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How to start investing for less than $50
Since opening my Robinhood account, and starting this blog, I've met (and by met I mean via social media, not that old-school face-to-face nonsense my pops always talks to me about) some pretty awesome people (at least people who come across as awesome on social media).
Most, though … no, no, probably all, are already investors. That's not a bad thing at all. It's great, actually – I can bounce ideas off them, get some insights I wouldn't otherwise stumble across and even find some serious inspiration – but one of the reasons I started this blog was to show people anyone – you, me, your cousin, that crazy neighbor of yours, the barista who hands you your coffee in the morning, your mail carrier — literally anyone can build wealth through investing.
If you've been following my journey, you know why I started. You also know I truly believe dividend growth investing is going to change my life in a major way. If you are among the uninitiated, I'm pretty sure it could change yours, too. If you've been investing for any meaningful amount of time, well, it's probably already changed yours in one way or another.
With all that said, I wanted to write a quick post about just how easy, and inexpensive, starting a dividend growth portfolio can be.
For starters, get a Robinhood account (No, I'm not a spokesman, just a fan). Sign up, deposit $50 in your account and you're literally almost done. I recommend Robinhood because it's as inexpensive a brokerage as you'll find. Inexpensive as in free. Buying is free (even single shares, which is how I'm building my portfolio), selling is free, there aren't any account maintenance charges, nothing. It's all free.
Once you do that, you can buy shares of three decent-looking companies in terms of dividends: Xerox, Ford and Enviva. If you buy just one share of each – Xerox for $7.49, Ford for $12.65 and Enviva for $27.55 (all prices as of close on Tuesday, Feb. 14) – your looking at a total investment of $47.69. Odds are you spent considerably more than that on your valentine … and I'm sure they were worth every penny. But, if you're looking to do something for yourself, invest for your future. The dividends, which I'll get into in a sec, will be pretty tiny at first, but the idea in dividend growth investing isn't to get rich quick, it's to get rich eventually.
OK, here's why the above three stocks are solid starting points for your portfolio:
Xerox (XRX): Just one share of this baby will get you a cool $0.0775 each quarter, or an annualized dividend of $0.31. I hear you snickering, but that's a yield of 4.14%. The company, which prints, copies and publish whatever you need it too, among other things, has been increasing its dividend for the past four years and I don't see that changing anytime soon. It has a payout ratio of just 36.5%, which means it has a ton of room to keep inching it upward. It's raised its dividend by 12.1% over the past three years.
Ford (F): Ford – you know, the car maker – is well off its 52-week high of $14.22 and has a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.92. In other words, it's a good value right now. It also pays an annualized dividend of $0.60, which equates to a yield of almost 5% (4.78%). Ford hasn't been known for raising its dividend of late, so it might not be great in terms of dividend growth, but it's a low-risk place to start learning how this whole investing thing works.
Enviva (EVA): Enviva produces and supplies utility-grade wood pellets to power generators. It's good for the environment and, in my nowhere-near-expert opinion, good for your portfolio. It was founded in 2013, so doesn't have much of a track record, but the company has increased its dividend each of the last four quarters. That's right, quarters. Three quarters ago, back on May 12, 2016, it paid a dividend of $0.51 per share. It paid $0.525 the quarter after that, $0.53 the quarter after that and will pay a $0.535 dividend Feb. 28. I wish every company raised its dividend each quarter. Anyway, the annual payout is currently $2.14, which gives Enviva a juicy 7.77% yield.
See, I told you … you can start a dividend growth portfolio for under $50.
Disclaimer: I am average at most everything I do. Making stock pics probably isn't an exception, so don't mistake anything you find on this blog as sound investing advice. simply put, it's what I did/would do.


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Will Sandhill Still Have a Home In Hernando County?
by Cindy
Getting to know sandhill.
we call the sandhill ecosystem was once
sandhill's high pine community grades into longleaf pine flatwoods, and many
plant species are
has all the sandhill gone? Once
representing the largest forest type in the southeastern coastal plain, 90% of
Florida's sandhill systems have disappeared over the last century. In 1936,
about 7.6 million acres of forests dominated by longleaf pine were present in
Florida. By 1987 there were only 950,000 acres (Taylor, 1998).
It is estimated that sandhill originally covered 20 percent of Florida,
covering much of the Panhandle and the northern two-thirds of the peninsula.
Hernando is one of the few counties in peninsular Florida to be home to sandhill
communities, and much of this is found on the Brooksville Ridge.
soil and the open character have made it prime land for development, as well as
agri-timber and citrus groves. Sandhill in our county that has dodged
development or agricultural use typically has been transformed to xeric hammock
by fire suppression. And there is
worse news; in Hernando, the mature pines remaining are now threatened by the
Southern Pine Beetle, which has infested over 2300 acres in the county. While
the beetle prefers loblolly pine, when swarming the beetle is less
discriminating, and will infest weakened longleafs as well.
you can see it. True
sandhill is now hard to find. In order to preserve or restore sandhill, it must
occupy large enough areas to be managed with fire, and it must have at least a
minimal level of species diversity, which may eliminate many pasturelands from
Hernando County, one of the best places to see sandhill is at the Nature
Conservancy's Janet Butterfield Brooks Preserve. The fall flowers are
spectacular, as those who have participated on our annual joint field trip with
Hernando Audubon will attest. Weeki Wachee Preserve, Chassahowitzka Wildlife
Management Area, Annutteliga Hammock and some areas of the state forest also
contain expanses of sandhill which are being preserved or restored.
To see sandhill restoration in action, visit Chinsegut Nature Center. Decades of fire suppression on this 480-acre property had allowed the pines of the sandhill to be engulfed by a dense growth of evergreen oaks. Over time, sandhill plants once common to the property were shaded and pushed out. To those who know the Chinsegut property, it is immediately evident that that removal of the oaks has been largely accomplished, revealing rolling hills of pine once hidden from view. After infested pines are removed, the next stage is perhaps the most rewarding. Native plant aficionados will watch nature, with the help of man, reintroduce wiregrass and other sandhill plant species, until the property is once more home to the color and diversity of the "real Florida."
R. (1990). Ecosystems of Florida. Orlando, FL: University of Central Florida
V. (2000) Personal conversation/correspondence. Florida Division of Forestry.
W. (1998). Florida Wildflowers in Their Natural Communities. Gainesville, FL:
University Press of Florida
Nature Conservancy, Florida Chapter
Preserve Profiles. www.tncflorida.org
Return to the Main Page
All material on this site © Hernando Chapter of the FNPS. The materials on this website may be copied and distributed without permission, provided that it is used for non-commercial, informational or educational purposes, and you acknowledge this site and the Hernando Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society as the source of publication.

subset: commoncrawl


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Saturday, Sept 23, 2006
Eureka Springs, AR
200 miles
Sometimes the roads are so scenic, bristling with vista points and photo-worthy turnouts, that it takes hours to travel a few miles. Other roads just beg to be ridden fast and hard. Missouri SR-125 is one such road.
When I woke up at 5 am that morning, I didn't dare to dream that we'd be riding that road. For that matter, I sincerely thought that we'd be stuck in the hotel parking lot all day.
I could see flashes of lightning through my window blinds and hear the relentless waterfall from the roof gutters. Reaching for the remote on the nightstand, I turned on the Weather Channel to assess the situation.
A nasty line of storms was slowly working its way southwest, leaving flash floods, damaged property, and soaked roads in its wake. I dozed, periodically arousing to review the latest radar updates.
Stepping through my door at 8AM, I found only eight STNers remaining. County and Itchypickle had left early that morning, braving the storm to fulfill other commitments.
From left to right: Decoda, Speedjunkie, DonZG, CricketMrs, Cricket, Phlatlander, Rocketbunny, SilverBandit
We tramped across the street to "Pancakes", a breakfast-centric café which surprised us with the capacity to immediately seat the group. Cricket had gotten the scoop on the place from the hotel front desk attendant. He passed on advice to "Avoid the buffet and order off the menu."
Stomachs filled but hungry for curvy roads, we stood in the motel parking lot regarding the gray sky and sheets of water still coming down. We decided to hang out for a few hours and then reassess the situation. Decoda and Speedjunkie needed to be in Mena by the end of the day, but they really wanted to ride with the group before leaving.
Around 11am, the rain had slowed to a misty drizzle. The radar showed that the storm had mostly passed to the southeast. I got out my maps and discussed some route ideas with SilverBandit, who being from Missouri, was very familiar with local roads.
I had not intended to join a group ride that day, but the pleading eyes of Speedjunkie and his obvious desire to ride with a STN group swayed my resolve. DonZG still planned to do his own thing, but everyone else geared up to escape the last vestiges of the storm in southwest Missouri.
Taking up my preferred position in the rear as group sweeper, I followed the line of 6 motorcycles out of Eureka Springs via SR-62. Just outside of town, 62 has one of those vaunted "crooked and steep" sections. Cautious of the wet road and uncertain traction conditions, I let myself fall back slightly to avoid stacking up with the other motorcycles in the turns.
The group soon naturally separated into two types of riders. Speedjunkie, SilverBandit, and Decoda were faster, while Phlatlander, Cricket (+CricketMrs), and I preferred a more relaxed pace. I'm not entirely certain who was officially leading, but SilverBandit was our navigator. The leader did an excellent job, slowing in long straights to keep the group together, not taking off after passing cars, and stopping at all turns to make sure that no one got lost. Even when I dallied with my camera, the mood projected from the leaders was patient and unhurried.
At some point along the way, we waved at a large group of sportbikes going the other direction. After later comparing notes with Scott from TWT, I'm confident saying that this group was indeed the Texan riders who were also up there that weekend. I don't specifically remember seeing a FJR, but Mike (from Friday's ride) was probably among them.
Brilliant blue sky was peeping through the clouds and temperatures were climbing to comfortable levels when we stopped for lunch around 1pm at a small 50's style diner recommended by SilverBandit.
After the meal, SilverBandit led us north on a circuitous route to avoid the snarl of traffic and entrepreneurship around Branson. I had a few nostalgic moments remembering a cross-country trip taken in September of 2004.
A snippet from my 2004 trip report:
"From about 200 miles out of Branson, MO I was seeing huge billboards advertising various hillbilly comic acts, country-western has-beens, and motels. I'd been told by my grandparents that Branson is a "destination" for retired folks and has more theater seats than Broadway. Yikes."
I hadn't taken any "sky and road" pictures up to that point, concerned that Phlatlander would get concerned if I disappeared from his mirrors for too long and turn around to "help" me. However, Speedjunkie and Silverbandit assured me several times during lunch that if I wanted to stop for pictures, they didn't mind and would wait for me as long as needed at the next turnoff.
Coming up to a visually promising curve on SR-H, I decided it was time to test out their claims. I framed a few shots without dismounting the bike, which is often my habit when the road is somewhat busy and has no paved shoulder.
Continuing down the road, I was surprised to find CricketMrs off their K1200GT and aiming a camera. Suddenly I was able to relax into my usual groove. I stopped whenever I saw a potential shot with safe sight lines. Cricket (with CricketMrs) and I played a game of leap frog, constantly passing the other parked on the side of the road.
Cricket later told me that a passing car stopped to let him know that "Your buddy is broken down a few turns back with hazard lights flashing." He thanked the Good Samaritan for the info, deciding that the reality wasn't worth explaining.
When I pulled up to the junction of SR-H and SR-125, the group was parked with helmets off, enjoying the sunshine. I got off the bike and took some of those worm's-eye perspective shots that I love. When I got up off the ground and walked over to the group, I caught Speedjunkie (or was it Silverbandit?) in a good-natured, patient gaze tinged with laughter.
All thought of stopping for more pictures evaporated a few miles later on SR125 through Mark Twain National Forest. Even if there had been a safe place to stop on the shoulder (there wasn't), I didn't want to interrupt the luscious, deeply banked curves and fast transitions. I kept pace with Cricket and Phlatlander on the undulating roadway, circling wooded crests and crossing babbling creek beds.
The group pulled over in Reuter, MO for a recap. Everyone was bubbling with excitement and smiles were ear to ear. There really hadn't been any pucker moments among this group…only skillful enjoyment of great curves.
SR-125 crosses Bull Shoals Lake just north of Peel, AR. Silverbandit said goodbye and turned for his home in Missouri when we reached the ferry landing. The five motorcycles remaining continued onward over the lake.
In Harrison, AR. Speedjunkie and Decoda left us to continue on towards Mena.
At this point, Phlatlander and Cricket were very tired from the constant mental concentration needed for intense curves. I remembered SR62 between Harrison and Eureka Springs to be somewhat boring, so I reassured them that it would be an easy ride back.
Unfortunately, my standards have changed. SR-62 may have seemed boring when I was living in California, but compared to most Texas roads it was a somewhat technical blast! Sorry guys! Kinda.
DonZG was waiting for us at the Traveler's Inn. He had spent the day out on a nice solo ride and discovered some great scenery. He, like us, was ready for dinner.
The original plan was to order some pizza and hang-out. With only 5 people to feed, we decided to walk down to a local Italian restaurant instead. The food, when it finally came out, was good, but service was somewhat lacking. Still, it was with restored energy and spirits that we settled onto the hotel verandah to listen to more sport-touring tall-tales.


