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BWW REVIEW: WAR HORSE Is a Simple Story Spectacularly Told
Based on the novel by Michael Morpurgo, adapted by Nick Spofford in association with Handspring Puppet Company; sets, costumes and drawings by Rae Smith; puppet design, fabrication and direction by Adrian Kohler with Basil Jones for Handspring Puppet Company; original lighting, Paule Constable; additional lighting and adaptation, Karen Spahn; director of movement and horse choreography, Toby Sedgwich; animation and projection design, 59 Productions; music, Adrian Sutton; songmaker, John Tams; sound, Christopher Shutt; additional sound and adaptation, John Owens; music director, Greg Pliska; fight director, Tom Schall; original co-direction by Marianne Elliott and Tom Morris; US tour direction by Bijan Sheibani
Cast on opening night:
The Horses: Joey as a foal, Laurabeth Breya, Catherine Gowl, Nick LaMedica; Joey, Jon Riddleberger, Patrick Osteen, Jessica Krueger; Topthorn, Danny Yoerges, Brian Robert Burns, Gregory Manley; Coco, Derek Stratton, Rob Laqui; Heine, Grayson DeJesus, Jason Loughlin
The People: Song Man (instrumental), Nathan Koci; Song Man (vocal), John Milosich; Lieutenant James Nicholls, Doctor Schweyk, Paddy, Jason Loughlin; Arthur Narracott, Sergeant Thunder, Brian Keane; Billy Narracott, Ludwig, Michael Wyatt Cox; Albert Narracott, Andrew Veenstra; Ted Narracott, Colonel Strauss, Todd Cerveris; Chapman Carter, Corporal Klebb, Jason Manfred, Chad Jennings; Allan, Private Klausen, Michael Stewart Allen; Thomas Bone, Private Schabel, Sergeant Fine, Jason Alan Carvell; John Grieg, Derek Stratton; Rose Narracott, Angela Reed; Priest, Captain Friedrich Muller, Andrew May; Captain Charles Stewart, Grayson DeJesus; Private David Taylor, Alex Morf; Paulette, Megan Loomis; Emilie, Lavita Shaurice; Matron Callaghan, Catherine Gowl; Annie Gilbert, Laurabeth Breya; Veterinary Officer Martin, Matt Hostetler; Goose, Gregory Manley
Now through October 21, presented by Lexus Broadway in Boston, Boston Opera House, 539 Washington Street, Boston; tickets start at $33 and are available through Ticketmaster at 800-982-2787, online at www.BroadwayinBoston.com, or at the Box Office at 539 Washington Street Monday through Friday, 10am – 5pm.
At its most basic, War Horse, the 2011 Tony Award-winning Best Play currently on tour at the Boston Opera House through October 21, is a simple tale of a boy and his horse. But thanks to the inspired genius of original directors Marianne Elliott and Tom Morris, their brilliant design team, and the remarkable vision and craftsmanship of Handspring Puppet Company, War Horse is a spectacular theatrical phenomenon.
Based on Michael Morpurgo's popular children's book that was also made into an epic movie by Steven Spielberg, War Horse reveals the horrors of war – and the humanity that somehow survives it – through the eyes of Joey, the valiant part draft horse, part thoroughbred conscripted into the British Cavalry during WWI. When Joey's young owner Albert (Andrew Veenstra) follows him to the front after his unsympathetic father Ted (Todd Cerveris) sells him to the army for 40 pounds, both Joey and Albert do whatever they must to survive and reunite. Theirs is an emotionally shattering journey through unimaginable circumstances. Their innocent awakenings to the ravages of war make the insanity of such agonizing destruction emotionally devastating and unbelievably real.
Joey first becomes the mount for the kindly Lieutenant James Nicholls (Jason Loughlin) and is paired in battle with a magnificent black stallion named Topthorn. Initially competitive, with Topthorn quickly asserting his dominance as the alpha male, the horses soon become inseparable companions and care for one another when danger looms. Later both horses are captured by the Germans and put into service in the ambulance corps. There they are protected and cared for by Captain Friedrich Muller (Andrew May), a sensitive and war-weary veteran whose tolerance for death and jingoistic fanaticism has been battered to the point of defeat.
Meanwhile an underage Albert has managed to enlist himself into the army and quickly sees action in France. He befriends the older but less assured Private David Taylor (Alex Morf), and together they face brutality and peril that turn them from naive boys into demoralized men.
As the parallel adventures of Joey and Albert unfold, War Horse catapults the audience into a vivid world of machine gun fire, hand grenades, piercing shrapnel, and twisted barbed wire. Bodies literally fly through the air, and the audience winces and gasps at every tortuous death and debilitating injury. But unlike the desensitizing special effects of a two-dimensional movie or video game, the action in the live stage version of War Horse is palpable. There is no escaping the dank, dirty, devastated countryside where vultures pick on dead carcasses and smoke still rises from homes leveled by bombs. The audience feels every scathing wound and agonizing emotion that the actors – and horses – experience. Yet from these ashes of war the triumph of compassion rises. Ultimately the immutable bond between animal and man is more powerful than any evil.
The most remarkable accomplishment of War Horse is the way in which Joey, a seven-foot-tall puppet of aluminum, wires, fabric and cane, is able to anthropomorphize, conveying his thoughts and feelings with absolutely precise equine movements and sounds. Animated by three puppeteers who literally breathe life into their creation, Joey prances, rears, eats, twitches, and snorts, reacting and interacting in ways that make him more human and heroic than anyone else on the stage. In one grueling scene, when Joey is hopelessly entwined in a tangle of barbed wire, we sob in empathy at his plight, feeling every ounce of his pain as he valiantly struggles to gnaw himself free. It is a shattering moment, and one that crystallizes for the audience the anti-war sentiment at the heart of the play.
As wondrous as Joey's performance is, War Horse would not be as compelling if it weren't for the complete suspension of disbelief his co-stars enable us to achieve. As Albert, his loving owner, Andrew Veenstra strokes, grooms, trains, and talks to Joey as any owner would with a cherished pet. The soldiers, too – British and German alike – tend to both Joey and Topthorn with a natural ease that makes us forget these horses aren't the real thing. When the men ride, they sit confidently atop their mounts and move in perfect harmony with them. When the horses rear, their handlers keep at a safe distance, warily trying to rein them in.
The design team's astounding special effects also pull us into the world of war unconditionally. Inventive lights, sounds, sets and staging transport us to the battlefields of France where Howitzers and armored tanks roll menacingly across the landscape. Digital images are also drawn in real-time on a tattered scrim above the set, illustrating and amplifying the action taking place on stage below. As the whistle of a missile is heard screeching toward a solider on horseback, a black line traces its menacing route. When the sound of bombs raining down on a regiment literally shakes the seats and rafters, black craters explode on the screen, and bodies hurl into the air, limbs akimbo.
It is mind boggling to consider the precise coordination needed to make war seem real in the theater. But War Horse accomplishes this magnificently. The impact is at times overwhelming, but it's also riveting. Do not miss the opportunity to see this stunning piece of theater magic. Through Joey's penetrating eyes, you'll see love and war in a whole different light.
PHOTOS: Andrew Veenstra as Albert atop Joey; Topthorn, Joey and company; Andrew Veenstra and Joey; Joey

subset: commoncrawl


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We believe in beautiful imagery. As they say, a picture paints a thousand words, but a moving image can speak millions. Video and animation really does add an extra dimension and layer to your website/ exhibition/ presentation and it's what we do best.


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Free Cost Calculator
Travel Notice: Last Minute Buses Available with Worry Free Cancel PolicyLearn More
Whether you call it the Old North State, the Tar Heel State, or even home, North Carolina offers much for the traveler and the resident to see and do. From the western borders to the east coast, North Carolina offers mountains, beaches, and everything in between. Enjoy the coast, mountains and the in-between on a convenient and cozy North Carolina charter bus service.
Western North Carolina is best known for its majestic mountains that jut into the Carolina-blue sky, giving nature lovers a feast for their eyes. The roaming road that traces the ridges of the mountains is known as the Blue Ridge Parkway. According to Visit NC, the Blue Ridge Parkway was designed by landscape architect Stanley Abbot. Construction of this wonder began on September 11th, 1935. The parkway runs in North Carolina from the Virginia Boarder at Cumberland Knob to the beginning of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Two of the most intriguing places to see in the North Carolina Mountains are the Cataloochie Village and Stone Mountain. Stone Mountain is a 600-foot-high mass of igneous rock. Here, climbers enjoy hiking on the trails "Taken for Granite" and "Fantastic." The mountain is naturally beautiful with the presence of wild goats, chestnut oaks, and shrubs. There are many available campsites in the area for families to enjoy.
Also nestled within the western area of North Carolina is the beautiful Biltmore Estate. The Biltmore Estate, known as America's Largest Home, had its doors opened for the first time to friends and family in 1895. The house itself is an unimaginable 4 acre building with 250 rooms, 34 of them bedrooms and 43 of them bathrooms. If that wasn't luxurious enough, the Biltmore also has 65 fireplaces and a basement with a swimming pool, bowling alley, gymnasium area and so much more. With the house and the winery, there is much to do at this American classic.
One of the most intriguing things to see in Central North Carolina, believe it or not, is the North Carolina Zoological Park, known to most as the North Carolina Zoo. This, however, is not just any zoo. The North Carolina Zoological Park is one of the premier East Coast zoos. This zoo takes a sampling of different types of animals from around Africa and the Americas and places them in designated sections such as the Sonora Desert and the African Pavilion. One thing you will not see in this zoo is an abundance of iron cages. The rhinos and elephants, for example, have plenty of space to wonder around in the African Plains exhibit. In fact, they have 37 acres of land to plow through, and that is a larger area than most zoos provide their large African animals. The zoo is located in Asheboro and is a definite must see.
And then there is the magnificent North Carolina Coast. If you love the beach, there are three different areas that you will want to investigate. First, there is North Carolina's prized Outer Banks. These beaches are known for their historical areas, especially the lighthouses. Enjoy viewing the Bodie Island, Cape Hatteras, Currituck Beach, Ocracoke, and Roanoke Marshes lighthouses.
Then there are the beaches that border Wilmington, including Carolina Beach and Kure. These offer piers for fishing, sandy beaches, warm waters and other attractions. Slip into Wilmington to tour the USS North Carolina or travel to see the North Carolina State Aquarium at Fort Fisher. Regardless, you are bound to enjoy your trip here.
Finally, there are the Brunswick Islands. Quiet and quaint, these beaches offer sandy shorelines for beach goers and shaded greens for the golfer. These islands have minimal commercial presence, but often have small ice cream shops, restaurants, and stores. For a quiet, consider the Brunswick Islands.
With all of this to do in North Carolina, what are you waiting for? Book a charter bus now!


