior Refurbishment
- M&E Consultant
- Plastering
- Principal / Main Coordinator
SAFEcontractor accreditation has been achieved following an assessment of Bbi's health & safety documentation, and compared against the SAFEcontractor Charter Standards, which set out the health and safety standards required to achieve accreditation.
Achilles is a neutral and trusted partner to 60 of the global Fortune 500 companies, managing supplier information on behalf of over 700 buyers around the world.
Achilles' online procurement services encompass everything from - finding and selecting potential suppliers, through to pre-qualifying, evaluating, auditing and monitoring - to provide buyers with the highest quality searchable data about suppliers and contractors.
Audit and Assessment Services
Audit and Assessment Services assess a supplier's capability, competence and compliance within agreed parameters. These can include industry standards, recognised best practice or country specific laws. All Achilles auditors are lead assessor qualified.
Institution of Occupational Safety & Health
Bbi are licensed by IOSH to deliver the following courses
- IOSH Managing Construction Safely
- IOSH Managing Safely
- IOSH Working Safely
IOSH is Europe's leading body for health and safety professionals with over 31,000 members worldwide, including more than 11,500 Chartered Safety and Health Practitioners.
The Institution was founded in 1945 and is an independent, not-for-profit organisation that sets professional standards, supports and develops members and provides authoritative advice and guidance on health and safety issues. IOSH is formally recognised by the ILO as an international non-governmental organisation.
The Contractors Health & Safety Assessment Scheme
"CHAS is established as the one of the market leaders for health and safety pre-qualification in the UK. It is available to suppliers (those who provide goods and services) and to organisations (buyers) looking for suitably competent suppliers. CHAS is a founder member and past Chair of Safety Schemes in Procurement – Competence Forum or SSIP. Please go to www.ssip.org.uk"
Safety Management Advisory Services
We are pleased to have gained a SMAS Worksafe certificate (www.smasltd.com). This means that we have met the SSIP core criteria recognised by the HSE and other SSIP accreditation schemes.
Meeting the SSIP Core Criteria demonstrates that we are serious about H&S and have (and use) an effective H&S Management System to ensure that any work they are engaged in is, so far as reasonably practical, carried out without risk to health and safety.


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- Greece will not be ejected from the EU – Faber on CNBC- Greek default will trigger massive losses for ECB and European banks- Highlights geo-political impetus to keep Greece within EU, NATO fold- Shows strategic geo-political importance of Greece in NATO's Cold war with Russia- China and Russia's ever-closer relationship more important than declining UK- "This Is A New World Order" – Dr Faber
In another fascinating interview, this time on CNBC, Dr. Marc Faber discussed the factors involved in the ongoing Greek crisis and made some interesting points.
Dr. Faber – who edits the Gloom, Boom and Doom report – is in no doubt that Greece will not be allowed to default because of both economic and geo-political considerations.
"It's about the ECB and European banks that have lent money to Greece and if Greece defaults would have to take a huge loss and write-off. So they will lend more money and kick the can down the road."
Of even greater significance is Greece's strategically vital location as a gateway between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean. It is this geo-political factor which Faber believes will ensure that Greece is kept within the EU fold at any cost. For this reason he insists that Russia will never cede Crimea to the western powers.
"From the Black Sea, the Russian fleet can move into the Mediterranean. and without that, they can't – they have no access to the Mediterranean, without the Black Sea and Crimea."
Marc Faber is an international investor known for his uncanny predictions of the stock market and futures markets around the world.Dr. Doom also trades currencies and commodity futures like Gold and Oil.


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Harry Potter Workshops for Kids!
This summer at The Blue Bunny with educator Michelle Perron, for kids entering grades 3-6. Participants should have read or listened to at least the first Harry Potter book. $10 each class, pre-registration required. All workshops will include a craft and snack. Please inform us of any food allergies when you register.
Monday, July 11, 2 - 3:30 p.m. "Wands" FULL
Monday, July 25, 2- 3:30 p.m. "Herbology" FULL
Monday, August 8, 2 - 3:30 p.m. "Potions" FULL
Monday, August 22, 2-3:30 p.m. "Trivia Challenge" LIMITED SPACE LEFT


