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SUMMARY: Social Intelligence involves acting as a role model and facilitator of psychologically safe interactions between and among all workplace stakeholders, including those who are marginalized or vulnerable.
Why this matters:
Here are some benefits that having a focus on social intelligence can provide:
- Stress at work does not necessarily lead to absence
- Employees with mental health issues reach out for help earlier
- Employees demonstrate civility and respect
- Team productivity is maintained during times of high demand
- Employee engagement increases
Suggested actions and resources by statement:
1. "I refer employees experiencing mental health issues to appropriate resources in the organization or community."
- Create your own mental health resource list
- Depression, Anxiety and other Conditions including Family Resources
2. "I support the needs of employees with mental health issues who are trying to stay productive at work."
3. "I am comfortable when employees share their emotional or personal concerns with me."
- Understanding Your Reactions
4. "I'm effective at dealing with workers' emotional reactions even when I have high work stress."
- Managing Your Reactions
5. "Employees can easily access me if they need someone to listen."
- Communicate to your staff the times that you are available and would have an open door
6. "I keep my team motivated and positive, even when stress or tensions are high."
7. "I take active steps to create a work environment that is free of stigma and discrimination."
- Framework to Eliminate Stigma
8. "I actively strive to facilitate respectful and non-judgmental discussions about mental health in the workplace."
- Subscribe to and forward the Working Through It emails; consider incorporating into staff meetings and having a discussion
- Review and consider programs like Not Myself Today
9. "I encourage solution-focused discussions about issues that affect work relationships and morale."
- Ask specific questions to solicit ideas on how to build a great team experience
- e.g., What could team members do to help maximize their contributions?
- Inviting Solutions exercise
10. "During times of high work stress, I remain positive in my language and attitude with my employees."
- Communicating Effectively
11. "I motivate all of my employees to do their best work and achieve their job goals."
- Strengthening Relationships article
- Supportive Performance Management
12. "I help each employee foster a sense of purpose and meaning in their work."
- Developing a Workplace Plan
13. "During times of high work demands, I work even harder at keeping my employees motivated and engaged."
- Helping employees manage change
14. "I notice when an employee is disengaged, and I try to help resolve the challenges they are facing."
- Have a team discussion to generate ideas about what you can do to support employee engagement
- Employee Engagement Facilitator's Guide
15. "I facilitate development of interpersonal skills, in addition to the development of technical job skills."
- Host effective team discussions and use them to model good interpersonal skills
- Facilitating team discussions
16. "I find opportunities for employees to utilize their personal strengths at work."
- Ask team members to identify their strengths
- E.g., consider using a tool such as www.viame.org
- Do the Identifying Strengths activity on page 53 of Building Stronger Teams
17. "I have a strong understanding of what makes each of my employees feel appreciated for their efforts."
18. "I recognize efforts and successes in ways that are meaningful to each particular employee."
- Recognition & Reward suggested responses
19. "I am aware of how my stress and frustration can impact others at work."
- Identifying Workplace Issues (questions to ask before engaging)
- https://www.workplacestrategiesformentalhealth.com/managing-workplace-issues/identifying-workplace-issues
- Do the Emotional Intelligence Skills Assessment https://www.workplacestrategiesformentalhealth.com/mmhm/skillsassessment.html


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An addiction is a condition where a person engages in the use of a substance or indulges in a type of repeated behaviour. An addiction's rewarding effects provides an incentive to continuously repeat the behaviour despite serious consequences. Addictions do not only include what people consume, such as drugs or alcohol. Addictions come in many different forms from gambling to seemingly harmless products, such as chocolate. Addictions can include virtually anything. When a person is addicted to something they can become dependent on the addiction to cope with their life.
Workplace morale consists of the emotions, attitudes, satisfaction, and overall outlook of employees during their time in a workplace environment. A portion of effective workplace productivity is thought to be directly related to the morale of the employees. Employees that are happy and positive at work are said to have positive or high employee morale. When someone is consuming drugs or alcohol, it can dramatically change a person's behaviour, and these negative changes in personality will lower the workplace morale. Workplaces that maintain employees who are negative about their work environment usually have low employee morale.
The effects of workplace addictions can be frustrating, upsetting, and devastating. Substance abusers are more likely to cause injuries, accidents, and even fatalities in the workplace. Health and safety regulations are expected in any workplace and the risks posed by addiction simply cannot be allowed. When employees do not feel safe in their workplace the morale will decrease. Addictions can increase the likelihood of harassment, bullying and other unprofessional behaviours. These inappropriate behaviours will likely cause other employees to feel unsafe in their workplace environment. A drug-free workplace is more likely to be successful at maintaining an accident-free environment and prosper.
Addictions are costly for workplaces and individuals when addictions are left unaddressed. Supporting an employee who is struggling with an addiction can be a huge challenge for many employers. Addictions can make employees less productive. Absenteeism is one of the significant killers of corporate profitability. Many addicted employees lose their jobs and remain unemployed as a result of their addiction. Other employees may end up in jails, prisons, or long-term rehabilitation facilities, which can result in years of lost productivity. Employees find it to be difficult to get themselves back into the workplace after years of unemployment due to substance abuse or various other addictions. Absenteeism costs Canadian workplaces over $16 billion per year. In Canada, drug use and drug abuse is a problem that not only ruins the lives of the users and their families, but also costs workplaces a total of $23 billion dollars or $1,100 per person.
Policies should be developed to address any workplace issues that are associated with addictions. Workplace policies should be clearly defined. Employers must make reasonable accommodation efforts for employees who seek help with addiction, allowing time off for detox or counselling. This approach is recommended for encouraging workplaces to invest in their employees and reduce the total long-term costs related to substance abuse. Voluntary disclosure allows for treatment without risk of being fired and eases the stigma related to addiction. Workplace culture and employee commitment to recovery are critical to reducing substance use affecting the workplace. Policies will be most effective in an environment that discourages substance use but also discourages discrimination, stigma and potential prejudices. When addiction issues are effectively addressed, workplaces will have a better opportunity to be successful.
Addiction: A Workplace Depressant?
Canada Centre on Substance Abuse and Addiction
Psychology Today
This article was written by volunteer blogger Shan Simpson and edited by volunteer editor Erin Murphy.

subset: commoncrawl


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Dallas, Texas, is a richly diverse city whose new slogan is, "Live Large. Think Big." The modern and sophisticated city offers luxury accommodations, professional sports, urban arts and entertainment districts, and dining and shopping opportunities. Celebrate the holidays in Dallas, and you're sure to find many activities and attractions for the entire family.
Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden
During the holidays, the Dallas Arboretum plants winter foliage and features special holiday exhibits, programs and events. Enjoy holiday tea or a specialty holiday dinner in the DeGolyer Garden Cafe, or attend the Holiday Treats and Cheer and sample wine, cheese and desserts. In past years, the event has included a live reindeer, pictures with Santa, horse-drawn carriage rides, story time with Mrs. Claus, meet with Frosty the Snowman and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and face painting. Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden 8525 Garland Road Dallas, TX 75218 214-515-6500 dallasarboretum.org
Children's Medical Center Holiday Parade
The Children's Medical Center Holiday Parade is held in early December and kicks off the holiday season for the city. It is a significant fundraiser for the Children's Medical Center of Dallas and a holiday tradition for thousands of families throughout North Texas. According to the parade's website, it attracts more than 350,000 people and more than 350 television stations have syndicated the parade. Inaugurated in early December 1988 and co-sponsored by the Adolphus Hotel and the medical center, the parade draws one or more corporate sponsors each year. The parade travels through the streets of downtown Dallas and features festive floats, balloons, costumed characters, celebrities, bands, giant inflatables, equestrians, and specialty units. The parade is open to the public, but bleacher tickets may be purchased. Children's Medical Center Holiday Parade 1935 Medical District Drive Dallas, Texas 75235 214-456-0113 childrens.com/parade/index.cfm
Prairie Lights
About 20 minutes from downtown Dallas in the city of Grand Prairie, Prairie Lights is a holiday light park where you can view 4 million lights along a two-mile drive through Lynn Creek Park. The holiday event's website claims that Prairie Lights creates the world's longest light tunnel. View hundreds of displays and a 10-minute Holiday Magic Theater light show choreographed to music. Take pictures with Santa, see the walk-through lighted forest and enjoy seasonal food. Prairie Lights is open daily from Thanksgiving through New Year's Eve. Prairie Lights Lynn Creek Park 5700 Lake Ridge Parkway Grand Prairie, TX 75052 972-237-4569 prairielights.org/
Leaf Group is a USA TODAY content partner providing general travel information. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.
Photo Credits
- christmas image by saied shahinkiya from Fotolia.com
- Attribution: Av9; License: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license
- Attribution: Thomas R Machnitzki (thomasmachnitzki.com); License: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license
- Attribution: Photo: Andreas Praefcke; License: GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2
- Attribution: austrini; License: Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license


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Here at The AV Company, the Virginia Film Festival is one of the highlights of our year. Every fall, we get the chance to collaborate with the Festival on fun events that push our creativity. For their Opening Night Gala this past fall, we thought it would be a great opportunity to make an impact using our new Absen LED panels!
These square panels are roughly two feet wide, and are easily configured into any number of arrangements and layouts. After playing with different layouts and stage looks, we decided to go with a square in the center of the stage to show off the Film Festival's logo, and video columns extending out to either side for ambient content that corresponded with content being mapped onto the walls of the venue. Take a look at our design process as we break it down in the video above!


