text:
Spring has sprung and the wineries are also preparing for some fun seasonal events that will get you partying in floppy hats and pastel colors. Come socialize, taste some wine, and see for yourself what everyone is talking about!
Baily Vineyard & Winery
Easter Egg Hunt for Doggies
Sunday, April 20 / 11:30a-2:30p
Bring your well-mannered pooch to lunch and an egg hunt
Dog Day Sundays
Every Sunday / 11:30a-2:30p
Bring your well-mannered pooch to lunch
Estate Club Private Wine Tasting
Thursday-Sunday / 11:00a-2:30p
Tours and vertical tasting of Boudreaux reds
Call for reservations: 951-972-9768.
Bel Vino Winery
Wine Down at Bel Vino with Live Music
Every Saturday and Sundays for live entertainment! 12:00p-4:00p
April 5-Bruce Glover
April 6- JD Priest
April 12-Shoot 4 Tuezdays
April 13-Mor Sol
April 19 – The Counterfeits
April 26 – The "B" Players
April 27 – Tim Cash
Briar Rose Winery
Friday Night Sunset
April 18 / 5:30p-9:00
Sunset and live music by Buzz Campbell while enjoying food and wine.
Call 951-308-1098 to make reservations.
Seating is limited.
Callaway Vineyard & Winery
Prime Rib Fridays
Every Friday at Meritage from 5p-8:00p
Three-course Prime Rib dinner for $35 pp
Reservations are not required. No cover.
Sangria Sundays at Meritage at Callaway
Every Sunday at Meritage from 4p-8p in the main dining room.
Watermelon Sangria & live music from local musicians begins at 5pm.
No cover charge and no reservations required.
Falkner Winery
Spring/Summer Music, Sangria and BBQ Series
12:00p-3:00p /Sundays from April through October
Free music and guest can purchase BBQ & Luscious Lips Sangria!
Kick off series with featured artist Jason Weber.
Easter Champagne Brunch
Sunday, April 20 / 10:00a-3:30p /
Champagne brunch, live music & Mediterranean style food
pecial Easter gifts will be given to all children
$49.95+ pp/ Members & guests $44.95+, Children 3-10 are $19+ (wine club $15+)
Free for children under 3.
Leoness Cellars
Pre-Harvest Winemaker Dinner
Saturday, April 5 / 6:30p
5 course wine paired dinner featuring guest Chef Michael Cragg
$106 + tax pp / $96 + tax pp, Wine Club
For reservations call 951-302-7601 ext. 150 or e-mail email@example.com
Live Music
Fridays / The Restaurant at Leoness / 5:00p-8:00p
Live Music
Sundays / Patio at Leoness Cellars / 1:00p-4:00p
Longshadow Ranch Winery
Bonfire Saturday Night
Sat April 19 / 6:00p-10:00p
Live music, dancing, wine, mechanical bull rides
No admission / parking fee / reservations required for parties of 12+
Lorimar Winery
Epicurean Demonstration – "Molecular Gastronomy"
Wed April 2 / 4:00p-6:00p
Join Chef Patrick for the interactive cooking demo
$25+tax pp / Members $20+tax pp.
Purchase tickets in the tasting room, email firstname.lastname@example.com or call 951-694-6699 xt. 4.
Live Music
Fridays & Saturdays 6p-9p / Sundays 2p-5p
April 4 – Shultz & Hamilton
April 5 – Mrs. Jones Revenge
April 6 – Steven Ybarra
April 11 – Cougrzz Rock
April 12 – Missy Anderson
April 13 – David & Olivia
April 18 – Guilty Conscience
April 19 – Oceans of Sand
April 25 – Mrs. Jones Revenge
April 26 – TBD
April 27 – Sal and Brennan
Laugh Your Glass Off – Comedy Show
Thur April 24 / 7:00p-10:00p /
Night of comedy
General admission in the Barrel Room $35 pp / $30 members
Purchase tickets in the tasting room, e-mail firstname.lastname@example.com or call 951-694-6699 ext. 104
Movie in the Vines
Mon April 28
Indiana Jones; Raiders of the Lost Arc
Wine bar & concession stand will be open at 6:00p
Film begins at sunset. Bring your own beach chair or blanket!
Mount Palomar Winery
Live Music
Complimentary music on patio! 1:00p-4:00p
April 5 – The Barstow Prophets
April 6 – Mariner
April 12 – Harmony Road
April 13 – Bodie
April 19 – Joachim Nordensson
April 26 – Danielle Taylor
April 27 – 3 Blind Mice
Bottles "n" Brushes
Thursday, April 24 / 1:00p-4:00p
Painting class with wine
Oak Mountain Winery
Sizzlin' Saturday
Sat April 19 / 5:00p-9:00p/ $1.00 admission
Join us for tasty American/Mexican fusion from Chubbys.
Pet Fair
Sun April 6 / 11:00a-5:00p /Free admission
Join local rescues and vendors at the Oak Mountain Winery Pet Fair.
South Coast Winery Resort & Spa
Earth Day Wine Tours
April 21-25 / 3:00p
Hands-on introduction with the sustainable winegrowing standards of California's State Winery of the Year.
Explore our vineyards with 90-minute guided tour
$50 pp/ $45 Club but space is limited and reservations are a must.
Visit WineResort.com or call now to reserve your place 800-539-1375.
Elegant Wine Country Easter Brunch
Sunday, April 20 / 10:00a-3:00p
Brunch fare at South Coast Winery Resort & Spa's Vineyard Rose restaurant
Kids enjoy Easter egg hunts and meet the Easter Bunny.
Cost is just $60 Adults/$22 Children.
Reservations are limited and required.
Visit WineResort.com for complete menu or call now to reserve: 951-491-8077
Go Green with Va Va Verde
April 1-30, 2014 / 105 pp
50-minute full body 'therapeutic' massage
Receive a $20 spa voucher towards any $85+ spa treatment on return
Book by calling 800-539-1375.
Wine & Dine Chef's Table at the Vineyard Rose Restaurant
Ccustom five-course menu just for you.
Winemakers then pair each course with wines
For 2-8 guests, $135 pp
Call 951-491-8077 to reserve your table today.
South Coast Winery Resort & Spa's WINOS (Women In Need of Serenity)
Monday-Thursday / 11:30a-2:30p
Unique wine-themed items available for purchase
Half price Mimosas, Sangria & glasses of select wines
$2 off all appetizers / Call for Reservations 951-587-9463 x 2
South Coast Winery Resort & Spa's Divas in D'Vines
Every Sunday during football season from 12:00 to 3p
Enjoy half priced mimosas, sangria & Spumante Diamante.
Reservations Recommended. Call 951-587-9463 x 2
South Coast Winery Resort & Spa's Vintage Vantage Menu
Mon-Thur 11:30a -3:00p
$9.99 lunches -Vineyard Rose Restaurant, 55&over
Call 951-587-9463 x 2
"Happiest" Days of the Week
Mon-Fri 4:00p-5:30p / "Happy Hour"
Discounted appetizers, local draft beers and South Coast wines.
Happy Hour with dinner in the Vineyard Rose Restaurant.
Visit WineResort.com or call 800-539-1375 today.
Marvelous Mondays
5:30p to 9p each week
Half-priced bottles of select wines with the purchase of 2 entrees
Call 951.587.9463 today or visit here
Wine Down Wednesdays
Enjoy live music & half-priced select appetizers w/ purchase of 2 entrees
Enjoy with our Winemakers Reserve bottles of South Coast Wines.
Call 951.587.9463 today or visit here
Behind the Scenes Winery Tour
Daily / 11:00a and 1:00p / $40pp / Members $35pp
Stroll the vineyards and the winery
Private, plated wine & cheese pairing with a Wine Concierge.
Reservations strongly suggested: Call 951.587.9463 x7219.
Thornton Winery
Thornton Winery's Chef's Counter
Friday, April 25 / 7:00p / $125 pp
Interactive Chef's Table in a private kitchen
Five-course meal /Seating limited to 10 people
For reservations, call 951-699-0099


text:
The Best Way to Spread Christmas Cheer
By Taylor Hudson
Members of a cappella group The Madison Project perform on stage at Wilson Hall for Operation Santa Claus. Photo by Caroline Prendergast for JMU Technology and Design.
Buddy the Elf trekked through the seven levels of the Candy Cane forest, through the sea of swirly twirly gumdrops, and walked through the Duke Dog tunnel just to host this year's Operation Santa Claus. He had two missions: raise enough Christmas spirit on the "Claus-o-meter" to power Santa's sleigh, and raise enough money to support the foster children of Harrisonburg-Rockingham Social Services this Christmas.
Of course Buddy, who also goes by the name Avery Hymel, had a little help. Student Ambassadors organizes Operation Santa Clause every year. This year the committee heads, Rachel Ostroff, Mike Ferrante, and 15 other committee members spent all semester planning a Christmas-filled evening.
The audience was immersed into the Christmas spirit as soon as they walked in the doors. Wilson Hall was definitely decked. The stage was covered in Christmas trees and sparkling lights. On the walls hung feet of garland and dozens of snowflakes. Student Ambassadors greeted guests dressed in festive costumes and flashy Christmas sweaters.
The evening was filled with appearances by some of JMU's best performers. Starting with Madison Projects smooth cover of "Colder Weather" by Zac Brown Band and ending with the theatrical dance talents of Exit 247 B-Flat Project.
Lauren Rollins, a senior nursing major, attended Operation Santa Claus as her last chance to enjoy this Christmas tradition before she graduates. "I come here to get in the Christmas spirit," says Rollins. "It's a lot of fun, and this year, I loved Note-oriety's cover of 'Can't Help Falling In Love' by Elvis. It was absolutely beautiful."
Some of the other crowd favorites were the angsty cover by Bluestones of "Crush Crush Crush" by Paramore, the high-energy hip-hop routine of the Mozaic Dance team, and 90's hit song mash-up by the Overtones.
Although a lot of the acts focused on contemporary songs, many of them delivered Christmas inspired performances as well. Brandi Suarez, a senior Dietetics major, says "Exit 245 was my favorite because they sang the most Christmas songs."
Other acts included JMU's own IntoHymn, Madison Dance, the Dukettes, Low Key, and New and Improv'd, as well as original artists Lad in a Battle and Lexie Hayden.
By the end of the night, Buddy did not only exceed in raising the "Claus-o-meter" to the max with Christmas spirit, but he and the Student Ambassadors also raised a record breaking amount of money: $5510. All of the funds raised were donated directly to Harrisonburg-Rockingham Social Services.
According to Buddy, the best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear. And Operation Santa Claus proved it.
If you missed out on Operation Santa Claus, you can visit the Student Ambassador website at www.applysa.com to checkout some of their other upcoming events. Or, keep an eye out for next year's Operation Santa Claus; be there or be a cotton-headed ninnymuggins!
To see more photos from this year's Operation Santa Clause, visit the University Unions photoset on Flickr here.
Published: Monday, December 10, 2012
Last Updated: Thursday, April 19, 2018