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Situated just 300 m from Sultanahment Square in Istanbul's historic district, this 19th-century Ottoman mansion offers free on-site parking. It features a rooftop terrace with Sea of Marmara and Bosphorus views.BOOK NOW VIEW MORE
The Swissotel The Bosphorus is a luxury hotel, beautifully situated in the center of Istanbul. This 5-star property is surrounded by large gardens and offers spectacular views of the Bosphorus.BOOK NOW VIEW MORE
Overlooking the sea, Karakoy Port Hotel has a central location in Tophane district. The hotel has a restaurant with a terrace offering panoramic sea views and elegantly decorated luxurious rooms with free WiFi. Historic Kilic Ali Pasa Hammam and Istanbul Modern Museum are within a walking distance.BOOK NOW VIEW MORE
Located in the heart of Sisli district, Blisstanbul Hotel is within a walking distance from public transportation such as metro and bus. Free WiFi access is available throughout.BOOK NOW VIEW MORE
Situated a 5 minutes' walk from Sultanahmet Square, this budget hotel features air-conditioned rooms with a satellite LCD TV. All guest rooms and public spaces have aquamarine tints and decorations.BOOK NOW VIEW MORE
Situated in a 19th-century Ottoman palace, this 5-star hotel features an infinity pool with views of the Bosphorus. It has a spa and wellness centre, and offers elegant guestrooms with free WiFi.BOOK NOW VIEW MORE
Situated just steps from Ortaköy Mosque and featuring a magnificent view of the Bosphorus, Radisson Blu Bosphorus offers luxuriously appointed rooms and suites, along with free wireless internet and private parking.BOOK NOW VIEW MORE
Well-placed in the culture, religious interests, sightseeing area of Istanbul city, The Constantine Hotel provides a most conducive spot for you to take a break from your busy days. Situated only 0.5 km from the city center, guests are well located to enjoy the town s attractions and activities. ForBOOK NOW VIEW MORE


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New 12 week Yoga for Healthy Lower Back course with Sara-Jo is starting on Saturday 31st March from 11:30 - 12:45pm.
Yoga for Healthy Lower Backs is a clinically trialled course which teaches you the confidence in your own ability to manage back pain.
Follow this link to find out more about this excellent therapeutic class and contact Sara-Jo if your interested in booking!


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War funds may shift for troop additions
WASHINGTON - Senior Pentagon officials said Tuesday that they'll likely shift emergency funds from expensive weapons systems to help pay for sending more troops to Iraq and improving medical care for soldiers wounded in the wars there and in Afghanistan.
Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England and Adm. Edmund Giambastiani, the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, came under fire at a House Budget Committee hearing on the Pentagon's proposed $623.1 billion budget for fiscal 2008, which begins Oct. 1.
Almost $142 billion is slated for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, which would add to the $503 billion that Congress already has appropriated, said Rep. John Spratt, D-S.C., the budget panel's chairman.
Emergency spending
England said that an emergency spending bill now before Congress could pay for some of the additional troops President Bush dispatched to Iraq. The administration is seeking more than $100 billion in emergency spending for the current fiscal year, most of it for Iraq and Afghanistan.
Lawmakers reiterated concerns that the Pentagon is using the supplemental appropriations bills to fund expensive weapons systems with few direct ties to the wars.
Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, the senior Republican on the House Budget Committee, asked England why the emergency spending bill includes money for new F-35 Joint Strike Fighter jets and C-130 cargo planes.
England said that equipment used in the wars is aging 10 times faster than it would during peacetime, and he acknowledged that the Iraq conflict is lasting far longer than expected.
As lawmakers sparred with military brass, defense analysts issued a new report that says the Iraq War is ravaging the Army and Marine Corps and leaving the country poorly equipped to respond to other crises. The report came a week after a congressionally mandated panel found the National Guard at its lowest state of readiness ever.
Greater strain
Lawrence Korb, an assistant defense secretary for manpower under President Ronald Reagan, said Bush's decision to send at least 21,500 more troops to Iraq will worsen the strain.
"Our Army, the nation's Army, is in bad shape, and the surge will only make it worse for the Army and the country," Korb told reporters. "We're about to undo 30 years of building the best all-volunteer Army we've had."
"The costs in casualties and lost and damaged equipment, as well as the dangers posed by hurried and abbreviated training of new recruits and repeated combat tours, clearly show that the Army is in crisis," the analysts wrote.
"Not since the end of the Vietnam War has the Army been so depleted," they said.
Troops' costs
Four Army brigades - about 16,000 troops - have been sent back to Iraq or Afghanistan after spending less than a year at home, Korb and two other analysts said in a report by the Center for American Progress, a liberal policy organization. Army doctrine calls for two years of domestic service following combat duty, but U.S. defense officials have seldom met that target since the Iraq War began in 2003.
A total of 1.4 million troops have served in Iraq and Afghanistan, and nearly a third of them have endured more than one combat tour, the report said. Nine brigades - about 36,000 troops - have been sent to the war zones three times, the report said.
Deputy Defense Secretary England acknowledged that the security surge in Iraq will involve more than the 21,500 soldiers and Marines that Bush has cited. But he disputed a recent Congressional Budget Office estimate that it could cost as much as $10 billion and require a total of 35,000 troops, including 13,500 working to support the combat brigades.
The reinforcement effort will require 4,000 to 7,000 more troops, England said, bringing the total surge to no more than 28,500.
Standards questioned
Rep. Earl Blumenauer, an Oregon Democrat, pounded the table as he asked England and Giambastiani whether the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have led the Pentagon to lower its standards in order to meet recruitment goals.
"In my district, I've watched you recruit two autistic kids, so to say you haven't lowered standards - I beg to differ," Blumenauer said.
Asked whether the Pentagon is now allowing felons into the volunteer armed forces, England said, "We're not lowering our standards. The military has always been helpful to people who have had problems in the past."


