text:
Dateline: Wednesday 1 June 2016
Place: Glasgow
Event: Bruce Springsteen & the E street band
Verdict: Awesome
Plea: Tour again soon Bruce
Solace: Little Steve touring soon
Dateline: Wednesday 1 June 2016
Place: Glasgow
Event: Bruce Springsteen & the E street band
Verdict: Awesome
Plea: Tour again soon Bruce
Solace: Little Steve touring soon
I don't think I like Scotch Whisky. There I have said it, the ultimate sacrilege that a Scotsman can commit in his country. As we speak, torches are being lighted and pitchfork tines sharpened. My reputation lies in tatters and with the nights fair drawing in, I will have to watch my step lest the whisky police scoop me up and carry me away.
I don't think its all my fault though. I mean god knows I've tried to fall in love with the water of life on numerous occasions and have failed every time.
I do love the mystique and the excitement that comes with whisky, I see passionate exchanges in every pub and club that stocks a drop of the hard stuff. I have engaged in endless debates about what makes a great single malt and even argued about the rights of the individual when it comes to adding water (you should) or ice (you shouldn't unless you are very brave or a little bit crazy). But all the time there is a voice in my head saying "but you don't really like it do you?".
There have been one or two sublime moments when a whisky has been just right for the occasion, but they are few and far between.
A lunch with friends, where the hotel graciously rewarded our gluttony with a complimentary drink on the house that turned out to be a Balvenie Portwood, aged 21 years (If you haven't tasted it then shame on you). Great dram but a tad expensive for a night in at home.
Or the time that I was introduced to Glenglassaugh and their Chosen Few Mhairi McDonald 1978, a 33 year old whisky. ('Just like a warm hug' according to a friend). Sadly not available in the shops as far as I know, but a real treat if you can find a bottle.
In my desperation to join the ranks of whisky lovers across the globe I even decided to visit The Scotch Whisky Experience in Edinburgh's Royal Mile. Surely if anyone could help me then they could…
If you haven't been then go! The journey begins with a fantastic barrel ride through a replica distillery teaching the basics of the whisky making process and finishes with a glimpse of the Diageo Claive Vidiz collection of over 3500 individual bottles.
Suitably impressed I asked if I could do more to find my goal. Of course they said, why not sign up to The Scotch Whisky Training School ? I was intrigued. This one day course supplies you with all the tools you need to become a bit of an ambassador for Whisky in the hospitality trade and it is excellent. There is even a forty minute exam at the end (no conferring) and a proper mark and certificate (I got a distinction).
So why don't I jump for joy every time someone produces a bottle of Scotch? Why does my heart sink if I am asked to try a dram or two? I genuinely don't know. It is not for the want of trying.
Which is why I am going to make it my goal over the next few months to try and discover my ultimate perfect drink, hopefully it will be Scottish, but I am not going to stop at the border. I will start by sampling from around the world and will aim to have the answers by the 31 December in order to toast the New Year. Please feel free to send me suggestions, samples and anything else that takes your fancy. It can only help!
I have been accused of being a grumpy blogger from some of my recent followers and to a certain extent this is probably true. However I like to think of myself as being in tune with the ying and yang of the online vibe and with this in mind I have decided to praise some retailers for actually providing some bloody good service.
Spex in the City
Let's start with my most recent experience. I decided after some humming and hawing to invest in a new pair of glasses. I already had the prescription and was reminded of the need for a spare pair when one of my colleagues turned up late the other day after presumably sitting on his only set and then having to suffer the frustration of trying to get new glasses from his local optician.
I was more driven by price than brand and chose to shop at a local business in Dunfermline called Spex in the City (I know, cute name huh?). As I said, price was an issue and as they advertise designer frames at discount prices I was emboldened to take the trip to the bottom of the High Street for a look.
The service was unbelievably good. Within twenty minutes I had gone from hesitant buyer to virtual believer, walking out of the shop having ordered TWO pairs of glasses to be ready in two days.
Imagine my delight the next morning when phoning to ask a quick question I was told that the glasses were ready and could be picked up in the next couple of hours. Job done and one happy customer ready to spread the good word to everyone I have met since.
Oh and they weren't averse to doing a wee deal to get me on the two pair's route…
The Watch Medic
Ok I am a bit of a watch nut and have already bought my first new watch of 2015 to add to the collection, bit of a bargain on Amazon.co.uk in their weekly deals programme. (Won't be the last I will wager). But it's not about the watch this time; it's actually about the strap.
First off I don't have the patience to adjust straps or remove links. I just don't ok? So point me in the right direction and I will get a professional to do it every time – which is why The Watch Medic gets a nod here. They have done three watches for me in the last six months and on each occasion they have been just great to deal with. They are patient, funny, and always ready to engage in a bit of banter. They get the job done in no more than fifteen minutes and don't charge the earth.
No nonsense, no front. No problem.
The Vic
If you've been to this pub in St Andrews recently then I don't need to convert you. If you haven't then what are you waiting for?
If you are a student, a twenty something or even a middle ager with children in tow the Vic has something for all of you. Good food, quirky design features, a child friendly policy during the day, (etcha-sketch menus for kids, toys and games plus non condescending bar staff and table waiters), this place has got my attention for night time drinks with my wife, as a day retreat for a child exhausted parent and as having massive potential for my next night out with friends.
Prices are far from scary and unless you don't drink I think you will find it hard pushed not to want to try one or two of those rather exciting cocktails they serve, just check out the clip board menus for the full skinny. As you leave, if you are still not satiated then indulge in their free fruit basket, just to keep things healthy. Bars the way they are meant to be, friendly and fun in equal measure (if you pardon the pun).
So there you go!
Three very different places that all have one thing in common, they all put a smile on my face in the last few days, which makes them priceless.
Feel free to tell me about your recent experiences – good and bad!
They say that 'nostalgia isn't what it used to be'
Nostalgia is alive and well and playing in a brain near you. Just spend a couple of minutes away from your mobile or other time devouring device and gradually your sub conscious will start re-emerging, timidly at first then more assertively as your brain starts to remember that there was life before IOS7 or Android Jellybean version five hundred and fifty-five.
Maybe it's because I am getting a little bit older, but it seems to me we are rather scared of spending time alone with ourselves nowadays. Or perhaps we are just so 'connected' that our brains just don't want to admit they can't keep up and so invent excuses not to switch off.
Twitter is my current favourite waste of time, not because it brings me closer to my real life idols, nor because it allows me to keep up with current affairs in an amazingly quick and inclusive way. No, I like twitter because it means I don't have to think, I just scan and let the rest take care of itself.
Not really a healthy way to spend all my down time on though, is it?
So you might imagine my surprise a couple of weeks ago when my brain started to wake up again and make demands on my memory, forcing me to dredge up images of my childhood, happy ones I am pleased to say. About telephones with wires, which sat proudly in my parents hall, Televisions that had wooden facades and videos that loaded from the top and boasted of remote control, yet needed a cable running along the floor to achieve 'remote' on and off access.
My nostalgia also extended to a quick giggle about cassette players with microphones you had to plug in to record, integrated music centres with a turntable, cassette and radio (all covered in a smoky gray, top of the range, plastic cover I might add) and calculators with LED red displays that could only add up, take away and if you were lucky, divide and multiply. (Universally hated and feared by schools).
I suppose part of all this stems from a recent fascination with the Radio Times, a clear reminder of my childhood which lands on my doorstep every week now, highlighting the current fascination TV and radio seem to have about the eighties, which was a special time for me.
But once that nostalgia genie is out of the bottle it's not easy to put it back. It is actually great to remind ourselves about a time of limited choice, where four TV channels mattered and choosing a show meant careful consideration, where pubs were for talking and socialising in, not tweeting and fingering phones all night and where conversation meant just that.
I love Twitter, I enjoy Facebook, I email without thought and answer most questions via google. I have even bought into the 'double screen' concept and enjoy programmes like question time with one eye on what the twitterati are saying.
But am I any richer for the experience I wonder?
Not really.
Certainly my brain doesn't think so. We are just not designed to be wired to the massive twenty-four seven and I often wonder…
Are we are so locked in our desire to share our experiences that we forget to live in the moment?
If so then we will find ourselves forgetting what we actually saw and end up remembering via our pictures and our clever little social media one liners: delivering false memories which are less intense and more constructed.
Don't believe me? Then try tapping into your nostalgia for a moment and see how vivid those memories are compared to your recent ones… Try it. It is quite an eye opener.
Go on…
What have you got to lose?
When my colleague popped his head around my office door the other day and said "did you hear that Margaret Thatcher died" my immediate reaction was to say "Is this some sort of joke".
You see, to my mind she was indestructible. The 'iron lady', a force to be reckoned with. Not some footnote in history, or a demon to frighten the kids with. She was very real to me as I grew up and I couldn't believe she was now dead.
'Maggie' was the real political McCoy. A strong and determined leader, who demanded and got respect from both sides of the political landscape. A lady who wasn't for turning, despite the enormous pressures placed upon her by our democratic institutions.
Now at this point you would be forgiven for thinking that I might be a fan, but I'm not, in fact far from it.
When I was growing up, she was the opposite of everything I believed in and I was pretty sure I hated her for it. Much as I hated everything about her entourage of evil. Nigel Lawson, Norman Tebbit, Michael Hesseltine and John Major to name but a few.
They just made me feel so angry and impotent. Because no matter what we did to confound them, they just kept marching forward. Eventually dominating eighteen years of my adult life.
So lets take a moment, while I remind you about the seventies and why the political landscape changed so much that Thatcherism was inevitable. As indeed were the deep divides which made her tenure so hotly debated even today.
What strikes me, (if you pardon the pun) looking back, is how very different the world was in 1979, when Margaret Thatcher came to power. In the previous years I can clearly remember, for example, my parents discussing their fears about 'the three day week' as they tried to explain to me why we were sitting in the dark with only a candle and a calor gas heater for company.
I can also remember scenes of rubbish piling up in the streets and local parks, and unburied bodies in Liverpool as union action affected every household in the country. This was shown intermittently on a television set that would often go blank during Doctor Who, but was in any case officially switched off by the government at 10.30pm every night to conserve electricity supplies. (No really).
No one would disagree that seventies Britain was in a mess and as the result was that on 4 May 1979, Margaret Thatcher became Britain's first woman prime minister, winning convincingly at the polls and ushering in a new era of Tory rule.
I was sixteen years old at the time and becoming increasingly drawn towards the left of politics, influenced no doubt, by my friends and the teachers at my school. Through their eyes I saw a country which was broken and needed fixing, but surely not by this simpering woman standing at the front door of 10 Downing Street and quoting St Francis of Assisi!
"Where there is discord, may we bring harmony. Where there is error, may we bring truth. Where there is doubt, may we bring faith. And where there is despair, may we bring hope."
Did she live up to the promise of her own rhetoric? Not as far as I am concerned.
I don't remember a whole lot of harmony, truth, faith and hope. What I remember is greed, despair, anger and more greed.
I also remember the frustration many of my generation felt about 'this woman' and how she was ruining our lives. This is why I fought her tooth and nail at every opportunity.
In my pre-student days I developed my love for music and this led to me becoming part of the Rock against Racism movement. I also joined the Anti-Nazi League because it wasn'tt difficult to feel uncomfortable around the generational and institutional racism prevalent at that time.
I also wanted to get the troops out of Northern Ireland and felt that Apartheid was a terrible thing. My politics were to the left and I couldn't understand why everyone else couldn't see these things too.
The eighties were really really what started the dramatic change we still live with today. Out with the old and in with the new. Loss of heavy industry, privatisation, clumsy culling of union power and the rise of the money markets. This was change that genuinely bewildered and frightened older people and they rallied gratefully to the old-fashioned values of Margaret Thatcher's government..
Yet ironically she was the blunt instrument creating this unbelievable change.
Nowadays this era is viewed with great nostalgia and if you listen to any of the many soundtracks and musical compilations, all you will hear is a sanitised version, full of fun times and playful lyrics.
Seldom do you get to experience the raw anger inherent in much of the punk and new wave bands that didn't sell out.
My personal soundtrack was full of protest music from the likes of the Cure, the Jam, the Specials, the Clash and of course the Sex Pistols.
I loved punk and new wave and I love it now. In fact 'White Man at Hammersmith Palais' is still one of the few songs I can sing word-perfect from end to end.
My dress style was combat trousers, doc martins a Killing Joke t-shirt and the ubiquitous red and black 'Dennis the menace' jumper. To complete the look I wore a red star earring, all colours designed to reflect those of anarchy.
I was a rebel looking for a cause and my god there were plenty to choose from.
Thatcher had a gift for alienating people, yet paradoxically was considered a good listener. She talked tough then would go out of her way to support places like Ravenscraig (twice before it eventually closed).
Meanwhile the real collision for power was looming as the miners union flexed their collective muscles and prepared to take on the government. Or was it the government that was preparing to take on the miners?
Arthur Scargill was public enemy number one.
By now I was a student in Newcastle and apart from direct action to support the students my big political contribution was leading the student union activity in support of the local miners.
It became a real people thing you know, as time went on and the miners families really started to struggle. I remember raising money for them, wearing with incredible pride my 'coal not dole' sticker and joining the 'Zulu's' at a Nottingham miners rally (where trouble broke out and we had to run for our freedom from a somewhat aggressive police presence).
We put on gig after gig to raise money, working ever more closely with the local band scene, taking buckets round the town centre in our spare time and attending rallies.
It was all for nothing in the end. But I will never forget the pride and energy that came from these local communities and often wonder if the government couldn't have handled it better. Reaching out to them rather than alienating them.
Thatcher won that battle and then went on to win a war. This time against Argentinean forces hell-bent on taking the Falkland Islands in order to boost flagging political fortunes amongst the military junta.
Ironically this played straight into the iron lady's hands providing her with the opportunity to boost her own political fortunes instead.
The lady wasn't for turning and despite being a close run thing; she returned the islands to British sovereignty.
To the delight of the masses.
The war made Margaret Thatcher a hero, consolidating her position as leader of the Tory party and prime minister of team GB.
The media loved her and with a ground swell of popular support she was ushered back into power in 1983 smashing the Labour and SDP into humiliating defeat.
Could the Labour party ever beat this woman? It certainly didn't look that way and in 1987 the Conservatives made history with a third successive win, beating Neil Kinnock and setting the stage for yet more Thatcherism.