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Today my partner and I ventured down to The Beach (or Beaches) – a gorgeous, popular strip of boardwalk, beachfront and shops along Lake Ontario.
The weather was perfect for people-watching, "froyo", listening to music, walking the long stretch of boardwalk and petting the myriad dogs who accompanied their owners on this beautiful sunny day.
Canines of all kinds were in abundance – dachshunds, German Shepherds, dalmatian puppies, golden retrievers – you name it, we saw 'em. As much as I'd love to get a dog and one day I will – I've already promised my kids – we currently have a fantastic, clever cat whom everyone adores.
Not only are pets fun and playful (and a lot of work of course), studies show they're good for both children's and adults' mental health.
While it seems counter-intuitive, the dander and bacteria from pets can actually help babies develop their immune systems.
By exposing children to various pet allergens, some allergies and diseases like asthma can be avoided.
Owning a pet also breeds empathy, compassion, love, friendship and key social skills.
What does the special furball, fish or ferrat in your life do for your family? Can you imagine life without Fido?


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Guidance on Loan Modifications During COVID-19
The Supervision, Regulation, and Credit Department of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia supervises and regulates financial holding companies (FHCs), bank holding companies (BHCs), and state-chartered member banks in the Third Federal Reserve District, which includes eastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey, and the entire state of Delaware. The Bank also supervises all overseas and international operations owned by District banks, BHCs, and FHCs, including the activities of Edge and Agreement corporations, as well as U.S. branches, agencies, and nonbank operations of foreign banks located in the District.
We work with other federal and state authorities to promote safety and soundness in the operation of the financial industry and fair and equitable treatment of consumers in their financial transactions. We do this through processing applications, and through on-site examinations, off-site monitoring, and enforcement actions, when warranted.
Supervision and Regulation Letters, commonly known as SR Letters, address significant policy and procedural matters related to the Federal Reserve System's supervisory responsibilities. Consumer Affairs Letters, commonly known as CA Letters, address significant policy and procedural matters related to the Federal Reserve System's consumer compliance supervisory responsibilities. These letters are a means of disseminating information to banking supervision staff at the Board and the Reserve Banks, as well as to supervised banking organizations.
Subscribe here to be notified when new SR and CA letters are released.
Third District Banking Conditions is a semiannual report comparing the trends of Third District community banks with their national peers. The report provides an overview of the banking landscape, including earnings, credit quality, loan growth, capital adequacy, liquidity, and problem banks. Reports of Condition and Income (Call Report) and the Uniform Bank Performance Report (UBPR) are the primary resources used in this report, which is produced every six months by the Supervision, Regulation, and Credit Department of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia.
Each file provides a listing of Third District commercial banks, credit card banks, state member banks, and bank and savings and loan holding companies. The lists include a summary of market statistics and each institution's location and asset size as of the most recent quarter. Information is updated quarterly.
Most Recent Addition: Second Quarter 2020 (213KB)


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24 May 2014, Panel Discussion: Chaired by Matthew Attard Navarro
The importance of a design-led fashion industry, on a global scale
Local industry experts will discuss Malta's fashion design industry, where it sits in a global context, and how to get emerging talent onto the international stage. Matthew Attard Navarro is an art director based between London and Malta. Navarro has worked within the fashion, luxury and media industries over the past six years, since finishing a degree in media in Malta (2008).
Between 2013-2014 Navarro was Art Director of VICE Media's art department (UK) working with brands such as Diesel, Burberry, Philips on innovative and experiential campaigns. He now works with the Net-A-Porter Group, and is also creative director of Platinum Love Magazine / Platinum Innovation.
Panel to include:
- Sef Farruggia, designer;
- Luke Azzopardi, designer;
- Francesca Balzan, Art Historian, Author and Curator at Palazzo Falson Historic House Museum;
- Dawn C L Pedersen, Creative Director and Trend Forecaster at TrendZine;
- Joe Fountain, Manolo Blahnik production and design assistant;
When: 24 May
Time: 7.00pm
Where: Fort St Elmo, Valletta
Free entry


