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Ref: PAV239H
Impressive fully air conditioned villa on an exclusive area of Quinta do Lago with a huge private pool
Key Features
- Air conditioned throughout
- Exclusive location
- Beautifully furnished and fitted
- Very large rectangular pool
- 20.0m x 7.0m
- m - m
- Integral steps
Ground Floor
Galleried entrance hall leading through to the spacious living area with feature fireplace, digital satellite TV, DVD and music centre. Sliding door through to the large open plan dining area and kitchen. Modern kitchen with granite work surfaces, dishwasher and microwave with an island unit with small sink. The washing machine and tumble dryer are located in a separate laundry room. Two large twin bedrooms each with their own ensuite shower room. Separate study with a fireplace and sofa.
Upper Floor
Master double bedroom with magnificent ensuite bathroom with spa bath and separate shower stall. Spacious twin bedroom with ensuite full bathroom. Both bedrooms access a large terrace with splendid views over the pool area.
Additional Information
Minimum 7 night stay.
Maid service, linen and towels provided.
Cot and highchair available for supplement – please request when booking
Pool heating available - supplement payable - please enquire
- Check in: 4:00pm
- Check out: 10:00am
In Summary
Ground Floor
|Living room:
|Satellite TV, DVD, music system
|Dishwasher, microwave
|Laundry room:
|Washing machine, tumble dryer
|Bedroom 1:
|Twin beds, ensuite shower room
|Bedroom 2:
|Twin beds, ensuite shower room
Upper Floor
|Bedroom 3:
|Double bed, ensuite bathroom with spa bath and shower stall
|Bedroom 4:
|Twin beds, ensuite full bathroom
- Private Pool
- Air Conditioning
- Satellite TV
- CD Radio Cassette
- Washing Machine
- Dishwasher
- Microwave
- Garden
- Maid Service
- Linen
- Towels
- Dryer
- Internet Access
Availability and Price
Step 1. Find an available date using our calendar. You can click on a date to set your arrival day.
|Calendar Key
Step 2. Fill out how many days you wish to stay, as well as the number of people travelling.
We may be able to accommodate shorter breaks please call or email for details.
3.0 km
4.0 km
3.0 km
20.0 km from Faro
The prestigious resort of Quinta do Lago is characterised by luxury villas in lush gardens surrounded by umbrella pines. The resort is flanked by a long sandy beach and the Rio Formosa nature reserve - Europe's longest wooden bridge leads to the long, dune-backed beach which stretches all the way to Vale do Lobo. .
The area is renowned for its excellent golf courses and Quinta do Lago itself has four courses. The Pinheiros Altos course is a scenic 18 hole course consisting of two sets of nine holes with different characteristics. The San Lorenzo course is surrounded by the beauty of the Rio Formosa Natural Park bordering the Atlantic Ocean. Also nearby are the Quinta do Lago North and South courses, whilst a few kilometres away at Vale do Lobo, you will find the superb Royal and Ocean courses as well as an array of other leisure facilities.
Quinta do Lago its own shopping centre, Quinta Shopping, approximately 4km away, with 10,000 sq metres of shops offering a wide range of products with top brand names. There are plenty of high quality restaurants catering for all tastes and some vibrant nightclubs where you can dance until the early hours. Nearby Almancil has all the essentials such as banks, chemists and supermarkets.
The tranquil old town of Faro, regional capital of the Algarve is around 20km away, where you can explore the maze of narrow pedestrian streets and alleyways or view the wonderful Renaissance style cathedral in the central town square. Portugal is famous for its traditional handicrafts, pottery and hand-painted tiles if you are looking for some authentic holiday souvenirs.
You can send details of this villa to your own email address or a friends, please fill in your details below.
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But what I don't know much about are the oh so popular heirloom tomatoes. So I did a bit of reading and thought I'd share the basics I learned...
An heirloom is generally considered to be a variety that has been passed down, through several generations of a family because of it's valued characteristics. Since 'heirloom' varieties have become popular in the past few years there have been liberties taken with the use of this term for commercial purposes.
*Tomato experts, Craig LeHoullier and Carolyn Male, have classified heirlooms into four categories:
Commercial Heirlooms: Open-pollinated varieties introduced before 1940, or tomato varieties more than 50 years in circulation.
Family Heirlooms: Seeds that have been passed down for several generations through a family.
Created Heirlooms: Crossing two known parents (either two heirlooms or an heirloom and a hybrid) and dehybridizing the resulting seeds for how ever many years/generations it takes to eliminate the undesirable characteristics and stabilize the desired characteristics, perhaps as many as 8 years or more.
Mystery Heirlooms: Varieties that are a product of natural cross-pollination of other heirloom varieties.
**Heirloom tomatoes are also divided into fruit size categories:
Heirloom Cherry Tomatoes – small bite-sized or salad sized tomatoes.
Heirloom Paste Tomatoes – meaty flesh with fewer seeds.
Heirloom Slicing Tomatoes – large, round tomatoes also called "beefsteak" tomatoes.
Heirloom Shaped Tomatoes – odd-shaped tomatoes that don't fit into typical categories.
**And, heirloom tomato color categories:
Red Heirloom Tomatoes – The well-known and popular color for tomatoes.
Orange and Yellow Heirloom Tomatoes – Lower in acid than typical red tomatoes, these heirlooms would be a great choice for anyone suffering from ulcers.
Pink or Purple Heirloom Tomatoes – Second lowest acid content they are similar in flavor to the red tomatoes.
Green Heirloom Tomatoes – Unusual tomatoes that remain green tinted even when fully ripe.
White Heirloom Tomatoes – Often sweeter than others, these are white or near white tomatoes.
Striped Heirloom Tomatoes – Some of the most unusual tomatoes of all these can be red and yellow; green and orange or anything in between.
So that's the basics- now it's on to growing... a whole other subject! For growing basics can be found here. Lots of work to be sure but with names like Turkey Chomp, Wayahead, Bloody Butcher and Kellogg's Breakfast they've gotta be great!

subset: commoncrawl


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Click links to learn more:
- Lower Back Pain and Sciatica
- Yoga for Lower Back Pain
- Clinical Pilates for Lower Back Pain
- Neuromuscular Physical Therapy
- Supervised Treatment Exercise
- Spinal Decompression
- Functional Postural Correction
- Sports Therapy
- Orthopaedic Sports Massage
- Deep Tissue Massage
We do not warrant or represent that the information in this site is free from errors or omissions or is suitable for your intended use. We recommend that you seek individual advice before acting on any information in this site. We have made every effort to ensure that the information on our website is correct at the time of publication but recommend that you exercise your own skill and care with respect to its use. If you wish to purchase our services, please do not rely solely on the information in this website.


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The new building of the Institute of Physics at the campus of the University of Rostock was inaugurated in 2015. It now comprises a foyer in which students are welcomed by the portraits of various famous scientists and physicists from past centuries who are pictured in an impressive collage. The artwork created by artists Klaus-Dieter Eichler and Hannes Arnold was processed onto fire-rated glass partition walls, which separate the entrance hall from the adjacent working space and auditorium.
The production process of the entire system was the most challenging part of the project: the artwork was first processed onto tempered glass with a digital print by Glassolutions Saint-Gobain Deggendorf. Subsequently, the glass panes were processed further as fire-rated safety glass by Vetrotech Saint-Gobain and finally installed into steel frame systems by Jansen. The partition walls were installed over two floors by Kaiser Metallbautechnik GmbH. The university foyer now provides uncompromised safety in combination with artistic expression, inspiring its students every day.
Photography by Olaf Rohl


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Back to School
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As summer camps, vacations, internships, and jobs come to an end, it's time to start the new semester. Whether you're a family looking to ease your evening meal burden or an aunt wanting to send student care packages to your freshman nieces, we have all you need for a seamless back-to-school transition.
Many of our meal collections make great back to school gifts, as they provide all or most of the elements necessary for an easy and delicious meal from an artisan kitchen to your recipients' home kitchen. For example, our Simply Pasta gift delivers a ready meal right to the pot without any necessary additions.
A food care package is a thoughtful way to show the collegian in your life that you are wishing them well as they begin a new semester, and gives you peace of mind that they'll have plenty to snack on while they excel in their studies.
At The Savory Pantry, we're here to help you make this the tastiest and best school year yet!


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Field Tumbler in Barn Coat
Field Tumbler in Barn Coat
Barn Coat Field Tumbler by Amelia Wrede Davis
The daily tumbler- equally wonderful for your morning coffee/matcha latte/tea as your evening cocktail or wine. Made to be taken anywhere. Wrap in a few t-shirts and voila, meet your new favorite camping cup. These simple tumblers are glazed on the inside and just enough on the outside to let the beautiful porcelain clay body show. They each have an indent for your fingers to perfectly rest in.
Clay wares are great in both the warmer and cooler months, as they hold heat as well as keep drinks cool.
They each measure approximately 3″ X 4″.
Finished with a non-toxic and food safe glaze.
Each wheel-thrown piece is one of a kind and made with heart at my studio in Tacoma, Washington. Because of this, measurements are approximate and there may be slight variations in glaze.
Amelia Davis is the woman behind Two Hands Full. She is curious about the endless connections and patterns in our ecosystems and how the humans of the planet can learn from this throughout every aspect of life. Amelia's love for functional art comes from a dedication to make thoughtful artwork- pieces that are practical and serve a purpose beyond their aesthetic. She is just as engaged in the process of making as much as the material outcome. Her work arises from slowing down, sinking into the heart and breath, and engaging with the tools, materials, and creative process in front of her.


