text:
When Co-op members shop with at their local store, 1% of what they spend on selected Co-op branded products and services goes to support local causes through their Local Community Fund.
This year Sherburn & Villages Community Library is one of the causes to benefit and on Saturday 23rd November they were delighted to be presented with a cheque for £4150 by Co-op staff.
Paul Doherty, who chairs Sherburn in Elmet Community Trust and the Library Management Group, commented "The Co-op have always been great supporters of local causes and we were delighted to receive this cheque which helps to ensure the future of our local library, which is a great community asset".


text:
AOL Throws 25th Birthday Bash with Chuck Close, Launches 'Project on Creativity'
Chuck Close and AOL CEO Tim Armstrong with artists selected to participate in AOL's new Project on Creativity
Rare is the 25-year-old who can say that Chuck Close attended his or her birthday party (not to mention created works especially for the festivities), but then, AOL is no ordinary twentysomething. The indefatigable Internet company made Close the guest of honor last night as it celebrated its silver anniversary at the mesh-covered, SANAA-designed New Museum in New York City. The museum's window-walled top floor was lined with a new series of portraits by Close, who AOL commissioned to aim his mega-Polaroid at innovators and creative visionaries including the Dalai Lama, director Gus Van Sant, artist Kara Walker, and himself (at right). Look for the photos to appear in a forthcoming AOL media campaign.
The bash—where we spotted artist Will Cotton, Kate and Andy Spade, and the perpetually impeccable Glenn O'Brien, among many others jostling for drinks from gentleman bartenders in shiny silver suspenders—doubled as a launch party for AOL's Project on Creativity. Conceptualized with Partners & Spade, the broad-based initiative will include collaborations between AOL and Close on exclusive content, a program that will award $25,000 scholarships to 25 young people in creative fields, and a conference focusing on creativity and technology. "I'm very excited to be collaborating with AOL on this project," said Close. "Since Tim [Armstrong, AOL chairman and CEO] joined the team, they have been rapidly evolving and intelligently investing in the global creative community." One such investment was on display last night as AOL unveiled a new crop of 41 artworks—among them a "scribble scratch" scrabbled by Wolff Olins and photographer James Wojcik's mouthwatering strawberry—that will appear behind the company's logo on the AOL homepage. Learn more about the artists and their artworks here.
Previously on UnBeige:

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Westchester Broadway Theatre's THE BIKINISPublished: Friday, February 17, 2017 By: Jim DeBlasi Source: The Cue
THE BIKINIS, a musical revue now on stage at the Westchester Broadway Theatre, is a tidal wave of fun and memorable music that will put a smile on the audiences' faces. The songs span from the 1960's through the 1970's capturing some of the biggest song titles of the time, such as "Under the Boardwalk," "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini," "Chapel of Love," "Where the Boys Are," and "Be My Baby." The book that weaves together the songs is at best corny and thin but the musical performances by the 4 girls - who make up the singing quartet of THE BIKINIS - is powerful, energetic and non-stop fun. The cast features the vocal talents of Katy Blake, Anne Fraser Thomas, Joanna Young and Karyn Quackenbush.
The story revolves around THE BIKINIS hosting a fundraiser on the New Years Eve of 2000 in order to save a mobile home beach resort from property developers. Throughout the night the girls take us on a journey as they look back and remember their careers, which never really progressed beyond Shore Gigs and a one hit wonder 45 record.
The lighthearted beach party feeling of the show shifts slightly in Act II as the show instead tackles more culturally relevant songs from "The Summer of Love," along with Woodstock and anti-Vietnam protests.
Joseph Baker did a fine job as musical director and arranger. These 4 women demonstrate strong vocals and deliver each song with passion and emotion, despite the often time silly and campy patter.
The simple sets and the hint of costuming with accessory pieces may make the show feel less than the normal mainstage production for the returning patrons but it is a musical treat to enjoy. Directed and choreographed by Ray Roderick, the show runs through March 19. For reservations, call 914 592-2222.


text:
The ISL8274MEVAL1Z provides all of the circuitry required to evaluate the features of the ISL8274M 30A/30A dual-channel digital PMBus™ step-down power module. A majority of the features of the ISL8274M, such as compensation-free ChargeMode™ control, soft-start delay and ramp times, supply sequencing, and voltage margining are available on this evaluation board. For sequencing evaluation, the board can be connected to any digital module evaluation board that supports the Digital-DC™ (DDC) bus.
The ISL8274M is a dual-channel, step-down DC/DC power supply module capable of delivering up to 30A per channel. With an integrated digital PWM controller, synchronous power switches, an inductor, and passives, only input and output capacitors are needed to finish the design. A set of optional external resistors allows the user to easily configure the device for standard operation. For advanced configurations, a standard PMBus interface addresses tasks such as sequencing and fault management, as well as real-time full telemetry and point-of-load (POL) monitoring.
The ISL8274M uses ChargeMode control architecture, which responds to a transient load within a single switching cycle. Operating across an input voltage range from 4.5V to 14V, the ISL8274M offers adjustable output voltage from 0.6V to 5V.
The ISL8274MEVAL1Z evaluation board is a 4in x 4.5in 8-layer FR4 board with 2oz. copper on the top and bottom layers and 1oz. copper in the buried layers. This evaluation board comes with a placeholder for pin-strap resistors to adjust output voltage, switching frequency, input undervoltage lockout (UVLO) protection threshold, device PMBus address, overcurrent limit, ASCR setting, and soft-start setting. More configurations can be easily programmed or changed using a PMBus compliant serial bus interface.
The ISLUSBEVAL1Z (USB to PMBus adapter) is provided with this evaluation board, which connects the evaluation board to a PC to activate the PMBus communication interface. The PMBus command set is accessed by using the PowerNavigator™ evaluation software from a PC running Microsoft Windows. The ISL8274MEVAL1Z can operate in pin-strap mode without needing the ISLUSBEVAL1Z adapter or PMBus communication.
- VIN range of 4.5V to 14V, VOUT adjustable from 0.6V to 5V. Up to 95.5% efficiency
- Programmable VOUT, margining, UVP/OVP, OTP/UTP, IOUT limit, soft-start/stop, sequencing, and external synchronization
- Monitor: VIN, VOUT, IOUT, temperature, duty cycle, switching frequency, and faults
- ChargeMode control tunable with PMBus
- Mechanical switch for enable and power-good LED indicator
- Server, telecom, storage, and datacom
- Industrial/ATE and networking equipment
- General purpose power for ASIC, FPGA, DSP, and memory
|Tools Orderable Part Number (s)
|Production Status
|Suggested Single Tool Price
|Distributor Stock
|Distributor Purchase
|Buy Direct
|Mass Production
|element14 APAC
注意事项 :分销商价格可能会与所述预算价格有所不同。本网站上的定价与供货信息由瑞萨电子授权分销商提供的信息而定,如有更改恕不另行通知。通过在本页面上选择一位分销商,您将会从瑞萨电子网站跳转至分销商网站来完成购买。分销商的运营完全独立于瑞萨电子,有其自身的销售条款和条件。对于分销商与最终客户之间的交易,瑞萨电子不承担任何明示或暗示的陈述与担保责任。
Disclaimer: THIS MATERIAL IS PROVIDED "AS-IS" FOR EVALUATION PURPOSES ONLY. RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES (collectively, "Renesas") DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND MERCHANTABILITY. Renesas provides evaluation platforms and design proposals to help our customers to develop products. However, factors beyond Renesas' control, including without limitation, component variations, temperature changes and PCB layout, could significantly affect the product performance. It is the user's responsibility to verify the actual circuit performance.


text:
Doi Ilish
- Hilsa fish (6 pieces)
- Plain curd (100 gms) well beaten
- Mustard paste (2 tbsp)
- Green chilly paste (as per taste)
- Salt as per taste
- Sugar as per taste
- Mustard oil (3 tbsp)
- Turmeric powder (1/2 tsp)
Mix all the ingredients apart from the curd and sugar with the fish pieces in a metallic tight tiffin box. Add little water and close the lid.Boil water in a boiler, place the tiffin box in the boiler and cover the boiler.Cook it for 15 mins.
Now open the lid of the tiffin box and add the beaten curd and sugar and mix it properly with the fish.
Doi Ilish is ready to be served with steamed rice.


text:
The very first stage of every multibillion dollar business of today was a mere idea that an ambitious entrepreneur once had, and this idea grew in size and capability to become what they are today. Inspired by such success stories, if you too are thinking of starting your own enterprise to one day become a success yourself, there are a few things that must be considered before going ahead with that plan. To implement your revolutionary idea, you must find the necessary funds and this is by far the biggest challenge any company must face in its establishment stage. Therefore, it is imperative that you do everything under your power to acquire these finances by impressing investors and other financial intermediaries.
Plan ahead
The business world today is an extremely competitive one, where new ideas pop up every day in large numbers. In such an atmosphere, you must do all that you can to convince external parties to lend you funds or invest in you. One thing they will always look at is your business plan that clearly defines the course of the business, along with predicted financial needs that will arise in the future and how long it will take for it to become profitable. After evaluating this plan, the potential investor, banker or the better commercial finance broker will determine whether it is a good idea to pool their assets into your enterprise. It is important to develop the model in a realistic and convincing manner that will make them consider you as a good investment opportunity. A poorly planned business will look risky and full of uncertainty to a lender and therefore, they will not show any interest.
Make a budget
Lenders need to know just how economical and resourceful your business is. For this, a comprehensive budget that specifies when and where your financial needs will arise in the course of the business must be developed. Usually the establishment stage will involve some major constructions, purchases or recruitments which will all add up to generate a mega financial requirement. For instance, if you can specifically mention the need for equipment finance Sydney during the first three months of the business, the lenders will have a good idea about when and why they must finance your business and whether it's feasible.
Maintain a healthy credit score
If your credit score is bad, then you might as well forget about finding anyone to lend money for the business. Banks and other money lenders always look at the credit score as an indicator of your reliability to make sure the money they pool in will be repaid in time, in full. There are certain things you can do to improve our credit score before heading out to look for funders. First you must apply for credit cards from a bank and then use those as to make as many payments as you can instead of using cash. It is crucial to repay the credit card debt as soon as possible without delaying it even a single day if you want to make up for all those payments you delayed in the past.