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January 1, 2008
Washington, D.C.
To learn more about Lathrop GPM, click here ›
The GPMemorandum, Issue 102
To view this newsletter in a PDF format, please click here.
This issue of The GPMemorandum focuses on topics of interest to companies that use distributors and dealers rather than managing a system of franchisees. Here are summaries of some of the most recent case decisions of interest to manufacturers and others who supply products through dealers and distributors:
A federal court in Minnesota has refused to stop the non-renewal of a distributor of coin-operated tire-inflator machines and automobile vacuums in William McCabe v. AIR-Serv Group, LLC, 2007 WL 4591932 (D. Minn. Dec. 28, 2007). The change was part of the manufacturer's business model shift that had resulted in reducing distributor ranks from 130 down to four. Most of the reduction occurred through non-renewal of distribution agreements at the end of their terms. This distributor's lawsuit claimed protection under the Minnesota Franchise Act and on other grounds.
In denying an injunction to prevent the loss of the distributorship, the court ruled that whether or not the Minnesota statute applied (which the court did not decide), the manufacturer's action was proper. The manufacturer's change of business model to perform service on its machines directly, rather than through distributors, was a legitimate business justification. The manufacturer had given ample warning of the change, including formal written notice more than nine months in advance.
A dealer named Tri-State Hardware filed a three-count petition in federal court in Missouri alleging that John Deere wrongfully terminated Tri-State's right to sell the manufacturer's line of products and services. Tri State Hardware, Inc. v. John Deere Co., 2007 WL 4287867 (W.D. Mo. Dec. 6, 2007). In support of its claims, Tri-State submitted a certified public accountant's opinion on future profits allegedly lost because of the termination. The court generally allowed the affidavit, as there were reasonable disputes between the parties over both assumed facts and proper methods of calculating damages, and the expert's decision to assume facts as alleged by the plaintiff and to opt for one damages calculation method over another did not render his report inadmissible.
The court did, however, find that the expert's report and affidavit was deficient in several respects. Most notably for parties in other cases, the court struck all portions of the report that related to the son of Tri-State's owners/operators. The report calculated damages beyond the owners' life expectancy on the assumption that their son would take over the business. The court found that assumption to be overly speculative.
Cole's Tractor & Equipment, Inc. was both a dealer and distributor for Homier Distributing Company, Inc., which sells and distributes Farm Pro tractors, implements, tools, small engines, and related products. Homier sent a notice of termination to Cole due to Cole's alleged failure to actively develop its territory and its severely declining sales performance. The notice specified that Cole had not, however, lost its "status as a dealer of Homier Farm Pro product lines." Cole sued Homier in federal court, alleging that Homier had impermissibly contacted the dealerships to which Cole sold Homier products and asked them to buy directly from Homier. Cole v. Homier Distrib. Co., Inc., 2007 WL 4233636 (E.D. Mo. Nov. 28, 2007)
The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri granted in part and denied in part manufacturer Homier's motion to dismiss the claims. The court dismissed Cole's claim that Homier tortiously interfered with Cole's relationships with its dealers because "[Cole] only established the dealerships in response to their Agreement with [Homier]. [Cole] did not have a preexisting relationship with any of these dealerships, which courts require a distributor to have with a buyer before a tortious interference claim can go forward against the distributor's supplier." The court also dismissed the fraud claim because Cole had not alleged any false representations in support of the claim.
The court allowed Cole to proceed with its claim under the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act, however. The MMPA requires at least 90 days advance written notice to cancel, terminate, or fail to renew a "franchise," which the Act defines as "a written or oral agreement for a definite or indefinite period in which a person grants to another person a license to use a trade name, trademark, service mark, or related characteristic, and in which there is a community interest in the marketing of goods or services at wholesale, retail, by lease, agreement, or otherwise". Homier did not argue that its relationship with Cole was not a "franchise" under the Act. Instead, it claimed that the Act did not apply because it does not create a claim for the "constructive termination" that Cole alleged. The court disagreed, citing Eighth Circuit precedent holding that a franchisor cannot "in effect terminate" the franchise during the 90-day notice period because to do so would render the Act meaningless. Cole's pleadings alleged that Homier effectively terminated its franchise before the 90-day period ran by contacting its dealers directly and by no longer giving Cole sales leads. The court found that those allegations, if true, would establish an MMPA violation.
The United States District Court for the Northern District of California recently denied a gas station franchisee's motion for preliminary injunction against a franchisor in a dispute under the Petroleum Marketing Practices Act. Houtan Petroleum, Inc. v. ConocoPhillips Company, U.S. Dist. LEXIS 86869 (N.D. Cal. Nov. 16, 2007).
Houtan had operated a Union 76 gas station as a Conoco franchisee at the same location for 10 years. While Conoco owned the structures, equipment and improvements at the station, it did not own the station property but instead leased it from a third-party. When Houtan and Conoco renewed their franchise agreement, Conoco's station lease with the third party was set to expire two months thereafter unless Conoco was able to renew the lease. When Conoco was unable to do so, it terminated the franchise agreement. Shortly after Conoco terminated the franchise agreement, Houtan entered into a lease for the station with the same third party and demanded that Conoco sell Houtan its equipment and improvements on the station property. Houtan rejected Conoco's offer price, and Conoco attempted to remove its equipment and improvements from the station. Houtan subsequently sued Conoco alleging that Conoco had violated the PMPA in three respects: (1) terminating the franchise agreement without good faith or in the normal course of business; (2) failing to give 90 days notice before terminating the franchise; and (3) failing to make a bona fide offer to sell the equipment and improvements of the station to the franchisee. Houtan also moved to enjoin Conoco from taking any further action to interfere with Houtan's immediate assumption of control of the station.
The district court denied Houtan's motion, holding that the parties' disagreement as to the value of the equipment and improvements was not grounds for a preliminary injunction but was a factual dispute to be resolved by the trier of fact. Moreover, the court found that under the preliminary injunction standard described in the PMPA, there were not sufficiently serious questions going to the merits of Houtan's claims for wrongful termination to warrant granting a preliminary injunction. Specifically, the court found that Houtan and Conoco renewed their franchise agreement with the express understanding that it would be terminated if Conoco was unable to renew the station lease, and Houtan was on notice of this fact well in advance of the 90-day notice required by the PMPA.
The United States District Court for the District of Oregon recently upheld a temporary restraining order that it had issued at the request of a motorcycle dealership, finding that Oregon's Motor Vehicle Dealerships Act requires courts to maintain the status quo between a dealership and manufacturer while the court determines whether good cause for termination exists. Everything Cycles, Inc. v. Yamaha Motor Corp. U.S.A, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 79396 (D. Or. Oct. 25, 2007). Yamaha's attempted termination of the dealership arose out of the felony conviction of the dealership's principal stockholder, for purchasing stolen vehicle parts on the internet. The conviction caused the dealership to lose its business license to operate in the city in which the authorized site of the dealership was located. As a result, the dealership moved to a different city. Because the dealership failed (in Yamaha's opinion) to provide adequate information regarding the new location, Yamaha withheld approval of the relocation and subsequently terminated the dealership, citing various defaults stemming from the unauthorized relocation.
Upon Yamaha's motion to reconsider the TRO, the court determined that, in enacting the Motor Vehicle Dealerships Act, the Oregon legislature had intentionally tipped the balance of power in favor of dealerships by requiring a court to determine whether "good cause" for termination exists whenever a termination decision is challenged. Because it is for the court to determine "good cause" in the first instance (as opposed to reviewing the propriety of the manufacturer's determination of good cause), the court found the preliminary injunction appropriate. Notably, the court refrained from analyzing the underlying merits of the case, and noted that "the court may very well find good cause based on plaintiff's relocation."
In its last two terms, the United States Supreme Court issued two important rulings that are having an impact on pricing practices and relationships with distributors and dealers. As a review, we recap our prior articles on those two decisions:
For as long as anyone alive today can remember, federal antitrust law has prohibited suppliers from setting minimum resale prices based on a century-old precedent. Last summer, the United States Supreme Court, in Leegin v. Creative Leather Products, Inc., 2007 WL 1835892 (U.S. June 28, 2007), reversed that long-standing precedent, ruling that all such agreements are now subject to the "rule of reason," a method of analysis under which the claimant must make the difficult showing that the arrangement harms competition substantially in the market as a whole. This decision is expanding the ability of franchisors to design flexible pricing programs.
Under the old Dr. Miles case, it had been per se illegal for a franchisor or supplier to enter into an agreement with a reseller over its minimum retail prices. Cases focused on whether the manufacturer or other supplier met the technical requirements of reaching an "agreement." In order to avoid per se illegality, suppliers were permitted to "announce" their policy and decide to deal with those who complied with the policy. This created an artificial structure in which a supplier could establish a minimum price but could not reach or enforce agreements on that policy.
The Supreme Court's decision in Leegin means it is no longer necessary for suppliers to engage in the appearance of suggesting but not agreeing. Under federal law at least, companies now can direct specific resale prices to be charged, need not utilize agency or consignment arrangements in order to direct prices, need not adopt cumbersome "minimum advertised price programs," and no longer need to exercise extreme caution to avoid "agreements" (as opposed to unilateral actions) with distributors or dealers on the prices to be charged.
Leegin was a typical minimum resale price case in which a discounting retailer was terminated for excessive discounting. In its 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court found resale price maintenance to be generally pro-competitive because: (1) it can help ensure that retail services that enhance interbrand competition will not be underprovided (e.g., because of free riding); and (2) it may facilitate market entry for new companies and brands. As the Court noted, similar justifications have supported "rule of reason" analysis for non-price vertical agreements (such as exclusive territories) for decades.
For the first time in over a decade, the Supreme Court in early 2006 addressed Robinson-Patman Act standards for price discrimination in Volvo Trucks North America, Inc. v. Reeder-Simco GMC, Inc., 2006 WL 43971 (U.S. Jan. 10, 2006). The decision came in the context of a dealership dispute. A key fact in this case was that Volvo Trucks North America, the defendant at trial, had, like many companies, decided to reduce its dealership ranks so that each dealer would serve a larger market. With that common backdrop, the plaintiff convinced a jury that Volvo Trucks had discriminated against the dealer in price in order to eliminate it as part of the reduction plan (which was called "Volvo Vision"), and a treble-damages judgment was entered at over $4 million, plus attorneys' fees. The Supreme Court's decision reversed that judgment and refused to expand price discrimination law.
When two buyers of a product compete against each other to resell the product, the Robinson-Patman Act can require the original seller to sell to both buyers at the same price. But the Supreme Court's recent decision clarifies that a buyer who pays more cannot prevail on a federal price discrimination claim unless it was competing head-to-head for resales to the same customer at the same time. Absent head-to-head competition, the disfavored buyer, like Reeder-Simco, cannot show the "injury to competition" required under the law. The decision also confirmed more generally that the antitrust laws do not bar a manufacturer from restructuring its distribution network to improve the efficiency of its operations. Therefore, the implementation of the "Volvo Vision" to have fewer, larger dealers did not cause the result to change.
Even though the manufacturer/seller ultimately won this case, the Supreme Court's opinion makes clear that sellers still need to follow the Robinson-Patman Act. First, the court refused to rule that price discrimination law never can come into play when the buyer is seeking a special price in order to make a competitive bid to an end-user. That defense had been raised both by Volvo Trucks and the United States government; both wanted the court to rule that the Robinson-Patman Act never applies in the competitive bid context, but the court sidestepped that point. Second, the court specifically mentioned that the plaintiff had not presented a "statistical analysis" to show that its sales or profits were diverted to a favored purchaser. The express reference to the absence of statistical analysis could imply that a verdict would be upheld if statistics prove the requisite injury. Third, the court stated once again that the purpose of federal price discrimination law is to protect smaller buyers from "large chain stores" who otherwise could get lower prices than could the smaller buyers. This sounds ominous to franchisors and manufacturers looking to sell products to large, multiple-store buyers at favorable prices, while also serving as warning to franchise "chains" that are buying product.
In the end, however, the Supreme Court also reaffirmed that preserving competition between brands remains more important than the regulation of any single brand's distribution network. Price discrimination law is being construed for now consistent with that broader antitrust policy of promoting interbrand competition.
The United States District Court for the District of Minnesota recently denied a distributor's motion for a preliminary injunction, relying on two conclusions of law favorable to the manufacturer defendant. In Coyne's & Company v. Enesco, 2007 U.S. Dist LEXIS 79003 (D. Minn. Oct. 12, 2007), the plaintiff had been granted the exclusive rights to distribute the defendant's product line in the United States and Mexico, in exchange for a 50 percent markup on the products. Plaintiff sued for a preliminary injunction when it appeared the defendant would begin distributing its products in North America through a different party.
In support of its claim of irreparable harm (a necessary component of the injunction request), the plaintiff made two arguments: (1) that the Minnesota Franchise Act applied to its relationship with the defendant; and (2) the defendant's actions constituted infringement of plaintiff's exclusive right to use the trademarks and copyrights associated with the products. Irreparable harm is presumed under the Minnesota Franchise Act and in claims of copyright and trademark infringement. With relatively little analysis, the court found, however, that the 50 percent product markup did not constitute a franchise fee, but rather was an "ordinary business expense" for the distributor. Further, the court found no threatened copyright or trademark infringement, as the distribution agreement did not grant the plaintiff exclusive trademark or copyright rights. The court rejected the plaintiff's argument that its exclusive distribution rights necessarily included exclusivity to use the intellectual property associated with the products.
Since the plaintiff relied on the presumed irreparable harm that flows from a violation of the Minnesota Franchise Act or a copyright or trademark infringement, and since the court held that neither could be established as a matter of law, the preliminary injunction motion was denied for lack of irreparable harm. The court concluded that the plaintiff would have an adequate remedy by seeking money damages for breach of contract, if a breach could be proved.
In B & E Juices, Inc. v. Energy Brands, Inc., Bus. Fran. Guide ¶13,748 (D. Conn. Oct. 26, 2007), a federal district court in Connecticut found that a beverage distributor was not a "franchisee" for purposes of the Connecticut Franchise Act. The plaintiff beverage distributor sought a preliminary injunction restraining the defendant manufacturer from terminating a distribution agreement between the parties. B & E asserted that it had a franchise relationship with Energy Brands and that under the Connecticut Franchise Act, a franchisor may only terminate a franchise for good cause. B & E argued that Energy Brands improperly terminated the distribution agreement after Energy Brands was acquired by another beverage manufacturer that sought to use its own extensive network of distributors to distribute the Energy Brands products.
In determining whether B & E was a franchisee under the Connecticut Franchise Act, the court applied a multi-factor test established to determine Energy Brands' level of control over B & E's marketing plan. The court found that Energy Brands did not control many of the aspects of B & E's marketing, including the hours and days of operation; Energy Brands did not require B & E employees to wear any particular uniform; Energy Brands was not involved in the hiring or firing of B & E employees; and there was no evidence the Energy Brands required any training of B & E employees. In addition, the court held that while Energy Brands controlled some of the pricing of its product to customers, there was a significant portion that it did not control. Further, among other things, the court held that a majority of B & E's trucks did not carry advertising for Energy Brands' products, that B & E was never required to provide the company with financial reports, and that Energy Brands' employees did not dictate how B & E must run its business. After weighing the facts, the court found that B & E did not engage in the offering, selling, or distributing of goods under a marketing plan prescribed in substantial part by Energy Brands.
Additionally, the court found that B & E's business was not "substantially associated" with Energy Brands' trademarks, trade names, or advertising. Despite the fact that Energy Brands products constituted 40% of B & E's business, the majority of B & E's business was derived from distributing Snapple products. The majority of B & E's trucks bore Snapple advertising and the majority of B & E's coolers were Snapple coolers. In fact, because of B & E's distribution agreement with Snapple, B & E could not distribute one of Energy Brands' products that competed with Snapple. As a result, the court determined that B & E was not completely dependent upon the public's confidence in the "franchised" product for most or all of its business.
John W. Fitzgerald, Kelly W. Hoversten, Jeremy L. Johnson, Gaylen L. Knack, Kevin J. Moran, Iris F. Rosario, Quentin R. Wittrock, Eric L. Yaffe
For more information on our Franchise and Product Distribution Practice and for recent back issues of this publication, visit the Franchise and Product Distribution group page.
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The GPMemorandum is a periodic publication of Gray, Plant, Mooty, Mooty & Bennett, P.A., and should not be construed as legal advice or legal opinion on any specific facts or circumstances. The contents are intended for general information purposes only, and you are urged to consult your own franchise lawyer concerning your own situation and any specific legal questions you may have.
This article is provided for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice or legal opinion on any specific facts or circumstances. You are urged to consult a lawyer concerning any specific legal questions you may have.
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While the U.S. Department of Agriculture's most recent report on cold storage capacity shows a drop in overall numbers, there's no lack of examples in the fresh produce supply chain suggesting that sector is seeing growth.
According to the Capacity of Refrigerated Warehouses 2017 report from the National Agricultural Statistics Service — the 50th biennial report — released in January, the gross refrigerated storage capacity in the U.S. totaled 3.6 billion cubic feet on Oct. 1, 2017.
The previous report, released in early 2016, put that capacity at 4.17 billion cubic feet.
That number doesn't specifically target fresh fruits and vegetables, and includes freezer space for frozen foods.
News from numerous distributors and ports, however, detail a growing trend of expansion throughout the country that benefits the fresh produce supply chain.
At the Port of Oakland, Calif., the 283,000-square-foot refrigerated distribution center known as Cool Port Oakland is scheduled to open this summer.
Operated by Lineage Logistics and Dreisbach Enterprises, the facility is designed to, in part, spur exports of Midwest pork and beef, but fresh fruit exporters will see some benefits, said the port's director of communications, Mike Zampa.
According to port statistics, nearly 103,500 20-foot-equivalent (TEU) container units of fruit were exported at Oakland in 2017, worth $4.6 billion, a 44% increase from 2013. Fresh fruit imports in 2017 were worth $1.5 billion, up 16% from 2013.
Zampa credited the port's proximity to the Salinas Valley and California production areas. Almonds, oranges and grapes led the specialty crop exports.
"We're making the case that the most convenient and cost-effective way (to Asian markets) is through Oakland," Zampa said.
Other notable cold storage projects under construction or recently opened include:
Henningsen Cold Storage
Henningsen plans to open a 5-million-cubic foot facility in Grandview, Wash., this summer.
The facility will be close to apple, pear and potato production areas, with a capacity of more than 20,000 pallet positions.
Brothers Produce
Houston-based Brothers Produce is adding cold storage space for a total of 65,000 square feet.
Some storage at the company will be dedicated to Brother Produce's restaurant storage and distribution business.
Late last year, Americold opened a 9.5-million-cubic-foot warehouse in Clearfield, Utah, bringing total space to almost 21 million cubic feet.
Americold facilities in Rochelle, Ill., and Middleborough, Mass. (an Ocean Spray plant) are also in the works.
Divine Flavor
Nogales distributor Divine Flavor has scheduled a grand opening May 22 for its $7.5 million cold storage project, which includes seven cold rooms and an inspection area.
Lineage Logistics
Lineage Logistics broke ground on an addition to its Sunnyvale, Texas, warehousing and distribution facility in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area recently, according to a news release.
The 94,000-plus square-foot addition will bring the company's total space there to 311,885 square feet.
Evergreen Cold Storage
In mid-February, Evergreen Cold Storage, Pharr, Texas, broke ground on a new 283,000-square-foot facility to be built in three phases: a 117,000-square-foot warehouse to be completed in December, a 96,000-square-foot warehouse, and a 13,000-square-foot commercial area, to be completed in December 2020.


