text:
Gold Dust is thrilled to announce another book deal for a Gold Dust graduate. Stephanie Scott, mentored by Louise Doughty, who's novel The Sentence will be published in 2019.
'On Louise Doughty – words simply fail me. She is the most wonderful mentor I could ever have hoped to have. She is my guiding light and has provided advice on everything: from getting to the end of a first draft, when to send the novel out to agents, public speaking and the business of writing life. She gave me the courage to take myself seriously as a writer and to write professionally. I am more grateful than I can ever say.'
W&N Publisher, Kirsty Dunseath said: 'This is a beautiful, touching love story as well as an exploration of human frailty and the tensions between family duty and personal freedom. Stephanie's writing is exquisite and this story unfurls in unexpected ways as Sumiko tries to make sense of her mother's past. We are absolutely delighted to welcome Stephanie to W&N!'
Stephanie Scott said: "I am very excited to be working with Kirsty and her team at W&N, their passion and enthusiasm for The Sentence is truly wonderful and I am so pleased that my novel has found such a perfect home."
Gold Dust is thrilled to announce another book deal for a Gold Dust graduate. Alicia Drake, mentored by Tim Pears, has sold her novel I Love You Too Much to Picador in the UK and to Little Brown in New York. We wish her many congratulations. Alicia wrote to thank us for the mentoring and described the experience:
'Tim said: "Write the novel you want to write." I remember that.
It was so powerful. Having Tim say that gave me such release. I went home and wrote pages and pages and pages. I started a new draft. ….
Tim gave me so much throughout the mentoring process. His extreme talent as a writer and experience as a mentor meant that he could reach in among all the flailing sentences and pull out the essence of my work and point me in the direction I wanted to go…….. Every time I left one of our meetings, I was freed up and inspired to write. Tim was generous, supportive and totally committed. Thank you Tim.'
We are thrilled to report another success story for one of Jill Dawson's mentees, Harriet Tyce, who is about to have her first novel Blood Orange published by Wildfire in January 2019. Harriet wrote to thank her Gold Dust mentor, saying:
'I just wanted to email to thank you for doing the UEA reference and for your mentoring with my previous book. It's all finally worked out and I've got a publisher now – Wildfire – for the book I've done with the MA. I should have emailed sooner to say thank you – it's been very overwhelming and I'm only getting my head round it a bit now.
Anyway, I really appreciate your support and it's great to have got to this point!
Harriet x'
Gold Dust and me
When I look back on my journey to novel publication choosing to embark on the Gold Dust mentoring scheme was an important milestone.
Up to that point I'd had several ideas for novels, some of which I had started but abandoned (I have drawers and boxes full of opening chapters, character profiles, passages of dialogue, roughly sketched plots). When I heard about Gold Dust I was intrigued, but wasn't sure if it was for me, as although I had a new idea and a couple of chapters written, I didn't yet have a novel to be mentored through. But then I realised that having someone to send my work-in-progress to on a regular basis for feedback was actually exactly what I needed, otherwise another year would go by and my prospective novel would remain just another collection of scribbled notes in a drawer.
So I embarked on Gold Dust with Jill Dawson as my mentor, and each month or so wrote 10,000 words and sent them to her. It was exactly what I needed, to get the words down on paper. But the experience was about much more than just deadlines and word counts. Jill was so lovely to work with – supportive and constructively critical. With her help I learned to fully develop my characters, use dialogue more effectively and work on the structure and pace of my novel. I wrote my first draft in seven months and then continued to work with Jill through the editing stage. She also gave me some excellent tips when it came to writing my synopsis and pitching my novel to agents.
The novel that I wrote in my Gold Dust year has not been published, however the experience made me realise that I could do it: I could write and edit a full-length novel. And I was able to put everything I had learned with Jill into practice again when I sat down to write another novel, The Companion, which is to be published this year by Orion.
Sarah Dunnakey
We are delighted that Guinevere Glasfurd, mentored by Louise Doughty for Gold Dust with her novel The Words in my Hand, is on the Costa Prize Debut Novelist's shortlist. We've all got our fingers crossed for her!
Sarah Dunnakey, mentored by Jill Dawson, will have her first novel published in 2017. The Companion will be published by Orion in May 2017. Although this is not the novel that she worked on with Jill Dawson, Sarah writes: 'Thank you for your faith in me during the mentoring process and helping me to learn how to develop my ideas into a structured novel. It really was an invaluable experience.' We are thrilled for Sarah and wish her many congratulations.
More congratulations are due to another Gold Dust graduate, Miranda Doyle. Taught by Jill Dawson and mentored by Kathryn Heyman, Miranda will have A book of Untruths – a family story told through a series of lies – published by Faber in February 2017. Miranda writes: 'Jill Dawson's generosity in supporting new writers led to the escalator talent development scheme. Making it onto the programme in its first year made me feel like a writer, although I was still overwhelmed by nappies, poster paint and meh. Kathryn Heyman became an incredible mentor and gave me the key to understanding story, pace, and conflict, the most fundamental ingredients to story telling that there are. It's such a relief that more than a decade on, I can reassure them both that they were not wasting their time.'
Lastly, we have much to celebrate in another Gold Dust graduate, Charlotte Mcleod. Charlotte was mentored by Louise Doughty and went on to win The Arvon Jerwood Playwright Award. She was then selected for The Criterion New Writers Programme, for The Criterion Theatre, Piccadilly. An extract from her latest play: Girl-dem was performed at The Criterion Piccadilly and she has been selected to go onto their Development Programme to develop a new play in 2017. Charlotte writes: 'All this is a result of Louise's help, advice and encouragement!' Bravo to that, and here's to many more in 2017.
January 2016
The beginning of the year saw not one but three book launches for Gold Dust graduates. Guinevere Glasfurd – mentored by Louise Doughty, Shelley Weiner and Sally Cline – launched her first novel The Words in my Hand at Heffers, Cambridge; Joyce Gould, mentored by Sally Cline, launched her book Witchfinder General in the House of Lords and Rosie Nixon (taught by Jill Dawson) will be launching her new novel The Stylist at Soho House in February. There was further good news: Louisa Carter, mentored by Jill Dawson, has her novel shortlisted for the prestigious Mslexia Novel Award. Congratulations to Louisa, who has now been approached by several agents. Gold Dust graduates continue to go from strength to strength.
October 2015
Some lovely advance praise for the soon to be published novel The Words in my Hand by Guinevere Glasfurd, who was mentored for Gold Dust by Louise Doughty. This will be published by Two Roads (an imprint of John Murray Press) on 14th January 2016.
The Words in My Hand is the reimagined true story of Helena Jans, a Dutch maid in 17th-century Amsterdam, who works for Mr Sergeant the English bookseller. When a mysterious and reclusive lodger arrives – the Monsieur – Mr Sergeant insists everything must be just so. It transpires that the Monsieur is René Descartes.
Advance Praise
'17th-century Amsterdam sparkles into life in this delightful, playful and beautifully written debut. I loved it!' Rachel Hore, bestselling author of A Week In Paris
'Guinevere Glasfurd's writing is fresh and elegant. I loved the subject and the way she brings Amsterdam in the 1600s into vivid, believable life. A lovely book' Dinah Jefferies, bestselling author of The Tea Planter's Wife
September 2015
Some terrific news this month of book deals and short-listings for our Gold Dust graduates.
Five of Jill Dawson's mentees have had good news this month. Sarah Duguid, mentored by Jill Dawson in 2010, has become a published novelist. Her novel Look at Me (previously called The Visitor) will be published by Tinder Press in 2016. Sarah says of writing the novel; 'it was a long road but I got there in the end!' Rory Dunlop, mentored by Jill in 2012, has had his novel What We (Didn't) Say accepted for publication by Twenty7 and emailed Jill to say: 'Thanks very much for all your help. I would never have got anywhere near a book deal without your guidance.' Our congratulations to both debut authors.
Another of Jill's writers, Avril Lapin, has been long-listed for the Bridport Prize for Novels. Avril writes:
'I am working on the second draft of my novel 'Searching for Elizabeth Loaming' and Jill suggested I entered it for the Bridport Prize. This would never have occurred to me. I did not think I would stand a chance, but I sent off the required first five thousand words and was delighted to be long listed. I am now almost at the end of my year of being mentored by Jill, during which I have finished my second draft and I think it will soon be time for me to take a deep breath and approach agents. I will miss my meetings will Jill. Each month I look forward to them. She is a very perceptive reader and her encouragement and support has focused my mind on my writing, raised the quality of what I write and given me the confidence to persist. I am so glad I decided to be mentored by Gold Dust.'
Yet another of Jill's 'mentees' has a prize placing. A.Y. Chao, based in Hong Kong, and using Skype mentoring, A.Y. Chao's first novel Soul-Thrall was written under the mentorship of Jill and placed second in the Urban Fantasy category of the RWA Fantasy Futuristic and Paranormal "On the Far Side"contest.
A.Y. says of her mentoring with Gold Dust: "Without Jill, I wouldn't have even thought of entering contests, let alone complete a 100K word novel. Regular Skype meetings with Jill gave me the little push I needed to get writing and her seasoned advice gave me the confidence to keep writing."
And lastly, a student Jill taught at University of East Anglia, over ten years ago, Emma Sweeney, writes to say she has a book deal. 'I wanted you to be one of the first to know. Your continuing encouragement and belief has meant so much to me during this long slog.' Emma Sweeney's novel will be published in 2016. More details soon!
Guinevere Glasfurd-Brown, mentored by Louise Doughty, is publishing her novel, The Words in My Hand. It will be published by Two Roads in January 2016 (Two Roads is an imprint of John Murray Press). Rights sold separately to Ullstein Buchverlage in a major deal, and the novel was published by them in translation on August 7th this year. Rights have since sold in the Netherlands, Spain and France, and an edition is being published in Australia and New Zealand too.
Guinevere says of her mentoring with Gold Dust: 'I remember meeting Louise for the first time — I was a bundle of nerves and felt my work had no merit. Louise read the first draft and was hugely encouraging. No first draft is perfect, I realise now and Louise gave me the confidence to carry on and has been unstinting in her support ever since.'
Joyce Gould, mentored by Sally Cline, has had her memoir of a life in politics (provisionally called Witchfinder General) accepted for publication by Backbite in January 2016. She writes: 'Sally made me realise that I was capable of writing my memoirs even when at times I wanted to give up, and as time went on I felt more confident to continue, thanks to her patience and understanding'.
Louisa Carter, mentored by Jill Dawson, has had her novel, The Table Laid Bare, shortlisted for the 2015 Yeovil Literary Prize. An earlier draft was longlisted for the Mslexia Women's Novel Award in 2013.
Louisa says of her Gold Dust mentoring: "Jill gave me the confidence I needed to keep going with my novel, as well as practical tools that massively improved my writing – cliches were flagged up, my plot tightened and my characters interrogated! Her constructive critiquing, together with regular deadlines, helped me turn a rough, unfinished story into a strong first draft. Jill was honest, encouraging and generous, both with her writing and her industry knowledge."
Spring 2015
Kirstin Zhang, mentored for Gold Dust by Romesh Gunesekera, has won the Harpers Bazaar short story competition 2015. She has also been signed to an agent at AM Heath and says of being mentored by Romesh: 'Gold Dust Mentoring is really worth its weight in gold'.
Rosie Nixon, taught by Jill Dawson on a week's course in Morrocco, has signed a two-book deal for her first novel, The Stylist to be published by (Harlequin, now part of Harper Collins).
Vanessa Nicolson, who approached Gold Dust with an early draft of her memoir which was guided by Shelley Weiner, published that memoir Have you been Good? (Granta) to much acclaim. The Guardian said of it: 'In recording her own roles as both daughter and mother, Nicolson has penned a double helix to motherhood. It accounts for the many shades of experience that shouldn't be, but so frequently are, endured in families, irrelevant of privilege.'
Alex Hourston's novel In My House (Faber) also received some excellent review coverage and was launched at Daunts Bookshop, Cheapside. Three Gold Dust mentors were there to share the celebrations: Louise Doughty, Shelley Weiner, and Alex's mentor, Jill Dawson.
Spring 2014
Gold Dust student on Lucy Cavendish Fiction Prize shortlist.
For the second year in a row, a Gold Dust writer being mentored by Jill Dawson is on the shortlist for the Lucy Cavendish Prize. Annette Gordon has been invited to an event at the Cambridge college on May 22nd to meet the judges and agents and editors who are seeking a début woman novelist.
Congratulations to Annette and all the shortlisted writers http://www.lucy-cav.cam.ac.uk/fictionprize/2014-shortlist-announced.
(Last year's Gold Dust mentee Alex Hourston, also mentored by Jill, got an agent and book deal as a result, so we have high hopes!)
Two Gold Dust graduates announce exciting book deals: Alex Hourston, mentored by Jill Dawson, writes: "Jill and I have worked together on everything I've written, from my first paragraph to the last drafts of my second novel, due to published next summer.
"Amongst many other things, she has helped me with voice, taught me how to critique my own work, and kept me straight when I threatened to lose sight of what I was trying to do!
"Put simply, she made my writing the best that it could be, and gave lots of support and advice about the process and the business along the way."
The novel is called Then, But Not Now, due to be published summer 2015 as part of a two book deal bought at auction by Faber.
Another mentee of Jill's – Alexandra Cameron – also wrote this month to let Jill know of her new book deal in her native Australia. Alex writes: "I thought I would let you know that my book, Rachael's Gift, which you helped me with is being published by Picador in Australia/ NZ this August 26th. The mentorship was a while ago now but you were immensely helpful in assisting me to get to the next stage. The book, of course, barely resembles anything you read, way back when, but the characters Camille and Wolfe have survived and the major themes are still present.
"It's been a long road and I'm sure there's another longer one ahead for the next one. But thank you all the same.'
We hope to add their book covers to our website soon!
Autumn 2013
Gold Dust Mentor – and distinguished biographer – Sally Cline has a phenomenal track record in getting her 'mentees' published and shortlisted for awards, and this year is no exception. For the fourth year running she has a mentee on the prestigious Tony Lothian Prize, theonly UK prize for an un-commissioned first time biographer or memoirist. This year the lucky shortlisted mentee is FELIX BECHTOLSHEIMER and his memoir is Cornflakes for Breakfast – a literary memoir about bullying, heroin addiction and finding salvation in the music of the American Deep South. The memoir, written in a mixture of street slang and analytic literary prose, presents an unflinching account of the brutal reality of heroin addiction and the struggle to get clean. But the dark subject matter is constantly enlivened by sharp humour and the humanity of the supporting characters.
The prize of £2000 is administered by The Biographers Club. Last year it was won by another of Sally Cline's mentees, so we have fingers crossed for Felix. The judges are Tracy Borman, Helen Fry and Andrew Lycett. The winner and the runner-up from the shortlist will be announced at the Savile Club, London, on November 20th.
July 2013: Gold Dust mentees win book deals and prizes
Antonia Honeywell, ex-student of Jill Dawson, and of two other of our mentors, has just signed a book deal with Orion for her novel The Ship. Antonia was mentored on Writers Pool, a mentoring scheme Jill set up in 2004, a fore-runner to Gold Dust, where Antonia was mentored for a year by the novelist Katharine McMahon. Antonia went on to do Faber Academy courses where she was taught by two of the Gold Dust mentors – Jill Dawson and Louise Doughty, and a 9-month Guardian Masterclass course with a third Gold Dust writer and mentor, Costa-winning novelist Andrew Miller.
Deborah Meyler, mentored by Jill Dawson (and taught first by Jill and Kathryn Heyman on an Arvon course) on her novel The Bookstore, has had the novel published by Bloomsbury. Congratulations!
Doreen Massey – mentored by Jill – has won $400 for her story She Hath Done What She Could in the Tom Howard Short Story Competition. The judges commented: "It is difficult to write convincing dialogue in various dialects but your brilliantly accomplished entry simply overwhelmed me."
('There must be a good mentor around somewhere!' Doreen said).
Gold Dust writer's work makes the airwaves
Charlotte Macleod, mentored by novelist and playwright Louise Doughty, is having another play broadcasted on Radio Four. Charlotte's second play, Dotty Rogers: My Life in Movies will be broadcast on 24th May 2013.
Charlotte says of her time with Gold Dust, being mentored by Louise: 'Louise is a professional and has demanded the same professionalism of me. When my work had finally reached a point when it was ready to show to the industry, Louise used her personal contacts to get my work read. Over the past couple of years, Louise has made our work together feel like a collaboration, an exploration, and a glorious journey in a resolute and unremitting search for honest and good writing. I feel astoundingly privileged to have had Louise in my writing life, and any success I have achieved is directly a result of working with her.'
Doreen and Alex taste publishing success
Two writers mentored by novelist Jill Dawson have found success this month. Doreen Massey has had her short story The Upside Down Trees, set in Alaska, accepted for publication in the anthology Love on the Road. Love on the Road 2013 will be an anthology of stories about love and travel. The organisers write: 'In April, we chose the 12 we plan to publish. In May, we sent them to our panel of judges, which includes writers and literary agents. By July, the judges will pick their favorite three stories, which will win cash prizes of $200 (first place), $100 (second place) and $50 (third place).'
And Alex Hourston, another mentee of Jill's, has had her novel Intersection, the story of a strange and powerful friendship between two very different women, shortlisted for the Lucy Cavendish Prize. This is a national prize to be "awarded to a remarkable, unpublished female fiction writer over the age of 21 who successfully combines literary merit with "unputdownability" in their entry." The winner of the prize is announced at the end of May.
Prizes for Jacqui
Jacqui Haskell – mentored by novelist Jill Dawson – won third prize in the 2012/13 FISH Short Story competition with a short story called 'One for hello, one for goodbye'. Also won Second prize in The New Writer's poetry competition (judge Pascale Petit) with a poem about the Japanese earthquake called Hagoromo. Jacqui also got to meet Gold Dust mentor Louise Doughty at the Telegraph short story prize giving event in February 2013 where she was one of the winners.
January 2013
Lesley Gray, mentored by Jill Dawson, publishes her first novel, The King's Jockey, published by Solis Press.
Lesley writes in the acknowledgements: 'Jill Dawson and the brilliant Gold Dust programme put me on track with my first draft' – 'thank you, I don't think I could have got this far without you.'
November, 2012
Jane Willis won the Tony Lothian Prize for a first time biographer. Well done to Jane and her mentor Sally Cline.
October 2012
For the second year in a row, distinguished biographer Sally Cline has helped a writer she mentored to reach the shortlist of the prestigious Tony Lothian prize, for first time biographers, organised by the Biographers' Club. Recent Gold Dust graduate Jane Willis's proposed biography, Marguerite, Byron and the Literary Factory, focuses on the life and writings of the scandalous and artistic Countess of Blessington, novelist, travel writer, poet and editor. Congratulations to Sally Cline and to Jane Willis and best of luck for the prize – announced on November 13th.
September 2012 update: Two Book Deal for Gold Dust Graduate
Rosie Rowell, mentored by Sally Cline, has been offered a 2 book deal for her novel Leopold. The publisher is Hot Key Books, an inprint of Bonnier Publshing. Rosie, speaking of her mentor Sal, wrote: 'Thank you again for all your energy and advice that went into our sessions and that made the book so very much better.'
Congratulations to Rosie and to Sal.
Gold Dust graduate wins competition
A Gold Dust graduate, Jacqui Haskell has won the July Telegraph Short Story club competition. Jacqui, who was mentored by Jill Dawson and taught by Jill on an Arvon course, has also had success in the Cinnamon Press anthology 'Jericho' with her story High, and was long-listed for this year's Virginia Warbey Poetry Prize and for the Fish Poetry and Flash Fiction Prizes (twice!). Plus Hampshire View Magazine has accepted two of her stories for publication early next year.
Jane's new novel garners great reviews
Jane Rusbridge, one of the first Gold Dust graduates (mentored by Kathryn Heyman) has a new novel out which is gathering great reviews: Rook, published by Bloomsbury, Summer 2012.
Competition victory for Gold Dust author
Joanna Parry-Gokce, mentored by Gold Dust mentor Jill Dawson and taught by Louise Doughty at the Faber Academy, was recently runner-up in the Luke Bitmead/ Legend Press novel competition which offers a bursary and publication by Legend Press to first-time novelists.
Gold Dust author lands top agent and book deal
Martha Lea was taught by two Gold Dust mentors, Kathryn Heyman and Jill Dawson this summer on an a residential course. She has been taken on by agent Peter Straus and already received an offer from Canongate for her novel. She writes to thank both tutors for theiir encouragement:
'Dear Kathryn and Jill,
I just wanted to thank you both again for a fantastic week at the Hurst in June this year. Most especially, I want to thank you both for all your encouraging words and helpful advice about my novel, The Specimen. As you may know, I sent my first pages to Peter at RC&W and he passed them on to Jennifer Hewson. Jennifer has been wonderful, and I have had an offer for The Specimen. Truly, this wouldn't have happened if it hadn't been for you two telling me to get it out there again. So thank you.
wishing you the best
Not one but two Gold Dust new writers up for major biography prize!
The Biographers' Club has announced the 2011 short lists for the Tony Lothian Prize and the HW Fisher Best First Biography Prize – and two of those on the five peson shortlist for the former have been mentored by our phenomenal Gold Dust mentor, the biographer and writer Sally Cline.
In alphabetical order, the two mentees shortlisted for the Tony Lothian Prize are: Elaine Cusack for Chas Chandler: The Man Who Made Hendrix and Katherine MacInnes for Snow Widows.
There are three others on the shortlist.
The judges are: Valerie Grove, journalist and biographer of Laurie Lee and John Mortimer, among others; Jane Mays, consulting literary editor at the Daily Mail; and David Waller, author of The Magnificent Mrs Tennant.
The winner will be announced at the Prize Dinner on 25 October, 6.30pm at the Oriental Club, Stratford Place, London W1C 1ES. Sally Cline and Jill Dawson will both attend in order to wish our mentees their warmest congratulations and good luck.
Gold Dust author shortlisted for prize
Charlotte Macleod, mentored by Louise Doughty has been short-listed for The 2010 Westminster Prize at the Soho Theatre for her play Falling. She also won a place on the The Jerwood/Arvon Scheme 2011. She has been commissioned by David Hunter at Radio 4, for her afternoon play: The Womb-Whisperer. To be broadcast 2012 Her first short play, Wasted, was performed in Coventry in June 2011.
Publishing success for Gold Dust author
Ed Siegle, mentored by Kathryn Heyman, has just had his first novel Invisibles published by Myriad Editions.
Says Ed, "Kathryn undertook to mentor me through the first 25,000 words of Invisibles, and her input into the early stages of the novel was invaluable to its development. Her intuition for character and guidance regarding structure helped to give Invisibles a solid foundation on which to build the rest of the novel – and at the same time her enthusiasm and sensitive feedback gave me great confidence in my growing voice. Kathryn went far beyond the initial remit, retaining an interest in the novel's development right to the end and was always available as a sounding board or to lend a critical eye. All in all, Kathryn's encouragement and sharp creative insight were vital to the shaping of my debut novel, and it was a great pleasure and privilege to be under her wing.'
Soon to be publishing her second novelTwitcher, Cherise Saywell is fulsome in her praise of Gold Dust mentor Lesley Glaister: 'When I applied to Gold Dust I had written a novel and was struggling to find an agent,' says Cherise. 'I didn't know if my novel was any good, or if I should just put it away and start another. I was accepted in October 2009 and I found an agent in Australia at around the same time so I decided to leave the first novel alone and use the mentorship to progress with a second.
'I liked Lesley Glaister as soon as I met her and it's been wonderful having someone so experienced to work with. My novel was at a very early stage when I began the mentorship, and I've been stuck several times already – I really struggle with first drafts. But Lesley's brilliant, always ready with suggestions and reassurance. I usually sense when something's working, but when things go wrong can take me ages to recognise why. Lesley will tell me when she can't 'see' a character I'm working on, or if the voice isn't right. But crucially, she also has an instinct for when to simply leave it to me – the novel is still very much mine and there are some things I need to figure out through trial and error.
'In April I signed a two book deal with Random House Australia. My first novel,Desert Fish, was published early in 2011 in their Vintage imprint, and Twitcher will be my second book.
'I felt completely stuck when I applied to Gold Dust and it was a real step forward. Getting a publishing deal has been brilliant, but it's a beginning, not an arrival, and I'm finding Lesley's guidance and support invaluable. Gold Dust is for people who take their writing seriously. It's been a brilliant investment for me, worth every penny.'
Award for Gold Dust author
Bronx-born Pamela Vincent (who divides her time between London and Hove in Sussex) mentored by Gold Dust founder Jill Dawson, has won a Brit Writers Award for her novel Swamps and Marshes, it was recently announced at a glitzy O2 ceremony. Warm congratulations to Pamela from everyone at Gold Dust!
Gold Dust author lands publishing deal
Writer Jane Rusbridge is to publish her first novel, following her experience of Gold Dust mentoring by Kathryn Heyman.
Jane Rusbridge's novel The Devil's Music will be published in July by Bloomsbury. Fans of Sadie Jones will delight in Jane's haunting and lyrical debut about love, betrayal and family secrets. In the acknowledgments Jane thanks her Gold Dust mentor novelist Kathryn Heyman 'who, with her gift for language and trademark energy and humour, has been such an inspirational mentor and friend.'
Jane applied for a Gold Dust award after meeting Jill Dawson who was the tutor on Jane's Arvon course.
Here is Jane's response to the mentoring, written a few months before her publishing deal:
'I found this mentorship invaluable. When I first met Kathryn last May, I had been working on my novel on and off for three years, struggling to make the transition from short stories. I was wallowing around in almost 70,000 words which were not really going anywhere and I'd given myself one last year to sink or swim. Kathryn and I made a plan, set deadlines to keep up the impetus and – with wonderful brio and humour – she encouraged me to be brave, to put aside sentence by sentence fiddling until I had tackled the larger structure of my novel. The focus on plot and structure was just what I needed and, with her consistent support and guidance over the months, I grew confident enough to cut away great chunks and rearrange others, and to keep pushing on. Kathryn is a stimulating and inspirational teacher. At each stage, with clear thinking, infectious energy and enthusiasm, she provided detailed verbal and written constructive criticism, mixed with praise, and she was particularly skilful at prompting me to ask myself questions, about each character and their role in the narrative, about tension and the ordering of scenes. It was exactly what I needed. Kathryn's guidance helped me to 'discover' what my novel was actually about. Well within my target year, the novel was out there in the real world, with an agent.'


