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The man who helps students to cheat By Andrew Bomford BBC Radio 4's PM programme 12 May 2016 Close share panel Most students are happy to work hard, try their best and accept the consequences. But there are a host of commercial essay writers who are prepared to help those who can't be bothered.
Marek Jezek is the pseudonym he's currently using, but there have been many others.
The man who helps students to cheat - bbc news
"Philosophy, psychology, nursing, education, physics," he lists, counting them off on his fingers, "criminology, hospitality management, ethics, management.
"The marks are all first-class, and there's a long list of the universities where the work was submitted. A dissertation is supposed to be the culmination of years of study for students - the piece of original research and extended writing where a student demonstrates their understanding and expertise in their subject.
Not if someone like Jezek has written it for you. He's a freelance writer, a pen for hire, in an industry which appears to be growing rapidly.
Commercial essay writing firms are becoming increasingly blatant in their appeals to students. Image copyright iStock Image caption Ctrl + C is all that some people manage On the London Underground network last month, one firm placed paid-for posters at stations close to universities.
"Need help with essay?" they asked, claiming to be "trusted by 10,000+ students" Just give us your paper instructions, and we'll match you with the best essay writer in your subject! to Expert Writers. and get them done right on time! 905. writers online now secure social media account. We're a reliable custom writing service that connects students in need of high-quality writing and editing help with .
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Last week another company was distributing handy credit-card style adverts to students on the campus at Queen Mary University London, claiming to be "the original and best academic writing service - helping you get the grades you desire". One website allows students to post their essay assignments and deadlines on it, and writers bid to do the work for them.
The big concern is that bespoke essays, written to order, without being plagiarised themselves, are difficult if not impossible to detect.
Almost all universities use anti-plagiarism software, called Turnitin, which checks a submitted essay against published sources, looking for copied phrases. But this software will not raise suspicions about an original essay produced by a professional writer.
Prices from commercial firms range from about £150 for a bit of coursework, to thousands of pounds for a dissertation. Marek Jezek charges about £2,500 for a dissertation.
He says he has a particular motive for the work he does - revenge.
What can universities do to combat commercial essay writing?Suggestions from universities include: More tutorials to discuss work in progressRequiring students to submit notes, and early essay draftsMore oral presentations, sometimes called a vivaMore examsAlmost all UK universities use anti-plagiarism software such as Turnitin The modern online presentation is becoming absolutely critical to getting work done. And, you can share short presentations on social media sites. Our online presentations will give you information on all aspects of University life Pitch Deck is the best online presentation software alternative to PowerPoint and Prezi..
But software has little success in detecting a genuine bespoke essayHe has an MBA and a PhD from a leading British University, and says he has applied for more than 300 jobs as a lecturer or researcher, but has got nowhere. He believes he's a victim of racial discrimination.
Jezek is originally from DR Congo, and describes a network of black academics from African backgrounds that are unable to find work in universities. "In a sense it's an emotional retribution for a wrong that's been done to me," he says, "For me it is a way of satisfying myself and satisfying my ego, because I'm feeling rejected unfairly.
I get a bit of emotional satisfaction when a student gives me a call and tells me he got 70% or 80% for the work I did. "Jezek gets his work through word of mouth among students.
But he also says some universities are unwittingly collaborating by referring struggling students to him for private coaching in essay writing skills.
"The student sends you a piece of work to appraise, but in most cases once you've sent the first set of comments, the second or third, the student just throws in the towel 14 Apr 2015 - All college and university professors will tell you the same thing: to them, the act of purchasing papers online is no different than plagiarism. The benefits of using custom-writing services are immense for foreign Founder of SheMeets (Redefining Networking for Women in Get breaking news alerts..
" Image copyright PA Image caption School and university exams are harder to cheat in It is often suggested that it is international students in particular using these services, but Jezek says in the past few years more British students are commissioning dissertations from him.
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He also believes higher education tuition fees have had an impact on attitudes, making a university degree seem more like a financial transaction. "A student will come to me and say that they have been paying a lot of money throughout their degree and they don't want to waste it.
"Universities have responded to the threat by trying to change the way they assess students. Increasingly students are being asked to orally present their work in front of a seminar group, or to answer questions from lecturers.
Sometimes students are asked to submit study notes, early drafts, and work in progress. For an extra fee, notes and drafts are available too. Dr Adam Longcroft, academic director at the University of East Anglia (UEA), says oral presentations are hard to fake, and can be extremely challenging.
The a to z of social media for academia | the essential guide
"A measure designed to eliminate discrimination from the marking system makes it even harder to catch student cheats. Many universities have a policy of anonymous submission of work, so a lecturer cannot unconsciously mark down an ethnic minority student.
But if a marker does not know who has submitted a piece of work, an excellent essay submitted by a mediocre student would not raise any suspicion. Sometimes though, fakes can be weeded out by keen observation skills.
Find out moreAndrew Bomford's report on professional essay writers can be heard on Radio 4's PM programme - catch up on BBC iPlayer RadioPlagiarism Officer Sarah Allen, at the UEA Business School, recently investigated a post-graduate student who submitted an excellent piece of work which stood out to the marker simply because it contained one unusual word - cynosure. The Oxford English Dictionary defines it as a person or thing which is the centre of attention or admiration.
"We didn't know what it meant," she says, "We had to go away and look it up, and we were intrigued that this student knew what the word meant. "It turned out that the student had poor English skills, and when challenged about the essay, could not explain his work.
"Eventually the student admitted that they had sent the question to someone who was a post-graduate student in the United States who had written it for them.
"Because all the work is submitted anonymously we have no idea what student has submitted the work - whether it's an international student, a home student, an excellent student or a struggling student - so it is quite difficult to identify these suspicious cases 9 Mar 2017 - Why academics should care about social media chair in science communication and future media at the University of Google Drive: For collaborative writing. presentation app that cleverly embeds imagery from around the web, sentence-level critique or note-taking on top of scientific articles and .
"Deliberate cases of premeditated cheating are dealt with by a hearing of the university council, and a guilty student is likely to be expelled. It is the student submitting the work as their own who is guilty of cheating, not the company or writer producing it.
Image caption Most students are prepared to do their essays the traditional way Does Jezek feel guilty about helping students cheat?"I feel the guilt is a shared guilt," he says, "But we are just a small cog in the machinery. "He believes some universities fail to investigate suspicious cases because they lack the evidence, and fear the impact on their reputations if too many cases of cheating are revealed.
This is a view also expressed by some university lecturers who contacted the BBC following reporting of the issue on Radio 4's PM programme.
Universities deny that they condone any form of cheating, and say they take the issue very seriously 27 Jan 2018 - In writing about how to create a SlideShare presentation that gets Proofreading Best Online Presentation Website Proofreading Dissertation. Self-presentation online takes place primarily through social media profiles. We can understand the trouble and our online custom essay writing services give..
The Quality Assurance Agency, which oversees standards in higher education, recently launched an inquiry to determine the impact of essay-writing companies.
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"The single biggest problem with the issue is that it's difficult to detect. And if you're going to accuse a student of cheating you need very good evidence to back up the allegation.
"A petition was recently launched at parliament to outlaw essay-writing companies, but it is a problem which legislation is unlikely to kill. Bespoke essays are increasingly produced in countries like India, China, and Australia.
But Sarah Allen, at UEA, says it needs more attention from universities. "It is devaluing the qualifications of anyone who holds a degree.
It devalues the work the majority of students are putting in to obtaining their degree There are many essay writing services that think they are on top The dean of This includes cookies from third party social media websites if you visit a page. Don't miss Top Hat & Tales at Presentation House Theatre March 2 - 12. Get your free ebook: How to Nail Your Next Presentation. Open University of Israel..
And it makes a mockery of the whole university system.
The shocking truth about essay writing services | huffpost


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Plans are to improve office space and add training and educational facilities for visitors from the United States and abroad.
Carthage Veterinary Services (CVS), Ltd. has taken a bold step to improve its veterinary and educational outreach. The Carthage, IL-based business has formed Prairieland Investment Group and purchased a 23-acre college campus site for business development and office space.
The site, originally Carthage College, dates back to 1870. It has had two other owners since then, but the facilities have sat virtually idle for the past 15 years, reports CVS co-owner Doug Groth, DVM.
CVS will develop the campus to provide a working, learning, advancement and recreational environment to enhance service and personal development of the CVS group and its affiliate, Professional Swine Management, LLC (PSM).
Groth says the most immediate need is expansion of office space for 45 CVS fulltime staff members and 10 part-timers. Those professionals support another 600 farm production staff workers and associates. He says as the CVS system grows, more accounting and human resources employees are hired. CVS just hired its ninth swine veterinarian, Dyneah Augsburger, a recent graduate of the University of Illinois.
The campus will also serve as a training and learning center for production employees, allied industry, other industry professionals and visitors from around the globe.
The learning center will provide skill sets combining classroom education, modular real-time facilities, training CDs and in-barn education.
Living facilities will be developed to house people for the training programs and for farm staffing. Housing for interns and visiting faculty will also be available.
The library will be refurbished for receptions, banquets, conferences and meetings.
The gymnasium will be developed as recreational facilities for CVS employees, visitors, interns and people in educational programs.
The auditorium will be renovated for use in a multitude of educational functions and possibly become the future home of the Annual CVS Swine Conference, held at the end of August.
An International Business Technology Center is also being considered for development on the campus.
Site Renovations
Plans are to move into renovated office space in about a year or so. But the rest of the renovation will take two to five years to complete, Groth says.
While the basic brickwork of the college's buildings provides a sound exterior, most buildings will have to be gutted and refurbished before they are habitable, he explains. Buildings range in age from the oldest dating back to 1906, to most of the administrative facilities that were built in the 1940s. The four-story dormitory known as Anthony Hall, which will be converted into CVS/PSM office space, was erected in 1946.
The grounds are virtually overrun with trees and vegetation, which will require some detailed landscaping. CVS staff has been keeping the grounds mowed.
The town of Carthage, IL, (population 2,500) has embraced this development with open arms, Groth notes. Three local banks have joined forces to finance this multi-million-dollar project.
Groth says the college complex will establish a first for a U.S. swine veterinary clinic in offering a comfortable environment for training and retraining employees, and providing a natural extension of CVS production training in a hands-on environment.
And the community will share in the rewards, as they will be able to utilize facilities for a variety of social and recreational events, Groth says.