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Swinging Cafe Doors can be used as Baby Gate | Pet Gates | Dog Gates.
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See our Selection of Swinging Cafe Doors (All Can Be Mounted Low for Gate Options) or Dutch Doors
We Also Have a Large Selection of Swinging Cafe Door Latches to add to your Saloon Door- Baby Gate | Pet Gate


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After passing the comprehensive examination, the student will select a Dissertation Committee which must be approved by the ORLD Coordinator and the Dean of Graduate Studies. The Committee will include at least four (4) members selected from the following
categories. Each voting member must have UMES Graduate Faculty Status. The categories for committee members are as follows:
One committee member (with full-time faculty status in the ORLD program) will be assigned the role of Dean's Representative, a position that reports on the proceedings to the Dean of Graduate Studies.
The student and his/her Dissertation Committee will agree upon a dissertation subject and accompanying research design. A quantitative proposal and dissertation manuscript will include the first four chapters (Introduction, Review of the Literature, Theoretical
Framework and Hypotheses, and Methodology) of the final dissertation (usually six chapters: Introduction, Review of the Literature, Theoretical Framework and Hypotheses, Methodology, Results, and Conclusions/Discussion). A qualitative proposal and
dissertation may contain a different number of chapters than those noted for quantitative proposals. Proposal templates are available here. The student will follow the APA Style
Manual (6th or latest edition) regarding referencing and appropriate citations. The students will follow the UMES Thesis and Dissertation Style Guide (available here) for specific formatting of the document.
The Proposal Defense, administered by the Dissertation Committee, is an oral examination of the research proposal. All members of the Dissertation Committee must attend the Proposal Defense either in person or via prior approved audio/video technology.
If an emergency arises among a Committee member, the Dean of Graduate Studies may substitute that member with the Program Coordinator or the Dean's Representative to the Dissertation Committee so that the Proposal Defense may take place. At least
three Dissertation Committee members must be physically present for the proposal defense.
During the Proposal Defense—the oral examination—the Dissertation Committee members examine the student on all aspects of the proposed dissertation research as well as whether the student has the proper motivation,
technical and intellectual capacity, and
resources to complete the research in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy degree.
Following the completion of the Proposal oral examination process, the Dissertation Committee will hold a closed meeting in which decisions will be made concerning the final form of the proposal. The student will be called back into the room to hear the Dissertation
Committee decision. Dissertation Committee consensus is desired; however, the student passes the proposal with at least three of four affirmative votes. The student is required to bring ORLD Form B to
the proposal defense. It is expected that the Dissertation Committee will work with the student to make any required changes. When the Dissertation Committee recommends substantive changes in the proposal, the student will not move forward to submit
to the UMES Institutional Review Board (IRB) the request for approval of human subjects data collection until all edits have been made. After passing the Proposal Defense, the student is allowed to submit materials as needed to the UMES Institutional
Review Board (IRB).
After passing the Proposal Defense, the student is admitted to candidacy provided that he/she submits the application for Admission to Candidacy. This application form may be obtained from the UMES Graduate School (https://www.umes.edu/Grad/).
The timeline for Admission to Candidacy is five years after enrollment in the program.
If the student fails the Proposal Defense, he/she must re-defend the research proposal. A second failure or failure to re-defend within one year (but no sooner than 30 working days) of the first proposal defense results in cancellation of admission.
The ability to undertake independent research and provide sufficient evidence of scholarship is demonstrated by submission of an original dissertation, which is required of all candidates for a PhD degree. A minimum of 12 dissertation hours is required
to complete the ORLD Doctoral degree program. Prior to admission to candidacy, the student may register for no more than six (6) dissertation hours. After registering for all 12 required hours, the candidate must register for one dissertation hour
per semester and summer session, including the semester or session in which he/she defends his/her dissertation. In other words, the candidate must be continually enrolled in dissertation hours until graduation. The candidate has up to four (4) years
to successfully defend his/her dissertation from the time he/she was admitted to candidacy.
The Dissertation Defense MUST be physically attended by ALL members of the candidate's Dissertation Committee, and the Dissertation Defense must be held in UMES facilities. At the completion of the defense, the Dissertation Committee will hold a meeting
(without the candidate) to discuss decisions regarding the candidate's pass/fail status and any recommendations for the final form of the dissertation manuscript. The student will be called back into the room to hear the Dissertation Committee decision.
The Dissertation Committee has the following alternatives regarding the pass/fail status for the candidate:
Although not an ORLD requirement, the Doctoral candidate may request a Public Seminar (open to the public) to serve as a dress rehearsal for the Dissertation Defense. The request should be submitted to the ORLD Coordinator.


