text:
Facebook Promoted Posts: Bait and Switch, Blackmail or Simple Desperation
Posted: 15 Oct 2012 05:09 AM PDT
Peanuts' character Lucy was an expert at bait and switch, and Charlie Brown fell for it every time.
With its aggressive push toward the use of advertising – especially Promoted Posts – Facebook could have many small business owners feeling as if they have been lured into a scheme that promised a platform for free promotion but delivered a ploy to poke deeper inside their pocketbooks.
Maybe I'm being a bit too harsh, but a recent Wall Street Journal article – What's a Facebook Fan Worth? – states that many entrepreneurs are "irked" at the notion of having to pay for posts in order to reach a larger number of their fan base. The article cites Mountain Home, Idaho, caterer Richard Bishop, who said that promoted posts could end up costing him $9,100 per year based on the number of posts he creates each week.
It goes without saying that every post doesn't have to be promoted and that posting frequency should be limited to no more than two per day, but that's not the point.
The point is, by forcing fan page owners to pony up anywhere from five to hundreds of dollars to promote posts that previously were free, Facebook has pulled a "bait and switch" on its business users. Even worse, the fact that non-paid for organic posts appear to have decreased reach (see here and here for data), one might consider it to be outright blackmail!
And the culprit, that darned IPO!
I said the other day that, thanks to the faltering IPO, Facebook would be forced to bolster its revenue, and it has chosen to do so via a number of advertising options, including promoted posts for both fan page owners and regular users alike.
This idea should cause no one to have a "Fred Sanford Big One" moment. Way back in February, marketing website Econsultancy drew the very same conclusion:
"[T]here is little doubt that the world's largest social network will face increased pressure to monetize once it's a publicly-traded entity. With user growth slowing, it will no longer be able to grow revenue as easily. That will not only push the company to monetize in currently unmonetised areas, like mobile ads, it may also logically push Facebook to serve more ads, and more aggressive ads."
The WSJ article said the same thing: "The initiative is just one example of recent moves by Facebook to prop up its sagging stock price with new money-making products."
Even though I'm using some strong language, I don't mean to suggest that Facebook has some nefarious motive in mind, only that it is acting (or reacting) out of a sense of desperation. Still (and call it what you will), the effect is the same: in order for content to be seen by more than a few fans, businesses now have to pay.
(Of course, Facebook is not the only social network charging to promote posts; Twitter does it and Foursquare is also testing a promoted posts concept.)
This leads me to one obvious conclusion: selling products and services via social networks is no longer free – not that it ever was. Until now, however, most of the cost was associated with time, which could be considered a soft cost. Now, we're talking hard costs in terms of dollars spent. And when it comes to that, businesses – especially smaller ones – are going to have to justify the investment.
Who's to say that Facebook won't supply some metrics-based solution to help, but who's to say it will either. After all, that's not the social network's priority (or problem). The company has its own costs to justify – the stock price. (Talk about bait and switch!)
So, what do you think? Are promoted posts worth the cost? Is Facebook driving a hard bargain? Or am I over the top to suggest that it's bait and switch?
I couldn't resist photographing these wonderful Jackson Pollock inspired trousers again. Outside Brew tonight.
couldn't agree more (from social commerce today)»
You may have already seen it 'The Condescending Corporate Brand Page" – a brilliant lampooning of brand Facebook Pages that takes aim at all the engagement monkeys out there destroying brand credibility with lame attempts to collect Likes (see accompanying Twitter Feed @corporate_brand). Like us if you think you're special, Like us if love animals, Like us if you want World Peace.
The Financial Times this morning approves, and thinks the-all-too-prevalent Condescending Corporate Brand Pages are desperate and decidedly uncool. Dad at school disco kind of thing. Hotpoint is singled out as a prime example. We agree. Brands are not people. They're trademarks imbibed with value designed to extract margin.
So what's a brand to do? Simple, get real and add a little value by realising that Facebook is a word of mouth platform. So use Facebook to listen to unfettered word of mouth around your brand. And as good friend and bestselling author Emanuel Rosen (The Anatomy of Buzz (still the best book ever written on word of mouth)), says the secret to word is simple – get your product into the hands of your fans and give them something to talk about. That's what Facebook is for – a seeding platform for activating fan advocacy with fan-first exclusives and fan-first promotions.
So stop collecting Likes and start driving value. And put the engagement monkeys back in the zoo.
(Source: new-adventure)
in the very near future anyone with a face can get checkin deals.
bringing the social web into the real world is cool and fun.
Great summary and insights for planners and creatives and all those inbetween.
Life Is Too Short for the Wrong Job, Scholz & Friends
(Source: crossconnectmag)
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text:
Txema skiing from 4000 m. on Cerro Yeseras.
Las Lenas this season was fun, strange, difficult, great and terrible. In general there was not a lot of snow, and some of us became a little unhappy during some of the times with bad weather, or bad snow. One Friend who has unshakable motivation and incredible stoke for all things skiing, Jordi Tenas was happy, and was always the go to guy for best ski partners. We became freinds last season when I met him, Txema Trull, and Adri Millan, the Catalans, some of the best people ever.
During my first few days skiing, we were met with fairly good ski conditions I would say. We found great snow in the shady and cold areas, and soft spring snow in the sunny spots.
Skiing the first day in a cold spot.
Jordi Tenas skiing in a sunny spot.
The mountains and the skiing in Las Lenas is amazing, and I usually follow Jordi around, because he has the best technique and is one of the best skiers I've seen. Highlights of the next 6 weeks included some of these things:
-Skiing Cerro Yeseras in the sunset, turning into full moon with Txema.
-1 Eduardos run with Jordi in amazing snow was really really fun.
-Watching the movie 'Step Brothers' with Adri Millan.
-Celebrating YaYa's birthday, a big event in Las Lenas.
-Going on a long distance camping mission to look at some incredible and
unexplored terrain with the strange young German kid, Moritz.
-Eating medialunas every day.
-Catching some vibes.
-Skiing some with Alejo, and visiting his house in Mendoza.
-Being rich guys in Mendoza with Eike Poppelmier.
-Getting to chill with Adria Perez, YaYa, Alfred, Maru, Mary Jo, Alejo, Matthi, Eike Poppelmier, Lee Lyon, everyone else in the family, and all the new friends.
Surfing some windlips (self portrait).
Riding with Alejo Sanchez.
Looking at some new terrain.
After me and Moritz returned from our expedition, we found it strangly quiet. It was the first time I've hung out in Las Lenas without the Catalans, and being alone in the appartment. Me and Moritz chilled out and the next day a big storm rolled through, with super high winds blowing everything over and away. We found it strange that Txema and Jordi hadn't returned, so the next morning we walked up to the Pisteros (Ski Patrol) office and asked if they had heard anything, and said we were a little concerned about our friends. They hadn't heard anything, so we decided to hike up to the spot were they were camping.
Txema and Jordi had been camping at a nice ski zone, Torrecillas, and we knew that they should be there. After hiking about an hour and a half, we were able to get our first close up look at the cirque of mountains were they were. It was surprising to see no ski tracks in the whole area, and a really big avalanche was very obvious, covering a big portion of the mountain. Still another hour and a half walk away, we ran as fast as we could toward the avalanche area, feeling really really bad and scared. Upon arrival, we found 2 debris feilds that were fairly big, but saw no signs of anything. At this point, a snowcat with 2 Pisteros showed up, and saying there was more help on the way. After searching through the first debris field, we found nothing and were somewhat hopefull that maybe they just were camping in a different zone. With the arrival of the second snowcat about 8 more Pisteros showed up, a dog, and one guy, Ticiano, who had been with them and seen where they had put they're tent a few days earlier.
