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Dina Temple-Raston is NPR's counterterrorism correspondent and the author of four books. She recently finished a Nieman Fellowship at Harvard University, where she studied big data and the intelligence community.
By Marc Goodman
Doubleday. 392 pp. $27.95
Not so long ago when one thought about major crimes, bank robberies and ingenious heists came to mind. But in this day and age, why rob a bank if you can simultaneously hack into thousands of ATMs around the world? Or what's the use in putting together an Ocean's Eleven-like team if you can go to the Darknet and hire the necessary accomplices without ever leaving your bedroom?
Marc Goodman's new and nearly addictive book, "Future Crimes," introduces readers to this brave new world of technology, where robbers have been replaced by hackers, and victims include nearly anyone on the Web. (So if you are reading this online, it may be too late for you.)
"Each day, we plug more and more of our daily lives into the global information grid without pausing to ask what it all means," Goodman writes. "But what should happen if and when the technological trappings of our modern society — the foundational tools upon which we are utterly dependent — all go away? What is humanity's backup plan? In fact, none exists."
A former beat cop who founded the Future Crimes Institute, Goodman believes that the forces of cybercrime are swarming. Consider the case of Innovative Marketing, a small start-up incorporated in Ukraine. It sold what it called an "entirely new class" of anti-virus software. It advertised products with names like Malware Destructor and System Defender. And in no time, Goodman reports, the company had customers in more than 60 countries, as well as more than 600 employees.
As it turns out, the company wasn't a system defender at all. Instead it was a pioneer in something called crimeware — essentially software that is written specifically to commit crimes. If you downloaded a version of Malware Destructor, it would quietly remove any legitimate anti-virus program on your computer and then gobble up credit card numbers and other critical information stored on the hard drive. Innovative Marketing would then sell the information to the highest bidder. The company became, Goodman writes, one of the most lucrative high-tech criminal operations ever known.
These kinds of cyberattacks are not isolated crimes; according to Goodman, this is the new normal. His message is that, for all the advantages of technology, it has a dark side that few people stop long enough to consider — the world is wired, but it isn't secure. Even the human body, he declares, is hackable.
Anyone who watched the second season of the television series "Homeland" will remember terrorists ordering Nicholas Brody, played by Damian Lewis, to go to the Naval Observatory to retrieve the serial number of the vice president's pacemaker. As soon as the terrorists acquired the information, they hacked into the system and sent an electric pulse to the device. The vice president was dead from a heart attack moments later.
This isn't just Hollywood fantasy, according to Goodman. Implantable medical devices, known as IMDs, communicate with the outside world through radio frequencies, and, he writes, some 300,000 patients receive wireless IMDs every year. The implantable defibrillators allow doctors to monitor their patients remotely in real time. Many medical devices are sold without any security mechanisms in place.
Researchers from the University of Massachusetts and the University of Washington successfully broke into a Medtronic pacemaker — as happened on the fictional television show — and not only were able to read confidential patient information but also could have delivered jolts of electricity to the patient's heart. Though there have been no known criminal attacks against IMDs in the real world, Goodman says, it is only a matter of time before one happens, and it might be hard to determine the real cause of death when it does.
"Physicians and forensic pathologists have absolutely no training in computer forensics," he writes. "How then will they possibly be able to determine the cause of death? They won't and the threat we face from medical device insecurity may mean that in the future, it may be even more possible to get away with murder."
Goodman says he isn't in the business of fearmongering. Instead he wrote "Future Crimes" to shed light on the very latest in criminal and terrorist tradecraft and to kick off a discussion. He uses the last two chapters of the book to suggest how to limit the impact of this new brand of crime. As he sees it, we need to view cybersecurity in much the same way nations view epidemics and public health. He wants to create an organization similar to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to tackle the problem. "A trusted international Cyber World Health Organization," he writes, "could foster cooperation and collaboration across companies, countries, and government agencies — crucial steps required to improve the overall public health of the networks driving the critical infrastructures in both our online and offline world."
He wants to require companies to report cyberattacks against them, something many executives decline to do now out of concern that it could affect share prices or make their firms more vulnerable. "This silence is at the very heart of our cybersecurity problems," Goodman writes. "When a person survives a sexual assault but is too embarrassed or ashamed to report it to the police, the assailant will not be found and prosecuted, free to surely victimize others. Though a cyber attack is an entirely different form of crime, its victims too are loath to speak publicly."
Goodman is not the first person to suggest such a remedy. The idea is to make attacks public so it is easier to develop common defenses against them. There have been a number of attempts to do this in Congress — but thus far it has proved to be a difficult legislative hurdle. Goodman says we ignore these issues at our peril.
Typically, technology writers fall into two camps: starry-eyed optimists who say innovation will save the world, and doomcasters heralding the apocalypse. Goodman manages to skirt this trap by avoiding breathlessness. He presents his myriad hard-to-imagine cybercrime examples in the kind of matter-of-fact voice he probably perfected as an investigator. He clearly wants us never to look at our cellphones or Facebook pages in the same way again — and in this, "Future Crimes" succeeds marvelously.


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Our merchants work to the guidelines framed in the Consumer Rights Act 2015. (A friendlier version summerised by Which? can be found here.) The main points which come up most regularly are;
- Change of mind? So long as the item is unused, unopened and still in a re-sellable condition you have a 14 day return window. You will need to cover the postage cost for this return.
- Faulty Item? You have 30 days following the delivery date to let us know. The transportation will either be arranged for you or we will refund postage costs once the fault is confirmed*.
- If a fault develops after the initial 30 days have passed please get in touch with the manufacturer. We can help you with this process, though it does take a little longer.
- After one failed attempt by the retailer to repair or replace a faulty item, you're entitled to ask for a refund or price reduction.
If you feel any of the merchants on our marketplace are not following these rules then please do let us know by submitting a support ticket.
*If an item is found to not carry a fault, shipping costs will fall with the consumer, along with return costs.