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On Tue, 3 May 2011, Julian Reschke wrote: > On 03.05.2011 07:18, Willy Tarreau wrote: > > ... > > Many intermediaries will still log regardless of whatever new directive > > you add, and there are a lot of places where logging will be mandatory > > regardless of the cache-control header (which should control caching and > > not logging). > > > > Also, concerning the privacy, I see no reason for not logging something > > that is exchanged in clear text. This has always been the case for decades > > with the query string in GET requests etc... ; if you want some privacy, > > you know you need SSL. > > ... > > Logging is one thing, preserving logs is another thing. Reminder: in some > countries, the IP address is considered relevant for privacy (and I agree), > thus preserving HTTP logs containing IP information for too long is not > allowed. I think log management policies are out of scope for the HTTP protocol specification other than to note that traffic might be logged, requests might be logged, etc. Logging may be required for system management and problem resolution, or it might be required to conform to local laws. Conversely, logging (and/or retention) may be limited by local laws.Received on Tuesday, 3 May 2011 05:55:46 UTC
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.4.0 : Friday, 17 January 2020 17:13:51 UTC


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The airline allows this, the TSA forbids that, and travelers just end up confused. Both entities have policies about luggage that airplane passengers must follow. Your airline determines how large or heavy bags may be and how many bags travelers may bring on board for a flight. The TSA doesn't enforce any rules regarding luggage, but it does make some suggestions that help travelers pack their bags efficiently.
The TSA and Luggage: An Overview
The TSA doesn't get a say in the size or types of luggage that people choose. If you pass through security with a suitcase that's larger than your airline's carry-on allowance, TSA agents won't object. It's their job to screen the contents of a passenger's luggage, not to approve of or reject the luggage itself. A traveler who brings an overlarge suitcase to the airplane gate will have to resolve the issue with airline staff before boarding the plane.
The only luggage-related TSA guidelines that passengers should be aware of were put in place to allow agents to thoroughly screen all baggage. Specifically, follow the TSA's rules when choosing baggage locks and cases for electronics.
The TSA and Luggage Locks
Checking a suitcase full of your belongings feels like taking a leap of faith. You have no way of knowing who's going to have access to those personal items while the bag is out of your possession, so locking the bag provides at least some peace of mind. But all checked baggage is subject to screening, and agents may cut off those locks if they're not TSA approved. Doing so shouldn't damage the bag in any way, but the broken lock will be thrown away and the bag will remain unlocked for the rest of the trip.
The TSA has collaborated with many companies that make travel locks. As a result, many manufacturers produce locks that can be opened by a TSA master key. When a suitcase that needs to be personally inspected is secured with a TSA-approved lock, agents can open the bag and re-lock it without doing any damage.
Checkpoint-Friendly Electronics Bags
At the TSA security checkpoint, most passengers are required to remove any electronics larger than a cellphone from their carry-ons. Tablets and laptops have to be screened more carefully than other items, so agents have to get a good look at the X-rays of these devices. The TSA encourages travelers to pack their electronics in checkpoint-friendly bags or cases. These bags have dedicated compartments that hold laptops or tablets, which zip open to lay flat on the X-ray conveyor belt. The device compartment of a checkpoint-friendly bag doesn't have metal zippers or pockets that block the view of the item within.
Packing electronics in a checkpoint-friendly bag isn't a requirement. Travelers who don't use them simply have to remove their devices from their carry-on bags for screening. Members of the TSA's PreCheck program are an exception. They don't have to remove their electronics from their bags, so it doesn't matter what type of cases are used for these devices.
Leaf Group is a USA TODAY content partner providing general travel information. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.


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Take a walk in the shoes of a RMCAD student.
Join us for our college open house!
Whether you've visited RMCAD before or it's your first time, our Open Houses are a great way to be introduced to the RMCAD culture. Offered monthly, our Open Houses allow students to:
Friday, October 16, 2020 at 3 p.m.
Saturday, December 12, 2020


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This section contains some of the key policies which you may find useful. Listed below are other policies, a copy of which can be obtained by contacting the school directly.
Assessment Policy
Buddy System
Complaints Policy
Critical Incident Policy
Curriculum Policy
Dogs in School Guidance
Drugs Education Policy
Educational Trips
Emergency Evacuation Policy
Enrolment Policy
E-Safety Policy
Fairtrade Policy
First Aid & Medical Needs
Healthy Eating Policy
Home School Liaison Policy
Homework Policy
Marking for Improvement Policy
Outdoor Learning Policy
Pastoral Care Policy
PDMU Policy
PE Policy
Play Based Learning Policy
Relationships and Sexual Education Policy
UICT Policy
Waiting List Policy
World Around Us Policy


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Now that the weather is getting cooler, I like to carve out some time to take stock of my wardrobe and maybe update it a bit. You never know when you will wake up one morning to chilly and wet fall weather. If all that is in your closet right now is shorts and summer dresses you might want to start getting prepared! One of the easiest items to wear now and transition into fall is a dress. There are plenty of lovely dresses in the shops right now that will nicely bridge the gap between the last of summer and the first few weeks of autumn by switching up a few things.
Maxi dresses
Maxi dresses look good on most women and come in such a wide range of styles. You are sure to find one that is flattering and you love! You can find some tips on how to find a maxi dress that flatters your body type by clicking here. Many stores offer cute maxi dresses and now is a good time to buy as many are on sale as the seasons change. There are many plus-size retailers like Simply Be offering a good selection of maxi-dresses, too.
The thing that makes them ideal for wearing as the season's change is that they incorporate a long flowing skirt. On warmer days, the air can circulate around your legs, which helps to keep you cooler. Yet, on chilly days, the long skirt can also protect you from the blowing wind.
As a mom, I love maxi dresses because I never need to worry about if I am covered or not. They are always long enough! You can just as easily wear a maxi dress to the office or a beach party. For fall try a maxi dress with a denim jacket and wide brim wool hat.
Wrap dresses
You really cannot beat a wrap dress. They are known to really flattering to a wide range of body types. They can also be dressed up or down which makes them a great addition to any woman's wardrobe.
On warmer days, you can easily wear yours with a pair of sandals. Later, when the weather gets cooler you can swap them for a pair of OTK boots.
Knit dresses
If the evenings are cool enough where you are, buy a knit dress. They are timeless and typically very soft so are comfortable to wear. During the day you can wear them with sandals for a casual look. You can also dress them up for work by adding a blazer in the fall or dress them down flats or booties. Add a plaid blanket scarf for a cozy fall look.
Mini dresses don't have to be super short! Sometimes just an inch or two above your knee-whatever you are comfortable with. On warm days, you can wear your mini-dress as it is. When the weather gets cooler you can switch to wearing it as a top with jeans and knotting the side, warm leggings or a pair of classically cut trousers. I also pair mine with fleece lined tights and tall boots.
Try dress layering for fall
If you cannot afford to go out and buy new dresses for fall, do not worry! I have layered underneath and over top of dresses to help transition my dresses to colder weather. Here is one of my older blog posts that demonstrate how I added a long sleeve tee and vest to help stay warm. So if you are on a no-buy month or trying to save money, shop your closet instead! You can still dress warmly for those chilly fall days without having to spend any extra cash.


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Former JP/Neilpryde rider and 3 x World Champion, Kauli Seadi has made a dramatic move away from NeilPryde. In an unexpected twist, Kauli announced in an interview with continentseven.com that he changed because he was looking to change his approach to the tour. He said that "I believe in myself and the collaboration with NeilPryde splitted because we had different approaches in the sport. I have the passion for wave-riding and they only care about competition, but the way the competition was I had no more motivation to compete. So I decided to do a year off the PWA tour and I plan to do a trip together with my girlfriend on my catamaran sailing boat along the coast of Brazil. I want to search for sports for windsurfing, kitesurfing and SUP. All will be filmed for a TV channel in Brazil called "OFF" and I plan to have stories with pictures and an intro clip for windsurfing magazines. Once I am done with this project my plan is to continue to search for many more spots around the globe. I will finally start to do my dream tour."
In his defiance against what many already believed to be a one sided PWA Wave World Tour, Kauli stated that he will only return to the tour if there are plans for stops that feature side-off down the line wave riding conditions.
A bold stand from the world famous windsurfer. We also want to hear from you, was this a good move? Should the world tour have more varied conditions? Should it only contain down-the-line side-off events or should it be mixed up? Let us know in the comments below.
For now we've got an exclusive shot (above) of Kauli as well as this video clip of him during one of his first test runs on his new sails. Let us just point out at this time he still remains on JP boards and intends do so for the foreseeable future.