subset: commoncrawl


text:
In May 2011 Morrissey issued a statement denying that he was behind a blog called MorrisseysWorld. In August he denied it again. In September he denied it a third time, whilst also denying a Twitter account of the same name. I know a rat when I smell one and I smelt a BIG one, so I started this blog to record the offerings of the 'fake' Morrissey. It soon became very clear that 'fake' Morrissey WASN'T fake after all. 7+ years later Morrissey continues to tweet, hidden in plain sight.
Thursday, 13 April 2017
Day 2137 - Inside
An announcement made on Tuesday by Tucson Theatre Executive Director, Craig Sumberg, said that, "there apparently was an agreement between the promoters and Morrissey's management that Monday's concert was not a "formal show"". NOT...A...FORMAL...SHOW! Things are suddenly starting to make sense.
Could it be that the US tour promotors weren't prepared to offer Morrissey the usual terms of a booking - whatever usual terms may be - but agreed to promote the concerts as 'scheduled informal shows'? I would guess that the promotors didn't believe that Morrissey would sell out the venues. As Dawn stated yesterday, "Confirm me. Don't schedule me."
In yesterday's FTM comments section, GWO reminded us all that when TTY announced back in February that Tucson and San Antonio were sold out, the following words were included in the statement (along with an image of Silvia Dionisio from A Girl Called Jules), "THE BLACK PEAT OF THE HILLS WHEN I WAS STILL ILL".... it's almost as though Morrissey knew that he would be ill.
The only other thing that I have to report today, is that my forthcoming interview with Morrissey, 'confirmed' for tomorrow, won't consist entirely of questions from me after all. Morfessa took to Twitter yesterday afternoon to say:
"Another entity has some of her own burning questions to ask. Even though she may already know the answers."
Morfessa's only other offerings yesterday were to berate me for moaning about being ill, and to play the song Inside by Ray Wilson on the Wrong Arms jukebox. When I asked if it was a sign, Morfessa replied, "Not everything is a sign. Behave." I seem to recall reading somewhere once that Morrissey liked that song, but I may be wrong.
*Goes off singing* And if you think that I've been losing my way, that's because I'm slightly blinded, and if you think that I don't make too much sense, that's because I'm broken minded
*LATE ADDITION - 10pm* It has today been announced that tomorrow's 'scheduled' Morrissey concert ' in Houston has been moved from the original outside venue to an INSIDE venue! "Behave", my arse! The good news is, tomorrow's concert looks like it could be going ahead. Now then, where's that 'coincidence' list?
17 comments:
The TTY photo is certainly an interesting coincidence. Looking forward to the interview - I do hope it's actually confirmed and not merely scheduled.ReplyDelete
Hello Ratty, I don't know what to think about the picture posted on February, all I know is that Forgive Someone is a very powerful song, the first time I heard that I thought Morrissey, expecially in that quote, was asking for forgiveness to all his long arrays of cancellations due illness, but, of course, there's nothing to forgive, it's simply life. The movie is very rilevant, because it's the story of a girl with a total refusal for sex and the novel which the movie is based was labeled as pornography and revived very bad reviews, so the author, a very sensible woman, suffered a lot and disappeared from the public scene. I just want to see Morrissey happy! That's all, ciao.😘ReplyDelete
His words are "Louder than Bombs".ReplyDelete
Oh more coincidences! They appear to happen a lot around here.ReplyDelete
Forgive Someone is a beautiful song, I experience it as very tender & heartfelt.
This comment has been removed by the author.ReplyDelete
meant to say to get him home asapReplyDelete
My premonitions are my notion. My senses nonsensical. My gut feelings are wrenching to my very core.ReplyDelete
I can neither confirm or deny schedules. You shall remain in the light, whilst I remain in the murky dark solace of the canal.
My fever continues. I feel more alive when rumoured dead. My soul is laden with all the misery of blind glamour. Glamour is repellent, as unpleasant as glass ripping through the eye. Blinded with terror. Blinded with distaste.
My manuscripts are my guides, my galaxy of dread and trials.Replies
The moonlight hour encircles me. The ghost wraps me in shades of blue and gold. The clouds beckon me. I dance my life before my very lips.ReplyDelete
Deadly doors close as divine drawers open. The flight of sixty-nine easels of doubt, shock and rock my visible wings.
Gliding and guiding.
The brush falls to the bottom of the ocean, unheard, unseen, undead.
Welcome to my locket. The omen of the unhealthy truth.Replies
Even in your final hour, you transmit beauty. Godspeed, dearest Dawn...Delete
Years are not on my radar. I exist only to read stars and count books.ReplyDelete
Weather means nothing to my flightless wings, which flutter as I weep. Tears of lost sailors. Tears of lost crooks.
Vanity is my forte. Vanity and humiliation.Replies
Sounds gloomy yet familiar. Hope you are fine.ReplyDelete
Mozziah Archive
- ► 2018 (113)
- Day 2153 - "See you oh so soon"
- Day 2150 - Gifts galore - 'lost' MW classics 'foun...
- Day 2148 - Mysterious Morfessa, and Silly Women
- Day 2144 - Our Steven
- Day 2142 - Chart....and another interview coming?
- Day 2140 - New & Exclusive Morrissey Interview
- Day 2138 - Dawn, Astra, Morfessa, Morrissey, Marr ...
- Day 2137 - Inside
- Day 2136 - "Confirm me. Don't schedule me"
- Day 2135 - June, June, June....again!
- Day 2130 - Dawn Mist is dead!
- Day 2127 - After Midnight
- Day 2125 - Never Release The One You Love
- ▼ April (13)
- ► 2016 (89)
- ► 2015 (136)
- ► 2014 (251)
- ► 2013 (122)
- ► 2012 (301)


text:
Relocation Info on Barcelona
Hello Everyone! Me n hubby are looking to relocate to Barcelona in the near future. I am currently job hunting, any additional info on jobs openings for native german / english speakers is much appreciated! I am also interested in general info on how to find a flat in BCN, as well as to what is required in order to officially work there as a EEA citizen (as well as Non EEA, as my hubby is South African), i.e. National Insurance Number, Health Insurance, etc. Any info is of help at this stage, so thanks to everyone in advance who is willing to share their knowledge! Greetings from rainy Wales!


text:
TOPPENISH - After issuing an all-points bulletin early Sunday morning for Roberto Cisneros Saavedra, 34, of Sunnyside following a fatal shooting at a Toppenish tavern, Toppenish police continue to search for Saavedra, who is suspected of killing Jose Luis Fragoso Zavala, 30, of Yakima.
The shooting in the Double D Tavern, a popular Saturday night dancing spot in downtown Toppenish, occurred just eight minutes into Sunday morning in front of numerous witnesses as the victim was being served a beer.
According to Sgt. Adam Diaz of the Toppenish Police Department, Sunnyside and Grandview Police Departments have been helpful in locating Saavedra's girlfriend in Sunnyside, with whom he has had a live-in relationship for 12 or 13 years.
"We interviewed the girlfriend of the suspect at the Sunnyside Police Department Sunday morning and she and another witness have provided us with a lot of information," said Diaz.
Diaz said the Grandview Police Department was also helpful in putting them in touch with Saavedra's employer, Kenneth Castle Farms in Grandview.
"He (Saavedra) has not returned to work there," said Diaz, who speculated that Saavedra may not be a United States citizen, but "is pretty well established, working, purchasing things using his own name and buying licenses...typical of someone who has a green card."
That speculation has led Diaz to consider that Saavedra may have fled the country, but the search in the county continues.
According to Sgt. Diaz, Zavala, who used Fragoso as his last name, was shot in the cheek.
"The bartender tried to intervene, but he was shot in the cheek bone and the bullet went right into the brain and severed the brain stem," said Diaz, who added that he has witnessed the results of many gang shootings in Toppenish but had never seen anything like this outcome. "It was unusual."
Diaz said, at this point, the motive for the shooting appears to be a cell phone that was lost on the dance floor.
"Apparently, he (the shooter) thought Fragoso had it and he was agitated. But it's kind of hazy. We have the cell phone. It was dropped off at Fragoso's girlfriend's house by someone, and she gave it to us. We want to talk to the person who dropped the cell phone off. We want to see what role he has in this," said Diaz.
About an hour after the shooting, a resident living near a canal on the south side of Toppenish reported to police that a man was seen parking a 1998 Chevrolet Silverado on the canal bank, leaving it and running across a field.
"That vehicle was registered to Saavedra," said Diaz. "He was running across the field toward SR 22, which comes off Highway 97. We don't know if he had someone waiting for him there or not."
Comments are subject to moderator review and may not appear immediately on the site.
Please read our commenting policy before posting.
Any comment violating the site's commenting guidelines will be removed and the user could be banned from the site.
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.


