text: Annabel Burn 2016-05-04T21:41:56-04:00 Annabel Burn http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/author/index.php?author=annabel-burn Copyright 2008, HuffingtonPost.com, Inc. HuffingtonPost Blogger Feed for Annabel Burn Good old fashioned elbow grease. Why Bowie Dying Feels So Personal tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2016:/theblog//3.8953636 2016-01-11T07:19:02-05:00 2016-01-11T11:59:01-05:00 Annabel Burn http://www.huffingtonpost.com/annabel-burn/ As I grew up and faced the normal teenage crisis about fitting in, Bowie stayed with me, he made me feel like my weird clothes and general kookiness was ok, with his "book of rules, of what to say to people when they pick on you, cos if you stay with us you're gonna be pretty kookie too", even when I was being bullied for it. F*** them, they didn't get it. My best friends loved Bowie too, and we sparkled together, singing loudly in each others suburban bedrooms, which was cool because Bowie was born in surburbia and he was a god. Bowie was there when I spotted my first boyfriend at a party wearing Bowiesque eye make up and glittery clothing - not a popular look in 1995, but I instantly knew he was right up my street and I went out with him purely because of this. We spent hours smoking weed and playing records, Aladdin Sane, Heroes, Ziggy stardust and even the new stuff...like Outside. I even have Bowie to thank for my terrible exam results. When my heart got broken for the first time, Bowie was there "it's a god awful small affair.... To the girl with the mousey hair". That voice. It twists a knife in my heart just thinking about it. Today there has been an incredible outpouring of grief on a ginormous scale, world wide. Before breakfast, both my older bros had texted to commiserate. People who don't normally react with personal sadness to a famous death, feel personally affected. I've got my Bowie Tshirt on, and listening to Shaun Keaveny on BBC radio 6 dealing with this thunderbolt this morning, so beautifully, has, I'm not ashamed to admit, made me cry. Because like so many of us, I've lost someone I grew up with. There are so many musicians who'd never have existed without Bowie. Janelle Monet, Lady Gaga, the Cure, Pulp, Franz Ferdinand to name just a few. But pretty incredibly, Bowie has also been relevant to kids today. I'm so proud to say that my 7 year old niece cried today at the news of his passing. Bowie never got old, he changed with us, so we never had to move on. He was always on the cutting edge. He never became an over exposed twat like some rock legends do, and unlike his peers Mick Jagger et al, he refused a CBE, saying it was not what he was working for. He kept creating, kept provoking a reaction, kept growing as we did. What a perfect goodbye Lazarus is, absolute class. Goodbye Bowie. The stars look very different today.]]> Being a London Dog Walker Is No Walk in the Park! tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2015:/theblog//3.7448070 2015-05-27T09:54:05-04:00 2015-05-28T07:59:01-04:00 Annabel Burn http://www.huffingtonpost.com/annabel-burn/ Every summer these stories come out about dog walkers making vast amounts of money while enjoying the sunshine with the dogs, but they don't see the reality, the expenses, the days when we are blue with cold from being out all day, or clearing up vomit and diahorrea, or hoovering up the endless dog hair and spraying for yet more fleas. This week ive had to throw out a sofa after a dog peed all over it. I haven't charged the owner; it's an occupational hazard. A fellow dog walker started walking dogs 20 years ago. When she began she knew of only 3 other dog walkers in London. The attitude to dog care & responsible ownership has transformed since then. No longer is it acceptable for owners to go to work leaving their dog to howl all day while home alone. Dog walkers provide a wonderful service to people who would not otherwise be able to own a pet; working people, elderly etc. The benefits of dog ownership are endless, they reduce stress, provide companionship and dogs are becoming more common in the work place now, having been proved to increase happiness and productivity. Being a dog walker is so much more than a job; it's a way of life. I've rehomed lots of dogs for owners unable to cope with an ill matched dog. I've been on a clients doorstep to help at night with emergency care. I've stayed with grieving owners at the vets. This is normal behaviour for a self employed dog walker, because we care for dogs. You have to in order to withstand the drawbacks of the job. Business has all come through recommendations, which have been offered because of my track record. It's taken me years to build up my business and some clients are irregular, so a 5 day week, managing 3 walks a day, and a lot of driving does not create much profit at all. The constant stop start driving in London traffic is exhausting and my van bills are huge as a result of wear and tear. Once I've removed these expenses, less tax & NI, I've calculated that I'm earning less than I would were I on benefit street, by 700 a year. Lots of dog walkers simply burn out after a year or so. Dealing with over excited young dogs is hard work, you need eyes in the back of your head... Add that to 12 hours behind the wheel, picking up poop, the anti dog brigade and I'm sure you'd agree that it's no walk in the park. Dog walkers don't get paid when clients cancel. We don't get paid when clients take their 10 weeks holiday for the Summer, Half term and Xmas school breaks. We're legally responsible for dogs in our care. We have to pickup mounds and mounds of dog faeces. Many dog walkers give up long before their van clutches do. No hols, gruelling 10 - 12 hour days, endless traffic crawling jams, road rage, scaffold lorries/Travis Perkins trucks blocking sideroads to deliver to the enumerous basement developments. According to the esteemed website, HR Grapvine, dog walkers earn more than the starting salary of PC Plod, NHS Angel or FIreman Sam. But that's before expenses! Luckily, our beloved public sector heroes aren't self employed like dog walkers. Never mind Zero Hours, Unite members would go gaga at Zero pension, Zero sick benefit and Zero holidays pay! Sick benefit, god damn, we're not even allowed to BE sick, as we're paranoid of losing our clients! Dogs have to pee, poop, exercise, rain or shine. And as most clients work, there's no such thing as a sickie. Like many London workers, I can't afford to live where I work either, it's a 10 mile drive. Thank you Boris and your foreign investor chums who you encourage to buy swathes of London suburbs for their 15% interest. God forbid, any politician might choose to please its electorate ahead of profiteering investors buoying up UK GDP growth (did you know that 10% of GDP comes from estate agent sales and another 10% from construction of new build homes-source ONS). Im racking up 60 bile inducing miles a day =(2300) per year for fuel. Add van depreciation (1500), commercial van insurance (1000), van running costs (a fairly steady stream of repairs - new tyres, clutch, brake pads) dog liability insurance (200), van lease (2000) and mobile phone (300) = £8000 plus of expenses. Then there's tax and NI, they do add up when you add HMRC's payment on account (POA), which is a 50% advance payment for next years tax, in addition to last years tax liability, which all self employed folk pay.... Gulp, says Amazon and Uber, do we have to pay this too? So does the Direct Line study only tell half a story about dog walkers? Are those journalist from the Guard-inane, Eve Standard & Indy simply regurgitating stats like a dog with a chew stuck in its throat? Would a journo bother interviewing actual dog walkers, when you can plagiarise the latest 'study' and get back to your Ashtanga Yoga and Net A Porter purchase before the editor can say 'Hold The Front page'.]]> Poetry Changes Lives - A Different Kind of Therapy tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2015:/theblog//3.7310814 2015-05-19T02:47:54-04:00 2015-05-19T03:59:11-04:00 Annabel Burn http://www.huffingtonpost.com/annabel-burn/ To give up a long standing depression is to have a significant part of your life abruptly removed. No wonder you feel flattened and empty. In such a state you need some positives - motivation, enthusiasm, inspiration, passion. You need something to put a bit of life back. I found my passion in poetry, like many others have since the time when Homer first wrote of 'rosy-fingered dawn lighting the wine-dark sea'. I suffered from mild depression and unhappiness for many years and when it went away, it left a kind of void. At my lowest ebb, I started reading poetry - I think I was looking for something to fill an emotional emptiness. I got a boost from this: Out of the night that covers me, Black as the pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever gods may be For my unconquerable soul.... (Invictus by W E Henley) And I was inspired for self-knowledge after reading this: In me the tiger sniffs the rose. Look in my heart kind friends and tremble, Since there your elements assemble. (Siegfried Sassoon) Little by little, I began to explore the huge canon of world poetry, it was like opening a Pandora's box. It soon became an absorbing interest and a passion. I found new ways of looking at things, new interests and new hope. My passion gave me back my life and it gave me inspiration. If you don't like reading poetry, try writing it. Modern poetry can be fun. Try the 'Cut-up' poetry technique used by American writer and lifelong junkie William Burroughs, where printed material is cut up and assembled at random. Here's one I made earlier: The book you have in your hands, Confers the most benefits, Dancing, singing and drinking, By which we are able to bear What comes to pass. I used your product and have never looked back. Or try writing a Haiku (a three-line Japanese poem of seventeen syllables) - just aim to express what's in your head. Here is one: Summer's nearly here. The swallows are returning. All life is renewed. That took me all of two minutes to write and can certainly be improved, but I greatly enjoyed it. If nothing else, poetry helps you to express your feelings, something many of us do not find easy. It can help with just about any feeling, even boredom or frustration. I composed this one while driving slowly up the A9 road, in heavy traffic, towards Inverness: Across the road and far afield The golden landscape shines, Although the local wind farm blocks The view of power lines. From all around a whooshing sound Comes bouncing off the hills, For far and wide the countryside Is white satanic mills. That dealt with quite a number of feelings simultaneously. Poetry inspires, soothes and delights. Besides being a kind of therapy in times of difficulty, it can become an absorbing interest and much more too. It is my passion and my delight and it took me on a journey from being nothing to being something. Today I don't just write poetry, I also write about poetry and about poets; I am helping my dad write a book on the subject 'Poetry Changes Lives'. I love the comment of English poet W H Auden: 'Poetry makes nothing happen'. Try saying that with emphasis on the last word.]]