text:
18 January 2010
Eric Jan van der Geer - Textures, structures and The ordinary
Eric Jan van de Geer - Textures, structures and The ordinary
Text contribution: Christoph Kivelitz
Design/layout: Arian De Vette
32 pages, 16,8 x 24 cm - 6.6 x 9.4 inch
Printing: DruckVerlag Kettler, Bönen (Westf.) Germany
Year of publication: 2009
Edition: 300
Publisher: RaumEins Edition, G. Martin Kraus and T66
Price: €5,00 (excl.shipping)
"The book has been published after the solo show at T66 in Freiburg (D). It contains 32 pages (in English) with recent work from the series Hedges/ Fences, polaroid serie Private Landscape II, Hedges/ white structures, and stills from 2 new films: Pine tree and conifer."
webpage, order here
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
We help businesses positively influence their target audiences by providing bespoke content to meet their strategic marketing aims. Through a range of value-added products, services and brand extensions we will work with you to deliver creative, sector-specific marketing solutions tailored to the needs of your audiences.
By working with us, your business will be benefitting from our hard-earned, specialist market and audience knowledge from our teams who are embedded in their markets and understand what solutions will work for you.
We help clients reach our specialist audiences with sponsored supplements co-branded with your company name and the name of our journal or magazine. Our supplements offer the opportunity for you to publish research or important information in association with the name and reputation of our prestigious brands. Supplements published in any of our healthcare titles will be peer-reviewed to safeguard the scientific and research quality of the publication and published content.
For clients who, for whatever reason, believe that sponsoring a supplement is not the right marketing option for their audiences, we offer a range of other high impact content marketing solutions. For example, many clients opt for sponsorsing a Guide-To, which are A5 pocket sized booklets focusing on a particular topic or therapy area. The information provides a snapshot of the most important guidance or practical information for professionals to keep and refer back to.
We also help clients target our readers through Product Focuses. Product Focuses are especially popular in helping our healthcare audiences understand more about the practical applications and importance of a client's product. Our editorial team will commission a clinical article, which will be written by a a expert healthcare professional, focusing on a particular product. The article will include references, will be fully researched, independent, peer-reviewed and include case studies of the product in use.
Other popular content marketing ideas, which offer a quick and convenient way for clients to get their brand or message across to key target audiences, are Fact Cards and Posters. A fact card is a co-branded card published with our magazines or journals which contains top tips for professionals to use as a quick reference guide. Posters are also co-branded with messages from the sponsor. They provide important information, which is useful for daily reference.
The prestige of our brands provides us with the privileged position of being able to work with many of key opinion leaders in our markets. On behalf of our clients, we organise and facilitate round-table discussions with groups of industry leaders on areas of topical interest or on subjects which clients wish to get onto the agenda. Our editorial teams will write-up the round-table discussions, which will be sponsored by clients, for distribution to our specialist audiences.
We work with clients to bring them into direct contact – either face-to-face or online – with key target groups and decision makers. We currently organise a number of sponsored road-shows, webinars, conferences and seminars, which are free-to-attend or view and provide vital CPD/CET and information for delegates. Using our knowledge of and access to our markets, we will commission the educational programme and arrange the speakers on behalf of our clients.
Want to learn more about our content marketing services?


text:
NEW YORK, January 31, 2014 (ADOTAS) – Cutting-edge marketers from such leading brands as Coca-Cola, McDonald's, Kraft, JetBlue and Benjamin Moore will help prepare attendees at the Brand Activation Association's (BAA) 2014 Annual Marketing Conference in Chicago, March 26-27, for the seismic shifts occurring in Brand Activation.
Covering such critical topics as "Beyond Positioning: Bringing a Brand Strategy to Life" and "Shifting into the Customer-centric World of the Ultra-connected, ADHD Customer", the conference will be broken down into several general sessions led by senior marketers along with breakout sessions designed to provide deeper dives and more practical "how to" information on specific elements of Brand Activation.
According to Bonnie Carlson (pictured), BAA President and CEO, as the lines between promotion and shopper marketing continue to blur and new technologies and techniques change, some dramatic shifts are taking place in the industry. "This year's Annual Marketing Conference will feature the industry's best and brightest brand marketers sharing their Brand Activation success stories along all the six drivers to help attendees take advantage of these shifts," said Carlson.
Presentations will be based on all six drivers of Brand Activation, focusing on the key ingredients necessary to have them work together to maximize results:
- Promotion Marketing
- Content Marketing
- Experiential Marketing
- Relationship Marketing
- Retailer Marketing
- Influencer Marketing
Featured presenters include:
- Marty St. George, SVP Marketing, JetBlue
- David Melancon, EVP & Chief Marketing Officer, Benjamin Moore
- George Leon, EVP Worldwide Consumer Marketing, Sony Pictures
- Guy Duncan, Global Creative Content Director, Coca-Cola
- John Lewicki, Head of Global Alliances, McDonald's
Other leading speakers include Brand Activation experts from marketers Kraft Foods, Ford Motor Co., McDonald's Canada, United Airlines, General Mills, Kellogg, Kimberly-Clark, Celebrity Cruises, Wrigley's and Whirlpool, as well as from Catapult Marketing, Omnicom Group, Mintel, Shankman/Honig, Penn, Schoen Berland, Zeus Jones, Brand Connections, Manatt, Phelps and Phillips, Superfly Marketing Group (Bonaroo), Olson Engage and Shift Happens®.
REGGIE Awards Take Center Stage
A major feature of the BAA Annual Marketing Conference will once again be the prestigious REGGIE Awards, which will celebrate its 31 year as the preeminent awards competition for the marketing industry. Hundreds of entries have been submitted, with Gold, Silver and Bronze awards to be presented at the conference-ending Gala, along with the Super REGGIE Award for the best of the best.
Providing the entertainment at this year's Gala will be Grammy-nominated and Platinum-selling group The Plain White Tees. The 2nd Annual Brand Brilliance Awards will also be presented during the conference, awarding four industry-leading marketers with awards for long-term Marketing excellence.
"Whether you're a brand marketer, agency, lawyer or supplier, the BAA Annual Marketing Conference represents an outstanding opportunity to learn about the latest trends, what's working, and what isn't, from those who are actually doing these things every day," said Bruce Hollander, EVP of Don Jagoda Associates. "It's current, it's educational, it's fun, and it's a great networking opportunity."
For more information about the BAA Annual Marketing Conference, including registration information and a complete listing of the conference program, visit www.baalink.org/event/baa-annual-marketing-conference.
BAA, BAAlink and REGGIE are trademarks and/or trade names of the Brand Activation Association and/or BAA Educational Foundation, Inc. All rights reserved. Shift Happens!® is a Registered Trademark and is used by permission. Copyright © 2014 James Feldman. All rights reserved. Speakers are subject to change by BAA without prior notice.
About BAA
The Brand Activation Association (BAA) — the rebranded Promotion Marketing Association (PMA) — is the national non-profit trade association dedicated to the industry of marketing disciplines that motivate behavior, activate response and build brands. Representing over $750 billion dollars in sales, brand activation disciplines include all the myriad connection points with the consumer, such as digital/mobile/social media marketing, shopper/retailer marketing, experiential marketing, marketing law, promotion marketing, multi-cultural and niche marketing, cause marketing, and sports, entertainment and sponsorship marketing.
Founded in 1911, the BAA has championed this industry through its combination of research, education, advocacy, and collaboration opportunities. The organization's membership is comprised of Fortune 500 companies; top marketing agencies, law firms, retailers, service providers and academia, representing thousands of brands worldwide. The BAA is headquartered in New York City with its affiliate, the BAA Educational Foundation, Inc. For more information about BAA visit www.baalink.org.


text:
Tag Archive
another dead comedian biff juggernaut BLC Productions blight the clown blood in vain bret hart chvad chvad sb clowns compilation devo elias facility records god in a box Go Kustom Records horror culture Industrial Nation interview invisible records liar live lyrics mettle mettle III new york nyc raphael hickman recherche remix review sealed in silence show show dates site updates so emotional tao spudsuckers t.o.t.s. Teen Feeding Frenzy: A Tribute to the Music Teens Love the most appealing thing the qualia things outside the skin tots various artists video you knew it all along
NYC Event: Nov. 5th! The Qualia LIVE @ Trashbar!
We, The Qualia (Lars, Chvad, Rossen, and Zakai) are playing at The Trash Bar on the evening of November 5. We're going to be hanging out at the bar before we go on, so come on over, hang out, and then stick around for the karaoke festivities after our show. It's going to be awesome! […]


text:
Wednesday, October 28, 2020
The success of our business, relies on the quality control process that follows every stage of the production system. Each ammunition component undergoes a series of tests, set by the "Commission Internationale Permanente" C.I.P standard, resulting in a fail-proof ballistic products.
According to a recent study conducted by Winchester Corporation, National Ammunition is now placed among the top three ammunition manufacturing companies in the Middle East.
New 24gr WINN cartridges are now in production.
Please contact us for all your enquiries.
Each component is carefully examined by a dedicated team of professionals, using specialized measurement tools to verify its compliance with the market highest standards.
National Ammunition is commited to guarantee an unparallelled customer satisfaction, through its professionally developed Quality Assurance programme.
friendly link
Herve Leger Women's Swimwear
Nike Superfly 6 Elite
Cheap Beats by Dr. Dre Headphones
Canada Goose Jackets Sale
Cheap UGG Classic 5815 Tall Boots
Under Armour Curry 5
Nike Air Max Women Sale
Nike LeBron James Shoes
Nike Air Max Dlx 2019
Nike Kyrie 4 3 2 1 Basketball Shoes For Sale
Our shooting systems will measure each cartridge's velocity and lead shots dispersion, to ensure that each cartridge will offer superior performance and unrivalled consistency.
Contact Us


text:
At $49 Billion Company Essilor, Employees are the Largest Shareholders — and The CEO Says That's the Best Way To Do It
Read Full Article
- The Essilor Group, an ophthalmics company based in France, has an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP). Its employees are its largest group of shareholders.
- All employees, regardless of seniority, are eligible to purchase shares, and Essilor matches the investments up to a certain amount.
- Employees can also vote on company decisions through the employee shareholder association.
- Other companies, like Sears, have adopted ESOPs in the past — but it's not for every organization...