text:
Home /
Our Sources / About Us
/ FAQs /
Advanced Search
Not what you're
looking for? Try an advanced search.
Download the entire decision to receive the complete text, official citation,
docket number, dissents and concurrences, and footnotes for this case.
Learn more about what you receive with purchase of this case.
July 21, 2010
IN RE KARLA C., A PERSON COMING UNDER THE JUVENILE COURT LAW.SAN MATEO COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY, PLAINTIFF AND RESPONDENT,v.P.E., DEFENDANT AND APPELLANT,G.C. DEFENDANT AND RESPONDENT.
Superior Court of San Mateo County, No. 79641, Marta Diaz, Judge.
The opinion of the court was delivered by: Bruiniers, J.
CERTIFIED FOR PARTIAL PUBLICATION*fn1
The juvenile court found that Karla C. (Karla) was at risk of continuing sexual abuse at the hands of a stepfather in the home of her mother, P.E. (Mother), and that Mother had failed to protect Karla from the abuse. The court took jurisdiction over Karla under Welfare and Institutions Code section 300, subdivision (d) and removed Karla from Mother's physical custody.*fn2 At the conclusion of a contested disposition hearing, the juvenile court decided to place Karla, at least temporarily, with her father, G.C. (Father), a Peruvian national who lives in Peru. Mother appeals from the juvenile court's disposition orders, contesting the ordered placement of Karla with Father outside the territorial boundaries of the United States. Because it is not clear from the record before us that the juvenile court will have the ability to enforce its continuing jurisdiction over Karla after placement in Peru, we reverse the order and remand for a further hearing to determine the enforceability of the juvenile court's jurisdiction in Peru, and to allow the court to then impose any measures that may be appropriate to ensure that its jurisdiction is maintained.
The jurisdictional findings which brought Karla under the court's dependency protection are undisputed, and the only question before us is the propriety of the court's dispositional order which would place Karla with Father.
Before discussing the facts of this case, we first address the governing statute. "The dependency statutory framework distinguishes between a parent with whom the child was residing at the time the section 300 petition was initiated (custodial parent), and a parent with whom the child was not residing at the time the events or conditions arose that brought the child within the provisions of section 300 (non-custodial parent)." (In re V.F. (2007) 157 Cal.App.4th 962, 969, fn. omitted, superseded on other grounds, as stated in In re Adrianna P. (2008) 166 Cal.App.4th 44, 57-58 (Adrianna P.).) "[S]section 361.2 governs the child's temporary placement with the non-custodial parent and the provision of reunification services to the parents, and also permits the court to grant legal and physical custody of the child to the non-custodial parent." (In re V.F., supra, at p. 969.)
"When a child has been removed from the physical custody of his or her parents under section 361, subdivision (c), the court must place the child in a safe home or setting, free from abuse or neglect. (§ 16501.15.) . . . Section 361.2 governs placement when the child has a parent 'with whom the child was not residing at the time that the events or conditions arose that brought the child within the provisions of Section 300.' (§ 361.2, subd. (a), italics added.) It directs that before the child may be placed in out-of-home care, the court must first consider placing the child with the non-custodial parent, if that parent requests custody. [Citations.]"*fn3 (Adrianna P., supra, 166 Cal.App.4th at p. 55, fns. omitted.)
The non-custodial "parent has a constitutionally protected interest in assuming physical custody, as well as a statutory right to do so, in the absence of clear and convincing evidence that the parent's choices will be 'detrimental to the safety, protection, or physical or emotional well-being of the child.' [Citations.]" (In re Isayah C. (2004) 118 Cal.App.4th 684, 697.) Thus, it is the party opposing placement who has the burden to show by clear and convincing evidence that the child will be harmed if the non-custodial parent is given custody. Clear and convincing evidence is evidence that establishes a high probability and leaves no substantial doubt. (In re Jerome D. (2000) 84 Cal.App.4th 1200, 1205.) It is " 'sufficiently strong to command the unhesitating assent of every reasonable mind. [Citations.]' [Citations.]" (Ibid.)
"If the court places the child with the non-custodial parent, the court initially has three alternatives. The court may order the non-custodial parent to assume custody of the child, terminate juvenile court jurisdiction and enter a custody order. (§ 361.2, subd. (b)(1).) It may continue juvenile court jurisdiction and require a home visit within three months, after which the court may make orders as provided in subdivision (b)(1), (2) or (3). (§ 361.2, subd. (b)(2).) Or the court may order reunification services to be provided to either or both parents and determine at a later review hearing under section 366.3 which parent, if either, shall have custody of the child. (§ 361.2, subd. (b)(3).)"*fn4 (Adrianna P., supra, 166 Cal.App.4th at p. 55, italics omitted.)
Reunification services are generally required when a child is removed from parental custody. (§ 361.5, subd. (a).) However, when a court places a dependent child with the non-custodial parent pursuant to section 361.2, it has discretion, but is not required, to order reunification services to the formerly custodial parent. (See § 361.2, subd. (b); In re Gabriel L. (2009) 172 Cal.App.4th 644, 651; In re Erika W. (1994) 28 Cal.App.4th 470, 475-478 (Erika W.).) "If the previously non-custodial parent can provide a safe and stable permanent home for the child and the evidence establishes that the other parent cannot, reunification services may be offered only to the previously non-custodial parent since this serves the Legislature's goals by placing the child in parental custody and providing for a safe and stable permanent home for the child. . . . [¶] If, on the other hand, the previously non-custodial parent who is now assuming custody does not appear to be an appropriate permanent placement for the child, and the previously custodial parent has the potential to provide a safe stable permanent home for the child, reunification services can be offered to the previously custodial parent in the hope that this parent will remedy his or her deficiencies and reunify with the child. . . . [¶] . . . [¶] . . . '[T]he purpose of reunification services is to facilitate the return of a dependent child to parental custody.' [Citations.] . . . When a child is placed in nonparental custody, reunification services are necessary to promote a possible return of the child to parental custody. However, when a child is placed in parental custody, this goal has already been met and therefore reunification services are not necessary." (Erika W., supra, 28 Cal.App.4th at pp. 476-478, italics omitted.)
In sum, "when a nonoffending non-custodial parent requests custody under section 361.2, subdivision (a), he or she is requesting sole legal and physical custody of a child. However, the court may not immediately grant that parent sole legal and physical custody. The court must first determine whether it would be detrimental to the child to temporarily place the child in that parent's physical custody. If there is no showing of detriment, the court must order the Agency to temporarily place the child with the nonoffending non-custodial parent. The court then decides whether there is a need for ongoing supervision. If there is no such need, the court terminates jurisdiction and grants that parent sole legal and physical custody. If there is a need for ongoing supervision, the court is to continue its jurisdiction." (In re Austin P. (2004) 118 Cal.App.4th 1124, 1134-1135.)
II. Factual and Procedural Background Section 300 Petition and Detention Report
On June 24, 2009, the San Mateo County Human Services Agency (Agency) filed a juvenile dependency petition on behalf of Karla, who was born in July 2004. The petition, brought pursuant to section 300, subdivision (d), asserted that Karla was sexually abused by her stepfather, Martin S. It was alleged that Martin S. stroked his penis in front of Karla and asked her to stroke his penis, which she did on three occasions. It was further alleged that Martin S. had "tickled" Karla's vagina, telling Karla not to tell anyone because Mother and Mother's baby would die.*fn5 When Karla's allegations first surfaced, Mother did not believe her and accused her of telling lies. On June 22, 2009, Karla was placed in protective custody at a shelter care foster home.
The detention report indicated that, at the time of the abuse, Karla lived with Mother, Martin S., the maternal grandmother, and Martin S.'s brother in a one-bedroom apartment. Karla shared a bedroom with Mother and Martin S.*fn6 The maternal grandmother was told by Karla of the sexual abuse. The maternal grandmother was unsure if she should believe Karla, but shared Karla's disclosures with a mandatory reporter. When Mother was told of the abuse, "[s]he said that she did not believe [Karla] and that she [could] not believe that [Martin S.] would ever do this to her daughter. She said over and over that [Karla] does not know what she is saying and that someone might be telling her to say such lies." When Karla was present in the room, Mother repeatedly asked her why she was saying things that were not true. Mother telephoned relatives in front of Karla, telling them that Karla was lying. Karla appeared frightened and was crying.
Mother reported that she and Father were never married, that Father was deported from the United States when Karla was one and a half years old, and that Father lived in Callao, Peru. Mother further reported that Father did not pay child support but speaks with Karla on the phone twice a month when Karla visits her paternal grandmother.
Detention was recommended because of the Agency's concerns about Mother's ability to protect Karla's emotional and physical state. The court ordered Karla removed from Mother's home and detained in shelter care. The court also ordered crisis counseling and supervised visitation with Mother. The first in a series of restraining orders was issued against Martin S.
Jurisdiction Report and Determination
The jurisdiction/disposition report noted that Karla continued to be detained in shelter care. It further advised that the social worker had telephone contact with Father, who stated that he and Mother lived together, in Miami, when Karla was born and that he had been deported to Peru when Karla was six months old. Father told the social worker that he had maintained telephone contact with Karla, that Karla visited his mother regularly in Concord, and that, in 2008, she visited him in Peru.
The jurisdiction/disposition report confirmed that Karla told police investigators that Martin S. had asked her to touch his penis on three different occasions and had touched her vagina. The police report was attached, which indicated that, after his arrest, Martin S. admitted asking Karla to touch his penis three times, "but also said there have been many more times." Martin S. also told police that he had taken a shower with Karla and Mother. The detective noted that, when he entered the bedroom to interview Karla at her home, a movie showing two people having sex was playing on the television.
The jurisdiction/disposition report indicated that the social worker had interviewed Mother, who admitted that she did not originally believe Karla and told Karla that she was not telling the truth. However, Mother said that, as of July 21, 2009, she believed "whatever Karla said." Nonetheless, Mother also stated that she blamed Karla's maternal grandmother because " 'she let Karla watch Spanish soap opera (novelas) about people being molested by family members and people having sex so she opened up Karla's mind to those kind of things.' " Mother also admitted visiting Martin S. in jail and anticipated some continued relationship with him because she was having his baby. The social worker expressed concern that Mother has been more protective of Martin S. than of her own child. However, the report also noted that Karla and Mother appeared to be bonded and that Karla appeared to be physically well-cared for by Mother.
The report noted that the social worker had conducted a telephone interview with Father. When it was explained why Karla was removed from Mother's custody, Father said he believed Karla and was very concerned about her protection. Father also stated that he wanted to be involved in the dependency proceedings and would like custody of Karla. If this was not possible, Father indicated that he would like Karla placed with his mother or a paternal uncle or aunt. Mother indicated that she wanted Karla returned to her care, but if that was not possible, she would like Karla placed with a maternal relative other than the maternal grandmother. Karla indicated that she wanted to go home with Mother.
The report stated that Karla had begun crisis counseling and supervised visits with Mother. The Agency reported that Mother exhibited difficulty respecting the rules and in controlling her emotions during visitation. However, the Agency also stated that Mother and Karla were affectionate and Karla appeared at ease during visits. The social worker wrote: "[Karla] appears to be a happy child but does seem very confused about why she is not with her mother and states she misses her mother. Since [Karla] has refused to discuss anything about her home and seems to shut down, the undersigned believes [Karla] feels a sense of guilt and she appears very concerned about harming her mother or unborn sibling." Karla's foster mother also observed Karla engaging in sexualized play.
The social worker wrote that "[she] believe[d] that had the disclosure not come to the attention of the Agency, [Mother] would have kept the disclosure a secret, not believe[d] anything [Karla] had stated and continue[d] to have [Martin S.] in the home[.] [T]herefore, returning [Karla] to [Mother's] care would continue to put the child at risk for abuse and neglect." The report continues: "[Mother] states that [Father] has not provided financial support for [Karla] and at this time, [Karla] has not wished to speak with [F]ather by phone even though she has been asked on several different occasions[.] [T]herefore; placing [Karla] with [Father] in Peru would not be in [Karla's] best interest as [Mother] has been the child's primary caretaker all her life."
The social worker provided the following evaluation: "This case is very disturbing as here is a five year old child who disclosed that she was being sexually abused by her step-father and her mother immediately blame[d] her stating . . . she is a liar and making up stories. [Mother] is also more protective of the man who abused her child than her child. [Mother] showed no empathy for [Karla] and her only concern was that [Martin S.] not be prosecuted and then, her immediate family members also concede[d] with her that [Karla's] statements can not be trusted. [Mother's] assertion now that she believes [Karla's] statements is at best, unbelievable as demonstrated by her behavior and statements. She blames Spanish TV shows and the maternal grandmother for 'opening up' [Karla's] mind, and continues to regularly visit [Martin S.] in jail. [Mother] and her family have also been attending the criminal court hearings and appear more concerned with talking to [Martin S.'s] defense attorney than the Assistan[t] District Attorney who is attempting to get justice for [Karla]. The undersigned contends that this is not what a protective patent [sic] would do and [Mother] needs to be educated and informed about the impact of her actions and learn what the inherent responsibilities of a parent truly are which begins with protecting your child no matter what."
The jurisdiction hearing was held on July 29, 2009. Mother admitted the allegations of the petition. The court declared Father to be Karla's presumed father. The court sustained the dependency petition and adjudged Karla to be a dependant of the juvenile court. The court continued the matter to September 2, 2009, for disposition.
First Addendum Report to Jurisdiction/Disposition Report
On September 1, 2009, a first addendum report to the jurisdiction/disposition report was filed by the Agency. The report indicated that the social worker asked Karla if she would like to live with Father. Karla "stated 'no' and that she wants to be with her mother and new baby brother." However, Karla stated that she would visit Father with her maternal grandmother.
The report also indicated that the social worker had spoken to Mother about Karla living with Father. The report provided: "[Mother] stated that she has raised Karla all of her life and that [Father] has had limited contact with Karla . . . . [Mother] stated that she does not believe [Father] has steady employment and he has never provided any financial support for Karla since he was deported in 2004. [Mother] also stated that [Father] has a drinking problem and prior domestic violence against her. [Mother] also stated that [Father] repeatedly calls her when he is intoxicated so that is how she knows her [sic] continues to abuse alcohol[.] [Mother] is concerned that Karla would be exposed to [Father's] drinking and [that he] would not be able to provide her with the opportunities that the United States can offer as there are many problems in Peru. [Mother] also stated that all of her family who has been a regular part of Karla's life are [sic] here in the United States and that a great deal of [Father's] family also resides in the United States."
Mother continued to have twice weekly visits with Karla that "continued to go very well." The report stated: "Karla continues to look forward to the visitation and now is very excited as [Mother] will . . . bring her half-sibling to the visits." Karla also continued to have weekly therapy that was "going well." Karla's therapist, Maria Hernandez (Hernandez), indicated that Karla needed intensive therapy and "to send her to her father in Peru would be further traumatizing."
The report provided the following summary of another telephonic interview with Father: "[Father] stated that he and mother lived together in Miami, Florida in July 7, 2004 when Karla was born. [Father] stated that in November 2004 he was deported back to Peru when [Karla] was just four months old. [Father] stated that after he was deported back to Peru, [Mother] and [Karla] traveled to Peru and stayed with [Father] from December 2004 until March 2005. [Father] stated that [Mother] and [Karla] returned to the United States and then returned to Peru in July 2005 so [Father] could celebrate [Karla's] first birthday with her. [Father] stated that in October 2005 [Karla] and [Mother] returned to the United States. [Father] stated that in 2006 he attempted to re-enter the United States illegally again but was detained at the border in Texas. [Father] stated [Mother] and [Karla] may have visited him while he was detained to be deported back to Peru but could not recall any dates. [Father] did not see [Karla] again until September 2008 when [Karla] was four years old because the maternal grandmother took [Karla] to visit Peru. [Karla] stayed with [Father] in Peru during the . . . visit which was from September 2008 until November 2008. [Father] stated that he enrolled [Karla] in pre-school while she was in Peru for two-months and took many photographs of her. [Father] stated that during the nearly three year period he did not see [Karla], he spoke with her two times a month when [Karla] was visiting the paternal grandmother. [Father] conceded that during this time [Karla] was between a year and [a] half and four years old so the telephone conversations were very limited due to [Karla's] young age. [Father] also stated that it is true that he never provided any child support but sent 'gifts' to the paternal grandmother to give to [Karla.]"
The Agency obtained information from the California Law Enforcement Telecommunication System (CLETS) that showed Father had been arrested, on September 16, 1999, for petty theft and again, on February 14, 2001, for burglary and as a fugitive from justice. Father's deportation documents showed the following: (1) an arrest for larceny, on October 27, 2000, with a conviction on April 7, 2001; (2) charged with flight/escape, on September 22, 2001, with an unknown disposition; (3) an arrest for assault and larceny, on November 21, 2001, with an unknown disposition; (4) an arrest for assault and two counts of larceny, on May 8, 2002*fn7; (5) an arrest, on July 6, 2002, for driving under the influence, with a later conviction; (6) charged with flight/escape on August 7, 2002; (7) an arrest for a probation violation, on August 19, 2002; (8) charged with a second probation violation on August 26, 2002; (9) an arrest for battery, on April 30, 2003, with an unknown disposition; (10) an arrest, on August 1, 2004, for trespassing and resisting an officer, with the disposition being pretrial diversion; (11) an arrest, on November 7, 2004, as a deportable alien.
The report provided the following assessment: "[Mother's] over all demeanor has continued to improve as she is more cooperative and states she is eager to begin services. Despite [having] given birth recently, [Mother] is willing to begin and participate in the Agency's Parent Education Class and wants to begin individual therapy and be a part of the services Karla is receiving. All of this is positive, however, it can not be ignored that for the majority of the time this case has been investigated, [Mother] was aligned with the perpetrator as she was visiting him on a regular basis and minimizing the allegations. [Mother] needs services in order to truly come to terms with the disclosure of the child and address her damaging reaction of denying the allegations and blaming [Karla] despite the perpetrator's confession. Also, she has just given birth to the perpetrator's child and needs services around placing strict boundaries if she is to continue some kind of relationship regarding the newborn and needs to be assessed as time passes that she will be protective of Karla.
"[Father] has maintained contact with the Agency and it appears he is truly concerned about [Karla]. However, the [social worker] is concerned that [Father] lacks the understanding of the trauma [Karla] has been through and of [Karla's] needs as he has focused on only what he wants to occur. . . . It would not be in [Karla's] best interest to send her to Peru where [Father]'s ability to provide [for] and support [Karla] is unknown and there does not appear to be any services comparable to intensive services that [Karla] needs and can be provided within the United States. Also, [Karla] has stated that she wants to be returned to her mother and newborn half-sibling and if that is not possible at this time, she has many extended family members who are available to care for her such as [a maternal cousin and his wife] who are eager to care for Karla and have an understanding of the time and commitment needed. Therefore, it is respectfully recommended that [Karla] be made a Dependent in out of home placement and that the Court grant the [Agency] discretion to place [Karla] with [the maternal cousin and his wife.] It is also respectfully recommended that [M]other and [F]ather be offered Family Reunification Services"
Second Addendum Report to Jurisdiction/Disposition Report
On September 1, 2009, the Agency filed a second addendum report to the jurisdiction/disposition report. The report attached a written report from Karla's therapist, which provided: "In my assessment of Karla, I have observed sexualized play in play therapy, which is indicative of sexual abuse and concurs with CPS findings. She is also showing aggressive behaviors and sexualized play towards younger children as reported by foster mom. . . . [¶] Therapist's findings thus far indicate that: [¶] 1. Child needs weekly individual play therapy to help her process trauma and freely express herself. [¶] 2. Child needs a safe, consistent, loving home where stability is provided. [¶] 3. Child needs to be believed, heard around the traumatic events to help decrease shame and guilt. [¶] 4. Mother needs psycho education about child abuse, how to respond appropriately to child's behaviors and how to keep child safe, both emotionally and physically. [¶] 5. Child needs to maintain healthy relationships with extended family, which were previously in place, as well as continued supervised visits with her mother. [¶] It is imperative to the well being of [Karla] that she receives the aforementioned in a consistent manner, maintaining continuity of care with care-providers. Any major transitions at this time need to be therapeutically supported so as to minimize the potential retriggering of traumatic responses that are acute in relation to her coping."
On September 2, 2009, the court ordered an interim placement with a maternal cousin and continued the matter for a contested disposition hearing on October 29, 2009.
Third Addendum Report to Jurisdiction/Disposition Report
On October 27, 2009, the Agency filed a third addendum report to the jurisdiction/disposition report. The Agency reported that Karla liked living with a maternal cousin and his wife and appeared to have closely bonded with them. "Karla has no major difficulties adjusting to her new placement and she rarely cry's [sic] for her mother as she previously had at the former foster placement. Karla appears happy and well cared for . . . ."
With respect to Mother's progress, the Agency observed that Mother's demeanor and openness to services continued to improve and Mother had been attending parent education classes regularly and begun therapy. Mother asserted that she had not been visiting Martin S. and will not be in a relationship with him because she wants Karla returned to her custody as soon as possible. The parenting class instructor related that Mother's " 'overall progress has been slow' in regards to participation in the class and talking about why she is attending the class other than being court ordered." Based on his experience, " 'usually by the half way mark, parents have disclosed at least some part about why they are there.' " However, Mother had not so disclosed, while all the other participants had. The parenting class instructor also indicated that, during a class exercise in which the students were asked about their family strengths, Mother had spoken primarily about Martin S., saying that he "is a good man, a hard worker and that she wants her family back together." Thus, Mother appeared to remain very aligned with Martin S.
Mother had only attended two therapy sessions, but Mother's therapist stated that Mother "has been cooperative and engaged in the therapy process and seems open to working on the CPS issues that brought her into treatment." Mother's therapist also indicated that "[Mother] has demonstrated high motivation to engage in treatment so she can ...
Our website includes the first part of the main text of the court's opinion.
To read the entire case, you must purchase the decision for download. With purchase,
you also receive any available docket numbers, case citations or footnotes, dissents
and concurrences that accompany the decision.
Docket numbers and/or citations allow you to research a case further or to use a case in a
legal proceeding. Footnotes (if any) include details of the court's decision. If the document contains a simple affirmation or denial without discussion,
there may not be additional text.
Download the entire decision to receive the complete text, official citation,
docket number, dissents and concurrences, and footnotes for this case.
Learn more about what you receive with purchase of this case.
LRC, Inc. About Us


