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Safari Books Online is a digital library providing on-demand subscription access to thousands of learning resources.
JavaServer Faces (JSF) is the standard Java EE technology for building web user interfaces. It provides a powerful framework for developing server-side applications, allowing you to cleanly separate visual presentation and application logic. JSF 2.0 is a major upgrade, which not only adds many useful features but also greatly simplifies the programming model by using annotations and "convention over configuration" for common tasks.
To help you quickly tap into the power of JSF 2.0, the third edition of Core JavaServer™ Faces has been completely updated to make optimum use of all the new features. The book includes
Three totally new chapters on using Facelets tags for templating, building composite components, and developing Ajax applications
Guidance on building robust applications with minimal hand coding and maximum productivity–without requiring any knowledge of servlets or other low-level "plumbing"
A complete explanation of the basic building blocks–from using standard JSF tags, to working with data tables, and converting and validating input
Coverage of advanced tasks, such as event handling, extending the JSF framework, and connecting to external services
Solutions to a variety of common challenges, including notes on debugging and troubleshooting, in addition to implementation details and working code for features that are missing from JSF
Proven solutions, hints, tips, and "how-tos" show you how to use JSF effectively in your development projects
Core JavaServer™ Faces, Third Edition, provides everything you need to master the powerful and time-saving features of JSF 2.0 and is the perfect guide for programmers developing Java EE 6 web apps on Glassfish or another Java EE 6-compliant application servers, as well as servlet runners such as Tomcat 6.
Average Rating: Based on 10 Ratings
"Very good!" - by jsm on 07-FEB-2013
Reviewer Rating:
Very complete.
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"Decent JSF book" - by Steve on 03-MAY-2011
Reviewer Rating:
This is most probably the best JSF 2.0 book available and, as someone new to JSF, it has been helpful to have differences between 1.2 and 2.0 clearly called out.
This book is, however, lacking in some important details. For example, it shows the reader how to make bookmarkable pages (process GET request parameters), but leaves the reader guessing as to how one might construct a form with method="get". There is no mention of EL goodies such as #{request.contextPath} to get the application's base URL. No mention of pretty URLs at all (which can be achieved with PrettyFaces or Mojarra Scales' PrettyUrlPhaseListener). There are many more details missing.
Overall, this book is a great place to start and, beyond that, a valuable reference that you'll keep coming back to. It's missing a few fundamental use cases, which can largely be put down to shortcomings in the specification itself and the fact that the book doesn't stray much from the core JSF subject matter to cover workarounds and third party tools that fill those gaps.
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"Core JavaServer" - by Anonymous on 25-NOV-2010
Reviewer Rating:
Core JavaServer hm
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"The best" - by Anonymous on 19-AUG-2010
Reviewer Rating:
Simply put. The best JSF book you can have
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"I liked it... well organized" - by ifaces on 13-JUL-2010
Reviewer Rating:
I was looking all over to understand what JSF is and how different parts of JSF fit together. What is provided by Java EE and what is myFaces, trinidad, icefaces, ADF faces etc.
Nothing was making sense to me until I bought this book. This book is very simple to use and has organized JSF 2.0 features very well for beginners like me. Examples are pretty straight forward but cover almost all aspects of JSF.
With this book, I was able to understand what was in JSF 1.2 and what is in JSF 2.0. I had missed JSF 1.2 and starting with JSF 2.0 was challenging to me because 2.0 is not fully supported everywhere so most of the google search result int JSF 1.2 examples.
Now I would be able to follow add-on like ICEfaces, myFaces/Trinidad and ADF. And most importantly Java EE 6.0 which has JSF 2.0 along with all other annotations, e.g. JAX-WS, JPA 2.0, CDI etc.
I would recommend this book to one who is in same boat as I was.
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Information Technology & Software Development
Information Technology & Software Development > Programming
Programming > Java


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Rove - Australia's Letterman or Daryl Somers incarnate? Andrew Denton - Parky for Generation X-Y-Z? Philip Brophy and Scott Goodings, Melbourne's best double act since Don and Bert, discuss the demise of the 20th Century style Australian tonight show, and the rise of the celebrity-safe gabfest - and yes, there will be a wheel segment.
Scott Goodings reviews television for ABC radio. Scott has just returned from his third Television World Tour that included visits to Letterman TV studio and will share some of his TV stories.
Phillip Brophy is a music composer, producer, director, writer, and performer. Brophy is internationally renowned for his forays into sonic theory and performance, his most recent installation, Fluorescent, was exhibited at Art Gallery of NSW in early 2004.

subset: commoncrawl


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The market saw some profit-taking in the past couple of days. Major indices were down on Monday. But, they gained back some grounds on Tuesday. Techs, however, was still weak and barely made into the green before Tuesday's close. AAPL has dropped about $20 during the past 2 days, ahead of its highly anticipated iPhone5 release on Wednesday. GOOG, after reaching above $712 last week, retreated back to around $690. AMZN also retreated from its new all-time high of $260. PCLN was weak on Monday, but, bounced up $10 Tuesday.
Financials were strong. GS continued to glide up. Both MA and V broke out. V was testing its all-time high levels. We raised more cash during the past few days. NOV, which we held on to since mid-August, gave us a +110% profit. V was a nice +128% gain in just a couple of days. CRM scored an quick +119% overnight profit for us in the weekly 150 calls:
(Remember, we are having a 2nd Month FREE promotion on our services. Click here to get more details.)
AAPL has been weak ahead of the iPhone5 release. It was once again in the red for most of the day today, even after iPhone5 was released. This was certainly highly manipulated! Since the stock has gone up quite a bit, this time, AAPL sold off ahead of the news, which was expected. But, the way that AAPL jumped more than $13 in the last 45 minutes of the trade was certainly manipulation. The volumes on the weekly options (both calls and puts) were really high. It was tempting to play these. But, given the way that the stock was being manipulated today, it was safer to just sit back and watch.
While there were upside movers, there were also downside movers today. MNST stumbled almost 10% today on news of senators looking to regulate energy drinks. LQDT dropped 8.68% after the company said that its sales fell in August. CSTR pulled back 4.23%.
The market overall has been very cautious so far this week. Market indices have not moved much in the first 3 trading days. We'll look at the charts some other time. This morning, Germany's high court supported the latest euro-zone bailout plans. AAPL's iPhone5 has been released; although it is still difficult to say, AAPL did turn in a positive reaction (if you can count the pop in the last 45 minutes "positive"). Now, the market awaits for the Fed tomorrow, and so do we, as we are back into mostly cash.
Good night and HappyTrading! ™


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2) Heart-Red Velvet Car
After giving up on Heart in the Velveeta coated 80' I'm happy to find the Wilson sisters seem to have remembered they used to be in a rock band! Along with producer Ben Mink,Ann and Nancy play up the acoustic side of their Zeppelin inspired rock for an album that can stand up with pride next to their 70's output. It's almost aggressively affordable price wont hurt either!
3) Richard Thompson-Dream AtticThirteen new song recorded,not in the studio,but live on his February 2010 tour! In addition to his trademark Stratocaster tones Thompson brings bass,drums and two "secret weapons" in the form of violinist/mandolinist/vocalist Joel Zifkin and multi-instrumentalist/vocalist Pete Zorn.
4) Rosario Conte-Une Larme
Solo music for baroque guitar from Francesco Corbettas 1671 guitar book La Guitarre Royalle,played on period instruments.
5) Cephalic Carnage-Misled by Certainty
It's been three years since 2007's Xenosapien and extreme metal veterans Cephalic Carnage return with perhaps their most sprawling epic yet.
6) Andras Csaki-Laureate Guitar Series
Award wining guitarist and assistant professor at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest takes on solo guitar pieces from Britten,Duarte,Castelnuovo-Tedesco and Bach's most technically challenging lute suite.
7) Quest For Fire-Lights From Paradise
Canadian psychedelic rockers bring out the fuzz guitars and spring reverb and add a touch of Pink Floyd meets Black Sabbath on their second album.
8) Scott Colley-Empire
It's the hidden bonus Bill Frisell Cd of the week! Upright bassist Scott Colley features 11 of his own compositions with stellar support from Frisell along with Ralph Alessi on trumpet,Craig Taborn on piano and the wonderful Brian Blade on drums. Colleys history offers up a guitar friendly background,including work with Jim Hall,John Scofield,Pat Metheny and previous work with Frisell.
9) Chico Pinheiro-There's a Storm Inside
Brazilian guitarist/vocalist Pinheiro skews a bit too slick for my taste but offers up plenty of good guitar work here.
10) Mats Eilertsen-Radio Yonder
Bassist Mats Eilertsen is most well known for his work with Tord Gustavsen and this album shares a similar restraint and sparseness. The biggest difference here is guitarist Thomas Dahl,who recalls a grittier Pat Metheny. This is European jazz at it's finest.