Upon arriving at the next debris field, we saw one of Txema's skis sticking out of the snow, and it became obvious that they were camped there, and that since they were probably in thier tent, they might not have beacons on. We all immediatly started probing the area, and Ticiano showed us and the Pisteros the spot were he thought the tent was buried. After positive probe strikes the dog jumped in and further confermed that this was the place to dig. We dug about a meter or a meter and a half deep, and then came upon the top of a yellow tent. With a knife, a pistero cut the tent open and we saw Txema, really dark skinned and kind of purple. His hand was sticking out, and surprisingly I saw him move his fingers a little, which was really unreal. He was pulled out of the tent, concious and with his eyes open and immediatly loaded onto the snowcat and removed from the mountains. I tried to wake up Jordi, who was also lying there, but he was not alive. Me and Moritz tried our best to say goodbye to Jordi, and then skied down after the snowcat with Txema inside. It was a really unreal ski down from the scene, and really hard to believe the reality of what was going on, because Jordi was the safest, best skier, and this was the farthest thing away from what I could have pictured happening. They unfortunately put their tent in a bad spot.
Txema recovered quickly and within a day or 2 he was all better, which I am really gratefull for. It turned out the tent was hit by an avalanche in the night, and Txema had been buried for something like 15 hours before he was found.
Jordi was the best ski partner ever, and one of the best people also. Super generous, and huge part of Las Lenas for all the people who went there to ski rad lines. He was for sure the best skier I knew there, with incredibly perfect ski technique, which I immitated a lot and I think lots of others tried to ski like him too. He ate tons of medialunas everyday for breakfast and was more phsyced about skiing than anyone I've seen before. Just talking about skiing he would get really excited, and If you watch some of his gopro footage you will understand because he is always yelling and screaming about how stoked he is while skiing. At the end of good runs I've never seen anyone so happy and this made skiing with him super special, because he would get so stoked, that you would always remember those lines, and be really happy.

subset: commoncrawl


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Bob Weir Band's live music career is celebrated in the concert memorabilia available at Wolfgang's Vault. The Collection is divided into Bob Weir Band Posters, Bob Weir Band Photographs, Bob Weir Band Apparel as well as other Bob Weir Band memorabilia such as vintage tickets backstage passes and media like Rolling Stone magazines.


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Zdeno Chara reached out to Max Pacioretty after hit
|03.23.11 at 2:35 pm ET
WILMINGTON — To the surprise of nobody, both Boston and Montreal media surrounded Zdeno Chara's spot in the dressing room after Bruins' practice Wednesday. With the B's and Habs facing off Thursday for the first time since March 8's 4-1 Canadiens win, the attention naturally turns to the Bruins captain, who was tossed from the game after hitting Habs forward Max Pacioretty into a stanchion.
Chara received major criticism from fans north of the border, and a criminal investigation was even launched into whether the play served as grounds for assault charges. Chara, who was not suspended for the hit, said there might not be a point in trying to change people's minds.
"It's tough to really address that," Chara said. "I don't know if I should even try. It's one of those things where they probably are beleiving one thing, and it's really hard to explain that it just happened.
"I can't control how they talk about me, or what they say about me. I just try to focus on my game."
After being initially diagnosed with a severe concussion and a fractured vertebrae, Pacioretty, who said he felt Chara intended to harm him, has not spoken to the Bruins' captain.
"I made a few attempts," Chara said. "I'm waiting for some kind of response back, but so far nothing."
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onelinedrawing Visitor LP/CD (JT1076)


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The lingering pain from the most severe recession since World War II is partly to blame. Many boomers are on the verge of ending their work lives without fully recovering fortunes lost in the housing and stock markets. … Back to Article
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Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Apa pandangan Tuan? Lain2 kaum cuba pertikaikan keMelayuan kita? Juangkan "hak yang sama"?
The Truth Revealed (with evidence)
This is Malaysian true history. This came from the anthropological team from one of the Aussie universities. As far as I know, it is genuine, considering where it came from. Have a read and see what you think.
The Truth Revealed (with evidence)!
In June 1998, the government of Malaysia had hired a team of experts from all over the world to be gathered here in Malaysia for a research project to compliment the history studies that we undertook in our secondary school. The objective of the research is simply:
1. To find proof and evidence that show the Malays were the origins of Malaysia and they were the first race and religion that landed their feet in Malaysia.
2. To further strengthen their claims, first they need to find the graveyard of the Hang Tuah, Hang Jebat, Hang Lekiu and others... to show the existence of their pioneers.
3. The Batu Bersurat in Terengganu, reveals that the islamic religion has landed in Malaysia for more than a hundred years ago which further strengthen their claims!
BEWARE & OPEN YOUR EYES!!! Go and ask your brother, sister, niece, nephew etc. Since the year 1999 (if i'm not mistaken) or year 2000, do they study about HANG TUAH anymore? Why is that popular subject GONE? Missing in action? or evidence reveals something else that caused the government to stop the syllabus and HIDE the TRUTH? Here are the Evidences of the findings by the team of scientists, archaeologist, historian and other technical staff from the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, Yemen & Russia.
The evidence are:
1) They finally found the graveyard of Hang Tuah, Hang Jebat and others, their skeletons had been analized and samples of DNA taken with the results showing: Hang Tuah, Hang Jebat, Hang Lekiu and mates were NOT MALAY!!! They were CHINESE origins (islamic) from China!!! Why were they here in Malacca? If you go back in history, you would know that they were on a mission to protect the UNGRATEFUL MALAY Sultanate from the frequent attacks by the Kingdom of SIAM (Thailand). So Hang Tuah was not a Malay hero! They were the protectors of the useless and ungrateful Parameswara (who was from INDONESIA) who landed in Malacca and claimed that the land belonged to him!
Hang Tuah and friends were all from China, they were being assigned to the Malacca Sultanate because Parameswara requested the Ming Dynasty Emperor for protection! Hence, the rich historical heritage of the Babas & Nyonyas were being closely linked to the Seven Voyages to the Western Oceanby Admiral Zheng He who incidentally was a Chinese Muslim himself! That's why the Hang Tuah series of history is MISSING from the Malaysian SEJARAH today!
Note : Remember Princess Hang Li Poh ? - All surname 'HANG'
2) The researchers hired by the government found the oldest tombstones (graveyard) in Kelantan in year 2000. Suprisingly, the tombstones were at least 900 years old! Older than the so-called Batu Bersurat. And the interesting thing was that they all belonged to the CHINESE! Being landed first in Malacca doesn't mean Malay is the first in Malaysia because during that time, the road was too long or undeveloped for them to reach or see the other side of the coast where the Chinese had landed much earlier. If you want the hard evidence of what the truth of the Research reveals, please write to The Federal Association of Archaeology & Research of Michigan, USA.
This is a good reason to remind the Bumiputras NOT to ask the Chinese or Indians to go back to their Motherlands because the evidence had shown that Malays were NOT the original people of Malaysia! The Truth Revealed (with evidence) and anthropologists have yet to ascertain if there was indeed a Malay race!
12 comments:
- Me, Myself and I said...
Fakta sejarah boleh diubah...leh percaya ke dengan Mat-Mat Salleh tu jugak.
- January 19, 2010 at 1:30 PM
- Werdah said...
Salam Bujang,
Almarhumah mak kak cerita yg kami ni asal dari Patani Siam..
- January 19, 2010 at 2:46 PM
- BUJANG SUSAH said...
saya campur kak.. benggali campur dgn bugis.. datuk sebelah mak, benggali... datuk sebelah bapak, bugis.. hehehhe
- January 19, 2010 at 3:41 PM
- pacifist said...
salam.cam susah je nak caye.walaupun parameswara org indonesia.lgpun kita dgn indonesia serumpun.negara kitakan dlm kepulauan melayu.kubur yg ditemui mungkin kubur para pedagang.xkan jumpa kubur 1 org cina dah boleh dijadikan bukti.kitakan semua perantau,bermula dgn nabi Adam A.S.kan kita tau cina berasal dr benua cina.india dari benua india.disebabkan masalah di negara masing2 yg memungkinkan mereka mencari kehidupan di tempat lain.