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This week's Smallville was a real mixed bag. It felt like two episodes mashed into one, a silly romantic comedy and a dark exploration of power and identity, and only one of them worked for me. It had jarring transitions, plot holes, unanswered questions, and OOC behavior, and the whole episode was a bit of a mess. But it also gave us a glorious return to the Zod storyline, an interesting peek inside Chloe's head, a fight, a funeral, some cute comic moments, and, best of all, a definite focus on our hero. I found a lot to love in Persuasion, especially in Tom Welling's performance, but overall the episode mostly left me conflicted and confused.
My biggest problem was with Lois, and more specifically, mind-whammied Lois with Clark. I'm sure that's an unpopular opinion, so I'm putting it out there first. If you'd rather not hear it, you might want to skip the rest of this review.
The episode started out great. I liked seeing Lois and Clark in reporter mode, and I thought Lois's cynicism about Valentine's Day was not only funny, but totally in character. I do believe that Clark is the more romantic one in this couple, especially growing up with Smallville's version of Jonathan and Martha Kent, but here it seemed like he only brought up candlelit dinners and their relationship in an effort to distract Lois from her story about the tower. At the DP he grabbed Lois passionately, but then dashed out a second later when he heard that Zod's tower would be finished in two days. The opening credits hadn't even started yet, and I was already confused. And Clark never explained what he meant by a more traditional relationship, so I still don't know what he thought he wanted.
Persuasion introduced us to a new kind of meteor rock, dubbed gemstone kryptonite. It looked pink in its fairy dust form, but sparkled in many different colors as it swirled around Clark, and its exact properties would prove just as hard to pin down. Breathing it in gave Clark the power of persuasion, through his voice. Whenever he started a statement with the words "I want," the person to whom he was talking was compelled to fulfill his wish. That was odd; why would the rock's power be language specific? Once a command was given, it couldn't be reversed or overridden. That seemed arbitrary, and awfully convenient. How far would a person go under the influence? Were their inhibitions removed, or was their personality fundamentally altered? And how did the kryptonite affect Clark himself? Did it progressively infect and corrupt him after it entered his system, a la Chloe in Truth? Or were we supposed to believe he simply compelled himself with the power of his own voice when he spoke his darkest desires out loud?
Lois interpreted Clark's wish for a more traditional relationship to mean he wanted her to stay home and take care of him, as his wife, serving up dinner in high heels and pearls, and subjugating her every need to his. I can only guess that Lois watched a lot of black-and-white reruns growing up, because that's a stereotype that is decades old. But Lois's mom died when she was very young, and her dad was in the military, so I can see her getting her ideas about what a traditional family was like from classic TV sitcoms. But what exactly did the kryptonite compel her to do? Pretend in order to make Clark happy? Become a Stepford wife? Reveal her own inner fantasies? I have no idea.
I found the loft scene quite disturbing. How did Clark's original command turn Lois into someone who would take Chloe's words to heart in such an extreme manner? She was a complete basket case, with no confidence in either her own self-worth or Clark's feelings for her. Were we supposed to think that was the real Lois? Plus she had no self-control. What's "traditional" about any of that? And why would Clark even try to talk to her about anything serious when she was so clearly not herself, much less kiss her? It all felt wrong to me.
I get that the show wanted us to see Clark have an epiphany about his feelings, but why have it be inspired by a half-crazed, mind-whammied Lois who threatened to leave Smallville forever and totally backed Clark into a corner, using emotional blackmail to force him to declare himself? This couple deserves so much better than that! I would have vastly preferred to cut out that loft scene altogether, and see Clark have that same moment when he saw Lois once more restored to her true self, the woman he's been falling for all along. Lois could have confessed her fears without coercion or hysteria, and asked Clark what he meant by a traditional relationship. And Clark could have responded with the realization that all he wanted was Lois, just the way she was.
Instead what Clark said in their final scene together was, "We just have to continue being honest with each other." Why in the world would he say that, when that's the LAST thing he's prepared to do? And that angsty, guilt-ridden hug at the end? Where have I seen that before? It looks like secrets and lies all over again, and I can't even tell you how depressing that is to me.
I did enjoy the comic parts of Lois as "Donna Reed on crack." The whole sequence with the wedding dress was hilarious, and it only worked so well because Erica Durance threw herself into it with complete abandon. Kudos to her. And the scene where Lois cooked dinner was funny, although for me it was mostly because of Clark's reactions. I laughed at the Jaws music that played over Clark's look of panic when Lois first mentioned marriage, the sight of him trying to feed Shelby his inedible dinner under the table, and the way he almost literally fell over when Lois announced she had quit her job. And Clark running away from women, for whatever reason, is never not going to be funny.
Clark's new power had a fairly consistent effect on everyone else, removing whatever obstacles stood in the way of following his wishes, but I still don't know if it revealed a person's true nature, or changed it. Clark went to see Chloe, and things were back to normal between them, meaning strained and angry. Clark snubbed Chloe's attempt at conversation, and at first I thought the gemstone kryptonite was affecting him, but maybe he just didn't want to give her an opening, since pretty much everything she said to him dripped with contempt. And I wouldn't be surprised if her talk of the Phantom Zone stirred up some feelings of resentment over how she betrayed his plans for Davis. But if things are this bad between them, why is Clark still going to Chloe for help, and why is she willing to give it to him? When she pushed him about the Kandorians, he pushed right back, and ended up snapping out a command in anger.
Clark wanted Chloe to focus on watching his back, and protecting him became her whole life. The way that played out made perfect sense to me. Chloe has been watching over Clark all season, and overstepping all kinds of ethical lines to do so; his command just made her relentless, ruthless, and unrestrained. But it's important to note that Chloe acted on her interpretation of what Clark said, which put an interesting spin on things, and gave us new insight into Chloe's motivations.
When Chloe found out Lois had moved in with Clark, she flipped out, and decided her cousin needed to get out of Clark's life altogether. She told Lois she was a distraction, a threat to Clark's privacy, and that she didn't really know Clark at all. I had no idea that Chloe saw Lois as such a liability. It also seemed clear that Chloe's role as Clark's secret keeper was still very important to her, and that she was jealous of the place Lois now holds in his life. To finish Lois off, she used her intimate knowledge of Lois's deepest, darkest fears to attack her where she was most vulnerable. I'm assuming we saw a glimpse of Chloe's true feelings about the romance between Clark and Lois, and it was chilling to watch. I wonder what would have happened if Lois hadn't been mind-whammied herself? Would she have fought back, or would Chloe's harsh words have devastated her all the same?
Next Chloe took on Tess's technology, determined to break down her firewalls and see exactly what she's been up to. Tess caught her in the act, and, surprisingly, proposed that they join forces to support Clark. Chloe refused, and what followed was one of the most intense physical fights we've ever seen on this show. Chloe did her best, but she really had no chance against Tess's superior strength and training, and was about to lose in a very big way when Clark whisked Tess away at super speed. I think Tess was on the verge of killing Chloe; was it in self-defense, or because she had seen a future in which she died by Chloe's hand?
Clark also cast his spell on Dr. Emil Hamilton, urging him to relax, and Alessandro Juliani gave us one of my favorite scenes of the episode as he became practically boneless, shrugging out of his coat and tie and popping open a brewski. Emil has always been unflappable, but also tightly wound, and the kicked-back dude we saw emerge was a riot. He urged Clark to use his power to get what he wanted, and when Clark decided to do so, I became convinced the Gemstone!K had infected Clark, and was already altering his behavior. As much as he might want to, I don't think Clark would do something that self-serving on his own.
Which brings us to the part of Persuasion I truly loved: the Kandorians. Early on in the episode we learned that Clark had been quietly obtaining identity documents to help Zod's followers blend in and find happy, fulfilling lives on Earth. At the end of Pandora he had hoped he could convince Zod to give up his pursuit of superpowers, but as we saw in Disciple, the issue continued to create conflict between them. So Clark adjusted his plan, and decided to save Zod from himself by disbursing his army, thereby removing the temptation to use them to rule the world. We saw a nice scene between Clark, Alia, and Faora, that showed the positive leadership Clark could so ably provide, but I wish more of that story had happened onscreen.
Faora seemed genuinely touched and sincerely grateful that Clark had given her a chance at a brand new life, but later Zod turned up with her fake passport, and knew it had come from Kal-El. Did she give it to him, like a good little soldier? After that we saw Faora with a bruised face and a cut lip, so I assume Zod found the documents and beat the information out of her, but we'll never know for sure, because we didn't see it. Alia also saw Clark through newly appreciative eyes, but became so overcome with remorse for having killed his father, she later offered herself up to Zod for justice, and he solemnly executed her. The Kryptonians may have superior intelligence, but that is tempered by their barbaric beliefs and practices.
Callum Blue continues to be completely awesome as Zod, as does Cassidy Freeman as Tess. Both of them have been woefully underused this season, and it was a delight to have them back, especially together, in Persuasion. Zod snuck up on Tess at the mansion, timing his visit to coincide with her bath, so he could strike when she was naked and vulnerable. She refused to be intimidated, however, and flirted with him instead. Tess is a very smart woman; I think she knows that the second she plays the scared victim, Zod will tire of her and toss her aside, in the most permanent way possible. She's seen the future, and no longer wants to be aligned with this madman who will decimate both her race and her planet, but she'll continue to play the game, and do her best to captivate the enemy, until she can put her Plan B into action. And I just love to watch.
My favorite scenes of all were those between Clark and Zod. When Clark left Emil, he went straight to Zod, to command the truth about Jor-El's death. Zod was compelled to answer, but told him only what he believed to be true, and accused Tess. He then demanded that Clark exact retribution, an eye for an eye, and used every manipulative trick in his arsenal to push him over the edge. Tom was magnificent in the way he portrayed Clark's struggle with his renewed grief and fury, and, I believe, the added influence of the meteor rock in his system. He fought his dark desire for revenge, and we could measure the desperate conflict that raged within by the anguish in his eyes. When Zod stepped close and whispered, "You must avenge him," Clark first nodded, almost involuntarily, and then shook himself and protested, "I can't," as he looked away, unable to meet Zod's gaze.
Zod continued to taunt Clark, utterly relentless, until our hero could take no more. Grabbing Zod with both hands, he ground out, "You don't think I want justice? You don't think I want revenge? You don't think sometimes I want to be a killer like you?" And with those words he brought his new kryptonite power to bear on himself, and was compelled to fulfill his own deadly wish. He sped off to find Tess, and Zod smirked in satisfaction.
It doesn't bother me that Clark has those feelings, of course he does. The hard part is not using his infinite powers to act on them, to protect the world instead of wreaking havoc upon it. That's what makes Clark who he is, and who he will one day become. Under the power of the Gemstone!K, Clark swept Tess out of her office at the Daily Planet just as she was about to shoot Chloe, and took her to a deserted industrial area to terrorize and ultimately kill her. The scene was intense as Tess tried to reason with a merciless Clark. He refused to be dissuaded by her pleas, but Chloe stopped him before he could go too far. And that's where the story kind of fell apart for me.
First of all, I'm tired of seeing other people save Clark from himself. Maybe it's unrealistic when kryptonite is involved, but I'd rather see him resolve his conflicts on his own, and somehow find the inner strength to do the right thing without assistance. When Tess disappeared, Chloe followed, I guess to continue watching Clark's back. But how did she know where to go, and how did she get there so fast? Evidently she carries Green!K wherever she goes now (trust issues much?), and she used it to stop Clark from killing Tess, breaking the spell of the Gemstone!K at the same time. I get that she had to stay hidden so Tess wouldn't discover Clark's weakness (if she doesn't know it already), but how did she bring him down from such a distance? And later, back at the Watchtower, why did it irritate me so much to hear Chloe explain to Clark that people need to believe in him? Isn't that exactly what he's been explaining to everyone else for months now?
The next night we saw Alia's funeral, in a visually stunning sequence that offered another glimpse into Kandorian culture. Erased of any disgrace by her final sacrifice, Alia was given an honorable farewell. Clark attended the ceremony, and confronted Zod. He learned that Alia was Jor-El's killer, but free of the meteor rock, he no longer took any satisfaction in her death. Having seen Zod's rabid devotion to vengeance first hand, and having suffered its consequences, Clark realized that although the Kandorians may be of his race, he will never be a part of their world. When he said, with such finality, "This isn't my kind of justice," we knew his days of trying to work with Zod were over.
Clark retreated to the Watchtower to think and reflect, and came to the inevitable conclusion that Zod's tower must fall. In a scene that at first rocked my world, Tom Welling's incredible, wordless acting, and Louis Febre's kick-ass rock score combined to give me something I've been waiting to see ever since Clark saw the future in Pandora. This was such a huge moment for Clark, and he was quite literally trembling with the emotion coursing through his body. With tears shining in his eyes, and looking heartbreakingly grim, he stepped up and embraced his destiny as never before. This is a man who will define justice for an entire planet, and had to begin by admitting defeat. Unable to find the peace he wanted with Zod, he instead made the decision to harness his power on a scale he had never before imagined, and for the purpose of destruction, effectively declaring war in the process. His life would never be the same again.
I've never been more proud of Clark than I was in that moment, making an impossibly difficult decision, and resolute in his determination to deal with the fallout, whatever that may be. And of course I know he made sure no one was in the building first, just as I know his next move will be to insure no one is hurt by falling debris on the ground. I get that the show was going for the drama and symbolism of Clark standing all alone above the world, watching as the city is ripped asunder by the very hand that sought to protect it. But then they delivered the final image of the episode, and it hit me like a sucker punch to the gut. Twin towers, billowing with smoke and fire, collapsing to the ground. Instantly all thoughts of Smallville left me, and my mind filled with another set of horrific images. Oh, show, what were you thinking? :(
Random thoughts: It looks like Chloe got her own five dozen roses; from Oliver, I presume? Tess was back to being a zealot for Clark, but now with an added dash of eco-terrorism. It sounded dumb for Chloe to say to Lois, "As long as I've known you, you've always had to have the scoop," when the birth of Lois's interest in journalism is part of recent show canon. What is the fetish this show has for having Clark manhandle Tess? I suppose now we'll never know why Alia had those freaky blue eyes, why she apologized to Clark in Savior, or if her apparent superpowers under both yellow and red suns were a dropped storyline or a continuity error. And I do so love the carefully-mussed hair of the Blur. I always imagine Clark finger-combing it as he zips into his costume. :)
Persuasion was a jarring mix of light and dark, and Lois's part of the story in particular did not mesh with the other elements of the episode. When we saw that sunny, sentimental breakfast scene stuck in between Alia's execution and her funeral, it only served to remind me what a small slice of Clark's life Lois truly shares. Obviously she doesn't know about his superpowers, or his alien heritage, or his activities as the Blur. But neither does she know about the Watchtower, the Justice League, or the Kandorians. She doesn't know about Clark's complicated relationship with Tess, his true relationship with Oliver, or even what her cousin does for a living. And yet this is the woman Clark wants to be with for always? How many times did he lie to her in this episode alone?
Honestly, I think the show is stuck. They hit the gas pedal on this relationship and rammed it right into the brick wall of some mythos rule about Lois not knowing Clark's secret, and now things are kind of stalled. But that's just the way I see it; I know most people are thrilled with how everything is going between these two. Personally, I think I would have left Lois out of this episode altogether, and explored the Kandorians a bit more. I'm pretty forgiving when it comes to Smallville, but this time I just couldn't make it work. I hope I like Conspiracy better.
The pretty at the top of this entry just might be my favorite Smallville cap ever (click on it for the full-size version). Here are twenty more from Persuasion:
Screen caps courtesy of Home of the Nutty, with my thanks!