text:
Make plenty to hand out to all of your acquaintances old and new. They will be greatly appreciated and a memorabilia of the occasion.
The tiny label on this design can be adorned with any celebratory message or saying. Don't place the year on the piece and then it can be used for future celebrations.
Glassline paints can be used before fusing to write on the piece. Be sure to allow the paint to dry completely before fusing. Once dry any undesired paint can be removed with a toothpick or other pointed object.
Pebeo Vitrea paints could be used after firing if preferred. These paints are cured and fired inside a conventional oven.
1. Draw and cut the stencil.
2. Lay down the pieces on the fitting color glass and trace about the pattern with a permanent marker. Liberally cover up the drawing with beeswax or Chap Stick.
3. A glass saw is needed to cut the design. Make a point of cutting on the line to keep the shape and all the small particulars.
4. Wash with dish soap and bathe in clean water or use glass cleaner to get rid of all drawings and residue. Dry the pieces.
5. Put together the parts on a primed kiln ledge and pose the shelf inside the kiln. Always hold the glass by the perimeter to avoid fingerprints.
6. Close the top or door. Activate the oven.
7. View the fused piece at roughly 1325 degrees Fahrenheit. When peeking at your fused glass wear glasses with IR and UV protection.
8. As soon as the glass has your required look, shut down and unplug the oven. If the kiln is fabricated with thick fire bricks, you can allow it to cool off by itself. If however it is made with ceramic fiber, the oven must be kept on and checked so that it doesn't cool down any more than in the region of about 300 degrees Fahrenheit an hour.
9. Once the pyrometer falls lower than 100 degrees Fahrenheit, the oven can be opened.
10. Once the glass has cooled to room temperature, add a brooch back to turn the Champagne bottle into a pin. Hold on the brooch back with a two part epoxy.
Champagne Bottle Pattern
Return from this page to one of the following pages:
Champaigne Page
New Years Day
Seasonal Pins
Fusing Projects
Champagne Bottle to Glass Fusing Made Easy
Fused Glass Patterns