subset: commoncrawl


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Hull College Graduation 2018
The dates for this year's graduation ceremonies have now been confirmed as above
Graduation is a truly memorable event and gives you the opportunity to celebrate your success. The formal part of the event includes guest speakers and the conferment of your award and this is complemented by a range of offers from outlets throughout the city to help you celebrate with friends and family.
The College also awards a number of prizes and scholarships to HE students and if you are lucky enough to be awarded one of these then you will also be presented with this at the ceremony.
Please read through the below information carefully as it contains everything you need regarding your ceremony, confirmation of attendance and hiring of gown.
The College's award ceremony will take place on Wednesday 18 October 2017 at the Hull City Hall, a short walk away from the College (see location maps section for directions). There are two ceremonies. The Faculty of Arts ceremony will commence at 11.30am and finish at approximately 1.30pm. The Faculty of Business and Science ceremony will commence at 4.30pm and finish at approximately 6.30pm.
Booking is now open here and will close on Monday 10 October 2017.
Please arrive at Hull City Hall in time to register and collect tickets and be gowned and photographed (if applicable,) before making your way to the Main Hall to be seated at least 30 minutes before the ceremony starts.
Registration will take place at the entrance to the Mortimer Suite. If you are attending the 11.30am ceremony then you need to register between 9 – 11am. For the 4.30pm ceremony you will need to register between 2pm and 4pm. It is important that you register otherwise your name will not be announced during the ceremony.
'William Northam', Robemakers & Photographers will be available at the City Hall between 9am and 4pm. Alternatively you will be able to have your photograph taken after the ceremony closes.
Seating arrangements
The City Hall's Health and Safety regulations require that all participants and guests at the ceremonies must be seated. Children over 2 years of age must have their own seat in the City Hall and therefore need to be included in your ticket allocation. Please note prams and pushchairs will not be permitted inside the main hall.
Graduands must book their tickets for themselves and their guests through William Northam. Please note that admission to the ceremony is by ticket only and non-ticket holders cannot be accommodated.
In order that the ceremony proceeds smoothly, graduands must sit in the seat allocated to them.
Format for the day
Wednesday 18 October 2017, 11.30am ceremony
- 9am – 11am Collect robes from the Hull City Hall
- 9am – 11am Registration and photographs
- 10.30am City Hall doors open for guests
- 11.15am Graduands and guests to be seated in the Main Hall
- 11.30am Ceremony commences
- 1.30pm Ceremony finishes
- 7pm Gowns to be returned to 'William Northam'
Wednesday 18 October 2017, 4.30pm ceremony
- 2pm – 4pm Collect robes from the Hull City Hall
- 2pm – 4pm Registration and photographs
- 3.30pm City Hall doors open for guests
- 4.15pm Graduands and guests to be seated in the Main Hall
- 4.30pm Ceremony commences
- 6.30pm Ceremony finishes
- 7pm Gowns to be returned to 'William Northam'notextile.
What happens on the day of my graduation?
This is a formal occasion so please dress in a smart presentable fashion. All graduands are required to wear full academic dress for the ceremony (gown, hood and cap.) Please note that you will not be able to pass across the stage to collect your certificate if you are not dressed appropriately.
When arriving at the City Hall, entrance is via the Mortimer Suite. Please sign in at the registration desks and bring your e-ticket print out with you – without this you will not be registered to graduate. Student and guest tickets for the ceremony will be issued once you have registered. Please note that graduands will sit separately from guests.
The official photographers will be in the Mortimer Suite and we suggest you are photographed immediately after being dressed as there may not be the opportunity once the ceremony has finished.
You should be seated in the Main Hall half an hour before the ceremony commences. There will be staff on hand to show you to your seat.
The ceremony will last for approximately 2 hours. At the opening and close of the ceremony please stand whilst the platform party process in and out of the Main Hall.
Award Certificates
Please note: If possible your certificate will be presented at the ceremony. Otherwise it will be posted to you as soon as possible afterwards. Please contact the HE Registry on 01482 313493 if you have a query regarding your certificate. Please also make sure that your correct address is recorded with our Data Services team as the College cannot be held responsible for non delivery of certificates. Should you require a duplicate certificate from the relevant validating University because you have lost it or failed to advise the College of a change of address, please apply directly to the University concerned. A charge will be incurred for replacement certificates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Am I eligible to attend an award ceremony?
You will only be allowed to graduate if your award is confirmed by the Board of Examiners and you have no outstanding debts to the College.
When and where is my graduation ceremony taking place?
The Higher Education graduation ceremony is taking place at the Hull City Hall on Wednesday 18 October 2017.
I can't make the date of my graduation – can I swap to a different day?
The ceremony takes place on Wednesday 18 October 2017 only.
Is there anything I need to do in preparation for my graduation?
Yes, you should confirm your attendance and hire (or purchase) your gown using the online booking system here. Please ensure that your correct correspondence address is recorded at the College.
How many guests can I bring?
If you are graduating from the Faculty of Arts you will be allocated up to 4 guest tickets. For the Faculty of Business & Science you will have up to 3 guest tickets – please confirm these when booking your place. The availability of any additional tickets will be posted here shortly before the ceremony and will be allocated on a first come first served basis only.
When should I expect my tickets to arrive?
Your tickets will be issued on the day of the ceremony when you arrive to register rather than being posted to you.
I am (or a member of my graduation party) is disabled, what should I do?
Please indicate on the booking form if either you or any of your guests are disabled. It is important to contact us before guest tickets are issued in case special seating arrangements are required.
I am not sure if I have any outstanding debts to the College, should I check?
Yes – if you have any outstanding debt to the college on the 29th July 2017 you will not be permitted to graduate. If you have a debt and have already told us that you are attending, you will receive a letter from the College's Finance department informing you that you must clear your debt before you can graduate. If you have any queries please contact the College helpdesk on 01482 329943.
What if my plans change and I can't attend my degree ceremony?
Please contact the Marketing Office via email – firstname.lastname@example.com
My friend has not received any graduation information; can I let them have mine?