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Have "One Warm Coat"? Girl Scouts Will Be Collecting Reusable Coats Saturday
Burien Girl Scouts will be holding a "One Warm Coat" drive this Saturday from 10am – 3pm at the Kids' Day at the Burien Fire Station, located at 15100 8th Ave SW. .
They're asking residents to bring clean, reusable coats to drop off at collection boxes at the event, on behalf of Transform Burien Clothing Closet.
"One Warm Coat" started out in 1992 as a Thanksgiving Weekend coat drive in San Francisco. Since then, more than 1 Million coats have been donated in thousands of local communities across North America. Each coat drive has the same intent — to collect coats that will be GIVEN to those in need.
For more information, check out the One Warm Coat website: www.onewarmcoat.org.


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Yale Cordage Cover Only$0.58
New England Ropes DCS Dyneeema Cover$1.01
New England Ropes ARC - Abrasion Resistant Cover$2.19
As the name suggests, it serves one purpose: to cover another line for increased durability against clutches, halyard exits, and more. Covers are available in a variety of materials for a wide range of applications. Dyneema rope cover has high abrasion resistance and a slippery feel that makes it run well through halyard exits or any place where abrasion resistance is needed and you don't have to handle it. Polyester rope cover, which comes standard on most double braid line, is a good option for extra chafe protection or bulking. Aramids, like Kevlar, Technora, or Nomex, have very high heat and abrasion resistance when lines are highly loaded and are especially grippy for sheet applications on winches


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My Cart
Drop product in here
Christmas Sock and Stocking!
Stockings have been an essential part of the Christmas tradition for centuries. Stockings were hung near the fireplace, awaiting a visit from Santa Claus.
It has meant a personalized, decorated, maybe even handmade, foot-shaped bag hung year after year!
Complete your Xmas decor with our exquisite handcrafted xmas stockings!
Ideal for stuffers, Christmas decoration or Xmas gifting !
Red and green Xmas stocking with mistletoe embroidery.
Dimensions in cms 44×21 (LW)
Silk on the outside with mistletoe embroidery.
Ideal for hanging, Xmas stuffing, Christmas decor, and Christmas gifting .
Dry clean only.
Subtle differences in color maybe observed, as in the case of comparison from the actual piece to a photographed picture
|0.5 kg
There are no reviews yet.


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The Internet offers many benefits for users across the country, including residents of Orange County, California. Many use the Internet to seek lifelong partners or simply to seek companionship through the advent of online dating services. However, users of online dating services, according to a recent survey, need to be careful about the information they provide to such services. It can come back to haunt married individuals, particularly when they are in the middle of divorce proceedings.
According to a survey of leading divorce attorneys conducted by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML), the number of divorce cases that cite dating website information as evidence in court has increased in the past three years. Of the U.S. divorce attorneys responding to the survey, 59 percent confirmed that use of information from online dating sites has increased. The top dating service cited by 64 percent of the attorneys was Match.com. The second highest cited was eHarmony by 9 percent of the responders followed by 27 percent listing other websites.
The AAML president acknowledged that online dating website users often put false information on their online profiles, but warned that doing so may complicate divorce and family law issues down the road. Accordingly, people who register on dating websites should provide honest and accurate personal information about themselves such as their relationship status, salary, occupation and parental status. Any incorrect personal information may be regarded as duplicitous and can be used in court in the future as a relevant factor in divorce proceedings or in an alimony or child support dispute.
In divorce proceedings, many sources of information may be used by one party against the other, including online dating account records and financial institution records. Therefore, it is probably best to wait to start your online dating life until after the divorce.
Source: UPI "Dating website info being used in divorces," Feb. 17, 2013


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The Montreal International Language Centre's part-time group courses are your passport to convenience, flexibility and variety. They're just the ticket to enjoying travel abroad, conversing with friends and family in another country, gaining confidence in your studies and social life and benefitting from career opportunities.
Choose from an array of international languages, at all levels of proficiency, and study in a supportive, intimate environment.
Levels: beginner, intermediate, upper intermediate and advanced
With a convenient choice of evening or weekend courses juggle your work-life balance while you study. The intimate class size is a comfortable place to focus on conversation, interact with your class-mates and enhance your fluency in personal, professional and travel situations.
Evening classes
Evening courses: 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
** Accelerated sessions: 6:15 p.m. - 8:45 p.m. - 2.5 hour. classes
Saturday classes
Saturday courses: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Member of:


text:
30-Day Money Back Guarantee
Free Email Technical Support
Free Phone Technical Support
$ 99.95
Why buy just one? Buy all EIGHT expansion packs for just $199.95. Save almost $600 if purchased separately.
Give your shots more death, destruction, and general decay. Whether you need aftermath of a dystopian future, war, or a natural disaster, this pack has it all: destroyed infrastructure, crashed and mangled cars, scorched earth and more.
The Apocalypse Expansion Pack for FrameForge contains 161 objects, props, and set pieces perfect for your apocalyptic vision.
NOTE: You must have an authentic registered copy of FrameForge 4 (or 3) to install and use this expansion pack.
Apartment building (shredded)
Apartment building
Building (collapsed)
Building shell (brick)
Building shell commercial-office buIlding
Garage (wrecked)
Power plant (collapsed)
Skyscraper #1
Upscale Residential (boarded-up)
Upscale Residential (boarded-up, wrecked)
Warehouse (abandoned)
Chimney (broken, leaning)
Chimney (fallen with debris)
Chimney (standing, damaged)
Chimney (top, fallen)
Silo (collapsed)
Water tower (collapsed)
Collections: FrameForge 4 | Expansions
30-Day Money Back Guarantee
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FantastikReviewing: Johnson Heavy Duty | Rating:
Fantastik has been around for a while; but I never used it. Finally, a friend suggested I give it a try. I have white kitchen cabinets, and I am cooking all the time. Grease and grime accumulate, and I'm always cleaning the cabinets. Nothing seemed to quite get rid of the grease -- at least, not without a lot of grease from me -- the elbow kind. I even tried Greased Lightening, and while it worked pretty well, I really had to scrub. And I hated the way it felt on my hands.
I was pleasantly surprised to find how little scrubbing is necessary with Fantastik. It really does cut through the grease and leave my white cabinets looking great once again. It's inexpensive and found everywhere. My cabinets are happy, my arms are happy and I'm happy.