> Russell Brand ....Bah, Humbug tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2014:/theblog//3.6323258 2014-12-14T14:17:25-05:00 2015-02-13T05:59:01-05:00 Annabel Burn http://www.huffingtonpost.com/annabel-burn/ It's a disgrace that huge companies like Tesco can still manage a downgraded £1.4 billion profit, yet wont pay more than the minimum wage, so taxpayers are forced to top up with universal tax credits! In 2012, Starbucks was found to have paid just £8.6m in UK tax over fourteen years, despite making over £3bn ($4.8bn) in UK sales since 1998. This was because corporation tax is paid on profits and, despite the vast sales, the company reported losses over that time. The following year, Amazon's UK subsidiary was reported to have paid just £2.4m despite generating sales of £4.3bn. Google, Apple and others have joined the list of big corporate names that have also found themselves in hot water over their tax bills. So is anyone standing up for the little guy? Well, Russell Brand is, and what a bashing the media are giving him. Rupert Murdoch and chums, all of whom are in the business of keeping the poor down and milking them for every last bean have taken exception to him shining a light on this issue. The pasting Brand has received at the hands of The Sun, in response to his fight to save the New Era housing estate in London from being sold off, evicting 93 tenants, so the rent can be trippled, is worrying. The tabloid media are very happy to shout down anyone who dares to criticise the capitalistic status quo, where the rich get richer at the expense of the working classes. The red tops set us against each other lest anyone focuses on the real issues of the ever widening wealth divide, which causes the rot in our society and lack of compassion. The UK housing shortage means we only build 125 000 houses a year instead of the 250 000 needed, according to Shelter. Yet successive government allow, nay, encourages wealthy foreign investors to purchase new build properties simply because our property performs better than any stock, share or bond. And they often don't even bother to let them out. Investors from China, Russia and the Middle East are snapping up new build properties in London and fuelling a surge in prices, research has found. Around 65-70 % of new build homes - which foreign buyers prefer - in prime London locations have gone to overseas purchasers in the last two years, according to data from estate agents Chesterton Humberts. If you lose your job and you have no savings, you are utterly screwed. And Clintons Cards have even deigned to produce a Christmas card to mock the poor (these have since been taken off the shelves). You'll even need a payday loan to fund your own funeral. The rich poor gap keeps getting wider (well done Dave!) and as long as you are on the rich side of the gap, you needn't worry about the plebs outside shivering in the cold, losing their homes because they can't afford bedroom tax or because the rents gone through the roof now the new landlord is in charge. So next time you sit down and update your facebook status to gloat about your new car/handbag/south american gap year, have a thought about those who have little to smile about this Christmas. Why not make a donation to your local food bank. You know Russell will approve.]]> Thank You Julien Blanc for Highlighting the Checklist for Domestic Abuse tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2014:/theblog//3.6164594 2014-11-15T16:08:24-05:00 2015-01-15T05:59:02-05:00 Annabel Burn http://www.huffingtonpost.com/annabel-burn/ Julien Blanc's post has now been hidden online, but it came as minister Lynne Featherstone urged Home Secretary Theresa May to ban Blanc from coming to Britain. There is an online petition gathering pace with almost 150000 signatures as I write... sign here https://www.change.org/p/uk-home-office-deny-julien-blanc-a-uk-visa Victims of abuse will often report that friends and family even thought an abuser "seemed so charming". That's what makes them so dangerous. Typically male, abusers are master liars and manipulators. They have to be or they wouldn't be able to hook a victim in the first place, or carry out their bullying without others intervening. 'Refuge' the domestic abuse charity, is a lifeline for the frightened and confused victims of abuse, because even police constables dealing with domestic incident all to often believe the lies of the abuser, instead of the typically muddled and fearful victim, when the victim needs them most. Rachel Pain, Professor of Social Geography, at Durham University, describes domestic abuse as "everyday terrorism" because it has so much in common with terrorism. Victims of both crimes live in constant fear, while the criminals offend to exert control. She argued that government spends too little money on tackling domestic abuse and far more on counter-terrorism, even though terrorism affects far fewer people. "In most people's view, the two are completely different forms of violence," she said. "But they share quite a lot in common. The central part is that domestic abuse also functions largely through fear. We need to get away from this idea that it's all about physical violence." She added: "The one thing about offenders [in both domestic abuse and terrorism] is there's a motivation behind the violence. "In international terrorism, they're trying to exert some form of control. He [the terrorist] does that through fear. That's an important parallel." Domestic abuse forms a large and growing part of police work. Cuts to domestic abuse services come as statistics show a significant rise in incidents. Refuge, a charity that works with the police to protect and help victims, is seeing some of it's services shut down completely, and yet this is a problem that costs lives. Every week, two women are killed by a partner or former partner in England and Wales. Three a week will commit suicide because of the misery of living with an abuser. 30 a week will attempt suicide. Abusers are skilled manipulators. Often very charming, they can often smooth talk their way through legal barriers and present a very credible front, even leading the victim to believe it's their own fault that they are being abused. But the charm hides a chilly selfishness designed to control and torment. Many people aren't even aware of exactly what domestic abuse is. Most do not even realise that mental and emotional bullying is illegal. It's usually not until things get physical, that people in abusive relationships seek help. Refuge, the domestic abuse and violence charity, states that "If a woman is forced to change her behaviour because she is frightened of her partner then she is being abused.". Women with careers are statistically more likely to be victims because they threaten their partner's masculinity and power. Refuge have helped a great many women, and have spread awareness, but they need more funding. In Sept 2012, new stalking laws provided police and victims of domestic abuse with a little more protection, but there is so much more needed. The police regularly fail to spot the warning signs, and there are a number of cases currently before the Police Complaints Commission as a result. "Psychological and emotional abuse is not generally part of the rhetoric of abuse - it's more focused on the physical," says a spokeswoman for The Women's Resource Centre (WRC). She described such abuse as "invisible". Anna Larke, ex girlfriend of comedian Justin Lee Collins told the court that she felt that she had been "brainwashed" by Collins, a phrase that Pat Craven, an-ex probation officer and head of the Freedom Programme, which offers information to women in abusive relationships, says is extremely common in cases of abuse. "Abusive men hypnotise," she says. "The women only really begin to become aware of what's happening once the violence begins." But by the time the relationship turns violent, many women may have already endured years of mental and emotional abuse. Things often don't get violent until the women stands up for herself after a sustained period of bullying and abuse. Many people draw conclusions that a lot of women put up with abuse because they have some inherent vulnerability. Anna Larke was depicted as a "recovering alcoholic" and a self-harmer. But Craven points out that one of the biggest myths surrounding abuse is that a "certain kind of women are attracted to abusers". It is a very common feature of abusers to paint their victims as mentally unstable or drug users in order to increase their credibility. Annie Munson, manager at Women's Aid Centre, a refuge in Bury St Edmunds for women and their children who are victims of domestic violence, says she has seen an increase in cases of mental abuse. Men are becoming "cleverer", she says, in finding ways to exert control. "More men are realising they can't get away with it when they send their partners to the school gates with a black eye. In this more sophisticated age, it's hard to quantify if someone goes to ask for help [for mental bullying]. It's hard to explain and abusers know that." But she says that more needs to be done to highlight the increase in this type of abuse. "If nothing else, (the media attention focussed on) Anna Larke will have done a lot of women a favour." Domestic abuse is particularly dangerous, because it's victims are so isolated. The perpetrators, usually men, tend to have a charming front, that makes it near impossible to detect that anything is wrong. The blame for any problems will be shifted to the victim by the abuser. Justin Lee Collins portrayed his ex as psychologically unstable, and without her recording of his tirade, it is unlikely she would have won in court. It is quite common for the police even, to disbelieve the victim, because the abuser is often a practised liar and charmer, and sometimes even fails to believe that there is anything wrong with his behaviour if it doesn't include violence. But controlling a woman, damaging a women's possessions, literally stripping her of her sense of self by destroying her things, cutting off her contacts outside the abusive one, threatening to harm her, her friendships or her loved ones or pets, controlling her through intimidation, financially, emotionally, it is all abuse, and all deeply damaging. In fact victims report that mental scars take far longer to heal than physical ones. The criticisms levelled at them affect them for many years after the abuse stops, they sometimes suffer PTSD and have difficulty even making simple decisions. The aim of domestic abusers, whether conscious or unconscious - is to take control of the victims life. Domestic abuse is an abuse of power - it's all about power and control. Here's a checklist for spotting the signs of domestic abuse - IS THIS YOU? •Is your partner excessively jealous and possessive? •Are they charming one minute and aggressive the next? •Do they stop you from seeing your family and friends? •Are you constantly being criticised and put down in public? •Is your money being controlled by them? •Are you pressured to have sex when you don't want to? •Do you get told what to wear, who to see, where to go, what to think? •Are you starting to walk on eggshells to avoid making them angry?]]> My Generation Needs to Rethink Property in London - It Just Ain't Worth It tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2014:/theblog//3.5564381 2014-11-11T12:05:55-05:00 2014-11-12T11:59:02-05:00 Annabel Burn http://www.huffingtonpost.com/annabel-burn/ In Quatar you can only buy a property if you are a Quatari citizen, whereas large swathes of new London property is bought by the wealthy Chinese and Russian elite who have realised buying a chunk of residential London property is far more lucrative than leaving it in the bank accruing next to zero interest. Heck, they don't even need to let it out. According to mortgage lender Nationwide, London property value increased by 28% between June 2013/2014. The other majority is buy to let landlords, many of whom have been allowed to borrow and buy up vast portfolios at the expense of my generation. Property is supposed to be for living in, not living off. Shelter is right at the base of Maslow's heirachy of needs, yet the fat cats have been allowed to take it all and pull up the drawbridge behind them, and the rest of us are just meant to politely smile and let them get on with it. In formerly vibrant areas, such as Notting Hill Gate, natives talk about the empty mansions and endless basement extensions that are ruining London and turning it into a soulless uber rich part time playground peppered with coffee bars and estate agents. Property is the new stocks and shares. But though buying a London home is as out of my reach as a trip to the moon, I'm not going to feel down about it. Listening to my generation, it's clear that there are so many people in the same boat. It really is a wonder that we haven't revolted. No time perhaps? Too busy working to pay someone else's mortgage. Or is it something else? Living in London perhaps isn't something we all aspire to much anymore. My friends who live in the countryside and other UK cities are better off in many ways, and tell me that the quality of life is way better, not one regrets moving out of the big smoke. The weird thing is, it now seems that even paying a few million doesn't buy you much of a home here, and who do you know who is a cash ready would be London buyer? Do you know any one at all who can now afford to buy a home here and feed themselves simultaneously? Yet anyone who owns a property here is forever going on about its exponential worth. But as the streets are becoming emptier, our London homes are