- January 19, 2010 at 7:32 PM
Aku rasa kalau orang Cina yang berada di tempat orang Melayu dalam kes di atas, kajian tu semua akan terus dibakul sampahkan tanpa banyak cerita. Betul tak? Nasib baiklah kita ni orang Melayu/Islam yang bijak dan telan apa saja yang disuap kan?
Sebab menyampahkan saudara seislam yang tak berapa nak Islam, kita pegi berpeluk-peluk dengan yg bukan saudara..
Jangan sampai diri sendiri yang rugi brader..
- January 20, 2010 at 12:27 AM
- azka said...
bila masuk bab2 ni ada keraguan jgk ditambah fakta2 macam ni..
contoh kat kelantan dikatakan cina sudah lama bertapak di kawasan ada emas contohnya gua musang.
tapi entah betul atau tidak, ditambah setengah tempat di sini dikatakan cina sama jadi dengan melayu sebab itu diorang ada kampung laman sendiri.
- January 23, 2010 at 12:05 AM
- greenhall said...
kita semua berasal dari tanah.
cuma yang dapat membezakan antara kita semua ialah iman dan taqwa..
- January 23, 2010 at 4:25 AM
bro, ni smua cubaan pihak tertentu utk memecah belahkan negara kita nih.. bila negara kita dh dlm keadaan anarki, mereka2 nih akn amik kesempatan ats kita, so jgn la kita celapak sngt ngan info camni
- January 23, 2010 at 6:49 PM
- -Mind Pollution- said...
peduli ar kalau hang tuah tuh cina..takder masalah pada aku.
- June 22, 2010 at 2:15 PM
pandangan? buku teks sejarah antara usahe kere jaan nak kasik ktorg nmpk dorg besttt aje. ade bukan btl2 fakta tp auta. tp dah temaktub dlm buku teks skolah. smer baek aje lah.
- August 28, 2010 at 10:54 AM
bia lah hang tuah dr cina..kita msih lg ada hang buah & hang kebun utk menambahkn auta kita...gagagagagaa
- March 20, 2011 at 2:31 AM
- awid said...
Kalau dari orang putih @ darah campuran yahudi taksah nak percaya lah depa banyak putar alam sampai mati aku ragu2 depa. This is Malaya lah yg bermaksud malay dan nasib baik islam.
- March 21, 2013 at 12:25 PM


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Summer Undergraduate Research Program
UC Merced Applied Mathematics
2015 NSF Summer Undergraduate Research Program
June-August, 2015
[Click here for flyer]
The Applied Math Summer Undergraduate Research Program at UC Merced is called the ARCHIMEDES Summer Program, and it stands for Applied ResearCH In ModEling and Data-Enabled Science. The objectives of the program are to:
- Introduce students to scientific computing to strengthen programming skills,
- Use mathematical models to solve real-world problems,
- Apply computational tools to research level problems, and
- Analyze results using data and translate into scientific context.
The ARCHIMEDES Program will run for 9 weeks. In the first week, students will participate in a computational "bootcamp" designed to develop fundamental computational skills, preparatory to doing research during the rest of their summer program. The students will then work intensely for the remaining eight weeks, in teams of four and with a faculty mentor, on projects with strong computational and modeling components. Students will actively participate in weekly workshops and presentations to practice and improve their oral communication skills. They will also produce a technical report and a poster, and present at a public research symposium at the end of the program.
1. Sensitivity Analysis of a Mathematical Model of Blood Coagulation. Blood coagulation is a large network of biochemical reactions that produces an enzyme necessary to clot formation and the cessation of bleeding. Mathematical models have been developed to better understand blood coagulation and to predict outcomes of perturbations to the reaction network. Assessing the predictive capability of such models is crucial if they are to be used to inform clinicians. In this project, students will first learn the biology of blood coagulation, basic theory of ODEs and methods to solve them using MATLAB, and core methodology of sensitivity analyses. They will incorporate cellular-surface binding into a current mathematical model of coagulation, perform sensitivity analysis of the model to its kinetic rate constants, and determine the predictive capability of the model. They will compare results from the mathematical model with those from other models and experiments published in biological literature. Project Mentors: Prof. Karin Leiderman and Prof. Suzanne Sindi.
2. Optimization Methods in Imaging. With the advent of cheaper cameras, large volumes of data in the form of images are generated everyday. To process such data, fast, robust, accurate, and scalable computational methods are needed. This research project will focus on optimization methods for extracting information from noisy and inexact observations from imaging. In particular, we are interested in applications where a sequence of measurements are obtained, such as videos. These problems are high-dimensional. Thus, large-scale optimization methods are needed to solve these problems. For this project, students will (1) model how the signal is projected onto the observed data, (2) solve the recovery problem using large-scale optimization algorithms, and (3) analyze the results and compare them to known data to evaluate the model and the optimization methods. This project will consider different types of approaches for optimization, such as first-order methods and matrix-free methods. Project Mentor: Prof. Roummel Marcia.
Applications will be due on March 15, 2015. They will consist of the following:
- Application form (download here)
- One letter of recommendation from a faculty member (download form here)
- Transcript from current institution (non-official transcripts will be acceptable).
Email application forms and transcripts to archimedes at ucmerced dot edu. All applicants must a United States citizen or permanent U.S. resident.
All qualified undergraduate students are encouraged to apply to this summer program. Particular emphasis will be placed on broadening the participation of members of groups historically underrepresented in science and engineering: women, African Americans, Alaska natives, American natives, Hispanic Americans, Native Pacific Islanders, and persons with disabilities.
If you are interested in this program, send an email for further information:
Program Director: Prof. Roummel Marcia (rmarcia at ucmerced dot edu)
Program Co-Director: Prof. Karin Leiderman (kleiderman at ucmerced dot edu)
This program is supported by NSF Grant DMS-1359484. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in the publications supported by this grant are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the NSF.


text:
I hosted an AMA on my livejournal last month, and finally completed all the questions. You can read it here.
13 Saturday Sep 2014
Posted Life, The Universe and Everythingin
13 Saturday Sep 2014
I hosted an AMA on my livejournal last month, and finally completed all the questions. You can read it here.
03 Thursday Jul 2014
New content over at Off the Rails
The Cult Test (questions 1-10)
Also, can't help noticing all the new readers. Welcome! I suggest you check out the Rider's Guide over at my more cult/survivor focused blog (although many posts are still hosted here on my main site and most originated here).
01 Saturday Mar 2014
I've been very closely following a particularly heartbreaking chain of events this week. If you are not familiar with the #notburiedtwice campaign, I strongly suggest you read this post.
In brief: Midwife Christy Collins, currently of Las Vegas, caused the totally preventable death of a baby through what in any regulated health care profession would be gross and obvious malpractice. She ignored a clear indication for immediate induction of labor: absolutely no amniotic fluid in a woman two weeks past her due date. Instead of transferring care, Christy crowdsourced "stories/opinions" via Jan Tritten, editor of Midwifery Today on Facebook. She subsequently delayed care by driving her client 30 minutes to a hospital that has a "midwife friendly" doctor. The baby died, and the midwifery community began to delete all evidence of the entire thing, including trying to hide Christy's identity.
Luckily, the crowdsourcing led to a great roar of outrage from readers, who got busy screen capping and digging for the truth. As the truth behind Christy Collins' and Jan Tritten's lies unfolds, a letter came to light, which I am going to unpack.