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Little Creek Espresso
Lift Your Spirits Instantly
Caffeine lovers, you can get the jolt you need without ever having to leave the resort.
With three convenient locations to serve you, our espresso café is a stylish, modern coffee bar offering flavorful gourmet coffee blends, your favorite hand-crafted espresso drinks and daily drinks specials designed to surprise and delight you. From smooth café lattes to frothy cappuccinos, our baristas can make it all. When enjoying the Little Creek Casino restaurants, be sure to stop into Little Creek Espresso for that perfect pick-me-up, any time you need it.
Hours of Operation
Indoor Venues | 6am – 7pm
Drive Thru | 6am-2pm


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Join the NCCs at Public Health 2019
Categories Conferences/ Events,NCCAH,NCCDH,NCCEH,NCCHPP,NCCID,NCCMT
The NCCs are proud to be contributing sponsors of Public Health 2019, being held from April 30 to May 2, at the Shaw Centre, in Ottawa, Ontario.Read More
Call for applications - 2020 NCCPH KT Awards for Graduate Students
Categories NCCAH,NCCDH,NCCEH,NCCHPP,NCCID,NCCMT,Students
The purpose of the National Collaborating Centres for Public Health (NCCPH) Knowledge Translation Graduate Student Awards is to recognize the work of graduate students regarding knowledge translation in public health in Canada. Deadline for the 2020 KT Awards applications: January 17, 2020.Read More
The Ron de Burger Student Award
The Ron de Burger Award is dedicated to the memory of Ron de Burger, a celebrated leader in public health and a longtime NCCEH advisory board member. Three prizes of $700 are available to students enrolled in Canadian post-secondary institutions offering a PHI program or degree in Public Health.Read More
Announcing the 2019 NCCPH KT Award Winners
Categories NCCAH,NCCDH,NCCEH,NCCHPP,NCCID,NCCMT,Students
The National Collaborating Centres for Public Health are pleased to announce the winners of the 2019 NCCPH Knowledge Translation Awards. The purpose of the awards is to recognize the work of graduate students regarding knowledge translation in public health in Canada.Read More
Webinar on Gonorrhea: Guidelines, AMR Surveillance, Ceftriaxone-Resistant Gonorrhea Case Study
Categories Webinars
On Thursday, February 28th, 2019 at 1pm EST, join PHAC for an update on Gonococcal STI Treatment Guidelines, gonococcal antimicrobial susceptibility surveillance data, and information on a recently identified ceftriaxone-resistant gonorrhea case.Read More
Call for Abstracts for Issue 3 of the Evidence-Informed Decision Making (EIDM) Casebook
Categories NCCMT
The National Collaborating Centre for Methods and Tools (NCCMT) is assembling a collection of stories for the third issue of the EIDM Casebook. Individuals and organizations from across Canada and around the world are invited to submit abstracts describing efforts to achieve EIDM in public health practice, programs and policy. Deadline for submissions: March 15, 2019.Read More
New Booklets on Child, Youth, and Family Health
Categories Indigenous Health,NCCAH
These four, updated booklets are available for download from both the FNHA and NCCAH websites, as well as available for hard copy order, in English or French, from the NCCAH, at no charge.Read More
Join the NCCs at the 2019 Ontario Public Health Convention (TOPHC)
Categories Conferences/ Events,NCCHPP,NCCMT
Join the National Collaborating Centres for Public Health (NCCs) at the Ontario Public Health Convention (TOPHC) to be held in Toronto, March 27-29, 2019. Visit us in the exhibitors' hall, take in one the sessions presented by NCC staff, and follow our tweets throughout the conference using the hashtag #TOPHC2019 and @NCCs_LesCCN.Read More
Webinar - Intersections of Refugee Women's Health
Categories NCCDH,NCCHPP,NCCID,Policy,Social Determinants of Health ,Webinars
This webinar, presented in English on January 29th, 2019, encompassed the concept of intersectionality and how it is currently applied in public health through a gender lens. It will elaborate the ways policy influences men and women differently and tends to disadvantage women specifically. A recording of this webinar is now available!Read More
Call for applications - 2019 NCCPH KT Awards for Graduate Students
Categories Conferences/ Events,NCCAH,NCCDH,NCCEH,NCCHPP,NCCID,NCCMT,Students
The purpose of the National Collaborating Centres for Public Health (NCCPH) Knowledge Translation Graduate Student Awards is to recognize the work of graduate students regarding knowledge translation in public health in Canada. Deadline for the 2019 KT Awards applications: December 21st, 2018.Read More
NCCPH Knowledge Translation Graduate Student Awards Webinar 2018
"How do you integrate knowledge translation in public health research?" The winners of the 2018 NCCPH Knowledge Translation Graduate Student Awards presented their work and answered questions from the audience about how they did just that.Read More
Indigenous Peoples in Canada Affected Disproportionately by TB
Categories Indigenous Health,NCCAH,Social Determinants of Health
According to a new report published by the National Collaborating Centre for Aboriginal Health, Indigenous peoples in Canada continue to experience a disproportionate burden of tuberculosis (TB) compared to the general population.Read More
2018-2019 PHPM Webinar Series: Knowledge Translation in Public Health Medicine
Categories NCCAH,NCCDH,NCCEH,NCCHPP,NCCID,NCCMT,Webinars
For the past seven years, the six National Collaborating Centres for Public Health and the Public Health Physicians of Canada (PHPC) have presented a series of free, online, accredited webinars - each focusing on a different public health priority. Mark your calendars for the following dates and topics, and stay tuned for more information on the 2018-2019 series!Read More
Webinar - Structures of Indifference: An Indigenous Life and Death in a Canadian City
Categories Indigenous Health,NCCHPP,Webinars
This webinar, co-hosted by the National Collaborating Centres for Aboriginal Health (NCCAH) and Healthy Public Policy (NCCHPP) is organized for the 10th anniversary of the death of Brian Sinclair, an Anishinaabe man who died after waiting for treatment at Winnipeg's Health Sciences Centre Emergency Room for 34 hours. This will be an opportunity to discuss the story of Brian Sinclair in the context of the history of the city of Winnipeg, and the history of health care in the province of Manitoba, and to critically examine anti-Indigenous racism.Read More
NCCs convene national gathering, explore public health roles for mental health and wellness
On February 28, 2018, in Gatineau, Québec, the NCCs with partners brought together 70 leaders from public health, mental health and Indigenous health organizations from all provinces and territories.Read More
Connect with the NCCs at TOPHC 2018!
Categories Conferences/ Events,NCCDH,NCCEH,NCCHPP,NCCMT
The NCCs for Public Health are participating in The Ontario Public Health Convention (TOPHC) to be held in Toronto, March 21-23, 2018. Connect with staff from the NCCs for Methods and Tools, Environmental Health, Healthy Public Policy Health, and Determinants of Health at the booth and in the following presentations.Read More
NCCs collaborate on a national forum, focus on eliminating TB in northern Indigenous communities
The NCC for Infectious Diseases (NCCID), with support from the NCCs for Aboriginal Health (NCCAH), Determinants of Health (NCCDH), and Healthy Public Policy (NCCHPP), planned an in-person event to learn about the historical context and lived experience of those infected and affected by TB, and explore collaborative opportunities to end TB in the north.Read More
New online module on organizational change
Categories Featured resources,NCCMT
This new online learning module from the National Collaborating Centre for Methods and Tools (NCCMT) provides public health leaders with an overview of areas to consider when planning organizational change.Read More
Field inquiries and NCCEH responses
Categories Featured resources,NCCEH
The NCCEH receives field inquiries that are based on real or hypothetical situations related to environmental health problems. In responding, the NCCEH uses a multi-pronged approach, including academic sources, grey literature, and expert consultation, to define the practice problem, synthesize the available information and suggest approaches to resolve the problem.Read More
New online course: "Ready-to-Eat Meats"
Categories Featured resources,NCCEH,Online courses
This course will take approximately 6-8 hours to complete. It can be completed at the learner's pace and can be resumed at any time. Note that the course is free until February 28, 2018. Members of the Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors can continue to take the course at no cost until March 31, 2019.This course will take approximately 6-8 hours to complete. It can be completed at the learner's pace and can be resumed at any time. At this time, the course is only available in English.Read More
Meeting proceedings from a knowledge exchange forum on HIV
Categories Featured resources,NCCID
Reflections on the Development of the HIV Cascade Measures: Meeting ProceedingsRead More
NCCID literature review on refugee health
Categories Featured resources,NCCID
Public Health Response and Health Status of Asylum Seekers: A Review of the International Literature and Implications for the Canadian ContextRead More
Alzheimer's disease and related dementias in Indigenous populations
Categories Featured resources,Indigenous Health,NCCAH
A new paper from the NCCAH summarizes available research on the prevalence of dementias among Indigenous populations in Canada, the challenges faced in diagnosing dementias in this population, and the prevalence of risk factors that place Indigenous people at risk of developing dementias as they age.Read More
What's new in the NCCDH Resource library?
Categories Featured resources,NCCDH,Social Determinants of Health
The NCCDH Resource library is always evolving with entries that are relevant, geared to practice, and either recently published or foundational to current health equity thinking in public health.Read More
New briefing note on the punctuated equilibrium model
Categories Featured resources,NCCHPP,Policy
This briefing note belongs to a series on the various models used in political science to represent public policy development processes.Read More
New summary in the "Knowledge sharing and public policy" series
Categories Featured resources,NCCHPP,Policy
This summary of a literature review on the advisors of policy makers focuses on the key lessons for professionals and researchers who wish to share public health knowledge to inform public policy development.Read More
Catch up on past NCC webinars!
Categories Webinars
Resources and recordings from previous webinars are available on each of the NCC's websites. Browse through the list below and catch up on your own time!Read More
Announcing the 2018 winners NCCPH Knowledge Translation Awards
Categories Students
The National Collaborating Centres for Public Health are pleased to announce the winners of this year's NCCPH Knowledge Translation awards, which recognize the work of graduate students in Canada.Read More
NCCAH launches a series of parenting booklets for First Nations and Metis parents and caregivers
In celebration of National Child Day (November 20, 2017), the NCCAH and partner organization Healthy Child Manitoba Office (HCMO) officially launched four resources for First Nations and Metis parents and caregivers in Manitoba including: Parents as First Teachers; Fatherhood is Forever; Family Connections; and Growing up Healthy.Read More
McMaster University-Certified Learning Modules
Categories Featured resources,NCCMT
Register with McMaster University CHSE for access to the certified Learning Centre.Read More
New episodes in the "TB Talk" podcast series
Categories Featured resources,NCCID
The NCCID "TB Talk" series features one-on-one conversations with experts who attended the meeting based on questions shared with us by public health practitioners across Canada.Read More
Lead in school drinking water
Categories Featured resources,NCCEH
The resources listed on this new NCCEH topic page are intended to assist public health practitioners in understanding the issues around lead in drinking water.Read More
The NCCs contribute to a panel discussion at the Atlantic Summer Institute
Categories Conferences/ Events,Population Mental Health Promotion
The six National Collaborating Centres were invited to contribute to a panel on Pathways to Policy at the Atlantic Summer Institute (ASI) on promoting child and youth mental health. The ASI was held from August 21-23, 2017 in Charlottetown.Read More
Two new fact sheets from the NCCAH!
Categories Featured resources,Indigenous Health,NCCAH
The NCCAH has released two new fact sheets: 1) Indigenous Children and the Child Welfare System in Canada, and 2) Reconciliation in First Nations child welfare.Read More
Let's talk: Racism and health equity - the seventh release in the NCCDH Let's Talk series
Categories Featured resources,NCCDH,Social Determinants of Health
This resource provides tips for embracing critical, decolonizing and anti-racist approaches in public health practice and discusses roles public health can engage in to address racism.Read More
New from the NCCMT: Rapid Review Guidebook
Categories Featured resources,NCCMT
The NCCMT has developed a Rapid Review Guidebook that details each step in the rapid review process, with notes on how to tailor the process given resource limitations.Read More
Indigenous Communities and Family Violence: Changing the conversation
Categories Featured resources,Indigenous Health,NCCAH
This report includes a critical discourse analysis of Canadian literature on Indigenous family violence over a fifteen-year period (2000-2015).Read More
A Framework for Supporting Action in Population Mental Health
Categories Featured resources,NCCHPP,Population Mental Health Promotion
This document, a translation from an original published article, builds on previous work by the NCCHPP and illustrates how the population mental health framework for public health could be implemented in the Québec context. It is the result of a collaboration between Pascale Mantoura from the NCCHPP, Marie-Claude Roberge from the INSPQ and Louise Fournier from the Université de Montréal.Read More
Identifying and addressing the public health risks of splash parks
Categories Featured resources,NCCEH
Splash parks are a fun and economical way for users to enjoy outdoor recreation in the summer, and are commonly seen in Canadian parks and play areas. However, they may also present an increased risk of contamination and disease transmission that can be mitigated through proper design and operation.Read More
Evidence-informed decision making casebook & peer-to-peer webinar series!
Categories Featured resources,NCCMT,Webinars
The National Collaborating Centre for Methods and Tools (NCCMT) recently released an Evidence-informed decision making (EIDM) Casebook featuring nine stories from public health professionals across Canada that highlight their use of evidence to inform public health practice, programs and policy. A series of related webinars will also begin in the fall.Read More
New from the NCCDH: Public health use of digital technology to advance health equity
Categories Featured resources,NCCDH,Social Determinants of Health
This report reviews the findings of two surveys, and explores how public health professionals exchange knowledge and act to improve the social determinants of health and health equity in digital spaces like social media.Read More
New! FREE online training course on public policy analysis from the NCCHPP
Categories Featured resources,NCCHPP,Online courses,Policy
Participants will learn to use a framework to analyze public policies, and will be better equipped to inform policy makers as they engage in healthy public policy development.Read More
The NCCID explores the potential for "big data"
Categories Featured resources,NCCID,Webinars
With a new discussion paper and related webinar, the NCCID is exploring the potential for big data to inform infectious diseases surveillance.Read More
New from the NCCAH: A podcast series and resources from past webinars
Categories Featured resources,NCCAH
Check out the new podcast "Voices from the Field", and download resources from past webinars.Read More
A literature review on the advisors of policy makers
Categories Featured resources,NCCHPP
New from the NCCHPP - Knowledge Sharing and Public Policy Series - The Advisors of Policy Makers: Who Are They, How Do They Handle Scientific Knowledge and What Can We Learn About How to Share Such Knowledge with Them?Read More
What's new in the Registry of Methods and Tools?
Categories Featured resources,NCCMT
New additions to the NCCMT Registry (May, 2017)Read More
Connect with the NCCs at Public Health 2017
Categories Conferences/ Events
The NCCs are collaborating with the Canadian Public Health Association on their annual conference, Public Health 2017, June 6-8, in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Mark your calendars for the NCC's Networking Dinner on June 5, and take note of presentations from across the NCCs - all listed here!Read More
New NCCAH report: "Land, Family and Identity: Contextualizing Metis health and well-being"
Categories Featured resources,NCCAH
The NCCAH has released Land, Family and Identity: Contextualizing Metis health and well-being, authored by Metis scholar and historian, Dr. Brenda MacDougall.Read More
A new guidance document on carbon monoxide from the NCCEH
Categories Featured resources,NCCEH
The NCCEH has released Evaluating the Carbon Monoxide Monitoring and Response Framework in Long-term Care Facilities: A Brief Guide.Read More
The NCCs launch a new collection - Population mental health promotion for children and youth
Categories Featured resources,Population Mental Health Promotion
What do we know about promoting mental health for children and youth at the population level? And what is the Public Health role in this work? Find out more in Population mental health promotion for children and youth - a collection for public health in Canada.Read More
Mark your calendar - upcoming NCC webinars!
Categories Webinars
This spring, sign up for these webinars from the NCCs for Public Health.Read More
Four new stories on advocacy for health equity
Categories Featured resources,NCCDH,Social Determinants of Health
The NCCDH has released four new Learning From Practice stories on advocacy for health equity.Read More
The NCCs at the Ontario Public Health Convention (TOPHC)
Categories Conferences/ Events
The NCCs for Public Health are participating in The Ontario Public Health Convention (TOPHC) to be held in Toronto, March 29-31, 2016. Connect with staff from the NCCs for Methods and Tools, Healthy Public Policy Health, and Determinants of Health in the following presentations.Read More