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My father calls me Wolf.
He says that I will see things other people will not see
at night. When he holds me, heat comes out
of his big arms & I belong to him.
In the cold of Christmastime he rocks
me in his deep lap in the great shadow of a comforter.
We are wool on wool,
back & forth, singing these songs
whose words I can't even say out loud.
I think they're about God who keeps us in his paws.
My mother watches, standing at my window, arms
folded to her chest. One fingerbone
of moonlight reaches in, tapping on the lock
of her face, restless, not like a mother wolf
but lit like she is going
somewhere else.
But when I wind my arms around
him, put my face into the dimmed scoop
of his neck, he smells like good warm fire
like dark sweet dreams.
The Roof
I sleep on the roof now.
She has taken me away from him.
I sleep thinking of his face tucked
next to mine like a big black bear.
There are other children now.
We run like wild
animals. We let our hair go
into puzzles which will never be unraveled.
We let our teeth go fierce.
We leave dirt in our palms
& sleep without nightclothes.
We pee in the yards & eat raw things.
In the dark we watch the traffic lights blinking
from our sleep in the cold night air.
Sometimes I talk to the stars
& the stars keep the traffic
in the sky from bottling up.
Each person gives off a little
torch when they sleep
& mine's the softest one.
I am Birdie now I don't know why.
I squat at the edge of the top
of our rowhouse & I'm without wings I think.
Philadelphia isn't gentle now. Bad things echo up
& down our neighborhood at night.
I think we wound the people of our street.
I am hurting myself.
I can't tell time you know.
All the Africas
All the Africas live here
like a family of fire.
My mother always wears the bone of moon
across her face. I peer at her
like through a keyhole & I don't know why.
She never touches me.
The grownups eat cooked things
& we go foraging,
carving our designs in trees
& benches in the park & cedar picnic tables
left out in the trash, we never leave our names
& we can't read.
I am the clean seed
of a new race springing
from the dark continent of America.
God keeps me pure & savage here
before Moses
before the gift
before TV & toothbrushes
before the alphabet.
The Last Africa
The man with the megaphone warns Vincent Leaphart
to get out. He stays on, We stay here with him.
From up top of the bunker, the city
is our karroo dotted with colors of light.
In the dark, we are swept
down to the belly of our house.
They turn water on us
like a devil. We stay on.
We are flooding, there is no light left.
Then the fires & we huddle in the basement
under wet green blankets. Everything smells bad.
My mother stops twisting & I don't know why.
Everybody wailing. I am Birdie & I don't know how.
Then a quiet like I've never heard before.
Ramona Africa pulls me outside to the alley
& I burn there with her, naked on the stones
in the sweet jungle of the city.
When I come home my father will be singing
like an old kind dream. I have seen things
at night that other people have not seen.