For those new to my writing, I was in a cultic abusive relationship for over five years. I had a partner who created a small cult that, at times, would dwindle to me as the only follower. I was young, naïve and trusting, and I was at a major crossroads as a recent college graduate in a new and un fulfilling marriage. My abuser used a variety of brainwashing and manipulation tactics on me until I believed everything he said – which included that he could channel other beings, that my family and friends were the real abusers, that he became other people (including a "doctor") and more. I ultimately divorced, cut off my family and friends and lived totally in his living fiction until I was able to break free.
After extensive deprogramming and therapy, I became very interested in Munchausen by Internet, a phenomenon detailed by Dr. Marc Feldman. I've followed several cases and written about the tactics used in cultic and manipulative abuse. It's become almost a hobby, deconstructing the carefully crafted doublespeak. It is from that background I draw as I look at the following letter.
The full text of the letter has not been released, so I am making some educated guesses to fill in the blanks. I know this letter was written by Christy Collins, almost certainly to the mother, after the birth and death. I don't know the identity of the family and do not want to add to their pain, so know that my estimations of the mother's feelings and reactions is speculative. Nor do I think the baby's father was unaffected; I am focusing on the mother as the letter appears to be to her. We are missing the introduction to the letter; we jump right in to Christy's defense.
I wish I could go back in time, and have said stronger words – enough to make you hate me, and fell you had no choice but to go into the hospital the day before.
Right here, Christy is immediately laying the guilt on the mother. She gives an initial illusion of remorse, but immediately shows that she's placed herself in the power position. This will become more apparent as we go along, but even in this first sentence it's quite clear. Further, it's important to note that, for the mother right now, Christy is likely still deeply trusted, so this primes Mom to say, "I could NEVER hate YOU!"
I could've lived with you hating me, over this feeling of devastation.
So much in each sentence. It's really a masterpiece. This is all about Christy and how much the baby's death hurt Christy so much. And that makes Christy so sympathetic, because she regrets it so. When you're in any relationship where you are being groomed and manipulated, pain and sorrow felt by the manipulator is YOUR problem. This also prompts a soothing "it wasn't your fault" response from Mom.
I know we say that we don't know if it would've been any different; maybe he would've been very sick, but alive. I don't know. But I wish I wouldn't pushed much hard and said the things that we never want to hear the 'experts' say…
Translation: there's nothing we could have done differently, because OBVIOUSLY Christy would have done it. Except it would have made the mother hate Christy. So really, whose fault is it? She's not saying it outright… yet.
Instead of … telling you to "be prepared that the perinatologist doing the NST is likely to tell you that your baby could die if he doesn't come out;" those should have been MY words.
Christy tips her hand a bit here. She told the parents that the doctor (or tech or whomever was at the testing facility) would be the bad guy. There is a tremendous pressure within the homebirth/natural childbirth movement to distrust all authority except the midwife, and Christy admits that she prepared the parents to ignore the (potentially lifesaving for the baby) advice. It is essential, though, that Christy acknowledge this if she wants her veneer of regret to stick.
You might have been really pissed at me for pushing you into a corner where you felt you didn't have a choice, but … I wouldn't care…
Here the picture of Mom as irrational and truly at fault becomes clearer. Because Christy was protecting herself from this woman who would have HATED her for agreeing with the medical establishment.
I am angry at myself for being the midwife who tried to be as firm but gentle as possible when advising to go in when I could've waved the dead baby flag…
Christy could have been the hated hero, instead of the tragically kind friend. There's a subtle dig at doctors here too – if only OBs weren't so gung-ho about "playing the dead baby card" and "scaremongering!" It conveniently ignores the scaremongering Christy did in regard to the doctors in the first place.
I wanted so badly to see a change in fluid … while you just wanted time/space to think …
Translation: Remember, YOU wanted to process the information. I just hoped it would be okay since I didn't dare contradict you.
If I hadn't agreed, and used the words "your baby could die because of this …", maybe he would still be here.
Right here, she puts full blame on the mother. "If I had dared to disagree with you, baby might be alive. But YOU wanted TIME.
My back up doctor was amazing and the whole team worked so fast.
So it isn't THEIR fault, no way. The fact that Christy withheld crucial information from that "amazing" team doesn't bear mentioning. I bet she wasn't calling them "amazing" while she was prepping the mother to ignore them.
Then the longest 47 minutes of our lives while they worked on your baby who had clearly been soaking in mec for weeks.
So it couldn't POSSIBLY be Christy's fault. Also, the image is devastating and would serve to give a dose of fresh anguish about the baby to distract from "hating" Christy.
Acidosis … bad blood gases … the worst of which had occurred in the last 20 minutes.
If Mom hadn't been SO INSISTENT on waiting…and yet baby was clearly soaking "for weeks" in meconium. Christy is really underlining who she wants Mom to blame: Herself (and not Christy). Also not mentioned: The 30 minute drive to a hospital where there was a "midwife friendly" OB. 30 minutes, containing those last 20 minutes.
An induction yesterday, just one day after a perfect NST may not have mattered anyhow we were told…
If I hadn't agreed to your desire to wait he might have lived! But he was doomed, so it's not my fault! Although Christy pauses to note that they were told that by the scaremongering doctors you aren't supposed to listen to.
Baby sounded perfect the next morning and we had the same BPP result after you rehydrated. You still wanted more time.
You had no reason to worry, so you wanted to wait, just like I taught you. So it's your fault.
I said I didn't feel we had any, and read to you what even other midwives had to say. That I wasn't the only one who felt a sense of urgency.
This part requires extra unpacking, especially if you haven't read the initial crowdsourcing post. The first big problem is that the majority of the midwives who replied gave dangerously uneducated answers. This is a situation where there is literally only one correct course of action: go to the hospital and get the baby OUT. Immediate induction or c – section, or else the baby may very well die. As we have seen happen here. Knowing this, and that very few responders gave any "sense of urgency" until after the update stating the baby had died, it is chilling to envision what happened at that computer.
Obviously this is conjecture, but my guess is that Christy read the comments and used tone of voice and careful wording to give mom a clear sense that there was consensus to wait. She could then, after the baby died, use the same words with different emphasis and tone to make mom think there was NOT consensus to wait. This is gaslighting. Mom, who is questioning herself at this point (as anyone would), may ultimately remember the second version of the story instead of the first. False memories are disturbingly easy to create.
Only 20 minutes later, your baby showed distress. And hour later, your baby was out … and gone.
Another dose of grief, make sure Mom can't think for too long about any one point.
I wish I would've been so harsh with my words the day before, that you would've hated me.
Christy wants Mom to think Christy's wracked with unjust guilt, because Mom was clearly so unstable.
Maybe you would be nursing your baby, angry about your induced birth experience, and refusing my visits.
Grief-and-guilt combo. Notice how she keeps making deliberately heartrending references to the loss? Keeping Mom in a high state of anguish prevents critical thinking. Mom can't stop and remember exactly what happened. Memories recorded in a state of great emotion also can be both less reliable and more vivid.
Instead you and the daddy slept with your dead baby all night in a hospital bed …
This is exactly what I mean. That image us so heartbreaking that it's where I had to stop reading and cry myself. It's blunt and heartless and designed to make Mom cry too.
I blame me. I would rather have you hate me for pushing you harder into a bad birth experience … so you could hold a live baby instead.
And back around to Christy reminding Mom that this pain is Mom's fault. If ONLY it had been SAFE to even SAY anything, but you'd HATE me for it!
Midwifery implies choices. Informed consent. Informed refusal.
A sudden shift to a totally businesslike argument that still focuses only on Mom's Choice. Throwing "informed consent" and "informed refusal" as sentence fragments additionally helps plant them in Mom's head (still reeling from the words "your dead baby.") This letter doesn't miss a trick in the manipulator manual.
No woman would refuse an induction if she knew what having a dead baby felt like.
