text:
|Midori Bonsai Club exhibit
|Page 1 of 1
|Mike Page [ Sun Sep 24, 2006 7:16 pm ]
|Post subject:
|Midori Bonsai Club exhibit
On Saturday, Sept. 23rd, I attended the annual exhibit by Midori Bonsai Club of San Jose CA.
Midori has enthusiastically embraced the concept of, if I may coin a phrase, "tripartite display", and IMHO, they have done a very fine job.
I was especially taken with this Pepper tree display.
Pepper trees aren't often seen in a bonsai show, and this one is very well done. It shows both grace and power.
|Carl Bergstrom [ Sun Sep 24, 2006 7:55 pm ]
|Post subject:
Hi Mike,
It's great to see the focus on getting the display right. That's an important step for bonsai shows, I believe, and I hope that other US clubs will follow. (A few already have, but I don't think it's the norm in the US as yet.)
That, and it's also a really cool tree.
Best regards,
|Mike Page [ Sun Sep 24, 2006 8:13 pm ]
|Post subject:
Hi Carl
One thing that really bugs me is the display id card being placed on the table. I explained to one of the Midori members how the card becomes the fourth element in the display, and is unsightly. At my club, we always place the card just below the edge of the table so that it isn't part of the scene.
I know some view this as nit-picking, but it's picking the nits that gets it right and make the display work.
|Carl Bergstrom [ Sun Sep 24, 2006 9:43 pm ]
|Post subject:
Thanks for pointing that out. I agree wholeheartedly. It's not nitpicking, it's professionalism -- and as you say, that's what we require if we're going make artistic bonsai display work.
The organizers of the PacNW convention this month took a similar care with display. They chose to hand out printed sheets with information about all of the trees, rather than clutter the display tables with information cards. I thought that was a good choice. You may have seen some of the photos from that show elsewhere on the web; I'll post a gallery of photos with lights and backdrop, along with a review from that show shortly.
With my best regards,
|Mike Page [ Mon Sep 25, 2006 12:35 pm ]
|Post subject:
Hi Carl,
Heres an image with the id card removed. It does make a difference IMO.
The owner of the Pepper tree is a long time Midori member. A few years ago, he joined Sei Boku Bonsai Kai, my club in San Mateo, about 35 miles north of where he lives in San Jose. His reason for joining was, "Sei Boku puts on the best show in the area".
Since that time, Midori built backdrops based on my design and is becoming a leader in good display. This sort of progress is very gratifying.
|Attila Soos [ Mon Sep 25, 2006 12:51 pm ]
|Post subject:
Thanks for the cool display, Mike.
Finally I am seing a pepper tree, these trees are tragically overlooked in the California bonsai community, although they are prime candidates for large bonsai.
This has nothing to do with the display, but I need to point out nevertheless. It's a deficiency that is prevalent throughout the North American bonsai scene, and somehow always gets overlooked.
It has to do with anatomical balance of the tree, and the age of the branches: compared to the power and character of the great trunk, the branches are juvenile. As a result, instead of looking like a real tree, the specimen displays what I call "the bonsai symptome". This, of course, is the result of the shorcuts one has to take, in order to create a bonsai in a relatively short time. But, it needs to be pointed out that, when striving for perfection, the lower branches of a bonsai should display the same age as the trunk itself.
Hopefully the artist realizes this shortcoming, and takes some steps to create those powerful, thick lower branches. When that happens, this tree will be truely magnificent.
|Carl Bergstrom [ Mon Sep 25, 2006 3:19 pm ]
|Post subject:
Mike, that's wonderful. I've heard the same about Midori through Boon.
You're right, the adjusted photograph is a big improvement. While we are talking about the details of the display, do you share my sentiment that the accent is not quite powerful enough to balance the display out fully?
Best regards,
|Mike Page [ Mon Sep 25, 2006 5:57 pm ]
|Post subject:
Carl, I surely agree with you on the accent. My impression when I first saw it was that it's too small. Also the color and shape seem too similar to the crown of the tree. I think that a flowering accent thats larger and has some horizontal movement would be a better contrast with the tree.
Attila, I understand what your saying, but we'll have to agree to disagree on your point. I feel that in the case of a weeping style bonsai, slender and slightly sinuous branches are appropriate.
Regarding the artist/owner fattening up the branches, he's in his mid sixties, and better have a very long life ahead of him to accomplish this.
|Attila Soos [ Tue Sep 26, 2006 1:10 pm ]
|Post subject:
Here is what I've meant. This penjing displays the correct anatomical proportions of an old pepper tree. As we can see, the first branch (on the right side, growing upward) looks as old as the trunk. Even the higher branches show some character.
Aiming for the proportions shown here would greatly improve the tree.
http://www.plot55.com/penjing/images/th ... ing104.jpg
I am sure that you recognize that this is a very high quality tree in the weeping form. It is one of the best in the world, of its kind.
This is how old pepper trees look like. Each branch looks almost like a tree in itself.
You are right that the drooping branches look good when they are slender and sinuous. But these branches are NOT primary branches, but secondary ones. It's just a little anatomical detail, that people tend to overlook.
This is what I mean by people taking shortcuts. Instead of building the naturally occurring structure of a tree (1)trunk, 2)primary branching, 3)secondary branching), we often skip the structural work and our branches show the growth character of secondary branching. Trees in nature often display powerful primary branches. They provide great character. Our bonsai should reflect that.
The presence (or absence) of powerful primary branches is a dead giveaway as to whether our bonsai was created in 5 years or 15 years. With good yamadori it's sometimes easier, since the primary branches are already there, and they show the same character as the trunk.
My comments were not to take away from the quality of the display and the tree itself. It was a suggestion just in case the owner doesn't see this tree as the final product, but as a work in progress. Instead of accepting "good", why not aim for "the best"?
|Attila Soos [ Tue Sep 26, 2006 2:11 pm ]
|Post subject:
Mike Page wrote:
Regarding the artist/owner fattening up the branches, he's in his mid sixties, and better have a very long life ahead of him to accomplish this.
Yes, I agree that some of the suggestions may not be practical in the particular situation of the owner. These suggestions are for discussion purposes only, with little regard for practical circumstances.
Re-designing the branches would mean that this tree will not be shown again for a long time. It means that the tree needs to be planted back into a training pot, which is always larger than the appropriate bonsai pot. Then it will be necessary to grow a bunch of long sacrifice branches. So, the tree would be a mess for a while.
But, that's the price of greatness. It's not for everybody.
|Dorothy Schmitz [ Tue Sep 26, 2006 7:29 pm ]
|Post subject:
the aged first branch is the logic
centerpoint in planning a bonsai,real good point!
The first branch not only gives character
to the tree but also leads to continuity through
the whole composition.
The first branch,supposingly beiing the oldest one,
will mostlikely be integrated into the overall flow of the tree. (Unless the artist chooses his or her own interpretation)
I just had the problem with the initial styling of a Florida elm,
which had a too young looking first branch with completely different
characteristics than the rest of the tree.
I took it off.
|Peter Evans [ Sun Feb 25, 2007 5:55 pm ]
|Post subject:
Isn't it funny how a simple posting can develop into a major talking point.
Personally, I have never been able to understand the link between large trunks and tiny branches. Now, i can relate them to "developement" but not to show trees.
When you talk about the "first" branch being of the same age as the trunk,again, i am with you on development but not with a show tree.
That should have "Age" in all it's branches.
After all, Most branches are only 1 year appart on a real tree.
Surely the essence of "Bonsai" is age, and that cannot be shown with THIN branches on Thick trunks. Peter.
|Page 1 of 1
|All times are UTC - 5 hours [ DST ]
|Powered by phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group


text:
A lawsuit filed by a Baltimore public relations firm against one of its former employees and Black & Decker Corp. moved a step forward yesterday as the two sides argued over what documents should be provided to lawyers.
The $3 million lawsuit, filed by public relations firm Image Dynamics in August 1998 in Baltimore Circuit Court, contends that the actions of its former employee and the Towson-based toolmaker caused severe financial loss and forced Image Dynamics to merge with another company to survive.
Black & Decker was one of the principal clients of Image Dynamics for eight years and represented a third of its business, according to the suit. Phyllis B. Brotman founded the firm.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Great 3D target for the price
Firstly, it appears as if several of the reviews here aren't even for this 3D target but for some sort of bag target with a carry handle, so those can be disregarded. Bought this a few days ago on sale at my local Sportsman's Warehouse for $69.99 plus tax. Before purchasing, I knew it wouldn't perform as well as a $300-$400 3D target so my expectations weren't unrealistic. Set up was super easy as all the parts went together nicely. I set it up in the corner of my yard and have shot it with both my 45 lb and 60 lb recurves with field points. None of the arrows were even close to penetrating out the other side. I haven't shot it with any of my compounds yet but wouldn't be too surprised if they penetrated a lot deeper. That being said, I'd highly recommend this basic 3D target for kids shooting compounds or adults shooting traditional equipment. Adults using high dollar, high performance compounds shooting arrows at a million feet per second should spend more money and get a 3D target that's more suitable for their setups.
Columbia, SC


text:
Patriot Baseball Opens MSC Tournament Play WednesdayApril 28, 2015
The Patriots are riding a 5 game win streak heading into the opening game of the Mid-South Conference Tournament. St. Catharine, the #2 seed, will play #8 seed Shawnee State University -- Wednesday at 4:00 eastern time.
Mid-South Tournament Page / Mid-South Tournament Bracket
"We're excited to get going," stated Luther Bramblett. "Shawnee State is a good club, don't let their seed or record fool you, they are well coached, have some quality arms and their lineup can score runs in bunches. We'll have to play well to advance."
The Patriots (32-13, 15-5 MSC) swept the Bears in the first weekend of conference play. SSU (17-27, 7-13 MSC) finished in 8th place, but has wins over #1 seed Campbellsville University and #3 seed Lindsey Wilson College as well as taking the series from Cumberland University.
The Patriots have their best record in conference play (15-5) since joining the league in 2009. The Pats are 3rd with a .304 batting average and 2nd in ERA with a 3.23 mark. They lead the MSC with a .962 fielding percentage.
The tournament will be played in Bowling Green, KY at the Bowling Green Park, host of the Hot Rods - a single A affiliate of Tampa Bay.


