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Thursday Thirteen – My Passions
I have a very strong belief that a life lived well, is a life lived passionately. We need passion in order to chase our dreams, invigorate our relationships, inspire us towards improvement. Passion is what makes us human. Sometimes passion can become an uncontrollable force in our lives resulting in rash, impulsive and sometimes destructive actions. However, by channeling our passion towards that which enhances our experience of life, rather than lead to its dissolution or demise, we can all live our life less ordinary. So, here are 13 of my own passions in life. These are what make me happy, what give my life value, what make me want to get out of bed in the morning.
- Family – Regular readers of this blog will know that I have a fairly large extended family, as I have written of them before for Thursday Thirteen. I'm pretty convinced that they are a really special bunch of people, and I feel so privileged to be a part of this family. My daily interactions with those within that circle make my world one of connection and engagement. They give me support, love, perspective and inspiration. How could I not be passionate about my family?
- Literature – I love to read. I can still remember the first novel I ever read in one sitting: it was Roald Dahl's George's Marvellous Medicine, and I can vividly recall the way that the story swept me away from the armchair I was sitting in and into the world of Dahl's creation. That experience, in many ways, sparked off a long love affair with books. So much so, in fact, that I have spent the last 11 years studying literature. If I'm very lucky it is what I'll spend the rest of my life doing!
- Art – I suppose art is one of those terribly subjective things; what I consider art, another may consider trash. In many ways, that's irrelevant, as long as you find something that gives you that spark, that tremor; as long as you discover that which has the capability to speed your pulse and steal your breath. I have spent days in art galleries gazing at the paintings, the sculptures, the installations, allowing myself to completely open up to the experience of viewing these creations. Truly liberating.
- Cinema – I can't remember my first trip to the cinema, but apparently it was to see Disney's The Fox and the Hound and I cried very noisily at the end. I'm pleased to say I haven't cried that loudly in a cinema recently, but the cinema still holds that magic for me, that capacity to involve my emotions and wrench my heart. When I saw Pan's Labyrinth, I had to sit in the cinema until the lights came up so I could try and collect myself a little before entering the foyer. A trip to the cinema is really such a special experience.
- Music – In one of my recent TTs, I made wishes for myself and my readers, one of which concerned the listening to a piece of music which brings you to the brink of tears. I frequently cry over a piece of music. It doesn't need to be a sad piece, and it doesn't need to be from a particular genre. I am equally engaged emotionally when I listen to opera as when I listen to pop, rock and roll or classical. I find it very difficult to put into words my response to music, but I always feel moved by the experience.
- Internet – The World Wide Web is filled with endless possibilities. There is such potential to be had through this wonderful facility, and I am so excited about what the future holds, and how the internet will evolve. The internet is such a big part of my life, that I really would feel quite bereft without it!
- Nature – I'm continually amazed by the natural world and the treasure that it reveals to us when we take the time to stop and pay attention. The geese flying in formation. The turning of the leaves. The blooming of the flowers. My relationship to the natural world means that I am continually aware of the changing of the seasons and the shifting of the weather, which in turn makes me appreciate the time that I have to live as full a life as I am capable of.
- Photography – Once again, regular readers will probably be familiar with this one, as I share my love for taking photographs here on an almost daily basis. I don't mind saying that this is a relatively new passion, but it is one I am absolutely reveling in! Recording my own unique perspective seems to be intensely important to me right now, and it also seems important to share it through this blog.
- People – People just fascinate me. I want to hear their stories. I want to connect with them. I want to share experience with them. In many ways, it is perhaps this passion in particular that unites all of these relatively disparate passions: the need to share my perspective, to connect via the internet, to interact with my family, to feel moved by the achievements of others.
- Cooking – I really enjoy cooking and trying out new recipes, although once again this relates back to sharing and connecting with others. What I like best about cooking is the cooking for others. I have only very very rarely only cooked for myself, and am in my element when I have others to feed besides myself. Does anything really compare to watching someone swoon over a dessert that you prepared for them?
- Scotland – I know many people will probably feel the same about their own home country, as I do about Scotland. Scotland gives me a sense of belonging that I just don't get in any other country. I travel quite a lot for conferences etc. and as much as I enjoy the experience of other countries, other cultures, there is really no comparison to the feeling I get when I see the rolling green hills, the glimmering lochs, and the clutches of Scot's pines as the plane approaches the airport.
- Education – Having been a student for just about as long as I can remember, this one is perhaps no surprise, but it's not just my own education that I am passionate about. I am also extremely passionate about the education of others, whether that is of my own children, or of the students that I teach at the university. I get so much out of communicating new ideas to my students, and getting the feedback that they now view the world in a different way. What a buzz!
- Blogging – Well, I couldn't include a list of my passions without this one now, could I? Blogging makes me happy; it has taken my interactions with others to a whole new level. But, of course, I not only love writing my own blog and sharing my news, my experience, and my perspective, I also love reading other people's blogs and finding out more about them through their writing, their photos and the things they choose to share.
What are your passions? What gets you up in the morning and looking forward to the new day ahead? What makes you live a life less ordinary?
My other TT posts: Dream Chasing and Origami Wishes, Birthday Nostalgia, Blogging Lessons, What I Found in Madrid, Rules To Live By, My Life in Scent, My Family, New Habits and Memorable Moments
Only The Good – Cats
OK, so I know that some of you will find this an easy one. For me, however, it is a slightly different story. I am mildly phobic of cats. I don't particularly like them and currently I am very cross at the cat across the road, as it has ripped up some of my lovely bean plants and pooed in my veggie patch. To be fair to these two in the photo, they had nothing to do with this vegicide. They are the new kittens which now live next door to my grandparents. When I took this photo, I had gone out into my Grandad's garden and crouched down to take a photo of a flower. As I was intent on focusing on a newly bloomed primula, I saw something out of the corner of my eye. When I looked round I had these two pairs of green eyes staring back at me. I just about jumped a foot off the ground! So, I snapped the photo, and I must say that I think it worked out rather well. Anyway, after my upset at yesterday's 'incident' with the bean plants, I wanted to set you the task of helping me find the good in this photo and in cats in general. Go on, convert me!
The Only The Good project is to get people to look at the world in a different way, to acknowledge–if only for the brief time they do this exercise–that there is good in everything and everyone…to briefly change shadow to light."
If you would like to take part, you can either leave a comment on this post which focuses on 'only the good' that you can see in the photo. If you have a blog and would like to participate you can
"Post an original photograph that may at first seem rather ordinary–a photo in which the good isn't immediately obvious–and invite people to comment. A brief explanation of the photo's subject, where it was taken, etc. may be provided. I urge you to use only original photographs so that copyright infringement is not an issue."
Please visit the other participants! Tumbled Words, Soliloquy, Inside Mo's Mind, This Eclectic Life, Life in Westcliffe, Miscellaneous Matters.
The Rainbow Won't Wait
"The work will wait while you show the child the rainbow, but the rainbow won't wait while you do the work."
Patricia Clafford
The other day, as I was pottering about in the kitchen, I spotted the most beautiful rainbow. I shouted to my little boy, and we both ran upstairs to look out his bedroom window. It was the most perfect rainbow! A full arch stretching high above the Ochil hills. As the rain began to move off, the sky cleared, the sun shone and the rainbow began to fade. It was all over in a matter of minutes, but I know that the experience of sharing the rainbow with my son will last a lot longer. Perhaps, even a lifetime…
Acquainted With The Night
The nights are drawing in here in Scotland. It gets dark around 4ish and the sun doesn't rise till 8.30 the next morning; the moon rises at 3pm and doesn't set for another 17 and a half hours. We're coming up to the shortest day now… or is it the longest night? Either way, it means that we get to see a lot more of the moon, and isn't it beautiful!
Acquainted With The Night
I have been one acquainted with the night.
I have walked out in rain – and back in rain.
I have outwalked the furthest city light.
I have looked down the saddest city lane.
I have passed by the watchman on his beat
And dropped my eyes, unwilling to explain.
I have stood still and stopped the sound of feet
When far away an interrupted cry
Came over houses from another street,
But not to call me back or say good-by;
And further still at an unearthly height
One luminary clock against the sky
Proclaimed the time was neither wrong nor right.
I have been one acquainted with the night.
Robert Frost (1874-1963)
Sunshine After The Rain
Yesterday I had to go into university, and it was one of those days when it's raining when you wake up in the morning, and still raining when you go to bed. It just never stopped! As the kids and I walked to the bus stop past the loch we got soaked. As we walked across the campus to the library passed another loch we got soaked. By this point my socks were wet, and our brollies saturated, but we were all in surprisingly good humour. You see we all knew that if we didn't have all this rain, Scotland wouldn't be the beautiful green lush land with lochs, rivers, waterfalls and burns, that it is. And we also knew that it wouldn't last. Today has been exceptionally windy (I've had to chase my bin a couple of times!), but it has been beautiful. Look at this picture I took of the sunset reflected in the window of our new outdoor office.
Oh, and if you want to see a truly wonderful post about water, rain, and rivers with some stunning photos and great songs, check this out!
Thursday Thirteen – Dream-Chasing
My Thursday Thirteen is a little late going up today, as I spent yesterday evening writing another conference paper. This is going to be the third paper that I have given this semester, which is a lot by anyone's standards! However, I know that all of this hard work is going to pay off eventually when I reach my goal of being employed as a lecturer in a university. That's my dream, and I have been steadily working towards it for a number of years now. I am due to submit my thesis next year, so all things being well, I should be Dr. Amy before I turn 30. I've achieved a lot in my first 30 years on this earth, and I'm often asked how I manage it all. To be completely honest, I do a lot of it without a great deal of conscious thought, but there are a few things (13 to be exact!) that I can recommend to others who are dream chasing too.
- Figure Out What You Want – First things first! After all, how can you follow your dream if you don't know what your dream is? Well, to begin with, you need to sit down with your notebook and pen and just brainstorm. Make lists of all the things you enjoy doing in life, all the things you used to do but don't have time for any more, all the things that fill you with equal doses of fear and excitement. Free yourself from the constraints of reality! Let your mind go wherever it wishes, and note everything down. Two other exercises that I've tried and come up with really interesting results, is to note down a list of childhood ambitions, and the other is to ask a loved one to list what they perceive as your skills, and what they could see you being good at. This one was particularly insightful for me (Thanks, Mum!).
- Goal Setting – Now that you have all your lists, go down them highlighting the ones that fill you with excitement and possibility. Don't allow yourself to be swayed by things like cost, as money should not be an inhibitor to your dreams. When I started out on my postgraduate degrees, I had no idea how I was going to pay for them. I filled out the form regardless and got hold of the books for the course, and ultimately the money arrived in time for me to go ahead. I am in no way suggesting that this will always be the case. What I am suggesting though, is that if you are determined to achieve something, don't let money be your inhibitor. The other thing that I'd like to say about goal setting is keep your eye on the big picture. I watched The Secret recently, and I was disappointed in it as it was so consumer-focussed. The dreams people had were for cars and houses with tennis courts. When I set goals it is not for material possessions, it's for big picture stuff, it's about how I want to live my life. If I end up with a nice home then that's just a bonus!
- Support – Don't go it alone! I cannot emphasize enough the importance of the support of others. It is entirely possible to pursue your path 'lonely as a cloud', but I can't recommend it. When I was studying for my undergraduate degree and I had my two babies aged 4months and 18months, there were many times that I wanted to give it all up. It was the people around me who had faith in my capabilities, who helped me out with the practicalities of studying with such a young family, and who continually reminded me of my goal, of the bigger picture, that helped me stay the course. Find yourself a cheering squad, and go for it!
- Accountability – Every week I meet up with my mum and we both set goals for the week. We check up on each other's progress on goals set the week before, and we discuss what goals need to be set that week to move us closer to our ultimate bigger picture goal (see 5. Mini Goals). Since beginning these meetings, both my mum and I have achieved so much in such a short period of time. When I scan down my list of things to do that week, I make sure that I have them done by our next meeting. It's not that we berate each other if we failed to do what we set out to do. After all, life often doesn't work out the way we expect and things crop up which prevent us from doing all we said we would. When this happens the goal gets added on to the next week's list, and, more often than not, it is done by the following week.
- Mini Goals – I mentioned in the previous point that you need to set weekly mini goals. These mini goals are like the stepping stones that will get you to the other side; they take you to your bigger picture goal. They need to be small and achievable. If you have a busy week, then don't set yourself several time-consuming tasks. Instead choose small things such as an email to someone you think may be able to help you (see 10. Mentors), or fill in a form, make enquiries etc. After a while, all these mini goals stack up and you will finally achieve that bigger picture goal.
- Forgiveness – As I said in 4. Accountability, sometimes things crop up, and you are unable to achieve the goal that you set out to achieve. The trick is to forgive yourself, and not to get hung up on your perceived failure. Continue to keep your big goal in mind, and try again. You need to move forward in a positive frame of mind, and if you start to feel negative about yourself, cut yourself some slack. Forgive yourself, and move on.
- Setbacks – Now these are not necessarily a bad thing. They can appear pretty catastrophic at the time, but in actual fact they often allow us to learn something new, either about ourselves or about our dream. There have been so many times that I thought that I was on the right track and everything was moving seamlessly forward, when something has come along and derailed my progress. Use this time to reassess (see 11. Reassessment) and remember that when you reach your goal and you look back at this moment, you'll see it as the event which contributed towards your success, rather than the point at which it all went wrong.
- Treats – Ah, there's nothing like an incentive, is there! I don't know about you, but I work better when I know that there are going to be treats along the way. These don't have to be big treats, and, in fact, I would argue that the smaller treats are often more effective. Sometimes it can be watching a favourite TV show, or buying a glossy mag. Sometimes it can be a weekend of leisure time or maybe just a 20 minute walk around your neighbourhood. Don't underestimate the motivational power of the treat!
- Role Models – By role models I don't mean Madonna or Stephen Spielberg, although if you wanted to choose them I certainly wouldn't stop you! In fact, if you discovered your dream was to become the uber-queen of pop or a successful Hollywood director, then I don't think you could do better. I would like to suggest, though, that sometimes a role model that is a little closer to home can be more effective. Look to those who you perceive as having already achieved that bigger picture goal. They are the proof that what you are striving for is indeed possible.
- Mentors – This is one step on from role models. Role Models, after all, may not, and indeed, need not, know what they represent to you. They may not even know you at all! Mentors, on the other hand, should occupy a space between cheering squad and role model. The idea behind mentors, is that they are maybe a few or more steps ahead of you and are approachable. Contacting possible mentors can be a scary business, but in my experience, people like being contacted by those that hold a high opinion of them! I've found that most people want to help others move closer to reaching their goal, and all it took to find this out was for me to make first contact.
- Reassessment – Sometimes, particularly after a setback, we find that we need to reassess where we are going and how we are getting there. Sometimes the setback will be a major one and will require that you take stock of the bigger picture. Our values change, our lifestyles alter, and our vision of our future does not resemble the one we used to dream of. Be aware of this possibility, and take the time to figure out if the big picture goal still means as much to you as it previously did. If it does, then find a way through the current setback using the mini goals. If it doesn't, be flexible and work to discover your new dream, before putting in place the steps that will move you forward.
- Indefatigability – The OED defines the state of indefatigability as 'unremitting diligence or perseverance'. Let me be completely clear: if you want to achieve something then you will have to be completely determined that you will ultimately succeed. By following the exercise in 1. Figure Out What You Want, you should have discovered a dream that fills you with passion and enthusiasm, as it will be this passion and enthusiasm that takes you through to completion.
- Don't Stop Dreaming! – There is always more to be achieved. Once you have succeeded in attaining the dream, take care not to stagnate. Set yourself another goal, and keep moving forward. For me, I feel our time on earth is so short, that I want to make the most of it by living as fully as I'm capable of. Just remember that the attainment of the dream is only a part of the fun; the journey is often more important than the destination.
I would love to hear what goals you are all working towards, or, indeed, your success stories. What worked for you? Are there any other pieces of advice that you think should be included?
My other TT posts: Origami Wishes and Birthday Nostalgia, Blogging Lessons, What I Found in Madrid, Rules To Live By, My Life in Scent, My Family, New Habits and Memorable Moments
Only The Good – Gulls
As we walked to the bus stop yesterday, we saw a man feeding the birds at the lochan. The gulls were going absolutely crazy, so I stopped to take a few photos. My challenge to you is to tell me what good you can find in this frenzied flurry.
The Only The Good project is to get people to look at the world in a different way, to acknowledge–if only for the brief time they do this exercise–that there is good in everything and everyone…to briefly change shadow to light."
If you would like to take part, you can either leave a comment on this post which focuses on 'only the good' that you can see in the photo. If you have a blog and would like to participate you can
"Post an original photograph that may at first seem rather ordinary–a photo in which the good isn't immediately obvious–and invite people to comment. A brief explanation of the photo's subject, where it was taken, etc. may be provided. I urge you to use only original photographs so that copyright infringement is not an issue."
Please visit the other participants! Tumbled Words, Soliloquy, Inside Mo's Mind, This Eclectic Life, Life in Westcliffe, Miscellaneous Matters.
From A Seed
This year we're experimenting with growing broad beans over winter. I don't know if it's going to be a success or an out and out failure, but the seedlings seem to be holding their own at the moment. I can't tell you what pleasure I get from seeing their progress. At a time when everything else seems to be dying back, these small plants are just beginning their growth; their bright green leaves vibrant against the cold dark soil. There is such joy to be had in the seemingly smallest of things…
"The poetry of the earth is never dead."
John Keats
"To own a bit of ground, to scratch it with a hoe, to plant seeds and watch their renewal of life – this is the commonest delight of the race, the most satisfactory thing a man can do."
Charles Dudley Warner, author, editor, publisher (1829 – 1900)
"Once we become interested in the progress of the plants in our care, their development becomes a part of the rhythm of our own lives and we are refreshed by it."
Thalassa Cruso
"Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom."
Marcel Proust
"Though I do not believe that a plant will spring up where no seed has been, I have great faith in a seed. Convince me that you have a seed there, and I am prepared to expect wonders."
Henry David Thoreau
What are the small things in your life that are making you smile today?
(All quotes from Emily Compost)
Just to show you that Scotland's reputation for rain isn't completely unwarranted, I took this photo today of the window looking out to the hills beyond. What, you can't see the hills? No, neither can I.
8 years ago, we were living on the north coast of Scotland in a house which was around 4 miles from the nearest village. Our son had just been born, and we had just moved to an isolated, windswept place, which had no tv and no central heating. It was not the easiest period of my life to date, but in many ways, I think it made our little family unit stronger. I began listening to the radio a lot to replace the tv, and one of the songs that was frequently played on Radio 1 was the Scottish band Travis' Why Does It Always Rain On Me. It seemed incredibly apt at the time, and for me, it has become indelibly connected to that time and place. Anyway, as we were coming home from the shops this weekend, that song came on the radio, and my husband and I just looked at each other, and in that look was communicated such a wealth of shared experience, that I wouldn't swap all those difficult times for the world.
Here's the clip for the song, which is funny, as it looks as though it was shot near where I used to live. Note the lack of trees!
A Walk To The Shops And Back
Today was a beautiful day. Scotland has a bit of a bad reputation when it comes to weather, and to be fair, we do have some fairly heavy rain, gusty winds, horizontal hale and dense fog to contend with, in fact, often on the same day! However, today was not one of those days. Today the sun was unobscured by mist or cloud, and the sky was a clear cerulean. Our breath became visible as it left our bodies, and the tips of our noses turned red with the cold, but it was a wonderful day to be alive. As you might have guessed, I took some photos, as I just had to share this day with as many as I could.
Does the airplane stream in this last picture look like a single helix to you, or is it just me?