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Tales from a Mountain City is a blend of history and memoir told by a young Vietnamese girl growing up during the last years of the war and the communist regime. This is a poignant account of the innocence of a child, the innocence of a people, shattered again and again by the cruel tides of power and dogma, clinging tenaciously to their traditions, their home provinces, their hometowns, until the sheer pervasiveness of a communist value system drives them to suicide or exile. Indirectly, this story raises many questions on nationalism and qualities of power, freedom and independence, human rights and human nature.
"Quynh Dao's book is part history, part autobiography. She has written an extraordinary account of a family utterly destroyed by Marxist-Leninist ideology over a period of 30 years. And yet, her will to survive was indomitable. This is not just the story of one family; it is the story of a nation." – News Weekly
"In the midst of turmoil, Quynh Dao discovers an impressive resilience. After escaping from Vietnam to Malaysia, Quynh Dao arrived in Australia as a refugee just over three decades ago. Tales from a Mountain City is a perceptive and sensitive account of a life in South Vietnam in the 1970s." – The Sydney Institute Quarterly
"Surprisingly, the author imbues this gruelling tale with lightness and charm appropriate to the naivety of a child. This is an effective device that cloaks the reader in the same ignorance and innocence and, as in The Diaries of Anne Frank, finds a path through the terrible histories shielded from the absolute atrocity that is war." – Driftwood
"Readers of this book will gain more understanding about the plight of refugees and asylum seekers." – The Right Honourable Malcolm Fraser
"A notable contribution to the body of literature on this particular period of Vietnam – a good source for overseasborn generations of Vietnamese background to understand one of the biggest exoduses of asylum seekers in the late 20th Century." – Tuong Quang Luu, AO
Category: Memoir
Trade paperback: 292 / 286 pages
Publication Date: 11 November 2012
RRP: AU $22.95 (pbk) | AU $32.95 (hbk) | $7.99 (ebook)


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NFL fans will see history made this season, and it has nothing to do with what goes on between the goalposts. The Los Angeles Rams and the New Orleans Saints will have male cheerleaders dancing on their squads for the first time. Dancers Quinton Peron and Napoleon Jinnies have been preparing for the NFL season since they made the Rams cheerleading squad in March. "Still can't believe I'm one of the first males in history to be a pro NFL cheerleader!" Jinnies tweeted after being selected. Other teams, like the Indianapolis Colts and the Baltimore Ravens, have stuntmen, USA Today reported, but Peron and Jinnies will be dancing alongside their female teammates and doing the same moves.
I think I'm gonna vomit.. Just more of the NFL shoving their liberal, politically correct agenda down the throats of middle America which is the overwhelming demographic that watches NFL games. And they wonder why their ratings have tanked the last 2 years since all of the kneeling nonsense..which is apparently still not resolved. This is just more of the same. For more of this eye-rolling story, click on the text above.