becoming the holiday homes of wealthy foreigners, out of reach of the average income. As Oliver Twist once sang, 'Who will buy' The ongoing rise of property prices here has been partly caused by no one wanting to cash in their chips when the prices are still going up and up and up. That's created less property available on the market, and therefore, bidding wars. The government's help to buy schemes have also added more buyers to a market where no one wants to sell. It seems Margaret Thatcher's disastrous selling of council houses taught them nothing. Interest rates will have to go up eventually, forcing people to sell when their monthly payments become unaffordable. Will the house of cards come tumbling down then? Or will London just be a sea of billionaires here for annual holidays in their London homes? Like Venice on a larger scale, a relic, empty of its original inhabitants. We are brainwashed into believing that ownership is what we should aspire to, hence this bubble, which of course, has benefited many financially, but it's not all it's cracked up to be, and no system in the world can keep making all entrants big cash winners. So if you aren't a London home owner, bear that in mind. Also, your million pound home owning friend will probably have a worse quality of life than you, worry over debt and fear of selling. The more recent the purchase, the worse the sweat. And for my generation, renting needs to move in our minds from the "throwing away money" pigeon hole, to the "sensible long term option" pigeon hole. We Londoners should put our energies into fighting for renter's rights if we still want to live here. These foreign owned properties shouldn't be allowed to sit empty driving up rental costs. Plus, experts are telling us that property in London is never going to rise again like it has in the last 30 years, so why bother killing yourself trying to get a deposit for something here? London isn't the centre of the universe and we all have internet access in the UK don't we? Clacton is nice I hear...]]> Does Your Office Allow Dogs? Well Maybe It Should tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2014:/theblog//3.6101370 2014-11-04T12:48:04-05:00 2015-01-04T05:59:01-05:00 Annabel Burn http://www.huffingtonpost.com/annabel-burn/ Christopher Honts and his colleagues at Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, conducted a study to see what the effects of a dog in the office were,. The study involved 12 groups, each made up of 4 people, collaborating on a 15 second advert for a made up product. Some groups included a waggy tailed 5th member. The volunteers were monitored through out and given questionnaires which showed that In the teams that included a dog, the group scored far higher on trust, team cohesion and cooperation, which resulted in greater productivity and reduced stress. My partner and I run a London dog walking firm, and we see first hand the impact that dogs have in the office. When the office dog returns, (he is usually the boss's pet) almost everyone smiles and a few always want to know how his walk was, and say hello to him. It's a stark contrast with non dog friendly offices, at which you are lucky if you get acknowledged, (we only visit these hell holes to pick up keys on rare occasions!). It is quite obvious that the presence of a dog changes the atmosphere for the better, and that is certainly the feedback that we get. Research from further afield shows the same information; quite simply, dogs reduce stress and make us happier. Schools, hospitals and even prisons using animal therapy all report that dogs make for a happier and more cooperative, empathic environment. In mental institutions, studies have shown that there is less need for restraints and sedatives where animals are present (this may also be the case in some offices). Unless you are prepared to start a persuasive campaign petition, or are very lucky, you will most likely need to be your own boss if you want a dog at work, as a dog requires love and care 24 hours a day, regular walks and enough income to employ a dog walker or boarder when needed.. If you do succeed, it is vital to pick your dog very carefully, and get expert advice on what is suitable for your environment; but once these requirements are met, the benefits can be enormous. Dogs not only encourage empathic behaviour in humans, they create a talking point and a non judgemental friend that bonds everyone. You can get talking to anyone over the office dog, in fact, one study showed that on meeting new people, the presence of a dog made people comfortable with each other 45% faster than without a dog present. What could be a better business companion? Perhaps we should all ride a horse to work too. That would be far more fun than the tube or bus, and you might even win a rosette if you get there really quick.]]> The Joy of Chicken Keeping tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2014:/theblog//3.5300380 2014-05-13T19:00:00-04:00 2014-07-13T05:59:03-04:00 Annabel Burn http://www.huffingtonpost.com/annabel-burn/ I had concerns that the dogs or the foxes would snatch them, but so far, they have been okay. Amazingly, the dogs have understood that even if the chickens wander right onto the front door matt, they are not to be bothered, so the dogs sometimes bark the squeeky bark of outrage, but there is no aggression or licking of chops. The chickens have a fenced run that they fly in and out of, and a little house to keep them safe at night. Sophia the black chicken, can sometimes be a bit of a bully to the little grey Gucci, but provided scraps are well dispersed, it's not a problem. Not only do they provide a load of delicious eggs every morning, but they keep slugs and snails out of the vegetable patch and off the flowers. And they also eat all the scraps. The chickens are not a massive saving, as the outlay costs are going to keep them in debt to us for a while, but it's more than worth it. Not only do friends love the eggs, but everyone seems to just love coming to have a cup of tea and hanging out near them, which is just so lovely. They are like an agricultural fish bowl. It's so peaceful yet funny watching them wander about exploring and chasing the dogs. There is something very comical about them. Chicken keeping really is very easy. They need cleaning out weekly, and disinfecting of all surfaces, but it doesn't take long and the benefits of eggs are enormous. Here is some organic egg info that may surprise you... 1. Eggs are great for the eyes due to lutein content, reducing chance of cataracts and macular degeneration in studies. 2. An egg contains 6 grams protein and all 9 amino acids. Organic eggs are substantially better for you than factory eggs. 3. Research has proved that moderate consumption of eggs does not have a negative effect on cholesterol as previously thought. 2 eggs a day are shown to improve a persons lipid profile. 4. Eggs are one of the few foods containing Vitamin D. 5. Eggs may prevent breast cancer. In one study, women who ate 6 eggs a week reduced their risk of breast cancer by 44% 6. Eggs promote healthy skin hair and nails due to a wide range of vitamins and minerals. Many people find eggs make their hair grow faster. Now... what about bee keeping...]]> Eating Disorders Are Notoriously Hard to Cure, But Does Animal Therapy Hold the Key? tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2014:/theblog//3.5218333 2014-04-29T04:00:31-04:00 2014-06-28T05:59:02-04:00 Annabel Burn http://www.huffingtonpost.com/annabel-burn/ It wasn't just a case of wanting to be thinner; eating disorders, pretty quickly, cause chemical imbalances that bring on depression, and eventually I felt like I was not worth feeding. Lying awake at night with heart palpitations, I knew what I was doing was hurting me, but gradually, my worth became linked, in my eyes, solely to my weight. Standing on the scales one morning, watching the dial stop a few pounds short of 7 stone, I realized that no matter how thin I was, I still felt miserable. It wasn't until animals came back into my life that I started to heal, and feel that life could be enjoyable again. I was lucky enough to be sent to a private place that used Equine therapy. It had been probably 6 or 7 years since I had been around horses, and I found that the old me came flooding back, lost confidence returning with the emersion in an experience unconnected to my physical appearance, something I could do right. I have worked with dogs full time since, which has been fantastic. I've met some wonderful people and wonderful dogs, and seen so many lives transformed by the love of, and for, animals. With animals around me, I can cope with anything life throws at me. Last year, I decided to put more time into riding horses regularly, and am now sharing a beautiful Thoroughbred, and being trained by a very gifted pro, which is really exciting. Being in the saddle gives me a feeling of happiness and peace that nothing can touch. I just love being around horses, and I feel like i'm walking on air for hours afterwards, even if it's grey and pouring with rain! I honestly don't know where I'd be without animals, I owe them my health. Animals, in the right environment, work as great stress relievers. Research has proved that physically, animals have a beneficial effect on our heart rate and blood pressure. Interacting with them makes us happy, and even our physical fitness, given that many animals, i.e. horses and dogs, require exercising, improves. They also don't judge us, they don't want to con us out of money, and they are happy when we are happy. In stark contrast, we are bombarded with advertising; ridiculous fake images of the unattainable abound, making us feel inferior. We all know images of models are altered (stretched, trimmed and painted) out of all recognition, to manipulate us into buying things we don't need, but it doesn't help. Animals put us back on planet earth. It is so sad that young girls are still being subjected to these pressures at such a vulnerable time in their lives. We live in a sick society, in which you need the skin of a rhino before you even reach puberty. Bodies are supposed to be for expression, learning, communication, for fun, to help people... not vessels to be rated according to current aesthetic standards. Barbie has a lot to answer for, but at least she has a horse. If you pick up any fashion magazine and remind yourself, NO ONE has a body that shape, not even the model, it all seems absurd. It is so destructive, emotionally, physically and financially! Yet so many girls turn against their own normal bodies in disgust at the difference between it, and these airbrushed art works. You might as well compare yourself to an earthworm! One thing the paparazzi could be congratulated for, is providing us with some real life photos of unairbrushed faces and some normal curvy bodies that haven't been lengthened and shaved in Photoshop. Sadly though, plenty of these celeb women are falling head first into the eating disorder trap themselves, and having their skeletal bodies pasted all over the tabloids. It's like car crash TV. It needs to stop. It is estimated that 10% of us will at some point suffer from an eating disorder. It's hardly surprising when as youngsters we are trained by the media that thinness and beauty, to the point of illness, equals success. A study of primary school children found that little girls rarely aspire to be doctors or lawyers or sportswomen, they want to be models and pole dancers, and they want cosmetic surgery at younger ages than ever. We are teaching our daughters that what they look like is what matters most. Animals teach us about unconditional love and using our bodies for communication, looking after nutritional needs, health, and of caring for something other than ourselves. Horses particularly, teach us the value of our bodies as an instrument of communication and strength. The NHS is looking for ways to reduce the vast cost of caring for people with eating disorders, who are notorious for returning again and again, to be patched up but not fixed. Why not incorporate animals as therapy? Animals get to the heart of the problem and change thinking; IV drips don't. Prisons have had phenomenal success combining rescued problem dogs with inmates. The knock on effect of improved attitude, behaviour and well being in prisons is staggering, as seen in the Rover Rehabilitation project. Animal charities would benefit from the arrangement too. Love breeds love. In the UK, eating disorders are on the rise with the highest figures in Europe. Anorexia kills more people than any other psychiatric condition, and Bulimia, which is far more common, is a deadly disease which can kill without anyone realizing anything was really wrong, simply because the person wasn't emaciated. Eating Disorders are famously hard to treat, but increasingly, specialists are finding success using animals. 