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Almost a year after the Rams moved to LA, the Chargers are reportedly following suit.
Owner Dean Spanos is apparently planning to hold a meeting to inform the staff about the move today. This will end a 55 year stint in San Diego and return them to their home turf. The Chargers played their first season in LA in 1960 before moving to San Diego in 1961.
They ranked second-last in attendance this year, drawing an average of 57,024 spectators to their 70,000-plus-seat stadium in their eight home games.
The Inglewood stadium is expected to open in 2019, so the Chargers will have to play their home games elsewhere for the next two seasons. According to Ian Rapoport, the Chargers will play at the Stub Hub for the next 2 years. The Stub Hub is a only a 30,000 seat stadium.
#Chargers will play for 2 years in StubHub Center for 2 years, then join the #Rams. There was no last-ditch effort from San Diego to stay
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 12, 2017
You can expect an official announcement by early this afternoon.


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Imported, Gourmet Coffee, Coffee Makers And Grinders
Imported Gourmet coffee, coffee makers and grinders including La pavoni, Gaggia, Spidem-Trevi, Alessi, Lavazza, Elektra, Cimbali and Francis espresso machines, stovetop pots, cappuccino machines, french presses, gourmet Lavazza and Illy coffee beans. More than 30 varieties of European coffee. World wide delivery is available for most of the expresso items
Roaste offers Coffee makers, espresso/cappuccino makers, icedtTea makers, coffee grinders. Make espressos, cappuccinos, lattes, and tea all from one machine that grinds, tamps, and brews gourmet coffee
Mr. Coffee Online Store offers a wide variety of products including: Coffeemakers, Espresso/Cappuccino Makers, Iced Tea Makers, Coffee Grinders, Replacement Parts and Accessories
Coffee makers including La pavoni, Gaggia, Spidem-Trevi, Alessi, Lavazza, Elektra, Cimbali and Francis espresso machines, and Illy beans
Never tried 100% Kona Coffee? Now's your chance. 100% Moloka'i coffee. Independence. Originality. Spiritual Power. Try it today. Save 10% and shipping is free
Over 80 varieties of coffee and K-cups coffee. Coffee org has a full line of coffee and break-room supplies, including coffee mugs, to-go cups, coffee filters and stirrers
The Kona Coffee Forbes said is Best in America. Premium 100% Kona fresh coffee products that are grown, processed, roasted, labeled and shipped directly from a plantation on the famed Kona Belt in Hawaii
Whole Bean Gourmet Coffee and Loose Leaf Tea, Honey Bean Coffee offers freshly roasted whole bean and ground gourmet coffee, flavored coffee and teas. All coffee should be gourmet coffee and the gourmet coffee should be of the highest quality
No Name Java Gourmet Coffee is a family owned and operated coffee roaster offering freshly Roasted-to-Order gourmet coffee, a variety of coffee blends, espresso and green (unroasted) coffee beans with easy online ordering and great prices
The best blends and single varietal coffees from around of the World. Carefully selected by the coffee experts at Coffee Room
Gourmet coffee, coffee gifts and wholesale coffee from Missoula, Montana. Recognizable brands, including: Moose Drool, Trout Slayer, Smoke Jumper and Praying Monk
CafeFit has healthy fortified coffee blends that include an incredible diet coffee which promotes weight loss
Gourmet gifts that include coffee cakes, Irish whiskey cakes and holiday cakes, an extensive selection of gifts such as ceramic cups, insulated mugs, travel mugs and more
Italian gourmet espresso, cappuccino and brewed coffee. The best home espresso machines, coffee gifts, accessories and exclusive artist cup collections, plus premium French teas from Dammann Fr�res
Coffee and tea such as Starbucks, Millstone, Folgers, Maxwell House and Green Mountain Coffee Roasters
Shock Coffee provides coffee and coffee products that have more caffeine than other brands. Shock Coffee's products are a hit with the coffee lover, indeed anyone that needs an extra boost to get going in the morning
Gourmet coffees from Costa Rica and Peru. Gourmet chocolates and tropical nuts are a perfect complement to your cup of coffee
Coffee and tea including Starbucks, Seattle's Best, Paradise Tea, Bigelow Teas and Folgers to name a few, as well as our own All Day Gourmet brand of gourmet coffees and teas
We are humanitarian-aid-worker-coffee-nerds! We work with some of the poorest villages in the world, and are lucky enough to be by some of the finest coffee fields in the world... in Africa, the Middle East and Asia. Help sell these world-ranked roasted beans and help support amazing development work in poor villages
Tea pouches, loose teas, teaware and gifts. Shop the best green, oolong, herbal. white, black and organic teas online
You'll find thousands of hard to find movies and titles that other sites don't have including classics from the past, musicals, foreign films, "B" westerns, movie serials, TV shows and more. Locating rare, hard to find, movies that are impossible to find in local video stores or through other mail-order operations is one of the things we're famous for
Imported Gourmet coffee, Italian espresso coffee machines and grinders including La pavoni, Gaggia, Spidem-Trevi, Alessi, Lavazza, Elektra, Cimbali and Francis espresso machines, stovetop pots, cappuccino machines, french presses, gourmet Lavazza and Illy coffee beans. More than 30 varieties of European coffee. World wide delivery is available for most of the expresso items
Plus Size Women's Clothes, Supersize Women Clothing
Big And Tall Men's Clothes, King Size Men Clothing
The Experts In Men's Clothes, Wrinkle Resistant Suits, Shirts
Baby Clothes, Cribs, Bassinets, Strollers, Carseats
Children's Clothes And Sportswear
Women's Fashion Apparel, Paris Fashions
Clothes Accessories, Designer Handbags
Wedding Gowns, Bridesmaid Dresses
Plus Size Lingerie, Big Girls Negligees
Intimate Apparel, Negligees, Bras
Bathing Suits And Swimwear
Women's Sportswear, Fitness Apparel
Western Leather Wear, Boots, Hats
Personal Advice
Luggage And Bags
Strawberry Perfume, Cologne And Fragrances
Perfume Outlets, Discount Colognes, Designer Fragrances
Beauty Supply Outlets,Sunless Tanning Lotions
Cosmetics,Fragrance, Skin And Body Care Products
Hypoallergenic Body Jewelry, Nickel Sensitive Skin
Discount Jewelry Store
Silver And Gold Jewelry
Foreign Jewelry
Designer Sunglasses, Eyeglasses, Contact Lenses
Gourmet Baskets
Pet Supply Store
Discount Pet Supplies
Knives And Swords
Personal Self Defense Weapons
Premium Wholesale Cigars
Cigar Outlet
Automobile Buying, Selling, Leasing
Motorcycle Parts And Accessories
Automobile Parts And Accessories
Rugs And Carpets
Home Appliance Parts
Kitchen Cooking Supplies
Cooking Utensils Store
Gourmet Cooking
Gourmet Coffee, Imported Tea
Foreign Collectibles
Antique Collectibles
Gadgets And Gizmos
Executive And Employee Gifts
Gourmet Candy, Chocolate
Imported Gourmet Food
Gourmet Cooking Products
Discount Toys Store
Educational Toys
Hobbies And Skateboards
Discount Art Prints
Music, Sports, Movie Posters
Art Prints And Framed Artwork
As Seen On TV
Environmental Products
Payday Loans
Debt Consolidation Loans
Starting A Business
Marketing, Selling Online


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A variety of questions are used, chosen from the following types: multiple choice, identifying information, identifying writer's views/claims, matching information, matching headings, matching features, matching sentence endings, sentence completion, summary completion, note completion, table completion, flow-chart completion, diagram label completion, short-answer questions.
Each correct answer receives 1 mark. Scores out of 40 are converted to the IELTS 9-band scale. Scores are reported in whole and half bands.


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With shooting underway this week in Los Angeles on He's Just Not That Into You — starring Jennifer Aniston, Drew Barrymore, Ben Affleck, Scarlett Johansson, Bradley Cooper, Justin Long and Jennifer Connelly — producer Nancy Juvonen gives OK! the inside scoop on the film adaptation of the best-selling relationship book.
"I loved the book," Nancy explains to OK!. "It was a revolutionary cry. It empowers women that there's no big mystery about men. The book is a study in human behavior in an absurd universe. The big thing about relationships is that we all want to believe in them and we all want to make them work."
And considering the popularity of the book, the producers had no trouble attracting A-list actors. "We were shooting for the stars, literally!" Nancy jokes. "When we mentioned names like Ben Affleck and Jennifer Aniston some people said 'Yeah, right!'" But it worked, and according to Nancy there are no ego clashes to be seen. "Everyone on this movie is really down to earth."
In the film, Jen Aniston plays a character named Beth. "She's going through one of those times in life when she's getting knocked off her game," reveals Nancy.
Nancy, who co-owns Flower Films with best friend Drew, knows a little something about relationships and finding the perfect partner – her beau, former SNL funnyman Jimmy Fallon popped the question last month. The couple met when he appeared with Drew in Fever Pitch.


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Police are investigating a break in at a pub in Dunstable in the early hours of Thursday morning.
Four men forced entry to The Pheasant in West Street at about 2am, they searched the premises before leaving.
A spokesperson for Bedfordshire police said: "We were called at around 2am on Thursday (7 September) to reports of a burglary at The Pheasant in West Street, Dunstable, where four men forced entry to the property and searched the premises."
Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 quoting reference number JD/38538/2017.


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Events Requiring Approval: Films
Films on videotape and/or DVD that are rented from local video rental stores are for home use only. Public showing of tapes and/or DVDs rented in this manner violates copyright law and subjects the sponsoring organization to possible civil and/or criminal action. Contact the Campus Involvement Center in 355 Baker University Center, 593-4025 for information on purchasing the rights to show a film.
Should an organization want to show an x-rated or un-rated film, the organization must contact Char Kopchick at 740-593-4742 or email@example.com for approval. The Advisor and President must sign a waiver indicating their understanding that the presentation of the particular film may violate local, state, or federal low relative to pandering obscenity (Pandering Obscenity-2907.32 of the Ohio Revised Code.