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Why buy life insurance?
Topping the list of reasons to buy life insurance is the financial protection life insurance offers. If you're single and just starting out, you may not need life insurance. But as you take on more responsibilities and your family grows, your need for life insurance increases. The proceeds from a life insurance policy can replace the income lost to your family upon your death. You might also want to buy life insurance to pay off debts and expenses, leave money to charity, and cover final and estate expenses.
Choose term or cash value
There are two basic types of life insurance: term life insurance, which provides life insurance coverage for a specified period of time (the term), and cash value (permanent) life insurance, which combines a death benefit with a cash value component. Cash value insurance offers lifetime protection, while term insurance may be the most affordable option if you're buying life insurance mainly for the financial protection it offers, and your need for life insurance is temporary (until your children leave the nest, for instance). Some term policies (called "convertible") will permit you to exchange the term life insurance policy for a permanent one at some point.
Decide how much coverage you'll need
The amount of life insurance protection you should buy depends on how much income your survivors will need, how much you own and owe, and the amount of other life insurance available to you. If you're married, both you and your spouse should consider buying life insurance. One of the easiest ways to estimate how much life insurance protection you should buy is to use a life insurance needs calculator.
Pick a number between 1 and 30
Term life insurance is usually offered for periods ranging from 1 to 30 years. Consider choosing a term that matches your need for life insurance protection. For instance, if your main reason for buying life insurance is to protect your 7-year-old twins until they're out of college, you'll want to buy a policy with a term of at least 15 years.
How much will it cost?
How much you pay for life insurance will depend on a number of risk factors, including your age, your health, whether you use tobacco, your family health history, and the type and amount of life insurance you're buying. Keep in mind that the premium you're quoted initially will increase later. For instance, when you buy term life insurance, rates are guaranteed only until the end of the term (annually for annual renewable term or at the end of a specified number of years for level term). While most life insurance policies can be renewed at the end of the term, you'll pay a higher premium for coverage.
Shop around
When comparing quotes for life insurance, make sure that the insurance coverage you're comparing is similar. And remember, any policy that you buy is only as good as the company that issues it. Find out what rating the company has received from major ratings services, such as A. M. Best or Standard & Poor's. These companies evaluate an insurer's financial condition and claims-paying ability. The company giving you a quote should provide you with this information. You can also contact your state's department of insurance to find out more about an insurer's record.
Submit an application
Once you're ready to purchase a life insurance policy, you'll fill out a life insurance application that contains questions about your current and past health history and lifestyle. You'll generally be required to take a medical exam, arranged and paid for by the insurance company. The answers you give on your application, along with the results from the medical exam and your past health history, will help the insurance company determine whether to offer you a policy, and if so, at what price.
Learn the lingo
Maybe a life insurance contract isn't as exciting as a best-selling novel, but read it anyway. Policy provisions, the amount of benefits, the premium, and other charges you'll pay will be listed along with other important information such as the beneficiaries you've named and the premium guarantee period. Make sure you understand everything in the policy. Under the laws of your state, you may have a "free look" period (typically at least 10 days) during which time you can cancel the policy without penalty.


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Golden tickets will be placed throughout Warwick as part of the arrival of the Fun Colour Rush.
The hunt started on Monday (September 5) and will last for three weeks, with clues to their locations being posted on the group's Facebook page on a weekly basis.
If you find a ticket, you will see instructions and a discount code to get an adult or child ticket for the event on September 25.
The Rush involves people of all ages running and walking their way around 5km of colour blasts at St Nicholas Park, and all to support the Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance.
Organisers said the golden ticket idea is in memory of the actor Gene Wilder, who died on August 29.
Registration will be open from 9.15am on the day of the event and the first waves set off at 11am.
The latest information, and clues for the golden tickets, can be found on the Warwick Fun Colour Rush's Facebook page.
NOTE: The information in this story is slightly different to the article in the paper. The company originally hoped to run the ticket competition as a daily challenge but then changed it to a weekly one after we went to press.


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LHOP (Lewis Hall of Pancakes) is a fall event that benefits the Indiana Food Bank. People come from all around campus from 9:30pm to 1am to enjoy a different breakfast food on each floor of Lewis! It's all you can eat on every floor for just $5. This is a great way to bring all your friends to Lewis (or just an excuse to show them them where exactly Lewis is) for a night of food and fun!
Chicks for Charity
A new signature event in Lewis, Chicks for Charity is held in LaFortune just before Easter. Lewis chicks host the event by organizing supplies, setting up, recruiting people to participate, and cleaning up. We and our fellow classmates make Easter baskets and write cards to be delivered to the children and mothers that frequent St. Margaret's House, a day center that provides safety, life skills, and other aid to women and children in need.
Crush Week
During the spring, chicks participate in their annual Crush Week! It's a week of fun, tropical-themed activities ending with our SYR - our Crush Dance! Dates are invited by Lewis chicks serenading them in their dorms with reworded lyrics (think "Lewis Crush Dance" to the tune of the Spongebob Squarepants theme song) and are given a can of Crush soda and an invitation to the Lew-Au that is held the Thursday before the dance. In the week leading up to the dance, each section decorates their hallway in some creative theme they've come up with and participate in various activities to win points for their section.


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Wondering where i picked this picture from? It was a feature wall in Patricia's previous home. I was hoping to write about hand painted feature walls but then decided to dedicate a post to this fabulous wall art
sneek peek via a mirror on the opposite wall...
Colours used
All done...Beautiful feathers!
The Elegant peacock..wow!


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Vintage Floor Lamps Australia
coffee table Round coffee table, top mirror, brass statuettes feet diameter 80 cm height + / - 50cm
Statue funeral brass statue brass female figure laying a rose. Solid brass. No shortage. Bought 875 euros to 600 euros left
Lamp oil lamp & Bernard Lempereur old lamppost electrified oil, "Patented LB 1883", H: 1.80 m, finely crafted, brass, marble base, Belgian manufacturing. Coin collection
Black bag disdain VINTAGE handbag size: + / - 18 cm/20 cm, strap length: + / - 38 cm, small and CHIC retro look with its brass clasp copper, black interior lining impeccable.
SANTONS of PROVENCE collection of 18 figures of Provence OLD, and 3 statuettes Fisherman Middelkerke 1920s MAKE OFFER
PORCELAIN STATUES Several dancers and porcelain statuettes, 1 large (+ - 23 cm) from the 1920s very good condition. MAKE OFFER, tel evening
Old pin Limoges. Handpainted. Oval about 5.5 x4, 5cm.Représentant twisted galante.Monture scene with golden brass secure closure ..
Drapes (4) ready to install with brown and beige satin and wrinkle patterns (1m40 larg/1.20m length) - 2 rods dark wood and brass clips assorted +
Bedside table glass and brass. Excellent condition. 49L/45l/45 25 H. Due to its design can be put in another room
Used to make them in college for extra money
Lamp shades are pretty easy if you have a little handy and crafty. I used to live in a building in college that the bottom floor was a dry cleaner and the old lady that owned it used to give me wire hangers.
You want to use the lighter weight ones for shirts. Use wire cutters to cut the wire. check your dimensions first. You start with the top/bottom circle or square-whatever shape you are using-then add the "arms" to the top and bottom. I mostly used a soldering iron. But I have made ones that are tied with twine or jute too. You can get an iron pretty inexpensively at most craft stores or a stained glass or hardware store
You might also like:
HomeThangs.com Has Introduced a Guide to Using Colorful Lighting Fixtures to .. — Watch List News
Arc lamps, too, make quite a good showing in a modern space. Taller, thinner, and more shapely than a traditional floor lamp, arc lamps curve outward, placing the lighting fixture front and center in the room even if the base is pushed off into a corner.
Related posts:


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Gustavus Small Wind Turbine Installation
Funded by the National Science Foundation
45 foot tall monopole tower
Foundation plan and instructions
Link to graph of most recent day's production
(this is in beta and may load slowly and probably won't work on Chrome)
Installation photo journal
Thanks to Bruce Budin and Bob Hahn from Physical Plant for leading a quality installation effort.
Thanks to Ken Kocmik from the City of St. Peter for work on the interconnection.
1 Nov. 2011
To build up one must first dig down
Concrete forms
2 Nov. 2011
Forms, turbine mount and reinforcement in place
Pouring the foundation
3 Nov. 2011
Turbine installation
13 Dec. 2011
The gin pole for pulling it up
24 Jan. 2012
"...while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters." Genesis 1:2
The few, the proud, and cold...


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Saturday 7th October was an amazing day.
As is traditional, I delivered the fourth best speech of the day. Here's (approximately) what I said.
Marriages, like births, signal new beginnings.
When Emily was born, one of my most vivid memories (apart from being useless in the delivery room) was collecting her and Jane from the hospital, driving them home, and wondering how good at parenting we were going to be. It felt a little overwhelming.
As it turned out, I didn't need to worry too much, because despite my many shortcomings as a parent, Emily and I were both fortunate to have Jane in charge.
Today is another new beginning. I hope that Emily and Ben aren't feeling too overwhelmed by it all!
I'm proud to call Emily my daughter. She has many, many excellent qualities.
One of these is her geekiness. Her love of science fiction, her Tardis themed 21st birthday cake and of all things Buffy for example. Her plays "wot she wrote" about being marooned in space, the perils of social media and her latest play, coming to a theatre near you soon, about the computing pioneer Ada Lovelace.
And even, yes even, Pokemon. (sigh) She shares this "interest" with Ben of course. I trust that this is a good thing? I still remember taking Emily and her sister to watch "Pokemon the Movie" at the cinema some years ago. It's a morning of my life that I'll *never* get back.
But I think the quality that stands out for me most is her determination. It was evident at an early age – her catchphrase as a small child was, of course, "My do it!"
This determination stayed with her throughout school, university and continues to serve her well today. Emily is not afraid to challenge the status quo and call things out when they're wrong or an injustice is being committed. I hope that she continues to do this – it's an incredible strength.
And what can I say about Ben?
Well, it's been a genuine privilege to get to know him. Especially over this summer, when he lodged with us for a couple of months – while he was claiming to be a time-travelling gardener at Chatsworth House, no less. I understand that he was able to offer some good advice to the Duke and Duchess, even if the location of our lawnmower remained a permanent mystery to him throughout his stay.
Seriously though, it was good to have you staying with us and both Jane and I know that you and Emily will continue to make a great team together. We'll both be there to offer our love and support along the way.
Thank you all for coming to take part in this special day.
I'd like to especially thank everyone who has helped to make this day possible and for your individual contributions of time and resources. It's been great to meet your family and friends, Ben, as well as catching up with ours. It genuinely means a lot to Jane and me to see everyone here.
I have one duty left to perform. If you could all please stand for the toast …
Emily and Ben, I wish you both health and happiness for the future.
My toast is "To the Bride and Groom".


