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I realize I've been maintaining radio silence BUT I'm still here, I promise!
The past few weeks have passed in a whirlwind. If you follow me on Instagram (I created a separate public account just for horse-related posts) you will see that I've been putting a lot of time into Justice, with mixed results.
Also since I've been riding in the arena more, trailering out less and not disappearing on half-a-day-long excursions, my boyfriend has been much more agreeable when it comes to my riding (of course he has also gotten completely caught up in some online game thingy so that might have something to do with it). He even mentioned he would be willing to come along to shows to support me.
Aside from endurance, only other thing I've ever really been interested in is jumping. Eventing specifically, but after I started exploring the idea, I quickly decided that was biting off way more than I can chew. I don't have a trainer, nor do I intend to get one (those kinds of things cost money, you know). Not to mention the entry fees for some of these events are outrageous! With me only working at the barn right now, I needed something cost effective and fun, that wouldn't require too much time or take me away overnight anymore.
View this post on Instagram
Trail ride on this handsome boy this morning! We practiced jumping over downed trees across the trail and generally had a blast. #trails #trailriding #jumpers #horsesofinstagram #morgan #morganhorse #equestriansofinstagram #equestrian #gelding #chestnuthorse #horselife #horsewoman
So I started looking at show jumping. Specifically, a couple of local schooling show series both within 1 1/2 hrs from home. Classes are $10 & $11 respectively, and I wouldn't be entering more than 4 with one horse.
So for the past two(ish) months, I've been putting in the miles on Justice, intending to make the June shows. I even made a friend at CS, where I board him! She is much more experienced than I (despite being younger haha) and it's been really nice to have her input on a variety of subjects. Justice also is a brave jumper and does not like to take down any poles.
Unfortunately, there is a BUT (always a but, right?) Ultimately the flip side of the equation is that Justice has taken to acting out on the ground lately, mainly while tacking up. At first I was certain that he was in pain. But after treating him for ulcers, and discussing things with C, I'm now almost convinced it is behavioral.
Unfortunately it has made dealing with him a PITA. One day he saddles up fine. The next he is either falling in the cross ties or attempting to rip the hitching post out of the ground. His new trick is flinging his head or even threatening to rear when I bridle him. But all these things are very random, not at all consistent (he doesn't do them all the time) and he has NO problem with these whatsoever under saddle or AFTER we've ridden. He tried some of these tricks with me once before a year ago, and again I was convinced I was hurting him somehow and I would untack him and let him go. Obviously that wasn't the best idea.
View this post on Instagram
Justice is perhaps the most complicated horse I've ever owned. He is highly intelligent, and as a result he WILL test you. This has intimidated a lot of people in his past. Recently I've been having some problems tacking him up. These included (but weren't limited to), pulling back at the hitching post, resisting being bridled (occasionally by rearing) and so on and so forth. At first I had to rule out pain. However, it would seem the issue is a form of protest against having to work. Today we had a come-to-Jesus meeting when he flipped out at the hitching post again. I don't always hard tie him because of his tendency for pull back (letting them "fight it out" can be dangerous and doesn't work for all horses). However today he was pulling back in a serious attempt to get loose and "escape". So I was forced to hard tie him and let him have it out with the sturdy hitching post. I also lunged him nearby, letting him only rest by the hitching post (establishing it as a "safe place"). Finally I unsaddled and resaddled him 3x…only to pull the saddle and ride him bareback in the field (in order to show him that work IS entirely possible without the saddle AND will be requested outside the arena as well). The minute he finally dropped his head and rounded his back in a relaxed baby trot I rewarded him and ended the ride. This horse ONLY learns through reward and release of pressure. As do most horses, so that is something to keep in mind when dealing with behavioral issues. #ridetolive #horselife #equestrians #equestrian #equestrianmom #equestrianlove #equestrianlife #horselife #horsewoman #training #horsetraining #pressureandrelease #livetoride #horsesofinstagram #morgansofinstagram #morganhorse #morgan
It got to the point a week ago where I was feeling so disheartened I trailered Pearl over to CS (yes I hooked up the trailer to bring her a mile away because I'm just that lazy lol). I was curious to discover just HOW well she could see, as she is now completely blind on her left side but her vision on the right appears to remain the same (despite the vet detecting a very small cataract there).
C was riding a client horse in the arena when I arrived, which was great because I was able to receive a second opinion on how she handled "obstacles" (that is, the jumps). I started out with the gymnastics J and I had been practicing previously reduced to poles on the ground, minus two small crossrails. So, basically pole, pole, crossrail, two strides and another crossrail.
I walked her over everything first, not giving her any indication of the what was ahead. She had no problems with any of it. I asked her to trot them, and had to laugh as she trotted right up to both crossrails, stopped dead, and stepped over them. Despite being crossrails, they were probably set at almost 2′ and so her knees almost touched her chin! I asked her to trot them next and she would lazily stumble through them. I had to actually really put leg on her to get her to jump but when she did, she had mad hops! I wish I had photos! (I have since rode Pearl down to CS again, and popped her over a couple 2′ verticals. She acted like it was nothing!)
View this post on Instagram
You'll never guess who I JUMPED today? THIS girl!!! We even did some (kinda sorta) gymnastics! Not bad for a half blind horse! It was a huge confidence boost for me, and I had so much fun. I'm looking forward to doing more (and jumping higher!) with her in the future! #poapony #poasrock #equestriansofinstagram #horsewoman #horsegirl #horsesofinstagram #ponyofamericas #poniesofinstagram #ponypower #maresdoitbest #jumpers #jumpingmachine #blindhorse
C and I originally planned to attend a CT together on May 27th, but we ended up deciding to sit it out as it rained the entire week leading up to it. I wasn't overly disappointed as I was feeling a little iffy about it anyway. The only options for Justice and I were 18″ crossrails or 2'3″ complete with rolltops and oxers, etc. We are currently schooling somewhere in between.
Instead, we are gearing up for TTC on June 3rd. I am actually really really excited about it! TTC is a really nice facility an hour away that hosts a CT, Jumper show, and X-Country schooling all on the same day. C is going to do the CT, while I am hoping to enter a couple jumper classes and then we both plan to school cross-country! My boyfriend is also coming, so I should have actual media from this event!
View this post on Instagram
I love all 3 of my horses – I do. Pokey has the biggest personality and I've owned him the longest. Justice has taught more more than any other. But this girl owns my 💗 Pearl entered my life at the exact moment I needed her the most and has been there for me without fail ever since. #hearthorse #poapony #poniesofinstagram #ponyofamericas #poniesdoitbetter #13hands #horsesofinstagram #womenandhorses #equestrians #equestrian #equestrianlife #equestrianlove #equestriansofinstagram #horselife #stormyweather #thunderstorms #thethunderrolls #ponyowningadult
After talking to C, I decided to bring Pearl. I am not giving up on Justice and intend to take him to a couple Jumper shows later in June (if I make every single show both series host through the end of the year I will be eligible for year-end awards), and having 2 different horses for different divisions will definitely work to my advantage! Thus I have slowly been accumulating equipment in the past several weeks – I acquired a Figure 8 bridle with an elevator bit for Justice and a breastplate through Ebay, as well as a saddle from Ashley (the saddle was a godsend after I discovered none of my current ones were a good fit for J). For Pearl, I decided to go back to her straight bar Pelham, complete with double reins because that is her favorite. I would love to get her a new bridle, but settled for a new browband for my tried and true plain Havana brown bridle. It's not flashy, but I needed some shade of brown to match her brown Stubben saddle. I do have a nicer bridle for her but it is pitch black and you gotta be all matchy matchy for showing (I'm just hoping havana brown isn't too dark!)
View this post on Instagram
Pearl had a little vacation after her last endurance ride. But now it is time to put her back to work! I started out today doing some flatwork in the french link baucher bit. She has a straight bar Pelham that she does well in also but I'm going to see if we can't "downgrade" lol #poniesofinstagram #ponyofamericas #poapony #horsesofinstagram #equestriansofinstagram #horselife #equestrian #equestrianlife #bestfriend #bestponyever #barnlife #horsewoman #horsepeoplegetit #horsegirl #poniesdoitbetter #equestrianlove #equestriansport #equestrians #equestriangirls
^ It's this bridle, but with a different bit/reins and browband lol
Like Sara of the Roaming Rider (who I believe has her first CT on the same day – eeek!!), I have never shown before and am woefully lacking in equipment. I was lucky enough to have inherited a bunch of random stuff last year, which included an old Casel-Equi eventing vest, some splint boots, saddle pads and breeches. I picked up a pair of tall rubber boots at a recent Consignment sale for $5, and I have a few dark blue polo shirts leftover from one of my old jobs. I may get a white one, but I'm on a budget, so maybe not. I don't have a belt, but I'm not too worried about that (my #1 pet peeve is that we have to tuck in as I still have a noticeable kangeroo pouch leftover from my recent 2nd c-section). I don't have a hairnet. I intend to just twist up my hair as neatly as possible and hairspray the sh*t out of it to keep it in place. After all, I'm only riding in 2 classes.
View this post on Instagram
Justice's new bridle arrived yesterday! (For anyone who wants to know, I acquired it on Ebay for $80.) I think he looks pretty darn handsome, don't you? #horselife #horsesofinstagram #equestrianlife #equestrianmom #equestriansofinstagram #equestrianlifestyle #morganhorse #morgansofinstagram #morgan #lillysjustice
C gave me a pair of jumping boots for Pearl and I'll probably just throw some old splint boots on her back legs for now. I still haven't decided what saddle pad to use. I was eyeing a really nice one in the tack store recently, but ultimately decided that it was too big for her and thus not worth the $35. I do have a neat, clean pony-sized white one that will work for now. I do have to wash it before the show.
Also I'll need to pull her shoes. She hasn't been trimmed in a while and has started tripping a little. With the summer storms that we have sweeping through on an almost nightly basis I prefer to keep my 3 completely barefoot. I have a very real fear that one of my horses will be struck by lightning. Last year lightning struck and destroyed the fence charger at the corner of Pokey and Pearl's pasture, and this year we've already had lightning strike in our backyard.
I did purchase a crop for Pearl. She's a little lazy when it comes to jumping sometimes. I doubt that'll be the case away from home, but I figure I'd rather have it and not need it than find myself wishing I did. And of course the crop was teal and that completely sold me (I've been eyeing teal saddle pads online too as my birthday's next month!)
After TTC, I've got 2 more shows coming up in quick succession. FF on June 17th and COA on June 24th. My Dad and his girlfriend have agreed to watch "Bubba" (my nickname for my now 6 month old son) and my daughter on the 17th (since it's my birthday weekend), and my boyfriend will be attending COA with me on the 24th. I do want to bring Justice, in addition to Pearl to one of these events. So I think I will ask C if she wants to go to FF with me, and I will take both Pearl and Justice to COA (I would likely be showing them in back-to-back divisions, which is why each having their own specific tack/saddles is so important).
^ Love how this saddle looks on him! It's also the first saddle I've ever used on him that doesn't slide back! I think it's a Crosby – I'd have to double check to be sure tho.
Anyhow, I've been rambling. I might check in later in the week, or you might not hear from me until the show is complete. Follow me on Instagram to stay up to date! 🙂