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I've had a mini crush on Lindsay's Teas since I discovered them at the World Tea Expo (then known as 'Take Me 2 Tea') in 2003. Her Envelope Teasers, I must say, are brilliant. These are individual tea bags (yes, I said tea bags) tucked into the cutest little envelopes. They are great for slipping into a purse, providing as party favors, etc. I wish I could find these in vending machines! When I discovered our neighborhood coffee house, The Neighborhood Cup, serves Lindsay's Teas (loose leaf, by the way) I was thrilled. And for my Green Tea Party, I had to invite them to the shin-dig. In particular, I thought a royal presence would be a good thing, so enter Empress Jasmine.
A Chinese green tea, the aroma is a gentle jasmine – almost comparable to an oolong. But the steeped liquid is a medium amber – closer to my black teas than the greens I've been exploring recently. I can't help but sit and just inhale the lovely perfume for a minute or two, but then it's time for the first sip. It is stronger than the other greens and I wonder if perhaps there is some black tea blended in. The earthy green-ness is there with the lightest hint of grassy sunshine. I detect a touch of astringency, but I wonder if that is my fault for possibly over-steeping.
The Empress and I passed a lovely morning together. She may not be as approachable as I would have hoped, but as with all my Green Tea Party guests, I think the more time we spend together, the more chummy we will become.


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German YouTube musician Flula Borg, better known as DJ Flula, has just signed with Vin Di Bona's FishBowl Worldwide Media for the company's YouTube Original Channel Petsami.
DJ Flula will provide voice over commentary on videos from Fishbowl's vast library of over 800,000 cleared and curated clips. New episodes will air weekly on the Petsami YouTube channel, which launched in January with a slate of animal-oriented programs including CuteWinTail, Leash Line, One Minute Meerkat, Ask a Tiger, KlipKat, and How2BCute.
"I am very exciting [sic] to join with Petsami to explain the Mysteries of the Animals in all of a Kingdoms!" DJ Flula told Tubefilter. "It is true, I am not a Scientist; but like a Scientist I have the eyes of a human, and I shall use those Human Eyes to discover the Secrets of Animals. Join With Me As I Stare At Animals! And Talk to You! About the Animals. It is my Goal, of course, to Dominate the World in an Excellent and Peaceful Flula Way. The Next Step to grab this Goal by its Face is clear: I must Explain Animal Behavioring with Petsami. So: We Do It. Boo Ja!"


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Poland plans to construct a new canal to bypass a stretch of coastline controlled by Russia, as the country tries to rid itself of dependence on its neighbour.
Costing an estimated £167 million, the planned canal will link the Vistula Lagoon in the north east of Poland with the Baltic Sea. Currently, all sea traffic from the lagoon and the flourishing port of Elblag has to travel through Russian waters to get to the Baltic. The canal will cut through a narrow strip of land separating the lagoon from the sea.
The approval of its construction marks an about-turn for Poland's centre-right government led by Donald Tusk, the prime minister. A year ago he rejected plans for the canal, but the war in eastern Ukraine and Russia's apparent willingness to meddle in the affairs of its neighbours appear to have changed the government's mind.
"We need to respond to the geopolitical situation," Stanislaw Lamczyk, an MP and member of the Polish parliament's infrastructure committee, told the Polish press. "The Ukraine crisis has shown clearly that we need to rely more on ourselves and become independent of our largest neighbour."
Poland has a five-year deal with Russia on navigation rights from the lagoon to the sea that expires this year, and there are fears Moscow may not extend the agreement. Warsaw has been one of the Kremlin's harshest critics during the Ukraine crisis and has led calls for the EU to take a hard line with Moscow.
Russia has already banned Polish fruit and vegetables in response and with the Ukraine crisis showing no signs of abating, most Poles expect Russia to target their country with further punitive sanctions.
The plans to construct the canal mark the latest attempt by Poland to shed itself of dependence on its old imperial master. Even before the eruption of instability and war in Ukraine the Central European country had strived to weaken Russian influence, in particular by pushing for a common EU energy policy.


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Management Team
Collective experience from world-leading engineering companies
A strong and experienced management team focussed on technology commercialisation
As part of Alvant's recent transformation from an R&D-focused operation to a full-service supplier, in 2017 the company's management team was revitalised by a series of internal promotions and external appointments.
Executive Chairman – Gwen Ventris (MA FRSA)
Gwen joined Alvant in May 2017 and has focused on developing the management team and strengthening relationships with stakeholders. Gwen has a track record of successfully managing a diverse range of businesses and commercialising disruptive technologies. Gwen is the former Chief Operating Officer of the AEA Group and was a founding director of BT's systems and consulting enterprise Syntegra, which she helped grow into a £1 billion business. Gwen is also Chairman of Speakerbus, an international technology company operating in the financial services sector, and Chairman of the social justice charity RECLAIM. Gwen was appointed as Executive Chairman of Alvant in February 2018.
Managing Director – John Bonas
John joined Alvant in 2014, becoming Operations Manager in 2016 and Operations Director in April 2017. He is a first-class designer with more than 25 years' experience of product design, manufacturing and production engineering. John was Senior Design Engineer for 14 years at Xtrac, a world leader in the design and manufacture of transmission systems for the motorsport, transportation, defence and marine sectors. At Xtrac John was primarily responsible for the design and development of motorsport transmissions and their complex castings and components. John was promoted to Managing Director in February 2018.
Technical Director – Gemma Christian (MSc CEng)
Gemma is a highly experienced engineer with a Master of Science degree in advanced materials. Gemma has worked in the field of composite materials for some of the world's leading aerospace companies, including Airbus and GE Aviation. Gemma joined Alvant in 2014, was promoted in 2015 to the role of Chief Technology Officer with overall responsibility for technical operations and research and development. Gemma joined the board as Technical Director in April 2017.
Commercial Director – Richard Thompson (BEng MBA CEng FIMechE)
Richard is a technology commercialisation professional specialising in strategic market development, innovation and new venture growth. Richard joined Alvant in October 2017 from Williams Advanced Engineering, the technology and engineering consultancy division of the Williams Formula 1 Group. He has worked for a range of high-performance engineering businesses and new venture companies developing and commercialising intellectual property. Richard was appointed as Commercial Director in February 2018.
Head of Finance – Suzanne Hearn-Phillips (ACA)
Suzanne is ACA-qualified and previously worked at BDO Stoy Hayward, Bank of Scotland Cashflow Finance and CitiFinancial. Latterly, she established the finance function for Everyday Loans, a start-up financial services company which was sold in 2016 for £235 million.
Founder and Special Advisor – Neil Collins (BSc MSc)
Neil is the founder of Composite Metal Technology (now Alvant). Before founding Composite Metal Technology Neil worked for Cray Electronics Holding Plc, a fully quoted public listed company on the London Stock Exchange with sales of over £100 million per annum.


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What causes inequitable assessments?
Fluctuations in the economy; changes in characteristics of the parcel or neighborhood; improvements completed without permits; changes in style; market pressure (supply and demand).
Fluctuations in the economy; changes in characteristics of the parcel or neighborhood; improvements completed without permits; changes in style; market pressure (supply and demand).
To spread the tax burden equitably within the municipality, to assess property at the same standard of value and to ensure that every property owner is paying his/her fair share.
It is the value (price) at which a property would theoretically sell for in a fair and bona fide sale, on October 1st of the previous year. Example: Assessments for the 2014 tax year would be based upon the assessor's opinion of value on October 1st, 2013.
It is an annual process of maintaining all assessment values at 100% of full market value
Please email all concerns and complaints to email@example.com.
If you wish to file a tax appeal visit the County Board of Taxation. There, forms, instructions and "A Guide to Tax Appeal Hearings" may be obtained.
You may also contact the Somerset County Board of Taxation:
PO Box 3000
Somerville, NJ 08876
If the assessed value exceeds $1,000,000 you have the option of filing your appeal directly with the NJ Tax Court at PO Box 972, Hughes Justice Complex, Trenton, NJ 08625. For more information visit NJ Courts Online. Select Tax Court.
In a non revalued/ non-reassessed district: Assessment appeals must be filed on or before April 1 of the current tax year, or 45 days from the date mailed, as it appears on the front of this notice, whichever date is later
In a revalued/reassessed district: Assessment appeals must be filed on or before May 1 of the current tax year.
Warren Township has determined that the uncontrolled and unregulated disturbance, excavation, filling and removal of soil has resulted and will result in conditions detrimental to the safety, health and general welfare of the public. As such, compliance with section 15-9.2 of the Warren Township Ordinance may be required for work performed on residential properties. To determine applicability, the concerned party shall consult section 15-9.2 and questions directed to one of the employees in the Engineering Department. Generally, a permit application (which is available online) along with a plan to address section 15-9.2 shall be submitted along the requisite fees to the Engineering Department. The application and plan will be reviewed and once approved, a letter written approving the application. (This approval is considered a prior approval for the construction department). SOIL MOVEMENT/CONSTRUCTION DEBRIS APPLICATION
The Engineering Department does have a significant number of maps and documents available for review by the public. Assistance in reviewing the documents can be offered to the extent of the Engineering Department's knowledge. If copies of the maps and documents are needed, an OPRA request can me made through the Township Clerk's office specifying the records requested.
Vendors are encouraged to visit the Township website for all RFB announcements.
Bids are evaluated for the lowest responsible bidder, compliance with bid specifications, financial responsibility, reputation of vendor, service availability, and other relevant considerations.
After analysis, a recommendation is submitted to the Township Committee for award. All awards or rejections normally occur within 60 days unless an extension is granted by bidder.
Notifications of award/ rejection will be made in writing.


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Crystal Antlers - I Slept In An Arcade by download405
Just the other day, Crystal Antlers said they're not releasing their new album, Two Way Mirror, 'til August. Now, a new song of theirs has popped up on the deep, dark new music section of the Blogscape. The 'Antlers have covered Black Randy & The Metrosquads' 'I Slept In An Arcade', which will be featured on a compilation record named Beat LA; other musicians who have contributed to the album include No Age and Bobb Best Coast, to name a few.
Beat LA is being released by Narnack Records and Greatminds Records to raise money for Doctors Without Borders, a relief organisation that is helping to repair the damage caused after last year's earthquake in Haiti. Listen to Crystal Antlers' version of 'I Slept in an Arcade' above.