subset: commoncrawl


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Published 4/12/17 11:13PM
by Emlyn Hagan (& Chris Walker)
So, it's been two months since the blog we wrote just days after being accepted as Prospective Members of Chaco and here we are just days away from submitting our application for full membership with the follow-up blog that we promised.
What an eventful two months it's been: we've continued to meet new people; attended lots of social events; an aborted trip to a network event in Lancaster/visit to Lancaster co-housing; Chris (along with Christine, Ali and Mary) has visited a kitchen supplier; I attended our first members meeting and we had a wonderful (mostly wet) week touring the Outer Hebrides in our campervan (see picture above).
We've been working as a team throughout, Chris is away a lot but we've attended lots of socials, etc together and I attended one on my own in her absence which was a real challenge to my confidence/the anxiety I feel when meeting new people. Chris has been more active in task groups and has really enjoyed being part of the kitchen design group. I know that I've struggled at times, mainly due to the limitations caused by my mental health difficulties, I find high speed, multiple person email threads hard to follow, I also find it hard to commit to things during the week as my work is very demanding and often means all I'm capable of in the evening is chilling out. I know that effective/inclusive communication between members is one of the challenges faced by any group and for me our adoption of "Slack" as a tool could really help.
If our application is successful our next step will be to pay our deposit to secure our spot. Also on the horizon is Chris' further involvement in some of the interior design decisions and we'll hopefully be attending an 8 week course at Oblong with a group of Chaco folks covering: communication skills/active listening; working together as a team; managing conflicts and running successful meetings, starting in January.
All along our determination to apply for full membership, despite both having had little wobbles, has remained intact. My intention has been to try and not invest too much into Chaco emotionally and be the voice of reason when Chris' excitement is building too much (be the boring one you might say). However, I was caught out last month during a brief conversation with Bill about the shared workshop and what it could contain and be used for. The excitement suddenly surge within me, oops. I travelled home from the Bill and Ali's house full of ideas and new hobbies I was sure to take up once I had access to this new state of the art workshop. Good grief, where's the voice of reason now?
Chris and I spent an afternoon a few weeks ago looking at finances again and came to the conclusion that assuming we could get a mortgage we would be in a position to commit to buying 80% of the property we wanted. The rest of the afternoon was spent scrutinising property plans and kitchen designs, cross referencing them to the site plan, to find a layout that worked for us. Now that felt exciting! The conclusion? We knew what we could afford and which units would work for us, we could now apply for full membership.
So here we are, the application is a work in progress and we're back to selling ourselves. Once our application is complete it's in the hands of the full members, all of whose opinions and judgement we respect completely, which I guess is one of the reasons why we want to be part of the community. By the time the meeting that decides our fate takes place we'll be on holiday in Gran Canaria so at least if things don't go our way we can ease the pain with a cold beer in the sun.
As before we'll write more as our journey continues…………
Emlyn & Chris
Published 19/11/17 1:19PM
Last Saturday a few of us went on a tour of Lilac, the established cohousing community in West Leeds. Consensus from the trip seems to be that seeing an established cohousing is a good way to settle some of the doubts that can arise while being introduced to the concept.
As we were led around the common house, the site, one of the homes, the allotments and the green spaces, I jotted down notes. This post is a collage of things that stood out about cohousing.
Cohousing is compromise, compromise, compromise.
"Everything is idealism at first", Laura told us at the start of the tour. "But then you have to go to reality".
Cohousing brings people together from different backgrounds and ways of life, all with their own thoughts on how things should be done. Current ChaCo discussions capture this well: about kitchen fittings, green walls, common house design, energy systems and so on.
Whittling the idealistic visions of different members into realistic workable plans, agreed on by everyone, is no mean feat. But Lilac shows that it can be done, and that the results are beautiful.
Cohousing is cooperation.
It's in the name so this one is fairly obvious, but the implications may not be.
Residents of Lilac are responsible for accounts, conveyancing, facilitating and many other tasks that could be outsourced externally. Pooling existing members' skills bolsters the sense of community, and discussion among residents ensures that responsibilities are allocated fairly and that everyone is contributing according to their strengths.
Laura said that if they did decide to pay for external help with anything, she'd vote to get a cleaner.
Cohousing is always a work in progress.
The red fence surrounding Lilac had to stay as part of securing planning permission because it was an iconic part of the school that previously occupied the site.
"The red fence is a nice touch", I said to Laura. She pointed out the section where the new vibrant red is next to the faded original: "it would be better if we finished painting it! Four years and we've only got that far".
As well as finishing the fence, a gardening rota shows which jobs need doing all year round and a maintenance group meet regularly to ensure things keep working smoothly. Other non-urgent tasks exist too: empty space on the site is there to be filled with projects agreed on by residents, like the hot tub and sauna that were built recently.
In short, work is needed and expected of cohousing residents but the result is a dynamic and organic living space that reflects the combined interests and skills of the people who helped to build it.
Cohousing reminds you that you are always a work in progress, too.
After telling us about the near-constant compromise, Laura told us that as a cohousing resident "you realise the world doesn't revolve around your views which, as I was getting older, was getting more ingrained".
It is a lifestyle that leads to lessons about yourself, other residents, and life in general. My favourite lesson mentioned? "Learning that we have to talk to each other a lot more for it to run smoothly".
Cohousing challenges assumptions.
Everything from the lifestyle itself, to the tendency to adopt building materials or technologies that may be less familiar than those in traditional housing challenges assumptions. It is easy to imagine Lilac's straw-bale walls as delicate and fragile, for example. But despite what you read in the Three Little Pigs, straw is sturdy and resilient to being huffed and puffed and blown down.
When telling people about potentially moving into ChaCo I often get comments to the effect of "so you're moving into a commune?". It's fun challenging these assumptions and explaining the concept and benefits.
It's more fun to imagine personal assumptions that will be challenged as residents, prospective or otherwise.
Published 19/10/17 3:58PM
By Chris Lee – another of our new Prospective Members
In documentaries, lights are shone on lives and lifestyles that are unusual and intriguing – and removed from the norms that define viewers' lives. 'Happy' is a documentary showcasing lives defined by their happiness and the lifestyle decisions that led there. It features cohousing amongst various other positive and inpsiring things, and it was a lifestyle that made sense immediately.
If I'm being candid, the reason it appealed immediately was the prospect of having to do less washing up. In the cohousing project they visited, meals were eaten in a common area with a rota for cooking and cleaning – I think each family had to cook and wash up once a fortnight.
But investigating further revealed many other benefits, and ones not motivated by laziness: a focus on community and socialising leads to a rich social life. A focus on security and shared vigilance protects both the property and other residents' well-being. A built-in support network means there is always someone to lend an ear or a hand when you need it, or lend a bit of milk when you run out.
On a small scale these things make for an appealing place to live, but on a larger scale they point to the potential of cohousing to work toward alleviating serious social issues like isolation and loneliness, and the numerous problems that arise from such things.
What an exciting thing to be involved with.
Documentaries also give a sense of otherness, and after watching Happy I remember thinking how nice it would be if cohousing could work in the UK, then assuming it probably couldn't for various reasons and thinking no more about it. But when Bill showed me Lilac and told me about the various other projects happening in Yorkshire, those reasons no longer stood up to scrutiny.
Seeing the ChaCo journey, the amount of work it has involved, and the underlying belief that a positive and inspiring way of life can exist in the UK has been a pleasure. The possibility of living there (assuming I haven't missed the boat) and to contribute toward its continued existence will be a privilege.
And don't worry – I no longer have an aversion to washing up 😉
Published 3/10/17 2:13PM
Becoming Prospective ChaCo Members
by Emlyn Hagan (& Chris Walker)
A couple of weeks ago we became prospective members of Chaco, it's been a bit of a whirlwind really so we felt now was the time to reflect and write a blog. Chris has lived in Chapeltown for the past 15 years within walking distance of the site, I live in Kirkstall in a flat I'm renovating to sell prior to moving in with Chris.
We've both been aware of Chaco for many years, having encountered members running information stalls at various local events but we'd never really seriously considered membership for some reason. We both have friends who live at Lilac and lots of things about the project really appealed when we first visited those freshly installed friends in their new homes in 2013, it felt like a real community. Recently we've been planning for the future, talking about what we might do when I sell my flat, etc. Then, out of the blue I noticed a Facebook post from Maeve (now our buddy), a shared friend of mine and Chris', talking about an upcoming Chaco social the following week at the flat she shares with her partner Nikoli and their baby. We decided to attend and suddenly Chaco was in the forefront of our minds.
We spent the next week checking out the website, looking at plans, discussing finances and coming up with a list of questions. We watched the video on the website and were very taken by Maureen's enthusiasm, passion and grin. I was pretty nervous about attending the social, Chris tends to be calmer than me but it was great, everyone was lovely, we chatted to folks, Chris caught up with an old work friend (who also lives one street away), I got to wax lyrical about our campervan adventures, I got a cuddle from baby and most of the questions we had were answered. Job done.
On the walk home we decided that we should apply to become prospective members. We let Maeve know straight away and she sent us the forms, she also put me in touch with Bill so we could have a chat about the self build plots. This turned out to be a bit of a blind alley in some ways because we realised that the thing we wanted most was to be active members of the community. Within 24 hours we'd visited the site, spending a good half an hour clambering through undergrowth, peering over walls and through gaps in fences trying to get our bearings, we liked what we saw.
Chris took charge of our application form and did a brilliant job. We'd discussed what we had to offer the community (including a Canadian canoe and a tandem), our skills, experiences and interests. Next we waited……………………. Not too long though as Maeve contacted Chris a few days later to say that we'd been accepted at the previous night's meeting. Woohoo! At the following social people were really complimentary about our application which was kind of them.
We're working hard at keeping our feet on the ground, not getting too excited (one of us is doing a better job of this than the other), boringly, I'm acting as the voice of reason. But we are excited, it feels like a potential future is forming before our very eyes, we just need to keep meeting other members and prospective members, attend events and get involved in the community. We continue to meet lovely people at socials, all of whom we clearly have more than a little bit of common ground with, you could describe them as people we'd happy have as neighbours. We even met Maureen a couple of weeks ago, the star of the video and she's probably even more enthusiastic in person!
We'll write more as our journey continues
Emlyn & Chris
Published 16/5/16 12:15PM
I've just spent the last three days in a field 6 miles south of Shrewsbury. This was my first experience of a Radical Routes Gathering – maybe the first of many, but next time I'm definitely taking a sleeping bag rated higher than "two seasons". The days were warm and sunny (I've got a sunburnt nose), but there was a frost on the tents at night.
Radical Routes is a secondary cooperative – ie: a cooperative whose members are housing co-ops (like ChaCo) or workers' co-ops (like the Footprint printing co-op based at Cornerstone in Sholebroke Avenue). It's got a strong commitment to positive social change – and requires a similar commitment from its members. The main reason I went was to investigate the possibility of accessing one of their Rootstock loans that full members can apply for. However, it soon became apparent that they were offering a lot more than mere money. There was a wealth of experience and expertise on tap, and probably the main value for ChaCo would be the mutual support network and number of organisations who could help us avoid reinventing legal, financial and structural wheels, because they've already "been there and tried that".
Although a lot more grass-rootsy feeling than the Confederation of Cooperative Housing (which we've also joined, for similar reasons), I was impressed how well the various meetings were run, and their attention to the boring basics like agendas, minutes and agreed procedures seemed to allow genuine (if sometimes slow) progress towards their goals. There were plenty of people with strong (and occasionally conflicting) views, but everyone seemed to trust that consensus decision-making would get there in the end, and all the discussions I witnessed were business-like and good-natured. I also attended a facilitation training session and learnt a lot about how our own Members' meetings could be run in a more equitable and effective manner.
Altogether, a very positive experience. Whether or not we can get our own act together enough to be able to meet their rather demanding entrance criteria remains to be seen. And we may decide that our limited capacity means that we have to invest our energies on more immediate needs. However, Despina – one of our Would-be Prospective Members and who travelled down with me – is offering to do a lot of the work if we do decide to apply, and she already has a lot of RR experience from when she was a member of the Xanadu housing co-op in Woodhouse.


