text:
March 31, 2014
Suada Kolovic
What would you do to save a few bucks? Share DoSomething.org's Would You Rather game and you and your friends will be put in hilarious situations to save money, but also get some real money saving tips along the way.
To be eligible for the scholarship, invite just six friends to play. At the end of the game, you'll be given a few tips on how you could actually save money a bit easier and be entered to win a $3,000 prize! No minimum GPA. No essays required. For more information on the scholarship, click here.
March 28, 2014
With all this talk about possible Pell Grant cuts, acceptance rates plummeting and universities facing serious tuition hikes, which schools are worth the outrageous sticker price of about $200,000? According to PayScale.com's annual survey of colleges with the highest return on investment rates, Harvey Mudd College tops the list with a 8.8% annual return. PayScale.com's data is pulled from 1.4 million pay reports from persons who obtained bachelor's degrees in the last 20 years, for more on their methodology click here. Check out who made the cut below:
March 26, 2014
Mike Sheffey
Imagine receiving an email from your dream college or university congratulating you on your acceptance. It's a great feeling, right? Now imagine receiving a follow-up email from that same school stating that admissions decision you waited so long to hear was sent in error. Worst. Day. Ever.
This unfortunate scenario has been a reality for many students, as the number of colleges sending out acceptance emails by mistake has increased in recent years. Gone are the days where you could determine your post-secondary fate by the size of the envelope in your mailbox; now, admissions decisions are often released first electronically but the system is far from foolproof. Technology isn't all it's cracked up to be sometimes and people aren't perfect...but when you're dealing with students' futures, these mistakes should never happen.
For the colleges that have been messing up: GET IT TOGETHER! These emails are nothing more than an added comfort so if you can't get it right, don't do it at all. This isn't a small error: It's a life-changing one. As a center for higher learning, you need to care about your future students a little more. If you can spellcheck an email, you can also check to see who it's going to.
So students, if you've received an electronic admissions decision, just double check before starting the celebration. Look elsewhere online, email somebody or call the school directly as soon as possible. The last thing you want is a false sense of relief. Once you're sure, however, go crazy – getting into college is a big deal and should be treated as such!
Mike Sheffey is a senior at Wofford College double majoring in computer science and Spanish. He loves all things music and has recently taken up photography. Mike works for an on-campus sports broadcasting company as well as the music news blog PropertyOfZack.com. He hopes to use this blogging position to inform and assist others who are seeking the right college or those currently enrolled in college by providing advice on college life, both in general and specific to Wofford.
March 25, 2014
The decision to pursue a law degree is not one that should not be taken lightly. Analyzing your hopes and needs prior to applying will help you decide whether it's worth your time, effort and money. It's also crucial to examine the possible downsides: crippling student debt, high unemployment rates and declining starting salaries. At this point, if you're still interested in studying law, you might want to consider a law school that's offering the country's first "risk-free" juris doctor program.
Following a recent trend among law schools to attract prospective students, the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law at Cleveland State University announced that beginning this spring, a student who decides to not continue law school after successfully completing their first year of studies can graduate with a Master of Legal Studies (M.L.S.) degree without taking any additional courses. And although students with this degree will not be permitted to sit for the bar exam, this approach will provide students with a foundation in law without preparing them to practice. "The new opportunity removes at least some of the financial and personal risk inherent in a large educational undertaking and comes at a time when people appreciate more guarantees," said Craig M. Boise, Cleveland-Marshall's dean. He added, "For these students, the first year of law school might have seemed like a waste and a hard-to-explain item on their resumes. Now they can leave with a master's degree that we believe will be attractive to employers." (For more on this story, click here.)
Law school hopefuls, does the "risk-free" J.D. program at CSU's Cleveland-Marshall College of Law help quell your anxieties given the weak legal job market? Do you think this program (which is essentially one-third the cost and time of a traditional law program) would be viable or not? Let us know in the comments section.
March 24, 2014
Finding enough funding for college is hard but that task is made even more difficult when college scholarship committees require applicants to meet countless requirements, fill out stacks of forms and write lengthy essays to even be considered. Well, College Prowler isn't most scholarship committees and it's doing things a little differently with its $2,000 No Essay Scholarship.
The folks at College Prowler know students are busy and that times are pretty tough for a lot of people right now…but that's precisely why they've created an incredibly easy way to give back to those who need it. All applicants have to do is complete a brief profile, hit submit and voila, they could win $2,000 to put toward tuition, housing, meal plans, books, computers or any education-related expenses. To apply, please visit College Prowler or complete a scholarship search to find additional opportunities.
March 21, 2014
Ten years after NFL-player-turned-Army Ranger Pat Tillman was killed by friendly fire in Afghanistan, his widow is moving on while honoring his legacy.
After the nationwide outpouring of support following Pat's death, Marie Tillman, along with family and friends, established the Pat Tillman Foundation in 2004. Four year later, they refocused their mission and founded the Tillman Military Scholarship Program that provides about 60 scholarships a year to active-duty service members, veterans and military spouses to pursue their college education. Since the program's inception, the Foundation has invested more than $4 million in scholarships for 290 scholars nationwide. In addition to an educational scholarship, Tillman Military Scholars receive access to the Tillman Community, leadership opportunities and Fortune 500 veteran affinity groups, the chance to participate in groundbreaking research studies in the veterans and military community and much more. "We've been grateful that Pat's story continues to resonate with people," says Marie. "Every scholar has an amazing story," she added. (For more on this story, click here.)
Think you have what it takes to become a Tillman Military Scholar? Visit Pattillmanfoundation.org or visit us at Scholarships.com for more info.
March 20, 2014
Julius Clayborn
I celebrated my 20th birthday this past year with cake, candles...and tears! Though they were more so tears of shock than sadness – I could not believe I was now going to be considered a "twenty-something" – I had to come to terms with the reality of no longer being a teenager. This also meant I had to address the imminent future and the work and real world responsibilities I would soon be faced with. I knew that I wasn't ready for my life to be filled with such things; I couldn't even remember to go to my professor's office hours (which she repeated over and over again) let alone remember to complete bigger tasks that would inevitably accompany adulthood!
I felt really confused and alone during this period of introspection because everyone else seemed to be handling adulthood just fine. But upon blurting out the absurdity of not wanting to grow older being afraid of what lies ahead, I soon discovered some of my classmates felt the same way. We realized that we weren't so much afraid of aging, but of not knowing what was next to come: We were uncertain about our futures, we didn't know what jobs we would obtain (or if we'd even get hired right after graduation), we didn't know where we'd live and if we'd live up to expectations. That uncertainty was what resided at the crux of our fears.
What I've come to understand is that no one is ever completely sure. And I feel like life is kind of supposed to be that way...unpredictable and full of surprises. If we knew how everything was supposed to be already, there would be no growth. And with no growth, there is no learning. Now I embrace the unknown. In fact, I welcome it with open arms because I am positive that come what may, I will be stronger, wiser and better because of it.
Julius Claybron was born on Chicago's South Side in the Harold Ickes public housing projects. At the age of five, he lost his father to diabetes and was raised by his mother and grandmother, who helped him to enroll in Urban Prep Academy – a public all-male college-preparatory high school – during his sophomore year. Julius started to read when he was just two years old and still enjoys escaping in books during his spare time. He is currently in his junior year at Cornell University, where he is an English major with a minor in Africana Studies.
March 18, 2014
With recent college graduates facing an unemployment rate of 6.7 percent and substantially lower starting salaries, we have to ask: What path should students take in order to flourish professionally after graduation? While there isn't one direct route that translates into success, the recent "Hot Careers for College Grads and Returning Students 2013" report by UC San Diego Extension revealed a list of in-demand careers based on job growth, salary and work environment:
Did a career you're considering make the list? If not, would you considering switching majors based on the likelihood of gaining employment after graduation? Let us know in the comments section.
March 17, 2014
Winning money for college is great but doing so without having to meet astronomical word counts and double-digit page requirements is even better. Lucky for you, the folks at College Prowler couldn't agree more and have launched the $2,000 No Essay Scholarship.
The scholarship is open to all students and those planning on enrolling within 12 months. The monthly winner will be determined by random drawing and then contacted directly and announced on their Facebook page. One entry per person, but you can come back each month to try again. To apply, please visit College Prowler or complete a free scholarship search to find additional opportunities.
March 14, 2014
In an interesting turn of events, the New Jersey teenager who sued her parents for tuition and living expenses has reportedly returned home. I guess growing up and moving out while you're a teenager and still know everything doesn't always pan out!
Morris Catholic high school senior Rachel Canning claimed her parents "constructively abandoned" her, mostly because she would not break up with a boyfriend they didn't approve of. She moved out of their house on October 30th and had been living with a friend's family since then. In her lawsuit, Rachel had been seeking a declaration of non-emancipation, or continued financial dependence on her family. (Basically, she wanted the court to order her parents to award her $654 weekly in child support and access to an existing college fund – an order the judge refused last week.) Though Rachel has returned home, the lawsuit has not yet been dropped but the family's lawyer has confirmed that the conflict has been resolved. (For more updates on this story, click here.)
While all the hoopla surrounding this story will surely die down in the coming weeks, do you think there could be long-term negative effects on Rachel Canning's future?
Copyright © 1998 - 2015 Scholarships.com, LLC
Scholarships.comTM All Rights Reserved
Scholarships.com, LLC, Publisher