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June 29
1916: The Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds played a nine-inning game with just one baseball.
June 29
1916: The Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds played a nine-inning game with just one baseball.
1923: Brooklyn's Jacques Fournier went 6-for-6 with a home run, two doubles and three singles as the Dodgers beat the Philadelphia Phillies 14-5.
1937: Chicago Cubs first baseman Rip Collins played an entire game without a putout or an assist.
1941: In a doubleheader against the Washington Senators, New York's Joe DiMaggio tied and then broke the American League record of hitting safely in 41 consecutive games. DiMaggio doubled in four at-bats in the opener and singled in five at-bats in the nightcap to break the record set by George Sisler of the St. Louis Browns in 1922.
1968: Detroit's Jim Northrup hit his third grand slam in a week as the Tigers beat the Chicago White Sox 5-2.
2003: Eric Byrnes hit for the cycle and matched a franchise record with five hits as Oakland beat San Francisco 5-2.
2004: Randy Johnson of the Arizona Diamondbacks became the fourth pitcher to record 4,000 strikeouts when he struck out San Diego's Jeff Cirillo in the eighth inning of the Padres' 3-2 win.
2007: Barry Bonds hit his 750th career home run in San Francisco's 4-3, 10-inning loss to Arizona.
2007: Aubrey Huff hit for the cycle in Baltimore's 9-7 loss to the Los Angeles Angels.


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A big thanks to Bill O'Reilly for reminding me that he was ignoring Al Franken's book. I forgot:
"When he attacked me in his book a couple of weeks ago -- not a couple of weeks ago, a couple of years ago -- News Corporation made a mistake in actually trying to sue the guy, and, of course, that helped his book sales.
Now, his last book bombed, nobody bought it, because we all ignored it."
Can you feel the spin, folks? Let me translate O'Reilly for you, just for fun:
"My rampantly inflated ego was offended by Franken's book, and I made Rupert Murdoch's lawyers sue over it. We got laughed outta court, and Al Franken still makes fun of us at his paid personal appearances. I am personally responsible for making his Lies book a bestseller. He admits that. Ain't I a laughingstock?"
I feel so much like Al Franken right now I might really be him, because I'm gonna do a little fact check on O'Reilly. Fingers quivering, but here goes:
Publisher's Weekly reports that The Truth was the 19th most popular non-fiction book of 2005, with sales of 560,163. No big threat to Da Vinci Code, nor to his Lies and the Lying Liars book, which by many accounts was a landmark bestseller with sales approaching a million copies. Franken's self-narrated audio book of The Truth was one of the top three best selling audiobooks of the year and won audiobook of the year for humor. So great job bombing that book, Bill.
BookReporter.com points out:
Like his conservative counterparts, Franken has hit upon a method for publishing political books that is the closest thing to a money-printing machine known to mankind. The O'Reillys, Hannitys and Coulters of the world seem to come out with an annual book that is simply a compilation of their on-air rants and political tirades. Obviously, based on the sales of each of these works, there is an audience willing to digest this material in its written form. Franken takes the same tactic in his book, presenting material familiar to any listener of his daily Air America show, but with one major difference: Franken is funny.
If you Blue Gal readers haven't picked this one up yet, now is the time. I'm astonished at just how bad the Bush Administration really is and really has been, for when you read it all in one book it could make you sick. If you believe Al Franken, he himself is hospitalized with toxic shock from reporting on Karl Rove's political dirty tricks. And remember, this book came out BEFORE Katrina, three-dollar gas, and 29%.
You may remember in my review of Joan Didion's Year of Magical Thinking, I mentioned that Didion's erudite prose is a necessary cushion to her subject matter, death. The same is true here for Franken: even the staunchest Democrat (uh, that would be me) could hardly stand a straight-faced litany against what has happened to our country in the past five plus years. In spite of their endorsement from the reality-based community, I humbly confess I have not and could not read the serious canon regarding Bushco: Bob Woodward's Plan of Attack, Richard Clarke's Against All Enemies, David Phillips' Losing Iraq. I confess I need the digestive aid of Franken, Stephen Colbert, and Jon Stewart. I need the cushion of humor and snark just to get through it. The truth, without the jokes, just isn't palatable.
This book has some wonderful chapters. The one on God is short, personal, poignant, and exposes the lie that the left is bereft of spirituality. If you thought we Blues were finished with Tom Delay, Chapter 10 will convince you obscurity is not punishment enough. And the chapter on Social Security had me laughing so hard Mr. Blue Gal asked me to stop reading. Finally, this is the only book I've ever read which purports to have an embedded LSD tab (page 193 in the hardcover edition, save you the search) so that you, the reader, can trip on the same drugs our President was apparently doing when he said the Social Security trust fund was "a bunch of worthless IOU's." (That is US Treasury Bonds to you and the rest of the investing world.) Mine was a library copy (I didn't want to skew the sales figures and get O'Reilly's panties in a wad) and another library patron got the LSD tab first.
One statement Franken makes must be contradicted. On page 143 he says that in the Terri Schiavo debacle "can be seen all the elements of dishonesty, hypocrisy, extremeism, and corruption that I believe will lead to the utter destruction of the Republican Party within one year and one month of the publication of this book [October 2005]." As I wondered ablog two weeks ago as to whether I'd missed the GOP's funeral, I think Franken is a little off on his dates. Fix that in the second edition, will ya, Al?


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Incredible Monster Hero City Rescue Mission Apk
Package :com.nemogames.incrediblemonster
Your City is under attack, let's fight begin against criminals and gangster by transforming your human body in to green monster hero in this transforming simulator games. Be a superhero in form of Green Monster Hero and get ready for fight against criminal and mafia in the crime city. Play as a green monster hero with amazing superhero power skill where big monster hero fight the gangster, criminal and mafia. Don't let the bad guys, enemies and criminal take control of the crime city.
Rescue people from disaster scenario with incredible super power and become an incredible super hero for the survival city. In survival city you have to rescue kids from fire building. Also Big monster hero fights with city villains and criminals and save people this is future fight against super villain of the city. You have the incredible monster hero power to defeat the super villains and stop the mass destruction. So are you ready to beat super villains with your anger revenge. Crush and smash everything in your way to destroy the super villains and save the innocent people of the survival city. But in monster battle in the monster battle city there is lot of damage and mass destruction but don't worry because this is part of the monster battle game. Incredible monster hero city rescue mission is story of attack, counter the enemy attack and recue the people in the survival city.
Game Play
Game play is very simple but with interesting story line and challenging mission. You can
Transform in to super hero any time and your key feature is Destruction Jump. Through which you destroy everything in certain diameter because it is Destruction jump. But before jumping be careful with innocent people. Also in this monster battle city survival game you can drive any car in the survival city, during driving car you can crush your enemy in different places of survival city, you can also improve your driving skill with your super naturel power. Being the last hope of the humanity save the survival city with your mutant power.
***** Feature *****
• Variety of Monster Specially Green Monster & Red Monster
• Smash Jumping Superpower
• Mass Destruction Anger Power
• Monster Car Driving simulator
• 10 Plus Challenging Mission
• Monster Hero City Battle
• Action packed battle & destruction Mission
• Super Hero VS Super Villains battle
• Heavy double Punches for Crack the Ground
• Incredible battle with monsters
• Various combat mission with superhero battle
• Stunning Beautiful environment
• Transforming Simulator
Nemo Games 3D Simulator
|Jul 28, 2017
|10,000+ downloads
Rating 4.21


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Legacy is a rogue-like, procedurally generated, open world, character driven RPG. You play a character of your creation within the world until that unavoidable day comes in which he or she is no more, at this point you will create a new character, a descendant! This new character can be any race, or half race, that you have unlocked through romancing with previous characters, s/he will inherit certain traits of your previous characters as well as gaining the social status of being a child of your previous character. The world will change over this time as well, old friends will die, new enemies will arise, factions will war, the terrain will change, and the world in which your new character embraces may be but a shell of the world you once knew. If you failed to save a kingdom from destruction, be prepared to find the ruins of a once great city in it's place, if you succeeded in bringing a man of greed to power, be prepared to pay the consequences of creating a new dictatorship i
Only registered members can share their thoughts. So come on! Join the community today (totally free - or sign in with your social account on the right) and join in the conversation.