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BlackBerry is bulking up its security assets with the acquisition of anti-eavesdropping firm Secusmart, which developed technology to protect the smartphones of German government officials, including Chancellor Angela Merkel.
PPSS Group claims to have now developed the world's toughest Cell Extraction Vest, aiming to effectively protect corrections officers tasked with responding to riots, cell extractions, mass searches or major disturbances.
IDenticard's UBand is a silicone wrist band with a built-in MIFARE chip that allows it to be used for all MIFARE applications. UBand is of particular relevance on college campuses due to the variety of uses for MIFARE technology.
Lenco Industries, Inc., introduces its BearCat G3 armored tactical vehicle. The BearCat G3 offers exceptional off-road capability with standard 4 wheel drive and high ground clearance, critical for many Border Security operations.
Advantech's IDK-1105 is a 5.7 in. VGA (640 x 480) industrial grade LCD panel with resistive touch solution. Although in a compact format, the panel is already embedded with an LED driver board and LVDS interface, making it easy to integrate with embedded boards.
Teledyne DALSA, a Teledyne Technologies company and global leader in digital X-ray image sensing, today introduced two new models in its Shad-o-Box HS X-ray detector line.
IDV Solutions has announced availability of the latest release of its enterprise risk visualization (ERV) software, Visual Command Center 3.0.
TRU-Vu Monitors has introduced a new 11.6" Sunlight Readable LCD monitor.
Christie showcased its broad range of high performance video wall and content processing solutions at DistribuTECH in San Antonio, Texas, January 28-30. A leading player in command and control markets that include utility, government, traffic control, and network operations, Christie had on display a 2 by 2 video wall composed of Christie Entero HB 80 inch SXGA+ high brightness display cubes, the only LED control room solution to offer wireless control through Wi-Fi.
Amika Mobile's Amika Panic and Amika I-am-OK personal safety mobile app is now available on the Google Play Store. The app allows mobile users to issue a panic alert from almost anywhere, sending their location and status in a major disaster or emergency situation, or just indicating when they arrive safely at their destination.
American Dynamics, part of the Security Products business unit of Tyco, introduces the Illustra Flex Series of IP cameras, providing affordable, high-definition 1MP and 3MP video with quality low light performance.
STANLEY Security, a provider of access control and integrated security solutions, introduces the EL Series Wireless Access Control Solution to the STANLEY Commercial Hardware line, a web-based solution allowing the end-user to easily and effectively manage access for both interior and exterior door openings.
Recently, OpenSSL bugs including Heartbleed and Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) received considerable press due to the widespread use of SSL to secure virtually everything on the Web, including ecommerce, social media, business applications and online banking. While many businesses and networking vendors went into damage control mode, Array Networks and its customers calmly weathered the storm. In the following paragraphs, we will examine how Array avoided exposure to Heartbleed and significantly mitigated exposure to MITM, and discuss best practices for implementing SSL in a manner that mitigates as-yet-unknown OpenSSL vulnerabilities.
The abduction of a 16-hour old infant from a Trois Rivieres hospital just over a week ago is a stark reminder to healthcare administrators and security professionals alike that newborn security must remain a paramount focus in the healthcare setting. While this Quebec case had a positive outcome - baby Victoria was returned to her mother unharmed three hours after the abduction - the incident should serve as a wake-up call for the health-care security industry.
The last 20 years has seen tremendous growth for the health-care security industry in the acute care sector in Canada.
The Concise Oxford Dictionary defines security as "the thing that guards or guarantees safety of State, company etc. against espionage, theft or other danger." It goes on to define safety as "freedom from danger and risks." The American Society of Industrial Security lexicon defines security as "the condition of being protected against hazards, threats, risks or loss." So where do security and safety interact?
Incidents happen every day with security personnel, from simple things such as slips and falls to more serious cases, such as assaults from people who don't want to interact with security. The reality is that, unfortunately, the trend is heading upwards, mostly due to slips, trips and falls, especially in the winter months.
Security is a balancing act, especially when it comes to emerging technologies. Embracing mobility requires an enterprise to adapt its security posture or be exposed to unmanaged risk.
From hospitals to college campuses, and from shopping malls to office towers, mental health issues are becoming a greater challenge for security professionals and police across Canada; demanding increasing time and resources as a result.
In 2013, there were nearly 38,000 medical marijuana patients in Canada. According to Health Canada, this group of licensed users produced approximately 190,000 kg of pot last year in legitimate home-grow operations.
On the majority of today's university campuses, magstripe cards are used to secure facilities, but feature little or no fraud protection. Low-frequency (125 kHz) card systems, often known as proximity (or prox) cards, can also be cloned. The best way to protect students, faculty and staff is with high-frequency contactless smart card technology that uses mutual authentication and cryptographic protection mechanisms with secret keys, and a secure messaging protocol delivered on a trust-based platform.
The modern health-care facility faces increasing crime and economic challenges in protecting people, property and sensitive data. There are a number of best practices to consider.
Canadian adoption of electronic medical record (EMR) systems lags behind that of other western countries – where in several countries adoption rates have been documented at well over 90 per cent of practitioners.
As both personal and corporate data and applications move to the cloud and mobile devices, the saying "trust but verify" takes on new meaning. It captures the practical reality of a world in which so many of our interactions occur online. More than ever, we need mechanisms to verify the identity of the entities with whom we interact.
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Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole168 Reviews 6 Pics
Prep15 m
Cook40 m
Ready In55 m
"I love making casseroles, and this one's so simple. The chicken breasts, Swiss cheese, and ham are cubed, rather than stuffed and rolled, giving you all the flavor of Cordon Bleu in much less time."
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Adjust Servings
Original recipe yields 8 servings
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- Beat egg and 1/2 cup milk together until combined. Stir in the chicken chunks to coat, then drain, and coat with bread crumbs. Heat oil in a large skillet to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Fry breaded chicken cubes in hot oil until golden brown on all sides, then remove, and drain on paper towels.
- Place chicken cubes in a glass baking dish, along with the Swiss cheese, and ham. Stir together the soup with 1 cup milk, pour over casserole.
- Bake in preheated oven until golden brown and bubbly, about 30 minutes.
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Reviews (168)Rate This Recipe
I doubled this recipe and froze the ham, chicken and swiss. The first batch was really runny, but tasted great. For the second batch, I put some uncooked rice underneath the chicken, ham, cheese and soup mixture. The rice soaked up all of the juices and was super yummy. I think it would work well with stuffing mix as well.
I really liked it! I also took the advise of the others and used 2 cans of soup...and I cut the milk down to 1/2 cup. Sprinkled bread crumbs on top as well. Mine was not too runny or mushy-it was just right!
okay, way too much work for a casserole for me and too runny. I did like the flavour... so I've just made this again with many alterations. Instead of all the messy egg/milk wash and breading in all that oil, I just quickly stirfry the chicken plain in an oil sprayed pan,then add the cooked chicken cubes with the cubed ham & cubed cheese in the dish, pour the soup over & I used sour cream like another reviewer said, then topped with a bread crumb topping mix of crushed bread crumbs & a couple of crushed ritz (2 or 3 only) My family liked this but I really liked how easy it was - especially if you've got all the cubes done earlier! thanks for a good base!
Similar Recipes
Cordon Bleu Chicken Rolls
Slow Cooker Chicken Cordon Bleu
Different Chicken Cordon Bleu
Weeknight Chicken Cordon Bleu
Holly's Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole
Creamy Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole
Amount Per Serving (8 total)
- Calories
- 500 cal
- 25%
- Fat
- 28 g
- 43%
- Carbs
- 24.2 g
- 8%
- Protein
- 36.2 g
- 72%
- Cholesterol
- 141 mg
- 47%
- Sodium
- 1017 mg
- 41%
Based on a 2,000 calorie diet
previous recipe:
Cordon Bleu Chicken Rolls
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Slow Cooker Chicken Cordon Bleu


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We are very pleased to welcome Fone Records to www.linnrecords.com. Fone has made several recordings available to download in high resolution (up to 96/24).
Fone is a classical music label based in Italy and has, for over twenty-five years, been using advanced techniques, aimed at re-creating the atmosphere of the original performance. Each new recording is the result of an enthusiastic encounter between the art of performance and the art of recording, and aims to reproduce the spirit with which works of the past were executed.
You can download two Fone albums at present, although more will be made available shortly.
'25th Fone Silver Anniversary' by Various Artists offers an insight into the many wonderful recordings made on the Fone label over its twenty-five year history. This recording was created to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the foundation of Giulio Cesare Ricci's Fone records.
'Serenata Italiana' by I Musici takes the listener on a journey through the Italian serenade from the end of the 1800s to the 1960s. This is the first recording between I Musici Ensemble and Fone Records.
Click here to view the complete Fone Records catalogue.


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In a 3-0 vote, Mark Chubb was made interim fire chief of Woodinville Fire & Rescue at the Monday, Aug. 15, board of commissioners meeting.
"There are lots of challenges facing the district," Chubb said after the meeting. "The most important job is ensuring public safety."
The chief's seat became vacant when then cheif I. David Daniels and the district entered into a . Discussion on the details of that agreement was postponed at the Aug. 15 meeting until the entire board of commissioners are present.
Only three commissioners were at Monday's meeting, Kevin Coughlin, Bob Miller and Gerry Vucci. Board president Tim Osgood, a firefighter at Northshore Fire Department, had notified the board that he had a work conflict. There was no indication why commissioner Clint Olson was not at the meeting, according to Coughlin who was leading the meeting.
Chubb has been in fire service for 32 years, coming to Woodinville from Portland, OR where he was adjunct professor of fire service administration at Eastern Oregon University and adjunct professor of public administration at the Mark O. Hatfield School of Government at Portland State University.
Prior to that, Chubb worked in New Zealand managing the Metropolitan Christchurch area fire department which included six career fire stations and 11 volunteer stations serving the city of 450,000. He is a native of Ohio.
Editor's Note: Previous versions of this post incorrectly stated Osgood worked for Eastside Fire.