text:
Fall Session with Rachel Williams
As always, it's a blast working with Rachel. I'm glad she could make her way to West Point from out of town for this shoot. Our goal was to get some really nice shots for her special guy, Mr. "Super Dude" Jason, LOL! I'm sure he'll enjoy these photos, as he bravely serves our country during these uneasy times.
Location: West Point
Model: Rachel W.
Camera Platform: Sony Alpha A-700
Selected Photos from Rachel's Photo Session
[miniflickr user_id="27200567@N07" tags="RachelWilliams110908"]
View the Entire Album on Flickr.com
View the Entire Album on Flickr.com


text:
Nothing has been confirmed and hopefully it's not even true but according to rumours, the two were quite cosy at the backstage of her Fashion for Relief charity show at the New York Fashion Week event yesterday Feb. 14th. They were later photographed holding hands as they left the backstage. This doesn't mean that they are dating or smashing but you know how in Hollywood everyone sleeps with everyone, well..people are now wondering. Hopefully, there's nothing going on here. Naomi is 44 and Justin Bieber is 20. She was a super model before he was even born.
More Pictures Below:


text: July 30, 2015 | Leave a comment Facebook Twitter Google+ LinkedIn Written in 2013 The past few weeks have plunged me back to the 60's and 70's, music-wise. Folks like Jackson Browne, James Taylor, CSN, Neil Young (solo & with CSN), Bonnie Raitt, Phoebe Snow, Janis Ian, the Eagles, etc. etc. (Okay, I've sprinkled in some Ben Taylor, Marcus Eaton and James Morrison for good measure, but I think you're getting the drift). These artists all have one thing in common: they write and perform songs that invite harmonization. They also bring back some wonderful memories of days gone by – spent onstage at one club or another, lending my voice in a backup role, making up harmonies where there were none or adding another layer to the voices already there. As I sing along to my aptly named "SING TO ME" playlist, the songs have the power to transport me back: to New York City where I joined talented performers like Wendy Wall, Al Rosa, Greg Aulden, and The Shane Gang (Shane Hue, Racine Romaguera, Benny Landa, Joe Glennon); to Huntsville, Alabama, where I joined talented performers like David Anderson, Antony & Andrew Sharpe, Linda Wood, and various musical theatre companies, as well as the University of Alabama, Huntsville choir, where I sang second soprano or first tenor parts (and served as the school's "official" anthem singer for 2 years). (with Rocky, left & Al, right – at The Back Fence, 1986 – I think) Singing takes me to a very happy place. Even songs that pierce right to the soul, crush my heart and take my breath away manage to fill me with joy at the same time, especially if the singers' voices mesh so perfectly, it almost feels as though I'm intruding on something extremely intimate just by listening. (If you've heard Bonnie Raitt and Jackson Brown's live duet of "My Opening Farewell," you know EXACTLY what I mean. If you haven't heard it, click the video below. Go ahead. I'll wait.) When I lived in Huntsville, my voice had that type of relationship with Andrew Sharp. Notice I said my voice. He was and continues to be a very nice guy – we were friends, but nothing more. There were songs we'd sing and at the end, look at each other and actually let out blissful sighs. I loved singing with David Anderson because he's so damn talented, he'd follow me or I'd follow him. Either way, each song I sang with him felt like a lovely musical journey. Every so often, I sang backup on a couple of songs. Once, I somehow ended up singing lead on a cool version of "Atlantic City," with David on backgrounds (we even recorded a version. The tape broke, so I no longer have it). I didn't mind singing lead, but I preferred to sing backup and harmonies. I especially loved singing harmony for a song he wrote called "Every Moment In Between." So poignant. SO, so poignant. I don't know whether he still performs it, but I've been working with a friend here to record a version just to have it. It's beautiful and heartbreaking, yet hopeful at the same time. Since I moved to the Seattle area in 1995, there haven't been many chances to sing. I had a wonderful time performing with co-workers in the KING 5 band for about a decade, but it was frustrating to practice for months, only to perform once a year. (with the KING 5 Band, 2004 – I think) The bulk of my musical fixes come from anthem performances at various sporting events. I enjoy singing the American and Canadian anthems (sorry, I sing them very straightforward – you won't hear any vocal acrobatics here.) (Performing the US anthem at a Seattle Thunderbirds game, 2011) (Another T-Birds game – 20010, I think) (Performing at a Seattle Mariners game, May 9, 2012) (Canadian anthem at an Everett Aquasox game – 2011, I think) (American anthem at Pacific Rim Gymnastics Championships, 2012) However, I miss getting out to open mic nights, lending harmonies to singers, accompanied only by a guitar or piano. Or a full band, like the fun times we had at The Bitter End with Shane, Racine, Benny, and Joe (otherwise known as "The Shane Gang").Those guys taught me to appreciate Bob Dylan and John Prine (Shane had a wonderful smoky voice – imagine Tom Waits with fewer marbles in his mouth and slightly higher pitched tone). I'm rambling now, because it's late, I've had a LOOONG day and I'm entangled in memories of wonderful times; memories I want wrap around me like a security blanket or a rocking chair that will lull me gently to dreamland and beautifully sweet harmonies. I only wish I could find opportunities to create more sweet harmonies when I awake.


text:
The class uses the Parrot Rolling Spider Drones. These drones have a few salient features that makes them the perfect candidate for this course.
- Safe: Unlike most consumer drones designed for outdoors flight, the Parrot Rolling Spider drones are very small. Moreover, the wheels around the drone prevent direct contact with the propellers. It is almost impossible to get hurt while playing with the drones (yet, we still require various safety precautions in the class).
- Reliable: The wheels around the drone also protect the drone itself. Even if the drones falls on the ground or crashes into a wall, the wheels protect the drone.
- Affordable: The drones currently sell for $70 in Amazon. They are very affordable. Instructors can buy one for each students, especially for a small class, on a university budget. Many hobbyists trying to learn control theory can afford to buy one.


text:
It is Known that first impression is not to change nothing, which is why modern office interior design – a recommendation the most important element when opening the new premises of the company. It would probably be an incorrect interpretation of «calling card», because the office – not the sort of thing you can see to put on the shelf and forget – it's still a working place, space for personnel and transactions.
Therefore must be respected the necessary balance of comfort and production restraint. In order to determine what lies beneath the word «modern» in the phrase «modern design office«, you must first determine the most important factors that contributed to the utmost place, when designing the interiors of offices:
— the style of the interior of the specifics of the company;
— equipped work places for staff;
— favorable lighting;
— high-quality finish, furniture, clean air;
— low level of noise in the room.
a Little on each of the items. When you plan to design interior office photo that come to the fore, more on that later. The fact of the Matter is that the style of decoration, the design needs to fit the specifics of the company, to be based in this room. For example, for travel companies suitable citrus scales and sofas in the shape of fruits, and for office and production enterprise form of strict, reasonable tone.
the Office a place of work; care should be taken not only for the comfort of customers, but also about decent working conditions for staff. One of the important factors is lighting, which must be provided to the extent necessary. Clients often pay attention to finish quality furniture, because there is a direct Association: in the office all neat and expensive, and therefore its obligations under the transaction are appropriately implemented quickly and efficiently. Ventilation and air conditioning system needs to work properly and smoothly. And of course, the office should not be noisy place, border on industrial premises.
so the modern design involves the creation of not only a positive customer experience to a customer, but also providing favorable conditions for work and transactions.
At the conclusion of the transaction the customer is given a portfolio, because if you order office design, which photos are the most important component. He discusses various office projects and selected the option closest to the customer's requests. When ordered office design and, the prices are often called in the least, because most of the cost often are not elements of the walls and the furniture, machinery, light equipment.


text:
The Government will soon consult on the inheritance tax position of a UK-domiciled individual married to a foreign-domiciled spouse.
While it is generally true that foreign domicile is a gateway to IHT savings, this is one situation where it can be a serious drawback. Throughout this piece, the terms "marriage" and "spouse" also refer to civil partnerships, while "UK-domiciled" includes "deemed UK-domiciled".
Generally, transfers between spouses, made either during life or upon death are exempt from IHT – without monetary limit. This, together with the ability to transfer the nil-rate band of the first to die to the surviving spouse, means that couples can leave everything to each other free of tax and without any other negative implications.
Where a UK-domiciled spouse transfers assets to a non-UK domiciled spouse, however, the inter-spouse exemption is restricted to £55,000. This restriction does not apply the other way round, that is, where the transferor spouse is non-domiciled and the recipient spouse is UK-domiciled or where both are non-UK-domiciled.
This £55,000 exemption is a cumulative limit applying to all transfers made at any time during life and/or on death. If used – or part-used – during life, then there will be none – or only part – available on death. Where a transfer occurs on death, any part of the £55,000 exemption available is deducted, with the remainder subject to IHT after application of the nil-rate band.
A simple example can demonstrate the potential tax implications of marriage to a foreign domiciliary. Assume H has an estate of £650,000 and wishes to leave all to W on death. To keep it simple, let's assume that W has no assets, the IHT nil-rate band remains frozen and there have been no lifetime gifts.
Where H and W are both UK-domiciled, there will be no tax on first death or on death of the survivor. The £650,000 transfers to W on the death of H under the limitless interspousal exemption. H's unused nil-rate band of £325,000 is transferred to W. On the subsequent death of W, both nil-rate bands amount to £650,000, so the estate is tax-free.
Now assume H is UK-domiciled and W is not. As £650,000 passes on the death of H, the £55,000 exemption applies. This creates a balance of £595,000 upon which H's nil-rate band of £325,000 is applied. The taxable estate amounts to £270,000, which, at 40 per cent, creates tax on first death of £108,000. It should be apparent that if the estate is not in liquid assets serious difficulties could arise.
W, who inherited £542,000 net of tax, then dies some time later. H's nil-rate band was exhausted on his death, so W's nil-rate band only can apply. Deducting the £325,000 from £542,000 produces a taxable estate of £217,000, which, at 40 per cent, creates further tax on second death of £86,800.
The difference is self-evident. The UK-domiciled couple paid no tax. However, where money moved from the UK domiciliary to the foreign domiciliary the fate of marriage carried a tax burden of £194,800, with over half payable on first death.
In addition to increasing the IHT-exempt amount, the Government also intends to allow individuals not domiciled in the UK and who have a UK-domiciled spouse to elect to be treated as UK-domiciled for IHT. In effect, allowing them to elect to be treated the same as a UK couple.
Paul Kennedy is head of FundsNetwork Tax Planning