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Citrus bergamia risso
Aroma: Citrusy with floral overtones. Hints of lemon and lime. Bergamot is the secret to making your citrusy soaps really sparkle.
Partner Essential Oils: Orange, Blood Orange, Lavender, Clary Sage, Geranium, Ylang-ylang, anywhere a hint of citrus and complexity is needed.
MORE TO THE STORY:The bergamot fruit – which ripens from green to yellow – is roughly a cross between an orange and a grapefruit, but shaped like a pear. It's generally regarded as inedible and unusable for juice, though there are reports of a small village in Italy that raises bergamot oranges specifically, and mysteriously, for the juice. See the complete story here.
Additional Information


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And this time, it looks like he's coming to New York.
Note: This article contains content some readers might find objectionable.
The follow up to 2013's HK (short for "Hentai Kamen" or "Masked Pervert") is slated to hit Japanese theaters this May. It's getting released by a major Japanese studio (Toei) and is based on a manga.
The sequel is called HK: Hentai Kamen The Abnormal Crisis. According to the movie's tagline, panties across the word are vanishing. So, it's up to Hentai Kamen, the pervy superhero who wears women's underwear on his face, to save the day, the panties, whatever.
[Image: HK-movie]
To contact the author of this post, write to bashcraftATkotaku.com or find him on Twitter@Brian_Ashcraft.
Kotaku East is your slice of Asian internet culture, bringing you the latest talking points from Japan, Korea, China and beyond. Tune in every morning from 4am to 8am.


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Keeping our skin looking vibrant and young can feel like an ongoing battle– one that's littered with unexpected breakouts, uneven skin tone, and an aging complexion that's lifeless and dry. But the secret to great looking skin is really no secret at all: it stems from a few basic age-defying skin care tips, that can be used by anyone– at any age– to achieve a smoother, healthier, more glowing complexion.
Our epidermal layer - aka: our skin - is the body's largest organ, and it works hard to keep us healthy in multiple ways:
Considering our skin's wide range of duties, we shouldn't really be surprised when the face we see in the mirror each morning begins to look tired and worn. But there are ways to defy the natural aging process, and they begin with a healthy approach to caring for your skin - both inside and out.
Making a concentrated effort to maintain emotional balance in your life can pay huge dividends when it comes to younger looking skin. While many of us are already familiar with the concept of anxiety-induced acne, did you know that stress is also one of the biggest contributors to a dull, haggard complexion?
Staying balanced in today's busy environment is often easier said than done. But a few simple changes can help to tip the equilibrium scale in your favor:
Stress hormones like cortisol can be hard on the skin, but regular sleep helps to fight the effects of cortisol, and is one of your best lines of defense against stress. Make getting a good night's sleep as often as possible a priority, and you'll soon be reaping the rewards of a more vibrant complexion.
Here are a few more tips for promoting beautiful skin from the inside out:
A flawless complexion means skin that's free of impurities, so it's important to make thorough cleansing, exfoliation, and moisturizing a regular part of your skin care routine. The deep cleaning action provided by a professional quality facial brush is ideal for keeping skin clean, firm, and polished. This essential beauty tool helps to:
Facial skin is delicate. When cleaning your face, be sure to use small, circular motions that move your brush quickly and gently across the skin's surface. Ideally, you should wash twice a day with a pH-balanced cleanser, then seal your pores by splashing your face with cold water.
It's also recommended that you change out hot water cleansings for warm ones - to avoid stripping the natural oils from your skin - and that you finish off your cleansing routine by patting your skin dry, to remove excess moisture, rather than wiping or rubbing it.
We often overlook the rejuvenating properties of sleep as the perfect opportunity to encourage a more youthful complexion. Specialized skin care products like:
work best overnight, and are ideal for helping to undo the damage caused by daytime stress and pollutants.Another great way to hydrate your skin from the outside in, is to treat it with a personal humidifier. This portable, easy-to-use moisturizing device produces a soothing mist that replaces the precious water often missing from dry-air environments. You won't find a better age-defying skin care tip than one that works hard to keep you looking young, while you relax in sleep.
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Security Verification: BinScope Binary Analyzer
The BinScope Binary Analyzer is a Microsoft verification tool that analyzes binaries to ensure that they have been built in compliance with Microsoft's Security Development Lifecycle (SDL) requirements and recommendations. BinScope checks that SDL-required compiler/linker flags are being set, strong-named assemblies are in use, and up-to-date build tools are in place.
BinScope also reports on dangerous constructs that are prohibited or discouraged by the SDL (e.g. read/write shared sections and global function pointers). For a more detailed enumeration of the checks performed by BinScope, please see the BinScope documentation. BinScope is available in two forms: as a standalone executable and as a Visual Studio add-on.


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Five Reasons Why You Should Write A Short Story
Many writers fantasize the day they accept the Pulitzer Prize or Newberry Award for their novel they slaved over for years. Few authors daydream about receiving two contributor copies after having a short story published. Yet, writing short stories can improve your writing skills and increase your marketability.
Writing short stories gives you a sense of completion. Writers often complain, "It took me years and years to get my novel just right." Novels are like spaghetti sauce, simmering for days; whereas short stories are like the noodles—boiling and ready in twenty minutes.
Completing a manuscript gives a feeling of accomplishment. Just like an artist enjoys displaying a finished painting, most writers love to share their work. How wonderful it feels when a complete piece can be revealed for enjoyment or critique. In any profession, it is important to experience accomplishments, such as an architect who views her new building or an author seeing her work in print from beginning to end.
Getting anything published is hard work. You must be dedicated to rewriting, rewriting, and more rewriting. You have to research the market, learn proper manuscript format, and write a brilliant cover letter. Getting a short story published is like playing a good game of miniature golf—it's not as easy as it looks, but with knowledge, skill, and practice, you can do it.
Many markets exist for your short stories from magazines with a circulation of 200,000 to hard-back anthologies to your writer's group newsletter. Contests for shorter works fill writing websites and magazines, and many of these are paying markets or have a modest monetary award accompanying first through third place. A lot of magazines do pay in copies, but some give you a check.
Short stories present an opportunity to work on different genres. For example, a writer's group sponsors a Halloween short story contest. Most of the members work on other genres throughout the year, such as westerns, romance, or mysteries. For this contest, each person creates a spooky story. The writer's group does not publish the winning entries, and members are free to submit their ghostly tales to other contests and magazines.
You can use short stories to strengthen your writing skills. Maybe you need to work on writing realistic dialogue or fitting all five senses into your description. Perhaps you want to use flashbacks, but can't seem to make smooth transitions. Or a friend, who critiqued your opening chapters, said your main character was typical and boring.
Try working out these problems in a short story, focusing on improving those particular weaknesses.
Writing a short story may help you overcome writer's block. When writing a long piece, sometimes you find yourself in a rut and become frustrated. You avoid working on your manuscript and may waste time cleaning out your files or e-mailing your long, lost cousin. Why not do something more productive and write a short tale?
Writing something different can give you the oomph you need to continue with your novel. Your subconscious has a chance to take over and solve your plot problems. Just make sure to keep paper handy to jot down ideas for your novel.
The next time you ponder, "Why should I waste time writing a short story?" Remember what they can do for you. Short stories can improve your writing skills, enhance your marketability, and bring you a step closer to publishing that great American novel.
Margo is teaching a short fiction class for children's and YA writers, starting on April 11. It's a NEW class! For more information, please see this link: http://wow-womenonwriting.com/WOWclasses.html#MargoDill_WritingChildrenTeensShortFiction
Labels: Margo L. Dill, short fiction writing, short story writing, writing inspiration


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Get The Look – My Week With Marilyn
by Katherine Gould
New movie, My Week With Marilyn, has spurred an influx of enquiries as to how to achieve the classic look Michelle Williams wears so well as she play timeless style icon Marilyn Monroe. In addition Williams was photographed by Annie Leibovitz for Vogue in character; a further legacy to Monroe's immortal image.
No look is complete without the addition of lipstick. Here are my personal favorites from MAC to achieve the vintage 1950's look.
- Ruby Woo – super matte formula, the is the perfect vintage red.
- Crème Cup – a soft pink that glides on smoothly for a nourishing creamy finish
- Costa Chic – wonderfully balanced coral pinky-peach that adds life to fair skin and pops on darker skin tones
- Keep lips well conditioned and exfoliated. In addition, remember to drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration.
- Cheek Color – Bobbi Brown Blush in Pale Pink – Use a large, good quality soft brush to apply to the cheeks in a circular movement, make sure foundation has set on the skin first so the product buffs on evenly.
- Liquid Liner – Illamasqua Liquid Liner – Precision Ink – The fine tip allows for defined application. Long-lasting and waterproof it's perfect for liner that will last all day and well in to the night. Apply on blotted and primed lids.
- Anastasia Brow Express Palette – The kit comes in two colour choices (blond and brunette) and each kit contains four perfect brow stencils to suit various brow shapes and styles. A perfect way to achieve that Marilyn-esq brow with minimal effort.


