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Millions of patients will benefit from ground-breaking plans for 7-day access to both their GPs and hospitals, the Prime Minister has announced.
David Cameron has revealed details of a new, voluntary contract for GPs to deliver 7-day care for all patients by 2020. He has also unveiled proposals to deliver 7-day hospital services across half the country by 2018. These are the next steps in making England the first country in the world to provide a truly 7-day health service, underpinned by a strong economy and £10 billion of investment in the NHS. The plans are a key part of the government's commitment to deliver security, stability and opportunity for the British people.
The government reports it has listened to GP leaders who say that the time has come for a new, voluntary contract option for general practice, integrated with community nurses and other health and care professionals, to provide more seamless, person-centred care for patients. That approach is embedded at the heart of NHS England's Five Year Forward View.
The new contract will be funded with money from within the £10 billion of additional investment on the back of a strong economy and that will be set out in the Spending Review. It will aim to provide more money for primary care, more control for GPs over the way they work and more time to care for patients, and services 7 days a week. It will remove the bureaucratic box-ticking of the 2004 GP contract – freeing up GP time to provide the quality of care that they and their patients want. Micro-management of GPs' work through the Quality and Outcomes Framework and other sorts of old-fashioned bureaucracy will be scrapped, giving doctors far greater professional control.
The government is also committing £750 million over the next 3 years to fund improvements in premises, technology and modern ways of working, such as supporting federations and larger practices in providing 7-day services through a flexible range of face-to-face, telephone, email and Skype consultations.
A number of hospitals and NHS staff are already delivering 7-day care. For instance, in Chesterfield, scans and tests can continue at the weekend,; in Northumbria, there are consultant-led services for emergency patients 7 days a week; Wigan runs a lung disease service 7 days a week to help keep patients well at home.
But the government believes there remains far too much variation and it is now guaranteeing, by the end of this Parliament, that patients who need to be in hospital will receive the same high quality assessment, diagnosis and treatment as on any other day of the week. By 2017, a quarter of the population who have urgent or emergency hospital care needs will have access to the same level of consultant assessment and review, diagnostic tests and consultant-led interventions 7 days a week.
The government is now giving the NHS the concrete objective of achieving 50% population coverage to those standards by 2018, and complete coverage by 2020. As part of its new 'patient guarantee', the Prime Minister announced that the government intends to make it a requirement in its new mandate to NHS England that they and clinical commissioning groups should ensure that every patient has access to 7-day services by 2020. It will be setting out clear milestones for delivery in the coming months and believes that by improving access to primary care, pressure on A&E and other emergency services within the NHS will be relieved.
David Cameron says: "Our plans for a truly 7-day NHS will transform services for millions of patients. It will offer hardworking taxpayers and families the security of the care they need at a time that is convenient to them. I want to pay tribute to the fantastic work of GPs and indeed all NHS staff across the country."
New GP contract
The government wants GP practices to work together so that they have the scale to provide additional services that people value so much. The new voluntary contract will enable GPs to continue to work in local neighbourhood surgeries and health centres, with all the traditional benefits of family practice, but they will be able to join forces with neighbouring GPs to form federations and networks of practices – allowing them to deliver better integrated care and work more closely alongside community nurses, hospital specialists, pharmacists and other health and care professionals.
This will help to break down old-fashioned boundaries between GPs and hospitals, between physical and mental health, between health and social care – and enable the NHS to work better with local communities to keep people healthy and avoid unnecessary hospital admissions.
The new contract will be offered to GPs on a phased basis, starting with those groups of GPs that are most ready to work in this new way and building on the success of the pioneering Prime Minister's Challenge Fund for GP access and the NHS vanguards. In addition, the government's £750 million GP access fund will be subject to a bidding process, with applications to be received by the end of the year and the first schemes approved in 2016.
7-day services in hospitals
The plans will mean a dramatic improvement in standards of patient care at weekends. In the first phase, at least a quarter of the population will, by 2017, have access to services which meet the key 7-day clinical standards recommended by Prof Sir Bruce Keogh, the NHS Medical Director and supported by the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges.
Whatever day of the week it is, if patients are admitted to hospital in an emergency, they will be seen and have a thorough assessment by a suitable consultant as soon as possible and no more than 14 hours after arrival, over and above other treatment. If they are in a high dependency ward, they will be seen and reviewed by a consultant twice daily. If they are on a general ward, they will be reviewed during a consultant-delivered ward round at least once every 24 hours, 7 days a week. Now, only 10% of hospitals report that they meet this standard in all their clinical specialities measured in the baseline – falling as low as 33% of patients in geriatric medicine.
Whatever day of the week it is, inpatients will get the full range of diagnostic tests, such as x-ray, ultrasound, and MRI – and then will be given the results without delay. And they will get quick access to any urgent consultant-led treatment they need. Now, just over 10% of hospitals across England report that they provide all 14 of the diagnostic services 7 days – though all the evidence shows that in tackling diseases like cancer, early diagnosis and treatment are the key factors in improving survival rates. Currently there is only 52% availability over 7 days for echocardiography results.


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Abdy Shamloo is a motion designer and a 3D Generalist from Switzerland.
Website: as-art.ch
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By completing your order, you understand that the products(s) you are purchasing are U.S. models and may have power / voltage requirements different from that of your country.
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This cool tripod LCD or Video Monitor stand is ideal for mobile or video Dj's, sports bars, schools, convention centers or anyone needing a economical, durable, space saving portable video monitor stand. Simple tripod format operates in the same fashion as a standard speaker stand.Features:


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Moving this winter? Just think if you were moving from Connecticut this past week! Just heard that in Madison, CT; schools may be open today for the first time all week. If the school bus' can't get through to pick children up, then a moving van surely will not arrive. If weather forecasts call for bad weather; heavy snow, ice, or some other form of bad winter weather, plan to have delays on loading.
If you are moving to an area where bad weather is predicted; or poor weather en-route, the same possibilities exist for delays. Plan to rearrange travel schedules, and other plans if it looks like poor weather will hamper the logistics of your move.
Picture taken near the top of Magic Mountain, Vermont
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Sunday, February 3, 2013
Another View of our new home; Weston,VT
The Vermont Country Store! A destination to visit for sure! Good food and great shopping.
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text: Thoughtfully designed with daily commuters in mind and powerful enough to satisfy the needs of singletrack addicts, the Urban 350 is simply the lightest, brightest, most compact light in its classThe 350 Lumen output certified to the FL-1 StandardEngineered with the best CREE LED and enhanced firmwareCustom engineered micro-peened reflector optimises the light to provide a smooth, even beam pattern that focuses the light exactly where you need itBeam pattern has been engineered to maximise a ridersÂ? depth perception using optics that eliminate the snowball effect with a smooth transition across the beamAmber side light windows direct a warning shaft of light for a full 180 degrees of visibility and help visibility to motorists when at junctions or in trafficIP67 Rating Â? all 2015 light and Motion lights have been tested to be fully waterproof Â? the test means they can endure at least 30 minutes in 1 metre of waterDirect switch action operates positively for mode switchingAuto lock out feature (hold on/off switch down for 4 seconds to lock) to avoid accidental switching on in your bag or at home in the tool boxBright battery status indicator so you know when to plan your next chargeMicro USB rechargeable via waterproofed portPulse mode designed for maximum safety Â? more usable for riding with and less distracting for motoristsSimple bar strap fits all handlebar diameters2 year manufacturer warranty from date of purchase Â? see website for further detailsRecharge time: 5 hrsWeight: 121 gRun time: High - 1.5 hrs, Med - 3 hrs, Low - 6 hrs


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Hi all,
In talking to one of Nonna's(mother's mother) we were talking about old recipes and pizza came up and I asked her about the pizza she normally used to make me, which was similar to my fath... (more)
Hi all,
In talking to one of Nonna's(mother's mother) we were talking about old recipes and pizza came up and I asked her about the pizza she normally used to make me, which was similar to my fath... (more)
Not so long time ago I added the post about my first electric pizza-oven ever. And here's one of my first Margheritas. What do you think, guys? Does it look good enough?
Used classical AVPN dough re... (more)
Based on everything I've read about Buffalo mozzarella, it seems like the domestic US variety isn't quite as good as the Italian stuff. I've only had Italian and I'm guessing it was almost a week ol... (more)
Another crack at at the Sicilian but first time using my Sicilian pan this time , wow what a difference!
Sauce simple San Marzano hand crushed and a can of 6 in 1 ground tomatoes. Pinch of basil ... (more)
Did a thin-crust cheese pizza the other day
Random pics from a pizza night.
Flour: Caputo Red
While at Costco today, I picked up a 5lb bag of part skim pre-shredded mozzarella. For $10, it's quite the deal.
Normally, I avoid pre-shredded cheeses like the plague. I don't care for the ad... (more)
I live in an awesome place but Seattle doesn't seem to be known for its mozzarella. I had been looking for "Fior di Latte" mozzarella and all of the local cheese mongers try and hand me something dif... (more)
Steve M's post in the other thread about making mozzarella (http://www.thepizzabible.com/posts/is-it-worth-the-effort-to-make-homemade-mozzarella), has me itching to make my own mozzarella now.
... (more)
Hi, I live in Illinois.Does anyone know where I can buy Grande Mozzarella cheese?
Shredding cheese takes additional time and since mozzarella is sold already shredded, I'm not convinced I should be buying fresh cheese and shredding it myself.
What's people's experience with shr... (more)
Can mozzarella cheese be frozen? My favorite brand comes in two pound loaves and is far too big to be used in a few days. I'd like to cut it up into smaller pieces and freeze them. Will the cheese... (more)
Always trying to perfect many aspects when making my homemade pizzas , a slow but forward progression. I made about 5 total finally using 2 pizza stones, I def can notice the difference between not u... (more)
I use a blend of whole milk mozzarella (preferably Grande') but I use Galbani as well. Pecorino Romano and Parmesan reggiano. My ratio is one cup mozzarella, to 1/4 cup Romano to 1/8 cup Parmesan. I... (more)
My family always deep-fried calzones, and they still do. Better than baked. It's a little tricky, though, because they can develop a hole or open up at the seam, and you lose the filling. So I jus... (more)
I'm trying to find the brand or type of mozzarella that is used at pizzerias like Lombardi's, Grimaldi's and Totonno's. Everything I've tried using doesn't have the same melt. Is it a special bran... (more)
Is it worth the effort to make mozzarella from curd? It seems like it could be a fun thing to try. But is the quality going to be better than high quality cheese that you can buy at a store?
Has anyone tried this cheese yet or know where to get it without going through a distributor? Would love to try it myself.
The cheese is supposed to be right up there and on par with Grande if not... (more)


text: Intraoral cameras allow our dentists to thoroughly examine the areas of your mouth that are more difficult to reach. As the images capture by this device are projected onto a nearby screen, you can also see and understand what is happening in your mouth. Call us today at 253-939-0700 to make your appointment with Drs. Nuttall and Roberts at Nuttall Smiles and to learn more about intraoral cameras in Auburn, Washington.