text:
Everybody loves wings. This is one food that you will find in almost every region. They are served in so many ways that you are sure to find a favorite. Restaurants who specialize in wings will have a ton of flavors to offer. Sauces range from mild to hot and then to "my mouth is on fire." There are fried wings that are coated in crispy crusts. Baked wings are often used with dipping sauces like ranch, garlic, marinara, and barbeque. They are often served with crisp, cold carrot and celery sticks. Below we will feature some favorite wing places in the city of Atlanta.
Jack's Pizza & Wings
This is the place to go late night in Atlanta. Pizza and beer and a huge selection of wings. This is the kind of place you will hit after the big game or a few drinks at the club.
Okay, this is a taco stand. But do not let that hold you back. Minero's serves up some great wings. They are slow cooked over charcoal and the skin is just crispy enough. Then they are doused with Valentina hot sauce. The first bite will be an eye-opener and after that, you will feast on the greatest wings.
Nam Phuong
Ready for something completely different? Head over to Nam Phuong. You will need to have a sense of adventure and courage. The wings here are marinated in fish sauce for a truly Asian influence. Then they are fried until crisp and tossed with sweet and sour sauce with red chilis. To tame the flavor, they are served with steamed rice and cucumbers. This is an amazing way to eat wings.
The Wing Bar
This is a very small place and most of the wings are ordered to go. You can buy 10, 20, 30, or 40 wings and they will make them while you wait if you are a walk in. They have a huge variety of sauces and you can order more your wings with as many different sauces you want.
Cypress Street Pint & Plate
Cypress Street Pint & Plate is a great place to hang with friends and enjoy American foods such as burgers and wings. This place stays busy and it a popular hang-out. It can get loud. This is not the place to go for a quiet little dinner. This is a place to go to have fun and some really good food. They have great craft beer and an outdoor patio where the party crowd seems to migrate toward.
Wing Factory
American food is served here. They serve sandwiches which are good, but they are known for and have extraordinary wings, They are meaty and prepared to order. They have a wide choice of flavors. This is a great neighborhood wing spot.
Fork In The Road
This is the place for traditional American food. The wings are great here. The atmosphere is trendy and modern. They serve unusual foods like zucchini fries and shrimp alfredo. Try the different appetizers but make room for wings. They give you a huge portion and you will want to finish every last bite.


text:
Friday, August 19, 2011
That's life
6 comments:
It sounds like you really need the break right now and I am sure when you go back, you will feel like a new person! Take care of you the very best you can and I hope that you don't forget to blog about what you are up to every once in a while!!!! At least we keep in touch on Facebook!!! ENJOY your break!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (I go back in 13 days. Grr).ReplyDelete
- AnonymousAugust 19, 2011 at 5:29 PM
That's a shame, could you just do 1 module to keep you in touch with studying? Although I do understand the pressures of keeping the family running smoothly. It's like managing a business without the salary! I thought it would get easier as the kids get older, but the activities just change. I have a couple of years yet until the double prom, and we don't have semi formals over here. I am aware though, following all the fuss about Uni places etc that over the next two years it will be uni visits etc with E, while the other two are revising for GCSEs!ReplyDelete
Enjoy your six months off & don't forget to go back
That is so good that you are not quitting. And it is indeed better to decide now rather than later. I am glad that the University offers this. Keep us posted and let us know what is happening with you. I know I will be back to see. ::hugs::ReplyDelete
Thanks guys - I definitely won't forget to go back! I miss it already.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousAugust 26, 2011 at 9:50 PM
Like you I have just had to drop out for a semester, following a seried of family issues. I am half way through my degree, with two adult children, one doing HSC and a supportive but very busy husband. A break will allow you to get your energy back, and approach the rest of your degree with enthusiam. Smell the roses, enjoy your break, and good luck when you go back.ReplyDelete
Thanks Anonymous - it's nice to hear of someone else going through the same thing! I've had to try really hard to stay positive but am throwing myself into pilates and yoga! It makes me realise how much I really love uni and makes my goals all the more clearer. Cheers.ReplyDelete


text:
Our experts
The complex requirements in disaster missions, in search work and when training rescue dog teams need a thorough level of expertise. The IRO unites more than 100 international experts who safeguard and represent the high IRO standards..
/* Apple */ ?> /* Android */ ?> /* Windows */ ?>
The complex requirements in disaster missions, in search work and when training rescue dog teams need a thorough level of expertise. The IRO unites more than 100 international experts who safeguard and represent the high IRO standards..
IRO Judges are characterised by their sound expertise and objective judgement. They are appointed to international IRO testing events to ensure compliance with the high IRO standards. There are currently 27 active Judges who carry the IRO certificate, which is granted following a comprehensive testing procedure.
You can find the current list of Judges here:
As experts for the IRO module system, the Classifiers are mainly characterised by their expert knowledge of USAR and INSARAG methodology. Furthermore, the 57 IRO Classifiers have active mission experience as search dog handlers.
You can find the current list of Classifiers here:
Learn from the best - that's the motto of IRO Trainers, who provide IRO courses and training around the world to professionally prepare rescue dog teams. Ongoing continuing education and training is compulsory for the 32 IRO Trainers, ensuring that course participants always receive the latest knowledge.
You can find the current list of Trainers here:
To ensure the high standards of the IRO, the guidelines are adapted and expanded on a continuous basis. Interdisciplinary and inter-organisational working groups address different topics.
Our experts currently work in the following working groups:
MRT IRO REDOG AFDRU Working Group
The tasks in the international rescue dog discipline demand uniform training of the rescue dog handlers. The International Testing Standards for Rescue Dogs (IPO-R), which were developed by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) and IRO, are of global significance. The IPO-R includes the requirements for dog handlers and dogs in the fields of Tracking, Area, Rubble, Avalanche and Water - from the aptitude test (E) to the highest testing level (B).
The IPO-R is regularly adapted to the latest international developments and requirements for search and rescue dog teams, and a new version is to be in place from 2019 on. In the IPO-R Working Group of 2018, Walter Hoffmann, Astrid Laner and Jerneja Ternovec represent the competences of the IRO, while Jeremias Janki, Frans Jansen, Detlef Kühn and Daniela Erasmus represent the positions of the FCI.
The current version is from 01 February 2012, the new and revised version will be valid from 01 January 2019.
The aim of this working group is the development of practical application concepts and a guideline for missions. For this purpose, IRO President Markus Bock presented a first concept in 2016 for the IRO's potential deployment in urban search and rescue, which forms an important part of the working group's further work. Denny Stübling, Chris Pritchard, Markus Bock, Frans Jansen, Lars Prössler, Andreas Quint and Ove Syslak are part of the IRO Operational Working Group under the direction of Linda Hornisberger. All experts of the OWG have mission experience and expert knowledge in emergency management. These competencies are used to prepare the IRO strategically and operationally for national and international cases of emergency. Cooperation with INSARAG and other national and international institutions in disaster management is also crucial.
The VWG focuses on training dog handlers and the IRO on veterinary and animal health aspects and on developing the skills of dog handlers in this field so they can keep their dogs fit and able to work in a difficult environment. Veterinarians Vedran Babic, Cedomir Joksimovic, Ellen von Czapiewski, Nina Ambroz and Andrej Zunic have taken on the topics of this group under the leadership of Linda Hornisberger.
This inter-organisational working group has set itself the common goal of adapting the IRO mission readiness test (MRT) to the needs of an international mission. Under the direction of Denny Stübling (IRO executive board, Department for Deployment), Rolf Häusermann (IRO MRT Classifier), Arnold Landauer (Deputy IRO Spokesperson for Training and Judges), Markus Bock (AFDRU representative) and Linda Hornisberger, Elias Kalt and Matthias Gerber (REDOG representatives) work on the following main points:


text:
This is the era post the first TwitchCon and this is the first non-case study post after TwitchCon. I hope that the panels got you thinking, but I won't stop thinking and won't sharing my ideas and thoughts so here we go with today's topic.
I'm going to keep this short, I say that but I knew know how long it will end up being, and the one thing I wanted to talk about is past experience and skills. The research is from e-mails sent to me from streamers that are starting out or are trying to grow the channels. One thing that I've noticed is how streamers tend to want to have a "fresh start", now that's not a bad thing in itself BUT I've noticed that nothing from the past is being kept alive.
Yes, for some all of this might be obvious but it's evident that there are those that are getting lost in all the advice from streamers and only end up not being themselves and instead trying to be someone else. Instead aim to improve yourself as a streamer and not try to copy what someone else have already done.
Don't loose yourself in the stream
I've seen a trend where streamers are so focused on being a streaming, in the sense of just being a streamer, that everything they've learnt in their life before is not used. I'm bringing this up since it's sad to see, what you've been through, experienced and learnt over the years before streaming is what shapes you into you. If you're truly trying to "be yourself" then why are you trying to start over? Think about it, if everyone follows a set path or guidelines to success on Twitch everything becomes generic and boring. A few people brought it up during TwitchCon, but it's a hard nut to crack when the way success have come to the panelist already have made it. You should be inspired by their stories but not take them as facts.
Why do I bring all of this up? I've seen people miss the mark on what their target audience could be or what their hook could be. Only because they're almost afraid to "be themselves" and instead try to be the version of a streamer that is expected from them or what they've heard from big streamers. Streamer that have contacted me say they have no idea what their concept, hook, target audience etc could be but then on the next question in my form they outline exactly what it could be. I actually urge anyone that reads this to actually fill in the form, you don't need to send it (unless you want to talk business), and I promise that if you sit down and analyze the answers you've written down you'll be able to see your stream in a new light. The form is constructed to figure those things out. While you don't get my input from doing it on your own I'm sure it will still be a benefit to do it.
Enter the Stream Motivation
If you have a background in video editing, use it and not only to edit videos you can do other things as well. If you have a background in management then manage your stream and help others manage their stream. The thing is that everything you did before is not wasted, it's not a failure on your path to being a streamer. There are no such thing as a failure when you stand above it and don't get buried under it. Play to your strengths, go all-in on your strengths, and those strengths aren't just streaming or knowledge around streaming. It's everything you've learnt in life up to this point.
I would have been good at what I do unless I had a solid background in graphic design, motion graphics, print design, film, TV and I sure as hell wouldn't have all the knowledge unless I had actually done those things and taken away lessons from each failure in those field. Yes I failed, I failed plenty of times before I ended up here. I made a short movie that was a failure, but I got to lead a 12 man team and organize it. I've written scripts that are collecting dust but that haven't stopped me from getting better at writing a story or stopped me from writing. I failed with motion graphics because I didn't understand the market, but I learned the market and I kept applying each new thing I learned along the way up until this point. That's why I know what's right, not because I read it in a book (well sometimes that as well) but because I experienced the other side of the coin.
So don't feel as if the world is against you when you loose a viewer or only get 1 viewer. I talk to someone at TwitchCon that had gotten 20 people in their channel at one point. That's impressive, just think how many showed up to your birthday part as a kid you would be in a freaking bliss if 20 people showed up. This time they showed up to your channel and it wasn't even your birthday. That's impressive. Even if it's only 1 viewer that's a lot more than 0. Even if it's 0 you're doing something, you're not sitting on around waiting for a miracle and instead you're actually creating something. That's really awesome.
Failure isn't an option, and that's because failure isn't a bad thing and not because it doesn't exist.
Yeah this actually ended up being super short, but more than this isn't actually needed for this topic. Instead I gave you some homework. Do the form thing and let me know, either in the comment section or on Twitter (@visiblespeech) , what you found out!
Hopefully I'll have Stream Hatchet on tomorrow for a interview for the podcast, but not sure yet. If not then I'll talk a bit about the "intro video" and dynamic overlays why it's bad in many cases, how to fix it and general thoughts on them. Was going to write about it but it's really hard to write down descriptions of moving things so I'll try using spoken words instead.
On Thursday I'll have the breakdown of the Fandom: Destiny overlay. If that's a thing you like then you can look forward to that.


text:
Yes, you are correct - I have a new car! Yippeeeee! Please enjoy my new little beauty!
Although I am extremely excited about having a car, I am also incredibly scared too. I haven't driven in four years as not only have I been at University where I haven't really needed one, but a few months before moving away to University I cleverly decided to crash my car...making it a complete write off! Well done to myself. Don't worry, I was completely fine and most importantly so was the other driver (thank goodness). For anyone who has been in a car accident, I'm sure you can sympathise with me and understand how scary it is. So stepping in the drivers seat for the first time in four years is extremely daunting for me.
Nick will be taking me out for the first couple of days to refresh my memory - parallel parking anyone? So that will be good fun for him to laugh at me learning to drive all over again! And please note, I will NOT be driving my car on the 125 mile trip back to University...it will be staying safely on the driveway, waiting for me to come home! This is one of my 101 Things that I needed to achieve before a finish University, as I need a car to drive to work (another of my 101 Things I am yet to fullfil). But I feel like I am well prepared for real graduate life...all I need now is an actual job and perhaps a lovely Mulbery Bag too!