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|Looks soooooo GOOD!
1 can Diced Tomatoes, drain most of the liquid
1 can Diced Tomatoes with Green Chili's, drained
1/2 small Onion, Diced Fine
2 TBS Fresh Cilantro, roughly chopped (I freeze my prepped cilantro so I can quickly pull it out and add to recipes)
1/4 tsp Crushed Red Pepper Flakes (optional)
I put my tomatoes in a blender and then pulse until I get my desired consistency. This step is completely optional and unnecessary. I just prefer my tomatoes broken up a bit. Combine everything and store in an airtight container. Chill for a couple of hours before serving to combine flavors.
Play with it and make it your own. Add some lime juice or green pepper. It is all up to you, but this is a great base for a mild chunky salsa. Great with chips or used for cooking :)


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The Timney IWI Tavor 4lb trigger is a huge upgrade in finish and trigger feel elevating the Tavor to the expectations of AR-15 match triggers. Where Timney typically offers single stage triggers, the Tavor trigger delivers a two-stage trigger feel due to the extended bullpup trigger linkage. The fit and finish of the Tavor trigger unit is the same premium quality shooters have come to expect from Timney. The billet aluminum frame is anodized in a striking gold, you'll hate to hide it inside the gun. Backed by the legendary Timney lifetime no hassle warranty, this trigger will provide years of reliable service.


text: Hi Im trying to access system files on my galaxy using adb. i connected the phone in debugging mode, installed all the drivers (including the adb driver - thanks kam187), and running the following commands: adb devices - lists my galaxy (List of devices attached I7500PTs4k0ONMD device) adb remount - i get an error (remount failed: Operation not permitted) adb root - i get an error (adbd cannot run as root in production builds) im using the adb.exe from the sdk 1.5 rel 3 what am i doing wrong? thanks! im really glad i joined this forum, it seems great!


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Social media tips
getting organized I Stationerygift.nl
[dropcap]G[/dropcap]ood morning! Sunday is my favourite day of the week. It's one of those days filled with coziness and you know what they say: a Sunday well spent brings a week of content. There are certain things that make me happy on Sundays such as magazines, cute notebooks and a lot of tea. In this online world we sometimes forget how beautiful paper can be – I love the feeling of a magazine, this can't be replaced by online magazines. Says the social media manager, I know. 😉 Besides that, I'm also the biggest stationery lover ever. I love to take an agenda…View Post


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Paid Leave
At some point, nearly everyone will need to take time away from work to deal with a serious personal or family illness, or to care for a new child.
But only 17 percent of workers in the United States have access to paid family leave through their employers, and fewer than 40 percent have access to personal medical leave through employer-provided short-term disability insurance.
Our nation's public policies are failing to meet the needs of workers and their families. Unpaid leave under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provides important job protections, but it is available to fewer than 60 percent of workers — and many can't afford to take it.
Laws providing paid family and medical leave allow workers to continue to earn a portion of their pay while they take time away from work to:
- Address a serious health condition (including pregnancy);
- Care for a family member with a serious health condition;
- Address family circumstances arising from a military service member's deployment; or
- Care for a newborn, newly-adopted child or newly-placed foster child.
These laws allow workers to meet their health and family needs without jeopardizing their economic security. Paid leave programs in a handful of states — that address a workers' own illness and the needs of family caregivers — provide models for the changes we need. In California, for example, a 2011 report revealed that six years after the introduction of a statewide paid family leave program, both workers and businesses report positive effects. The success of California's paid family leave program has proven many common objections to such programs unfounded and demonstrates the beneficial impact paid leave policies can have on working families.
We're working with lawmakers and advocates across the country to support a range of innovative proposals to make paid family and medical leave available to all working families.


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C H A N E LSunday, April 02, 2017
Jacket - vintage
denim - topshop
shoes - versus versace
Remember that mini getaway i took to Palm Springs?
Well other than eating my way through the desert I also hit up my fav vintage store. & this time around I found this delicious vintage chanel scarf bomber jacket. I don't think the jacket itself was made by Chanel, but someone used a Chanel scarf and used it as the fabric for this bomber & I gotta say it's pretty "bomb" .. get it ? :P .. yes yes I'm such a dork ..
so of course when Angelo and I did our shoot I had to include this rare find ~!
so much love and can't wait to wear it more! Def expect to see this piece on high rotation ;)


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John Crichton Farscape Ben Browder Leather Pants are very uniquely designed pants. Upon the first sight these pants may drag your attention like anything. It features a blend of sophistication which is hard to find anywhere else and may offer the one who owns it a flawless sense of dressing. The pants have been made from the best quality leather and the color black makes it suitable on all attires. The patterns of embossed leather are also made with fine lines making this pant a perfect piece of attraction.
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The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners needs citizens to apply for appointment to the following committees:
- Adult Care Home Community Advisory Committee
- Cooperative Extension Advisory Council
- Industrial Facilities and Pollution Control Financing Authority
- Nursing Home Community Advisory Committee
The deadline is May 2 and applications will be considered at the May 16 board meeting. Applications are available at the New Hanover County Government Center or on the County's web page.
Applicants must be a resident of New Hanover County.


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HANOVER, VA (WWBT) - Who knew a typical day on the deck would turn into an afternoon to remember? It happened to Bess Fifer in Mechanicsville, who saw an "upside down rainbow" in the sky.
Fifer has been watching the skies for years - keeping an eye out for rainbows and other treats. But this "smile in the sky" was a best ever for her!
"In 69 years, watching the signs in the skies, never have I ever seen anything like that," Fifer said.
And she might never again. On that day, conditions were just right for her to catch a rare upside down rainbow. And it happened without a drop of rain in the sky.
"It was May the 22nd... starting in the early afternoon," Fifer said.
When Bess looked overhead, she saw what's technically called a circumzenithal arc. And she didn't catch a run-of-the-mill circumzenithal arc.
"It was an upside down rainbow!" Fifer said.
So what causes this? Unlike a rainbow which is formed when the sun's rays pass through raindrops - this forms when sunlight passes through a high, wispy cloud made of ice crystals - a cirrus cloud.
The sun has to be low in the sky. And you the ice crystals have to be shaped like this. It's called a plate crystal. So here's how it works. The suns' rays enter the top of the crystal and exit the side. When they do so, the light is separated into very pure colors.
"I've never seen anything like it and I don't expect I'll ever see anything like it again," Fifer said.
So even on regular old days when it's not raining - keep your eye on the skies. You never know what will be smiling back at you.
(c) 2009. WWBT, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.