text:
Patrick Arnold, a chemist who worked with the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative, said in an HBO Sports interview that Barry Bonds and Gary Sheffield took performance-enhancing drugs provided to them by the laboratory.
Bonds and Sheffield have denied knowingly using drugs provided by Balco, and told that to a federal grand jury investigating the laboratory, according to leaked testimony. Bonds remains under investigation over concerns about his testimony.
Arnold is widely credited with creating "the clear," a previously undetectable steroid that Balco provided to athletes. In 2006, he pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute steroids, and was sentenced to three months in prison and three months of home confinement. He was among five people convicted in the case. As part of his plea agreement, he did not have to name athletes and coaches to whom he supplied drugs.
The HBO interview was shown last night on "Costas Now." Arnold told Bob Costas, the show's host, that he never met Bonds but often heard Balco's founder, Victor Conte, raving about Bonds's performance on "the program."
When asked by Costas if "the program" included steroids, Arnold said: "I have a very strong feeling about it since he was on the program. And like everyone else, the program consisted of the clear."Continue reading the main story
In a statement last night, Conte denied telling Arnold that he gave Bonds steroids.
"The program I created for Barry was a comprehensive nutritional supplementation regimen and had nothing to do with the clear or any other anabolic steroids," Conte said.
Bonds reportedly told the grand jury that he thought he was taking flaxseed oil, not the clear. Arnold challenged that and likened the liquid to "nontoxic antifreeze."
He added: "I guess it's possible that Barry had never tasted flaxseed oil and said, 'Well, I guess this is flaxseed oil.' But it's pretty hard to believe."
When asked about Sheffield's recent statement that he never took steroids because "they are something you shoot in your butt," Arnold said: "That's an ignorant statement. That's some sort of weird rationalization. No, he took steroids. This is a bona fide anabolic steroid."
Bonds is three home runs shy of breaking Hank Aaron's career record. Arnold said he planned to watch Bonds break the record on television. "I feel like in a, in a crazy way, obviously, I'm a part of it," Arnold said. "I, how can I want to miss, how would I miss that?"Continue reading the main story


