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Britain's National Theatre, Jean Doumanian Productions and Barrow Street Theater present the American premiere of a new play that takes on our pill-popping culture with humor and drama. More…
Hearts racing. Minds reeling. Knees buckling. Connie and Tristan have palpable chemistry—or is it a side effect of a new super-antidepressant? They are volunteers in a clinical trial, but their sudden and illicit romance forces the supervising doctors to face off over the ethical consequences of their work. Directed by David Cromer.
"The irreducibility of love is the subject of 'The Effect', Lucy Prebble's very clever — and ultimately more than clever — play, artfully directed by David Cromer...'The Effect' benefits from its smaller scale...Cromer has steered these young performers into nakedly passionate portrayals...Ms. Prebble is far too smart to find a firm resolution for the debate at the center of 'The Effect'. But in the end, she leaves room for what might be called a very loving uncertainty." Full Review
"A provocative and powerful drama…The first act of 'The Effect' is mainly expository…By the end of the first act we are sitting on the edge of our seats to discover where all of this is headed…Cromer's cast is as excellent…'The Effect' is provocative and powerful and should stimulate much discussion...Director David Cromer and his excellent quartet of actors will have you hanging on every word even as you think you know where this is all going–and you would be wrong." Full Review
"A bracing investigation into the nature of love that stimulates both the head and the heart. And David Cromer, perhaps the smartest director working today, draws out all the nuances of the competing arguments in a sleek production...The best parts of this production are the performances...Particularly Hudson, who emits the idiosyncratic charms of a young Jeff Goldblum...I fell in love with both him and Flood—and with this play." Full Review
"The energy, acting chops and yes, chemistry between Tristan and Connie is so palpable that it lights up the intimate stage...The play moves at a great pace covering a wealth of subjects from our belief that drugs can solve and save any problem, to what is or is not real in our modern lives. The success of much of this is due to the inspired direction of David Comer whose work has a tension and emotionality that is leagues ahead of most other directors." Full Review
"Prebble's script is full of memorable moments and characters that stab at the heart of Western society's troubling relationship with prescription drugs...David Cromer directs 'The Effect' with clinical precision yet somehow manages to avoid the sterility that tack often entails...The acting is satisfyingly unsafe...Brimming with challenging insight, 'The Effect' is sure to cause some heated post-show discussions, especially in our hypermedicated age." Full Review
"Lucy Prebble's smashing medical drama...Prebble is superbly abetted by the director David Cromer's sleek yet passionate production. He moves the action along so fast it may induce occasional brain whiplash, while maintaining a strong theatrical frame around the proceedings, except when he breaks it for effect. Those effects would not be as powerful as they are without the top-notch work of the cast." Full Review
"The themes and characters draw you in and leave you with much to think about...Even though I found the parallels between the two couples somewhat too schematic, this is an intelligent, exciting play with lots of very sharp dialogue...Fortunately David Cromer's pristine staging is smartly focused on that compelling dialogue and on the performances...The actors are the play's heart and soul." Full Review
"The mirror-image twosomes are too tidy for a play about the messiness of the medical profession and human emotions. And some twists stretch credulity...Still, the play delivers. And between the topnotch acting and director David Cromer's brisk staging that makes smart use of projections it's easy to go with it. 'The Effect' asks provocative questions about the head and the heart. It also manages to appeal to both. Win, win." Full Review
"The result is a play that thinks and feels like no other I can remember: unapologetically intellectual, but always more relatable and visceral than abstruse...Cromer knows how to yank you into plays, even against your will, and that gift is in full force here. It wouldn't matter if the acting weren't convincing, but it is....Maybe science can't create love. But it can create engrossing, enveloping theatre, as this experiment of Prebble's so solidly proves." Full Review
"Exploring notions of consciousness and identity as they relate to the chemistry in our brains, Ms. Prebble takes us on a breathless ride that is emotionally satisfying and philosophically compelling...Mr. Cromer elicits sharp, dynamic performances from the excellent cast. And although I'm not certain that in the end Ms. Prebble supplies the most complete responses to the unsolvable problems she introduces, her dramatic exploration of her subjects is both riveting and fascinating." Full Review
"'The Effect' has a solid plot; seeds planted early sprout a few surprises...The plot and the deceptively straightforward, largely restrained performances seem mostly in service to a series of intriguing questions threaded throughout the two-hour play, sometimes dramatically, sometimes in the form of debate...The playwright does not offer pat, authoritative-sounding theories to answer these questions. But the warmth, pathos and humor in her writing suggests where she stands." Full Review
"For a play about test subjects going through extremes, 'The Effect' leaves you slightly cold...It's a credit to playwright Lucy Prebble's probity and wit that these questions excite the mind, even if the heart rate remains steady...It's a solid issue drama that allows room for debate, humor and canny twists...David Cromer's crisply intelligent production shows a touch of Ivo van Hove's Euro-chic, multimedia approach, which suits the material well...The cast does fine work." Full Review
"Ms. Prebble kept us on our toes the entire performance through her twists and turns. Ms. Flood and Mr. Hudson kept us entertained with their flirtations and connection. The show educates, informs, and entertains...The relationship between the doctors is a bit less fleshed out and could use some more refinement--or more accurately clarity. Perhaps Ms. Prebble will get an opportunity to have another clinical trial on a larger stage. One might speculate the results would be positive." Full Review
"'The Effect' is somewhat compromised by an on-and-off momentum, over-the-top gestures and the deliberately clinical tone. Nevertheless, it makes for a smart, unpredictable drama that asks a lot of disconcerting questions. The cast is quite effective under Cromer's sharp direction." Full Review
"A provocative if rather scattershot play about the chemistry of the brain, anti-depression drugs and love...Artfully directed by David Cromer and fervently acted by Flood and Hudson, it winds up as a multi-stranded, open-minded consideration of the place of anti-depressant drugs in contemporary lives and relationships...Prebble seems to come down on the side of love as essentially a natural rather than a pharmaceutical phenomenon. It's at that point that the play becomes quite touching." Full Review
"Something seems to have been lost crossing the pond, because I fail to see what the fuss was about...It seemed at times repetitive...I mostly enjoyed the first act, but was disappointed when the playwright turned to melodrama midway through the second. The play raises many interesting questions without providing easy answers. Hudson and Brazda are both superb...This play is certainly an improvement over last year's similarly themed 'Placebo' at Playwrights Horizons, but that is faint praise." Full Review
"An interesting but flawed play. 'The Effect' is a provocative experiment gone awry. But it's intelligent, well-staged and well-acted. If only all theater that didn't quite work could be this enjoyable an evening...Playwright Lucy Prebble assembles the elements of an intriguing thought experiment. And for about half the evening, a strong cast led by director David Cromer and a crack technical team produce very promising results." Full Review
"A clever cocktail of love, depression and pharmaceuticals...Director David Cromer expertly manages the shift from intricate courtly flirtation, reminiscent of Shakespeare or Marivaux, to partial nudity and onstage sex...A debate about the efficacy of antidepressants towards the end seems strident. Transitions between scenes can also be awkward...It's not entirely clear what 'The Effect' has to say about contemporary psychiatry. Perhaps there simply are no ready answers." Full Review
"A sugar coated, occasionally witty look at the situation...There are good performances all around but outstanding is that by Carter Hudson...'The Effect,' frankly, begins to have little effect over the course of two hours." Full Review
"Under David Cromer's careful direction, the ensemble cast members deliver spirited performances and maneuver skillfully through the playwright's plot surprises and thematic strands...The lack of the ability to connect in any meaningful way with the play's principals leaves 'The Effect' with a less than satisfying effect on the audience...Despite this, the play is an interesting exploration into the vicissitudes of love and its provenance." Full Review
"The premise is clever—and director David Cromer has a track record of brilliant conceptions—but the production, despite excellent performances, doesn't quite click...While Cromer has a sharp cast, the plot is iffy. 'The Effect' is a great premise for a serious discussion on why drug therapy may or may not work and the possible social consequences that follow. But as dramatic fodder, it's a hard pill to swallow." Full Review
"It's an unusual, even provocative premise...Too bad, then, that Prebble distorts her subject matter with so much hokum...The author has some mordant points to make, but she undercuts them by making her characters behave like refugees from a sweeps-week episode of 'General Hospital'...The director, David Cromer, handles the actors as well as can be expected under these increasingly unconvincing circumstances...Prebble is a writer with talent; she should learn to get out of her own way." Full Review