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With beautiful blue skies and no wind, It was hard to believe the weather we witnessed over the weekend. It was a wonderful change so I decided to meet up with Chris down at Bangor Harbour. I suppose this was just to have a quick scan in the lovely weather, but in the back of my mind, I think I wanted to try and find some of the birds we rung at the weekend. We made our way to the north side of the Harbour to a shingle beach overlooking Porth Penrhyn.The sea was an actual mill pond, so it wasn't long before we began skimming and throwing pebbles! It really wasn't long before I picked up a flock of Oystercatchers flying around very nervously with a pale brown bird of prey amongst them. It was flying very slowly so could only be a harrier sp or an owl. Bins went up to reveal a Short-eared Owl flying down the Menai Straits! It must have been a migrant bird as it eventually banked round and landed in the dunes 100 meters away round the corner. We sprinted round, not realising how close it had landed, flushing it allowing me to get a couple of reasonable record shots of this exciting migrant 'Bangor tick'! Also from this vantage point, we found a group of 7 Pale-bellied Brent Geese that landed on the sea.
Moving round to the harbour wall, we were able to view roosting waders where we saw at least 10 ringed Redshank, which we assumed had been ringed by SCAN (maybe the juvenile we ringed on Saturday was in there?) as well as a very approachable Rock Pipit. Whilst sitting along the harbour wall, we noticed 3 large 'disks' along the tide edge. Closer inspection revealed that they were infact Barrel Jellyfish. These were huge organisms with a bell diameter of at least 40cm. This is apparently the largest true jellyfish in British Waters, and is seemingly harmless.
We soon moved round to the playing fields to the west of Bangor Harbour where we sat on a concrete wall checking for ringed gulls. We quickly spotted two ringed Black-heads that were both ringed on their left leg. Close inspection revealed that they were ringed in Holland (3.61----) and Finland (I originally thought this was 0239892, but Kane Brides has informed me that Finnish Black-heads all start with ST, which could mean that there are multiple birds). I will try and get the full numbers tomorrow.
Whilst trying to read the rings, by feeding the gulls with potentially the nicest chips I have ever had, I spotted a stonking adult Mediterranean Gull which came in close, but didn't come to chips sadly. This is an overdue tick for Bangor for me.
Finnish ringed Black-headed Gull
Dutch ringed Black Headed GullWe ended the day at the Tesco car park in Bangor, trying to find as the Pied Wagtail roost there. We eventually found c100 birds roosting in a bush, which was next to a very public place, but I personally think they are ringable, so there could well be a ringing session there in the coming weeks with any luck.
It was a thoroughly enjoyable day, and one that just proves you don't need to spent £100 on a train to have a fantastic birding day!
[Ringed Black-headed Gulls update: 09/02/2011 saw another 'vigil' at Bangor Harbour watching the ringed Black-heads. I managed to confirm the Finnish bird as being 'ST 239.892' as well as another forgeign bird, '7T69449' which is a from Belgium. Sadly the Dutch bird wasn't seen today, but I will try again tomorrow with yet more chips!]


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Blog Archive
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- December(5)
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- : Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret ...
- Official Vampires Suck Trailer - August 28th 2010
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I have been known to hate a movie and others love it - and vice versa ... that's what makes us all unique and wonderful - we all have our own opinion, likes and dislikes!
If you are an author or publisher ... I would love to review your book! I read all genres, and would review all books in a reasonable time frame. You can contact me at email@example.com
My TOP CHICK FLICKS
3 - Twilight
4 - New Moon
5 - Because I Said So
6 - 27 Dresses
7 - How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
8 - Dirty Dancing
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10 - Sleepless in Seattle
11 - Never Been Kissed
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13 - The Notebook
I never ever get tired of watching any of these movies ...
* Good Grief by Lolly Winston
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Blog Archive
- : Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret ...
- Official Vampires Suck Trailer - August 28th 2010
- : Club Dead by Charlaine Harris :
- T.G.I.F. - August 27th 2010
- :Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris :
- : Fantastic Friday - August 20th 2010 :
- : Dead until Dark by Charlaine Harris :
- : Parenthood - TV Series :
- : The Pillars of the Earth - Mini Series :
- : Heaven by Virginia Andrews :
- : Moonlight by Rachel Hawthorne :
- : Versatile Blogger Award :
- Bon Jovi - Real Life (Video)
- Killers - August 3rd 2010
- : Inspiration - August 3rd 2010 :
- : Hourglass by Claudia Gray :
- ▼ August (17)
This is open INTERNATIONALLY.
The Prize? Your choice of Book up to $20.00 value - to be chosen from the BOOK DEPOSITORY website, and delivered by them directly to you, so before you enter ... make sure you check their site and see if they deliver to your part of the world.
Now all you have to do to enter ... is tell me what book you would like to see make it on to the big screen.
Winner will be chosen by random.org ... Giveaway closes on September 1st.
Good Luck and looking forward to your responses.
32 comments:
- Nomes said...
Ooooh - such an awesome give-away! I am a fan (um, addict) of the book depository :)
most excited about Aussie YA Beatle Meets Destiny - which I read then discovered is being made into a feature film. yay! will be an off-beat comedy.
Also, Stealing heaven by Elizabeth Scoot could make a good contemp movie.
and another Australian author Helen Fitzgeralds' the Devils Staircase. very arty and freaky with a serial killer too :)
- August 21, 2010 at 6:02 PM
- mummazappa said...
great giveaway! i am dying to see HM Brown's Red Queen make it to the big screen. It was the best book by an aussie author i've read in a long time, and i believe the film is in production at the moment - i can't wait to find out more and see it at the movies!
- August 21, 2010 at 9:38 PM
- Steph said...
Thats a tough one... I would have to say the Darkest Powers Series. I would love to see that one up. Oh and Shiver, that one too. Great contest!!!
P.S I put your contest on my sidebar under contests!!!
- August 21, 2010 at 10:23 PM
- AtenRa said...
Thanks Denny for the amazing contest :)
I'd love to see The Hunger Games made into a movie because I believe that with a good director, it could easily turn into an awesome film,packed with action and emotion!
giotav (AT) gmail (DOT) com
- August 21, 2010 at 11:27 PM
- Darlyn said...
Wow..Amazing contest Denny! Well, I really want Maximum Ride series by James Patterson come to the screen. Max is a very strong girl and she have wings!With loads of action and lunatic experiments on teens. That would be very captivating!
darlyn225 at gmail dot com
- August 22, 2010 at 12:01 AM
- Sean said...
I am going to shoot for Scott Westerfeld's Leviathan - one male, one female protagonist flying whalehips and mechanized walkers. Thinking Golden Compass but better
- August 22, 2010 at 6:04 AM
- stacey said...
I would love to See the Carpathian Novels by Christine Feehan made in to a movie or more likely a Tv Show.or the Dark Hunter novels by Sherrilyn Kenyon.
- August 22, 2010 at 11:39 AM
- Nayuleska said...
I'd love Scott Westereld's Uglies (and the rest) made into a film. They are so vivid and futuristic they would make a brilliant sci-fi movie.
- August 22, 2010 at 4:03 PM
- throuthehaze said...
I would love Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld to be made into a movie.
throuthehaze at gmail dot com
- August 23, 2010 at 8:12 AM
- tkj81 said...
i'd love to see Evernight by Claudia Gray on the big screen. I love a good love story with vampires!.
- August 24, 2010 at 11:04 AM
- Shy said...
Fantastic contest! After finish reading Midnighters series by Scott Westerfeld, I seriously would like to see how this series turns out on the big screen. So many action going on and in my opinion, this is one of the most brilliant YA books ever written!
- August 25, 2010 at 12:41 AM
- marian said...
awesome contest! thanks for having!
a book i would like to see on the big screen is the soul screamer series by rachel vincent
- August 27, 2010 at 3:21 PM
- Denny said...
WOW ... what an amazing range of books ... there are so many here that would make brilliant movies ..
Scott Westerfeld definately has a lot of fans ... lol.
Good luck to everyone that has entered .. and thanks for adding just a few more books to my list of books to be read xoxoxo
- August 27, 2010 at 3:43 PM
- jecca said...
i would love to see hunger games by Suzanne collins. it would be amazing to see that on the big screen.
- August 28, 2010 at 12:49 PM
- Christina said...
The book I would most like to see made into a movie is The Maze Runner. The book was good, but I didn't love it the way most of my friends did. I think it would make a fantastic movie. I could not choose something I love too much to make into a movie, since there are so many ways it could go wrong!
- August 30, 2010 at 12:56 PM
- jen7waters said...
Easy, my favorite book in the world: Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier. I would LOVE to see it on the big screen, I hope I do some day!
btw jecca, you know The Hunger Games will be made into movies, I mean, it's a sure thing, it's on pre-production right now;)
- August 30, 2010 at 1:32 PM
- jen7waters said...
forgot the email, not sure it's necessary...jen7waters(at)gmail(dot)com
enter me for the giveaway, please Denny ;)
- August 30, 2010 at 1:34 PM
- Ashley said...
I'd like to see the Cin Craven series made into a movie.
hewella1 at gmail dot com
- August 30, 2010 at 1:57 PM
- Lu said...
Absolutely amazing contest!!
Thanks so much for doing this :D
I would love to see Vampire Academy make it onto the big screen!
chidoryx AT hotmail DOT com
- August 30, 2010 at 4:48 PM
- Pink Panther said...
Hm.. I'd love to see the Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead on the big, silver screen! Richelle's books are brimming with action, fantasy, friendship and romance: an excellent recipe for a blockbuster! :)
Thanks so much for making this fabulous giveaway international! You can reach me at email@example.com
- August 30, 2010 at 5:37 PM
- Jodi said...
I would love to see Mindy Friddle's The Secret Keepers.
- August 30, 2010 at 10:42 PM
- Autumn said...
I want to see The Passage made into a movie. Although its so long it might need to be a two parter.
autumn. crochet (at) gmail .com
- August 30, 2010 at 11:26 PM
- Marjorie said...
I would like to see Joy Fielding's book Still Life made into a movie.
It is a super mystery.
cenya2 at hotmail dot com
- August 30, 2010 at 11:36 PM
- Liz. R said...
Thanks so much for this contest! I'd love to see The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong make it to the big screen - I love the Darkest Powers series and I think it's make a great movie!
- August 30, 2010 at 11:53 PM
- suzie said...
I would like to see Kathy Riech's book Bare Bones on the big screen
- August 31, 2010 at 11:50 AM
- Teddy Rose said...
What a fun question!
I would love to see The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein on the big screen.
teddyr66 at yahoo dot com
- August 31, 2010 at 1:41 PM
- Mystica said...
I would like to see The Widows Season made into a film.
- August 31, 2010 at 8:36 PM
I would love to see Rob Thurman's 'Nightlife' make it to the big screen. It's such a brilliant story and has great dialog that it would make a fortune in the hands of the right director/producer.
- September 1, 2010 at 3:17 AM
- Chantel said...
I heard that movie rights to Fallen by Lauren Kate and it's sequels have been bought and I'm really hoping that it's true. I'd love to see the movie version of Fallen.
cwilliams127 at gmail dot com
- September 1, 2010 at 6:57 AM
- GMR said...
Oooh...good question! Let's see....there's 3 actually. ONE: The Wicked Lovely series by Melissa Marr...although I hear this one may have sold the movie rights! TWO: Theater Illuminata series by Lisa Mantchev...would make an AWESOME movie...trust me. THREE: The Forbidden Game series by L.J. Smith. They just re-released this in an omnibus edition....though I read it back in the 90's and yeah, definitely make an awesome movie, or three, as well!
- September 2, 2010 at 1:58 AM
- Stella (Ex Libris) said...
Fantastic giveaway! Can't believe I forgot to enter. Hopefully you haven't closed it yet, have you? *puppy dog eyes*
Right now it is Ming Games by Carolyn Crane: amazing story, dashing heroes, and so many cool details I would love to see on screen! :-D
Thanks for a fantastic giveaway!
stella.exlibris (at) gmail (dot) com
- September 4, 2010 at 6:24 AM
- latishajean said...
I so want the vampire academy to be made in to a movie. Vampire Academy is my favorite books. great giveaway thank you.
im a follower too
- September 5, 2010 at 5:22 AM
About Me
- Denny
- Hi everyone .. I'm Denny. I am mum to 4 wonderful kids, wife to Mark, & grandma to Harlow & Amity. I am a PSP Junkie, read-a-holic, and movie buff. Believe me ... that is more than enough to keep me busy! Self Admitted Twilight and Bon Jovi addict - and that isn't a bad thing .. hehe. I lose hours in books ... all types, and love nothing better than reading till all hours of the night. Movies - yep ... you should see my collection - I love them all - Arthouse, Chick Flicks, Comedies, Suspense, you name it. Also a confirmed Facebook junkie! Do I sound like I need help? Well, stay tuned ... follow me around, and it might just rub off!
: Recommended to Me :
Jane Bites Back by Michael Thomas Ford
Lodestone Book One: The Sea of Storms by Mark Whiteway
Death With Interruptions by Jose Saramago
Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller
The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting
Read Sea by Heidi R. Kling
Vital Signs by Robin Cook
Sarum by Edward Rutherford
The Samurai's Garden by Gail Tsukiyama
The Cabinet of Curiosities by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See
Red Demon by Deidre Knight
The Secret River by Kate Grenville
Saving Ceecee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman
Theater Illuminata series (Eyes Like Stars and Perchance to Dream) by Lisa Mantchev
The Forbidden Game by L.J. Smith
My name is Memory by Ann Brashares
My Sister's Voice by Mary Carter
Beatrice and Virgil by Yann Martel