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PARIS (Reuters) - Thousands of gay marriage opponents waving pink and blue flags marched through Paris on Sunday in a last-ditch protest before a law allowing same-sex union and adoption is passed next week.
Chanting "We don't want your law, Hollande!", some 50,000 protesters massed behind a banner reading: "All born of a Mum and a Dad" and said it was undemocratic to bring about such a fundamental social change without holding a referendum.
Hastily organized after the law's passage was sped up to circumvent a big rally set for late April, Sunday's march capped months of protests by a dogged opposition movement that has sullied President Francois Hollande's flagship social reform.
"We warned the president back in November that we would not give up and that we would do everything to stop this law being passed, or to get it repealed if it is adopted," one of the protest organizers, Alberic Dumon, told Reuters.
Attended largely by families with children and old people, it was much more peaceful than a series of agitated demonstrations outside parliament this month that saw hard-right youths pelt police with stones and bottles and damage cars.
The piggy-backing by hard-right youths of a movement led by conservatives and Catholics has fed other ugly scenes including the public stalking of government ministers and a spate of homophobic attacks around the country.
As far back as January, the "anti" movement came under fire when some 350,000 protesters massed under the Eiffel Tower tore up the lawns beneath the monument.
Hollande, who is grappling with the lowest popularity ratings of any recent French president as unemployment surges above 10 percent, hoped to win some glory from passing a reform already in place in a dozen other countries.
Paris Mayor Bertrand Delanoe, one of very few French public officials who is openly gay, headed a rival march in favor of same-sex marriage and said that it was too late for anything to derail the law, set for a final parliament vote on Tuesday.
Additional reporting by Yves Clarisse; Writing by Catherine Bremer; Editing by Stephen Powell


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About Us
Madison's #1 Source for Auto RepairFamily-owned and operated for over 40 years
Often we're asked, "Is there really a Don?" And the answer is yes. Don is our father and he started this business in downtown Madison back in 1969.
Don grew up around cars working at his father's auto dealership in Cross Plains, Wisconsin. After marrying his high school sweetheart in 1952, Don began a career of self-employment by owning and operating a series of Texaco and Standard Oil gas stations in Middleton and Madison.
In 1969, Don opened Don the Muffler Man in downtown Madison, which became a "Madison institution" known for exhaust repairs. The business grew to provide full-service auto repair with 10 bays within a few years. In 1986, Don built a second shop on the west side of Madison that included 18 service bays.
In 1999 after 30 years, Don sold the business to us, his three sons and we work hard to carry on the tradition of good honest work at fair prices. In 2007, we felt it was necessary to change our name to Don the Car Care Man to make it clear to everyone that we do all car maintenance and repairs.
Don still lives in the Madison area with his beautiful wife of 57 years. Together they enjoy spending time with their five children and 13 grandchildren.
The three of us also live in the Madison area with our families. We work at the car care shops daily and carry on what Don started decades ago. We ensure quality, dependable service, and we're committed to treating our customers right – just like Dad taught us.
Gary, Dave and Bill


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Our community
Bordering New South Wales to the north and the Victorian Alps in the south and east, the Ovens Murray Area spans seven local government areas:
- Alpine Shire Council
- Benalla Rural City Council
- Indigo Shire Council
- Mansfield Shire Council
- Towong Shire Council
- Wangaratta Rural City Council
- Wodonga City Council.
It has a thriving economy and features high quality food and wine production, heritage towns, regional tourism assets and iconic tracks and trails. Wodonga, Wangaratta and Benalla are also strong manufacturing centres. But there are also pockets of socioeconomic disadvantage throughout the area.
The Ovens Murray Area is home to about 120,000 people with an average household size of 2.4 people (2011). The annual population increase in the Ovens Murray Area from 2004-2014 was 0.5%, well below the state average of 1.7%. The projected annual population growth for 2014-2024 is 0.9% with a projected population for 2024 of 131,148.
Almost one third (30.9%) of people in the area are aged between 0-24 years and about one in five (19.0%) people are aged 0-14 years. The area has over 17,500 families with 67% of families including children aged 15 years and younger. About 9.5% of families with children have a low income compared to the state average of 8.7%.
The percentage of people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander origin is among the highest in Victoria, with 1.5 % of the total population being of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander origin, compared to the state average of 0.9%. The Aboriginal child population of about 800 makes up approximately 2.7 % of the total Ovens Murray child population.
Volunteering rates in Ovens Murray are high with 27.8% of people giving up their spare time to help out others.
The vast majority of children in Ovens Murray Area are healthy and well (98.1%).[i] A child's health in their early years has a positive influence on how they develop, grow and learn. In Ovens Murray Area 72.3% of children attend their 3.5 year old maternal and child health check, compared to the state average of 66.1% - participation is highest in Towong LGA (91.8%) and lowest in Mansfield LGA (59.9%). Nine out of ten children (90.5%) are fully immunised by 27 months of age.
The Ovens Murray Area provides a safe environment for most children with 97.6% of parents with children aged under 13 years of age saying their neighbourhood is safe.1 However, family violence is a serious problem in the Ovens Murray Area. It has one of the highest rates of family violence in the state (in 2013/2014 the rate was 15.9 incidents per 1000 population). Family violence rates are significantly above the state average in Benalla, Wangaratta and Wodonga. In 2013, parents in the Ovens-Murray reported 5.5% of children had witnessed violence.
Access to early learning plays a crucial role in getting kids ready for primary school. In Ovens Murray Area about three out of four children have an adult in their life who reads to them every day. In 2015, 93.3% of eligible children in the area participated in kindergarten below the state average of 97.9%.
Children's developmental vulnerability when they start school is a challenge in the Ovens Murray Area, with 10.5% of children developmentally vulnerable on two or more domains at school entry and about one in 20 children start school with emotional or behavioural problems.
In 2014, 80.8% of people 19 years or older had completed Year 12 in the Ovens Murray Area, well below the state average of 88.2%. Most students in grade 5 and 6 (82.3%) report feeling connected to their school and 57.7% students in year 7 to 9 say they feel connected to school – this is higher than the state average of 62.3%.
Data sources include:
Australian Bureau of Statistics
Victorian Child and Adolescent Monitoring System
Australian Early Development Census
1Victorian Child Health and Wellbeing Survey: Number of children aged 0 to 13 years of age who are reported to have 'good', 'very good' or 'excellent' health.


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Human Age - Manpower Belgium
Multimedia distribution platform to showcase Manpower's Human Age multimedia content to clients and stakeholders.
Manpower is a network with over 60 years of HR experience, 4.500 offices and 33.000 employees in 80 countries. It is a temporary workers agency to help candidates and companies gain the best from the continually changing world of work through professional advice and a broad range of HR solutions. Manpower has operated in Belgium since 1972 and is now among the top 5 in its sector.
The challenge
Manpower Belgium and its agency Belga required a web partner to help reach a wider audience with its video, photos, documents and webzines by using the latest WebTV technology.
The solution
Through a deep analysis and understanding of Manpower's requirements, Eyecone provided a solution including the design, development and integration of a seamless and intuitive multimedia distribution platform. Powered by Blastmedia Manager CMS & technology, this dedicated portal hosts and shares all Manpower's multimedia content in one simple place on the web.
The result
Up and running after only two months, the multimedia platform targets companies, stakeholders as well as citizens and is directly accessible to all worldwide. Eyecone will also be providing regular updates and new features over the coming months.
Manpower Belgium
Release date:
28 June 2011
- CMS Blastmedia Manager
- JavaScript
- Flash/H264
Website / link
Similar projects:
- Microsoft Europe Pressroom
- SeeTV video delivery platform