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Assisted Living - The Orchards at Bartley
The Orchards at Bartley Assisted Living is a family-owned, privately run Assisted Living community located on the Bartley Healthcare campus.
Nursing and Rehabilitation - Bartley Healthcare
As a leader in quality care, Bartley Healthcare Nursing and Rehabilitation offers comprehensive medical, nursing, social and support programs to our long-term residents.
Now Accepting New Residents at our Award-Winning Communities in Jackson, NJ
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As the leader in quality care, Bartley offers a range of services, amenities and activities for our residents. We employ healthcare professionals who have the expertise, experience and compassion to meet our residents' needs.
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Calculate your total monthly living expenses and compare them against our typical, all-inclusive assisted living service fee. The cost savings might surprise you!
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It has been almost 3 years that Orchards' staff has watched over our parents. We know how much time, effort, care, and patience you put into that job. We are grateful from the bottom of our hearts. Your kindness will not be forgotten. We truly appreciate you making dad's final years comfortable. The entire staff was always very professional & helpful.
Once again I find myself counting you as a great blessing in dad and my life. The help from the hospital discharge was great. Your tireless commitment, care, and concern are beyond words. We are so very grateful for it all – each and every day. Please know that you are in my prayers of thankfulness each day. I hope in some small way, this will lift you up and let you know how special you are!
For more information or to schedule an onsite visit please fill out the form below.
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Fall Is the Season of Colorful Eating
Summer fruits and vegetables have begun to disappear in the food markets, especially Jersey corn and tomatoes. At Bartley we have begun to change our menu to reflect seasonal changes in produce. It is a popular time of year for root vegetables, pumpkin, kale, swiss...read more
October is Brest Cancer Awareness Month
October is upon us, and it is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It is a reminder that there is a gruesome disease that is out to get second base. These sweet, pink pastels are there to nudge us, saying "hey, don't forget to examine your breasts, get your doctor...read more
Living in such a busy world, we tend to forget to live in the moment. We cruise through each day on autopilot, unaware of our surroundings and ourselves. Without us even realizing it, life becomes chaotic and uninspired. Our purpose seems unclear and our thoughts and...read more