Strangely it wasn't Labour that finally beat Margaret Thatcher, it was her own party, becaming ever more greedy and corrupt and eventually consuming the very person who had led them to the promised land.
Without her the party creaked on until 1997 when the dawn of New Labour did for the fat cats once and for all (or so we thought).
Fast forward to 2013 and the world is once again very different. Yet mention Margaret Thatcher and old wounds are soon opened.
As I write this 'Ding dong the witch is dead' sits at number three in the charts as the result of a clever and yes amusing social media campaign to mark her passing with an appropriate musical salute. The first time I can remember politics entering the musical mainstream since the eighties.
So how do I feel 34 years on since she came to power? Well, numb and if I am honest slightly saddened. With the clarity of age, experience and perspective I realise now it was her policies and her government that I hated, but that I never really hated her.
I am proud to say I helped change the world, but then so did she. God knows what it would have been like without her.
If I can grow up, then perhaps it is fitting for some of the other 'comrades' out there to do so too. We don't need to dance or spit on her actual grave. Instead we did that in 1990 on her political career as she left office with those tears running down her cheek.
Farewell Maggie.
I live in Scotland and for much of the year we get middle of the road weather. I mean gray clouds, rain and a fair bit of wind. 'Dreich' is our word for it and a better description I cannot think.
But for the last eleven days it has been snowing. Eleven days where every morning I have got up looked out the window and thought 'not again.
You see when I say I live in Scotland, I'm not talking about the Highlands. No, no. I live just outside of Edinburgh and we are well and truly lowland folk. We feel the cold and generally turn blue at the slightest hint of chilly conditions. (The exception being when drink has been partaken, which can falsely imbue us with the spirit of our forefathers, who thought nothing of painting their faces and charging around half naked smiting foes and shouting a lot).
We don't like the cold very much and put up with it when its meant to be cold, but this is March, Easter is just days away and this time last year I was wearing a t-shirt and jeans and mopping my brow with a rather large handkerchief.
So what on earth is happening?
Well according to my esteemed colleague its all to do with the jet stream, apparently it's in the wrong place. Too far one way and we get too much rain, too far the other way and shivers all around boys. So a horrible weather stream of rain is getting turned into snow and we spend another day counting snowflakes and muttering into our coffee cups
But I have a different theory. I think that we have become tangled up with an alternative reality somehow, perhaps we stumbled collectively through a large wardrobe or something, because this sure seems like Narnia to me, the first Narnia complete with Snow Queen, eternal winter and a lack of anything much to look forward to on the horizon.
How depressing.
Or so it seems depressing until you remember how funny Mr Tumnus was and just how hot the Snow Queen was too. Tilda Swinton played her in one of the movies and good lord, she is Scottish! See? It all fits.
So what I need to do is find Tilda Swinton and convince her to lift the spell, then the snow will melt and Spring will come to Narnia, erm Scotland, right?
I will get right on it…
How long would you wait for a cup of coffee? More importantly how long should you have to wait for a coffee?
The Peacock Rooms' at the Glen Pavilion in Dunfermline is designed to provide an 'all year round' place for families to grab a coffee, eat cake and let the kids run around in a great play area with full length interior glass windows. Good for you, good for them.
So, it's popular with families and gets busy, particularly at weekends. All of which is great I hear you say. But to be honest I find myself dreading the moment when someone pipes up "lets go to the Peacock Rooms" because the service is in a word 'dreadful'.
I mean they seem to try hard and they have improved slightly by getting one person to make the coffees, to let the rest of the staff focus on front of house activities like serving and clearing. But… it still doesn't work.
Let me give you an example. I was there on Saturday and from bitter experience I sadly found myself taking note of the time I joined the (modest) queue. Maybe six people in front, two of whom were a couple, none of whom were ordering more than a cake and a cuppa…
Seven minutes later I had not moved an inch. Now seven minutes is a long time to stand still. If you don't believe me then try it. Now try it with a child tugging at your leg and wanting to go and play on a slide. Now try it with a hangover. Eternity?
By the way seven minutes is also coincidentally, the maximum time a trained waiter would regard as reasonable for a person to wait for table service, (and that's pushing it). This doesn't bode well for a counter service environment, which is meant to be quicker.
So what was the hold up? I hear you ask. Well it turns out that the counter-staff were having a crisis, one person was struggling and this put pressure on everyone else.
I mean everyone is entitled to a bad day, right? But why does the same thing happen EVERY time I've been there?
Lose count of your order? Fair enough. Forget your entire customer order? Maybe, not listen to your customer because you were distracted? Ok…
Except it's not ok. This is their job, it's why they go to work and it's what they do.
Now training could be an issue here.
Contrast if you will my ongoing experience with Starbucks and Costa. Both of whom employ excellent staff, who despite the natural reserve that comes from being British, seem to have no problems in serving folk with a beaming smile, taking orders quickly and efficiently, taking payment and often seeking out your name to make the whole thing more slick and personalised, cakes and coffee – done.
"But they charge you more", you will say hesitantly. Not true says I. My experience is that café prices are not a million miles away from the baristas on the high street. But efficiency, cleanliness and customer service are.
I said that I almost felt sorry for the person in my local café the other day. Almost, but not quite and here's why. If we just accept bad service then it will never change, never improve, which in a venue like the Peacock Rooms is very dangerous. (and yes my comments went in the customer comments box)
You see, the Peacock Rooms are set in a park with no immediate competitor and because they are the only game in town during the winter they're very busy (rocket science it ain't). This is why I think they must think its acceptable for uncleared tables, long queues and muddled orders to be the norm.
Newsflash! It ain't and it's a real shame, because it totally overshadows the fact they serve great cakes and very tasty coffee… worse still it's slowly but surely turning me from a customer into a critic and come the summer I can vote with my feet.
But the really sad thing is this is just the tip of the iceberg. There are so many badly managed establishments out there in the wider world that I just know I will have struck a chord.
Which is why our motto this year should be "I'm not called Matt now stop walking all over me"
I love Christmas, there I've said it, it's out in the open. No grumblings of discontent or bah humbug, just a straightforward and enduring love affair between me and the spirit of Christmas, past, present and future.
Of course like all relationships we've had our ups and downs…
Such as discovering that my oven didn't work one Christmas morning and having to cut the turkey into four separate pieces to get it into the (tiny) secondary oven (my how we laughed). Or learning that a freshly unwrapped present needed batteries to make it work.
Then there was the year that my mother in law contracted Norovirus on Christmas Eve, which led to a highly charged hostage situation involving a Christmas dinner and a very grumpy father in law.
Or perhaps my personal favourite, spending New Year's Eve alone with my wife and consuming so much festive cheer that we ended up getting stuck in our baby's travel cot just after the bells had chimed. (No child was harmed in the making of this night as she was upstairs in the main cot at the time).
So what will this year bring? Surely in these austere times our festive frolics will be a little muted and restrained perhaps? Well to be honest no, because I have a secret weapon. I've been given the gift of being able to view Christmas afresh through the eyes of a child and that is a present indeed!
You see our toddler will be three in February and this year she REALLY, really gets Christmas for the first time. Cue mass excitement!
Which is why every morning she wakes up greeting the day with cries of "Santa Claus coming to town" or "Santa got stuck up the chimney" before rushing downstairs to gaze at the 'dancing' lights on the Christmas Tree.
Her (limited) viewing fare consists of endless cartoons from the likes of Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck trimming trees and saving Christmas whilst Rudolf and the boys or the Snowman take flight in the sky above.
She has also started to develop a liking for Stollen Cake and only yesterday we were forced to sit in the living room and share our 'present' ideas, shouted in the ear of a cuddly Santa she had sitting on her knee, accompanied by occasional "ho, ho, ho's" muttered under her breath.
Thankfully it's not just about Santa though, as she has asked us about the nativity and the birth of Christ, sort of, although it does seem to have translated in her head as being all about getting a pink baby for Christmas, which will no doubt end up being swaddled and laid beneath the tree at some point in the proceedings, thus rather neatly tying together you might say, the twin themes of a modern Christmas.
One thing I can say is that despite having already purchased the 'famed double issue' of the Radio Times and circled the perennial favourites, the chances of settling down to actually watch any television will be nil.
But in a way that is surely the point. We can watch TV anytime. Christmas should be about fun and toys and games and silly conversations, of family cheer and the knowledge that there really is hope in the world for better things. Which ultimately makes it all worthwhile.
It's going to be touch and go as to whether my daughter lasts the week or bursts with excitement along the way and frankly I know exactly how she feels.
Merry Christmas!
I was out walking in our local park yesterday with family in tow. We were chatting about the lovely decorations on the high street and a huge Christmas tree we had just passed, when all of a sudden we were surrounded by countless grey squirrels on the prowl for easy food.
It was a cold wintry sort of a day and they were everywhere all at once, darting about looking cute and begging for titbits. It didn't take long for them to work out that we weren't the best prospects in town and they soon moved on to more promising folk.
But in that short period, my young daughter ("I'm a big girl daddy") was unbeknown to me creating an entire back story for the squirrel horde and filing it away for our return journey.
Our destination was the revitalised Glen Pavilion in Pittencrieff Park, famous for its connections to Andrew Carnegie but more importantly home to the Peacock Rooms, a notable cake emporium.
We were soon enjoying the bustling confines of this popular café (as one does on a Sunday don't you know), made even busier than normal by the presence of our local chess club who were on their annual outing (honestly you can't make this up) and as the queues died down, we were able to sit back and enjoy the scenery outside as the sky slowly darkened and dusk approached.
Eventually, fortified by steaming hot coffee and a decent slab of homemade lemon drizzle cake and satiated by 'chess player' people watching (there is a type you know), we decided to head home, retracing our steps through the darkened park… which is when it happened.
"Daddy" said my daughter in an inquiring tone, pointing at a discarded takeaway lid lying on the path, still bearing the marks of last nights curry, "Daddy, look at the naughty squirrels!"
"Naughty squirrels?" says I, looking slightly confused.
"Yes squirrels, Oh DEAR, making a mess and leaving toast and butter on the floor (in a Scottish accent of unbearably cute proportions), MAKING a MESS daddy."
I grinned; I may have giggled a little bit, which prompted daughter to continue
"Squirrels leave mess there (pointing) and there and there, oh DEAR!"
Visibly indignant now, she marched off up the path to where we had last seen the thirty strong grey squirrel mob shouting
"SQUIRRELS! Where ARE you? Oh dear, naughty squirrels making mess and hiding!
Stops to look at sky
"AND (very indignantly indeed) putting the lights out to make MORE mess!"
By this time the laughter was deep within my belly, my wife was wiping tears from her eyes and any squirrel's still in the vicinity were no doubt cowering in shame.
"Squirrels Clean up mess NOW!"
Her subsequent rant took up much of the rest of our walk home and was on the agenda again this morning within minutes of waking up to greet the day. A girl on a mission, absolutely confident, sure of her facts and determined to give the squirrel community a piece of her mind. It's priceless.
Aged only 2 years and 9 months she has an imagination I envy, conjuring up her very own utterly implausible yet hugely entertaining explanation as to not only why our beautiful park was covered in litter, but why it had gotten so dark too.
Then telling us about it in such great detail that I wondered if we should be writing it down and sending it to a book publisher.
I cannot wait to hear what she will make of Christmas this year; so far she is set on the idea that there is a big Santa (for big people) and a little Santa (especially for people like her). She is also demanding a "pink tree with bubbles "and has been brushing up on her Bruce Springsteen influenced "Santa Claus is coming to town" rendition.
I hope she never loses that creative spark; I hope that she goes on to write great books or become a genius or something, but in the meantime I will always love her for what she is now, a gorgeous, sweet and an incredibly funny wee person.
This was my weekend highlight, how about yours?
I'm an affable kind of guy, I don't want for much and I generally feel quite content. Put me in front of a roaring fire with some decent food, a nice bottle of wine and leave me. I will be more than happy.
At the weekend take me out for a wander along a beach or to grab a coffee and a look around the shops and I feel equally at ease. Which is fortunate as my wife is also very keen on both, perhaps leaning a bit more towards the retail spectrum as the winter approaches. So imagine the scene, there I am poking about in various shops (books and clothing mainly) and just about ready for a visit to Starbucks when I am stopped in my tracks by a window display. I was lost.
You see I am addicted to watches. Big ones, small ones, cheap ones and some not so cheap, I just love them. Which is why you should never leave me alone too long in a shopping environment. (I also love jackets but at least there is a single-minded aim there – to find the ultimate jacket – something I have come close to on a number of occasions and a vice which is then largely under control for the moment).But watches on the other hand are always there, singing their siren song on web, in stores, brochure, magazines and newspapers.
Men don't really wear a lot of jewellery and a watch provides us with a bit of individuality. They are also my favourite accessory, I have daily work watches, weekend watches, I even have evening watches. I have straps of rubber and straps of titanium, stainless steel and plain old canvas. Traditional watches, digital affairs, G-shock, diver, military, surfing, chronograph and LCD. All shouting "pick me, pick me".
I have been known to buy a watch instead of food and go hungry in earlier years, I've also found myself hanging around the same jewellery store week after week gaping at a particular prize and desperately fighting the inner voices that want me to get "the preciousss, get it now".
My favourite watch is probably a Breitling Avenger Seawolf with a yellow face, which at over £2500 is not on my Christmas list. For the smaller budget there is a bit of a look alike called the CX Swiss Military Watch SEAWOLF I Scuba NERO which retails for about £450. But to be honest I enjoy wearing different watches so much that I just can't bear to spend that level of money on something that doesn't involve a plane and a passport.
So with feet firmly on the ground my latest object of desire is a Tokyoflash Kisai Maze Watch which disguises the time in the spaces of a LCD maze, making it very difficult to the untrained eye to read, but easy for the end-user. I mean how cool is that? It is also a more palatable £87 and is water-resistant to 3ATM's (whew).
I'm also quite taken with the Timex Ironman watch, which was on special offer during the Amazon Black Friday sale. An absolute bargain at £20 against the normal £65 price tag. Similar in many ways to the Casio G-Shock but if anything slightly more rugged. Sadly I missed out this time but will keep looking!
I've making every effort not to feed my addiction, but I did recently purchase two watches from Avon (long story), one which I love and one which I prefer not to talk about. So with Christmas just around the corner I really don't know what is going to happen, but if you feel the need to intervene just remember that I want the silver strap and the blue face please.
Watch this space (if you pardon the pun).
"No matter how we scorn it, kitsch is an integral part of the human condition" Milan Kundera
If you like oxygen, you will like this blog
...because life is funny.
"No matter how we scorn it, kitsch is an integral part of the human condition" Milan Kundera
"No love sincerer than the love of food"