'Patting Dogs' are becoming more popular in hospitals, and the 'Equine Assisted Therapy' charity reports that "A relationship developed with a horse can offer challenges to help overcome fears, build up trust, respect, compassion, develop communication skills, problem solving & coping techniques, self confidence and self esteem. These skills are transferrable to many other areas of ordinary day to day life.". Animals teach us that we are more than 1 dimensional. They don't care what we look like.]]> Is My Dog Smarter Than Me? tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2014:/theblog//3.5191125 2014-04-23T09:16:45-04:00 2014-06-23T05:59:02-04:00 Annabel Burn http://www.huffingtonpost.com/annabel-burn/ One of our dogs, Gonzo the Vizsla, will eat anything, even a blueberry or a lettuce leaf dressed with vinegar. The other, Roodie the Border Collie, eyes anything new with suspition, food included, and will accept raw meat, but anything else is seen as an attempt to poison him. He watches to see what Gonzo eats and then will sometimes take the risk when she does. This seems to be his rule of thumb (not that he has an opposable thumb, had he, dogs would surely rule the world) for most new things and situations. Today, at our favourite spot in Richmond Park, "leg o mutton pond", i threw a ball into the cold water. Gonzo doesn't go for balls in water, and Roodie, though he normally would, was bored of the game having found a stick he preferred, and decided not to. At that point i started encouraging them to "get the ball", but neither dog would. Eventually i got out my bag of treats, and said again "go on - get the ball!". The penny dropped for the incredibly greedy Gonzo, and though she hates water, she leapt in and swam out for the ball. When she got back to the bank, she dropped the ball on dry land and came bounding to a halt, sat at my feet, nose to the bag of treats, an expectant look on her face that said "i've performed my side of the deal! Where's my treat?". I gave her two treats, huge congratulations, and marvelled at how mentally underated dogs are. I've taken Gonzo to Kennel Club agility classes, and the Kennel Club examiner who awarded Gonzo her Bronze, commented on how remarkably intelligent, but also keen to try new things, she is. An unusual combination as in the wild, curiousity and risk taking costs lives. As a long time owner of Border Collies, I am used to extremely smart dogs who have even used the doorbell with training, but Gonzo's behaviour sometimes outclasses any dog i've met. I contacted a well known dog behaviourist and asked his opinion on Gonzo's intelligence. "How is it", I asked, "that i can drop a ball from any window in the house, and the Vizsla will shoot outside to the exact location, while every other dog i have studied, stands and looks at the window from where the ball was dropped, and often has to be prevented from jumping out?". (This applies to other people's houses too, so it isn't merely Gonzo knowing the house... Also we've moved a few times). The response I got was that, while collies may be the brightest dogs, they are motivated very strongly by wanting to please, trick training etc, wheras, Gonzo seems to be an independent problem solver, often working alone to get what she wants. Maybe going through the bins is more of a sign of intelligence than doing an agility course perfectly in minimum time! Secondly, as my only dog for the first 5 years of her life, and my constant companion, Gonzo's brain has perhaps been pushed to develop by continuously being challenged by new situations and interaction. And lastly, perhaps too, the diet she has had plays some part. Gonzo has eaten yoghurt, apple cider vinegar, coconut oil, all sorts of natural products alongside her raw food since she first arrived. There is a strong link between nutrition and brain growth and size. I bought Gonzo a dog "IQ Test" which required squares to be moved on a board to release treats. As you can imagine, it was completed and empty within two seconds flat. Monkeys are often heralded as almost our equals because they use tools. A Chimp can point to a button on a screen that says "biscuits". Well in her own way, Gonzo uses tools, bringing me her food dish or her lead, to get a desired response. She knows to step on the bin step to get the lid open when she thinks i can't see her. She has learnt that the chickens are not to be bothered or she is sent to bed. She knows to carry their eggs very very gently or they crack. She has learnt that some behaviours are worth repeating and give her what she wants, while others are not. That not only makes her smart, but smarter than many humans! Her limits lie in my teaching ability only. When Gonzo is disobedient, it's because she thinks she has a better idea. Food or fun are always at the top of her to do list. Did you know that there is a dog on the internet who can drive? And another who can distribute the post in his household, recognising the letter shapes for each family member? Perhaps the biggest sign that dogs are cleverer than us though, is that we follow them around carrying their poo in bags, we feed them, love them and let them share our homes for free and pay for their healthcare. Now that's smart.]]> That Danish Giraffe and the Questions It Raises tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2014:/theblog//3.4760262 2014-02-10T10:54:40-05:00 2014-04-12T05:59:01-04:00 Annabel Burn http://www.huffingtonpost.com/annabel-burn/ As someone who's life has been somewhat taken over by animals, I am the first who would speak up on the side of the furry, and yet I find myself kind of bothered by the reaction that so many have had to this. How could we have reached a stage where vaster than ever quantities of meat are produced for our consumption, living miserable over crowded lives up until their miserable deaths, and yet a humanely killed zoo animal being fed to its natural predator, is so shocking that it becomes a major news story? Is it because there was a duty to care, given it that the giraffe was raised at the zoo? But we raise battery and free range chickens, pigs etc, who are eventually slaughtered. Or is it the bond? If so, isn't that a little unfair to the animals we have not given the opportunity to bond with a human? Most British meat eaters would happily eat steak, but draw the line at horse meat or dog meat. Our own garden chickens are arriving soon, and I'm looking forward to explaining the circle of life and the food chain, to my young nieces and nephews. I remember religiously watching David Attenborough documentaries at their age, gripped, sometimes unable to bear to watch. It really should be part of the curriculum and I'm so happy that my youngest family members will get to eat fresh eggs, and understand where they come from, which isn't supermarket shelves. When our chickens are too old to produce eggs, they will be humanely killed and eaten, probably served as dog food, as free range raw chicken is what our dogs mostly eat. My nieces and nephews are going to be able to understand first hand, that Hilda, Gertrude (maybe i shouldn't name them) and the others are part of the food chain. They won't end up suffering old age. We won't be paying to feed birds that produce no eggs. So the story goes. It is interesting to note that among my friends and acquaintances, the vegetarians are largely those who grew up in rural locations, and made a choice at a young age about how they felt about animals and consuming meat. The Londoners have often managed to stick their head in the sand and avoid the issue. There's no 'nature red in tooth and claw' in neatly packaged Tesco items. I'm all for being a veggie, and am almost there myself, apart from the odd bit of wild pheasant or something. Something that has a happy life and a quick end. But I would kill a suffering animal in a heartbeat, and in fact have had old or physically suffering dogs put down , and have even killed a half alive squirrel recently. It wasn't nice, but it was less awful than watching it squirm and squeak, waiting to die. Death is part of the circle of life, not something to fear and dread. It's often a merciful release, but let's not get started on euthanasia too! I bet Tesco value chickens have a miserable life, and if seeing a butchered giraffe makes a few people think about where their food comes from, and swap the Tesco chicken for a veggie alternative, or free ranging meat, it'll have done a lot more for worldwide animal welfare than mummies who can't bear for their children to see giraffe Bambi becoming a consumed part of the food chain. Teaching your children that it's just cute animals, or their own pets that matter, is wrong. You either care about animals or you don't, it can't be "just these ones", what about the rats that get poisoned every day in all our major cities? What about the animals slaughtered to make fluffy hats and coats? Having said that, some animals, horses, dogs, cats, a rat and a goat, have become my friends, and because I know them personally, I could never eat nor kill them if they were healthy. And in truth I'm probably going to end up with a load of old non egg producing chickens when push comes to shove. I'm aware that I've anthropomorphised them, but my dogs, especially, are real loving characters and part of my family. I must admit, that young giraffe butchering video really shocked me too. So maybe I'm just as confused as the activists.]]> David Attenborough's Grisly Discovery, the Revolution & Digging Up History on Richmond Hill tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2014:/theblog//3.4539503 2014-01-03T22:29:54-05:00 2014-03-05T05:59:02-05:00 Annabel Burn http://www.huffingtonpost.com/annabel-burn/ Richmond Hill is now one of the most sought after areas in the UK. Though our home was a small housing association property for low income, single parent families, being right by Richmond Park (Henry VIII's hunting ground) was utter bliss. But as another vast Porsche Cayenne with one tiny woman in it sails by, what, i wonder, was life like for the ordinary local folk, like me, that are forgotten when history is written? As luck would have it, the Public records office is down the road in Kew. I'm soon surprised to find that this land between Richmond Park's 'Cambrian' and 'Sheen common' gates does not have a happy history. Queens Road, then known as "Black horse lane" was home to Richmond Union Workhouse. With an attitude to housing the poor that mimicks battery hen farming, individual parishes had a responsibility for the welfare of those born within them, and often they united to provide institutional care for those in need. If you had fallen on hard times, maybe widowed or laid off during an agricultural depression, you would be unable to pay the bills. With a family starving and no Social Security system, the only option would be a long trek back to your parish of birth, begging for food and sleeping rough en route. Once you arrived, you would be split up. Men, women and children were cruelly segregated and made to work brutal hours in exchange for a meal, bed and clothing, lucky if they saw their loved ones again. Each dormitory would be heaving with other heart broken people. Richmond Union Workhouse opened on the site of Grove Road in April 1787. A plaque on the building declared it was 'Erected by the Munificence of His Majesty George the III for the use of the poor of Richmond and Kew'. An infirmary, an institution for the mentally ill and a mortuary were later added to the site, probably predominately for residents suffering ill effects of abuse. In 1832, the Reverend Millman had this to say: "The Workhouse should be a place of hardship, of coarse fare, of degradation and humility; it should be administered with strictness, with severity; it should be as repulsive as is consistent with humanity.". Unbelievably cruel, the intention of the workhouse was to dehumanise, which it did successfully, using the Church's warped values. Though inmates could leave, there were usually no other options. Later converted to a first world war hospital, and now mostly knocked down, replaced with affordable housing, this place is haunted by terribly sad memories of heartbroken men, women and children; crushed and beaten, pining desperately for lost loved ones. Everyday souls who might have been us. Today things are better in the UK, but it's by no means equality yet. The haves indulge, turning a blind eye, and the have nots trundle on, accused of bitterness if they complain, and kept at bay with enough tv and happy pills to keep them from revolting against the economic and political disparity and spiritual destitution. We are a long way from Buckminster Fuller's idea "to make the world work for 100 per cent of humanity in the shortest possible time through spontaneous co-operation without ecological offence or the disadvantage of anyone". Though we still have politicians who run the country with shameless greed, at least the draconian Church influence is now more under control. Anyone who has read the Bible, believer or not, knows Jesus as promoter of equality, love and kindness, not cruelty. I hope the former residents of Richmond Hill are at peace now, and I wonder what future ones will think of us if Russell Brand gets his revolution. (Ps. I won't be voting for no choice either).]]