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Tris-Tricine/SDS Electrophoresis Buffer (10x), SERVA
This product is not sold individually. You must select at least 1 quantity for this product.
Availability: This product is no longer in stock
Availability date:
Performance & Economy.
Size: 1 L (10X)
Customer ratings and reviews
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Cruz's new 'Office Space' ad hits Clinton
Damn, it feels good to be a Clinton. Or so it would seem, according to Ted Cruz's latest ad released Friday.
The Cruz campaign released its first ad explicitly going after Hillary Clinton on Friday, set to the tune of Geto Boys' "Damn It Feels Good to be a Gangsta."
Story Continued Below
"Damn it feels good to be a Clinton. A shameless politician plays her cards right," the lyrics begin, featuring a cast and scene ripped from the 1999 comedic hit "Office Space." "Got a crew for the fights on the airwaves. Lap dogs in the press keep their mouths tight."
Featuring Clinton and others taking turns destroying a computer with a baseball bat, the ad drives home the message that Cruz has made during debates and on the campaign trail about her use of a private server while secretary of state.
"Cause a Clinton never needs to explain what. Why it is what they've done or with who. A real Clinton knows they're entitled. You don't get to know what they do," the lyrics continue.
The actress playing Clinton gets increasingly violent in the 58-second ad, after the spot makes use of her "what difference does it make" line from her 2013 congressional testimony on Benghazi. "A Clinton plays the victim for promotion. A Clinton kills it off with a smile," the spot continues.
"Damn it feels good to be a Clinton. A server full of secrets ain't no thing. Damn it feels good to be a Clinton. Nothing ever hits with a sting," the spot ends.
The ad release comes a day after the campaign pulled down another spot, following the discovery that it featured an actress who had appeared in softcore porn films.


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Today I have an Inspirational Post for Treasured Times Rubber Stamps for you all.
I have used a gorgeous image from Jody Stacy called Lilly Mae - The Dress. This image feels vintage to me so that's the colourings I have aimed for in my card today. I have gone with a soft pink and brown theme.
I have also used some papers by Michele Roos which are exclusive to Treasured Times Rubber Stamps called Treasure My Heart
This is the image After Colouring before it was placed on a card.
My image is coloured using Copic Markers purchased from Craft-a-Lot here in Australia.
Products Used on this card
X-Press it Blending Card
X-Press it Double Sided Tape
My Favorite Things Dienamics Blueprints 8
My Favorite Things Dienamics Scrolled Flourishes
Lawn Fawn Beep Boop Birthday
Poppy Stamps Vintage Bird Cage
Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad Tea Dye
Sponge Dauber
My Favorite Things Hybrid Ink - Black Licorice
Tombow Mono Multi Liquid Adhesive
Twiddleybitz Card Base
All the flowers used are from my stash and I have no idea what companies they are from
Copic Markers Used
Skin E50, E51, E53, E55, R20
Hair Y23, YR31, Y26, Y15
Wardrobe E30, E31, E33
Floor Boards E0000, E21, E11
Mouse T2, T4
Coat Hangers R83, R85
Hanging Pants RV91, RV93
Dresses/Boots/Shoes RV32, RV34
Glitter Text @ Glitterfy.com


text: Creator/Created Revue "Emotion," "intelligence," "creativity" No, I'm not trying to sell you a luxury sedan or a Swiss watc Changeist March 15 · Issue #16 · View online A periodic look into research threads on critical futures, strategy, post-normal innovation, providing a look over the shoulder of the team at Changeist. Each issue includes brief analysis, links, updates, and occasional auditory hallucinations. "Emotion," "intelligence," "creativity" No, I'm not trying to sell you a luxury sedan or a Swiss watch. These are terms that are increasingly—and quite loosely—applied to machine learning. Applications and devices, we are told, can "sense" or "know" human emotions like a person. The terms "artificial intelligence" and "AI" are being attached to practically anything that can respond to a database query at the moment, rendering the definition of what constitutes intelligence in machine form functionally meaningless. Poor Alan Turing's initial concept of a test for machine intelligence has been left drowning in the rush to ride the frothing white peaks of the hype curve. And now creativity has come in for the same treatment. DeepMind's doodles are positioned as art (a different, and quite interesting strain, perhaps, but same as human art? Have we finished that debate?). Google's AlphaGo matches of human player vs machine have been reported and retweeted with evangelical fervor, with oohs and aahs about the creativity of AlphaGo's play. Yet, is applying a novel combination of possible moves creative, or working through an (admittedly highly complex and adaptive) instruction set?My point isn't to set out firm definitions, but to ask if the conversations around these definitions are settled to the point where developers and marketers can claim victory conditions and move on. Roelof Pieters and Igor Schwarzmann both touched on this on Twitter recently. Hey, people have product to sell, I get it. But don't we lose a bit (or a lot) when we let sloppy definitions slide through? How do we know when the real achievements have been made? Activity Log The Long View | Futures Centre thefuturescentre.org Forum for the Future was kind enough to invite us to contribute, which I did in the form of an essay on using the IoT for everyone, not just a relative first-world few. Follow the link to find out how to purchase a copy of this great annual publication. Creator/Created Rebranding artificial intelligence: IBM Watson partners with Ogilvy & Mather - New York Business Journal www.bizjournals.com Before Google, there was (and still is) IBM, past masters of technology marketing. Ask yourself, considering AI's potential future impacts, do you want its definitional boundaries set by a Super Bowl ad? CreativeAI — Medium medium.com Samim Winiger and Roelof Pieters have started an interesting series looking at this very issue of what constitutes creative AI. Part I is out on Medium, and provides an interesting thumbnail history. Future of Workforce Automation: America's Predictions | Pew Research Center www.pewinternet.org One bit of fallout from poor public education about technology is the inability to properly assess impacts—and possible economic consequences—of that technology on their own lives. The Network Let's See What We Can Do: Designing Agency — Medium medium.com That Dr. Dan Lockton is on it again, making sense about agency in design. Idle Thoughts on Seeing and Knowing blog.tobiasrevell.com Tobias Revell questions what we know about knowing. Did you enjoy this issue? If you don't want these updates anymore, please unsubscribe here Powered by Revue Changeist / A-Lab: Lab 101 / Overhoeksplein 2 / 1031 KS Amsterdam / The Netherlands