text:
Jade Rivera-McFarlin, Public Affairs Specialist
(w) 413-794-7633 (cell) 413-537-1155
SPRINGFIELD - As summer winds down, many parents are focused on getting their children ready for the first day of school, and that means some serious shopping.
For many parents, a new backpack may be one of the many items on their child's school supply list. While their choice may be based on a favorite color or cartoon character, your pediatrician may have another idea when it comes to your child's health.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, backpacks that are not used properly may injure muscles and joints. This can lead to severe back, neck, and shoulder pain, posture problems and more.
"Sometimes kids let the straps relax and the backpack sags way below the waist. You want the backpack to rest higher up, keeping it at the very least at waist level or only slightly below. And, you want to keep that backpack nice and tight and snug up top," says Dr. Dennis Oh, a neurosurgeon at Baystate Medical Center.
Single strapped bags or wearing your backpack on one side is also a very bad idea because it places double the amount of weight on one side of the body.
"If your child continues to do this on a regular basis and uses it on his or her dominant side, then you could end up with poor posture, various physical deformities, and even scoliosis," said Dr. Oh.
The damage caused by wearing a backpack incorrectly doesn't happen overnight says, Dr. Oh.
"The damage comes from the cumulative effects of carrying a heavy backpack day after day, week after week, month after month, resulting in muscle strain, poor posture, and, even nerve irritation, as well as a number of other health issues," said Dr. Oh.
So what are the signs of damage caused by a heavy backpack?
"Acute symptoms include back pain, achiness in the lower, mid, or upper back, and pain in the shoulders and collarbone. The more long-term symptoms could include, asymmetry such as uneven shoulders, and poor posture," said Dr. Oh.
While they may take time to correct, Oh says the symptoms can be reversed.
"Even the worst case and more rare scenarios involving stress fractures, will eventually heal if you detect them early enough. Once a child has reached the level of long-term effects, it will take a long time to realign and reposition the child's posture, making it a long road to recovery," said Dr. Oh.
Here are some additional tips from Dr. Oh on how you can protect your child's posture when wearing a backpack:
· Choose a backpack with wide straps so that the pressure on the front and top of the shoulders is distributed more evenly rather than with narrower straps.
Use the waist strap. A lot of backpacks have that strap around the waist; it keeps the bag from flapping around and provides another anchor point for distributing the weight of the backpack.
Another good option is to use those bags with wheels.
Try to buy the smallest backpack possible. Plan ahead and see what needs to go in there and don't buy anything that's bigger than necessary, if you do, kids will just load it up with unnecessary things if they see all that space.
Organize the backpack to use all of its compartments.
Pack heavier items closest to the center of the back.
For more information on Baystate Medical Center, visit baystatehealth.org/bmc.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
- Musician's Friend Best Selection, Price & Service. Guaranteed.
Call our Gear Heads
at: 800-449-9128
Call our Gear Heads
at: 800-449-9128
Results 1 - 1 of 1 matches
Bench goes perfectly with the Williams Symphony Digital Piano. Generous padding. Handsome wood grain finish.
Our product catalog varies by country due to manufacturer restrictions. If you change the Ship-To country, some or all of the items in your cart may not ship to the new destination.


text:
Overview of content related to 'british library'
This page provides an overview of 1 article related to 'british library'. Note that filters may be applied to display a sub-set of articles in this category (see FAQs on filtering for usage tips). Select this link to remove all filters.
The British Library is the library of the United Kingdom, and one of the world's largest libraries in terms of total number of items. The library is a major research library, holding over 150 million items from every country in the world, in virtually all known languages and in many formats, both print and digital: books, manuscripts, journals, newspapers, magazines, sound and music recordings, videos, play-scripts, patents, databases, maps, stamps, prints, drawings. The Library's collections include around 14 million books (second only to the USA's Library of Congress), along with substantial holdings of manuscripts and historical items dating back as far as 2000 BC. (Excerpt from Wikipedia article: British Library)
Key statistics
Metadata related to 'british library' (as derived from all content tagged with this term):
See our 'british library' overview for more data and comparisons with other tags. For visualisations of metadata related to timelines, bands of recency, top authors, and and overall distribution of authors using this term, see our 'british library' usage charts.
Top authors
Ariadne contributors most frequently referring to 'british library':
Note: Links to all articles by authors listed above set filters to display articles by each author in the overview below. Select this link to remove all filters.
|Article summary
Ruth Glynn outlines the HELIX project, one of the new Images projects from the eLib programme.
September 1996, issue5, project update


text:
Jesus could talk to God. Jesus healed the sick. Jesus wanted us to be well.
Why didn't he teach us to wash our hands frequently? Whey didn't he teach us about microbes?
A. He didn't know about them.
B. He didn't think it was important.
C. Cleanliness was already covered by the Torah.
D. Microbes can't hurt us if we have faith.
E. God didn't send him to teach science classes.
F. God wanted Christian missionaries to carry deadly microbes to the New World to help stamp out natives.
G. Jesus is a myth.
H. There was no running water.
I. Soap wasn't readily available.
You guys come up with some of the most bizarre reasons for disbelief.
You'll believe anything you tell yourself, aslong as you're not under a religious brand-name.
A small bowl of water would have been sufficient. Soap happens to be thousands of years older than the Jesus myth by the way. If it wasn't somehow available, Jesus could have easily provided everyone he met with a simple recipe to make it. I would have personally preferred to hear something about penicillin though.


text:
Let's Talk About NFP
By Rebecca Teti
Wednesdays: Natural Family Planning
(Join each day's Coffee Talk discussion: Mon: Parenting; Tues: Open Forum; Wed: NFP; Thu: Marriage; Fri: Education; Sat/Sun: Changing Roles)
This weekly thread is a place where you can share your struggles, triumphs, links, resources, concerns, and questions about all things related to Natural Family Planning.
Please join the conversation!
href="http://www.taylorandtait.co.uk/Team.aspx">cartier replica sale shopper as well as time of day. Essentially the pouch hasn't replaced year after year, every different summer kinds of leatherette, beading, fabrics along the lines of denim not to mention clear shapes and colours are actually invented. A confined variant are able to solely need typically the impress mail increasingly being precious stone studded and / or in different hublot replica sale fabrics along the lines of bamboo sheets, imitation tortoise shell and / or the whole of the pouch lined through sophisticated beading not to mention embelleshment. Typically the cannage stitches might be impressed from Napoleon III rattan form furniture. Deals beginning by finished £ check out, 000 lbs . not to mention will cost you be different to suit one's styles of fabrics chosen not to mention proportions. The price will make typically the Chistian Dior Lovely women Dior, some pouch several will be able. Really do not disheartenment for the reason that there are a lot cartier replica uk good fashion designers what individuals personally come up with remarkable purses that impressed by your Lovely women Dior through wonderful German leathers who take a look remarkable not to mention keep going their entire lives. And yet can consider fake scans, which are usually websites made in lower fabrics because of the far east. Type develop stores consider a wide variety of his or her's trendy wholesale handbags regarding consumer's personal preference. Audra Dior might be undoubtedly one of most famous manufacturers in your type environment.
Good Article.I like very much. Mothers Day 2015
It's a tremendous post. I am truly grateful for this blog and I was in fact looking for something impressive like this should stay longer here, discount codesread all the post very nice posting you have


text:
Management/Sports Management Practicum I 4 credits
In order to complete the first Sports Management Practicum opportunity, students must participate in 12 hours a week of supervised work in the field either on campus or off campus. One practicum experience may be on campus, but one off campus practicum is required. Students are also required to attend a weekly practicum seminar that will focus on integrating theory and practice. For the practicum the student must complete/participate in a learning contract, time logs, topical discussions, case analyses and special assignments. Students will also be evaluated by their site supervisors. Student site evaluations, projects completed and any reference letters obtained will be added to the portfolio.


text:
Last year the House Republican leadership created the GOP's "YouCut" website, which offers several possible spending cuts for citizens to vote on. The cut with the most votes goes to the House floor for an up-or-down vote. It's a decent idea, but unfortunately, most of the cuts the GOP have offered thus far only amount to chump change.
Downsizing Blog
"Entitlements" and the Federal Budget
A new Cato Policy Analysis from Michael Tanner examines so-called "entitlement programs" – chiefly Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid – and how they will push the government's finances to the brink if they're not reined in. As he notes in the introduction, if politicians continue to duck the issue, they "will condemn our children and our grandchildren to a world of mounting debt and higher taxes."
Electric Vehicle Subsidies
An op-ed in the Wall Street Journal written by the American Council for Capital Formation's Margo Thorning makes a good case for "pulling the plug" on subsidies for electric vehicles. Subsidies for alternative energy vehicles have been popular with both Democrat and Republican administrations, but the Obama administration has been a particularly enthusiastic supporter of industrial planning.
End Federal Welfare - Don't Mend It
Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), the chairman of the conservative House Republican Study Committee, recently introduced "The Welfare Reform Act of 2011." The legislation's two key components are the imposition of work requirements on food stamps recipients and the capping of total spending for 77 welfare programs at 2007 levels (adjusted for inflation going forward) when unemployment drops below 6.5 percent.
Adventures in Air Traffic Control
It is often said that silence is golden. But not when you're trying to land a passenger plane at Reagan National Airport. Last night the control tower at Reagan went silent, which forced the pilots of two airliners to land on their own. According to the Washington Post, the same situation occurred last year when the lone controller on duty locked himself out.
Return to Debt Mountain
Last year I noted that the White House Office of Management and Budget homepage featured a call from the president to "invest in our people without leaving them a mountain of debt." Yet, the Congressional Budget Office's analysis of his then-current budget proposal showed that publicly held debt as a share of GDP would rise like the steep slope of a mountain under his policies.
Rand Paul's Balanced Budget Plan
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) has released a detailed plan that would balance the federal budget in five years. Paul's plan would achieve balance by halting and reversing the historic rise in federal spending. Taxes would not be increased, but revenues would steadily increase as the economy recovers.
Local Officials Fight for "Free Lunch"
Everybody likes a free lunch. Local government officials really like a free lunch, particularly when that lunch is paid for by federal taxpayers. Spend other people's money on projects that you don't have to tax your constituents to pay for? What a deal!
Bailout Coming for the Postal Service?
The U.S. Postal Service is in financial trouble. Undermined by advances in electronic communication, weighed down by excessive labor costs and operationally straight-jacketed by Congress, the government's mail monopoly is running on fumes and faces large unfunded liabilities. Socialism apparently has its limits.
Are Mortgages Cheaper in the U.S.?
As Congress and the White House continue to debate the future of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, one of the oft heard concerns is that if we eliminate all the various mortgage subsidies in our system, then the cost of a mortgage will increase. There certainly is a basic logic to that concern. After all, why have subsidies if they don't lower the price of the subsidized good. Of course some, if not all, of said subsidy could be eaten up by the providers/producers of that good.