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10 YouTube gardening hacks anyone can do
YouTube has an endless array of gardening hacks, how-tos, tips, and tricks. The problem is, however, that there are countless videos of babies eating lemons and kittens cuddling; and before you know it you will be watching your 17th video of the dog that's upset because his owner gave the bacon to the cat or tired moms performing Frozen parodies. Wait…have you seen the one about the friendly Alsatian dressed up as a spider? It scares people because the spider keeps chasing them since the dog just wants to cuddle. See what I mean?
Anyway, we at HomeTimes spent some time on YouTube, avoiding all the pitfalls of hilarity or ridiculous cuteness, and collected 10 of the best gardening videos you just have to see.
#1 Totally epic gardening hacks for every green thumb
Did you now that sprinkling some baking soda around your tomatoes will make them sweeter? Or that coffee grounds and egg shells provide extra nutrients to your plants while keeping unwanted insects at bay? This video also shows you what herbs and veggies you can grow from leftover store-bought cut-offs and has some great ideas for recycling and repurposing.
#2 How to grow a lot of food in a small garden
This video shares nine tips for making the most of your garden space. It has some great tricks for achieving the best walking versus growing space and on how to rotate your crop effectively. Probably the most exciting tips are those that deal with vertical gardening and growing in pots – you can have a vegetable garden even on a balcony!
#3 How to plant a culinary herb garden! DIY Kitchen Garden
From what herbs to include in your garden to the varieties to look for when buying seedlings. This video shows you how to plant the perfect potted herb garden to delight in the kitchen. You will never have to buy herbs again.
#4 How to build a vertical herb planter
If space is a concern you might like a vertical herb planter more than the potted herb garden shown in the previous video. This video shows you how to build a practical, nice-to-look-at herb planter in one morning. View more detailed instructions here.
#5 How to build an urban hoop garden
This great little video shows you how to construct your own greenhouse or hoop garden, making year-round gardening possible. Leafy greens such as lettuce do especially well in these gardens during the colder months.
#6 Cheap DIY greenhouse irrigation
Really simple, affordable DIY irrigation system for your greenhouse. All you need are some PVC pipes and fittings, a drill, and funnels, and you're good to go.
#7 How to start a flower garden
Whether you want to add to your existing garden, or start landscaping in an area that has no flower beds, this video details the tools you'll need as well as the easy how-to, leaving you with a flower bed that will attract admiration and liven up any outside space.
#8 Tiny Williamsburg hipster garden
This Urban Gardener vlog episode shows a beautiful, yet functional tiny rooftop garden. Every aspect of the garden serves both a practical function as well as creating beauty and peace for the owner. The rooftop was an area that was previously unused by the owners due to it being too hot and under the prying eyes of nosy neighbours. A planter wall creates privacy while vertical vines turn the hot rooftop into an oasis. These are all tips that can easily be applied to any small space.
#9 Gardening help: How to create a potted succulent garden
You can learn how to create the world in a pot. In this video we see how to create a beautiful, succulent garden with plants from different regions of the world, giving you enjoyment for years. Did you know that succulents do best in wide, low pots mimicking rock crevices? No? All the more reason you need to watch this before starting your garden.
#10 Cute miniature fairy garden – tutorial
Who doesn't want to believe in fairies? Invite some magic into your home by creating this beautiful miniature fairy garden. This is a labour of love: You will need some level of skill with modelling clay, or at least be willing to learn. The good thing is that this fun project really is open to your interpretation – go wild! Why not go big and move your fairy garden outside, but create an entire fairy town? So much wonderment in one garden!


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First Johnny Marr, former guitar whiz for the Smiths, and now Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic: Modest Mouse certainly have a knack for recruiting rock legends to play on their albums.
In a recent interview with Spotify to promote the 20th anniversary reissue of Nirvana's In Utero, Novoselic said he joined the fellow Seattle-bred band for one track on their next LP.
"I did a song with Modest Mouse earlier this year for their new record," the bassist said. "It's pretty edgy. I've got my big Gibson bass and a Rat distortion pedal busting out this bass riff."
Novoselic is certainly no stranger to collabos; he's worked with Foo Fighters, Paul McCartney, R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck, Sleater-Kinney/Wild Flag frontwoman Corin Tucker, go-to industrial rocker Bill Rieflin, and The Young Fresh Fellows/The Minus 5 rocker Scott McCaughey in recent years.
And Novoselic isn't the only guest on Modest Mouse's upcoming release, the much-anticipated follow up to 2007's proper studio effort We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank and 2009's singles comp No One's First and You're Next. The band, which canned their European tour this past summer to continue laboring on the effort, teamed with Big Boi and his partner Chris Carmouche, the man behind OutKast's masterwork Speakerboxxx/The Love Below.
While recording in Boi's Stankonia Studio in Atlanta, the indie vets even taught the fellow marijuana-lover the fine art of smoking with fruit.
"I learned how to make an apple into a bong from one of the guys in [Modest Mouse]," Boi told SPIN. "Me and my partner Chris were working on some songs with Modest Mouse for their new record. We brought them out to the studio for a whole week — Isaac and the boys came down to Stankonia for a week. To live day in day out with somebody, it's so cool. Going to get dinner, going to get breakfast. The conversations and little side stories are the things that really pull the music together."
"Sweet Cheebah," Boi added. "I love it."
Apparently MM's upcoming LP will be stoner-friendly, and the tracks the band debuted during a short pre-Coachella tour suggest as much. Check out footage of frontman Isaac Brock and Co. performing newbies "Be Brave," "Sh-t in Your Cut," and "Sugar Boats" live below.
Oh, and ICYMI, Brock revived his Ugly Casanova solo project to record a few tracks for 180 South, a documentary about Patagonia (it's really good, so watch on NetFlix ASAP). Check out Brock's acoustic performance of "Here's to Now" at the Portland, OR, premiere of the film.


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The 2012 M/M Romance Challenge total: 50 books (three books in June)
The The 2012 Support Your Local Library Challenge total: 4 books
A list of all the books I've read to date (from 01 January 2010) can be found at GoodReads.
Favourite books in June? Well, I only read one series...and loved all three books, so June was definitely the Falls Chance Rance month:
* Falls Chance Ranch (Rolf & Ranger)
* Three Traders (Rolf & Ranger)
* Mustang Hill (Rolf & Ranger) [What can I say? I'm still on a domestic discipline genre glom]
Currently reading:
* Evenfall (Sonny Nothing)
And the books I'm most looking forward to reading in July...TBC? I'm drawing a complete blank and instead hanging out for August and the (re-)release of:
I'm not going to ask you what you read in June, because, like me, you probably can't remember (which is why I'm grateful for GoodReads!). So, what did you just finish reading?


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L058 Mark Jefferson Science Complex
B.S., University of Nebraska, 1997
Ph.D., University of Michigan, 2003
Organic and Medicinal Chemistry; Fermentation Science
My research interests involve the isolation, design, and synthesis of small molecule inhibitors of biological systems. My lab currently focuses on the development of inhibitors of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), a human protein implicated in thrombosis, atherosclerosis, and myocardial infarction. This project is in collaboration with Dan Lawrence's group at the University of Michigan Medical School, and together we have successfully identified and investigated multiple novel scaffolds that have proven to be potent and specific inhibitors of PAI-1. Some of these inhibitors are related to naturally occurring polyphenolic compounds, such as those found in green tea. Currently we are working to develop analogs of these compounds that show improved characteristics in vitro.
Reinke, A. A.; Li, S.; Warnock, M.; Shaydakov, M. E.; Guntaka, N. S.; Su
, E. J.; Diaz, J. A.; Emal, C. D.; Lawrence, D. A. "Dual-reporter high-throughput screen for small-molecule in vivo inhibitors of plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 yields a clinical lead candidate."
Journal of Biological Chemistry, 2018, in press. [link to article]
Li, S.-H.; Reinke, A. A.; Sanders, K. L.; Emal, C. D.; Whisstock, J. C.; Stuckey, J. A.; Lawrence, D.A. "Mechanistic characterization and crystal structure of a novel small molecule inactivator bound to plasminogen activator inhibitor-1." Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 2013, 110, E4941-E4949. [ link to article ]
Cale, J. M.; Li, S.-H.; Warnock, M.; Su, E. J.; North, P. R.; Sanders, K. L.; Puscau, M. M.; Emal, C. D.; Lawrence, D. A. "Characterization of a novel class of polyphenolic inhibitors of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1" Journal of Biological Chemistry, 2010, 285, 7892-7902. [ pdf ]
American Chemical Society
American Society of Brewing Chemists
Master Brewers Association of the Americas
Organic Chemistry (Chem 371-373)
Advanced Organic Chemistry (Chem 571)
Organic Spectroscopy (Chem 572)
Introduction to Fermentation Science (Ferm 101)
Sensory Analysis of Fermented Products (Ferm 421)
Fermentation Production Facilities (Ferm 441)
The Department of Chemistry is part of the College of Arts & Sciences, 214 Pray-Harrold
Ypsilanti, MI, USA 48197
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Contact EMU | Copyright © 2019


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Rejuvenate Auto 15 Minute Technologically Advanced Wash & Wax Renewer is a technologically advanced formulation that is specifically desidgned to encapsulate dirt and grime and transfer it to the microfiber cloth to leave behind a long lasting and brilliant shine...all while conserving water and without scratching!
Rejuvenate Auto Lens Renewer Kit is a two-step system that works in 30 seconds to remove hazing, UV damage, pitting and scratches from all types of automotive reflective lenses, including head lights, tail lights and turn signals. This kit can restore all lenses on one automobile, SUV or pick-up truck.
Rejuvenate Concrete Stain Remover addresses traditionally tough and messy problem: driveways, backyard patios, garage and workshop floors, and similar surfaces subject to hydrocarbon, organic grease, and other oily, difficult-to-remove stains.
Rejuvenate Auto Chrome Restorer is specially formulated to clean and protect chrome surfaces. Use on chrome wheels, automobile bumpers, trim, and motorcycle pipes and fixtures. Rejuvenate Auto Chrome Restorer removes oxidation, re-plates chrome onto chrome plated surfaces and leaves a protective coating to prevent further oxidation and prevent dirt and grime from adhering to surfaces.


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Preparations for this year's Brighouse Gala are now well underway and organisers are appealing for help to make this year's 50th anniversary event one to remember .
As part of the day, organisers are hoping to put on a display of old photographs, but need help to collate as many as possible.
Jean Ainley, president of the Brighouse Gala committee, said: "We're particularly looking for any photographs of stalls on the ground.
"We want procession ones, but so many people have them."
A venue for the display hasn't been confirmed yet, but it will be in Brighouse.
If you have any old photographs you would like to submit to be used in the display, please contact Jean on 01484 712141.
This year's gala will be held on June 27 and there will be plenty for visitors to enjoy.
The day will be made even more special as organisers are hoping to get as many past gala queens as possible at this year's event.
And as as ever, the gala procession is not be missed.
There will also be the usual stalls, displays and entertainment, including the West Yorkshire Police Band and the Tiger Motorcycle Display Team.
For more information, visit www.brighousecharitygala.org.uk.


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More from Infinity
Orange juice futures rose to an 11-week high on mounting concern that dry weather will curb output in Florida, the world's second-biggest citrus grower. Cocoa and sugar also gained, while coffee and cotton declined.
Florida's citrus belt will get drier-than-normal weather during the next two weeks, with the best chance for light rain expected tomorrow, Bethesda, Maryland-based Commodity Weather Group LLC said in a report today. Last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture cut its estimate of orange production in Florida by 1.8 percent because of dry conditions and citrus greening, a crop disease.
"It is all about how much damage the dry weather will cause before the rainy season starts in June," Fain Shaffer, the president of Infinity Trading Crop in Medford, Oregon, said in an e-mail.
Orange juice for delivery in May rallied 2.3 percent to settle at $1.3625 a pound at 2 p.m. on ICE Futures U.S. in New York, after touching $1.375, the highest for a most-active contract since Dec. 21. Prices are up 11 percent in three sessions and 16 percent this year.
"Dryness is a factor this winter," Jerry Neff, a branch manager at Allendale Inc. in Bradenton, Florida, said in an e- mail. "Even though we irrigate a lot of groves, this still seems to be a real concern for Florida citrus growers."
Also in New York, cocoa futures for May delivery rose 0.5 percent to $2,130 a metric ton, while raw-sugar futures for May delivery advanced 0.4 percent to 18.82 cents a pound, the fifth gain in six sessions.
Arabica-coffee futures for delivery in May slipped 0.2 percent to $1.4375 a pound on ICE, while cotton futures dropped 0.2 percent to 86.72 cents a pound.
- Marvin G. Perez in New York and Oliver Renick in Chicago at Bloomberg.


