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In Memory of our beloved Papa
One of the things I am most proud of is something I had zero control over. It's being my Papa's grand-daughter.
I am, and will always be, #teamPapa.
It's been almost two years since we lost the gem and patriarch of our family, but his legacy is something I hope I will carry forward for the rest of my days.
Our beloved Papa passed away at the age of 86. Otherwise, today he would have been 88. In honor of Papa's birthday, and in his memory, my brother Faraz has created a fund to raise money for a disease that doesn't just effect one physically, but more so mentally.
Like Faraz notes, Papa was always there to help others and one of the ways we can carry this trait forward is by funding research for a cure to helping others who are fighting Alzheimer's.
From the onset of finding out our Papa had Alzheimer's, it's been a cause that has been near and dear to my heart. It's a cause I hope many more people will get on board to support. It's a cause I hope we can find a cure for in our lifetime so other families don't have to watch their loved one go through what we had to. Watching your grandfather slowly lose his memory and not recognize his own kids or grand-kids is something no one should have to go through.
Why has the prevalence of dementia/Alzheimer's increased so significantly? Or are the numbers the same and we just hearing more about it now because more people are "officially" being diagnosed? How much is our diet playing a factor? Let's face it, our ancestors were eating organic and not any of the artificial food we consume regularly.
The circle of life, surely ensures nothing gold can stay… but the way our Papa was taken away from us slowly is a pain that's hard to explain. I despise Alzheimer's/dementia and what it did to my Papa.
I choose to focus on the countless good memories, for it is them that truly exemplify who our Papa was. It is those memories that remind me what count most in life. It's those moments of inspiration that remind me how I want to raise my precious Arham.
I pray Allah SWT grants Papa the highest level of jannat.
I miss you Papa, today and always.
If you would like to join us in funding research to beat Alzheimers, in Memory of our Papa, click here.
The Staff at SPUH
There is absolutely no worse feeling than your baby being unwell and you can't take away their pain. For the past seven days we have either been at the pediatrician, at the hospital, or both. These past seven days have been exhausting, physically and emotionally.
When Arham woke up ill Friday, and wouldn't improve as the day went on, plus a doctor's visit later… I knew I had to take him to the ER. I thought I was going in just so he would feel better with some IV fluids.
Little did I know what that night would have in store for us. Or even the next few days that followed for that matter.
To be quite honest, I was dreading taking him to the hospital remembering how painful it was (physically) for Arham when he was six weeks old and hospitalized and how painful it was (emotionally) for me. It's traumatic and something I can't get it out of my mind.
Which brings me to what led me to start writing today:
The staff at Saint Peter's University Hospital? Godsend. Especially the nurses.
The level of care [and comfort] they provided for not just my precious Arham, but my parents and I during the stay? It's unforgettable. It's something I'll never forget and I can't begin to express how grateful I am.
From explaining what I didn't understand multiple times, to giving me time to process the information.
From being available for questions to continuously asking if I (or we) needed anything.
From listening to and addressing my concerns to allowing my parents to stay and be in the room with me when not typically allowed.
From using a flashlight instead of turning the lights on in the middle of the night to prevent disturbing my finally sleeping 15 month old to coming in later to try again to not disturb my child.
From understanding my fears and hesitation to providing any sort of help they could.
From calming my fears to reminding me prayers can change everything.
The list is endless, just as my appreciation towards them is.
It is an innate reaction to complain and not forget when things don't go wrong, but we need to express appreciation when things go right just the same.
On a side note: I, myself, ended up in the ER one night while Arham was hospitalized — and they were so accommodating. A typical ER visit is hours long. They had me out within three hours so I could go back up to the pediatric ward to be with Arham and each of Arham's nurses were just as concerned about me as they were of Arham.
Being completely honest, even though I always like to be safe rather than sorry, I wasn't sure why they were putting my baby through excessive tests that wouldn't help or weren't even needed on that Friday.
He just had a terrible stomach virus I thought.
THIS is why I was hesitating bringing my baby I thought.
It may very well have saved his life.
Let me tell you, it's not comforting when multiple people are rushed into the room, each trying to confirm the diagnosis… and in mere minutes a plan of action is put into place and surgery team is prepped for backup. Neither is when you are told it's "life threatening".
It was a scary situation, and what could have been is too scary to even think about, but not for even a second did I doubt the level of care Arham was being given.
The level of response once the problem was spotted was absolutely amazing and that may very well have made the difference. I will, forever, be grateful towards the staff at SPUH not for just this stay — but for what they do always.
Be Your Own [Health] Advocate
By now, some, if not most, of my family/friends know that in the early months of last year[2014] I faced a pretty terrifying health scare — a possible/potential c-word diagnosis. 99.9% of the time referring it to as the c-word because it's just that real still. Many tests, several biopsies, and months of uncertainty later: I had to go through the surgery route to find out with a 100% certainty. In fact, tomorrow marks one year since my surgery.
I can't tell you how thankful/blessed I was to find out, post-op, that it was benign– that it wasn't cancer. It was, for me, a stark reminder, to count your blessings, not your problems.
In the days leading up to the surgery, someone reminded me that God doesn't give you more than he is certain you can handle and that He tests you only to your limits.
"Allah does not place a burden to a soul greater than it can bear." [2:286]
You just don't realize it. Although, I won't lie: sometimes, I feel like He gives me credit for more than I think I am capable of handling.
"Verily with Hardship comes Ease".
While facing the uncertainty, in the months before the surgery, I'll be honest: I couldn't keep my mind off the possible "what if" scenario. It's just not something you ever think could happen to you, unfortunately, until you are thrown into it. Especially at my age! Ironically enough, thyroid [c-word] is most likely to occur in twenty-something-year-old females. Me in a nutshell.
One thing I knew for sure from day one: I wasn't going to be just another statistic. I did my research. I asked questions [after questions]. I prepared myself for both of the outcomes. I was [and continue to be] involved 100% in my health[care]. From day one, I was my biggest health advocate. I'm detail oriented, a planner… and hate the unknown!
Without our health, we are nothing; and yet, most of us take it for granted and not care for ourselves nearly as much as we should. The time you spend on your external physical self [hygiene, makeup, grooming, etc]? That and more of a focus needs to be given to you internally and as a whole. Most of us, especially the younger generations, just don't make our health a priority. Whether it's not eating right, exercising [enough/at all], or making the trip to the doctors to make sure everything is alright. I can't stress enough: preventative care beats the alternative a million times over.
Be your own advocate: make time for your periodical check-ups. Do your research and go in informed. Ask questions. Question them. And best of all? If you aren't satisfied, seek a second opinion.
I avoided doctors [and OTC medicines] for the first 22 something years of my life like the plague, and then saw more doctors in a year than the rest of my life combined.
I was lucky mine was benign, but if it had been god forbid the alternative– think of this: I was asymptomatic. It was discovered by chance because I already had a thyroid issue that was closely being monitored.
Then which of the favors of your Lord will you deny?
On a side note: leading up to the surgery last year, I can't tell you how many times I was blatantly told [by doctors, surgeons, and/or their nurses]: "honey, if anyone had to choose a cancer type, this is the one they would choose without a second thought". Thanks, but no thanks. I'll choose to have NO type. Or "honey, this is the best type of c-word to get". Yeah, no. Still sticking to the none. So thankful that He, above, agreed with me too.
I understand that this type has a great treatment plan, but cancer is cancer. The last thing anyone that is [potentially] facing it needs to hear is something like the aforementioned mindset. I can't tell you how upsetting it was to hear that: a direct punch to my stomach. A stomach that was already in knots of nervousness, stress, fear and so much more. I'm not sure if they thought it was supposed to comfort me and put me to ease, but all it did was upset me even more than I already was facing everything I was.
Verily with Hardship comes Ease
2014, in essence, thus far has proved to be the worst of times and the best of times.
It started off as [relatively] horrible as it possibly could, with the c-word scare and surgery soon thereafter [and the not so fun recovery]. It started off with the many "what if's", "how could this be" and "why" questions. Not to mention the most stressful months of my life.
I often had to remind myself that this, too, shall pass.
And in the midst of all this chaos… in the way both spectrums intertwined at the same time… there is truly no other way to explain it in my mind other than: He, above, once again proved: "Verily with Hardship comes Ease" – [94:5-6]
Most of my family and friends, by now, know that I am engaged as of early March.
Never in a million years would I have imagined traveling back to Pakistan, let alone to go back for the first time after so many years to get married AND move to Australia immediately afterwards.
Thyroid Surgery
Two weeks ago, on February 21st, I had my first [and God-willing last] surgery. Thyroid surgery to be precise.
It's one of the toughest and scariest things, if not the toughest and scariest thing, I have [physically] faced [as of yet] in my life.
It's been a hard two weeks of recovery thus far but, alhumdulillah, slowly getting better each day. Which wouldn't be possible without the help of Ami. The first week post-op I wasn't supposed to move my neck left/right/anywhere and I couldn't lay down. Yes, I stayed sitting for a week straight and that's how I "slept". Ami helped me around the clock, which I truly appreciate.
Night eight, I figured I'd attempt to sleep on my side. In my sleep, however, I decided to be rebellious and ended up sleeping on my stomach. Not a fun way to wake up: sore and painful.
But alhumdulillah.
Thyroid issues are becoming more and more common, but before my surgery I didn't know anyone who had to have surgery because of one. I still don't know anyone personally actually. Just that, it's no fun.
As a result of said surgery: I, now, have a [not so] lovely scar that will remain for the rest of my days on my neck as a reminder. But the more optimistic me is going to look at it as a reminder of what I overcame in the process.
This blog has been my open journal for several years now. Writing has always been an outlet for me.
I've shared my recipes, my thoughts, my reflections, and what's going on in my life. Except for one part. It's something I have not shared here, because quite honestly it's something I haven't shared with most people in my life. Yes, a select few have known.
So why hide it, you ask? Quite honestly, I just didn't want to deal with people's reactions/questions/concerns. No matter how good some people's intentions may be, it's just not worth it when you look at the big picture.
Who knew that such a small part of the human body could wreak so much havoc? Or have an effect on so many other parts of the body? I certainly didn't know to the full extent until about two and a half years ago when my thyroid went, well, crazy.
February 2014 marks two years since I found out I had hyperthyroidism after six months of keeping the doctors guessing. And you know what apparently may have causes/triggered it? A flu or a flu-like virus (like the one that hit me like a brick in September 2011).
While the opposite hypothyroidism is much more common than my hyperthyroidism, for both ends of spectrum I can honestly say: you don't know what it feels like or what it does to you until you experience it. One of the best and worst things, all at the same time, about thyroid issues is that it's hard for the outside world to know/realize for the most part. Besides the obvious weight loss, of course.
The constant fatigue? The lack of sleep? The effect on your gastro system? Appetite? Muscles? Constant body aches? Sadly, by the two year mark you become used to the fact that this the new "normal". I kid you not, at one point or another: it has effected every part of me.
For over two years, I dealt with this thyroid issue. But that's not exactly what this post is about: it's about a thyroid nodule that is of concern- a totally unrelated matter [to my hyperthyroidism] in my case. Tomorrow morning, I go in for a thyroid lobectomy (or a total thyroidectomy) [depending on what is found during the surgery].
It's my first surgery ever, and to say I am terrified and apprehensive would be the biggest understatement. It wasn't too long ago, afterall, that I would get all uptight about blood draws and injections. But I know He, above, is the best of planners. Everything happens for a reason. This, too, shall pass.
Please keep me in your duas [prayers] and/or thoughts.
Flu [Shot]
Two years ago I was convinced to get the flu shot for the first time ever because I had been feeling unwell. Guess who got the flu, shortly thereafter, for the first ever in my life that year?
Coping with Dementia [Alzheimer's]
I am no expert by any means, but I have very quickly picked up on some dos and don'ts for when dealing with those with a form of dementia and their families from recent encounters from my experience with Papa. These are my thoughts and thoughts alone! Not one of medical professionals, not my family members, just mine. Mine and mine alone.
One. Don't judge and say something ridiculous like: "I just talked to [your loved one] for a few minutes over the phone and it didn't seem like there was anything wrong with him/her". Thanks, I'm glad you came to that conclusion in the two minutes you spoke to him/her. How about being grateful, that alhumdulillah, there are still normal moments around.
Just think for a second [or ask a direct relative if just pondering over it won't be enough] what it feels like for an immediate family when [the loved one] cannot recognize them, or know where they are at the very least.
We cherish those moments where everything seems right with the world, and those are the moments that get us through the difficult ones.
So far in our case, alhumdulillah, most "days" run smoothly for the most part. It's the evenings and nights that pose the challenge in more ways than one.
Two. Yes, I understand what [your loved one] is saying doesn't make sense sometimes. Deal with it, and let it go. Don't remind him/her that s/he is wrong or correct them. Play along. Say nothing if you must, but please for the love of God don't make [your loved one] think harder.
Three. Don't judge the family for what they say to [your loved one] to ease their mind. Chances are, no scratch that– I'M ABSOLUTELY POSITIVE there is a reason behind it and they know better.
Four. If you are having a conversation with [your loved one], keep it simple. Enough said.
They don't need to know a whole life story that will probably confuse them later. And they certainly don't need to be put through a [political/personal debate/argument]. Not necessary. Chances are some parts [or bits and pieces of many different conversations] will stick in their mind and come back later out of context. Not to mention that it's not good for them to be over thinking either.
Simple is good.
Everyone copes differently. What works for me? Writing my thoughts and sharing experiences with my family who get it simply because they are experiencing it too. It's not something that is easy to explain. Chances are you have heard of someone with Alzheimer's, but until you experience it first-handed… it's unimaginable.
I don't know if it makes sense or not, but my love/admiration for Papa has grown even more. I'm blessed immeasurably to have so many fond memories of/with him that I cling to on difficult days. I just came back on the 17th from Virginia after spending a week with him and unfortunately had several reminders to cherish the moment. That dementia/Alzheimer's is ugly. I hate dementia with all my heart and soul, but love Papa with every ounce of me.
P.S. Twelve days until my parents and I leave for a trip of a lifetime, inshallah… for hajj! More on that later.
"… among you is he who is returned to the most decrepit [old] age so that he knows, after [once having] knowledge, nothing." [22.5].
Dementia. I don't know whether it's nice to hate something, but I do. I hate dementia. With every ounce of me.
It's taken away my maternal grandfather mentally from us, and that is something that breaks my heart. The signs were there for so long, but I can't begin to explain to you the rapid changes in just one month's time. You just had to see it to believe it. I don't think I would have believed it if I wasn't experiencing it in front of my very own eyes about someone so near and dear to my heart. For someone with so much worldly knowledge and experience, to now suddenly succumb to something like this and so rapidly… I can't put into words how much I detest it.
I don't say this because our family can't handle it. That couldn't be further from the truth. Each person in the immediate family has stepped up their game and done more than their share. And done it because they want to.
Even when in your heart you already know [and we knew], when it was finally confirmed by medical professionals: it was so hard to digest and believe. Or even fathom. How could this be?
This too is a test from Him above, and together we will conquer it. It hasn't been easy, and I know it won't. But for someone that I have looked up to from day one? I would do anything I possibly can for him.
In some ways, it truly is like having a newborn/toddler around. You learn to have patience, and sooth their mind. You can't leave them alone at all, and your senses need to be at the top of their game 24 hours a day. Yes, even at night when sleeping. You do things for them, and help them with other stuff. They lose their independence and they become dependent on you. Worse, they feel like a burden. How in the world do you explain to, no scratch that… not just explain, BUT show them they are anything but? We would go to the moon and back without a second thought.
And just like when a child's toy is broken and they bring it to you to fix, you wish you could fix this for him just as easily. But you can't. It's broken and we can't do anything about it. We can, only, help him physically, but that will never seem to be enough.
Amongst the family we have been talking about how so often we remember in our prayers our physical abilities, but how often do we pray to retain our mental abilities? Each part of the human body, plays such an intricate role and together makes the human body whole. Even with one deficiency, it's as if the whole person is effected.
I've thought a lot about dementia lately, and every time I see Papa react a certain way, I wonder if he feels it. If he feels confused or senses something isn't right. We, obviously, know things aren't right. That he is confused to say the least. But we can deal with it. But I hope to God that to Papa, inside, he doesn't sense that.
I pray to Allah SWT to make it easy on Papa. To give his mind peace. To give us strength to take care of him in the hardest of days. And that we continue to do it whole-heartedly.
Annual Screening
With Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation in the news so much recently, and the topic weighing heavily on my heart, I figured now would be the perfect time to talk about this.
Cancer. Probably one of the most despised six letter words in the English dictionary.
I can't explain to you the number of times I've started a blog post on the ugly and scary word that is Cancer. Just in the past few months we've had so many stories hit close to home, unfortunately, with deaths because of women-dominant cancers, like breast cancer.
If you know me personally, and talk to me regularly, you are probably well aware that lately this has been my thing — to convince my loved ones to get their annual visit in for screening.
A few family friends have lost their lives to breast cancer just recently. The mother of one of my brother's friends (and college roommate) passed away just a few short months after diagnosis a few months ago of a woman-dominant cancer. My cousins' friend (a teenager) passed away early January 2011 from cancer just a few weeks away after her father passed away of a different cancer.
Time and again, we are reminded how fragile life is.
Everyone knows someone effected by cancer. I'd be surprised to hear from someone isn't.
I urge you to get regular screening. Early detection is the best chance for a treatment and/or a cure! I can't stress it enough. If you are an adult female, go get your annual mammogram and get your annual GYN visit in. Take your (female) loved ones too. You could, in all seriousness, be saving a life. So many things of this nature can be treated and cured IF they are caught early enough!
The momentary discomfort, in hindsight, will be worth it, won't it? YOU are worth it!
If not for yourself, go for your loved ones. You could be saving them the heartache too.
While it would be nice to not have to worry about such things, the reality is we do. Who knows, maybe in our lifetime, research will go far enough to make this horrendous disease that is cancer something of the past. That would be something, wouldn't it?