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I remembered.
Real life isn't always going to be perfect or go our way, but the recurring acknowledgment of what is working in our lives can help us not only to survive but surmount our difficulties. Focus on the abundance in your life rather than the lack. When you focus on the goodness in your life, it expands.
Perhaps i've spent a little too much time on Pinterest, visualizing what Thanksgiving might look like. In my fantasy world you feel welcomed into my chic designer home, a big table, little flowers, love notes for all my guests, a special glass for everyone, the most beautiful foods and plates, and lots of smiles. In the real world, you walk into my humbly-sized, perhaps cluttered but filled with love, beach-side apartment, where the kitchen runs the size of most family's smallest bathroom.
But you know what?....i love this place. It has tons of windows, great light, lots of good energy, a comfy enough couch, a record player and good records, and there is always a smile and warm hug waiting for you from behind the front door.
Thanksgiving doesn't have to be picturesque. It needs to be about gratitude for all of our many blessings. It's an opportunity to share your gratitude with those you love most, through food, conversation, a couple glasses of vino, a rich dessert, or whatever vehicle may help you relax and simply enjoy the goodness and abundance of which you already have.
I stopped stressing. I sent a note out to all my guests to let them know we'd provide the basics: some turkey, mashed pots, sweet pots, stuffing, salad, veggies, greens, pumpkin pie, and chocolate. No recipe will be hard, some will be store bought, and nothing too fancy. Just the traditional fare. Guests are encouraged to bring a small dish to share or favorite wine or spirit, their favorite board games, a good pair of walking shoes, and their open hearts.
I can breathe again.
Sometimes we get caught up in the whirlwind of the holidays and forget what they are really about. Choose to let go of what you feel you lack and focus on all the abundance in your life. Have gratitude for all you have, all you've created, and each experience that has brought you to now.
And share it.
Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it. Give thanks for a little and you will find a lot.
In case you are still wondering what you might make for Thanksgiving here are a few pinterest finds that inspired me and look easy as can be.
If you're still not sure, bring chocolate. Everyone will love you. Or make a big pot of soup. Soups are great for thanksgiving day or late in the eve, when we truly don't need anymore food, but your belly won't stop telling you it's still hungry. Here's an easy veggie soup.
Always keep some canned tomatoes, tomato paste, and veggie broth in the pantry. They never go bad and will help you when in a pinch.
1 15 oz stewed tomatoes
3 Tbsp tomato paste
1 box (4 cups) low sodium veggie broth
1 large zuchini, halved and sliced
1/2 a head of broccoli, chopped small
4 large kale leaves, chopped small
1 tsp ghee
1-2 tsps crushed garlic
black pepper
sea salt
dash cayenne pepper
italian seasonings (i use tuscan spice by Penzey's)
Put it all in a soup pot and take it near a boil. Turn down the heat, cover and simmer until all the veggies are cooked through.