"Lucy Prebble's 'The Effect' is half good. Unfortunately, it's the wrong half...The physical side of the production is stunning and complicated in its mix of the eerie and the sterile...Much of it is not drama. It's just speeches, one after the other. One doctor even begins to sound a lot like Tom Cruise. Remember when the movie star went off on Brooke Shields years ago because she treated her postpartum depression with drugs? That's where Prebble takes 'The Effect.'" Full Review
"Provocative themes don't always make for compelling drama...'The Effect' is never as convincing as the intellectual arguments in which its characters frequently engage...The new play also suffers from lack of specificity — the characterizations of the protagonists are sketchy at best — and melodramatic plot developments that don't feel fully credible. Despite being cut by more than a half-hour in its transfer across the pond, the play lacks narrative momentum and often feels repetitive." Full Review
"Both actors are fantastic to watch...It's a heady complex topic that sometimes felt too emotional and far too simply debated in maybe a much too contrived setup, but Prebble makes an interesting idea come alive, with lots of questions being asked, but no real obvious answers given." Full Review
See it if you enjoy shows that target interesting issues that you might not otherwise think about
Don't see it if you have problems with nudity or strong language or if you have issues with shows that deal with mental health
See it if You want to be challenged to think about the nature of the self and emotions, are interested in mental health, and enjoy a love story
Don't see it if You only like simple stories
See it if Like smart thought provoking theatre
Don't see it if Are put off from blood being taken on stage
See it if You like clever writing, great acting.
Don't see it if ?
See it if You appreciate strong acting performances and can handle tough material. The writing and acting is incredibly strong.
Don't see it if You don't like intense subject matter or highly dramatic material. This is an emotional roller coaster
See it if You enjoy great acting and thought-provoking questions about different perceptions of how we should look at people and our mental health.
Don't see it if You don't like thought-provoking questions about your own life
See it if you're looking for a cool, thought-provoking off-Broadway show.
Don't see it if you don't like mentally stimulating theater.
See it if You like intelligent story
Don't see it if Dont like medical trial
See it if If you love new plays that deal with current issues through interesting and funny characters.
Don't see it if If you like plays that give you all of the answers.
See it if You appreciate thoughtful, original, relevant. memorable but disturbing drama
Don't see it if You do not appreciate dark themes and drama but, rather, enjoy primarily fluffy musicals and mindless low comedy
See it if One of the best plays I've seen, thoroughly engaging story, excellently acted
Don't see it if I can't say anything negative about it
See it if you're interested in pointed pieces of art that examine contemporary issues through captivating narratives.
Don't see it if you prefer art that is easy to swallow.
See it if you like intense and, at times, amusing drama
Don't see it if you are impatient
See it if you enjoy a good drama
Don't see it if you do not getting inside a small, intriguing performance
See it if You enjoy a thought provoking, well acted play.
Don't see it if You want a mindless night of theater.
See it if you enjoy intelligent theatre with terrific performances and great direction. David Cromer is one of our great directors.
Don't see it if you do not like intelligent theatre.
See it if you are ready to pay attention to details and think
Don't see it if you want something light and fluffy
See it if you want ethically complicated, romantic, well written and performed story
Don't see it if i dont know why you dont want to see this
See it if You're interested in questions about relationships, mental health, and how our biological make-up may or may not determine our actions.
Don't see it if You're looking for light entertainment or an action-packed evening.
See it if you like to have big ideas peppered into your theatre, since there's neat science you'll want to talk about afterwards. And it's saucy fun.
Don't see it if you need a clean ending, since the end is the weakest part of this show. Or if you might be bothered by some potentially spurious science.
See it if you like thought-provoking plays with humor, especially those that explore modern social/cultural trends.
Don't see it if you're looking for a fluffy entertainment or a crowd-pleaser for out-of-towners.
See it if you like plays with unconventional themes and plays that make you think.
Don't see it if you prefer to avoid sex and nudity on stage, even when tastefully done.
See it if you like an entertaining naturalistic drama with good actors who deliver the issues with commitment and purpose.
Don't see it if you don't like to be challenged with questions about the effects of drug-trials and the physiology of love.
See it if You like intelligent, psychological theatre.
Don't see it if You are easily bored by thought provoking theatre that might seem a bit slow at times.
See it if You are interested in a thought provoking play about the chemistry of love.
Don't see it if You are looking for a musical or light hearted play.
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Power continues hot form; leads Irish Under 16 Boys
Mark Power continued his magnificent season by grabbing the first round lead in the Irish Boys Under 16 Championship at Clonmel.
The Kilkenny star, winner of the Irish Boys and the Peter McEvoy Trophy titles already this year, made five birdies a three under 68 to lead by two strokes from Castle's Tommy Smyth and Rosslare's John Brady.
Irish Boys Under 16 Championship, Clonmel
Round One
68 Mark Power (Kilkenny)
70 Tommy Smyth (Castle), John Brady (Rosslare)
71 Laurenz Schiergen (Germany)
72 Jack Shellard (Lisburn), Josh Black (Hilton Templepatrick), Rowan Carey (Scotland)
73 Seb Ewing (Holywood), Thomas Stout (Royal Belfast), João Maria Pontes (Portugal), Allan Hill (Athenry)
74 Federico Holst (Germany), Conor Murtagh (Balcarrick), Christopher Cosgrave (Elm Park), Luke O'Neill (Connemara), David Kitt (Athenry), Scott Jones (Belvoir Park), Gonçalo Teodoro (Portugal), Onur Telli (Turkey), Pedro Lencart Silva (Portugal)
75 Eoin Murphy (Dundalk), Daragh Connolly (Castle Dargan), Vasco Alves (Portugal), Stephan Campbell (The Island), Thomas Plunkett (Crover House), Jack Small (Elm Park), Sean Whelan (Royal Tara), Josh Mackin (Dundalk), David Kelly (Cill Dara)
76 Michael McGilligan (Woodbrook), Barry Howlin (The Heritage), Tom MacKenzie (Scotland), Jack Walsh (Castle), Shane Bresnan (Woodbrook), Ben Hynes (Greystones), Cillian Lawless (Athenry), Ryan McNelis (Fintona), Evan Hollowed (Newlands), Jack Connolly (Elm Park), Alexander Flynn (Dun Laoghaire), Joshua Robinson (Lisburn), Ronan Cowhey (Elm Park), Caolan Dunn (Foyle), Eoin Sullivan (Carton House), Luke Merrigan (Bray)
77 Jack Doherty (Carton House), Sean Doyle (The Island), Carlos Laranja (Portugal), Sean Dowling (Beaverstown), Daniel Raher (Dungarvan), Pauraic Mc Nelis (Fintona), Ahmet Telli (Turkey), Fynn Fenstermacher (Germany), Adrien Conter (France), Aaron Marshall (Lisburn), Kyle Patton (Lisburn), Jonathan Keane (Lahinch), Sean Carroll (Castle Dargan), Edward Walsh (Mallow), Sean Downes (Beaverstown)
78 Christopher Rabbette (Esker Hills), Darren Leufer (Athenry), Darren Scott (Clandeboye), Liam Travers (Ardee), Phil Winter (Germany), Odhran Maguire (Slieve Russell), Frederik Schott (Germany), Conor McGuinness (Claremorris), Ian Halpin (Cahir Park), Ross Murphy (Clandeboye), Robert O'Callaghan (Powerscourt), Sean Enright (Limerick), Daniel Rodrigues (Portugal)
79 Patrick O'Shea (Kilkenny), Annraoi Collins (Laytown & Bettystown), Patrick Greene (Holywood), Sean Laverty (Dundalk), Scott Miller (Clandeboye), Daniel O Sullivan (Mallow), Emre Telli (Turkey), John Twomey (Waterford)
80 Richard Duggan (Kilkenny), Jordan Boles (Charleville), João Pedro Maganinho (Portugal), Ben Crawford (Greenacres), Alex Maguire (Laytown & Bettystown)
81 Liam Nolan (Galway), Darragh Rochford (Bray), Eoin Mallon (Killymoon), Patrick Callaghan (Castle Dargan), Darragh Lynch (Slievenamon), Ben Beaumont (Bangor), Paul Conroy (Enniscorthy), Tim Farrelly (The Island), Ben Phipps (Ardee), Scott Young (Fintona)
82 Eoin McCarthy (Faithlegg), Ronan Hynes (Oughterard), Ciaran Purtill (Carton House), Brian Reidy Jnr (Mullingar), Max Kennedy (The Royal Dublin), Thomas McCarthy (Portmarnock), Shane Walsh (Blacklion), David Spillane (Tramore), Rory Casey (Holywood), Rhys Goodall (Hilton Templepatrick), Kyle Rafferty (Greenore), Ross Higgins (Bandon), Florian Benner (Germany), Yannick Milkau (Germany), Louis Anthony (Shandon Park)
83 Connor Meehan (Strabane), Max Dorman (Bangor), Gavan Keogh (Galway), Bastian Buhk (Germany), Finn Looney (East Clare), Conor Glennon (Glasson), John Endersen (Bantry Bay), Jamie Vard (Foxrock), Aaron Cashin (Tramore), Charlie Denvir (Powerscourt), Jack Dillon (Mallow), Cathal Ffrench (Carton House)
84 Kevin McArdle (Elm Park), David Boden (Belvoir Park), Cameron Fox (Tandragee), Conor Murphy (Highfield), Kevin Brennan (Castlecomer)
85 Daniel Tully (Royal Tara), Padraig Fallon (Dundalk), Adam Smith (Mullingar), Pedro Silva (Portugal), Edward Rowe (Tandragee), Kevin McCarrick (United Arab Emirates), Cian Hall (Adare Manor)
86 Harry Butler (Whitehead), Stephen Ryan (Roscrea), David Hanley (Douglas), Joe Rooney (Co. Armagh), David Twomey (Elm Park)
87 Adam Doherty (Carton House), Sam Small (Elm Park)
88 Mark Duggan (Highfield)
91 Luka Keyes (Dun Laoghaire), Harry Sheehy (Dromoland), Jacob Lange (Germany), Lucas Azinheiro (Portugal)
92 Philip Byrne (Ballybunion)
93 Oliver Pearson (Cahir Park), Jake O'Riordan (Dungarvan), Eoin Dooley (Roscrea)
WD/DQ Kevin Collins (Douglas), Aaron Donnelly (Forrest Little.), Shane Irwin (Killeen), Ned Kirwan (Mount Juliet), Paul Nickel (Germany).