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China says no need to worry about Fed's impact on yuan: state media
[SHANGHAI] There is little to worry about the Federal Reserve's impact on China's yuan as the exchange rate will be determined by economic fundamentals in the long term, state media reported, barely a day after the Fed's rate hike and policy outlook pummeled the yuan to 8-1/2-year lows.
The Communist Party's official paper, the People's Daily, said in an editorial on Friday that there was "no need to worry too much" over whether the rate hikes would put further depreciation pressure on the yuan and increase capital outflows. "The days of 'when the United States sneezes, the whole world is cold' have drifted away, liquidity in today's global markets is no longer all in US dollars," the newspaper said. "The supply of dollars will be tightened on the market but everyone has many choices such as the relatively loose euro to deal with the dollar tightening in order to ease the rate hike's impact on the stability of the financial system," it said.
China's yuan fell to its weakest level in more than eight years against a broadly stronger US dollar on Thursday in the wake of the policy decision by the Fed, which also signalled a faster pace of rate hikes.
Analysts have predicted that the yuan could be set for further falls as authorities have struggled to defend the currency against a relentlessly rising dollar amid heavy capital outflows.
The newspaper said that the international community had grown more optimistic about China's growth prospects after recent strong economic data. "In the short term devaluation pressure on the yuan does exist, but in the long run, economic fundamentals decide the direction of the yuan exchange rate," it said.


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From time to time HAWS initiates fund raising events in which we attempt to involve the entire community in and around Hermanus. All fund raising events are posted on our website and Facebook and advertised in the media to promote awareness in the hope that the larger community supports this absolutely necessary cause which tirelessly cares for animals in the Hermanus area.
Membership of Hermanus Animal Welfare Society
Help us to support the abused and abandoned dogs and cats of Hermanus by becoming a member of HERMANUS ANIMAL WELFARE SOCIETY.


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Sunday, March 9, 2014
Ableism and Disability Erasure in the Social Justice Community
I tried to argue that not talking about disability issues didn't inherently make them prejudiced although some of them very well may be, but I totally stuck my foot in my mouth. Thats what I get for arguing with people on the internet on an insomnia bender.
Now, the salient point of that story is erasure and how all of us able-bodied people subtly contribute to it. When was the last time you thought about the problems of disabled people? Were you aware that the phrase 'person with a disability' can be considered offensive? Do you ever notice the lack of accessibility in your local community? Do the words "inspirational porn" mean anything to you?
When you think about it, the lack of visibility for the disability rights movement is shockingly insidious. Whenever we do hear about disability it's almost always in the context of "aren't they so brave for continuing to exist?" or we use disabilities as a justification for abortion, like disabled kids have less of a right to life than able ones. I'm all for pro-choice, but I don't think we should use the condition of the fetus in question as a reason to abort it. There are much more valid points to be made in favor of abortion, and all of those are less ableist.
We all see the disabled parking spaces, the closed captioning on television, hearing aids and guide dogs and think that we're done. That we've done everything possible to grant accessibility and equal rights to disabled people. That ableism doesn't exist.
The only reason why we think ableism doesn't exist is because we never hear about disability rights issues. Because the world has told us that disability is a bad thing, and we continue to live in ignorance. We don't go looking for the disability rights movement because no one has told us that it exists or what they're fighting for. Mia Mingus, a community organizer and transformative justice activist, writes on Resist that in all her time doing social justice work "disability is something that most people know very little about - and that includes seasoned, fierce, and well-respected community organizers and activists." Mingus goes on to say that "For many people, even just the idea that we can understand disability as "not wrong" is a huge shift in thinking."
I don't think the exclusion of disability rights on Social Justice blogs and in the media is an act of prejudice, but rather one of institutionalized ignorance. A symptom of systematic prejudice. It isn't an individual act of hate. Ablism is a hard thing to recognize and correct because we live in an incredibly ableist society that refuses to recognize ableism. But we have to see that in ourselves and start including everyone when we talk about equality. Especially those of us who blog about social justice issues, because if we don't, we're presenting a distorted message and telling all of the disabled persons of the world that they don't matter.
Mingus's blog can be found here. The Center for Disability Rights has a website and blog you should also check out. The BBC runs a pretty good blog as well. Plus some great tumblrs.
2 comments:
- AnonymousMarch 15, 2014 at 7:09 AM
For the first point, I have to say I disagree that they're bigots. It's quite unfair to say they have an active dislike of the disabled just because they don't talk about it. Perhaps they find other issues more important. Yes, it should be brought to their attention but to slander them as bigots is quite unnecessary. So I agree with your post.ReplyDelete
I'm not sure what I feel about social justice blogs in general because most that I've seen exaggerate problems and essentially make a parody of what we should be focusing on.
Being disabled myself, I feel that we're making better progress towards how we treat them BUT I am a student. So that probably works in my favour more than against it.
- AnonymousMay 16, 2017 at 4:54 PM
You make some valid points. I agree for the most part. Here are a few things that even fewer know of: Abuse of mentally ill prisoners on prisons and police brutality of mentally ill people. We aren't considered a priority. They aren't all bigots, but you're correct that some are.ReplyDelete


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During Australia's rainy seasons, brimming waterways flow thousands of miles inland toward Lake Eyre, the usually-dry saltpan situated in the Australian Outback and the lowest point on the continent. The amount of rainfall determines whether water will reach the saltpan, and if so, how much. While Lake Eyre does not fill often, 2011 marks the third consecutive year water has reached the area, and this year experts are predicting unusually high water levels. Current monsoonal activity in the surrounding areas leads scientists to believe Lake Eyre flood levels could rival those of 1974, which peaked at 20 feet. (Heavy flood seasons generally peak at no more than 13 feet, and that level of flooding is generally limited to no more than once every ten years or so.) As of March 2011, the southern part of the lake is almost entirely filled, and the larger area in the north is 75 percent covered. With the waterways showing no sign of slowing, 2011 is shaping up to be another fantastic season for Australia's pelicans. The birds will travel thousands of miles to populate these temporary waters, where they will feed on the bounty of the lake and raise a new generation of chicks.
Check out the current lake status here.


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Local food and produce markets are a way of life all over the world – often a social ritual where the stallholders know your name, your favourite ingredients and when to tempt you to try something new. With food and produce markets throughout the country, thousands of us descend upon local farmers markets each week so what's the real attraction here in New Zealand?
Driven by purchasing the freshest produce, supporting local producers, looking to purchase artisan products or simply escaping for an hour or so, many people are regulars at farmers markets. On Saturday mornings at Tauranga Farmers Market (and others too) people patiently queue at the entrance waiting for 7:45am to tick over. Early birds get the ever so popular fresh blueberries and free range eggs; sold out signs greet those who arrive mid-morning, while stallholders sit and chat in the sunshine, patiently waiting for 12 noon packdown to roll around.
For others, even ardent fans of farmers markets it's a morning out driven by a need for truly fresh produce, a particular ingredient, meeting a coffee for a friend or simply that it's been too long since the last visit. Sometimes planned, sometimes impromptu we're not what could be defined as regular market goers even if we love local farmers markets.
Out of town on holiday it's the perfect opportunity to sample local artisan products. A recent long weekend staying on a friends' avocado orchard near Te Puke, we were spoilt for choice with Te Puke, Tauranga and Mt Mauganui farmers markets all within driving distance. At Tauranga Farmers Market we were lucky to grab some local award winning cheese, Blue Monkey from Mount Eliza Cheese (Katikati based raw milk cheese makers), Small Batch hazelnut butter and loads of fabulous fresh produce.
Weather dependent (it's drizzly and grey here on the Coromandel today) we hope to head to Thames Market (facebook) Saturday morning. For information on just a few of the farmers markets visited by The Foodie Inc click on links below:
- Explore Wellington Markets
- Coatesville Monthly Market
- A Smorgasbord of Stalls - Auckland City Farmers Market
- Sunday Markets - Hobsonville Market
- Hawkes Bay Farmers' Market
If you have a favourite local food and produce market you wish to share, feel free to comment below.
Enjoy your weekend.