text:
+++ The entries in the exhibitor & product database correspond to the registration status for embedded world 2020. +++
The NANO-6062 (120mm x 120mm) Nano-ITX embedded system board is based on the Intel® Atom™ processor E3900 series, formerly codenamed Apollo Lake. The new Intel® Atom™ processors integrate the Intel® Gen 9 3D graphics engine with up to 18 EUs (Execution Units) that improves the performance and supports 4K Codec Decode & Encode. It also supports one dual channel 24bit LVDS connection, one DisplayPort (DP) on rear I/O with resolution up to 4096x2160 and one on-board VGA port with resolution up to 1920x1200. The 204-pin non-ECC SODIMM provides maximum memory, making it capable of supporting up to 8GB of DDR3L. The NANO-6062 represents the latest state-of-the-art innovation that results from the years of experience Portwell has gained as a manufacturer of high-quality computer boards.
Versatile, Compact, Powerful and Fan-less
The NANO-6062 Nano-ITX embedded board is built with the Intel Atom processor E3900 product family. Not only does it operate with thermal design power (TDP) under 12W for fan-less applications, but it also supports a wide industrial temperature range from -40°C to 85°C and a wide voltage of power input from 12V to 24V for rugged applications. With its superior quad core processing power and high capability, it generates and delivers greater and faster performance than the previous generation. The flat/low-profile design -- measuring 16.4mm in height with I/O shield -- allows space-saving installation in display and panel PCs, making the realization of digital signage and control solutions for industry and business applications a quick and easy task. A significant benefit of this board is that customers using Portwell's NANO-6062 can design their own unique systems for Medical, Networking, Panel PC, Kiosk and Digital Signage applications.Great Computing Performance and Optimized 3D Graphics
The NANO-6062, designed with Apollo Lake Intel Atom processor E3900 series, features one DDR3L 1600/1833 MT/s SODIMM socket equipped with up to 8GB DDR3L memory. It also integrates Intel graphics supporting DirectX 12, OpenGL 4.2, OpenCL 2.0 plus high-performance, flexible hardware decoding to decode multiple high-resolution 4K videos in parallel. In addition, it supports up to 4096x2160 pixels with DisplayPort, 1920x1200 pixels with VGA, and dual channel LVDS up to 1920x1200 pixels, and is designed with the flexibility for connecting up to three independent display interfaces. Support for four USB 3.0 ports ensures fast data transmission with low-power consumption. One 5 Gb/s PCI Express 2.0 lane can be used as 1x full-size mini-PCIe. Two SATA 3.0 interfaces with up to 6 Gb/s (one of them available as mSATA and the other for SATA) allow quick and flexible system expansions. Intel I210-IT Gigabit Ethernet controllers provide dual Gigabit Ethernet LAN access via the two RJ45 ports.


text:
Babyproofing: Our Tips for a Safe Home
Use our tips to ensure your home is a safe haven for your little one.
Store any hazardous household materials, such as cleaners, in a safety-latched cabinet, says child safety expert Debra Smiley Holtzman, author of 2009's The Safe Baby: A Do-It-Yourself Guide To Home Safety and Healthy Living. Since one third of all pediatric poisonings are the result of a grandparent's medication, have visitors count their pills and place handbags out of reach. If
it was built before 1978, have your home tested for lead paint. As for toys, stick with natural, untreated fiber or unpainted wood options and keep abreast of recall notices.
Anything that can fit inside a toilet paper tube is a potential choking hazard. Experts advise taking a bug's eye view of your household to track down the dusty coin or deflated balloon that may be hiding under the couch or in the corner. At mealtimes, babies and toddlers should always be supervised and their food cut into very small pieces.
Young kids can drown in an inch of water, which means they should be supervised around not only tubs and pools but indoor fountains, toilets and cleaning buckets as well. "Children can become unbalanced and tip forward," says Andrew Adesman, M.D., chief of developmental and behavioral pediatrics for Schneider Children's Hospital in New Hyde Park, N.Y. "They may not be able to right themselves. At a minimum, they could aspirate some water into their lungs and get pneumonia." Store buckets upside down and empty sinks, wading pools and tubs immediately after use.
The bottom line here is stairs need gates (hardware-mounted, at top and bottom) and windows need guards. "Screens do not provide protection," says Christopher Haines, D.O., director of emergency medicine for St. Christopher's Hospital for Children in Philadelphia. Also, always use safety straps on changing tables, swings, highchairs and the like. Items such as bookcases and flat-screen televisions should be secured with anti-tip brackets or straps. Use the mechanism provided by the manufacturer to secure a TV, advises Holtzman.
More tips on protecting your baby from household hazards
Danger Zones: Take our safety quiz
Recent Product Recalls


text:
cherish every moment...
designs for every occasion in your life
Shop our collections
Recent work
Follow us
Check out The Deliciously Versatile Font Collection https://t.co/WhAitIhnEz
Check out The All-Encompassing Creative Toolkit https://t.co/GkvYt7bzGj
"I received the programs, favors, menu cards, table cards and place cards and absolutely love everything!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you so much for your hard work and talent! I truly appreciate your help in making our wedding day such a memorable and fabulous day!!!!"
"I wanted to let you know that our guests thought the fan programs were very pretty. We had a lot of compliments on them. Thank you for your hard work. It was a pleasure working with you!"
"A quick note to say we received the fan programs and are very happy with them! Hopefully our guests can keep "cool" in the summer heat at the beach, sunset wedding on the Kohala Coast thanks to you!"
"Just wanted you to know that the programs arrived today and they look great! i'm so happy with them and know our guests will love them, too...thanks for the great work."
"I can't thank you enough; we received the programs this morning. I love them they are gorgeous; just what I was looking for!!! Thank You, Thank You, Thank You Again."
"I just wanted to say thank you for the beautiful invitations. They arrived yesterday and I absolutely love them. You did a fabulous job!! Thank you!!"


text:
Matthew Alexander
Stage of Life
By Stephanie Merritt
Faber & Faber 410pp £10.99 order from our bookshop
Stephanie Merritt's second novel charts a single adulterous relationship from its initial excitement and romance, through complications and confrontations with reality, to its messy end in abandonment, guilt and recrimination. It is done with exceptional wit and emotional sophistication.
Sally, the novel's central character, is a struggling playwright who lives alone in a flat above a café in Hoxton. She is a fast-living kind of girl, who drinks and smokes too much, goes to a lot of parties given by and for her more successful contemporaries in the theatrical world, and lives a near-consequenceless existence of quips and hangovers.


text:
It's an extraordinary experience to be told, quite unexpectedly, that you have cancer – or in my case, maybe not. (Is a GIST cancer? That depends on who you speak to). I've learned a lot about the condition over the last eight months, including the terminology.
It all began last July, when out of the blue I was struck by severe abdominal pain. Initially, this was diagnosed as diverticulitis (a bowel problem), and was prescribed antibiotics. This eased but did not end the pain, which revived again after I came off the medication. After a few more visits to the GP, I was referred to a bowel specialist at Royal Surrey County Hospital for further examination by CT scan. He unambiguously confirmed the GP's diagnosis, but "to confirm" that view, he scheduled the CT scan that had been requested. Then, things moved remarkably quickly.
The scan was done soon after, on a Wednesday afternoon. The next morning (Thursday), I had a letter from RSCH in the post. To get to me that quickly, the letter must have been posted almost immediately after the scan was completed. The message was that the consultant wanted to see me, and had made an appointment to do so not in his own rooms at Royal Surrey, but at my local hospital in Haslemere, for the following Monday – just 3 working days after the scan.
That set off warning bells, especially as I had earlier heard my GP say that he could get the initial hospital appointment "under the 2 – week rule", which I then discovered is applicable when there is any suspicion of cancer. I spent that weekend researching what I could learn about bowel cancer, and whether that could indeed be the problem affecting me. Instead, on meeting the consultant, I was quickly assured that there was nothing at all wrong with my bowels – but I did have a "GIST – or Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumour". This term was completely new to me, and initially, I did not pick up to much detail except for the ominous word, "tumour". He showed me an image on his computer of the CT scan, noted that this was "large – larger than the liver, which is a large organ", and said he would be discussing this with the MDT (multidisciplinary team) at RSCH, which would be meeting the next day (Tuesday) for referral to the stomach team. I was also told that the stomach clinic was usually held on a Wednesday, and that with luck, I might be squeezed into that the next day. Before leaving at the end of the consultation, I asked him to repeat the name of the condition (just to be sure), and I'd not misheard: GIST – gastrointestinal stromal TUMOUR, I walked home with my head spinning around thoughts of "cancer", and broke the news to my partner (now husband) Raymond – and did a great deal of on-line research into the condition.
I did not in the end get into the regular Wednesday stomach outpatients' clinic, but Instead, I had a phone call on the Thursday from a specialist nurse, to tell me that the stomach consultant wanted to see me outside his normal clinic on the following day, Friday.
So, together with Raymond, I attended a meeting with the consultant and specialist nurse, to learn more. I'll go into the details of this condition later, but I noted at the time that just like the bowel man earlier, he was careful not to refer to the tumour as "cancer", but simply as a "tumour". I asked him about the distinction. He insisted that GIST is not "cancer", because it is "not necessarily malignant". I replied that all the information on-line is on the cancer websites (I did not say, but knew, that the NHS treatment guidelines described it in the first few lines as a rare cancer). He conceded that it's largely a mater of semantics, depending on how one chooses to define the broader category. Others I have since spoken to or corresponded with in a GIST support group are emphatic: it is a specialist form of cancer, because it is potentially malignant. What is not disputed, is that it is not a carcinoma, which groups together most of the common cancers, but a sarcoma, which is much more rare. Most importantly for treatment, he confirmed what I had learned on – line. GIST does not respond to the usual cancer treatments of either chemotherapy or radiation. In stead, the only treatment is surgical removal, IF the tumour is not too large. For large tumours, which easily included mine, the first line of treatment is by a modern wonder drug (Imatinib), to shrink the tumour until it is small enough for surgery to be viable.
But actually getting on this medication is not nearly as simple as seeing a GP, getting a prescription, taking it to a convenient pharmacy, and waiting for it to be handed over on the spot. After the initial diagnosis, there followed in quick succession further tests (an endoscopy with fine needle biopsy), a PET scan, and after confirmation of the nature and size of the thing (described in technical language as "massive"), a referral to a specialist stomach oncologist. He in turn listened to my description of the history and current symptoms, conducted his own physical examinations – and pronounced that he was ready "to begin the paperwork". Some weeks later, came a further appointment with yet another specialist nurse who carefully discussed with me the possible side – effects (some of which are nasty indeed), gave me precise instructions on how to take the stuff, and handed over an impressive collection of documents, information leaflets and cards, that made it clear that I now had V.I.P. status ("Very Important Patient") at Royal Surrey, with assorted special privileges. Only then did she track down a doctor to write the prescription, She then took that direct to the specialist pharmacy St Luke's, and left me to wait a substantial time for the medication. By this time, I was beginning to wonder what awful side-effects could i expect once I started taking it? Would I turn green? Would I explode?
In fact, it turned out to be no big deal, There are some minor effects, but these are not important enough to impact my lifestyle in any significant way, or to warrant discussion here. A further PET scan one month into treatment, and a CT scan at the 3 month mark confirmed that there has indeed been good shrinkage. 3 months more, and last week I had one more CT scan, the crucial one at the end of the initially prescribed 6 month treatment cycle. It's been a wild ride, but in fact I count myself 3 times fortunate, in the context of cancer.
- Unlike the more familiar cancers, I'm spared the hassle and troublesome side effects of conventional chemotherapy or radiation
- While I will at some stage have to go through surgery and all that entails, the massive size of my tumour has forced a delay, giving me time for mental adjustment to the idea.
- While on GIST, I've been spared the worst of the difficult side- effects that trouble so many of my fellow people with GIST.
As my doctor kept reminding me at my last appointment – I'm doing well, the medication is working, and my system is coping. For now, that's all I need to know. Later (Monday morning), I'll be seeing my oncologist, and should hear the result of last week's scan. I will then know what happens next. Do I continue with a further cycle of Imatinib for further reduction – or will they start to prepare for surgery?
I'll report back, after hearing the verdict.
Related articles
- Personal Deviations: Medical, Familial, Technical, Travel, Political
- Meals With a View: Family Joys at Lake Garda
- Introducing Grampa Bear (grampasstorytime.com)