> Don't Kill Yourself Trying to Buy a Flat in London, When You Can RENT, RENT, RENT tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.4209450 2013-11-03T15:22:43-05:00 2013-11-04T09:34:21-05:00 Annabel Burn http://www.huffingtonpost.com/annabel-burn/ A few days ago, I was listening to cab drivers on LBC grumbling that their kids can no longer afford to buy in London and are moving elsewhere. Another caller then told the LBC host that an ex council property his parents bought in London for 18K in 1987 is now worth £800K. It's like winning the lottery if you bought your council house, but unfortunately Maggie Thatcher contributed towards stuffing up my generation of everyday Londoners' chances of ever owing a home here, inadvertently changing the face of London. Having said that, I live in London, in a flat I love. It has a gorgeous garden and it's in a street that I have wanted to live in since I was a kid. I could never afford to buy my home here, but renting here is very doable. Up until recently, I've found it utterly soul destroying that I've never managed to save up a deposit and will probably never be able to afford to buy my own home in London, but now I've had a change of heart, because London is becoming less and less the place it used to be. We are constantly reminded that your average Joe can't afford property in London anymore. Where I lived as a teen in Kensington & Chelsea, it was once a vibrant mix of ethnic minorities. We had Kensington Market, record shops, independents and working class Londoners. Now all I see is a high street full of estate agents, bland coffee bars and wine bars for the rich folk who have the money to live there. The taxi drivers, health workers, entrepreneurs, artistic creatives, historically the poor, have long gone, priced out by a mortgage market propped up by successive governments, desperate to stave off a house price crash, rich foreign owners who barely live here and an unfettered free movement of cheap European labour. Salaries haven't gone up but property has gone through the roof, even renting here is out of the grasp of many. Average Joes are disappearing and moving out, and with them goes the vibrant atmosphere that makes London so special. It's important that ordinary Londoners who can't afford to buy here accept that London isn't the centre of the universe, and that renting is a great option if we must be here to work. It is perfectly possible to enjoy living elsewhere. Of my friends and family who have moved out of London, though they took time to adjust, all are glad of the move and find local community and local shops that they didn't have to the same degree in London. Equally, with the internet, we are all connected... you can live in the countryside without being isolated and unable to earn a living. London has become the domain of the super-rich. it isn't a community of ordinary people any more, and that makes it a lonely place to be. Even if you're fortunate enough to have the savings to allow you to buckle to the pressure to buy in London and mortgage yourself to the hilt, interest rates can only go up, which means higher repayments. You will still need to keep a bundle of notes tucked away for replacing that leaky roof, blown boiler or rewire. And you might find that the cheery old lady who lives upstairs has just been replaced with a twenty something well-to-do urbanite who's brought a set of drums and his DJ-ing equipment! Yikes....if this happens to me, im either on the phone to the landlord or I can simply look for somewhere new. It's great to rent. Of course, homeowners will always say; "Yeah, but I'll have paid off my place, when you're still paying rent". And I'll say, 'It looks like we'll all be working till we drop, and even be made to sell our homes that we saved to buy, instead of renting, to pay for our healthcare so why bother with the stress of ownership?']]> Courts Are Putting Victims of Domestic Violence in Danger tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.3961486 2013-09-20T10:43:30-04:00 2013-11-20T05:12:02-05:00 Annabel Burn http://www.huffingtonpost.com/annabel-burn/ The Sun, ITV and BBC news and local press have all reported on this campaign as it has highlighted a massive flaw in the British Justice System and raises some very important questions: Should a domestic violence victim face prison for withholding their safe/flee address? According to our Justice System and courts the answer is yes! Are the Ministry of Justice, David Cameron, Nick Clegg and co ready to face the consequences if a victim and/or their children are injured or killed? Despite log numbers, restraining orders, anti molsestation orders etc and a very extensive history of violence and abuse the court refused to see the danger they were placing Eve and her children in, and in fact, the remark was made was that her Domestic Violence history and fear had "no bearing on the case." As the campaign has gained momentum, victims are coming forward and Eve and her team are hearing of some appalling cases, such as where Anti molestation orders have been served to abusers with safe addresses on them, safe addresses being read out in an open court by a Judge in front of a known abuser, and victims being forced to reveal safe addresses in order to comply with the courts. This cannot continue it is very dangerous practice. Will this put victims of domestic violence off escaping and reporting the abuse they are facing? Yes it certainly will, because no matter how far you come on your journey as a survivor, our Justice system and courts can put you in danger. It is hard enough for victims to get the police to believe them in many cases, as abusers are often practised liars and charmers, and victims are often in a state of great confusion having sustained sometimes years of abuse, and have very little fight left when they finally find the courage to seek help. Is enough being done to protect our victims? The answer is clearly NO. The Police are only recently being schooled in how to recognise domestic violence, it is in fact very common for victims to report that police have accused them of "time wasting" and abusers are notoriously good at manipulating the situation (see my earlier piece "Domestic Abuse, Terrorism in the Home"). Why is a child abuser's address protected but not a domestic violence victims or indeed a rape victims? It is only recently that we hear that John Venables has once again been released and given a new identity. Why is he protected yet a victim of domestic violence/rape isn't? Why are new secret and safe locations of domestic violence victims being read out in open courts and in front of known abusers that Judges know are present? What if a domestic violence victims flee/safe address is a refuge? This will have SERIOUS IMPLICATIONS and could put women, children and staff at the refuge at grave risk. Indeed, what would happen to the children of a domestic violence victim if they were sent to prison? We are all aware that DV isolates victims from family and friends so the answer to this question is that the innocent children of the victim would no doubt enter the care system, many having witnessed terrible violence and abuse themselves. It costs very little to take someone to the small claims court. How easy would it be for a known abuser to take their victim to court. The court can then demand their safe/flee address be handed over, the victim knowing that if they refuse they will face prsion. This all begs the question, why are our Civil/County/Family court staff not trained in how to deal with domestic violence victims? It is wrong for a court official to say "wait for the knock on your door" to a domestic violence victim. It is wholly inappropriate for a court officer to repeatedly threaten a victim of DV with prison for withholding a safe/flee address. It is also unacceptable that a court official/judge can cause such distress to an already vulnerable person. This is a blatant infringement of a victims human rights. Neither should a court official cruelly dismiss a domestic violence victims history and fears. It's time to act. Please support the national campaign to protect victims of domestic violence and their children, here is the link once again:http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/helen-grant-mp-david-cameron-nick-clegg-protect-victims-of-all-abuse-in-particular-domestic-violence]]> Yes My Dog Has a Facebook Page and I Love It tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.3880982 2013-09-06T12:10:22-04:00 2013-09-09T06:53:03-04:00 Annabel Burn http://www.huffingtonpost.com/annabel-burn/ Our doggy friends tend to post photos of themselves in which hoomins rarely feature. All posts are made in a "doggy" voice. This seems to remove a lot of what is wrong with social media, the dreadful self-absorbed "selfies" and the showing off. It promotes a spirit of fun and caring. My hoomin friends who are "friends" of my dog tell me they love our page as it always makes them smile. More than that though, the support on doggy Facebook is phenomenal. Whatever is going on, they are there to offer laughs, support and help, whether giving advice on how to cope with a dog with a bee sting, to recommending walks and even supplying old garden furniture! There is no bitchiness as it's not the doggy style (excuse the puns). Among our doggy friends though, the most special is the "Vizz Whizz" crowd. These are Hungarian Vizsla (a breed of pointer dog) owners, across the country, who meet for monthly walks with other Vizsla owners, raising money for Vizsla charities in the process. This was all started by Otty the Vizsla's hoomin mum. The Vizz Whizz crowd have helped me with coursework, alerted me to food deals, events, given advice with feeding and behaviour, they have been so kind when one of my dogs has been ill, they are my doggy family. This month though, they've blown me away... When Otty the Vizsla, at seven years old, and having just won Best Veteran at Windsor, became seriously ill and was diagnosed with "Polymyostitis", a terrible muscle wasting disease that affects Vizslas, the Facebook doggies came into their own. Otty's mum had reached her insurance limit and the vet costs were spiralling, so her Vizsla friends quickly decided something needed to be done and launched a Facebook auction to run over one weekend. Everyone wanted to help. Otty and his mum have done so much to raise money for Vizslas in need, and now in their hour of need, everyone stepped forward. Unbelivably, enough was raised to cover Otty's vet bills. Truly inspiring. The Facebook doggies are our best selves. They are supportive and funny and loving and kind. Always there for one another, owners are carried through terrible doggy grief as doggy best friends are lost, and love sharing stories and pictures and the enjoyment of each other's puppies and dogs. It's a happy place that provides a huge amount of practical help, and though Facebook discourages animal profiles, they bring a great deal more joy and positivity than the vast majority of hoomin ones, plus there isn't really much that Facebook can do, because all those animals have hoomins who can use whatever name they like.]]>