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Dance of the Undead is the eighteenth episode of the second season of Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated, and the forty-fourth episode overall in the series.
A ska group named Rude Boy and the Ska-Tastics return to life to turn people into zombies and make them dance forever!
Krissy Kristy, a TV music news reporter, is broadcasting her show live on TV. She tells the audience where she is: at the exact spot where a music group called "Rude Boy and the Ska-Tastics" died in a plane crash 30 years ago. She starts interviewing Ian Hope (the Ska-Tastics' manager) about the tragic incident, when suddenly they get attacked by mysterious beings and the signal is cut. Shaggy and Scooby, who where watching the show at their home, get terrorized because of what they just saw.
The gang decides to investigate, going to Grooves from the Grave to search for information about the band. They are greeted by Martha Quinn, owner of the place. She shows the gang the only hit of the band, "Graveyard Ska Inc.", and then she tells them, with help of a slideshow, that Rude Boy turned to voodoo magic to further his career, which led him to cast love spells on the audience, curse other bands and even cast an enchantment of never - ending pain on a synthesizer once; and that he always said that he would come back from the grave. Later, the zombified Rude Boy and the Ska Tastics attack several people in the Tiki Tub, making them to dance to their music unwittingly. Rude Boy and the Ska Tastics leave just before Sheriff Bronson Stone and other deputies arrive, but the people can't stop dancing.
All the victims of the event are transported to Crystal Cove's hospital. Once the gang gets there, Scooby decides to visit Nova again. Later on, Daphne mentions that the way the victims dance is called "Skanking", and that that is how it's meant to dance to ska music. A doctor tells the gang that if the cure is not found within 24 hours, the victims will enter a permanent cataleptic state and become zombies for the rest of their lives. The gang decide to go to the cemetery where Rude Boy and the Ska-Tastics are buried to look for clues, and Shaggy accidentally falls into Rude Boy's grave, where they find Ian Hope tied up. Some moments later, the gang encounters the zombified band, and are persecuted by them across the graveyard and then the town. Once the zombies are out of sight, the gang goes to Grooves from the Grave again and talk to Ian Hope. Martha Quinn explains something about the "Dancing Plague" that happened at France in 1818.
Suddenly, they all hear ska music coming from the outside, so they get out of the store to see what's happening. They see that that Rude Boy and the Ska-Tastics are playing their only hit at top of City Hall, which makes everyone but Shaggy and Scooby to start dancing unwittingly. Shaggy and Scooby aren't affected by the music because "music is just noise" to dogs and Shaggy is tone deaf. They seek help from the Hex Girls, who decide to confront the Ska-Tastics in a magical - musical battle. With help of Shaggy and Scooby, The Hex Girls win, freeing everyone from the dancing "curse".
Sheriff Stone arrests the zombies. It's revealed that Rude Boy and the Ska-Tastics faked their own death in order to make a surprise comeback a year later, with a new hit - song. Unfortunately, writing the perfect song took more than expected, and when it was ready, ska wasn't popular anymore; so they decided to show up dressed as the undead version of themselves to become famous again. They used an enharmonic cord with special frequencies to make people dance.
At Shaggy's home, the Hex Girls discover musical notes in the Planispheric Disk. Velma says that those notes weren't there before, which means that the Planispheric disk has changed. The Hex Girls hum the notes, causing the disk's pieces to spin. Velma holds a lamp and redirects its light to the pieces, which reflects another set of coordinates in the floor. Fred tells the gang that they have to see where the coordinates lead them to, but Scooby decides to go to visit Nova at the hospital instead. The coordinates led the gang (except Scooby) to the Clam Cabin, where they find Skipper Shelton wearing a peculiar helmet. After talking with the gang, Skipper gives the helmet to Velma. Then, she says that the helmet is the second key. Meanwhile, at the hospital, Scooby is talking with Nova, when she flatlines. Scooby gets worried, and suddenly Nova opens her eyes. She stands up, and says: "Nibiru. Nibiru is coming", and then she lays in bed again.
Cast and characters
|Performed by
|"Good Bad Girls"
|Written and produced by Dave Wakeling
|Kimberly Brooks, Jennifer Hale and Jane Wiedlin
|"Yer Dead Right Mate"
|Dave Wakeling
|"Who Do Voodoo"
| Written by Bodie Chandler and Glenn Leopold
Produced by Gary Lionelli and Bodie Chandler
|Jane Wiedlin
|"Words Get Stuck in My Throat"
| Written by H.B. Barnum
Produced by Joey Levine
|Fran Southworth
- Zombies/Rude Boy and the Ska-Tastics
|Ian Hope
|Although he was the manager of the Ska-Tastics he was not with them in the plane when it crashed and he was very nervous when the gang talk with him about that.
|Rude Boy and the Ska-Tastics as the zombies
|They used a special frequency in their instruments to turn the citizens of Crystal Cove into "ska-zombies", forcing them to listen to their music and become famous again.
- Crystal Cove
- This is the second appearance of the Hex Girls; they previously appeared in In Fear Of The Phantom.
- Nova was critically injured in the previous episode.
- This episode was aired in Latin America and Brazil on March 1, 2013.
- Fred announces the "previously on..." recap.
- HB News is also a news program in the regular continuity as shown in Scooby-Doo! Mask of the Blue Falcon.
- Shaggy gives Scooby's name as "Scoobert Dooby-Doo" over the hospital intercom; Scooby's parents frequently addressed by his full first name on A Pup Named Scooby-Doo.
- The Hex Girls wear the costumes their original counterparts did introduced in their first appearance, Scooby-Doo and the Witch's Ghost; they explain this to be a public demand meaning their costumes in In Fear Of The Phantom are actually their second ones. They also wear two other outfits: the second is skull-like outfits they wear to take on the zombiefied Rude Boy and the Ska-Tastics and the last is more casual outfits.
- The music notes that the Planispheric Disk play that the Hex Girls also hum to is based on the series main title music.
- The Cass Elliot lookalike can be seen in the first dance mob scene on the right side.
- The song, "We Do Voodoo", was originally sung by the Hex Girls in the movie, Scooby-Doo! And The Legend Of The Vampire.
- While in the Grooves from the Grave, one can see an album looking strikingly like indie rock band Phoenix's album, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix.
Animation mistakes and/or technical glitches
- Right before Velma, Daphne and Fred become dancing zombies, Scooby, as Velma tells him and Shaggy to save the town, has no spots.
- The ring of Scooby's dog tag is fully shown over his collar as he and Shaggy smash their guitars to the ground after the band battle is over.
Inconsistences/continuity errors and/or goofs/oddities
- The notes on the Planispheric Disk don't match with the main title music, the notes are: B D G B B G C A G; the actual notes are: B G F# M F# G B.
- How could the Hex Girl hum the song, if they are not seeing the correct notes?
- In the previous episode the Horrible Herd destroys most of Crystal Cove, yet in this episode everything looks untouched.
- Whilst Rude Boy and the Ska-Tastics are wearing their zombie outfits during their unmasking, after the flashback, they are shown wearing their original ones.
In other languages
|Ballo Con Gli Zombie
|Dance with Zombies
|Spanish (Latin America)
|La Danza de los No Muertos
|Dance of the Undead
|La Danse des Zombies
|Dance of the Zombies
|Zombik tánca
|Dance of the Zombies
|Ο Χορός των Ζόμπι
|The Dance of the Zombies
Home media
- Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated: Season Two, Part 2 - Spooky Stampede DVD set released June 18, 2013.
- Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated: The Complete Season 2 DVD set released October 7, 2014.


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« New Members Welcoming Photo Contest launches Phase IV |Main| Nikonians News Flash #125 »
August 31, 2009
Share your pride - New forum helps us celebrate your achievement
If you're busting with pride over a great photo you just had published-- We have a forum just for you! The new I have been published! forum is designed to let us all share in your accomplishment with our own congratulations. Share the good news and help inspire us all.
The forum is open to all members who have had any images published in any manner and at any scale. The exhilaration and pride that comes with having your work distributed is something to be shared.
It is an accomplishment that will help inspire us all.
If you have had an image or series of images published in newspapers, books, magazines, Web-sites or any other mass-distribution media -- tell us the great news!
Posted by flashdeadline at August 31, 2009 1:52 AM


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2020 Holiday Schedule
1st Quarter Bulletin2019 Annual Debt Trading Volume Survey
2019 CDS Volume Survey
July 18, 2011Fitch Ratings Upgrades Sri Lanka's Long-Term Foreign Currency Issuer Default Rating from B+ to BB-.
September 14, 2010
Standard & Poor's Upgrades Sri Lanka's Foreign Currency Sovereign Credit Rating from B to B+.
Copyright 2020 - All rights Reserved


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Reducing bovine tuberculosis (bovine TB)
This may sound bland, but the important bit is in the details and the proposed actions, so we recommend that you...
(Consider what the policy doesn't mention, as well as what it does.)
Your position on the policy
Support or Oppose?
To give your response, please sign in...
What other people say
- 2 people mostly opposes.
Culling badgers, even just in 'pilot programmes', is wrong and probably ineffective. – Frankie Roberto
I hate badger culling. – Test User


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Vulnerable Populations
About the Vulnerable Populations Working Group
The Vulnerable Populations Working Group is part of the Identity Ecosystem Steering Group (IDESG). It is dedicated to promoting better identity systems for vulnerable populations in online transactions.
Explore this landing page to learn more about how to join our committee, to read about our projects (past, current, and future), or to solicit expert advice from committee members.
Chair: Denise Tayloe
What We Do
Here is an overview of our work:
VPWG Overview
VPWG Use Cases
VPWG Taxonomy
VPWG Spreadsheet
The VPWG holds bi-monthly meetings every other Friday, 8am PT, 11pm ET (except holidays). See our maillist for information on occasional meetings.
Join us via JoinMe:
Click on this JoinMe link. If you need to do so, install JoinMe if you don't yet have it and then sign into the meeting.
Dial in via phone:
By phone:
United States - Camden, DE +1.302.202.5900
United States - Hartford, CT +1.860.970.0010
United States - Los Angeles, CA +188.8.131.526
United States - New York, NY +1.646.307.1990
United States - Tampa, FL +1.813.769.0500
United States - Washington, DC +1.202.602.1295
Access Code 905-461-320#
Meeting information:
VPWG Meeting Agenda
VPWG Meeting Minutes -- see this page for past meeting minutes
We are governed under these documents:
IPR policy for IDESG: http://www.idesg.org/portals/0/documents/governance/IDESG%20IPR-Policy.pdf
How to Join
If you're interested in the VPWG committee, join us for one of our bi-monthly Friday meetings to learn more about our work. You may also join the group by adding yourself to our mailing list at IDESG.org. If you have any questions, please contact firstname.lastname@example.com.
To join our VPWG group as a member, you must join IDESG. Information about that is here: http://www.idesg.org/Membership/Become-a-Member.
Join the org, sign the IPR agreement in order to contribute, and then join the VPWG maillist which will be available in the 'members only' section.
Need Vulnerable Populations help?
Check out our use cases compiled to help others understand the problems vulnerable people face VPWG Use Cases.