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This wedding ended up being the absolute perfect day in August. After a summer of what seemed like rain every single day for months, the sun finally came out and blessed this couple with 75 degree weather and the most beautiful outdoor wedding we all could have hoped for. Everyone on our staff even got a little bit of a welcome sunburn.
When planning both the logistics and design elements of this wedding the couple made it clear to us that two things were important, that it was as fun as it was beautiful. Their ceremony overlooked our gorgeous Alaskan mountain landscape. The reception tent was filled with romantic hues of white, pink, blush and overflowing greenery. Beautiful flowers, place settings and greenery runners and touches of lace adorned long farm style tables. Floral chandeliers hung from each tent peak. When thinking of the details, the words "delicate" and "romantic" come to mind. Not overdone, but just elegant enough to make the setting feel like the special celebration that it was.
There are almost too many details to mention from this day. Noelle's father officiated. It's hard to describe, but watching a father bestow his advice and blessings (and even sharing some of the hard lessons he has learned in his own life and marriage) is so extremely touching and personal. There was so much love behind his words. Their dessert table was a mixture of items handmade by family and friends. And I have to state that I almost ate my weight of their family recipe of shortbread cookies! Another extremely touching moment was when the bouquet toss turned into a surprise proposal for a bridesmaid. And let me tell you it was such an amazing thing to witness! There wasn't a dry eye in the crowd and none of the guests (or the bride to be) had any clue that it was going to happen until it did. I was hiding behind the DJ table trying not to sob of course. And their "getaway car" was a helicopter. I think that outdid any wedding exit we have ever seen!! Only in Alaska do we get to have so much fun with weddings!
To Priscilla, Doug, Daniel and Noelle. Thank you for opening up your hearts and your home to us! We are so thankful to have been a part of this process. We wish the couple many many more happy years and memories to come!
Planning + Design - Blomma Designs
Photos - Relic Photographic
Florals - Bloomsbury Blooms
Rentals - Over the Top Tents
DJ & Photo Booth - OnDaGo DJ Entertainment
Catering - Peperoncinis Deli
Wedding Cake - Midnight Sun Cakery
Venue - Private Residence


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Sorites sp. 2 morefound at the beach of Bwejuu, Zanzibar/Tansania by Renate recent Taxon Profile
View of one specimen of Sorites sp.
SEM picture taken together with Dr. Rosenfeldt
head of the Mikrobiologische Vereinigung Hamburg
The classification is based upon: Loeblich and Tappan, Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology, Part C:
see also Differences between the recent Soritidae Amphisorus, Marginopora and Sorites


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"A Night of Culinary Stars," a once-in-a-lifetime culinary collaboration between world-renowned chefs, will kick off Los Angeles' Taste America weekend on Friday, October 10. This exclusive dining event, to be held at the special events venue Vibiana, will benefit the James Beard Foundation.
The Friday night event will begin with a reception filled with bites and libations from local chefs, including Walter Manzke (République, Los Angeles) and Host Chef Neal Fraser (Redbird, Los Angeles). Afterwards, guests will be seated for dinner prepared by Taste America All-Star Aarón Sánchez (Alegre, NYC) and local star Nancy Silverton with Matt Molina and Dahlia Narvaez (Mozza Restaurant Group, Los Angeles), who been grouped together to create a unique multi-course menu. Tickets for the event are available for $275/seat and $2,500 per table.
On Saturday, October 11, the event will continue with a free day of demonstrations and tastings at Sur la Table at the LA Farmers Market in Los Angeles. At 10:30 am, Aaron Sanchez will lead a cooking demonstration and book signing. At 11:00 am, there will be tastings from artisanal vendors including orange–chile marmalade from Fallen Fruit from Rising Women and pickles from Pernicious Pickling Co. To RSVP, email firstname.lastname@example.com.
The James Beard Foundation's Taste America®: "Local Flavor from Coast To Coast" is a national epicurean tour celebrating America's culinary diversity. From September 12 through October 25, 2014, the program will stop in 10 cities over five weekends, including Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, New York City, Phoenix, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington D.C.
The James Beard Foundation's programs include educational initiatives, food industry awards, scholarships to culinary schools, publications, chef advocacy training, and thought-leader convening. The Foundation also maintains the historic James Beard House in New York City's Greenwich Village as a "performance space" for visiting chefs. Two years ago, the foundation launched the Diplomatic Culinary Partnership with the U.S. Department of State's Office of Protocol and helped create the American Chef Corps as a way to champion American chefs abroad, promote American food products and foster an interest in American culinary culture and history through international programs and initiatives.


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Commercial CD and DVD Conversion and Archiving Service
For businesses and individuals who have data content stored on CD and DVD media we offer a bulk conversion service.
Using robotic CD/DVD handling equipment we are able to quickly process large quantities of discs.
We will copy all the data off the CD/DVD optical discs and store on a hard disc, NAS (Network Attached Storage) or upload to your cloud storage. This will give you easy access to your data and reduce your physical storage requirements.
Businesses and individuals that may benefit from this service:
- Architects
- Graphic Designers
- Photographers
- Marketing
- Content Creators
- Archiving
The ProcessWe can accept your media in jewel cases, folders or archive boxes. We can also send packaging (spindles) for transport if required.
- We collect your CD/DVD media from you.
- We copy the data off each disc
- We photograph the top surface of each disc
- We load the data to some form of hard drive (either purchased from us or provided by you with the CD/DV media)
- We generate reports detailing and warnings/errors during the process
- We return your discs and hard drive(s) to you
We are able to modify the process to meet your specific requirements.
Disc CopyingEach disc is copied to a unique folder. The folder is based on the volume label of the CD/DVD together with a unique sequence number i.e <Volume Label>_<sequence>
We create a text log file in each folder detailing the files copied and any errors/warnings during the disc copy.
We photograph the top surface of each disc and save the image in the unique folder (DiskImage.png). This allows you to view any hand written or labelled information off the disc - particularly helpful if all your media has a volume title of "Untitled".