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Now that the King of Pop is dead, we might as well celebrate the Queen of Pop instead. Madonna just released a new video this
Now that the King of Pop is dead, we might as well celebrate the Queen of Pop instead. Madonna just released a new video this morning for her song, "Celebration," off of her upcoming greatest hits album of the same name. Even though Madge is 51 and probably should be out of touch with what's "hot," this video and dance track is the catchiest thing she's released in a long time. Madge sports a sexy, ultra short outfit that let's you know immediately she's embracing her sexuality and the single life again. She even makes out with her new boyfriend, Brazilian model Jesus Luz, during the end of the video and her 12-year-old daughter Lourdes makes a guest appearance as well. I hate to see anyone get divorced, but Madonna's married years were terrible for her musically. Now that she's humping around again, her music is right where it needs to be.
Check out the video after the jump. And if you want to pre-order Celebration -- which comes either as a single CD release with 17 tracks, a double CD package with a few new songs, or the premium package featuring two CDs plus 30 music videos, you can do so now. Celebration hits stores September 29.
Update: There's a reason I said "watch it now." The video below is no longer available. Can we all say fuck Warner Music Group on the count of three? 1...2...

subset: commoncrawl


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Much of the unsettling, gothic feel of Martin Scorsese's new movie, Shutter Island, comes from its soundtrack. Produced by the legendary Robbie Robertson, the soundtrack offers a compilation of atmospheric scores and period radio crooners. Here's how one critic described the movie's music:
But the element that most strikes the senses in Shutter Island is the stunning use of music. Robbie Robertson serves as a super-savvy musical supervisor, supplying some of the great 20th-century modernists — György Ligeti, John Cage, Morton Feldman, and Ingram Marshall's haunting "Fog Tropes" — and coming up with the greatest use of modernism in an American film since ... ever.
ReelzChannel is giving away copies of the two-disc Shutter Island Soundtrack — enter here.


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The other day I took my DD to the library for a children's event. Chairs were set up around the outside for parents and the kids sat in the middle of the room. I made my way toward the only open chair in the room, just as a woman told another woman that her daughter was sitting there.
I'm not opposed to sitting on the floor, but it gets uncomfortable when I can't lean back against anything. So, I was hoping one of the Dads or Moms would either offer a seat or have one of their kids get up to let me sit down. Nope.
I'm all belly so there's no denying I'm pregnant and, maybe it's hormones, but I was kind of upset by the whole thing.
I did Crossfit for most of my pregnancy, so I definitely don't treat it like a disability - but even pregnant I would offer my seat to another pregnant person or an older person. This is the second time this has happened and now of course I think I'm giving off a bad vibe.


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Larnaca promenade, Cyptus
I very much like the way the path leads the eyes towards the silhouettes. Great editing, too. The surreal sky is fantastic!
Beautiful shot
well that leads you into the picture and no mistake
Nice contrast.
Beautiful composition dear Erene, awesome place
Great shot! Which part is manipulated here?
the sky looks like its painted..awsome =]
Good effect and perspective!
Great shot, well done. Love the post-processing too.
nice dear erene...
cool work
stunning ma. very cool!
The summer day is a beautiful shot but this one is extra-ordinary! I really like it
why does the sky look like that? any special effects or it's just the way the clouds look like?
Stunningly beautiful...
this is really amazing!
nice one ! ;D
wow, stunning color...
how you create this kind a color?
how you create this kind a color?
Thank you very much for your comments Ahmad. I did this with Adobe Photoshop. It was a long process, but if you like I can explain it!!!


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Inside Sales
Future Electronics 63 reviews - Pointe-Claire, QC
This job posting is no longer available on Indeed. Find similar jobs:Inside Sales jobs - Future Electronics jobs
About this company
Future Electronics doesn't need a crystal ball to know where its future lies. Founded in 1968 by owner and reclusive billionaire Robert...


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Task List - To Do List - Pro
by LorSoft
Developer Notes
This effective to-do list lets you keep track of everything you need to do. Organize tasks in your own to-do lists and assign icons to both tasks and lists.
Task List Pro have basic producteev sync, widgets, task reminders, 160 icons, repeating tasks, speech to text, backup/restore, search, CSV...


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We have all (4 of us) had a gunky cough for a while now. ĀMy 6 year old DD has had it for 6 weeks or so. ĀAbout 3 weeks ago I took her to the pedi for other symptoms and she was treated for strep but her lungs were clear at the time (he did have us use her asthma inhaler for the cough though). ĀBut the rest of us just have this gunky cough that's lasted weeks now. ĀNo other symptoms except maybe a little bit of a stuffy nose but barely. ĀI'm wondering about pneumonia because 3 of us had it last year, but I thought you'd have a fever (I had a pretty bad one!) ĀWhat else would it be?
Cough - can you have pneumonia without a fever?
I was just wondering this the other day.┬Ā I feel totally fine, except for the cough that makes it sound like I have lung cancer.┬Ā I'm going on two weeks now.┬Ā
I think its just something going around.┬Ā I'd be surprised if you had pneumonia without feeling a little worse.┬Ā
She felt terrible, no fever, and only a minor cough.
Normally you feel really bad with pnumonia. Coughs from colds are known to last weeks.
~Don't get confused between my personality & my attitude. My personality is who I am, my attitude depends on who you are.
When I had it, they listened to me and then the e.r. Did chest x/ray.
Hope everyone feels better soon!
Sarah DD: Emma Ryleigh12/05
lol, YES, I've never smoked a cigarette in my life but my voice sounds like an 80 year old smoker! ┬ĀBut like you said, I feel fine. ┬ĀSo do my kids. ┬ĀI know the pedi said to take them in if the cough lasts longer than 3 weeks, so I'm thinking of bringing dd in again soon. ┬ĀThing is, I don't hear her cough at home much, but she says she coughs all day at school.
Yes, you can have pneumonia without a fever, both DS and I have had it that way.
Have some fucking compassion for the fact that I am facing my biggest fear.
Please help me raise money for my surgery-
that's the odd part is that no one had a cold to start. ┬ĀJust a cough out of nowhere! ┬ĀI get a little freaked out when we all have it (except the baby, thank goodness) like it's something in the house...
The virus that is going around right now has a cough that lasts FOREVER!┬Ā I thought we made it through without getting it, but it has now hit our house in full force.┬Ā I just had dd at the Dr. and he said he thinks it is just a virus.┬Ā Blah.┬Ā She was so kind as to share it with me.┬Ā I am just starting with it.┬Ā About your pnemonia question.┬Ā Being that you were treated for strep, the meds should have taken care of it if there was any pnemonia.┬ĀAlthough it could have settled into the lungs after you finished the meds.┬Ā When my dd had pnemonia, she only ran fevers at night.┬Ā They would spike up to 102 or 103.┬Ā During the day, usually it wouldn't hit 100.┬Ā I'm guessing you have this annoying virus that everyone has right now.┬Ā I have heard of ppl having a cough for weeks.
Hope all of you are feeling better soon!
I get a cough for like two months when we are changing seasons. I feel fine and no fever. My sternum started hurting this year though and my doctor said it was environmental allergens and to use my inhaler when it gets really bad. She said the sternum pain was from inflammation which was stress from the cough.
I took my dd in for the cough that never ends, it just goes on and on my friend.....
Turns out, nothing they could do. ┬ĀI didn't think they could but she had pneumonia last year and when she started barking, I got all freaked out.
"The more you know, the sadder you get."
-Stephen Colbert
Thanks ladies. ┬ĀI remember when I was pregnant during the "year of the swine flu," lol, and I had a nasty cough for 8 weeks that was just a virus. ┬ĀOne doc told me it could have actually been a mild form of the swine flu. ┬ĀI've held off before on bringing dd in and it's turned out to be pneumonia or bad asthma, so the cough always worries me.


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The federal/state Disaster Recovery Center in Cherokee transferred to a Small Business Administration Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC) this week, announced Joseph Folsom, district director of the SBA's Iowa district office.
The center in Cherokee County transitioned to a DLOC at 9 a.m. today. Located at the Cherokee Community Center, 530 W. Bluff St., Cherokee, IA, the Center's business hours will be Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division (HSEMD), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the SBA opened the disaster recovery centers to provide personal assistance and disaster information to individuals and businesses who suffered damage as a result of severe storms, flooding, and tornadoes that occurred June 1 through Aug. 31, 2010.
"At this stage of the recovery process, the emphasis for assistance is to meet the long-term needs of disaster survivors," said Folsom. "We believe the transition of the DRC to an SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Center will be an important step in the coordinated efforts of the State of Iowa, SBA and FEMA to meet the needs of Cherokee county residents and businesses."
SBA customer service representatives will continue to be available at the Disaster Recovery Center until it closes, and at the Disaster Loan Outreach Center to issue loan applications, answer questions about SBA's disaster loan programs, explain the application process, help each individual complete the application, and close approved disaster loans.
SBA offers low-interest federal disaster loans to homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and private, non profit organizations to repair or replace property damaged or destroyed by the disaster. So far, SBA has approved more than $6.7 million in low-interest disaster loans to Iowa residents and businesses who suffered damage from the severe storms, flooding, and tornadoes.
SBA disaster loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property.
Businesses of any size and private non-profit organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory and other business assets. SBA can also lend additional funds to help with the cost of making improvements that protect, prevent or minimize the same type of disaster damage from occurring in the future.
For small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and most private, non-profit organizations of all sizes, SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) to help meet working capital needs that cannot be met as a result of the disaster. EIDL assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any property damage.
To be considered for all forms of disaster assistance, disaster survivors should first register with FEMA by calling 1-800-621-3362.
For additional information about SBA disaster assistance, call the SBA Disaster Customer Service Center at (800) 659 2955, or contact SBA by email at email@example.com, or visit SBA's website at www.sba.gov.
Individuals may also access SBA's online Electronic Loan Application (ELA) through its secure website at: disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/.
The filing deadline for individuals and business owners to return their SBA applications for property damage is Oct. 13, 2010. The EIDL deadline is May 16, 2011.