Please do not pass this graduation information to other people – there may be a reason why they haven't received any. They should contact the College's Marketing Office to find out why.
Gown Hire
Wm Northam & Co. Ltd,PO Box 450, Fengate,Peterborough, PE1 5RF
Online ordering
Thank you for ordering your gowns from 'William Northam', (the appointed official robemaker). The unique academic dress of Hull College comprises a gown, hood and mortarboard. Hired gowns will be available for collection prior to the ceremony in the Mortimer Suite at the Hull City Hall.
Please note that you should wear the academic dress of the degree you are being awarded, not the academic dress of a degree which you may already hold.
All your requirements can be booked online at www.williamnortham.com which will enable you to receive your confirmation and order reference in one easy transaction.
Before you start, please review the following information. In particular you will need to have available:
- The name of the award which you will be receiving
- The time and date of your ceremony
- Your chest size and height
- Your hat size (see below for how to measure this)
- Your credit/debit card details
When hiring your gown online, remember to print out your order confirmation and bring it with you on the day of the ceremony when you collect your outfit. Failure to do so will result in a delay when collecting your gown. The option to buy your graduation outfit is also available online.
Telephone ordering
If you do not have access to a computer, you may hire or buy from William Northam's Call Centre on 0870 2401852 (calls will be charged at national call rates). You will need to have the same information available as when ordering online.The Call Centre's opening hours are 9am -5pm Monday-Friday. (Calls may be recorded for staff training.) Facilities for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing or those with speech impairment are available using a Textphone. Dial 1800101223861854 to access the RNID Typetalk system.
Please book early to guarantee your order 'William Northam', Robemakers & Photographers cannot always guarantee an order if you leave your booking later than 21 days before your ceremony. If it is less than 21 days before the ceremony, please check Northam's website to see if your ceremony date option is still available, or telephone Northam's operators at the Call Centre.
Measuring your hat size
Measure the circumference of your head approximately one inch above your eyebrows, and state the measurements in inches or centimetres.Special needs Should you require an extra large or small gown, please make this clear when ordering. 'William Northam', Robemakers & Photographers will endeavour to meet your requirements.
Additional time
This option will enable you to take a hired gown home for a maximum of seven days after the ceremony date. Note that the gown must be returned at the HIRER'S expense to William Northam's Hire Dept. (a return bag will be supplied), and not to the College.
Please note: 'During the continuance of the hiring, the hirer shall indemnify 'William Northam', Robemakers & Photographers against loss or damage to the gown or gowns which are subject to this agreement or any part thereof from whatever cause arising and whether or not such loss or damage results from the negligence of the hirer. Hired academic dress must not be taken out of the United Kingdom.'
Photographic Suggestions
Glasses – If worn may give reflections. We would therefore suggest that unless you wear them all the time you consider not wearing glasses for your portrait. If in doubt please consult your photographer.Appearance – Please check your hair and attire before having your portrait taken as we cannot be held responsible for your appearance. Mirrors are provided for this purpose.What to Wear – For men, a dark single-breasted suit or jacket, together with a shirt and tie always looks smart. Ladies will find that a front buttoned blouse under a suit or jacket, or some means of securing the hood in place, such as a brooch, is always helpful.


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Last Updated: April 23, 2019
These Terms of Use set forth the legally binding terms and conditions for your use of the websites and other services at crowdsupply.com, all subdomains thereof, any domains owned or controlled by Crowd Supply that redirect to crowdsupply.com or subdomains thereof, and any service owned and operated by Crowd Supply. By using any of the abovementioned websites or services in any manner, including, but not limited to, visiting or browsing a webpage or contributing content, information, or other materials or services to a webpage or service, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Use and all other operating rules, policies, and procedures that may be published by Crowd Supply which are incorporated herein by reference. These Terms of Use do not alter the terms or conditions of any other agreement you may have with Crowd Supply. If you are using the Service on behalf of any entity, you represent and warrant that you are authorized to accept these Terms of Use on such entity's behalf and that such entity agrees to be responsible to Crowd Supply if you violate these Terms of Use.
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In accordance with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), Crowd Supply has adopted a policy of, in appropriate circumstances, terminating User accounts that are repeat infringers of the intellectual property rights of others. Crowd Supply also may terminate User accounts even based on a single infringement.
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Our designated copyright agent for notice of alleged copyright infringement is:
Crowd Supply
Attn: Copyright Agent
Postal Address: 1836 NE 7th Ave, #110, Portland, OR 97212-3978 USA
Phone number: 503-369-2680
E-mail address: email@example.com
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In no event shall the Company, nor its directors, employees, agents, partners, suppliers, or content providers, be liable under contract, tort, strict liability, negligence, or any other legal or equitable theory with respect to the service (i) for any lost profits, data loss, cost of procurement of substitute goods or services, or special, indirect, incidental, punitive, or consequential damages of any kind whatsoever, substitute goods or services (however arising), (ii) for any bugs, viruses, trojan horses, or the like (regardless of the source of origination), or (iii) for any direct damages in excess of (in the aggregate) one hundred U.S. dollars ($100.00). Some states or countries do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitations and exclusions may not apply to you.
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These Terms of Use (and any further rules, policies, or guidelines incorporated by reference) shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Oregon and the United States, without giving effect to any principles of conflicts of law, and without application of the Uniform Computer Information Transaction Act or the United Nations Convention of Controls for International Sale of Goods. You agree that the Company and its Service are deemed a passive website that does not give rise to personal jurisdiction over Crowd Supply or its parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, successors, assigns, employees, agents, directors, officers or shareholders, either specific or general, in any jurisdiction other than the State of Oregon. You agree that any action at law or in equity arising out of or relating to these terms, or your use or non-use of the Service, shall be filed only in the state or federal courts located in Multnomah County in the State of Oregon and you hereby consent and submit to the personal jurisdiction of such courts for the purposes of litigating any such action. You hereby irrevocably waive any right you may have to trial by jury in any dispute, action, or proceeding.