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SSON Global State of the Shared Services & Outsourcing Industry Report and Analysis 2016
We respect your privacy, by submitting this form you agree to having your details passed onto the sponsor who may promote similar products and services related to your area of interest. For further information on how we process and monitor your personal data click here.
Global Outsourcing Industry
In our 2015 global shared services & outsourcing survey we wanted to find out which levers practitioners around the world were using to drive performance.
In the 2016 survey, we asked how they were using these levers to drive performance.
Read it here.
Note: report originally posted online March 2016


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'Don't let your children grow up to be Filmmakers' is the title of a presentation I've given about five times now, and it tends to get me in a little trouble with people who take it too seriously. Filmmaking, as we know it today, will eventually be rebranded as 'Content Creation', and in most cases it will be digital instead of film. A content creator is a storyteller who makes products for many different formats; the story you're telling could go straight to YouTube, it could find a home on Netflix, it could take the form of a video game, and so on. Very few of us create content that originates on film and stays on film for projection in a theater. My presentation has been mostly for a younger audience with the intent to encourage the next generation of filmmakers to see that storytelling exists in countless forms and that they should keep their options open.
Another statement that gets me in trouble and always leads to questions is the reality every artist must face; 'You are a Product'. You are for sale and so is your art. Every artist, filmmaker, content creator, and so on, is a business and because you are a business you are for sale. It's a reality we all need to face. You are a product and as a product you have a brand. The marketing of 'You', your product, is just as important (if not more so) than what you create. As a filmmaker I have been forced to accept that I am a digital content creator who must market myself and my product to the world. And this is why I start my presentations with the simple statement, Don't let your children grow up to be Filmmakers. Hopefully they'll be filmmakers, and also so much more.


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Product Description
There is something very special about this fragrance! It is orange but with an underlying heat that really makes you want more and more. One retail location was burning it after they had sold the last one and a customer became quite indignant that she couldn't purchase one at that very moment.
The cotton wick is basically self trimming. I sometimes give it a quick trim about halfway through the candle. You can decide for yourself. For safety sake it is always recommended that you extinguish any candle when approximately 1/4 inch of wax remains.
Soy wax burns cleanly. And you get about twice the burn time of a paraffin candle with natural soy wax. The scent throw is true and strong without being sharp and cutting.
Another benefit of soy wax is easy soap and water clean out of your containers. This allows for refills or re-use of this candle jar.
To Learn more about The Good Neighbor Candle Co. and me, Becky, just visit my blog at www.candlesathospitalitylane.blogspot.com. There you will see projects in process, feedback from customers and information about my candles.


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World Championship Team Challenge 2019
The World Championship Team Challenge is a chance for players to team up with a friend in a fun, two-person scramble format. The 9-hole event will be an 8:30 a.m. shotgun start on Tuesday, July 30th.
Registration: Invitations will be emailed to all registered World Championship participants. Registration is on a first-come, first- serve basis and will be limited at each golf course. Please see the attached instructional page should you have any questions when registering: Forming a Team
*Players must be signed up for the World Championship to be eligible to compete in the Team Challenge event.
Cost: $175 per team. Entry fee includes greens fees for two players, golf cart, lunch for players and caddies, tee gift and awards.
Start time: 8:30 a.m. shotgun start. Starting hole will be listed on the scorecard and cart sign.
Format: Two-person Scramble - All players will tee off from the teeing ground at the designated tee color for the age group. The team will select the best tee shot. Each member of the team may then hit from the chosen position. This procedure is repeated until the ball is holed.
Age Groups and Yardages: Click here for target yardages based on age group.
Awards: Trophies will be presented to the 1st and 2nd place teams in each age group.
Tiebreaker: U.S. Kids Golf Scorecard Playoff will be used to break ties for all awards. Winner will be determined on the basis of the team score on the last nine holes, last six holes, last three holes and finally the last hole. If the teams are still tied, continue backward from the last hole until a winner is determined. (The "last nine holes, last six holes, etc." is considered to be 10-18, 13-18, etc.)
Course Assignments:
|Age Group
|Boys & Girls 11-12
|Longleaf G&FC (Back Nine)
|Boys 9-10
|Longleaf G&FC (Front Nine)
|Girls 9-10
|Pinehurst No. 6 (Front Nine)
|Boys & Girls 8 & Under
|Pinehurst No. 6 (Back Nine)
© 2004-2017. US Kids Golf, LLC. All rights reserved


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I was given a wonderful gift from a dear customer this week. She gave me 39 hand pieced blocks that are made of vintage fabric. They don't look much like any of the reproductions that I carry in my store, and I've yet to find any like them in any catalogs.
Is there any members who might be willing to date some fabric for me if I were to scan some of the blocks and attach them to this discussion?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Tammi Jo Wilson


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The Day Grace Was Born
Every year, I get very reflective once Easter rolls around. Seriously – from Palm Sunday all the way to the Resurrection Sunday that follows, I find myself in an way overly reflective mood lol. This year, what stood out most in all my pondering was that the point of having Easter as a holiday is not just to celebrate Christ and his resurrection – Easter is also the story of Grace: forgiveness, mercy, freedom and life, all packaged into one beautiful gift, secured on a cross just for you and me. If you're anything like me, you've struggled to understand Grace. It is one of those things we say we believe in, but find difficult to accept in our own lives. It's easy to know you have access to, but hard to allow yourself to take hold of – to actually be a recipient of Grace, from God and even…Continue reading


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The Karen Hilltribes Trust
Charity information
The Karen Hilltribes Trust
The Karen Hilltribes Trust is an international charity working in northern Thailand to help the Karen people to build a better future for themselves, through improved health, education and agriculture
Founded 1999
Mission statement
The Karen Hilltribes Trust has three key aims:
• Improve health by installing clean water systems and latrines.
• Improve education by providing school buses, dormitories and teaching.
• Improving opportunities for generating income by building irrigation systems and regenerating land.
Through these aims the Trust supports the Karen in projects that lead to self-help whilst still retaining their identity and culture.
The Karen are the largest ethnic minority in Thailand and have lived for centuries as subsistence farmers in small mountain communities. The difficult terrain has restricted development and kept the region largely inaccessible, making it the poorest part of Thailand. Farmers such as the Karen are the lowest income group, with 22% living below the poverty line. The Karen are facing problems such as the exhaustion of land fertility and increased pollution of water resources. 40% of the population lack access to clean drinking water, causing high levels of disease. Secondary schools are limited to the larger towns and many Karen children live too far away to continue in education. As a result only 25% finish school.
We have Installed more than 120 water systems providing clean water to around 50,000 Karen people, maintained a free daily bus service transporting 400 children to school every year, and regenerated over 500 acres of flooded farmland
The Trust's long term vision is to see the Karen people empowered to help themselves in a sustainable way.
The Karen Hilltribes Trust aims to:
- Improve health by installing clean water systems and latrines.
- Improve education by providing school buses, dormitories and teaching.
- Improving opportunities for generating income by building irrigation systems and regenerating land.
Established: January 1999
Registered Charity Number: 1093548
Board members: 11
Full time staff: 7
Part time staff: 2
Volunteers: 20
Phone number: 01904 612829
Address: 88a Main Street Fulford York YO10 4PSView charity accounts on the Charity Commission website
Building a Better FutureTo transform the livelihoods of one of the poorest communities in South East Asia by rever... More


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According to Self.com, three high-sugar fruits are watermelon, bananas and oranges. Self.com recommends eating more fruit, but choosing options that are nutrient-packed with a lower sugar content. Also, it's better to choose fresh fruits instead of dried fruit, as dried fruit has more calories.
While watermelon contains potassium, vitamin C and lycopene, it also has a higher sugar content than other fruits. Self.com recommends opting for berries. Berries are a nutrient-dense superfood, and they offer all the benefits of watermelon, but with less sugar.
Bananas have a higher glycemic index than other fruits, coming in at 70, compared 18 for an apple. The body digests high-GI foods more rapidly than low-GI foods, which causes fluctuation in blood sugar levels. This causes spikes and crashes in blood sugar, which causes a person to feel hungry soon after eating a high-GI fruit or food. If a person needs quick fuel before exercising, a banana's energy-boosting potassium and fiber provides suitable sustenance.
Oranges are high in sugar, especially the juice. They are also very high in vitamin C. A better option for someone who is trying to avoid sugar is a grapefruit. An orange's GI is 50, compared to 25 for a grapefruit of the same size. The grapefruit also has fewer calories than an orange – 46 compared to 62.