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Not a Treasure
The waves were massive, crashing to the shore.
I wondered if the ocean was mad as it spit out all the junk people threw into it.
Nestled in the kelp were pieces of paper, styrofoam, dozens of water bottle caps, and water bottles…
and no less than 3 motor oil containers within ten feet of me. How much of that oil ended up in the ocean? One gallon of oil can contaminate one million gallons of fresh water.
Is this the great future in plastics?
Maybe you're sick of looking at photos of all this junk. So am I. And so are other Angelenos like the volunteers for Heal the Bay's Nothin' But Sand cleanups. Next clean-up for Dockweiler Beach is March 20. Anyone want to join me?


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Greenbiz: Starbucks tests how coffee cups fare in NYC's recycling stream
GreenerComputing: U.S. Reps introduce e-waste export ban legislation
It won't make it. Lobbyists will kill it.
San Francisco mag: Seeing the forest for the trees
ForestEthics and the Dogwood Alliance have released their annual Green Grades Report Card ranking the paper policies and practices of national retailers like OfficeMax, FedEx Office, WalMart, and Amazon.com.


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We work with governments, utilities, research institutions, technology providers, project developers, and large energy users seeking to evaluate and implement next generation grid and clean energy technologies. ›› Read more
Our team is comprised of well-respected thought leaders and industry experts who have played instrumental roles in shaping the power sector's transformation in the 21st century. ›› Read more
Our clients come to us for our expertise in developing business models, commercial strategies, financing tools and regulatory support that empower them to create sustainable value and long-term solutions. ›› Read more
Our exclusive focus on clean energy and advanced grid technologies means we bring our clients a sophisticated understanding of industry trends, market drivers and regulatory policy. ›› Read more
Given recent interest across the US in Clean Peak Standards, Strategen offers the following guide to help states design straightforward and cost effective Clean Peak policies.
This whitepaper, prepared by Strategen Consulting for the Global Energy Storage Alliance, with generous funding support by the Wells Fargo Foundation, provides clear and practical guidance on how electric utilities can procure energy storage resources to perform as electric resources used to balance supply and demand on the electric grid. It includes an introduction to energy storage technologies and applications, example utility procurements and storage pilots, as well as links to helpful resources.
Energy storage could effectively put New York City on a path to transition away from an aging electric generation fleet to a cleaner grid and achieve the state's clean energy goals, according to the report, "New York City's Aging Power Plants: Risks, Replacement Options and the Role of Energy Storage", released by the New York Battery and Energy Storage Technology Consortium (NY-BEST), in partnership with Strategen Consulting.
Storage's potential to site alongside solar and wind is growing in the U.S. and leading to more investments. Storage developers and analysts view the J.P. Morgan investment as part of this broader trend. Strategen COO Mark Higgins contrasts the early days of solar with the early days of storage. Unlike solar 10 years ago, many "[storage] players can scale to a large market, which is easier to finance."
This article by Strategen CEO Janice Lin examines how economic forces, advances in storage technology, increasingly diverse generation assets, and ultimately the recognition that energy storage makes existing infrastructures more efficient and resilient, will reinforce the role of energy storage as the bedrock of the 21st-century grid.
A 2017 study produced by the University of Minnesota Energy Transition Lab with Strategen Consulting found Minnesota could use energy storage as part of a "least-cost path forward" in direct competition with gas turbines. The study helped lead to Minnesota electric cooperative Connexus Energy to implement an innovative Solar + Storage program (15 MW of battery energy storage). The program will be the first major storage project in the state.
An innovation in renewables generation that could change the way utilities think about meeting reliability and peak demand took some big steps forward in 2017.
Governor Baker's proposed bill would leverage the state's renewable power at peak hours to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and system costs.
A new study commissioned by the New York Battery and Energy Storage Technology Consortium (NY-BEST) concludes the largest city in the United States has a near-term opportunity to clean up its electric grid by replacing older steam generation units with batteries.
A time-of-use pilot proposed by Xcel Energy would automatically enroll customers in two Twin Cities neighborhoods but offer credit protections for those who don't change behaviors.
Vertically-integrated solar energy company First Solar will be involved in the first megawatt-scale battery system announced in Arizona since it was revealed the state could put a 3,000MW energy storage deployment target in place.
The state has approved rules that increase the ways for energy storage systems to make money, for example, through frequency regulation, capacity or spinning reserve services.


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Skoutdoor Fitness/
Summer is right around the corner, and no one wants to be stuck inside a stuffy gym when it's beautiful outside. Similarly, the rising temperature is no reason to slack off. Why not grab some friends, and enjoy the weather while getting fit? Here are some of our favorite outdoor workouts. Hop on the Skout app, and see who will do some with you! Running: Although efficient, the treadmill can get boring. Staring at the same spot in front of you for even just a few minutes can make it seem like you've been running FOREVER. Fresh air, and beautiful scenery can sometimes make time and distance pass faster.
Outdoor Yoga: What better way to add even more Zen to your yoga session than to do child's pose in a meadow of flowers, or on a rooftop during sunset?
Sports: You can play volleyball, or you can play volleyball on the beach! Playing any sport outdoors when the weather permits makes the experience more enjoyable.
Swim: Whether it's water skiing, surfing, or paddle boarding, now is the time to take advantage of any water activity. Swimming alone is a total body workout!
Hiking: Hiking is awesome, because you can make an entire day of it. Grab some friends, bring some snacks and hike the road less traveled. The best part is you can set your own pace, and take breaks at your leisure.


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Reportsnreports.com publicized latest study on 'Strategic Focus Report - Cloud computing ; Technology and market trends' Intelligence Study to the IT & Telecommunication Business Research Group of its databank.
Owing to the economic downturn, organizations across the globe have been under enormous pressure to increase their operational efficiency and cut costs. The concept of cloud computing has several advantages including lower total cost of ownership (TCO), higher scalability and flexibility, and reduced management and maintenance burden. Consequently, cloud computing has been at the top of CIOs' agendas over the last few years, primarily driven by its efficiency improvement features.
Key Findings
- While the scalability and cost advantages have been the driving factors for the adoption of public cloud, over the years enterprises are also keen to adopt the versatile features of a hybrid cloud.
- The database management segment is at the verge of witnessing the most important transformation in the last few years, with the development in the space of a new managed database management services popularly known as database as a service (DBaaS) that enable enterprises to completely automate their database systems.
- While security and privacy has been an apparent issue in adopting the cloud computing model, integration issues relating to cloud computing services are also restricting the wide scale adoption of these services.
Complete report on 'Strategic Focus Report - Cloud computing ; Technology and market trends' spread across 43 pages is now available @ http://www.reportsnreports.com/reports/321114-strategic-focus-report-cloud-computing-technology-and-market-trends.html
Strategic Focus Report - Cloud computing analyses the current trends, drivers, and inhibitors impacting the cloud computing market. The report outlines the evolution of cloud computing, and identifies and assesses the best performing vendors in the market. This report also presents revenue opportunities in the cloud computing market through to 2019, highlighting the market size and growth by technology, geography, sector, and size band. Moreover, following in-depth ICT decision maker surveys, the report outlines enterprises' investment priorities in cloud computing.
This product covers the latest trends in the cloud computing market, coupled with insight into the vendor landscape and market size in the cloud computing domain.
In particular, it provides an in-depth analysis of the following:
- The latest trends impacting the cloud computing market.
- The market drivers (both supply-side and demand-side) that will facilitate the growth of the cloud computing market.
- The market inhibitors that may hinder the pervasive adoption of cloud computing.
- Identification of the top ICT vendors in the cloud computing market, coupled with an overview of the top 5 vendors.
- The primary findings of revenue opportunities in the cloud computing market through to 2019, highlighting the market size and growth by technology, geography, sectors and size band.
- An identification of enterprises' investment priorities based on their budget allocations relating to cloud computing.
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About Us:
Reportsnreports is digital databank of syndicated market reports for worldwide and China businesses. Reportsnreports.com offers market research reports to businesses, entities and organizations with an objective of assisting them in their decision making process. Our collection of 500,000+ industry & nation research reports shields 5000+ micro markets. We provide 24X7 available, online and offline support to our clients.