subset: commoncrawl


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Gepetto is a company specializing in the design and manufacturing of high-end contemporary kitchens. The showroom, located in the heart of the workshop of the company, has gotten a makeover.
It is possible to visit Gepetto's workshop by appointment and discover the all-new kitchen on display. The team wanted to not exhibit an infinite number of kitchens, possibilities and styles in an impersonal space, but rather to present a coherent space, on a human scale, unifying Gepetto's personality and expertise. The challenge was to expose a single kitchen, tucked in a 90 square foot space on the mezzanine, which would faithfully represent the values and business philosophy.
"It is a kitchen in our image, fully designed according to the fundamental principles of Gepetto: simplicity, rigour and functionality," confides Hubert Taschereau, founder of Gepetto. "We want to show our clients transparently, who we are and what we can accomplish."
Gepetto is a team of cabinetmakers and artisans from Quebec who have a thorough knowledge of the wood. The grain and how and where the wood is cut have a huge impact on the final product, regardless of the variety of wood. It is for this reason that the veneers are custom made, thus offering a greater control over the finished product. Different species of native or exotic wood are used, such as the pecan, walnut, and oak, solid or veneered.
Along with the client, individual, designer, architect, or general contractor, kitchens and built-in furniture of Gepetto are entirely custom made in Quebec, and in the interests of sustainable development.
A fully assumed minimalist style, the achievements of Gepetto rely on several principles from design to realization such as the attention to detail, the formal simplicity, functionality and ergonomics.
Gepetto: "Simple, never plain".


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Albion – New Skate Store for Cornwall
located at 16 South Street, St Austell, Cornwall, PL25 5FE. Fully skater owned.
"Albion's ethos relies on building a safe haven and environment for people of all ages to comfortably come in, chill out, grab a tea or coffee, have a chat and get the much needed information and advice as well as the physical products. The individual identity and aesthetic that Albion are building from the ground upwards will bring new style and flare; steering away from the expected norm of a standard skate shop. Skateboarding is a collective family segregated into localised communities. Albion's intentions are to cater to our community and provide a space that all are welcome in to."
Photo – Jake Hill (owner) gets up to 5050 rag in.


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When I was one, I had just begun.
When I was two, I was nearly new.
When I was three, I was hardly me.
When I was four, I was not much more.
When I was five, I was just alive.
But now I am six, I'm as clever as clever;
So I think I'll be six now for ever and ever.
A.A. Milne
Last week Hannah turned 6.
We were in America so we celebrated at her favorite restaurant – Mexican, of course.
We also had a little party with family.
At six, Hannah loves princesses, dressing up, playing with make-up, dance classes, school, reading books, practicing her writing, horses, singing silly songs, words that rhyme, play dates with friends, Caesar salad, tomato soup and taking care of her baby brother.
She's lost three teeth and is rockin' Year 1 (US equivalent of Kindergarten). According to her teacher, "Hannah always does the right thing." We couldn't be more proud of her.
In the last two years, she's traveled between Europe and the US 15 times. I think. I've lost count.
She's an amazing traveler and I can always count on her to be my little helper.
Some recent Hannah quotes:
"Mom, what's the French word for palindrome?"
"Take a look around you. All these people are cranky and jet lagged."
Happy 6th birthday, Twinks!
You are loved more than you'll ever know.


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RateSetter loans from 3 to 5 years are fixed rate loans. The rate is fixed for the entire term and you will repay the same amount each month except for the final payment, which can vary slightly to take into account rounding across the term of the loan.
What is a fixed rate loan?
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Bolivian Visas
Bolivia Business Visa
1. Passport
Original, signed passport valid for 6 months beyond stay in Bolivia, with at least one blank passport page available for Bolivian visa stamp. Amendment pages in the back of the passport are not suitable for Bolivia visas.
2. Photo Requirements
Two recent, identical, 2 x 2 passport photographs, in color, front view and with a plain/light background.
3. Bolivia Visa Application Form
One visa application form per applicant properly completed and signed. Signature must be original on each application.
- There is an on-line visa application form, which requires scanned image and documents to be uploaded. In order to complete this form, the passport photo must be saved in .jpg format and supporting documents must be saved in .pdf format. Scanned copies must not exceed 300Kb. Scans required include passport photo (in .jpg format), passport information page, flight itinerary, cover letter, and photocopy of relevant visas.
4. Business Letter
An ORIGINAL letter of introduction written from employer or sponsor addressed to The Consulate General of Bolivia, introducing the applicant, indicating the applicant's employment position held in the company, stating the nature of business to be conducted, and requesting the Bolivia visa. The business letter must also indicate who will be financially responsible for the applicant while in Bolivia, provide detailed contact information in Bolivia and signed by a senior manager (an equivalent to Vice-President or above).
5. Letter Of Invitation from Bolivia
A letter of invitation from sponsor in Bolivia (either host company or individual) explaining the relationship to the applicant and the purpose of travel. In addition, the letter must indicate the length of stay, place of stay, and contact information.
6. Proof Of Departure
Computer generated flight itinerary from the airline or a travel agency or copy of airline ticket showing entry and departure from Bolivia.
7. Medical Requirements
International certificate of vaccination against yellow fever.
8. Status of Residency
Non-US Citizens must provide a photocopy proof of U.S. residency (Green card), or A valid U.S. non-immigrant visa, (US visa holders should have original I-94 or I-20 stapled to the passport)
Note: Certain citizens do not require a visa others are required to appear in person, contact us to verify.
9. AllStar Order Form
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Taking a Look at Store InventoryMonday, February 15th, 2010
You've built a great looking store, done the SEO bit, added content and now you are selling a few items, but are not sure what to do next.
You're next steps really depend on the merchandise in your store. Do you stock you store with nothing but long tail items? Items that didn't sell the first time on eBay or that are not worth listing on eBay?
If so, you're store will have some struggles.
The ultimate goal for most Vendio sellers is to have a successful store that is used in conjunction with the big marketplaces (Amazon, eBay). While there are sellers who want to get completely away from eBay or Amazon, the majority want success on all their marketplaces.
Inventory is a key element in growing your own online store. Here are a few things to consider:
Quantity of Items Available
While it is possible to build and grow a successful online store with only one item available, it's not the norm. You wouldn't enter a mall store with one table and handful of items for sale. The same applies for your store. You will want to keep your "shelves" stocked.
Having just a few items may result in a sale or two, but in the long term, you will want to have a large selection where you buyers can "shop".
Quality of Items Available
It's tempting to stock your store only with items that didn't sell on eBay or Amazon or the long tail items which may appeal to a very small segment of buyers. It's a great strategy that may work to make a few sales now and again. However, to really grow your own store, you'll want to add popular items, not just the "dregs".
A few things to try:
Fresh Items
You built your store, added some items, but haven't added anything in weeks. This is a trap that many sellers fall into. They start out all passionate, with a frenzied work pace and then dead stop.
If this is you, try a slower, steadier pace . A store isn't a marathon; it's a slow progression to success. Add a few items each day. Create a sale category and move some of your less popular inventory to the "close out" or sale section.
But most of all, remember your buyer. They want selection, value and variety. And while you can't do it all in one day, you CAN do it over time.