text:
It takes a lot to fill Donatella Versace's stilettos, but Ryan Murphy has found the actress willing to try. Penélope Cruz has just been announced as the next actress to take the Italian design legend's likeness to the screen, Entertainment Weekly reports.
After much speculation as to who will play the famed Italian fashion designer for Murphy's next season of American Crime Story, it was officially confirmed that the Oscar winner has been cast in the role. The mini-series will focus on the murder of fashion designer Gianni Versace, brother of Donatella. Edgar Ramirez will be playing the role of Gianni, with Darren Criss signed on to act as serial killer Andrew Cunanan.
There was, at first, rumors that Lady Gaga was offered the role of Versace, though they were never substantiated claims. At the Television Critics Association press tour last year, Murphy attempted to shut down the speculation.
"She's a friend," Murphy said. "But she's very busy this next year—she's doing Super Bowl and then she's doing A Star Is Born and I believe that she's going on tour. And when you're going to do a show like Versace, it's a five-month commitment, it's a very big show, we're shooting it all over the world. So I just don't think with her schedule, I knew that it would never had worked. But I would love to work with her on something in the future." What's more, the singer also has a personal relationship with the designer, sitting front row at many of her fashion shows, having been a onetime face of the brand during the spring season of 2014, and even naming a song after the designer on her Artpop album.
As for Cruz, this is one of her first regular television roles, having acted mostly in feature films, to date. While the actress may not have the personal relationship with her subject that Gaga possesses, her award-winning skill will surely make her a perfect pick for the role. Cruz's experience as film director Pedro Almodóvar's main muse should also help her fit seamlessly into the Murphy-verse. Not to compare the Spanish auteur and the American "guilty pleasure TV" king too closely, but both like to mix up their camp with their melodrama, and both are known for giving women excellent roles.
The casting also continues Murphy's trend of bringing award-winning film actresses to television. The trend started with Jessica Lang on American Horror Story, and now includes Susan Sarandon, Angela Bassett, and Catherine Zeta-Jones. Annette Bening, meanwhile, will be starring in ACS's Katrina-themed second season.
While the remainder of the Versace cast is still being pieced together, filming is expected to begin next month in Miami and Los Angeles with a premiere date set for sometime in 2018.
Watch Penelope Cruz Take W's Screen Test:
Penelope Cruz: Queen of the Screen


text:
OVERVIEW Item# C28001GREY Barcode: 91789030013
Add strength, color, and good looks by upgrading your stock 1/10-scale Traxxas TRX-4 plastic parts to our new Billet Machined Axle Housings. Each axle housing features a machined alloy main body, machined alloy diff covers, and hex hardware. Simply install your kit internals and drive shafts into our housings to transform your rig. The Billet Machined Axle Housings for TRX-4 are sold individually (front housing is #C28001, rear housing is #C28002), and are available in six color combinations.
NOTE: If you do not know how to assemble or install this product, please ask your local dealer for assistance. All products require some prep out of the package - some components are assembled for packaging purposes only, so we strongly recommend that you check all metal-to-metal fasteners for tightness, check fitment and adjust if needed, and use liquid threadlock where applicable. Failure to do so is not a warranty-related incident.
Extra hardware, shims, or spacers may be required for some installations. Some parts may require permanent modification to the vehicle for fitment, and may eliminate certain OEM features. Items that are different from the OEM part (such as our snow & sand conversions, piggyback shocks, EXT suspension, or extended wheel hubs) may require modification to the vehicle for proper clearance. Some Integy-branded items may be only compatible with the vehicle's OEM parts but not with another Integy-branded item due to design limitations. for multiple-fitment items, some parts may not be used based on application.
Item# C28001GREY Barcode: 91789030013


text:
Questions About Drip?
DripTips eNewsletterGet the latest news, tips, special offers, and more with the DripTips eNewsletter.
Feedback from the FieldLet us know about your experiences with drip irrigation.
Tag Archives: save water
Staples 2015 Irrigation Efficiency Program
The Staples Irrigation Efficiency program will provide incentives to any irrigation design which can demonstrate energy/water savings. The program will offer almost unlimited possibilities for submitting savings for rebates instead of only two "deemed" projects with set values for incentives. Continue reading
California Utility Company Can Help Farmers Save Water During Drought
California Utility company, PG&E, sees a big opportunity to help farmers reduce their water use and electricity use, at the same time. By doing so, it can save precious water, help farmers save money, and help the power company itself reduce overall electricity demand – which means avoiding having to build costly new power plants.
PG&E has a few tools at its disposal, the biggest being financial incentives to help farmers switch to water-saving technologies such as drip irrigation. Continue reading
Posted in California Drought, Drip Irrigation News, Drought Tagged California, drip irrigation, drought, incentives, PG&E, save electricity, save water Leave a comment