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A smile is worth a thousand unsaid words. So is a glance to the left or to the right. A squint of the eye. A crossing of the feet. A firm or a limp handshake.
Your body language reveals almost everything about you. It conveys whether you are happy, confident or friendly. It shows whether you are nervous, uncomfortable, under stress, hiding a secret or lying.
"Body language is totally spontaneous," expert Renate Mousseux said. "Sixty-five percent of anything you say comes across with body language. That's huge."
This non-verbal form of communication, which often is more expressive than words, can impact your personal and professional lives. It can be empowering. It can make a difference in a job interview — and in personal relationships.
If it's an interview, you should walk into the room erectly with a purposeful, not sluggish, step to indicate you want to be taken seriously, said Julie Theroux, a former Valley resident who has written several books on face reading. Shake hands firmly but don't hold on too long.
When you sit down, cross your legs at the ankles in front of you and keep your hands open on your lap for a positive effect.
If you wrap your feet around the chair, it often mean you are hiding something or are tense. Keeping your hands behind you indicates you're not interested, said Mousseux, a Fountain Hills resident who has studied human expression. A retired teacher turned body-language consultant, she now gives seminars and talks on the subject.
Phoenix life coach Ginger Korljan, however, says not to obsess about your body language during an interview, "or you won't come across as you."
Korljan, whose website is takechargecoaching.com, recommends smiling more than you think you should during the interview and to practice ahead.
Have a friend ask you questions and critique your actions, she said. If you can't find anyone to help you, stand or sit in front of a mirror and watch your face and body movements.
Body language can be telling on a witness stand. If giving testimony, don't touch your nose, which could indicate you are saying something untruthful. Biting both lips at the same time indicates you are keeping a secret, said Theroux, whose website is timetofaceit.com.
Body language can start, stop or keep a relationship going. If you are playing the dating game, Theroux has advice:
"A lot of times with men and women, you see them lick their lips," Theroux said. "It means they're interested." Other indicators include a coy sideways glance, leaning forward to listen to what you are saying and looking you in the eye.
If they look away when you are talking, well, perhaps you should change the subject.
"If somebody pulls on an earlobe, they want to hear more," Theroux said. But it can also mean they aren't sure about what is being said or that it affects them negatively, she added.
Body language can change the mood of another person.
"If somebody comes in with a bad mood, they can influence everyone around them to have a bad mood," said Mousseux, whose website is bodylanguage4success.com. On the other hand, if others exhibit positive body actions, they can influence the cranky person to feel better, she said.
Even the length of time of a body movement can be telling.
"Every expression should be eight seconds," Mousseux said. "If it's longer, it's fake. A smile that is more than eight seconds is fake." A lip-curling or smirking smile, or one that is dramatically uneven, also is phony.
"The left side is always the honest side," Mousseux said, explaining that a person looking up and to the left is trying to connect to the artistic side of the brain.
Although body language is telling, it doesn't always reveal the whole story. When observing someone's movements, it's important to consider the whole body, not just a single gesture, Mousseux said.
"Assess somebody from top to toe," she said. For example, if someone is crossing his or her arms, don't assume the person is being negative or closed off to what you are saying. This stance can also indicate a bad back, Mousseux said.
There is, however, one action that is universally telling.
"A smile is so cheap," Mousseux said. "It's the best communication you can have anywhere in the world. A smile creates wonders. And it's so easy."
What your body says about you
Blinking. "If somebody blinks fast, that usually means they're uncomfortable with a topic," said body-language expert Renate Mousseux.
She has been known to count the number of blinks candidates make during presidential debates.
Eye-rolling. If you are talking with someone who rolls his eyes, he doesn't believe what you are saying.
Nose-touching. If the person talking to you touches her nose, she may be lying. (She also could be scratching because her nose itches.) If you are discussing something important, be sure to ask more questions or delve deeper to get to the truth, recommends face-reading expert Julie Theroux.
Lip-biting. When someone bites the top and bottom lips at the same time, he is keeping a secret.
Pencil-tapping. This action indicates that the person is trying to recall something.
Squinting. If someone squints while you are talking, he doesn't trust what you are saying. In this case, ask whether he needs more information or clarity, Theroux said.
Copycat actions. If someone mimics your body language, she is trying to develop a familiarity or common ground. This can be beneficial during a job interview, Mousseux said.
Hands in pocket. This person is not receptive to what you are saying.
Handshakes. A close, tight handshake indicates confidence and self-awareness. If you want to indicate power, put your hand on top. A person who shakes too hard will dictate your life, Mousseux said.
"A nice, firm handshake, web to web, is what it should be," she said.
Hair touching. If someone does this while talking, he is trying to calm himself.
Stroking the neck. Like hair touching, this is called an adapter. It is an indicator that the person is trying to reduce stress.


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Last week we had our first ShipIt day at the STYLIGHT IT department. It's a 24h hackathon where you can work on your own ideas to improve the product or workflows. Get creative, get radical, learn something new & have fun. Do stuff you normally don't have time for or is not your responsibility. Team up and pitch the outcome on the next day. Here is a quick overview of our projects: Continue reading
IE-friendly mobile-first CSS with LESS
With the last big design adaptions of the STYLIGHT homepage, we finally committed to go completely mobile-first in our design & development process. Starting with Sketch files, over prototypes, to CSS & JS – the mobile viewport is always the starting point. It helps to focus on the core of your products and delivers more benefits! Nevertheless, it also introduces some issues if you want to support a good experience on legacy browsers like IE8. Continue reading
Improving convenience for international employees – a SysAdmins approach.
STYLIGHT grew a lot – 200% in terms of employees in the last year. A lot of contracts got signed, new shops got acquired and a few more countries can enjoy the plattform. We employ people from over a dozen different countries speaking more than ten different languages, men and women and a broad age range from 18 to 41. Continue reading
Apple iOS7 Tech Talks in Berlin
On the 12th of December 2013, Apple's iOS7 Tech Talks took place in the Maritim Hotel in Berlin. I had the chance "to represent" STYLIGHT at this really awesome event and was very excited about that! Continue reading
Christmas party & seating plan for developers
Last week was Stylight christmas party. A good occasion to have a little fun before the end of the year, see our founders dressed as Santa and add to the list of great company events. Continue reading
Developer Conference Hamburg 2013
From the 7.-8. of November the well known Developer Conference in Hamburg took place, with more than 120 speakers. The talks covered a big range from frontend to backend and also marketing specific topics. So a small delegation of our STYLIGHT engineers packed their bags, left behind their beloved alps and travelled to the north of Germany with two talks in the luggage. Continue reading
Continuous Integration Tightens the Feedback Loop
This week ushers in our first CI (continuous integration) server at Stylight. With almost 300 tests running, we want to ensure the feedback process from end-user to developer is as automatic and fast as possible. Just how fast? How does under three minutes sound? We achieved this using a variety of tools, platforms and web services. If you've never heard of Jenkins, Selenium or HipChat read on for a short introduction to how we joined them together to build and deploy a high-quality website even faster!
Continue reading
How STYLIGHT went responsive (1 of 4)
A few weeks ago we we launched the first responsive design of STYLIGHT. Because of a strong mobile Web adoption, we have seen the launch of a number of great responsive designs in 2013. So it was about time that we jump on the bandwagon to improve our mobile Web experience. Continue reading
iPhone App Release
Yesterday evening we launched our new awesome STYLIGHT iPhone App. And what would be a launch without a Release-Party? So we invited Miss Li & her band (the artist who performs the soundtrack for our TV commercial) to our office in Munich and gave it a name: STYLIGHT Summer Session Continue reading
Pipes and filters architectures with Python generators (and other iterators)
Most developers have to write programs that read and process items of stuff. Be it products, feed-items, images, you name it. I've certainly had to. Apprentice programmers would just write it all down sequentially, but – as many fellow programmers can testify – this approach leads to maintenance problems due to a mixing of responsibilities in one place. ((Wikipedia: Separation of concerns)) Continue reading


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A volunteer firefighter who has worked for 20 years with Lacey Fire District 3 has been named the 2012 Washington Firefighter of the Year.
Ken Roberts received the honor during a banquet for the Washington State Fire Fighter's Association in Wenatchee.
He was nominated through an anonymous submission, according to Lacey Fire District 3 Chief Steve Brooks.
Roberts, a state worker who started volunteering in 1992, also was selected as the 2011 Firefighter of the Year by his own department.
"The road to firefighter of the year is generally long and arduous, full of many opportunities to lead by example," said WSFFA President T.J. Nedrow in a news release. "I can personally say that I have been witness to many of his acts worthy of firefighter of the year."
The release described Roberts as "just one of those likable people who can be counted on."
In addition to being a volunteer firefighter, Roberts also is a fire investigator, assists in public education outreach, and is a representative with the Washington State Board of Volunteer Firefighters.
Having a volunteer stay with a department for so long is uncommon, Brooks said.
"We've seen the average volunteers serve three years or less," Brooks said.
Brooks said Roberts will be recognized locally at one of the upcoming fire commission meetings.
"He has always been one of our most consistent and faithful volunteers," he said.
Roberts is one of about 15 volunteer firefighters with the department. Brooks said that in some years they've had as few as three – one of whom has always been Roberts.
"He's always willing to help educate and train the new volunteers when they come along," Brooks email@example.com 360-754-5476 theolympian.com/thisjustin @chelseakrotzer


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I love collecting and sharing data. That's probably because most of my training is in anthropology and cognitive psychology. My skills are a combination of facilitation and manipulation, and I've used them to good effect while leading projects for United Airlines, Harley-Davidson, Butterball, Motorola, Life Fitness, and Oprah's Angel Network.
I'm currently consulting in New York.
Portions Copyright © 2008-2013 Joseph W. Dombroski. All Rights Reserved.
This document was retrieved at on from:


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WASHINGTON — Army Gen. David H. Petraeus has recommended that President Bush postpone sharp troop cuts in Iraq until next year, delaying a large-scale shift of combat forces to Afghanistan and reflecting concerns that widespread violence could return to Iraq.
Under the recommendation, the current level of about 140,000 troops would remain in Iraq through the end of Bush's presidency in January. Then, a combat brigade of about 3,500 troops would be removed by February, a senior Pentagon official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the recommendation has not been made public.