text:
Natura Donates Truckload of Healthful Pet Food to No More Homeless Pets KC
Natural pet food company gives more than 4,000 cases of dog and cat food
Davis, CA– Natura Pet Products, makers of Innova®, EVO®, California Natural®, HealthWise®, Karma® and Mother Nature® brand pet foods and treats, has teamed up with No More Homeless Pets KC to help feed homeless and in-need pets across the Kansas City metro area.
"We are proud to be able to share more than 4,000 cases of our healthful Innova dog and cat food cans with No More Homeless Pets KC. This exceptional animal welfare organization has shown unsurpassed dedication to the care of thousands of animals, and its mission provides an extension of Natura's philosophy for animal health and wellbeing," said Don Scott, President of Natura.
Located in Kansas City, Kan., No More Homeless Pets KC supports a vision of a lifelong caring home for every pet in Kansas City. Through donations to local animal welfare groups and pet-friendly community members, No More Homeless Pets KC provides food, adoption awareness programs and other services for the support of healthful and loving pet care to all animals.
The Innova dog and cat food received from Natura will be distributed to other pet food pantries in the Kansas City area, as well as rescue groups and people caring for feral and free roaming dogs and cats. In addition, the Innova dog and cat foods will be used to assist low income pet owners in providing nutritious care for their pets.
"No More Homeless Pets KC is thrilled to receive this donation of high quality pet food from Natura Pet Products, and we are so grateful for their generosity. Through this donation, rescue groups across the Kansas City metro area will be able to stretch their resources that much further to help even more animals in need," said Gail Longstaff, President of No More Homeless Pets KC. "In addition, the low income pet owners that we serve will also receive much needed assistance in providing care for their pets. Enough cannot be said about how much food donations like this help us help more animals."
For more information about Natura Pet Products, please visit www.naturapet.com.
About No More Homeless Pets KC
No More Homeless Pets KC's mission is to build a cooperative effort to transform the Greater Kansas City area into a no kill community by 2012. NMHPKC's programs include low-cost spay/neuter services, feral cat trap-neuter-release programs; promotion of adoption and rescue programs; humane education, awareness and outreach as well as animal welfare legislative initiatives. NMHPKC is funded through private donations. Additional information can be found at www.nmhpkc.org or call (816) 333-PETS (7387).


text:
Club competitions
National team competitions
Nationality: BELBorn : 05.12.1989Place of birth: Merksem
Height: 1.95mPosition: F
A late omission from the Belgium squad for EuroBasket 2011, Mwema broke into the team to make his competitive debut in last summer's qualifiers to complete a rise which had seen him represent his country at Under-16, U18 and U20 level. Dividing his junior development with Brasschaat, Ticino Merksem and St. John Basket, he signed his first professional deal with hometown club Antwerp in 2008 and agreed to a new contract earlier this year with the Giants which runs through until 2016. He was named as the Belgian League's Most Promising Player in 2012. He attended Lessius University in Antwerp and has been involved in a talent discovery programme called 'Belgium Got Game'. Mwema is the son of a Belgian mother and a Congolese father. His sporting heroes are Usain Bolt and LeBron James. On Twitter @JeanMarcMw.


text:
Sony adds a new lens for their proprietary NEX interchangeable lens format, a macro lens capable of 1:1 (life-size magnification ratio) that is being marketed by Sony as "currently the world's lightest life-size macro lens (138g) for interchangeable-lens cameras".
Branded as a high-quality lens capable of a working distance of 2.4 cm thanks to its internal focusing system, the SEL30M35 (as it is also called) employs one ED (extra-low dispersion) glass and three aspherical lens elements.
With this announcement Sony expands the α E-mount family to include a macro lens.
So far the lenses available on this format are:
Stay tuned for an upcoming review of the Sony α E-mount 30mm F3.5 Macro lens.
In the mean time click here to see its technical specifications.
To provide photographers with a broader perspective about mobiles, lenses and cameras, here are links to articles, reviews, and analyses of photographic equipment produced by DxOMark, renown websites, magazines or blogs.


text:
Peter Winch, deputy director of field services and education, American Federation of Government Workers
Click below to hear the interview
Jump to main content.
Sponsored By:
Host Tom Temin brings you the latest news affecting the federal community each weekday morning, featuring interviews with top government executives and contractors. Listen live from 6 to 9 a.m. or download archived interviews below.
Thursday - 5/19/2011, 10:08am EDT
Click below to hear the interview
By Suzanne Kubota
Senior Internet Editor
About 400 feds at the Office of Management and Budget have filed a petition to unionize. They've asked the American Federation of Government Employees about union representation.
Peter Winch, deputy director of field services and education at AFGE, tells Federal News Radio these are "not the top level political appointees, but the typical job is like a budget analyst, program analyst, program manager."
After an office reorganization in the past year, said Winch, "they felt that their frontline employees' pay-ins weren't taken into account as much as they would have liked. Also, they wanted to show some support for AFGE's work on behalf of federal employees in general."
Winch said the move is not a signal that workers are unhappy at the agency, but a sign that they would like more of a voice in how the office is organized and more appreciation for the work they do.
"This is an agency where there's often a crisis and people have to come in, work late, come in on weekends and they're accepting of that culture," Winch said. "They don't mind that culture, because they feel they are engaged in very important work, but they would like more recognition for the fact that they do make those sacrifices."
If they become part of a union, said Winch, "then their management has to listen to all of their suggestions. They have to bargain in good faith. They don't have to do what the union says, but they have to listen to the union's point of view, and that's the big difference."
If the petition allowing the employees to join a labor union is approved by the Federal Labor Relations Authority, a vote could come later this summer. At least 30 percent of the employees at a work site must signal interest before the agency can authorize a vote.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.


text:
[1] Program availability varies. HP printing supplies return and recycling is currently available in more than 47 countries, territories, and regions in Asia, Europe, and North and South America through the HP Planet Partners program. For more information visit: http://www.HP.com/recycle.
[2] 2007 North America Toner Cartridge Reliability Comparison Study test results provided by QualityLogic, Inc., and commissioned by HP. Test performed on HP 42A and HP 10A monochrome LaserJet toner cartridges. Tests were performed under laboratory conditions and actual performance may vary.
[3] Declared yield value in accordance with ISO/IEC 19752. Actual yields vary considerably based on images printed and other factors.
HP 05A Black Original LaserJet Toner Cartridge
No Payments + No Interest if paid in full in 6 months with Bill Me Later. See Terms


text:
Best tips for removing mold, mildew
By Chaya Kurtz, Networx
From mildew on shower grout to whole house mold problems caused by water damage, we've published some very helpful articles on preventing and removing mold from your house. Learn how to solve the problem at its root, and why mold removal is important for your health.
A Green Contractor Talks About Bathroom Mold: A contractor in Atlanta helps readers to prevent and treat bathroom mold. His tactics include starving the mold and keeping the bathroom dry. You can treat bathroom mold without the use of harsh chemicals, according to this ecologically-friendly contractor.
Mold and Water Damage Remediation: How to fix mold problems at their roots. Most mold problems are caused by leaks or structural issues in the house. This article explains why you can't do mold remediation without fixing the problem's root first.
Prevent Mold with Paperless Drywall: Tips from a drywall installer for installing mold-resistant drywall. Paperless drywall is more mold-resistant than regular drywall. If you have to replace or install drywall, this article makes a good case for mold-resistant paperless drywall.
4 Reasons Why Your Damp House is Wrecking Your Health: Mold experts discuss the health effects of mold growth in the house. A damp house can be an invitation for pests, dust mites, and mold. Learn the adverse health effects of dampness and mold in the house.
Start Cleaning Shower Grout More Easily: Believe it or not, regrouting might be necessary if you can't get your grout clean. A tile contractor talks about techniques for getting the brown off your tile grout.
Source: http://www.networx.com/article/best-tips-for-removing-mold-and-mildew
Distributed by Internet Broadcasting. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


text:
Duke Baseball BIO
13 Andy Perez
2014: Tabbed to the All-ACC Academic Team ... Named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll ... Appeared in 54 games, starting 53 at second base … Finished the season with a .272 average as well as eight doubles, two home runs and 25 RBI … Batted .083 over Duke's first 15 games before posting a .318 average over the final 43 contests … Led the team with 22 stolen bases … Stolen base total was the highest by a Blue Devil since Quinton McCracken (33) in 1992 … Amassed a career-high-tying four hits on two occasions: vs. NC State (April 13) and at Virginia Tech (April 19) … Drove in a season-high three RBI Feb. 21 versus La Salle … Posted a team-best 13 game hitting streak from April 19 to May 13.
2013: Earned second team All-ACC honors ... Became the first Duke second baseman to earn all-league recognition since Quinton McCracken in 1992 ... Named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll ... Appeared in 53 games, starting 50 at second base and three at first base ... Hit .316 with eight doubles, five triples, four home runs, 40 runs scored and 25 RBI ... Totaled 18 stolen bases on 23 attempts ... Led the Blue Devils in batting average, hits, triples and stolen bases ... Among ACC players, ranked tied for third in triples and tied for 10th in stolen bases ... Had a team-high 21 games with two or more hits and also posted six games with multiple RBI ... Started all 30 ACC games, hitting .353 with six doubles, five triples, three home runs, 21 runs scored and 19 RBI ... Slugged a team-best .552 in league contests ... Had at least one hit in 23-of-30 ACC games, including multiple hits in 16 conference contests ... Belted his first career home run March 16 against Virginia Tech ... Also had homers versus Charlotte, Maryland and Virginia ... Went 3-for-4 with a double, a triple, a run scored and a season-high five RBI in the second game of a March 23 doubleheader at Clemson ... Turned in a 3-for-5 performance March 29 versus Boston College, adding two runs scored and two RBI ... Drove in four runs April 27 against Maryland ... Had a 4-for-5 day at the plate at UNC Greensboro May 14 with a double and three runs scored ... Played for the Harrisonburg Turks of the Valley Baseball League during the summer ... Hit .294 with 20 RBI and 32 runs scored for the Turks.
2012: Appeared in 45 of 55 games with 43 starts ... Started 34 games at first base, seven at second base and two at shortstop ... Hit .270 on the year with 13 RBI and 19 runs scored ... Ranked fifth on the team in hits with 44 ... Slugged .325 with nine doubles ... Registered 12 multi-hit games, including three hits against N.C. Central (Feb. 22), Eastern Michigan (Feb. 28), Florida State (March 11) and Virginia Tech (March 23 & 24) ... Hit .302 in ACC games, second-highest on the team ... Hit .333 versus left-handed pitching ... Had a 10-game hitting streak from March 6-24 ... Recorded his first career hit at Texas Feb. 19 ... Stole four bases on five attempts ... Made just six errors on 313 chances for a .981 fielding percentage.
High School: Four-year letterwinner at Marist School ... Led Marist to back-to-back state championships during his junior and senior years ... Hit .533 in state playoffs as a senior ... Hit .464 with eight home runs and 12 doubles as a junior ... Team MVP as a junior ... Named first team all-state as a junior ... Also lettered four years in football ... Named all-region quarterback as a junior and senior ... Football team MVP as a senior.
Personal: Born Andy Patrick Perez on Feb. 23, 1993 ... The son of Tim and Josette Perez ... Has two brothers (Bobby and Kevin).
Andy Photos:
Andy Videos:
Duke Athletics Teams
Athletic Department
Get InvolvedIron Dukes
Junior Iron Dukes
Legacy Fund
Varsity Club
Young Iron Dukes