subset: commoncrawl


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A few words about the ageing
The determining point for splicing is the passage or rather the wine must stay in cask. The resources of barrel allows the entrance of oxygen which reacts with several wine components by creating all the reactions of so-called oxidative maturation (ripening). At the same time, wood and wine interact well. We can therefore say that the schematic in the barrel aging is a three reason process: wine, barrel, oxygen.
Therefore, the oak (oak) is indispensable for making barrels. Wine in barrel is exempted from the more over phenolic substances which it contains, while we have many welding tannin between them that give unions less "styfes". This procedure will help to ensure that the wine will have "soften" and "rounds" tasty. However it is worth stressing that the passage from the oak barrel is not mandatory for all red wines. In principle a Nouveau does not pass by default from barrel. Some red wines without a lot of "tannins" probably won't benefit from a long stay in a barrel. But there are also wines that need long enough to reach good point of maturity. In many cases the time spent in barrel set pieces at one year.


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The Napthine Government is being met with the praise of the Victorian tax payers after stepping up to the plate to assist SPC Ardmona in refitting its processing plant with $22 million, subsequently saving 2,700 jobs.
The helping hand comes after weeks of the Abbott Government bluntly refusing to assist the troubled company after it asked for a $23 million assistance package to keep the cannery running.
Prime Minister Abbott and Treasure Joe Hockey cited that parent company Coca-Cola Amatil had healthy profits and SPC Ardmona should not require further assistance from the Government.
This statement was met with a wave of criticism, including from within the Liberal Parties own ranks as the LNP member for Murray, Sharman Stone, accused both the PM and the treasurer of lying.
"What really upsets me is that the federal government didn't say 'we'd love to help we just don't have the money right now', what they said was that it was the amazing wages and conditions that knocked the company for six," Dr Stone went on to say, "Rather than conditions, it was the dumping of cheap products by the Coles and Woolworths duopoly, rise in imports and ten years of drought" that all contributed to the company's financial woes.
Opposition Bill Shorten affirmed that Stone was "right" in this assessment and that accusing the unions and generous workplace conditions was "inherently wrong."
Premier Denis Napthine stated that the co-investment of their $22 million contribution and the $78 million from Coca-Cola Amatil again gives SPC and the Goulburn Valley region a bright future after the Bureau of Statistics released figures showing an increase in Victoria's unemployment rate from 6.2% in December to a January figure of 6.4%.
Federal Treasurer Joe Hockey made no comment on the "bail out" stating that it was a matter for the state government, despite the Abbott government decision to give $16 million to chocolate makers Cadbury for the modernisation of their Tasmanian factory.
State Secretary of the Australian Workers Union Ben Davis released a statement, saying "Napthine has done what Tony Abbott should have done and there is a real lesson in this for the Abbott Government. This is how you support businesses that are doing it tough."
The state government raised the money from existing programs to be delivered over the next three years and the budget bottom line will not be affected.


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Burdastyle Painterly Knit Top
I am a great one for buying Burdastyle magazines and putting Post It notes all through it with styles I want to make and then my plans just never come to fruition. Before my trip to Australia, I decided to draft up Burdastyle 05/2016 115 and try it out in some a small piece of lovely drapey knit viscose that I really wasn't sure what to do with. This stuff is quite slippery and very drapey so I was relatively confident that the two were made for each other. I drafted up a size 38 which is my usual Burdastyle size and graded out to 40 in the hips. A few reviews of this top expressed concern about the sleeves not sitting nicely and requiring some extra stitching on the shoulders for it to sit correctly. I was fully prepared to do this and actually stitched the shoulders down about 10cm below the neck band. The armhole openings, neckband and hem were all finished with a twin needle.
I really love this top. It provides good sun coverage but is lovely and airy to wear. It will get lots of wear over the summer. Will I make it again? Probably, when I find just the right piece of fabric!


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I wish I was creative as that guy. I could never be as creative as her. I'm not creative.
These are statements heard around the world on any given day. But what does it actually mean to be creative or have creativity? What does the word "creativity" mean?
The masses have marginalized this word into a crystal goblet for the chosen few. Creativity is not a crystal goblet. This is a lie.
Here are 12 more lies about creativity:
1. Creativity only happens in the arts
The idea that creativity is segregated to only one area is the biggest lie of them all. The dictionary defines creativity as "the ability to think new things or have new ideas."
To be creative is to do a task differently, to look at a problem with new eyes, to take on the familiar in a new way. Creativity is everywhere and can happen in every job. The scientist is creative, the teacher who devises a new lesson plan is creative, the mom who doesn't use a recipe to cook is creative as is the accountant who comes up with a new payroll system.
2. Creativity only happens to special people
"Creativity is not the possession of some special talent. It's about the willingness to play."~ John Cleese
Not only is creativity everywhere, it is in everyone. Everyone has the capacity to solve problems or to take on a task in a different way. Unfortunately, that's not the common perception. Many people say, "I don't think like a creative person." This just isn't true. It is a commonly thought that creativity happens in a special part of the brain. But does it? New evidence suggests that right- and left-brain thinking is bunk.
3. Creativity only occurs in flashes of spectacular light
An idea shoots from the sky in a brilliant spectacle of color and light producing a wonder of creativity. Creativity does not burst forth like fireworks.
I speak from personal experience on this: The act of creativity, in my case writing, comes from habit and consistency, not flash happenstance. If you ask a writer how long it takes to finish a draft, the answer will come back as anywhere from six months to a year. Perhaps two years or even more. Writing is a "creative" act. So why does it take so long?
My creativity occurs through a practical drawn out process that involves multiple rewrites, questions, and edits. No flashes here.
4. You must wait for creativity to hit
There is a perception that creativity requires inspiration. You must wait for inspiration and only then can you create. Some believe this so firmly they'll wait forever, which makes them wail "I'm not creative!"
Think of creativity as a muscle. Marathoners don't wait to be able to run, they work at it consistently. Work the creativity muscle on a regular basis and it will hit on a regular basis. For example, write down ten ideas every day. Don't worry about the quality. Just get in the habit of using the muscle. By the end of the month your brain will know how to create ideas on a consistent basis. You'll have at least 300 ideas to choose from; some good, some bad, some wonderful.
5. Creative people don't fail
"Try again. Fail again. Fail better. "~ Samuel Beckett
Another lie is that creativity is a product. Creativity is a process. To think new things or create ideas does not mean you get it right with the first attempt. You try and fail over and over again. You come up with 300 ideas some of which are good, some of which are awful.
Thomas Edison invented the lightbulb, a highly creative act. He also failed to get it right thousands of times. Walt Disney went bankrupt at twenty-two, five years before he created Mickey Mouse. Steve Jobs was turned down by Atari and Hewlett Packard before starting Apple.
6. Creativity can't be taught
If you reframe your definition of creativity (think new things) and view creativity as a muscle that must be worked habitually, you can take the next step. Creativity is not a genetic trait, it is a skill. You can't change your height but you can develop a skill. If you can learn a skill, you can also teach it.
7. Creativity is not welcome in the workplace
Companies want creative workers, in the sense that they want people who take on tasks in new ways and are able to solve problems. Creative thinking has been defined as a 21st century skill, which are the skills students need to learn to prepare them for the workforce. The further we get into the 21st century, the more important creativity will become as a job skill.
8. Creativity is welcome in the workplace
Of course, the opposite is true and can't be ignored. Just because companies say they welcome creativity in the workplace doesn't mean it's actually happening. A 2012 Adobe study called State of Create showed that while 8 in 10 believe creativity is critical to economic growth, 75% felt pressure to be productive rather than creative at work. This factory-driven mentality still rules in many companies.
And just because educators recognize creative thinking as a necessary skill does not mean it's being taught in the classroom. Standardized testing comes from a factory-driven mentality — be productive rather than creative. Is it possible to shift the massive entity that is the corporate capitalistic structure to uniformly welcome creativity in the workplace?
9. Your child is creative
Ask a young child any question and they will come up with the most imaginative answer possible. They can create fantastic worlds with their minds, complete with specific details and characters you couldn't dream of. This activity does not make a child creative. It makes a child normal. Creativity is not unique to special children, it's a muscle they use on a regular basis.
Every child can easily access their imagination. creatingminds.org says that we use 80% of our creative potential at the age of five.
10. Creativity dooms your child to a life of poverty
This is what the average parent fears. "My child will not be able to make a living and will suffer."
This fear stems from the notion that creativity only occurs in the arts and the arts are not a viable career. Many parents will stifle any creative impulse in their child in order to prevent this perceived life of poverty.
As an arts educator, I've had many conversations with students who have been removed from drama in order to take extra math or science courses. Pushing a child to science, for example, doesn't necessarily prevent poverty. Are there actually jobs for science grads?
11. Creativity never leaves you
Creativity is a muscle. That muscle will atrophy if you don't maintain a habit of creativity (as with our physical muscles).
creatingminds.org offers a second depressing statistic: by the age of twelve, we're only using 2% of our creative potential. And that's where it stays for the rest of our lives.
So it's easy to say "I'm not creative" and believe it if you never establish and maintain a habit of creative work.
12. You are not creative
"The truth is that everyone has great capacities but not everyone develops them." ~ Ken Robinson
I am not creative. This statement is repeated over and over again. And it is believed. And it is a lie. It's an easy lie to believe and it's an easy lie to perpetuate. It takes work to be creative — it takes time and effort to be creative. For most, it's easier to live the lie than do the work.
Do you tell yourself you're not creative? Do you believe you're not creative? What, if anything would change your mind? Let me know in the comments section.
Photo credit: Big Stock Photos


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The Executive Committee met on 27th September 2016 in The Hague.
NSAC 2016 09 27 Ex Com Agenda (2)
Ex Com 20160927 DenHaag MReport (1)
Paper 2.1 Report of Ex Com 9 June 16 (For App)
Paper 3.1 Brexit Focus Group TOR (For app)
Paper 5.1 Report of NSAC Planning Group (For Info)
Paper 8 1 MS Guidance for Art11 (For App)
Paper 11.1 NSMAP Proposal (For Disc)
Paper 11.2 NSMAP Annexes 1&2 (For Disc)
The impact of underwater noise in the marine environment Prof. Hawkins http://bit.ly/2dxzYoD
ICES Fisheries and Ecosystems Mark Tasker. ICES Fisheries & Ecosystems