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Celebrity Gossip
Net Worth
UK News
Celebrity Gossip
Katherine Ryan Bio, Married, Wiki, Husband, Age and Dating
Katherine Ryan Bio, Married, Wiki, Husband, Age and Dating
Celebrity Gossip
— Thursday, April 6th, 2017
Date of Birth :
Jun 30th, 1983
Age :
36 Years old
Katherine Ryan is a well-known writer, comedian, actress and presenter based in London. Ryan is famous for being on various British panel shows which include Never Mind the Buzz cocks, A League of Their Own, Would I Lie to You?, Mock the week, QI, Just a Minute and Safe word.
She has also worked as a presenter and a stand-up comedian.
Early Life
Katherine Ryan was born on 30th June, 1983 at Sarnia, Ontario, Canada. She is a Canadian by nationality and a white Canadian by ethnicity. Her father was a Irish-immigrant draughtsman who owned an engineering company and her mother was of Irish/ English descent and she owned a IT Consulting company. Ryan grew up with her two younger sisters in Ontario, Canada. They also visited their maternal grandparents in Cork, Ireland.
Ryan's parents got a divorce when she was just 15 years old. She decided to leave her home when she was 18 years. She studied city planning in Toronto, Canada. During her University days, Ryan worked at the Hooters where she also gave training to other waitresses. She took on to open mic nights for personal entertainment during her free time. She had developed a regular comedic routine by the time she had finished college.
Katherine Ryan continued with her work at Hooters even after she completed her graduation. She travelled across Canada as a corporate trainer training other waitresses. She played an important role to open a UK branch in Nottingham. She decided to live permanently at UK from January 2008.
The first television appearance of Katherine Ryan was in 8 Out of 10 Cats on Channel 4 in the year 2012. Then in 2013, she became a celebrity contestant on Let's Dance for Comic Relief in BBC. In 2015, Ryan became the presenter of Hair on BBC Two. She also became the panelist on various other television shows. She appeared on series 2 of Taskmaster in 2016.
A stand-up comedy live performances of Katherine Ryan on a recent UK tour was released by Netflix in February 2017.
Personal Life
Katherine Ryan was in a relationship earlier, but there are no details related to her previous boyfriend, husband or dating. According to sources Ryan is still not married. She reportedly broke up with her former boyfriend after she found a naked selfie of a girl on his phone. Ryan has a daughter named Violet. She has already faced Skin Cancer twice. She lives with her daughter in London. Ryan had faced death threats because of a joke she had made related to cosmetic testing. The joke was considered as a racist joke.
Physical features and Net worth
At the age of 33 years, Katherine Ryan looks gorgeous and beautiful. She has blonde colored hair and eyes of blue color.
Katherine Ryan already has an amazing career behind her so we know that she has a very good income. She gets a good amount as her salary. However exact details related to the salary and net worth of Katherine Ryan is still under review.
Wiki and Facts
Information in detail about Katherine Ryan is also available on Wikipedia and other internet websites. She is also active on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter. Her Twitter handle is @Kathbum in which she has over 251 K followers.