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Monday, March 30, 2009
Shameless Fixation # 7 – Dita Targa (Dita Eyewear)
Do you like this story?
In my never ending quest to improve my masculinity, I come across things that I can't go without. Of course it is often eyewear, of the aviator kind. My object of affection right now is Dita Targa, and that affection is shameless. They have been seen on several celebrities, including Usher.
Other than looking fantastic, the quality of Dita Targa is incredible. I tried it out for size the other day and the shape quite nicely fits my head. The frame is handcrafted Zyl acetate, the temples are titanium, there is a spring hinge on them (so they fit all shapes and sizes of people) and they are manufactured in Japan, known internationally as one of, if not the best, places for high-end eyewear.
This post was written by: Sunglasses Guy
The Sunglasses Guy is a shallow but driven blogger who knows the ins and outs of the eyewear industry. Get ahold of him via e-mail or his Twitter
3 Responses to "Shameless Fixation # 7 – Dita Targa (Dita Eyewear)"
April 3, 2009 at 3:33 PM
Also incredibly manly: The Grandmaster-Two. I'm torn between which colorway to pick up, though I'm leaning towards the burnt tortoise and antique silver iteration.
I freakin' love Dita shades.
May 17, 2009 at 3:58 AM
This pair here is really beautiful. if you ask me. Sunglasses will always a remain a popular item to accessorize, especially for women.
just optical
May 18, 2009 at 1:42 AM
It's amazing how sunglasses have become the most attractive item of fashion, not only for women, which is pretty understandable, but also for men!