text:
AP's Boring Borenstein: Gleick's Heartland Doc Theft 'Mirrors' Climategate Incidents
On Thursday, over 40 hours after the Pacific Institute's Peter Gleick (pictured here) revealed that he stole documents from the Heartland Institute by posing as one of that organization's board members, Seth Borenstein at the Associated Press finally broke the ice and filed a related three-paragraph "this is boring, you don't need to read it" dispatch. Two hours later, the AP science writer extended it to 500-plus words, but kept the headline as uninformative as possible — "Scientist admits taking, leaking think-tank papers."
The "clever" failure to describe Gleick as a "climate scientist" (which he is) will dissuade many of those who see the headline from clicking through or reading further. By contrast, the headline at Borenstein's report on February 16 after Gleick (whom Borenstein did not name) disseminated the documents was: "INFLUENCE GAME: Leaks show group's climate efforts." In his longer item, Borenstein (or is it now "Boring-stein," Seth?) posits the howler that what Gleick did "mirrors" the Climategate email revelations which occurred in late 2009 and late 2011. In your dreams, pal. The initial item plus excerpts from the longer one are after the jump.
Here is the short report filed Thursday at 3:06 p.m. (in full, for fair use and discussion purposes:
Ethicists are criticizing a prominent scientist for misrepresenting himself to obtain and then leak sensitive documents from a conservative think tank that campaigns against mainstream global warming science.
Peter Gleick (GLEEK), president of a California water research institute and winner of a MacArthur genius grant, admitted Monday night in a blog posting that he pretended to be a board member to get fundraising, budget and other documents from the Heartland Institute in Chicago. He said he then sent the documents to the media.
Gleick not only is prominent as an advocate of mainstream global warming science, writing articles for the popular press, but he chaired a scientific society's ethics panel as well. Last week, before revealing his document theft, he resigned as ethics committee chairman of the American Geophysical Union.
Note that the Pacific Institute's name is not in the report, and that Borenstein described it only as a "water research institute." The "About Us" page at the Institute's web site is a quite bit more ambitious: "Our aim is to find real-world solutions to problems like water shortages, habitat destruction, global warming, and environmental injustice." But Seth wants readers to think that Pacific is just some tiny little "water research" group that no one cares about, in the hope that those who get past the boring headline and actually read the story won't attach much significance to it.
Though he didn't see fit to name or appropriately describe the Pacific Institute, Borenstein's short report made darned sure to remind readers that what I call "globaloney" is "mainstream global warming science."
Here are several paragraphs from Borenstein's longer missive:
In the field of climate science, when someone – especially skeptics – did something ethically questionable or misrepresented facts, scientist Peter Gleick was usually among the first and loudest to cry foul. He chaired a prominent scientific society's ethics committee. He created an award for what he considered lies about global warming.
Now Gleick admits that he posed as a board member to get and then distribute to the media sensitive documents from a conservative think tank that is a leader in denying mainstream climate change science.
And ethicists are criticizing the man who took others to task for what they say was stepping way over the ethical line. The think tank, the Chicago-based Heartland Institute, is considering legal action against him.
Gleick, who won a MacArthur genius award and is co-founder of the Pacific Institute for Studies in Development, Environment and Security, was chairman of the American Geophysical Union's ethics committee.
… Gleick resigned chairmanship of the ethics panel last week.
… Heartland said the two-page strategy document was a fake and the others were stolen. The Associated Press, which received the documents, was able to verify the accuracy of several of the most sensational parts with the individuals named. The documents caused a stir, mirroring the hacking of climate scientists' emails two years earlier from a British research center.
Concerning Borenstein's final excerpted paragraph:
- Heartland isn't the only party asserting that the strategy document is a fake. As I noted in earlier posts, cap-and-trade advocate Megan McArdle at the Atlantic has listed seven good reasons to doubt the memo's authenticity along with a "section-by-section analysis of what makes me uncomfortable." Ross Kaminsky at the American Spectator believes that "all evidence so far supports Heartland's emphatic assertion that the document is a forgery," also suspecting that Gleick himself wrote it.
- Besides one commonality, namely that documents were taken and disseminated, the breezy assertion that Gleick-Heartland "mirrors" Climategate is absurd. The Climategate emails showed that globlarmists were privately fretting that their beloved computer models weren't reflecting what was happening in the real world, and that their predictions that the world would warm because of higher carbon dioxide levels would become suspect. They also showed a dogged and decidedly anti-scientific determination to alter or omit inconvenient data, shield documents from skeptics, destroy source data, and ruin the scientific and public reputations of skeptics. All the Heartland documents demonstrate is that an organization which believes that the the "settled science" of global warming is far from settled and that the statist public policy prescriptions resulting from it will do serious damage to the world's economy and its inhabitants was trying to figure out how best to get its points across to the public and the education system. If that's scandalous, anyone working on improving the expression of his or her point of view is engaging in scandalous behavior. If Seth Borenstein thinks that the Heartland saga is "mirroring" Climategate, he must also think that he sees someone as handsome as Brad Pitt when he looks in the mirror every morning. For what it's worth — far from it.
In an item time-stamped at 8:23 p.m. on Thursday, Laird Harrison at Reuters reported that Gleick is now being investigated by "the prestigious Pacific Institute," which, in the Institute's quoted words, "is deeply concerned and is actively reviewing information about the recent events involving its president." Good luck finding an establishment media report describing Heartland as "prestigious."
Harrison's report also leads me to wonder whether the AP's Borenstein got his longer missive out when he did to avoid having to report the existence of Pacific's investigation.
Cross-posted at NewsBusters.org.


text:
As you may or may not have heard, House Bill 5394 has made it out of committee and is moving into general assembly. The bill is for legalization of cannabis regulating and taxing the sales to people over 21 years of age. Titillating, but there is still a long way to go, some hurtles to overcome, and some heavy considerations to be taken into account.
If the bill can make it out of the general assembly, it will still have to pass through both the house and the senate before it goes to the governor. So, there is still a long way to go. Especially since Governor Malloy (An opponent of legalization yet recommended it as an option in his buget plan) had stated that there are no resources for the regulatory system. Which brings us to the hurtles, $Money$.
The CT Office of Fiscal Analysis estimates a cost of about $15 million to implement a regulatory body for what is being purposed. CT is already running in the red. So, where would that money come from? There would certainly be no Federal support behind that. Will the fees to get in the game be so through the roof you'll have to be a Gazillionaire to open a store the size of a postage stamp? Or will they be putting it together counting on the tax dollars? Which bring us into those heavy considerations.
The states surrounding CT are beginning to change their positions on legalization. Like their neighbor Massachusetts, which is set to kick off recreation sales of cannabis this summer. Simply put, all those taxable dollars will be going somewhere else to be spent on happy flowers. Plain and simple. Not only does this need heavy consideration, it needs an action plan.
However, I think there's a light at the end of the tunnel and here's why… 70% of those who reside in the state of Connecticut are in support of the legalization of cannabis. So let your voice be heard people! Make a phone call, send an email, write a letter, and send smoke signals.


text:
Your shopping cart is empty!
Peter Jamison is an aerospace engineer who wanted nothing more than to save his contract for a tactical weapons system. But together with his girlfriend, attorney Melissa Corley, he uncovered a crime of corruption, power and violence, a crime that has drawn him into a deadly game he cannot win. And now the stakes are going up. The FBI and the White House are determined to silence him, someone has captured Melissa, and Peter knows the time has come to fight back. Any way he can.
Click here to hear a sample of this audiobook
Read by Kevin Foley
Approx. 10.6 Hrs. 11 CDs
Rated R


text:
Hey guys, a new video is up on my channel. Hope you enjoy it. Please don't forget to subscribe for more.
Hey guys, a new video is up on my channel. Hope you enjoy it. Please don't forget to subscribe for more.
Hey everyone, I am very excited to finally post a video on my youtube channel. I have shot my current morning skincare routine for you guys. Hope you like it.PS: Dont forget to subscribe as a night time skincare routine video is on its way 😀
I love my winged/Cat eye look but I thought "Man, Maybe I should take it to the next level" So here is my take on the double winged liner Look. This is my current go to look, I just love how it looks with Coral Lips, and it's perfect for daytime wear. This entire look took me less than 3 mins; it's that quick … Continue Reading
Snuggling in the comforter not wanting to leave the bed, over dosing on our favorite hot beverage, rocking our slouchy sweaters, Finally Winter has arrived in Mumbai. I made a list of all the fall/winter make up trends. The part one is a day time look consisting of four trends and part two will be a night time look with … Continue Reading
Hey guys. I haven't really been constant with the Vlogging but I tried my best.. Heres a sneak peek of whats been happening since last few weeks. I hope you all are finding this interesting.. Ill try my and do better next time 😀 If you follow me on Instagram I bet you remember this … Continue Reading
Hey Guys, I'm back with a new video. This Gold, Green Smoky eye is quick, simple and uber sexy! I created this look using L'Oreal's poptastic collection. I'm in love with this smoky eye look and have done it 6 times already. This is my current go to Party look. Every time I do his, I get tons … Continue Reading
Error: API requests are being delayed for this account. New posts will not be retrieved.
Log in as an administrator and view the Instagram Feed settings page for more details.


text:
What's On My Beauty Counter Right Now…
With the weather taking a turn for the worse yesterday, I didn't feel so bad about staying indoors, lighting a fire to get the house all warm and cosy, and indulging in my guilty pleasure – pouring over the latest products that have arrived on my beauty counter over the last couple of weeks, and picking a select few that have definitely 'caught my eye' as being 'brilliant beauty standouts' to share with you…
Trilogy Nutrient Plus Firming Serum
This one arrived on my desk a couple of weeks ago and I'm unsure why I didn't open it the moment it arrived because since I have started using it, it's become a bit of a favourite in my beauty routine (well actually I do know why, I was still trialling another product and wanted to complete the trial before starting a new one). It's said to instantly firm, lift and refresh with hydaluronic acid, licorice and mulberry. This has a really lovely light gel consistency, with a clean, fresh scent. It's a beautiful pick-me-up that my skin has been absolutely drinking in. I've been using this for several days now (morning and night) and my skin feels and looks brighter and smoother.
Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturising Lotion
This is the product I was trialling prior to starting on the abovementioned serum. Seriously amazing stuff this newly relaunched Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturising Lotion. There's no scent whatsoever, which is totally fine with me and it's allergy tested (for those of you with sensitive skin – this will be good news!). I have fallen in love with this new moisturiser from Clinique and will be heading out to purchase another tube! Super hydrating, sans the oily residue that other lotions tend to have and my skin just absolutely lapped it up. This combined with the trilogy serum actually makes the perfect hydrating combo!
butter LONDON – The Sweetie Shop Lacquer Collection
New from butter LONDON – the aptly named Sweetie Shop collection is absolutely stunning! A candy coating for your nails – this new range includes all the beautiful hues of Spring. This pretty and playful palette took inspiration from the charming colours and silhouette of the 50's. The collection captures the soft pastel shades of cotton candy, milkshakes and macaroons which speak to a playful feminine edge. A brilliant sherbet, luxe lemon, peppy violet are paired with an icy mint, a rich candy pink and a creamy khaki for a statement that's sweet but chic. I'm currently donning Fiver (the icy mint creme colour) as well as Molly-Coddled (an opaque lavender orchid creme). Another absolutely stunning collection from butter LONDON, which in my opinion, is the best nail polish brand on the market.
BITE BEAUTY – Whipped Cherry Lip Scrub
If you are a regular reader of my blog you will already know all about the BITE BEAUTY range of lipsticks and glosses! For those of you that are new to my blog you can read the original post by clicking the jump to my BITE BEAUTY writeup HERE. Whilst a fabulous bright lip or glossy nude can look amazing, there's really nothing worse than applying your lippie over chapped, dull and dehydrated lips. Firstly, it really isn't a good look, and second – it doesn't feel very nice either. I've been conditioning my lips with BITE's new lip scrub lately and I have to say – it's pretty fabulous! It's designed to exfoliate and condition lips and it's delicious enough to eat. 100% natural, BITE fruit scrub is enriched with antioxidants, cherry fruit acids and rice bran, whilst Jojoba and Vitamin C provide a soothing effect. The BITE lip scrub has a beautiful mousse-like consistency that leaves your lips looking polished and kissable! Fairly certain this would last a lot longer if I stopped applying it, solely to eat it!
Karen Murrell Lipstick – Sandstorm
The latest to arrive on my beauty counter from Karen Murrell is lipstick in the shade 'Sandstorm'. This is the perfect everyday creamy nude that, like all Karen Murrell lipsticks, contains all natural ingredients, nourishes lips and looks and smells great! I'm quite the fan of Karen Murrell lippies and Sandstorm doesn't disappoint. A fab everyday lipstick that applies like a dream and stays put for hours!
TOCCA – Stella
OK, so if I'm being honest – this isn't a new find. It's actually my favourite perfume in the entire universe (yup – I went with universe because it's THAT amazing! I used to purchase my 'Stella by TOCCA' from WORLD Beauty, however they pretty much ruined my life when they decided they would no longer be stocking the TOCCA line! Thus I went in and bought up the last 2 bottles they had and have since just tried to make it last as long as possible. It takes pride of place on my beauty counter (and I have a LOT of perfumes! Some call it an addiction, I like to call it 'collecting') and there is no other that can take the place of Stella. Whilst I love many perfumes, and do mix things up now and then (I love Taylor Swift and Gucci Guilty), not unlike my palette, which is that of a 10-year-old, I prefer sweet scents, just as I prefer sweet food over savoury, and Stella fits the bill perfectly. Stella is infused with the sweet, fresh scent of Blood Orange, along with notes of Watery Accord, White Freesia, Wild Diamond Orchids, Spicy Lily, Sheer Musk and Sandalwood. This is my last bottle, but I just can't stop wearing it and until I find another stockist (hint hint – if you know of a stockist please comment below and let me know where I can get more) I will continue to spritz this 'nectar of the gods' as sparingly as possible. The handmade heavy italian glass and brass embossed lid Stella is encased in, is alone worth a mention! Anyway, its ALWAYS on my beauty counter, so it only seemed right that it made it into this feature.
Ange x
A Girl Interrupted By Fashion, Beauty & Anything Pretty That Catches My Eye