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Freedom of the Press
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2007 Scores
Press Status
Press Freedom Score (0 = best, 100 = worst)
Legal Environment(0 = best, 30 = worst)
Political Environment(0 = best, 40 = worst)
Economic Environment(0 = best, 30 = worst)
Freedom of the press is enshrined in the constitution, but media outlets are still influenced by various political and economic interests. Amendments to the criminal code that were passed in June 2006 and took effect in October eliminated imprisonment as a punishment for libel, leaving fines as the only sanction. If a person convicted of libel does not pay the fine, the court is authorized to seize his or her assets, and in the absence of adequate assets the individual is obliged to perform community service. Government officials occasionally use libel laws against the media. In August, Croatian president Stjepan Mesic sued the daily Vecernji List for running a reprint of an article claiming that Mesic had a supervisory role in the secret service of the former Yugoslavia. Although the paper also printed the president's response to the claims, Mesic proceeded with the suit, arguing that the paper had attacked him for political reasons.
Political interference and undue pressure on the media persist. In July, the Croatian Journalists Association protested the government's appointments to the advisory board for the state news agency Hina, alleging that the new appointees—who included a veterinarian, a recent law school graduate, and an owner of a political marketing firm—lacked qualifications and were essentially political lackeys. However, the government in October asked Parliament to dismiss the board after a disagreement over its selection of a general manager, and lawmakers complied with the request in December. Also in December, two journalists from the state-owned Croatian Radio and Television (HRT) were temporarily suspended for broadcasting a speech from the early 1990s in which Mesic appeared to speak favorably about Croatia's Fascist past. Following the incident, Mesic publicly condemned the journalists' suspension. The two journalists were later reinstated following a decision by HRT's Ethics Council that they had not violated the HRT code of conduct. Journalists remain exposed to physical threats and violence. In particular, the issue of war crimes remains a sensitive topic, and journalists face pressure and intimidation if their reporting challenges the virtue of Croatia's role in the 1991–1995 Balkans conflict. At least in some instances, these attacks are instigated by local officials. Drago Hedl, a journalist for the weekly Feral Tribune, received death threats in May linked to an article accusing local officials of committing war crimes. In response, police granted Hedl protection and later arrested two individuals, one of whom was a local politician. In another incident, a reporter from Nova Television was allegedly attacked both physically and verbally in July by the mayor of Novalja, who sought to prevent her from reporting on water shortages on the island of Pag.
Approximately 140 radio stations and 15 television channels operate in Croatia, and 2 out of 3 national television stations are privately owned. Many Croats also have access to various European channels via satellite. HRT is the market leader at the national level, and the state remains the single largest media owner. The press has increasingly been used as a tool by media owners to promote their business and political interests. Several prominent journalists expressed concerns in 2006 that the media were becoming subverted to the interests of powerful advertisers, who were able to control content by threatening to redirect their sponsorship. The state does not restrict the foreign press or internet use, and more than 30 percent of the population accessed the internet in 2006.


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Oil on canvas
Ernest Procter was a star student of the Forbes' School of Painting when the teenage Doris 'Dod' Shaw arrived: the couple married a few years later and became one of several talented partnerships in their social set that included the Knights, Harveys, Garniers and Napers.
Born in Northumberland, Ernest Procter was the son of a distinguished scientist and staunch Quaker. In 1907, he came to Newlyn to study at the Forbess School of Painting where he fast became a star student. After three years there, he went to Paris to attend the Atelier Colarossi, where he was joined by Doris (Dod) Shaw, whom he had met at the Forbes school. The couple married in Newlyn in 1912, but did not settle there until after the First World War, Ernest having spent the War years in the Friends Ambulance Service.
In 1920, Procter and his close friend Harold Harvey set up a school of painting of their own in Newlyn, offering tuition in oils and watercolour, studying the Figure, Still Life and Landscape.
Dod and Ernest Procter were among those who painted religious scenes for the church of St. Hilary (near Penzance), at the request of Rev. Bernard Walke. These can still be seen there today.
In 1934, Procter was appointed Director of Studies in Design and Craft at Glasgow School of Art. He retained his base in Cornwall and continued to exhibit all over the country. Having long suffered from high blood pressure, the combined stress of the job and the travel doubtless contributed to his tragically early death, aged forty-nine, only a year later


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Tom Talks: Pray Different. Forgive Us Our Trespasses.
We love grace. For good reason, we all need it. We are all screw ups. We are all failures. We are all rebels going our way, building our kingdom, rather than God's. We are endless consumers of grace. But, Jesus talked about grace as more than merely something to be consumed. Jesus demanded his disciples … [Read more…]


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Crime - Sacto 911
Sacramento man sentenced for role in trafficking counterfeit credit cards
A Sacramento man and his co-defendant from Los Angeles have been sentenced to prison for trafficking in counterfeit credit cards.
Gevorg Meroyan, 35, of Los Angeles was sentenced Monday by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. O'Neill in Fresno to two years in prison for conspiracy to traffic in counterfeit credit cards and credit card fraud, according to a U.S Attorney's Office news release. Co-defendant David Manukyan, 39, of Sacramento, was sentenced Nov. 16 by Judge O'Neill to one year and one day in prison.
Both men pleaded guilty in July. According to court documents, Meroyan conspired from 2009 to 2011 to produce, use and traffic in counterfeit credit cards from the Los Angeles area to Sacramento. In 2009, Meroyan and Manukyan were caught in Fresno with 42 counterfeit cards bearing false names and with computer and other electronic equipment that can be used to manufacture counterfeit credit cards, authorities said. In 2011, Meroyan was arrested in Los Angeles after attempting to buy auto parts with a counterfeit credit card.
Meroyan was ordered to surrender to the federal Bureau of Prisons on Feb. 8 to begin serving his sentence. Manukyan was previously ordered to surrender on Jan. 5.
Cathy Locke: 916-321-5287, @lockecathy


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Why PetSmart, Inc. Shares May Sink to $60
While Fools should generally take the opinion of Wall Street with a grain of salt, it's not a bad idea to take a closer look at particularly stock-shaking upgrades and downgrades -- just in case their reasoning behind the call makes sense.
What: Shares of PetSmart fell 3% on Tuesday after Bank of America downgraded the pet products retailer from neutral to underperform.
So what: Along with the downgrade, analyst Denise Chai lowered her price target to $60 (from $77), representing about 14% worth of downside to yesterday's close. So while value investors might be attracted to PetSmart's sluggish price action over the past year, Chai's call could reflect a growing sense on Wall Street that its risks remain largely overlooked.
Now what: According to B of A, PetSmart's risk/reward trade-off is rather unattractive at this point. "In addition to our concerns that PETM was losing share to Petco, TSCO and independents while facing adoption headwinds, we now believe that its core product category, super premium natural pet food, may be at risk from 1) the potential introduction of natural food in the mass channel, which would hurt sentiment and PETM's valuations and 2) increasing dependence on Blue Buffalo, which could alienate customers loyal to other brands which have lost shelf space in PETM's latest reset," said Chai. "Given a more cautious outlook, we are reducing our ests: 2014/15/16E is $4.40/4.90/5.41 ($4.48/5.07/5.67 prior)." Of course, when you couple PetSmart's still-solid competitive position with its forward P/E in the low teens, that bearishness might be providing patient Fools with a solid long-term opportunity.
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The article Why PetSmart, Inc. Shares May Sink to $60 originally appeared on Fool.com.Brian Pacampara has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends PetSmart. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
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I had just finished my first year as a company member at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival; between seasons I stopped in NYC to see this show I'd been hearing so much about. It was closing on Broadway, and my friend Chris Jackson was rejoining the cast along with the creator and star, Lin-Manuel Miranda. I expected to be entertained as I had been by every recent show I'd seen on Broadway. However, I had a very rare experience—I was inspired.
Inspiration! Please give me inspiration every time I see a Broadway show. It happened when I saw my first Broadway show ("The Who's Tommy"), "Ragtime," and "Les Miz" on tour in Philadelphia at the Forrest Theatre. That feeling has been evading me too often recently. But, sitting in the Richard Rodgers Theater that day in 2011, I was blown away.
I knew nothing about Miranda or the masterpiece he had created. I'd been out of the country during most of the time it was being developed. I love knowing how a great show comes to be, and the story of "In the Heights" is as good as it gets. Miranda wrote the first version during his sophomore year in college. From 1999 to 2008, the show was revised and presented in different forms at the National Music Theater Conference and Off-Broadway at 37 Arts Theater. What I saw, with music and lyrics by Miranda and book by Quiara Alegría Hudes, was a piece of art perfected over nine years, and all the hard worked showed. It was so effective and affective.
The opening number did what it was supposed to do. It drew me to the edge of my seat and didn't let me go. It said, "Here is the world we're in, and here are the people you are going to love." That first sequence was the definition of compelling, and every song afterwards had a reason. Each element had direction and an objective. There was no song or dance combination simply there "for show." Each clever lyric told you where you were; each lighting cue told you, "This is the story we're telling" and each set piece said, "Let us transport you." The dancing was infectious.
When I first moved to NYC, I lived right next to the A train stop at 181st Street, which is featured in the set. Living west of Broadway, I was privy to the wealth and breadth of Latin culture only when walking daily to the neighborhood Big Gym. I felt so alien to the vitality, musicality, and richness of that community. I so wanted to know what it was all about, and I love that "In the Heights" gave me a slice of that life. I know the life of Usnavi—Miranda's character—is fictional, but unique as it is, I feel that in our melting pot society, we can all relate to it. That's what makes this work so important and wonderful. I feel blessed to currently be working with the lighting and costume designers from that show (Howell Binkley and Paul Tazewell) in the Stratford production of "Jesus Christ Superstar," now in previews at the Neil Simon Theatre.
Josh Young has spent two seasons at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival. He originated the role of Judas in the Stratford production of "Jesus Christ Superstar," which later played the La Jolla Playhouse and is in previews on Broadway. Other Stratford credits include "The Grapes of Wrath" and "Evita." He has toured nationally in "Les Misérables" and internationally in "West Side Story." His new album, "Still Dreaming of Paradise," is available at iTunes.