subset: commoncrawl


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|Project by Steve Panner
|posted 02-04-2015 12:14 AM
|1089 views
|0 times favorited
|2 comments
Since Valentine's Day is close I've thought a heart shaped picture frame would be a neat handmade gift idea.
It's a fast project that can be done either on the scroll saw or band saw.
You can see a video of the whole process here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8u1p-KCth0
I hope you like it!
2 comments so far
#1 posted 02-04-2015 02:30 PM
Well done on both the project and the video.
-- Directions are just the Manufacturer's "opinion" on how something should be assembled. ----Mike, Waukesha, WI
#2 posted 02-04-2015 04:40 PM
Thank you very much!
Have your say...
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The world would have many career options. Some of these professions would require a minimum skill, whereas there would be some which would need very high qualifications. While there are many debates as to why certain professions are more important than others, anyone could agree that there is a great responsibility that is carried with the professions in the medical field. Unlike the many fields of work, those who are working in the medical field would directly be dealing with the lives of people, and there is nothing more precious than life. Therefore, if you are involved in the field, it would be important for you to understand the responsibilities that you carry and know the steps that could be taken in ensuring that the responsibilities are fulfilled in an ideal manner.
From the pharmacist that issues people medicine to the surgical doctor that performs surgery on individuals, there are so many precautions that need to be followed. Just as a pharmacist will not issue medicine without a prescription, a nurse would not attend to a wound of a patient without proper medical wear Melbourne. Likewise, ensuring the necessary precautions are met is one of the most effective ways of minimizing the risks that come along with the profession. You should always follow your training and make sure that the safety of the patient that you are handling is your first priority. A simple mistake could cost a life, and you should not let that happen.
Even when you are not directly dealing with patients, you would need to ensure that the work that you do in the medical field are as orderly as they could be. As an example, if you work in the administration of a health-related institute such as hospital, you would have to make sure that it has all the necessary infrastructure that the hospital is clean and the healthcare uniforms of the individuals that work in the hospital will also have to be in a proper manner. Seeing to these matters will ensure that your hospital is functioning as best as it could. There are certain service providers that would prove to be of much use to you regarding these matters.
As a person who is working in the medical field, you would have numerous more responsibilities. They would depend on what you do, and the tasks that you have to carry out. When you understand your responsibilities, responsibilities of others and the collective responsibility that you share, you would be able to provide a great service to many who come seeking it.


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Christmas cheer from 'Stroll on State'
Stroll on State symbolizes the togetherness and greatness our community can achieve from moving a single idea forward. Thank you for your role promoting Stroll on State and helping our entire community reach exciting new heights.
Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
Editor's note: This note was accompanied by a lovely basket of cookies! The staff says thank you very much.
From the Dec. 24-30, 2014, issue


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Yes, I'd Like That with Pumpkin.by caroline
[Photo source: Elana's Pantry]
Who wants a fun and healthy smoothie recipe? Yeah, me too!
I'm not about to go on and on about how much I love pumpkin (there's a whole post about it for goodness sakes), but I will tell you this: When my friend, Meredith, recently uttered the words pumpkin + Green Monster, I was *bedazzled*.
I mean, let's face it, she had me with "pumpkin," but then she went and through a curve ball at me when she coupled it with one of my all-time favorite breakfast smoothies. We were waxing our love for green smoothies when she said, "Have you tried it with pumpkin?"
And I was all, "Whaaaat … ?" and she was all, "Mmmmm, hmmmm."
It's seasonal, it's healthy and filling … it's pumpkin, people.
I had this guy this morning and had to share it with you. You can thank Meredith for this tastiness …
Pumpkin Green Monster (naturally gluten-free and vegan)
- 2-3 handfuls of leaf spinach
- 1 to 1-1/2 cups of almond milk (or non-dairy milk of your choice)
- 2 heaping spoonfuls of pure pumpkin puree
- pinch of cinnamon
- 1/2 banana, optional (for a lil' extra sweetness)
NOTES: I used LIBBY'S 100% Pure Pumpkin.
Put all ingredients into a high-speed blender and mix thoroughly. Enjoy!
Tell me, puh-leaze: What's your go-to smoothie combo?


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Product 6/16
250 sheets of SRA2 Mid Blue (Malta) tinted 120gsm card.
SRA2 – 450mm x 640mm.
Coloraction is an FSC certified range of tinted papers, guaranteed for use with inkjet printers up to 120gsm and desk top lasers up to and including 160gsm.
Key Features
Made from ECF pulp from FSC certified forestsLitho laser guaranted in 80-160gsm
What can it be used for?
Relevant Techniques
GuaranteesPre-print Laser 80-160gsm
Environmental InformationECF pulp from FSC certified forests


text:
Forgotten Login
I have been looking all over but cannot find what I need. I forgotten my log in information after the site was created and loaded on the server. eek.gif
How can I get this information to log into the site and make changes?
I appreciate any help?
Thanks biggrin.gif


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This is so hard. There are so many great artists that came of age in the previous century. There are the obvious ones like Alfred Steiglitz whose "Equivalents" really made photography of abstracts and enhanced landscapes into a respected subject matter. He was a ferocious champion of photography as art and introduced Americans to a host of great, European painters as well as a generation of American photographers to the the gallery scene. As much as I admire his work and his drive to legitimize art photography there are few images of his that really intrigue and move me. Maybe his wonderful image of O'Keefe's hands or the Flat Iron Building in a Snow Storm in NYC. If you are curious about Alfred Steiglitz (who was married to famous painter, Georgia O'Keefe) you can get a great sampling of his critical and photographic work in this book: Alfred Steiglitz: Photographs and Writings.
A whole generation of photographers seems to be obsessed with the work of Walker Evans but to my mind he seemed to be the first photographer to embrace the idea of having an art historic manifesto to accompany his black and white images. While he worked for early iteration of Fortune Magazine, and his black and white images of walls and old houses and depression era (largely unpopulated) street scenes have much art historical merit on some levels it reminds me of the atonal and experimental music produced by 20th century music composer, Karlheinz Stockhausen. Heady stuff, intellectually, but practically speaking: unlistenable. Would I call is 'aloof'? There is no single work by Walker Evans that comes into my head and my imagination even though I've seen his work over and over again. His most important work, in my estimation, is the work he did for the FSA during the depression. His portraits of tenant farmers and the unemployed from that era are iconic and powerful; it's his more cerebral, personal work that leaves me cold. He's an important fixture in the pantheon of 20th century photographers but you'll have to decide for yourself. This book is widely considered to be one of the best looks at Evans. : Walker Evans: American Photographs: 75th Anniversary.
People who read the Visual Science Lab have been guessing all week that one of my five top photographers of the 20th century would be Elliott Erwitt. Not so. While I've enjoyed his work and collected his books over the years I really like the work the way I like the old Seinfeld show on TV. Every week you'd get some sort of wry insight into modern, urban culture. It's the same with Elliott Erwitt. There's tons and tons of wonderful, gracious, poignant and comedic work. Clever and well seen juxtapositions. But my sense is that it's all very good but not earth shattering. Elliott Erwitt is an ultimate practitioner with a depth of intelligence that, because of its relative paucity in general culture, is elevated in our estimation into a pantheon in which he just doesn't fit. He is, without a doubt, a photographer's photographer but my sense is that his real genius is being able to spend the greater part of life having fun with his Leica, walking the streets and sharing his visual sense of humor. A wonderful contribution to our collective enjoyment of well done photography but not epochally breathtaking. Here are some of my favorite Erwitt books: Elliott Erwitt Snaps, Elliott Erwitt Paris, Elliott Erwitt Personal Exposures, and Elliott Erwitt: On the Beach. You should at least own his thick but inexpensive book of Dog photos....Dog Dogs. It's a whopping ten bucks...and there's more good work in there than most photographers will get to in a lifetime.
One of my readers presumed that we had similar tastes and suggested that William Eggleston would be on my list. Nothing could be further from the truth. While a favorite of museum curators and gallery owners I can think of no 20th century work (other than Stephen Shore's) that leaves me with the feeling that I just saw ten episodes, back to back, of Masterpiece Theater's rendition of George Elliott's novel, Middlemarch. But not even the good episodes... Our modern equivalent is probably Andreas Gursky.... OMG, COLOR !!!!!! And suburbia writ large.... Yawwwwwwn.
If you find you usually disagree with me vis-a-vis aesthetics you might want to embrace Eggleston. William Eggleston's Guide might is as good a place as any...
So, who do I think is another one of the five important photographers that strode like a colossus over the world of 20th century photography? Well, I think it would have to Josef Koudelka. Don't know Koudelka? You should. His work has echoes of the images of HCB but with a hell of a lot more edge. His black and white book of Gypsies is the most powerful single book I have ever experienced. He shot close, intimate and powerful. While not as prolific (by a factor of thousands...) as People like Elliott Erwitt he is like the ultimate reduction. The work is distilled down and made concentrated. And his backstory is an important one for a generation of soft and hazily committed photographers. Why? Because he lived this. If you own five books of photographs by masters this should be one of them: Gypsies (the collector's edition) This one is pricey. Here's a version for the rest of us: Gypsies. Here's a good sampler of his work from all over the world: Joseph Koudelka. And here's one I'm just about to order for myself: Chaos. It's a departure from his earlier work. Landscapes with a panoramic camera but with a very different approach to landscapes.... challenging but brilliant.
Joseph Koudelka is one of my favorite photographers of all time. But putting together a list of the top five, while a fun exercise, is also a silly undertaking. There's so much good work out there to discover. I have a "B+" list with nearly 100 photographers on it. Every one of them has shaped my generation's visions as photography makers. Everyone of them is an important part of the mix. You don't see the foundations of a house but all the material you don't see is as important as the material you do...