text:
Thoughts on publishing briefing notes through print media and electronic media and blog posts through electronic media.
Often there are processes involved with the things we write briefing notes and blog posts about. For example, property and business ownership. When we write briefing notes and blog posts their factual accuracy depends upon what point along each process's timeline they are written and what particular source we used as a fact base.
We have written independently of one another about company ownership using different sources as our fact base and at different points along the process timeline. You used a company's website to source your facts and I used Companies House to source my facts. As a consequence, our fact-based opinion as expressed in your briefing note and my blog post contradicted one another. Contradictions can be exploited by cunning people, some some of whom are politicians, and gullible people who believe the cunning people. Who may both want to undermine our campaign and personal credibility.
However, it can be reasonably argued that both of our reports were correct at the time each of them was written. Therefore, apart from a judgement as to whose fact source is more reliable, (webpages are transient) we should always give reference to our fact sources and at what point in time that fact source was accessed so that any criticism centred upon our contradicting fact-based opinion can be refuted.


text:
The General Data Protection Regulation is coming soon. Due to be implemented in May 2018 it has applicability across the EU and will come in to force pre Brexit and will most likely apply to relevant UK businesses beyond 2019.
If your business is currently subject to the provisions of the Data Protection Act then, most likely, you will need to comply with the GDPR.
Very broadly the GDPR extends the scope of the Data Protection Act, brings in new responsibilities and obligations and carries with it fines up to a maximum of E20m for breach of the act.
Implications for businesses who will be subject to the GDPR are that there will be a need to put in place comprehensive but proportionate governance measures to ensure compliance.
As professional recruiters we have already considered the implications of this for existing and prospective clients. We are already searching out and cultivating our contacts with relevant Data Protection specialists in the market and we are in an excellent position to help you meet your recruiting needs in these areas.
We have in place a comprehensive training product in association with an allied company which will enable us to 'upskill' existing staff as well as train new additions to your future team.
Project Recruit has been recruiting data specialists for over 10 years. This profile gives us a unique insight into the burgeoning field of GDPR and its potential impact on clients businesses.
We are actively recruiting for the following roles in GDPR
- IT Project Managers
- IT Programme Managers
- Data Protection Officers
- Business Analyst/GDPR
- Data Audit specialists


text:
Session Description
Our company originally started as a small company with only a couple of developers. We were quite lucky with the way we deployed in that every deployment involved the help of the "DevOps" Engineer. Not a problem if you only have one or two deployments per week.
Fast forward to today where we have grown to 3 locations with 30 people all over the world, at times with multiple deployments per day or hour. Did I mention we still have only one DevOps Engineer?
How does this crazy plan work and scale? It is only possible with the industry magic word, automation. We automate every part of the process we can including automated deployments on git pushes with build scripts.
In this session I will present:- How we transitioned from manual to fully automated deployments- Which tools and systems we are using to deploy (Hint: it includes Jenkins and Ansible)- How we don't just stop at automating deployments. We've gone full automation: Automatic new site setup, automatic site synchronization, and more- How you can utilize the same tools that we're using


text:
Book Online:
Cross Country Skiing in the Heart of Ontario
Horseshoe Resort offers groomed and track set trails for cross country skiers of any ability level to enjoy. Our Trail Map offers terrain for all different experience levels.
Click here for cross country ski conditions
The following amenities are available at the Cross Country Chalet:
- Large Heated Chalet
- Rental Shop (skate, classic, snowshoe and fat bike)
- Repair Shop
- Food & Beverage
- Change Rooms & Showers
- Lockers
- Parking
- Pro Shop with soft goods retail offerings and snacks
- Lessons
- Trail Pass & Season Pass Sales
- Free WIFI
Book in at Guest Services in the Main Chalet or call 705-835-2790 ext.1270


text: Amy has a guest spot on Andy Richter's new NBC mid-season replacement show, Andy Barker P.I. NBC decided to air five of the six episodes taped so far, and unfortunately, Amy's was the one that got the boot. However, you can watch the entire episode for free on NBC's website (it's "The Lady Varnishes") and it's available for purchase on iTunes for $1.99. She guest stars alongside Ed Asner (and plays a character as old as Ed Asner…).