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Just as it has over the past five years, technology, over the next five years, will give human resources professionals far greater power and ability to wield more influence over their organization's operations. From day-to-day functions like performance reviews, goal management and recruiting strategy, technological innovations are helping transform human resources from a sometimes burdensome afterthought into a valuable piece of a company's business plan.
Just as technology has changed the way HR people and management view their work force, it also is transforming the way they compensate their work force.
After years of largely ignoring the massive benefits that can come from a concise, focused compensation system, companies finally are looking at compensation as a key business driver—and using technology to leverage it. Over the past few years, compensation tools—especially those used as part of a larger human capital management software suite—have become a more widely adopted way to cure the corporate aches and pains associated with pay planning. The future only holds wider adoption of these technologies, as more companies look for lean, agile compensation systems that tie into their larger human capital management plans-more specifically their performance management system by implementing a pay-for-performance compensation system.
By linking performance management and compensation systems, a company can get a clear picture of its work force—who is employed, what workers want out of their jobs, who's contributing, who's not—then pay employees accordingly. In doing this, companies essentially take their payroll, which is often a company's largest and most complicated expenditure, and turn it into a motivation tool, built into the infrastructure and culture of a company. Likewise, linking pay to performance eliminates the need for managers to rely on intuition and memory to recall an employee's performance highlights, goals and targets. A cutting-edge compensation system automatically captures an employee's information so managers can make objective, fact-based decisions.
Compensation information also can be used to examine other matrixes, such as how a company's employees are being paid compared to the larger market, if employees' goals are aligned with those of the company, and if workers are properly accredited or certified, among other factors.
A compensation system that leverages technology to reward workers based on merit and allows employees to grow and advance based on their skills, aids in employee retention, and helps motivate underperforming workers is a key part of both a company's overall HR strategy and business plan and is a critical piece to a business' success. It's the best internal investment that a company can make.
What does It Look Like?
An effective compensation system should have three characteristics: It should be intuitive and informational for managers and employees in order to drive adoption; it needs to be powerful, yet simple enough to allow administrators to troubleshoot any problems; and it should be flexible to allow managers to change compensation processes as they evolve over time.
Compensation tools must be intuitive and easy to use. Most companies start with homegrown Microsoft Excel tools and get off track trying to build more complex, multifunctional spreadsheets. A well-designed compensation system should focus users on making informed decisions by presenting key information in useful and actionable ways. Most compensation tools contain traditional information such as an employee's manager, current salary, bonus target, currency type, performance rating and other benchmark information.
There are, however, other pieces of information that are just as, if not more, important to a manager's ability to make informed compensation decisions: targets and achievements of employee; business unit and corporate goals; competency ratings, which reflect how the goals were achieved; past compensation history such as promotions, merits increases, bonus awards, stock grants; risk of loss; membership in the high potential pool; and other succession planning information. The tool should be intelligent - able to balance presenting the most relevant data directly within the planning worksheet versus providing managers easy access to other relevant pieces of data.
Management and analytics tools are also an important aspect of a compensation tool. Budget usage and adherence are critical components, but other analytical tools, such as reports that show distribution of budget, average merit increase or bonus percentage among different levels of performers, pay grades or locations, add significant value to managers during the compensation planning process. With a compensation system, the analytics tools that are normally hand-prepared by compensation administrators and used almost exclusively by senior management can be made easily available to line managers, allowing them to make better informed recommendations.
While a compensation tool needs to be easy and intuitive for managers, it needs to be powerful, yet simple enough to be self-serviced by administrators to accommodate changes during a planning process. Compensation administrators commonly are tasked with updating employee information, such as incorrect base salary, job title and bonus target, during very tight compensation planning cycles.
Employee eligibility for compensation programs and incorrect managing relationships also require administrative intervention to ensure managers are planning for the appropriate set of employees. With an Excel-based program, it is virtually impossible to track down the managers using appropriate spreadsheets in order to make changes during the process. With a compensation tool, administrators can make changes conveniently, with the added flexibility to update budgets and send out appropriate notifications, as well as make workflow changes.
Finally, compensation tools need to be flexible and allow administrators to implement different compensation processes. Focal salary planning, variable pay planning that are driven by company and business unit goals, and long-term incentive planning are key components of a compensation management tool, which should allow the deployment of any combination of those components. The planners, workflow, schedule, budget and guidelines for different departments or divisions within an organization may be different.
Similarly, business environments and compensation plan structures change over time, so a compensation tool should be flexible enough to accommodate different business groups, across different time periods. Compensation tools also should grow and evolve along with industry best practices in order to allow companies to implement and refine processes.
The proper compensation software system of the future is actually here - the technology's wider adoption is the key to moving the industry forward. When tied into a larger performance management solution, these new tools provide a model for companies to transform their compensation system from what it often times is now, an expensive, hassle-ridden, error-prone process, into a template for other HR business functions - an easy, simple, cost-efficient function of a larger performance management system that encourages a culture of performance and accountability within a company.
About the Author
Francis Chan, Director of Product Management, SAP SuccessFactors, is responsible for overseeing the product line development and strategy for SAP SuccessFactors' performance management and compensation applications. SAP SuccessFactors offers on-demand performance and talent management solutions.
March/April 2007 | Benefits & Compensation Solutions™ | www.bcsolutionsmag.com
About SAP SuccessFactors HCM
With SAP SuccessFactors solutions, we believe that purpose drives people and people drive business performance. To meet business goals today and be ready to digitally transform for the future, your organization must be able to attract, develop, and retain the best people — tapping into their full potential. We innovate every day to help connect your people to your purpose and transform your workforce experience, to inspire people to perform at their best, and develop the workforce needed for the future. With a leading cloud-based HCM suite, SAP SuccessFactors solutions help more than 6,400+ customers and over 100 million people, across more than 60 industries in over 200 countries and territories, turn purpose into performance. The SAP SuccessFactors brand is part of SAP, the market leader in enterprise application software. SAP helps companies run better, with applications and services that enable our customers to operate profitably, adapt continuously, and grow sustainably. For more information, visit www.successfactors.com or www.sap.com/hcm.


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Donald Trump to poker champ Annie Duke: You're fired!
looked her in the eye on "Celebrity Apprentice" and uttered those fatal words: "You're fired."
But she should have seen it coming. By the end of the three-hour season finale
had the live audience cheering for her. (We think it was the emotional video of her delivering meals door-to-door for her charity.)
EvenDennis Rodman
, a teammate of Duke's during the final challenge, told Trump that he would choose "my girl" Joan Rivers to win.
We'll let all the Monday morning quarterbacks sound off on whether Trump chose wisely, or fairly. But here's one sign that Trump knew exactly what he was doing in choosing the savvy business veteran over the nerves-of-steel poker champ.
Rivers has been selling her line of costume jewelry on QVC for years. And if any QVC shoppers had bothered to look at the home shopping network's web site Sunday night, they would have found that the very beaded necklace Rivers was wearing on the finale show was for sale there.
Yep. It's Item No. J140949, the Joan Rivers Grande Finale 16-inch necklace with a 3-inch extender, yours at an introductory price of $79.92 or three easy payments of $26.64.See it here.
In fact, Joan will be on QVC Monday to sell her new "Boardroom Collection." That would be all the jewelry she's been wearing on "Celebrity Apprentice."
And that's what they call in Vegas a royal flush.
| Lisa Gutierrez, The Star


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Trend Hunter's Courtney Scharf shared some really neat infant Christmas gifts for the children in your life. Toys and clothes might be convenient and useful, but these ideas are far more creative and original. These gift ideas are hilarious, quirky and a lot of fun for both you and your little recipient.
One of these items makes playtime even more special for you and your child. A turtle plush toy with a light-up shell shines little stars all over the walls around it. This will make nap time more comforting and inspiring as your baby sails off into his or her dreams. Another amazing item is a headband with an umbrella-like design that prevents water, shampoo and soap from dripping into your baby's eyes. It looks so funny on and super cute, plus it will keep your baby worry-free in the tub.
These items and more are great suggestions for when you go Christmas shopping. This holiday season why not get something really crazy when you search for infant Christmas gifts, like gold baby grill pacifiers.
Courtney Guides You Through Gift Options for the Kids in Your Life
Sarah Dos Santos — November 15, 2013 — Life-Stages
References: youtube


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Since 1997 Ireland has developed national anti-poverty strategies to provide a strategic framework in which to tackle poverty and social exclusion. The current strategy, the National Action Plan for Social Inclusion (NAPinclusion), identifies a wide range of targeted actions and interventions to achieve the overall objective of reducing consistent poverty. A key element of NAPinclusion is the National Social Target for Poverty Reduction, which sets out the Government's ambition for reducing and ultimately eliminating poverty.
NAPinclusion was recently updated for the period 2015 - 2017 to reinforce Government actions to meet the interim poverty target of 4 per cent by 2016. The updated Plan has 14 high level goals that better reflect the current issues and interventions to tackle poverty and social exclusion.
The Updated National Action Plan reflects Ireland's active inclusion strategy for achieving the National Social Target for Poverty Reduction. It is based on the 'developmental welfare state' which adopts a life-cycle approach to placing the individual at the centre of policy development and delivery. It has three main policy components:
Implementation of NAPinclusion has been actively monitored over its duration via the annual Social Inclusion Report. This is one of the formal monitoring and reporting mechanisms set out in NAPinclusion. Preparation and compilation of the report is coordinated by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection, with input from relevant Government Departments.