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Justin Kluivert's expected move from Ajax to Roma is "90 per cent sure", despite his father Patrick advising him to stay with the Eredivisie club.
The 19-year-old winger enjoyed something of a breakout season in 2017-18, scoring 10 goals and setting up another five in the league.
His dribbling ability and general play in the final third have seen him earn rave reviews, with several of Europe's biggest clubs said to have shown interest.
Reports claim Roma are close to completing a €18million move for the Netherlands international, but his father – who also played in Italy for AC Milan – thinks it is too early for him.
"I personally said to him maybe it's better to stay one more year at Ajax, to make some kilometres, to be important for the team," Kluivert senior is quoted as saying by ESPN.
"He's 19 years old. He's still young, but he makes his own decisions, and as a dad, I have to stand behind all the decisions that he makes. It looks like he's going to leave Ajax. I think it's 90 per cent sure that he's going away.
"If he's got the feeling to leave then he's got to do that, but he needs to know what things are coming on his way.
"It will be difficult because if you're 19 and you're going to another country, it's not easy. You have to pick wisely what club and also talk really deeply about how his progress will be."
- Soccer News Like
- Be the first of your friends!


text: Dairy free, gluten free, Paleo, and vegetarian, this colorful, nutrient-rich meal is perfect for using up your supply of farmer's market veggies. Plunk a variety of roasted summer veggies in a bowl with some rice (be it actual rice, sweet potato rice, broccoli rice, etc), some form of protein, and sauce, and I'm all doe-eyed and hearts and flowers. Make it colorful, and I'm swooning! For me, these bowls are the perfect swoon-worthy meal. Enjoy!!


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Fisher Price My First Roller SkatesReviewing: Fisher Price My First Roller Skates | Rating:
I bought these for my son about 2-3 years ago when he was around the age of 3. I liked the idea that they would grow with him and hopefully he would learn how to inline skate pretty well. They adjust with the child, the size of them and the style of the wheels. The kids wear shoes underneath them which is my only complaint, at almost 5 now and wearing a size 10 toddler shoe it is hard to get them on with any shoe, he will wear them with just socks but I cannot imagine that they are comfortable, he does not complain though. When he was little the shoes did go in pretty easy.
They are made of plastic and it seems like a cheap plastic but we have had no problems with them, although he is not rough and doesn't use them alot. He does enjoy them but gets frustrated that he cannot skate well. You can have all the wheels in the locked position, or just locked so the back one won't reverse or all of them free moving. He likes the back one locked, which is especially good for going up hills. To start a child it is nice that they all lock.
I really like these and for the price I paid, I got them 50% off, they were quite a deal.


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GOOD NEWS WATCH: Navy Dad Gives His Son the Most Wonderful Surprise
Touching Photos Show the Incredible Bond Between a Boy and His Service Dog
Surrogate Mom in Custody Battle After Refusing to Abort Triplets
A Navy officer just back from deployment gave his young son a thrilling surprise, caught on video.
Before the big moment, the boy's mother, Jennifer Cullen, holding the camera, told 7-year-old Alex that his father -- who'd been away for 99 days -- had something to tell him and asked him to guess what it was.
"It's a huuuge surprise," Jennifer says. "If you could think of one surprise in the whole world what would it be?"
"Him coming home?" Alex responds, emotionally, as Sean walks up from behind.
At that moment, Alex turns around just in time to see his father and yelps in joy. They hug each other as Alex cries.
"Hey buddy," he says, planting kisses on Alex's cheeks.
The powerful video has been watched more than two million times since it was posted by Love What Matters on Facebook yesterday.
Inside Edition reported that Chief Petty Officer Sean Cullen has served 11 years and just served a lengthy deployment in the Middle East.
Jennifer told the newsmagazine that Alex loves his father so much that he wears a camouflage backpack every day and tells everybody he meets that his daddy is "The Chief."
He also stays connected to his father while he's on deployment with a "Daddy Doll."
Commenter Mindy Cherches Nelson wrote on Facebook that the video shows "the heavy burden taken on by military personnel and their families."
SEE IT: Vet's Futile Attempt to Make VA Appointment Goes Viral
97-Year-Old Woman with Cancer Says Landlord Trying to Evict Her
CA Rescue Team Saves Little Girl from 10-Foot Snow Hole


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Monday, April 10, 2017
The Fall of the Louse of Breckinridge; A Cautionary Tale
In 1893, fifty-seven year old Kentuckian William Campbell Preston Breckinridge was poised to become a major leader in the Democrat party--possibly even a President of the United States. The resume and pedigree of this ex-Confederate Colonel were both impressive: He was a five-term Congressman, his cousin John C. Breckinridge had been Vice-President under James Buchanan, and his family tree was bursting with Attorney Generals, Senators, and Governors. He had the fame, the family, and the patronage to go to the very pinnacle of power.
And it all came crashing down on him, simply because in addition to all these attributes, he was an unmitigated skunk.
His downfall began, appropriately enough, on April Fools Day, 1884, when the Congressman boarded a train bound for his home in Lexington. During the journey, he made the acquaintance of a seventeen-year old Wesleyan College student named Madeline Pollard. Pollard was plain, an orphan, and so quiet and retiring she was habitually described as "mouse-like." She was a vulnerable woman who badly needed supportive friends.
What she got was William Breckinridge.
During the train ride, the two became so friendly that three months later, Pollard felt sufficiently emboldened to write Breckinridge asking for some business advice. The Congressman took time out of his busy schedule to visit her in person at Wesleyan to discuss the issue. This led to him asking the girl to meet him at a certain private location in Lexington. Two days later, after having dinner with his wife, he rendezvoused with Pollard and persuaded her to go to bed with him.
At Breckinridge's urging, Pollard transferred to Lexington's Sayre Institute. The Congressman paid for her board and tuition, and the two kept up their clandestine affair. In 1884, Pollard became pregnant to a child placed in a foundling home. In 1888, she again gave birth, to a child who was also given away. (Both children died in infancy.) Pollard bore her uncomfortable position as a married man's secret mistress without complaint. She loved him, and convinced herself that her feelings were returned. "His slightest wish was law to me," she later recalled. She even agreed to relinquish her children because Breckinridge feared they would be traced to him. "A woman can't do more than that," Pollard said flatly.
In 1887, Breckinridge moved Pollard to Washington D.C., where she worked in the Department of Agriculture and the Census Bureau. She became a minor figure in the capital's social scene. After his wife died in 1892, Breckinridge began promising Pollard that they would marry...someday. After she became pregnant a third time, he swore to her that this child would be kept, and acknowledged as his. The two set a wedding date for May 31, 1893.
On April 29, 1893, Breckinridge married his cousin Louise Wing.
Pollard did not learn of her soi-disant fiance's perfidy until several weeks later. Soon afterward, she suffered a miscarriage, and, like Mary Stuart after the murder of Rizzio, began to study revenge. She slapped her ex-lover with a breach-of-promise suit where she demanded $50,000.
The trial opened on March 8, 1894. The proceedings lasted for a scandal-packed month, with newspapers across the country eagerly reporting every sordid, salacious detail. Pollard--dressed all in black and accompanied by a nun--made a very sympathetic witness, all the more so when Breckinridge's attorneys defamed her as an experienced "prostitute" who deliberately lured him into a liaison. The defense went for the classic "nuts and sluts" argument, painting Pollard and a half-mad strumpet who had threatened him with ruin, or even death. Breckinridge denied all knowledge or paternity of her children. This tactic spectacularly backfired on him. What onlookers saw was a young woman who had been gravely wronged, and was now being further victimized when she sought some measure of justice. The jury quickly ruled in Pollard's favor, awarding her $15,000.
With exquisitely bad timing, Breckinridge had to run for re-election soon after the trial ended. He gritted his teeth and began campaigning in the face of newspaper editorials calling him everything from a rapist to a "wild beast in search of prey." Worse still for him, what seemed to be every woman in Kentucky was screaming for his head. He proved to be one of the best things that ever happened to the emerging suffrage movement. As one journalist put it, "Women who never took the slightest interest in politics in their lives have become active politicians." Women organized protest rallies against Breckinridge. His backers were boycotted. Families refused to allow their daughters to be courted by his supporters. Many old friends shunned him. The intensity of feeling aroused by the election was compared to the Civil War.
Amazingly, his previous enormous popularity, coupled with his new groveling "sackcloth and ashes" act, nearly carried the day for him. He lost, but by only 255 votes. However, his political career was over for good, with the women of his state being given all the credit for his stunning defeat. As historian Hambleton Tapp wrote, "The fall of Breckinridge was like that of an archangel."
Breckinridge found little happiness in retirement. His wife had a mental breakdown which at times erupted into violent mania, and he never completely lived down the disgrace of the Pollard affair. He quietly returned to his law practice, and bought the Lexington "Morning Herald," where his son Desha served as editor for many years. His daughter Sophonisba proved to be the most distinguished member of this scandal-tarred family. She became the first female in the U.S. to earn a Ph.D., as well as the first woman to be admitted to the Kentucky bar. Breckinridge died of complications from a stroke in November 1904. After his death, it was reported that due to his finances having reached "a very low ebb," he never paid a cent of the settlement Pollard had won against him.
As for Madeline Pollard, the year after the trial ended, it was reported that she was preparing to make a round-the-world journey as "the companion of a charitable woman." In 1897, the newspapers stated that she was living in London, where she planned a literary career. She subsequently disappeared from public view.
Fortunately for history, researcher Elizabeth de Wolfe managed to piece together a broad outline of Pollard's later years, which she summarized in an article for "Legacy" magazine ("Not Ruined, But Hindered," 2014.) Pollard continued her interest in literature and art, and studied several languages. In her existing documentation, she described herself as a "student and writer." She traveled extensively throughout Europe, and eventually settled in England, where she died in 1945. Her will left her small estate to her "beloved friend" Violet Hassard, who had lived and traveled with Pollard since at least 1900.
So perhaps in the end the "woman scorned" found true love.
5 comments:
It seems that Miss Pollard had her rightful revenge, but it must have been a bittersweet victory after two children lost and a decade wasted waiting for a scoundrel. Is there information on what happened to her third child?ReplyDeleteReplies
voodoo spell has amazed me as I have seen results from everything he has done for me, often quite fast. While I have been to other spell casters who I believe tried their best; voodoo spell simply is the best, being truly gifted and having written the book on it. In addition, his integrity truly sets him apart in the field as he has told me several times I did not need a spell when he just as easily could have said I did. He is a truly kind and generous person who took time out on a weekend recently to help with a difficult ongoing case for me which brought him no personal gain. His work resulted in an all out miracle with a man I have been in love with for two years. voodoo spell rocks!. i so much believe in this man here is the contact in case you have any problem, email@example.com, God blessReplyDelete
- AnonymousApril 12, 2017 at 7:24 PM
I have mixed feelings about this story. Despite the predictable moral failings of politicians, it's hard to see Ms. Pollard as a victim. She didn't run away to a convent after the first time he asked her up to see his etchings. To all appearances, she knowingly carried on an affair with a married man for eight years, accepting money and other favors, such as a government job. She only called in the nun after he didn't pony up the ring. It might not win me any friends, but I have to say that the defense might not have been far wrong when they characterized her as a "professional." She was a college student who later held down a government position and eventually sought a literary career, so you can't say that he was taking advantage of someone feeble-minded. I will have to take the minority opinion on this issue, and say that since they were both willfully breaking laws and betraying the trust of others, they probably deserved each other.ReplyDelete
Comments are moderated. The author of this blog reserves the right to delete remarks from spammers, trolls, idiots, lunatics, jerks, and anyone who happens to annoy me on days when I've gotten out of bed the wrong way. Which is usually any day ending with a "y."