text:
Marketing & Media trends
Industry trends
More Articles
HR & Management trends
Reward and remuneration trends in Africa for 2020Nicol Mullins
The evolving role of HR as a strategic partnerSandra Crous
Agriculture trends
Automotive trends
Construction & Engineering trends
5 key architectural and sustainable initiative trendsBouwer Serfontein
Pioneering immersive designEmily Clark
Africa's new wave architectureChris Malan
Route to water prosperity - new perspectives for 2020Dhesigen Naidoo
New technologies to power smart citiesTaru Madangombe
CSI & Sustainability trends
3 trends in responsible businessZyaan Davids Anter
Technologies and tactics in curbing wildlife poachingNicholus Funda
SA's transition to a cleaner, greener economyNtombifuthi Ntuli
Time for the NPO sector to ask tough questionsNazeema Mohamed
Simple tech in M&E for non-profitsAnja Mulder
SA's shifting philanthropy landscape to enhance impact of givingNoxolo Hlongwane
Education trends
Energy & Mining trends
Entrepreneurship trends
Finance trends
Women the winners as insurance gets personalSiyamthanda Williams
Innovations in fintechDaniel Goldberg
What will happen in the crypto space?Marius Reitz
Mobile-first generation is driving the financial services industryBerniece Hieckmann
5 ways tech is changing insuranceTravys Wilkens
SA's year for digital payments?Rutendo Hlatshwayo
What to expect from SA's banking sector towards 2035Ruellyn Willemse-Snyman
5 trends reshaping wealth managementAndrew Möller
Millennials and green investingDaniel Kibel
Healthcare trends
Global health challenges and how to change themStephanie Allen
Diagnosing SA's healthcare sectorMadelein Barkhuizen
The future of healthcare is nowLerato Mosiah
ICT trends
5 trends in AR & VR to watch in 2020Jade Duckitt
Legal trends
Directors' personal exposure will increase in 2020Patrick Bracher
The future of flying drones in South AfricaKiasha Nagiah
South Africa - challenges and opportunities in the year aheadMorne van der Merwe and Wildu du Plessis
An optimistic forecastAthi Jara
Lifestyle trends
4 wine trends to look out for in 2020Kristen Duff and Gosia Young
Digital arts - a viewfinder into culture in 2020Lauren Fletcher
Logistics & Transport trends
Marketing & Media trends
4 PR business trends you can expect in 2020Mimi Kalinda
Huge business and investment momentum in AfricaGraham Deneys
Property trends
The century of the real estate A(I)gentLouise de Beer
Top 2020 SA property market trendsCrispin Inglis
Where building security and technology meetDerek Lategan
Female leadership in SA's property sector needs to be prioritisedNonhlanhla Mayisela
3 technology trends shaping the property industryTanja Lategan
SA retail favours the boldNomzamo Radebe
Home décor trends for summer 2019/2020Elize van der Berg
7 shifts in retail attractionGavin Jones
3 key trends shaping Africa's property sectorGerhard Zeelie
Retail trends
SA trends for brick and mortar stores - the present and the futureBeate Stiehler-Mulder and Mariëtte Frazer
Tourism & Travel trends
HR & Management jobs
More...Submit a jobOpen account
- Payroll/Finance Assistant Cape Town
- HR/Human Resource Internship Centurion
- Virtual Executive Assistant - Recruitment Cape Town
- Senior HR Manager Pretoria
- HR Administrator Johannesburg
Advertise your job ad on Bizcommunity
#BizTrends2020: Reimagine employer branding in the roaring '20s
One hundred years have now passed since the beginning of the infamous roaring '20s - an era of dramatic economic, social and political uncertainty, together with much technological development and change - a world no different to what we are facing now.
via GIPHY
It's a given that the role of human resource management is becoming increasingly complex and challenging, especially having to navigate four generations, the aged population, the scarcity of skills, mismatch of talent and the eminent growth of automation.
This being said, HR leaders have an enormous opportunity to transform human resources into a strategic function as they continue to focus on people to ultimately innovate effectively and meet growth targets.
The 2019 Universum Employer Branding Now SA regional survey confirmed the ongoing growth and need for employer branding with 44% of SA companies regarding employer branding as one of their top talent priorities; which should be the case if organisations are to remain relevant in attracting, engaging and retaining top talent. With the turn of a new decade, I highlight the future trends within employer branding and recruitment marketing – a field which every CHRO, Talent Acquisition Specialist, HR Professional and the like can no longer ignore, if they are to survive the world at work in the '20s!
Diversity and inclusion
Pivotal to the 1920s was the wave of change and transformation towards women in the workplace, taking traditionally male dominant jobs and the roar of all genders and races to be heard; with the fight to close the inequalities in gender pay gaps without being harassed and threatened in the workplace.
Ironically, the talent market is comparable today as Universum confirms recruitment for diversity as a top priority for 85% of the Worlds Most Attractive Employers (WMAE), with increased attention on gender equality, age and ethnicity. A recent BCG study confirms that increasing the diversity of leadership teams leads to better innovation and improved financial performance. This is applicable in both developing and developed economies. South African companies will continue to pay closer attention to women in leadership roles and getting their ethnicity balances right within the workplace.
Talent competition from start-ups
Universum's SA research found that 75% of large companies are starting to view start-ups as competition with entrepreneurial and technical being the most sought-after skills needed within their organisation. These companies are realising that big brands and name recognition are no longer enough when it comes to attracting Gen Y and Gen Z who are looking for purpose, leadership opportunities, training and development and strong ethical standards within future employers. Once again, this highlights that companies need to make a conscious effort to ensure that the key drivers within their employer value proposition are tailored towards effectively addressing their audience.
More prominence required on internalising employer brands
This same regional survey confirmed that 53% of their respondents were looking at changing their employer within the coming year. Despairing as this might be, it's questionable whether companies are doing enough to circulate, share and articulate their existing Employer Value Proposition to engage and retain their valued workforce. Companies have realised that there is work to be done in personalising the employee experience, which would include improving efforts to embed and further elevate their employer value proposition within. This will be an important focus area for employers, considering large sums of money are being invested in training and developing employees who then leave. Informed and engaged employees are your best employer brand advocates - which brings me to my next point.
Employee-generated content remains a strong driver of the employer brand
Companies will continue utilising employees as their trusted ambassadors to showcase their employer brand, recognising that the most credible/powerful message continues to be driven by its people. By now they recognise that candidates thrive on authentic reviews in the form of testimonials and videos showcasing current employees portraying the company culture versus having to rely on corporate brand messaging. Candidates consider the employee voice to be 3x more credible than the CEO's when it comes to articulating the working conditions in their company. Additionally, if companies remain true to their internal people promise, employees will be great contributors to building a strong employer brand.
Social recruitment marketing continues to grow
Beyond companies recognising social media platforms to market to their consumers, talent acquisition specialists are realising that in order to gain top-of-mind awareness within the various generational groups, they need to be actively showcasing and channelling their employer brands through the correct social media channels. This is especially the case if they are looking to address millennials and the incoming centennials. With talent pools being so diverse and scarce skills hard to find, companies are turning to building talent personas where they map out not only the skillset and qualifications, but the values, behaviours, aspirations and drivers. Once completed, a recruitment marketing campaign is activated. Through tailored content messaging, companies can take a calculated approach in addressing niche market segments which, in the case of our centennials, would be around what you are doing to not only employing women, disabled, disadvantaged, LGBT etc. and contributing to truly making a difference to society.
AI, VR, AR, bots remain the biggest game-changers
New age technologies will continue to grow as organisations employ the likes of chatbots to address candidates in real time, seeking methods to improve on the candidate experience and minimise the workloads. Larger companies tend to be utilising AR and VR to improve on the training, onboarding and interviewing. Through a more engaging and interactive approach, companies are progressing towards differentiating themselves from their competitors in securing talent.
Localisation of global brands
Whilst companies recognise the need to position a strong global employer brand, leaders will continue to factor in the attributes within their EVP to address the cultural differences, environment, tangible preferences etc. across each country. Through knowledge and market insights of local teams, tailored recruitment messages will continue to be built to address the country's nuances.
In today's elusive and ever-developing talent market, the talent industry shares mixed sentiments towards making every effort to remain relevant as the 4IR continues to evolve. However, what is evident is Steve Jobs' insight:
Technology is nothing. What's important is that you have faith in people, that they're basically good and smart — and if you give them tools, they'll do wonderful things with them. Tools are just tools. They either work, or they don't work.With revolutionary changes upon us, companies need to prioritise and navigate how they choose to blend technologies and humans in order to secure the best results.
About Celeste SirinCeleste Sirin is an employer branding specialist, speaker, facilitator and founder of Employer Branding SA which aims to develop employer banding best practice in South Africa by educating South African leaders. She is a leading authority in positioning and elevating employer brands for companies, offering extensive insight into local, African and international employer branding trends.
Read more: Employer branding, Celeste Sirin, Employer branding strategy, Employer Branding trends, #biztrends, #BizTrends2020
Republication of selected Bizcommunity content for non-commercial purposes is allowed if the original article is linked to with "Source: www.bizcommunity.com". Please click here for more information and to request permission.


text:
Apart from this, the tourists also have the chance to get trendy at the breathtaking London manner 7 days. It is a good attraction which assures to entice hundreds of thousands of travellers from numerous corners of the entire world. In fact people are already ready to view the spring and Summer Assortment by distinctive and renowned designers who are anticipated to showcase their performs.
Internet is the very best way to hotels booking rate Discounts. There are several on the internet portals where we can uncover various accommodations and can examine in conditions of price tag, spot and features. Additionally, we can also go by means of the user opinions about the hotel.
One of my most impressive failures occurred again in 2004. In September that calendar year I had set the finishing touches on 35 web sites created all over enabling people to hotels reservations rates for popular locations close to the U.S.
The simplest and most hassle-free way on to book a low cost hotel in London is by scheduling on the web. Most motels publish their extremely finest, most rock bottom charges at different on the internet websites. The finest route to unbeatable London hotel bargains is by the Web – and you will not even have to go out of the comfort of your very own home! This will in minutes, give you the very best specials side by side on your personal computer monitor; in seconds, you can book your London holiday break.
In this state-of-the-art complex era, we are so much indulged into our day to working day operate that we overlook to dwell the lifestyle. All these things make our life hectic. So, make your existence a wonderfully blessed just one, just rates hotels consider out the opportunity to stand and stare, the superb New York Town.
The author of this e-E-book has utilized this unique procedure to preserve more than 5 thousand dollars in a single yr. Personal savings like that incorporate up large above the training course of 10 years. Even few wily business people have established by themselves up as a scheduling facility, based mostly on the strategies exposed in this e-Ebook, specializing in lodge cheap charges that simply can't be beaten. Even when they add their own commission to the bill, they are nevertheless able to move on some good costs that are even now so unbeatable. But you don't need to have to shell out any commissions – you could go straight to the resource!