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C. T. Lowndes & Company is proud to report that the independent insurance agency has once again agreed to be the title sponsor of the Sertoma High School Football Classic to be held August 16 and 17 at Johnson Hagood Stadium on the campus of the Citadel. In fact, the agency has signed a three contract with The Sertoma Club of Charleston and will be the title sponsor of the Classic in 2012, 1013, and 2014.
The kickoff event of the 2012 Classic was the Coach's Party which was held at Velocity Sports in Mt. Pleasant on May 22. It is at this event that the game match ups were announced.
The sponsorship of the Sertoma Football Classic is the agency's way of giving back the community in which the agency has done business since 1850. "It is just a natural fit," said Billy Silcox, an agency owner, "All the owners have been involved in helping youth throughout their lives. Henry Lowndes was a long time member of the Optimist Club of Charleston and a little league baseball, football, and girls' softball coach. I was the tennis coach at the College of Charleston for many years before I entered the insurance business and am now a volunteer tennis coach at the College. Both my sons, Bill and Chris, are agency owners and have coached little league soccer teams."


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Good Morning,
Some of you may already know the amazing online store Black Rooster Decor. They carry the most amazing collection of furniture and home decor stuff. If I was going to try to describe the merchandise they carry I would say modern, pretty and eclectic. Now, often when people use the word eclectic it's just a nice a way of saying that you have a bunch of random nice stuff that doesn't go together, but that is 100% NOT how I mean it here. The items are so unique yet perfectly assembled that you can't imagine that they don't all belong in one space. The woman behind this store is the fabulous Nina Ber-Donkor, and boy does she have a talent for curating beautiful home decor items. Truly gifted. Here are just few things from the online store….
Marble Base Adjustable Desk Lamp
So, wanna hear some great news??? Black Rooster now has a full-blown bricks and mortar STORE! Wanna hear the even better news? IT'S IN MY NEIGHBOURHOOD! (1025 Queen Street East (in Toronto) near Pape Avenue). Ok, so maybe that part is really only great for me, but this is still amazing news. I was lucky enough to attend the grand-opening party last week. And here is a little taste of the awesomeness you can expect:
I don't have the details on all the items that are in these pictures (most, if not all, of them can be found in the online store), but there are a few highlights I would like to point out:
1) I NEED one of those Victorian wine stoppers. STAT.
2) All the art you see in these pictures is by my friend, the ever so talented Christine Dovey. When she is selling like Jackson Pollock, I will be able to say "I knew her".
3) Wishbone in a bell jar, yes please.
4) Those Moroccan style hanging pendant lights are incredible.
The point is it looks amazing. And to top it all off the party was a blast. Great food from County General and lots 'o bubbly, plus amazing company. Christine, Hollie (of the Pink Zipper) and I closed down the place with the lovely Der-Bonker fam (from left, Nina's lovely hubs Prince, her sweetheart of a son Elijah, Nina, her mom and her brother).
And when I say lots of bubbly, I mean LOTS…..like the dance party, howl with laughter, create crazy hashtags kind of lots. Oh did I mention taking ridiculous pictures…..a like picture of me with my new C-Doves painting….
One of the artist, with the SAME painting….
Your truly, Vanna White-ing the crap out of this fab (and really comfortable) leather lounger….
And the amazingly sweet Mr. Bijou and Boheme (aka Christine's husband/Ian) showing just how comfy the leather lounger is. Note the pink socks. Love this guy.
So I think you get the gist of the kind of night we had. I am so happy for Nina and family on their new adventure. Now go VISIT this store definitely will not regret it! Welcome to the east end Black Rooster!


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Entrance to A.S. Cooper & Sons, Ltd.
Both entrances into A.S. Cooper Main store are step-free via Front Street and Reid Street and offers entry for wheelchair, prams and buggies.
From the ground floor there are steps and a lift to all floors and escalator to the 2nd floor.
Accessible car park
There is street parking available directly outside the store as well as multiple car parks surrounding the shop.
Changing rooms
Accessible fitting rooms are available on 2nd and 3rd floors offering customized lighting.
Public transport
There are several bus stops along Front Street. If you require further assistance to plan your journey please visit Bermuda Public Transportation Board.
There is one lift providing access to all levels of the store.
Step free access to
Ground Floor Front Street entrance:
Cosmetics and Fragrances
China and Crystal
3rd Floor Reid Street entrance:
Ladies wear including petites
La Serena Express Spa
Guide and hearing dogs
We welcome guide dogs and hearing dogs in our stores


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Connections STEAM Coach™ - Integration Specialist
This program is an immersive training experience for school districts that want not only to provide their teachers with the skills necessary to educate the next generate of students, but they want to ensure the investment in training carries over into the classroom. Our immersive program provides teachers with the skills and tools to engage with the modern classroom of dynamic learning styles, and to leverage technology as a tool - engaging the classroom in project-based experiential learning. This is a twelve-month long program designed to support districts to implement the training in the classroom with assessments throughout the year to monitor metrics over time. Training begins with brain-based learning training and follows with an immersive program with students as part of the learning process. This methodology eliminates the stresses of the typical school year yet provides teachers with the experience they need to build confidence in learning together in a project-based experiential teaching model.
During the Connections STEAM Coach™ - Integration Specialist program, you will learn:
- How to introduce students to project-based learning and a collaborative student-centered learning environment
- How this is different from traditional learning and traditional teaching/learning environments
- How to build an understanding of the expectations of such a learning environment and experience
- How the role and behavior of students has to change, as does the role and behavior of the teacher, in order to ensure success
- The need to have a visualization of what it has to change and what it looks like when being done successfully
- How to build team collaboration so that each member has a clear understanding of the purpose of their work together


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RSS feeds allow you to stay up to date on things such as your friends latest journals, popular & new deviations, user galleries or favourite collections, daily deviations and more. It allows you to easily stay informed by fetching the latest updates from your favourite websites. It can save time because you do not need to visit the site over and over. With RSS the possibilities are virtually limitless!
To access our RSS feeds you will need to paste the URL to the gallery, search, or browse page you want to subscribe to into your feed reader or RSS toolbar extension. If your browser supports automatic RSS loading, an RSS icon will appear in the browser URL bar.
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Dear Parents:
Welcome to St. Mary's School!
Thank you for considering joining our St. Mary's School family and for taking time to review this material. We would also like to extend a warm welcome to let you know that you will be appreciated in our school system.
In God's plan, parents are primarily responsible for their children's education. St. Mary's School recognizes this primary role of parents and intends to create an environment that supports you in your efforts to teach your children right from wrong. The School operates as a Family unit. Parental involvement in all operations of the school is not only necessary, it is desirable. Together, we will help our children grow into the kind of young men and women whose moral character, self confidence and leadership is immediately visible.
We ask that you pray for guidance in your decision of where to educate your children. We will be joining you in that prayer.


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Owners: Robin, Madison, Blaine & Casey Lewis
- 4347 Franklin RD SW, Roanoke, VA 24018 / (540) 777-1166
After being a customer at a Fleet Feet store in Carborro, North Carolina for several years and working at that same store for 3 years, my wife Robin and I moved to Roanoke in 2003 to open our very own Fleet feet store. It's been a great experience for us to have a business that incorporates what we are so passionate about (which is living an active lifestyle) and sharing that experience with others. We've been able to help the running/active lifestyle community grow here and change lives for the better by providing customers with the materials and knowledge that will help them be successful with achieving their goals.
Our mission has always been to provide great customer service and to be involved in our community by helping it become a more healthy and happy place.
We incorporated the Fleet Feet Sports fit process into our business in early 2005. This has really elevated the customer experience in our store and allowed us to connect more from an educational standpoint with our customers as well. We no longer were just selling shoes, we were fitting shoes, which is much more applicable to more people in many different walks of life. This has had a huge impact on our business.
Our No Boundaries training program is a way to introduce people to running and walking in a group atmosphere. This program motivates individuals to get off the couch by knowing they have a support group. In this program, individuals have a specific plan that they follow to help them reach their goals. This program is so tremendous to us because it has not only helped people in our community become more active it has also brought our community together; there have been friendships, relationships and marriages that were all built off of this program!
- Roanoke Valley Greenway: (20 miles) 1206 Kessler Mill Rd., Salem, VA 24153
- Carvins Cove: Carvins Cove Rd., Salem, VA 24153
- McAfeese Knob: Appalachian Trail, Catawba, VA
- Wassena City Taproom
- Soring Ridge Brewery
- Sweet Donkey
- Shadow Rep: Marcus Rowland
- Sales Rep: Mark Johnson
- Facebook: @FleetFeetSportsRoanoke
- Instagram: @FleetFeetNoke
By: Marcus Rowland, Saucony Shadow Rep


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Cheap Sheds provides quality garages at discounted prices. Garage kits are engineered and designed for the Australian climate and meet the standard regulations. We only supply the best in the industry and only supply Garages from one of the best steel garage kit providers in Australia.
We have a variety of options from Single, Double or Triple garages. They come in different colours and you can customise them to include cyclone kits, windows, extra doors etc.
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Capital Match is a vibrant and professional company and was founded in 2014. Capital Match makes it possible for private investors to invest directly through an online platform in the credit needs of businesses in Singapore. SMEs can borrow through this innovative platform (also called peer-to-peer lending) and investors can achieve attractive returns. Capital Match facilitates the lending and investment process and ensures that it is secure.
In just a few minutes, you can start building your own investment portfolio. Opening an account on the Capital Match platform is free, and the minimum investment in each loan is $1,000. Each investor decides for himself which loan or invoice financing facility to invest their money in. You will receive in your account the monthly interest and principal repayments from the loans and invoice financing that you have invested in. Despite our careful assessment of the borrowers, investing in P2P loans is not without risk. To minimise the risk of loss, investors should invest their money in many different loans and invoice financing facilities, which is known as diversification.