text:
Itch Center - Edmond, OK
Edmond Dermatologist Doctors for Itch
Type of Physician: Dermatologist
What is a Dermatologist?
A certification by the Board of Dermatology; practitioners treat pediatric and adult patients with disorders of the skin, mouth, hair and nails as well as a number of sexually transmitted diseases. They also have expertise in the care of normal skin, the prevention of skin diseases and cancers, and in the management of cosmetic disorders of the skin such as hair loss and scars.
Specialty: Dermatology
Common Name: Skin Doctor
Dermatologist Doctors in Edmond *
Silverleaf Dermatology Center
Michael D John MD PC
Glenn A Koester MD
Glenn A Koester MD
Skin Cancer Associates
Skin Cancer Associates
Nicole Decamp MD PC
Mark Roytman MD
Melissa K Clements MD
Abbott Skin Cancer
Abbott Skin Cancer
Essence Dermatology
Dawkins Dermatology
Dawkins Dermatology
Plastic Surgery & DER Associate
Dawkins Dermatology
Dawkins Dermatology
Mark S Sullivan MD PLLC
Dermatology Associates
Dermatology Associates
Eric L Wyatt MD
Elizabeth P Gawey MD
Alfred Last MD
The Dermatology Clinic Inc
Skin Surgery Center Oklahoma
OU Physicians Dermatology
OU Physicians Dermatology
OU Physicians Dermatology
Saints Dermatology
Saints Dermatology
Saints Dermatology
Saints Dermatology
Saints Dermatology
Saints Dermatology
Beauty Thru Hlth Derm & Enhcmnt
Midwest Dermatology Inc
Dawson Medical Group
Sherrie G Williamson DO
Duncan Urice & Gillum MDs
Duncan Urice & Gillum MDs
Duncan Urice & Gillum MDs
Duncan Urice & Gillum MDs
Joel E Holloway MD
Stillwater Dermatology
Metcalf Dermatology
Stillwater Skin Cancer Med Clin
Shawnee Medical Center Clinic
Jones Family Skin Care/Wellness
Skin Clinic
Skin Clinic
Skin Clinic
Skin Clinic
Skin Clinic
Ross C Hensley MD
Joe M Roundtree MD
Edmond, Oklahoma
Itch facts
Other Related Itch Articles
Emergency Contact for Edmond
Nearby Edmond Hospitals *
AMG Specialty Hosp Of Edmond
OU Medical Center Edmond
Summit Medical Center
Mcbride Orthopedic Hospital
Oklahoma Spine Hospital
Oklahoma Heart Hospital
Lakeside Womens Hospital
Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City
Northwest Surgical Hospital
Red Rock Behavioral Health Svs
Integris Baptist Medical Center
Select Specialty Hospital
Deaconess Hospital
VA Medical Center
OU Medical Center
Kindred Hospital-Oklahoma City
Children's Hospital OU Med Ctr
OU Medical Center
Bone & Joint Hospital
Integris Mental Health Center
St Anthony Hospital
Valir Rehabilitation Hospital
Mercy Hospital Of Logan County
Specialty Hospital Midwest City
Midwest Regional Medical Center
Jim Thorpe Rehabilitation Hosp
Integris Southwest Medical Ctr
St Anthony Hospital South
Community Hospital
Canadian Valley Hospital
Moore Medical Center
Kingfisher Regional Hospital
Mercy Hospital El Reno
J D Mccarty Center For Children
Norman Regional Health Systems
Griffin Memorial Hospital
Children's Recovery Center OK
*Provider Directory Terms of Use:
The WebMD 'Provider Directory' is provided by WebMD for use by the general public as a quick reference of information about Providers. The Provider Directory is not intended as a tool for verifying the credentials, qualifications, or abilities of any Provider contained therein. Inclusion in the Provider Directory does not imply recommendation or endorsement nor does omission in the Provider Directory imply WebMD disapproval.


text:
Hintze Hall
|28 November 2013 - 31 December 2023
Discover the stories and science behind our specimens and exhibits.
Pick up a handheld guide from the Hintze Hall (formerly the Central Hall) ticket desk to carry with you and explore the Museum.
Hire your multimedia guide when you arrive or book in advance (booking fee applies).
Book your multimedia guide now
Cost: £4.95, Concessions £3.95, Families £12.
Tours: Adult, family, British Sign Language and Audio Description tours (BSL and AD tours are free).
Adult guide also in Deutsch, Español, Français, Italiano.
Hire and return: Hintze Hall (formerly the Central Hall) ticket desk.
You will be asked to leave identification.
What's in the guide
The touchscreen guide takes you into some of our Museum galleries and collections. Using the interactive map, you can choose where you want to explore.
Colourful images and videos, lively narratives and interview clips with our scientists bring the selected galleries and specimens to life. Each tour lasts about 60 minutes.
Stop for coffee and scroll through the guide's Dino files, packed with essential dinosaur facts.
A choice of two tours is available. They highlight many of the same galleries and specimens. The family tour is suitable for adults and children aged seven and above.
Find out more about the guides.
Booking Required


text:
Join the collaborative virtual seminar pilot project this month with our colleagues from the Associação Brasileria de Anthropologia (ABA), Canadian Anthropology Society/Société canadienne d'anthropologie (CASCA), and the European Association of Social Anthropologists (EASA) to bring you a virtual seminar on language and anthropological knowledge.
There are four papers which are the core of this debate. Monolinguism is a disease by Bruna Franchetto (ABA); Thinking through difference. The language of anthropological collaboration by Penelope Harvey (EASA); Political economies of language: power, epistemology and the representation of research by Alexandra Jaffe (AAA); and Transformations and linguistic alienations by Christine Jourdan (CASCA). Papers are now available on the website as PDFs. Add your comments and questions now, they will be posted on October 13. Join the presenters and four commentators for their online discussion on October 15 at 7am Pacific time, 10am Eastern time, 11am S. America Eastern Standard Time, 3pm London time, and 4pm Paris time. Participants will be able to see and hear the discussions, live.
While there is not a charge to participate in the webinar, please register in advance.
Filed under: Association Business, Commentary, Events and Exhibits | Tagged: ABA, Alexandra Jaffe, anthropological knowledge, Bruna Franchetto, CASCA, Christine Jourdan, EASA, international anthropology seminar, language, Penelope Harvey, virtual seminar | Comments Off on International Collaborative Virtual Seminar


text:
Do-It-All Willis
Click LISTEN LIVE to stream now!
MIx Squad
Listen Live
Listen On Your Phone
Audio Vault
Local Artist Spotlight
Birthday Bash Pics
Videos of the Week
JAMZ Photo Gallery
B-Daht's Blog
Tap Money's Blog
Waleed Coyote's Blog
Big Mo's Blog
The Feed
Concerts and Shows
Community Events
Local Artist Spotlight
Be a Fan on Facebook
Follow Us On Twitter
Follow Us On Instagram
Wikipedia JAMZ
Wikipedia SuperJam
Contact 102JAMZ
Want to be a JAMZ Intern?
Big Mo's Blog
Charlamagne Tha God & Busta Rhymes Respond To Altercation They Had
by Big Mo
posted Jul 7 2012 7:04PM
Tags :
People :
Busta Rhymes
Back To Blog
Charlamagne Tha God & Busta Rhymes Respond To Altercation They Had
Please Enter Your Comments Below
Title :
Comment :
Please enter the text as it is shown in the box below :
Refresh Image
Million Dollar Vault
Local Artist Spotlight
102 Tube
Perks - Daily Deal
advertise with us
Recent Blog Posts
Karrueche Cussed Chris Brown Out Over Love Child
Big Mo
May 28
RIP: Tyler The Creator Says Odd Future Is "No More"
Big Mo
May 28
Petition Started To Retract Iggy Azalea's 2015 Billboard Award
Big Mo
May 28
Heartwarming & Funny
Mike Stanz
May 28
"Together, We Can Blow Up Anything"
Mike Stanz
May 28
Next Up: The Death Star Building?
Mike Stanz
May 28
Ladybugs Everywhere!
Mike Stanz
May 28
Congratulations, You're a Piglet
Mike Stanz
May 28
Random Thoughts
May 2015
Apr 2015
Mar 2015
Feb 2015
Jan 2015
Dec 2014