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How To Cut Children's Nails – NO TEARS!
There are many ways to cut children's nails.
Most of them involve (multiple) bribes, threats and/or physical restraint.
There's the odd occasion when it goes almost smoothly; almost scream free. Then there's the rest of the time.
Acclimatization – just getting on with it despite the circumstances – as long as you're in top mental form, is quite possible.
It's easy to believe that this is just how it's going to be – until of course they're safely cutting their own nails.
That being many tears away.
Bringing a glimmer of hope to this situation, dermatologists tell us they can trim their own when they're 9 or 10!
…Does that make you hopeful?
That's a decade!
Well, maybe you've had enough.
Maybe you'd like to cut your little one's nails with no tears at all?
– Well, that's just what we call it.
How to cut children's nails, NO TEARS.
Three simple steps…
When you're just starting out, you probably need to do one at a time and let them get right in there trying to pull them off afterwards. I can assure you an 18 month old is as enthralled as a 7 year old!
I sigh at myself if I cut a bit too far and finish the job… Then we talk about me trying harder on the next nail! I'll be honest, it's taken a bit of practice. Miss 4 was a very patient hand model. And getting 10 "Tiger Nails" that's a major success.
Linking up with #TheList, #PoCoLo, #WeekendBlogHop & #BrilliantBlogPosts
For more Parent Hacks check out this 'Anti-Nightmare Spray' – No More Nightmares
A tear free nail cut and a tear free night 🙂
27 Comments
Cutting nails is so hard, both mine prefer clippers, oh and Daddy to do it! Ha! Thanks for linking up to #brilliantblogposts
What a great idea for older ones, thanks for sharing! I wish I had thought of it with my older children. I don't think it will work with our 11 month old quite yet but a handy piece of knowledge for the future.
Well I never would have thought of this! We'll give it a go if/when nail cutting becomes and issue. Or rather my wife will as I am terrified to cut the tot's nails after the time I almost chopped off his thumb.
As I type this my son is sitting on my lap scratching my face with his talons… I'll be trying this out immediately!! Thanks 🙂
Haha, fun idea! My SPD kid would run screaming though, may try it with the middle one… #Brilliantblogposts
Hun, I MUST try this. I cut the children's nails every single Sunday night. That's 40 nails to cut, 80 if it is 'feet day' too, trying to ignore the screaming, restraining one or running after the one who has managed to escape. I am pinning your fabtastic trick right this minute, and I will let you know how we get on! xxx
This is a great idea for a post! I wish Grace would just stop biting her nails so I can cut them! Thank you for linking to #PoCoLo x
Cutting Elsa's nails is one of the most frustrating things ever. She will NOT sit still for it and I am always worried she is going to end up with the scissors in her eye from all the wriggling! I don't know if she's old enough to go for this but perhaps it's worth a try.
Hi Steph, like your style! I nibbled the children's nails when they were babies and once they were older I passed the job to my husband, who seemed to handle the task with no problem….Not sure what his secret was though!
Whoo I love this idea. My youngest 2 hate having their nails done. I an=m going to try this tomorrow when I cut my daughters nails 🙂
Thanks for sharing at the #weekendbloghop :):)
Pinning 🙂
Ooooooooh. That's *very* clever.
My personal method is to 'let' my husband, who is less likely to chop the kids' fingertips off than I am when they are struggling, do it. But I might actually venture a go at this on high days and holidays!
My style is doing it when he is asleep =P
But this looks so much fun! I will try this next time. #pocolo
Awesome! I'm so glad I found this it's always a nightmare trying to cut little ones fingernails!! Thanks!! Have a fab weekend #weekendbloghop
great post! #weekendbloghop


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Mischief by Phil Roderick
This bit of Mischief is not mischief at all, it's about a boat named "Mischief" in her way one of the more famous of the Cardiff pilot cutters.
The story begins 28TH July 1873 in the Bristol Channel, the unregistered pilot boat "Mischief " was wrecked. Onboard her that day were Pilot William MORGAN aged 40 a Cardiff man, John HARVEY an able seaman aged 48 born Kinsale and Samuel HARVEY an apprentice aged 17 born Polruan Cornwall. William Morgan was to remain a Cardiff pilot for many years and Samuel HARVEY went on to become a Cardiff pilot.
Then in Swansea 1876, John MASON a shipwright built a boat. I can't find much about her early life, but in 1885 she is registered in Cardiff by William MORGAN a Cardiff pilot and named "Mischief". He used her in his trade as a Bristol Channel Pilot and then in 1888 she is sunk after a collision off Barry. The name "Mischief" was to continue though as on 21st March 1906 Pilot William MORGAN of 113 Windsor Road Penarth registers his new boat at Cardiff. She is a Cutter with an elliptical stern with oak panels and beams, she is Carvell built with oak and pine planking with a gross weight of 17.58 tons. She was built by Thomas BAKER at East Canal Wharf Cardiff; she is called "Mischief."
William MORGAN uses her right up until 1913 when the Cardiff pilotage authority decide to modernise the way pilots operate and buy in three steam cutters which are to be manned by a group of pilots working in a shift pattern. The Cardiff Steam pilot company arrange a loan from a bank to buy all the old sailing cutters from their owners. William MORGAN sells "Mischief" to the company on 14th November 1913.
The pilot company sells her on 5th August 1914 to a Barry pilot named Arthur William GARRET of Red Brick Crescent Barry. But yet again progress was to get in the way of "Mischief" as by 1916 the Barry Pilotage authority follow Cardiff's lead and buy in a steam cutter, so Arthur GARRET does as William MORGAN did and sells her to the Barry Steam boat pilot company.
"Mischief" was now out of a job.
She was then sold on 11th August 1919 to a man from London one Percy John Henry UNNA of 25 Victoria Street London SW1. He took her out to Takoradi on the Gold Coast.
The shipping register of Cardiff bears these words at the bottom of the page "Registry closed 11th August 1927."
The end of "Mischief"
I think not. In January 1954 she came to the notice of a man who could be best described as coming from the pages of a Boys own annual. He had won the MC and bar in WW1and the DSO in WW2. --- Bill TILMAN born in 1898. One of his crew on an expedition to Greenland in 1970 remarked that he must have been away from home and on hard tack for nearly all his life.
TILMAN had decided in the early 1950s to go on sailing and mountaineering expeditions and needed a strong craft. He was to write in 1954.
"I was put in touch with a man who owned the right type of boat – "Mischief" built at Cardiff in 1906, was originally a Bristol Channel pilot cutter 45ft long. Her only known history to me was her first entry in 1927 when presumably her life as a working boat came to an end and was bought to turn her into a sailing yacht. Since then she has had nine owners and the latest had brought her to Malta.
In her life with TILMAN she ranged far and wide, Patagonia, into the Antarctic Ocean, to Greenland and to remote regions both North and South. In all she covered more than 110 thousand miles with him.
In 1968 she sank off Jan Mayen in the Artic Ocean Lat 71. She was 62 years old.
So there we have it "Mischief" a Cardiff boat that saw a large part of the world, built just to work the Bristol Channel by "Thomas BAKER" a Cardiff man.
Built in Cardiff in 1906 Originally a Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter.
Did not use 20ft top mast on trip due to extra strain , windage, and massive five supporting wire stays, and limited advantage of topsail.


text: MASKS 08/08/2016 We Wear the Mask Paul Laurence Dunbar (1896) We wear the mask that grins and lies, It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,— This debt we pay to human guile; With torn and bleeding hearts we smile, And mouth with myriad subtleties. Why should the world be over-wise, In counting all our tears and sighs? Nay, let them only see us, while We wear the mask. We smile, but, O great Christ, our cries To thee from tortured souls arise. We sing, but oh the clay is vile Beneath our feet, and long the


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Rewiring Older Homes for Today's Needs
Stephen M. Daniels Electrical Contractors' skilled electricians take pride in rewiring older homes in Lancaster County while preserving plaster walls and other architectural features.
As an electrical contractor, our company's goal is to provide quality electrical work to our customers. Since 1979, our company has established a reputation for excellent workmanship in electrical updating and repairs for the community.
Our Services
- Older Home Rewiring, such as replacing knob and tube wiring and correcting double tapped circuit breakers
- Electrical Service Upgrades from fuses to circuit breakers
- Troubleshooting Problems, such as lights and receptacles not working and lights dimming
- Indoor and Outdoor Lighting
- Installing Phone, Cable and Computer Wiring
Our Customers
Our customers include homeowners, general contractors, and commercial clients with stores, offices, and galleries. Here is what one of them says about our work:
"I have known Steve and his company since 1979. I was once convinced to try another electrician and quickly learned that the level of service and personal attention given by Steve and his staff is irreplaceable and indefinable. "
-Ann Warner, Realtor


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Welcome to Borders Art Sales, the online window to Mellerstain Gallery. The gallery is situated on the ground floor of Mellerstain House in the Scottish Borders; designed by Robert Adam and built between 1725 and 1778, the old kitchens, cellars and corridors are classically proportioned yet minimal in decoration, creating a perfect space for contemporary fine art.
We have hosted a summer exhibition since 2005 and regularly welcome guest curators. The art on show in the gallery is also for sale on this site.