If any provision of the Terms of Use, or other referenced materials, is found to be unenforceable or invalid, that provision will be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary so that the Terms of Use will otherwise remain in full force and effect and enforceable. The failure of either party to exercise in any respect any right provided for herein shall not be deemed a waiver of any further rights hereunder.
The Company shall not be liable for any failure to perform its obligations hereunder where the failure results from any cause beyond the Company's reasonable control, including, without limitation, mechanical, electronic, or communications failure or degradation. The Terms of Use are personal to you, and are not assignable, transferable, or sublicensable by you except with the Company's prior written consent. The Company may assign, transfer, or delegate any of its rights and obligations hereunder without consent. No agency, partnership, joint venture, or employment relationship is created as a result of the Terms of Use and neither party has any authority of any kind to bind the other in any respect. In any action or proceeding to enforce rights under the Terms of Use, the prevailing party will be entitled to recover costs and attorneys' fees. All notices under the Terms of Use will be in writing and will be deemed to have been duly given when received, if personally delivered or sent by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested; when receipt is electronically confirmed, if transmitted by facsimile or e-mail; or the day after it is sent, if sent for next day delivery by a recognized overnight delivery service.


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Contact Us
Please feel free to contact us with any queries you might have, the office is open Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm. If we're not here you can leave us a message or drop us an email and we will respond as soon as we are able.
Postal Address:Niche Pens Limited
12 Waterside Court
Albany Street
United Kingdom
Tel:01633 854 335
We will be available to post items between the above times - Royal Mail come to our office to collect our parcels at approximately 3pm everyday and therefore any orders made before around 3pm (at the VERY latest) can NORMALLY be posted the same day, if in stock.
Missing Order Confirmation Email?
If you have made an order and paid using Paypal and received an email confirming the payment but not one from us, please note that if you did not click 'COMPLETE' at the end of the checkout and returned to our website from Paypal, the email will not have been prompted. We will have received your order though, so look our for our 'Shipped' email within a day or so!
Want to visit us to try before you buy?
You are more than welcome to come and visit us at our little shop! We sell mostly online, but we have what we think is a very welcoming shop which lends itself to viewing pens and inks quite easily. If you'd like to visit us outside our normal open hours, please get in touch and we'll see what we can do!


text: I was invited by my fab foodie friend and cookbook author Leeann Lavin to an event held by World Kitchen LLC to show some product they are launching and fell in love! The colorful and somehow sophisticated-ly whimsical Vintage Charm Brand is a winner! The updated Pyrex and Corelle tableware give the comfort of Gramma's kitchen and the luxurious feel of something curated to be modern and artful even though it's meant for everyday. Mid Century Modern design has those clean simple lines and vibrant color that make for happy, easy living and these haute housewares are simply perfect to accessorize with things you can actually use! Check them out! Coming soon to a retailer near you!


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Sláinte (pronounced slon-cha) is a Gaelic toast, essentially meaning "good health" and common when sipping a dram of whiskey. It's also the name of a new Irish pub opened in April in Oakland's Jack London Square from chef and Irish native (from County Donegal) Jackie Gallanagh and beverage director Jenny Schwarz (also of Oakland's Hopscotch). Gallanagh shares family recipes, and her brother recently moved from Ireland bringing that warm Irish welcome to the relaxed restaurant. Throw darts (under a pic of Bono) or cozy up to the fireplace surrounded by paintings, photos and books of Ireland legends, from Oscar Wilde and W.B. Yeats to Sinead O'Connor, while Enya might play in the background.
THE DRINK TO DRINK: Irish whiskey (try a pot still great like Redbreast or Teeling) and a pint of Guinness are a given. But there are also classic cocktails, including the Gibson or Whiskey Sour. An ideal boozy dessert? The Shamrock Shake, made with soft-serve ice cream, crème de menthe, Irish whiskey and fernet.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: Try chips in curry sauce, the all-day Irish breakfast platter, with Irish pork sausages, rashers, black and white pudding (shipped straight from Ireland) and house-made soda bread, or Gallanagh's family recipe for shepherd's pie. Save room for that dense, delicious Guinness ginger cake.


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Or, "How I learned to get stuff done after learning I have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)."
I'm tryin' to think, but nothin' happens.
—Curly Stooge
So here I am, trying to write the first piece for my new Working Smarter for Mac Users blog and newsletter. But, as Curly Stooge was so fond of saying, "I'm tryin' to think, but nothin' happens." Then, the little voice-inside-my-head starts in with, "Just play a little Real Racing 3 and your creative juices will flow like wine."
Once upon a time that would have been the end of it—I'd have been down the rabbit hole in a heartbeat and would've stayed until something shinier or more fun popped into my head. And since there's not really a deadline for this particular story, it would have meant you wouldn't be reading it, at least not today…. maybe next week… or the week after. Back in the old days, it might never have been finished at all.
Today it's no sweat. I switched my devices to Do Not Disturb, reached into my bag of tricks, and pulled out my trusty Pomodoro timer. After a couple of 25-minute Pomodoro sessions I had a decent draft.
Here's the thing: I used to be a world class procrastinator. I'm not saying I don't still have issues, but I've learned to identify procrastination as soon as it rears its ugly head so I can nip it in the bud before I even get near a rabbit hole.
In the coming months (and years, I hope), my plan is to share what I've learned to help others get stuff done faster and banish procrastination forever.
But I digress. Back in the day, I never missed a deadline for anything I was being paid to write. But I spent so much time procrastinating that I never finished a project until the wee small hours of the morning before it was due. It wasn't pretty and some of the things I finished this way were, shall we say, less-than-stellar. Not awful, mind you, but not my best, either. The saddest part is that I used to brag to my friends about never missing a deadline in spite of it turning me into an irritable, short-tempered, sleep-deprived zombie.