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When it comes to multiplex fare, good reviews don't buy box-office success any more than bad ones prevent it. Just look at this past weekend: All three of the new wide releases scored above 80 percent on the Tomatometer (an imperfect metric, yes, but certainly some measure of a film's general critical reception). But none of them could edge out of the certified rotten Suicide Squad, which is rocking the exact same average as Batman V Superman: a dismal 27 percent.
David Ayer's supervillain ensemble did take an expected plummet, like two cosplaying Hot Topic clowns diving headfirst into a vat of chemicals. But losing two-thirds of its audience still left Suicide Squad with another $43.7 million—enough to secure the top spot at the box-office for a second weekend in a row, and to bring the film's grand total past the $200 million mark. It's now the 8th-highest-grossing movie of the year, right behind—you guessed it—Batman V Superman. Fans may howl with rage over the lousy marks, but there's not a ton of correlation between how critics respond to these kind of four-quadrant blockbusters and how well they do in the box-office colosseum. In other words: Relax, DC geeks. The future of your gritty, ultraviolent mega-franchise is probably secure.
So what about the newcomers? The bawdy animated spoof Sausage Party actually did better than expected, landing in second place with $33.6 million, despite its R rating and reportedly scathing takedown of organized religion. The film cost a shockingly frugal $19 million, meaning that it never needed to smash records to get out of the red. (Though don't necessarily believe talk that Suicide Squad will have to make $800 million to break even.) A real children's film, Disney's soulful remake of Pete's Dragon, didn't do as hot; its third-place, $21.5 million finish is about on par with what The BFG made in its first weekend, though the comparably modest $65 million budget brings it closer to "minor disappointment" than "whizpopping flop." Meanwhile, down in eighth place, Florence Foster Jenkins raked in $6.5 million, which is almost exactly what last summer's Streep vehicle, Ricki And The Flash, managed out the gate.
If there's one place critics can make a dollar-and-cents difference, it's in the smaller arena of limited and specialty releases. To that end, Hell Or High Water may have benefitted from near universal acclaim: David Mackenzie's exciting cops-and-robbers picture heisted $592,000 on 32 screens—or about $18,000 per screen, easily the weekend's best average. We critics may not be able to stop the spread of a garbage fire like Suicide Squad, but at least we can help point audiences in the direction of a compelling alternative.
For more detailed numbers, visit Box Office Mojo.


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Hrotko Larissza
By the first profession Larissza (Larissa) Hrotkó (1945) is a linguist. She dealt with the structural analysis of the languages and the dialect in the science of languages. After obtaining the diploma in theology and cultural history she has been engaged in the feminist research of the Jewish culture. Since 2000 she has been member of the ESWTR (European Association of Women's Theological Researchers) and of the Ecumenical Association of Women Theologians of Hungary. In 2013 she completed her doctorate at the Jewish Theological Seminary – University of Jewish Studies of Budapest.


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Online: Beyoncé ft. Sean Paul "Baby Boy"
NOTE: Once registered, you will receive an email with the access link at least 30 min prior to the start of the class.
DivaDance is a sexy, sweaty, stressfree dance experience for ALL LEVELS! Just like regular in-studio classes, DivaDance Live Stream classes start with community time to get to know the squad and kick off with a high energy warmup/stretch. Then you'll get sexy and sweaty while you learn an all levels, low-impact cardio dance choreo routine. Classes feature original, fierce choreography influenced by your favorite music videos and pop songs. Be prepared to let your hair down and have fun. Every class wraps with an opportunity to video yourself performing the routine one last time so you can post to social media (tag @divadancenyc and @divadancehq!), followed by a brief cool down.
Recording of the live stream itself is not permitted.


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Capital One Bank Reviews Creative Account
Steve's breakdown: We reported back in December that the media portion of this account went into review. It was only a matter of time before the creative would too. And it's about time. Their creative is embarrassing!
McLEAN, VA: Capital One's banking division is reviewing its creative business, now split between DDB and Kirshenbaum Bond Senecal + Partners.
In terms of annual revenue, the account is estimated at $5 million. Media spending on Capital One banks exceeded $65 million last year, down 51 percent from about $135 million in 2009, according to Nielsen. Those figures don't include online spending.
An estimated dozen agencies have responded to an initial request for proposals, which was issued by Boston-based consultancy Pile + Co. Based on the submissions, Capital One executives will narrow the field. The incumbents are not participating.
DDB handles its portion of the banking account at its Chicago office, which also creates the "What's in Your Wallet?" ads for Capital One credit cards. Kirshenbaum runs its business out of New York.
Credit card advertising, which last year was backed by nearly $195 million in media, is not in play. Likewise, Capital One is not reviewing its media planning and buying account, which remains at Horizon in New York. All told, Capital One spent more than $265 million in media last year, up 89 percent from about $140 million in 2009, according to Nielsen.
The review comes amid Capital One's $9 billion acquisition of online banking player ING Direct. That deal is expected to close in late 2011 or early 2012.
DDB's relationship with Capital One dates back to 2004. Kirshenbaum also has worked on the brand for seven years.
Capital One, which is based in McLean, Va., could not immediately be reached, and Pile president Judy Neer declined to comment.