subset: commoncrawl


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Berlin is a historic city that offers sights that would enthrall any visitor. It is a dream destination for travelers and tourists alike.
Come to think of it, there is a lot of difference between travelers and tourists. A tourist will traditionally book himself or herself in a 5-star hotel, stay for a few days, maybe a week, hire the services of a tour operator and visit the sites in a hired car.
A traveler, on the other hand, has a totally different agenda. The main item on a travelers' itinerary is to soak in the culture and lifestyle, meet (and if possible, live with) the locals, and stay for much more than just a few days and visit the interesting places at a leisurely, unhurried manner.
Berlin is characterized by its warm and friendly people and countless sites that have a historic value which would hold you spellbound.
For those looking for adventure there are many activities, and for the others who wish to enjoy with the locals, there are many places which are ideal and you can spend hours sipping beer and engaging in the lifestyle of the locals.
For an adventure and health freak like me, I think nothing compares to selecting and putting on my best shoes and embarking on a running sightseeing tour of this magnificent city.
There are many running circuits that are bound to keep you engaged for many days and they are so good that often, you may find the urge to repeat some of them again and again.
The running tours in Berlin are also perfect for you if you love to establish a direct contact with its people and culture, and will give you excellent insights that would make your trip more enjoyable.
Combining sightseeing tours while running as a regular workout activity is an attractive option who wish to keep their fitness at its peak while experiencing the magnificent sights and stunning landscapes that Berlin has to offer.
If you are looking for hints where to go on these running tours, here are some of my favorite running circuits in Berlin –
Volkspark Friedrichshain
Volkspark Friedrichshain is a 150 years old park and is a must-go for any runner. It is approximately 3.5 miles circuit and presents the pristine beauty of nature all along the way.
You can also see the infamous "Märchenbrunnen" right at the entrance and has a special magical appeal to its interiors. A perfect playground for all kinds of runners — amateur as well as professional, it is quite near to the Mitte area and can be reached without any difficulty.
It is a 4 miles trail and an ideal hotspot for runners in Berlin's second largest park. It is also a reminder of the start point and finish line of the annual Berlin Marathon which serves as a huge inspiration for all runners there are many options but the best one, of course, is one between the Brandenburger Tor and the zoo, as it offers many a picturesque site.
Tegeler Forst
This six and a half mile long track runs right across the picturesque Schloss Tegel area to the lovely sights and sounds of the Tegeler Forst, and the Tegeler See. The thing that stands out here is the variety in running as it offers many ups and downs that will excite you as your breathing becomes faster.
This place is very easy to reach using public transportation at the U-Bahn station.