It went on like that until some time in the mid '90s when I read a book by Edward M. Hallowell, M. D. And John J. Ratey, M. D. that changed my life forever. I know people carelessly toss that phrase out there, but this time I mean it. The book was, Driven to Distraction: Recognizing and Coping with Attention Deficit Disorder from Childhood through Adulthood.
Then, Everything Changed
The first thing I did was find a great shrink who specialized in adult A.D.H.D. After my initial assessment he told me I had so many of the markers, I should be the poster child for adult A.D.H.D.
So at age 40-something I learned I have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (A.D.H.D.). I know, right? It blew my mind and rocked my world, but it also explained a lot of things. I've had it since childhood and it goes a long way toward explaining my unnatural penchant for procrastination and super short attention span.
At the same time, I'm grateful for it. I don't think I'd have ever figured out all the cool stuff I call "working smarter" if I hadn't learned about A.D.H.D. And I might never have discovered any of simple techniques that let me spend fewer hours in the office while finishing more work.
By the way, this is the first time I've admitted I have A.D.H.D. in public. My family and friends knew, of course, but I kept it hidden from editors, publishers, user group leaders, readers, human resource personnel, and the like until now.
I think I was ashamed at first, but now that I grok the brain chemistry thing, and that A.D.H.D. responds well to therapy and/or medication, I see it as more of a blessing than a curse. I know that's weird, but it's true.
Without A.D.H.D., I might have never had my "aha moment," when I committed to changing the way I thought about work and time. I first read everything I could find about A.D.H.D. in children and adults, and then started reading everything I could find about related topics like personal productivity, procrastination, and time management.
The thing that drove me crazy was that virtually none of what I read had anything to say to me as a Mac user. I'd read a fabulous discussion of some essential time management tool or technique—a to-do list, calendar, or journal, for example—but none of them included how to do it on my Mac.
What it's About
I started Working Smarter for Mac Users to share the joy of being so productive I can leave the office at 3PM, without feeling a single pang of guilt. There's nothing like the feeling when you finish everything you had to do today and the sun is still shining.
So welcome to Working Smarter for Mac Users and let me tell you a little more about it. It's not just the name of my web site and newsletter, it's also the title of my next book, which will be self-published and only be available as an e-book.
Why e-book-only? I'm glad you asked. The biggest reason is that I want to have a real, ongoing relationship with you, my readers. Hard or softcover books don't offer commenting; my web site —http://www.workingsmarterformacusers.com/workingsmarter— does and I hope you'll use it regularly. I'm eager to hear about the issues you face with procrastination and managing your time.
Another reason is that after writing nearly 80 trade paperback titles (OS X El Capitan For Dummies, iPhone For Dummies, and iPad For Dummies to name a few), as proud as I am of the work I've done, moving forward I wanted to be more hands-on, so I can craft my books just the way I want them.
I cringe whenever a reader tells me that illustrations in my books are illegible. That won't be a problem in my e-book—every illustration will be the right size, and, if you don't agree, just click to magically enlarge it. Let's see a printed book do that!
Another reason for going e-book only is that I love using video to demonstrate actions or concepts that would be difficult to explain using only words and still pictures.
Last, but certainly not least, because it's an e-book, Working Smarter for Mac Users will never go out of date. I'll be able to update the content whenever it needs updating rather than waiting for my publisher to order up a new print run.
So here's the deal: I spent close to 30 years figuring out how to do more work in less time and avoid procrastination. Working Smarter for Mac Users is here so you won't have to. Just stick around and I'll show you everything I've learned about working smarter, and in a lot less than 30 years.
That's all I've got, at least for now, but please stay tuned.
Oh wait! There is one more thing:
Since I started Working Smarter for Mac Users to show you how to work smarter, here's a little tip that saves me time every day:
Rename multiple files (or folders) all at once
NOTE: This tip only works under OS X 10.10 Yosemite, 10.11 El Capitan, or macOS 10.12 Sierra. If you're trying it in OS X 10.9 or earlier and it's not working... you know why.
1. Start by selecting the group of items you wish to rename in the Finder.
Tip: You can drag a selection rectangle around them and/or press Shift-click to extend the selection, or Command-click to add individual items. When you're finished, everything that is selected will be renamed in the following steps.
2. Right- or Control-click any selected file and choose Rename X Items from the shortcut/contextual/pop-up menu as shown:
Note that the menu item is contextual and says "Rename 3 Items" because 3 files are selected. Your menu will have the number of files you select, which may or may not be 3. As my dad used to say, "that's a 'don't worry.'"
3. When the Rename Finder Items dialog appears, choose Replace Text, Add Text or Format from the pop-up menu as shown:
4. Enter the appropriate text in the appropriate place(s), check that the Example at the bottom of the dialog (circled) reflects what you want to happen.
P. S. If you haven't subscribed to my free Working Smarter for Mac Users newsletter, what are you waiting for? It's free, and all you have to do is fill out this short form.


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Aggressive Domestic Violence Defense Attorneys
At Brennan Law Offices, we have been helping people defend against charges of domestic violence and other serious crimes for over 25 years. Although we sympathize with domestic violence victims, we also know that many charges of domestic violence are exaggerated and sometimes downright fabricated. People facing domestic violence allegations not only face criminal consequences, but also disruptive restraining orders as well.
If you have been served with a restraining order, we will represent you in the ensuing hearing, seeking to allow you to stay in your home. Our domestic violence defense attorneys will help you with all of the necessary steps involved with fighting these domestic violence charges. We understand the fear and anxiety you may be feeling during this troubling time. The allegations leveled at you are very serious. Let the person who made them know you are serious about defending yourself.
A Strong Defense Against Domestic Violence Charges Starts Here
If you are facing charges of domestic battery, domestic assault or spousal or child abuse, we will stand up for your rights. Contact our domestic violence lawyers by using our online form or by telephone at 215-568-1400 to discuss your case with a highly qualified domestic violence defense lawyer.