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Fashion Police
Ashley Tisdale out in Los Angeles
The Top Cops Weigh in:
Cooper Lawrence, Author, The Yoga Club:
The thigh's the limit!
Andrea Henry, Stand-up comedian:
She needs to give this look the boot.
Amy Sweet, Writer:
More like Ashley Clydesdale.
Michael Cohen, Askmichaelcohen.com:
Filming a low-budget Pretty Woman sequel?


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Access to trusted reviews, the best Reflexology and exclusive discounts!
- Memberships allow Angie's List to certify that all reviews are real reviews from real members—no fake, bogus, or anonymous reviews here!
- Angie's List is a Community that you'll use time after time. Research who to hire, learn tips and tricks, and consult with your neighbors
- Members can choose from tons of deals and discounts for projects they need to do, like 30% off exterior home painting!
- If a project goes badly, Angie's List has a complaint resolution team standing by to help you.
Gretna Aromatherapy Articles
Angie's List In The Press
All Reflexology in Gretna, NE
Companies below are listed in alphabetical order. To view top rated service providers along with reviews and ratings Join Angie's List Now!
Downtown Omaha Massage
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Touch Omaha Bodywork
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Freeport, PA


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All quotes tagged Worst
(1095 quotes found)
"First ask yourself: What is the worst that can happen? Then prepare to accept it. Then proceed to improve on the worst."
"I am responsible. Although I may not be able to prevent the worst from happening, I am responsible for my attitude toward the inevitable misfortunes that darken life. Bad things do happen; how I respond to them defines my character and the quality of my life. I can choose to sit in perpetual sadness, immobilized by the gravity of my loss, or I can choose to rise from the pain and treasure the most precious gift I have – life itself."
"This is my depressed stance. When you're depressed, it makes a lot of difference how you stand. The worst thing you can do is straighten up and hold your head high because then you'll start to feel better. If you're going to get any joy out of being depressed, you've got to stand like this."
"The worst thing that happens to you may be the best thing for you if you don't let it get the best of you."


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Starring: Kristin Chenoweth , Matthew Modine, Olesya Rulin , Joey King, Shirley Jones , Eddie Hassell, Robbie Tucker, Chloe Bridges
Your daily serving of hot, wacky, and just plain tacky celebrity sightings.
This month's best pics by our favorite celebs.
It's a Goth fashion throwdown.
From classic movie palaces to the state-of-the-art IMAX screens.
Celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays with Google!
A look at some of Hollywood's best worst men.


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Opening Day Issue
For the Love of the Name
A look at a century of the goofiest Tiger names
Published: April 6, 2011
With this year's Tiger spring training roster including such a great name as Charlie Furbush, now seems a fitting occasion to look back on some of the most delightfully unusual names ever to grace a Tiger uniform. According to an informal office poll, here they are.
Boom-Boom Beck
Pitcher, 1944
Red Cox
Pitcher, 1920
Snooks Dowd
Second Base, 1919
Goose Goslin
Outfielder, 1934-1937
Howard Johnson
Third Base, 1982-1984
Rusty Kuntz
Outfielder, 1984-1985
Slim Love
Pitcher, 1919-1920
Heinie Manush
Outfielder, 1923-1927
Dick Sharon
Outfielder, 1973-1974
Kid Speer
Pitcher, 1909
Tuck Stainback
Outfielder, 1940-1941
Dizzy Trout
Pitcher, 1939-1952
Coot Veal
Shortstop, 1958-1960, 1963
> Email Michael Jackman
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DVA provides rehabilitation services through purchaser provider arrangements to entitled veterans, serving and former Australian Defence Force (ADF) employees, reservists and cadets. These programs are administered via three distinct legislative acts, the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA), Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (SRCA) and the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA).
DVA provides comprehensive rehabilitation schemes with a holistic approach to screening, assessment, service provision and monitoring of rehabilitation activities that address the medical, vocational as well as psychosocial needs of DVA clients in a comprehensive and holistic manner.
A move to incorporating psychosocial elements of rehabilitation has been a significant change for DVA. This approach aims to address the full range of issues that potentially impact on the client achieving successful rehabilitation outcomes and may address key areas such as:
DVA seeks to contract Comcare approved or Commission endorsed providers delivering services on its behalf that consider the potentially significant psychosocial barriers to a person's recovery following injury or illness. Specific rehabilitation programs approved for clients can range from whole of person incorporating elements of medical management, vocational and psychosocial activities to providing specific services such as Activities of Daily Living (ADL) assessments, medically managing clients, assessments for aids, appliances and modifications and household services through to development of psychosocial programs.
For more information about how to provide Rehabilitation Services for DVA contact the Rehabilitation and Compensation Group Rehabilitation Manager in your State on 133 254.
VVCS – Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service, a service founded by Vietnam veterans 1800 011 046


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Tiger Woods -- the world's most famous and controversial golfer -- is expected to play in next month's PGA Championship in Johns Creek.
Woods' agent Mark Steinberg said in a PGA Of America-issued statement Friday that Woods would play in the event at the Atlanta Athletic Club if there are "no complications" related to his recent leg injuries.
Also, Woods has announced that he is playing in next week's World Golf Championships (Aug. 4-7) in Akron, Ohio.
Woods tied for fourth in the 2011 Masters tournament in Augusta, but has not played a full schedule while recovering from leg injuries.
The PGA Championship is one of golf's four major tournaments. Woods has won 14 majors, four behind all-time leader Jack Nicklaus. However, Woods has not won a major tournament since the 2008 U.S. Open.
Another indication that Woods is expected to compete at Johns Creek: He is scheduled for a media interview at the Atlanta Athletic Club on Tuesday, Aug. 9. The tournament is Aug. 11-14.
Woods, 35, is the PGA Tour's all-time earnings leader with $94.7 million in official tour winnings.
Also, he is now divorced from Elin Nordegren after well-publicized extramarital affairs. Woods reportedly is about to move into a new home in Jupiter, FL.
(Editor's note: Patch editors Steve Burns and Ann Marie Quill contributed to this report.)


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By DAVID VANTRESS
A Goshen Little League team has not gone to a regional tournament since 2004.
That string will end this weekend when tthe Goshen All-Stars travel to the 13-year-old regional tournament in Kalamazoo, Mich.
Goshen, under head coach Travis Davidson, outlasted Auburn, 16-13 in Tuesday night's state championship game in Terre Haute.
The championship contest was a rematch of a pool-play game won by Auburn, 12-11.
Goshen was sparked by Alan Rivera's three-homer night and got a winning pitching effort from Joey Peebles, who hurled 96 pitches in 5 1/3 innings of work. Phillip Wertz got the final two outs for a save.
Peebles said it was a hot evening in Terre Haute — just as it has been here all week.
"You stay hydrated, and you grind through it," Peebles said on Wednesday. "You just have to battle."
Even though Peebles — Davidson's son — gave up some runs, he said he had faith that his teammates would score their share of runs behind him. Indeed, Davidson said the Goshen lineup is a potent one, with power up and down the batting order and two excellent pitchers in Peebles and Wertz.
The Goshen All-Stars will have to step up their game another notch at the regional, a double-elimination affair that gets under way for Goshen at 11 a.m. Saturday with a matchup against Michigan.
At the regional level, Davidson said defense will become even more important.
"We've got some good hitting and two good pitchers," Davidson said. "Consistent defense is going to be critical."
Team members include Peebles; Wertz; Rivera; Tyler Cultitts; Ken Hostettler; Trenton Scott; Max Harmon; Jose Pizana; Peyton Cripe; Manny Castillo; Austin Bontrager; Bailey Mast; Cade Fisher and Robby Riegsecker.
Davidson is assisted by Perry Cripe and Jeff Wertz.
The regional includes Indiana; Michigan; Ohio; Minnesota; Illinois; Missouri; Iowa and Wisconsin.


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Jaron Brown left the Arizona Cardinals with no room for doubt.
The former Clemson standout made the Cardinals' 53-man roster as an undrafted free agent after a stellar preseason that included touchdown receptions in two of the team's four exhibition games.
Brown put an exclamation mark on his preseason last Thursday when he hauled in a 55-yard touchdown pass from third-team quarterback Ryan Lindley, as he beat a Denver defensive back for the tying score as the Cardinals rallied for a 32-24 victory.
Brown is listed as a second-team receiver on the Arizona depth chart, behind Larry Fitzgerald.
Running back Andre Ellington, the Cardinals' sixth-round draft pick, also made the final roster. He is one of five running backs on the Arizona depth chart.
Also getting good news on Saturday was former Tiger defensive end Phillip Merling, who made the Washington Redskins' roster as a backup to Jarvis Jenkins.
Four former Tigers got good news on Sunday after being waived on Saturday.
The Oakland Raiders signed offensive guard Antoine McClain off waivers from the Baltimore Ravens.
Signing practice squad contracts after being cut by their teams were center Dalton Freeman by the New York Jets and linebacker Jonathan 'Tig' Willard by the Tennessee Titans. Also signed to a practice squad contract was center Thomas Austin, by the Indianapolis Colts.
Freeman, an undrafted free agent, had impressed Jets' coach Rex Ryan early in camp before suffering a high ankle sprain that forced him to miss most of the preseason schedule. Making the Jets' 53-man roster was Ricky Sapp, who's listed on the depth chart as a third-team outside linebacker.