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Gellner's Grenade
Rosalind Mitchison
- Nations and Nationalism by Ernest Gellner
Blackwell, 150 pp, £12.50, July 1983, ISBN 0 631 12992 8
This is a small book, but one of high density, both in ideas and, at times, in expression. Gellner's field of concern is the modern world, and though occasionally he casts a look at Mediaeval Europe and Islam, it is in the 20th century that his interest lies, as does what evidence he can muster to support his themes. His view is simple and stark. Nationalism is not the product of history, in the sense that historical factors and institutions have shaped the cultures which have claimed national identity. It is the urge of particular groups to participate in a dominant and literate culture, and to have it linked with the administrative and educational machinery of a modern state. Historical development is then used to support this theory, not because history is a valid intellectual concern, but because it is a necessary part of the diagram which records the development of states as we know them.
The full text of this book review is only available to subscribers of the London Review of Books.
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Vol. 6 No. 11 · 21 June 1984 » Rosalind Mitchison » Gellner's Grenade
page 23 | 1323 words


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The health care department in Oslo, Norway has placed an order for a further 3,000 Windows Phones to be shipped to employees. It's reported that almost every health care institution in the region files reports using an app that's only available on Windows Phone 8. Unfortunately, the exact model name has not been revealed, but some requirements were shared that narrows down the shortlist.
The department seeks a Windows Phone that sports a 1GHz chip, runs Windows Phone 8, has a 4-inch (or larger) display and supports tri-band 3G and EDGE, as well as 4G / LTE. We'll let you all have a short think about which Windows Phone the public sector in Norway is investing in. While the platform remains small when compared against the iPhone and Android, it's positive case studies such as this that really helps Microsoft and co. out.
Source: Digi.no; thanks, Jon, for the heads up!


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for more
out. "Wallpaper gives texture that paint can't," she says,
noting the dark blue grass cloth with a silver metallic finish
in a hallway, the pale green strié wallcovering in one bedroom, and the faux bois paper in another.
Architectural elements such as the horizontal and
vertical boards on walls and ceilings also distinguish the
four-bedroom, 4,000-square-foot house and link it to the
area's 19th-century cottage tradition. "The whole idea of
the design of this house was the Watch Hill vernacular,"
says architect Sean O'Kane, whose firm, Sean O'Kane AIA
Architect PC, is in Ridgefield, Connecticut. To accomplish
that, he incorporated historical elements such as gambrel
forms, cedar shingles, and double-hung windows into his
The house's proximity to the water dictated sitingand construction considerations. "As long as we stayedback a certain distance from the dunes, we were fine," saysO'Kane, who added that zoning required that the housebe built on pilings so that all finished living space is abovethe high-water mark. The house also has hurricane tie-downs — metal straps inserted in the concrete piers of thefoundation that extend all the way up to the roof — to keepthe house anchored to the ground in a storm. The custom-made double-hung windows are built to resist water pen-etration and winds up to 110 miles per hour.
Because of the pilings, the house is elevated on the
street side, prompting O'Kane to design a curving exterior stairway at the front entrance. Teak treads echo the
teak decking wrapping the house and swimming pool. Traditionally used on boat decks, the teak will, over time,
weather to a soft, silvery gray.
The nautical spirit continues indoors. On the attic
level, a delightful bunk room features painted white wood
board paneling and stained mahogany trim, a combination
that references classic Herreshoff sailboat interiors. Caccoma credits builder Jerry Kirby of Kirby Perkins Newport, a noted sailor, with the addition of vintage porthole
windows and brass reading lights that add to the ship's
cabin aura around the built-in beds.
To truly cap off the beach house, shiplike wooden
steps lead from the attic bunk room to a roof walk, where
a modern interpretation of a traditional
wooden-railing widow's walk has taken form
in stainless steel railings and hurricane-proof glass panels. No matter the material,
it's the view that's truly stunning — and
timeless: Block Island and Montauk on a clear day, and
always the sea.
colors, shapes, and textures enhance the interior spaces
(facing page, clockwise from top left): A chaise in a textured
blue fabric is set against green strié wallpaper; peach walls are
the backdrop for a vivid upholstered headboard and mango
window shade; a sleek sling chair adds a fresh modern element
to the great room; red-striped ticking enlivens the built-in berths
in the attic bunk room; faux bois wallcovering is a natural
backdrop for blue beds; shiplike steps lead to the roof walk. A
berth (above) at the base of those steps has an ocean view.


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Labour now an agent for reinforcing privilege
For the first time, the Labour Party is actively increasing inequality in Irish society, writes FINTAN O'TOOLE
TWO THOUSAND years ago, the Roman satirist Martial explained in 12 words precisely why the Labour Party is in very deep trouble: Vainly the poor extend their palms / Only the rich are given alms.
Labour consoles itself with the usual martyrology of unpopular governing parties: people don't like us because we're inflicting necessary pain. The truth is that people don't like Labour because it is inflicting pain unequally.
For the first time in its 100-year history, it is actively increasing inequality in Irish society – and if Labour is not about equality, it is about nothing at all.
Labour is, in Pat Rabbitte's startlingly apt phrase last week, "policing" the troika's Irish policy.
The policy is a pantomime horse operated by drunks moving in two directions at once. It protects the existing distribution of privilege in Irish society – literally at all costs, but it appeals to a rhetoric of equally shared sacrifice. If Labour was going to become the troika's policeman, the least it had to do was to inject some reality into that rhetoric.
It could look to its sister party in Britain for the best example of how austerity could be combined with increasing equality.
Post-war austerity (from which the now much-abused word gained political currency) was much more than a masochistic orgy of slash-and-burn economics – it was the opportunity to try to create a more equal and decent society by concentrating scarce resources on the things that matter most to human dignity.
Labour knows at some level the only way to make Ireland's situation bearable is to invoke this spirit. Its narrative is that we've been hit by a catastrophe but that if we stick together, we come out of it a better society.
This is actually not an unappealing notion. The swaggering arrogance of the boom years was a sad parody of national pride, but there can be a real pride in the idea of not being defeated by hard times and, indeed, of emerging from them with a purer, simpler sense of collective belonging.
For nations, as Ernest Renan put it in 1882, "suffering in common is a greater bond of union than joy. As regards national memories, mournings are worth more than triumphs."
What is actually happening, though, is a mockery of this narrative of "suffering in common".
The nationalisation of private banking debt turns the whole idea of commonality on its head. Instead of meaning that private interests should be subordinated to the common good, it is made to mean exactly the opposite – that the public interest should be enslaved to private benefit.
This basic injustice is being reinforced by an assault on equality.
Eamon Gilmore evoked the Titanic in his speech to Labour's annual conference – not inappropriately, since the Titanic spirit is being amply demonstrated by the Government: lifeboats for first class, icy waters for those in steerage. The measure of whether austerity is a collective effort or a mask for cynicism is simple: are those who can afford it most taking the biggest hit? We know they're not.
At first, the depression did make Ireland a somewhat more equal place. In 2006, the top 20 per cent earned five times more than the bottom 20 per cent. By 2009, this multiple dropped to 4.3. But in 2010, the gap increased quite dramatically, to a multiple of 5.3.
What we can see here is that after the initial shock, the most privileged groups in society have been able to regroup and consolidate their privilege.
By 2010, their relative position had improved very substantially on what it was at the height of the boom. This is a remarkable achievement and is testament to the political, economic and ideological dominance of the Irish elite. It has actually become more privileged as a result of the crisis it created.
The biggest testament to this strength is that the Labour Party, founded a century ago to place economic equality at the heart of Irish life, has become an instrument of this consolidation of privilege. It is a breathtaking fact that since Labour came to power, public policy has been used, not to roll back privilege but to increase it.
Where the previous "austerity" budgets had taken more from the rich than from the poor, the first Fine Gael-Labour budget reversed the process. The poorest 40 per cent lost 2.25 per cent of their incomes; the next 40 per cent lost 1 per cent, and the top 20 per cent lost 0.8 per cent.
Even among Labour's harshest critics, few can have imagined that it would actually be more regressive than Fianna Fáil.
Last week, Pat Rabbitte pleaded for understanding of "how well the Government has policed the agreement foisted on us by the previous government". He also resorted to the last refuge of the desperate: "There is no alternative."
But if there is no alternative, if social democracy is reduced to the role of policeman for an agreement that widens, year after year, the gap between the rich and poor, the Plough and the Stars of Connolly and Larkin is now the Kow-tow and the Squad Cars.