text: The subject of financial aid is typically a dry, if not intimidating one. UW-Help needed a way to open a dialogue with prospective students that wouldn't scare them away from the idea. While working for UW Extension I helped them to polish their message, developed visual concepts and art styles, and produced and animated a piece that was attractive and engaging for its audience.


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1. Now possible to use image filters.
To use, open the dedicated panel from the inspector panel for Cell.
2. Fixed a bug that (sometimes) fail to synchronize the image file (such as when you saved the psd in FireAlpaca).
Also, we changed to stop the synchronization of the Cells in already synchronized when you save a new temporary file for editing the image of another Cell in the same path.
5.0.3 Released
1. Now possible to use image filters.


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Image credit: Ross Sokolovski| Unsplash Image
On February 21, 2015 this little beauty was adopted from the Paws Rescue Alliance, an animal shelter that advocates for animals who do not have a voice in Phoenix, Arizona. Rescued from an abusive home, this little pup named Leah taught her owner how to love in 3 simple ways.
Stuck in a rut, this little pup woke up at 5 a.m. teaching her owner consistency and most of all compassion.
Broken down from neglect, Leah's biggest obstacle was finding her strength. Hitting close to come, her owner had to find her voice. Left with no choice, a series of friendships and puppy play dates was made to order. After 1 year and about 3 puppy dates later, let's just say these ladies are definitely out to play.
Life may not be perfect, but being reminded of the simple things gives you the faith that things can and will get better. For Leah, it's a playful nudge to her owner letting her know that's it's going to be okay.


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Dear Kaylee,
We had quite a Grandpa Day on Friday. First, we went to your preschool, Christ Lutheran in Santa Clarita. Grandpa is so happy you have such a great school! I met your teachers, your friends, and a whole bunch of animals. It was a special day because Wildlife Learning Center brought several furry and fun guests. You saw an alligator, hedgehog, porcupine, chinchilla, bunny, fox, servel cat, hissing cockroach, and a snake! Then they took out the surprise….a huge snake bigger than Grandpa is tall!
Sure enough, you were brave enough to pet the snake…Something my daughter, your mommy would never do! But, touching the big cockroach? No, thank you.
Then we left and were driving back down to our house when you said, "Grandpa, let's go to the Zoo!"
The zoo it was. We had our usual full day at the zoo. Petting the goats, looking at the Halloween decorations and I had my usual, watching you go back and forth back and forth as you always do. Playing wherever you find yourself. Where do you get all that energy? I had my fitbit watch on and I put in over five miles in our excursions. But, you don't just walk in a straight line. You have to take a hundred breaks walking around trees, tightroping on curbs, and splashing (it rained) in puddles all along the way.
Here is what we are going to do next time. I am going to put the fitbit around your ankle and then see how many miles you walk compared to me when we are traveling to the same places!


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Rod Taylor, star of The Birds, dies aged 84
Australian actor Rod Taylor, who starred in Alfred Hitchcock's thriller The Birds, has died aged 84, according to reports in the US.
Taylor, who lived in the United States, is said to have died at his home in Los Angeles after a dinner party.
He came to prominence in the 1960s, starring alongside Hollywood greats like Jane Fonda and Richard Burton.
In 2009, he made a cameo as ex-UK Prime Minister Winston Churchill in Quentin Tarantino's film Inglourious Basterds.
He got his first leading role in the 1960 adaptation of HG Wells' science-fiction classic The Time Machine and went on to star in several hit films in the 1960s and 1970s.
He also voiced one of the Dalmatian dogs in Disney's animated hit 101 Dalmatians.
Tippi Hedren, his co-star in The Birds, told People magazine that Taylor had been "a great pal to me and a real strength".
"He was one of the most fun people I have ever met, thoughtful and classy. There was everything good in that man," she said.
He was due to turn 85 on Sunday.
He is survived by spouse Carol Kikumura and daughter Felicia Rodrica Sturt Taylor, a TV presenter in the US.


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"StarGirl" is an amazing book about being yourself, love and friendships. In this book a new girl comes to Mica high school. Mica is a small town in the middle of the desert.
The main charters in this book are Stargirl (a.k.a. Susan Caraway) and Leo Borlock. Stargirl is your everday plain jane from the seventy's. she has sandy colored hair and she doesn't fix it really fancy like most people at Mica high. She has freckles on her face and likes to do good deeds. Like playing the uklele for students on their birthdays. She has a pet rat named cinnamon and she has a crush on Leo. Now Leo on the other hand collects porcupine neckties but doesn't wear them. He is friends with a boy named Kevin, they want to be in the telivion business when they get older. After a while of unusual behavior and her fun loving personality everyone begins to warm up to her, especially Leo.
Leo likes to be normal and decides to help Stargirl out. This all happened after they became closer friends.
My favorite part was when Stargirl first started showing Leo around. But, I didn't get mad at Leo when he made Stargirl change her looks, personality and made her put on makeup.
After a short while of unusual behavior and her fun loving personality everyone starts to warm up to Stargirl, especially Leo. Leo likes to be normal and decides to help Stargirl become normal. This all happens after they become closer than friends. Leo and Stargirl are talking after school and the next day Stargirl is Susan. Susan is the best she is popular fun and like everyone else. Leo is happy, he now has his way. Susan is not though, she is still is...


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Love Imogen Heap.
Love this video.
But really LOVE this song...
Love this video.
But really LOVE this song...
Thank you so much for taking the time to comment. I always appreciate your thoughts. Your comment will appear as soon as I can publish it.
p.s. - Contrary opinions or constructive criticism are also fine but "The Bedlam" doesnt' serve as a platform for random (or anonymous) acts of offensiveness. Rude? Deleted.