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John Marzulli
- Emerald Contractors, Owner
- Favorite Drink: Jack Daniels
Favorite Charities
- All Children's Hospital
Other Interests
- Martial arts
- Reading
- Meditation
Comments are closed.
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Your Hosts: Jerry Bohannon | Eric Eaton
Mark Ellis | John Marzulli | Michele Pryor
Vincent Tafuro | Ken Walters


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Honduras | Finca La Guadalupe - Medium Roast
Flavor Profile: Rich chocolate infused body balanced by orange like citrus acidity and herbal and nut tones in the finish.
Roast: Medium
Region: La Labor, Ocotepeque
Farm (Finca): La Guadalupe
Elevation: 1,500 - 1,700 meters
Variety: Pacas, Borbon, Catuai
Process: Wet process, Patio Dried
More Info about this coffee
Cherries are pre-selected using a siphon to remove any floaters, stones or unripe cherries. The ripe cherries are then mechanically de-pulped & fermented aerobically for 20-24hrs. After the coffee is flushed with water, via a selection channel that separates by density. Only the first cut of coffees are included in this batch.
Additionally, a cupping lab was recently installed at the collection center which will help ensure quality of individual lots and improve consistency year over year.
More Info about this farm
Over 40 years ago, Selin Recinos Sr. and Petrona Perez started Finca La Guadalupe as a small plot of land, hoping it would help their family prosper. Slowly but surely, through their hard work and dedication, the plot grew and was passed onto subsequent generations. Now, four families, including Selin Recinos Jr., continue to run and expand the farm.
Selin Jr.'s love for coffee and agriculture matches his commitment to growing high quality coffee in a sustainable manner, minimizing water use, protecting the wildlife on his farms, and planting new trees. In 2003, Selin Jr. participated in the first coffee competition, a precursor to Cup of Excellence, and won 4th place. Since then, he has participated in many competitions and his coffees are always highly regarded.
After his father's passing, Selin Jr. took over the farm, in addition to looking after his sister's lands. Selin's wife, Blanca, is a coffee cupper and together they continue the legacy of quality and sustainability that started in La Labor long ago.
-Direct Trade
-Certified Organic


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Where To Find Us
This map is an interactive locator map. Drag the map to your location and simply click on the teardrop state or city location to see stores selling Cold Hammer Stills products. Note you can zoom in or out by using your scroll wheel located in your mouse or use the + - in the lower left of the map. Click on the teardrop closest to your location to see store name, location and phone number.
Pop Up Larger Store Map Click Here!
Many New Locations Coming Soon.
Terms Cold Hammer Stills, LLC Copyright 2019 All Rights Reserved


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Watkins Consultancy Ltd
The Financial Conduct Authority ("FCA") of the United Kingdom would like to alert all recipients that:
Watkins Consultancy Ltd
Address: 1 New York Plaza, New York, NY 10004, USA
Tel: +1 914 5128932
Fax: +1 914 5602332
Website: www.watkinsconsultancyltd.com
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
is NOT authorised under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 ("FSMA") to carry on a regulated activity in the United Kingdom. Regulated activities include, amongst other things, advising on investments and dealing and arranging deals in investments ("investments" include stocks and shares).
The FCA believes that this organisation may be targeting UK customers. Therefore, we have added this firm to our list of unauthorised firms and individuals list. This list can be found at:
If you have any further questions on this matter please email our Consumer Contact Centre at firstname.lastname@example.com, or alternatively by telephone on 0800 111 6768. Overseas callers can contact us on (+44) 20 7066 1000.