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AUGUSTA — A recently completed statewide survey by the Office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHS) reveals that Maine parents are more aware of teen alcohol use.
Parents who believed their teen had a drink in the past 30 days rose from 5 percent in 2009 to 17 percent in 2013, according to the SAMHS survey of 1,200 parents statewide. The survey also shows that parents who believe their teens could be underage drinkers are more likely to take actions to protect them from using alcohol, and teens who think they will get caught drinking alcohol are five times more likely to refrain from alcohol use.
SAMHS has released this data to highlight the importance of parental monitoring to keep teens from underage alcohol use. The data can be found online at http://maineparents.net/Media/data_survey.htm
Despite more parental recognition of alcohol use by their teens, the survey shows that some parents continue to believe differently from what teenagers report about their use of alcohol.
Key findings show that:
■ 17 percent of parents believe their teen had a drink in the past 30 days, yet 26 percent of teens say they have.
■ 5 percent of parents thought their teens had binged on alcohol but 15 percent of teens reported they had.
■ 25 percent of parents believed their child has ever had a drink: 54 percent of teens say they have.
■ 78 percent of parents believe they would know if their teen used alcohol but only 47 percent of the teens agreed.
"Parents are becoming more aware about the dangers of underage drinking and learning about what it takes to keep their teens safe," said SAMHS Director Guy Cousins. "We still have work to do to close the gap between what parents think and what teens are saying in the Maine Integrated Youth Health Survey."
The data recently reported in the 2013 survey by the Maine Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services is based on anonymous responses from 63,000 public school students in grade 5 through 12.
"Parents are willing to face the evidence about teen drinking," said Cousins, "but they may not know what to do to prevent teen alcohol use."
According to SAMHS, guidelines for parents include:
■ Talking to your child about the dangers of underage drinking, even before they become a teen;
■ Making your rules and expectations of their behavior and the consequences for breaking them clear;
■ Forbidding their use of alcohol in the home and making sure that teens do not have access to it;
■ Talking to the parents of your teen's friends and asking about their rules; and
■ Staying up or setting an alarm so that you can check in with your child at curfew.
More information for parents can be found online at www.maineparents.net.
The Office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services was formed in 2012 when the Office of Substance Abuse and the Office of Adult Mental Health Services were combined. A division of the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, SAMHS provides leadership in substance abuse prevention, intervention and treatment and evaluation of substance abuse programs. SAMHS also has primary responsibility to develop and maintain a comprehensive system of mental health services and supports for those aged 18 and older with severe and persistent mental illness.


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A Brief & Partial History of Bread Uprising
Bread Uprising was an evolving project – embodying the idea of experimentation, because we were doing things in ways that we had not done before. This timeline will gives a general overview and a sense of how things evolved.
Nov. – Dec. | Noah & Tim start testing recipes and brainstorming in conversation with Tahz & Cristina of Tierra Negra Farms about doing a "food share" where households can sign up for a weekly supply of produce and bread. Tim & Noah hold a day of recipe testing at The Stone House in Mebane, NC. Our first large-scale baking: sandwich rolls for Southerners on New Ground organizing school in December. Offer bake days for Thanksgiving and December Holidays, where friends can order bread.
Year 1 retrospective zine with photos
January | Noah & Tim create and send out "bread needs survey" to folks in their community asking: How much bread do you eat? What kinds? Where do you buy it? How much do you pay per loaf? How much would you like to pay per loaf? Overwhelming positive response from the community encourages them to do this! Complete legal & other bureaucratic paperwork to operate as a home-based bakery. Go to used restaurant supply auction to acquire a few basic supplies.
February 5th | Launch party. The bakery gets a name!
Feb – Apr | Season 1, 25 households subscribed. Begin writing a weekly 'zine that goes out with the bread (read our very first zine here!)
April 25th | First Bakery Assembly held at the Terreiro de Arte e Cultura, where members & supporters begin a collective visioning process for the bakery. At the end of the assembly, a group of members volunteer to continue meeting monthly to draft and refine a vision statement for the bakery. That group becomes known as the Bread Team. Bakers prepared a Season 1 report.
May – Aug | Season 2, 30 households subscribed. Grain 'N' Greens, a food share in partnership with Tierra Negra Farms, provided 8 households with bread and produce during this time. Bread Team begins to meet monthly. Bread and storytelling workshop held as part of Combahee Survival Revival Week.
Aug – Nov | Season 3, 40 households subscribed. Major revisions of sign-up process, trying to move towards a collective process of meeting the needs of the bakers and bakery. Bakery and bakers' needs are listed out and members sign up for specific needs. Reach out to Bread Uprising's neighbors. We mostly stop using sugar because of concerns about ethical sourcing and kids' health.
September 13th | Second Bakery Assembly held at SEEDS, where we officially agreed to an organizational structure (2) of the Bread Team and works teams that members can join, called "Muffins". "Muffins" include Subscription (to handle membership re-susbcription process), Zine (to plan/edit the weekly zine), and Preserving (to gather seasonal local ingredients).
Nov 2010 – Feb 2011 | Season 4, 27 households subscribed. Bread Team decides not to try to add new members this season, and instead to devote time to studying and planning for the future. Study Sessions on Race, Class, Queerness and Bread run once/week to help us think about our membership structure and how to grow the bakery in an intentional way. We come up with new membership polices and the Bread Team comes up with an outreach plan for the next 3 seasons.
February | Our first birthday! Celebrated with a party at the bakery where members share their talents.
Feb – May | Season 5, 42 households subscribed. Major revisions of sign-up form and membership process. Current subscribers invited to invite new people in their social networks. New membership policy: membership prioritized for people who don't have regular food access, commitment to maintain a radical majority (at least 60%) people of color households, and prioritize queer folks, working class/poor folks, and people with kids for membership. Begin writing zine and other materials in both Spanish and English because membership includes monolingual Spanish-speakers.
March 20 | Third Bakery Assembly held at the Terreiro, including a kids assembly co-planned by kids and adults in the bakery. Presented a Year 1 Annual Report.
Jun – Aug | Season 6, 41 households subscribed. New members invited to join the bakery through organizational partnerships. Bread Team writes a vision statement (2) for the bakery! Latino Community Credit Union, of which we are a member, commissioners filmmaker Rodrigo Dorfman to create a short video documentary about Bread Uprising's membership in the LCCU. Lead workshop on food sovereignty for the Grilled Cheese Bus/Youth Organizing Institute.
July 9th | First political education workshop – on food sovereignty.
Sep – Dec | Season 7, 41 households subscribed. Growing the bakery through neighborhood outreach. Member Javiera begins coming to bake days as a member-baker, and organizes our first full clean-up and delivery schedule. Bake for Green Space Initiative fundraiser. Zelda Lockhart approaches bakers about growing wheat on her land in Hillsborough, and we plant a trial crop.
November 6th | Fourth bakery assembly, held at the Traction/Pushback Network office. First bilingual assembly with simultaneous interpretation in Spanish and English.
Dec 2011 – Mar 2012 | Season 8, 36 households subscribed. Made some changes to our structure to create space for more member involvement, in part because of baker burnout. Pass out bread to marchers at the HK on J march in Raleigh. Bakers hold retreat and make some suggestions to make the bakery more sustainable. Bread Team decides to move towards expanding the bakery in the fall of 2012, with the goal of being able to pay the bakers consistently – important so that we can be more sustainable.
May | Fifth bakery assembly. Membership discusses what it would look like to expand the bakery this fall, and how to make it happen. Members contribute family recipes to a collective recipe card box.
Apr – Aug | Season 9, 40 households subscribed. Members who are teachers or otherwise in schools encouraged to grow the bakery by talking with students and other folks at the schools. We start a CSB season calendar that matches up better with school calendar and other holidays so bakers can have more relevant breaks. Javiera comes on officially as a baker. Bread Team, bakers, and members engage in planning for the fall expansion. Many bakery members are involved in the work of All of Us NC, challenging Amendment 1 and are featured in the documentary, All of Us NC: The Queer of Color fight against Amendment 1.
August | We launch a crowdfunding campaign on Indigogo, and raise just over $10,000 to fund expansion with a ton of community support!
Sep – Dec | Season 10, 40 households subscribed. Major focus of the bakers and Bread Team is on financial sustainability for the bakery. Begin to try out wholesale, catering, holiday bake days, festivals, selling at the Green Flea Market, and cakes. Go through hiring process for a Baker Apprentice and Mya comes on as fourth baker in November. Bakers get sick from over-work. Join the US Federation of Worker Co-operatives and hold several study sessions history and structure of co-operatives (co-ops reportback 1, 2, 3). We get lots of press coverage!
Jan – May | Season 11, 43 households subscribed. Lots of evaluation of the expansion from fall 2012, and decide to continue selling wholesale bread, with the goal of a sustainable business plan. Start renting kitchen from Bread & Butter Bakery in Chapel Hill one day/week, and baking regularly 3 days/week. Officially create an LLC structure with Tim, Javiera, and Noah as worker-owners, with the ultimate goal of using LLC structure to create a cooperative with member-owners as well. Challenging issues around gentrification and Bread Uprising's role in partnering with gentrifying businesses sparked lots of discussion. Member Emily speaks on a panel at UNC!
May – Aug | Season 12, 43 households subscribed. Bakers shift to a structure with more time off, in order to compensate for lack of money/pay. Member Eli starts baking once/week as a volunteer to help make this possible. Vend at the Chapel Hill farmers market about once a week. Bakers and Bread Team make decision that the bakery needs to move out of Noah's house by January, because there is not enough space. Bakers are burnt out.
Sep – Dec | Season 13, 44 households subscribed. All bakers back on payroll, and we have very little money. Hold a giant thanksgiving pie day where we bake hundreds of pies! Bakers attempt to address some challenging dynamics among team. Have several membership visioning sessions to come up with a business plan. We learn that if we want to have enough cash coming in to be financially sustainable, we'd have to expand production by 5 without increasing baker hours. We look at the options, and decide that we do not want to go through with that expansion at this point. Last zine of the last season!
January | Member assembly where the bakers share that they no longer want to continue baking. Membership decides to continue Bread Uprising as a member-driven organization, with members taking on three spheres of work: the "Cookbook" sphere to document Bread Uprising's work thus far, the "Oven" sphere to convene member bakedays, continue to figure out how to feed each other, and host other community gatherings, and the "Game Plan" sphere to research possibly scaling back up to a commercial bakery in the future.
Feb – Dec | "Oven" sphere hosts several bake days for members to learn the Bread Uprising recipes. "Cookbook" sphere begins planning a multimedia archive website (which you are reading right now)! By the end of the year, the "cookbook" sphere seems to be the only group still meeting.
January | Hold assembly and decide to officially close Bread Uprising.