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Location: London
London, UK
Experienced Agile Business Analyst with a solid background in agile development specialising in digital media and multi-platform customer experience. With the ability to adapt quickly and collaboratively in order to produce flexible solutions with a focus on delivering value.
Multi-platform delivery of digital media, Online Business Analysis/Product Owner, Agile Scrum, BDD, Stakeholder Management, Kanban
ITV, Product OwnerOctober 2013 - Present, London, United Kingdom
Agile product owner of Online Services providing the metadata, assets and playlist driving the ITV Player website, mobile and connected TVs.
ITV, Senior Business AnalystApril 2010 - Present, London, United KingdomLead agile business analyst on the ITV Player working closely with the product manager, stakeholders, developers, UX and testers to deliver:
- Interlinking for ITV Player to increase reach through 3rd party sites such as BBC iPlayer and Virgin Media.
- ITV Player on Android.
- ITV Player UX refresh.
Currently working on a major re-platform project as lead BA focusing on the customer journeys and experience.
Transforming the world of work
Copyright ©2014 Scrum Alliance, Inc. – All rights reserved.


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Education officials, corporate partners, school foundation officers and donors were on hand for a huge celebration last week at Henderson Mill Elementary School in the Lakeside High School cluster.
The 48-year-old school was awarded the fifth STEM certification in Georgia. STEM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, and, as you can imagine, the curriculum is tailored to better prepare students for the ever-changing and challenging need for more "technocrats" in the United States.
Less obvious is what officials (and indeed Henderson Mill stakeholders) view as STEM's promise to tear down barriers to learning in general, particularly as school populations have become more ethnically and economically diverse. That promise is what Georgia Department of Education division manager Gilda Lyon, CTAE STEM coordinator, said is so exciting about the unique school's accomplishment – being the first "neighborhood STEM" in Georgia.
"This is a model for neighborhood schools across the state. It's not a magnet or charter (school)," she said.
An article from the state department's website describes the award winning program as including "unique programs such as Engineering is Elementary, Small Fry to Go, a school-wide garden, and LEGO Build to Express, along with incorporating STEM concepts with the common core standards.
The school's location – facing Henderson Mill Road and a short sidewalk stroll from Northlake Mall – is emblematic of a community in historical transition. The mid-1990s saw the beginnings of family income, ethnic and language disparity. In 1996, the school had two students of Hispanic origin, and today more than 25 percent come from non-English speaking households, presenting more than a language barrier but also what is known as a high "mobility" rate – counting students that attend the school less than a school year.
Originally homogeneously white and middle class in both home owning and apartment renting, the zone is now a mixed-income area with strikingly disparate populations. The change has had educational implications as a school that once enjoyed the third highest standardized test scores among a dozen Northlake-area schools. With some traditional families opting for magnet programs and private schools, others have stalwartly decided to embrace the theoretized social advantages of a diverse student base.
One parent confided the STEM effort was a reaction to the unsuccessful attempt to rezone during Lakeside's redistricting. School leaders are also optimistic about Henderson Mill Elementary's recent Title 1 designation (since more than 40 percent of students receiving free or assisted school lunches) with the financial and infrastructure implications that go beyond federal funding programs. Foundation grants are often predicated on attempts to close the "achievement gap."
The degree of parental leadership at the school and its role within the Northlake community cannot be overstated. The Georgia School of Excellence's (1999) first school community council, chaired by a prominent Atlanta hospitality executive, worked for a year building consensus for an alternate site design for a new gymnasium, preventing the destruction of the outdoor recreation area. The school's physical education teacher of more than 30 years held four fundraisers, which yielded two Guinness world records, outfitting the gym with $40,000 of additional equipment and two tennis "mini-courts."
The school council led a successful grant effort with the DeKalb County Board of Health to construct a paved running track accessible to a rapidly urbanizing public with demands for recreational space. State Rep. Scott Holcomb, D-Tucker, lives within a stone's throw of the school and presented a House resolution commending it at the Oct. 31 ceremony.
Henderson Mill's state certification is the culmination of a two-year effort to establish four hands-on learning initiatives aimed at different student ages and document their results. The effort resulted in the Henderson Mill Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to STEM fundraising, including grant efforts. Teachers make up a STEM committee and some PTA officers directly support the foundation such as Treasurer Karen Crittendon, a 12-year resident in Briarcrest and controller of the Parker, Hudson, Rainer & Dobbs law firm. The school enjoys highly capable, professional parent leadership, including a director at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. One area resident, Debbie Miller, owns STEM Enrichment, which features LEGO Education products for what she calls "in-school field trips" and also supports after-school activities.
The state department's website lists about 20 schools that have STEM programs, but only five are now "STEM schools." Henderson Mill is in some pretty heady company: The Center for Advanced Studies in Science, Math and Technology at Wheeler High School; Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science, and Technology; Marietta Center for Advanced Academics' and Rockdale Magnet School for Science and Technology. Principal Rebecca Jackson said the "neighborhood STEM" is easily replicated in the Lakeside zone given the level of volunteerism here. One foundation member said parents from Briarlake Elementary School have already inquired about it. The Lakeside community has a history of educational activism and several schools have nonprofits, including the Lakeside Foundation, formed in 2006.
Tom Doolittle is a Northlake resident and blogger on North Druid Hills-Briarcliff Patch.


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Here are a few things to keep in mind before you start.
1. Not everyone can use NETFILE, so check the restrictions ahead of time.
2. Be sure to pick the level of software package that fits your tax situation. For example, you might need a different version of the software if you have RRSPs to report, or rental or investment income.
3. Make any change of address with the CRA and make a request or change in direct deposit information first. You can't make those changes through NETFILE.
4. Read the NETFILE security tips.
Remember, if you get frustrated or feel uncomfortable filing your taxes online, you can always do them the old-fashioned way. Get an income tax package, complete it by hand and send it by regular mail.
Photo: File Your Taxes Online
Comstock Images / Getty Images
More on Canadian Income Taxes
Filing Canadian Income Taxes - The Basics
Ways to File Your Canadian Income Taxes
T4s and Other Income Tax Slips
- February 21, 2013 at 3:33 pm(1) dianne haist says:
Is Netfile ever going to include people like me in New Zealand to file online?
- April 10, 2013 at 4:22 pm(2) Stef says:
Netfile is not as good and fast as it claims. My husband always filed his returns by paper and received his return with 3 weeks. This year we used "netfile" because CRA wants everyone to use this and they claim to be faster….this is not so. It's now over 5 weeks and his return is still not processed. They claim to need supporting documents for his union dues which had to fax to them and they still have not processed it. My advice….file the old paper way that way they have all your receipts and no excuse to delay. If they want all the supporting documents anyway why not just use the old paper system and save yourselves the headache!!!


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Please join us on Thursday, May 17, at 6:45 p.m. at READ Booksellers in Blackhawk Plaza for an inspirational book reading and signing by published author and amazing woman .
Diana is a Cancer Survivor and participant in the Annual Relay for Life event on July 28 and 29 at . Proceeds from purchasing the book will go towards Danville Relay for Life. For anyone that has been touched personally or through a family member or friend being diagnosed with any type of cancer you will want to experience this event.
When Diana was diagnosed with breast cancer, she had no idea what was ahead. The surgery, crippling side effects of chemo and radiation, and the emotions that threatened to boil over pushed her to write for her life. She feared she couldn't fight cancer and fulfill her family and work responsibilities. She dealt with the disfigurement, loss of employment, and the travails of insurance by writing poetry. Diana knew she was more than her breast cancer. She wanted her daughter to have a normal life while she underwent treatment and she was determined to make that happen. What she didn't expect is how much her daughter would help her. Fighting My Way Through Breast Cancer with Poetry takes the reader step by step through her journey.
As a special treat East Bay Chocolates is donating Breast Cancer Cake-Pops to the first 36 people that attend. www.EastBayChocolates.com
Not only will you be hearing inspirational poems you will be supporting a local business in our community. www.ReadBooksellers.com