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We Are Here to Help
Listed here are some of your most useful academic resources.
Resources for Currently Enrolled Students
Online Advising Student Information System (OASIS) Student Portal
The OASIS Student Portal is an online resource for students to access tools and information related to academic advising and their academic record.
Forms and Petitions
Do you need to change of major? Declare a minor? Find the links for these and other requests.
Degree Requirements (includes self-check)
A complete guide to all of your College and University Requirements.
Graduation and Commencement
Congratulations! But don't forget to file to graduate! This page outlines the current dates and deadlines to keep in mind.
Resources for Incoming Freshmen and Transfer Students
Freshman and Transfer Students
Upon admission to UC Davis, all incoming freshmen and transfer students are expected to attend Orientation. The Orientation program provides essential information and guidance for new students at UC Davis. Learn more about orientation, academic expectation, how to register and more.
International Students
Throughout your entire academic career at UC Davis you will be meeting with your International Academic Advisors. Whether you are a new freshman, transfer student or continuing international student, we are here to help you graduate and attain any goals beyond your degree. Learn more about your advisors and how we can help.


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The traditional, vegetable stearin-based formula is enriched with natural ingredients making it notably concentrated and rich. Natural active ingredients nourish and regenerate dry skin and soften even the toughest beard. Shea Butter keeps the skin soft and elastic. Sandal Oil has a calming, anti-inflammatory effect
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I just received a retail catalog in the mail. You know the kind – the one with trashy jewelry, unbecoming apparel, and nick knacks to help clutter your home in easy installment plan payments. It made me wonder who would buy this ugly stuff! And then I remembered the old adage, "beauty is in the eye of the beholder." This retail store has an audience that has kept them in business for decades.
There's a lesson to be learned here: you need to stick with your audience. Whatever products you market, you need to know who you're selling to and why they're buying it. If it isn't the beauty of theitem, what is it? A connection they make with the product? A usefulness that goes beyond the design?
Fastcompany.com has a great article on "Why Ugly Sells" and the author says, you need to "understand the emotional sources for taste so that you can appeal to them." Read Article…
Elliott Cunningham is a marketing strategist and a Nashville businessman. He has also been working in the entertainment industry since 1997. Mr. Cunningham has a track record of conceptualizing, creating, developing, and marketing a variety of business concepts.


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Popular Brands
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Showing products from Molecule Labs
Product List
- Molecule Labs Care Kit
- Molecule Labs Protector
- Molecule Labs Refresh
- Molecule Labs Spot Cleaner
- Molecule Labs Wash
- Molecule Labs Wash Kit
- Molecule Labs Athlete Kit
- Molecule Labs Helmet Anti-Fog
- Molecule Labs Helmet Care Kit
- Molecule Labs Helmet Cleaner and Polish
- Molecule Labs Helmet Rain Repel
- Molecule Labs Helmet Refresh
- Molecule Matte Detailer
- Molecule Labs Speed Cleaner
- Molecule Labs Detailer
- Molecule Labs Detailer Speed Kit
Molecule Labs Care Kit
Everything you need to care for your gear is here in your Complete Care Kit which contains a 16 oz. Trigger Spray Wash. 16 oz. Refresh, 16 oz. Protect, 4 oz. Spot Cleaner, Repelant Test Solution and Measuring Cup. Caring for your racing suit has never been easier. No more expensive dry cleaning. Molecule now makes machine washing the best way to care for Nomex and other technical fabrics. Ordinary laundry detergents contain additives that can attract moisture, oils and flammable stains......
Molecule Labs Protector
Molecule Protector bonds to Nomex fabric to help reduce flammable stains from oil, grease, fuel, dirt, and other contaminants that may compromise the effectiveness of your racing suit. Product includes 16 ounce protector in spray bottle.
Molecule Labs Refresh
Molecule Refresher keeps suits fresh over long racing weekends and between washings. It contains an antimicrobial agent to inhibit the growth of bacterial odors. Available in convenient 4 ounce and 16 oz. containers. Don't forget, this product is excellent for helmet liners, gloves and more. Reduces odor on all types of technical fabric Maintains fabric breathability Cosmetic-grade, skin friendly ingredients Light fresh scent Recommended for Nomex and other technical fabrics
Molecule Labs Spot Cleaner
Molecule Spot Cleaner penetrates deeply into Nomex fabric to safely dissolve and suspend tough spots and stains Powerful ingredients quickly break down spots and stains that can degrade fabric performance Concentrated formula penetrates deeply and safely to dissolve embedded spots and stains For use with Molecule Wash
Molecule Labs Wash
Effectively cleans Nomex fabric in standard washing machines Removes contaminants that can degrade fabric performance Antimocrobial agent inhibits the growth of bacterial odors Concentrated formula effectively cleans technical fabrics in standard high efficiency washing machines Maintains fabric breathability Contains a fabric brightener to help you look your best Recommended for Nomex and other technical fabrics


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Three more WIPs have been hit by this month's madness…
#4 – Textile Heritage Fairytale Bookmark
Before & After (6 hours):
#5 – Hinzeit Dark Shadows
After (3.5 hours – busy couple of days). I thought I had a before shot, but evidently not! When I picked it up I had the "H" and the spider done, so not bad for the short time 🙂
#6 – Textile Heritage Welsh Farm (new start!)
Completed in 5.5 hours:
#7 – Primrose Needleworks LUV Letters
45 minutes in and I remember why I put it down. There's a border of GAST Buttermilk on the Magnolia 40-ct linen (part of it is already stitched above the "Letters") and it's like stitching white on white…. ugh.


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Getting Better..
I am getting a bit better.
I lost my kitten Marilyn last week. The whole week had been extremely crazy and such an emotional rollercoaster ride. But I'm not gonna elaborate about that in here.
However, I've been feeling somewhat a little bit better due to some stuff so I think I've gathered enough strength to move on.
So hopefully I can continue with blogging again.
Gosh it's December! It's the season to be jolly.. and also depressing because it's the mark of end of year. Argh.
So yeah, hopefully I can continue blogging again. Praying and wishing that nothing bad happens again.