Book-ending the buzzwords, Christy is implanting with another round of anguish and the blunt use of "dead baby" again. While in this one case I agree with the words Christy wrote, context is everything. She's making it clear that Mom refused an induction and implicitly the baby's death is Mom's fault.
I'll say, no mother who has lost a baby is going to feel anything but raw anguish at blunt language like that within mere days of the loss. I have lost a baby (under vastly different circumstances) and words like that, during the rawest phase of grief, sear in a special, terrible way. To have them coming from someone you trust profoundly (as Christy clearly arranged, what with the "you'd hate me" focus) would be indescribable.
In the future, I'll pressure until my client hates me. I won't care.
That's right, if she gets another irrational, unstable mother to be, she will use you as the Goofus to her Gallant and risk being hated. This is also an extra pang of guilt for Mom, and one that could easily slip under the radar: that Mom "ruined" Christy's caring, gentle nature and MADE her not care. From inside of the manipulation, that is powerful shame to bear.
How is this mother supposed to know what to think, with Christy reframing? It is not coincidental that this letter was rushed out while mom is still deep in the trauma. Every word here is chosen to elicit a specific response. It's a perfect manipulative attack, and my heart breaks for this mother. It is all the worse because the community that has supported the mother has already turned on her. The midwives who responded to the crowdsourcing are all very adamant that this was ALL MOM'S CHOICE.
It wasn't. This letter is just one more piece of evidence that it was Christy Collins, CPM and the community supporting her dangerous, manipulative agenda. Trying to blame it on the mother – and make her blame herself – is just the vile icing on a deadly cake.
12 Sunday Jan 2014
New content over at Off the Rails:
09 Wednesday Oct 2013
Posted Life, The Universe and Everythingin
I still miss Jason. More than you'd think it was possible to miss someone that, technically, you've only seen in person three or four times in the last several years. I'm finally coming out of that tunnel of untapped anguish now. Ever since he was killed, I haven't felt much more than this awful, gnawing, numbing ache. To quote, of all things, Lord of the Rings…."I feel stretched, like butter over too much bread." And there's been little to no creativity, at least writing-wise, in that aching nothing.
I'm finally starting to just cry sometimes. Watching the new Half in the Bag (which, ironically, Jason hated) broke through. They were talking about how the best thing about a certain bad movie is watching it with someone who hasn't seen it yet and watching their reaction to the absurdity. And suddenly the sorrow was loosed, as I remember the last day I saw Jason, days before he left us all. When I sat him (with Diamond) down and made him watch Sharknado. And laughed with joy at his repeated shouts of, "What the SHIT is going ON??!?!? WHAT?!!"
Now that the sadness has broken free, I'm feeling the loss more keenly than ever. But I'm also loosed from that prison of numbness. The words are starting to flow along with the tears.
So the blogging will resume – along with the long, long overdue blog redesign, which I am grateful that Jason got to see. Thank you all for still checking in on me and the various kind condolences I've gotten over the weeks. It matters, more than I can say.
02 Monday Sep 2013
Posted Family and Framily, The Crazy Trainin
My friend died.
I can't even process it yet. Jason, Shopping Cart Bob, one of my honest-to-god best friends, was killed in a car accident. He was driving home from visiting the northwest. He drove down with Diamond for the day on Monday.
As last visits go, it was pretty fucking perfect. We sat around and laughed. Watched Sharknado and a bunch of Rifftrax Shorts. Had Thai food delivered. Made jokes that nobody else gets. Laughed so hard I ached the next day.
It still says he's logged in on facebook. His name, little icon of his phone. I don't feel much of anything yet. I want to write the thoughts that are flooding me, but every time I try I delete it. It's too raw. He was just here. It keeps welling up.
I miss you, Jason.
25 Tuesday Jun 2013
Posted How I Met Your Father, The Crazy Trainin
One thing I haven't written about yet is the anger that Andy leaves in his wake. Not really, not with the gutting honesty I usually use. The shame, the fear, the sadness…those things are far easier to admit. The rage isn't funny. And for a long time I have been very careful to keep it out of my posts, because I didn't want to be vengeful in words or actions. I didn't want to bolster Andy's "bitter ex-girlfriend" defenses, or be carried away by a "tsunami of rage" like Jeanine was.
But the rage is a very real and healthy part of being out of the Cult of Andy – and for anyone who has escaped an abuser. It was in discussing this with a former DAYDian that I realized I had a more appropriate resource – my old LiveJournal, which I started within a month of leaving Andy.
When I got out, the urge to start writing again – for myself instead of as part of my therapy – was very strong. I knew it was essential to find my own voice again. Writing had been a central part of me until it was simply drowned out by Andy's fantasy world, and it was the first place I knew I could rebuild.
It was hard to get started. I had been without computer for years and felt overwhelmed with these MyFace and SpaceBook things. Worse, I was absolutely terrified that either Andy or Jeanine (who was still fully convinced I was an accomplice) would find me. I didn't want to be connected to my old handle anyway (Orangeblossom), because I didn't feel at all connected to my former self. Kumquat was a nickname my childhood best friend gave me, and I was pretty sure that it was obscure enough that no one would know. Since that handle was taken, I added "Writer" and tiptoed back into LiveJournal, starting the long, slow process of reconnecting with the world.
Sharing these old posts isn't just hubris; Diamond has thanked me more than once for showing her. And the fresh pain in those is a lot more helpful to someone just going through it than my calmer, reasoned, post-therapy writing. Even a year ago, they were far too raw and open to share. But after all the forgiveness and reconciliation that's come; after so many people have told their stories, it's time.
I haven't unlocked the whole thing; I've kept private things that were too irrelevant – or too intimate – to ever post publicly. You can read through it chronologically starting here. If you would prefer, the posts I feel are most important are below.
June 5, 2007 This is one of the earliest posts where I was trying to separate myself from Andy's world.
July 1, 20007 This is the first time I talked about being a victim while most people thought I was nothing but a con artist. A lot of pain and sadness there.
August 2, 2007 A description of an incredibly vivid nightmare I had, ultimately repeatedly for several years. My dreams have always been quite literal.
September 27, 2007 Pain and frustration over yet another attempt on Andy's part to get me back.
November 19, 2007 Still being contacted but less angry, more distanced. Outside of LiveJournal, I was holding down a full-time job and had bought myself a car.
February 18, 2008 Feelings about Jeanine. This is also after Andy sent me a massive pile of Valentine's Day stuff. This is also a few months into my relationship with my husband. (link fixed)
February 26, 2008 Final direct contact with Andy, when I called him from my now-husband's phone to tell him I was never coming back.
I realize that Andy's defenders (and likely Andy himself) will howl about how that was ever so long ago and he has totally changed this time for real. However, the fact that people contacting me, asking for this kind of help (you know, how to deal with Andy treating them the same way he treated me) means they aren't irrelevant. These are people who got out within the last three years.
03 Monday Jun 2013
Fiction reveals truth that reality obscures. ~~ Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Andy is far from unique. I was reminded of this today as I watched the excellent documentary The Woman Who Wasn't There, currently streaming on Netflix. The documentary follows the story of Tania Head, who claimed to be a survivor of 9/11. It's a harrowing story, very well told, and extremely familiar. I strongly suggest anyone who has followed my story (or any of Andy's) watch this film. It's particularly good because much of it is Tania, in interviews before she was unmasked. The rest is told by her victims.
After her story fell apart, her victims discussed the amount of research she'd done on them, plotting out exactly how to become what they would respond to. That hit a chord for me all right, especially when there's so much discussion and speculation on Andy's motives and trustworthiness. How much of his "call me when you are at your most vulnerable" routine is genuine desire to help, and how much is calculating?