Hablamos Español


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The William W. Backus Hospital
- 326 Washington Street
The William Backus Hospital located in Norwich CT. The William W. Backus Hospital health system includes a not-for profit, 213-bed hospital in Norwich and numerous off-site locations, including several health centers, Backus Home Health Care and Backus Outpatient Care Center, also Norwich. Backus offers the only trauma center in New London and Windham counties and is the only area hospital with LIFE STAR helicopter services, in partnership with Harford Hospital. A new Backus Emergency Care Center offers emergency services 24 hours per day, seven days per week, as well as diagnostic imaging and laboratory services. The Backus Medical Staff includes approximately 300 physicians offering a wide range of healthcare services.
The William W. Backus Hospital has provided quality health care to the residents of Eastern Connecticut since 1893. The hospital is part of Backus Health System, which includes numerous off-site locations, such as several health centers, Backus Home Health Care and the Backus Outpatient Care Center. Backus offers the only trauma center in New London and Windham counties and is the only area hospital with LIFE STAR helicopter services, in partnership with Hartford Hospital.
The William W. Backus Hospital provides a vital core of inpatient, outpatient, rehabilitation, and emergency services in a caring and personal community setting in Northeastern Connecticut.About NAPA
As a clinician-led organization, North American Partners in Anesthesia (NAPA) is redefining healthcare, delivering unsurpassed excellence to its partners and patients every day. In three decades, NAPA has grown to become one of the nation's leading single-specialty anesthesia and perioperative management companies, serving more than one million patients annually in more than 200 healthcare facilities throughout the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest and Southeast. Our highly skilled teams of clinicians participate in groundbreaking leadership development and customer service training programs to deliver optimal results to patients, surgeons, healthcare administrators and staff. Through our exceptional perioperative leadership, research, innovations and state-of-the-art technologies, NAPA offers real solutions driven by evidence-based outcomes to dramatically accelerate operational efficiencies, increase satisfaction ratings and enhance safety and profitability.


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Tap to Read ➤
Facts About the Celts That You Surely Cannot Miss
Sonal Panse
Mar 17, 2019
The Celts were non-Mediterranean people with a formidable reputation for fighting, courageous, yet sensitive in their art and culture. For a long time they were the dominant force in Europe and challenged and on many occasions, even dented the might of the Roman Empire.
When the Roman Empire began its expansion through Mid and Western Europe it was met with very fierce resistance from the local tribes, called the Celts. The Celts had dominated this area for over a thousand years prior to the Romans.
Perhaps originally from the lands later known as Germanic, they had, between 500 BCE. and 100 BCE, spread outwards in migratory waves that took them eventually from Ireland and Spain to Turkey in their quest for newer lands and better opportunities.
Creating a new life for themselves involved dislodging the original inhabitants, who naturally weren't exactly welcoming, and so habitual warfare became a way of life with the Celts, establishing their reputation permanently as a quarrelsome, war-mongering lot. Their invasions however were periodic irritations rather than large concentrated attacks.
For the Celts, although they were people with a common ancestry, language, and religion, were deeply divided into many different tribes, each loyal to their own Chieftain and having their own social structure and customs, including coinage. More often than not these tribes were at war with one another as well, and they actually seemed to relish it too.
According to the accounts left by Greek and Roman writers of the period, wars were always elaborate affairs, with finely embellished weapons, armors and chariots brought into use; although many of the warriors were also known to eschew everything and rush headlong and stark-naked into battle.
Their courage was legendary and most of them were very tall and sturdy, with wild, bleached-blond hair and enormous mustaches.
They usually heightened their daunting appearances with blue woad dye and horned bronze helmets, and then further unnerved the enemy before battle by issuing weird, spine-chilling screams while clanging up a fearsome cadence with their swords against their shields.
Working themselves into a terrible fury in this way and disheartening the enemy, they charged into battle and fought with incredible savagery. Their preferred mode of fighting was using guerilla tactics rather than straight head-on.
They made swift, lightning raids in small groups of foot soldiers, cavalry and chariots, attacking adeptly with bows and arrows, swords, spears, javelins, and slingshots, harassing the enemy from an unexpected side and then withdrawing before the enemy could fully retaliate while another group attacked from another side.
These unusual methods of fighting quite annoyed the disciplined, orderly Romans, who, often put to loss, dubbed them as cowardly.
They certainly were quite disconcerted too by the Celtic penchant for chopping off enemy heads and hanging them from their belts or around the necks of their horses to be later on proudly displayed as mounted trophies atop door-posts or embalmed with cedar oil in special boxes.
The head-taking was not only supposed to endow the Celtic warrior with the additional powers of his fallen foe, but the greater the number of displayed heads the greater was his social standing. The Celts were a rough crowd, and had some pretty primitive and blood-thirsty customs.
Another one of these apparently involved ritualistic animal and human sacrifices, carried out in woods and near watering places by the infamous Druids. There is, of course, some controversy regarding this since the Roman view-point which we have is not exactly an unbiased one.
They were not likely to be glorifying their enemy and it suited their purposes to show the Celts as barbaric and immoral as compared to their own civilized ways.
The Druids were the Celtic Priests and particularly abhorred by the Romans. Not just for their grisly religious practices, but also for the enormous influence they wielded within their Tribe, usually greater than even that of the Tribal Chieftain and always to Roman detriment.
The Druids were not just priests, but political advisers, healers, teachers and mediators.As the Celts leaned more towards oral tradition rather than a written language, the passing on of information and history and customs was done by word of mouth, usually sung in poetic format and fine Celtic timbre.
This was the responsibility of the Druids as well as the bards and poets. Celtic history, often inseparable from mythology, full of accounts of fairies, dragons and so on, and these tales were diligently saved through troubled times.
The Druids were also responsible for keeping the Celtic calendar, which, according to Caesar and Pliny, was counted by nights and not days as the Celtic belief was that the earth came into being in darkness and it was later that the light came.
Similarly they believed that winter (beginning November 1) preceded summer (beginning May 1), and their various festivals, commemorating the large pantheon of Gods, were celebrated in accordance.