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At King Arthur Flour, Savoring the Perks of Employee Ownership
Last month, a recipe for lemon cake filled with pastry cream and lemon curd spread quickly on Facebook, garnering 6,200 shares and 9,900 likes. Of the 300-plus commenters, some had followed the recipe and were displaying photos of their frosted creations, while others asked baking questions or inquired about dairy- and gluten-free versions of the recipe. Another contingent was just plain hungry. "I need a piece of that cake right now," one person wrote.
The recipe and the Facebook page are those of King Arthur Flour, which began importing flour to Boston from Britain in 1790. Now based in Norwich, Vt., the company makes and sells its own products, including dozens of flours along with baking supplies and equipment.
Jesse Cloutier, the company's digital engagement supervisor, quickly wrote a playful reply to the Facebook user who was desperate for an immediate lemon-cake fix. "We've got a piece right here that we'll be happy to mail to yo…," Mr. Cloutier wrote. "Oh! Oh dear. I'm afraid there are only a few crumbs lef — aaaaaand those are gone too."
Mr. Cloutier isn't just on staff at King Arthur Flour; like 340 other employees, he's also a partial owner of the company.
Since 2004, King Arthur Flour has been 100 percent employee-owned. After the first year of employment, all workers who log more than 800 hours a year, including seasonal and part-time laborers, are eligible for the employee stock ownership program, or ESOP.
ESOPs are retirement plans that function much like 401(k)'s, but with one enormous difference: The company fully funds ESOPs without any financial contributions by employees.


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Support The Echo Park Time Bank (CRSP)! You don't have to pledge anything or buy anything you don't want or need. We would like to ask that you consider donating your old used tennis shoes through our drive with Green Sneakers. Your used sneakers are worth more than you think! Support The Echo Park Time Bank (CRSP) with your used shoes by dropping them at Fix Coffee 2100 Echo Park Ave L.A. CA 90026 between Dec 9th-31st. There will also be a drop box at the Silverlake Holiday Night Out event on Saturday, Dec 17th. Bring the shoes to the Complimentary Booth at the Satellite parking lot (1717 Silver Lake Boulevard).
By donating your used tennis shoes you will not only be supporting our organization but you will also help protect our environment and contribute to the economies and well being of developing countries. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions about our drive and thank you in advance for helping our cause.
Green Sneakers pays the Echo Park Time Bank up to $.50 a pound for the shoes. With an average pair of shoes weighing in at about 2 pounds, that's roughly $1 a pair. Eventually the shoes go to a sorting facility where Green Sneakers staff process the collection, keeping them from the local landfill and making them ready for distribution to other people in need. Ultimately The Echo Park Time Bank hopes to gather at least 1,000 pairs of sneakers to help support our 2012 operating costs and Time Bank software renewal.
Please be sure to tie the laces together when you drop off the shoes! You may also make a tax deductible donation on our Give Page.
Thank You!
EPTB Shoe Drive
2 comments:
- Sujay said...
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- April 4, 2012 at 2:42 PM
- Pauline Patrick said...
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- October 15, 2015 at 7:18 PM
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Rosetta probe captures brilliant photos of comet outburst
The European Space Agency (ESA) has released stunning images taken by the Rosetta spacecraft that reveal a brilliant flash of light on the comet it's studying that could have been caused by a landslide.
The outburst, as the space agency refers to the event, occurred on February 19, when Rosetta was about 22 miles away from the comet.
The probe's instruments captured a variety of dramatic phenomena during the outburst: spikes in the amount of ultraviolet light reflected by the comet, as well as dust, plasma, gas, and a big temperature increase. The ESA has assembled images of the outburst into a GIF that shows it unfolding in half-hour intervals as the comet rotates.
The space agency said the event happened on the large lobe of the comet, which carries the name Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko.
Eberhard Grün, the author of a study about the event that will appear in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, said in a statement that they "think the outburst must have been triggered by a landslide at the surface, rather than a more focused jet bringing fresh material up from within the interior, for example."
Rosetta launched on a mission to rendezvous with the comet and dispatch a lander, Philae, to its surface, which it did in November, 2014. But the landing didn't go as planned, and the ESA soon lost contact with Philae. In July, the space agency shut down its communications link with the lander, which had been in "eternal hibernation" for some time, even if it did briefly communicate with Rosetta in 2015.
Rosetta's journey will come to an end on September 30, when mission controllers send it on a "controlled descent" to the comet, and after that, it won't be able to communicate anymore, although it will be able to make measurements on the way down.
Follow Rob Verger on Twitter: @robverger


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Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Where to buy Silver
Many people, places, dealers, salespersons etc sell or appear to sell silver. You can buy silver from dealers, mints, at auction sites as well as from the jewelry store down the road ir in the shopping mall.
As well as buying the right kind of silver for your needs, whether coins, bars or silver bullion, it is important to ensure that the company or dealer you are buying silver from does not just have a good price but also can be relied upon to actually deliver or ship the silver.
Some of the things you can check are:
How long have they been in business selling silver?
Do they have good cont act details, a fixed address that can be checked?
Are there contact phone and email details? Are they easy to contact or does the phone ring out and no one answers or response to the email.
Do they offer a guarantee? Is the product genuine and is there a guarantee and or warranty?
Do they insure their shipping? Do they give you a tracking ID so you can check on the progress of your shipped silver?
It can be an advantage to establish a link with one individual in the company if you can, especially if you want to buy silver on a regular basis. It is better to have someone you can talk to rather than a faceless 'team'.
It is probably safer to select a large long standing company that has been around for some time and has a clearly outlined and extensive customer service policy. They are members of the Better Business Bureau and other associations in the industry.
Most of the well established companies also have some information about themselves, such as who the principals are in the company and how the company was established and when.
It can also be a good idea to establish two or more companies from which you can buy silver. Especially if you are looking for a particular silver coin for example and one comp-any runs out of stock, then you can turn to another. Also it is good for comparing prices and even negotiating a better price if you know the prices of the two or more companies which you deal.
Keeping an eye on the above principles will help you to know where to buy silver as well as what silver to buy and for how much.
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Travel agency watching.sk was established in year 2011 with the main aim to reveal the beauties of Slovak nature to the domestic and foreign clients.
We organize trips focused mainly on birdwatching in Slovakia and in our neighboring countries (Hungary, Austria). Since this year we offer also trips focused on plantwatching or wildlifewatching (bears, wolves, deer). Program of our trips include also visits of interesting cultural and historical places.
We cooperate with experts in individual fields (ornithologists, botanists, zoologists) and mainly local people. At the same time we try to keep our actions as environmental friendly as possible.
We occasionally organize also lectures and excursions for children and public or short courses on identifying birds and their voices, particularly around Bratislava.
Ján Dobšovič (1980) is dealing with ornithology and nature protection since 1996. He studied Environmental Science at the Faculty of Natural Sciences of the Comenius University in Bratislava, where he also worked as the head of the student part of the academic senate. In years 2002-2004 he led international environmental camps at Záhorie for the Bratislava regional environmental association (BROZ). He was the coordinator of Non-governmental board Naše Tatry, which was created after the wind calamity in Tatras in 2004. In present he is a leader of subdivision of the Slovak ornithological society/BirdLife Slovakia in Bratislava and a chairman of Nature Guard Club. He still helps at the Faculty of Natural Sciences and organizes field trips and lectures for public and pupils. He had the idea of establishing a travel agency for longer period althoug this came into existence only in year 2011. Now he takes advantage of his many years volunteer experiences.
Michal Richter (1980) became involved with nature thanks to his father, who was a wildlife enthusiast and volunteer ranger in Tatra National Park. He has been interested in nature protection since early childhood and became a photographer in 1998. Finished sinology studies at the Faculty of Arts of the Comenius University in Bratislava. Between 2007 and 2010 lived alternately in Slovakia and China, where along studying Chinese language, he also worked as a private teacher of English language and tour guide. Has worked as an interpreter on photographic trips in the US, Southeast Asia and Europe. Recently works as an interpreter and teacher in private language school in Bratislava. Among many his hobbies, those notable are: wildlife photography, travelling, bird and butterfly watching. His photographic work was published in Slovak sinology yearbooks and magazines and in Indian Internet photo journal. In photography, he specialises mainly in bird and macro (butterfly) photography.
Koprivnická 15
841 01 Bratislava
mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
phone: +421 948 495 111
Copyright Bird.watching.sk 2012. run on WordPress