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Sword collecting articles
Real swords, Guide for beginners in buying authentic swords and avoid purchasing cheaply and poorly made fake swords.
Brief History of Swords, Learn the different types of sword according to the different eras they existed. Learn about the origin of the sword.
Antique samurai sword value, "How much is this old samurai sword worth?†If you inherited, bought or in possession of an antique katana, tanto or wakizashi, you may have already asked this question.
7 Swords, Seven Swords is a Hong Kong blockbuster hit of 2005 starring Chinese martial arts legends Donnie Yen Chi-Tan, Liu Chia-Lang (Lau Kar-leung), and director Tsui Hark.
Lord of the Rings swords, One of the most popularly traded, Anduril the sword of Aragorn has already been interpreted to real life by readers and sword aficionado years before the movie was released.
Final Fantasy swords, Final Fantasy is a Japanese multimedia franchise that is into PC, video games, console games, role playing games (RPG), animation, motion picture, and comic books.
Spartan sword, The Spartan sword is reserved for close combat, when the phalanx has cracked open or the shield has splintered or the spearhead has broken off.
Reverse blade sword, Hitokiri Battousai is the world's deadliest samurai assassin in 18th century Japan, a violent era called Bakumatsu, when he suddenly disappeared.
Sword of Damocles, The Sword of Damocles has been a legend since the ancient times yet its lesson endures without end. Historians first attribute it to Timaeus of Sicily in the 3rd century BC although it is believed to be much older than that.
Highlander swords, The 1986 fantasy film Highlander is considered one of the biggest franchises of pulp fiction.
Excalibur sword, King Arthur's supernatural power has been attributed to the enchanted Sword in the Stone named Clarent.
Dragon sword, Among fantasy swords, dragon sword has the most number of replicas, interpretation, and fiction.
Daywalker sword, The Daywalker sword was the stuff of 1973 comic book titled, Blade.
Dark fantasy swords, Dark fantasy swords are the weapons used by the heroes and villains of a subgenre of fantasy. Dark fantasy is a combination of supernatural horror, suspense and fantasy.
How to buy fantasy and movie prop swords, Many fantasy sword collectors today have been avid fans of a popular video, online role-playing games, or anime movies.
Civil war cavalry swords, In the history of Civil War swords, the first of cavalry swords used by American generals and officers were European imports.
Essential facts about the scimitar sword, A scimitar is a type of sword that has a sharp point and curved blade, which belongs to the category of cutting weapons.
Light saber, Wanting to fight with a sword like Master Yoda or Darth Vader or Obi Wan Kenobi? Learn here the rich narrative of the Star Wars universe and the light sabers of Jedi masters.
Fencing saber, The modern saber used in fencing matches is quite different from the traditional cavalry sabers of the past
Fencing rapiers, Early rapiers, as noted in the article history of rapier, were heavy and used decisively for cutting and thrusting.
History of rapier, Rapier first appeared in late medieval period, a time when commoners, merchants, and townsfolk prospered through war lootings
What is a rapier?, A rapier is a single-handed, slender blade with a thick cross-section. The blade may or may not have any edges
German daggers, To learn the importance of Nazi daggers, we need to look at the history of Germany first.
History of daggers, The creation of daggers started with the discovery and mining of pliable, but sturdy metals.
What is a dagger?, A dagger has the size of a knife. It is a one-handed, bladed shortsword made up of two cutting edges tapering to a sharp point along the centerline of the blade.
Medieval fantasy swords, Medieval fantasy swords are, in all sense, fantasy swords. They come in all unusual shapes and sizes, all of them grabbing our attention on the first glance.
Medieval sword fighting, The Romans were the first people who have started using sword in a large scale.
Knights templar swords, Out of the countless knights and knight orders in the Medieval Ages, none is more popular subject of speculation than the Knights Templar.
Viking swords, It isn't true the Vikings, also called the Normans or the Nordic tribes, did not know civilization during the Middle Ages.
Knight sword, Folklores have not spared the knight sword of the Medieval Ages from attaining mythical status.
How to collect medieval swords, If you are planning to build a sword collection, here are our seven expert advice before you get started
History of medieval sword, Medieval swords are like leaves. They spring forth from different branches, but they belong to only one tree.
What is a medieval sword?, For historians, this is not an easy question to answer. They may point to a large sword now on display in Fries museum of Netherlands.
Roman sword fighting techniques, The Roman army was considered the best of its days, and it heavily used military science to defeat enemies.
History of Roman swords, Read on and discover how the Roman swords have swept the ancient Europe, Asia, and Africa to establish the greatest Empire of the ancient world.
What is a Roman sword?, If legends are true historical accounts, the origin of Rome is bathed in blood. It is said that Romulus and Remus founded Rome along the banks of river Tiber, Italy, in 8th century.
Greek sword fighting, If there is one proof to the strength of Greek sword fighting, it would be the Battle of Marathon in 490 B.C.
History of Greek swords, The history of Greek swords is the history of the Greek civilization. The life of a Greek citizen is considered incomplete without his participation to a war
What is a Greek sword?, The Greeks did not invent war, much as they did not invent the wheel. But they invented pretty much everything, from philosophy to stage drama to astronomy to tactical battle positions.
Antique Japanese sword value, Traditional Japanese swords, also referred to as nihonto, are the finest cutting weapon ever produced; and they're highly-priced.
Civil war swords value, One of the best militaria collectibles from the American Civil War period is the sword.
Fake antique Japanese swords, Antique sword identification of old Japanese swords from the olden times is a very specialized skill. There are over 200 accessories of samurai swords, resulting to endless variety of designs.
Antique Japanese swords, Soldiers of today do not use swords as primary weapons, knowing that there are not anymore efficient.
Rare swords, Serious collectors always turn their attention to acquiring rare swords, weapons of the past that are rich in stories of warfare and filled with extraordinary tales of heroism.
Antique sword auctions, Antique sword auctions are considered to be the largest source of authentic swords from the past, next to barter and direct selling.
Antique sword value, If you plan on having your sword appraised, you must at least have a well-founded idea of its identity and worth.
Real ninja swords, Learn what is a ninja sword and discover the tricks, treacheries and other deceitful ways of a ninja to accomplish a mission.
Ninja sword history, A ninja is a Japanese warrior highly trained in unconventional arts of war. They have a sword called ninjato which they bring along wherever they go.
Old Japanese military sword value, Right after the 2nd World War, thousands of Japanese military swords, or gunto, were surrendered to the Allied Forces.
What is a ninja sword?, Know what a ninjato is and find out whether real ninja swords still exist in modern times.
Japanese sword sharpening, In Japan, sword-making was a sacred craft of mountain monks. The work later on was handed to blacksmithing families where the secrets of forging and alchemy were transmitted generation to generation.
Japanese long sword, Japanese long sword or a daito is the most common weapon used by the samurai in the pre-Industrial era of Japan. In the contemporary times, it aptly symbolizes the glorious conquests.
Japanese iaido swords, Japanese iaido swords, more commonly known as iaito, are the weapons used in practicing the Japanese martial art iaido.
Japanese sword markings, Japanese sword markings are very significant in identifying an authentic Japanese sword. The age and value of antique Japanese swords are also determined through file marks that are etched on the tang.
Japanese sword making, This article will help you distinguish an authentic from fake Japanese swords by learning the basics of Japanese sword making.
Japanese sword history, Meet the greatest swordsmith of Japan history. Masamune was known for his high quality and beautiful swords despite the impurities of steel in his time.
Japanese sword FAQ, Are you an expert sword collector or are you just starting to love Japanese sword collecting? But whether you a novice collector or not, surely you also have some queries about your hobby.
Sharpening katana, For ancient smiths katana sword was not only a matter of forging, but it was also a matter of sharpening.
Original katanas, Our knowledge on original katana is based largely on the many stories we find from Japanese animation shows.
Katana training, A Japanese sword is a prominent and sacred icon to the Japanese culture. One of the Three Sacred Treasures of Japan (Imperial Regalia) is a sword which has been handed down through many generations.
History of the katana, The katana sword is also referred to as the Samurai sword though that is only one of the swords that a Samurai warrior brings with him in battle.
What is a katana sword?, One of the most famous Japanese swords until today is the katana sword also referred as the samurai sword.
Authentic samurai sword, An authentic Samurai sword is quite hard to find nowadays, and when you would happen to find one, it could be quite expensive.
Samurai swords parts, The Samurai sword is an ancient Japanese sword known to be the deadliest weapon of the high-ranked warriors in warfare.
Samurai sword set, In pre-industrial Japan, a samurai sword forged for a long time and was considered a sacred art of sword making.
How to collect samurai swords, Interested in collecting samurai swords? Great. You go over the internet to know a bit of facts about them.
Samurai sword history, Samurai sword history are shrouded in mystery and legends. One of these stories point out to a master swordsmith by the name Amakuni from Yamato Province.
What is a Samurai sword?, Learn why the katana swords remain to be a most important piece of Japan history and why it is one of the most popularly collected swords for enthusiasts.
Paul Chen katana, Read on and discover the beauty and art of Paul Chen katana sword.
Katana making and marking, Making katana sword is a sacred art in Japan history. It is a long and a ritualistic process that would take days to weeks and could only create one sword at a time.
Masamune sword, Read all about the legendary swords of Goro Nyudo Masamune and know why they are considered national treasures of Japan.
How to make a sword?, Sword making is something that requires sufficient knowledge and great experience.
Civil war swords history, The American Civil War was not a test for arms and military superiority. Soldiers were simple farmers and working fathers rooted out of their homes to fight for the ideals and values they believe in.
What is a civil war sword?, This introduction to Civil War swords will not only answer your frequently asked questions on sword collecting, but will also lead you to the heart of American democracy.
What is a Chinese sword?, Learn about the Chinese sword history and the different types of swords from China: jian, dadao, hook sword, butterfly knives and changdao.
Master replicas sparrow sword, Jack Sparrow, as portrayed by Johnny Depp, is one of the heroes of this pirates tale and other than his character in the movie his sword became popular among collectors of movie props sword.
Fantasy pirate sword, Pirates have been sailing and conducting robberies in the seas for as long as mankind has used the sea for trade.
What is a cutlass sword?, These weapons are usually sturdy enough to break down doors and cut rope, and short enough for close combat on the deck of ships, so it is commonly referred to as a sailors sword.
Sword care and maintenance, Learn how to maintain your sword collection. Not taking care of it can lead to early deterioration while caring for it the wrong way may decrease their value.
Ornamental swords, Ornamental swords also known as decorative swords come in different shapes, sizes and origins. These weapons may have been replicas of legendary swords that were used by heroes and villains since time immemorial both with factual and fictional backgrounds.
Cheap sword for sale, For most avid collectors of these weapons, the aesthetic value of a piece is only a meter of the whole nine yards of what they are looking for.
Replica sword, Replica collectible swords can be functional and can also be purely decorative. They can be imitations of medieval swords and movie replica swords.
Types of Swords, To list down all the different types of swords could possibly take a long time and a long read.
Sword collecting for beginners, Sword collecting for beginners may sound exciting especially for the young new collectors.
Katana sword faq, Here are the most frequently asked questions about katana swords and their corresponding answers.
Best samurai swords, Whether you're looking for antique or modern samurai swords, it is always necessary to look at their quality. This article is going to teach you how to buy the best samurai Japanese swords for sale.
What is a pirate sword?, Almost all of pirate swords were plunders from seized ships. Thus, the pirates could possess many exotic scimitars, falchion, rapiers and other swords..
Greek swords FAQ, This article answers your most frequently asked questions about Greek culture in general and ancient Greek swords in particular.
What are saber swords?, Military strategists and weaponry makers throughout history have given special attention to the needs of the cavalry and infantry.