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Human self distruction is well known as a main element of our nature, so, i tried to capture that on the way to Ioannina in northern Greece-at Ptolemaida-photographing the lignite power station.
Featured in "Explore" on Flickr as one of the best of the day.
*UPDATE: some of you asked for it, so now it is re-uploaded to a wallpaper version!
Featured in "Explore" on Flickr as one of the best of the day.
*UPDATE: some of you asked for it, so now it is re-uploaded to a wallpaper version!
Daily DeviationGiven 2011-11-14
inferno by ~luez2 ( Suggested by kinipelahh and Featured by fritsenator )
...just perfect, love that !
Beautiful shot despite what's really doing on here.
it looks like a cat to me nice!
file mporw na xrisimopoiisw tin photografia sou se ena baraki?
Wery strong image. I like the grayscale wery much, but not many artists know how to use it, wich is not the case here.
Excellent photo !
Excellent photo !
Εξαιρετική! Την λατρευώ! Κάδρο, φωτισμός, θέμα; Τά 'χει όλα!!
pw re file, i idia h vrwma..
se kathe periptwsh, tromerh photo
se kathe periptwsh, tromerh photo
thank you all so much!
stunning pic!
i love how it's centered.
it looks like some sort of monster
i love how it's centered.
it looks like some sort of monster
Absolutely stunning and so well done.
Very nice!
Great Shot - Great Gallery
Very cool shot, and true what you said
great picture
Τροφή για τα μάτια κ το μυαλό!!!
Wow, this is just... amazing!
I wonder what a portrait view of this would look like as you have placed the main subject directly in the centre of the frame ?
Nice concept.
Really great!
fabulous image
Very haunting image...
damn! awesome shot
Congrats gia to DD. Mia eikona toso sinithismeni gia emas tous katoikous tis perioxis pou distixws tin exoume apodextei san pragmatikotita. Good job.
DD worthy to the max!!! Congrats !!!
disgusting....but a great shot!
This shot hurts... Beautiful framing, lovely black&white...
it make you think about everything we have...
Wow, it's great how the road leads to the power station, and how the power station itself seems to float in the mist.
The smoke looks like a dinosaur with its head cut off. I quite like it.
tantalizing image, great capture!


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iHerb Customer Reviews
Savings of: $3.70 (23% off)
Not cut out for Australian sun
Posted by 5578447699585763594 on Mar 05, 2016
My fiancé and I got badly burnt using this today and we both have olive skin. I even reapplied it 3 times today as I got out from each swim. I'll stick to the Australian standard sunscreens from now on as this one isn't cut out of the Australian sun.
(it was) Good
Posted by alina-anghel on Feb 20, 2016
Very well formulated product, I use this including on my skin with great results. Update in february 2016: the manufacturer changes the formula, but when you buy it, it is the old formula shown. I don`t like it anymore, my skin is sticky and shiny.
Smells awful
Posted by 5531686393307120072 on Feb 03, 2016
Smells awful, really strong and artificial fragrance that doesn't go away even after washing with soap. The product is otherwise good.
Posted by 4628321638366833675 on Dec 12, 2015
Good, easy to apply, not sticky
good product
Posted by 4637807275727094311 on Nov 04, 2015
helped achieve a safe tan. used it before it was reformulated.
Posted by Herlienv on Aug 30, 2015
I like it. hoped the spray would be more misty but it works fine non the less.
Bad sunburn
Posted by Reviewer1353892 on Jul 27, 2015
I used this cream this summer and I got the worst sunburn I have ever had. My arms, back and feet got blisters, this has never happend before. I will never trust this brand again.
Love it love it!!!!
Posted by 5600302713161964137 on Jun 07, 2015
the best sunscreen lotion i have ever tried. It is not sticky at all, I mean at all !!!! it goes well with makeup foundation too so it is pretty awesome sunscreen lotion Spray is a bit odd but if you don't spray directly to the skin but to palm and apply like normal lotion that should be fine
great spf
Posted by 5158176629333790083 on May 27, 2015
great spf, good hydration
like it
Posted by 5129926662036520600 on Mar 01, 2015
It does job~ smooth and not sticking


text: Well, I have had my 2000 Cannondale F300 for a couple of years ago, and up until two months ago it was working perfectly. It is really falling apart, I live in New England and there is tons of hilly terrain so you can imagine the general abuse on it would break it eventually. I knew from the day I got it it had junky compenents (SRAM 5.0 rear derailleur, low-end Shimano front derailleur). My rear rim because so badly bent that the spokes started snapping. So while I was replacing the rim, i was going to replace the the rear derailleur and convert bike to a 9 speed cassette and shifters. When i was removing chain, i noticed the crank was badly bent. I have a low end Shimano crank on there now, and i'm going to replace it with a Shimano LX. Will I need to replace the bottom bracket to put on this new crank? If so, does anyone know which size i need, 68mm or 73mm? Thanks in advance.


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Browsing Department of Law (LAW) by Title
Now showing items 1700-1719 of 4250
Title:"Good Governance" in the European Internal Market: Two Competing Legal Conceptualisation of European Integration and their Synthesis Author(s):JOERGES, ChristianDate:2002Citation:Armin VON BOGDANDY, Petros MAVROIDIS and Yves MÉNY (eds), European Integration and International Co-ordination: Studies in Transnational Economic Law in Honour of Claus-Dieter Ehlermann , Hague, Kluwer Law International, 2002, 219-242Type of Publication:Contribution to book
Title:"Good Governance" Through Comitology? Author(s):JOERGES, ChristianDate:1999Citation:Christian JOERGES and ELLEN VOS (eds), EU Committees: Social Regulation, Law and Politics, Oxford, Hart, 1999, 311-338Type of Publication:Contribution to book
Title:Good mothers, bad mothers : transnational mothering in the European Court of Human Rights' case law Author(s):STAIANO, FulviaDate:2013Citation:European journal of migration and law, 2013, Vol. 15, No. 2, pp. 155-182Type of Publication:ArticleAbstract:Transnational mothering presents significant challenges to immigrant women. In addition to the gendered expectations originating from their own communities and cultures, transnational mothers may also have to cope with ...
Title:Google's Obligation to De-index Constitutional Court Decisions Published in the Spanish Official Journal Author(s):BLASI CASAGRAN, Cristina; BLASI CASAGRAN, EduardDate:2012Citation:Privacy, Laws & Business, International Report, 2012, 120, 27-30Type of Publication:ArticleAbstract:This article examines the both the premises and effects of the landmark decision, adopted in March 2012 by Spanish data protection authority (DPA), by which the DPA recognised itself as competent to require Google to ...
Title:Gouvernance et responsabilité des régulateurs privés Author(s):CAFAGGI, FabrizioDate:2005Type of Publication:Working PaperSeries/Report no.:EUI LAW; 2005/06
Title:Governance and Minimum Harmonisation in the field of European Labour Law and Social Policy Author(s):HÖS, NikolettDate:2011Type of Publication:ThesisSeries/Report no.:EUI PhD theses; Department of LawAbstract:No Abstract Available
Title:Governance and the Development of Flex-Secure Labour Law Author(s):BRONZINI, GiuseppeDate:2008Citation:European Journal of Legal Studies, 2008, 1, 3, Special Conference IssueType of Publication:Article
Title:Governance in the European Union and the Commission White Paper Editor(s):JOERGES, Christian; LADEUR, Karl-Heinz; ZILLER, Jacques; DRAGOMIR, LarisaDate:2002Type of Publication:Working PaperSeries/Report no.:EUI LAW; 2002/08
Title:Governance of migration in the EU : home affairs or foreign policy? Editor(s):KOCHAROV, AnnaDate:2013Citation:Special issue of European Journal of Migration and Law, 2013, Vol. 15, No. 3Type of Publication:BookAbstract:Article 79 TFEU contains competences of the European Union to regulate immigration as an integral part of the area of freedom, security and justice. Under this purely internal competence, the Union should establish a common ...
Title:Governance of migration in the EU : home affairs or foreign policy? Author(s):KOCHAROV, AnnaDate:2013Citation:European Journal of Migration and Law, 2013, Vol. 15, No. 3, pp. 239–243Type of Publication:Article
Title:The governance of the arctic environment : the EU and US contribution Author(s):VIGNI, PatriziaDate:2013Type of Publication:Working PaperSeries/Report no.:EUI AEL; 2013/07; TRANSWORLD ProjectAbstract:The Arctic, as a unique area of our planet, has always attracted the interest of humanity. Despite its uniqueness, the Arctic is more difficult to preserve than other areas of our planet. The presence of ice makes this ...
Title:Governance, Proceduralisation and Justice: Some Challenges to the Legal Paradigm Author(s):HENDRY, JenniferDate:2008Citation:Law and Critique : Special Issue on Governance, Civil Society & Social Movements, 2008, 19, 3, 345-361Type of Publication:ArticleAbstract:In 1989, Rudolf Wiethöltner alleged that we are witnessing a 'failure of law' in terms of its obligation to achieve 'just law'. This paradox at the very heart of law – in essence, the impossibility of the realisation of ...
Title:Governance: A Challenge for International Law? / La governance: una sfida per il diritto internazionale? Author(s):ZAGATO, LausoDate:2008Citation:European Journal of Legal Studies, 2008, 1, 3, Special Conference IssueType of Publication:Article
Title:The Government of Judges,The Impact of the European Court of Justice on the Constitutional Order of the United Kingdom Author(s):O'NEILL, AidanDate:1993Type of Publication:Working PaperSeries/Report no.:EUI LAW; 1993/03
Title:Governmentalizing Sovereignty: Indexes of state fragility and the calculability of political order Author(s):BHUTA, NehalDate:2012Citation:Kevin E. DAVIS, Angelina FISHER, Benedict KINGSBURY and Sally Engle MERRY (eds), Governance by Indicators: Global power through quantification and rankings, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2012, Law and global governance series, 132-164Type of Publication:Contribution to bookAbstract:This chapter examines the construction of an index of state fragility by the United States Agency of International Development. It explores the genesis of the interest in the measuring of state-ness, and describes the ...
Title:Governo dell'impresa e responsabilita dell'alta direzione: analisi giuridica, economica e sociologica della responsabilita sociale dell'impresa Editor(s):HOPT, Klaus Jurgen; TEUBNER, GuntherDate:1986Citation:Milano, Franco Angeli, 1986, Documenti ISVET, 80Type of Publication:BookAbstract:Il governo e la responsabilità d'impresa - tematiche vecchie quanto l'impresa stessa - sono state oggetto negli ultimi anni di un rinnovato e generale interesse in rapporto sia alla situazione di crisi economica sia al ...
Title:Grands textes de droit international public Author(s):DUPUY, Pierre-MarieDate:2004Citation:Paris, Dalloz, 2004, 4ème EdType of Publication:Book
Title:Granting benefits through constitutional adjudication : the extension of the most favourable norm in Greece and Italy Author(s):MANOLKIDIS, Sotirios K.Date:1995Citation:Florence, European University Institute, 1995Type of Publication:ThesisSeries/Report no.:EUI PhD theses; Department of Law
Title:Great expectations : the fair and equitable treatment standard in the international law of foreign investment Author(s):TUDOR, IoanaDate:2006Citation:Florence, European University Institute, 2006Type of Publication:ThesisSeries/Report no.:EUI PhD theses; Department of LawAbstract:The treatment of foreign investors and of their investments on the territory of a host State is often subject to a bilateral investment treaty (BIT) signed by the national State of the investors and the host State. These ...
Title:Green economy and environmental law : a mismatch and why bother? Author(s):PENCA, JernejaDate:2012Citation:Vasilka SANCIN and Masa KOVIC DINE (eds), International environmental law : contemporary concerns and challenges : papers presented at the First Contemporary Challenges of International Environmental Law Conference, Ljubljana, June 28-29, 2012, Ljubljana : GV Založba, 2012, pp. 375-404Type of Publication:Contribution to book