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It isn't in what we receive outwardly that we find happiness.
It is in knowing we are doing the right thing.
Let's examine the roots of happiness. The big house, the nice car and the successful career are merely the trappings of success. Once attained one finds they are not the source of happiness. What then is?
You can be rich and happy and you can be rich and unhappy. Likewise you can be poor and happy and you can be poor and unhappy. I recall the two lepers I passed each day in Mcleod Ganj in India over twenty years ago. In outward appearance there was little difference between these two beggars. Each demonstrated the ravages of his disease in their fingers and other extremities. Yet, every morning the one man greeted me with a genuine smile and the other displayed the look of a beaten man. Why? What had the one found which had eluded his friend?
May I suggest you search for something that transcends your individual wishes and desires? Find a cause bigger than yourself to hitch your wagon to.
There have been well known people who have done this. I'm thinking of the likes of Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr. and Mother Teresa. Each of these three modern day saints worked tirelessly for the benefit of others. But we don't need to become famous to be fulfilled. We just need to be ourselves and to undertake that which we came here to do; to use our unique gifts to complete our Divine Mission. Simple, isn't it?
Vocation derives from the Latin vocare: meaning 'to call'. I would venture to say we've for too long focused on career rather than on the vocations which are calling us. Find your vocation. Find your calling and right livelihood and a meaningful career will follow.
It isn't in what we receive outwardly that we find happiness. It is in knowing we are doing the right thing. It is in the giving, in the service to others, that we find the supreme satisfaction which has eluded us in the trappings of success. Why was one leper happy and the other sad? Had the first discovered he could serve me and others who crossed his path with a real, heartfelt smile? His shrivelled body precluded gainful employment. Yet he found ways to give within the framework of his circumstances. He could have felt sorry for himself, just as his friend did. He didn't. He glowed with the innocent joy of all those who give without expecting anything in return. He saw his challenging life script as an opportunity. He rose above his weaknesses. You can too.
Commit yourself to a cause greater than your desires. You too can serve and give at anytime and under any circumstance. Make your commitment to give, rather than to get. Avoid the desire for the trappings found on the surface of life. Dive deep and discover the gems hidden within your character. Find your unique gifts and apply them in service to your fellow man and to the other beings you share this beautiful planet with. You can always choose to smile at the circumstances of life. Rise above them. You are bigger than they are. Be happy. It is a choice. Will you make it?
I Am here to serve and I do so wholeheartedly.
Radio host, inspirational speaker and health educator John Haines is the author of In Search of Simplicity: A True Story that Changes Lives and the recently released Beyond the Search, books to lift the spirit and touch the heart. See http://www.JohnHainesBooks.com
"In Search of Simplicity is a unique and awe-inspiring way to re-visit and even answer some of the gnawing questions we all intrinsically have about the meaning of life and our true, individual purpose on the planet. I love this book."
Barbara Cronin, Circles of Light. For the complete review visit: http://www.circlesoflight.com/blog/in-search-of-simplicity/
"In Search of Simplicity is one of those rare literary jewels with the ability to completely and simultaneously ingratiate itself into the mind, heart and soul of the reader."
Heather Slocumb, Apex Reviews
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Here's a link to a related blog on Gross National Happiness.