text:
Last night in San Francisco, BlueRun Ventures co-hosted the Brand Connect Dinner. We work with Mark Evans at Social Local to put these events together, and we were thrilled to have speakers from Facebook, Proctor and Gamble, and Topsy speaking. Also, it was a great audience of brands and entrepreneurs, seeking to build relationships and trade information.
There are a few takeaways I had from the event.
We are in early innings of what's possible for brand advertising through Facebook, Twitter, and other social media platforms. These social platforms are offering a new way for brands to communicate and connect with users. Currently, most brands are merely repurposing content and media from existing campaigns (TV ads, magazine content, etc.) and just pushing it onto the Facebook wall, where they attempt to drive views and likes, etc. What we saw though were several very interesting examples of new types of campaigns and engagements that leveraged some of the unique elements of Facebook to enable users to engage in more personal, more deep connections with the brands. This was exciting.
There will need to be a continuing evolution here. But this is to be expected if you study the history of media. When TV first came out, for example, the first ads were basically radio ads just read on TV. It took a while for everyone to figure out how to leverage TV. But leverage it they did. Same thing will happen in Facebook.
Big brands need massive scale from a startup to really engage. On the one hand, many of the big brands–P&G for example–are getting much more serious about engaging with innovative young startup companies. We saw this at the Big Brand Hackathon earlier this summer, where Home Depot, Toblerone, Ritz Cracker, and Kraft Mac & Cheese, all joined us and a bunch of hackers to build mobile-oriented demo projects that met their specific brand objectives. Big companies and brands recognize that these new media types and these new innovations are areas they need to build musclature around, and it is great to see them engaging and working to stretch themselves to strengthen themselves here.
At the same time, its important for a reality check. Concretely, big brands are driving massive scale and massive P&Ls. This means that for a startup to really matter to a brand, there is a very high hurdle that the startup has to cross to become meaningful. As Sonny Jandial, P&G's Head of Innovation pointed out, the Brand Manager for Dawn Dish Soap is selling $1B worth of soap per year at around $4 a unit. That Brand Manager has to move *a lot* of soap. By definition, for the brand to engage beyond a little pilot or experiment with a startup, then, the startup has to be able to deliver meaningful numbers. It's a tall order, and as Sonny pointed out, his role is to be more of an experimenter on P&Gs behalf and help startups get nurtured to a level where they can grow to a point where they'd have an appopriate amount of scale to engage.
Budgets seem to be coming. Without holding the brands to any fixed numbers, it did sound as though there was real understanding and thinking around th e need to spend here. Engaging with Silicon Valley is not a hobby effort–it's real and it's serious. The bar is of course high, but it did seem as though the budget is there.
All in all, over the last 6 months, I have seen a tremendous amount of interaction between large brands and with our portfolio and with the startup ecosystem more broadly. This is an exciting trend. At BlueRun, we will definitely continue to drive further into helping engage and connect brands into the ecosystem, and I'll look forward to the next opportunities to get together. See you at the next Brand Connect dinner!


text:
See your color on these designs right now!
Enter your colors here, then click the icon below any design to preview it in your colors.
Recommended Just For You
Customer Raves & Reviews
Perfect magnet
Easy to personalize and used our wedding colors. Arrived quickly. Quality of picture and print was excellent, as was the size. Turned out perfect, better than I hoped. I highly recommend this product.


text:
Nearly 50 dogs, ranging in age from 12 weeks to five years, were found yesterday living in the windowless basement of a six-story apartment building in the Bronx. The space, which served as a makeshift dog fighting arena, was littered with crude wooden cages and had the capacity for roughly 100 spectators. Raul Sanchez, the building's superintendant, was taken into custody and charged with animal fighting, a felony.
Working closely with the NYPD Vice Enforcement Division and the Bronx District Attorney's Office, our team played a critical role in the rescue of the dogs, forensic evidence collection and on-scene documentation.
Also discovered on scene were a loaded .25-caliber handgun, U.S. currency, and other equipment associated with dog fighting—including dog treadmills, harnesses, muzzles, syringes and a shopping cart full of raw chicken parts.
"Organized dog fighting is a brutal form of animal abuse where dogs are exploited and forced to fight as their owners profit from their torture," says Howard Lawrence, Senior Director of Operations for the ASPCA's Humane Law Enforcement. "The dogs we saw today exhibited scarring and injuries consistent with fighting dogs. We're determined to protect New York City's animals from this form of cruelty."
The dogs, many of whom showed scars from fighting, were transported to a temporary shelter for further evaluation by our emergency response medical team. The ASPCA will continue to provide legal support to the Bronx District Attorney's Office to help prosecute the case.
The investigation is ongoing.
I thank God for people like you everyday!! I'm so glad those sweet babies have been saved. What a blessing!!!
You thank God? That's nice. Where was God when it happened?
Why do bring God into this when this is clearly human abuses?? This is man's evil doings not God's
i totally agree but what i don't understand is why would someone want to yet alone think about abusing animals, when their so sweet. its just sad that that's what someone would want to do. unbelievable!! its so ridiculous but at least the ASPCA saved those poor animals.
the reason she said thank god is because god is helping fight agaist the animal cruelty and he has people doing their job ,by putting the people in jail that beat on animals besue they're his chrildren to...
and yes, I thank God too that this was exposed!


text:
JON CARDINELLI writes that Peter de Villiers has failed the Springboks by favouring John Smit over Bismarck du Plessis.
'Don't be surprised if Bismarck starts the big games,' a source close to the team told me last week. By that point, Smit had started the Boks' first three World Cup matches, but there was still a strong belief that Du Plessis would wear the No 2 jersey in the play-offs.
Before Thursday, Du Plessis had pledged his support to his mentor and captain, although privately he may have expected to start the big games. When the team to play against Namibia was named, Du Plessis told an Irish journalist that he'd accepted his role as Smit's understudy, but following the announcement of the Boks' quarter-final line-up, he cut a dejected figure at the team hotel.
When he was interviewed, there was none of the good humour that had characterised his media offerings earlier in the tournament. There was also a rumour that he'd reacted badly to the news that he would be riding the bench, and that the head coach was unimpressed with this reaction.
De Villiers calls it a bad attitude, I call it a bad decision. Not for the first time in the last four years, the Bok coach has favoured Smit over Du Plessis even though it's become increasingly evident that Smit can no longer meet the standards of an international hooker, let alone match the trend-setting Du Plessis.
Smit is also no longer the indispensable leader he was during De Villiers's early years. On the 2010 tour to the Home Nations, Victor Matfield proved himself to be a capable leader in Smit's absence. When he was handed the responsibility at this World Cup, Matfield admitted that the captaincy wasn't as demanding when you had leaders like Bryan Habana (73 caps), Jean de Villiers (71), Jaque Fourie (68), Schalk Burger (67), Danie Rossouw (62) and Fourie du Preez (61) in the side.
There can be a case made for Habana's exclusion, but the rest of these players deserve their places regardless of their age. The same cannot be said of Smit, and you have to wonder if the reasons around his selection are truly rugby related.
There will never be another John Smit. He's already the most decorated Bok captain of all time, and his achievements are all the more remarkable given what he's had to endure from an off-the-field perspective.
It was during the turbulent times of 2008 and 2009, when De Villiers was at his controversy-inciting worst, that Smit needed all of his experience and diplomacy, and behind the scenes, Smit worked to ensure the right calls were made in terms of selection and tactics. While he had already achieved so much prior to 2008, his value and contributions during the first two seasons of De Villiers' tenure should never be underestimated.
When I interviewed Smit in April 2010, he told me that he would continue to put the team first. He said that the time may come where he would need to step aside, either to warm the bench or support the team as a non-playing squad member. He said this with conviction, and his past deeds both on and off the field gave me no reason to doubt that he would make good on his promise.
I couldn't help but think about that conversation when Smit was announced as the starting hooker for this Sunday's quarter-final against the Wallabies. The senior players have a big say in selection and strategy, and so I felt Smit's selection didn't align with his commitment to put the team first. By marching on as the starting No 2, he is doing the Boks no favours. By standing in the way of Du Plessis, he is, ironically, doing his country a disservice.
De Villiers will also need to accept responsibility for this situation. He may feel that he owes Smit something but the reality is that a Bok coach should always place the needs of the team above the needs of individuals.
Du Plessis is right to feel aggrieved. The best player won't start in the No 2 jersey this Sunday, and this decision could cost the Boks' in the decisive battle up front. It could cost the team everything they've worked for over the past four years and lead to an embarrassing quarter-final exit on par with that of Rudolph Straeuli's side of 2003.
Through the weak management of De Villiers and Smit's refusal to face the fact that he's a spent force, the rugby world has been denied the privilege of seeing Du Plessis in his prime on the greatest stage of all. From a South African perspective, the decision to favour Smit has robbed the Boks of the stronger, more dynamic starting option, and it's likely to be a decision the entire nation will come to lament.