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After 161 MLB games, neither league has decided a wild card winner.
Entering MLB's final regular season day, the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays remain tied for the final American League playoff spot. Meanwhile, in the National League, the St. Louis Cardinals erased an 8 ½-game deficit in three weeks and tied the Atlanta Braves in the standings Tuesday night.
Should either race remain tied after today, a one-game playoff willl take place Thursday.
The Red Sox needed the first two home runs of Ryan Lavarnway's career to win their sixth game this month. The Rays turned a triple play to keep pace.
Tonight's matchups:
Jon Lester (BOS) v. Alfredo Simon (BAL)
Lester (15-9) leads the team in wins this season but his September ERA is 5.96 and he'll be pitching on three days rest. Simon has bounced around from starter to reliever this season and, frankly, hasn't been very effective in either role.
David Price (TB) v. TBD (NYY)
The Rays hope to cap their improbable comeback with Price on the mound, the same guy that closed out game seven of the 2008 ALCS. No, TBD isn't the next great Yankee pitcher. Joe Girardi hasn't decided on a pitcher for their final game but will most likely choose a reliever.
Over in the National League, the Braves can thank the Red Sox for deflecting attention away from their own epic collapse. Atlanta lost its fourth straight game Tuesday while the Cardinals overcame a five-run deficit and sealed a wild card-tying victory.
Tonight's matchups:
Tim Hudson (ATL) vs. Joe Blanton (PHI)
The Braves No. 1 starter couldn't be saved until the playoffs and must now face the Phillies with the season on the line. The ace struggled in his last appearance against Philadelphia, allowing four runs in six innings. With the division locked up, the Phillies will start Joe Blanton, followed by a series of relievers, and possibly Cole Hamels.
Chris Carpenter (STL) vs. Brett Myers (HOU)
After a slow start, Carpenter has finished the season strong and is exactly the man the Cardinals want on the mound in this pressure situation. But he hasn't won in Houston since 2005. The Astros look to play spoiler with Brett Myers, one of the hottest pitchers in baseball. He's won four consecutive starts and boasts a 1.24 ERA in his last five games.


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Young pitchers hoping to emulate their Major League heroes should do everything they can to avoid watching the Boston Red Sox staff at work on the mound these days.
The ace-less Red Sox rotation saw its collective earned run average escalate to a major-league worst 5.75 per nine innings Sunday after newcomer Wade Miley failed to last through the third inning of Boston's disastrous 18-7 loss at Baltimore.
Miley's ERA for the season is now 8.62, worst among a group of starters led by Joe Kelly (4.08 entering Monday night's game against Toronto) and also including Clay Buchholz (4.84), Justin Masterson (5.16) and Rick Porcello (6.48).
Three weeks into the season, the Sox are closer to having five No. 5 starters than a single ace — yet somehow they entered Monday's play above .500 at 10-9 and one game out of first place in the AL East.
Pitchers on the local high school scene fared much better than the Red Sox rotation through the first week of regular-season play.
Defending Class A state champion Bangor yielded one earned run on four hits in season-opening victories over Hampden Academy and Brewer.
Starters Peter Kemble and Andrew Hillier were aided by staff ace Trevor DeLaite, Nick Cowperthwaite and James Prescott — a trio of relievers who combined to retire all 12 batters they faced.
Hampden also yielded just one run on four hits in its 1-1 start, with Tommy Farrar and Casey Sudbeck going deep into their starts and Jackson Gilmore providing scoreless late relief.
Another Eastern A contender, Messalonskee of Oakland, did not allow a run in its first two victories — including a strong performance by 6-foot-8 Nick Mayo during the Eagles' 10-0 win over Lawrence of Fairfield. That marked the first pitching appearance in two seasons for Mayo, the Eastern Kentucky-bound All-Maine basketball star.
Similar early success stories are to be found in Class B, where Camden Hills of Rockport was 2-0 after yielding just one run in wins over Medomak Valley of Waldoboro and Oceanside of Rockland-Thomaston and Old Town allowed four total runs while winning its first three games.
In Class C, perennial contender Bucksport posted shutout victories against Washington Academy of East Machias and Ellsworth before dropping a 4-2 decision to Dexter on Saturday.
Here's hoping all those fast starters continue to avoid Red Sox game tapes.
An early showdown in Eastern Maine Class B baseball is set for Tuesday afternoon when Old Town visits Foxcroft Academy in a 4:30 p.m. start at Dover-Foxcroft.
Both are 3-0 after doubleheader sweeps Saturday, with Old Town defeating Presque Isle twice while Foxcroft earned a pair of road victories at Mount Desert Island.
Old Town advanced to the Eastern B final last spring before falling to Caribou 4-3 in 10 innings. Foxcroft graduated just one starter off its 2014 team that fell to Caribou by the same score on a walk-off hit in the seventh inning of their preliminary-round playoff contest.


text:
Do you… ?
- Worry so much that it affects your daily life, including your job and social life?
- Find your worries are stressful and upsetting?
- Worry about all sorts of things and have a tendency to think the worst?
- Find that your worrying is uncontrollable?
What is Generalised Anxiety Disorder?
Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) is characterised by feelings of anxiety (feeling fearful, worried and tense) on most days for at least 6 months. People with GAD find it difficult to control worry on every day matters (including work performance, money and family problems) and at times on things that feel quite minor. Symptoms include:
- restlessness
- a sense of dread
- feeling constantly "on edge"
- difficulty concentrating or your mind going blank
- irritability
- impatience
- being easily distracted
- muscle tension
- Physical symptoms of anxiety e.g. dizziness, drowsiness and tiredness, pins and needles, irregular heartbeat (palpitations), muscle aches and tension, dry mouth, excessive sweating, shortness of breath, stomach ache, nausea, diarrhoea, headache, frequent urinating, difficulty falling or staying asleep (insomnia).
Your symptoms may cause you to withdraw from social contact (seeing your family and friends). You may also find going to work difficult and stressful and may take time off sick. These actions can make you worry even more about yourself and lower your self-esteem and mood.
How common is it?
GAD affects approximately 1 in 20 adults in Britain. Slightly more women are affected than men and the condition is most common in people in their 20s.
What can I do about it?
NICE (the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) has recommended two main treatments for GAD; these are psychological therapy (Guided Self Help and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) and medication. Depending on your circumstances, you may benefit from one of these types of treatment or a combination of the two.
Guided Self-Help options
We offer a number of guided self help interventions for managing GAD. These include:
- The Feeling Good Group where you can learn strategies for managing anxiety
- Guided self help where a Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner will guide you through techniques to help manage anxiety
- Recommended Self Help Books and Resources: some people find that reading about anxiety can help them deal with their condition. There are many books based on the principles of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). These may help you understand your psychological problems better and learn ways to overcome them by changing your behaviour.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
Individual CBT for GAD specifically involves identifying worrying thoughts and will look at the way in which you manage uncertainty. Treatment can be offered in one-to-one sessions or in a group.
If you would like to know more about Guided Self Help or Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, please contact us.
How Can I Help Myself?
Useful self help strategies for managing anxiety include:
Exercise: regular exercise, particularly aerobic exercise, will help you combat stress and release tension. It also encourages your brain to release the chemical serotonin, which can improve your mood. Aim to do a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate exercise a week. Moderate exercise should make you feel slightly out of breath and tired. Going for a brisk walk is a good example.
Relaxation: as well as getting regular exercise, learning how to relax is important. You may find relaxation and breathing exercises helpful, or you may prefer activities such as yoga or pilates to help you unwind.
Diet: changing your diet may help ease your symptoms. Too much caffeine can make you more anxious than normal. This is because caffeine can disrupt your sleep and also speed up your heartbeat. If you are tired, you are less likely to be able to control your anxious feelings.
Smoking and drinking: smoking and alcohol have been shown to make feelings of anxiety worse. Drink alcohol in moderation and, if you smoke, try to give up. The NHS provides free support to people who would like to stop smoking.
Support groups for anxiety: these are also a good way to meet other people with similar experiences. Support groups often involve face-to-face meetings where you can talk about your difficulties and problems with other people. Many support groups also provide support and guidance over the phone or in writing. Ask your GP about local support groups for anxiety in your area or look up online emotional support services near you.
Acknowledgement of references
Most information taken from www.nhs.uk/conditions/Anxiety/Pages/Introduction.aspx


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Okay, so I promised pictures so here they are. There are a lot of them, I have more, but thought I would wait in case I have nothing to report next week.
First up: The yarn purchased at Yarns Etc.
Dream in Color Smooshy in the Ruby River colourway:
And Oceanwind Knits Merino 100
Smooshy I've bought before, but this Oceanwind Knits yarn is new to me. It's a Canadian company, which always makes me happy. It's 100% superwash merino wool in a fingering weight. It's also beautifully soft, and the colour is delicious!
Ahem, enough of that. I also have some finished objects.
Trilobite Socks:
Because it's been so long, I will attempt to recap what these projects are as well. These are the Trilobite Socks by Wendy D. Johnson from her book Socks From the Toe Up. The yarn is Regia Galaxy in the Jupiter Granite colourway. This pattern was really simple, and I managed to mess it up anyway. If you look closely at the two feet, you may be able to discern a difference in the lace pattern in each foot. This is not an optical illusion. On the first sock, I looked at the chart, thought it looked simple enough and started knitting. I neglected to read the whole chart which actually changes midway up. Go figure. Rather than ripping out the whole foot of the sock, though, I decided to leave it be. My brother wears mismatched socks on purpose all the time, why can't I?
Next: NHM #7
I'm pretty happy with how these turned out. I originally bought four colours of yarn intending to make two pairs of stranded two-colour mittens. But I mixed up which colours were supposed to go together, and this combination is the result. The blue was supposed to go with a green, and the orange with a purple. I like this contrast, though. Hopefully I will like the green and purple one as much :) The yarn is Knit Picks Palette in Tidepool Heather and Sweet Potato colourways. The pattern is from the book Selbuvotter: Biography of a Knitting Tradition by Terri Shea. They are from a traditional Norwegian knitting pattern. I love pretty much every pattern in this book, so there could be more turning up here. Someday.
This is the almost completely finished Mr Greenjeans cardigan from the fall 2007 issue of Knitty. It's by Amy Swenson, and is being knit from Briggs & Little Tuffy in the Blue Jean colourway. All I have left is a couple more inches of stockinette on the second sleeve, the ribbing on the same sleeve, to find a button, and to sew in my ends. At the rate I'm working on it, I'm hoping to have it done in the next couple weeks. We'll see. I wouldn't hold my breath.
Last for this week, but most definitely not least:
This is my Evenstar Shawl knitalong progress. So far, I've finished up to the increase row at the end of clue 3. Now I'm waiting on some longer needles so that I can double the stitches and be able to see what I'm doing. Maybe with a longer needle, I'll be able to take pictures that don't look like a blob. A darn pretty silvery blob, but kind of amorphous nontheless. The pattern is by Susan Pandorf whose shawls have been tempting me for quite a while. Add in The Lord of the Rings, and I'm hooked. Thanks so much Lime N Violet, you master enablers, you :)
So that's it for this week. I'm hoping to keep on top of this bloggy thing from now on, and think if I give myself a deadline, maybe it'll get done. I'm taking a rather intensive course in U.S. history this summer where the professor has squished an 8 month course into 3, so we'll see how well I do. Now, I'm going to go and convince myself to read a textbook instead of knit. Wish me luck.


text: This workshop focuses on how play skills have an impact on the social communication skills of a preschool age child with ASD. Specific play activities will be discussed and participants will examine the skills required for each activity, see the difficulties the child with ASD might experience completing these activities, and the impact these difficulties would have on social communication. The strategies that would assist the child with ASD in developing play and social communication skill will then be discussed.