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Studies the relation of the gospel to the need for holistic human and community development and the core areas of education and literacy. Many of the uneducated are from minority unreached people groups. Looks at the world situation in terms of mission, minority language groups, literacy, education and development issues. Considers the kingdom theology that affects these issues. Looks at governmental and non-governmental movements, especially the engagement of Christian agencies in meeting these challenges. Some sub-topics include: gender issues, HIV/AIDS, the environment, globalization, youth at-risk and conflict resolution. Considers cultural learning and teaching styles, critiques of western models of education as applicable to non-western context, and other relevant education-specific concerns.
Course Code: CHED 0612 | Credit Hours: 3 | Seminary Graduate Course


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When we hear the words "Atomic Energy", our thoughts immediately go to its negative effects. However, we are slowly seeing the perception of atomic energy changed through a medium like art. But what exactly is atomic energy? This is energy created and carried by atoms. Widely known as nuclear energy, atomic energy can be created in several ways. By splitting the nuclei of atoms, large amounts of heat can be created. It can also be created through nuclear fission (splitting atoms using sufficient energy) or nuclear fusion (slamming atoms together using a significant outside energy source).
In both cases, they can create massive amounts of heat energy. Like any form of energy, the atom can be channeled in positive and negative ways. The negative effects are thoroughly recorded in history. The positive impacts are being brought to the forefront in creative ways.
Positives of Atomic Energy Atomic energy or nuclear energy has a host of advantages. It is commonly used to create electricity. Unlike fossil fuels, it is safer for the environment and emits fewer greenhouse gases. Besides energy, the atom positively impacts other areas of life such as food, water, and health. Atomic energy has been used to impact the quality of soil and crops, improving the yield and quality of food grown around the world. Atomic Energy is also used in radiology, to diagnose diseases and radiotherapy to treat diseases like cancer. The atom has been powering the world, making it safer and healthier for decades.
Educating Through Art The positive impact of atomic energy can be changed through education. What better way to educate others than art? Over the decades, a few famous pieces of art have been used to show the positive impact of atomic energy on society. The best examples of nuclear energy art are the bronze Nuclear Energy sculpture by Henry Moore outside the University of Chicago. This is only one compared to the negative depictions of atoms in the media.
If you would like to express the positive effects of atomic energy to kids in a classroom, your kids at home, or adults, try starting a creative project to share with others. The easiest and satisfying approach can be creating your own sculpture made of wood. You can create small pieces of art using scraps of wood or large forms that require some planning.
For large pieces, make sure you have access to or you can purchase tools that can cut and shape the desired pieces. For example, If you would like to create the shape of an atom, use a table saw to help shape the pieces you need.
Check out www.bestcabinettablesaws.com/hybrid-reviews for the best table saw and your local hardware stores for other materials. Get everyone involved in creating the artwork. Kids can also paint and decorate the completed sculpture. As you work, make sure that everyone is educated on the benefits and usefulness of atomic energy.
Conclusion: Atomic and Nuclear energy have turned a corner from being destructive to being a force for good in the world. We should continue to create positive dialogue and representation of the benefits of atomic energy through art. Using materials like wood can help kids create positive perceptions of atomic energy and improve negatives in adults. We are served by atomic energy every day and we should start giving it the positive attention it deserves.


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Ant Williams can hold his breath for eight minutes underwater. Eight minutes. Underwater.
Using just one, single breath and no tanks, he can dive 100 meters down, into the black folds of the ocean and safely return to the surface. One breath. For reference, many proficient free divers struggle to make it even 30 meters down. The pressure is too great.
The pressure crushes your body. It crushes your head, making it nearly impossible to equalize. The way he describes it makes me think that the mission of a free diver is to come as close as possible to physically experiencing what death feels like. Completely dark. Alone. Your body compresses, crushed by the weight of the world above. To complicate matters further, Williams says every ten meters a diver reaches beneath the sea is like drinking another martini. So at ten martinis (100 meters) below the surface, emotions and perceptions enter an altered state. Only individuals with supreme confidence and composure can safely engage, or even aspire, to reach such depths.
That's Ant Williams.
The New Zealand native didn't even begin free diving until he was 30. He was working as a sports psychologist, coaching big wave surfers, race car drivers, rock climbers, and other risk takers on how to break through mental barriers when he realized, according to him, he was a fraud. He hadn't done anything risky in his life. So after mulling a few options ranging from bullfighting to freediving, the latter struck his fancy. Something about growing up in New Zealand's wild waters gave him a sense of confidence.
A few years later, Williams was the US National Champion and ranked 3rd in the world for his breathhold in swimming. He maintained that ranking for five years and still competes alongside a dynamic career as a motivational speaker.
With Williams, it's hard to say. Maybe nine minutes?


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Hi everyone!
This is a page I made about my trip when I go to Canada. This time we did a part of the way with Patrick (he drove his car, I drove mine) and we stopped at a butterfly house at almost half of the way. But the rest is basically almost the same and since it's not a very common thing to do, driving such a long way, alone, with 2 kids, and since I do it often, I thought I might want to have it recorded in some way.
Have you ever wonder you you could mix many patterned papers on your page without your layout to feel too busy? One way to succeed is to separate your patterned papers with a solid border. Notice here hoe I used 7 different patterned paper to make the sun. And I also used 2 different patterned paper tu frame my page. If you'd like to explore more ways of doing that, here is an article at Get it Scrapped about that topic. You can find it here.
Ok, talk to you soon guys and thanks for stopping by!
Marie :)


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IndiaCSR News Netwrok
NASHIK: An NGO from Australia, "We Can't Wait', along with Rotary Club and 'I make a difference' (Imad), a city based social organisation have joined hands to build toilets at schools. The NGO plans to construct 15 toilets in various schools in and outside the city areas as a part of a pilot project.
Mark Balla, founder of the NGO, said his organisation focused on school sanitation and was opening education opportunities for girls. "We also focus on spreading awareness about situation in India and raising awareness and money for the cause," he said.
A bhoomipujan was held at a private school located in Nashik Road on Friday as part of the project, while an event was held to make children aware of the importance of washing hands.
Balla decided to contribute to the cause when he visited Dharavi slums in Mumbai with his 13-year-old daughter about four years ago. "During my visit, I found out that there were teenage girls who quit school as these had no toilets. My daughter was excited about her future education and hence it concerned me about the girls who had to quit because of sanitation issues. This is one of the major concerns for less education among girls which should be addressed," he added.
Balla found a person through his business network and decided to create awareness and build toilets starting from Nashik who plan to build toilets in at least 30 schools.
Complimenting about Swachha Bharat Abhiyan, that has already been initiated to address the issue, he said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi has focused on the understanding of the world and addressed the crisis of sanitation."
He said that he came across people speaking about constructing toilets for security and dignity of women and aimed for them. However, they are equally important for men too. Balla feels that the government should take expertise of NGO's and corporate companies to complete this herculean task.
"Statistics reveal that there are about two lakh schools having no toilets at all, while another 4 lakh where toilets exist but are not in use. Hence the task is difficult and changing the mindset is important," he added.


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|Posted by JJ on October 22, 2010 at 9:27 AM
The "Long War" (as the GWOT: Global War on Terrorism is called by the troops) has been covered by many journalists. In my opinion, one of the best and most candid of these is the very talented photojournalist Michael Yon, who is himself a former U.S. Special Forces soldier. Very few "embedded" journalists have spent as much time with U.S. and Coalition troops "downrange" as he has, and it shows in his work.
You can check out much of Yon's work on his website, Michael Yon Online
One of his most iconic images and a great example of his work was taken in Mosul in 2005.
*All image rights and credits to Michael Yon*
Categories: None
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CARBON trading, once seen as a burgeoning industry, is evaporating in Europe with at least 10 banks in London alone scaling back or closing their trading desks.
The sector was seen as having great potential when it was created in London's Square Mile financial quarter in 2006 as the main provider for Europe's trading scheme.
But in the past four years alone the Climate Markets & Investors Association has found the number of workers on the trading desks had fallen 70 per cent as carbon prices have plummeted.
Under the scheme companies buy and sell permits which give the right to emit a tonne of carbon without penalty in a global financial incentive to fight against gas emissions.
But such was the enthusiasm for the "mushrooming" market there have been so many players in the game the price of the permit has fallen to levels that make it ineffective. That is, the permit price was so low there was no incentive for companies to go out and invest in modern filter technologies or other initiatives to reduce emissions.
Britain's banking giant Barclays has sold its carbon trading business while Deutsche Bank, JPMorgan and UBS have closed their carbon trading operations or climate change advisory practices. Others such as Morgan Stanley have reduced their trading desks from full time to part time operations.
Last week the EU member states agreed in principle to reforms aimed at cutting emissions by increasing the cost for companies to buy what they described as the "right to pollute".
Under the deal, the auctioning of 900 million emission permits would be withheld from the market until the later past of the decade to drive the permit price up.
The move was applauded by EU Climate Change Commissioner Connie Hedegaard who Tweeted "Finally! Common sense prevailed" but condemned by industry which would it would drive up costs.
When carbon trading was launched the EU Paliament hoped the global price would be about $A43 to emit one tonne of carbon dioxide but the financial crisis saw production plummet and so too the permit price. It sits currently at about $A6.90.


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Prevention Strategies
Talk With Your Doctor
Whether you are seeing the doctor for your own check-up or you are taking your child to the pediatrician for a well-child visit, remember that this is a great time to ask your doctor about a variety of health concerns including skin cancer prevention and early detection.
Because check-ups are often packed with information, you should not assume that your doctor will bring up sun safety and skin cancer awareness. If you have questions about your own risk for skin cancer, how to detect skin cancer in the early, more treatable phases, or how to prevent skin cancer for you and/or your children, be prepared before you go to your appointment. Knowing what questions you want to ask ahead of time will help ensure that you can get them answered, even if the visit is limited on time.
Here are a few tips to help you prepare for your visit:
- Make a written list of the questions you want to ask before going to the appointment so you do not forget anything. Let the doctor know you have some questions at the beginning of the appointment and ask if it would be better to talk about them now or at the end. This way the doctor knows to allocate time for your questions. Some questions you might wish to ask include:
- What is my skin type?
- What is my risk for skin cancer?
- When is the right time to start using sunscreen on my baby?
- Could you do a thorough skin exam on me today as part of my physical? If not, could you refer me to a dermatologist that can?
- Do I have any moles or other skin lesions that I should keep an eye on?
- How do I perform a monthly skin self-exam?
- Where do skin cancers most often appear?
- You can also add a comment about your concerns on the form the doctor gives you to fill out while you are waiting to be seen. If you put it in writing when you first arrive you will not forget because of all the things going on during your visit.
- If you have specific concerns about your or your children's risk for skin cancer make sure you tell the doctor why you are concerned. The doctor will probably ask if there is a history of skin cancer in your family as a way of assessing your risk, so find out ahead of time if you do not already know.
- If there is a specific mole or lesion you are concerned about, know exactly where it is so you can quickly find it and show it to the doctor. The doctor will likely want to know if the mole or lesion has grown or otherwise changed appearance recently and how long it has been there. Again, being prepared with answers will help ensure that you have enough time to address your concerns.
- Fill in a body diagram with all of your moles and areas of concern or take photographs of these items and keep them on file. When you are getting ready to go to the doctor take it with you as a tool to aid in your discussion.
- If you have ever had a mole, lesion or other skin growth removed by a doctor, make sure you know the date of the procedure and the outcome (i.e., biopsy results).
Be ready to tell the doctor all of the things you are doing to protect yourself or your family from the sun's harmful rays and then ask your doctor if there is anything else you should be doing.