text:
I thought I would post an accounting of last sunday's experience. Enjoy this bird's eye view of an astonishingly bizzare religious world view:
I walked up to the brand new Scientology building and opened the doors leading into the hallowed halls inspired from the genius of L. Ron Hubbard. Without Mr. Hubbard these faithful followers would not have reason to be here to greet me so warmly and so enthusiastically.
As I enter the building a strapping young man rushes up me with much confidence and with an extended hand knifing outwards through the air in the lobby. As he walks towards me, the arm is extending rigidly from his torso.
Geez, he really wants to welcome me!
"Nice car!" He says, commenting on my new sport's car I just drove up in. Had he watched me drive up? Were they expecting me?
I can't be certain but I think my car pegged me as a above average viable recruit in his mind.
I am invited er… instructed to fill out a form. I hold nothing back. I want the full experience. I want them to pursue me. I want to see if they are able to maintain civility and decency or will their recruiting instincts or tactics cause an embarrassing (for them) implosion.
Name, address, phone number. I feel vulnerable after divulging the goods. I think I gave it all up too easily. My willingness to do so chimed a few bells in the upstairs office because another older but more serious looking fellow came bounding down the stairs with the look of
"We've got a live one here"
written all over his face.
Soon there were three grown men chaperoning me to the various parts of the building each one peeling off at different times so as not to appear over eager but magically reappearing when I asked a poignant question that had the young one caught in an precarious stammer.
"As one pursues Scientology, everything begins to make sense in its own course", He says
This was some really great tasting milk. My more poignant questions are thwarted. I ask what their version of eternity was. Oh. Too soon to come out with that question. The question was avoided as if the words were not even spoken.
**looks around** Hey! You're just in time for the 11 o'clock service! Right this way!
I was ushered to the service and placed myself in the back. A man named Larry was sharing a really good rendition of "Here comes the Sun" played on his guitar as the opening song. I was so impressed that I got up and moved to the front row to get a better listen. I play guitar myself and really enjoy a live performance where I can get one. He was pretty good.
However, I think my bold move to the front of the "chapel" excitedly chimed a few more bells upstairs.
A reading from the words of The Wise One, Mr. Hubbard, a sermon on the mind's ability to change, and then more Larry. Larry chose to introduce this next piece with an intimate expression of thought:
"This song talks about a bridge," Larry explains
Looks at me (I guess I am the only investigator)
"The bridge is the key. I am not going to get into what the bridge is, but when you hear me sing about it that is exactly what it means."
Me: Huh? Was that cryptic speak? What was that supposed to mean? I try not to act puzzled as the song outlined how those in the valley can walk across the bridge that Ron gave us and scientology is the way. This is a topic that later gets denied by my guide for the day.
Song is over. Something called group processing begins. Eight of us sit in the room and I will describe what happens. I will try to describe it but it is truly one of those experiences that one really has to "do" in order to really "get it". It is that bizzare. I am instructed that observation is fine but participation is recommended as this next exersize has the potential of unlocking significant levels of spirituality.
Auditor: Hello!
Group (in unison): Hello!
Auditor: Hello!
Group (in unison): Hello!
Auditor: Hello!
Group (in unison): Hello!
Auditor: Hello!
Group (in unison): Hello!
Auditor: Very good, now think of something you want to change….. pause… very good, got it? great. Now think of something you want unchanged…. pause very good. Now see the list… say "Okay" to all of these things.
Auditor: Very good, now think of something you want to change….. pause…
Me: My eyes widen just a bit. Wait-a-minute, didn't we just do this?
Auditor: very good, got it? great. Now think of something you want unchanged…. pause very good. Now see the list… say "Okay" to all of these things.
Auditor: Very good, now think of something you want to change….. pause…
Me: What tha? Okay, obviously repetition is high on the list of things to do around here
Auditor: very good, got it? great. Now think of something you want unchanged…. pause very good. Now see the list… say "Okay" to all of these things.
Auditor: Now think of some things your father wanted to change….
and this went on three times for Father, Mother and then it spun back to the top for the things I wanted to change or unchange in my personal life.
Grand finale:
Auditor: Allright, I want to receive your "Okay's" let me have them.
group (in unison): Okay!
Auditor: One more time
group (in unison): Okay!
Auditor: Once more
group (in unison): Okay!
Auditor: Now let me give you my Okay's
Auditor: Okay
group: Okay
Auditor: Okay
group: Okay!
Auditor: Did you receive them?
group: YES!
Quirky pause…..
Auditor: Find the floor!
(Me: Wha huh? is this a duck and cover drill?)
group: Enthusiastically everyone stomps their feet on the floor
(Me: Ho kay… stomping my feet over here, boss…)
Auditor: Find your chair!
(Me: huh? what is this? As if it is missing!)
group: Everyone grabs the sides of their chair
(Me: feeing silly as I grab my chair, but hey… I want the whole experience right? I comply.)
Auditor then repeats the what I now will call the "hollah back Okay" drill
Session complete.
The rank and file, well, file out and I awkwardly get up. yet another man comes to my side. Introduction, firm grip handshake, gleam in his eye. I notice his white shirt is dirty on the left pocket but his brushed nickel name tag is big, clean and pridefully displayed.
Leader: Well? How are you?
Me: ( I hesitate at first… not sure if that is a trick question after what I just went through) Hey! I am fine, thank you.
Leader: My name is ____ and I am the lead I.S. here… pauses to search me for, I guess, visual cues as to my purpose and posture for being in attendance. Good to see you could attend with us today!
Me: Sure. What exactly is I.S.?
Leader: **laughs** Oh! Excuse me! (he explains it… I don't recall what it means but it is a title that everyone knows but me… loaded cult language appears many times throughout this experience!)
Me: Okay
Leader: So how did the group processing benefit you?
Me: (are you kidding? was it supposed to? what is this, am I supposed to feel uneasy that this hollah back Okay drill did nothing for me?) Well, I can see that as the drill…
Leader:—- Session!
Me: sorry, as the session progressed I was able to think of items more definitively due to the repetition. I gather that repetition was the emphasis of this (oops I almost said "drill" again) session?
Leader: (as if I had just said nothing, asked no question) I sense that you have some stressors. (His eyes burn through me in a creepy fashion… I guess another drill they have is how to use X-Ray vision on new potential recruits) The benefits are immense from this type of interaction. (sensing that I really was not buying his bill of goods, he changes tactics as if a switch flips in his demeanor)
Leader: I have to ask if you have seen our building yet? Have you done the tour? We built this with our own hands. Why, Bill over there carried many boards himself!
Me: Yes, it is a beautiful building. Nicely finished.
Leader: Yes. This is true. (he leads me out of the "chapel")
Leader: Here is Dustin, he will answer any of your questions you might have.
Dustin: (the is the same guy with the knifing power handshake only this time he shakes my hand with a Vulcan death grip designed to snap the sinews between my knuckles like twigs. Fortunately I am a strong man and we battle for only a second in a knuckle snapping death match. I think my demonstration of an assertively strong greeting excited this man or caused him to further improve my status in his mind as a really strong potential recruit)
Dustin: Follow me!
Me: Kay!
and we walk down the 16" x 16" travertine stone floors to a series of cubicles that look mysteriously like an exact replica of the car dealer's salesman set up.
Clack Clack Clack, go our shoes
The walls are lined with 6 foot tall panels filled with Lore and photos of the good old days of Hubbard. I smile to myself with the thought that they should rename this religion "Hubbardology".
My guide pauses to explain a few items and allows me time to drink in the reverent moment he just created. We reach the cubicles and they are complete with one phone, one pencil, one pad, and the top 12" above my head at sitting height are made out of glass. The "visitor's" chair is comfortable but Dustin places himself eerily close to me to the point where his knee bumps mine throughout the discussion several times.
I check. Whew! He has a wedding band on.
Okay so moving along, this discussion is where I try to get down to the brass tacks. Dustin does a quick personality assessment. Opens up Dianetics to the glossary and gives a shpeel about the word "Aberration". Dustin asks me to search inward to find any aberrations in my life. I tell him something vague. It is weak, but he goes with it and half heartedly thumps the desk in triumph:
Dustin:—And Scientology will fix that problem in your life!
I checked to see if his other knee had spasmodically jerked outward in reaction to the script he was obviously following
Me: Oh.
Dustin: Er… did I mention that I am a third generation scientologist?
Me: You are? I noticed you were married. You wife is a scientologist?
Dustin: Yes, she is actually a _____ (I forget the title but it is a designation for an auditor who can get other scientologists to the level of "Clear", which I gather is highly desirable)
Me: That must be nice for you.
Dustin: Yes, we have this in common, it is very nice.
Me: Well, what is your view on eternity? This bridge that Larry sang about in the service and how Ron gave mankind a bridge… that is a metaphor for a path indigenous to Scientology is it not? I mean, I am very interested in knowing how you would view a person who chooses to not cross the bridge. What happens to a person who never practices scientology or who turns away from scientology? Doesn't he not cross that bridge? What happens then to that person?
Dustin: Look, uh, it all boils down to trying it out to see if it works.
Me: But I think I would need to have the basic tenets of the faith down before jumping in to "trying it"
Dustin: Oh this is not about faith. Faith does not enter the equation
Me: Oh? I am curious about that. What is the force that gets you to come to this building on a Sunday morning instead of the Catholic building?
Dustin: (Taps the desk with a fingernail) See, those are great questions and with just one session you will quickly see… I mean… it's like BAM it hits you all at once—and pretty powerfully actually—how powerful this stuff really is. Once you see it work it all makes complete sense. You can't really explain it to someone who, uh, hasn't gone through an auditing session of seminar.
Me: Oh? But I would like to know about how other religions are viewed. Or for instance would you grieve if your wife decided today that she no longer wanted to be a scientologist?
Dustin: Not at all.
Me: Interesting.
Dustin: (figeting) I mean, my life would be much better and complete if both of us were on the same page regarding scientology. I would wonder. I think I would be sad because of how much good I have seen scientology do for people but she would be choosing her own path.
Dustin: Say! I know a great book that would really explain all of this. (Gets up, I follow)
Clack clack clack clack we walk down the echoey halls to "The Library" only this library doesn't lend, you buy. Along the midsection of the library are display cases with an odd machine with two silver metallic cans that have wires hooked up to them.
Me: E-Meters!
Dustin: You know about the E-Meters?
Me: I have read about them on line. How do they work?
Dustin explains the biomechanics of the E-Meter, I am dying to try it out… if only I could…
Dustin: Do you want to see it work?
Me: Cha! (that's an overly excited "Yeah!" in Noggin-ese)
Dustin: Kay, you just relax and hold these cans in both hands and I will calibrate the machine
Dustin seriously turns a few knobs and studies his work and then looks me directly in the eye like a mesmorist. He suggests a few items like my kids, a grassy knoll, a rock concert, and then suggests I think about a grueling agrument I had recently.
Dustin: Okay, I think I have it calibrated. Lets talk about your kids
no E-Meter movement or it goes way down from normal
Dustin: Typical response especially if they are young and adorable still, how old are yours?
Me: 4 and 2… and very very adorable (I smile)
Dustin: Kay, now lets think about your wife
Me: (a little creeped out that he chose to say "Let's" think about my wife) Allright
small E-Meter movement
Dustin: Hmm there seems to be a reading there. Slightly, is there any stress involved with your wife?
Me: (I Laugh, the needle goes up a few more notches with my laugh) let's put you on the cans and see if there is any stress there!
Dustin: (sheepishly) point taken
Me: But don't ask me to talk about my work environment! That is a cesspool of stress!
E-Meter pegs all the way to maximum possible stress factor
Dustin: WOW MAN!!! YOU WEREN'T KIDDING! NOW THAT'S A READING!!!
Me: Yep
Dustin: (Stares intently at me employing his X-Ray vision skills) So what is it? I mean, what has got you all tied up in knots there?
Meanwhile he figets very quickly and practically nonchalant-like with a side nob on the E-Meter control board, I thought it was already calibrated?
Me: (Okay, I will play this out, I'll bite) I work in a 50/50 partnership with my father (I briefly explain my working environment, the needle stays pegged)
Dustin:—And scientology is here to fix that in your life!
Me: Surprise!
Dustin:Okay let's bring this back down to sane levels again. Clear your mind and think about your kids
E-Meter quickly returns to normal
Me: Wow, that is kind of neat. It really reads stress levels.
Dustin: (beaming) Yes it really does! Now off to the library!
he shows me a highly recommended book for dealing with negative stressors in one's life. I indulge him and buy it. It's 4 dollars. This seems to excite Dustin. We go back to the car dealer cubicles to finish up on the hard sale I have been expecting.
Dustin: Now, you have seen the tip of this wonderful ice berg. The next step is to just take a leap of faith and attend a seminar.
Me: A leap of faith? (I thought he said that faith had nothing to do with Scientology)
Dustin: Yes. That is the only way you can really understand it all.
Me: Right. See I am going to stick to my requirements and get more information before I go that route.
Dustin: 15 hours, $100.00. That is all. Pretty small commitment for a life changing event I would say!
Me: Well, how do motivational speakers like Tony Robbins play out? Scientology is called a religion but according to you it dismisses the need for a god, for faith and relies on principles that supercede psychiatric drugging needs. Tony Robbins has many successes with life changing techniques.
Dustin: Tony Robbins? The self-help guru? Oh I am sure he has a few tricky things that work for the short term but we are more interested in long term results. We are here for the long haul.
Me: I see. But I am still going to pass on the seminar for now.