subset: commoncrawl


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Miami Heat fans and general sneaker collectors turned out for the new Dwyane Wade's Li-Ning Way of Wade Encore "Gold Rush" shoe that was released recently at the SoleFly Shoe Boutique in Miami. The store gave out raffle tickets all week, with the drawn tickets getting a chance to purchase the Gold Rush shoes for $250 plus tax.
The lottery began from inside the store and a DJ kept the surroundings lively with bumping music as the staff let everyone know there were 100 pairs of the shoes to sell. The sizes ranged from 8 to 10 pairs for each size. The largest size sold was 14, and the drawing when throughout the day.
Many "new listings" had the shoes on sale for anywhere from $400 to $800 in a markup that is common for such shoes. Many times, the interest in the person or the shoe itself takes a distant second and third place to the almighty dollar. Demand is high for specific shoes, especially basketball shoes, and so fans often are more interested in turning a profit than owning the actual product.
Carlos Gonzalez from Cutler Bay came to the event and was lucky enough to gain two pairs. One would assume one was to own and the other was to sell for profit. Some were given a consolation prize of a Gold Rush tee-shirt to commemorate the release.
There are thousands who are likely interested in purchasing the shoes in Miami alone. The limited release is a common act for the shoes to build interest. And for those able to gain a pair, it is a momentous occasion. For the rest, the they are left to cheer "We want more, we want more!" until more pairs are actually released.
Dwyane Wade send out a video Instagram video to thank his fans and the SoleFly company for their support. He stated that the teaser release was just the start for the shoe line.
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Compensation Fund Action Plan update; Department of Labour Quarter 2 performance
Employment and Labour
07 December 2016
Chairperson: Ms L Yengeni (ANC)
Meeting Summary
The Department of Labour briefed the Committee on its action plan for the Compensation Fund and on its second quarterly performance report for the 2016/17 financial year.
The Compensation Fund had developed an action plan which would serve as a blueprint for the service delivery improvement initiatives. Implementation had started on 1 July 2015. The main objectives were to put in place basics that would assist in improving the service delivery performance of the Fund. It was also aimed at restoring its reputation, as there had been negative feedback across the spectrum. Details of a wide range of initiatives adopted after consultation with relevant stakeholders were described.
Members acknowledged that there had been a substantial improvement in the performance of the Department, but asked how it was planning to deal with eradicating the backlog of claims. What was the timeframe for this? What was the strategy to expedite the very slow bulk payment processes in the uMehluko on-line claims management system? Would the Department consider outsourcing in order to catch-up and get to the point of eradicating the backlog? They said it was unclear what had been done in the past six months to get rid of the pile of papers at the Department's various offices, and a computer system that sometimes went offline. They also wanted to know if the dispensing of chronic medication to clients would be a countrywide exercise, and whether rural clients would also benefit from this.
The Department of Labour (DoL) reported that it had achieved 69% of its targets for the second quarter. The Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and North West provinces had all achieved a 100% inspection and enforcement performance. In regard to public employment services, the Eastern Cape had been the only province with 100% achievement. The Department had achieved 100% in terms of reporting and detecting irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure amounting so far to nearly R170 000. Amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Act had been delayed due to further consultation requirements by National Treasury, and further engagements between the economic cluster and National Treasury were under way. The Department was committed to improving its performance and service delivery in 2016/17, and monthly monitoring of performance had been instituted.
Members commended the Department for processing invoices within 30 working days, as this was one of the ways of sustaining small businesses and opening up job opportunities. They asked what remedial actions had been taken to deal with the irregular expenditure that had been reported in order to prevent a recurrence of the problem. Training for shop stewards had been a good initiative, but why had there been poor attendance at these workshops? It was suggested the Department needed to outsource the service needed to handle the backlog in Private Employment Agency (PEA) and Temporary Employment Services (TES) applications, as well as the applications for foreign nationals' corporate and individual work visas. Concern was expressed that the Department seemed to be setting targets that it would find extremely difficult to achieve. The reality was that there were not enough inspectors within the Department, and there were no mechanisms in place to ascertain whether employers were adhering to the labour laws.
Meeting report
Compensation Fund: Department of Labour briefing
Mr Thobile Lamati, Director-General (DG), Department of Labour (DoL), said that the Compensation Fund had been receiving a negative spotlight from the media and other key stakeholders due to its service delivery record. In order to restore its reputation and improve the service delivery record, the Fund had developed an action plan which would serve as a blueprint for the service delivery improvement initiatives. The action plan had been developed by the management of the fund in June 2015, and implementation had started on 1 July 2015. The action plan had been submitted to the Standing Committee on Public Accounts in June 2015. It should be highlighted that the action plan was not a replacement for the current strategic plan and annual performance plan of the Fund, but would enhance the pursuit of the objectives as outlined in these documents. The main objectives of the action plan were to put in place basics that would assist in improving the service delivery performance of the Fund, increasing the efficiency of the Fund's overall operations. The action plan was also aimed at restoring the reputation of the Fund, as there had been negative feedback across the spectrum.
Mr Lamati said progress had been made in financial administration, and this had included the finalisation of the revised Assessment Model document which had already been sent to the Department of Performance, Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME) for the social economic impact assessment system (SEIAS) process. Concurrently a consultation process at the National Economic Development and Labour Council (NEDLAC) had commenced. A position paper had been developed and adopted as an accounting policy for revenue. This was reflected in the annual financial statements of 2015/16. The initial information and communication technology (ICT) intervention to deal with the loading and reduction of assessments had been revised due to further research. An actuarial model was being developed to achieve the same objective. The employer discounts had been calculated and applied against employer accounts, and enhancements on key-offs and batch processing had been completed. The data on the correction of the prior year's interest and penalties had been extracted and submitted to internal audit for quality assurance prior to implementation. The R62 million out of the R96 million of unclaimed merit rebates had been identified in the SAP collections and disbursements (FS-CD) module, and cleared to employers. The automation of the ability system had been de-scoped due to the decision to re-implement SAP FS-CD.
There had been notable progress in the areas of customer focus and service delivery improvement. These included holding regular monthly meetings with hospitals and other related stakeholders in an effort to improve relations. There were also meetings between the German social accident insurance association, Deutsche Gesetzliche Unfallversicherung (DGUV) and the Compensation Fund in November 2015 to discuss the concept of rehabilitation. The outcome of the resolutions of the meeting would result in a pilot project for rehabilitation. The post traumatic stress disorder panel had already been appointed and had already commenced with work on dealing with cases and developing policies. A chronic medication dispensing service provider had been appointed in the third quarter of the financial year, and was operational. Reorganisation of the query resolutions process had been implemented and the Department was in the process of filling vacant posts in the call centre
The Minister had approved the reviewed functional structure to align the core business of registration and benefits under the internal business process, and this was awaiting final consultation with the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) as per the directive before implementation. All nine provinces had been visited, and follow-up visits were taking place monthly to support the decentralisation process and monitor performance. Eight nurses and one doctor had been appointed on a session basis to assist with the adjudication of the medical claims, re-openings and pre-authorisations. In order to pay all the vouchers that were still open during migration from the SAP ICM (Incentive and Commission Management), 2 287 payment distributions (PDs) amounting to R15 928 226, and 382 open voucher TTDs amounting to R2 390 951, were processed and paid. The process to appoint medical service personnel was under way, but not all provinces had been able to attract the required skills. Quality assurance had been carried out and the results had been implemented in order to improve the systems used for processing and paying claims.
There was no suitable service provider. The Fund had investigated the possibility of using the SAP CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system for the legal case management system and no decision had been made as yet, pending the licence renewal.
Mr Lamati said that a skills audit was conducted and a training plan had been developed to implement corrective action where skills gaps had been identified under people management. The provision of support, training and development interventions, coaching and mentoring would be undertaken as part of the implementation of the recommendations of the skills audit project. The change management project had been completed, a report produced and a survival guide for staff with regard to future change interventions had been developed. The performance management policy was being strictly implemented and all staff had performance agreements and were assessed bi-annually, though performance was monitored monthly. The investigations on decentralisation issues had been conducted and corrective action where possible was being implemented.
Ms S van Schalkwyk (ANC) said it was clear a lot of work had needed to be done. It was also evident that there had been a substantial improvement in the performance of the Department. How was it planning to deal with eradicating the backlog of claims? What was the timeframe for this? What was the strategy to expedite the very slow bulk payment processes in the uMehluko on-line claims management system? What was the projection that was expected by the end of the financial year? The Department should explain how it managed to have 0% completion under 'correction of all prior open vouchers.'
Mr M Bagraim (DA) also acknowledged that there had been incremental steps towards improvement, but it was worrying to see that the general improvement had been going very slowly and the problem was mainly due to 20 years of inactivity. It was clear that it would be difficult for the Department to catch up from 20 years of disaster and inactivity. There were thousands of people who had been waiting for more than a decade to receive compensation or any relevant response. He wanted to know if the Department would be considering outsourcing the service from other companies in order to catch-up and get to the point of eradicating the backlog. It would obviously be difficult to have good morale among staff if there was 20 years of disaster or inactivity, as more time was spent trying to resolve the backlog than on processing new claims. The Department would be facing an uphill battle in even trying to focus on the action plan where there was clearly a monumental backlog to be eradicated
Mr I Ollis (DA) asked if there was a particular reason why people should not be able to claim a total of R62 million out of the R96 million for merit rebates. The assumption that could be made was that perhaps people were not aware that they were entitled to these rebates, or that they had already given up hope on the possibility of getting those funds. It would be important to know why the Department had not been able to adjudicate these post-traumatic stress claims for years. It was unclear as to what had been done by the Department in the past six months to get rid of the pile of papers at various offices, and a computer system that sometimes went offline.
Ms T Tongwane (ANC) wanted to know if the dispensing of chronic medication to clients would be a countrywide exercise, and whether rural clients would also benefit from this.
Mr Vuyo Mafata, Commissioner, Compensation Fund, responded that the Department had teams working on both the current claims and the old claims, and this was again aimed at eradicating the backlog. The Department did not have a backlog of any claims that had been submitted in about two and half years, except in cases where there was outstanding documentation from either the medical service provider or the client. The Department had been able to reduce the backlog in the medical service significantly. There was indeed a backlog in claims that were dating back to 20 years ago, and this was usually in cases where liability had not been accepted. The Department had set itself a target by the end of the financial year to finalise all those claims that had already been extracted -- and there was a total of about 355 000 claims that had been extracted. It must be made clear that the Department would not accept liability for all the claims that had been extracted.
The Chairperson pointed out that the Department was not only dealing with claims from the new government, but also from the old apartheid government.
Mr Mafata said that in relation to the matter of bulk payment processes, there were a number of plans that the Department was planning to achieve in this regard, and one was to improve the infrastructure as there were lots of complaints that the system of processing claims was very slow. There was also an integration of uMehluko with the SAP system, which was one of the projects that were still being undertaken but had not been finalised. There was a process to play claims, but the Department wanted to ensure that the whole system was efficient and effective. Another issue that was slowing down the process of payment was when there was a litigation case -- there was no functional system in place that was able to immediately process claims that were coming from court cases without compromising the pace of payment of claims. The Department was always compelled to comply with the court order in cases where there was a pending litigation, and this was also slowing the processing of claims.
The Chairperson asked that the Committee be furnished with a report on those individuals that had not been given compensation from the Fund prior to 1994. It must be clear to the Committee that the backlog was not only on those claims from 1994 onwards, but also from the apartheid regime.
Mr Mafata promised that the Committee would be provided with the report as requested by the Chairperson.
In relation to the matter of open vouchers, the Department had identified that there were about 3 000 open vouchers in the system on permanent disability that had been left unpaid and unattended to, and the Department had already dealt with 2 287 of them. There were 400 open vouchers that had not been handled for those with temporary disability, as the Department had done only 382. There was on-going work to finalise the rest of the open vouchers. The Department had been finding it difficult to trace some of the clients because some of the contact details in the system were not updated or valid. It would appoint a tracing agency that would assist in tracing some of the clients in order to get the latest banking and contact details so as to pay the vouchers.
Mr Mafata said that there was scope for the private sector to assist the Fund in the eradication of the backlog. The private sector had been helpful in clearing the backlog in the dispensing of the chronic medication. The system that was being used to process the claims had been procured from the private sector, and therefore there was space for collaboration with it. There were doctors that were not necessarily deployed permanently by the Fund, and these doctors were normally coming in to assist whenever there was a backlog on adjudications and the approval of claims. There were currently about six doctors on staff that had been appointed at head office as well as the provinces, and the Fund had recently finalised the appointment of four additional doctors. The nurses and doctors were not always on site, but they did come and assist whenever when there was a need for additional resources. This was once again another form of collaboration between the Department and the private sector.
Mr Mafata clarified that the outstanding rebates were also due to employers, and they dated back to a number of years. There had been several attempts to try and reach employers directly for them to be able to claim these rebates. The Fund had now published these rebates, as well as a list of these employers, in government gazettes and newspapers, and sufficient time had been given for them to make a claim. The piles of papers in different offices was as a result of the backlog that dated back to the past, as there had been no automated system then and a lot of claims had been dealt with on the basis of paper. There would be a need to go back to those papers and process those claims, and there was a process to scan and index the paper claims. There was also a team that aimed to ensure that the papers were captured electronically.
The dispensing of the chronic medication was a nationwide project and the biggest beneficiaries would be those in small towns and rural areas, as there were few pharmacies in these areas.
The Chairperson asked if it was possible to perform an audit of the manual files in various offices in order to establish the exact number of files that still needed to be processed, and those that had been completed. There should be a special team that would specifically focus on conducting an audit of the manual files.
Mr Mafati promised to provide the Committee with such information, as it was important to know the exact number of manual files to be processed. There was on-going work within the Department to upgrade its data centre, and it would be moving to a new data centre by the end of the current financial year. This was likely to improve the system of the Department across the spectrum.
Mr Bagraim commented that there was indeed a backlog that dated back to the apartheid government era, and this should be taken into consideration. It was shocking to hear that there were unclaimed funds that dated back to the 1970s, and it was likely that those individuals had already passed away.
Department of Labour: Second quarter performance
Mr Lamati said the Department had achieved 69% of its targets for the second quarter, with 12% partially achieved and 19% not achieved.
With regard to the targets on inspection and enforcement performance per province, the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and North West had all achieved 13 out of 13 targets for the second quarter. Limpopo had been the lowest achieving province, with a total of 69%, followed by Northern Cape with 77%. With regard to public employment services per province, the Eastern Cape had been the only province with 100% achievement, while North West was the lowest achieving province with 43%, followed by Mpumalanga (57%) and the Western Cape (57%).
The Department was still battling to fill vacant posts, although an action plan had already been developed. It had achieved 100% for reporting and detecting irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure -- the total that had been detected so far was R169 699.
The Department had managed to partially achieve on the number of designated employers inspected per year to determine compliance with employment equity legislation. The target had been 1 419 and the DoL had achieved 1 403. The reason for the variance involved human capacity challenges, in that there had been a need to provide training. It had already trained about 36 Inspectors on 14 and 15 November 2016, to address the gaps that had been identified.
The DoL had not achieved the target for processing the amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Act through the relevant structures. The delay was as a result of further consultation requirements by National Treasury, and further engagements between the economic cluster and National Treasury were under way.
There had been partial achievement in the number of employer payroll audits conducted per year, with 3 684 completed against a target of 3 905. The reason for the variance had been the high turnover of staff and the fact that although the vacancies had been filled, the newly appointed auditors required training. As of 28 November 2016, newly recruited auditors were undergoing six months of training to be ready to conduct inspections.
Mr Lamati said that the Department had failed to table the number of regulations and policies in terms of Employment Services Act to the Employment Services (ES) Board per year. The draft regulations were in place but they had not yet been tabled to the ES Board, which had been established towards end of the second quarter, and would convene during the third quarter.
The Department had achieved 65% out of the target for 100% for the completion of the Private Employment Agency (PEA) and Temporary Employment Services (TES) applications processed within 60 calendar days of receipt. The reason for the variance was due to delays in the verification process of the applicants' information. The Department would implement improvement plans with under-performing provinces during the third quarter.
There had also been an achievement of 44% for the completion of the applications for foreign nationals' corporate and individual work visas processed within 30 working days. The reason for the variance had also been due to delays in the verification process of the applicants' information.
In conclusion, in 2015/16 the Department's performance had stood at 47% in Quarter 1. In 2016/17, it started off at 62% for Quarter 1, and performance for Quarter 2 had improved to 69%, compared to 58% for the corresponding period last year. The Department had committed to improve its performance and service delivery in 2016/17. Monthly monitoring of performance had been instituted, with monthly reports to the monitoring and evaluation steering committee. The monthly reports would be drawn from each labour centre and would be consolidated into provincial and branch monthly reports to be deliberated at head office level by the monitoring and evaluation steering committee. The steering committee was chaired by the Acting Chief Operating Officer (COO) and reported monthly to the Executive Committee (EXCO) chaired by the DG. This would serve as an early warning and enabler for the implementation of the annual performance plan. There was a commitment to maintain a higher level of performance in this financial year, with consequences for non-performance.
Mr D America (DA) commended the Department for its achievements in the second quarter, especially in regard to the processing of invoices within 30 working days, as this was one of the ways of sustaining small businesses and opening up job opportunities. He asked what remedial actions had been taken to deal with the irregular expenditure that had been reported to the Department, to prevent a recurrence of the problem. The Committee should be briefed on whether there was a particular reason why the Northern Cape had achieved less than 50% in terms of inspections done per year on Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) legislation. Was there any plan in place that was planned at addressing this problem? The Committee had made an oversight visit to Northern Cape, and it had been clear that there were considerable shortcomings with regard to inspections.
Ms Van Schalkwayk also commended the Department on the improvement in its general performance when compared in the previous financial year. It was a good initiative to see that training was being provided to the shop stewards. However, had the Department established why there had been a poor attendance to these workshops? These workshops were meant to help the trade unions and labour movement in order to improve their services to the workers. Regarding the non-compliance of employers on inspection and enforcement services, was there a monitoring system to ensure that the repeat offenders were dealt with accordingly? It was concerning to see that there had been a general regression in the performance of most provinces, and corrective measures should be implemented to address the shortcomings.
Mr Ollis also agreed that there had been general improvement in the performance of the Department and this was something that needed to be noted. He referred to the Department's achievement of 65% of its target for the completion of the PEA and TES applications processed within 60 calendar days of receipt, and the 44% for the completion of the applications for foreign nationals' corporate and individual work visas processed within 30 working days. He suggested it would perhaps be wise for the Department to outsource the service that would deal with the approval and completion of these applications. There was no doubt that 44% achievement should be regarded as "ridiculous" in terms of meeting standards, and there should be measures in place to make this at least a 90% achievement.
Mr Bagraim expressed concern that the Department seemed to be setting targets that it would find extremely difficult to achieve. The reality was that there were not enough inspectors within the Department, and there were no mechanisms in place to ascertain whether employers adhered to the labour laws.
Mr Lamati appreciated the fact that the Committee was taking into consideration the improvement in performance during the current financial year. The Department was doing its best to ensure that the invoices were processed within the stipulated 30 working days. The Department was taking the issue of irregular expenditure very seriously, and there was an investigation immediately when irregular expenditure was detected to establish the cause of it. Consequence management was also implemented, as the target was to completely eliminate irregular expenditure and encourage compliance to the government prescripts.
It would have been noted throughout the presentation that the Northern Cape had been experiencing problems. This was an indication of the challenges in the office, and the Department was working hard to resolve to issues. The DDG on inspections and enforcement services had been spending some time in Northern Cape trying to resolve all the issues that had been highlighted in the presentation. The inspections and enforcement and services in the province had been put under administration, and there was hope that performance would improve going forward. A number of challenges had been identified when the Department conducted a road show to some of the provinces, and there were plans to work with those offices to address them.
The reason for poor performance on the training of shop stewards had been the unreasonable expectation from the shop stewards that the Department would also provide transport and accommodation. The Department was working with the different federations to address this misunderstanding, as the training would empower the shop stewards to be able to effectively conduct their work properly.
The issue of the registration of the PEAs and also the visa applications was of great concern to the Department. The main issue was on where the final decision was to be taken. There were efforts in place to streamline the processing of these applications, and this would be improved in the coming quarters. The Department appreciated the gravity of the situation.
The Department had considered the fact that there were not enough inspectors. It would like to have more, but the reality was that there not enough money to employ more inspectors. The plan was to maximise these limited resources so as derive a bigger impact from the small number of inspectors in place.
Ms Aggy Moiloa, DDG, Inspection and Enforcement Services, said that there was movement of staff within the province of Northern Cape, and this had particularly been the case in the first and the middle of the second quarter. There were three vacancies for inspectors in the Northern Cape, and two of those were in the process of being filled.
The non-compliance of employers to labour laws usually involved first offenders. The Department had managed to refer to 65 employers for prosecution in the previous financial year, but this number had grown to 200 in the current financial year, and in some instances, fines had been enforced and paid.
The Department was planning to have a training academy that would be aimed at the professionalisation of the inspectors. This would include working with institutions of higher learning. There were also plans in place to utilise technology for conducting inspections, including the use of "Skype," as this would save resources and time, and could be particularly useful when inspecting employers with a good history of compliance.
Adoption of the Minutes
The Committee adopted the minutes of 30 November 2016 without amendments.
The meeting was adjourned.
Yengeni, Ms LE
America, Mr D
Bagraim, Mr M
Mjobo, Ms LN
Mkongi, Mr B
Ollis, Mr IM
Tongwane, Ms TM
Van Schalkwyk, Ms SR
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Saturday, May 4, 2013
In Austin, Google Fiber might be joined by Wi-Fi network
In Austin, Google Fiber might be joined by Wi-Fi network
Google is offering only the sketchiest glimpse of its plans, but a city of Austin official confirmed that the Internet giant envisions a free Wi-Fi service open to all users that would cover certain parts of the city.
"We hope to set up Google Fiber Wi-Fi hot spots in the future, but we don't have anything to announce right now," said Google spokeswoman Jenna Wandres. Google's wireless plans include all three urban areas it has announced for Google Fiber so far, Austin, Kansas City and Provo, Utah. Google also said Friday that it will bring its Google Fiber service to the Kansas City suburb of Shawnee, Kan.
Friday, May 3, 2013
Eden Trailer
Eden Trailer Starring Jamie Chung
Posted by ARTSTRADA MAGAZINE at 10:40 PM No comments:
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
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Welcome To The Emirate Stadium, Unveiling Soon, Mkhitaryan To Arsenal 90% Done
Follow ooh to be a Gooner on Facebook and Twitter for more latest Arsenal news, match analysis, transfer news, injury news, team news and rumours from reliable sources around the World.
Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez has undergone his Manchester United medical ahead of his swap deal with Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
Mkhitaryan agreed terms with the Gunners last night to leave only the formalities of the fitness and health checks to get the deal over the line.
Sanchez was left out of Arsenal's squad for Saturday's win over Crystal Palace as he travelled up to the North West in preparation for his big move.
The switch was on hold while Mkhitaryan's agent, Mino Raiola, pushed hard to get the best financial package for his client.
"I expect soon or never," Mourinho said of the deal. "I think is so close, so close, so close that if it doesn't happen it's not going to happen so I am positive.
"I know my people is doing everything they can, the owners with the green light, Mr Woodward working hard with Matt Judge and everybody is giving everything they can and I think they are going to be successful."Follow oohtobeagooner on Facebook and Twitter for more latest Arsenal transfer news, injury news, team news and rumours.