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Tuesday, 1 June 2010
Tea with Alice of Shop Pulse
20 comments:
LOADS of sites like this already exist!
- 1 June 2010 at 12:48
She seems so interesting!
- 1 June 2010 at 14:55
- Cindy Whitehead said...
Great interview - wow she is only 21?! Good for her. Checking out her site now.
- 1 June 2010 at 15:11
- Dressing Up For Me said...
I like her style, will be visiting the site soon!
- 1 June 2010 at 15:18
- Tanvi said...
Ahhh! Young entrepreneur! Good Luck to her :)
- 1 June 2010 at 15:31
- Cafe Fashionista said...
I have never before visited Shop Pulse but I am off to check it out right now. Great interview, Sherin!! :)
- 1 June 2010 at 16:20
- Winnie said...
I agree with what she said about Zara, it's great! I don't buy things from there that often but I always have a browse, and everything that I've ever bought from there has been such a winner!
- 1 June 2010 at 17:25
- Unknown said...
I've never heard of Shop Pulse so I'm glad you did a post about it! I will have to check it out!
- 1 June 2010 at 19:39
- Isabel said...
online shopping while drunk is NOT a good idea LOL
Isabel @ Walk of Fashion
- 1 June 2010 at 19:56
- The Trendy Fashionista said...
Really great tips. I really enjoyed this post :)
-The Trendy Fashionista
- 1 June 2010 at 20:11
I love it!! I've been using it for a few months!
@Anonymous I'd love to know other sites that offer LIVE fashion updates? Most of the others are updated so much later than Shop Pulse...
- 1 June 2010 at 21:01
- BonBon Rose Girls Kristin said...
I really need to take advantage of Ebay. I never think to shop there!
- 1 June 2010 at 21:43
- Leah said...
I haven't heard of the site yet but I will surely visit it now. Alice gave some fabulous tips... so true. xoxo
- 1 June 2010 at 22:45
- Unknown said...
I love Shop Pulse - it's so handy to be able to see all the new stuff in one go!
- 1 June 2010 at 23:15
I've never visited Shop Pulse but I am certainly going to now. This is such a brilliant idea, shopping-wise so I hope the business takes off and you're right. She's very inspirational, certainly at 21! Great post. xxx
- 2 June 2010 at 00:11
- Clare said...
GREAT interview. I love shop pulse, she as so much awesome stuff to say!
- 2 June 2010 at 02:09
- Jennifer Fabulous said...
What an interesting and fabulous gal! I love seeing fashionistas get creative and turn their talent into business! :)
Kind of gives me ideas...hehe.
I hope you & Sherin are having a fab weekend! xo
- 2 June 2010 at 04:19
really wonderful!!
loving your blog, keep it up!
and thanks for your sweet comment, means the world!
- 2 June 2010 at 05:18
- April said...
Oooo, I love her style. I'll have to check that out!
- 3 June 2010 at 04:52
- Rachel said...
Absolutely amazing!
- 3 June 2010 at 19:16


text: including healthcare in the San Francisco Bay Area. In recent years, the company did $20 million worth of site work on an eight-year project for the John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek. It involved excavation and high-end architectural, concrete and landscape work for new buildings, parking structures and parking lots. "There's been a big push in the past 15 years to either upgrade or rebuild existing hospitals in the [San Francisco] Bay Area," Hester says. One such project is the Highland Hospital Acute Care Tower in Oakland. The project calls for rebuilding the hospital's acute care tower, which will be operated by Alameda Health System and provide healthcare services to the people of Alameda County. Working jointly with Bethesda, Md.-based Clark Construction, McGuire & Hester's $10 million portion of the work includes excavation, grading, utilities, structural and architectural concrete. The project, which has been ongoing for about 7 years, is targeted for completion next year. "It's a very complicated multiple-phase project," Hester says. "It's difficult because the hospital stays operational while we work, but our crews handle the challenge well. It's really nice when I receive compliments about how considerate our employees are when they interact with the hospital staff, patients and visitors." New Headquarters McGuire and Hester is 100 percent employee-owned and has offices throughout California including in Alameda, Oakland and Sacramento. In 2017, the company opened its new 22,000-square foot corporate headquarters in Alameda. The new building has a variety of amenities that include a large break room with bay doors that open up to a deck equipped with a barbecue area, fire pit and bocce ball court. In August, McGuire and Hester hosted an open house to thank its business partners and clients for helping to make its new headquarters possible. "The great relationships we have built in this industry have led to the success our company enjoys today," Hester says. For the past six consecutive years, McGuire and Hester was named Top Workplace in the Bay area by the Bay Area News Group. The 12th Street project was part of Measure DD - the Oakland Trust for Clean Water and Safe Parks. The measure designed $198 million to fund a variety of projects related to clean water and parks. The 12th Street project accounted for $32 million. McGuire and Hester reconfigured the existing 12-lane expressway into a six-lane, tree-lined boulevard with signalized intersections and crosswalks as well as a landscaped median. The new roadway was constructed further away from the shoreline to allow for the creation of a new four-acre park with a waterfront at the south end of Lake Merritt. In addition, new pedestrian and bike paths were built and open water bridges were constructed. Unsafe and unsightly pedestrian tunnels were removed. The project also included re-establishing a section of open channel and removing a buried culvert at the interface with the lake. This open canal is the first phase of what will eventually allow travel by kayak from the lake to the Oakland Estuary. The open channel will also increase tidal flushing of the lake. Tidal flushing renews the salinity and nutrients of the estuary. This means a cleaner water quality in Lake Merritt and improved habitat for fish and wildlife. "Overall the 12th Street Reconstruction Project is a significant improvement for the environment as well as for the City of Oakland," Hester says. "It was very difficult project, but we have a great team. It highlighted all of our trade capabilities such as grading, paving, major structural concrete, landscape and architectural concrete." Oakland Pride Although the company moved its headquarters, it has kept its Oakland location as the operational base for the Bay area. "We've done some pretty significant projects for the City of Oakland," Hester says. "It's been a good relationship." McGuire and Hester's history with the City of Oakland dates back to World War II when it installed underground utilities for its Oakland Army Base. More recently, the company worked on a major revitalization along the shoreline of Lake Merritt, called the 12th Street Reconstruction project. Over a life span of 150 years, Lake Merritt moved further away from its natural habitat. The lake is a natural tidal slough connected to the bay by a channel. Over time, it has been filled in as new roadways and interstates were being built. In some sections, the channel was flooded with water passing between the lake and estuary through an underground box culvert - and it has remained that way for the past 100 years. 109 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017 CONSTRUCTION-TODAY.COMhttp://www.CONSTRUCTION-TODAY.COM


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With finance and talent secured, Social Construct Films focuses its lens on the process of guiding projects through a successful and efficient production phase. Our experienced producers and staff handle budgeting, scheduling, logistics, business facilitation, legal workflow, casting, hiring of crew, and securing locations.
We have experience managing film crews of 100 or more, so whether your project's scale is large or small, Social Construct can efficiently stage your production in any locale, be it remote or urban, at home or abroad.
We maintain oversight of each project all the way through to final delivery, working with leading post-production specialists to ensure efficient and effective editing that reflects the story's original clarity of vision in the finished product.


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MacBride Museum
Whitehorse, Yukon
The modern Yukon from the gold rush until the turn of the 21st century was industrial, driven by development and led by people who were willing to meet the challenges of the land, the climate and the isolation head-on to build a community.
This new building will share the story of those people in a building that matches their attitude. An industrial building, designed to be efficient and functional yet also wild and beautiful and welcoming. With a nod to our mining heritage in the cladding, from the wood-look and corrugated steel siding reminiscent of the pioneer construction, to the zinc reminding us of our biggest mining adventure in Faro. The natural beauty of the Yukon landscape is reflected in the mimicry of the endless winter sky with constellations twinkling in lights on the facade, and featuring an ice-like cave carved into the corner of the form.
Yukon's modern history was a period of rapid change, experiencing many boom and bust cycles. This story will chronicle the resiliency of the citizens through those dynamic times.