text:
——– Original Message ——–
Subject: FAMILY CUTOFF POLICY
Date: Fri, 15 Aug 2014 13:35:02 -0400
From: Dan De Gennaro
To: Exit & Support Network
I would like to update you on my daughter, Mrs. Janet Privratsky (formerly Janet C. De Gennaro's) cause of death. The Medical Examiners Coroner Certificate of Death confirms the death was by suicide.
Please publish the letters on the web.
I will be writing of the danger the PCG's cutoff policy has on family.
All the best
Source: http://www.exitsupportnetwork.com/mike_ep/letters/ltrspcg14.htm
"Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, behold, I will break the staff of bread in Jerusalem: and they shall eat bread by weight, and with care; and they shall drink water by measure, and with astonishment: That they may want bread and water, and be astonied one with another, and consume away for their iniquity."
In Strong's Concordance, the word "astonied" means 'to stun or intransitively grow numb, that is, devastate or (figuratively) stupefy (both usually in a passive sense): – make amazed, be astonied, be desolate, bring into desolation, make desolate, be destitute, destroy self, make waste, wonder.'
While for the word "consume away": it comes from "a primitive root; to melt; figuratively to flow, dwindle, vanish: – be corrupt, dissolve, pine away."
This is the same as prophesied in Ezekiel 24:
"And ye shall do as I have done: ye shall not cover your lips, nor eat the bread of men. And your tires shall be upon your heads, and your shoes upon your feet: ye shall not mourn nor weep; but ye shall pine away for your iniquities, and mourn one toward another." (vv. 22-23)
God has allowed the people in His Church to do as what Mr. Gerald Flurry has done when his wife died – i.e., to appear normal in the sight of all men while still doing God's work. During this Ezekiel 4 siege, the people in God's Church would become emotionless – they grow numb – "ye shall not mourn nor weep" as what That Prophet has done. And the effect? God's people could have experienced one of the following:
- become devastated, (meaning: overwhelmed or overpowered)
- in order to survive, they bring each other into desolation, (through betrayal to gain favor in the eyes of the ministers)
- some become destitute, (in the dictionary it means: completely wanting or lacking; poor enough to need help from others)
- others become corrupt spiritually,
- some people destroy themselves spiritually which could lead to a physical suicide.
- eventually, all of the people are astonished as to what really is happening
And if the people do mourn, they just do it among themselves and they don't show it to the ministry. This is the reason why the PCG membership around the world dwindles and some Church areas were either utterly dissolved or consumed away because of that siege and some has fallen by the sword. Read the letter below of an anonymous sender about such a story:
Number of PCG Members Has Dwindled:
May 20, 2013
My friend let me know that PCG is going to be opening a new congregation in Alabama, but what is really going on is that their membership in that area has dwindled and they can no longer afford to pay a lot of money each month for a conference room. They are looking at about half what they have been paying because according to my friend's calculation they only have about 25-30 people!!
I believe what has happened is that for years they have had at least 100 or more people so paying a pretty hefty amount per month was not a stretch. I would guess they have lost members and that those who are left live in the north to mid-section of the state. Hence the effort to find a meeting place in the Birmingham or surrounding area. – Anonymous
Have you noticed that the PCG members around the world seem to have become so afraid of what shall happen to them should they try to speak out and reason with the ministry, they would rather resort to voicing out their concerns with what is happening inside the PCG through anonymous posting of comments in ESN (Exit Support Network) and other COG sites. To better understand why this is so, let us again define what a SIEGE is:
A siege is a military blockade of a city or fortress with the intent of conquering by attrition or assault. …Sieges involve surrounding the target and blocking the reinforcement or escape of troops or provision of supplies, typically coupled with attempts to reduce the fortifications by means of siege engines, artillery bombardment, mining, or the use of deception or treachery to bypass defences.
(Source: www.freebase.com/m/06p6g)
Again as for the definition of a SIEGE, it is a military blockade of a city or fortress with the intent of conquering by ATTRITION or assault. Now let us consider the meaning of the word "attrition" in the dictionary:
1. A gradual diminution in number or strength because of constant stress.
2. A gradual, natural reduction in membership or personnel, as through retirement, resignation, or death.
3. Repentance for sin motivated by fear of punishment rather than by love of God.
4. Sorrow for sin arising from fear of damnation, especially as contrasted with contrition, which arises purely from love of God
Looking at the definitions of attrition, we may ask: Has the people in the Philadelphia Church of God not experienced "a gradual diminution in number or strength because of constant stress"? Has the Church not experienced a gradual, natural reduction in membership or personnel, as through retirement, resignation, or death? Has the people's repentance for sin inside the Philadelphia Church of God, motivated by fear of punishment rather than the love of God? Is the prevailing attitude of the people inside the PCG already became such as a sorrow for sin arising from fear of damnation, which is contrasted with contrition, that arises purely from the love of God?
It seems that the answers in all four questions are a resounding YES, to which any PCG member who became victims of that spiritual siege could easily identify with!
Below is an account of Janet Privratsky's father concerning the prophesied IRON WALL of the Ezekiel 4 siege and his personal experience of the NO CONTACT POLICY inside the Philadelphia Church of God:
After 3 long years, Gerald Flurry finally allowed me to see my daughter. It was not in the way my family hoped. She was delivered to us C.O.D., wrapped in a plastic bag and sealed in a metal container.
My dear daughter, Janet, lived a full life while she was part of our family. She was always pleasant, respectful and obedient. She had an adventurous spirit and enjoyed traveling the world.
We are first generation Italians in Canada. My wife and I place a high value on family unity and we taught our children that we always support each other with love and respect. The PCG was never our teacher when it came to family values as it was clear to us they didn't understand the value of a family. In fact, we were criticized, insulted and even humiliated by PCG leaders for our strong family values.
We attended the Milton, Ontario congregation. Our nightmare began in 2009, with the arrival of Tim Oostendarp, a new graduate from HWA College, eager to prove himself to the PCG hierarchy. He found my 20-year-old son, Robert, on Facebook and immediately began to spy on him. In December 2010, he reported Robert to the local minister, Fred Dattolo, for an "inappropriate" Facebook post. Fred Dattolo immediately suspended Robert. After a six-month suspension, Robert decided he didn't want to return to such a negative environment.
In April 2011, Fred Dattolo came to me with an ultimatum from Gerald Flurry. I had 3 months to remove my son from our home–otherwise I would no longer be a deacon. The following week, Fred Dattolo told me that my son is a Laodicean and I should think of him as a rebellious and lazy son. This was nonsense. My son has always been respectful and helpful.
In May 2011, my wife, Maria, and I met with Fred Dattolo. Once again, he had an ultimatum from Gerald Flurry. The Pastor General and Prophet" wanted our son out of our home. Fred Dattolo recommended that our son move into a "small room" like other single men in the PCG. For my wife and I, this would be unconscionable because he did nothing to warrant this harsh treatment. When Maria tried to explain that our son was not a baptized member, she began to cry. Fred Dattolo looked at her and said, "I see this crying all the time." While this experience was obviously a normal occurrence for Fred Dattolo, we were taken aback and totally shocked by his callous attitude. He was brutal, cold and showed no concern. A true minister of God would have shown mercy, love and compassion and opened the scriptures to direct us. None of this happened.
On September 14, 2011, my wife and I were suspended for not complying with "That Prophet's" ultimatum. Janet was left behind
One month later, in October 2011, while attending the feast, Janet met David Privratsky.
On August 26, 2012, Fred Dattolo called Janet and told her that Gerald Flurry wants her to "get out of that house." We knew Janet. She would never deliberately dishonour us and disobey God's commandment. She thought she was obeying God by obeying "That Prophet." She found a basement apartment, which cost her $800/month, and moved out of her room in our family home.
Though my wife, my son and I were distraught and cried for weeks, we now know that this proved to be a very heavy, emotional burden for Janet. She was the one who suffered the most by being cut off from her family.
Because she was planning to move to the United States to live with David Privratsky, she was turned over to Regional Director, Cal Culpepper. He prevented Janet from moving to Chicago until he was sure that she was totally compliant with "That Prophet's"no contact policy. Cal Culpepper made it clear that the marriage would be called off if she had any contact with her family. After a year of counseling and monitoring, she was given the green light to marry David Privratsky and their wedding took place on September 8, 2013.
We emailed Fred Dattolo to ask if we could be a part of the wedding ceremony. He did not respond. This was a crushing blow to us. It was also a crushing blow to Janet's extended family, which has never been a part of the church and could not understand why they could not attend the wedding. This is an example of how the PCG's cruelty reflects poorly on Christianity! Instead of being a light and turning people to God, they were the opposite and turned people away.
We later found out that Janet and David Privratsky were not legally married. They were only married in the eyes of the PCG ministry. Once again, the scriptures were ignored (1 Pet 2:13, Titus 3:1). Because they were not legally married, Janet was buried as my daughter, Janet C. De Gennaro.
From the time Janet left our home until the end of 2013, the only contact we had with her was when she sent a generic thank you note to us for our wedding gifts.
In January 2014, Janet's uncle wanted to send a financial gift to her. We emailed her and asked her to call us so we could work out how to best send the money. She called. This was the first time we had heard her voice since she left our home in 2012. She was subdued and spoke only a few words and that was the last time we heard our daughter's voice. We learned after her death, that David Privratsky forbade her from speaking to us due to the no-contact policy.
On July 21, 2014, David Privratsky called us, a full 38 hours after Janet's death! Why the delay? No doubt, he needed to seek counseling from the PCG ministry to ask permission to call us and to find out what he should say when he speaks to us.
We were sitting in the garden in the middle of the afternoon when we were interrupted by the phone. It was David Privratsky. We immediately knew that something was wrong. He told us that our daughter was dead. He said she died of a massive heart attack. We were confused. How could a healthy, young 30-year old woman die of a massive heart attack? We pressed him to find out exactly what happened. He finally broke down and admitted to us that Janet committed suicide
He went on to say that Janet had been seeing a doctor for the last 6 weeks for insomnia and anxiety. When we asked why he hadn't informed us about her depression, he said he put God before physical family. He later admitted that he didn't understand what he was dealing with and he should have reached out to us.
Church should be a sanctuary of safety and protection. The PCG is the opposite. It is harsh and dangerous. Janet was alone and suffered silently. She was isolated in a small town of 15,000 people in a foreign country without the support of her family. She was surrounded by people who didn't know her and didn't care enough about her to see she got the help she needed. We were surprised to see that less than 9 days after Janet's suicide, David Privratsky was posting a humorous tweet about the "Rise of the Dawn of the Planet of the Apes" on Twitter. He obviously didn't know Janet. They were married for less than a year and they obviously did not have the deep, heartfelt relationship with her that we did. We're still grieving and will do so for the rest of our lives.
One timely phone call to her loving family would have made all the difference.
On July 21, 2014, after 3 years of no contact, Gerald Flurry finally made an exception and relaxed his no-contact policy just for us. He allowed the ministers and David Privratsky to send Janet home to us C.O.D., wrapped in a plastic bag and sealed in a metal container. I was able to see the damage my daughter did to herself when she realized she couldn't go on suffering the way she was. In her enforced isolation and state of depression, she saw this as the only way out.
Shame on you Gerald Flurry, and all PCG ministers and members who carry out the dictates of a narcissistic megalomaniac who will stop at nothing, leaving a wake of destruction, as he magnifies himself.
PCG ministers and members, although many of you are trapped inside the PCG because of the cruel, no-contact policy, you need to study the Bible and beware of deceivers. By their fruits you shall know them. Ask yourself if any good fruit has come out of this destructive policy. Ask yourself why you hate others who have done you no wrong. Doesn't the Bible teach you to be gentle to all men? Why are you fighting your brothers and sisters? God expects you to obey Him rather than men.
"Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men. For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another." (Titus 3:1–3)
"For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death." (Matthew 15:4)Gerald Flurry has done a great evil to my family and me. Regardless of what he thinks of us and what he tells you to think of us, we are Christians. We love our Heavenly Father and our Lord, Jesus Christ. We realize that we are not fighting flesh and blood, but spiritual wickedness in high places. The Lord promises in Rom 12 that He will avenge Janet's death.
"Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord." (Romans 12:17–19)Please learn from my bitter experience. I wouldn't want anyone else to have to go through this.
By Dan De Gennaro
August 22, 2014
Source: http://www.exitsupportnetwork.com/mike_ep/story/devast.htm
With such stories as experienced by Janet Privratsky's family and many more PCG members around the world, one may ask "What's going on?"
Related articles:


text:
Purchase this article with an account.
Sang-Joon Lee, Jeong Hoon Heo, Hyun Woong Kim, Yeh-Chan Ahn; Retrobulbar transplantation of mouse Adipose tissue derived stem cells rescues NaIO2 induced Retinal Degeneration Mouse Model. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2014;55(13):4000.
Download citation file:
© ARVO (1962-2015); The Authors (2016-present)
We investigate whether retrobulbar transplantation of mouse adipose tissue derived stem cells (mADSC) have a rescue effect on the retinal degeneration of mouse induced by NaIO3.
mADSCs which were harvested and characterized by surface markers (CD 105, CD 73, and CD 90 (≥95 %), and lack expression of CD 45, CD 34, CD 14 or CD 11b, CD 79) were stained by BrdU before transplantation. Retinal degeneration was induced by intraperitoneal injection of NaIO3 (50 mg/mL) on 7 C57BL6 mice. 3 days after the induction, mADSCs (2 x 104 cells/uL) were transplanted on the retrobulbar space of the left eye (treated group) and normal saline was also injected on the retrobulbar space of the right eye (control group). 3 weeks after transplantation, 7 mice were sacrificed and enucleated. The area of photoreceptor outer segment(OS), outer nuclear layer(ONL), and inner nuclear layer(INL) in 10 um length of the retina located within 2 disc diameter from the disc were analyzed in the control group, treated group, and normal control group. Immunohistochemistry of BrdU, GFAP, carbindin, vimentain, CRALBP, SDF-1, and CXCR4 was done.
The areas of OS, ONL, and INL in the normal C5BL6 mice were 31.28 um2, 46.30 um2, and 29.69 um2. The areas of NaIO2 injected mice retina thicknesses which were OS; 2.19 um2, ONL; 5.69 um2, INL 20.66 um2 decreased significantly. In the mADSCs treated group, the areas of OS (8.57 um2), ONL (13.93 um2), and INL (24.97 um2) were significantly different comparing to the control group. The BrdU stain was not observed in the intraocular tissue including retina. The retina of the treated group were stained with SDF-1 staining more than the control group.
The retrobulbar transplantation of mADSCs have rescue effect for the NaIO3 damaged retina, which could imply indirect effect of the transplanted stem cells on the degenerated retina.
This PDF is available to Subscribers Only


text:
SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) --East Bay Congressman Mark DeSaulnier stopped by ABC7 News to discuss the controversial, vulgar comments made by President Donald Trump in reference to immigrants from "****hole" countries.
DeSaulnier called the president's words "loathsome and racist" in a tweet Friday afternoon.
Watch the video in the player above for the full interview with Kristen Sze.
Click here for more stories, photos, and video on President Donald Trump.
The President's disparaging comments from yesterday were loathsome and racist. America welcomes newcomers from all countries, not just those who conform to the President's limited worldview. Will speak about this again on KGO7 at 4:45. pic.twitter.com/8iDpbLw0WP— Mark DeSaulnier (@RepDeSaulnier) January 12, 2018


text:
This week we are reading the short story Miles City, Montanna by a Canadian author, Alice Munro.
Before reading the story put the events in order.
- The woman thinks about her relatonship with her husband Andrew
- A girl feels angry at the funeral
- Meg almost drowns
- The woman thinks about her and Andrew's childhoods in Ontario
- A young boy drowns
- The woman shows the map to her children Meg and Cynthia
- They see a dead deer
- They continue driving
- The children go swimming
- A family begins a roadtrip from Vancouver to Toronto
- The woman imagines what would have happened if she had died
Now read the story. As you read, check to see if you were correct.