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Silicon Valley Astronomy Lectures
In the Land of Enchantment: The Epic Story of the Cassini Mission to Saturn
Listen (mp3 file, 46.9 MB)
Since 2004, Cassini has been exploring the giant planet Saturn, its magnificent ring system, and its intriguing moons. Dr. Porco shows us many of the magnificent mission images and explains the findings from both the main orbiter and the probe that landed on Titan, Saturn's biggest moon. She also discusses the geysers on the moon Enceladus and what we have learned about the plumes that erupt.
100 Years of Einstein's Relativity (And How it Underlies Our Modern Understanding of the Universe)
Dr. Jeffrey Bennett (University of Colorado)
Listen (mp3 file, 54.7 MB)
2015 marks the 100th anniversary of Einstein's completion of his General Theory of Relativity, the comprehensive theory of space, time, and gravity. Dr. Bennett explains the basic ideas of Einstein's work (both the special and general theories) in everyday language and shows how Einstein's remarkable ideas are being confirmed today by astronomical observations. He concludes with four reasons why relativity should matter to everyone.
Now Appearing at a Dwarf Planet Near You: NASA's Dawn Mission to the Asteroid Belt
Dr. Marc Rayman (Jet Propulsion Labs)
Listen (mp3 file, 44.3 MB)
Dr. Rayman, the Mission Director for the Dawn exploration of Vesta and Ceres, explains the unusual mission (the first to orbit two different bodies in the solar system), what it found at Vesta, and what it is going to do as it gets to Ceres, the largest asteroid and the first dwarf planet discovered. He also gives a behind-the-scenes tour of the Dawn launch and the ion propulsion that allows it to visit multiple targets.
The Sentinel Mission: Finding the Asteroid Headed for Earth
Dr. Ed Lu (Former NASA Astronaut; CEO of the Sentinel Mission)
Listen (mp3 file, 46.8 MB)
Asteroids, which hit our planet at least twice each year, are the only natural disaster for which we have a technological solution. We are all living with the threat of a 3-minute experience that could transform our lives and our planet forever. Scientists have found 10,000 Near-Earth Objects, yet there are an estimated one million in our inner solar system, and the vast majority of the threatening ones are still undiscovered. In this non-technical talk, Ed Lu describe the threat, and discusses the Sentinel Mission, an orbiting telescope to detect and track asteroids that cross Earth's orbit.
Pluto on the Horizon: Anticipating our First Encounter with the Double Planet
Dr. Mark Showalter (SETI Institute)
Listen (mp3 file, 39.6 MB)
The more we learn about Pluto, the more interesting it becomes. In the last decade, four tiny moons have been discovered orbiting the central "binary planet," which consists of Pluto and its large moon Charon. Pluto itself has a thin atmosphere and shows signs of seasonal changes. On July 14, 2015, NASA's New Horizons spacecraft will fly past Pluto and provide our first close-up look at these distant worlds. Dr. Showalter, a co-investigator on the mission, describes how he discovered two of the moons of Pluto, explains what we currently know about the Pluto system, and sets the scene for the exploration that is in store.
Images of the Infant Universe: The Latest Results from the Planck Satellite
Dr. Lloyd Knox (University of California, Davis)
Listen (mp3 file, 35.5 MB)
Professor Knox leads the U.S. team determining the basic characteristics of the cosmos from the data recently acquired by the European Space Agency's Planck satellite. He shows the detailed images of the sky obtained by Planck, pictures made from light that has been traveling our way for nearly 14 billion years, since the universe was only a few hundred thousand years old. He further explains how such images provide us with our best means of studying events mere fractions of a second after the Big Bang.
The Copernicus Complex: Are We Special in the Cosmos?
Dr. Caleb Scharf (Columbia University)
Listen (mp3 file, 28.3 MB)
Is humanity on Earth special or unexceptional? Extraordinary discoveries in astronomy and biology have revealed a universe filled with endlessly diverse planetary systems, and a picture of life as a phenomenon intimately linked with the most fundamental aspects of physics. But just where these discoveries will lead us is not yet clear. We may need to find a way to see past the mediocre status that Copernicus assigned to us 500 years ago. Dr. Scharf helps us to come to grips with the implications of some of the latest scientific research, from the microscopic to the cosmic.
Monster Black Holes: What Lurks at the Center of Galaxies?
Dr. Chung-Pei Ma (University of California, Berkeley)
Listen (mp3 file, 27.9 MB)
Black holes are among the most fascinating objects in the cosmos, in part because they can grow to monstrous size, swallowing the mass of millions or billions of suns. Dr. Ma describes recent discoveries of record-breaking black holes, each with a mass of ten billion times the mass of the Sun. New evidence shows that these objects could be the dormant remnants of powerful "quasars" that existed in the young universe.
Lifting the Cosmic Veil: Highlights from a Decade of the Spitzer Space Telescope
Dr. Michael Bicay (NASA Ames Research Center)
Listen (mp3 file, 36.9 MB)
As the infrared cousin to Hubble, the Spitzer Space Telescope was launched in 2003 to study the cool universe with waves that are invisible to the human eye. It can probe the birth and youth of stars and planetary disks, and study of planets orbiting other stars. Dr. Bicay describes the long road leading to Spitzer's launch, and presents highlights from the mission's first decade of discovery.
Exploding Stars, New Planets, Black Holes, and the Crisis at Lick Observatory
Dr. Alex Filippenko (University of California, Berkeley)
Listen (mp3 file, 37.2 MB)
Lick Observatory, the first remote mountaintop observatory in the world, has had a remarkable record of discovery spanning 126 years. (Its first Director also founded the Astronomical Society of the Pacific.) Lick continues to be a vibrant research facility, especially for projects that require large numbers of nights on modest-size telescopes. Dr. Filippenko discusses the research areas in which Lick remains a world leader. However, the University of California Office of the President has decided that the university's funding for Lick will be terminated by 2016-2018. Find out, from the President of the Lick Observatory Council, what is being done to try to keep Lick open.


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spite, ignorance, vanity, and shame
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spite, ignorance, vanity, and shame
My eerie connection to the main character has had my mind in a constant buzz as I try to understand what it is in him that brings up such uncomfortable familiarity within myself. After thinking about this for a few days, it seems to me that the vanity of the main character is what really keeps him from seeing beyond his personal dilemma's and realizing the connectedness we all share in this great mystery of life. I feel that when John noted that the book could end after the main character discussed his realization that he wasnt alone in this existential crisis, he made a good point. I found much resolution within myself after realizing that everyone feels awkward and different and yet confident and generic all at once and it is absurd to waste ones life in such unnecessary discomfort. Obviously, I do not think that the book should end at this point as it only grows more wild and crazy as the pages continue, but I do feel that John's statement was quite valid. If one can overcome their selfish inqdequacies, or at least realize them within ones self and work towards making peace about it, then this inner turmoil may cease to be so constant and neurotic perhaps.
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As we approach BalconyTVs 10th anniversary, I thought it would be interesting to interview some of the first artists that performed on the show and find out what has happened to them in the time since.
Robin James Hurt performed in October 2006. Here is our catch up....
Stephen - You were one of the first artists to perform on BalconyTV. What, if anything do you remember about the performance?
Robin - The camera was teeny-tiny, I didn't know where to look, but the peeps were sound.
Stephen - What was the song about?
Robin - It was a belting old folk rant about unrequited love in Northumbria in the 1600s. Seriously.
Stephen - How long had you been playing before that point?
Robin - Ah I'd done the odd gig or two ya know.
Stephen - What were your ambitions then, compared to what they are now?
Robin - Probably still some naive belief in finding relative fame, fortune and inner peace.
Stephen - Are you still performing now?
Robin - More than ever, I'm glad to say. I'm very happy to be able to make a decent living purely from playing gigs and releasing product.
Stephen - The internet has completely transformed music in the last 10 years. When we started out, YouTube was just starting and MySpace was the thing. How have you found dealing with the digital revolution?
Robin - It's impossible to underestimate how much of a seismic change it has brought to the music business. Although there are many down-sides and drawbacks (like the devaluing of recorded music in a financial and a cultural sense), it's incredible to be able to record music at home and instantly have it accessible to people all across the world without having to mail off a thousand demos and spend hours on the phone chasing quizling wankers.
Stephen - What do you make of the Irish music scene?
Robin - I freely admit to not being clued in to how it's going down in all genres but I think it's in overall good shape. Not as good as a couple of years ago maybe, but I find these things go in waves..? Speaking as a full-time live performer, it's not as good as it has been but it's still better than Britain (in full, not just London) and, possibly, the majority of other countries across the world.
Stephen - If you could give the you of 10 years ago advice, 10 years on, what would it be?
Robin - Don't write off the fucking car coming home from a gig in 6 weeks time. You bellend.
Stephen - What has been the best thing to happen to you in music and life in the last 10 years?
Robin - In life - the birth of my daughter Lyla 😃 Hands down, no contest. In music – playing my original compositions with the Band of Moonlight Love. They're only massive (figuratively).
Stephen - What is the one song of yours your most proud of that people should check out?
Robin - Any of the ones I've performed on BalconyTV plus a few more since, get me back on asap!
Stephen - Who has been your favorite Irish artist of the last 10 years, and your favorite international or mainstream artist?
Robin - Irish – O Emporer
Robin - International – Bieber. Obviously. Or the brief rebirth of My Bloody Valentine.
Stephen - Final question. What would your words of wisdom be for anyone starting out? Be as brutal as you like.
Robin - Give it a year of a proper dedicated solid go and then, if you're moving forward AND if you're obsessed to the point of it taking priority over everything else in your life, continue. If not, know when to admit defeat, drop out of the race and hand the torch on to someone more deserving.
- Stephen O'Regan


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This is my nan. As many of you know, I regard her as a bit of a legend.
I live with her, and though it's great, there are definitely some pros and cons. Getting my ironing done, pro. All of the wonderful cooking and baking, pro. Being on Weight Watchers while this massive daily cook up happens, con. Finding that whenever I want to eat something, she has literally just pipped me to it - con.
She is the most tactless person I know - you just want to see her when she goes into fifth judge mode when The X Factor is on, or how she not-so-delicately plays self-appointed nutritionist when she thinks I've put on weight; but in spite of these things, I love her loads.
My nan has always wanted to be computer literate and a bit more tech-savvy and at the grand old age of 76, she has bought herself a tablet to do just that. I love that even though she is getting on and her health isn't what it used to be, she is still setting herself goals to accomplish and has the determination to see them through.
Recently, I've felt that a lot of my peers feel that they are in a bit of a funk. When we ask one another how life is, the answer is generally, "meh, work, home... same old, same old." We have dreams and ambitions, but feel like we can't put them into action because we're too old, we have commitments, we've been working our way up in one particular field, so to throw all of that away and step out in faith and try something new would be madness.
Well, if a 76-year-old woman that can just about use the house phone can decide that she is going to conquer a new area of technology at her age, there should be no age or circumstance that stops any of us, me included, in achieving what we put our minds to.
"As long as you're breathing, it's never too late." - Unknown


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iOS 11v2.0.2 · Updated 16 Jul 2017
Crafted based on previous version of this kit and Apple's official design resource, with additional wireframe elements, helps you quickly explore ideas and design app. (Be sure to install SF Font before you open the sketch file.)
100+ well-organized symbols with override options
Resizable UI elements, optimized for screen size of iPhone SE, 7 and 7 Plus
Change overall color scheme and text style within a few clicks
Additional UI elements for wireframing