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THURSDAY. I am off to Seattle to do some wedding planning (!!), and meet with a bunch of vendors. All you wedding pros, planners and enthusiasts, what are some of the best tips you have for staying organized? Let me know! Enjoy this week's round up of noteworthy links from around the web!
• How an old school publishing house is using digital design to sell their books (Check out the interactive site.)
• 30 beautiful reasons to love red, pink, orange + yellow.
• Love love love the packaging design on these chocolate truffles
• This super detailed, hand illustrated map of Paris by Jenni Sparks is so well done, I can't stop looking at it.
• Need some inspiration for your Oscar viewing party? My friend (and expert event designer) Simply Troy has some great hosting tips over on La Crema's blog. (I also designed some pretty awesome Oscar ballots + bingo cards that are available to download on their site.)
• A simple secret to finding happiness.
• Have you see Drake's newest mixtape, "If You're Reading This It's Too Late," album cover? The typographic choice is…interesting, and was very quickly turned into an interactive site. Play around with your own album name creations here.
• Redecorating your home? Check out this year's interior design trends.
• Wanderlust? Check out this gorgeous travel site to inspire your next trip.


text: Automated processes for greater accuracy B Line International has been serving client requests for ball and trailer mounts since 1999. Our ability to efficiently integrate every process, including forming, CNC machining, laser cutting, robotic welding and coating, has made our products more accurate, more stable and stronger than most competitors'. Products patented in the US and Germany With more than 10 years of industry experience each, our engineers have accumulated a wealth of industry know-how. It's no wonder that they've developed unique produ... [Details]


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Know When To Stop Gambling?
Gambling is fun – there's no denying that. The ability to win money out of apparent thin-air is a thrill almost anyone can be partial too, and while most players are able to enjoy the online casino experience in a safe and responsible environment, unfortunately, some players struggle with gambling problems.
Here, in this post, we'll look at 5 of the most common signs of gambling problems – and if you notice yourself agreeing with anything written below, seek help now – it doesn't mean you're weak – it's the first stage of recovery, and gambling addictions can be beaten, so don't leave it until it's too late.
In the same way a professional Texas Hold' Em Poker player has disciplined him or herself to "Hold'em or fold'em", gamblers who play at online casinos must set themselves limits, and stick to them.
If you find yourself depositing more money, and experience stages of being unable to stop gambling – even though it's causing you, your family, or your finances potential problems – it's a sign you may have a problem and should reach out for help.
Problem gamblers have a "gambling funds" reserve like many players; they use their day-to-day money (often which should instead be spent on rent, bills, and food), and many gamblers end up borrowing money in order to continue funding their gambling – especially on the downer of a losing session.
If you find yourself gambling away money you shouldn't be – or if you are borrowing money to gamble – seek help now.
Gambling's meant to be fun – a few dollars here and there – and if you win, great! If not… oh well – you had fun!
If you find yourself gambling for the sake of it, or because it's habit, or – even worse – because you're trying to win-back losses from previous sessions, it's a clear-cut sign you may be suffering from a gambling problem.
Perhaps you have repeatedly tried to "re-win" cash you've lost gambling simply by betting more and raising the stake?
Problem gamblers tend to see betting as their only way of winning their losses back, and of course, this usually doesn't end well, causing further problems for the gambler, financially and mentally.
Like many addictions, pathological gambling may seem harmless at first, and amount only to small losses, but problem gamblers aren't able to control the size of their bets.
They have to bet increasingly more to experience the same "thrill" and "rush" they're used to, and this only furthers the addiction.
If you experience ANY of the symbols above, reach out to someone today. There are plenty of people who can help, and you're not alone – millions of Americans suffer from gambling addictions, and it's nothing to be ashamed about.
Below, you'll find links to a few help organisations, which offer free, impartial advice:


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Friday, June 09, 2017 11:59 AM
SPRINGFIELD- The latest school funding reform numbers show that a fake news group linked to Gov. Bruce Rauner was indeed pedaling misinformation regarding public school funding in Illinois in the weeks leading up to approval of a historic education finance overhaul.
An analysis only recently made public by Rauner's education agency shows that no school districts in Illinois would lose money under the plan lawmakers recently approved. In fact, schools in the 30th District are estimated to gain $17,109,571 in state funding under the Senate's plan. Some examples include:
- Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 — $14.60 million
- Hawthorn CC School District 73 — $125,388
Supporters had said holding the line on funding was key to getting support for the overhaul that does away with the current, antiquated funding system and instead targets new state dollars to schools facing the toughest economic and educational challenges.
"A solid education could be the launching pad that allows a child to achieve their dream," State Senator Terry Link (D-Vernon Hills) said.
The new plan seeks to maintain funding for schools that are doing well while bringing up those that are struggling. It's a reform more than two decades in the works and one that still faces major political obstacles.
Gov. Rauner was already threatening to veto the historic education overhaul even before lawmakers had given it final approval. As a result, the Senate is delaying sending the paperwork to the governor's desk in hope cooler heads will prevail and the governor will recognize he's getting a win on a key policy he's wanted.
Rauner promised to change the school funding system and put his hand-picked education secretary in charge of an elite taskforce. But that taskforce failed to deliver an actual plan. Lawmakers stepped in to finish the job of not just drafting the plan, but then approving it.
In the midst of this work, a fake news network began spreading erroneous numbers, saying schools across the state were going to lose money. These numbers appeared on fake news sites such as the Lake County Gazette.
It was later revealed that the so-called latest numbers were actually pulled out of a different plan from more than a year ago. For whatever reason, Rauner and his education secretary did nothing to warn public school administrators and the taxpaying public of the misinformation or to set the record straight on public school funding.
Local school gains under SB 1. The approximate overall gain that some area school districts would experience under SB1 based on proposed funding levels:
- Adlai E Stevenson District 125- $5,029
- Aptakisic-Tripp CC School District 102- $2,658
- Gurnee School District 56- $64,492
- Hawthorn CC School District- $125,388
- Kildeer Countryside CC School District 96- $3,661
- Libertyville Community High School District 128- $4,214
- Lincolnshire-Prairieview School District 103- $1,902
- Mundelein Consolidated High School District 120- $57,826
- Mundelein Elementary School District 75- $110,781
- North Chicago School District 187- $2,141,524
- Waukegan Community School District 60- $14,591,879
To review the Funding Illinois' Future analysis, visit fundingilfuture.org.
Sen. Terry Link
30th District
Years served: 1997 - Present
Committee assignments: Energy and Public Utilities; Executive Appointments; Executive; Financial Institutions (Vice-Chairperson); Insurance; Subcommittee on Gaming (Sub-Chairperson).
Biography: Born March 20, 1947, in Waukegan; attended Stout State University; married (wife, Susan McCall Link), has four children.
Associated Representatives:
Daniel Didech
Rita Mayfield


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He said NDP leader Jack Layton had made statements admitting that he had been planning a coalition of opposition parties to topple Harper for some time. This was the first I'd heard of Layton's admission made during a conference call with MPs, a call secretly recorded by Conservatives in what a Liberal MP called "Nixonian" style. Layton was taped saying, "This whole thing would not have happened if the moves hadn't been made with the Bloc a long time ago and locked them in early."
Locked them in early. So the upcoming non-confidence vote to remove the Harper government was not a response to the recent fiscal update Harper presented, or it's lack of an economic "stimulus package" in a time of global economic crisis. That was just spin.
This No Coalition event was low tech compared to the Yes Coalition rally a few days earlier. No gigantic video panels on ballroom walls. Just a PA system, a small tent, and a flag. Even the speeches seemed less orchestrated. You didn't hear speaker after speaker repeat the same catchy lines – "Harper is saving his job, not your job"– designed to push your buttons. Not that the No Coalition wasn't pushing buttons:


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Ah, love is in the air! Not just on Valentine's Day, but every day of the year for Jake Miller. Here he is showing off one of the sweetest pictures ever seen of a couple in love. Jake and Madison has to be one of the cutest couples around, showing off their I'm-in-love smiles and affectionate poses.
Happy valentines day to my favorite person on the planet. I love you @madisonbertini 💝 http://t.co/VCAlLeGqQ9
— Jake Miller (@jakemiller) February 15, 2014
Is what he tweets on his Twitter page for his beautiful girlfriend. How lovely! Do you have your own favorite person on the planet like Jake does?


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Vintage Wooden Chairs- Pair
This True Vintage pair of wooden chairs were sourced from an old church in Monson, Mass and date back to 1880. The perfect Rustic Vintage statement for your event. Shown here styled with our chalkboards, fresh greens, and burlap. Rental Fee is per pair.
We Also Recommend


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A followup from my post on Monday. Beach passes are for sale.
Taken from the City of Long Beach site:
Rates remain the same as last year: $30, for a resident; $50 for resident family, $15 resident, senior citizen and physically challenged. The economy pass is $60 for 10 admissions; the daily pass is $10.
Non-residents pay $80 for individual; $100 for non-resident family; non-resident senior citizen, $30.