text:
Custom Tins | Screen Printing
Design custom tins and WOW your customers or guests with spectacular results! You can fill each tin with your favorite City Pop gourmet popcorn for a special treat!
Here are some things to keep in mind when using this method to print your logo. Feel free to contact us with any questions:
- After completing your order, respond to your order confirmation with your artwork via email or feel free to email directly to email@example.com.
- Do not use gradients, screen, blends, tints, etc. in your artwork - theses cannot be reproduced via this print method. All art needs to be 100% line art.
- Submit only vector-based files saves as either Adobe Illustrator or EPS.
- Avoid very thin lined artwork and fonts less than 12 point.
- Turn around time for tins is 4 - 6 weeks, with longer processing during peak times (October - December).
- Tin colors choices are: Platinum, White, Red, or Gold.
PLEASE NOTE: We have the ability to silk screen tins up to 4 colors. If your logo contains more than 4 colors, please contact us directly for other printing options.
Minimum order is 96 pieces


text:
Changing You – Your Guide to a Slimmer, Stronger Body
D. Cole Clifford
Xlibris (2012)
Reviewed by M.Cristina Lanzi for Reader Views (7/14)
"Changing You – Your Guide to a Slimmer, Stronger Body" by D. Cole Clifford is a clear and intelligible guide for an athletic body and a healthier lifestyle. The book gives a lot of insights into the nutrition and fitness world using a very straight forward and evidence-based plan. It is a great book full of really useful tips on how to lose fat and how to improve your health through your diet habits.
The author focuses mainly on nutrition, explaining how our stomach digests each type of food and why we should eat each element in a specific sequence in order to make it easier for our digestive system to consume and then absorb nutrients.
The information given in this book is certainly helpful for someone new to the working out routine and absolutely essential for anyone who wants to lose weight. To this end, I believe that following the author's advice will make a huge difference for most people.
"Changing You – Your Guide to a Slimmer, Stronger Body" has reliable information about fitness, wellness, and diet programs. In spite of all the technical data about nutrition, it is an easy to read manual in which the author makes understandable, even the scientific aspects of everyday diet: what food contains carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins or proteins? When should we eat fruits? What should we absolutely avoid in our diet? The book gives some great insights on how to do things the right way, and the reading helps to better understand why we get body fat and what to do to get rid of it.
I am on a workout routine and I have been doing a lot of the things mentioned in this guide. It sure takes time and dedication but it truly works and, with consistency, it doesn't seem impossible to get the body we all desire! I found that a lot of the information and advice the author provides I already knew, but I think it is a positive incentive to have a professional opinion.
"Changing You – Your Guide to a Slimmer, Stronger Body" by D. Cole Clifford gives you the tools and tells you how, why, and what to do in a very understandable way. Whether you are a fitness professional, or someone with very little to no experience, this is the right reading to learn how to get healthy and fit.


text:
Gotta love the new Spanish poster for Stuart Beattie's I, FRANKENSTEIN, which Jposters just premiered. I'm just going to call it YO, FRANKENSTEIN from now on. I hope it's a line in the film.
We've also got a new TV spot for it, which you can spy below.
Set in a dystopic present where vigilant gargoyles and ferocious demons rage in a battle for ultimate power, Victor Frankenstein's creation Adam (Aaron Eckhart) finds himself caught in the middle as both sides race to discover the secret to his immortality.
Directed by Stuart Beattie based on the graphic novel by Kevin Grevioux, the film stars Aaron Eckhart, Bill Nighy, Yvonne Strahovski, Miranda Otto, Jai Courtney, Socratis Otto, Mahesh Jadu, Caitlin Stasey and Aden Young as Victor Frankenstein. Look for the film in 3D and IMAX on January 24th.


text:
A question that sometimes arises in Malay-English translation is this: Is Malay wordier than English? One way to look into this is to compare comparable texts and see how long they are.
If we look at the Malay version of the daily news summary for 23 June from The Brunei Times (here), it is 3 minutes 3 seconds long, while the English equivalent (here) is just 1 minute 40 seconds long. So, why is there such a large difference?
The first difference is that the Malay newsreader starts with the full Islamic greeting, which takes about 6 seconds, while the English newsreader just says hello.
The second difference is that the Malay newsreader gives the full title for Prince Sufri: Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Paduka Seri Pengiran Bendahara Seri Maharajara Permaisuara Pengiran Muda Haji Sufri Bolkiah. This takes about 7 seconds to say. In contrast, the English newsreader just says: His Royal Highness Prince Sufri Bolkiah. This takes less than 2 seconds.
But what about ordinary text? I'll need to analyse that further. But one immediate observation: the Malay version has berkenan berangkat (lit. 'consented to attend') while the English equivalent is the single word graced.