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Things We Love And Hate About Carnival In Malta
U jgħajtu x-xjuħ u jgħajtu t-tfal: dejjaqtu 'l Alla, morru d-dar
As with everything else in Malta, there are the lovers and the haters of carnival. The enthusiasts can't understand what there is not to like about carnival ('Iġri jasal il-karnival ħa nżanżan il-glitters!'), whereas haters can't understand the hype ('X'għala ż**** mill-carnival'). Then, as always, there are the people who are just happy to have another excuse to get drunk.
So let's quit being so black and white for once and try to even it out. Here are some things to love and hate about carnival in Malta and Gozo.
1. Hate: Creepy AF Floats With Creepy AF Smiles
As much work and artistry that goes into them, there's something super creepy about carnival floats. Maybe it's the combination of the permanent look of surprise (like that neighbour who's had too much face-lifting done), and the exaggerated happiness of those scary clowns.
2. Love: Creativity
Most of us buy our costumes ready-made and top them off with some crappy accessories, 'Ejja ħa mmorru' style. For this reason we mourn the escalating prices of costumes, especially in Malta where they can be found at just a select few shops. Sometimes though, people get truly creative with their costumes, from a strong concept to the execution stage. We love that.
3. Hate: Carnival Music
Boom boom boom. Boom boom boom. Cue: out of tune trumpets.
Memories of the festi we were so happy to get rid of after the long summer months, accompanied by out-of-tune trumpets that sound like they're dying ('X'jistonaw!'), are back with a vengeance. Maybe if the music was sweeter and young talent could shine through, haters would like it more. But a bunch of unenthusiastic members of the banda hardly reel one in.
4. Love: Being Able To Act Like A Kid
Let that inner kid out. Let that candy floss in.
5. Hate: Valletta Carnival Dances
Let's be honest, Valletta's carnival dance moves are hardly akin to the Sambodromo in Rio. A generally unenthusiastic group of dancers cheered on by an equally unenthusiastic audience, half of whom are an awkward group of men who'd rather be watching football, dragged there by their wives and children.
6. Love: You can be whatever you want to be
Release your inner weirdo. No one is judging.
7. Hate: Nadur Madness
People going one step too far in Nadur; throwing raw meat and other unidentifiable objects off carts and onto the crowds – not the most fun. Also, rubbing up against sweaty drunk people with running make up? Yeah.. no, we're good.
8. Love: Nadur Madness
On the other hand, carnival in Nadur is where everyone's inhibitions get thrown out with those animal remains. People are at their wildest – meaning it makes for some undeniably memorable moments. Pretty tough to beat.


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Emily B. Says She's Not Afraid of Chrissy
Emily Bustamante and Olivia Longott were confronted by Chrissy Lampkin on Monday night's episode of Vh1's Love and Hip-Hop, for not having her back during her altercation with Yandy Smith. It looked like Emily B was riding a little too hard for Chrissy, which sparked speculation that Emily is afraid of Chrissy.
However, Emily says that isn't the case. She recently took to Twitter to address the whispers and said there's no way that she is afraid of Chrissy. She even tweeted a comment about her boyfriend/baby daddy Fabolous.
Peep the tweets below:


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Creating an account has many benefits: check out faster, keep more than one address, track orders and more.
Make a home cooked pizza even more enjoyable when equipped with our selection of Pizza Tools. With everything that will help cut it to serve it up, our range has got your next meal covered. All made from durable materials, the Pizza Tools we stock are an essential for your kitchenware collection.
Impress your guests with your pizza prepping skills using our variety of pizza items.


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1. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) marked the start of construction of the Tuas West Extension with a groundbreaking ceremony at the site of the future Tuas Link station today. The ceremony was graced by the Minister for Transport and Second Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Lui Tuck Yew.
2. When completed in 2016, the Tuas West Extension will be an extension of the East West Line from Joo Koon station, consisting of a 7.5km long twin-tracked MRT viaduct, four aboveground stations and a depot. The MRT viaduct is also integrated with part of a 4.8km long road viaduct along Pioneer Road, which will increase the road capacity to cope with anticipated increase in traffic.
3. The stations - Gul Circle, Tuas Crescent, Tuas West Road and Tuas Link - will extend MRT connectivity to the Tuas area and is expected to serve more than 100,000 commuters daily. Commuters to the Tuas area can also look forward to savings in travelling time of up to 35 minutes.
4. A 26-hectare depot will also be built to provide stabling and maintenance facilities for the additional 35 North South East West Line trains that will be bought for the Extension and to cater for future expansion of the NSEWL. The depot will be able to stable up to 60 trains.
Minister's Speech


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Spring announces its arrival in Korea! Temperature ranges from 5℃ to 20℃ and the return of warm weather brings cherry blossoms, apricot flowers, and cornus fruit trees to bloom all over the country.
Everland in Yongin, a city in Gyeonggi-do Province is South Korea's largest theme park home to over 40 heart-pounding rides and attractions. See Everland bloom with 120 brilliantly colored tulips as it hosts this year's Tulip Festival.
Oh it sure feels nice to be young again! (tee-hee) The park is divided into five zones, each has its own distinct themes. Go for Zoo-topia if you're up for a trip through the wild world of animals. Magic Land transports you to the land of imagination and all things 'abracadabra'.
The American and European Adventure both offers thrilling, hair raising rides, exhilarating roller coasters and mind-blowing stimulations.
Global Fair is an international market of shopping outlets
Enjoy the adventures of Pororo and friends leaving on the Super Sled in 3D more vividly and experience lots of fun!
Sadly, majority of the rides were closed due to the occasional downpour of rain.
But that shouldn't be a reason to frown! There's a lot to be thankful for. Being here at this exact moment is already a blessing.
Atleast some rides ( like the cable car ) were open despite the heavy rains
Wind was uber chilly and our hands were literally numb to touch (so this was how Elsa in the Disney Movie Frozen felt ) so we decided to keep warm inside the heated burger joint. We had the Cajun and Shrimp burger.
Stroll along the theme park in one of these playful ribbon headbands
Beautifully detailed Korean dolls wearing traditional Korean clothing. Hanbok, as well as historical clothing from the Chosun and Shilla Dynasties.
We were a bit skeptical in shopping for Korean skincare and makeup inside the theme park thinking the prices might be too steep and overrated. But I tell you, prices are almost the same as buying them from the regular stores and even underground train shops. Includes lots of promo and sale items and they were even more generous in giving out samples and freebies.
Nature Republic face masks on a buy 20 take 10 promo
Tubs of Nature Republic's Cooling Aloe Vera Gel selling like hotcakes!
How to get here?
Mai and I braved the public transportation (despite the language barrier ) and took Bus 66 from Suwon Station. You can also board Bus 5002 from Gangnam Bus Station or Jamsil Station. The chance of getting lost is zero because you just have to alight at the last bus stop. We hopped to another shuttle bus ( for free! ) to get to the main entrance of the resort.
Piece of advice: Print this discount coupon to save 9,000 won per adult ( approx $9) You can also download this from the Everland Resort's website.
And there's no better way to cap off the night than to enjoy an authentic Korean cuisine. A friend graciously treated us to Dakibong Restaurant to try Dak Galbi.
Dak galbi is a popular Korean dish generally made by stir-frying marinated diced chicken in a gochujang (chili pepper paste) based sauce, and sliced cabbage, sweet potato, scallions, onions, perilla leaves, and tteok (rice cake) together on a hot plate.
Thank you Marian for the sumptuous Dak Galbi dinner!


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Thursday, March 31, 2011
READ THIS PLEASE: Sacred or Sacred Cow?
In hopes of getting author Josh Hilgart a wider audience, I've excerpted the important stuff. I urge you to go back to the original to read Josh's commentary after you ingest the bit below.
Context: Both sides of the aisle are calling for cuts to social security benefits as a means of cutting the deficit, as though it's obviously a bright idea. Josh says we're not getting full information because, when both sides sing the same song, the media has problems fact-checking. In reality, reducing benefits simply increases the amount of debt the nation can incur, and penalizes those who make under $106,000 a year - those of us who need it most - by taking part of their paid-in benefits away to subsidize government spending.
Read below and then don't sit on this. Post this onto your facebook wall, email the link around. This is very, very, very important.
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What would the debate look like if the media started at the beginning, exploring first the merits of cutting Social Security before getting into how the program might be cut?
We would probably first consider what Social Security is: a 75-year-old public insurance program that allows us all to save just enough to avoid working to the grave for food, or moving in with our adult children out of destitution. It works spectacularly well, solving a problem that has always dogged humankind. Social Security grants dignity to hundreds of millions of aging Americans who would otherwise confront the less pleasant world that existed before the program.
That's not all. Social Security is arguably the most stable, well-run government program in the United States. While other programs, like military spending, require new votes of money every single year, Social Security is running a surplus and will be over a hundred years old before it starts falling short of its obligations. Moreover, it would be solvent for many more years with only minor adjustments. It's government at its best...
Social Security's resilience stems partly from the politically savvy way in which it was created. It can't be dismissed as a simple welfare program because it's not a direct handout; ultimate benefits are based on your lifetime contributions. Further insulating it from charges of "income redistribution," Social Security imposes taxes only on income corresponding to those deriving the greatest benefits: The tax is applied to income below $106,800. This is limited government with an American twist — you will be asked to pay in only so much, and what you get in the end is based on what you put in.
A couple of other facts about Social Security's payouts warrant note. Unlike regular retirement accounts, Social Security distributions to retirees are not the same dollars those retirees paid in; like insurance, current benefits are funded by current contributions and interest derived through loans made to other programs (more on loans below). Related to this, while benefits are tied to individual contributions over a working life, payouts also take into account projections of future standards of living.
To fund the payouts, an independent tax — the payroll or FICA tax — was established (later including taxes for Medicare). This kept retiree benefits separate from the regular pot of money used for discretionary spending, and facilitated Social Security's regressive tax rate, aimed at the middle class and poor who depend on the program. To get an idea of just how much this tax is tilted towards those who most benefit from the program, consider the following: unlike regular income taxes, a billionaire doesn't pay a similar percentage, but the same dollar amount into Social Security as someone who earns $106,800. Put another way, a top hedge fund manager pays about 0.003 percent of his income into Social Security, while anyone earning less than $106,800 pays 12.4 percent — a rate over 4,000 times greater than that of the much wealthier hedge fund manager.
How does the structure of Social Security and its tax rates relate to our debate?.... The general consensus among "serious" people is that benefits must be taken away from those paying in, so that we can make up shortfalls in other pots of government money.
But taking into account the way it is taxed, any diversion of Social Security benefits towards balancing the general budget is a tax increase on those earning under $106,800. If the middle and lower classes are the ones who have been paying the highest tax rate into this pool of money, using this pool to offset shortfalls in our general income tax, instead of paying out benefits, would represent a systemic shift in tax liability for general spending. For all practical purposes, it would be a tax on benefits going to the poor and middle class, used to offset recent cuts in income tax for the rich.
....In all likelihood, this inequity is ignored precisely because it would spark outrage. If the public was exposed to regular debates about the tax implications of using Social Security benefits for regular spending, it might take that option off the table entirely. Indeed, the best excuse available to politicians and pundits who studiously conceal this tax hike on the common classes — the only possible excuse — would be that deficit reduction is such a critical priority that the public can't be trusted with knowing the side effects of treatment.
But even this paternalistic excuse is full of holes, in light of another fact: not only would balancing the budget with cuts to Social Security sock working people, it wouldn't even work.
Social Security's surpluses have been used towards general expenditures for years, and it's true that cutting benefits will increase the amount of surplus available. But Social Security is a separate and independent financial entity, which can only loan money to the federal government to fund general budget items. For the purposes of our deficits, Social Security is essentially a credit union constituted by the retirement savings of the American people. By law, the government can't just spend your retirement savings on something else.
In fact, when our government takes money from Social Security to use on general expenditures, it must, under law, issue Treasury bills to the Social Security Trust Fund in return. This is basically identical to the way in which we borrow money from China. And like China, the only way to renege upon this loan would be to fail to honor the Treasury bills, which would destroy the value of every Treasury bill and with it the dollar itself.
There is no connection between the level of benefits that Social Security pays out and the debt that the government incurs when it borrows money from Social Security. Regardless of whether Congress slashes Social Security benefits or preserves them, national debt still goes up a billion dollars for every billion the government borrows from the program, the same as if it borrowed that money from China or anyplace else. Put plainly, cutting Social Security benefits will have only one immediate effect: reduced benefits. While benefit cuts would have a long-term impact on when Social Security revenues fail to match outlays (decades away, even with no change), they will have no impact whatsoever on annual deficits. None. Nada. Zip."
And there you have it. Again, folks, I urge you to use the share button at the right to spread this information around. Reducing benefits for you and for me simply increases the amount of debt the nation can incur.
Posted by Sandy Price at 3:37 PM
Labels: josh hilgart, social security
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One property I spoke with increased their maximum pet weight limit from 25 to 50 lbs and gained 3 new tenants in the first week that normally would have been turned away. Another property added an online furniture planning tool to their floor plans and increased the average time spent online by over 300% (http://a.ifp.outhouse.net).
We all want our property to stand out differently than others (in a good way!), right? We all believe, at one level or another, "If I can implement a marketing tool or strategy unlike any other property, I will gain more traffic and more tenants." We think this because for the most part it can be very true. Or if you can revise a common policy more lenient than another, maybe that will fill your vacancies faster like it did by allowing a larger pet.Â
Please share with us other clever strategies or even the simplest ideas you have come across that have driven additional traffic to your property or website.  And what have you seen other properties implement that seem to be working?