text:
SkyMall Coupons, Sales & Deals
Offers innovative merchandise from top direct marketers and manufacturers through its SkyMall catalog and web site, skymall.com. The SkyMall catalog is seen by approximately 88% of all domestic air passengers reaching more than 650 million air travelers annually. The SkyMall brand is almost universally known among affluent and well-educated travelers who are receptive to innovative, unique products.


text:
You are here
For a few lucky teachers, an adventure of a lifetime
The National Center for Science Education is pleased to accept applications for its inaugural class of Grand Canyon Teacher Scholars. Lucky teachers will be given an all-expenses-paid seat on NCSE's annual Grand Canyon expedition, an eight-day voyage through some of the world's greatest geological wonders.
Videos, videos, videos
A preview of Don't Even Think About It
NCSE is pleased to offer a free preview (PDF) of George Marshall's Don't Even Think About It: Why Our Brains Are Wired to Ignore Climate Change (Bloomsbury, 2014).
On the road again with NESCent
The Darwin Day Roadshow is returning! The Roadshow is a project of the National Evolutionary Synthesis Center, in which NESCent staff shares their enthusiasm for evolutionary science with students, teachers, and the general public on the occasion of Charles Darwin's birthday, February 12.
Over at last for Freshwater
On October 6, 2014, the Supreme Court of the United States declined (PDF, p. 10), without comment, to hear John Freshwater's appeal of the Ohio Supreme Court's decision to uphold his termination as a middle school teacher. The decision brings the long and complicated controversy over Freshwater's inappropriate religious behavior in the classroom — including teaching creationism and misrepresenting evolution as scientifically controversial — to a final conclusion.


text:
StaxMate - the perfect companion for your Stax processor!
For the impatient, you can quickly proceed to Download page; or browse Documentation.
StaxMate is a light-weight framework that adds convenience to streaming XML-processing without significant additional overhead.
It builds on top of StAX (JSR-173) compliant processors such as Woodstox , and offers two basic abstractions:
- Cursors, which build on XMLStreamReaders
- Output objects, which build on XMLStreamWriters.
The design ideas and main features of both are listed, respectively, on StaxMateIterators and StaxMateOutputters pages.
StaxMate is licensed under BSD license. Share and Enjoy!
- 29-Nov-2007: Released 1.1, significant internal refactoring (simpler and more robust synchronization of cursors), not many external changes. Tested with Woodstox 3.2.3.
- 02-May-2007: Released 1.0! (pop up the champagne!)
Dependencies / Requirements
To use StaxMate, you need:
- Stax API jar
- A Stax implementation (like Woodstox , recommended version 3.2.3).
- Stax2 extension API: either a separate jar, or as part of extended StaxMate jar ("staxmate-with-stax2")
Links to all of above are included on Download page.
Where can I find sources and binaries?
You can find binaries (jars) and sources (tar, zip) on the Download page.
Also, StaxMate sources are stored in Codehaus Subversion; you can access them using anonymous read-only access:
svn co https://svn.codehaus.org/staxmate/trunk
and registered developers can access it similarly, but adding "--username" (and "--password") switch to allow changes to be committed back in.
Currently the best to reach people involved is via StaxMate mailing lists.
Another useful related mailing list is the "official" StAX mailing list , which is used for more general discussion regarding Stax specification, and issues common to implementations.
And finally, due to its background, Woodstox mailing lists is another place where you can also discuss StaxMate issues, especially if these relate to the underlying Stax parser implementation.
Interesting Related Things
- https://stax-utils.dev.java.net/ has lots of utilities for integrating StAX with SAX components, amongst other things.


text: An elegant design crafted from superior 14 karat white gold with sophisticated side detailing. This gorgeous vintage inspired engagement ring features 85 round, channel and pavé-set diamonds, at approximately .56 carat total weight. Personalize the look by a adding a center diamond in the shape and size of your choice.Item Number: 41054866


text:
"Pit Bull." There is no other breed of dog—or arguably, any other animal at all—whose mere mention can elicit such strong opinions. Try a word-associate game with your friends: Ask them what they think of when you say "Pit Bull." Chances are that by the numbers, their responses will be more negative than positive. And it's no wonder: No other type of dog is as widely banned from housing, legislated against, or incorrectly vilified by the media.
How did we get here?
Pit Bulls were once widely considered ideal family pets—affectionate, loyal and gentle with children. But in recent years, these dogs have suffered tremendously from a combination of overbreeding, bad publicity and irresponsible owners. In reality, the overwhelming majority of Pits and Pit mixes are sweet goofballs who have gotten a very bad rap.
Learn the truth.
National Pit Bull Awareness Day, on October 27, is a day of appreciation and education designed to change perceptions and stereotypes about Pit Bulls and their responsible owners. Please take a moment to learn the truth about these wonderful dogs and consider rescuing one of them from a shelter.
Are you a proud Pit Bull parent? Please participate in National Pit Bull Awareness Day, and help us dispel the myths about these dogs by leaving a comment below about your wonderful pooch.
My girls names are Moku and Molly. Moku is a Staffy and Molly is a Pit Bull/American Bulldog mix. Both are the sweetest dogs ever! I don't know what I would do without them. Moku is my little pig, no really she snorts all the time! And Molly, so gentle and loving, want to kiss her all day long! Get a bully if you dont have one already, you won't regret it!
I've raised two Pitts Father & Son. When we 1st got Zeus, we had a 1 yr Shepard, Grizz, I didn't want a Pitt Bull. My son kept begging to have 1 of the puppies that our neighbor Needed to find homes for. Well needless to say, I gave in. Zeus, no longer with us, we had to put down just shy of 15 yrs old, Cancer of the spline spreading to his lungs. He was a dark chocolate Brindle with a white tuxedo. Told my son he would have to train him, yeah okay. Like I said I raised 2 Pitts. Zeus was a very loving guy, very graceful, obstinate, when he wanted to be, happy little lap dog. loved people an other animals. when my son, Jeff, got home from work and sat down in the recliner, he was right there next to him, in the chair or on his lap. I hardly every called him Zeus, it was either Rooney, Ruby or Boob. he was a very good old boy. We all miss him dearly. We breed Zeus with a friend's Red Nose, Penny, Out of that Litter I chose my pick, a beautiful boy Brindle. We never named our boys till we got to know their personality. Well, this one we named Taz, Little Devil. he lived up to it to, more like his Mother, he was a ramie little hellion. he's now 11 yrs old, is and always was my boy. He has other names that I call him also, Tazzer Dazzer, BaBa, Spazzer Cadazzer, Boo Boo. He's calmed with age. He's my shadow, always was. They both love going bye bye, walks and running around the yard. Zeus would always spin in a circle when he got excited. Tazzers used to run figure 8's in the yard and house, From the kitchen thru the middle room into the front room, jump on the love seat, banking off the back and kept going round & round. He loves to watch Animal Planet, he has this thing he does, unless he's sitting with or on me or my son, he goes to get a bite of food then goes to sit in front of the TV and eats it, from the TV to his dish and back again. It's funny to watch him. He's very personable, when sitting with us he talks to us, not barking but little noises and growls. when people first meet him they're thrown of a little, cause when you pet him and then stop, he'll growl at you, telling you, you're not done yet, pet me some more. he loves to sleep in bed with me and when my Man is here, he lays between us on his back face to face with us and talk with us. He's something, this one, doesn't like to be alone. I love My boy, can't imagine being without him. Don't ever wanna. Pitt Bulls are the sweetest, most loving and loyal breed I have ever had the fortune of raising. These animals are here to alert us of someone being there, not to protect and fight our battles. Why would anyone want to hurt physically or mentally such a loving creature. Do onto others as you would have others do onto you......... I look at him and can't help but smile. Wow, oops I could still go on an on.
PS Can I post pictures to this?
Our sweet pit is Tami and she is a big bundle of puppy love! Her name is short for Tamale as we have a mexican theme going on with the naming of our dogs and cat (Chili, Taco, Jalapeno (Holly for short) and Beans). The chihuahuas definitely run the house and Tami knows her place well. We think she is the most beautiful pit in the world with her black and white coloring and cute black spots on her belly. When she plops down for her belly rubs she looks just like a mini cow!
We found Tami on the side of the interstate 2 1/2 years ago and she has been a perfect member of our family since day one. We never even considered not stopping when we saw her on the side of the road and are so thankful every day that she found us.
I want the world to know that I, Charles E. Padilla, have three (3) gorgeous and beautiful Pit Bulls. They have NEVER, EVER shown any sign of aggression. I just adopted a new male and my other male and female were "slow" at accepting him, but now, THEY LOVE EACH OTHER. They play together, they sleep with me on my king-sized bed and I have to say "YES, I DO SLEEP WITH PIT BULLS" may favorite breed, but LOVE ALL animals.
So, if anyone tells you that Pit Bulls are vicious and/or aggressive, please stand up for this breed because "it is how they are raised and if you show lots of love and affection, they will give it back to you 110%. Thank You.
My husband and I adopted a wonderful Pitbull 2 years ago and she has changed our lives. Since adopting her we have begun to volunteer at the local shelter that she called home. We decided we needed to be part of the solution rather than the problem. We wanted to educate others regarding the myths of this wonderful breed of dog. She is the sweetest and most loving dog we have ever owned. She is very loyal and protective of us to be sure but she also is so friendly with everyone we meet that I am planning on training her to be a therapy dog. I will never own another breed of dog.
I have 3 terriers and love dogs but I am afraid that pit bulls are a dangerous breed and I am very afraid of them . There are several in my neighborhoodf and none of them are friendly dogs
I have had five Pit Bulls and each one has been so sweet, it hurts when I hear press claim they are vicious and should not be allowed. The owners are the problem, not the breed. They are very good with kids and others when properly trained and socialized. My current dog is lots of fun and a great companion for me and my daughter. Wish I had proper space to have several more. The shelters are full of wonderful Pit Bull needing a home. Four of my five have been recused dogs and they show their love unconditionally for you giving them a good home.
I love dogs.. all animals in fact. But Pit Bulls are dangerous animals. They have shown it time and time again. You people are delusional. They are all prone to snap at any given moment. How many people and children must be injured or die before you wake up? These animals should be put down or at least regulated like a wild animal.