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Saturday, October 3, 2009
"The Lindy List" Series
This got me to thinking about all the songs I've always thought swing dancers should know. And this inspired me (by inspired I mean blatantly copy the idea) to write a list of swing songs that I think every Lindy Hopper should know. The list will probably be listed with album information as much as possible to minimize the effort of acquiring these songs. However, most of these songs are relatively easy to find thanks to our current online retail structure such as Amazon.com and Emusic among other things. In addition, most online stores allow one to preview the song to get a little feel for it.
Stay tuned.
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Connection Theory for Lindy Hop
The means of communication in this conversation is the concept of connection.
It is always present in our dancing, regardless of skill.
In Dance: a Fundamental Philosophy, I have used the metaphor of language to describe connection.
Once the leader and the follower establish a basic connection, the leader manipulates the connection to give a lead, and the follower attempts to return to that connection to follow.
For example, in a side pass, the leader steps backwards, creating a tensile force in the connection. The follower feels a stretch and moves forward to relieve that tension. She continues the motion until she receives another lead. The leader will turn around as she passes, and the follower will feel the lateral tension, and turn around to face her lead again even as she continues her original motion. The follower continues moving, now in the backward direction until the leader leads her to stop by remaining in place and gradually producing the same tension that he led the movement with. The follower feels a tension theoretically identical to the initial lead, and relieves that by remaining in place as well.
The process by which all this communication occurs is complex and development of good connection requires many related concepts to be practiced.
The first concept that should be understood is center- possibly the most important concept of connection. The significance of center is that all contact-led movement should be theoretically led from the center. A better center leads to more stability, stronger connection, and clearer communication. An analogy I could give is that a ball of yarn is much easier to manipulate than when it is unraveled. The idea of a good center is to consolidate all of your weight and energy as small as possible into an area that can be connected with your partner. The general area is usually always somewhere in the torso, but specific locations are different for leaders and followers and for the style being danced. The location can be very specific for skilled dancers (for example, the powerhouse, the solar plexus, or the sternum, and the precise positioning of the center with respect to the legs or the head).
A few good methods to maintain a good center are moving your torso before moving your legs, and always keeping your center over your legs.
Now I have mentioned that we lead and follow with our centers, but how do we connect them to each other? Imagine how limited our motion would be in Lindy Hop if we could only connect our centers through direct contact! However, we can dance in other positions through the concept of frame. The way the center of two dancers can connect is the concept of frame. Lindy Hop frame is rather difficult both to explain and to achieve. The idea of good frame, albeit vague, is to present the clearest physical connection between our centers. In Lindy Hop, we are often in open position, connected by our fingers, which is a great distance along the arm and the body to the chest. The general concept of frame is not too difficult to grasp- it's simply providing something tangible for your partner to work with when he or she contacts you. However, fine-tuning the frame to be comfortable and comfortable is another matter altogether.
Lindy Hop utilizes a dynamic frame, in which the frame is not rigid, but fluid and flexible. Therefore, movements are not instantaneous, but led and followed through cycles of stretch and release and/or compression and release. This results in a necessary pre-lead, which is one of the characteristics that make the dance swing as well as allowing Lindy Hoppers to spontaneously improvise moves and styling with unfamiliar partners.
Like a jet plane has a frame to absorb the thrust of the engine, a follower has a frame to absorb the lead. The leader has to also provide a frame as well for the follower to work against. As the movements end, the frame
Tension is a very closely related concept of frame. Tension refers to the amount of potential energy stored inside the frame, much like the amount of tension required to manipulate a spring. Variations in this tension help communicate certain things such as the distance to be traveled or the speed at which moves are to be executed.
Tension is a very defining aspect of individual dancers. While tension does vary in the course of a dance, there is a general characteristic tension that each dancer will tend to gravitate towards in certain styles and music. That general "default" tension is classified as heavy or light, depending on if more or less energy is required to maintain the neutral connection and initiate movement, respectively.
The advantage of heavy tension is the obvious presence of a connection to both parties. The leader has clear and positive control of his follower and the follower has a very secure lead. The dancing is generally smooth and comfortable, as most extraneous movement contributes an insignificant amount of energy to affect the connection. This can be achieved with relatively little skill level and is useful for teaching concepts such as stretch and compression, and sensing weight changes of your partner. However, heavy tension comes with the price of lower stamina, especially at higher tempos, due to the greater amount of "overhead" energy required to maintain connection as well as initiate movement.
The advantage of light tension is greater freedom, responsiveness, and flexibility. The follower has more freedom to express herself, and the leader can provide more subtlety in his dancing. However, lighter tension typically requires a great deal of refinement and skill to dance well in this manner. Response time is less, as well as the energy to maintain connection, allowing for dancing at a greater range of tempos with greater stamina.
There is no "wrong" tension besides one that your partner is not doing.
Once center, frame, and tension are in place, the lead manipulates the connection to cause movement. A smooth way of doing this is moving his center.
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
With all this commentary about dancing, I feel that it is important to define some terms we may take for granted. While definitions may vary as you travel from scene to scene, the following definitions are what I have seen to be a general consensus among the professional community.
Beginning Dancer:
Learning the basic steps of the dance. Typically has less than 30 hours dance experience (i.e. dancing less than twice a week for two months).
Beginning-Intermediate Dancer:
Has grasped the basic steps of the specific dance being learned and is beginning to develop vocabulary of moves. Is beginning to grasp the fundamentals of the dance such as appearance, typical move patterns, and the connection.
Intermediate Dancer:
Has a working knowledge of the fundamentals of the dance such as appearance and typical move patterns. Is developing a grasp for the finer points of connection as well as a fluency in vocabulary of moves. Begins to seeks knowledge in associated dances and applying related principles and analogous moves. Typically has had at least 60 hours social dancing experience (Ex. dancing twice a week for 2 months.
Intermediate-Advanced Dancer:
Begins to pursue the theory behind the dance. Is familiar with connection but is limited in flexibility of use. Fluent in standard move patterns and is developing a distinct personal style consistent with and appropriate to the dance. Is developing an extensive vocabulary of moves and dances earned through many hours of practice and dancing.
Advanced Dancer:
Marked by a strong grasp of fundamentals and basics, as well as the presence of a distinct style consistent with and appropriate to the dance. Is fluent with and applies connection as an inherent part of dancing. Explores the dance and the music, calling upon the knowledge of theory behind the dance and music, rather than calling upon the moves associated with the dance.
Active Dancer:
At least two nights (at least 3 hours each) of social dancing a week.
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Private Lessons
Privates can be very expensive but pay off very quickly with the amount you learn in a fraction of the time, and with the learning of certain concepts that can only be effectively taught individually with someone who already understands them. You may not be able to afford group lessons simultaneously as private lessons, so you may have to give them up temporarily. But whatever you choose, do not give up your social dancing regimen. Again, I emphatically stress that regular attendance of social dancing is the most important thing you can do to improve your dancing. If social dancing is the only thing you can afford, choose to go social dancing over taking lessons. It is critical you never lose sight of the purpose for which you are learning (seriously, why learn to dance if you're not going to do it?).
Private lessons can be very addicting, as the rewards are virtually immediate (and continue to increase) as you return to the dance floor. But as you are investing a great deal of money into learning, make sure you start with the right teacher. If you are fortunate to live in an area with a big city, you can ask around and find out who are the well-known and reputable instructors around (However, I personally recommend that if you don't know who the good instructors are, you probably should not take privates yet). If there are no well-known instructors, or you would like to choose for yourself, finding a teacher can be a more difficult task. A good instructor will focus on teaching you how to dance, not how to perform moves and tricks. You can judge for yourself if one has a good fundamental understanding of the dance by watching them dance Lindy Hop.
First and foremost, do not be deceived by flashiness.
A good dancer is not determined by the moves one does, but by his or her basics.
Watch the teacher and note his or her feet with each step. Does the teacher dance on the balls of his or her feet without rolling back on the heels? Does he or she push off from the ground to move instead of simply picking up his or her feet? Does the teacher have visible and clear weight changes? These are good signs that the teacher may have strong basics, and may possess the skill to teach you. However, good dancers do not immediately make one a good teacher.
After you have researched and found a suitable teacher (preferably you have found several), approach one for private lessons. Do not shower them with compliments; a simple honest comment on what you like about their dancing as well as a request for a private lesson is sufficient and appropriate. They will arrange a time with you, tell you how much they cost, and some will inquire if there is anything you desire to learn in particular. Private lessons are usually an hour long, and have a median and mode cost of $50-60 with one instructor (ranging from $50-65), or $80-100 for two (instructor and partner). They may usually ask what you wish to learn. Don't ask to learn moves, or you'll be wasting your money. If you are unsure of what you desire to work on, ask to work on your basics and the swing out (and continue to learn as much about the swing out as you can). There are many concepts that you will learn in the development of your swing out, especially connection, frame, and center, so remember to look at the swing out as a reflection of your skills, not as simply a move. It has been said that when an instructor teaches an advanced workshop, he or she can work on the swing out for every class for an entire weekend, and a mature and advanced dancer will look forward to such a focused learning opportunity.
When you go to your private lesson, bring a notebook as well as your normal dance preparation (shower, brush your teeth, bring mints, etc.). Wear form-fitting clothing so that your teacher can easily view your frame and posture. Come with a mature and open mind, and trust what your teacher tells you.
You (hopefully) will be spending most of your time learning basics, with a little time spent on lecture and philosophy. You will learn a lot, so write down notes in your notebook. After your lesson, go social dancing as soon as possible so that you may put your hard work to use! Try to work on just one thing you learned each night you go out dancing. Once that is finished, work on another.
Do not expect miracles. You may not always click perfectly with your instructor, as an hour is such a short period of time that the instructor has to grow accustomed to you, decide what you need to improve on, and discover how to teach you effectively. After your lesson, if you have difficulty learning from your instructor, try taking a few more lessons, and try approaching another one. Just as any two people may not necessarily get along immediately (or at all), it may take a few more lessons for your instructor to figure out how to teach you effectively in an hour's time.
On the other hand, after your lesson, if it seems like the heavens have opened up, shined upon your dancing, and you are now possessed with the spirits of lindy hoppers past, stay with that instructor.
If and when you stay with an instructor for continued learning, trust your teacher in the process of learning- he or she will guide you down the right path.
Monday, December 25, 2006
The Path to Becoming a Lindy Hopper (rough draft)
Let no one deceive you: the Lindy hop is a difficult dance to learn.
Certain people may pick it up more easily, particularly if one already possesses some previous social dance experience, has a good teacher, or is in a good swing dance scene. But even with all these factors in place, Lindy Hop remains a difficult dance to learn. But let not one be discouraged, for there are many other Lindy hoppers around the world willing to help. Lindy Hop is addicting, for it is rewarding, and the rewards- the knowledge you gain, the people you meet, and most importantly, the enjoyment you gain from dancing- are immediate.
One of the most efficient and effective methods that teachers recommend Lindy hoppers to start with is to dance at least twice a week, get instruction, and travel.
Let us start where many of us start- looking for something to do at night. The first step one should take is to locate dance venues, or places to go dancing. Visit websites looking for swing dancing in your local area. Advice from Linda Sheppard,
Once you have a list of venues, you can start attending them. Try out each venue 2 or 3 times and write down what you enjoyed or disliked about the venue, i.e. ambience, music, attendance, dancer skill level, floor, cleanliness, etc. Ask the local dancers where they dance, for they will be a more reliable source of information than websites which may possibly be outdated or biased towards a business. Be mindful that the ultimate factor that will probably determine where you choose to dance is the people there. There are glorious clubs that will fascinate you in their beauty, and there are dives that will make you wonder how people have congregated there to dance, but find the places that have happy Lindy Hoppers, for that place and its people will probably make you happy as well.
Once you have found some of your favorite venues, attend them regularly.
The most important thing you can do for your dancing is to social dance regularly, preferably at least twice a week.