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"The ABCs of image – appearance, behavior and communication – are key to standing out in a crowd and landing a job during these tough economic times," says Lizandra Vega, author of The Image of Success: Make a Great Impression and Land the Job You Want.
As a New York executive recruiter and image coach, Lizandra knows a thing or two about job interviews. She has successfully guided thousands of job candidates through the interview process during various stages of their careers.
Take a look at her following two videos. Then read my interview with Lizandra (below) in which she tells us about:
- Three body-language no-no's;
- Body language for phone interviews; and
- How to respond to negative body language from the interviewer.
Susan Ireland's Interview with Lizandra Vega
What are the top three no-no's every job seeker should know about his or her body language during a job interview?
Avoid these three negative cues that could cost you the job offer:
Barrier cues: Don't create barriers between you and the interviewer by folding your arms or crossing your legs while sitting or standing. Doing so will give the recruiter the impression that you have a negative or defensive attitude; they can also come across as showing insecurity and fear.
Dominant cues: Don't come across as overbearing, cocky or domineering. Spreading your legs while sitting, placing your hands on your hips, and clasping hands behind your head or neck are all off-putting.
Provocative cues: Some of the most innocent gestures may be construed as provocative, intimate or sexual, such as: pen fondling or chewing, hair tousling, lip licking, ring fondling, and winking.
Many job interviews are conducted by phone. What body language advice do you have for phone interviews?
Even though your phone interviewer can't see you, he/she will develop a sense of your professionalism by how you come across on the phone. Here are three ways you can use your body language to make a good impression while on the phone:
Stand or sit with good posture, as it supports proper breathing and voice control.
Use an open-mouth smile while talking so your words sound warm and genuine.
Keep your hands away from your mouth and mouth piece so that you don't sound muffled, and avoid breaking the flow of the conversations.
What should a job seeker do if she notices her interviewer is using negative body language?
If an interviewer is not focusing his/her gaze on you because he/she may be wrapped up in other thoughts, you may redirect the attention toward yourself by leaning forward, nodding your head, or adjusting the direction of your chair to a position where you connect with his/her gaze.
When an interviewer stands up at the end of an interview, use this as your cue to stand up and realize that the interview is over. Don't overstay your welcome.
If an interviewer seems inhospitable or hostile (let's say he/she folds his arms or seems to be scowling), you may counter this by smiling and keeping your body in a relaxed and neutral position.
Lizandra Vega is the author of The Image of Success: Make a Great Impression and Land The Job You Want, (AMACOM Books, May 2010). Cofounder and managing partner of Manhattan-based boutique staffing firm Perennial Resources International (PRI), she is also a certified image coach. She lives in Westchester County, New York with her husband and two children. Please visit Lizandra's website, befriend her on Facebook, and follow her on Twitter.
Disclaimer: Susan Ireland's Job Lounge does not gain from book sales that result from this blog post.


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|Photo by Duchessoftea: Flickr
Delicious with turkey and absolutely divine on next-day turkey sandwiches! This recipe was passed to me by my stepmother, who was an inventive, innovative cook.
This recipe is vegan and vegetarian friendly, gluten-free, and can be made diabetic friendly simply by substituting sweetener for the sugar.
1 cup sugar (or equivalent amount of sweetener)
½ cup water
2 tbsp orange zest
⅛ to ¼ tsp salt
⅛ tsp cinnamon
Pinch or two of ground cloves
4 cups fresh cranberries, washed and picked through
½ tsp vanilla extract (essence)
Combine sugar, water, zest, salt, and spices in a large pan and bring to the boil. Simmer, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes. Add cranberries and simmer until berry skins pop (10 to 15 minutes, longer if you are at a high altitude); continue cooking until mixture thickens. Remove pot from stove, stir in the vanilla.
At this point you can either ladle the mixture into sterilized jelly jars and cap, or simply set aside to cool (make sure it is covered). If you put it in jelly jars, 20 minutes in a hot water bath should set the lids and then it can be stored in a cupboard for up to one year. Otherwise, keep chilled and use within 2 weeks.
Serving suggestion:
For each diner, place 1/3 cup applesauce in a small sauce dish and place two tablespoons cranberry sauce on top.


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Intel's 22FFL (FinFET Low-power) is a variant of their existing 22nm process that is aimed at low-cost, extremely low-power, and analog/RF applications. 22FFL relaxes the ground rules to reduce the need for double patterning, thereby cutting costs. At the same time, Intel's engineers essentially backported the second and third generation FinFETs from the 10nm and 14nm processes to 22FFL, improving performance and power efficiency with superior fin geometry and workfunction metals. Intel also created a large library of digital and analog transistors and passive components.
Intel's 22FFL Process Improves Power, Cost, and Analog
Silvermont, Intel's Low Power Architecture
Silvermont is Intel's first CPU core tailored for power efficient applications such as smartphones, tablets, and microservers. The 22nm microarchitecture features updated instruction set extensions, full out-of-order execution with a tightly coupled L2 cache, aggressive power management, and a new high performance SoC fabric. These enhancements deliver tremendous performance and frequency gains over the aging Atom core, putting Intel's mobile strategy in a more competitive position.
Intel's Long Awaited Return to the Memory Business
Graphics is a focal point of the upcoming Haswell platform, necessitating a high bandwidth memory solution. To deliver high performance Intel is returning to the DRAM market, which it exited in 1985. The memory that ships with Haswell will be a custom embedded DRAM mounted in the package and manufactured on a variant of Intel's 22nm process. By avoiding the commodity memory market, Intel will preserve high margins by cannibalizing discrete GPUs and dedicated graphics memory.
Intel's Haswell CPU Microarchitecture
Intel's Haswell CPU is the first core optimized for 22nm and includes a huge number of innovations for developers and users. New instructions for transactional memory, bit-manipulation, full 256-bit integer SIMD and floating point multiply-accumulate are combined in a microarchitecture that essentially doubles computational throughput and cache bandwidth. Most importantly, the microarchitecture was designed for efficiency and extends Intel's offerings down to 10W tablets, while maintaining leadership for notebooks, desktops, servers and workstations.
Intel's Near-Threshold Voltage Computing and Applications
Near-threshold voltage computing extends the voltage scaling associated with Moore's Law and dramatically improves power and energy efficiency. The technology is superb for throughput, at the cost of latency, and best suited to Intel's products for HPC and mobile graphics.
Haswell Transactional Memory Alternatives
We previously theorized that Intel's TSX extensions in Haswell use the caches to provide transactional memory semantics. This article describes an alternative approach based on minimal changes to the CPU core, contrasts the advantages of the two techniques and discusses the expected implementation in Haswell.
Computational Efficiency for CPUs and GPUs in 2012
New compute efficiency data shows GPUs with a clear edge over CPUs, but the gap is narrowing as CPUs adopt wide vectors (e.g. AVX). Surprisingly, a throughput CPU is the most energy efficient processor, offering hope for future architectures. Our data also shows some advantages of AMD's Bulldozer, and the overhead associated with highly scalable server CPUs.
Intel's Ivy Bridge Graphics Architecture
The Ivy Bridge GPU takes advantage of Intel's 22nm FinFET process to nearly double performance and enhance programmability with DX11 and OpenCL 1.1 support. The new scalable architecture features more powerful shader cores, distributed sampling pipelines, a high bandwidth L3 cache, tesselation and 4K resolution displays. Overall, Ivy Bridge should be the highest performance integrated GPU at launch and Intel's first competitive graphics offering.
Analysis of Haswell's Transactional Memory
Intel's upcoming Haswell microprocessors include transactional memory and hardware lock elision that are exposed through the Transactional Synchronization Extensions or TSX. In this article, I discuss TSX and predict the implementation details of Haswell's transactional memory and expected adoption across the industry, based on my previous experience.
ISSCC 2012 Preview
Highlights of the upcoming 2012 ISSCC include the first 22nm disclosures from Intel and several SoC papers from AMD, Cavium Networks and Oracle. Looking out further to the future, the clear focus is power consumption. There are several papers from Intel on low-power logic, one from IBM discussing 3D integration of embedded DRAM and a third from Fujitsu on system level power for the K supercomputer.


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The following banks and credit unions offer excellent features and benefits. While we recommend them, they are not our top picks for the simple reason that they are not guaranteed banks. They have however helped a lot of people, and may be able to help you too.
Woodforest National Bank
You must apply in person and they are friendly to those reported to ChexSystems.
Hancock County Savings Bank
For a new deposit account within their lending area, they utilize the WatchDOG CIP system.
Community Trust Bank
They do not use ChexSystems but they do run EWS.
United Bank
They do not use ChexSystems and they do not run a credit report at all.


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AgriMarine Offers Solutions-Based Services to the Aquaculture Industry – Concept to Execution, Custom Turn-Key Systems – Recirculating Aquaculture Systems – Hatchery Design and Build Services – Floating Semi-Closed Containment Tanks – Aquaponics System Design and Equipment
ATI has in-depth expertise in developing technology for aquaponics systems, where water conservation and intensive food production combine for a sustainable production system.
Fish farming and aquaponics are the fastest growing segments of agriculture worldwide today. Aquaculture now accounts for approximately 50% of the world's food fish and is growing more rapidly than all other animal food-producing sectors. In an aquaponics system, fish are reared in land-based RAS tanks where the nutrient-rich water from the fish effluent provides nutrients to feed a variety of produce, such as vegetables, herbs, fruit and flowers. In turn, the plants recondition and clean the water for recirculation back to the fish.
Key Features
- Sustainability: Fish and vegetables are produced without hormones, fertilizers, pesticides, or herbicides.
- Water Conservation: Systems use approximately 90% less water than conventional farming irrigation.
- Faster Growth Cycles: Fish and vegetables can have higher growth rates than conventional farming. RAS technology provides an optimal rearing environment which can be controlled, monitored and maintained.
- Costs: Two crops are produced from a single input source. Aquaponics is more efficient in terms of nutrient utilization than other farming systems.
- Low Environment Footprint: Aquaponics allows for year-round production either outdoors in suitable climates or in environmentally controlled greenhouses, therefore minimizing land requirements. As such, aquaponics systems can be located near urban markets, thereby reducing transportation costs and lowering 'food miles'.
- Organic Marketing: Fish and vegetables may qualify for organic certification. As a chemical herbicide and pesticide-free product, crops can command a premium in the marketplace.
Recent growth in this sector has been directly attributed to concerns over water scarcity and food shortages. Aquaponics is integrated technology that delivers intensive organic food production in order to meet the growing demand for food products while using 90% less water than conventional farming.
The success of an aquaponics farm is directly associated with its fish rearing technology and fish husbandry, areas in which AgriMarine has proven expertise and know-how.