text:
To Top
French/Italian national, adopted Londoner and a little bit Japanese. Currently based in New York City, with previous stints in Nice, Milan, Tokyo, London and Brussels. I am a writer and journalist with a passion for words, music and the internet and over ten years experience in the publishing industry across various positions.
Deep down though I am just a nerd who loves working with words and likes to try his hand at different things. I am currently writing a book about the historty of modern hip hop and electronic production. I also have a tendency to mutate languages and a penchant for food and travelling.
Over the years I have worked as a copy editor for a national newspaper, written for and produced a variety of B2B and B2C
publications, managed website content for medium and large companies, written a fair share about hip hop and electronic music, taught English in Japan, raised money for the victims of the March 11 tsunami and earthquake, founded and run a non-profit arts and culture project and built websites. The one constant in all this has always been working with words, music and technology and how the three intersect and complement each other.
I am available for freelance and contract work, free trips, payola of various sorts and death threats. And no you can't comment anywhere on this site because comments are evil. If you need to contact me click here. If you want to threaten me Twitter will probably get you the swiftest response.
An up-to-date CV of all my experience can be found on LinkedIn. Below are some highlights from my portfolio of work over the years:
After more than ten years doing what I do (the writing and editing and web and arts and so on) I've realised that organising it all into a coherent portfolio is harder than I originally thought. Which either means my achievements are a lot less important than I thought, and therefore don't really deserve to be thought of as portfolio material, or that my tendency to try my hands at different things has just found another way to strike me down. Either way, here's my latest attempt at an online portfolio.
Over the years my writing (mostly music and travel) has appeared in ATM Magazine, The Japan Times, Undercover, Scratch, One Week To Live, The Bangkok Metro, Asahi Shimbun, FACT, Serie B, Playground Mag, RBMA, Shook, Hyperdub, Elusive Styles, Spannered, Quietus, and ukhh.com. That's a more or less an exhaustive list. I've also had a short story published in Quakebook (following Japan's 2011 tsunami and earthquake), done liner notes for albums and had editorial/writing input in a Japanese guide to Dubstep.
When I first set up my blog (back in 2006) I published as much of my writing on it as I could, which at the time had mainly appeared in print. I added to it as I went along for a few years but these were the years I actually slowed down writing wise. All of that can still be found in this portfolio section and I'll be adding to it, retroactively and proactively, as and when.
Most of my recent and current music writing can be found on FACT magazine, RBMA magazine, the Bandcamp Blog and Medium. I'm also writing a book, ETA 2015.
Radio wise I still run and (irregularly) present the Rhythm Incursions podcast series and its recent monthly incarnation on BLN.FM (ended December 2014, might be reborn somewhere else in 2015). I used to also run and present Turntable Radio but that's now been buried. One day I will get it together to properly archive the 4 years or so of shows that people still ask about. I've done my fair share of guest appearances on radio shows over the years including Dublab (both LA and Japan), NTS (London), Resonance FM (London), Radio Citta Del Capo (Bologna) and some local stations in Manchester and France the name of which I've forgot. Some of these appearances can be found in the portfolio section of this site.
In 2008 I founded Original Cultures, a non profit arts and culture project, which I still run to this day alongside three close friends who are based in Bologna. I mainly handle content, promo, funding and artists management for the event side of things and A&R and day to day admin for the label side of things. While we each have our own specialities and duties, we do whatever needs to be done to keep things moving, you know.
Since 2005 I've also A&R'd 4 compilations, done some freelance A&R for Project Mooncircle and now A&R for my own label, Original Cultures. I also work, in a variety of capacities, with various independent artists I've got to know over the years doing everything from connecting, helping with bookings, copywriting and more. I also regularly copywrite bios and press releases for labels including Vlek Data, Mr Bongo, Rwina, Warp and more. Full archive of this work is here.
I'm available for freelance and contract projects, whether remotely or working from an office. I am currently based in New York City, as such my office availability is constrained to the city/state and all major cities that I can commute to from NYC.
You can view some of the services I offer below and contact me directly for a quote or anything else you may have a question about.
Previous clients and employers: The Asahi Shimbun/International Herald Tribune, ID Community Publications, FACT Magazine, Intel UK, Electronic Arts, Ford UK, Red Bull Music Academy, ukhh.com and more.
I have over 10 years' editorial and writing experience in both print and web publishing. This includes writing and editing small/medium-sized B2B and B2C publications, copywriting for daily newspapers as well as corporate clients (all sizes), managing content for consumer websites in various industries and freelancing for a variety of music publications worldwide.
I love print, it's where I started, but I also love and value digital publishing. Today most of my editorial and writing work is conducted within that world. As such I'm well versed in the production processes behind both print and web publishing. I can write, edit and correct and more importantly I know the implications these actions have on the actual publishing process.
I'm a self-taught writer and further refined my writing and learnt my editing skills through experience and courses at the London School of Printing.
Previous clients and employers: Curved Pressings, Vinyl Carvers, Great Hotels of the World, ID Community Publications, ukhh.com, Resonance FM, Shlomo, Cosmic Bridge Records, Arclight Productions and more.
Unlike words, my love for the web didn't really start at an early age seeing as how the internet wasn't really around then and we had to do things and talk to people in real life. I found myself becoming more than a 'user' online after finishing university and turning my end-of-degree thesis into an online resource. This ended up being my first major web project, Spin Science, which focused on the turntablist artform. I retired the project in 2007 having learnt a lot about content management, writing, social media (before it was a buzz word) and online publishing.
I've been working online professionally since 2005, focusing on content and media management/creation, digital marketing, social media and SEO. Words are important to me of course but I also believe that web publishing isn't just about words anymore and so an understanding of how the web works, and how content is consumed and shared is equally important. Which is why I've got a keen interest, and experience, in various web technologies and trends (some call it wasting time, what do they know). I'm also self-taught to various degrees in web skills such as HTML, CMS, CSS, PHP, and MySQL.
I like making the web a better place in my own way, starting with treating words on the web as importantly as they should be in print.
Previous clients and projects: Vlek Data, Warp Records, Project Mooncircle, Needlework Records, Nihon Kizuna, Original Cultures, Nod Navigators, Cosmic Bridge Records, Goth Trad and more.
I love music almost as much as I love words. This interest soon grew into an obsession as I became older and the combination of both is why I became a music journalist. The more I became involved in writing about and documenting music, the more I also involved myself in parallel artistic and creative activities.
A friend once joked that I connect people like Nokia. Thing is, it's sort of true. Over the years I've worked in a freelance capacity with many small independent labels, companies and artists doing promotion, A&R for compilations and releases, DJing, producing and presenting radio shows, organising events and most recently setting up a non-profit arts and culture project to bring forward a more personal vision of modern performing arts from a global perspective. The latter has also since become a label, which I run with partners focusing on A&R, content and promotion.
The experience I've gained and skills I've learnt in the process have been invaluable and have almost always fed in one way or another into the other work I do, be it writing or web wise. The last few years have been particularly good in that regard and I'd like to continue bringing forward music and art I feel worthy of people's time and money, as well as work with artists and companies who want to do interesting, creative things within music or art.
First quarter of 2015 has been a busy one, so here's to hoping it continues cos I can do with the money considering I'm back to paying big city rents. As always below is a round up of all the work I've published these past three months, including a story I worked extra hard on […]
As the year ended things quieted down a bit for me, mainly due to my move to NYC. Still a few pieces I'm happy with came through, including the first one for Medium's Cuepoint collection, and also the last of my Bandcamp monthly columns at FACT which I will sadly no longer be writing. Endings […]
This last quarter has been somewhat exhausting, mainly due to extensive travel from July to September. And much as it stinks of first world problems hashtags, I've come to realise that there is such a thing as too much travel. In July I hit the road again with Shigeto as his tour manager, in August […]
What it says on the tin, a round up of published work in the second quarter of 2014. There's one big piece missing from this, mainly because it hasn't been published yet though I worked on it for most of April and May. It will hopefully be included in the next report, that or the […]
Here's the second quarterly report, collecting in one place all the work I've had published in the first quarter of 2014 including my new regular contributions to Vice's THUMP UK website and the Bandcamp editorial. January to March 2014 I Got a Tour of Detroit's Techno Museum, and Found a City That Still […]


text:
DTM-Final in Shanghai: 程丛夫 (Congfu Cheng) in China
Yesterday our CEO Marcel Lejeune and our race-mechanic Sven Krieter made a visit at the final DTM-race in Shanghai
Unfortunately Bruno Spengler, who had the lead till this race had an accident in Qualifying, missing his chance to win the title – congratulations to Paul DiResta for his title.
Because of the first race in Shanghai, China we brought Schuberth-Logo in chinese letters to our chinese driver Congfu "Frankie" Cheng. Frankie was in his first DTM-season started at Hockenheim 2010 and has a Schuberth-helmet since August – Good Luck for 2011 Frankie !