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Summers in Massachusetts are wonderful. After months of ice and snow, the change in seasons finally allows us to enjoy long-awaited rituals. For many people, one of these is a summer vacation.
When you are caring for someone with dementia, the thought of a vacation may be wonderful, but the actual reality of the experience can be stressful and complicated. Caregiving is a 24/7 job wherever you are. Dementia doesn't go away like some of the other worries we leave at home while on vacation. In fact, the change in routine can make symptoms even worse.
If you decide that travelling is important and that it brings value to you and your care partner's life, the following suggestions may help make the process easier and safer for both of you:
- Travel with more information than you think you need. Bring copies of medication lists, doctor's names/numbers, a photo of your loved one, copies of medical proxies/emergency contacts.
- Register your care partner in the Alzheimer Association's Safe Return program, a 24-hour nationwide emergency response service for individuals with Alzheimer's or a related dementia.
- Plan everything in advance. This includes meals, lodging, transportation and activities. It is better to know in advance what some of your challenges may be than to be blindsided in the moment.
- Maintain your current routine and structure as much as possible while you are away.
- Schedule a dress rehearsal. Go for a day trip that includes traveling, activities and meals. This will give you an opportunity to practice some of the challenges you may face on your actual trip.
- Bring along another family member and/or a professional caregiver.
- Expect the unexpected. Even with all of the planning you will do, something will happen that you could not have anticipated. 1) Accept this in advance and 2) try to keep a sense of humor, it is what it is.
If the prospect of all the planning feels overwhelming, you may decide that travelling with your care partner is not a viable option. Additionally, you as a full-time caregiver may need a break. An occasional vacation from caregiving is a crucial part of maintaining the ability to provide care over the long term. It is something caregivers do for themselves that positively impacts their care partner, both in the short and long-run.
In these cases, look for memory care communities that offer something called "Respite Care." These are temporary assisted living stays – typically ranging between several days and several weeks. The benefit to you is peace of mind as well as the chance to recharge. Your care partner enjoys their own vacation in a community designed specifically to support persons with dementia; a win-win for both of you.
Memory Care at Assisted Living at NewBridge on the Charles
NewBridge on the Charles offers the Gilda and Alfred A. Slifka Memory Care Assisted Living Residences to seniors with early stage and mid-stage Alzheimer's Disease and/or a related dementia. The Memory Care Assisted Living Residences at NewBridge on the Charles provides a personalized and meaningful assisted living experience for residents based on the history, preferences and goals of each individual. Short-term stays now available.
Learn more about Memory Care at NewBridge


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The Federal Bar Association is pleased to announce that it is implementing the SOLACE program on a national scale with the help of its local FBA Chapters. SOLACE stands for "Support of Lawyers/Legal Personnel—All Concern Encouraged." SOLACE provides a way for the FBA legal community to reach out in small, but meaningful and compassionate ways, to FBA members and those related to them in the legal community who experience a death, or some catastrophic event, illness, sickness, injury, or other personal crisis. Judge Jay Zainey and Mark Surprenant, in connection with the Louisiana State Bar Association, originally developed the SOLACE program, and in 2016 FBA President Judge Michael Newman made the SOLACE program one of his national priorities for the FBA.
The SOLACE program has helped numerous individuals by handling a wide variety of requests. Examples of past requests and responsive help include securing a medical evacuation airlift from a foreign country, donating furniture to a solo practitioner whose office was consumed by a fire, contributing frequent flyer miles or hotel points for families who cannot afford the travel costs associated with medical treatment, volunteering to care for the dog of an individual who was away from home while receiving cancer treatment, providing a family with meals, lodging, assistance with grocery shopping or child care, or providing non-legal information—whatever the situation may warrant. SOLACE does not, however, handle requests for money. For more information on the initiative's good work, please follow the links here and here.
The FBA's SOLACE initiative is open to all FBA members and those related to them within the legal community— judges, lawyers, court personnel, paralegals, legal secretaries and their families—not just lawyers. If you would like to submit a SOLACE request for help, please click here and submit the request electronically, or feel free to contact an FBA Chapter SOLACE Liaison directly in your area to submit a SOLACE request. A list of participating FBA Chapters and their SOLACE Liaisons may be found here. No request is too big or too small.
How can you help? If you are an FBA member, you automatically will receive SOLACE information via email if a request for assistance is received that could be addressed by FBA members in your area. The SOLACE email notification will describe the need and how you can help. If you choose not to participate in SOLACE, you can unsubscribe from the SOLACE email service at any time by simply clicking on the "Unsubscribe" button.
Please note that all SOLACE requests are handled as discreetly as possible. In normal circumstances, the only parties who will know the identity of a person requesting help are the SOLACE coordinators and the individuals offering help. Likewise, if you are offering to help meet a request, the only parties who will know your identity are the SOLACE coordinators and the individual seeking help.
The FBA SOLACE initiative is directed at the national level by the FBA National SOLACE Committee. For a list of the current Committee members click here. If you have further questions about FBA SOLACE, please contact a SOLACE Committee Member.