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To know her is to adore her. Bethany Harvey Stewart is one of the most unassuming women I have ever met. I have known Bethany for a few years now and our friendship has deepened over time with the advent of children, Facebook, and now, photography. I really enjoyed photographing Bethany for so many reasons….most of all because I witnessed that *moment* when she finally just "let go" and gave herself permission to show up in the photographs….and once she did she literally shone like a prism. She makes me remember that we are in fact spiritual beings- our body is our vessel, and our eyes the windows to our soul.
1) What did you think about the approach of the upcoming photo shoot ( before you got there) and what were the results you were expecting?
When Robyn and Monica first asked me, my first reaction was that it would be fun. But, after I thought about it some more I was terrified. I was very nervous, not so much about taking the photos, but about other people seeing them. I was worried that people might think I was a narcissist for having pictures taken of myself, when in reality my self esteem was at a very low point. An interesting thing happened on the drive over, though. I really felt exhilarated by the idea of doing something that scared me. That hadn't happened in a while! As far as what I was expecting, I know that you both are wonderful photographers, but you can only do so much with a subject! I have never enjoyed posed photos of myself….aside from my wedding photos and pictures of my pregnant belly. So, I was not confident…in me, not in you!
2) How did you feel during the shoot and was there anything in particular that made you feel more or less relaxed or open to the process? Can you tell me if there was a point in which you finally "surrendered" to the shoot and do you remember when, and what made it happen?
I loved that the pictures were being taken at your home and on regular furniture, not with traditional photography props and and backdrops. That put me at ease somewhat. You and Robyn have such a good time together, and you both kept me laughing. I don't know if I ever really "let go" completely, but you were both good at distracting me and eliciting natural smiles and expressions.
3) Can you describe in three words the way you felt before we shot.
Exhilarated, terrified, unworthy
4) 3 words for after
Exhilarated, optimistic, empowered
5) Three words for when you saw the results
Thrilled, surprised, flattered
6) After you left but before you saw the results – did you have any thoughts about the experience? What were some of the things you thought about on the drive home?
I was laughing all night about some of the antics you two went through to get me loosened up! I was really nervous about having the pictures posted on facebook for the world to see.
7) When you saw the results can you tell me your first impression?
I wasn't sure I was really looking at me!
Can you talk about the feedback you received from those who saw your photographs?
I got so many wonderful comments from friends and family (mostly women). I think most of them understood the motivation behind the photo shoot. So many of us stop thinking of ourselves as beautiful individuals once we take that leap to motherhood. Many women told me how brave they thought I was.
9) Did you feel beautiful during the shoot? why? why not?
Ummm, I was still feeling pretty unworthy during the shoot. When you showed me a couple of the shots on your camera mid way through, I felt a little more confident.
10) Did you feel empowered? why? Why not?
That feeling didn't really hit me until after the shoot. I was so proud that I went through with it. It was so outside of my comfort zone…and I hadn't been there in quite some time. That felt amazing.
11) Since the shoot happened almost two weeks ago now can you talk about the lasting impact of the experience? Has it altered the way you view yourself or your surroundings?
Since participating in the revelation project, the truth that has come to light for me is that sometime during the last five years, since I quit my job to be with my two children full time, I ceased to really see myself as an individual. I always put my needs last, even denied that I might have needs outside of caring for my family. Now many might say that that is what being a parent is all about. Being a parent requires always considering the needs of one's children. I don't argue with that. The question I have come to ask myself is, isn't there a way to fulfill my own needs without sacrificing the needs of those I love? Wouldn't taking care of myself and truly being happy and fulfilled, wouldn't that in fact be the best gift to (and example to set for) my girls? Seeing those pictures of me (not of me and my kids, or even of me and my husband but of JUST ME) woke something up inside of me that had been buried far too long. I am excited to get to know myself again and I insist on making my own happiness a priority. The reality is, if I am not truly happy, I am not really capable of offering by best self to others either. We all deserve more.
12) Do you think this was an important/valuable experience for yourself? why?
Yes! I knew that I had been feeling low, but I didn't quite realize how badly I had been perceiving myself until looking in hindsight after this experience. It was an amazing feeling looking at a beautiful, confident woman and realizing I AM HER. WHOA. Who knew?
13) Do you think it's relevant for other women? why?
Yes! I have been encouraging everyone to try this. It's hard to explain, but it's like stepping outside of yourself and gaining a new and better perspective – on YOU. I am thinking more than I have in a long time about who I am as an individual and what I need to be happy and fulfilled. I want to make that woman in the photos proud!
14) How would you use the photos moving forward? Professionally? Personally? as gifts?
Any of the above. I am so happy to have them for my girls, too.
15) If you could sum up the experience what would you say?
I would say that this experience is an incredible gift you can give to yourself.


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easyJet warns over Brexit costs as passenger numbers rise
easyJet's European network continued to drive passenger growth in the three months ending September 30th, with passenger numbers reaching a record 22 million.
The low-cost carrier also recorded a strong load factor of 93.9 per cent.
Passengers have benefitted from the low fares across our network with revenue per seat at constant currency decreasing by 8.7 per cent during the quarter compared to this same period in 2015.
easyJet has performed strongly in a difficult operating environment for all European airlines and in the three month period has been affected by major disruption, exchange rate fluctuations impacting holiday travel costs, the impact on demand from terrorist events and the low cost of fuel continuing to drive increased market capacity.
The Luton-based airline has grown capacity by 6.1 per cent in the quarter compared to prior year, continuing to deliver its strategy of enhanced long-term competitive advantage through building leading positions at key airports in its core summer beach routes and its European City network.
Cost per seat excluding fuel at constant currency is expected to decrease by 1.1 per cent for the full year, slightly better than previous guidance.
Cost per seat at constant currency including fuel is expected to decrease by 4.6 per cent.
easyJet remains very focused on cost and has continued to drive structural improvements, such as in maintenance and overhead costs.
Significant exchange rate movements since the EU referendum result have had a net adverse impact on the company.
Foreign exchange rate movements are now expected to have around a £90 million adverse impact compared to the financial year to September 30th 2015, an increase of £35 million since June 23rd.
easyJet's unit fuel bill for the second half of the financial year is expected to decrease by between £75 million and £80 million compared to the six months to September 30th, 2015.


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The picture above is of a sweet little book called, "I Like You" by Sandol Stoddard Warburg. Mitchell gave me a copy last year on a trip to Santa Barbara and it is now one of my all time books. It is a perfect present for anyone, friends, family or anyone else you love because it describes all the things that make us like each other. Every page in the book is quote-worthy but these lines are my favorite:
You laugh
I think I'm funny and you think I'm funny too


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TCAPS Kindergarten Program
Enroll Now!
TCAPS offers comprehensive educational programs for your child in a safe and joyful learning environment with capable and caring teachers. Child care programs for preschool and kindergarten age children that complement the regular school day experience are also available as fee-based program offerings.
Kindergarten Options
The following kindergarten options are available (*pending enrollment):
- All day / every day kindergarten is available at all TCAPS elementary schools (including Montessori). TCAPS' kindergarten classes are taught by experienced, certified, early childhood teachers. Students attend a full day, five days per week. The kindergarten program is based on a set of engaging standards, aligns with the State of Michigan Grade Level Content Expectations and is intended to prepare children for first grade upon successful completion. Language arts, math, science, social studies, art, music, physical education, and Spanish language instruction are part of the curriculum.
- Montessori Primary Program is an all day / every day kindergarten program for students of kindergarten age. Kindergarten in a TCAPS Montessori program is a primary experience with a child-centered environment endorsing Montessori philosophy and methodology. The classroom director has Montessori and Michigan Elementary Certification. Transportation will be self-provided at TCAPS Montessori at Glenn Loomis.
Questions About Kindergarten
TCAPS' kindergarten program will provide an exciting and joyful learning journey for your child. TCAPS' caring and highly qualified teachers understand the whole child and are skilled in approaches that will engage and inspire your young learner. See below for more information about the kindergarten program and how to register. View TCAPS Kindergarten Information Booklet.
How old must my child be to enter kindergarten?
To enroll in kindergarten, a child must be five years old on or before September 1 of the enrollment year. However, according to Michigan law,* if a child residing in a district is not five years of age on or before September 1, but will turn five years of age not later than December 1 of the enrollment year, the parent or legal guardian may choose to enroll their child in kindergarten by completing a Kindergarten Waiver Form to enroll his/her student in school.
When in receipt of a waiver request, districts can make recommendations to the child's parent or legal guardian, as to the child's readiness for school, and whether or not the child should be enrolled early. Regardless of a district's recommendation, the parent or legal guardian retains the sole discretion to enroll their child. Questions regarding enrollment should be directed to Mary Beth Stein at email@example.com or 231.933.1718.
What documents do we need for registration?
- Birth Certificate
- Proof of Residency
- Completed TCAPS Enrollment Form
- Proof of Immunization
- Selection of Kindergarten Program Options
- Transportation Request Form
- Kindergarten Waiver Form (if appropriate)
- View more enrollment information
Where can I find contact information for my local school?
View school address and phone numbers here. If you are not sure which school serves your area, please call our transportation department at 231.933.1933 for more information.
Do you have child care programs at the schools?
Extended Day Child Care programs are offered at all TCAPS elementary schools. The programs are licensed through the State of Michigan and offer:
- flexible scheduling
- enrichment activities to build social skills, teamwork, and interpersonal relationships
- homework and academic support
- qualified, caring, trained, and experienced staff
- outstanding facilities
- nutritious snacks
- a safe and nurturing school environment
Before school hours begin at 7:00 AM and continue until the start of the school day. After school hours begin when school ends and continues until 6:00 PM each day. The program starts on the scheduled first day of school and ends on the scheduled last day of school. For more information, visit the Extended Day Child Care webpage or call 231.933.1781.
When do we register for kindergarten?
Beginning in February, Traverse City Area Public Schools will conduct parent information meetings and begin to register children for kindergarten for the following school year. If you are not able to attend one of the parent meetings, please contact your local school for more information or call TCAPS' Pupil Accounting at 231.933.1718.