text: Caroline Makepeace is the co-founder of ytravelblog.com, one of the world's biggest travel blogs, with her husband, Craig. They have created a travel planning toolkit to help people unplug from the chaos, follow their bliss, and travel more to create better memories. They are currently road tripping across the USA with their two daughters while balancing their business and homeschooling. They have one of the world's most influential travel blogs and have been featured on The Today Show, Forbes, Travel & Leisure, Lonely Planet, National Geographic online, Virgin Australia, Expedia, Huffington Post, and CNN online. yTravel were invited to attend the first travel summit at the White House as one of the top travel digital influencers in the world. When not traveling and writing about it, you can find her swinging in a beach hammock at sunset to the tunes of Jack Johnson, or buying another crystal to meditate with at the local market. You can connect with them on: Twitter Handle:


text:
Nobody does televised road trips like Top Gear and the Need For Speed episode's German romp was truly one to remember. I remember seeing behind-the-scenes photos from the shoot long before it aired on October 2, 2014. It was such a treat for the cast. Usually a trip to the Nürburgring would be the prize for winning an episode's challenge, but in this case the whole thing was a prize. If that wasn't enough, they'd be blazing a trail along the world-famous Autobahn on the way. What could possibly make this better? Supercars, my friends, supercars, but we'll get to that soon. Let's start with the start. The trip began at Volkswagen's sprawling and ultra high-tech Wolfburg headquarters. By the way, that was the German national anthem playing after the opening credits. I know this because I follow Formula 1 and that's a song you hear very often. (Team Mercedes AMG Petronas in yo face!)
The guys were supposed to choose vehicles from the Volkswagen brand for the trip and Tanner Foust did exactly that, introducing the 20145 Volkswagen Golf R. Bless his heart thinking he had an advantage because the little, red hot hatch wasn't on market yet; because the other presenters chose cars from the Volkswagen Group, which gave them more *cough* variety. Rutledge Wood had a beautiful, black 2014 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S; and Adam Ferrara in a bright, yellow 2014 Lamborghini Huracán. They were as pleased as he was angry and it was time to hit the road.
"Just wait till we get to the Nürburgring." – Tanner Foust
A Top Gear supercar road trip always starts with a drag race, especially when one of the cars isn't super by comparison. Tanner got creative with the start and I imagined a text from his boss, Michael Andretti saying something to the effect of, "You'd better not try that with the Volkswagen I pay you to drive, buddy." Anyway they found a way to make driving on the Autobahn into an interesting competition by seeing who could hit the fastest speed between exits. It was good to see them tangle with traffic because that's what every well-used highway is like.
The next challenge was to navigate a postcard picturesque town. Without the benefit of GPS and a negligible understanding of the German language, the boys almost didn't get to the church on time. You'd think having a zippy little car would be an advantage here but, you know what? No more Tanner jokes for the rest of the article. It's too darned easy and the professionals did a much better job than I ever could. This show is like an Insults Master class. Over lunch, there was a brief conversation about lessons from the trip so far. Surely there was more good stuff but it was too saucy for TV. Indeed, I'd pay money to see an uncut version of this show including especially all the stuff they can't show on History Channel.
"(waving) auf Wiedersehen! Dunkin' Donuts!" – Rutledge Wood
Then came what I think was the show's biggest upset. There was a handling test at an abandoned parking lot and *spoiler alert* Rut won. I figured Adam would have trouble because the Huracán like all Lambos is a wide car, but man, Rutledge was off like a rocket and nailed the beer can slalom like a boss. At this point I was genuinely excited to see how he did on the Nürburgring, which was one speedy trip down the Autobahn away.
Their excitement was completely understandable. In fact I can't imagine anybody who loves cars but wouldn't want to drive on the Nürburgring. A race car driver friend of mine moved to Germany just so that he could practice there. The Nürburgring is like Mecca and I look forward to making that pilgrimage one day. Now you don't put a buy like Tanner in a production Golf R on a Top Gear episode featuring Volkswagen. This is the guy who's set world records on and off the show. You engineer an awkwardly sneaky switch to a Golf R that's purpose-built for the 24 Hours of the Nürburgring. I was sure we'd see the Volkswagen Beetle Rallycross car but alas no. He thrashed the car in grand style and although the Ford Raptor video is still tops in my book for sheer ridiculousness, the hot hot-lap does make up for the morale bobolization he endured during the episode.
"I'm excited because I get to do this. I'm scared because, you know, it's – it's me." – Adam Ferrara
The finale came down to a battle of the Lamborghini's power versus Rutledge's racing prowess. I admit it was a kick to see Adam in the Huracán, but knew Rut would be unstoppable in the Porsche. This is one of those times when who won what probably mattered even less because it was so darned fun to watch. They lived out a fantasy and gave a global audience something for their bucket list. This episode is currently available on iTunes and Amazon. As always the cast and fans had a great time live-tweeting both the east and west coast broadcasts. The next episode is the season finale, Weekend Race Cars.


text:
Gidgets Beach House - Part 1
Gidgets Beach House is a beautiful old beach house that was completely transformed by Jodie Holmes from Seaside Creative Interiors. We were thrilled to be able to help find some unique pieces for the project. Check out the wonderful rooms below & all the fabulous coastal vintage pieces. These pieces add a great touch to the home by adding colour, texture and character to give the beach house a lovely homey feel.
Such a lovely relaxed tropical & earthy vibe in this living room isn't there?
Jodie styled the room with reels, glass floats, demijohn, creels, fishing rods, shells and bottles from our store.
Our custom-made 'Ladies must wear bloomers sign' is the star in the entry.
In the bright & colourful bedrooms, our range of new oars & paddles can be found either on the walls or simply leaning up casually against the corners.
These fishing reels that we had made into mirrors look great here don't they?
Jodie added an old shell necklace around one of them to make it even more a feature. I love that idea!
Jodie added an old shell necklace around one of them to make it even more a feature. I love that idea!
What do you like best?
Next week, we will share some fabulous photos of the outside and games room!
Click here to see similar items available on our website
until next time,
lover of the sea and all things coastal vintage
lover of the sea and all things coastal vintage


text:
This exquisite property brings you the life style you want, the privacy you are looking for and quality at every turn. The Historic Village of Arroyo Grande is only 20 minutes way, at Ranchita Estates. Separate areas for dogs, garden and horses all on 42 plus acres, the property is partially fenced and crossed fenced. The home built by Steve Stillman has an open living room, dining and kitchen area. Granite counters and Kitchen Aide appliances make the home easy for entertaining or simple family gatherings. The living room has a knotty pine ceiling with a fireplace. Just outside the living area is an enclosed patio along the back of the house, approximate 11 x 29 with vaulted ceiling and ceiling fans. The property looks out on the hillside and pasture area. The master is large and spacious with garden and hillside view. Three car attached garage with an apartment off to one side. The barn is approximately 2, 458 sq. ft. with an additional 705 sq. ft. of additional covered area. A detached garage holds equipment and a back up generator fully integrated into the house. Extensive patio and overhang make the evenings enjoyable for outside activities. Spectacular Sycamore and Redwood trees grace the home for summer shade.
Register Now
Nancy Puder
Nancy Puder | CA DRE# 0677873 | 805-710-2415 | Contact Us
350 James Way Suite 130 - Pismo Beach, CA 93449
Copyright © , All Rights Reserved


text:
Reviewed by Daniel A. (age 8)
My favorite part was when Keeha held Eric with her magic. I thought it was awesome you might think its pretty cool too, For one thing, I hope you like it .
My favorite character was Keeha, because she has the eye of dawn which can control the World of Droon.
It's like book I've read before it's called , The Secrets of Droon, Journey to the Volcano Place and it is by Tony Abbott.
Read the book to find out more.
I recommend this book to ages 7 to 20.


text:
Three sit out
ALLEN PARK Three key Lions sat out practice today wide receiver Calvin Johnson (knee), quarterback Matthew Stafford (shoulder) and safety Louis Delmas (ankle). Stafford is not likely to play on Sunday against Arizona while Delmas and Johnson are question marks.
Also the Lions signed veteran long snapper Nathan Hodel to fill in for Don Muhlbach (concussion). Hodel snapped for the Cardinals from 2003-08, then was signed by New England and cut by the Patriots in March. He arrived late for practice and went right to work.
To make room on the roster rookie tight end Dan Gronkowski was cut. Gronkowski, a seventh-round pick out of Maryland, had been on the practice squad until Dec. 1 when Brandon Pettigrew was placed on injured reserve.


text:
Order FREE Helpline Static Clings
Helping clients with pet safety is just one of the ways you provide the very best care. To help with that effort, Pet Poison Helpline provides FREE static clings for you to give to your clients.
By putting our 24/7 helpline number at their fingertips, you'll make sure that on-the-spot advice from board-certified animal toxicologists and veterinarians is immediately available to your clients, right when they need it most.
They're free–plus:
- Perfect for adding to puppy and kitten packs, for handing out at every visit, or include one with every invoice
- Designed to stick to almost any surface, plus remove without any damage
- Gives your practice extra credibility in helping clients be prepared for any emergency


text:
If you are thinking of moving to one of the most beautiful spots in Canada,
you have come to the right place.
A natural forested wonderland with over 1,500 lakes, a multitude of rivers and waterfalls set on Muskoka's beautiful rock outcroppings. Canada's Best Cottage area, all within a 2 1/2 hour drive to Toronto and an international airport.
Picture summer days swimming, boating, fishing, or hiking on one of our beautiful trails followed by an evening by the fire roasting marshmallows. On winter days curl up by the fire or spend a day outside, snowmobiling, ice fishing, cross-country skiing or enjoy one of our outdoor skating trails.
Within our 17 unique towns and villages you will find festivals, art shows, farmers markets, music in the parks, boat cruises, live theatre, concerts, golf courses, antique stores, and a wide array of restaurants --- from fast food to fine dining.
The larger towns of Gravenhurst, Bracebridge & Huntsville offer all the amenities. Great schools, grocery stores, 3 YMCA's with swimming pools and gyms, 2 hospitals, libraries and everything else you need to compliment your lifestyle.
Click around my website you will find everything, from where to find public beaches & boat launches, to town office sites with information on zoning by-laws and municipal services.