text:
W J Towell & Co Dubai
W J Towell & Co
Tel: 04-3966758, 04-3977208, 04-3975886, 04-3975420
Category/Detail: No-Category-Info >>>
Dubai / إمارة_دبي
Address: P.O.Box : 2581, Dubai
Company listed before:
W M C Enterprises
(Tel: 04-8871156) | Company listed after:
W J Groundwater
(Tel: 04-2200094)
Up to fifteen companies with similar names or scope of business are listed below:
W J Towell & Co
- W J Towell & Co LLC,
W J Towell & Co (L.L.C)
- W J Towell & Co (L.L.C),
W J Towell & Co
- W J Towell & Co LLC,
W J Towell & Co
- W J Towell & Co LLC,
Your Comments:
Comments (No Registration Required):
Atilla, (), 13.09.2010 - 18:59
As a leading Consumer Goods distributor, WJ Towell promotes locally manufactured products thru a distribution network that extens thru the region. Aware of the changing nature of traditional agency services, The Group is positioning itself to provide the most thorough and cost effective distribution in the region. Capitalising on its strong regional market presence, WJ Towell developed and launched its own \"SULTAN BRAND\" line of imported foodstufs. In the future some of these items could be manufactured localy.
© 2008-2011. Dubai and UAE Business Directory and Catalog
Privacy Policy
| v3


text:
Peace 75
Peace is found in the corners;
the fall of light on glass. The rattle
of sea on a stone. With a corner
we can think. Lean by a wall, feel the sun
on our faces, enjoy the pregnant nowness
of it all.
Peace doesn't arrive with a fanfare, or
from beneath a magician's cloth.
It comes by building corners, one by one,
invisible to begin with, insignificant even,
cementing slowly, solidly, until they are
Mark Blayney
Commended in the Welsh Centre for International Affairs 'Peace75' competition, for a poem of exactly 75 words.
Mark Blayney is a writer and performer based in Cardiff, whose work spans comedy, fiction and poetry. He won the Somerset Maugham Prize for his novella Two Kinds of Silence and his second book of stories Conversations with Magic Stones was featured on BBC4's The Book Show. He's had his poems and stories published in various places such as Agenda, The London Magazine and The Interpreter's House. Also, Mark is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA).
To find out more about Mark Blayney you can go on his website: http://markblayney.weebly.com/


text:
Who Will You Be as a "wise old person" someday?
Hey guys,
Who really wants to think about growing old? Or think about what people will say when they are reflecting on our lives? Not many, but I do!! I was hoping to just start a conversation on here, part of my process for Finding Freedom in Everyday Life is to unlock my Passions for Life...
I have been listening to a great book called the Top 10 Distinctions between Millionaires and the Middle Class (I got it as an audiobook through my library-I love these books on the Millionaires next door). I have really taken one of Darren Hardy's (http://www.darrendaily.com) daily mentoring sessions about reading a good book 32 times and really letting it change you, instead of reading 32 books that you don't put the info to work on to heart, and have been letting these distinctions sink into my being.
Anyways, the author does a countdown, so his #10 is about time. The very poor think day to day, the poor think week to week, the middle class thinks month to month, the wealthy think year to year, and the very wealthy think decade to decade and even generation to generation.
This is not just in career or finances either, it's in ideas, relationships-marriage, kids, friendships, it's in spiritual growth, intellectual, recreation-EVERYTHING!! It takes more than money to be wealthy!!
I have to tell you that this is revolutionizing my life!! As I am working on a book about TIME, this has become a completely different paradigm shift for me in many parts of my life, so that brings the question. I ask of you:
What does your life look like 10 years from now in ALL areas of your life, nay 20? The end? How do you want to be talked about as others reflect upon your life? What kind of impact do you want to have as you grow older? What will you be doing for fulfillment that you love?
I am so excited about my book that I am going to have coming out soon, and I know that this is just one small step towards the place I want to be as a "Wise old woman" someday. How about you?
Myhriah Young


text:
Thankyou to the wonderful and very talented NIC! for pimping my blog. It was a lovely surprise and I love it! She knows me so well, the colours and vintage style are perfect.
Don't forget to get your entries in for Puzzle Sketches there is great prizes to be won. There are already some great layouts to look at in the gallery. Go check it out.
Just a small post today will be back soon!


text:
Outdoor Instructors
Outdoor Instructors required for 2017/18 season
Absolute Adventure is an award winning company based in Dubai, with adventure camps in UAE and Oman.
We have 2 main Outdoor Centre's in areas of outstanding natural beauty and also operate satellite camps around the region. Our longest established centre is in Dibba, Oman situated near the beach and surrounded by the rugged peaks of the Musandam peninsula. Our other centre consists of a mountain camp and water sports centre, located on the east coast of UAE, 20 minutes from Fujairah, in the fishing town of Kalba.
Much of our work is residential based with international school groups, corporate clients, family groups and individuals. We are an approved ITAP for the Duke of Edinburgh International Award scheme.
We are looking for enthusiastic, professional and highly motivated individuals to join our rapidly expanding and dynamic team. You will need to have a strong work ethic, be culturally adaptable with a passion to deliver high quality outdoor learning programmes. If you feel you have the skills and qualities we are looking for and are available from late September 2017 to end of April 2018, then we welcome your application. We may also employ candidates on short-term contracts.
The successful candidates will be provided with the following benefits:
Tax-free monthly salary AED 3500 - 5000 (depending on qualifications and experience)
* Direct round-trip flight from a major airport in your home country to Dubai, UAE
* Shared furnished housing
* Paid utility bills
* Free Wi-Fi
* All meals while on school programmes + AED 250 monthly food allowance
* 8 days off per month
* Free certified training courses
* Employment visa
* Uniform.
Qualifications / Experience
* Current wilderness first aid certification (valid until contract end). * DBS certificate (or similar)
* Recognized certificates or equivalent experience in the following fields:
Land based: Mountain Leadership, Rock Climbing, Abseiling, High Ropes, Mountain Biking, Orienteering, Archery, Fencing, Bush Craft and Survival Skills.
Water based: Kayaking, Sea Kayaking, Stand Up Paddle Boarding, Coasteering and Snorkeling.
* 22 years old+ * Clean driving license. * 2+ years' experience instructing * High level of fitness. * Passionate about the outdoors and the value of outdoor learning * Mature, professional attitude to the industry. * Lifeguarding qualification and D of E award assessor will be an advantage.
Applicants will not be considered without a CV and completed AA application form. References will be taken up prior to job offer.
To apply email your cv to email@example.com
Closing date for applicants 1st September 2017
See main text