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- Large Wristlets
- >
- Large Wristlet, Gray Dandelion
Large Wristlet, Gray Dandelion
per item
Made to order
Exterior Measurements: 8" x 5" x 1" (zipper opening: 7 inches)
Your iPhone 8 Plus, with a THIN case, or any device measuring up to 6.5" x 4.5" x 0.5" will fit comfortably in this Large Wristlet....either in the main compartment or in the front zippered pocket.
If your phone has a thick case, you will need a slightly larger purse. (X-Large Wristlet)
4 slots for credit cards (each slot holds 1-3 cards)
2 little pockets for lip balm.
1 zippered main compartment
1 exterior zippered pocket
1 Removable wrist strap
Add On:
Add an inside zip pocket $3
Add a matching coin purse $8.95
Add a matching card holder $10


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Relationship(s) or relation(s) may discuss with the relationship between family , associates , or sexual companions Love is an emotion usually involved in relationships. Marriage is a authorized union between a man and a girl based on primary college days definition. If we severely contemplate the abusive relationship statistics, then almost eighty% of the people dating believed that abuse, of any variety, is harmful for relationship to grow and continue successfully. The focus of the relationship goes from being centered on like to being centered round resentment. What is consistent is that many women undergo, in many ways, when they assume the burden of contraception in a relationship. In our time collectively we work by varied sides of getting ready for significant relationships and marriage starting with setting Godly relationship goals and way more.
This is vital, because when a relationship becomes boring and mechanical, most people should not really keen to put within the work that they must with the intention to maintain themselves together. Your recommendation is spot on and also applicable to so many areas of life however particularly helpful in dealing with anyone who has a character disorder. A relationship can also be an in depth friendship between two individuals, particularly one involving sexual or romantic feelings. Generally, the more uncomfortable we are with our personal worthiness in the relationship and to be loved, the more we'll attempt to control the relationship and our associate's behaviors. Qualities like kindness and respect are absolute requirements for a healthy relationship.
But definitely sharing these advice with a friend who simply bought dumped some days in the past, hopefully he has greater luck than me! I might vastly recognize your advice and assist, and please let me know in the event you need any other information about the state of affairs. Over the following three years, our venture will support 300,000 high-threat drinkers to alter their relationship with alcohol and take management of their consuming. A relationship will have all the time have a difficulty when one particular person all the time has extra feeling than the opposite.
I might say that sure, I do have a private relationship with God, though it isn't all the time warm and cuddly. Awesome tips – I was raised by a narcissist and then went on to a relationship with a psychopath – I ended up walking away and ceasing all contact with them. Cash and monetary points are the most common reason behind conflict in your relationship. A healthy relationship has two people working through conflicts or difficulties as they come. We broke up since we feel our relationship will not work anymore.I am within the therapeutic course of right now but i know am gonna be okay quickly. God would not need a relationship with us. That would, presumably, make him human.
Will you be crushed and overcome by it or survive and thrive because you are safely in GOD hands with a personal relationship with him because he selected … Read More


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COVID-19 NHS: Our Chief Medical Officer responds to advice on the Coronavirus outbreak and gives useful links to the NHS. Find out more
Our doctors can see you in the comfort of your own home on your smartphone, tablet or computer.
You won't have to travel or take time off work to get treatment for your sinusitis. You can simply fit your appointment around your schedule.
Join thousands of satisfied customers. Your first appointment is only £30.
If you've got a really severe cold, or your symptoms aren't clearing up after a few weeks, you might have sinusitis.
Sinusitis is a very common condition, which leads to inflammation in the lining of the sinuses. It's typically due to a viral infection.
If you get prolonged bouts of sinusitis, particularly if they occur at the same time every year, you may have what's known as acute or chronic sinusitis.
Sinusitis is often confused with a cold or flu and can be easy to overlook, since it often occurs straight after you've had an upper respiratory tract infection like these.
Since it has symptoms so similar to those experienced in cold and flu, it's easy to overlook sinusitis, but if left untreated - it can be very unpleasant to deal with.
In addition to pain in the areas surrounding your sinuses (nose, cheeks and forehead), those with sinusitis may also experience:
In children, these symptoms can be particularly severe and cause a loss of appetite, irritability and a nasally-sounding voice.
Sinusitis has very similar symptoms to other respiratory tract infections, so it's important to get an accurate diagnosis.
Our doctors will discuss your symptoms with you, provide a diagnosis and recommend the best treatment to ensure a quick recovery.Make an appointmentAvailable
While sinusitis will usually clear up of its own accord within a couple of weeks, for more serious or chronic cases, our doctors can prescribe medication such as antibiotics or steroid sprays.
If you think you might have sinusitis or aren't sure - don't delay, talk to a doctor today.
Our GPs will be able to discuss your symptoms with you, diagnose the problem and if necessary, prescribe the medication you need to start feeling better.
Sinusitis is a very common condition, which leads to inflammation in the lining of the sinuses. It's typically due to a viral infection and tends to clear up within a couple of weeks.
However, if you get prolonged bouts of sinusitis (lasting months on end), particularly at the same time every year - you may be especially susceptible to the condition and have what's known as acute or chronic sinusitis (or rhinitis).
It's usually brought on by the cold or flu virus spreading to the sinuses, but may also be the result of a tooth infection or even a fungal infection.


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Webbox Natural Chicken, Pea & Blueberry Dog Treats
27 x 60g bars
- No artificial colours, flavours or preservatives
- Grain, Gluten and Wheat Free
- Vet Approved Recipe
- Suitable for puppies from 6 months
Rated by our customers
Product details
Webbox knows a thing or two about dogs and our tasty natural treats are a great example of our expertise. Specially designed with no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives the 60g bar is the ideal size to reward your furry companion when they have been good. The treat is a new product here at Webbox and dogs are already going barking mad for it.
Made with fresh chicken, pea fibre and dried blueberry not only is it bursting with flavour, it is a healthy snack too. Blueberries are proven to help promote good eyesight, so you can be sure to get the best of both worlds with this tasty treat that will contribute towards healthy eyesight as your dog grows older.
The only problem that you are going to have is your dog howling for more once you have run out. Feed them with a bowl of fresh water and we guarantee that it will go down a treat.
Product Nutrition
|Crude Protein:
|Crude Oils and Fats:
|Crude Fibre:
|Crude Ash:
Chicken (54% Fresh chicken, 3% Chicken meal), Fruits (14% each from dried cranberry, dried blueberry), Pea (11%), Glycerine, Sweet potato, Pea fibre, Minerals, Mono & Di-glycerides, Seeds (1.5% each from pumpkin, sunflower, flax), Apple vinegar, Fruit extracts, Rosemary extract (50 mg/kg).


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Nope, it's not KitKat, but hey,
beggars owners of older Android handsets can't be choosers. If you've been using AT&T's version of the Samsung's waterproof Galaxy S4 Active, you're in luck: Android 4.3 is starting to roll out in the form of an over-the-air update. As you're probably aware by now, the update keeps the phone in Jelly Bean territory, but brings a good deal of improvements, including OpenGL ES 3.0 support, Bluetooth Smart technology, enhanced notifications and 1080p Netflix streaming. Good luck with that 772MB download, and do let us know how it goes.
AT&T begins updating the Galaxy S4 Active with Android 4.3
Sponsored Links
Nope, it's not KitKat, but hey,


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Bird suet, is a solid birdseed and mush mixture that forms edible cakes for birds to eat. This mixture is beneficial to birds during the winter and other seasons when they cannot find food in the wild. The mixture of healthy fats, seeds and fruits inside the suet will help sustain the birds through the winter until they can find fresh foods to eat in the warmer months. Suet cakes make great gifts for bird lovers, and you can place them on feeding trays and ledges or hang them from a tree limb. Bird suet will also help keep birds alive during the winter, preparing them for a better, healthier life in the spring. Do not feed birds suet during the spring and summer to avoid creating a dependence on the suet cakes that will be difficult for the birds to break.
Sharp knife
Large pot
Peanut butter
Dried fruit pieces
Sunflower seeds
Loaf pans
Cooking spray
Cut one pound of lard into small pieces. Place the pieces in a large pot.
Turn the heat onto medium and melt the lard inside the pot.
Add one cup oats, one cup cornmeal, one cup peanut butter, one cup bread crumbs and one cup of sunflower seeds. Mix the ingredients together until a creamy mixture is formed.
Add sunflower seeds and dried fruit pieces to the mixture. One to two cups of additives should mix in fairly easily. If necessary, add a little more lard or peanut butter to the mixture.
Spray two loaf pans with cooking spray. Pour the mixture into the pans. Allow the suet to cool and harden over night, then remove from the loaf pans and cut into smaller pieces for birds to eat.
Hang the suet cakes from tree branches by tying a piece of string around the center of the cake and tying the other end to a tree branch. You can also coat pinecones and other surfaces with non-hardened suet.
Create gifts for bird lovers by cutting the suet cakes into fun shapes and tying a pretty bow around the center of each cake. Make sure to include a string so that the recipient can hang the suet cakes. Make a fun bird-themed gift basket with suet cakes, bird seed, a bird feeder and binoculars to give to a bird lover or child who shows an interest in feeding or watching birds.


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Current Newswire:
PostgreSQL vs. MySQL: Which Is the Best Open Source Database?Jul 11, 2011, 11:00 (4 Talkback[s])
[ Thanks to Carla Schroder for this link. ]
"Two popular open source databases, MySQL and PostgreSQL, are often the final two candidates when admins are preparing a new rollout. This high-level overview of these two open source powerhouses should help you choose which is more appropriate for your needs. PostgreSQL
Related Stories:


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We protect and support children and young people, provide practical and emotional care and support, ensure their voices are heard, and campaign to bring lasting improvements to their lives.
Find out more
We support families by providing expert advice, support and parenting programmes.
Every year, we help thousands of children end months - sometimes years - of uncertainty with our life-changing fostering or adoption services.
There are so many ways you can get involved in our work and help us to help even more children and young people.
Just fill in our simple form to apply for your Action for Children place. If you have any questions, please call 0300 123 2112 or email firstname.lastname@example.com.
Community events, overseas adventures, running, cycling, walking - whatever the event your efforts will help children in urgent need.