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February 13, 2018 In Education
Searching for a Digital Marketing Agency?
Are you searching for a Digital Marketing Agency? Do you know what factors to consider?
Here are Key Factors to consider when choosing a Marketing Agency!
- Do they have a portfolio and is their portfolio relevant to your company? With the vast area of marketing agencies in the market space, its critical to find one that is a SME (Subject Matter Expert) for your vertical.
- Who is your customer and has this agency worked with similar companies or competitors? As with any learning curve, why not work with a company that has tested and proven its ability with another firm in your market? Chances are they made some mistakes along the way and hopefully, they learned from it.
- Are they transparent? If any company can't or won't be transparent and clearly define its process, run! Small and medium-sized businesses can be a little in the dark when it comes to understanding digital marketing (which is fine, you are not in the business of marketing!). Hire a company that can speak in layman's terms and makes it easily understandable to you.
- Are they established? There are several ways to look at this. You can always go with the obvious. How long have they been in business? If they are newly established (under a year), ask for their background and examples of work.
- Communication! If you're having a hard time getting initial responses or they delay conversations or proposal deliveries, you're probably in for the same experience after you buy.


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Crusaders win Houston Christian Tournament
Posted November 22, 2016
Undefeated record outscoring opponents by +22 goal differencial....
Parent Meeting
Posted October 07, 2016
The annual parents meeting will be held at CLHS on October 12th at 6:30pm. We look forward to seeing everyone there!...
Concordia Lutheran Girls Soccer
District Champions 2015-16 24-4-1
District Champions 2014-2015 25-2


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Aircons have become quite an inseparable part of our daily lives especially during the summers. It's not only important to make out lives more comfortable but often they're quite necessary to maintain a "properly controlled room-temperature" for simple units like a high functioning PC. Problem is, like most aircon users, we realize that sometimes our friendly unit is blowing warm air instead of cold. If this is your first time encountering this problem then fear not, it's probably something you can fix yourself. Let's take a look why your AC sometimes blow cold air and sometimes not.
Common Reasons for Aircons to Blow Warm Air
Listed below are some of the most common problems that make your AC blow warm air.
1. Check the thermostat setting: Impossible as it may seem, the most common reason for "aircon blowing warm air" is because the thermostat setting is dialled in the HOT instead of the COOL setting. If you encounter the hot-air problem but sure that you didn't put the setting in HOT check nonetheless. Some other member of the family or small animal could've switched it. In addition, if the unit is in ON mode instead of AUTO it would blow out air even if it's not cool.
2. Checking the condenser and compressor: Once you make sure that your thermostat is at proper setting, check the condenser and the compressor. They are both located in the outside unit. Make sure that this unit is receiving power otherwise the system would function from the inside handler, which means it won't be able to supply cool air. Next, check the condenser coil. Sometimes they get clogged by dirt or accumulated debris. This could have a serious impact on you aircon so make sure they are always clean. In fact, cleaning condenser coils during the hot seasons is almost mandatory. While you're at it, check also the electric panel from which your unit is being powered.
3. Clogged air filters: An air filter does not necessarily "cause" hot-air-blowout. However, they do compromise the cooling capacity of the system. Dirt emanated from the filters can even clog the coils mentioned in the previous paragraph. Just because it's an indirect agent, do not take it lightly. It's one of the leading causes and can also lead to serious cold or allergic trigger among its users. A new and cheap air filter is easy to find and you can replace them yourself. There's no need for professional supports.
4. Semi-compromised outside unit: This doesn't necessarily mean your outside unit's been damaged. Sometimes this part doesn't have enough breathing space to supply adequate air into the system. Make sure that it's not covered in dirt or grass or smothered by any tree branch. Keep the area around it clean otherwise your aircon's longevity will be compromised.
5. Refrigerant problems: Problems in the compressor or leaks are the reasons for refrigerant malfunctions. The most prominent problem in this regard is that your AC is running low on refrigerant. It is possible that your system was undercharged during its production. If that's the case then simply charge it to its proper standard. However, if the inappropriate level is due to leakage then simple refilling wouldn't do. You'll need an expert for this job. A professional would seal the leak, test it and then refill it with proper amount of refrigerant. The "proper amount" here is actually the amount specified by the manufacturer. Overcharging or undercharging the system would only make it inefficient so keep an eye out for this. Sealing leaks doesn't cost much but of course you have to consider the expert's help.
Does Your Aircon have A Water-Sensor Switch?
Not all ACs have this switch. When an overflow pan catches some spilled water due to a clogged condensate drain, these switches automatically shift to off mode. Most of the time this results in turning off the system but sometimes they target specific areas so that condensation would stop working.
Do It Right At the Beginning
Although you cannot completely avoid all kinds of functional problems, it is always better to buy a government certified aircon even if they cost a bit higher than your expectations. You can find cheap uncertified ACs in the market but be wise and avoid choosing them. Even though they may seem a good bargain now, you may easily end-up spending a lot more after it in the future.


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It is no secret that the 'glass ceiling' preventing women advancing to leadership positions exists in academia as well. Spain is no exception. Gender relations are usually investigated independently of other power relations like class and ethnicity. In our sample (80 men and women in different academic institutions across Spain) we found that not only women but also men from working class backgrounds have difficulties making successful academic careers. Therefore, we use an intersectional approach to investigate the relationship between gender and class. Comparing two life-histories, we explore what strategies individuals employ to overcome the barriers with which they are confronted. We present the stories of a woman with a middle class but non-academic background and of a man with a working-class background. Their strategies can be understood as the result of specific individual trajectories under specific societal conditions, but they also illustrate the barriers and possibilities men and women with non-standard backgrounds encounter in academia. Analysing successful strategies as well as their limitations, we aim to provide perspectives that might contribute to changing the culture of hegemonic masculinities in academia.
In »Rassismus. Die Schwierigkeit, nicht rassistisch zu sein« treffen klassische Texte aus der Kritischen Psychologie unter der Leitfrage nach der Funktionalität von Rassismus neu aufeinander. Annita Kalpaka und Nora Räthzel verfassten 1986 den ersten Text zu Alltagsrassismus und institutionellem Rassismus in der Bundesrepublik, der weitere Verbreitung fand. Sie stellen darin die noch immer brisante Frage nach der Funktionalität von Rassismus für die Handlungsfähigkeit der Subjekte in restriktiven gesellschaftlichen Verhältnissen. Ihnen ging es um alltäglichen Rassismus, die übliche Diskriminierung von Eingewanderten und um Kritik an einer Politik, die sich weigerte, Eingewanderte »als integralen Bestandteil der deutschen Gesellschaft zu betrachten«. Heute, 30 Jahre später, haben die Autorinnen ihren Text kommentiert und auf aktuelle Fragestellungen hin zugespitzt. Die Herausgeber*innen machen außerdem Artikel von Philip Cohen, Klaus Holzkamp und Ute Osterkamp aus den 1980ern und 1990ern wieder zugänglich. Die Texte behandeln u. a. das Verhältnis von Alltags- und institutionellem Rassismus, die Verstrickung in rassistische Verhältnisse und die Grenzen einer auf Erziehung und Aufklärung reduzierten antirassistischen Strategie. Eine Lektüre der damaligen Analysen zeigt unausweichlich, »wo und wie die Grundlagen für die Ausgrenzung und damit für die Entfremdung von der Aufnahmegesellschaft gelegt worden sind«.
This article compares how visions for integrating environmental issues into the union agenda are articulated from two different positions in the Swedish Trade Union Confederation (LO). The article is based on an analysis of 'life history interviews' and directs attention to the biographical circumstances under which individuals are able to work with environmental issues in unions. The analysis shows that the conditions for integrating environmental issues are weakened by the hierarchical culture of the organisation and by high levels of institutionalisation. LO furthermore lacks routines for mobilising the interests of environmental enthusiasts, and being positioned at headquarters hampers the abilities of union officials to mobilise environmental interests among members. Comparing the experiences from Sweden with the case of Comisiones Obreras (CCOO) in Spain shows that success depends on a relationship between individual engagement and political. Union transformation is contingent on developing issues that connect the immediate interests of workers with their long-term interests as citizens, such that a new workers' identity can develop and lead to practices that overcome the 'metabolic rift'.
We take our own life stories as points of departure to look at some of the ways in which women were politicized in Argentina and West Germany (our respective countries of origin), focusing on similarities as well as differences in our politicization processes. We aim at putting present discussions about global political movements into a historical perspective. We want also to illuminate the centrality of political identities in the construction of specific (gendered) subjectivities. Our focus lies on theorizing the ways through which privileged (gendered) identities critically re-read their own position and transform their own understanding of themselves and the world through the field of the political. Methodologically, we want to contribute to ways of re-thinking Feminist methodologies by experimenting with a form of analysis in which we are alternately the subject and the object of our research process. The aim of this intervention is to transgress the binary oppositions between researcher/researched and challenge traditional understanding of social science where researchers provide analysis and informants have 'experience'. One of our conclusions is that the 68 movement provided subject positions for living alternative normalities as an 'insider-outside', that is, for those who belonged to normalized groups in their respective societies, but for different reasons (of which we analyse some concerning our formation as 'women') could not identify with the dominant normalities offered to them. At the same time, the dominant male instrumentality of the movement estranged (some) women and allowed them (or forced them into) a kind of distanced engagement that, perhaps paradoxically, provided a basis for sustaining their political subjectivities through transformative experiences of defeat.
This article aims to contribute to the rich literature on neoliberalization and trade unions in Mexico by providing an examination of the contradictory relationships between capital, trade unions and the workers they represent, in a Swedish-based transnational corporation. The article investigates how the broader international relationships of dependency and exploitation are lived by workers and trade unionists in the everyday of a transnational corporation in Mexico, where the power of the trade unions has been undermined by politics of neoliberalization and by the demise of the ruling party, with which the unions are allied. Its thesis is that trade unions are changing from being power brokers between governments, companies and workers to becoming mediators of subordination to the company. While they still retain some of their power (for instance their participation in hiring and firing), they are becoming unable to secure work security and workers' rights. In the everyday working life of a factory this means that unionists are torn between their need and wish to protect workers´ rights and their jobs as union officials. In this context, they experience a need to subordinate themselves and the workers they are supposed to represent to the strategy of the management. They employ a number of strategies to legitimate their existence, none of which appears to be very convincing to the workers. While the union´s strategies undermine their ability and that of the workers to organize for their rights, it also produces a dissatisfaction among workers that counters the companys attempt to organize consent and motivation.
The labour market in Sweden today does not offer a rosy picture for young people. Among them are youth with a migrant background that have the lowest chance of becoming employed. The table below shows the unemployment rates of young people with a migrant background.
This paper presents some ways in which young people of a migrant background in Sweden handle their marginalisation at a time of transition from school to higher education. The stories of two young men are discussed, who develop opposing strategies to cope with the double bind created by a society that promotes meritocracy but acts on the basis of racialised exclusionary practices. One is forced into the position of immigrant while wanting to be recognised as Swede. The other has more possibilities to be recognised as Swedish but chooses to define himself as immigrant and to understand his experiences through a political analysis of racism in Swedish society. While the conflict in which the former finds himself leads to a state of paralysis, the later is able to de-individualise his position and thus to integrate his different belongings. It is argued that while the celebration of hybridity and multicultural capabilities is crucial, it is also important to recognise how marginalisation and discrimination hamper young people's capacity to act.