While you are checking out venues, you may find swing dancers are generally a friendly bunch, so feel free to ask everyone to dance, regardless of skill level. Of course, there are a few outliers with all groups. Do not be discouraged, and associate with the people that treat you well. There is no need to exert effort attempting to fit in. As with any group, some will accept you immediately, some will grow accustomed to you, and some will do neither. You will find that Lindy hop has its own social etiquette, but that extends beyond the scope of this article, and will be covered in greater detail in another.
In your course of dancing, you will probably see some dancers who inspire you. You will see the fun they are having and you will wish you could dance like them. One solution is to befriend them and politely ask them if they could teach you. Lindy hop instructors are another way to help realize that goal. Your purpose for learning is to become more fluent in the dance so that there are less barriers between you and your partner having fun. It is recommended that beginners start with the local group lessons that everyone attends. Not only are they cheaper than private lessons and less likely to burn you out financially and physically, but you will have the opportunity to learn the same material with the fellow people you will probably dance with frequently. In most group classes, you will learn some basics that will make up the dance. Practice what you have learned at your favorite dance venues. Practice your basics at home as well until they are firm in your muscle memory- until you can hold a conversation while dancing. Keep in mind that you are not learning moves, but learning how to move. Learn the basics, and the moves will follow. Eventually, as you progress in skill, you can take private lessons or advanced group lessons to refine your skills and learn the things that will very quickly make you a great dancer.
As you learn, your passion and hunger for dancing may extend beyond the scope of your local area. You may begin to hear of other events and others will ask if you are attending them (the correct answer is yes). What you are experiencing is the traveling aspect of lindy hop. As explained earlier, travel is important to your dancing. It is my firm belief that the most important factor to a dance scene's evolution is travel between scenes.
People may be traveling dancers for different reasons, including business bringing dancers from one place to another, or a band performing that people would like to listen to (and dance to). However, the principal reason dancers travel to other dance scenes is to attend events. There are three types of events that one will encounter: Social, Instructional, and Competitions.
Social dancing events are also called exchanges (with a few exceptions). All swing dance events include a social dancing aspect, but exchanges are events where the primary, if not single-minded, focus is upon social dancing. Exchanges are just that. Supposedly these events allow the dancer to get a glimpse of the scene's venues and dancers, but in reality it is simply a big weekend of partying and dancing wherever they can fit some 200 or more Lindy Hoppers. Exchanges should not have lessons (save a brief beginner lesson immediately prior to the main night dance), as it maintains the party atmosphere of the event as well as ensures that all your money is going towards pure dancing (However, local instructors typically attend to contribute to the scene and so traveling dancers can approach them for private lessons). There is typically dancing starting from the mid-afternoon (1 or 2PM-4 or 5PM) until a two-hour dinner break, and then a main night dance event typically to a live band, usually from about 8 to midnight, and a late night dance (with refreshments!) from midnight to 5AM. This day schedule is typically repeated from Friday to Saturday. Exchanges typically cost about $50-80, slightly skewed towards the left, with the most common price being about $60-65. Occasionally you see extreme cases on both sides, for example, in 2007, prices ranged from from Orange County's dirt cheap $35, and Austin Lindy Exchange on the other end at $90.
Instructional events include camps and workshops. The focus is obviously on instruction, but there is plenty of social dancing later to practice what you have learned. These will have lesson from late morning to the afternoon, at which point there may be competitions or more lessons. After a dinner break, social dancing and competitions take over. Camps typically cost $120-$150 for a weekend, while workshop weekends run a little cheaper at $80-100. Camps will be discussed in more detail later.
Finally, competitions are events which the primary focus is indeed competitions. They include championships, camps, and various other names. Good examples and recommended ones are: Camp Jitterbug (Memorial Day weekend in Seattle, WA), Camp Hollywood/National Jitterbug Championships (Last weekend of July in Los Angeles, CA), the Ultimate Lindy Hop Showdown (Second weekend of September in Minneapolis, MN), and the Rhythmic Arts Festival (New Year's weekend in San Diego, CA). They range widely in cost, but the larger ones are typically $99 for competitors and $120-$160 for general participants (plus hotel costs). Larger events will typically cost $180 and up, so make sure you buy your tickets before the price breaks. Despite their high price, these typically have the greatest attendance, as some dancers come to show off their skills, and everyone comes to be inspired.
The path to becoming a Lindy Hopper is difficult, but not long, and it should definitely not be arduous. It is the spirit of the dance and the love of the music that should drive you through this path with flying colors. Remember that it is not easy- you will be discouraged along the way, but no matter what happens, remember the fun you had dancing and will have dancing.
Saturday, December 16, 2006
Dance: a Fundamental Philosophy
Sources mainly involve oral history given to me by countless people, as well as the blurred memory of countless articles and books I have read in my constant research. These opinions may not be necessarily shared with any particular dance community or instructor, including those sourced, and they are simply my opinions and my own conclusions on the subject. You may or may not agree with the information and opinions given, and you are welcome to express your feelings on the subject matter in a contributive manner. This essay will be a working piece, and will continue to grow as I learn more from lessons from teachers, experience with dancers, and the feedback of others.
The exploration is intentionally very general as to make it as fundamental and universally applicable as possible. However, this essay primarily is focused on vernacular jazz dance.
For the sake of simplicity, I will refer to the lead with male pronouns and the follow with female pronouns.
Dance: a Fundamental Philosophy
A working piece- An expressional essay on dance
Inspired by the teachings of Ria Debiase, Peter Flahiff, Frankie Manning, Nick Williams, and Audrey Wilson
I believe dance serves as a social function and an art form.
As a social and cultural function- society gathers around cultural activities- let's just use football for an example. An activity becomes considered part of the culture when virtually every person in the given society plays a role in the activity- from the players on the field, the advertisers funding the game, the cheerleaders and band raising spirit, to the viewer at home.
Dance is likewise so- the dancers, the musicians, the hosts, the audience all serve their part to make the culture of the dance, and make dancing a part of the general culture of the society.
As everyone contributes to the subculture, everyone bears certain responsibilities in their roles. There should be a staff responsible for maintaining a suitable venue for dancing. There are the musicians and DJs that produce sound. These individuals and groups support the dancers with their skills and abilities. In return, the dancers should support these people in return through regular attendance of venues, introduction and inclusion of new individuals to the community, and patronage of supporting facilities and services. In this manner, all sides of the dance community are supporting each other, and a dance community is able to support itself, thrive, and maintain growth.
Dance was probably created around the music associated with the particular dance, and enabled people to play a more active role in the engagement of the music. This allowed people to express themselves in response to the music*- creating a visual art to complement the musical art, as well as to serve as a social activity- allowing members of the society to interact with each other when they would not have in any other circumstance. (*Of course, there is dancing without music, and that is the pure visual art aspect of dance, and there are other forms of dance in which sound is an essential part, such as tap, which is an amalgamation of the visual and musical aspects of dance.) Since it serves a social function, dancers should primarily seek to entertain each other, and enjoy the social company of another. Etiquette of social functions should apply to the dance event as of any other social functions, but one should be mindful of the different cultures that dance brings together, and be accepting of the differences- the colour that is bound to appear.
In regards to the act of dancing itself, I believe that dancing is a conversation between the lead, the follow, and the music.
The lead and the follow are communicating with each other and should seek to constantly improve that communication and remove barriers to that.
To expand on the conversation metaphor, when a couple dances together for the first time, they are two strangers engaging in conversation with one another. They may not be speaking the same language, meaning they do not know the same dance, they may not be speaking the same dialect, meaning the same style of that dance. They also may not be using the same vocabulary, meaning the same skill level.
It is the lead who should initiate each conversation and make the follow comfortable. This has far-reaching implications and responsibilities for the lead. It means the lead is ultimately responsible, with few exceptions, for the success of the conversation- the dance. The lead should do his best to make the follow feel comfortable and to entertain her. The lead initiates the dance, and the follow should do her best to follow him; try to speak his dance language, attuned to his dialect, speak with the same vocabulary. Meaning, the follow attempts to perform the same dance, with the same style, and dance to the same level as the lead.
Of course, perfection is rarely achieved, so the couple must find a middle ground. If one dancer is not able to perform the particular dance and style, he or she must try to do something that is compatible with what the other can dance. It is not likely to find this compromise through dancing in a more specialized or advanced manner, so inevitably, this involves returning to basics. The importance of strong basics cannot be stressed enough, and every mature dancer will attest to that fact. Basics do not only include knowing the basic steps, but dancing in a matter that maximizes communication with one's partner.
Clear communication is a persistent goal that can be pursued through becoming a more efficient dancer and being more knowledgeable of one's body and one's partner's. This involves maximizing energy towards leading or following, and minimizing movement and energy not directly related to that purpose. Balboa dancers have an old maxim they strive to achieve- to be smaller and tighter dancers. This holds true for any dance which is to be done with efficiency. Each weight change should be a clear driving lead to the follow to fuel her movement, and excessive movement should be limited to provide a pure lead to the follow. Stylizing should be done to accentuate the lead and should be done in a manner that provides information contributing to the lead's message. Ultimately, good dancers will dance in a manner that maximizes useful communication yet minimizes energy used to dance it.
When two dancers communicate well together, they are like two fluent speakers of a language together, and are capable of conversation on a deeper level. They are able to explore the dance with flexibility and discovery without breaking connection, hence remaining in communication with their partner. Their conversation with the music and with each other flows seamlessly from one subject into another. Therefore, their conversation is conducted fluently, and the dancers have achieved an acme of the dance's social function.
Friday, December 15, 2006
Why I choose Lindy Hop
Lindy Hop is an American dance and is native to its culture. It has grown to become an international phenomenon, as I see the many people from other countries at swing dance events and exchanges, as well as a sizeable ballroom audience penetration as well (seen by the creation of the American Rhythm ballroom dance East Coast Swing). I study Lindy Hop as part of my personal desire to learn the general culture I grew up in and my pride in being an American, not by birth, but by my engagement in its culture, especially that of music and dance.
From an early age (exact age unknown), I pursued dances of many types, including Modern, Jazz, and social ones like Salsa, Country, Rumba, Foxtrot, etc. I liked a lot of them, but I came to learn Lindy Hop and love it with a passion that I have held for no other dance before.
All the other dances are fun and all, but Lindy Hop holds amazing flexibility in its feel and adaptability. If you give me a very light-hearted song, I can dance with so much charm you'd swear I was giving off sparkles. If you give me a slow and dark song, I can milk every beat and animate the music. If you give a sensual song, I can reflect that in the dance even in open position. I was never able to express sensuality even after years of Foxtrot, yet I could feel electricity in the fingertips of a follow's hand within months of dancing Lindy hop.
I view dance as an expression of the music, and jazz dance most closely exemplifies that view. As I have been a musician for all of my life, I am intimately familiar with music, its making, and the structure that defines it. Like jazz music, which is free in every way that fits in the jazz structure, jazz dancing is free in every way that fits in its structure- in other words, the dancer and the musician (should one choose to make a distinction) is free to be organic and natural in their pursuit of the music and the dance.
Another major thing that also stands out to me is that Lindy hop is NATURAL. Its posture and movements all make sense in an everyday context. Every mood and emotion can be expressed in vernacular jazz, and one's body language becomes part of one's dance. I never knew how to quite express myself with my back arched, head held aloft and slightly to the left, right hand at a 45 degree, and arm locked out to the horizontal. There's no day-to-day equivalent for that position.
The Lindy hop stance is athletic and its motions come from the core, just like a well-balanced person. As one does not try to move a 60-70kg object with solely the strength in the arm, one also does not try to yank a follow with the arms, but moves her using the strength in the core. Movements are initiated with weight changes, much like running. One can theoretically lead anyone into dancing Lindy Hop without too much difficulty or stepping on feet.
Lastly, Lindy Hop is a very communicative dance. You cannot dance Lindy Hop by yourself. there is almost equal communication given by the lead and the follow to each other, and the dance is driven by both. The lead does not dominate the dance, but leads the follow into various conversation pieces where the follow can add her own input and styling with tremendous flexibility without affecting the lead. It is in Lindy Hop that I truly find the old axiom, "Dance is a conversation," to be true.
It is for these reasons that I choose to dance Lindy Hop and have come to embrace its related dances in Vernacular Jazz Dance. I continue to study dance in form, technique, and history to this day, and it is an inherent and undeniable part of me.