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My Dinner with Dubie
Recently my wife, Louisa, and I had our friend, the poet Norman Dubie, over for dinner. Knowing Norman's eclectic literary tastes, I assumed that his culinary cravings would be demanding and, likely, strange. So I set about cooking a complex meal I thought would rival his poetic quirkiness.
I had recently returned to academia after a 15-year stint in the food and wine industry, which took me through an obsessive series of jobs driving ice cream trucks, running an Alaskan diner adjacent to a bowling alley, launching an avant-garde catering company (read: chicken liver ice cream and frozen salad cubes), sautéing hog snapper in Key West, designing menus for Julia Roberts's private parties in Taos, New Mexico, picking wine grapes and mopping cantina floors in Barolo, Italy, and searching for ways in which to suffuse the edible with the stuff of poetry. Perhaps, I hoped, this dinner with Dubie would finally provide some direction.
Since I didn't want to bury myself in the kitchen all night, I felt a three-courser would suffice. We'd start with seared sea scallop with lychee nut–sesame sorbet, parmigiano tuile, and lavender oil. Then, for a second course, we'd have Pacific red snapper with sweet corn glaze, baby bok choy, roasted shallot, and red wine–macerated cherries. We'd finish with revisionist Caprese salad for dessert.
I had been reading Dubie's The Mercy Seat, his collected and new poems from 1967 to 2001. Many of the poetic collisions, subversions, and juxtapositions therein inspired, in some semiconscious way, the dishes I wanted to prepare for him. I love these poems for their drama, their characters, their social conscience, and their hilarity. Norman once told me: "Dude, all my poems are jokes."
Every so often Norman lifts the veil and steps, larger than life, center stage. I could only hope my scallops would accomplish the same sort of theatrical curtsey, directly, as a Dubie poem does in addressing its audience. His poem "Oration: Half-Moon in Vermont" is a great example of this. It ends:
In a year the owl will go on a shelf in the shed
Where in thirty years there will be a music box
Containing a lock of hair, her rosaries,
Her birth certificate,
And an impossibly sheer, salmon-pink scarf. What
I want to know of my government is
Doesn't poverty just fucking break your heart?
Reading this for the first time, I felt like someone had just pulled the chair from beneath me at the junior high lunchroom table again. I was similarly disarmed and abashed, and delighted. The line break after the "What" is essential to this effect, this surprise. If I could replicate such successful indulgences on the plate, if I could force upon the framework of the Caprese salad elements of dessert—basil ice cream, buffalo mozzarella syrup, oven-dried sweet tomato and tomato rock candy—surely the man would nod, satisfied, his ample belly bucking with half-digested versions of his owl on the shelf in the shed, his salmon-pink scarf. . . .
When 7:30PM came, I turned off all four burners and flipped the oven dial to warm. As I neurotically checked and rechecked the range, making sure the burners were indeed cooling, Louisa started the car. Norman Dubie does not drive, so we went to pick him up.
After a quick five-minute jaunt we reached Dubie's apartment, an anonymous little claptrap located at the end of an alley behind a laundromat. We knocked on the door and heard a hurried, disheveled "Just a minute!" from the other side. Not surprisingly, Norman was running a little late.
He opened the door, his sternum-length white beard unfurling into the windy night, clad only in a one-piece ankle-length black nightshirt and black cowboy boots. This was a familiar sight. Many nights, Louisa and I meditate with Dubie, a devout Tibetan Buddhist. While Dubie dressed in his bedroom, Louisa and I surveyed the apartment, looking for any new Buddhist artifacts among the living room–turned–shrine. Having collected many such artifacts over the years, he has resorted to suspending new posters and clippings and weavings from his ceiling with string, often joking that when he dies, the place will have to be detoxed with chisel and flame.
Dubie soon reemerged and absentmindedly rummaged through a cabinet above his fossil of a stove. With a quiet aha! he took down a well-worn, water-stained copy of The Iowa Writers' Workshop Cookbook and passed it to me with one word: gift. The book smelled like the inside of my late grandmother's purse—all clove and camphor. In this tome, published in 1986, beneath dried splatters of decades-old grease, various graduates of the esteemed workshop render their favorite recipes replete with pinches of the lyric and literary quirks. Howard Nemerov provides his recipe for Eggs Maladict (substituting Spam for ham, Kraft mayo for hollandaise, and so on); Tess Gallagher reveals her Pears à la Carver ("Move swiftly to the table with the remaining pair of pears. Tell Carver: that's all there is. He will want to eat yours first. Tell him that's fine."); Charles Simic waffles (the verb, not the noun), "My recipes are top secret. The C.I.A. and K.G.B have tried for years to get them from me. . . ."; and Dubie details the recipe for a loaf of the corn and cheese bread that he often ate as a child growing up in Vermont and New Hampshire. The introduction, by Peter Nelson and Connie Brothers, discusses how "a good poem . . . will be like a good recipe, with the proper ingredients, hopefully fresh, in the right proportions. . . ."
Food and poetry have long shared this nebulous relationship rooted in their mutual ability to nourish mind, body, and soul. Much of the best poetry, like Norman's, finds a way to comfort as it agitates: the comfort often in the reminder of what it means to be human, living on Planet Earth today; the agitation in the reader's guided navigation out of some benign complacency and into some species-based awareness, like How to Love, or What to Eat, or How to Love What You Eat.
The poetry editor of Alimentum: The Literature of Food, Cortney Davis, affirms, "The best foods are layered—we notice the hint of rosemary behind the muscular taste of tomato or the suggestion of oak that appears moments after the swallow of a fine wine. . . . Some foods taste better left-over—the second-day helping of turkey and stuffing at Thanksgiving. Poems must be multi-layered too, and they must last not only through the second serving, but through many readings, offering us . . . another revelation, another way of looking at ourselves. . . ."
As a master of the dramatic monologue and a lover of food, Dubie knows: In our attempts to replicate the recipe or voice of another, on the plate or in verse, we extend a communicative lure to artists past, their histories and their obsessions. When we prepare (and, by default, reinterpret) a classic lobster thermidor, communicating with its 1891 inception on the Boulevard Saint-Denis in Paris, we are in effect creating our own elegy, our own dramatic monologue of the gustatory sort, the dead speaking to us in vocables and edibles and, dare I say, tongues. This breed of stratified discourse compels us to return to certain dishes and poems again and again, at various stages in our lives, seeking comfort or challenge, defining ourselves as readers, or eaters, based on the different ways in which we collide with the art at different times.
When Dubie himself collided with the evening's revisionist Caprese salad, he didn't close his eyes, didn't moan, didn't say anything close to "Hey—you know what?—this dish reminds me of my poem 'Oration: Half-Moon in Vermont.'" Instead, he confessed that he fabricated his corn and cheese bread recipe for the editors of The Iowa Writers' Workshop Cookbook while "a little drunk over a pay phone in a bar." In that bar, I picture David Mamet hustling pool and John Irving honing his pickup lines. I picture myself trying too hard, feeding Julia Roberts a teaspoonful of arugula granita, which she promptly spits at Irving's feet. "But somehow," Dubie said, swallowing the last mouthful of my basil ice cream, "it works. That corn and cheese bread, dude. It works."
Perhaps the connection between food and poetry is this simple, residing in a yellowed copy of The Iowa Writers' Workshop Cookbook stinking of clove. Perhaps this simplicity eluded me when attempting to prepare a complex three-courser that would speak to Norman Dubie's poetic flights of fancy. After dinner, Dubie, the man who in his poetry communes with the likes of Georg Trakl, Margaret Fuller, and Vincent van Gogh, leaned back in his chair and said that next time, cheddar cheese corn bread and glazed carrots would be fine.
Matthew Gavin Frank is the author of the memoirs, Barolo (2010) and Pot Farm (2012); and several collections of poetry, including The Morrow Plots (2013), Warranty in Zulu (2010), and Sagittarius Agitprop (2009). He earned an MFA in Poetry and Creative Nonfiction from Arizona State University. His work also appears in the New Republic,...
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Tuesday, March 9, 2010
The Leprechaun Trap
Posted by The Blessed Bryants at 8:30 PM 2 comments
Saturday, January 30, 2010
January 30, 2010....SNOW DAY!!
I decided I'd give sledding a try. That was FUN!!
Chad came out for a few minutes with no socks or gloves on. Needless to say he was only out there for a few minutes!
Chad and Ashlyn tried sledding together but that didn't work so well!
My pretty girl!
After freezing outside....Hot Chocolate and a fire are a must!
Posted by The Blessed Bryants at 3:00 PM 0 comments
Friday, January 8, 2010
Italian punch, please!
Yesterday, Ashlyn and I went to the grocery store to get some comfort food to eat since we were going to get snowed in. (The snow didn't happen. I'm not surprised!) I try not to take her to the store much because I end up spending way to much money on stuff that we really do not need and most of the time something I don't have a coupon for. She wanted a Lunchable and begged me to go over to the aisle they were on. I gave in because I wanted her to have something special to eat while the snow was falling :-) so we made our way over. They had the small Lunchables on sale....3/$5. I encouraged her to get those but she insisted on getting one with ITALIAN punch. I had no idea what she was talking about so I kept encouraging her to get the cheaper one. Well, the tears came and I could tell she was devastated so I said "just get the one you want and let's go". So...she proceeded to grab one and put it in the cart. The one with HAWAIIAN punch! Ha! I love my AshyPoo...she definitely makes me laugh!!
Posted by The Blessed Bryants at 10:09 AM 1 comments


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Oil major Exxon Mobil Corp said Chief Executive Rex Tillerson, who is U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's pick for Secretary Of State, would retire at the end of the year.
Continue Reading Below
Exxon said President Darren Woods would take over as chairman and CEO, effective Jan. 1.
(Reporting by Swetha Gopinath in Bengaluru; Editing by Savio D'Souza)


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Can someone please help me? I am running windows 7 as my primary os and decided to try windows 10 on its own hard disk. The installation was successful but I can't get into windows 7 now unless I force boot in the bios. The funny thing is that the windows 10 hard disk is labeled as boot manager in the bios but there is no boot manager option available. Could someone walk me through the fix for this? I really don't want to reinstall again.
Sorry if this is a repost, but I'd really appreciate the help.