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Permit #103464 This conveniently located cabin of 2300 sq.ft. abounds with Tahoe charm- inside and out.
The rock-walled, wood-burning fireplace gives warmth and character to the 19 ft. x 30 ft. living room area, including a large sectional sofa, 37" flat screen TV, working desk and second dining or game table. The kitchen and dining room are nicely appointed and spacious. Next to the kitchen there is a separate laundry room with a washer and dryer, and mudroom for skis, wet snow clothes and swimsuits. The downstairs also has a bedroom with a bunk bed, 38" flat screen t.v. and a remodeled bathroom with a fully tiled walk-in shower.
Log stairs take you up to four more bedrooms: the first with a queen bed and a daybed with a trundle, the second with a queen bed, the third with a four-poster queen bed and French doors to the front balcony, and the fourth with four twin beds. The cabin's second bathroom is upstairs and has a relaxing tub/shower combo.
The Birch Cabin is located just 1/2 mile from Lake Tahoe, 1.2 miles from the downtown Stateline casinos and 1 mile from Heavenly Ski Resort. Several popular dining places are a short walking distance away. The land line phone in the cabin has unlimited domestic long distance.
The fenced back yard provides privacy for your own hot tub, deck and BBQ. The cabin rental also includes the empty lot next door, which provides five city-approved spaces for parking adjacent to the cabin. This cabin is non-smoking and not pet friendly. Permit #103464
WIFI is a free benefit to our guests. However, there will be no refund due to internet outages or inability to connect.


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- Mainline to Conservative Christian/Protestant (100%)
- Orthodox Quaker (87%)
- Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) (87%)
- Mainline to Liberal Christian Protestants (80%)
- Seventh Day Adventist (71%)
- Jehovah's Witness (71%)
- Eastern Orthodox (68%)
- Roman Catholic (68%)
- Baha'i Faith (67%)
- Islam (55%)
- Orthodox Judaism (55%)
- Liberal Quakers (55%)
- Christian Science (Church of Christ, Scientist) (49%)
- Jainism (46%)
- Unitarian Universalism (43%)
- Reform Judaism (36%)
- Mahayana Buddhism (33%)
- Theravada Buddhism (33%)
- Sikhism (31%)
- Hinduism (31%)
- Neo-Pagan (30%)
- New Age (28%)
- Secular Humanism (28%)
- Taoism (27%)
- New Thought (26%)
- Nontheist (24%)
- Scientology (23%
Monday, August 22, 2011
Belief - o - Matic
5 comments:
- Bob said...
Don't know if you have ever read anything by Philip Gulley, who wrote the 'Harmony' series as well as a number of non-fiction essays. He's a Quaker minister. Didn't know much about Quakers until I read some of his stuff. Point being, although he's a little left of center, his writing reflect wholesome values; not suprised you would score highly on the Quaker scale.
I'll take the test myself when I have time and will share the results. Your brother is always good for something like this!
- August 23, 2011 at 9:23 AM
- Andrew said...
I thought the questions definitely had a flavor.... there seemed to be variance with where one stood on more conservative Christian points, but lacked the same subtlety on the more liberal end of spirituality.
I am not surprised that you rated high Mormon. I think the reason, historically, Conservative evangelicals in Utah have had such a bur about the Mormons is not that they are so different, but that they are so the same. (However, with Conservative Evangelicalism become more political than spiritual, I think they are warming up to the idea becoming more Mormon friendly).
- August 23, 2011 at 12:31 PM
- Bob said...
Guess some of the reading I referenced in my previous post rubbed off. Orthodox Quaker was my number one! Then Protestant, then Eastern Orthodox. Go figure.
- August 28, 2011 at 4:33 AM
- Steve H. said...
Yeah, the Quaker thing for #2 didn't surprise me at all
- August 28, 2011 at 5:24 AM
Apparently, I'm 100% Orthodox Quaker. But, then I grew up about 10 miles from Jordans (a Quaker 'stronghold' - I believe William Penn may even be buried there) rather than the conservative midwest, so maybe that's got something to do with it... Excuse me, I feel the sudden urge to go and sit alone and, er, quake ;-)
- November 5, 2011 at 8:16 PM


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I seriously cannot describe what I saw for the Saint Laurent spring/summer 2015 ready-to-wear collection. It was just absolutely amazing. Since I viewed the garments from the show there are just so many I cannot get out of my mind. Heidi Slimane made rock-and-roll meet a more preppy state of mind. She puts girly fabrics and patterns with not so girly jackets. It was all and all such a fun look.
This look is one of the many I just can't seem to shake. This fabulous dress gives the "LBD" a new meaning. The fur shoulder and plunging neckline just take it right over the top. Then to pair it with platform shoes with just a hint of red and a subtle cheetah scarf and leather headdress, which just makes you fall on to the floor with excitement and joy.
This is another one of my most favorite looks of this spring/summer 2015 collection. This black dress with black star embellishments is just absolutely beyond fabulous. Paired with this bright red fringe shawl.


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I knew this would involve an IIF() conditional. But I was not sure how to phrase the condition to check for the NULL value. I tried two approaches off the top of my head.
First, I tried the SQL syntax of Fields!FieldName.Value IS NULL. It was a long shot, and it didn't work. No real surprise, there, so I moved on.
Second, I tried the VBScript approach of IsNull(Fields!FieldName.Value). I was pretty sure this would work, because I have used some VBScript commands successfully with conditional formatting in SSRS before. However, this didn't work either.
What became apparent was that I needed to understand how to do this kind of condition in .NET, which is the actual programming language supported inside of SSRS for formula expressions. I did some searches on the Internet and eventually found the right syntax. It turns out that IsNothing() is the .NET equivalent to the VBScript function IsNull(). The working syntax for my report requirement is:
= IIf(Not IsNothing(Fields!FieldName.Value), Fields!FieldName.Value, "--")


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English summary
At the same time , Deepika Padukone- Amitabh Bachchan starrer "Piku", which was expected to enter the 100 crore club soon, has slowed down after the release of "Tanu Weds Manu Returns." The box office collection of "Piku" till Wednesday stands at 74.33 crore. The movie has already crossed 100 crore mark when it comes to worldwide collection.
Story first published: Thursday, May 28, 2015, 17:50 [IST]


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I said, Well, you cheatin' son of a bitch. I can see gettin' by with 10 or 20 pounds light, but 220? He said, Well, if you're gonna cheat, you might as well cheat.
— legendary NASCAR car owner Bud Moore recounting a conversation with Darrell Waltrip's crew chief
(This week the Radio Rumpus Room garage was visited by a couple members of the Lucky Bastards car club, who are putting on the 4th annual Minneapolis Messaround traditional rod'n'custom car show on Sunday, Sept. 6.)
A healthy patina of neglect is appropriate and welcomed, although most of the sheet metal beneath it should be rust-free and without real big dents. Scrapes are welcome, though, especially if they carry paint from the scrapee.
-— Ro McGonegal, on desirable real world car finishes
Mary took a dry dive from a hotel room
Bobby hung himself from a cell in the Tombs
Judy jumped in front of a subway train
Eddie got slit in the jugular vein
And Eddie, I miss you more than all the others
And I salute you brother
Those are people who died, died
They were all my friends, and they died
— Jim Carroll, People Who Died
(Artist/writer Jim Carroll died this week of a heart attack. He was 60 years old.)
Success is having to worry about every damn thing in the world except money.
— Johnny Cash
Privacy Statement
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German illustrator Dirk Dmizirsky is an incredibly talented artist. Take a close look at the gallery as each drawing featured was created using only pencil or charcoal.
"I choose drawing over painting," he said. "It allows me to create many layers of lines and dots which react to each other in order to create a vibrant texture with diriections and movement."
The drawings use photographs as references, but Dirk Dmizirsky states that he does not seek to draw an exact replica, rather he uses the photograph more like a live model -- a base for establishing proportions. This allows him to work like he would with a live model, drawing with more freedom and looseness.
Dirk Dmizirsky will next have his work displayed in September 2011 at the Stadt Hamminklein Art gallery in Germany. Visit his website to learn more or purchase his book of artwork called 'Lemonworld.'
Hyperrealist Pencil Portraits
More Stats +/-
Surreal Pencil Artistry
Photorealistic Pencil Sketches
Artistic Albumtography
Creepy Realistic Pencil Art
Surrealist Sunglasses Ads
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Artist Dirk Dzimirsky Creates Impeccably Detailed Drawings
- By: Jordan SowunmiMay 20, 2011
References: dzimirsky & readplatform
References: dzimirsky & readplatform


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About me
I love digital, social & inbound marketing, and I love travelling.
After 18 years abroad in 5 countries, and 7 years of building a network of GoViral service providers in Europe, I'm coming back to my native NYC home to share what I've learned.
Let me show you how to gain a competitive advantage by working with digital agencies abroad.
Fulfill you and your customers'
digital desires
Whatever you need to reach your clients, we can help you build. From simple to complex websites, e-commerce platforms and mobile applications, we can get you onboard the hottest digital trends.
Performance-based brand love marketing starts with analyzing your buyers' journey and creating a strategic and integrated campaign to build traffic and increase sales.
We create the content you need to attract the right audience. This includes advertisements, social media posts, blog posts, and other advertising and inbound content.
miss out
90 meetings in 90 days
I'm only here till May 19th and my schedule is filling up fast. I've committed myself to 90 meetings, 90 hours of free consulting and then I'm gone. So contact me today!