text:
Archive for September 2016
Look Like You Are At Your Twenties With This
Are you been bullied extensively every day? Are you been body shamed every day? You are losing yourself confident day by day. You do not even need to show yourself up to the world. Due to such possibilities you wanted to lock yourself up and do not want to face the brutal world outside. Maintaining a well toned as well as firm body at the mid ages has been a dream of every woman around the world from thousands of years. Maintaining the youthful look that you used to posses at the age to 20s are you secretive admiration, But somehow due to some problems as well as process such issues is barely maintained by anyone.
Well aging is a beautiful process, but with aging few common changes can be seen into a woman's body. Those are deposition of fat to places like breast, arm pit, thigh as well as belly and buttock. And the most extensive change is shagging of the breast and losing the firmness. And there is also a scientific proof of such process. As you tend to attend more birthdays you are losing the reproductive hormones, which is quite a natural phenomenon. With declining stimulation of estrogen a women is tend to lose the firmness of the body muscle as well as breast. So sagging is the outcome.
With every rising problem there is a solution and over here also the solution is breast augmentation. It is a type of surgery which is generally used for restoring or increasing the breast size accordingly. Mainly with the help of saline implants, silicone gel implants and fat transfers. Such process is easy as well possess no side effects. Even the implants used are 100% safe for such procedure. The best place to search for such process is breast augmentation NYC.
But before going under the knife one need to think vigorously why she actually need this. Before even thinking consult with your concern family members, Unrealistic setting up of goals are not at all acceptable. And you need to be 18+ to think about the surgery. Persons leading unhealthy life, under serious medical issues are not suitable for such term.
Grab The Attention Of Chinese Tourist Towards You
Every country prefers to increase visitors to their country in order to increase their country's economy. Especially, you need to grab attention of Chinese tourist, since they prefer to plan frequent visit. You need to focus on them. Tourism industry should focus on them and make proper arrangement to grab their attention. They need to cover them by offering tour package affordable for them. Moreover, they won't plan their visit as single, since they plan with their family members. It's in turn increase revenue in tourism sector. You need to aware about their mindset, so you can attract them. Chinese travelers won't hesitate to travel all round the world, so you need to grab them towards you. For attracting them, you need to impress them.
Include Adventures
Here are some useful ideas to impress Chinese tourist. They prefer fulfilled activities as well as adventure trips. Tourism industry should offer trekking, cruise ship and other events. They used to prefer preplanned trip, other than sudden trip. They will carry required items with them, so they won't prefer to purchase from outside. You need to offer foods, which is served in their cuisine. They give importance for their traditions and cultures. You need to offer proper foods to them, which is preferred by them. They are addicts to social media, so you need to concentrate on that.
Offer Luxury
They won't prefer usual and ordinary trips. They only prefer luxury and unique trip. Especially, you can arrange for skiing, cruise journey and other luxury arrangements for impressing them. These are some among the facts about Chinese tourists that every ceo in the travel business should know. If you make use of these ideas then, you can increase revenue of your tourism businesses… Moreover, they need travel guide to travel with them. This is because they won't prefer to travel alone to countries in which languages spoken by locals are not familiar to them. Moreover, they need car while travelling, since they prefer luxury in travel. They prefer to showcase their status to others. Get required information about Chinese tourist and impress them, so you can increase the profit percentage.
Ian Andrews Tax fraud – What To Guarantee Ahead Of Promoting A Residence
Last days comedian actor Janeane Garofalo appeared as Ian Andrews Tax fraud a guest on Countdown with Keith Olbermann an hour-prolonged nightly information and commentary plan on the cable news channel MSNBC. Garofalo expended almost 10 minutes making an attempt to persuade viewers that the April fifteenth Tea Functions held around the country ended up structured and attended by ignorant, redneck racists.
Here is an example. You and your spouse give your house to your daughter. The residence is value $300,000. After subtracting the $22,000 exemption, your tax would be $125,100. That's your tax, not your daughter's. If she attempts to give it back again to you, she may also have to pay out a reward tax.
Remember that there is no magic wand available to get these money owed disappeared right away. There is a personalized enhancement process you require go by way of. Several folks are trapped into a debt circle for existence because they don't have a determination for seeking to assist on their own. If you don't want to support your self, no a single can actually assist you.
Even if you gradually give assets absent throughout your life time so as to steer clear of gift Ian Andrews Tax fraud, if you die in five years of the gift, your gift may be dealt with as if you created it in anticipation of loss of life and will be taken care of as if it was not created. This is accurate even if you didn't know you had been heading to die. Your expertise will be assumed by the authorities and your estate will have to show you didn't foresee your death.
The signs and symptoms of experience confused and not wanting to encounter the day frequently stem from not being aware of where to start off or not wanting to face the mountain of jobs that lay forward. I have identified folks to be so bogged down with even Ian Andrews Tax fraud the everyday task of leaving the residence on time that their whole working day is a mess ahead of they ever get started and they are frazzled by eight am. There are kids screaming, pets require going for walks, operate begins at a particular time, the laundry isn't accomplished and accessible clothes is some thing picked out of the bin from the 7 days ahead of that didn't make it to the drycleaner. Stress chemical compounds are running rampant and irritability and worry established in as nicely as resentment of the household, task, household and whatever else.
So what can you do to avoid obtaining on the hook for 50 percent a million bucks? The government is a complicated entity and it's challenging to know what is going to take place in that regard. But there could be some thing we can do to at the very least improve our income so the effects of this hefty invoice received't sting as much. That is completely possible if you know how to do it.
The prez just celebrated his 49th birthday. I don't keep in mind my 49th birthday, possibly because it was so long back or I was as well occupied celebrating. Birthdays get foolish soon after an although. It's all right to rejoice a milestone birthday, but allow's be sensible. What seventy five yr outdated needs balloons and a kazoo? Forget the 10 pound chocolate cake slathered with gooey frosting, unless the get together givers are contemplating loss of life by diabetic coma for the birthday celebratee. Wouldn't a wonderful mattress jacket and some sugar totally free jello operate as nicely?
If you can not get Ian Andrews Tax fraud one more jersey act like the adult and give yours back to your son. Then obtain a generic college jersey or sweatshirt and have your son's identify printed on the back. You can use it to his games with pleasure.
The tattoo-protected forty four-year-previous actor is a self-explained pessimist and very pleased atheist. She is the daughter of an Exxon executive so it is probably she by no means experienced to fret about money developing up and certainly doesn't have to now.
The advantage of fixed annuity is that you can develop a monthly revenue for your self with out stressing about the loss of the principal sum. Do not opt for variable annuity if principal amount is your fear.


text:
Short Talks - Filmmaker Interviews
Sie sprechen Deutsch?
Das Short Talks Blog auf Deutsch lesen!
Patrick Campbell - Two men return
"A habit of accidentally making films"
is how producer Patrick Campbell describes director Mahdi Fleifel's working process. A habit that won them multiple awards, including the Berlinale Shorts Silver Bear 2016.
Read more »
Newer Posts
Older Posts
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)


text:
Colorado Wedding Photographer
- Allreds Weddings
- Aspen Wedding Photography
- Beaumont hotel weddings
- Blue Lake Ranch Weddings
- Colorado Wedding Photography
- Denver Wedding Photography
- Denver Wedding Site Venue
- Destination Weddings
- Durango Mountain Resort Weddings
- Durango Wedding
- Durango Wedding Photography
- Durango Wedding Site Venues
- Elopements
- Engagements
- Fall Mountain Weddings
- Gorrono Weddings
- Grant-Humphreys Weddings
- Lumiere Hotel
- Mountain Weddings
- Peaks Resort Spa Weddings
- Photo Booths
- ridgway state park weddings
- Rustic Weddings
- San Sophia Overlook
- Silver Mountain Weddings
- Silverpick Lodge and Sow's Ear Restaurant
- Silverton Weddings
- Telluride Gondola
- Telluride Ski Resort
- Telluride Wedding Photography
- Telluride Wedding Site Venues
- Telluride Weddings
- Uncategorized
- Vail Wedding Photography
- Videography
- Wedding Albums
- Wedding Cakes
- wedding ideas
- Winter Weddings
What I'm Doing...
- No tweets available at the moment.
- More updates...
Posting tweet...
Powered by Twitter Tools.
Tag Archives: salon envy
Sarah and Jason's Ouray Wedding
Congratulations to Sarah and Jason who recently wed in Yankee Boy Basin just outside of Ouray! To see all of the photos and please visit http://engphoto.exposuremanager.com/g/rupinski-nguyen (password required) Reception Venue/ Catering: The Secret Garden Florist: Willow Creek Salon: Salon Eny DJ: … Continue reading


text:
This two-part workshop focuses on effective techniques and strategies for teaching pronunciation in the ESOL classroom and on best practices for correcting students' pronunciation errors.
This professional development activity/course is designed for:
- Teachers of adult English language learners who would like to expand their repertoire of pronunciation teaching techniques
In the face-to-face session, you will:
- Explore various ways to seamlessly integrate pronunciation instruction into the content of your classroom
- Learn new activities and games that support explicit pronunciation instruction
- Determine what aspects of pronunciation to teach and which pronunciation features should may be taught at each level
- Discuss best practices in correcting students' pronunciation errors
Approximately one month after this session, the workshop presenter will facilitate a one-hour follow-up webinar to support you in applying what you've learned. Your participation in this webinar is expected.
- Face-to-Face Session: April 6, 2018, 9:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
- Webinar: April 27, 2018 9:00 a.m.–10:00 a.m.
If you have questions about the workshop, please contact Dori McCormack (email@example.com).
We recommend that participants take the workshop The Components of Language before taking this workshop.
04/06/2018 - 9:30am to 3:30pm
04/27/2018 - 9:00am to 10:00am
World Ed
44 Farnsworth St.
Boston, MA
PD Center:
Topic Area:
ESOL/English Language Learner
PDP Eligible:


text:
Airmaster Aerator specializes in aerators, aeration, industrial wastewater treatment, pond aeration, wastewater aeration systems and aeration equipment. The Airmaster Aerator "TURBO" aeration system is one of the most advanced and efficient aerator technologies available on the market today. Our ind...P.O. Box 546 Deridder, Louisiana 70634-0546 United States
Helping you find profitable industrial filtration & separation products, systems, & technology for your machine tool coolant filtration, wastewater treatment, mining and chemical filtration, oil and gas filtration & many more industrial applications for industries worldwide. Call Now (248) 413-838423900 Haggerty Rd. Farmington, Michigan 48335 United States 2018 EXHIBITOR SHOWCASE – WEFTEC
2299 Ridge Road Greenville, South Carolina 29607 United States 2018 EXHIBITOR SHOWCASE – WEFTEC