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Basain is the most-widely read Nepali novel, not because it was a big bestseller but because it has been required reading in the Tribhuban University curriculum for decades. Hundreds of thousands of Nepalis know the plot by heart because they had to cram it for exams.
The 70-page novel by Lil Bahadur Chhetri evoked a powerful response among Nepalis in Nepal and abroad when it came out in 1958. Chhetri, a descendant of Nepali immigrants, wrote the book in Assam where he still lives. Although he never really stayed in Nepal, he based the portrayal of rural Nepal on interviews with more recent Nepali migrants to Assam.
In his preface, Chhetri had said the main reason for writing the book was to familiarise prabasi Nepalis about the environment and culture of their homeland. "It occurred to me that although the future of people like us, who have made our homes outside Nepal, is tied to the country in which we dwell, our language, literature, and culture are still Nepali, and everyone's own literature and culture are dear to them," Chhetri says.
In 2005, Basain was made into a feature film and on the 50th anniversary of its first edition in 2008, Michael J Hutt has brought out a flawless translation. As professor of Nepali at the School of African and Oriental Studies in London, Hutt has taken great pains to make sure nothing is lost in translation. The slim volume with a preface, glossary, afterword, bibliography and copious footnotes will open a window to Nepal to many for whom the book has so far been out of bounds. And through that window, we see the reality of rural Nepal that hasn't changed much in the five decades since the book was written.
The caste and gender discrimination, poverty and injustice are more or less intact. But so is the fortitude and generosity of the Nepali spirit portrayed in the book. Entrenched oppression forced generations of Nepalis over the past century-and-half to migrate to the madhes or muglan. Persistent injustice ultimately created the conditions for the Maoist revolution. That struggle finally made Nepalis aware of their rights, but the violence made the economic desperation of many Nepali even worse and triggered a new wave of mass-migration in the past decade that is a modern-day 'Basain'.
'Do they leave their homes because they wish to?' Chhetri asks in the Nepali preface to his 1958 edition, "perhaps that is true for many of them, but for others it is quite a different matter. I chose the misery and mystery that lie at the root of this as the theme of Basain."
The story is set somewhere in the multi-ethnic hills of eastern Nepal. Dhane's family lives a precarious, but contented, existence. A family tragedy and the weight of subjugation by powerful village moneylenders forces him to migrate. This 'misery and mystery' is the story of millions of Nepali families through history.
Today, Nepal's rural youth are selling off ancestral land to pay middlemen to take them to the Gulf or Malaysia, but the wrenching dislocation is the same.
That is also the reason Hutt says he chose to translate Basain: "The way a family's dispossession and flight from Nepal are represented [in the novel] tells us something about the historical fact of migration from the Nepalese hills, as well as reveals the author's attitudes to the fact."
This is a moving and simple story of a universal family forced to leave home. Thanks to this translation, Basain will touch the hearts of many more people worldwide. acts are even more dramatic than fiction in societies wracked by war.
Nepal's conflict was no different. Nearly 15,000 people were killed and disappeared between 1996-2006, but a novel could be written about each one of them. The story of every family displaced by the conflict could be turned into a feature film.
But we only remember the numbing numbers: 15,000 killed, 1,500 disappeared, 75,000 injured, 250,000 internally displaced and almost the whole country affected in one way or another.
As the editor of Nepal's largest-circulation newspaper, Narayan Wagle knew well the limitations of journalism in covering war. The news format wasn't the best way to get across to readers how the conflict was brutalising Nepali society. Wagle chose fiction to get closer to the truth.
When Palpasa Caf? came out in 2005, its unusual non-linear style was an instant hit with Nepali readers. It was a fictionalised account of Nepalis caught in the grips of war. Wagle makes a cameo appearance at the beginning of the book and hears of the abduction of a real-life friend by soldiers. He turns his disappeared colleague into an imaginary painter named Drishya, and the rest of the book is about how the conflict sweeps everyone along.
Drishya falls in love with Palpasa, a Nepali American who has returned to the land of her parents after the post-9/11 America. Drishya meets with his childhood friend, Siddhartha, who has joined the Maoists and goes back to their war-torn village in the mountains. The two argue about the age-old questions of art and politics, about peace and justice, about whether the means justify the end.
In the novel's first chapter Wagle, as himself, is sitting at a caf? in Thamel taking dictation on the phone from a district reporter. There has been another battle in the mountains. "That was nothing new," Wagle writes, "we published stories like that every day. Today's newspaper already carried an almost identical story, tomorrow's would as well. It was the same thing every day.did newspapers exist here only to public body counts?"
Something is always lost in translation when novels cross the language barrier. Happily, this one, which got a final polish from Linda Trigg, preserves the original nuances. Narayan Wagle wrote a powerful anti-war novel, delving deeply through his characters at the human cost of conflict. Now, through this English translation, a larger international audience can read about what Nepal's war did to its people.