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Throttle up for a day on the lawnBy John Lewis
Lawn mowing takes on a whole new meaning when there's a flag and a racetrack involved.
For members of the Australian Ride On Lawnmower Racing Association, it's about raising some dust, twisting the throttle and putting the fun into fundraising.
East Shepparton's Di Millsteed has been involved with the association for 20 years, and its president for the past 16.
"The people you meet are just so fantastic — mower racing is all about fun and supporting each other. I've seen people working under torches at midnight to fix a mate's engine for the next day," Ms Millsteed said.
But she's not a dirt-basher.
"I've never raced. Believe me, people have tried for years to get me out there, but I just love what I do off the track — organising and commentating," she said.
Ms Millsteed said the club had about 120 members across Australia, with about 80 racing competitors aged from seven to 70 years old.
She said during the years the association has raised money for community groups, sporting clubs, emergency organisations such as the CFA and SES, and charity groups.
Last year, lawn mower racing enthusiasts raised $5000 for Give Me 5 for Kids at a meeting at KidsTown between Shepparton and Mooroopna.
Ms Millsteed said at the end of this month, association members would hold a special race meeting at Shepparton District Car Club's track in Mooroopna to raise money for the Royal Children's Hospital.
She said the event was inspired by a local lawn mower racing family whose son was battling serious illness.
"They're a humble, modest family and they want us to donate money raised to the children's hospital so thousands of other people can benefit too," Ms Millsteed said.
Ms Millsteed said although lawn mower racers were a friendly bunch who did not compete for money, once the racing started it was every mower for him or herself.
"Out on the track it gets very competitive — even a bit sheep-stationy at times."
Ms Millsteed said there were four racing classes: juniors, limited to 110cc motors; C-class at 200cc; B-class at 250cc; and A-class capped at 450cc.
She said while racers had been clocked at 110km/h on straights, safety was an important issue and mower blades were removed before racing.
"I don't tolerate any unsafe behaviour, there's no deliberate bumping or contact allowed," she said.
The Royal Children's Hospital fundraising race takes place on August 31, at 25 Little Rd, off Echuca Rd, with practice from 9.30am and racing from 10am until about 3.30pm.
Entry is $5 per person or $25 for a family.
More information about the Australian Ride On Lawn Mower Racing Association is available online at www.arolmra.net