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Take Better People Pictures With Any Camera
With the holidays and lots of extra family time fast approaching I thought I would go slightly off topic to share a few tips on how to take better people pictures. I'm going to stick with tips that don't depend on the quality of your camera, but rather your thoughtfulness and skills of observation. Leave out clutter
Simplicity is underrated, don't be afraid to get up close and focus on one small detail. Some things are bound to change, like the texture of a baby's hair, so if you get a detail shot of something like this you have an instant keepsake.
Watch Your Corners
Similarly, try checking the corners of your shot before you snap to make sure you really want to include everything in the frame. You may want to adjust your zoom or physically move yourself to include more or less in the frame. You want to have enough information for context, but to avoid too many elements or things that are just plain distracting. For this shot, I wanted enough branches to show that Kevin was in a tree, but I didn't want the whole tree because I wanted him to be the focus.
Be Sneaky Like a Ninja
Yes, I want you to lurk a little and it's going to be totally worth it. Why? Because nearly every person, even those too young to make a complete sentence, is conditioned to stop and smile when a camera is pointed at them and that doesn't make for the most interesting pictures. When you capture some action, movement or even a quiet moment, you're pictures will become a lot more interesting.
Wait For a Reaction
Like I said before, point a camera at someone and they will stop dead in their tracks and hold whatever is in their hands somewhere under their face with a big fake smile. We can all spot a fake smile. A big, laughing smile or a funny reaction to something is much more fun to look at and requires just a bit of patience to capture.
Try focusing on a specific person when you know they are going to react to something and then wait for it...BOOM. Here, someone was telling a funny story and I knew that Tanya would have a reaction to it, so I kept my camera pointed at her until this moment. You can do the same thing at a family gathering.
Keep Snapping
To your camera's best ability, shoot away! A lot of times you can great a great shot of someone just after they look away from your camera and towards someone else, which -BONUS POINTS- can result in a more natural smile. And those are my favorite!
Above all else, remember it's not about looking perfect.
I hope this helps give you some inspiration for getting some great pictures of your family and friends regardless of your camera. Cameras don't take pictures, people do.And don't you forget it!


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King County prosecutors have dropped eluding charges filed against three men previously accused of fleeing from a state trooper who crashed during the pursuit.
Charging each of the men with attempting to elude police and reckless driving in November, King County prosecutors then claimed Kevin R. Reyes, Christopher Lee Anderson and Rodney Alexander II caused the rollover crash while fleeing police on Aug. 10.
Speaking Friday, a spokesman for the Prosecutor's Office said witnesses to the incident were prepared to testify that the trooper did not activate his emergency lights early in the pursuit.
Proving that the trooper did activate his lights would be essential to obtaining a conviction on the eluding charge.
At 6:20 p.m. that day, a State Patrol trooper was pulled over on state Route 167 when 30 to 40 motorcyclists riding sport bikes passed by. Several of the bikers popped wheelies as they passed, prompting the trooper to notify other law enforcement of the group. A witness would later tell police the motorcyclists — including Reyes — were headed to Hooters in South Park for a "Two Wheel Tuesday" event.
Another trooper stopped on Interstate 405 near the intersection with SR 167 noticed that there were no other cars on the interstate, an unusual state of affairs for a Tuesday evening.
According to charging documents, the trooper then saw that several motorcycles had blocked off the freeway while others were performing stunts. The trooper was trying to contact the motorcyclists when three blew past him, one of whom was traveling at 80 to 90 mph.
As the trooper pursued, the three motorcyclists charged in court documents weaved through traffic as they merged onto Interstate 5, a State Patrol detective told the court. The three then exited onto state Route 599 at about 95 mph.
Inside the curve, Anderson passed the other two motorcyclists, who then drifted in front of the trooper's cruiser, the detective continued. The trooper braked, causing his car to skip and then roll.
Speaking Friday, Prosecutor's Office spokesman Dan Donohoe said witnesses had come forward as prosecutors were examining the evidence indicating the trooper failed to activate his emergency lights early in the pursuit.
"It appears that the trooper did not activate the lights on his car on the outset of this incident," Donohoe said.
The charges were dismissed Friday by King County Superior Court Judge Mary Roberts.
Check the Seattle 911 crime blog for more Seattle crime news. Visit seattlepi.com's home page for more Seattle news.
Levi Pulkkinen can be reached at 206-448-8348 or firstname.lastname@example.com. Follow Levi on Twitter at twitter.com/levipulk.


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Appetizer Recipes
Thanksgiving Appetizer Ideas
Our typical Thanksgiving starts with my husband Lulu watching the game, so we usually have a pre-Thanksgiving dinner with bite-sized portions before the Gargantuan feast. This year, Sunny will be back home from her college dorm and will be accompanied by her roomie, whose family lives on the East Coast. I'm sure serving appetizers to the two petite young ladies won't scare them away from our "real" Thanksgiving. I've listed a few appetizers I prepared over the years; I'm still not sure which ones will make it to the table in a few days. Happy planning!
Don't forget to take a look at my first cookbook "Haute Potato", which feature many recipes that are perfect for Thanksgiving. Two of my personal favorites are the potato cigars and the lavender and white chocolate potato torte. If you order the book today from Barnes and Noble, there's still a good chance it will arrive before Thanksgiving. And if not, it's packed with other great holiday recipes as well!
Full Recipe...
My 15 Best Pumpkin Recipes
I haven't never taken baby Aria to a pumpkin patch yet. I'm planning on taking her soon. I'm sure she will enjoy the scent of fresh straw and the endless plot of pumpkins. I wonder what type of pumpkin she will select. We'll probably pick many so we can turn them into delicious fresh pies, pancakes and sweet bread for the upcoming holidays. In the meantime, I've gathered a list of savory dishes flavored with the deep-orange squash plant. I hope you will find plenty of inspiration in this post.
Full Recipe...
Asian-Inspired Bison Meatball Appetizer Recipe
I love bison meat. It's leaner than beef. You could always substitute ground beef for the bison, but this gave the dish a gourmet feel and it tasted fantastic with the flavors I selected for the meatball appetizers I prepared.
I flavored the bison meatball appetizers with fermented beans, five-spice powder, wasabi paste and paired them with a spicy peanut, cilantro pesto with coconut, ginger and cilantro honey.
I used the meatballs as a part of the dish I used for an audition I participated in last weekend. I'm happy to say I passed the first selection for a competitive TV cooking show. I'll let you know more about it soon.
Full Recipe...
5 Quick and Easy Party Food Ideas
In my opinion, entertaining should feel effortless. You don't want to end up slavishly cooking in the kitchen when your guests mingle, so make sure to choose quick-and-easy-to-make fun party foods that can be prepared in advance.
If you entertain as much as we do, I hope you find plenty of inspiration in these 5 vegetarian (it's Meatless Monday after all!) appetizer recipes.
Full Recipe...
Peach and Spinach Summer Salad Wrap Recipe
Temperatures are set to hit high numbers these days so to keep the house cool I've tried not to spend too much time behind the stove or use the oven too much. My go-to meal in this situation is fast, casual eating that requires minimal preparation and almost no cooking. My solution this weekend is to make summer salad wraps.
Full Recipe...


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So it's no secret that this has been a very low snowfall year for Mammoth Mountain. With only 2 inches of fresh snow hitting in December, it was a struggle for Mammoth Mountain to get Canyon Lodge and Eagle Lodge open prior to Christmas and New Years. But I'm here to tell you that despite not having a single week this winter of solid snowfall like we're used to, conditions are surprisingly good with the entire mountain open to enjoy. So for you SoCal out-of-towners that think there's nothing fun to do up here in the Eastern Sierra, you're wrong! The corduroy groomers have been excellent in the morning hours and snow conditions are holding up well.
Keep an eye on mountain conditions at http://www.mammothmountain.com/MyMammoth/#mountainConditions.