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by ERTEL GRAY
edited by ANDREW HICKS
"For every failed singer in this world, there is a karaoke DJ eating his weight in hot wings by dim light."
The ancient Japanese art of karaoke has never really seemed to hit its zenith in America. Even today, every bar you go to has at least one karaoke night on its chalkboard schedule, nestled between $2 Pitcher Tuesday and Thirsty Thursday.
So what's the appeal? For every Joe Average, maybe it's the dream of wooing a lady friend with a mystical version of Peter Frampton's "Baby, I Love Your Way." In reality, the alcohol involved always seems to transform Frampton's ode to loving a female's way into a horribly off-key, off-rhythm "'OohbabeeILove…' where am I? The damn screen's moving too fast. Where's Brenda at? Get up here, y'whore! 'WannaTeeellYou…'"
Karaoke, at its crux, is basic good fun. No one's there to judge your performance. Oh sure, that guy who just threw up on his shirt sorta looks like Simon Cowell, but remember: you're wearing beer goggles. I lied about the "no one's judging you" thing, actually. If you're singing, you should be aware that I am judging you based on pitch, vocal range and choice of material. I am your own… personal… Cowell.
But you're not going to win a recording contract and/or make millions with me. I'm judging you solely because I don't want to make the same mistakes you do. Recently, I made plans to go out with a girl (yeah, I was surprised, too) who absolutely loves to sing. And apparently displays the same lack of shame that I do. A keeper? After tonight's debacle? Right? (Right!) You're bloody well right!
The place? Kristy's, a semi-respectable, upscale* eatery where business men can loosen their ties, throw down a couple six-dollar PBRs and "be" that guy who tortured them in their formative years. They form their own cliques, give each other nicknames and pat each other on the back after a rousing rendition of ANY song. It would all be normal, boorish broski behavior, except that Ted From Accounting is high-fiving Trevor The Smelly IT Guy — spilling an $8 martini in the process — for his version of "Radar Love." ("Drivin' all night/Hands wet on the wheel," for sure.)
RANDOM KARAOKE OBSERVATION: An old man with turquoise bolo tie, leather vest, cowboy boots and more denim than Billy Mays, just sang Alabama's "When We Make Love" to a group of drunken businessmen. This makes me question whether reality has somehow came untethered, and I'm projecting live versions of "Tim & Eric's Awesome Show" onto this experience. Plus, I've always hated people who refer to sex as "making love." That, to me, means "boring white people sex." And it's also why I've missed being invited to Bad Company's annual Christmas party for the past decade and a half.
DJ Dave — or Dave You Suck, as he's known to many — was a bit narcissistic. After every four or five songs, he'd take a turn to perform his own signature tunes. I thought to myself, Damn dude, this ain't about you and your talents! Plus, that half-eaten basket of chicken wings doesn't help create the mysterious allure you're going for when you sing "Time of the Season."
I study DJ Dave like a zookeeper studies a captive animal. Clad in an Iron Maiden T-shirt, jeans and New Balance sneakers, Dave didn't strike me as the DJ type. I examined his surroundings, saw how he reacted when a female was introduced into his habitat. Weird, sad and awkward.
RANDOM KARAOKE OBSERVATION: My lady companion decided to tackle Adam Sandler's "At a Medium Pace." This is what I absolutely love about her. We go into a semi-respectable environment then white-trash the HELL out of it. The song starts off innocently enough, plus the shitty mics make the lyrics undiscernable, so most of the crowd there just thought she was singing some innocent sappy love song. Until she belted out the line about, "SEE THAT SHAMPOO BOTTLE? NOW STICK IT UP MY ASS!" I nearly wept with pride. I'm assuming that most of the other patrons thought we were one of those weird couples who posts ads on Craigslist or those weird, newspapery sex mags. And I absolutely adored that.
The night ended with a rousing rendition of "Earache My Eye" by Cheech and Chong, performed by myself, my date and another female patron. Nothing special about it, except that I think we did BETTER than Cheech and Chong! And that to me, is what karaoke is all about: people bonding over a love of song, an even greater love of alcohol and a sense that we can do any tune justice.
Just know that when it comes time to "Turn Me Loose," hand me that dynamite stick and get the fuck off my stage. I'm about to blow shit up!
*Upscale meaning they have tablecloths. This is a HUGE upgrade from my normal watering holes, where the tables have rounded, gnawed-upon edges. Oh, an upscale place also has silverware. Can't forget the silverware I kept rearranging, which was part of my master plan to be a minor inconvenience to the food-service industry.


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The Round Rock Public Library and Austin SCORE will be offering a series of free workshops for entrepreneurs and small business owners on Fridays from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m., Sept. 20 through Oct. 25. SCORE is a nonprofit dedicated to helping small businesses and entrepreneurs start, develop and maintain their businesses.
These free timely workshops, presented by recognized experts and practitioners, will cover a variety of issues facing small business owners and entrepreneurs including finances, marketing, and strategic planning.
Join us on Friday, Oct. 18 for Instagram for Your Business, presented by Jenn Denham. Learn how you can use Instagram to market your services and products and how you can connect with your ideal customers.
Jennifer will address these important topics:
- Instagram myths
- The BIO (how to make your bio more efficient for conversion)
- Branding your Instagram
- Define who your ideal customer is (research time)
- Finding your ideal client on Instagram
- Getting noticed
- Engagement
- The content creation process
About the Presenter
Jenn Denham has 12 years in the ever-changing marketing industry with extensive knowledge in social media, branding, and analytics tracking. She designs effective marketing strategies for small business owners, start-up and non-profits to bring their business into the social spotlight.


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CORD Programs
CORD programs and activities have been inspired and formulated based on dynamic and vibrant interactions with thousands of villagers. CORD's strength and success has been due to its coalition with villagers, where there is cooperative effort to organize, build, and find relevant solutions to personal, familial, and communal concerns.
Please read testimonials after you learn about our programs, testimonials give you real stories of people touched by these programs.


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110-2955 Virtual Way
Vancouver, BC V5M 4X6
Bluebird Cakery is a custom cake shop based in Vancouver, BC, and is a sister company to Creme de la Crumb. We create cakes for birthdays, weddings, corporate functions, catered parties, and other special events.
Due to COVID-19,
we are pausing operations at this time to self-quarantine and do our part! We hope to bring you treats again soon.


text: Our fashionable collection of Ladies Designer crop top with sharara is beautiful in design. This designer crop top is precisely crafted by using excellent fabric and advanced stitching technology. The offered designer crop top is suitable to pair with matching earrings and high heels to get a stunning look. In addition to this, offered Ladies Designer crop top is perfect to get dry-cleaned to maintain its sheen. Stylish look, beautiful pattern and nice appearance are qualities of offered party designer crop top. Clients can avail this product from us in a variety of colours, patterns and designs.