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How I want to die,
Is with a smile on my face.
Not for I have lived a glorious life,
Not for I have a fulfilling one.
Not for the people I have met and forgotten,
Not for yet others whose company I have not begotten.
Not even for all the smiles I have bestowed upon the world,
Not for those I have had grace me in return.
Not for all the fantastical adventures I have been taken on
By many a pen or my own mind's song.
Naught matter the petty victories in cheap duels,
Nor do the pretty faces and scented lapels.
But for I am happy in that moment, I am,
As I lay in tender arms,
With long fingers that comb through what's left of mine hair.
For I see the happiness in those faded eyes,
As they look back to see me smiling,
Or perhaps simply because, in my mind, I'm listening to Frederic Chopin.


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It's dusk, that time of day when everyone is safe at home, and when our private lives, often hidden to some, and sometimes known to others, can't escape looming to light through the darkness.
It's at this uncertain hour, half-day, half-night, that a tower block emerges in front the audience. Four floors high, four different domestic scenes, four snapshots of daily life. Four different worlds with nothing in common but a thin layer of concrete : Tatiana's feet hovering over Madame Zette's head. Before us lies all that brings them together, and all that sets them apart. One thin layer of concrete. But even then, over the one thing they share, they are divided – one man's floor will always be another man's ceiling…


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To briefly recap: An aspiring poet named Brett Ortler recently had a manuscript accepted by BlazeVOX Books and was then asked by its publisher to contribute $250 to the publication costs. The author objected and went public with the email exchange, posting it on the Bark blog. The post set off a firestorm of comments to the blog post itself (many worth the long scroll-through), arguments on both sides, and further blog posts on the subject all over the internet. BlazeVOX publisher Geoffrey Gatza first suggested he would cease publishing, but after a wave of support posted a statement saying that "I feel like I should explain a bit further the co-operative nature of our business model. I am not going to change what we do, but I do acknowledge that perhaps I could communicate what we do a little better." On another page on the press's site, Gatza writes, "We will rescind this program [of asking writers for funding] immediately and I am sorry for the troubles it has caused."
Let me state that I once had a couple of poems published in one of BlazeVOX's annual anthologies. I was not asked to pay, though I believe it was sold as an e-book or pdf only, meaning there were no real printing costs except to the buyer. I have never submitted a book-length manuscript to BlazeVOX and so have no first-hand knowledge of the situation described above. In my brief exchanges with Gatza, he has come across to me as a good guy, and his press publishes a lot of innovative stuff, which I like. The practice of asking for money in this way is something I would not agree with, however. And personally, I doubt that at this point in time I would be able to afford to pay $250 to publish with any press, even if I wanted to, though I have always done my best to support the presses with which I have worked, Salmon Poetry (Ireland) and Six Gallery Press (U.S.), whether through buying as many copies of my own books as I could afford, buying the books of other press-published writers, or supporting various other press activities.
I think this is the right thing to do, and, sure, it's kind of expected (if you can afford it), if not exactly required. Given the sorry state that sales of poetry books are in right now, we need to support those who support us, if at all possible (for some it may not be, and that should be accepted as okay too). In this case, it seems that Gatza was looking for a more definitive, immediate financial commitment. So yes, he can be faulted for not being explicit about this up front, and in his statements he admits that. As far as I'm concerned, there was a mistake on his part for not being transparent and for being a bit confusing with the figures he used to justify it, but it is a mistake that has now been admitted (and even apologized for). Some of the language some people are using to describe the situation, though ("scam," "scheme," "Nigerian style"), is a bit extreme. I hope BlazeVOX continues to publish, as stated — presses of this sort are few and far between, and without some source of external funding they are hard to keep up.
There are a lot of things I could say about Ortler's original post, like is it ethical to publish a private email exchange without (presumably) the other party's permission? Even if Ortler felt that Gatza had acted unethically, do two wrongs make a right? Further, even after Gatza's clarification and apology, Ortler seemed intent on rubbing his nose in it, writing in another post, "For all we know, he could be buying pizza and Pepsi" (with the profit Ortler alleges Gatza made from his requests for help with costs, as if he's rolling in the supposed poetry dough), going on to ask, "Also, is Blazevox really a for-profit company? If so, then what they've been doing may be illegal. I'm no lawyer, but might this qualify for deceptive business practices [Ortler's link] in the state of NY?" Well, I'm no expert on trade practices, but if you read this New York State Consumer Protection "False Advertising and Deceptive Trade Practices" webpage linked here by Ortler, you'll see it refers to goods sold or "actual damages," rather than to voluntary donations of the sort Gatza asked for. Ortler was asked for financial help, and he opted to pay nothing. He bought nothing and incurred no "damages" whatsoever. It seems to me, therefore, that Ortler either didn't read the page he himself linked or is blatantly obfuscating for one reason or another. Or perhaps to give him the benefit of the doubt, he really is just clueless about legal matters ("I'm no lawyer").
I'll let you parse through all that's already been said about this nasty business, in blog comments or elsewhere online, and decide for yourself. But the debate has provoked discussion about some wider issues beyond what Ortler initially wrote, issues about poetry publishing in general, "business models," the effect of a capitalist economy on poetry, small presses vs. the notion of "vanity presses," and even the value of MFA programs. I want to comment on each of these, coming from the perspective of my own experience (which of course may be limited and just as subjective as everyone else's).
To begin, the number of poetry publishers who are able to survive and thrive on sales alone (i.e. without grants, subventions, or other outside sources of funding) are few and far between and dwindling yearly. Some large and long-lived presses may still get by on their back catalogue of major names or their non-poetry bestsellers. If you're Seamus Heaney or Billy Collins, you sell a lot of books. If you're not in that category, you probably don't. We can debate the whys and wherefores of poetry's marginalization, but that is the economic reality at present. Very few poets can hope to expect a monetary advance or even to have their books on store shelves. Thanks to the internet, at least there are some other outlets (the obvious book-selling websites), but driving people to your links in itself takes a lot of work that the publisher may not be able to do for you. But we all know this, right? If not, we should.
The idea that a poet today can be "discovered" out of obscurity and offered a contract wherein one is treated like a big deal, the idea that the press will be able to afford to pay for everything, the idea that the poet can sit back and watch the sales total up, the interview requests roll in, watch one's reputation grow accordingly — those days are long gone for most, and for those who still yearn for it, it's largely a fantasy. Yes, it would be nice not to have to pay anything at all for one's own book, and sure the lucky few won't, but for most of us we will pay something one way or the other (usually it's for copies / postage for mailing review copies). As I said, I personally would not be up for an arrangement such as had been asked for by BlazeVOX, but neither would I be extremely shocked by it. A polite, private demurral might instead have been in order.
The fact that BlazeVOX did ask for help with publishing costs has led some to charge that it is in essence a "vanity press." At the HTMLGIANT site, Christopher Higgs wrote, "Back in the day, before the internet, there used to be this thing called The Writer's Market … One of the first rules you would learn by reading The Writer's Market is that anyone who asks you for money to publish your work should not be trusted … [T]his sort of pay-to-publish policy seriously threatens to diminish the press's legitimacy in my eyes." Again, I would have balked at the idea too. But in the current climate of small-press publishing, I cannot say it makes BlazeVOX "illegitimate." I think Ortler and Higgs would be surprised at the number of writers who have offered or agreed to help out their publishers in the course of history (if the money was there and after already being honestly and impartially accepted). It should not be a condition of acceptance, of course, but these things do occur, at least from what I have heard now and again.
On the other hand, it's not as if any of this is new. There's the obvious Whitman example. Charles Reznikoff, Louis Zukofsky, and George Oppen published themselves, out of their own pockets, with their Objectivist Press. Lawrence Ferlinghetti published his own books with City Lights. Trevor Joyce and Michael Smith published themselves and their friends through New Writers Press. There are numerous other examples. So the ire, the indignation over BlazeVOX asking for something like this strikes me as a bit overblown. Gatza made it clear he is not simply open to all comers who can afford to pay $250; he has an editorial process. Ortler would no doubt be glad to achieve anything close to the repute of Reznikoff or Ferlinghetti (wouldn't we all?). Indeed, none of the aforementioned poets are stigmatized as "vanity" cases. Mike Meginnis makes some interesting points about this at the Uncanny Valley blog, going so far as to say that poets should actually publish their own books more often (though I would disagree with him when he contends that "If it's really that bad out there, if publishing must inherently be both exploitative and pointless, then let's just not do it" — there are other ways of doing it, I would suggest).
The truth is most poetry presses cannot survive without some kind of help. Should they then all fold up shop? No, of course not. If you think they should, if you think that nothing other than the cutthroat capitalist marketplace should dictate whether or not innovative or original poetry books are allowed to see the light of day, then you may as well stop reading this now. Because I don't. I believe there is a value to poetry beyond what can be quantified monetarily. So aside from those rare profit-making poetry presses mentioned above, the reality is that this whole thing is a gigantic cooperative enterprise (Johannes Göransson has gone into this idea further at Montevidayo). Poets want to be published, obviously, but publishers (many of whom are poets themselves) need to know that the poet is going to do his or her part to support the book where the publisher just cannot. More books, for example, are sold at readings than in bookstores, and these are books that the poet him- or herself has therefore had to purchase from the press (hopefully at a reasonable discount).
The idea is to get our books in print, do our best for them in the present, and hope they resonate someday in the future (how many great writers are recognized in their day, and how many writers once recognized in their day are now considered great?). If there's no way to do that, if we say that the market forbids us from leaving anything for posterity, then we are sunk. Better to get the books out, granted as "reputably" as possible, than not at all. This might entail something beyond the old model of expecting to be snapped up by a profit-making press. We might criticize Gatza (but let me reiterate that he has rescinded his earlier policy, and apologized!), but we cannot expect our publishers to single-handedly make us stars as we sit on our asses. Most of them are simply unable to. Let us get this through our heads. Equally, it is to be hoped that, if sales were in fact to outweigh costs, the publisher should pay the writer commensurately — this cooperative enterprise is a two-way street, and a contract that spells things out is no bad thing. After acceptance, the writer has the option of agreeing or not agreeing to what is in said contract. Just as Ortler had the option of agreeing or not agreeing to the conditions Gatza put forward after acceptance.
The question of MFA programs is kind of an ancillary issue, to my mind, but it is something that has come up elsewhere in this discussion, in blog posts and the other comments. While I strongly agree with Göransson's vision of small-press poetry publishing as a cooperative, and with his negative view of the elitist "Great Figure" and "Literary Authorities," I would have to disagree with him when he says of the latter two notions, "I do think this is an incredibly MFA-based idea of the author … I think this is a view definitely reflecting a common MFA pedagogy based on validation of the teacher, the institution." Ortler has made it a point to mention his MFA credentials (almost as special pleading?), and Gatza in one of his statements has similarly made a point (possibly in response?) of noting that "I am not a teacher or associated with any college or university" (as if there were money in that, ha!). I think that some people have a lot of misconceptions about what an MFA program is and what sort of status it confers on those who earn such a degree, and so it becomes an easy target. Certainly there are MFA programs that promulgate this sort of elitism. But MFA programs as a whole are in no way a monolith; there is in fact no "common MFA pedagogy." There are lots of different programs out there, some perhaps "based on validation of the teacher, the institution," but many others whose focus is something other, or even on, say, avant-garde poetics and destabilizing that older idea of the author as an "authority" which Göransson attacks.
If an MFA student thinks that a degree is his or her ticket to publication fame and fortune, then he or she is probably going to be sadly mistaken. In my experience (I have an MFA and have read up on many MFA programs), no program that I know of is marketing itself that way. Ultimately, the value of the degree depends on the writer him- or herself. I took my degree at North Carolina State University and studied with a number of poets, all of whom I respect immensely, but whose work bears little resemblance to my own approach to poetics. This clash was for me quite fruitful. I learned a lot about poetry as a discipline and a practice, and it challenged me to think about my own poetic stance in greater depth. I didn't want to be merely reinforced in my assumptions, nor did I want to become a carbon copy of my professors. What would be the point of either? Of course, I came into the program at age 40, having had a lot of experience in the "poetry world" myself and something of a "career" of my own already, however modest. And so I felt that I could go through the degree and get what I wanted out of it for my own reasons. In this, I am maybe an exception; there probably are 22-year-old grad students out there who can't help but be inculcated with the prevailing ethos of their program, be it positive or negative. On the other hand, how long does it take for one to learn to think critically and independently? So I say again, the value of the degree depends on the writer him- or herself.
If it is an illusion that an MFA is a fast track to publication, then what is it worth? Just as there is a glut of poets in the wider, non-academic world seeking publication, so is there now also a glut of MFA graduates who think they're the next big thing (well, some may think that), and clearly that won't be happening for all of them. But for the percipient individual, it certainly can be a forum in which one can develop one's work if not one's prospects with big publishing houses. I think MFA programs can also help to educate its students in how to read poetry and how to interpret literature in general. Poets need readers now more than ever, and so we should be glad that MFAs exists. Without them, the readership for poetry is even smaller. Part, anyway, of the problem of poetry's lack of readership can be solved by investing in arts education. As Brian Joseph Davis recently wrote in The Huffington Post, "This is what arts education does better than anything else: it protects traditions from suffering market fluctuations, challenges forms with new traditions and constructs large buildings named after dead people and equipped with ace sound systems, in which to debate and perform." The attack on arts education, firstly in America but throughout the whole world, and the promulgation of the corporate model of education, to my mind are two of the major reasons why poetry has fallen into such disregard over the last number of decades. Right now, the tide seems to be continuing in that direction, unfortunately. But if we want innovative poetry to continue to exist in the public arena, we need to oppose this.
Thursday, September 08, 2011
Regarding the recent BlazeVOX controversy
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THE ILLINOIS FORUM was established in 1989 as a statewide grassroots coalition of nonpartisan political activists. Since that time, it has become one of the largest citizen groups in the state.
The organization's chairman is the Hon. Robert Redfern, the board chairman is the Hon. Daniel Crane, and the Board of Governors consists of 19 additional individuals from various portion of Illinois including:
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Hi TigerFox.
The demo published here technically is no longer true to the final game, because we're revise all the settings (just check out our IndieDB page) and probably we'll remove it shortly.
if you wanna make a series you're free to do that, we only ask that you take this factor into account