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Wow that was a long ramble! Sorry and congratulations if you are still with me :)
So now, the exciting bit, what am I going to put in my make-up bag? Because obviously it is only going to be the best of the best!
First up, the actual make-up bag: Over a year ago I brought a set of 3 make-up bags from rubi shoes. The brown one I will use as the make-up bag because I'm using the other two.....and this is the largest so that works well :)
I'm also going to chuck in my 'Ginger Sparkle Hand Cream' from The Body Shop which is a great size for the handbag. I have a really bad habit of opening up hand creams and never finishing them so hopefully by having a single tube on me all the time I will be able to finish some of them off! Love the smell of this :)
Then I will also have my Lifebuoy hand sanitiser and a small packet of tissues in their.
Thanks for reading and please let me know what you keep in your make-up bag!!!


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Google are at it again. This time they are being challenged by the British – and don't we just love our privacy here in Blighty!
It is estimated that around 10 million iPhone and iPad users are affected by secret tracking of their internet usage. Olswang, a British firm of lawyers that specialize in media law, are getting ready to bring a class action (about 100 Apple users) against Google for breach of privacy. Alarmingly, Google have been able to bypass the privacy settings on the Apple devices, and track Apple users' internet movements.
Google, whose reputation is already suffering a battering after the tax scandal, have used their American roots once again as an argument against doing the right thing. Their argument is that since they are California based, the UK law does not apply to them! Apparently they are ignoring the fact that the Google website is .co.uk domained, they have headquarters in London, and their users' computers are here in Blighty, too. They are also the target of regulation from other European countries. We wait to see how that pans out.
The law can be a powerful weapon, but only when enforcement of the law is something to be feared by the wrong doer. What happens when the wrong doer is so rich that any fines that can be levied are simply water off a duck's back? The highest fine that the ICO can demand is £500,000. Not chicken feed for mere mortals like the medialawblogger, but for Google it is all in day's work – or should I say an hour's work.
Are you happy to let Google track your internet usage?


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Latest News
Some mental health patients turned away
FRANKFORT — Kentucky's state budget woes are affecting mental health treatment centers, some of which are for the first time having to turn people away.
For five decades, Bridgehaven — a non-profit community mental health center — has accepted anyone who needed help. This year, new clients who can't pay their bills are being turned away because of state budget cuts, The Courier-Journal reports. The center in Louisville can't afford to give free care.
"There seems to be no political will in the state at this moment to address the psychiatric problem," said Dr. Allan Tasman, chairman of psychiatry at the University of Louisville School of Medicine. "It won't change until it gets so bad the politicians can't avoid doing anything about it."
Mental health professionals in Kentucky say there is a growing crisis in mental health services throughout the state. The state's mental health system has been deteriorating rapidly because more clients lack health insurance and can't pay, Tasman said.
University Hospital, which does not turn down indigent patients, is frequently overcrowded.
"We see a variety of people who are extremely, acutely mentally ill," said Dr. Christina Butler, University Hospital's director of emergency psychiatric services. "We see people who have gotten desperate because they don't have anywhere to go."
Patient visits to the university's outpatient psychiatric clinic have jumped from 11,400 in 2003 to about 18,500 last year, according numbers provided by the university.
State Rep. Tom Burch, D-Louisville, said the two-year budget Kentucky lawmakers enacted earlier this year "hurt everyone" in the state. Burch said he voted against the budget because it cut funding for human-service programs.
"We've done a disservice to the people," said Burch, the chairman of the House Health and Welfare Committee.


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This product is in stock. The delivery time is 1-2 work days
Price was € 11,99 now on sale for: € 6,00!
These Pebble Pixie ring rattles have a cute little pixie on the top and are fun and friendly all in one.
Size: about 20 cm.
The Pebble Pixie products have no faces. The Steiner theory is that if children's toys have minimal expressions then the child is able to project it's own emotions onto the toy and that this leads to more flexible and creative play. So if you're sleepy then you can pretend that your toy is sleepy too.
All Pebble toys are 100% cotton with 100% polyester fill. They are all machine washable at 40 degrees and can be tumble dried on a low setting.
All Pebble products are made by Hathay Bunano. Hathay Bunano, meaning hand made or hand knitted in Bangla, is a non-profit fair trade organisation in Bangladesh. It's mission is to create fairly paid, good quality, flexible and local employment for rural women who are poor and often disadvantaged.


text:
Blog Posts in May, 2015
Even the injuries you can't see should be reason for concernPosted By Eliot ReinerImagine that you have just been involved in some sort of an accident. If you're like most people in California and around the country, your first thoughts probably turn towards your wellbeing. You likely assess your injuries, checking to see if there are any physical signs like cuts, bruises or even pain. If you believe that you are injured, your next thoughts may turn to compensation for your ...Continue Reading
Defective Takata airbags could lead to compensation for victimsPosted By Eliot ReinerWhen someone suffers an injury or is killed because of someone else's negligence, the victim and/or their family have the right to compensation. It's a fact some of our more frequent readers know by heart. But while some only equate this sentiment to car accidents where another driver is involved, there are some here in California who recognize that negligence can extend beyond other drivers. For ...Continue Reading
Why considering fault in an accident is importantPosted By Eliot ReinerWhether you've crashed into another vehicle or it's a collision with a pedestrian or bicyclist, any accident can be a terrifying experience. Most people's minds race with questions like: how much is this going to cost? Will insurance be able to cover all the damage? How long will my injuries force me out of work? Am I permanently disabled? Will I need to seek legal representation to get ...Continue Reading
Video shows why airbag timing is importantPosted By Eliot ReinerIf you've ever been involved in a car accident or know someone who has, then you know that they can happen in a matter of seconds. For many, all it takes is a fraction of a second for a person's life to change. In vehicles with airbags, it's this fraction of a second though that can mean the difference between surviving the crash and meeting your maker. This was made obvious in a video by Honda, ...Continue Reading
Does a sneeze really constitute as a distraction?Posted By Eliot ReinerWhen you think of a distraction that can lead to a motor vehicle accident, what normally comes to mind? If you're like a lot of our Sacramento readers, you probably think of drivers using their cellphones or paying more attention to the billboard on the side of the highway than the vehicles around them. But while you might envision the most obvious distractions, there are others that can be just ...Continue Reading
Future may include more recalls, but cars may be safer for itPosted By Eliot ReinerLast year's GM recall may have worried a number of people here in Sacramento as well as others across the state. That's because the recall included some 2.6 million vehicles, forcing thousands of California residents to question whether the vehicle they were driving was safe or not. But just like our Sacramento readers, the recall also worried the entire nation, including our federal government ...Continue Reading
NHTSA pushes nationwide regulations on speed limits for big rigsPosted By Eliot ReinerIf you've visited our blog in the last few months, you may have read our post at the end of April in which we talked about the conflict between road speed limits and the speed limits manufacturers set for tires. As we explained in the post, which can be found here for those who are new to our blog, the speed limits placed on commercial truck tires are safety guidelines that help prevent tire ...Continue Reading
Considering other people's desires could help you avoid a crashPosted By Eliot ReinerHave you ever been sitting at an intersection in downtown Sacramento and had a pedestrian dart out in front of you unexpectedly? Or perhaps you have started going through an intersection only to have to slam on your breaks because someone in cross traffic was failing to yield right of way? If this has happened to you, you're not alone. This happens in cities all over California, regardless of ...Continue Reading
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What a year!
Started as an Oxford admission project, Transformify downgraded my wildest dreams to daily routines. 140+ countries,4 continents, business clients from the US, EU, and Asia, ranking in Startups 100 Index, a member of the Digital Coalition of the European Commission, programmes providing remote jobs for people on the Autism Spectrum and women in the Middle East...and the best is yet to come.
We love it simple.
Global hiring should be easy - companies get access to the right people regardless of the location and people get jobs no matter of their situation. People in need are very welcome as our social mission is to transform their life for good.
Lots of regular jobs could be transformed into remote jobs. Once done, the physical location is no longer a barrier. The business has access to the right talent regardless of the location, the people in need of a job get a job.
What the business wants?
The business is not willing to deal with individuals worldwide? No problem, there are many contractors, but one contract - with Transformify.
The business is not willing to transfer payments worldwide? No need to, Transformify will do it instead.
Signing of agreements and NDAs is too timeconsuming? A few clicks and it is sorted out.
Need a payment guarantee? Transformify offers it to both contractors and business clients.
A simple B2B solution, making life easy, even for disadvantaged people:
- people living in high unemployment areas
- people less able to move
- people living in post-war zones
- single parents
- working moms
- people on the Autism Spectrum, etc.
Is it fair?
The cost of living differs around the world, so how are the interests of so many people, living all over the world, and in various personal situations, protected? Life might be unfair, but Transformify encourages all job seekers to set up a fair rate that will be sufcient to provide for themselves and their families, and pays precisly the rate that has been set. Not a penny less. No fees. The use of Transformify platform is free for all candidates. We believe that a social enterprise should not charge people in need of a job for providing them with an employment opportunity that will have a positive impact not only on them, but also on the local communities and the society at large.
Why are we so passionate about this project?
During the last year the world was living in interesting times.
First, it was Nepal. The earthquacke distroyed lives and homes. The donations were only a temporary solution. What people really needed was a source of income given that the tourism would take years to recover.
Greece followed. The debt crisis was addressed by cost cuts and tax increases combined with a very high unemployment rate. Too many people couldn't make a living. The 'choices' they had - to immigrate in a search for a job or to rely on social payments... The media was on it till the refugee crisis hit.
The refugees. Thousands of people who have lost homes and loved ones embarked on an unsafe journey to the unknown. No country or social security system was fully prepared for what was about to happen. No one could predict for how long these people will be moving from place to place dependant on donations and social payments. Refugee relief groups and nationalists were competing for media attention for months... till Brexit.
The world is all about Brexit lately. Not that all of the preceeding events are completely forgotten, but they are not news anymore. Everyone is interested in what will happen with the immigrants in the UK and how many jobs will be cut. Brexit will fade away too, the moment the next crisis hits sooner than later...
Too many unfortunate events, but a great year for Transformify team who was there working to provide solutions.
The 'unemployment driven immigration' consists of 'unemployment' and 'immigration'. If the link between them is cut, the problem could be addressed.
The 'overcrowded cities'' consist of 'crowd' and 'cities'. If the 'crowd' is no longer there, the picture is totaly different. If we go a step further and let the 'crowd' stay in 'abandoned rural areas', these areas are no longer 'abandoned'.
The 'daily commute and carbon emissions'...Would it have the same meaning if the 'daily commute' is no longer part of it?
Highly unlikely.
To us 'unemployment', 'overcrowded', 'abandoned', 'daily commute' seemed as unneccessary complications. We removed them and created something simple - the Transformify global outsorcing platform. Jobs without borders - no need of daily commute, immigration, relocation to a new city or dependancy on social payments.
We welcome everyone and do our best to provide remote job opportunities addressing their needs. Our business partners are socially responsible companies willing to transform jobs in an attempt to revitalize local communities and change people's life for good, while getting access to great talent worldwide.
A win-win situation.
During the last year, our support team has received many messages from people all over the world. A few of them were so touching that I wanted to have a personal conversation. A boy, 27, who survived a car accident, has spent the last 6 years by the window watching the world pass by. He was living on the sixth floor in a building that had no lifts. His mom was working long hours to provide for the two of them and his treatment and was not able to carry him down and up the stairs. I still remember the joy in his voice when we told him that he may join a remote team of people distributed around the world, communicate with them daily, master new skills, make a living, and be part of the society again.
The great news is that we are not alone on this journey. Platinum Bay Technologies provides opportunities for prople on the Autism Spectrum and Andela provides training and remote job opportunities for developers in Africa. Transformify already partners with Platinum Bay Technologies to increase the chances of people on the Autism Spectrum to get a retain a remote job.
As per a survey conducted by London Business School, by 2020 50 % of the workforce will work remotely. Remote work may be the future for some, the convenient choice for many, and the only possible option for millions of people around the world.
Special thanks to Lilyana Zagorcheva and Infograffiti for the awesome infographic.