text:
Tools to manage subuid and subgid
Project description
Subordinate user/group ids appear in Linux kernel 3.12 in 2013. The goal of subordinate ids is to give to a user or a group an id range in addition to his own id. These additional ids can be used for various activities such as, for example, running an unpriviledged LXC container.
The ranges given to the users of a system are listed, by default, in /etc/subuid (see /etc/subgid for the groups). The format of each line is name:id_first:id_count and means that the user/group name has at his disposal a range of id_count ids starting at id_first. Note that there are some restrictions about the id ranges which can be given (see man login.defs).
Subordinate is a Python module to make easier the handling of these id files in a Python framework. The module Subordinate provides several tools to create and manage maps between names and ids, read id files and produce strings formatted in the good way for being directly used in a GNU/Linux environment.
Subordinate is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
Subordinate is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License for more details.
Getting started
Subordinate comes with a setup.py file for taking advantage of the facilities provided by the package Setuptools. In a virtual environment or in your own system, you can install it with the help of the following command,
$ python setup.py install
Then, start a Python session and import subordinate,
>>> import subordinate
Two classes are directly available: UserIdMap for users' subordinate ids (by default, based on /etc/subuid) and GroupIdMap for groups' subordinate ids (by default, based on /etc/subgid). The two classes are derived from IdMap and behave similarly. Let's see how UserIdMap can be used! First, simply load an UserIdMap object and print its content in a proper format,
>>> user_map = subordinate.UserIdMap() >>> print(user_map.write_string())
At this point, you should see the content of your /etc/subuid file (at least, if such a file exists in your environment) up to some shuffle in the order of the lines.
Before giving a range to a user, this user has to be added to the map. Then, he will appear in the list of the names contained in the map but, if he was not present before, with no range,
>>> user_map.append('my_user') >>> user_map.names() [ ..., 'my_user', ... ] >>> len(user_map['my_user']) 0
The class of user_map['my_user'] is IdRangeSet. Objects derived from this class are set of id ranges which are not assumed to be unique in the set and which can overlap themselves. To give a range of 65536 ids starting at id 1000000 to my_user, use the method append of IdRangeSet,
>>> user_map['my_user'].append(1000000, 65536) >>> len(user_map['my_user']) 1
You can check that the range has been added by printing the map's content again. You can check that a given id belongs to my_user and you also can do a reverse check to know who owns a given id,
>>> 1000000 in user_map['my_user'] True >>> user_map.who_has(1000000) ['my_user']
Note that additional user names can appear in the list returned by the method who_has. Indeed, it is allowed to give a same range of ids to several users.
An IdRangeSet is a container for IdRange objects. Such an object has three readonly attributes first, last and count,
>>> r = user_map['my_user'][0] >>> print("Range: {}-{} ({} ids)".format(r.first, r.last, r.count)) Range: 1000000-1065535 (65536 ids)
An IdRangeSet can contain multiple IdRange instances and allow to manipulate them. As we saw, ranges can be added to the set but a range can also be removed from all the ranges in the set,
>>> user_map['my_user'].append(1000100, 32) >>> user_map['my_user'].append(1000116, 32) >>> user_map['my_user'].append(1000116, 32) >>> user_map['my_user'].append(1000200, 32) >>> for r in user_map['my_user']: ... print("Range: {}-{} ({} ids)".format(r.first, r.last, r.count)) Range: 1000000-1065535 (65536 ids) Range: 1000100-1000131 (32 ids) Range: 1000116-1000147 (32 ids) Range: 1000116-1000147 (32 ids) Range: 1000200-1000231 (32 ids) >>> >>> user_map['my_user'].remove(1000120, 10) >>> for r in user_map['my_user']: ... print("Range: {}-{} ({} ids)".format(r.first, r.last, r.count)) Range: 1000000-1000119 (120 ids) Range: 1000130-1065535 (65406 ids) Range: 1000100-1000119 (20 ids) Range: 1000130-1000131 (2 ids) Range: 1000116-1000119 (4 ids) Range: 1000130-1000147 (18 ids) Range: 1000116-1000119 (4 ids) Range: 1000130-1000147 (18 ids) Range: 1000200-1000231 (32 ids)
As you can see, a set can become a bit chaotic and it will make harder to read the associated id file (again, try to print the map's content). To tackle this problem, the class IdRangeSet has a method simplify which avoid ids to belong to multiple ranges in the set and join consecutive ranges to get a simpler a set,
>>> user_map['my_user'].simplify() >>> for r in user_map['my_user']: ... print("Range: {}-{} ({} ids)".format(r.first, r.last, r.count)) Range: 1000000-1000119 (120 ids) Range: 1000130-1065535 (65406 ids)
Finally, you can remove an user and his id range set from the map with the method remove or remove all the users with the method clear,
>>> user_map.remove('my_user') >>> user_map.clear()
The module Subordinate has been written for Python version 3 and the compatibility with version 2 is not assured. It has been tested and works well with version 3.4.
If you encounter any problem with this module, do not hesitate to report it in a GitHub issue.


text:
New drapery/
I still need to hem up the curtain on the right which is why it's hanging funny and why the bottom of it isn't pictured, but I was so excited to share our latest living room project that I took photos anyway!
Note: I'm still looking for dining chairs and/or saving up for the ones I really want if nothing else comes along. So we've had a weird parade of different random chairs coming and going.
And remember the tray I made for my friend Laura? I made my own with a scrap of curtain fabric. We're having pillows made too (thanks Brianne!). The tray is sitting on the glass coffee table, which is why it looks kind of weirdly floating.
Not to worry though, we're bringing in other patterns and textiles and color too (though the room will be mostly blues, grays and blacks). I have a few tricks up my sleeve still. Remember this post? I'm still mostly following the plan (obviously some of our ideal items are a bit out of our price range, like the Thomas O'Brien bookshelf and the desk chair, so we're coming up with affordable variations).
We also rearranged the bedroom but I haven't gotten a photo yet. Mostly cause there is a mountain of laundry that is currently in every angle... Soon, my dears. Soon.


text:
Vinyl Pumpkin Home Decor Decals
Perfect to add a touch of love to your Fall home decor. Place on a pumpkin, or a wood plaque or sign. Vinyl fits pumpkins of mostly any size. We love the 6″ and 7″ for home decor decorating. Purchase you faux pumpkin or use on a real pumpkin from any store.
Vinyl is black, if you prefer a different color, just let us know in the comments at check out.
Item ships FREE when you enter coupon code: PUMPKIN at checkout!


text:
All deed forms offered here:
Each state has its own statutory requirements for real estate deed forms. These requirements determine the content or text that is in the deed. The real estate deed form you use must meet statutory conditions for content and format. In addition, many counties add requirements for margins, paper size, property identification, and many other details. If a deed form is not in accordance with both the county and state standards, there may be additional fees charged for recording or the form may be rejected altogether.
The right form matters. With real estate deeds, the little things can make a big difference. Deeds.com is meticulous about creating reliable and useful documents.
Location, location, location. Our forms are formatted to exceed all requirements in your jurisdiction. There's never a doubt with a Deeds.com form, guaranteed.
Accurate, up-to-date, and reviewed. We monitor ever changing government requirements and continually update our documents to be compliant with the latest laws.
All of our forms are available immediately after purchase. They are in Adobe PDF files and can be downloaded to your computer. They are fill-in-the blank on your computer so you can print them out completed. No need for fancy handwriting.
Select the state where the property is located


text:
As part of NAEM's mission to invest in the next generation of EHS&S leaders, we are hosting a series of free web-based seminars and interviews dedicated to leadership topics. Personal branding expert Tareaz Pegues will join NAEM in June for the EHS&S Women's Leadership Roundtable, and agreed to give us a preview of her remarks for this series. In the following interview, she explains what a personal brand is, and why it's a topic every aspiring EHS&S leader should be thinking about.
Q: For those who are unfamiliar with the term, what is personal branding?
TP: I define personal branding as the sum of all stakeholder perceptions about an individual. Personal branding begins with self-awareness: What you believe makes you truly unique and special as an EHS&S professional. Personal branding doesn't stop with a look in the mirror, however. Occasionally, you must peek out of the window to assess company, marketplace, and industry perceptions about the value that you bring to those you serve – colleagues, customers and investors. Also, as you advance throughout your career as an EHS&S professional, personal branding will be an ongoing journey of self-discovery and accountability.
Q: What are some of your favorite examples of personal brands?
TP: I have a great deal of respect for Golden State Warriors Guard Stephen Curry. He is Under Armour's highest paid endorser. Yet, when the company's founder, Kevin Plank, made comments that went against Curry's politics, Curry quickly met with Plank and his leadership team to, "Understand what was going on and where everybody stood on the issue."
This battle of the brands underscores the importance of authenticity, staying true to your values, and being unapologetically you in brand building. Kudos, Curry!
Q: What are the elements of a strong personal brand?
TP: A strong personal brand answers, "Why?" At its best, personal branding confidently and consistently shows the rest of the world why you are the perfect candidate for the highly sought-after position, or why you deserve a salary increase. It underscores why you are the go-to guy or gal for a specific issue that no one else can ever seem to solve. Authenticity, staying true to your values, and being unapologetically you are critical elements of a strong personal brand, a well.
Q: Why should EHS&S professionals cultivate a personal brand?
TP: Teleworking, social media, live meeting and webinar platforms, and other technological advances have changed the workplace. When I think about strong personal branding in a global, 21st– century environment, being a task master-in-chief must give way to being an agent of transformational change. Similarly, EHS&S professionals operating in a silo, solely focused on their own departmental goals will need to shift their mindset to one of exceeding customer and investor expectations, and delivering overall business priorities. Also, a professional's value to the organization hinges on his or her ability to take ownership of and to help drive the corporate vision.
Q: How can having a strong personal brand make you a more effective EHS professional?
TP: Perhaps one of the greatest benefits of defining and articulating your personal brand (or what you want to be known for) is that it gives you clarity. And clarity is power. It gives you permission to either delegate or abandon all together the busy work that provides a false sense of accomplishment.
As an example, several years ago I was venting to a friend about the challenge of juggling bookkeeping, business development, administrative tasks, and the other competing priorities that entrepreneurs must manage daily. She abruptly stopped me and said, "Look, we all know that you're capable of doing each of those things extremely well. But do you really want to make those menial tasks a significant part of your legacy?"
This was a pivotal moment on my own personal journey of self-discovery. Now whenever I am overwhelmed and struggling to decide what tasks I am willing to give up to an assistant, considering my personal brand (or what I want to be known for) brings clarity, direction and a renewed sense of purpose. (And, as you probably guessed, bookkeeping and filing never make the short list when I consider my career legacy.)
Q: What are some steps you recommend for those who want to start developing their brand?
TP: First and foremost, personal branding or "becoming known" for something happens authentically and organically. Having said that, as you endeavor to define your personal brand, start by identifying the professional role that you aspire to have. Next, consider what the future of your firm, industry, and EHS&S will look like. That should give you some insight into which of your attributes, and I am sure there are many, will have the most meaningful impact on customers, investors and other stakeholders. The key is to align your strengths with business and stakeholder priorities.
To get more insight into building your personal brand, join Tareaz Pegues on June 21 for her presentation at NAEM's EHS&S Women's Leadership Roundtable, or download her recent NAEM webinar on personal branding by visiting: http://www.naem.org/?page=wbnr_2017_wlf1.