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Mosquito Nets Provide Refugees with More Than Safety
Advocacy While no malaria prevention effort is 100-percent successful, insecticide-treated nets have proven to reduce malaria rates worldwide.
In Tanzania's Nyarugusu refugee camp, when you are one small person living among 150,000 others, it is hard to find comfort. But 11-year-old Amisa Batenga recently found some hope — in the form of a mosquito net.
From one danger to another
Amisa made the harrowing journey to Nyarugusu from the war-torn Congo with her mother and six siblings, after soldiers took her father. Though the camp is safer in many ways than the Congo, Amisa's family still faces its share of challenges, including the risk of dying from the camp's biggest killer — malaria.
Amisa has already caught malaria once, and was terribly sick before recovering. Two of her little sisters have also been very ill with high fever and chills, though they were able to get medicine and recover. Others do not fare so well, however. Children often die from malaria in Tanzania.
Prevention is possible
According to the United Nations, since 2000, nearly 1 billion insecticide-treated mosquito nets have been distributed in Sub-Saharan Africa, and by 2015, about 55 percent of the population in this region was sleeping under mosquito nets, up from less than 2 percent coverage in 2000.
"...when you are one small person living among 150,000 others, it is hard to find comfort."
In crowded Nyarugusu, however, it is easy for mosquitoes to spread malaria, and Amisa lived with the worry that they might again develop the disease like tens of thousands of others.
Recently, however, Amisa and her family were given mosquito nets and a tent of their own. She says the nets make her happy, because she knows they can keep her mother and siblings safe from malaria and, in the long run, help keep her healthy enough to reach her dream of becoming a nurse.
"Amisa's story isn't uncommon," said Rachel Henderson, communications manager for Nothing But Nets. "A child dies from malaria every two minutes. Through new technology like VR, we hope people experience Amisa's story firsthand and understand that a bed net can make all the difference for a refugee.
"Anyone can send a net and help protect someone like Amisa from malaria," adds Henderson. It is a small comfort in a difficult place, but one Amisa says she hopes all refugees will soon be able to enjoy.


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This year marks the tenth anniversary of the Artists Open Houses (AOH) Christmas Festival.
Across the first three weekends of December, art and craft lovers will be able to follow the Open Houses Christmas trail to view and buy the work of experienced professionals, college students, marginalised artists and artists with disabilities whilst enjoying the odd mince pie and glass of mulled wine.
A total of 54 houses/studios owned by artists and makers across Brighton and Hove will open their doors this year, with about 15 of the houses new to the trail.
"I feel thrilled to be part of the Open Houses event," says Alejandro Martinez, one of the new artists exhibiting this year. "Thanks to Brighton's vibrant cultural life this event can happen."
Another newcomer to the annual art trail is Steph Burnley of Bonnie and Clyde.
"This is my first open house so I am really happy to get the opportunity to showcase a large number of my prints and originals in one space in Brighton," she says.
"I am also really excited about the other artists and makers who are showing in the house with me."
Christmas cards, wreaths, calendars, handmade tree decorations, newspaper jewellery, mosaics, tapestries, ceramic sculptures and much more will be available.
"Open Houses offer a great opportunity to buy original and exceptional arts and crafts from the best local and national artists and makers," says festival director Judy Stevens.
"Visitors can chat to the artists in their homes and to browse the work whilst sampling home-made mince pies and glasses of hot mulled wine."
The idea of Open Houses originally started in 1982 when Ned Hoskins, an artist from the Fiveways, invited visitors to view his and his friends' work in the comfort of his own home.
Many other artists followed suit and eventually the Fiveways Artists Group was formed.
AOH was formed in 2004 to unite all the individual trails that started popping up across the city.
Although there are no events planned for the 10th anniversary, AOH intend to celebrate its 12th year in 2014 in keeping with the 12 days of Christmas, which is also the inspiration behind the front cover of this year's brochure – titled the Ten Lords A'Leaping.
- Various venues, weekends from Saturday, December 1, to Sunday, December 16. Visit www.aoh.org.uk for opening times of individual houses and a map of the trail