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Brr… While much of the country continues to trudge through record-breaking (and unwelcome) amounts of snow and ice, the U.S. economy appears to be thawing — at least a little. This is evidenced by some positive news coming out of the February 2014 jobs report released this morning by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
As you may know, following each month's jobs report, we read dozens of news reports, scour the Web, and break what we find down to three key talking points you can use. Whether you're taking a break at the office water cooler or conversing with peers in the industry, you'll have three conversation starters in your pocket.
- Better, but not good. February's jobs numbers exceeded economists' expectations (it's been a while since that happened, eh?). The U.S. economy added 175,000 jobs in February, quite a bit higher than the 150,000 jobs economists were expecting. If you're the type of person who looks at the glass as half full, you'll notice that job growth has picked up compared to the past two months. It's still hard to ignore the fact that this pales in comparison with 200,000, the average pace of jobs added between June and November 2013. Also, the unemployment rate ticked up ever so slightly from 6.6 percent to 6.7 percent.
- Wintry weather woes? The big question leading up to the February jobs report was whether wintry conditions would drastically impede hiring. Turns out, it was not as huge a deterrent as some expected, but it still did impact the job market. As many as 6.9 million full-time workers saw their hours being temporarily reduced citing the bad weather as the culprit — the last time it was this bad was back in January 1996.
- These industries get a gold star. The big winner was professional and business services, adding 79,000 — this included 16,000 new positions in accounting and bookkeeping. Other industries that deserve special mention include construction and food services. The construction industry added 15,000 jobs — not that this is a huge improvement from the past, but it's positive if you take wintry conditions into the equation. Restaurants and bars also fared well, adding 21,000 jobs — because who doesn't like to eat, amiright?
In case you're looking for handy, easily digestible charts from the just-released jobs report, Quartz has some with highlights.
Don't miss the jobs report buzz! Follow us on Twitter @CBforEmployers and live tweet with us starting at 8:30 a.m. EST on the first Friday of every month as part of #JobsFriday.
Did you miss the November, December and January jobs report breakdown? It's never too late to catch up on some economy-related reading.


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June 4, 2015 12:00 pm
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Tony Jimenez, president of MicroTech, won the executive leadership award for industry at AFFIRM. Jimenez won for "for superior leadership in business and technology while successfully coordinating challenges for the improvement and implementation of government-wide information technology resources. Unquestionable and evident leadership at the Industry-wide level," according to the AFFIRM website
Jimenez joined Francis Rose to discuss how government business has changed in the past year and what areas he expands to shrink and expand in the coming years.


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April 28, 2016
Thursday Sept 18, 2008
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Farrior
has been fined $7,500 by the NFL for making an obscene gesture
toward Cleveland Browns fans on Sunday night.
Farrior made the gesture during the third quarter of the
Steelers' 10-6 win, saying afterward he was upset because fans were
celebrating a minor injury to safety Ryan Clark. Farrior also drew
a taunting penalty. Farrior says he was worried that he was going to be fined more than $7,500.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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text:
Bret Bielema on injuries, transfers, satellite camps and NFL Draft
Arkansas coach Bret Bielema speaks to the ...
Arkansas defensive end Deatrich Wise Jr. pressures Rutgers quarterback Gary Nova on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2013 at High Point Solutions Stadium in Piscataway, N.J.
Arkansas defensive end Deatrich Wise Jr. returned to practice last week and is now cleared to play in the season-opener against Auburn on Saturday, Coach Bret Bielema said at his Monday news conference.
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text:
once upon a time by robinpikaWatch
©2012-2016 robinpika
model alyona
makeup riris
styling quartini sari
makeup riris
styling quartini sari
that reminds me on those old sepia postcards with the women in often dreamy or dramatic poses. Absolutely beautiful model and photograph!
gorgeous! so beautifully done
She reminds me of the Child-Like Empress from The Neverending Story
wow, how did you do that?
gorgeous! little pixxie!
Aww, I love the gentleness on this photo
Woah, this is awsome, really does make you think of a fairytale!i love how the white gives a mystical feeling, and how the glitter/snow makes it look so awsome! Love it!!


text:
Dream Team at Nintendo World 06 by MarioSimpson1Watch
©2013-2016 MarioSimpson1
Pokemon plushies for sale in the store.
A person with a classic Bart Simpson shirt is in this photo.
A person with a classic Bart Simpson shirt is in this photo.
The churine plush is so cute!
Yes I refuse to take my time to learn the American names because it's honestly not necessary for me XD
Indeed it is!
That's okay! At least you know Pokemon names in Japanese, which is very helpful when going to the Pokemon Center store in Japan or playing the games in Japanese.
Not to mention singing those awesome Japanese PokeRaps like this one- www.youtube.com/watch?v=JieDam… !
Ha ha, that's true! Do you plan on going to the pokemon center stores in japan, since you mentioned it?
I can sing parts of the pokeraps! I can sing the first 150 in the english version, and this bw one is REALLY hard to learn because the rhythm is everywhere! XD
I want that Snivy plushie! >w<


text:
Image: recipetips.com/glossary-term/t--34293/savoy-cabbage.asp Despite recent flooding across the state, with some farms dramatically impacted, fresh, local crops are still making it to market for your
Image: recipetips.com/glossary-term/t--34293/savoy-cabbage.aspDespite recent flooding across the state, with some farms dramatically impacted, fresh, local crops are still making it to market for your delectation. Cold-resistant greens are plentiful this time of year, including such small-leaved varieties as spinach, baby bok choy, and mâche. Also available are winter staples like potatoes and cabbage. Consider less-familiar types like Austrian crescent potatoes (yellow-fleshed, with an unusually elongated shape) and Savoy cabbage, which you've no doubt seen but may not know by name: it's the pale, crinkle-leafed variety. Where to get the goods this time of year? The farmers markets listed below operate year round. On Saturdays U District Market, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Vashon Island Market, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. On SundaysBallard Farmers Market, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. West Seattle Farmers Market, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.For run-down of all markets, by day and county throughout Puget Sound, check PugetSoundFresh.org, here. For more food-related events, wine dinners, and the like, check the Food Events calendar, here.


text:
Narrow your search
The Jambox is the most stylish portable speaker we've seen, with features and sound quality you won't find in comparable compact designs.
Great speakers come in all shapes and sizes. We've rounded up our favorite picks from sound bars, wireless speakers, and even full surround sound systems in this master list of speaker types, so your audio system get get as big or small as you want.
The Jawbone Big Jambox doesn't quite measure up to the Bose SoundLink Wireless Mobile and it carries a premium price tag, but it's an impressively designed product that offers strong performance and speakerphone capabilities.
While you'll pay a premium for it, the Jawbone Mini Jambox is the best-sounding and best-designed micro wireless speaker.
Philips Hue's LEDs are still the color-changing bulbs to beat, but they're still awfully expensive -- and the competition is catching up quickly. Apple HomeKit integration is a big step forward for the software, but it's disappointing that the hardware didn't get more of an upgrade, as well.
The company's Web OS TV operating system will see an upgrade to version 2.0 in 2014 models, for better responsiveness and more features. The company's 4K models will also gain access to DirecTV's 4K content.
Want to ditch the dialer on your phone for something a bit more intuitive? Check out Ready 2.0 to help you stay in touch easier and faster.
Jawbone has used the LiveAudio algorithm across its Jambox range, but the audio widening makes the Mini sound truly remarkable.
The Wave gesture-recognition feature remains disabled, but the Nest Protect 2.0 software will help mitigate certain false alarms, and introduces some useful new features in the app.
Cambridge SoundWorks adds to its line of value wireless Bluetooth speakers with the larger OontZ XL, which sounds better than competing $100 models.


text:
This 'General Audience' section is intended to:
- provide information about all aspects of hearing and its main pathologies, deafness and tinnitus,
- caution against the danger of overstimulating the ear.
Looking for more detailed and technical informations?
Visit the section " Students and Professionals".
Play a 5 min video* which explains " How the ear works"
*This voiced video (with captions) has been made, mainly from the website material, at the Virginia Merill Bloedel Hearing Research Center (J. Rubinstein Dir., E.W. Rubel's lab), U. Washington, Seattle. Thanks to the Hearing Health Foundation!
All rights reserved © 2009-2010 NeurOreille and the authors (intellectual property law 85-660, July 3rd 1985)This site is for educational purposes only. It cannot be used for commercial benefit. All schemes, drawings and pictures belong to their respective authors. For permission to non-commercial use of any element of this site, please contact