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A Message from the Grand Junior Warden,
The Friction of Friendship
Proverbs 27:17 says, "Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend." Sharpening envisions a rubbing together or honing. This friction of friendship whets us into more finely honed instruments than we would be if left to ourselves. Those with whom we rub shoulders have an impact on us. Even when our friendships are tested in difficult times, our friends serve to buff out our rough edges and soften our coarseness. After all, friction and pressure turn a lump of carbon into a diamond, friction from abrasives polish a rough surface into a mirror, and the laving of water turns rough stones into smooth river rocks.
As my grandfather would say, "association leads to assimilation." It is always preferable that we assimilate the good and constructive rather than the bad and deleterious. When we are surrounded by good people, we develop and improve spiritually, mentally, and emotionally because of the positive influence they exert upon us. Attitudes, like cold viruses, are contagious; better to be infected by the beneficial than the detrimental. Freemasonry surrounds us with good men.
The friction of friendship with my brothers in Freemasonry has been one of the great blessings of my life. Paraphrasing what the writer of this Proverb said, my Masonic brothers truly "sharpeneth" my countenance in myriad constructive ways. We gather as a group of men who place a high value on the shared ideals of God, country, and family. These are men who believe the Bible should be not only in the center of our lodge halls but in the center of our lives. I am convinced that my friendships within the lodge are tools that God has used to hone me into a better Christian. Because my Masonic friends have sharpened me, I am a better man than I would have been without the friction of Masonic friendship and brotherly love.
Just as we have been sharpened by our friends, so too we are obligated to be a whetstone to sharpen others. Every day we encounter others and they leave our presence with their countenances either sharpened or dulled by our interaction with them. As we supply the friction of friendship to others we do so in emulation of Jesus who first called us friend and who was the truest friend of all (John 15:13-15).
You, my brothers, have now seen fit to elect me to serve you as Grand Junior Warden. By doing so, you have given me the opportunity to be sharpened and improved by countless additional brothers that I will now be able to meet in my fraternal travels. It is my prayer that God will use me to sharpeneth your countenances as you have surely sharpened mine.
R∴ W∴ Jay B. McCallum
Grand Junior Warden


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Enhancement of anaerobic biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons in contaminated groundwater: laboratory mesocosm studies
- Author / Creator
- Fan, Xiaoying
This project was a part of a study to evaluate natural attenuation (NA) as a viable remedial option for petroleum hydrocarbon (PHC) contamination at upstream oil- and gas-contaminated sites in Alberta, Canada. Laboratory mesocosms were set up using groundwater and sediment materials collected from two PHC contaminated sites (Site 1 and Site 3) in Alberta to investigate the enhancement of anaerobic PHC biodegradation by amendment of terminal electraon acceptors (TEAs, nitrate or sulfate) and/or nutrients (ammonium and phosphate). Multiple lines of evidence, including the removal of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes (BTEX) and CCME F1 fraction hydrocarbons (C6 to C10), rapid depletion of TEAs, the production of biogenic gases, and detection of the metabolites verified that anaerobic PHC biodegradation was occurring in both laboratory mesocosm studies. Selective biodegradation of PHCs under different reducing conditions was observed. However, there was no conclusive evidence that one reducing condition will universally favor the biodegradation of specific PHCs. In both studies, nutrient amendment showed no enhancement effects. The calculated first-order biodegradation rates in Site 1 mesocosm study ranged from 0.0032 to 0.033 d-1 for benzene, 0 to 0.028 d-1 for ethylbenzene, 0.0021 to 0.036 d-1 for m-, p-xylenes, and 0.0006 to 0.0045 d-1 for F1-BEX (F1 hydrocarbons exclduding BEX) under the tested conditions. The laboratory first-order biodegradation rates of BEX were higher than the estimated field rates, indicating the potential of enhanced anaerobic biodegradation in situ. However, when comparing the TEA amended mesocosms with the unamended controls (in which iron reduction might be the predominant process), the enhancement effects were less apparent and inconsistent. The calculated first-order biodegradation rates in Site 3 mesocosm study ranged from 0 to 0.0009 d-1 for benzene, 0 to 0.011 d-1 for ethylbenzene, 0 to 0.0016 d-1 for m- and p-xylenes, and 0 to 0.15 d-1 for o-xylene. Sulfate amendment significantly stimulated biodegradation of all xylenes and CCME F1 hydrocarbons. However, there was no definitive evidence that nitrate or sulfate amendment could enhance benzene or ethylbenzene biodegradation.
- Graduation date
- Spring 2010
- Type of Item
- Thesis
- Degree
- Doctor of Philosophy
- License
- This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.


text: This company removes the credit from the customer's account and never notifies them that they have made an over payment. It is a ton of money. Would I get in trouble in any way if I notify these customers that they have this money with this certain company? It has been going on for the past 9 years.


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Saturday, January 2, 2010
2010 in an Alternate Universe
Science Fiction Romance is all about imagination, creating fascinating new worlds--or new spins on them--and the cause-and-effect of "What if..." For true Science Fiction Romance (the sort that has a basis in actual science) the concept of alternate universes is an intriguing premise. The theory that every possible outcome of every event exists somewhere in some alternate reality can make for all sorts of interesting twists in life as we know it.
As we turn the calendar page to a brand new decade, I thought it might be fun to re-imagine how things might be in a universe where history was a little different than the one we're familiar with.
Here are just a few events that 2010 might ring-in in this brave new (fictional) universe:
The Challenger disaster disaster never happened and our space program never experienced a serious 32-month delay because of it. New Mexico's Spaceport America was built in the 1990s and we now have a bonanza space-tourism industry with daily flights to resorts on the moon and in high Earth orbit. Commercial enterprises are doing feasibility studies on possible fly-by tours of Jupiter, Saturn and their many fascinating moons in a decade or two. Interest in the venture skyrocketed on January 2, 2010 when the news broke that primitive aquatic life was discovered on Europa.
George Lucas is president. (Hey, I never claimed this universe was utopia.)
Steven Spielberg just wrapped production on his third--and final--motion picture in the last trilogy of Star Wars after buying the rights from George Lucas. Meanwhile, generations of fans flock to the theatres on New Years Day to see the latest release of the legendary space epic. Star Wars Episode VIII smashes previous box office records with its breakthrough cinematography technology that puts the fan in the center of eye-popping FXs, heart-pounding battle scenes and characters that are every bit as endearing as those in the original trilogy.
In our alternate realm, Elvis is turning 75 on Friday. He still has a high dollar production show in Vegas called Captain EP (co-produced by his son-in-law, Michael Jackson).
Their arguement is that the T-Rex is better suited to roaming museums than being allowed to free-range near agricultural areas. Environmentalist are rallying to defend T-Rex's rights, manning illegal roadblocks outside the dinosaur preserves and brandishing signs declaring "Extinction is Forever."
I now return you to your regularly scheduled universe.
Wishing you prosperity, happiness and every success for 2010!
[Please note that this post is only intended as an exercise in imagination and in no way is meant to dishonor the memories of those who have passed.]
6 comments:
What a fun blog post! Especially had a chuckle regarding Elvis and MJ :)ReplyDelete
Wishing you all the best for 2010.
Thanks so much for stopping by, Angie. Glad you enjoyed the post. :)ReplyDelete
Happy 2010, and good luck with your writing endeavors.
And in this new universe, Laurie converted the sucess she richly deserved into publishing success, sold millions, made millions and made sci fi romance THE genre to read.ReplyDelete
A very very happy New Year to you, my friend who has been there from the start for me with excellent advice, praise I'm sure I didn't deserve and belief that kept me going!
You are already a star for me, Laurie. Thanks so much for all you have done. I wish 2010 brings you what you most wish for.
Oh, I'd LOVE to see that universe, Barbara! :) Guess I'll have to keep working on making that my new reality. *grins*ReplyDelete
Thanks so much for your kind words. Your successes have been a huge inspiration for me, and for all your peers. Happy 2010. :)
Is this the year that recruitment begins for the Mars colony? Or is that 2011? :-) Anyway sounds like a better AU to me than this one. Sign me up! Happy New Year, everybody!ReplyDelete
Happy New Year, Donna. Yeah, wouldn't it be great if we could write our own alternate universes? Oh wait, we already do that. And live in them, I mean.ReplyDelete


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Belarus plans to increase export of medicines to Africa and Southeast Asia, Valery Shevchuk, Belarus Deputy Healthcare Minister – Director of the Pharmaceutical Industry Department, said at a session of the Healthcare Ministry, BelTA has learned. Belarus has made the first shipments to these regions. However, the export is insufficient at the moment, Valery Shevchuk said.
There is the potential to build up the pharmaceutics export. For example, the deliveries to Vietnam have been almost doubled. Through this country, Belarus can branch out to other countries in Southeast Asia.
In 2017 Belarus plans to develop new and newest medicines, to obtain international certificates, and boost export volumes. Valery Shevchuk also said that thanks to the development of the pharmaceutical industry over the past two years the country managed to replace imports for an amount equivalent to more than $600 million.
This work will continue. With regard to the price growth, in 2016 it was contained largely at the expense of profitability, he added.