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When the Legislature passed the Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act of 2014, it required that doctors be trained how to use cannabis preparations for a limited set of medical conditions. A member of the Florida Medical Association (FMA) asked me to help craft a course that would teach physicians proper procedures.
And that's when I began to realize the problems. To begin with, the science for the very limited kind of cannabis this law would allow (the strain called Charlotte's Web) is thin at best.
The new law allows the medical use of cannabis preparations that lack psychoactive constituents to make patients "high." Cannabis — marijuana — contains more than 70 cannabinoid compounds that vary in concentration depending on the species of the plant. One of these compounds, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), is responsible for the plant's psychoactive effects.
Reducing or removing THC from the plant material is equivalent to removing caffeine from coffee, resulting in a substance with less likelihood of adverse effects, especially the development of dependence. Therefore, the law specifically prohibits THC levels greater than 0.8 percent of the total cannabinoid content, and allows the use of preparations rich in cannabidiol (CBD), a common component of the plant that does not make patients "high."
While developing the course with a colleague, we realized the scientific literature on medical applications of low-THC cannabis (containing less than 0.8 percent THC) was scant, compared to the extensive evidence for the therapeutic properties of marijuana with higher THC concentrations. In fact, there is no clinical trial of low-THC cannabis or cannabidiol alone that meets Class I criteria (the gold standard for demonstrating efficacy of drugs).
There have been anecdotal reports and media coverage about the anti-epileptic effects of an oily extract prepared from a cannabis strain (known as Charlotte's Web) rich in cannabidiol (CBD) and with very low levels of THC. Unfortunately, there are no high-quality clinical studies supporting the efficacy of this oil.
Clearly, there is a need for much more human research, especially since CBD has many beneficial actions in animal models of disease. In contrast, there are many Class I trials supporting the efficacy of cannabis preparations containing greater than 0.8 percent THC.
Florida voters will have a chance to modify the law on medical marijuana this November to redress the shortcomings of the Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act. Amendment 2 on the ballot — the "Florida Right to Medical Marijuana Initiative" — would allow use of cannabis with a wider range of THC concentrations to treat specific symptoms and medical conditions.
Given the high likelihood that this amendment will pass, I thought it reasonable to create a course for physicians incorporating all the clinical research findings on medical marijuana. It would be a disservice to the medical community to focus only on CBD-rich extracts from Charlotte's Web.
I submitted a draft to my colleague at the FMA expecting the leadership would embrace a more thorough scope of the course. The goal would be to lay the pharmacological groundwork for responsible, scientifically sound use of clinical cannabis preparations. I was greatly dismayed by the recently released public statement that the FMA is opposed to the amendment.
I couldn't understand how the FMA endorsed the education of physicians on use of low-THC cannabis without good clinical evidence to back up their decision, while ignoring the large body of Class I evidence supporting medical use of cannabis preparations with greater than 0.8 percent THC. The official FMA position against Amendment 2 is short-sighted and assumes the same position as the U.S. Justice Department, which classes cannabis as a Schedule 1 drug alongside heroin, LSD, MDMA (ecstasy). Schedule 1 drugs are those with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.
Despite many legal attempts to have cannabis reclassified, the Drug Enforcement Agency and the White House Office of National Drug Policy have refused to budge. It is this very position that has hampered clinical research on cannabis for nearly half a century. And the FMA position against Amendment 2 reinforces this obstruction to clinical research at the state level.
Every physician and scientist who has reviewed the benefits and risks of cannabis to date, regardless of the THC content, has agreed on one thing: more research is needed. In particular, research is required to develop dosing protocols, using well-studied strains containing known amounts of cannabinoids for treating specific conditions.
It is possible that the official FMA position will change after the state's voters decide to pass Amendment 2 and the physician members of the FMA realize that expansion and dissemination of knowledge about the clinical pharmacology of cannabis will enhance the primary mission of all physicians to alleviate suffering and improve the quality of life of our patients.
Dr. Juan Sanchez-Ramos is a neuropharmacologist whose doctoral dissertation at the University of Chicago focused on the mechanisms of drug dependence. He is a board-certified neurologist who specializes in neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's, Huntington's and Alzheimer's. He holds the Helen Ellis Endowed Chair for Parkinson's Disease Research, is director of the Huntington's Disease Center of Excellence at the University of South Florida and is medical director of the nonprofit Parkinson Research Foundation in Sarasota. In writing this exclusively for the Tampa Bay Times, he is expressing his own opinion, which does not in any way reflect the position of the University of South Florida.


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Butyl Conventional
Printing blanket for all kinds of plastic substrates
The innovative printing blanket Butyl Conventional is designed to print both thermo-formed and injection molded plastic cups and containers at high speeds.
The conventional, i.e. non-compressible construction is perfectly suited also to newer generation presses. The Butyl face compound is extremely resistent to swelling from ketone and UV inks; no press adjustments are needed during the run.
The smooth cast surface provides superior ink release and consistent smooth lay down of solids and halftones. It gives the press operator a controlled print window and helps control slurring from different top to bottom travel speeds of the container. This surface is easy to clean and offers high abrasion resistance, thus allowing longer and multiple runs.
Note: Only wash-up solvents containing esters, ketones or alcohols should be used to clean Butyl blankets. Please avoid using aromatic or aliphatic hydrocarbon solvents.
|Application Range:
|Plastic printing • pots • containers
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|Ketone solvent based inks • UV curing inks
|Main features:
|Excellent ink transfer • chemical and mechanical resistance • high abrasion resistance • high stability • high durability
|Ref. No.
|1.95 mm
|Butyl, cast
|Total hardness
|78° Shore A
|<0,7% @ 10 N/mm
|Tensile strength
|>60 N/mm
All Printing Blankets
Overview Product Range
Printing blankets, underpacking material, measurement instruments and press room accessories: Download here the brochure in English language (1,0 MB).
Catalogo de productos offset (español)


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Thrifty Thinking!, Older 2 bedroom, 2 story home with vinyl siding, full basement, located near hospital. 1300 sq. ft. of affordable living, you can start here!
Please complete the form below to request a showing for this property. We will review your request and respond to you as soon as possible. Please add any additional notes or comments that we will need to know about your request.
If you would like to send this property to a friend that you think may be interested, please complete the form below. To send this property to multiple friends, enter each email separated by a comma in the 'Friends Email' field.


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Who are we?
Mental health isn't weird, unusual or taboo. FundaMentals is a 3 year project to address & destigmatize mental health. Join the mission.
The sessions
Lyricists to grime composers, dance producers to spoken word poets. Our Fundamental sessions will give you a new way to look after your mental health.
Got your back
Advice, tips & support – we've got everything you need to make positive change.
What we're saying
Check out our blog & catch up with the latest advice, news and goings on with the FundaMentals.
STRENgTH IN NUMBERS
Help us spread the word & become part of our mission
The mental well being of our young people is so overlooked and neglected...but it is the single most important factor to address
Raphael Blake / Poet, Visual Artist & Facilitator


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When you sign up for a start-up, you indeed are signing up for a sustained barrage of challenges. Besides, just like video games, every next level of entrepreneurship comes with a higher standard of difficulty.
The journey from the conception of an idea to breaking into the market, and registering a win there is followed by further improvising the product, launching the newer version, and eventually securing a success there.
Nonetheless, you need to keep performing highly inside the circle if you wish to last and lead eventually. This vicious circle demands a lot of grit and passion of you, for the cause; along with a determination to constantly keep improving the whole system.
Here are 6 aspects of startup businesses that will help you create a monumental empire around your new venture
Discuss all the possible possibilities of your product convincingly
You should be familiar with each of the nuts and bolts of your product. Not only that but, you should have a clear vision of what you eventually want to achieve out of the project and should be able to explain it to audiences. Just because you consider your product a blockbuster, do not assume that people will follow suit. You will need to prove your logic with solid facts and designs.
Set the protocol
Founders of the Startups get to write their own rules for their enterprise. That is definitely a privilege over working in an established firm that has set rules with little flexibility. Nonetheless, what needs to be noticed is that most of the big wheels became significant because of their neat discipline and established protocols. It is essential for new age entrepreneurs to understand that when they lay rules, they should be followed in word and spirit. Of course, you can have room for flexibility, while keeping the core values intact.
Efficient Cash Management
The liquidity crunch is the most visible, apparent, and omnipresent challenge for startups. It is evident that entrepreneurs be proficient cash managers in order to maintain a healthy flow of cash in the enterprise. An organization with uncertain cash flow is to doom sooner than later.
Continuous Market Analysis
Studying the expectations of the market and predicting the future needs of the audiences is the key to ultimate triumph. It is critical to collect relevant data, analyze it and make predictions that are reasonable and attainable. An entrepreneur should be a leader with candid vision. Of course, your vision may change subject to the changing environment. However, you should be able to gauge the prospects of your product and must work towards it.
Educate the crowd
Creating the need for your product is one of the considerable components that can bring the subsequent success to the project. The best way to do it is by educating the crowd about usages of your product and other complementing products. That can be achieved resourcefully via blogs, newsletters, and events.
Developing a product and selling it, are two jobs that are poles apart. It takes a good mind to create a flawless product. However, when it comes to selling this excellent product, networking becomes pivotal. A firmly wired network helps you spread a word faster and better. Keep adding to your network steadily.
This article is written by the Crowdfunders Editorial Team. In Asia, Crowdfunders.Asia is a leading portal on providing news related to crowdfunding, start-up, property and business. It is operated byCoAssets.com.
CoAssets is South East Asia's first listed and largest real estate crowdfunding platform. If you have any Crowdfunding news or stories to share, please email [email protected]


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Illustration Process: Rocketman
Swiss pilot and aviation enthusiast Yves Rossy, also known as "Jetman", continues to make amazing strides in the realm of flight. He basically inspired this illustration. I hope it captures a glimpse of the beauty, freedom, and thrill associated with such an innovative pursuit.
1. Whipped up a thumbnail in Photoshop. Focused on the "feeling" of flight and less on technicality. Diagonals, clouds, a body streaking through the sky.
2. Working out clearer design. Playing with light values on dark values and vice-versa, big shapes against small, all in an effort to capture a sense of atmospheric perspective. One of the big things about good composition is focal point. I want the eye to go straight to the rocket-dude. His dark body is set in contrast against the light sky. Everything in the design of the birds and the buildings point to him as well. Even the light birds against the dark building are kept muted in value so they won't compete with the main contrast. Pure white birds against a black building wouldn't be a good idea for this one. A mid-range tone of grey works better.
3. Going technical and measuring out windows and frames in one-point perspective. All the lines on the sides of the buildings point to a spot just underneath the flyer's body.
4. Now I take the drawing into Photoshop and work out the values again. I also mark the areas where the light hits the subjects and creates shadows.
5. Color studies! Went with the middle one on the top row.
6. And the final oil painting/digital piece is complete. I blur the birds digitally to give a sense of movement and add texture to the clouds. I also overlaid a little of the original sketch on the rocketman to make him appear sharper against the surrounding elements.
Thanks for taking the time to read through my process. It's a privilege to share what I learn with you. I hope you benefit from it.


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A 14-Year-Old Blind And Deaf Dog Met A Mean Old Stray Cat…
Tervel is old, blind, and partially deaf labrador who couldn't get around much. His owner inherited a stray cat named Pudditat who didn't get along well with the other cats, but took to Tervel right away.
These two are a perfect match for each other.
This is such a sweet story. If you agree, share it with your friends.
Source: NatGeoWild