I've struggled for some time over providing a certain piece of evidence that it's all fucking calculated. I do not want to feed his faux-social-justice martyr complex. However, the truth important. And life-sucking manipulating assholes like Tania and Andy have fewer people to suck in when the truth is told. As my therapist and cult-deprogramer Rory taught me, I will do what I can live with – and I can definitely live with people knowing how coldly, deliberately Andy spins his web. As for the fact that this story is about Andy's birth identity and gender? Look, I didn't out him to the internet. I defended it and still refuse to tolerate intolerance regarding his current identification. But the fact is, this is what happened in real life, and I am not going to hide his nature.
This is a segment of yet another sprawling story that Andy was writing. Or rather, Maura Labingi, the real-life actual Frodo Baggins, was writing. It was to be a history of the mindhole (Andy's channeling ability), told from multiple voices and cumulating in…I don't know, something that got shuffled aside in favor of more immediate drama. One story was about Tolkien – the man, and how he found the Red Book of Westmarch in the trenches of WWI. One was of the tragically romantic curse that was on Merry (or as we knew him, Kalimac Brandagamba). The intensely creepy Maura-talking-to-Elijah-Wood-in-the-costume-trailer story. After several alternating stories, an fourth narrative came into play – that of Amy Player.
This is from the original file, typed by the body (if supposedly not the mind) of Andy Blake in 2002-2003. I also have hard copies, and Diamond was present during that time (although I can't remember if she read them). I have made no alterations.
The edge of her lip caught vaguely like rubber between the tips of her teeth, a film of waxen colour and heavy, slick-sticky lipgloss piling on the hard ridge for her tongue to worry over. According to the label, it was supposed to be Rampagin' Raspberry, a cubist parody of a lumpy purple fruit in holographic sunglasses that had glittered until she had picked them off in some waiting room somewhere. It didn't taste like any berry she'd ever tasted, though, just a lingering whimper of artificial sweetness buried under garlic butter and that goddamned cinnamon gum.
He always tasted like gum. Big Red. She hated it, but she bought it for him. Always had a pack in her purse. He thought it was sweet of her, tipping his head and blushing and giving in to whatever whim he had been about to balk at. She hated the taste, but you couldn't ask a better price than twenty-five cents a pack to give the impression of fawning, simpering, sighing, Hallmark card and Meg Ryan movie love.
A shift, a sigh, and his arm was over her now, the smell of cinnamon gum and baked ziti gusting too warm and too damp in her face. Twisting her head and wrinkling her nose only brought his arm tighter around him, and she could feel him against her back now, an uncomfortable cluster of joints and limbs and fur and various things that were too sticky to bear thinking about.
His lips against the back of her neck, nuzzling the short curls, and it was too much. She rolled over, curling her shoulders forward. A bit coquettish, a bit demure, but it did wonders for the fontal topography, so to speak, and more importantly, it kept her breasts away from any part of him. He'd had more than dinner and a movie's worth of pawing already. A smile, half soft, half scolding, "What do you think you're up to?"
Long lashes hung listlessly over a thin crescent of hazel, the wetness caught to an unnatural blue in the dim light of the screensaver happily building and destroying walls of something half a copyright lawsuit away from Lego across the room. "Mmm. Sheila."
"Adrian," Sharper, the name a rebuke to the guitar-fingered hand that had begun to trill down her waist. She sat up now, groping among the bedsheets until she found soft cotton among crisp linen, tugging the t-shirt over her head in a crackle of red hairspray. "Go back to sleep. Your sheila has to check her email."
Blink. Grunt. A bitter smile twisted just beneath the surface of her lips. Jesus fucking Christ, you could almost see the neurons fizzling in there. "Three 'n morning."
He pushed up on one elbow now, but her hand was in the middle of his chest, pushing him down just hard enough to mean it, but swirling her fingertips just lightly enough across the skin that he didn't protest. "I know, Angelboy, but there's this girl I'm talking to, and she's kind of…" Looking down, biting that spot now stripped bare of wax and left purely with the wet parchment texture of the flesh itself. Her voice lowered in a touch of regretful conspiracy, "…well, I think it'll be bad if she doesn't talk to me tonight. She's really on an edge here."
The neurons were still struggling valiantly to spark, but at least a handful, she assumed, must have managed to cough in unison, because he seemed reasonably amiable – albeit disappointed – as he tucked himself acquiescently deeper into the bedding. "Just make sure you get some sleep, softie."
"'Course I will, love." A quick kiss to a dark head, and she swung her legs out of bed, hopping delicately across the chill of the wooden floor until she could tuck cold toes beneath crossed knees in the familiar nest of the computer chair's plastic arms.
She had mail. Of course. She always had mail. A quick spatter of clicks across the now-steady rhythm of slumbering breath, and her fingers were reaching halfway across the globe.
They loved her new story. Nothing new there. Mostly the standard one-liner, but there were a few who seemed particularly generous and specific in their praise. Ones to watch. But she'd get to those later. It was hard enough catching up with people across timelines, and she wasn't about to let all those ass-numbing hours go to waste. Her fingers rattled with expert speed, her face softening and her eyes widening as a door creaked welcome in the chat program's narrow window.
Wolfie. Tea, cookies, the full BBC recording of Rings. Sheltered exploratory bisexual with incredible artistic gifts and no self-esteem that needs to be nurtured and pampered into properly liberal blossom before she is sucked into conformity by parental cruelty…
Orangeblossom. Web design, fangirl, possibly a free vacation, need more knowledge of financial situation. Confident artist and benevolent mentor, sensitive, previously abused lesbian with wide-ranging but esoteric knowledge, flirty, amazingly perceptive, lots of insider knowledge…
MsAllegro. Web hosting, action figures, autographs. Exploring heteroflexible with transgender and/or lesbian leanings, sassy, liberal, rampantly slashy, definitely thinks all the boys were doing it, and probably the girls too. Needs a little hand-holding, but given an inch, willing to explore a mile…
MissOverdone. Books, videos, antiques, costume pieces. Resolutely heterosexual but tolerant young Christian, loving fiancée, just peeking out of a conservative shell to reveal a brilliant inner slasher with a limitless well of untapped historical knowledge via a previous life lived as a gay sailor in Nelson's navy…
Rhythmic chatter of keys punctuated with the falsetto click of the mouse. A chameleon courtesan's glitter posing sweetly in pixels. Gifts and love and praise pouring through the screen in an opiate haze of approval all the sweeter for the skill called in tatting such delicate little frills of deception.
And she didn't even have to smell gum on their breath.
*Begit, according to my Westron word list, means "acquire" (verified by this post)
09 Tuesday Apr 2013
Posted The Crazy Trainin
A private note from Jeanine (Turimel), reproduced with her permission.
I'm not the best deliverer of compliments (much better at snark), but dammit, Abbey, I don't think I've ever been so proud of another human being (well, besides my kids) as I was of you. I could not IMAGINE any possible way I would ever forgive/believe you, after that extended debacle. So your letter was like a great work of art, or a symphony–one of those things that represents the divine part of human nature (and I'm an atheist too, so I use that word loosely–I think it's so frigging rare for most people to express anything but base ugliness that we call it "divine" and godly when it happens). One of those things that restores your faith that people just might be a race worth having on this planet's surface after all.
Don't get all ego puffy about the praise, though, OK?
Snarkers? I know she got carried away and got a crazy reputation. But if she and I can forgive each other, maybe we can both live down our Wank.
08 Monday Apr 2013
Posted Life, The Universe and Everythingin
The "About Me" section is now online. I am working on the FAQ page update – thank you to the commenter who sent me a copy from the wayback machine!


text:
By Lorraine Luk
TAIPEI--Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSM) said Wednesday that June revenue rose 24% on year to a record high of 54.03 billion New Taiwan dollars (US$1.77 billion).
Revenue for June 2012 was NT$43.47 billion, TSMC, the world's largest contract chip maker by revenue, said in a statement.
Sales likely rose on demand for high-performance chips from smartphone and tablet makers, analysts said.