text: Norton Rose Fulbright strengthens its banking team with new hire April 4, 2018 Contacts Timo Noftz Hamburg Oliver Sutter Frankfurt Veit Sahlfeld Hamburg Related services Infrastructure, Energy and infrastructure M&A, Banking and finance, Real estate Key industry sectors Energy, Transport Global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright has announced the appointment of Veit Sahlfeld as of counsel in the Hamburg office, effective April 1. Veit joins from White & Case. Veit Sahlfeld has extensive experience in the areas of energy, transport, infrastructure and real estate. He advises clients on structured finance and securitization and has a focus on the structuring of complex transactions concerning multi-sourcing, acquisition, assets and project financing as well as the related business and capital market solutions. Timo Noftz, partner in the Hamburg banking team, comments: "Veit's experience will greatly enhance our banking practice in Hamburg. As we continue to grow as a firm, Veit's hire will strengthen our offering both locally and more widely across Europe. I look forward to working with him." Oliver Sutter, head of banking & finance, Germany, comments: "Veit Sahlfeld is a renowned colleague and recognised expert in his core areas. With his clear focus, he significantly strengthens our banking team." For further information please contact: Stefanie Kerschke, PR & Communications Executive Germany Tel: +49 89 212148 339; Mob: +49 174 34 528 email@example.com Notes for editors: Norton Rose Fulbright Norton Rose Fulbright is a global law firm providing the world's preeminent corporations and financial institutions with a full business law service. The firm has more than 4,000 lawyers and other legal staff based in Europe, the United States, Canada, Latin America, Asia, Australia, the Middle East and Africa. Recognized for its industry focus, Norton Rose Fulbright is strong across all the key industry sectors: financial institutions; energy; infrastructure, mining and commodities; transport; technology and innovation; and life sciences and healthcare. Through its global risk advisory group, the firm leverages its industry experience with its knowledge of legal, regulatory, compliance and governance issues to provide clients with practical solutions to the legal and regulatory risks facing their businesses. Norton Rose Fulbright operates in accordance with its global business principles of quality, unity and integrity, aiming to provide the highest possible standard of legal service in each of its offices and to maintain that level of quality at every point of contact. Norton Rose Fulbright Verein, a Swiss verein, helps coordinate the activities of Norton Rose Fulbright members but does not itself provide legal services to clients. Norton Rose Fulbright has offices in more than 50 cities worldwide, including London, Houston, New York, Toronto, Mexico City, Hong Kong, Sydney and Johannesburg. For more information, see nortonrosefulbright.com/legal-notices. For more information, see nortonrosefulbright.com/legal-notices. Tweet [+Open all]


text:
Stalks of wheat gently turn towards the warm sun. Golden fields stretch into the horizon.
Bushels of seeds and grains overflow, as farmers gather the ripe bounty from the earth.
Everything we bake begins at the harvest, with simple, flavourful, nourishing ingredients.
We bake our products with delicious combinations of whole grains, seeds and fruit – wholesome ingredients you can see and taste.
Our recipes include nourishing selections such as oats, barley, wheat, flax, sunflower seeds and quinoa. Naturally good for you, our breads are high in fibre, protein and omega-3, low in trans fats, and have no artificial flavours or colours.
We have been baking a variety of breads for over 40 years – old favourites like 12 Grains, Ancient Grains, Stone Milled Wheat and new heartier Seeds & Grains and Farmer's Bread.
Our breads are proudly Canadian.


text:
See All Brands•See All Categories
Items: 0 • $0.00
Tracking•Help•Contact Us
MAP (what's this):
Guava Passion 300 grams
MAP (what's this): $27.97
Raspberry Lemonade 300 grams
Uplift - Pre Workout Energy Description from NLA For Her
UPLIFT is our pre-workout that delivers clean and sustained energy, increases fast twitch muscle fiber activation, and improves your overall athletic performance. UPLIFT is completely free of banned substances and safe for athletes of any organization to take before competition. UPLIFT delivers your body and muscles a potent dose of amino acids to help eliminate any muscular breakdown during your workout. The nitric oxide boosters in UPLIFT improves blood flow to your muscles, increasing muscular strength and endurance. UPLIFT comes in 2 refreshing flavors to make your workout experience that much more enjoyable. UPLIFT is also creatine free so you can experience intense, clean energy without the bloating and water retention of other pre-workouts.
Contains natural & artificial flavoring.
Other Ingredients: Maltodextrin, Citric Acid, Natural & Artificial Flavors, Acesulfame Potassium, Silica, Sucralose.
Manufacturer's Directions
As a dietary supplement, mix 1 scoop (5.25 gram) with 4-8 ounces of cold water and consume 20-30 minutes before beginning activity. This is to be done the first three (3) times using "UPLIFT". Under no circumstances should nay of the warnings be ignored. Beginning with the 3rd time using UPLIFT, dose may be increased by, but not more than, 1/2 of a scoop (2.625 grams). The ideal individual dose may vary between 1-2 scoops.
Manufacturer's Disclaimer
Do not exceed recommended dose. Pregnant or nursing mothers, children under the age of 18, and the elderly, and individuals with a known medical condition should consult a physician before using this or any dietary supplement. Product contains caffeine and naturally occurring caffeine, which may cause restlessness and sleep difficulty in some sensitive people.
I bought the NLA for her Aminos and the Uplift. Both products worked well with my system. No stomach aches, good clean energy. Appetite suppressant as well. The Aminos give me a nice tingle without being annoying. I cannot stand products/supps that give me terrible jitters or make me feel like I am on illegal street drugs. The Uplift kept me up very late one night because I used it early afternoon and I am sensitive to anything that peps me up. So it was my fault. Not everyone is as sensitive as I am.
The products also moved my bowels a little more regularly. The NLA products are exactly what I am looking for for my body/needs. I will be sticking with them.
I bought the raspberry lemonade & enjoyed the taste but didn't feel like it gave me the energy and pump that I get from N.O Explode or Super Pump Max.
Title your review * (150 character max)
Share your opinion * (4000 character max)
How would you rate this?
BodyStrong 100% Whey Protein Milk Chocolate 5 lbs
Our Price $35.99
Futurebiotics Multi Vitamin Energy Plus for Women 120 tabs
Our Price $15.37
NLA For Her Her Whey Chocolate Eclair 2 lbs
MAP (what's this):
BodyStrong Creatine 500 grams
Our Price $8.99
BodyStrong Creatine (1000mg) 240 caps
Our Price $12.99
BodyStrong Beta-Alanine Powder 500 grams
Our Price $18.99


text:
Managed care plans face significant strategic and operational questions when it comes to serving individuals enrolled in both Medicare and Medicaid. That's because existing managed care models and state and federal policies are evolving in ways that will dramatically impact the roles and responsibilities of participating plans. What's more, no single model has emerged as … Read More
Webinar Replay: Medicaid Health Homes
Health Homes have been implemented in at least 22 states under the federal Medicaid Health Home state plan option, and initial results illustrate the potential for meaningful improvements in the quality and cost of care associated with serving individuals with chronic physical, mental, or behavioral conditions. During this webinar, HMA experts discuss some of the … Read More
Webinar Replay: Electronic Visit Verification for Personal Care Services, Home Health
This webinar was held on May 24, 2018 The 21st Century Cures Act requires state Medicaid programs to implement electronic visit verification (EVV) for personal care services in 2019 and home health care in 2023. While the aims are noble – reducing fraud and improving quality of care – the practical considerations of understanding and … Read More
Webinar Replay: Partnership Opportunities for Payers, Providers and States: Supportive Housing for High Utilizers
This webinar took place on June 7, 2018. Medicaid managed care plans, health systems, and states are teaming up with community-based organizations and housing authorities to consider a wide variety of supportive housing initiatives. Research indicates that doing so not only improves health outcomes for individuals experiencing homelessness, mental health, and/or substance use disorders, but … Read More
Webinar Replay: Personal Responsibility & Community Engagement in Medicaid
This webinar was held on May 17, 2018 A growing number of state Medicaid agencies are developing initiatives aimed at achieving broader social goals not previously emphasized in Medicaid, including most notably the introduction of community engagement requirements. Personal responsibility initiatives in Medicaid are not new, but today there is intense state and national focus … Read More
Webinar Replay: The State of the States: Key Data on State Medicaid Long-Term Services and Supports Programs
As the primary payer for long-term services and supports (LTSS) in the U.S., Medicaid accounts for more than 50 percent of all public and private spending on LTSS. For states, paying for LTSS represents a steep financial commitment. Medicaid-funded LTSS accounts for more than 30 percent of state Medicaid program spending, which pays for more … Read More
Webinar Replay: Innovations in Medicaid Managed Long-Term Services and Supports
Health Management Associates and the AARP Public Policy Institute discuss the findings of the new report on Emerging Innovations in Managed Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) for Family Caregivers. The report shows that health plans are increasingly recognizing and supporting family caregivers for individuals with LTSS needs. The webinar also featured the real-world experiences of … Read More
Webinar Replay: New Life for 1332 Waivers: Next Steps in State Health Insurance Exchange Market Innovation
With the current administration aiming to provide increased state flexibility in the use of federal healthcare funds, ACA Section 1332 State Innovation Waivers may attract renewed interest. Section 1332 waivers allow states to modify certain aspects of their health insurance Exchange markets and operating rules, for example, easing regulations on benefit levels, allowing flexibility in … Read More
Webinar Replay: Behavioral Health Mergers: A Step-by-Step Guide to Evaluating, Structuring, and Implementing a Merger
A growing number of behavioral health providers have made the decision to merge with one another, or with other health care entities, to achieve the scale, scope and sophistication necessary to thrive in an increasingly complex healthcare system. During this webinar, behavioral health and legal experts from HMA and Proskauer Rose will walk through how … Read More
Webinar Replay: What's Next for CMS Innovation Center?
CMS Administrator Seema Verma announced in September that the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) would shift its focus from promoting mandatory, large-scale value-based payment initiatives to an approach that stresses voluntary, home-grown efforts. The upshot: expanded waiver flexibility that will allow providers freedom to develop and test a wide variety of value-based solutions. … Read More