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National Voter Registration Day
Check My Ohio Voter Registration
Check My Michigan Voter Registration
Check My Voter Registration Anywhere
Ohio Registration Form
Michigan Registration Form
Find Your State Legislators
Find Your Congressional Legislators
George S. Suchora, 74, of Oregon, Ohio passed away on November 14, 2016, at home. He was born on January 19, 1942, to Stephen and Dorothy (Woodarek) Suchora. George was proud to be an Army Veteran and served in the United States Army as Military Police. He worked on HVAC systems and controls for many years. He was a member of Local 50 for 52 years. George enjoyed hunting, fishing and spending time with his family. He was a hard worker and always kept busy on various restoration projects. George was always known to joke around. You could always count on his opinion about everything and anything; even if you didn't ask for it.
George is survived by his children, Marlene (Bob) Bronikowski, Tonya (Brian) Porshinsky, George (Kati) Suchora, Precious (Jonathan) Farroni and Aliescha Suchora; their mother, Erma Suchora; grandchildren, Ariyana, Shane, Eva, Gwendolyn, Gavin, Emelia and Evan; sisters, Felicia Monday and Mary Suchora. He was preceded in death by his parents; and brother, Joseph Suchora.
Friends and family may visit Eggleston Meinert & Pavley Funeral Home, Oregon Chapel, 440 South Coy Road on Thursday, November 17, from 2:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Visitation will also be held at Epiphany of the Lord Parish - St. Thomas Aquinas Church on Friday, November 18, from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m. Interment will follow in Calvary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be directed to Epiphany of the Lord Parish - St. Thomas Aquinas Church.


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Separate names with a comma.
Discussion in 'HTC Droid Incredible' started by adrynalyne, May 2, 2010.
Uploaded with ImageShack.us
Oh... but it shows only 998 MHz... I want my money back! LOL
Hey adrynalyne ,,,,
Realy liked the roms you made for my old WM phones
was glad to see you come to andoid and you made great roms for tht moto droid
working on the new Inc? cant wait, your roms are fast and smooth
get crackin and lots will follow you man
Yeah I will develop roms for both.
Very cool man
Cant Wait!!!
Keep up the great work
all I can see thats needed is Wifi teather.....this thing rocks straight form the factory
I call bs that's clearly photoshopped!
J/k lol how are you liking it adrynalyne?
Sent from my Droid using Tapatalk
I'm torn between it and my Droid. Both are fantastic machines.
Haha lol I'm going to go take a look tomorrow, hopefully I don't walk out of the store poorer...
Sent from my Droid using Tapatalk
Dont be surprised if you do lol.


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Two Matlock-based Peak District Artisans' (PDA) are set to exhibit at one of the UK's most prestigious estates.
The group's 2015 Spring Showcase exhibition will take place at Chatsworth, shining the spotlight on the works of an eclectic line-up of artists, artisans and designer-makers from across the region.
Matlock members Gary Sampson (pictured above) and Roger Allen will show their work alongside 34 members of PDA, whose art will be displayed in the beautiful setting of the Carriage House in the stables. The exhibition will run from January 7 to March 22.
This is the second time the group has collectively exhibited at Chatsworth.
PDA's recently appointed chairman, Ingrid Karlsson-Kemp said: "It's fantastic to be invited back to this stunning venue. This marks the beginning of our annual exhibition programme and we are looking forward to showcasing the breadth of talent PDA has to offer."
The exhibition, which runs daily 10.30am – 3.30pm, will run to March 22. Admission is free.
For more information and to view a selection of members' work visit www.peakdistrictartisans.co.uk
Established in 1991, Peak District Artisans is a professional association that represents some the very best artists, designer-makers and artisans based in the Peak District and beyond.
The aim of the group is to promote individual creative businesses through various channels including an annual brochure, joint exhibitions and on-line activity. The group provides a supportive network of contacts and information for established and developing professional practitioners within the Peak District and surrounding areas.
PDA is a registered business and a limited company. They are a co-operative run and funded by members. The Earl of Burlington has been the group's President since 2006.


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Administration & Staff
The Rt. Rev. David L. Hicks, Chancellor & President
The Very Rev. Dr. Jonathan S. Riches, Dean
Administrative Staff:
The Rev. M. Russell Buchanan, Librarian
Mr. David A. France, Director of Admissions & Recruiting
Mr. Shawn Riley, Maintenance & Grounds Supervisor
Mr. Greg Wright, Director of Information Technology & Web Development


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The Pinger app provides users with a free phone number that can be used for either phone calls or texting. Pinger users make calls over a mobile device or computer.
In addition to the calling and texting features of the Pinger app, users can send images or set up group messaging. The app provides value to users of the free communication-based service as well as to companies marketing products and services. A business can use Pinger as an advertising venue with targeted promotional messages popping up on the screens of people enjoying access to the free service. Ads appear at the bottom of the screen as well as in the written text sent between users.


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Dancing with an Excavator: Daily Dose of Weird [VIDEO]
Of all the things to do with heavy machinery, this never came to my mind.
Rather than traditional human partners, this French performer prefers to dance with earth-movers. According to the video, he has performed this way over 300 times in 40 countries. So…that's a thing. Enjoy the video!


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School District
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Skip to main content
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Trojan College Access
Athletic Forms & Related Policies
Athletic Website
In the Parent Portal if your student is considered chronically absent, you will see a light next to their name at the top of the page. A green light is an indicator of missing three days of school; a yellow light is an indicator of missing seven days of school; and a red light is an indicator of missing ten days of school. If you click on any of the lights; a text box will appear and detail the days missed and reason for the absence. Letters will be generated by our attendance officer based on this information; and at that time a plan of action will be set to help your student get back on track.
We hope this new feature helps all of our GJSD parents in assisting the District with their students' success.
Please contact your child's school to learn more about the benefits of PowerSchool and how to gain access to your own parent portal.
For Student power school ID and Password, please have your student see the building secretary and for parent portal access; please submit your request through the Power School Parent Portal request form on the Parent - Power School tab.
Every child of school age who is a resident of a Pennsylvania school district is entitled to a public school education. This entitlement and the requirements to secure enrollment discussed throughout this BEC apply equally to resident students residing with their parent(s); to non-resident students living with a district resident who is supporting the child gratis and seeking enrollment under 24 P.S. §13-1302; to nonresident students living in a facility or institution; and to nonresident students living in a foster home. Provided that the required enrollment documentation described herein is provided, the school district or charter school must enroll non-resident children and permit them to attend school. A child should be permitted to attend school on the next school day after the day on which the child is presented for enrollment, and in all cases within five (5) business days of the school district's receipt of the required documentation (22 Pa. Code §11.11(b)).
Except when a child is homeless, whenever a child of school age is presented for enrollment by a parent(s), school district resident, or any other person having charge or care of the child, the school district or charter school shall require that the following information be documented before enrolling the child and allowing the child to attend school:
Proof of the child's age:
Any one of the following constitutes acceptable documentation: birth certificate; notarized copy of birth certificate; baptismal certificate; copy of the record of baptism – notarized or duly certified and showing the date of birth; notarized statement from the parents or another relative indicating the date of birth; a valid passport; a prior school record indicating the date of birth.
Immunizations required by law Acceptable documentation includes:
either the child's immunization record, a written statement from the former school district or from a medical office that the required immunizations have been administered, or that a required series is in progress, or verbal assurances from the former school district or a medical office that the required immunizations have been completed, with records to follow.
Proof of residency:
Acceptable documentation includes: a deed, a lease, current utility bill, current credit card bill, property tax bill, vehicle registration, driver's license, DOT identification card. A district may require that more than one form of residency confirmation be provided. However, school districts and charter schools should be flexible in verifying residency, and should consider what information is reasonable in light of the family's situation. See the paragraph on Homeless Students for guidance in that situation.
Parent Registration Statement:
A sworn statement (See Attachment A (Word)) attesting to whether the student has been or is suspended or expelled for offenses involving drugs, alcohol, weapons, infliction of injury or violence on school property must be provided for a student to be admitted to any school entity (24 P.S. § 13-1304-A). A school district may not deny or delay a child's school enrollment based on the information contained in a disciplinary record or sworn statement. However, if a student is currently expelled for a weapons offense, the school district can provide the student with alternative education services during the period of expulsion (24 P.S. § 13-1317.2(e.1)). If the disciplinary record or sworn statement indicates the student has been expelled from a school district in which he was previously enrolled, for reasons other than a weapons offense, it is recommended the school district review the student's prior performance and school record to determine the services and supports to be provided upon enrollment in the district.
Home Language Survey:
All students seeking first-time enrollment in a school shall be given a home language survey in accord with requirements of the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights. Enrollment of the student may not be delayed in order to administer the Home Language Survey. A copy of the Home Language Survey is provided at this website.
PowerSchool Login
Power School Parent Portal Request
Phone Number Removal Request
PowerSchool Parent Login


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Property Location
With a stay at Best Western Phoenix Hotel in London (Paddington), you'll be minutes from Whiteleys Shopping Centre and close to Royal Albert Hall. This family-friendly hotel is close to Imperial College London and Selfridges.
Make yourself at home in one of the 125 guestrooms. Complimentary wireless Internet access is available to keep you connected. Bathrooms have shower/tub combinations and hair dryers. Conveniences include desks and coffee/tea makers, and housekeeping is provided daily.
Rec, Spa, Premium Amenities
Make use of convenient amenities such as complimentary wireless Internet access, concierge services, and a television in the lobby.
Quench your thirst with your favorite drink at a bar/lounge. A complimentary continental breakfast is served daily.
Business, Other Amenities
Featured amenities include dry cleaning/laundry services, a 24-hour front desk, and luggage storage.
Are you affiliated with Phoenix Hotel? Apply to the Hotel WiFi Connect program to take control of your account, improve your hotel's confidence score and ranking.
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