The Celtic Clan was the life-blood of the Celts and to be excommunicated from it was the ultimate disgrace. Headed by the Chieftain, it was categorized into the Druids, the warriors, and the commoners. Families usually lived together and, as polygamy prevailed, these were quite complex and large.
The polygamy practice didn't however adversely affect the social standing of the celtic women, which was far better as compared to the other contemporary European societies. In many ways they had equal rights as the men, could own and inherit property, and could marry according to their own choice.
In some cases they were also able to assume charge of their tribe and didn't do too badly either, as is seen in the example of the Icenic Queen Boudicca. The children were jointly reared, often fostered out with near relatives, and this deepened the family ties further.
It was considered the duty of the family, from both paternal and maternal sides, to take up on behalf of a wronged or insulted member and so personal feuds often enough transcended into tribal feuds.
The Celts normally lived in small hamlets comprising several roundhouses and encircled by protective stone or wooden palisades. The roundhouses were made of arched timbers with either wattle and daub or stone walls and thatched roofs of straw or heather. Very often, since the Celts were perpetually at war, hill forts for stronger defense purposes were built.
Strategically located and protected additionally by tall palisades and deep ditches, these ranged from small family-sized affairs to somewhat bigger ones for a larger number of people. As there were no water sources inside these hide-outs, it is assumed that they were utilized only as short term shelters during enemy attacks.
In these situations, the Celts would also take their sheep and cattle with them. These herds were very precious and the person having the largest number was the wealthiest. The tribal lands however seemed to have been communally owned. When the Celts were not at war, they were farmers, herders, iron workers, and artists.
They were the first people to bring iron working to the British Isles, where iron was found in plentiful quantities. With this knowledge, particularly with their iron plow, farming became easier and more lands could be brought under cultivation.
The artistic side of the Celts was displayed not just in their poetry and music, but also in their metal-work, pottery, textiles, tattoos and later on, most famously, in their illuminated manuscripts. This art was characterized by a pleasing combination of fanciful, curvilinear motifs and intricate, geometrical designs.
The Celts also had towns or 'Oppida' as they were called and these don't seem to have been permanent settlements either, but gathering places for annual festivals and trading.
Some of the main Celtic Tribes in Europe were the Aedui (France), the Helvetii (Switzerland), the Boii (Italy), the Eravisci (Hungary), the Volcae (Anatolia), the Brigante (Northern England), the Parisii (Paris), the Nervii (Belgium), the Scordisci (Beograde), the Iceni (Norfolk and Suffolk), and the Trinovantes (Eastern England, north of the Thames).
All of them were eventually either defeated and annihilated by the Romans or, with force or diplomacy, made their feudatory's. The reason for the final Roman victory lay both in their shrewd politics and well-disciplined army as well as the traditional feuds and inherent disunity amongst the Celts.
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We have spent the day on the 7 day moorings at Salts Wharf, Saltaire in West Yorkshire. I'd read some information about Saltaire before arriving in the UK and as often happens my preconception about its location was completely wrong. I was expecting a small town on its own in a narrow wooded valley adjacent to a swiftly flowing river. Instead we've found a village which is now part of the town of Shipley which is surrounded by modern commercial buildings.
This is Waiouru moored a Salts Wharf. Ahead of us and around the corner are the 24 hour moorings adjacent to Aldi (a future stop!) There are sufficient mooring rings here for two 60ft boats, but a third boat could squeeze in on the end using pins.
The following map may assist with site orientation.
Waiouru is moored on the 7 day mooring with the 24 hour Aldi moorings further to the right. There are 6 hour (no overnight) moorings closer to Saltaire. Salt Bakery (more on that later) can be found on Victoria Road.
The next map provides a closer view of the town layout.
The mill is at D and the worker accommodation at A. The shopping area is at B with what I believe to be the mill management accommodation at C.
Saltaire was established by Titus Salt in 1851 as a model town. The name is derived by combining Titus Salt's name with that of the nearby River Aire.
Titus Salt decided to combine his existing five woollen mills into one new mill at this location near Shipley. Much like the Bourneville Brothers in Birmingham he decided to build a model town for his mill and workers. He built stone terraced houses with all the modern conveniences of the day (bath houses, school, hospital, gym, concert hall, church, etc). No doubt he had little difficulty in enticing his workers away from their slums in Bradford. Salt obviously had an eye for productivity because he didn't allow "mother's ruin" into the town (no alcohol outlets).
In 2001 Saltaire was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It remains a lived in town but every building is individually heritage grade listed.
Victoria Road is the main thoroughfare upon which can be found the concert hall, school, hospital and some of the larger and better homes. The streets in the worker areas appear to have male and female Christian names.
The Ice Cream boat moored down by the bridge. Cross the bridge over the canal and you can walk up Victoria Road with the mill on your immediate left.
Beyond the mill the Victoria Road crosses the railway line. Having the canal and railway were two of the reasons why Titus Salt selected the site. On the right beyond the railway line is the church. Initially I thought it was round, however it's only the front facade that gives this appearance. The building is actually rectangular.
The area behind and around the church is the terraced housing for the mill workers.
160 years ago these homes must have looked luxurious to a worker from the slums of Bradford.
Services alley at the rear of the terraced homes.
In this next photo you can see the contrast between the original stone houses and the more recent 20th century dwellings that have been built on the fringe of the original town.
Newer homes in the middle distance
At the top of the town is Saltaire Road where the majority of the shops are located.
Only the upper floors appear to be original. At the western end of the town is the old Tram Shed which has been converted into a pub.
The houses appear to be larger in size and more ornate at the top end of Victoria Road where it joins Saltaire Road. I suspect this is the mill management accommodation. It would be the furthest location from the noisy mill down by the canal.
More "up market" homes
Salt's Mill closed in 1986 and was then purchased and refurbished by Johathan Silver. It's now a mixture of business, commerce, leisure and residential use.
It's possible to see much of the original interior design. Heavy flagstone pavers on the ground floor. The ceiling of the ground floor is a combination of riveted cast iron "H" beams infilled with bricks in an arch to prove the strength of the second floor.