text:
20 Questions – Robert Hood Talks Underground Resistance, Kraftwerk, and Cheese Grits
An original member of Underground Resistance (alongside Jeff Mills and Mike Banks), an innovator in […]
20 Questions – Robert Hood Talks Underground Resistance, Kraftwerk, and Cheese Grits
An original member of Underground Resistance (alongside Jeff Mills and Mike Banks), an innovator in […]
An original member of Underground Resistance (alongside Jeff Mills and Mike Banks), an innovator in Detroit techno's heyday, and a pioneering DJ/producer with a 20-plus-year career that includes a wealth of ambitious projects including Floorplan and Monobox, Robert Hood has a resume that's all but impeccable. Now, we can add another accomplishment to the techno veteran's list, as 2014 marks the 20th anniversary of his M-Plant label, an outpost which has largely served as a home for Hood's own excursions into techno's evolving forms. With a number of upcoming reissues and events planned to celebrate M-Plant's two-decade milestone in the coming months, we decided that it was time to check in with the Motor City legend (who now calls Alabama home) via our 20 Questions series. Hood kindly agreed to answer our queries, some of which prompted him to pull out a few choice tales from his storied past. Over the course of our discussion, he looks back at Underground Resistance's early days, recalls the time when he "borrowed" a Kraftwerk record from Anthony Shakir, and describes his first meeting with Jeff Mills.
1. Where were you born?
2. What was the last great book you read?
In Pursuit of Purpose by Myles Munroe.
3. From start to finish, how long does it usually take you to finish a song?
It really depends on how the composition comes together. I have maybe 30 tracks that have been shelved for years, but I can also knock out a track in 45 minutes or an hour. Sometimes it'll take weeks, sometimes months, that's just the nature of it. But when you know the cake is ready, you know it's ready. When it's finished baking, you know it's time to serve it.
4. Name a track or artist that you think is criminally underrated.
Mark Broom. He's been so consistent down through the years. He's a techno mainstay, and still going strong, if not stronger. I really admire Mark and his tenacity.
5. What is the most memorable DJ set you've ever seen?
I can remember a time I saw DJ Pierre play in Geneva, Switzerland, and it was just flawless. He's one of my favorite DJs of all time. Frankie Knuckles is another one, and I had the opportunity to play with him in '94 or '95 in a small, tiny club, and what a treat it was to hear the master just put it down. I have fond memories of that.
6. What is the longest DJ set you've ever played?
About five years ago, I played a six-hour, semi-live set in LA. I just went through the classics—old-school Detroit techno, Chicago house, some old progressive tracks—and then I had my drum machine riding shotgun with me, and we played a marathon set just like that.
7. What was the first album you ever purchased?
I remember working at my uncle's record store when I was about 13, and that's when I first laid eyes on Kraftwerk's The Man Machine. I didn't buy it, but I ended up borrowing it from Anthony "Shake" Shakir—we had drum classes together in high school—so I borrowed it and never returned it. The first record I actually bought was Parliament Funkadelic's "One Nation Under a Groove" or The Whispers' "In the Raw." I remember spending my lunch and bus money for the week on that record.
8. What is your most essential tool in the studio?
The Yamaha sequencers have been a mainstay in my arsenal. I started off with the portable QY100, and I remember programming tracks from X-101 on that pocket sequencer. Of course, I've used other hardware sequencers, but through the years, Yamaha's QY700 series has been sort of my weapon of choice.
9. During an ideal DJ set, what is your mindset? Are you focusing on the dancefloor, getting lost in the music?
I try to communicate from my spirit to the crowd's spirit. Not just to play records and not just to hype up the crowd—I want make them forget about their troubles. I want to take them someplace they've never been. Even to just take them to Detroit and show them the essence of Detroit and show them that sometimes we go through adversity, but it's okay, it'll strengthen you. I hate to sound so corny about this, but it's a spiritual journey, it really is.
10. Do you have any nicknames?
My grandmother used to call me "Buster" when I was a kid. I don't know why. And when I was growing up they used to call me "Hoo Hoo" or "Dr. Hoo Hoo." The class clown saw me tinkering in my garage once and he said, "Look it's Dr. Hoo Hoo," and everyone cracked up.
11. What is the one thing you can only get in Alabama?
The cheese grits are very prominent down here. They're big on that here.
12. As a former Detroit resident, what do you miss most about the city?
Just the essence of Detroit, the way the city moves in the day and at night. The sights and the sounds of Detroit—I miss the traffic, I miss the sirens, I miss the dogs barking, I even miss the gunshots that you would occasionally hear at night. I just miss the essence of the city and how Detroit moves through the expressways and into downtown and the different neighborhoods.
13. What's your ideal day off?
To sit down, have a cup of coffee, maybe read a book or watch Sanford and Son or The Three Stooges. And then take a good nap.
14. What do you remember most about the early days of Underground Resistance?
We really wanted to create a movement, rather than just capitalizing on the hype around Detroit techno. I remember going out in force dressed in all black with our Underground Resistance t-shirts, and our berets and bandanas. I remember going to an army surplus store to figure out what we were going to wear on stage. We had a mindset that was sort of Public Enemy, X-Clan, Parliament Funkadelic, Guerrilla Unit.
15. What was your first impression after meeting Jeff Mills?
I remember very vividly the first time Mike Banks took me to his house. Jeff left the door open, so we just went inside and upstairs and I was looking around the studio at all the posters and records and there is this little guy behind a two-track tape machine, and he's editing tape for The Wizard show. And I said to myself, "This can't be the guy, I wonder where The Wizard is?" Eventually I found out he was Jeff Mills, and he was nothing like I expected. Jeff talked very fast and his movements were very sporadic, and watching him edit tape was a show in itself. You've seen him DJ, but the way he edited tape was like a performance; he was so fast and so precise, like a laser-point surgeon.
16. For someone who has never heard any of M-Plant's releases before, is there a record you suggest they should start with from the catalog?
Protein Valve, which is the first M-Plant release. That's the starting point—page one, chapter one.
17. If you could sum up M-Plant's 20-year catalog with just three words, they'd be…
I'm going to borrow this from Underground Resistance: For the progressive.
18. What is the most worrisome thing about the current state of dance music?
Monotony. When we're trying to imitate one another and trying to copy the latest trends, of course, it's going to kill the music. We come from the school of the Electrifying Mojo and experimentation, and we really have to continue to dig deep within our own personalities to find something new.
19. What is the most inspiring thing about the current state of dance music?
I'm inspired by those certain few artists who continue to be artists and recognize the artistic integrity of techno music. Those that are not afraid to stand out and be exceptional. There's just a small handful, but they are the ones that inspire me to keep going and continue to be excellent.
20. What's the first thing you'll do after answering these questions?
I'm going to read my Bible. I'm going to read a few scriptures and see what God would have me read that I can apply to my life.


text:
Interview With A.J.: New Neo-Soul Artist
July 18th, 2008 | By Sonnie Johnson
Mix a Neo-Soul, a live band, and an exciting new Artist, and a whole new sound could be on the horizon for Hip-Hop.
It was rather refreshing when I got to sit down and have a conversation with A.J.
As you know, I love words. So I asked the Richmond, Va native, what words were getting him through his journey to get signed. With a contemplation I didn't expect, he answered "If you want to know something is being done, do it yourself." Intrigued by his thoughtfulness I jumped right in.
What's the first kind of music you remember hearing?
You were in the church choir?
Yeah. (He was very hesistant)
Not your idea?
No, you know my mother made me, but I liked it.
The eternal question, When did you fall in love with Hip-Hop?
It wasn't until high school. Donell Jones "Knocks me off my feet". That's I how I realized I could carry a note. I'd sing in the shower, then in the mirror, and I realized I could sing.
Before we get into your music, let's talk a little about Hip-Hop as a whole. What do you think about radio being dominated by "Dance Songs"?
There's always been music like that. If I was 15 I would probably be "Crankin that Soulja Boy" but I'm a grown man and I have different taste.
What about the lyrics, or should I say lack there of?
Today more rappers care about rhyming. I mean putting together words that rhyme, instead of words that have meaning. It's a lot easier to find big words that rhyme with other big words, than it is to think of a purpose and write towards it.
Okay, so who is the best lyricist out right now?
Common. "Go" that's what Lyricist should strive for.
Are you upset that Common didn't get the same airplay as a lot of less deserving , less tested Artist?
Not really, because it's the younger kids that call in and request songs. As adults, most of us have C.D. collections, so when we want to hear a certain song, Bam. But kids depend on the radio, and they request the songs.
Now another issue in Hip-Hop, the role of Women. What do you think?
There are to few women, but the one's that manage to stay relevant don't show their ass to the world. Mary J., Jill Scott, Eryka Badu, those women have followings. Their fans know what date their album is coming out and are going to get it that day. That's on the R&B side. There's not really been a great female emcee since Lauryn Hill stopped rapping.
So your not going to give me a reason to argue with you about anything, Huh?
Why you want to argue with me?
I'll get to that later? What about more Artist creating their own Indy labels? More Artist with Ownership?
That's the way it has to be. If you want to do something new or different, don't expect to get any help. The people at the top of major labels won't give you the time of day. I've seen it. They'll be excited to meet you until they see the C.D. in your hand. Then their whole body language changes.
You become successful, do you mind wearing the badge "Role Model"?
Kinda funny question. I know when I was younger, I wanted to hear all the negative stuff. The harder the music the harder I bumped it. Now it's just about living my life right, and if someone decides to use me as a role model, fine.
I think it's wonderful you don't think of the word like a curse. So let's talk about your music.
You sound so excited.
I am. It's totally different. I just started working with a live band. It's a lot different in the performing and recording aspect. I'm used to hearing a track, going in the studio, and singing it out. But with a band, each player has to record his individual parts, then they're put together. And when you get on stage and the musicians are behind you, you get so much more energy.
How did you meet "The Band"?
I was recording in Fredericksburg, Va and I ran into one of the members. We got to talking, he liked what he heard and I liked what I heard. So we started practicing.
Did you run to any problems trying to fuse to different sounds?
Music is a unspoken language. If you love music, you can always communicate and make it work. I love traditional R&B, but I want to carve out my own niche.
I got the "Follow Me To Heaven" short. Is that the first song you recorded with the band?
Yeah. I learned so much making that song, it's probably be my favorite for quite a while. It's versatile. It's clean conservative music. Safe, but exciting. You know, something you can step to.
When can we expect the complete video?
I got some students from V.C.U. to put it together, and you can expect it in two weeks.
Where do you plan on launching?
I was hoping I could bring it to you.
I was hoping you'd say that. My favorite song of yours' is "Time 2 Go." Why are you laughing?
Every female asks me about that song. It was just a really personal experience I had to get out. Relieve so stress.
So, you wrote it yourself?
Yeah. It took me about three days.
Did you feel better afterwards?
Not really. (Laughs) It felt good to write a song about it, and get it out……….but you only get a couple loves you know are 100% just for you. It hurts when you know one is gone.
Did you cry a lot?
I don't want everyone to know I was crying, but I'll be man enough to admit, it took a lot out of me.
We'll love you more for saying that. What did the mystery woman have to say when she heard it?
"Was that about me?" I haven't seen her since.
Let's lift the mood back up. So A.J. makes it. You're a chart topper. Where's the first place you go on tour?
Germany. They love Hip-Hop more there than we do here. Most Artist tour overseas first to get all the bugs and kinks out of their show before bringing it to the U.S. It makes a U.S. tour so much easier.
I didn't know that. Is music your only passion?
Acting. I'd love to be a leading man in a love story.
No Tela Tequila, or I Love New York?
No way. I think one of the most important things we've forgotten is how to court.
Court? I haven' t heard that word used in that text since I was 16.
Well, I'm going to bring it back. The little things. Holding hands, bring flowers, a serenade. Those are the things I want to bring back.
I've taken quite a bit of your time, tell me something you want me to know.
I want my music to make people smile. Whether you can relate or not, when you're having that bad day, I want to help raise your spirits. When you want to dance, I want to put that swagger in your step. When you go to push play, I want it to be my C.D.
My thoughts
I let him escape on that note. It was rather interesting though, because after the interview we sat and talked for a moment. He wanted to explain the concept of his new sound. Then we got the subject of his video. In the cameo, his main two focuses are a white girl and a heavy set girl. He had received a lot of flack from black women. They wanted to know why he choose those two women.
He answered to me, "Those women were fully dressed and still sexy. The skanks and hoes of all colors are represented in other videos. I want to highlight all women. I want to be different. One white girl in my video, doesn't mean I date only white girls, but if I did, what would be wrong with that?"
I can find an argument in anything, but today I was happy I didn't have to. I had a intelligent conversation with a focused, determined, hard working black man, that didn't offer excuses or look for someone to blame. I now have belief that some of our brothers are just as appalled as we are to the images of sisters, period. No matter the color.
Mostly, I have faith that Hip-Hop isn't dead. It's growing slowly, under the surface, and one day we will have a spectrum of Artist with new styles, fresh sounds, and music that matters.