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Basel paper offers new look at bail-in models for ailing institutions
By Bora Yagiz, Compliance Complete
NEW YORK, June 12 (Thomson Reuters Accelus) – A recent Bank for International Settlements (BIS) quarterly review article attempts to solve the too-big-to-fail (TBTF) problem without causing systemic disruption to financial markets, by offering a new resolution template to recapitalize banks on the verge of bankruptcy. It may, however, inadvertently legitimize a de facto bail-in model against the consent of depositors, and put their money at risk.
Since the financial crisis of 2008, regulators worldwide have sought to reduce the likelihood of a TBTF failure through increase in capital quality and quantity enshrined internationally in Basel III, as well as setting various resolution mechanisms set to wind down failing institutions.
The U.S. regulators have taken two major specific steps, in the context of the Dodd-Frank financial regulatory overhaul. They have imposed prudential supervision rules with stringent capital, liquidity and leverage requirements for systemically important financial institutions (SIFIs). They have created a living-will process, where each large institution is supposed to detail its operations, its subsidiaries and write a concrete plan for how it could be wound down if it goes bankrupt. Additionally, The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) was entrusted with the orderly liquidation authority to take ownership of SIFIs when they cease to be solvent.
Yet, the liquidation authority and the living will ideas suffer from a dilemma, in that the regulators will be reluctant in publicly announcing an institution's financial death as this may cause a run on other institutions. The beefed up capital levels are, after all, dependent on the public perception of banks' solvency, which, may well be deemed to be insufficient in time of crisis. Neither of these measures answers the questions of how the recapitalization would be funded, and how the losses would be allocated among debtors and creditors.
The article is by Paul Melaschenko and Noel Reynolds, members of the secretariat of the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision. The authors seek to clarify the clarify these questions by advocating a creditor-funded resolution mechanism, whereby taxpayers would not be on the hook in case of the bank's failure. Instead, the authors of the article argue, the shareholders and the uninsured creditors would have to fill in the gap, all the while respecting the hierarchy of claims that existed before the occurrence of the failure. Critically, this process would take place over a weekend, thus leaving less room for a possible financial contagion.
Specifically, ownership of the SIFI that reaches the point of failure would first be transferred to a new holding company. The resolution authority would then write off all of the subordinated liabilities, along with some of the senior unsecured uninsured liabilities, for which the authority would have to make the calculations. The equity, and the written-off liabilities would be transformed as the new claims of the failed bank's investors as liabilities and equity of the new holding company. After the weekend cleanup, the SIFI would open for business as a going concern, and the recapitalized holding company would be put up for sale, the proceeds from which would be distributed to the former investors of the creditors.
Purportedly, the proposal, if implemented, would resolve the moral hazard problem without the use of taxpayer money and alleviate the burden related to any type of complexities arising from other resolution regimes. The model would also respect a creditor hierarchy where the proceeds from the sale would go to senior creditors, subordinated creditors and shareholders, and in that strict order. This would be in similar fashion to a loss distribution of a collateralized debt obligation, where the junior tranches (like subordinated creditors or shareholders) would bear the risk of being wiped out and the senior tranches (like senior creditors) would get repaid first.
An examination of the proposal reveals five major drawbacks.
First, this three-step model (recapitalization of the bank, transfer of losses to a holding company, and the sale of the bank) is a hybrid form of two resolution schemes. On the one hand, it has elements of a single point of entry, where a resolution authority would create a bridge holding company and allocate losses to shareholders and unsecured creditors through debt write-off (see explanation above).
On the other hand, it resembles the bail-in scheme, where the funding comes from within and not from without. The creditor-funded model goes further than a typical bail-in model, however, where there is an agreement by creditors to roll over their claims or one that allows some form of formal debt restructuring. The model suggests the use of depositors' funds and their conversion into common shares in the newly created holding company without their explicit consent. This would be akin to a case where a contingent convertible bond would convert into stocks automatically without the bondholder's use of that conversion optionality.
Second, the model does not offer any method for the debt write-off calculation. It is difficult to conceive that a regular expected loss calculation method based on a multiplication of loss given default, probability of default, and exposure at default would be possible over a weekend given the complexity of the institution's business operations and the high level of its interconnectedness.
"When alive, banks' risk management are done through business lines, but when they die, they are resolved by legal entities," said Mayra Rodriguez Valladarez, Managing Principal of MRV Associates, underlying the difficulty of parsing out the operations of a complex institution at the time of bankruptcy.
Third, the model deemphasizes the consequences of a possible miscalculation in the amount of write-offs. Indeed, the authors count on the self-correction mechanism of the market. They argue that even if the regulators decide to write off a significant portion of the claims, the proceeds from a subsequent sale of the bank would be higher anyway, owing to its now well capitalized position. This would then translate into more funds to distribute to creditors who had previously suffered from the high level of write-off. Such use of market valuation in determining creditors' loss allocation through the price of the newly capitalized bank heavily depends on liquidity and market depth at the time of sale, neither of which can be ascertained in advance.
Fourth, it is unclear how a regulatory agency in charge of the resolution could give unequivocal assurance that the insured deposits will be fully protected during the recapitalization process. In many jurisdictions, these assurances are provided through deposit insurance schemes. In the United States, for instance, Dodd-Frank had established a minimum designated reserve ratio of 1.35 percent of estimated insured deposits, and increased it to 2 percent by 2011. However, the deposit insurance schemes may not be sufficient to cover the possible losses and may also create another type of a moral hazard by attracting money from foreign depositors who lack such a scheme in their own country, thereby straining the viability of the system further.
Lastly, a rapid recapitalization mechanism faces difficulties in practice, given the lack of a common set of too-big-to-fail criteria, and the complexity of a resolution mechanism for an institution with vast international operations under different jurisdictions.
(This article was produced by the Compliance Complete service of Thomson Reuters Accelus. Compliance Complete provides a single source for regulatory news, analysis, rules and developments, with global coverage of more than 230 regulators and exchanges. Follow Accelus compliance news on Twitter: @GRC_Accelus)
We welcome comments that advance the story through relevant opinion, anecdotes, links and data. If you see a comment that you believe is irrelevant or inappropriate, you can flag it to our editors by using the report abuse links. Views expressed in the comments do not represent those of Reuters. For more information on our comment policy, see http://blogs.reuters.com/fulldisclosure/2010/09/27/toward-a-more-thoughtful-conversation-on-stories/


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Generic Estrostep Fe
There are two generic versions of Estrostep Fe available (sold under the names Tri-Legest Fe or Tilia Fe). The FDA has assigned these drugs an "AB" rating, meaning that they are considered equivalent to Estrostep Fe. Generic medications, however, are allowed to have different inactive ingredients, such as fillers or dyes, which can cause problems for people with allergies or sensitivities.
Is Generic Estrostep Fe Available?Estrostep® Fe (norethindrone/ethinyl estradiol) is a birth control pill (oral contraceptive). It is a triphasic combined oral contraceptive. It is a "combined" oral contraceptive because it contains two different hormones, and "triphasic" because it contains three different phases of hormone doses in each pack. In addition to preventing pregnancy, Estrostep Fe is approved to treat acne in women.
Estrostep Fe is made by Warner Chilcott Company, Inc. Generic Estrostep Fe is sold under names that look like brand names, rather than the usual "generic" name.
Names for Generic Estrostep Fe
At this time, generic Estrostep Fe is sold under the name Tri-Legest® Fe (made by Barr Pharmaceuticals, Inc.) or Tilia™ Fe (sold by Watson Laboratories, Inc.). Generic names of birth control pills can be confusing -- the names are long, and many different products have the same generic name, but have different strengths. To avoid confusion, manufacturers of generic birth control pills give their versions a "brand name." These products are still generics, even though their names make them seem like brand-name products.
Are Tilia and Tri-Legest Fe as Good as Estrostep Fe?All generic medications must undergo certain tests to compare them to brand-name medications. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) then looks at these tests to decide if the generics are equivalent to the brand-name medications and assigns a rating to each one. An "AB" rating means that the FDA has determined that a generic medication is equivalent to a brand-name medication. Tilia Fe and Tri-Legest Fe have "AB" ratings, meaning they should be equivalent to Estrostep Fe.
However, generic medications are allowed to have different inactive ingredients than the brand-name medication. This might include fillers, dyes, or other ingredients, which could cause problems for people with allergies or sensitivities. The packaging of generic birth control pills may also be different from the packaging of the brand-name products.
Estrostep Fe Birth Control Pills
List of references (click here)
Estrostep Fe [package insert]. Rockaway, NJ: Warner Chilcott Company, Inc.;2006 April.
Food and Drug Administration, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. Electronic orange book: approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations. FDA Web site. Available at: http://www.fda.gov/cder/ob/. Accessed March 26, 2010.
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD


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Kids Tennis Resources
Resources are offered in many learning formats and enable coaches and parents to gain insight into how we are developing our young juniors. Consider the terms Kids Tennis and Progressive Tennis to be interchangeable.
Click on the links below to access the related files.
Long Term Athlete Development Plan
Parents Guide to Long Term Athlete Development Plan
Minor League Implementation Guide


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Thursday, 21 September 2017
October concerts for New Mill Male Voice Choir
Posted by David Walker at 08:41
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Location: Holmfirth HD9, UK
I was a medic. Started in the universities, researching and taking exams. Moved to the NHS as physician and geriatrician. Finished as a private occupational health doctor with the W Yorks Fire Service. I have always tried to keep fit, through sports, running and gym membership. Writing and singing began in the 1990s, publishing followed. Now as an older person can I pass on some tips on how to live an active life in old age? Clic themes below or go to home page to choose topics.
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The Pepsi ambassadors, Tiwa and Wizkid have just had their endorsement deals with the global beverage company renewed for another 5 years.
Tiwa & Wizkid got signed on as Pepsi ambassadors two years ago. The multi million Naira deal was initially for a year, but got extended for another year last year (2013). Pepsi took a chance of signing Tiwa back when she hadn't even released and album, making her the first female act to represent the global brand in Nigeria.
The deal was negotiated by Paul Okoye of Upfront & Personal and he revealed the news of the contract extension saying, "Best ambassadors by far. Another 5 years Deal for Pepsi. Amen Tiwa and wizzzzzzz."


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Maam Valley, County Galway
The quaint wooded town land of Maam can be found in the Connemara region. In the shadow of the Maamturk Mountains and situated ideally beside some great fishing lakes, this picturesque setting has a somewhat enchanting feel to it with numerous pre-historic and early historic sites scattered around the area.
Visitors can take the Western Way – a long diatance walking trail, which takes a route from the southern end of the Maam Valley and culminating at the ancient site of Mámean. Along this trail you'll be swept away by the amazing views and beautiful scenery.
Nearby you'll also find "Leaba Pháirc" (Patrick's bed), a rock recess and "Tobar Pháraic" (Patrick's well). These two sites were traditionally visited on a Sunday in July as prat of a pilgrimage, but this happens less frequently in present times. Some also believed that Patrick's well had magical healing powers that could cure livestock as well as some human ailments.
Other features of the valley include an angling centre where Failmorem Bealanabracka and Joyce's River meet on their way to Lough Corrib. Kilmeelickin Church is also in the Maam Valley and houses the stained glass of window of St. Brendan (1950) created by Dublin born Evie Hone (1894 – 1055).
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