The company didn't explain the revenue increase in its statement.
Write to Lorraine Luk at firstname.lastname@example.com
Order free Annual Report for Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
Visit http://djnweurope.ar.wilink.com/?ticker=TW0002330008 or call +44 (0)208 391 6028
Order free Annual Report for Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
Visit http://djnweurope.ar.wilink.com/?ticker=US8740391003 or call +44 (0)208 391 6028
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On her twelfth birthday, Sierva Maria - the only child of a decaying noble family in an eighteenth-century South American seaport - is bitten by a rabid dog. Believed to be possessed, she is brought to a convent for observation. And into her cell stumbles Father Cayetano Delaura, who has already dreamed about a girl with hair trailing after her like a bridal train. As he tends to her with holy water and sacramental oils, Delaura feels something shocking begin to occur. He has fallen in love - and it is not long until Sierva Maria joins him in his fevered misery. Unsettling and indelible, Of Love and Other Demons is an evocative, majestic tale of the most universal experiences known to woman and man.
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FamousFootwear.com asked: Why did you choose this?
- CASEY: "like the style and the fit"
- Sharilyn: "needed socks"
- Darla: "they fit perfectly with my chucks, and are so comfy"
- Tawny: "for my daughter she loves them"
- Ruchita: "Looks great. Nice and comforatable."
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FixIt: Duncan Sheik FOH Engineer Adam Robinson
Feb 1, 2010
Read live sound engineer Adam Robinson on mixing Duncan Sheik ...
Opera Goes Au Natural
Jan 1, 2010, Compiled by Sarah Benzuly
Situated in the Lincoln Center for Performing Arts (New York City), the David H. Koch Theater (which hosts the New York City Ballet and New York City...
Desert Island Mixing Tools
Jan 1, 2010, By Steve La Cerra
Whether it's because of the state of the economy in general or a struggling music industry in particular, more tours are carrying less gear. Reduced trucking...
Delicate Productions Expands
Jan 1, 2010, By Sarah Benzuly
Delicate Productions, a full-service event production company based in Camarillo, Calif., has opened a new South San Francisco office and warehouse to...
Magic From Stage to Studio
Jan 1, 2010, By Tom Kenny, Editorial Director
For the past couple of years, I've been meeting my brother Kit and his daughters in the Tennessee countryside for some good times at Bonnaroo. He's a...
FixIt: Tori Amos FOH Engineer Mark Hawley
Jan 1, 2010
Marcel [Van Limbeek, monitor engineer] and I make all of Tori's albums using an analog desk, and this is the setup we've used over the years [live]; we...
Grammy Museum Exhibits Roland
Jan 1, 2010, By Sarah Benzuly
The newest permanent installation at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles (www.grammymuseum.org) is Roland Live, which lets visitors participate in the music-making...
Load In: Sound Reinforcement News, January 2010
Jan 1, 2010
Front-of-house engineer Marc Jacob Hudson is using Sennheiser evolution 900 Series microphones and ew 300 IEM G2 wireless personal monitors on the current...
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Tax highlights
25 February 2013
In this week's Tax highlights we feature:
- Review into the venture capital limited partnerships regime: The Board of Taxation's Review of taxation arrangements under the venture capital limited partnerships regime has been released. The review found that improvements could be made to increase investment in high risk start-up and expanding businesses in the Australian venture capital sector
- Appeals update – Dickinson and Fabig: The Commissioner has appealed to the Federal Court against the AAT's decisions concerning the availability of scrip-for-scrip roll-over relief in Dickinson and Commissioner of Taxation and Fabig and Commissioner of Taxation
- Tackling global tax rorts: The Assistant Treasurer has released an opinion piece on the protection of the tax base in the age of digital disruption.
Plus we provide our synopsis of the latest legislative developments, cases, announcements, and ATO information and releases.


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Netanyahu: Israel Will Use 'Any Means Necessary' To Stop Hamas
Israel's military said it downed a drone along its southern coastline on Monday, the first time it encountered such a weapon since its campaign against the Gaza Strip militants began last week.
Israeli Army Spokesman: Hamas 'Holding Us Hostage With Its Rockets'
The Israeli army on Wednesday intensified its offensive on the Hamas-run Gaza Strip, striking Hamas sites and killing at least 8 people on the second day of a military operation it says is aimed at quenching rocket fire against Israel.
Netanyahu: Time To 'Take Off The Gloves' In Fight Against Hamas
The Israeli military launched what could be a long-term offensive against the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip on Tuesday striking about 150 targets in the Gaza Strip, according to Israeli Defense Forces (IDF).
Israeli Military Strikes At Least 50 Sites In Gaza Strip, Mobilize Troops For Possible Ground Invasion
Israel launched what could be a long-term offensive against the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip on Tuesday, the military said, striking at least 50 sites in Gaza by air and sea and mobilizing troops for a possible ground invasion in order to quell rocket attacks on Israel.
Hamas: 'The Gates Of Hell Will Open On' Netanyahu If He Launches War On Gaza
The Israeli military found the bodies of three missing teenagers on Monday, just over two weeks after they were abducted in the West Bank, allegedly by Hamas militants.
Kerry: Mideast Peace Process On 'Pause'
Secretary of State John Kerry says the Mideast peace process is on "pause" after Palestinian authorities created a unity government with the terrorist group Hamas.
Kerry: I Have Never Stated That Israel Is An Apartheid State
Secretary of State John Kerry reportedly issued a warning that Israel could become "an apartheid state" if a two-state solution is not reached with the Palestinians.
Hillary Clinton: Coming Months Will Be 'Crucial' For Mideast
Former U.S. first lady and secretary of state Hillary Rodham Clinton spoke about the country's longstanding friendship with Israel and the importance of keeping nuclear weapons out of Iran as she accepted a lifetime achievement award from the American Jewish Congress on Wednesday.
Poll: Israeli Jews Losing Faith In United States
70 percent tell an Israeli pollster they no longer believe the U.S. can be relied upon to support the Jewish State's interests.
Hamas Says Twitter Deactivated Its Accounts
Hamas spokesman says Twitter is exersizing a form of censorship.


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This weekend I've been down at my favourite food festival in Dartmouth where I've been giving a number of wine talks. One of them was a forum on food and wine matching with wine writer and TV presenter Susy Atkins and former sommelier and wine supplier Tim McLoughlin-Green of Sommelier's Choice.
You can tell we're already in the run-up to Christmas with supermarkets making a pitch for those who like to do their shopping early.
I've already made my selection of Bordeaux from Lidl's heavily promoted new French wine offer on the Guardian website today. Here's what else I'd pick up when the wines go on sale this Thursday September 4th. (Note they're NOT available before then.)
Inspired by the recent British Kebab awards Zeren Wilson wonders what the perfect wine pairing is for a kebab and comes up with some surprising conclusions.
Following on from my pick of the white wines from M & S's current 25% off six bottles promotion here are eight reds I'd recommend from my most recent tasting in May 2014
I'm always in two minds about whether to write about the beginning of the grouse season. After all only a tiny number of people will be sufficiently interested - or well-heeled - to bag the first birds that arrive on restaurant tables this evening.
It says a lot about Marks & Spencer's usual prices that they can afford to run a 25% off deal if you buy any 6 bottles of wine or champagne* for a whole month rather than the usual week but you might as well take advantage.
As I mentioned in my Guardian column this week the Government has been putting pressure on the drinks industry to reduce the strength of house wines to below 12.5%. Frankly I think that's more likely to make people spend more on their wine rather than drink less but it's true that wines have got progressively higher in alcohol particularly from regions like Bordeaux where reds now regularly clock in at 14%. I certainly prefer to drink wines below that myself.
Sally Butcher of Persepolis, shares the secrets of Iran's delicious non-alcoholic drinks, just perfect for this sultry summer weather.