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For almost 146 years the YWCA has been in the business of securing women's rights around the world.
We have been here in Perth since 1920 making this our 94th year of providing services to the West Australian community and creating opportunities for women and girls to achieve their full potential.
YWCA of Perth offers scholarships each year to 4 young ladies from Lockridge Senior High School to assist them with the costs associated with their academic studies.
We also offer the Encore Program. Encore is an 8 week program designed specifically for women who have experienced breast cancer. Encore incorporates gentle exercise to help restore mobility, flexibility and confidence. Our program assists in boosting self-esteem, self-image and health & well-being.
Participation is free and is supported by the State Health Department.
YWCA Perth is proud to announce the acceptance of our Reconciliation Action Plan by Reconciliation Australia. This can be viewed on their website at www.reconciliation.org.au
Latest News
The following locations have been confirmed for term One 2016. METRO: Riverton: Friday afternoons 1.30-3.30 starting on 12th February till 1st April Balga: Monday afternoons 1.30-3.30pm starting on 8th February – 4th April REGIONAL: Albany: Monday 10.20-12.30 starting 8th February – 4th April Apply now to avoid disappointment
The Encore program recently received a donation from the Kimberly Rum Company. A valuable bottle of rum was auctioned and the proceeds of $1250.00 donated to the Encore program. We would like to thank the Great Northern Distillery for organising this donation.
The YWCA Of Perth has facilitated 2 Every Girl programs in 2015. The programs were held at Mount Lockyer Primary School in the Albany region and at Lockridge Primary School. The Lockridge girls promoted to the school the plight of children in Uganda who suffer from Jiggers (parasites which get into children's feet causing pain and infection) an organisation called Sole Hope have created opportunities for people to host shoe cutting parties, people use old denim and plastic and cut … read more
After a 2 year break in the South West the Encore program is going to be running in Busselton during term 4 2015. The program will start on Monday the 19th of October at the Geographe Leisure Centre and conclude on Monday 7th of December. Start time is 12pm and the program will conclude at 2pm each Monday. Please direct all inquiries for this program to [email protected] or call 08 94493501.
Colleen, one of our Encore participants and supporters recently attended the field of Women at the MCG. She was accompanied by her daughter who has been a pillar of strength in Colleens recovery. It is lovely to hear from our past participants and it is great to see Colleen enjoying herself.


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US: Delta cancels 80 flights due to hurricane
11 Oct 2018 - by
Delta Air Lines has cancelled 80 flights due to Hurricane Michael.
On Wednesday (October 10) the airline cancelled all flights in Tallahassee, Panama City and Destin - Fort Walton Beach as well as in Albany, Valdosta and Dothan. It plans to resume flights at those airports this morning if facilities and infrastructure are adequate.
Delta does not anticipate disruptions at its Atlanta hub as the storm is predicted to turn northeast. "Atlanta will see rain and high winds overnight Wednesday into Thursday, but those will remain within viable limits during Delta's normal operating hours at Hartsfield-Jackson International," according to Delta.
On Wednesday, Delta expanded its waiver of change fees to Brunswick, Columbus and Savannah, Ga. and Columbia, S.C., in addition to Albany, Augusta, Dothan, Fort Walton Beach, Mobile, Panama City, Pensacola, Tallahassee and Valdosta.
The waiver allows passengers with flights booked to, from or connecting through those cities from October 9-11 to make a one-time change in their travel plans without charge. Ticket must be reissued on or before October 14. Rebooked travel must begin no later than October 14.
If passengers wish to cancel their trip as a result of a flight cancellation or significant delay (90 minutes or more), they are entitled to a refund for the unused portion of their ticket.