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Fragile Packaging
Reduce your packaging process costs as well as your environmental impact through one of Universal Protective Packaging, Inc.'s licensed post-consumer recycled material fragility packaging solutions. Each of these packaging solutions are produced from clean, recycled, reprocessed and thermoformed HDPE material.
The patented Geospring® and U-Pad & Lid® thermoformed fragility packaging solutions will help your company realize total cost of ownership saving of 15-30% or more compared to expensive and bulky expanded polystyrene or laminated PE plank foam end caps.
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Newsletter #377 Preview: The Rumor Report: Do You Really Believe that Stuff?February 18th, 2007
This week, while casually surfing the Internet between stints editing my radio shows, I caught a couple of articles speculating about a possible new miniature note-book from Apple. It hearkens back to the PowerBook 2400, which was popular in Japan, but not so popular in the U.S.
Now it might make sense from a business standpoint to have a product that would invigorate stalling Mac sales in Japan, which is a huge market for technological goodies. While it might be a nice idea, Apple really isn't forced to build "world computers,†which must be essentially the same from one end of the planet to another.
At the same time, forget the logic of such a product. The facts are that nothing of the sort has been announced by Apple, and rumors in the past that one plant or another is about to build one of these computers haven't been terribly accurate. In fact, you should consider them basically untrue.
So where are the rumor sites getting this stuff, or do the just make it all up, with the hope that a few will catch a breeze and actually represent a forthcoming Apple product? That would give them sufficient bragging rights to demonstrate that they do indeed have great inside sources that deliver the real dirt to them and them alone.
Story continued in this week's Tech Night Owl Newsletter.
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Health and Well-being news alert Issue 61
Toolkit – Youth Social Action in Health and Social Care
This toolkit takes an inclusive and broad approach to social action and volunteering – including both formal and informal opportunities for young people to engage within health and care settings and wider activity that is often described as social action.
To view the toolkit, go to: http://volunteeringmatters.org.uk/report/toolkit-youth-social-action-in-health-and-social-care/
Better Care Exchange
The Better Care Exchange is a collaborative, online space for sharing learning, information and good practice on delivering better, integrated health and social care. It brings together all key documents related to integrated care, and pools knowledge from a range of programmes including the Better Care Fund programme, Integration Pioneers and the Integrated Personal Commissioning programme.
The Exchange has been co-designed with practitioners, service users and carers, and provides support for all those involved in shaping, commissioning and providing better, integrated care.
Please click on this link to be taken to the Better Care Exchange
Clampdown on staffing agencies charging NHS extortionate rates
Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has ordered a clampdown as part of tough new financial controls to cut down on waste in the NHS.
To read more, go to: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/clampdown-on-staffing-agencies-charging-nhs-extortionate-rates
How can we afford the kind of care we all want?
Secretary of State for Health Jeremy Hunt has written about the need for delivering safer services and lower costs in the NHS.
To read the article, go to: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/how-can-we-afford-the-kind-of-care-we-all-want
Simon Stevens issues clarion call to NHS leaders to redesign care for patients
The head of NHS England has issued a clarion call to health care leaders to redesign the care of patients across the NHS so that it is sustainable for the future and better able to meet the needs of patients.
Speaking to delegates at the NHS Annual Conference in Liverpool on Wednesday, Simon Stevens set out three priorities: putting the NHS on a financially sustainable footing, redesigning care, and getting serious about prevention.
To read more, go to: http://www.england.nhs.uk/2015/06/03/redesign-care/
Blogposts: Volunteers' Week 2015
To mark Volunteers' Week NHS England ran a series of blogs from volunteers, and the organisations who support them.
- What do I owe you for this? - Tony Bonser gives an insight into the invaluable work of those who give their time freely to help people in hospices
- Showing disabled children that anything is possible - Jacqui Adeniji-Williams talks about her work with Whizz-Kidz
- Helping young people deal with the stigma of mental ill health - Dr Niklas Serning talks about the work of Off the Record Bristol with young people
- Helping women affected by cervical cancer - Rob Music gives an insight into the invaluable work of those who help Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust
Obesity data challenge calls innovators to bid for new £30k prize
A £30,000 international challenge prize – the first of its kind – is up for grabs to innovators or organisations who can publish or present data on obesity in a new, exciting and useful way.
The challenge, to promote innovation in open data, is being carried out in both England and the US and will either help create an innovative tool by 'mashing up' existing data or will help publish data collected but not publicly available.
To read more, go to: http://www.england.nhs.uk/2015/06/01/obesity-data-challenge/
Reducing high smoking rates among patients in mental health units
PHE and NHS England have published new guidance to help medium and low secure mental health units best implement the NICE recommendation that all NHS funded sites should provide access to on-site stop smoking services and deliver care in an environment free of smoke. The guidance highlights case studies which show the benefits of completely smokefree mental health units, where service users are provided support to stop smoking.
Nationally 33% of people with a mental health problem smoke compared to 18.7% in the population as a whole. A PHE and NHS England survey found that smoking rates among service users in mental health units is even higher at 64%. High smoking rates among people with mental health problems are the single largest contributor to their 10 to 20-year reduced life expectancy.
View the full press release here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/reducing-high-smoking-rates-among-patients-in-mental-health-units
Call to improve young people's health and wellbeing in the West Midlands
Public Health England in the West Midlands is inviting public health stakeholders to join forces in providing better and more joined up services for young people across the region.
PHE's Improving Young People's Health and Wellbeing framework was the focus of a regional conference on Friday 5 June, held at West Midlands Fire Service headquarters in Birmingham.
The framework, for people aged 10 to 24, provides guidance and practical support on issues such as tackling teenage pregnancy, smoking and drug use, as well as promoting positive mental health.
See more here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/call-to-improve-young-peoples-health-and-wellbeing-in-the-west-midlands
Rush hour challenge for cyclists, runners and walkers in West Midlands
Wednesday June 3 saw cyclists, runners and walkers try and beat car drivers during the rush hour in Birmingham, Walsall and Solihull in the annual Rush Hour Challenge.
The event was supported by PHE West Midlands as one way of encouraging people to build physical activity into everyday life and putting "Everybody Active, Every Day" into practice.
Published by PHE in October 2014, Everybody Active, Every Day is a framework for national and local action to address the national physical inactivity epidemic, responsible for 1 in 6 deaths and costing the country an estimated £7.4 billion a year.
See the rest here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/rush-hour-challenge-for-cyclists-runners-and-walkers-in-west-midlands
Engaging people with lived experience of severe and multiple disadvantage
In January 2015 Shaping Our Lives and User Voice carried out research into the experience of user led organisations and programmes in securing funding and the challenges they face. They had been commissioned by a funder to support them in their ambition to become more user led in their funding and decision making processes. The report, Engaging people with lived experience of severe and multiple disadvantage, is now available to read. Shaping Our Lives and User Voice are now looking to disseminate the learning as widely as possible.
If you would be interested in a workshop or training within your organisation then do get in touch with email@example.com
To read: http://www.shapingourlives.org.uk/ourpubs.html#Engaging
FaithAction is looking for case studies
Building on their work on faith groups and public health, FaithAction are looking for examples of the work faith groups do to improve health outcomes, to gather information on what works and develop a resource booklet of these great stories to give ideas to faith groups and public health officials on how they can also help improve outcomes.
If you know of any groups who may be interested, please email Andrew Welsby – email@example.com
Please also share this with your networks or anyone else you think may be interested.
Events: TLAP "Empowering and Engaging Communities" regional events
Colleagues from REF and Volunteering Matters have been assisting the Think Local Act Personal Partnership (TLAP) with arrangements for four regional events (London 2 July, Manchester 7 July, Manchester 19 July and Birmingham 14 July) that will explore how communities can be more effectively empowered and engaged in ways which help to promote health and well-being.
Details of the four events here [114kB PDF]
Person Centred Care and Volunteering: Top Tips
This top tips guide has been produced by ECORYS, In Control and Volunteering Matters. The guide has been informed by conversations with and the experience of people using personal health budgets and features a foreword from Vidhya Alakeson, Chief Executive of the Power to Change charitable trust.
To read the guide, go to: http://volunteeringmatters.org.uk/app/uploads/2015/05/Centred-care-top-tips.pdf
Huge response to Mental Health Taskforce survey
Over 20,000 people have taken part in a recently launched online survey, aimed to gather the views and expertise of families and professionals on mental health provision. The information gathered by the Mental Health Taskforce will be used to develop a national five year strategy for mental health.
Campaign: Be Clear on Cancer - Breast Cancer in women over 70
A national reminder campaign to raise awareness of breast cancer in women over 70 will run from 13 July to 6 September 2015. The Be Clear on Cancer campaign will inform women over 70 that if they see any changes to their breasts they should see their doctor straight away.
Further information is on the Cancer Research UK National Awareness and Early Diagnosis Initiative (NAEDI) website. Campaign materials can be ordered from the Orderline, or phone 0300 123 1002.
Event: Voluntary and community sector supporting the emotional and mental health of children and young people, July 13th, London
Free Seminar
Location: CAN Mezzanine, 49-51 East Street, London N1 6AH
Date: July 13th, 10am – 2pm
National Children's Bureau, and the Young People's Health Partnership are hosting this free seminar as part of their role as Health and Care Voluntary Sector Strategic Partners. Following the publication of Future in mind, the report produced by the Children and Young People's Mental Health and Wellbeing Taskforce, this event will provide an opportunity for voluntary and community sector (VCS) organisations working with children and young people to:
• Learn more about this DH/NHS England report and the relevance and implications of its messages for the VCS
• Look at the different roles that the VCS can play in supporting CYP mental health and wellbeing and the resultant training and support needs of VCS staff
• Share ideas, potential solutions, practice and service examples likely to help take forward key messages and address challenges highlighted
To book this event please go to the Eventbrite webpage http://volcommunitysupportingchildrenmentalhealth.eventbrite.co.uk
Health and wellbeing board VCS engagement- survey results published
Regional Voices has published the full survey report from the survey conducted earlier this year about how the voluntary and community sector (VCS) is engaging with health and wellbeing boards (HWB). 780 people responded over the three surveys. Specific questions were asked to VCS representatives on health and wellbeing boards, Healthwatch reps on the boards and to the wider VCS, interested in engaging with the HWB.
This has been the third survey about VCS engagement with health and wellbeing boards. Encouragingly, some good practice for how boards involve the VCS is emerging. However, some challenges remain. It feels like the VCS is continuing to be under-utilised by local partners in health and care.
Although there is considerable desire in the VCS to work with HWBs, only 22% of respondents reported being able to link in with local Healthwatch or a sub-group of the HWB and around 30% were able to raise issues with a VCS rep and only 9% of respondents felt their organisation was linked with the work of the HWB (a reduction since the last survey).
The survey captures good practice and challenges and makes recommendations to help improve development of working links between the VCS, Healthwatch and health and wellbeing boards.
Read the survey report and summary with recommendations: http://www.regionalvoices.org/hwb-reps/survey