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There is a conversation on the [email protected] list about the meaning of the word bezwaar, the Dutch word that has been translated as objection. The question is whether objection is a good translation and how other translations might affect understanding objections and consent. The translations into other languages and those in different Dutch/English dictionaries suggest something other than objection. In English, objection means no, "This decision can't go forward." In other languages it has the meaning of difficulty, problem, trouble, bother, nuisance, encumbrance.
Objections are one of the sticky points in sociocratic decision-making and in full group consensus decision-making. To avoid what seem to be "irrevocable blocks" that are in effect vetoes, people ask:
- On what basis are objections valid?
- Who decides, the person or the group?
- Can the group overturn an objection
Responding to these questions has led to many different qualifications of consent. By limiting objections to certain conditions, the principle of consent in practice is no longer effective.
Meanings Beyond Translations
Even if we end up using objection in English, the understanding of the meanings of bezwaar in various languages is useful in explaining what an objection is. Bezwaar is more nuanced and related to personal abilities to support, honor, respect, and feel good about the decision, not to feel "weighed down" by it, feeling a heaviness. One purpose of requiring consent is to avoid dampening down enthusiasm and energy for achieving the aim of the group.
The classic example of the spark plug "objecting" by ceasing to function is mechanical. It demonstrates a physical inability to function. This is analogous to "I object to buying that new machine because there won't be enough room for my machine to work efficiently." It's a physical reality that is easily measured and accepted or corrected. Most proposals outside of manufacturing, however, are not that clear. They most often require addressing personal feelings, beheaviments.
It's much more comfortable to have my colleagues consent to a proposal that I disagree with, but still respect as an ethical, reasonable choice than one I'm embarrassed about or think is unintelligent. A choice between options when it is not clear that one or the other is the best decision under the circumstances can be tested and corrected if necessary.
Sometimes the decision involves developing one option until the group thinks it is ready to implement. The decision is when? A standard for these decisions is satisfying, one that is both satisfying and sufficient. At the point where the solution is sufficient, the group would probably do better to move forward than trying for perfection. But when the deciders are people and not spark plugs, the solution must also be satisfying, not just sufficient.
Beheavied & Lack of Consent
An example from my community is the conflict between watering the lawn and not watering the lawn. Some people wanted the lawn to be green and nice because our children play on it almost daily. It's a question of aesthetics for some but it is also a desire for the pleasure of touch and feel and fun.
A second group didn't have strong feelings either way except that they didn't want the conflict to continue. ("Studies have shown" that on most issues, something like 40% will be in this group.)
A third group, by far the smallest, was deeply embarrassed to have their friends see the obviously watered lawn. It was a waste of resources. It reflected badly not just on them but also on the cohousing movement that claiming to support energy efficiency, solar energy, sustainably harvested wood, etc. It was a professional, philosophical , and personal issue for them. A deep beheaviment.
The third group also did not have children and had no personal investment in children playing on lawns or dirt.
Every one respected the feelings of the third group and many had shared the same feelings in the past. Then they had to face the reality of their own children and 20 others needing a place to play.
Emotional & Technical Solutions
The solution was that the third group, being energy scientists with major physics and math backgrounds, agreed to check the rainfall every week and do the calculations on what amount of extra water was required. This way we could use the smallest amount of water necessary to keep the grass alive with no dirt patches. Minimal water once a week would also cause the grass to grow deeper roots to reach underground water sources, of which ours are abundant. We are built on springs.
This solution came about because each side paid attention to the beheaviment of the other. The scientifically based solution resolved the problem in a way that removed the heavy feelings of all groups. But the scientific solution would not have been found or accepted without recognizing the beheavied feelings. The argument didn't have to be become an objection before it gets attention.
An understanding of the meaning and origins of words gives a deeper understanding of what they mean and how they came to mean it. This can point the way to better resolutions of beheaviments.
Categories: Decisions and Power, History and Philosophy


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Hi. I am guest blooging for Margaret.
That's the word right? Blooging? Oh. Blogging!
I'm guest BLOGGING for Margaret. She's been using me and 70 of my close friends to catch fish. They aren't biting.
The Boyfriend says that they will leave when they run out of shrimp so Margaret's making time on the water last by doing a photo shoot.
Like this pose?
It's my Sexy Beast pose. I try. There's not much to look pretty for. Just sitting in the box at HEB, chilling. Hard not to chill when the thermostat is 30 degrees. But I try to keep a positive attitude.
You know, we shrimp are an interesting group. People like us. They spent $3 million dollars to study shrimp body building.
Everything was going great until those old folks at AARP blew the whistle on Shrimp on a Treadmill. That's what we called it. Turns out we shrimp really like working out on a treadmill. National Science Foundation called it Impaired Metabolism and Performance in Crustaceans Exposed to Bacteria. We shrimp were signing our eggs up for the Treadmill research while they were still in the saddle.
Until they outed us on national TV.
"If Congress really wants to balance the budget, they could stop spending our money on things like a cotton institute in Brazil, poetry at zoos, treadmills for shrimp…" Blah, blah, blah. It was better than that USDA study about how far flightless Mormon crickets could walk in a day. They attached little teeny transmitters to the crickets and tracked them through Colorado grasslands. Turns out those 2″ crickets could walk nearly two miles. They could have walked further if someone had spiked their little teeny Camelbaks with Pepsi.
That's enough for politics. It's enough to make my blood boil. If I had blood.
We could move on to religion.
Did you know that eating us shrimp is forbidden by God? Really. I recommend that for the good of your immortal souls that you rethink the red sauce. I don't want to Bible thump. I could be a Bible thumper if they had added weight training to the treadmill work. But the Bible says: These ye shall eat of all that are in the waters: all that have fins and scales shall ye eat: And whatsoever hath not fins and scales ye may not eat; it is unclean unto you. (Deuteromony 14:9-10)
I added the emphasis in case you didn't get the point. That would be me. No scales; just a carapace. No fins; just a pleopoda. So, step away from the cast net and leave us shrimp alone.
The oysters can take care of themselves. They have tough shells. They never open up to me anyway.


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Christmas comes to Imperial Beach a Great Success - Part 1 of 2 Photo Galleries!
Dec 07, 2014 04:35PM
By Paul Spear
We have so many great pictures taken by IB Sha-Ron that we had to break this into two parts to be able to show everyone's pictures into our Photo Gallery!
Photo Credit: IB Sha-Ron.
Please remember this is part 1 of 2!
If you didn't visit Christmas comes to Imperial Beach you missed quite a show.
There were prizes, gifts, Booths, music and so much more at the festivities.
View the Photo Gallery to see all the great events they had for everyone!
Go through the pictures and see if you can find any of you and your family of friends.
If you do, let them know and send them a copy!
Christmas comes to Imperial Beach a Great Success - Part 1 of 2 Photo Galleries! [49 Images] Click Any Image To Expand


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Get amazing ideas for Christmas from the videos I made below. You can see ideas for gorgeous Christmas decorating, Christmas wreaths, Best Toys of 2018, gorgeous Christmas front porches, beautiful Christmas mantles, great gift wrapping ideas, lovely Christmas centerpieces.
Get ready for Christmas with these amazing suggestions!
50 Gorgeous Christmas Decorating Ideas!
50 Creative and Fun Gift Wrapping Ideas for Christmas:
70+ Lovely Christmas Wreaths:
Beautiful Christmas Centerpiece Ideas:
Best Toys of 2018 for Christmas for Kids:
Gorgeous Christmas Mantle Ideas:


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Representative Eddie Johnson Democrat from the 30th district of Texas's fax number is 202-226-1477 and phone number is 202-225-8885.
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Im still sorting through these assistance dogs pics 🙂
There are SO MANY cute pics to choose from.
I hope these photos bring a smile to your face….
Assistance dogs Australia are a fantastic organisation who train Labradors and Golden Retrievers to help people with physical disabilities to lead more independent lives.
To find out more about Assistance Dogs Australia, click here
Please leave your comments below – I'd really love to hear them – or connect with me on Facebook , twitter or pinterest


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Metalworking by means of CNC (computer numerical control) production centres
The HAAS ST-30 lathe is a large powerful machine with a 12-station bolt-on turret capable of machining workpieces of up to 533 mm in diameter and 660 mm in working length; the maximum chucking length between centres is 762 mm. The machine's maximum spindle speed capacity is 3400 rpm.
The HAAS ST-10 lathe is a compact machine with a 12-station bolt-on turret, which is perfect for machining small and medium-sized workpieces. The maximum working diameter of the workpiece for this machine is 356 mm, and the length can be up to 356 mm. This machine's maximum spindle speed capacity is 6000 rpm, which ensures exceptional finish of small-diameter workpieces.
The vertical machining centre HAAS Super MINI MILL is a compact machine with the maximum spindle speed capacity of 10,000 rpm, an 11.2 kW spindle drive and the working area of 406 x 305 mm with the height of 254 mm. The mill is perfect for machining small and aluminium workpieces.
The vertical machining centre HAAS VF-3 is a milling machining centre with the table length of 1219 mm and width of 457 mm; the working area in one chucking is 1016 x 508 mm with the height of 635 mm, which allows close tolerance machining of rather large workpieces to be performed.
The vertical machining centre HAAS VF-2 is a user-friendly powerful mill for machining workpieces up to 762 mm in length, 406 mm in width and 508 mm in height.
Vertical Machining Center; 60" x 26" x 25" (1524 x 660 x 635 mm), 40 taper, 30 hp (22.4 kW) vector drive, 8100 rpm, inline direct-drive, 20-station carousel tool changer, 710 ipm (18 m/min) rapids, power-failure detection module, 1 GB program memory, 15" color LCD monitor, USB port, memory lock keyswitch, rigid tapping and 95-gallon (360 liter) flood coolant system.
The UMC-750 is a 5-axis 40-taper vertical machining center with 30" x 20" x 20" travels and an integrated dual-axis trunnion table. The machine is equipped with a powerful 8100-rpm inline direct-drive spindle driven by a 30-horsepower vector drive system, and comes standard with a 40+1 tool side-mount tool changer. The UMC-750's 630 x 500 mm trunnion table features standard T-slots, as well as a precision pilot bore, for fixturing versatility. The trunnion provides +110 and -35 degrees of tilt and 360 degrees of rotation to provide excellent tool clearance and large part capacity.