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|The online newspaper for the forest products industry including loggers, sawmills, remanufacturers and secondary wood processors.
EXPO Richmond Coming in May
EXPO Richmond, a show often known as the Richmond Show, has developed a reputation as being an outstanding show for the overall industry.
By Ed Brindley
Date Posted: 4/1/2010
Many readers enjoy any opportunity to see new machinery and talk to industry suppliers. People in the forest products industry tend to think in terms of machinery and services to keep their companies running efficiently. Most forest products companies are struggling with slow economic times, but all of us have to keep our eyes down the road on the future the best we can.
There are a lot of forest products shows in our industry. I am not referring to association meetings, but to shows where people from a wide variety of the forest products areas can mix. Sawmillers, loggers, pallet manufacturers, and wood fiber producers! Is there one show where all of them benefit, a kind of one size fits all? The answer is yes!
There are many state and regional forest products shows, as well as some that focus specifically on one area of the forest products world. But EXPO Richmond, a show often known as the Richmond Show, has developed a reputation as being an outstanding show for the overall industry. Over the years, I have often asked industry suppliers if they have a favorite show. The answer is almost always the same yes, the Richmond Show.
This year the biennial EXPO Richmond will be held at the Richmond Raceway Complex on Friday, May 21, and Saturday, May 22. EXPO Richmond promises to be the best show in this recession year. Even if you do not plan to make a major purchase, you need to examine options for the future. Mark the 3rd weekend in May on your calendar and make your every two year trek to Richmond. You will not be sorry. Readers who have never been will be glad that you came. Those who are veterans know what I am saying and probably have already planned to come.
Twelve acres of outdoor exhibit space and several buildings combine to provide the exhibit space that has drawn as many as 300 or more exhibitors in the past. Over a half million sq. ft. is available for exhibits, displays, and active demonstrations of the industrys state-of-the-art technology.
EXPO Richmond has developed a reputation of providing exhibiting companies with an affordable, friendly, cost-effective, and profitable marketing opportunity before a qualified industry audience. There is still time to sign up as an exhibitor, and certainly enough time to mark your calendar and reserve a room in Richmond for this show. It is one of the industrys most recognized shows.
In addition to being a strong sawmilling and logging show, the EXPO Richmond has developed a reputation of being the best pallet show in the country. Having traveled to the famous Ligna Show in Germany, we can safely say that EXPO Richmond has become the best pallet show in the world. Overall exhibitor registrations are down due to the economy, but many companies delayed their registration until closer to the show. They knew that exhibitor space would not be the issue it has so often been in the past. We hope to have an updated exhibitor list in time for our May issue.
Our industry contacts suggest that new machinery developments may be more common this year than they have been in some recent years. There are some hot areas in the wood fiber markets, which helps put a little life in the industry. Certainly housing has not done anything to excite enthusiasm.
The pallet industry, which is a reflection more of the overall economy, has experienced a big drop over the past year and a half. But pallet people report a little more strength in activity, not enough to do handstands over, but enough to inject a little hope for future recovery.
See you in Richmond! It is probably the best networking opportunity most of us will have this year.
Do you want reprints or a copyright license for this article? Click here
Research and connect with suppliers mentioned in this article using our FREE ZIP Online service.
© Copyright 2019,
IndustrialReporting, Inc.


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This is one stunning Tangerine Lemurian seed Quartz from Brazil. This energetic Lemurian crystal 'Sister Gemini' measures 3.1 inches long, and weighs 65 grams. This specimen has two clear 7 sided channeling faces and it carries the energy of a strong empathic warrior crystal. The overall vibration of the Tangerine Lemurian is very soothing.
The reiki applications of the rare and spectacular Lemurian starseed Quartz crystal are said to be used as one of the foremost stones for releasing fear, and encouraging vitality, fertility, abundance, creativity and courage. This is a stone which has properties of a master healer, and also connects us to our inner warrior and source of our own personal power. This stone connects strongly to the Higher Heart chakra, as well as the Sacral, and Solar plexus chakras. A time-link face is said to provide access to either the past, future or both and present opportunities to explore other time-lines. Lemurians are known to manifest as either power healers or communicators, this particular crystal identifies as a communicator, and provides wonderful uplifting vibes when held.
This crystal exhibits a large four sided face- making it a highly sought after Diamond Window Quartz Crystal. This type of crystal allow us to see the spirit realms and leads us within. It is literally a window to the soul, as it assists us in receiving intuitive answers to questions while bypassing ego and/or intellect. The Diamond faced crystal can assist the balance between the Spiritual world and the material world. It provides a doorway (or window) into other levels of being and a deep connection with Self.
THIS LISTING MAKES NO PROMISE OF METAPHYSICAL, SPIRITUAL or SUPERNATURAL EFFECTS.
THIS SHOP DOES NOT OFFER SERVICES or SPELLS IN ANY FORM. FOR MORE PRODUCTS, VISIT OUR INDEPENDANT WEBSITE.
Please allow 10 days time to complete custom orders. No cancellations are permitted.
Please allow 1-2 weeks for delivery of goods, and 5-7 business days for readings.
But please contact me if you have any problems with your order.
Exchanges are not accepted due to damages in transit, as this is not the fault of the seller. However, please reach out to me if you have a problem with your item. Special accommodations may be made if your item breaks on arrival or in transit, or if the you have any other issues with an item.
RESERVES: Reserves no longer available on items except custom item (7 days) or otherwise specified.


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Several weeks ago, my good friend David Perry contacted me and asked me to record an interview with a client he'd conducted a retained executive search for - which I did. and which you'll hear soon. The client, Sheryl Blackburn, does an excellent job of explaining the internal process her organization used in determining to hire a search firm to to fill an important position of General Manager, and the step-by-step process that led to a successful outcome.
Welcome to a talent acquisition channel podcast on TotalPicture Radio this is Peter Clayton reporting.I thought this was a terrific interview, explained much about executive search - the why and the how - so I asked David if I could post it on TotalPicture Radio. After checking with his client, we got the green light.
So David Perry is here who has been a valued contributor to TotalPicture Radio - he is the Managing Director of Perry-Martel International, one of North America's top recruiting and placement firms based in Ottawa, Canada. He is the author of the popular, best selling Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters series, as well as Career Guide for the High-Tech Professional.
Questions Peter Clayton Asks David Perry in this podcast:
The last time we spoke you had personally negotiated more than $185 million in compensation - what are you up to now?
So for listeners who might not be familiar with the way executive search works, can you explain the difference between retained and contingent search?
Your client I recorded the case study for was the Search Chair for the Canadian Livestock Records Corporation - they register cows and sheep and goats and stuff. We've done case studies before - but the tended to be for executive positions in high tech companies - how did you approach this assignment?
You had mentioned to me you had contacted over 250 people.
Obviously you do a lot of background checks as part of your research, but how do you determine if someone will be a good fit?
What was unique and unusual about this project?
Where can people learn more about your and Perry-Martel International?


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Paganism: The Old Religion
This is a rough summary of Paganism. When I have more time to write a more complete essay I will but if you have any questions you may email me.
First, let me dispel some of the most common myths about witches. The word witch has undergone a major transformation over the centuries. I believe it started with the wise healers and witch doctors, from there Christianity came into play and added a new defintion to the word by stating witches worship the devil, kill babies, etc. This is the furthest from the truth.
We honor nature and respect ALL living creatures especially children. Witches, or followers of Wicca, do not believe in Hell or that the Devil exists. What Christians call Heaven, Wiccans call the Summerlands.
Paganism does indeed go far back to ancient times and is believed to be one of the oldest religions known to man. In the beginning the religion started as a belief that acting out a play with the hunter killing a stag before the actual hunt would bring about a good amount of food to their tribe or family. I know I'm skipping ahead but bear with me. Through the centuries the culture developed further in the belief that women bare children hence the creator of the world would be a Goddess, mother to the Earth. However, you must also have an opposite to the Goddess so the belief in the God as lover and father to the Earth was also adopted into many cultures.
Still further and depending upon what area you were from the Goddess and the God developed different names and each a seperate area to govern over. For example if a woman was having trouble conceiving she would pray to the Goddess of fertility, depending upon the area she lived in would determine which name she would use as their are many fertility Goddesses all over the world.
Although we practice a modern version of the religion we still pray to the old Gods and Goddesses. We also continue to follow the moon through its cycles and year through its seasons. We hold rites in honor of our Gods and the elements of nature just as they once did long ago.
Casting spells isn't how you would see it in the movies or on a TV show. The act of spell casting is really just a prayer being sent to our Gods.
Wiccans/Pagans align their faith to nature and worship the balance in all things. They regard the Earth as their Mother. The word witch comes from the Anglo-Saxon word wicce, which means to bend or shape, and from which the modern word wicker is derived. Witches live by what is known as "The Threefold Law". It states that whatever they send out into the world shall return to them three times over.
Please view this site with an open mind. If you have any questions email me and I will be happy to answer them.
Here are some items we use frequently:
This section explains the more common items we use.
A chalice is a cup we use that represents the womb and the element of water.
An athame is a double-bladed spiritual knife that is used in drawing the circle and is never used to hurt anyone or to cut anything (not even plants).
A wand may also be used to cast the circle or to direct energy to a specific area like in healing.
Candles are used to represent the element of fire and are commonly used in many spells, as well as meditation.
Incense is used to represent the element of air and the aroma aids in the meditative process.
Salt is known for its cleansing properties and encompasses both earth and water dually.
Stones have a direct connection to earth and are commonly empowered for protection and luck.
The pentagram is a symbol of protection and the five points symbolize earth, air, fire, and water with spirit being at the top point. (NOT to be confused with the inverted pentagram which is a Satanic symbol or is sometimes used in varied cultures as well.)


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I am John Bradshaw Layfield, a former WWE Tag Team Champion, United States Champion, European Champion, Hardcore Champion, Intercontinental Champion, and the LONGEST reigning WWE Champion in Smackdown TV History.
Bow at the feet of greatness, because I am a WRESTLING....GOD.
There is NOTHING the media, the locker room, or the WWE Universe can do to stop JBL. I smell like smoke because I've been through fire, and I have returned to Bleacher Report!
John Bradshaw Layfield!


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Botek Thurlow Engineering Inc. specializes in Civil Engineering projects for Broward County and all of greater Ft Lauderdale. Headed by experienced engineers who combine contemporary engineering practices with fundamental project management skills supported by the latest in technological horsepower. BTE specializes in the following:
South Florida Civil Engineering Services
- Site Analysis and Due Diligence
- Paving, Grading, and Storm Drainage design
- Water and Sanitary Sewer design
- Pavement, Marking, and Signage design
- Storm Water Modeling and Design
- Pipe Network Modeling and Design
- Permitting
- Construction Administration
BTE's recently certified LEED projects
- Museum of Discovery and Science Eco Discovery Center
- Northwest Gardens Phase III
- Progresso Point
- Seminole Trails Elementary School Classroom Addition
BTE's projects currently under construction, submitted for LEED certification
- Broward County Animal Care and Adoption Facility
- Broward County Ravenswood Bus Maintenance Facility


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Fair Use and New Media
A new study by the Center for Social Media at American University examines user-generated content with respect to copyright issues. The study was conducted by Center director Pat Aufderheide and Peter Jaszi, co-director of the law school's Program on Information Justice and Intellectual Property. The study shows that many online videos using copyrighted material could be protected under fair use policies.
Fair use, a hotly debated concept that lacks clear guidelines, allows for the quoting of copyrighted material without asking permission or paying royalties. The study warns that perfectly legal and valuable social commentary might be curbed by major content holders' (Sony, NBC, Viacom, etc.) new practices for controlling piracy.
The Center for Arts Management and Technology will feature an interview with the lead investigators of this study on episode 35 (scheduled for release on Friday, February 8, 2008) of its Technology in the Arts podcast.