Briefings: Practical guides to engagement with CCGs and HWBs
Compact Voice and Regional Voices have launched two briefings designed to help voluntary organisations to build strong partnerships with local commissioning bodies. The briefings are based on the experiences of a range of voluntary organisations who have established strong partnerships with local health bodies. Their knowledge and tips have been translated into a number of practical steps organisations can take to engage better with CCGs and health and wellbeing boards.
Practical guide to engaging with health and wellbeing boards- http://www.compactvoice.org.uk/resources/briefings-and-guidance/practical-guide-engaging-health-and-wellbeing-boards
Practical guide to engaging with clinical commissioning groups- http://www.compactvoice.org.uk/resources/briefings-and-guidance/practical-guide-engaging-clinical-commissioning-groups
Compact Voice has also produced two further guides:
Practical Guide to Engaging Police and Crime Commissioners http://www.compactvoice.org.uk/resources/briefings-and-guidance/practical-guide-engaging-police-and-crime-commissioners
Practical Guide to Engaging Local Enterprise Partnerships: http://www.compactvoice.org.uk/resources/briefings-and-guidance/practical-guide-engaging-local-enterprise-partnerships-leps
Report: Tackling Inequalities in the CJS
Clinks' latest report, 'Tackling inequality in the Criminal Justice System' highlights how different groups have successfully advocated for the needs of people from equalities groups and minority communities, including people with learning disabilities, older offenders, young Muslim men, women in prison and LGBT offenders.
People from many equality and minority groups are overrepresented in the Criminal Justice System (CJS), with a large proportion of offenders facing some form of discrimination or disadvantage. The report includes useful resources, tips and recommendations for policy makers, commissioners and voluntary organisations.
"The value of this report is that it does not waste time and space rehearsing the depressing level of inequality within the criminal justice system, with which everyone is familiar. Instead, it focuses on practical ways forward grounded in the real life work of a number of pioneering voluntary sector organisations." Russell Webster, Criminal Justice commentator
The report summarises presentations and discussions from a seminar held in November 2014, and highlights solutions to challenges for policy makers and commissioners to tackle inequality in the CJS at each stage of the commissioning cycle.
The report can be downloaded here: http://www.clinks.org/resources-reports/tackling-inequality-criminal-justice-system
The UK Civil Society Almanac 2015
The UK Civil Society Almanac 2015 is now live – you'll find all the new data on the voluntary sector here: http://data.ncvo.org.uk/
Public services must 'wake up' to gaps in mental health crisis care, warns CQC
People who are having a mental health crisis are not always receiving care and support when and where they need it, the regulator has found.
In a national report, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) has raised concerns that public services, such as local authorities, NHS trusts and clinical commissioning groups, are failing to work together to make sure that people in their local areas have access to crisis care around the clock. Also, it found that healthcare professionals, such as those in A&E, can appear to lack compassion and warmth in how to care for and speak to people who are having a crisis, including those who have harmed themselves.
As part of its review, CQC sought views from people who have experienced different types of mental health crisis care. It found that while 86% of those who had received care and support from charities and volunteers felt that their concerns had been taken seriously by them, only 37% said that they felt this from A&E staff. This is worrying as these professionals should be trained in how to care for and respond to them. In particular, people often reported poor attitudes from staff towards their injuries caused by self-harm. Overall, only 14% of people thought the care they received provided the right response and helped them to resolve their crisis.
To read more and download the report, go to: http://www.cqc.org.uk/content/new-report-looking-people%E2%80%99s-experience-care-during-mental-health-crisis
Two new care model vanguard opportunities
Health organisations and local partnerships have two more opportunities to take up the challenge to become new care model vanguards. Expressions of interest are being sought from local hospitals wanting to work on collaborative ways of redesigning acute care for patients and for parts of the country to step forward to change the way the urgent care system works.
Leading Transformational Change programme open for application
NHS Improving Quality's Advancing Change Team is now recruiting to its Leading Transformational Change programme, offering support to help senior leaders build their transformational change capacity as they deliver system wide change.
Report: Mental health crisis review – experiences of black and minority ethnic communities
Together with the Care Quality Commission, The Race Equality Foundation has today published a report on mental health crisis care. The Race Equality Foundation report fed into the CQC report, and has also been published in it's own right.
The CQC report found that mental health crisis services are 'inadequate.' Just 14 per cent of people said the care they received was right and helped resolve their crisis. Most people had come into contact with at least three difference services, and just over one in ten people with six to ten services.
The Race Equality Foundation report found black and minority ethnic patients experience discrimination and poor service in crisis care.
The CQC report is available here
The Race Equality Foundation report is available here
Survey: voluntary sector involvement in local public health commissioning
Deadline for the survey is 3rd July
Are you an employee or a volunteer involved in management/governance within the VCSE sector? If so, a research team led by Durham University, in collaboration with VONNE (the Voluntary Organisations' Network North East) and the Universities of York and Coventry is seeking your views, through an online survey, of changes in health and wellbeing services since public health responsibilities were transferred to local government in April 2013, and how VCSE organisations are being involved.
The research team are interested in a broad range of services designed to improve health and address inequalities, 7 including community development and wellbeing; lifestyle management services; health checks; preventive initiatives as part of services for particular client groups; and involvement in health-related initiatives across local authority directorates (such as environment, leisure, planning).
To read more and take part in the survey, go to: http://www.regionalvoices.org/node/299 If you have any queries please contact: Contact Catherine Taylor at: firstname.lastname@example.com
Survey: Is the NHS Standard Contract a barrier to commissioning VCSE organisations?
The survey will close at 10am on 27 July.
We have been told that VCSE organisations find the NHS Standard Contract a barrier to having their services commissioned by the NHS. Consequently NHS chief, Simon Stevens, committed to exploring a shorter version of the NHS Standard Contract for low-value contracts, in the NHS Five Year Forward View (http://www.regionalvoices.org/node/265).
Regional Voices, working with NHS England, is carrying out this survey to help understand specific issues which organisations have experienced in using the NHS Standard Contract. We expect the survey to take no more than 15 minutes.
Take the survey about the NHS Standard Contract for VCSE organisations: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NHS5YFV-VCSE
More information about VCSE commissioning issues in health and wellbeing and the background to this work on the Standard Contract: http://www.regionalvoices.org/NHSStandardContract NHS England will undertake its annual, wider, consultation in preparation for the 2016/17 Contract later this year, which VCSE organisations will also be invited to participate in.
If you have any queries about this survey, or would like any support filling it in, contact Emma Baylin or Yoshiko Stokoe on 0113 394 2300 or email firstname.lastname@example.com
Consultation: NICE Quality Standard Consultation On Domestic Abuse – A Reminder
NICE are currently consulting on the above quality standard and responses must be sent to NICE by 5 pm on Tuesday 14th July 2015.
To read more and take part in the consultation, go to: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/indevelopment/GID-QSD106/consultation/domestic-violence-quality-standard-consultation
Survey: Electronic Prescription Service Patient Survey
Deadline: July 31st
The Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) allows your GP to send your prescription directly to your chosen pharmacy without a paper prescription. If your prescription is sent this way then you can help to improve this NHS service simply by sharing your experiences of using EPS.
If you would like to help NHS England then please take a few minutes to complete the anonymous EPS Patient Survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/epspatient
The survey will remain open until the 31st of July 2015 so please share it with friends and family who may also wish to improve NHS services.
Survey: Updating the Health Charter for social care providers
People with learning disabilites have worse health than the general population. The Health Charter has been developed for adult social care providers and staff who have an important role in helping people access good healthcare and lead a healthy lifestyle.
The work was developed in a partnership between the VODG, the National Development Team for Inclusion, Mencap, the National Care Forum and Public Health England.
With over 100 care providers now signed up to the guidance we are looking to evaluate the project and to update and refresh the guidance.
Providers signed up to the charter are invited to take part in this survey. Their views and experiences will help shape a refreshed guidance.
To take part in the survey, go here
Report: Solutions from the Frontline
A new report, launched by Making Every Adult Matter (a coalition of Clinks, Homeless Link, and Mind) shows that people experiencing multiple and complex needs are not getting the support they need, because policymakers are not consistently listening to them or the practitioners that support them.
Solutions from the Frontline is based on the ideas and experiences of people with multiple needs. It sets out how the new Government, as well as national and local policymakers and commissioners, can act to reduce stigma, improve services, and support people to achieve their ambitions.
The report's recommendations include:
• Listen to frontline voices and tackle stigma: The views of those with direct experience of multiple needs should be integrated into policy-making and the design and delivery of services.
• Deliver flexible and more joined-up services: Government and commissioners need to prioritise multiple needs and ensure that services are joined-up, flexible and don't allow anyone to fall through the gaps.
• Support people towards independence: Back-to-work support providers and local authorities should improve access to personalised support and quality accommodation to allow people with multiple needs to move towards independence.
People with multiple needs exist in every community in Britain. They experience a combination of problems at once, including mental health, substance misuse, homelessness and offending behaviour. They often have ineffective contact with existing services and overuse costly emergency and crisis services as a result.
We are calling for a new approach, where people experiencing multiple needs are placed at the centre of their own support, listened to, understood and have all their needs addressed.
To download the report, go to: http://www.clinks.org/resources-reports/multiple-and-complex-needs
Gender Variance - E-learning for GPs
The Role of GPs in the delivery of trans healthcare has featured frequently in the NHS England trans and non-binary consultation events. Professor Steve Field did mention during one of the workshops on this topic that a resource for GPs was being constructed. As the Gender Identity Research and Education Society (GIRES) has just announced, the new Gender Variance e-learning course, which it developed and funded, is now live on the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) website. GIRES is immensely grateful to the RCGP and the many individual contributors to this project.
This resource is designed to help GPs respond to the needs of adults and young people experiencing gender dysphoria. The numbers of trans people presenting for medical help are rising rapidly with waiting lists for access to specialist providers growing longer. The mental health of those unable to access treatment is likely to deteriorate gravely. GPs have a crucial role in providing appropriate medical care, leading to very positive outcomes.
The course will also enable all trans people, including those who are non-binary or non-gender, to engage positively with their GPs when seeking medical help.
The resource can be accessed here: http://elearning.rcgp.org.uk/gendervariance
This quick link should take the learner to the summary page of the course and if they select 'Start Gender Variance' the page will route them through to a login page – if the learner is not registered with the eLearning Platform they are given the option to register for free, after which they will be able to access the course (free of charge).
Please note: Although the registration form asks for GMC or NMC number this is not a required field and can be left blank allowing everyone to access the course.
If anyone has difficulty in accessing the above resource, please inform GIRES at: email@example.com