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Home > Industry Analysis > Research & Analysis > National Regional Outlook, First Quarter 2001
National Regional Outlook, First Quarter 2001
In Focus This Quarter
Credit Problems for U.S. Businesses Continue to Increase
IntroductionContinuing increases in problem commercial loans have focused the spotlight on business lending conditions. On September 30, 2000, commercial banks reported the highest relative level of noncurrent1 commercial loans-at 1.52 percent of total commercial loans-since third quarter 1994. In fact, commercial banks have been reporting steadily higher rates of noncurrent domestic commercial loans since the second quarter of 1999. The first quarter 2000 edition of Regional Outlook identified several factors contributing to the decline in business credit quality despite the strong economic indicators then in place. These factors, which are still relevant today, include the rise in financial leverage for domestic corporations, greater investment risk appetite and looser underwriting standards from 1996 to 1999, and increasing financial stress within various industry sectors. More recently, an apparent slowdown in economic growth increases prospects for further deterioration in business credit conditions.
1 Nonaccrual loans plus loans 90 days or more delinquent.
Large Banks Experience a Reversal in Commercial Credit Quality Trends
Through much of the 1990s, a sustained period of economic growth produced improving commercial loan credit quality indicators for insured commercial banks. This trend reversed itself in 1998, when banks began experiencing a steady rise in nonperforming and delinquent commercial loans. While the initial catalyst for this reversal was related mainly to events abroad,2 a slowing domestic economy has since taken center stage as the underlying driving force behind worsening commercial credit quality trends.
2 Significant events that contributed to higher levels of problem foreign loans in 1998 include the collapse of Asian currency exchange rates and default by the Russian government on its sovereign debts. Some domestic industries that were highly dependent on exports (steel, for example) were also adversely affected by these events.
As of September 30, 2000, noncurrent commercial and industrial (C&I) loans held by commercial banks stood at $15.6 billion, a 46 percent increase over the previous year. Roughly 97 percent of this increase is attributable to the rise in nonaccrual and delinquent credit to U.S. domiciled borrowers. Net C&I loan loss rates are also rising. Through the first three quarters of 2000, annualized C&I loan loss rates reached 0.64 percent, up from 0.58 percent in 1999. The last time banks saw C&I loss rates this high was in 1993 (0.74 percent).
Larger banks, which have the greatest exposures to large- and middle-market corporate credits, have been hardest hit by the turnaround in business credit conditions. As shown in Chart 1, banks with over $1 billion in assets have experienced most of the recent deterioration in C&I noncurrent loan rates. Since the fourth quarter of 1997, the noncurrent C&I loan rate of large banks has increased from 0.74 percent to 1.50 percent. Over the same period, noncurrent C&I loan rates at small banks were unchanged at 1.64 percent. While the increase in noncurrent loan rates at larger banks is significant, these higher rates remain well below those that preceded the 1990 to 1991 recession, when noncurrent loan rates at large banks were in the 3.40 percent to 3.60 percent range.
Much of the recent deterioration in banks' business credit quality is attributable to the seasoning of credits underwritten during a period of relaxed lending standards. Each of the three bank supervisory agencies has recognized and warned about the potential impact of loosened loan underwriting standards in the event of a slowdown in the economy. For example, just over a year ago, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) issued a warning to banks about the "...cumulative effect of the past four years of easing standards..." for commercial loans.3 The shift toward more liberal credit standards from 1996 to 1999 was fueled by various factors, including a robust economy, intense competition to originate syndicated credits, and an increased appetite for risk. During this period, a number of banks moved aggressively into non-investment-grade lending to combat narrowing interest margins and declining investment-grade yields. According to a recent Standard & Poor's commentary, several banks have acknowledged the role of 1997 and 1998 vintage credits in producing higher levels of problem loans.4
3 Office of the Comptroller of the Currency Press Release. October 5, 1999.
4 July 20, 2000. "U.S. Bank Loan Portfolios Reflect Rise in Corporate Bond Defaults." Standard & Poor's Commentary.
Chart 1[D]
Business Loan Performance Is Not Likely to Improve Any Time Soon
Prospects for any near-term reversal in deteriorating commercial loan trends are dimming as signs of slower economic growth and tighter credit conditions emerge. Economic indicators suggest an aging economic expansion that is losing momentum. In third quarter 2000, the U.S. economy recorded its 39th consecutive quarter of growth. However, real gross domestic product growth for the third quarter was only 2.2 percent, well below the previous quarter's growth of 5.6 percent and below the 4.9 percent average quarterly growth rate during the past eight quarters. Corporate earnings also appear to be slowing. Annualized corporate profit growth in the third quarter slowed to 5.1 percent, down from a 15.6 percent annualized growth rate in second quarter 2000 and a 10.4 percent average growth rate over the past eight quarters.5 Corporate earnings are widely anticipated to slow even further based on the number of companies that have warned of profits falling below expectations in the fourth quarter.6
5 These figures are taken from the U.S. Department of Commerce's statistics on corporate profits with inventory valuation adjustments.
6 According to First Call/Thomson Financial, 505 companies released warnings that fourth quarter 2000 earnings would fall below expectations, up 96 percent from the 257 companies with negative profit warnings for fourth quarter 1999.
Prospects for slower economic growth prompted the Federal Reserve to lower its target for the federal funds rate (the rate charged on overnight lending) by 1/2 percentage point to 6 percent on January 3, 2000. This cut follows a 175-basis-point increase in the targeted federal funds rate since the end of June 1999. Although higher interest rates have undoubtedly raised borrowing costs for U.S. corporations, business borrowing rates-even before the Federal Reserve cut interest rates in January 2001-are well below those prevalent during much of the 1980s (see Chart 2). Moreover, changes in rates have been far less volatile in the latter part of the 1990s than they were during the 1980s and early 1990s.
Chart 2
Tolerance for risk on the part of investors and lenders is waning. In a November 2000 survey of underwriting practices, the Federal Reserve Board noted that 44 percent of U.S. banks tightened credit terms for large- and middle-market borrowers in the past three months, the highest incidence of tightening since fourth quarter 1990. This tightening of credit terms is primarily in response to economic concerns, industry-specific problems, and a lower tolerance for risk. Banks appear to be especially apprehensive about taking on additional credit risk related to merger and acquisition financing deals, new borrowing prospects, and specific industry segments such as health care, movie theaters, and communications.7
7 See the Federal Reserve Board �s November 2000 Senior Loan Officer Opinion Survey on Bank Lending Practices.
Tighter credit terms by banks will have the greatest impact on high-risk companies, which have fewer financing options in an environment of slumping bond and stock prices. Moreover, there appears to be a significant increase in the volume of maturing debt that could be forced into default if capital market or bank funding is not available. According to Moody's, some $108 billion of rated speculative-grade corporate debt held by banks matures over the next three years, a 40 percent increase over year-earlier levels.
Higher-risk companies also have a lower capacity to absorb the cost of higher interest rates. Yet many companies with debt maturing in the near term will likely be forced to pay higher risk premiums than in the past. For example, Moody's notes that in November 2000, speculative-grade bond yield spreads over seven-year Treasuries reached their widest level since February 1991, at 771 basis points.8 Chart 3 illustrates further how credit spreads between just-investment-grade bond issues and near-investment-grade bond issues have widened considerably compared with spreads between lower-investment-grade bond issues since the beginning of 2000. Some of the most significant increases in credit spreads have been observed in the high-yield telecommunications sector, where credit spreads over seven-year Treasuries widened by 688 basis points in 2000.9
8 December 2000. Moody's Leveraged Finance Commentary.
9 Merrill Lynch Global Bond composites. Issues facing the telecommunications industry are explored further in the article entitled "Three Industries Navigating in a Competitively Charged Environment" in this issue of the Regional Outlook.
Chart 3[D]
The effects of tighter credit conditions and a reduced appetite for risk are beginning to emerge in loan origination volumes. According to Loan Pricing Corporation, originations of highly leveraged loans10 through the first three quarters of 2000 fell to $117 billion from $140 billion for the same period in 1999.
10 Loan Pricing Corporation defines highly leveraged loan transactions as those carrying interest rates of 250 basis points or more over the London Interbank Offer Rate (LIBOR).
Corporate bond trends provide further evidence of financial stress in the domestic market and suggest more near-term deterioration in problem business loans. Corporate bond default rates have climbed significantly since 1997 (see Chart 4). Through November 2000, trailing 12-month default rates on speculative-grade corporate bonds reached 6.8 percent, up from 3.5 percent at the end of 1998. Higher default rates have been accompanied by an accelerated pace of negative ratings revisions, which, according to Moody's, reached a rate of 3.2 speculative-grade downgrades for every speculative-grade upgrade through the first 11 months of 2000.11 More significant, Moody's projects that speculative-grade corporate bond defaults will continue to move higher to 9.1 percent over the coming year. Given a fairly strong correlation between speculative bond default rates and banks' noncurrent loan rates, these projections suggest a continuing rise in the relative level of problem commercial loans.12
11 See Moody's Credit Perspectives, December 4, 2000.
12 There is a strong correlation between historical speculative-grade corporate bond defaults and noncurrent loan rates. The correlation coefficient between these two variables for the period 1984 to the present is 0.67.
Chart 4
Loan Default Risk Is Rising in a Number of Industry SectorsEvidence from Corporate Bond Defaults
Corporate bond defaults provide clues as to which industries may experience a higher rate of defaults. Chart 4 shows the historical trend in speculative-grade bond defaults since 1988. The initial upward spike in default rates in 1998 was largely the result of events abroad, when 74, or 59 percent, of 126 defaulted issues were attributed to foreign-domiciled issues.13 In 1999, the distribution of defaults shifted decidedly toward domestic issues, with U.S. firms accounting for 99, or 67 percent, of 147 defaults. Of the U.S.-domiciled defaults in 1999, 64 percent were related to industrial sectors, with concentrations in price-sensitive commodity and trade-dependent sectors such as oil and gas, shipping, and steel. Other domestic sectors that experienced a noteworthy rise in defaulted issues in 1999 were telecommunications and health care. Year-to-date 2000 defaults continue to be dominated by U.S. firms.14 According to Moody's, year-to-date defaulted bond issues have been concentrated in health care; telecommunications; and textiles, leather, and apparel.15
13 Indonesia alone accounted for 32 defaulted issues in 1998, and sovereign issuers accounted for 36 percent of defaulted debt volume. Historical Default Rates of Corporate Bond Issuers, 1998. Moody's Investor Service.
14 Historical Default Rates of Corporate Bond Issuers, 1999. Moody's Investor Service.
15 Moody's Credit Perspectives, December 11, 2000. Issues facing the health care and textile industries are explored further in the article entitled "Three Industries Navigating in a Competitively Charged Environment" in this issue of the Regional Outlook.
Evidence from Syndicated Loan Trends
Past growth in syndicated loans may be another indicator of default risk. Many lenders appeared to increase their appetite for risk from 1996 through 1999, judging by the growth in leveraged loan and highly leveraged loan volumes during this period (see Chart 5).16 Because rapid loan growth can be an indicator of aggressive risk taking, it is important to review some significant borrowing industries that experienced rapid credit growth from 1996 to 2000. It is also worthwhile to review industries where higher-risk (high-yield) borrowing accounted for a substantial proportion of syndicated loan transactions.
16 Loan Pricing Corporation defines leveraged transactions as those that carry interest rate spreads of 150 basis points or more over LIBOR and highly leveraged transactions as those that carry spreads of 250 basis points or more over LIBOR. Because these definitions are spread-driven, the rise in the proportion of higher-yield issuance is attributable in part to a general increase in credit spreads. This was the case particularly during the 1998 period, when credit spreads rose significantly.
Chart 5[D]
Table 1 lists selected industries17 that accounted for a significant proportion of syndicated loan volumes from 1996 to 2000, according to Thomson Financial Securities Data. Industries that experienced some of the most rapid growth rates in syndicated loan volumes during that time include utilities, telecommunications, and real estate investment trusts (REITs). Industries that recorded a particularly significant proportion of high-yield transactions during that period include real estate and construction, REITs, health care, and entertainment/lodging/leisure.
17 This list is taken from a group of 50 sectors defined using Standard Industrial Codes (SICs). Only industries that accounted for more than 2 percent of 1996 to 2000 origination volumes were considered for inclusion.
Evidence from Corporate Profit Trends
Industry sector earnings trends may also be an indicator of industry default risk, because higher defaults are more likely in sectors with weak earnings. As noted above, profit growth rates of domestic firms appear to be decelerating following two years of strong earnings growth overall. Rapid growth in previous quarters appears to have been driven in large part by high-tech and related sectors, such as electronic equipment and communications. These sectors have to a large extent overshadowed noteworthy declines in profit growth in other sectors, such as metals, chemical production, medical services, property casualty insurance, apparel and textiles, manufactured housing, agriculture, transportation, and wholesale trade (see Table 2).
Evidence from Credit Risk Models
Credit default models have proliferated in recent years because of advances in technology, data availability, and financial theory. One such model is KMV LLC's Credit Monitor�. This model, which uses publicly available information to estimate the likelihood of default for individual firms, is widely used by lenders to monitor and evaluate obligor risk and credit risk trends. While it is not the only model available, the KMV model can be applied consistently and easily to the analysis of industry sector credit risk across a broad range of industry groupings.
In brief, the KMV model uses options-pricing theory to derive market-based expected default probabilities or an expected default frequency (EDFTM).18 The model relies mainly on three pieces of information: (1) a firm's asset market value; (2) the volatility of a firm's asset market values; and (3) the firm's capital structure or financial leverage. Although EDFTM scores are company-specific, median industry expected default probabilities can be constructed and compared across industries and across time to discern relative rankings of industry risk and industry risk trends. These median EDFTM scores also can be mapped to other default measurement scales, such as external rating agency ratings, based on individual EDFTM scores of firms with rated debt.
18 Typically expressed as the probability of default over the coming year.
Since the second quarter of 1998, median EDFTM scores have risen significantly across a wide range of U.S. nonfinancial industry sectors (see Chart 6). The service and trade sector includes the greatest proportion of firms with high default risk. The median probability of default for the manufacturing sector firms is lower, but it is rising and roughly equaled that of Standard & Poor's BB-grade (sub-investment-grade) obligors as of December 2000.
Chart 6[D]
Although no one factor can explain the rise in expected default measures for U.S. nonfinancial firms, rising financial leverage is clearly a major determinant. U.S. corporate debt burdens continue to rise in conjunction with the longest-running economic expansion in U.S. history. The debt-to-net-worth ratio (book value) of nonfarm, nonfinancial businesses rose to 83 percent in the second quarter of 2000, up from 72 percent at year-end 1996. Although these figures remain below the relative debt levels experienced in the late 1980s and early 1990s,19 U.S. businesses are nevertheless becoming increasingly vulnerable to rising credit costs and disruptions in credit availability. Higher asset value volatility20 has also played a role in rising EDFTM scores, which, as in any options-based credit risk model, leads to a greater likelihood of default.
19 The debt-to-net worth ratio for U.S. nonfarm, nonfinancial businesses averaged slightly under 87 percent from 1988 to 1992.
20 Implicit in changes in stock prices.
Chart 7 shows eight of the highest-risk industries in terms of changes in median EDFTM scores over the past two years. These industries were drawn from a list of 50 financial and nonfinancial sectors segregated by Standard Industrial Codes (SICs). For each of these 50 sectors, median EDFTM scores were determined for December 2000 and compared with median EDFTM scores for the same sector in December 1998. Consistent with general industry observations, entertainment and leisure, health care, and telecommunications are among the sectors where default risk has risen most significantly over the past two years.
21 Syndicated loan originations are an imperfect measure of actual loan exposures in the financial industry. For example, it is not possible to determine the level of outstanding exposures simply by summing up origination levels from year to year, because payments on long-term debt are not considered. Moreover, a substantial volume of debt represents revolving lines of credit where credit exposures roll over on a periodic basis. Nevertheless, trends in originations do contain some information on the relative level of industry exposures, because they show which industries are borrowing more or less during any given year.
While Chart 7 illustrates sectors undergoing financial stress, it does not provide information on the relative importance of these sectors to lenders. Thomson Financial Securities Data provides information on the volumes of syndicated loan originations by banks and nonbanks. Matching industry-expected default trends with syndicated loan origination trends by industry is one way to determine the relative importance of higher-risk industry credit exposures.21
Chart 8 shows median EDFTM and syndicated loan origination pairs for selected industries during the past three years. Of the industries shown, the telecommunications industry appears to present the greatest degree of risk, given a nearly $50 billion increase in loan volumes from 1998 to 2000, coupled with a 170 percent increase in median expected default levels over the same period. In contrast, loans to securities brokers and dealers can be considered relatively less risky-despite a $17 billion rise in originations from 1998 to 2000-because of a fairly modest rise in median expected defaults. It is also interesting to contrast the health care and entertainment and leisure sectors. Firms in both sectors have experienced a dramatic rise in expected defaults. However, since 1998, Thomson Financial Securities Data shows a significant curtailment in lending to health care companies, while entertainment and leisure originations have held steady over the same period. Because banks appear to be reducing credit exposures to health care firms, banks should eventually see a decline in the level of defaulting debt related to this sector.
Chart 8 illustrates how U.S. syndicated loan issuance and expected default measures can be linked to produce a better sense of risk-weighted industry exposure volumes held by lenders. On the basis of this type of analysis, producing a list of industry sectors that appear to pose the greatest degree of syndicated loan default risk is relatively straightforward. Perhaps not surprisingly, industries such as telecommunications, wholesale and retail trade, entertainment and leisure, health care, and apparel and textiles rank high in terms of risk-weighted industry credit exposures using this analysis.22
22 Fifty sectors, grouped by SIC codes, were considered.
Many U.S. banks are experiencing deterioration in business loan quality measures. The adverse effects of higher interest rates, a tightening of credit terms, slowing profit growth, and industry sector weaknesses are the primary contributing factors to this deterioration. Several indicators-including a projected increase in corporate bond default rates, rising expected default trends in certain industry sectors, and evidence of lax underwriting practices in previous periods-suggest that banks could experience substantial further deterioration in business loan quality in the near term.
Although worsening business loan quality is a concern, these negative trends must be put into perspective. In relative terms, current indicators of business loan problems do not approach the experience of banks during the last economic downturn of the early 1990s. Moreover, continued strong earnings and capital provide a significant buffer for banks to weather the effects of higher levels of nonperforming business loans and business loan losses. Nevertheless, the prospect of a slowdown in the economy raises concerns about the possible severity of commercial loan problems, a situation that will undoubtedly be watched closely by both banks and bank supervisors in the coming months.
Steven Burton, Senior Banking Analyst
Regional Outlook Information
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|Last Updated 03/23/2001