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You are hereBlogs / Shannon's blog / Unity Baptist 2011 Crappie Tournament - NO ENTRY FEE
Unity Baptist 2011 Crappie Tournament - NO ENTRY FEE
Unity Baptist Church 2011 Crappie Tournament
Saturday, March 12, 2011
The Information and Registration sheet, which you can download below, has all the information you will need.
Please Come Join Us for a Great Day of Crappie Fishing, Fellowship and a Chance to Win Some BIG MONEY!
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Meet REX, Florida's newest roadside attraction. Set to be unveiled in September, the nine-foot-tall robot will have the friendly look of a massive children's toy once local artist Mike Rivamonte finishes it.
With the robot, the 48-year-old Rivamonte hopes to honor Florida's history of roadside attractions, an aspect of the state that has been key to its tourist-friendly reputation and helped draw many here during its mid-twentieth century heyday.
Rivamonte was introduced to this side of Florida history when his family started going on road trips from their home in Alabama to different areas in Florida almost 40 years ago.
"You kind of slowly watch the terrain change, the Spanish moss starts showing up, the sand starts showing up, and then when you hit Florida everything becomes Technicolor," Rivamonte said. "It's like a whole different place. So you'd stop at these places for gas, and they'd have all these racks of colorful little brochures... to go to the Sunken Gardens or to go to Cypress Gardens."
Sunken and Cypress Gardens are both botanical gardens that were once popular tourist attractions. Rivamonte hopes that REX reminds people of how rich Florida history once was, inspiring visitors in the same way, for example, that roadside attractions did for him during those family road trips.
Before he came up with the idea for REX, Rivamonte was mainly known for his one-to-two-foot-tall robots made from vintage objects. The robots fascinated visitors at Miami's Bakehouse Art Complex (BAC), where the robots are housed. Rivamonte even noticed that they preferred to interact with the robots more than him.
"People just want to have their picture (taken) with these things," Rivamonte said. "So then I thought, well maybe it would be nice to make a robot that was a little bit bigger."
When the artist started toying with the scale, he initially conceived a five- or six-foot-tall robot. But once he started building a leg, he saw it would have to be over nine feet.
That's when he realized he was looking at some sort of roadside attraction.
A Florida Tradition
Florida's roadside wonders started to spring up in the late 1800's, around the time that Henry Flagler was building his now famous railroad. But the real boom was in the early to mid-twentieth century when cars and road trips became popular, according to Charlie Carlson, author and Florida historian.
Because many areas of Florida were already tourist destinations, its attractions thrived more than those of other states, even to the point that people began moving their attractions into the state from other places, Carlson said.
Many of the attractions here were mystery houses and wax museums. Even small attractions, like mom-and-pop souvenir stores, showcased reptiles just to get people to visit.
This era came to an end as the Turnpike and I-95 were built in the 50s and 60s, directing people away from the smaller highways lined with the attractions, Carlson said. Soon after, theme parks like Busch Gardens and Disney World opened, further driving attention away from smaller roadside businesses.
The majority of attractions that survived were in popular tourist cities, such as Orlando, Tampa, Miami and St. Petersburg.
The remains of some attractions can still be found today, such as Port Orange's Bongoland, a theme park comprised of a miniature train, a replica Seminole village and cement dinosaurs.
"Bongoland has been gone since the mid-1950s, but if you go to the Sugarmill Botanical Gardens in Port Orange you will see evidence of [it]," Carlson said. "So today when people go to the botanical gardens they see these huge dinosaurs just standing there among the beautiful oranges and flowers."
What's Next For REX
Rivamonte caught these Florida attractions at the tail end of their heyday but has remained interested ever since. Recently, he even bought a vintage map of Florida dating back to before the large highways were built so he could locate what is left these attractions.
Rivamonte said BAC, where REX is being built, has all the qualities of a roadside attraction, as it is next to I-95 and offers free admission and parking. Though he is unsure how long REX will stay at the complex, he is considering creating his own map of Florida attractions to include his new bigger and better robot.
"I think it's really a playful idea," said Rivamonte, originally pitching the sculpture on crowd-funding site Kickstarter as a mobile attraction so it could visit children's hospitals or the Miami Science Museum, for example. By definition, however, roadside attractions are stationary.
Rivamonte is wary of deviating from REX's original purpose, as project supporters funded it on that basis. But he believes he can make it a mobile attraction by keeping it in one location for long periods of time then simply tweeting or posting its whereabouts online when it moves.
Currently, REX is scheduled to be at the BAC for about a year once it is unveiled, although Rivamonte doesn't know for sure what he'll do with the robot after that.


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My 12 year old is a HUGE book reader. She has completed Twilight and has since read the series twice. I have a hard time finding good age aproperiate books for her. She is wayyy past chapter books and into novels now. She enjoys books on history such as true life stories of holocaust survivors and of course at 12 she loves a good mystery or young teen love stories. I just bought her the book "Wicked" since she loves the music from it. I bought this for her on Monday and she is almost done! any suggestions? iIdont mind letting her read books that toggle a bit above pg-13 with sex or violance.. just not hardcore harlequin please (eek!)
When I was her age, I was dipping into the classics: Journey To the Center of the Earth, Robinson Cruiso, Around the World in 80 Days, Moby Dick... Huck Finn, Lord of the Flies, Animal Farm. I dunno if shes into classics, but 12-13 was when I hit my classic novel period.
Two of my kids are avid readers so let me share some of the books they LOVED that I think your daughter will also like:
Warrors by Erin Hunter there is probably 10 - 12 books in the series and they are a great read (a Tribe or warrior cats)
Redwall series by Brian Jacques again probably 10 - 12 books in the series (about the adventures of animals)
Guardians of GaHoole by Kathryn Lasky again a series of about 12 - 15 books (about these owls)
the Dragon Series (not sure what they call them) by Chris D'Lancey - about 10 books in the series
Eragon Trilogy by Christopher Paolini - 3 books (big books)
Those are books my kids still love and mind you teenages. There not little books either so they will take some time. I hyperlinked all so the series
Green since were good friends if you buy from Barnes and Noble give them my phone number (house not cell) and you can get 25% off (we live at Barnes and Nobles so we are members)
Thank you sm! She has a $25.00 gift card still from Christmas from there.. soo perfect! I didn't even think about the classics. I can think of several now that she would like .. yay! thanks
Wonderful! i just re-read your origional post. For mystery, I always go Agatha Christie. In 8th grade, I read "And Then There Were None" and it is still my favorite book to this day. Murder on the Orient Express, 3 Blind Mice, or any of the Miss Marple stories are also great reads. She crafts an amazing story. She, in my opinion, is the best mystery writer.
"Little women " Louisa May Alcott
"Walk Two Moons" Sharon Creech
"the tale of despereaux", Kate Dicamillo
Anything by Lois Duncan (Locked in Time, I know What You Did Last Summer)
All of the "Dear Dumb Diary" Series by Jim Benton (I read this to my class and they love it, adults find it funny too)
I was also an avid reader when I was younger (still am, but making the time is more difficult these days). These were books I enjoyed between the ages of 11 and 13 (I have also read the Twilight series twice!) and still do:
The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi
Avi is an amazing author, but this one has always been my favourite. About a girl (Charlott Doyle) on voyage from Europe to the USA on a ship when a mutiny occurs. I read this book three times in a row!
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle
I don't even know how to explain this book. I loved it then and I still do.
The Anne of Green Gables Series by L. M. Montgomery
I don't know any girl who hasn't enjoyed these books! The movies with Megan Follows (the first and second) are great.
The Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell
Our teacher read this to our class. Beautiful.
And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
My favourite Agatha Christie novel. I couldn't put it down. Easy to read and I was trying to figure out the mystery the whole time!
Amy's Eyes by Richard Kennedy
Our teacher read this to my class, and we were all enthralled. A fantasy/fairytale of an orphaned girl and her quest.
A Spell for Chameleon by Piers Anthony
These books are all so good, full of puns and immediately attention-capturing. I was introduced to this book for Battle of the Books. It is good for people in middle school on up (no "adult" situations).
One of my favourites of all time:
The Princess Bride by William Goldsmith
I borrowed this book so many times from the school library, that the librarian gave it to me! The book is amazing. And I love the movie as well! If you can, try to get a copy of the book that does not have the chapter, "Buttercup's Baby" because that didn't appear until the 25th Anniversary. The original ending is perfect. To add anything to it ultimately takes away from the whole story.
Thank you so much for all these recomendations.. She is going to winter camp this weekend but after she gets back we will be taking a trip to the library and bookstore... I think I want to re-read a few from my younger days
The Silver Kiss - Annette Cutis Klause
It says it is for 14 and up but I read this when I was 10. I really enjoyed it and I think she will too.
Touching Spirit Bear - Ben Mikaelsen
I read this one when I was about her age. I literally couldn't put it down as soon as I started reading it.
Those two books left lasting impressions on me. I still have copies of them today. In fact, I think I'm going to re-read them.
Green, you so rock! I was gonna go the half price bookstore today to pick up some books to ship to my 13 year old step daughter who also just finished the twilight books. I'm gonna print these recommendations out and take them with you.. Thank you guys so much.
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Confessions of Georgia Nicolson Series (#1-10) by Louise Rennison
Any book by Sarah Dessen
The Book Thief by MarKus Zusak
The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton
The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
Any books by Meg Cabot
Pigman by Paul Zindel
Before I Die by JennyDownham
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
Sisterhood of The Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
Any more help you need, you can always PM me. Hope this helps!