At the far end of the hall there was an ancient dental chair with treadle operated drill. I must be bloody old because I remember the school dental nurse at Waiouru Camp School had a similar machine!
If you walk back down Victoria Road and across the canal you reach the River Aire. We will be cruising on it shortly, but at the moment it doesn't look that big.
I can't finish this post without mentioning Jan Swatridge (nb Qisma) who sent us an email suggesting a visit to Salt Bakery and mentioning their vanilla slice was delicious.
Excellent advice………! I will have to walk back tomorrow for more. Perhaps four this time!
Thanks Jan…….


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The late, great Susan Sontag once said that her definition of a writer was someone who is interested in everything.
As you can see from the various articles and essays archived here under the categories of Cultural, Foreign, Travel, Styles, Education, Environmental, Miscellany/Humor, Popular History and In Search Of: I most certainly am!
What do the wildly diverse subjects of the several dozen dispatches, reports, letters, et al., have in common with each other? Not much, really — except that I was interested in them. Also, that I thought them worthwhile enough to write about: over 90 percent of the 400-some-odd articles and essays I have published in 60 or so publications were self-generated.
If one must generalize further about my strange, wonderful, far-flung journalistic career, I suppose you could also say that I am drawn to subjects, people, places, institutions and trends that might not normally interest another "literary journalist." This helps explain the amount of time I have spent writing about education, the closest thing to a "forgotten beat" as there is in general journalism; ditto for my style journalism, not to mention my so-called "Baltic fetish."
"I don't understand your career," my attorney Bob Stein once said to me after I published "Looking Forward to Mondays," a fervid dispatch on New York's China Club in the Styles section of The New York Times and "Sweden: After the Fall," an 11,000-word disquisition on the new Swedish malaise in Wilson Quarterly, in rapid succession. "You write about geostrategic affairs and the party scene!"
To me, that is the mission of an independent freelance journalist: to go where other staff journalists (or more check-driven freelancers) might not wish to go.
But really, I think it all goes back to Sontag's definition of a writer as someone who is interested in everything. Nearly 40 years after publishing my first essay about the pinball craze in the Cornell Alumni News, I am proud to stay that I still am.
And I hope I always will be.


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Malibu's Most Wanted (2003)
Directed by John WhitesellGenres - Comedy | Sub-Genres - Comedy of Manners, Teen Movie, Satire | Release Date - Apr 18, 2003 (USA) | Run Time - 86 min. | Countries - United States | MPAA Rating - PG13
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Synopsis by Mark Deming
A rich kid who likes to pretend he's from the wrong side of the tracks gets a taste of the real thing in this comedy. Brad Gluckman (Jamie Kennedy) is the son of a wealthy and socially prominent couple (Ryan O'Neal and Bo Derek) and grew up in the lap of luxury in Malibu, CA. However, Brad likes to imagine he's a street-smart gangsta from the mean streets of L.A., and he's been trying to launch a career as a hardcore rapper under the name "B-Rad." Mr. Gluckman is running for Governor of California, and both he and his campaign manager (Blair Underwood) are convinced Brad's antics could have a negative impact on the election, so they come up with a scheme to change his mind about the supposed glamour of street life. Mr. Gluckman hires a pair of African-American actors (Taye Diggs and Anthony Anderson) to impersonate a pair of gang-bangers from Compton who carjack Brad's SUV and take him to the 'hood, where he'll learn just how scary the thug life can be. However, it soon becomes obvious the actors don't know much more about life in Compton than Brad does, and as Brad gets used to his new surroundings, he falls for a girl from the neighborhood (Regina Hall) who has her own plans for moving up in the world. Malibu's Most Wanted was inspired by a character Jamie Kennedy created for his sketch comedy series The Jamie Kennedy Experiment.
riches-to-rags, self-image, gangster, hip-hop-music, identity, inner-city, rap-music


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Thursday, December 1, 2011
Isiah 30:15
Today's card is a back in time challenge at the CLASSroom. It's a challenge to try a technique seen in previous posts. I tried a couple that failed but I was in a hurry. This challenge ends in about an hour.....
I liked the look of this one by Julie Ebersole. I've been wanting to play with kraft paper plus these beautiful floral stamps are new. They are from Layers of Colors. I don't remember where I purchased the scripture verse.
I stamped the flowers in Versamark, embossed in white and outlined with Copics that match the papers from Basic Grey. It's another CAS look.
O.k. I need to go enter the contest. I doubt the random generator thingy picks the last number but if you don't enter you can't win!!
Other challenges:
The Spotted Chick - use kraft paper
Simon Says - anything goes
9 comments:
Lovely card Linda! White on kraft is a no fail combination. :-) Always makes a striking presentation.ReplyDelete
Thank you so much for the heads up about the challenge at The Spotted Chick AND for popping in to my blog. :-) Have a wonderful blessed day! Hugs!
this is so pretty! lovely card!ReplyDelete
Love the white embossing against the kraft, neat look of the verse on the vellum! Good luck with the contestReplyDelete
- AnonymousDecember 1, 2011 at 9:34 PM
This is a different card! I wish I knew all about the paper, etc. like the girls do who stamp and make comments! Dr. B. quoted that scripture to me one day when I was having problems. Love you, JReplyDelete
What a beautiful card chick - I love the design and the colours. Thank you for joining us this week over at the Simon Says Stamp Challenge. Hugs, Dawny xReplyDelete
This is so pretty Linda. I love the embossing on the velum. That verse is fabulous. Great job.ReplyDelete
You have such "style", luv the card...miss ya' GFReplyDelete
This is beautiful! That outlining makes it pop so wonderfully!ReplyDelete
Oh Linda this is beautiful! I love the embossed flowers with that little bit of green. It just makes it POP! Just GORGEOUS! Thanks so much for playing along in my That's Krafty Thursday challenge! {{{hen hugs}}}ReplyDelete