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FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The provincial government announced today that twenty new conservation officers were sworn in today in Victoria before beginning their postings this fall throughout B.C., three of whom will be coming to Northeast B.C.
Upon successful completion of training, conservation officers will be based in various locations throughout the province, including several in newly-created positions in Chetwynd and Mackenzie. The remaining officers will be filling vacancies in Fort St. John, Prince George, Quesnel, Terrace, Creston, and the Lower Mainland.
The hiring of additional conservation officers will bring the total number of conservation officers around the province to 160. Environment Minister George Heyman also announced that resources are also being added to locations with the highest need.
Community Interviews with Moose FM
"We recognize the need for additional conservation officers to help protect our natural resources and lessen human-wildlife conflicts. For too long, there has been a lack of frontline conservation officers, and communities have suffered the consequences," said George Heyman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy. "We are taking action to put more boots on the ground, so all British Columbians can benefit from the important work conservation officers do every day."
Conservation officers work on a zone-coverage basis, where officers respond to complaints and concerns anywhere in the zone. The COS considers several factors when determining where any new conservation officers were posted, including officer safety, call volume, zone coverage and geographic location.
These new faces will fill existing vacancies, new positions and areas where retirements are imminent. The recruits will start training at the Western Conservation Law Enforcement Academy in May.
"More conservation officers on the ground mean more eyes and ears to respond to complaints, and to educate the public, prevent human-wildlife conflicts and protect our natural resources," said Doug Forsdick, chief conservation officer with the B.C. Conservation Officer Service (COS). "I am proud of the hard work our conservation officers do across the province, and look forward to the latest contingent of new officers serving their communities."


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To the Pool
We went to the pool.
This is Michael on the turtle.
Kennedy and Hudson on the seashell.
Hudson loved the water sprinklers that came up from the ground.
Neither one of my grandsons are afraid of the water at all!
Kennedy is another story.
Although she did a request to go to the big pool and swim with her Grammy for a while.
It was fun.
We didn't stay too long, because the kids haven't been feeling all that great lately.
But it was plenty long enough for Grammy!!
More later…………..Sally
Courtney's Bridal Shower
One of my best friend's daughter, Courtney, had a bridal shower thrown for her by her brides maids.
The refreshment table was very cute!
The banner is burlap.
They had cupcakes, punch, homemade mints, and nuts.
Here is the maid of honor, Ashley.
Courtney looks like she is glowing.
These are pictures of some of the friends and family in attendance.
They got lots of nice presents to start their new life together in style.
It was a great afternoon.
More later………………..Sally
Related articles
- Bridal Shower & Bridal Shower Ideas | Pottery Barn (potterybarn.com)
Jesse James Days
This weekend was Jesse James Days in my home town.
My grandkids were in the baby show.
Here's Hudson, he won his age group.
He was the only one in it!
Kennedy smiling pretty.
Hudson takes the stage.
Now it's Michael's turn.
Isn't he just the cutest thing you have ever seen???
He chased me down after I took his picture on the stage and said, " More cheese, more cheese!"
Wanting me to take his picture again.
He's a quite a ham.
Kennedy's turn to take the stage.
Michael got the first place medal.
Kennedy ended up with second place.
This is a picture of my cousins, Mitch and Bobby playing in the horseshoe tournament.
My cousin, Terry, Autumn, and baby Autery just hanging out and having a good time.
It's always fun to be in your hometown.
More later………………………………Sally
New Post at Just Resting Up – Home
I put a new video post on at my other blog,
It is about the building progress of our new home.
More later…………………………….Sally
Big Mac Recipe
The big mac has been around for over forty years.
With over 55o million big macs sold annually.
Big Ran loves big macs, so I was happy to find the recipe from the executive chef, Dan Coudreaut, at McDonald's.
The "special sauce" is even revealed!!
Two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, on a sesame seed bun.
Are you going to try to recreate one??
Me too!!
More later……………………..Sally


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ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) was hearing the Bhutto reference case on Thursday and issued second show-cause notice to senator Babar Awan over contempt of court, our sources reported. The hearing was adjourned till January 9.
During today's hearing, PPP leader and federation's lawyer Senator Babar Awan was reprimanded after the video of his Wednesday's statement ridiculing show cause notices was played in the courtroom.
The court then issued another show-cause notice to him and warned of canceling his license. He was directed to submit his reply by January 9 and adjourned the hearing.
Justice Jawwad, while hearing the case, remarked that it was not contempt but insult of judiciary on which Awan replied that he did not insult but praise the court.
President of Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) Yaseen Azad and Vice Chairman of Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) Lateef Afridi protested over Awan's reply however they asked the court to remain patient.
The CJ asked the PPP senator to bring his file having details of his license. He said that no one has the right to ridicule courts and that his behaviour was not appropriate.
Earlier, Chief Justice of Pakistan Chaudhry Iftikhar on Thursday took notice of PPP leader Senator Babar Awan's statement while talking to media on Wednesday where he belittled the issuing of contempt notices by the Supreme Court (SC) to him and some of other PPP colleagues by ridiculing it, our sources reported.
Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry has also asked for the relevant video clips and newspaper cuttings that will be presented during the hearing.
The CJ reprimanded Awan and said that nothing can be done unless courts would not be respected. On this, Awan said that the court could not give a decision without hearing him.
Talking to media persons after the hearing of the Bhutto reference case in the Supreme Court on Wednesday, Babar Awan said it was not the first instance that such treatment was meted out to him by the courts.
He recited a verse in Seraiki language to relate the situation: "Notice milya, kakh na hilleya, kiun sohneyan da gila karan; ma lakh wari Bismillah karan," meaning that "the notice was issued but nothing happened, so why should I complain. I'll always welcome such moves."
The PPP leader said this in reaction to the show cause notices sent to him and other PPP leaders by the Supreme Court for their press conference in which they used objectionable language against the judiciary.


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Coldwaltham youngsters inspire chainsaw artist's village sculpture
Youngsters at St James' Primary School in Coldwaltham, have been busy helping renowned West Sussex chainsaw carver Dave Lucas from the Woodland Centre, develop ideas for a public artwork at the new Shackleton Close affordable housing development, due for completion in August this year.
The 54 pupils, aged 4-11, attended the special woodcarving workshop organised at the school by local social housing provider Stonewater, which is delivering the eight low-cost village rental homes. The scheme is being developed in partnership with Horsham District Council and regional housebuilders Trinity Homes UK Ltd. Shackleton Close will offer four three-bedroom and four two-bedroom houses for local people with a connection to Coldwaltham.
The children's workshop is tied in with Stonewater's plans to create a public artwork for the scheme linked with the village's local history and the development's rural surroundings.
"It seemed fitting that we had an artwork which connected with the famous polar explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton whose wife and daughter lived in the Parish and are buried in St Giles' Church graveyard in the village," explains Stonewater Development Officer, Jackie Burton. "Working with the Woodland Centre, we came up with a basic idea of a large oak chest which Shackleton may have taken on his Antarctic expeditions. We then needed ideas for items which could be carved to put in it and the children came up with these at the school workshop. They included food, lanterns, maps, books – and a washing machine!
"It was a fun session which generated some excellent ideas from the youngsters – some of whom had done a school project on the explorer last year. Pupils also learned about the fantastic chainsaw carving projects that Dave Lucas and the Woodland Centre have created from the Gruffalo Owl and Ratty in the Wind in the Willows, to the world's tallest daffodil. Dave was also able to take away some great carving ideas to work up for his final design which will be drawn up and submitted shortly for planning approval."
The Woodland Centre in West Hoathly, is a family-run business that creates beautiful chainsaw carved timber sculptures from small, carry-away items to very large pieces weighing over 1,000 kilograms. The Centre's sculptures can be seen at visitor attractions such as Kew Gardens, Westonbirt Arboretum, Marwell Wildlife and National Trust locations at Sheffield Park, Nyman's Park and Charlecote Park and various parks in Brighton as well as many public spaces.
Head Teacher Jon Gilbert says: "The children of Coldwaltham St James' Primary School were delighted to be involved in this exciting project. The children have studied the expeditions of Shackleton in school and so were well equipped to help the artist with ideas for the sculpture. We are all very excited to see the final piece of art."


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[XBOX ONE] Zombies Easter Egg Service
SenseiIssei, in General Zombies


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Newsboys United
Friday, November 1st, 2019
Event Summary
Newsboys United will perform at the Topeka Performing Arts Center in Topeka, KS at the Topeka Performing Arts Center on Friday, November 1, 2019 at 7 pm.
Price: Tickets start at $25 - VIP Packages are available.
More Information (KJIL is not responsible for external websites)
By popular demand, the "Greatness Of Our God" Tour will once again bring together former members Peter Furler and Phil Joel with Newsboys' Michael Tait, Duncan Phillips, Jeff Frankenstein, and Jody Davisthe. The tour will also feature GRAMMY®-nominated Gotee recording artist Ryan Stevenson, along with acclaimed singer/songwriter Adam Agee and a special guest appearance by former dcTalk member and singer/songwriter Kevin Max.
Topeka Performing Arts Center
214 Se 8th Ave.
The event runs from 7:05pm to 10:00pm on the following dates.
Select a date to add this event to your calendar app.


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Dishwasher Safe
Suitable for Gas, Halogen, Ceramic, & Solid Plate
Induction Suitable
Oven Safe Up to 240°C
Judge 10 Year Guarantee
We provide detailed care instructions for all of our products. Download the relevant guide for this product through the link below.
They are 10cm deep, but the steamer above recesses by 3cm - so your working height is actually 7cm