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Happy birthday dear MoT test; 50 this year and still going strong. Most of us see the annual test - that'll be £54.85 please, sir - as just another costly addition to the list that includes taxing, insuring, fuelling, servicing and cleaning.
It didn't seem that way, however, when it was introduced by the Ministry of Transport (hence the name) in September 1960 and the first vehicles were tested the following year. The preceding decades might fondly be remembered as the golden days of motoring, but they were also the dark ages of the road accident.
In 1960, 6,970 people died on British roads, compared with about 2,500 today. And there were only 9.4 million vehicles in use, compared with 34.2 million now.
There was so little regulation that cars were frequently held together as much by hope as by their rusting, pre-galvanised steel panels. The first many knew about their worn brake shoes or steering was when they went through a hedge - or worse.
To calm mounting public alarm, transport minister Ernest Marples launched the MoT test. It was decreed that all vehicles more than 10 years old should have their brakes, lights and steering checked every year.
Known initially as the "10 Year Test" or "Ministry of Transport" test (later shortened to "MoT") the testable age was progressively reduced to three years by 1967, consigning thousands of motorists forever after to spend at least one Saturday morning a year biting their fingernails in a greasy waiting room while their car underwent the equivalent of a medical shakedown at the GP's surgery.
Today it's big business. On a busy day 160,000 MoT tests are conducted by 50,000 testers at 20,000 testing stations and last year 25,252,384 Class 4 vehicles - mostly cars and motorcycles - passed. A DfT report in 2008 estimated that the annual cost to motorists of having their cars MoT tested, including test fee and travel time, was between £794 million to £1.38 billion.
For some, the nail-biting is justified; the failure rate is generally about 35 per cent, with some 10.1 million failing last year. No wonder - what used to be a cursory examination now bears more similarity to the checks a space shuttle undergoes before it can be pointed at the moon.
Just ask Jim Punter, chairman of the MoT Trade Forum, editor of MoT Testing magazine and - bizarrely - former rocket scientist. "It was easy in the old days," he says. "I remember as a young teenager driving cars with the cords showing through the tyre walls and no one seemed to worry. Now it's very different; a huge number of items have to be checked to exacting standards."
In 2010, the list of items that must be scrutinised seems endless, including tyres (condition, tread-depth), seat belts (type and condition), vehicle structure, body security and condition, doors and seats, registration plates, VIN details, spare wheel carrier, tow bars, exhaust (condition and noise, the latter still done by ear), "driver's view" (mirrors, wipers, washers, windscreen), bonnet catch seats, fuel system and - annoyingly if you live next to an MoT station - the horn. Making the MoT yet more complex, the emissions test was introduced in 1991.
It might be simpler to say what's not tested - such as the clutch, gearbox, battery and engine. It's little surprise that so many MoT stations have tea and coffee machines; it can be a long stay in that waiting room.
Perhaps they should serve cigars for the celebration that many feel is due when they get the nod from the man in the overalls and the cherished piece of paper - the VT20 - that gives them peace of mind for a year.
Don't feel too sorry for those that fail, however. That 2008 DfT report estimated that despite the MoT, unroadworthy vehicles were responsible for up to 10 per cent of UK road accidents and up to 291 deaths.
Chillingly, it estimated that if the MoT test was scrapped, the number of unroadworthy cars would rise by 800 per cent, triggering up to 1,979 extra deaths and 12,145 serious injuries a year.
The good news is that if your car does fail, the retest is generally cheaper and if you take your car back before the end of the next working day for one of a number of stipulated items to be reinspected after repair, the partial retest is free. And if you don't agree with the outcome of an MoT, you can appeal to VOSA.
But, says Punter - also a former lawyer - it's the thoroughness of the test that is now its Achilles' heel. "Many people now think it's so exhaustive that their car will be safe for a year and that they don't even need to get it serviced," he says.
"In fact the MoT only means it's safe on the day it was tested. Your brake pads could be fractionally above the failure limit so they won't fail you. But they might look very different in a couple of weeks."
Punter's best advice, as the owner of an MoT station at Hillingdon? "Check the Advisory Notes on the certificate if you're buying a car with a fresh MoT; they're almost more important than the test; they tell you what needs attention soon. It tells you more about the car than the MoT itself."
Finally, motorists embittered over their loved one's failure should consider this; vehicles aren't the only ones that get disqualified: 104 authorised examiners were "struck off" last year, while 159 testers were handed "failure" forms. That's less than half a per cent of testers and one third of a per cent for examiners, but maybe there is justice, after all.


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Whether or not you can see your abs comes down to a combination of how developed your ab muscles are and how little fat you have on your stomach. If you make your ab muscles bigger through exercise then they show more. If you diet to lose fat, you'll eventually be able to see your abs because fat covers them.
Even though diet is important when trying to get a six-pack, training is a must. When you train your abs, you can make them more developed and defined in all areas.
You have four different ab muscles: the transverse abdominis, internal obliques, external obliques and rectus abdominis. Of these four, only two are visible: the external oblique muscles and rectus abdominis. The rectus abdominis is the muscle that actually makes the six-pack and the obliques are the muscles on the side. In order to groom an amazing set of abs, though, you must work all of them.
This home workout doesn't include any equipment, but don't let that fool you; it's not going to be easy. Your body weight offers plenty of resistance.
Here are five exercises that you can perform at home to work all your ab muscles to develop a six-pack.
1. Single-Leg Sit-Up
The single-leg sit-up is a slightly more effective version of the regular sit-up because it allows you to focus more on your ab muscles and take your hip flexors out of the movement.
HOW TO DO IT: Lie on your back with one leg straight and one leg bent. Reach your arms up towards the ceiling. Now perform a sit-up, trying to get your chest as close as possible to the bent knee. Try to do at least three sets of eight reps on each leg.
2. Bicycle
This exercise is a combination of a twisting and crunching motion that works your obliques and rectus abdominis.
HOW TO DO IT: Lie on your back with your hands behind your head and legs in the air; bend your knees at a 90 degree angle. Push your lower back down into the ground and keep it there throughout the movement.
Try to touch your left elbow and right knee together. To do this, turn your torso, arms and head to the right while you extend your left leg out straight. Don't let your legs touch the ground through the entire set.
Switch sides: reach your right leg out and bring your left knee in towards your right elbow as you turn your torso to the left, reaching your right elbow towards your left knee. Keep alternating slowly and with control between right knee/left elbow and left knee/right elbow. Try to do at least eight touches on each side.
3. Dead Bug Hand Smash
This exercise is a small, concentrated movement that pinpoints your lower abs and obliques.
HOW TO DO IT: Lie on your back with your hands under you lower back and legs in the air with your knees bent at a 90-degree angle. Keep your head and shoulders flat on the ground.
Raise your hips off the ground by pushing your lower back into your hands. This exercise is called the "dead bug hand smash" because you're trying to smash your hands down into the ground with your lower back. It's meant to be a small, slow, and controlled movement.
Try not to swing your legs to give yourself momentum, just focus on pushing your hands into the ground with your lower back. Perform three sets of 10 repetitions.
4. Plank With Reach
The reach adds a little spice to the regular plank and adds an extra challenge to your abs. Your balance and core will be extra taxed because you'll be supported by just one arm.
HOW TO DO IT: Assume a plank position on the ground with your forearms and hands flat, your elbows under your shoulders and legs straight -- toes tucked under. Make your body a straight line from your shoulders to your ankles. Squeeze your abs so that your torso is as stiff as a wooden plank. Place your feet approximately 6 inches apart.
Reach your right arm forward, trying to straighten out your elbow. Pause when your elbow is straight and arm is in the air, then bring it back down to the plank position. Raise the other arm. Keep switching between arms, pausing once your elbow is straight each time. Work up to 10 reaches with each arm.
5. Side Plank
Your obliques will hold you up in this variation of the plank.
HOW TO DO IT: Lie on your right side with your right elbow planted under your right shoulder and forearm on the ground. Stack your left leg on top of your right leg with both knees straight. Keep your hips on the ground.
Raise your hips into the air. Put all of your weight on your right elbow and right foot. Push your hips forwards so that there is a straight line from your head to your shoulders. Hold this position for as long as you can, at least 15 seconds, and then switch sides. Perform three sets on each side, holding the plank for as long as you can.
To see if your hips are forwards enough, look down at your feet. If you can see most of your foot then your need to push your hips farther forwards.