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Your guide to Chesaeake Country's freshest produce and more!
Cool high-summer recipes from Maryland's 2014 Buy Local Cookbook
Many local chefs and restaurants are on the bandwagon
Satisfy thirst and more at the Mid-Atlantic Brewsic Festival and Fire Truck Show
Great Spangled Fritillary
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When fishing is good it is very good; When it is bad, it's still pretty good
How well do you know your capital skyline?
Tim O'Neill talks with Bay Weekly about the restoration of Annapolis' Capitol dome
Roadside advertising now brings a fine of $25 a sign
Blessing of the animals draws friends furry and feathered
When conditions are rough, the catch is all the sweeter
Irene and Lee enriched your piles
Start looking for Venus and Mars
Father and son come together over the clash of steel in this charming robotic boxing film
Logistically challenging, Dignity Players' attention to detail shows.
And are we in trouble ...
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text: Set Me Free : Headmaster Elliot Barrow has secrets. Because of a tragic incident at his progressive school for Native American children in Oregon, he lies in a coma. Only his friend and rival, Cal, can discover why Elliot is so determined to live: those burdensome secrets, which are tantalizingly personal, and reach into America's dark political past. All Elliot has ever told his devoted 16-year-old daughter about her childhood is that her mother is dead. But Amelia senses there's much more lurking in the shadows.... Elliot's first wife, Helen, has come to the school to direct Shakespeare's The Tempest. She brings with her myriad secrets about the shocking connections between them all. Meanwhile, on an ordinary Connecticut day, 17-year-old Willa overhears her mother sobbing. When Willa decides to discover why, she has no idea she'll travel over 3000 miles to Elliot Barrow's Oregon. She doesn't know that she and her family will be shattered by what the truth reveals....


text:
The Alabama Red Cross says 370 homes were damaged during Monday's powerful storms. So far, results from the agency's damage assessment found that more than 65 homes were destroyed. Another 95 homes sustained major damage and more than 200 homes had minor damage. The organization says that more than 40 Red Cross volunteers have worked to provide relief to affected homeowners. The Red Cross distributed supplies including 600 bottles of water and 500 meals.
City workers say they were fired for no reason.
Evangelist Franklin Graham prayed on a sidewalk outside the Pentagon Thursday after his invitation to a prayer service inside was withdrawn because of comments that insulted people of other religions. More>>


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Tahlequah police arrested a man this week after he allegedly stole from a liquor store.
Florentine Florez, 75, of Tahlequah, was booked for shoplifting from Mary's Liquor.
Officers spoke with Thomas Pumpkin this week after a window was shattered out of his vehicle.
Doyle's Shoes employees reported theft of a pair of Nike shoes Tuesday.
Police took a report of tools being stolen from a vehicle, and keys taken from another vehicle, Tuesday.
Officers filed a report Tuesday after two women said a man exposed himself at a laundromat.
Mary Grimes reported money being stolen from her wallet last week.
Joy Brooksher on Tuesday said an intruder entered her house through a window.
Deleana Kirk reported a house break-in this week.
Erica Lynch reported rims and tires stolen from a residence. The items were later located at a Stilwell pawn shop, according to police.