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Get a load of Maino "About That Life" Video, a new visual from Maino that saw the light of day on Thursday, June 30th, 2011. Maino's movement grows stronger with each new release, and Maino "About That Life" Video has further strengthened that fact. It's a solid addition to the commendable body of work Maino has been creating since stepping foot in the rap game, and we're definitely looking forward to what Maino has on deck.
Can you dig it?
Peep the new visual for Maino's Maino "In Okinawa Japan" Video.
If you're feeling this, make sure to hit up Maino's profile page for the latest info, news, songs, and mixtapes. Don't forget to follow Maino on Facebook and Twitter.


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Getting it backwards
Posted by: Dr Ashley Tan on: December 28, 2014
Yesterday, STonline highlighted six stories that broke on social media before other media outlets picked up on them.
The writer declared: What is clear from these impactful social media stories is that whatever happens online could lead to serious real life consequences.
That is putting things backwards.
What should be clearer is that these events started with real life and its consequences. Social media was part of real life and its consequences.
Some quarters of the media and schools might wish to dwell in a dichotomous world of social media and non-social media. The rest of the world has moved on.
But just because you get it backwards does not mean that you have to live backwards. Move forwards and keep going that way.
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OpenLearn Live connects your world with the world of free learning. This page will be updated during the day, and you can also follow us on Twitter.
Yesterday, we caught up with Will Self & James Clerk Maxwell, met The Educators and strung a powerline
See the complete collection of OpenLearn Live
Today's posts
- A week in County Waterford: Cheekpoint
- Autumn Statement
- Autumn Statement II: The Welfare Cap
- Autumn Statement III: Housebuilding
- Autumn Statement IV: Midwifery
- Climate Treaty: The graphic novel
- The changing face of HIV
- Autumn Statement V: First reactions
- Sex and single pine cone
Sex and single pine cone
It's been quite a heavy politics-and-economics day here on OpenLearn Live (even if we did start with fairies and Noah's grandaughter) so let's round off with something a world away. Have you ever wondered how Christmas trees have sex? Well... wonder no longer...
Autumn Statement V: First reactions
The Conversation is starting to collate academic reactions to the Autumn Statement and the Spending Review: you can find them on OpenLearn as they become available.
In addition, you can read George Osborne's speech, full spending plans and supporting documentation at the Treasury website.
The changing face of HIV
Charlie Sheen's recent lets-call-it-a-decision to reveal his HIV status is a useful staging point in how far we've come since the start of the AIDs Crisis thirty years ago - but underlines that stigma is still there:
HIV stigma has come a long way, too. Perhaps it was because the symptoms of HIV were so visible in the 1980s that those who first wrote about it were cultural theorists such as Sander Gilman [External link] and Simon Watney [External link] . Recent cinematic histories such as How to Survive a Plague [External link] and United in Anger [External link] show us that HIV stigma, and the response to it were messy, political, confrontational and often theatrical.
However, in the intervening decades, the concept of HIV stigma has itself been transformed: HIV stigma has been metricised. Like all diseases, HIV has bio-medical, interpersonal and social/political dimensions. The challenge for public health systems is to formulate effective responses on all three fronts; and to measure effectiveness, we need metrics.
Read Charlie Sheen And Rock Hudson
Climate Treaty: The graphic novel
So, George is now delivering his statement, and if you're still with us, it might be because you'd like something else. Fair enough - let's start with a spot of praise for Nature, where Richard Monastersky & Nick Sousanis have boiled down a quarter-century of global wrangling towards a climate treaty into a graphic novel. You can read it at the Nature website or download it as a pdf. It's a great primer for the coming conference - and even if you think you understand the issues, you might find it reminds you of something you've forgotten over the last 25 years...
Autumn Statement IV: Midwifery
Rounding off our collection of background pieces before George starts his statement, here's a short piece from the Royal College of Midwives which explains why they believe more money for the NHS might not mean better services in maternity:
However, changing the ring-fence from the whole health budget to NHS England means that large areas of health spending will be subject to cuts. At the RCM, we are greatly concerned that what the Chancellor is giving with one hand, he is taking away with another. Cutting funding for training bursaries is a ludicrous false economy that will only exacerbate shortages and escalate costs down the line. Saddling nursing and midwifery staff with student debts during a decade of NHS pay restraint is not the way to attract, recruit and retain the new full time staff we need.
And let's not forget, the NHS as a whole is a long way from being out of the woods. The £8bn funding agreed as part of the NHS Five Year Plan was aimed at plugging the spending gap. If the government is genuine about delivering new models of care and 7 day services across the NHS, then further investment will be needed. We can't continue to rely on the goodwill of an over-stretched and under-valued workforce providing free over time. Transforming care cannot be done on the cheap.
Read: Will more money for the NHS deliver for midwifery
Autumn Statement III: Housebuilding
Another pre-announcement announcement overnight has been that this Autumn Statement might focus heavily on trying to stimulate housebuilding. BBC News reports:
Mr Osborne will promise to address a "crisis of home ownership in our country", pledging a "bold plan to back families who aspire to buy their own home".
The Treasury said the chancellor would unveil "the biggest affordable housebuilding programme since the 1970s".
It will include:
£2.3bn paid directly to developers to build 200,000 so-called "starter homes", aimed at first-time buyers. They will be offered at a 20% discount on prices up to £450,000 in London and £250,000 elsewhere. The policy was first announced in October 2014.
£4bn to help build 135,000 "Help to Buy: Shared Ownership" homes for households earning less than £80,000 (or £90,000 in London) by 2020-21
£200m for 10,000 new homes that tenants can live in for five years at reduced rents while they save for a deposit. They will then have "first right" to buy the home
£400m to help build 8,000 specialist homes for older people or those with disabilities
A potential problem here could be the reluctance of young people to enter the housebuilding industry. The National House Building Consortium's NHBC Foundation carried out a survey into young people's interest in joining the industry. Published earlier this year, it says things need to change if we're not going to have a recruitment problem in the near future. MP and NHBC Foundation chair Nick Raynsford summed up the findings:
The skills shortage that faces the industry today is not dissimilar to that which occurred twenty years ago, but there is one difference. It is easier to attract new skilled and semi-skilled labour from abroad to fill specific vacancies. While this may provide a short-term fix, it is no solution to the on-going need for a regular supply of talent to fill the full range of jobs which the industry requires.
To ensure a secure future for the industry we need to build a stable workforce, and that depends upon attracting bright youngsters. There is a lot of anecdotal evidence suggesting that most other career options are more attractive to the younger generation than the house-building industry, connected in the public's mind with hard physical roles performed in all weathers. In reality, there are of course many other roles offering a range of exciting career prospects in the home-building industry, but many young people are simply not aware they exist.
Advising young people on their next steps? Try our free course in careers education and guidance
Autumn Statement II: The Welfare Cap
Early reports about what George Osborne might have in store for us all today suggest that he might be about to ignore his own welfare cap. The Guardian's Patrick Wintour says:
George Osborne has set in train plans to breach the Treasury's welfare cap after deciding it cannot find enough welfare savings to compensate for the decision to slow the pace of cuts to tax credits.
The chancellor has held discussions with the Department of Work and Pensions to arrange a Commons vote that would give the government permission to breach the cap.
The vote will be passed by MPs but the decision is likely to be seen as a political embarrassment for Osborne since he largely invented the self imposed cap in the last parliament as a trap to show Labour is lax on welfare spending. In the end the shadow chancellor Ed Balls embraced the cap.
Measures Osborne took in the July budget have conspried to make a simple cap something of an elaborate headgear, explains Christine Whitehead and Emma Sagor:
The changes introduced in the July 2015 budget—which lowers the cap to £23,000 in London and £20,000 in all other regions—break some of the principles behind the original policy. This could be seen as inevitable, given how few cost savings have so far been generated. Relatively few people have moved to cheaper areas and although the evidence suggests quite large and positive impacts in terms of moving people into work, in-work benefits can often be similar or in some cases even higher.
Read: Why has the welfare cap become so complex?
Autumn statement
A quick reminder the OU's Alan Shipman has prepared a short guide to today's Autumn Statement.
A week in County Waterford: Cheekpoint
This week, inspired by Ireland With Simon Reeve, we're exploring the county of Waterford. Yesterday, we spent some time on the Copper Coast. Today, we're calling in at Cheekpoint.
Cheekpoint is a place crammed with tales. One 19th Century newspaper reported the myth that it was at Cheekpoint where a second ark landed after the great flood - carrying Noah's granddaughter, Cesair, her lover and fifty followers. Forewarned of the coming deluge, and refused entry to grandad's boat, Cesair built her own - setting sail for the then unpopulated, and thus sin-free, Ireland, to avoid the rising waters.
Others, charmed by Cheekpoint's Irish Gaelic name of Carraig na Síge, claim that the area was previously occupied by fairy folk. The 19th Century rector and writer Patrick Power was quite annoyed at how a misunderstanding had allowed this belief to flourish:
Thanks to the ignorance of guide book compilers the name is popularly supposed to imply fairy occupation or connection (Síghe - a fairy). Síge however (not Síghe) is the word entering into composition, and the origin of the name seems clear enough, scil:- from a rock, Carraig na Síge - out in the river near low water mark. A strong and rapid current sweeps over the jagged sides and summit of the rock, and the consequence is a long trail, or streak, of foam down stream with the ebbing tide and up the river with the flow.
A third origin story concerns the area of Cheekpoint known as Russian Side - all that can be said with certainty is that the name refers to some Russian settlers who once lived there; a backstory featuring a sinking vessel from Eastern Europe, and survivors scrambling ashore to start a fresh life can be sighted, but never confirmed.
Tricky things, names. And Cheekpoint itself hasn't always been Cheekpoint - it spent some time under the name of Bolton Village, after the local landowner. Cornelius Bolton invested heavily in the settlement, bringing employment and offering some form of security:
Cornelius Bolton (1751–1829) was a very progressive landlord with a keen interest in developing the estate and helping his tenants to progress. Sleater's "Topography of Ireland" published in 1806 notes "Mr. Cornelius Bolton lives very retired in the country and has employed a considerable part of his fortune in building a large village where he has established several important manufactures, particularly looms. The industry which he encourages in his colony renders it probable that his expense will be repaid him, and that it will become an object of utility to the public and of profit to him although suggested by motives of humanity".
Bolton's attempts to help Cheekpoint thrive weren't ultimately successful - he invested heavily in a landing pier, welcoming trippers crossing the Irish Sea from Pembrokeshire. For a while, the endeavour hummed with custom. But when the London government decided to move the landing of mail packet boats along the coast to Dumore East, the passenger traffic went with the mail; and Bolton's fortune went, too. He was declared bankrupt in 1818. His impressive Faithlegg estate was sold on to clear debts.
Cheekpoint's residents turned to fishing - even developing a special type of boat to cope with Cheekpoint's rocky harbour, the Cheekpoint Prong:
Even this afterlife for Cheekpoint harbour would be ultimately snatched away, though - in 1995, to protect the more significant Port of Waterford, groynes were put in place to stop mudflats blocking its entrance. As a result, the entrance to Cheekpoint started to silt up to the point where only smaller vessels are able to enter.
It's unlikely a 21st Century Cesair would be able to get her ark into modern Cheekpoint.
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How tidal rivers and estuaries work