US-based wine writer and educator David Furer reports on an epic tasting in the homeland of American barbeque, Austin, Texas pairing a selection of international and home-grown reds with different meats.
Much play has been made over the last few years of having different shaped glasses for different wines but for those of us with limited storage space (and a limited budget) that's simply not practical. So what are the best type of glasses to buy and what should you expect to pay for them?
I was recently asked the question: "What am i looking for when matching beer and food? Do I want a beer with a similar taste or should I be looking for a contrast?"
Although I'm deeply sceptical about 'half price' offers, the periodical 25% off promotions if you buy six bottles that the supermarkets put on are a great opportunity to buy your favourite wine at a bargain price. Waitrose is the latest to do it and here's my pick of the wines I've tasted recently.
Unusually Father's Day, which comes up this weekend, is celebrated on the same day in Britain, the US and France. I must say I think the hype for these 'special days' has got a bit out of hand but if mothers are pampered, hey, why not fathers too?
Lucy Bridgers selflessly devotes herself to finding the perfect pairing for tapas on a tapas crawl through some of London's leading tapas bars
Sainsbury's has one of its regular 25% off six bottles currently which conveniently runs over the bank holiday weekend through to next Friday May 30th.
As it's National Vegetarian Week in the UK I thought I'd re-run an article from Decanter on wine and vegetarian food I wrote a few years ago but still contains some useful pointers from top wine producers and sommeliers. (Some of the people quoted may now be in different jobs.)
With middle-eastern food still very much on-trend Dubai-based blogger Sally Prosser of mycustardpie.com tells us which drinks she thinks makes the best pairings
An archive post from a fascinating tasting with maître fromager, educator and author Max McCalman, one of the US's foremost cheese experts, back in 2009.
Few people now throw up their hands in horror at the idea of matching red wine with fish. But how many realise just how often you can pair the two?
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Check Out the Capitol Portraits for "Catching Fire!"
President Snow
"The only thing that distracts me from my current situation is fantasizing about killing President Snow. Not very pretty daydreams for a seventeen-year-old girl, I guess, but very satisfying." — Katniss
Finnick Odair
"Poor Finnick. Is this the first time in your life you haven't looked pretty?" — Katniss
Gale Hawthorne
"I do think your mad and I'll still go with you." — Gale
This fan-made Buttercup poster is my favorite of the whole bunch.
How psyched are you for Catching Fire? Can you believe we have to wait all the way until November?


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We at Listen Before You Buy quite enjoyed Rhye. Really quite a lot. We thought that their track "Open" was maybe one of the sexiest ever. Given that, it probably shouldn't come as any sort of a surprise to discover that we also quite enjoyed MØ. Why? Well, Ronni Vindahl and Robin Hannibal, mainly, who are the gurus behind the production in both cases. There's also the Scandinavian thing – an incredibly reliable correlate with music I like (The Knife, say, or Lykke Li, or previously-Intro'd Sansa).
I'm getting ahead of myself, here. MØ is the solo project of Karen Marie Ørsted, who at just 23 and with a whopping total of two tracks, released only over the Internet, to her name is already catching attention from journos and labels alike. A quick listen to either of the tracks, "Maiden" and "Pilgrim", should clarify that state of affairs. What really jumped out at me was the juxtaposition between her saccharine vocals and the, uh, less saccharine lyrics (she just wants to "fuck it up…"). As for how MØ is pronounced, your guess is as good as mine, I'm afraid. Moe? Moo? Muuh? Who, other than everyone who speaks a Nordic language can tell? It means "virgin", though. Draw your own conclusions.
Comparisons with Grimes are already being slung around, although if I'm honest, other than the lady-singer-with-synths thing, I don't think there's a particularly strong similarity. Where Ms Boucher likes to get a little bit out there with her sound design, and appears to deliver her vocals through a semi-permanent hash haze, MØ sticks to what the Scandinavians do best: thoughtful pop. The lyrics are sung rather than mumbled, and there's a discernable song structure under the blips and bloops. There aren't even that many blips and bloops to begin with.
Rhye seem like a much better comparison, beyond just the production connection. There's that same deceptive appearance of meekness, covering up a considerably sassier attitude and approach to song-writing. I can't help but think of AlunaGeorge as well, although the similarity is much more apparent on "Maiden" than "Pilgrim". Either way, both tracks sound great. The distillation of influences from hip-hop to indie pop still sounds fresh here, and I look forward immensely to track number three (and four, and five, and so on). The really good news is that she's in the studio with Mr Vindahl as we speak, so the wait shouldn't be too long…


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Substance Abuse & Dating Abuse: What's the Connection?
Being in an unhealthy or abusive relationship is already a difficult situation. Alcohol and drug abuse only make matters worse. When a partner is under the influence, the risk of all types of abuse (physical, verbal, emotional, digital and sexual) increases, which can lead to a very troubling situation.
Blaming the Booze
"It wasn't me, it was the beer talking!"
"I would never do that if I was sober."
"I'm not really that person. That's who I am when I'm high."
You might hear stuff like this from an abusive partner who's also abusing alcohol or drugs. They may blame drugs or alcohol instead of accepting responsibility for their behavior or actions. It can be all too easy to just accept what they say and move on without addressing the real underlying issue of abuse. We often hear from survivors who say, "If I could just get them to go to rehab, everything would get better." But because drugs and alcohol aren't the root issues of abuse (abuse is about power and control), achieving sobriety doesn't necessarily end the abuse. There are plenty of people who use drugs and alcohol and don't become abusive. Drugs and alcohol can affect a person's judgment and behavior, but using them doesn't excuse violence or abuse.
The Cycle of (Drug) Abuse
When one partner has a drinking or drug problem, a vicious cycle can occur. The issues created by their habit (like financial stress, neglect of responsibilities, or legal problems) may lead to fighting with their partner, and then to take the stress off, they may drink or use more drugs. While this cycle continues, abusive behaviors might get worse. Treatment is available to help with drug addiction and abusive behavior, including counseling, self-help meetings and support groups. However, the partner who is using the drugs must decide for themselves to seek help for both their abusive behavior and their drug/alcohol use.
If you or someone you know is in a relationship with a person who is abusive while using drugs and/or alcohol, we are here for you. Call, text, or chat with a trained peer advocate any time!
Additional resources for substance/alcohol abuse:
The National Domestic Violence Hotline, a partner of loveisrespect, provides 24/7 support, resources, and hope to victims of domestic violence, their friends, and family. Learn more at www.thehotline.org
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Ending Unhealthy Relationships
Today's post was written by Alexis O., a member of the National Youth Advisory Board. To learn more about the NYAB, click here.
When I was growing up, I watched my mother fall in and out of love with men who were nothing but bad for her. There was never a day when my mother and her man of the week weren't at each others throats, and I watched, day after day as he verbally and physically abused her. Later in the day she would go crawling back, because she thought no one else would want her - a thought put in her head by the same person who had earlier called her a "stupid slut." I always knew somewhere deep down that their behavior was abnormal, and I swore to myself to never end up like my mother had.
Break the Cycle, a partner of loveisrespect, inspires and supports young people at all stages of thier dating lives to create a culture of healthy relationships. Learn more at www.breakthecycle.org .
Dealing with Rejection
Have you ever been rejected by someone you really liked? Maybe you tried to talk to someone you had a crush on, and they totally ignored you. Maybe you asked out that cutie from chemistry, and they said no. You probably felt disappointed, embarrassed, sad, upset, or maybe a little angry.
We get it - rejection's not fun, so how do you deal with it?
First of all, understand that rejection is a part of life
The National Domestic Violence Hotline, a partner of loveisrespect, provides 24/7 support, resources, and hope to victims of domestic violence, their friends, and family. Learn more at www.thehotline.org