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Pippin Is Heading to the Silver Screen; James Ponsoldt Enlisted to Pen Adaptation
By Michael Gioia
James Ponsoldt, the writer-director of "The Spectacular Now" and "Smashed," will pen a film adaptation of the Roger O. Hirson-Stephen Schwartz musical Pippin, according to Deadline.com.
The project is under The Weinstein Company label — which is also producing the film adaptation of August: Osage County.
The Tony Award-winning 1972 pop musical features a score by Schwartz and a book by Hirson. The piece, noted for its iconic Bob Fosse choreography and style, follows young prince Pippin as he strives to find his place of belonging.
Click here to read the Playbill.com coverage on the 2013 Broadway revival, which began previews March 23 at the Music Box Theatre and stars Patina Miller and Matthew James Thomas.
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|General Writing Discussion For aspiring writers of science fiction and fantasy to discuss issues of writing.
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|1st January 2012, 11:29 PM
|#1 (permalink)
Waiting for tea time
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Ohio
Posts: 264
Ideas/suggestions for removing my writing anxiety
I haven't written a thing, pleasure related, since this last summer. I finally have time to get back into writing, after receiving my B.S., but it seems like my anxiety won't allow me to progress. I believe I just feel generally overwhelmed with the research. I have three stories that I like and want to do, but all need separate research. I don't know where I should begin, how much time I should put in, what I should be reading, ect. Am I just making the "amateur" mistake of thinking everything has to be perfect? Should I just pick one and just go at it?
I am not an anxious/stressful person, and I enjoy writing. I just seem can't take the step from a non-researched short story to a full fledged novel, but I want to.
|1st January 2012, 11:31 PM
|#2 (permalink)
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Bristol
Posts: 859
Re: Ideas/suggestions for removing my writing anxiety
I'd say it's not anxiety, but lack of focus and inspiration. So maybe something like this will help :-)
|1st January 2012, 11:39 PM
|#3 (permalink)
One-wheeled wonder
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Antrim
Posts: 7,822
Re: Ideas/suggestions for removing my writing anxiety
I think the old advice might be the best; write a few words every day, maybe in a diary or something and don't look at the big picture of the novel, get a little confidence back first.
I'm very familiar with the feelings of anxiety and being overwhelmed. When i get like that, I find i need a little bit of time to relax and sort my thoughts out, and there's no point fighting against it until it eases a bit; which might take a day, or a week, even occasionally longer. But that's just me.
If you've just come out of a BSC and all the pressure of that, and now have changed tacks to something very different you might need a bit of time to adjust to a different type of thinking.
Also, to have 3 projects on the go at once is quite daunting, especially if they all need research. It all sounds a bit much if you're anxious already.
|2nd January 2012, 12:17 AM
|#4 (permalink)
Speaker to Cats
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: UK: ENGLAND:
Posts: 1,484
Re: Ideas/suggestions for removing my writing anxiety
You're going to be stressed out after the BSc: I remember months before I could really believe it was done and I'd graduated, before my nerves settled from taut enough to twang...
You're clearly in no fit state to tackle a novel, never mind three, but you may be able to write short stories. So, get a 'reporter' note-pad and keep it handy for when you wake with half an idea...
I don't expect you'll see much at first, but wild notions will come...
|2nd January 2012, 07:46 AM
|#6 (permalink)
Happily Ever Aftering
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: USA:
Posts: 2,130
Blog Entries: 55
Re: Ideas/suggestions for removing my writing anxiety
Ask yourself why you want to write in the first place. I think you might find inspiration and direction there.
I do every time I ask my self the same question. I could give you my answer, but my answer will not be your answer, it might help you find your answer, but only you can say why you want to write what you do, so only you can tell yourself what to do with your writing energies.
|2nd January 2012, 09:24 AM
|#7 (permalink)
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Australia, Queensland
Posts: 85
Re: Ideas/suggestions for removing my writing anxiety
Mouse started a topic entitled 'Write what you know' and he/she's spot on. But more than that, write not only what you know, but what you're passionate about. Subjects about which you not only know, but inspire you, that drive you, the stuff that makes you intensely focused. Research is a very left brained activity, whilst creative writing is very right brained, so that's where you may be having trouble putting pen to paper.
What are the books about if I may ask?
|2nd January 2012, 09:38 AM
|#8 (permalink)
Nice and splicey
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: City of Edinburgh
Posts: 3,319
Blog Entries: 38
Re: Ideas/suggestions for removing my writing anxiety
I'd just start writing -- that's what works for me, but it may not work for you. Stop worrying about perfection and see where your ideas take you. You can always fix it later.
It's so easy to get paralysed with doubt about having to write things perfectly the first time (the hacksaw thread in GWD covered this nicely). In my --very limited -- experience, once you start writing, it's much easier to keep writing.
I also agree with Nik -- it took me months to come down after graduation (congratulations, by the way) -- I kept expecting them to come and take it back.
(Mouse is a she -- despite the lack of bejewelled coronet -- Write what you know)
|2nd January 2012, 10:16 AM
|#9 (permalink)
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: West Sussex
Posts: 5,360
Blog Entries: 8
Re: Ideas/suggestions for removing my writing anxiety
It's certainly worth reading the "Write what you now" thread. In your case, I think you might do best to forget about the research for the moment and just start one of the stories. Get the characters established and get yourself into it, and then research as you need to. And start by writing just for yourself -- if you're anxious about getting it right, it might be because you're too aware of the possibility of your writing being judged and found wanting/inaccurate by others in the future. Forget about them!
|2nd January 2012, 10:34 AM
|#10 (permalink)
Believer in flawed heroes
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: South Yorkshire
Posts: 518
Re: Ideas/suggestions for removing my writing anxiety
I find some planning takes the pressure off, because then I feel "safe" in that I know where I'm likely to be going. But this can just be a short, initial synopsis, and maybe a page or two of ideas to do with setting and characters.
Definitely, I would just start writing, BUT with no pressure. See it as good practice, and if anything is good enough to keep then that's just a bonus.
Also, make time reading. It'll relax you, and help you know better what you're doing. I never read "properly" before I started writing, in that I missed a lot of detail. Now 95% of what I learn about how to write comes from careful, appreciative reading.
|2nd January 2012, 10:54 AM
|#11 (permalink)
Advanced Muddle Brain
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Poole
Posts: 421
Re: Ideas/suggestions for removing my writing anxiety
Is the problem writing in general, or working on the specific projects that need research?
You might start writing something small and unrelated that requires no research, just to get the joy of writing back. Certainly at least try to write something creative each day, regardless of whether it has anything to do with anything else.
No one can really tell you how to tackle the research, especially not what books you need to be reading without knowing what your projects are about. Or even if we did know really, since we aren't you and don't know your inner workings. I would suggest though that you don't try to tackle them all at once. Do a little bit each day on a single project, whichever interests you most on the day, and just ease yourself into it at a relaxing pace. As you get back into the flow you can adjust your methods to suit your comfort levels.
|2nd January 2012, 11:04 AM
|#12 (permalink)
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Somerset
Posts: 8,580
Blog Entries: 50
Re: Ideas/suggestions for removing my writing anxiety
Arkose, yes, I'm having the exact same problem. The thought of having to research is stalling my writing anything longer than a short story. Check out the thread and see what people have suggested.
|2nd January 2012, 12:20 PM
|#13 (permalink)
Waiting for tea time
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Ohio
Posts: 264
Re: Ideas/suggestions for removing my writing anxiety
I probably should read more, maybe I will revisit Tales of Otori.
2. A Epic Fantasy ( 3 "friends" taking different paths for the same goal)
3. A single story (Alternate History/Steampunk). Mexico invading U.S. over water issues.
|2nd January 2012, 04:33 PM
|#15 (permalink)
Destroyer of Words
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Ireland
Posts: 2,573
Blog Entries: 11
Re: Ideas/suggestions for removing my writing anxiety
Splurge it all out onto paper/screen and sort the wheat and the chaff later. Once you start having fun again and enjoying your characters' company, you'll get back to taking it seriously again.
Writing a book is like having a loving, lasting relationship with a beautiful woman, only slightly more probable
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Ocala Kidnapping
Published September 16th, 2009
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A woman in North Central Florida says she was held against her will, but the accused kidnapper says he was only doing what he was asked to do.
TV 20's Shani Muhammad talks to him from jail and he says it's just one big misunderstanding.
Watch the video to the right to find out more.
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