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|The Washington Times
OK, Washington joke: Grover Norquist walks into his downtown office. There's a bronze bust of Ronald Reagan, a towering stack of books, and on the windowsill of the nation's most powerful anti-tax activist rests an oversized front page from the Onion, a satirical newspaper.
The page sports a photo of President George W. Bush. The accompanying headline reads: "Bush: Our Long National Nightmare of Peace And Prosperity Is Finally Over."
Actually, only the last part is a gag.
"Oh yeah, this is cool," Mr. Norquist said. "I got this at the Onion's welcome-to-D.C. party. They asked me to co-host."
To the Great American Annals of Who Knew? (No. 415: Martha Stewart apparently likes rap music) add this: Mr. Norquist — conservative stalwart, liberal bete noire — has a sense of humor. In fact, Mr. Norquist — the provocateur Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid recently suggested be "impeached" for torpedoing the congressional debt-reduction supercommittee (despite never holding elected office) — will be performing in the 18th annual Funniest Celebrity in Washington contest Wednesday night at the D.C. Improv in Northwest Washington.
The 55-year-old president of Americans for Tax Reform, Mr. Norquist has also performed at Washington's Warner Theater and New York's New School University. He has an entire set of self-written jokes, not all of them political. He's a fan of comedians Steven Wright and Eddie Izzard and can hold an intelligent conversation about being edgy without working blue.
Mr. Norquist is a regular participant in the Washington contest, an event previously won by media mogul Arianna Huffington, former White House economic adviser Austan Goolsbee and former presidential candidate Mike Huckabee.
"I worked with Grover [in 2008], and I think he was better than Huckabee," said Baratunde Thurston, a comedy writer and performer who has judged and performed at the contest. "Dude is surprisingly funny."
A Web editor for the Onion and politically liberal, Mr. Thurston expected Mr. Norquist to be much as conservative pundit Tucker Carlson once described him: mean-spirited and humorless.
Instead, Mr. Thurston found himself chuckling. Charmed, even.
"Oh, Grover is hilarious," said Jennifer Schubert-Akin, chairwoman of the Steamboat Institute, a Colorado-based conservative think tank."Have lunch or sit down and have a quick talk with him, and it's part of who he is. If you've only seen him in little sound bites talking about tax policy, you're missing out."
A surprising side
Mr. Norquist isn't the last person in Washington you'd expect to be witty. That would be Sen. John Kerry, Massachusetts Democrat. But given Mr. Norquist's partisan reputation, he probably qualifies as a strong runner-up.
The son of a Polaroid executive, Mr. Norquist grew up outside Boston, volunteering for Richard Nixon while attending middle school. In 1985, he founded Americans for Tax Reform at President Reagan's behest. His "Wednesday meetings" — weekly conservative skull sessions — are a Beltway institution. He serves on the boards of the National Rifle Association and the Nixon Center and sports an attitude toward government aptly summarized by the title of his most recent book: "Leave Us Alone."
Of course, Mr. Norquist is best known for his Taxpayer Protection Pledge, which essentially puts former President George H.W. Bush's famous "read my lips" promise in writing. Ninety-five percent of Congressional Republicans reportedly have signed it, along with hundreds of state legislators and a number of governors.
Mr. Norquist insists that the pledge keeps politicians honest. Political opponents argue that it holds lawmakers hostage. Either way, the pledge has given Mr. Norquist genuine political influence, earning him blame for the supercommittee's failure and titles like the "V.I. Lenin of the right."
In person, however, Mr. Norquist hardly comes across as a conservative stereotype. He serves on the board of GOProud, a gay group. His wife is Muslim. He's an accomplished ballroom dancer. He counts a Janis Joplin lunchbox as a prized possession.
At a 2006 "Wednesday meeting" former Vice President Al Gore presented his famous climate-change slideshow. One slide showed a map of a shrunken United States, the nation's coastal areas submerged by rising sea levels.
Cracked Mr. Norquist: "So, how does this affect [congressional] redistricting?"
It's this side of Mr. Norquist — dry and sly, a little geeky and a lot unexpected — that attracted Richard Siegel, creator of the Funniest Celebrity in Washington contest. While attending one of Mr. Norquist's Wednesday meetings, the liberal-minded Mr. Siegel noticed that Mr. Norquist was actually, well, entertaining.
"You just don't think he's going to be that funny," Mr. Siegel said. "He's a tax guy. It takes you by surprise."
Mr. Siegel originally asked Mr. Norquist to help wrangle conservative politicians for the contest; instead, the anti-tax lobbyist ended up competing as a fill-in. He was hooked.
"He's really gotten a lot better at comedy," Mr. Siegel said. "He's gotten into talking about personal stuff. He's self-deprecating. He jokes about the conservative movement. He made some jokes about Karl Rove on stage — and he's friends with Rove. He really enjoys showing this other side of himself."
Seriously funny
"Bourbon, neat; no water. My rule, never drink water. Dick Cheney tortures people with it."
- Norquist, during the 2009 funniest Washington celebrity contest
As a political advocate, Mr. Norquist would never say that — he wants his side to win.
But as a comedian?
"I'll make fun of each side," Mr. Norquist said. "I once did a joke about math sequences. 'What's one, two, three, four, five? Bill Clinton listing the Ten Commandments. What's three, seven, nine? [Former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales] listing the Bill of Rights.'
"[Comedian] Margaret Cho will get on stage and say, 'I hate Sarah Palin.' As a laugh line. That's not comedy. That's sitting around with your friends saying, 'The [Boston] Red Sox [stink]. You're just self-validating."
Mr. Norquist likens most political humor to hitting like-minded audiences over the head with a baseball bat. He frowns on vulgar jokes for the same reason. A fan of deadpan deliveries, he detests the elbow-in-the-ribs gag style epitomized by "Gilligan's Island."
Mr. Norquist takes comedy surprisingly seriously. He attributes his interest to friend and veteran Washington journalist Howard Mortman, who once invited him to the D.C. Improv's amateur night.
"How do I get on the list?" Mr. Norquist asked after watching Mr. Mortman perform stand-up.
"Come up with 15 jokes, half of which work, and I'll get you on stage," Mr. Mortman replied.
Mr. Norquist went to work, scribbling jokes on 3x5 index cards and ordering tapes of young comedians to study. He realized the craft was similar to public speaking: Audiences are fickle, easily unimpressed. Preparation is crucial.
Last year, the Steamboat Institute asked Mr. Norquist to forgo his usual policy talk and instead give a half-hour comedy speech. Flattered, he eagerly agreed — then spent months nervously preparing his material, polishing gags in hotel rooms and on airplane flights.
By contrast, Mr. Norquist invited Joe Wurzelbacher "Joe the Plumber" — to participate in the 2009 Washington contest. Mr. Wurzelbacherneither wrote nor practiced his routine.
Unlike Mr. Norquist, he bombed.
"People who don't do comedy usually don't fully respect it," Mr. Thurston said. "There's a lot of rigor involved. You get these people who have their staffs write hacky jokes, and then they get on stage and read a litany of unemotional, inhuman tropes. But Grover is a real student. If he weren't trying to destroy America through an obscene tax standard, he could be a great comedian."
Disappointingly humorous
During a summer broadcast of "The Colbert Report," Comedy Central host Stephen Colbert presented Mr. Norquist with a seriocomic dilemma.
Terrorists have kidnapped America's grandmothers, stashed them underground, dipped them in honey and threatened to unleash fire ants — unless the wealthiest Americans agree to pay slightly more in taxes.
"Do we increase the tax rate?" Mr. Colbert asked. "Or do we let our grandmothers die by ant bite?"
"I think we console ourselves with the fact that we have pictures," Mr. Norquist said.
Washington has a well-deserved reputation for being an unfunny place, largely because humor risks offense: Mr. Norquist's "Colbert Report" crack elicited audience gasps, the last sound politicians want to hear.
As such, Mr. Norquist has been unsuccessful in convincing Mr. Rove and presidential candidate Newt Gingrich to compete in the Washington contest. Mr. Siegel said it takes as many as "150 phone calls" to find 10 willing participants.
"People in Washington have an incredible fear of looking foolish," Mr. Norquist said.
On the other hand, a successful joke can help make a political point. Mr. Norquist long has deployed colorful metaphors when discussing public policy. Once he declared that he wanted a federal government small enough that he could "drag it into the bathroom and drown it in the bathtub."
Another time, he likened the Democratic attitude toward tax hikes to "a high school kid on prom night."
"They only want one thing, but they just ask the question 20 different ways. Our job is to answer 'No, no, no, no.' "
"Too many times, people see very good conservative speakers, and it's like seeing the minister," Mr. Norquist said. " 'What did he talk about? Sin. What did he say? He was against it.' "
"I want people to be able to repeat a number or a thought. And people remember jokes in a way they don't remember other things."
In an era of nonstop, often shrill, partisan warfare, displaying a sense of humor also can humanize politicians who otherwise run the risk of becoming televised cartoon characters, forever shouting into the ether.
During previous Washington contests, Rep.Dennis J. Kucinich recited the Gettysburg Address in a Donald Duck voice. Rep. Linda Sanchez joked about her sex life. Former Sen. Arlen Specter told borderline dirty gags.
In each case, the participants emerged as more likeable just for trying — as has Mr. Norquist, who now jokes about fatherhood and married life.
"The culture we're in wants to vilify people who disagree with you," Mr. Thurston said. "I wanted Grover to be a pure devil, a heartless, rapacious capitalist. But there's a heart that beats in there. And it's disappointingly humorous."
Read the original article at the Washington Times


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by Cormac O
The carsploitation movies that raced out of America during the a.i.p. era during the late sixties and early seventies expressed a sense of liberation and rebellion that were prevalent in the counterculture. Pictures such as Vanishing Point and Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry reflected the urge for change and escape from a repressed society that was rapidly becoming ever more claustrophobic, pulsing with paranoia. Audiences related to the freedom and carefree attitude of putting the pedal to the metal, hitting the open road and leaving their troubles behind.
Meanwhile in the land down under, a dark vision was brewing within the mind of George Miller, a medical doctor from Sydney, who came face to face with death during his stint in the E.R. These horrific images he witnessed, blended with desperate reactions to the oil crisis of 1973 became the recipe for what would become Mad Max.
Miller's vision of the open road didn't correspond with that of previous exploitations. He traded in the optimistic youth, who went searching for America for the nihilistic nomads ravaging a dystopian Australia. There was no sense of hope in Miller's vision, only Darwinian sensibilities among oil hungry tyrants, who roamed the stark highways on motorcycles terrorising anyone or anything that came across their path.
Mad Max was definitely an interesting premise and ambitious vision, incorporating social and economic issues into an action packed genre piece, but it was the execution of craft and style that propelled the movie in gaining its massive international success. The visceral kinetic action that Miller employed in the film, along with violence bordering on the surreal, generated incredible energy on the screen.
The interesting thing about the Mad Max trilogy is that the three films vary so much, but the intensity remains the same. The genre evolves nearly as much as Max Rockatansky does. The original merges elements of a Hitchcockian thriller, The Road Warrior gives a nod to the western with its vehicular cattle drive , while Beyond the Thunderdome is like a Philip K. Dick/J.M. Barrie molotov cocktail. George Miller was constantly trying to create new ways to excite audiences through long, orchestrated action or fight sequences as if he was contemplating how to entertain mobs at the colosseum.
The franchise is notorious for its rapid motion and breathtaking stunts that spawn adrenaline soaked entertainment for audiences. The new instalment out this week looks like it will enhance this action to the utmost. Mad Max: Fury Road has been a long time in the making, bridging a thirty year gap since its predecessor Mad Max Beyond the Thunderdome. In an industry that has become reliant on big budget remakes and reboots, where does George Miller's new project fit into the scheme of things?
Firstly, the fact that George Miller is directing will cause fanboys to utter a sigh of relief. There is comfort in knowing that the Mad Max universe will be looked over by its mastermind, accompanied by the filmmaker's skill and style, lifelong fans will feel like they are in good hands. Secondly, we must take into account the new audience, who have never seen the previous films nor give two happy feet who George Miller is. The new audience is essential to Fury Road's prominence, so if they swarm like bees to a hive then we might be seeing a lot more of Max.
Action movies today are in a current state of cgi saturation, leaving audiences docile and immune to stretching their imagination because it has already been done for them by the stretch of a finger. If Fury Road raises the bar in spectacular stunts and crushes the box office it might lure audiences away from the formulaic generic blockbusters of today and leave them thirsty for a true cinematic experience. Actions speak louder than words and I've got a sneaky suspicion that George Miller's latest escapade will leave many speechless.


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Desserts and Bakery
Glenwood Desserts
Our dessert tray has over a dozen options every day. A few of the many delectable temptations are: Frozen Peanut Butter Pie, Triple Berry Pie, Midnight Madness, Chocolate Cappuccino Bomb, Key Lime Coconut Angel Food Cake, Carmel Custard with Pecans, Homemade Irish Cream, Cannolis, Turtle Sundae or Chocolate Cheesecake with Frangelico Cream. All desserts are prepared in the Glenwood kitchen. Life is uncertain, don't miss dessert!
Glenwood Bakery Items
Check out the restaurant bakery case or the Glenwood Market on River Street in Manistee for the daily selection of our home made treats. Treat yourself or share the Glenwood's fresh-baked goodness with a friend!
Glenwood Fresh Baked Breads
We now carry cranberry walnut bread, asiago cheese bread, harvest grain bread and potato rosemary bread.
The Glenwood's Housemade Pies
Old-fashioned, home made pies were The Glenwood's new dessert feature in 2009. Baked fresh by Donna in The Glenwood's oven.
A family recipe made from Meister's Apple Valley Farms apples.
Featuring Smeltzer Orchard's cherries.
Triple Berry – Cherry-Raspberry-Blueberry
A top selling feature from The Glenwood's dessert tray.
Northwest Michigan Blueberries. Some say the best of its kind!
A holiday tradition. Flaky crust and rich pumpkin.
Pecan Chocolate Cream
A dessert staple at The Glenwood for over 10 years. Please call ahead.