text:
Earlier versions of this article, including in the print edition of The Washington Post, incorrectly identified Chip Cravaack (R-Minn.) as a senator-elect. He is a representative-elect. This version has been corrected.
The Influence Industry
New Republican lawmakers are hiring lobbyists, despite campaign rhetoric
Wednesday, December 8, 2010; 10:52 PM
During his campaign to represent Wisconsin in the U.S. Senate, GOP nominee Ron Johnson accused Democratic incumbent Russell Feingold (D) of being "on the side of special interests and lobbyists."
"After promising voters that he would reform the culture of lobbying in Washington, instead Senator Feingold embraced lobbyists and declared himself to be on their side," a Johnson spokeswoman said at the time.
But after defeating Feingold, Johnson himself has turned to K Street for help - hiring homeland security lobbyist Donald H. Kent Jr. as his chief of staff.
Johnson is not alone: Many incoming GOP lawmakers have hired registered lobbyists as senior aides. Several of the candidates won with strong support from the anti-establishment tea party movement.
These cases illustrate the endurance of Washington's traditional power structure, even in the wake of an election dominated by insurgent rhetoric. In addition to hiring lobbyists, many newly elected House Republicans have begun holding big-dollar fundraisers in Washington to pay off debts and begin preparing for 2012.
In addition to Johnson, Sen.-elect Mike Lee (Utah) has announced that energy lobbyist Spencer Stokes will be his chief of staff. Tea party favorite Rand Paul (Ky.) has hired anti-union lobbyist Douglas Stafford as his top senatorial aide.
In the House, Rep.-elect Charlie Bass (N.H.) has named food industry lobbyist John W. Billings as his chief of staff. Billings was a senior aide to Bass during an earlier stint on Capitol Hill.
Rep.-elect Chip Cravaack (Minn.) has hired former U.S. senator and former lobbyist Rod Grams as his interim chief of staff, though aides have said the posting is probably not permanent. Grams's lobbying clients from 2002 to 2006 included 3M, Norfolk Southern and the Financial Services Roundtable, records show.
Other incoming GOP lawmakers who have recruited staff from K Street include Robert Dold (Ill.), Steve Pearce (N.M.) and Jeff Denham (Calif.). John Goodwin of the National Rifle Association, one of Washington's most powerful lobbying groups, has signed on as chief of staff for Rep.-elect Raul Labrador (Idaho).
Voters in Indiana chose a former lobbyist, Dan Coats, to represent them for a second time in the Senate. But Coats, also a former U.S. ambassador to Germany, has hired a non-lobbyist as his chief of staff.
Craig Holman, government affairs lobbyist for the Public Citizen watchdog group, said hiring senior aides from K Street gives their former corporate clients an unfair advantage.
"Lobbyists for the most part are hired guns that represent corporations and other special interests that pay for them," Holman said. "Those lobbyists now have direct access to the political agenda of these lawmakers."


text:
Take the Empowered Self-Care 5 Day Challenge!
I blog in various places and when I can get the links I post them here. Same for articles. It's an eclectic mix of fun, informative, inspiration and whatever strikes me in at the time of writing, and a collection from over the years. Be happy & breathe.
Blog Posts
How to Make Social Change Part of Your Daily Life
In the last few years — maybe the last few decades — watching the news has felt overwhelming. I've taken breaks here and there but have mixed feelings about letting go of news altogether. While I am happier generally when I ignore the 24/7 commentary on the news, to not know what is going on feels like I am cut off. So I tried an experiment… Read Full Post
Hurricane Harvey: An Answer to Prayer?
Let me be clear. I don't think any American was kneeling in prayer asking for a monster tragedy to strike the Texas coast. But my experience with prayer is that answers rarely come wrapped in the package you expect. Most answers show up as opportunities to make a new choice or to change an attitude or pattern that better align you with the outcome you want… Read full post
How to Lose Your Zen at the Beach
The beach is my Zen place. The rhythmic sound, the open expanse, the sand between my toes… My Zen place. I take an annual vacation with two people who are fairly politically quiet one-on-one but when they are together, work each other up until they are cocked and loaded to fight the culture war. They usually do this in whispers that I am sure to hear, and then escalate over the days until they are calling out weblinks to one another to check out the latest outrage… Read full post
What's with the Buzz Cut?
I get the giggles each time someone gives me "the look," which I define as the brief, deer-in-the-headlights stare when they meet me, look at my hair and pause for a moment before they stammer out something, sometimes something really amusing. I forget that my hair can cause such reaction. Everyone seems to have an opinion (or judgment) and quite a number of them feel free to speak up. There's the checker at the grocery store who (caringly) asks how my cancer treatment is going even though I tell him each time that my hairstyle is a choice and not a result of chemo. Read full post
Why "Change" is Great for Authenticity!
There's no escaping that change is the word of the moment! Funny thing is, life's always been about change—though in recent decades life has also been fairly predictable. It's an illusion for sure, but a pervasive one. This illusion of a predictable future totally squashes authenticity. Why? Because when you have a future that you can predict if you act a certain way or do certain things, you moderate and limit your present to serve a probable future. Read full post
The New "F" Word: Feminista
Remember the first time you said that deliciously illicit 'F' word? Yes, that one. You know you've said it, even if only to yourself. You probably learned in school from the boys whose older brothers inserted it like some wondrous new punctuation between every other word. Like sarcasm, the 'F' word inhabits one of the lower realms of wit and communication, but that doesn't diminish the thrill of the first time it slipped past your lips. Even if you didn't know what it meant, the taboo of saying it zinged through your being as a self-initiation into the power of shock value… Read full article
Leap of Faith
Bungee jumping has been on my bucket list since I saw a magnificent bungee leap of faith by a woman who looked on the edge of bliss. She spread her arms, closed her eyes and did a swan dive off a platform that seemed a zillion feet off the ground. That was at least two decades ago and yet bungee jumping remains on the bucket list, undone, a theoretical adventure for some much later date… Read full article
I had the most luscious gift as I stretched my eyes open on the morning of my 40th birthday. No, it wasn't a gourmet breakfast in bed, or a diamond bracelet on the nightstand, it was a voice—not my voice, nor my words—that announced in the center of my head, "The bullshit is over." Yee-hah, I thought, not really understanding what the proclamation meant, except that it was accompanied by an extraordinary sense of peace and freedom. It felt like a mighty fine way to start a new decade. I didn't give it too much consideration until the phone rang later that day… Read full article
Field of Streams
A friend of mine once told me that if a woman could reach back in time to before she realized that she were a girl, before she was domesticated and socialized, when her imagination knew no bounds, that she could tap into her untamed dreams, her innate wisdom, and know what she was born to do. If the supposedly wise young me had gotten what she wanted, I'd now be sitting atop a camel wearing a spangly headpiece along with "I Dream of Jeannie" blousy pants and mini-vest, wielding a saber as the first woman leader of a Bedouin trading caravan… Read full article
The Gift of Receiving
As a field-test in human nature, I asked a two-year-old which was better, giving or receiving? Any guess as to the answer? With the promise of Santa just around the corner, receiving won hands down. Ask any two-year-old, and they'll tell you that receiving is a whole lot more fun than giving. But somewhere between this tender age and the time my clients get to my office, things have dramatically switched. I've yet to have a person for whom receiving was enjoyable, much less easy, although everyone claims that giving is divine… Read full article
I have a friend I turn to when I need insight into the burning questions of my life. She's great at all things intuitive, though not in a Tarot-card reading sort of way. She's just seems to be able to paddle her inner surfboard into whatever muddled confusion I happen to be in, rise to the pinnacle of the wave to view it from the grandeur of the sky, then dazzle me with her twisty-turny surf-nastics as she rides that wave in to wisdom's shore. You know, that place where, when you get there, you think, "well, duh, this is what I really thought was true, deep, deep down, all along."… Read full article
A Questionable Business
Have you ever noticed how asking a question moves you forward, toward more questions, more depth, a wider range of possibilities? Having an answer, on the other hand, narrows your options because of the way your mind works. Once you have an answer your mind pays attention to those things that reinforce the answer, and keeps from consciousness other options that might be great for you, but don't fit into the spectrum of the answer… Read full article
Trapped in Time
Have you ever listened—really listened—to the stories your mother tells about you? They can seem to trap you in time, as, say, the toddler who slipped away in a store and walked up to a woman in sandals, pointed to her toes and said "wee-wee." An event that made perfect sense as a toddler schooled in the Three Little Pigs toe game, but from the way my mother told it, a moment of sheer mortification frozen in memory. A mother's stories lock you in time because those early tales help create your early identity. And the stories you learn to tell from that identity can imprison you forever—or set you free. It is, after all, our stories that ultimately define us, and confine us… Read full article
Circling Home To Heart
Alex Haley, author of Roots, said, "In every conceivable manner, family is the link to our past, the bridge to our future." But what happens to these connections when family links are broken? Asheville entrepreneur Lin Sharp knows first hand. Separated from her brother and two sisters as children, a reunion only last year brought together all the sisters. A few months ago, she reunited with her younger brother after not seeing him for 50 years… Read full article
Spicing up the Tropics
In the jungle of Papua, New Guinea, there are few options but to eat the local fare. My husband and I were posted in the craggy rural mountains of this beautiful but primitive island country when serving with the Peace Corps over a decade ago. Just north of Australia, New Guinea is best known in the US as a battlefield between the allies and the Japanese during World War II, and for the fading practice of cannibalism. Among historians, New Guinea is also recognized as one of the earliest centers of agriculture, with evidence of irrigation going back 10,000 years… Read full article
Tap into the Power of Metaphor
A picture is worth a thousand words. Images evoke deep inner response, perhaps a stirring from the innate beauty or shock from the content. A thousand or more words might well describe the image, comment on its artistic value or explain the meaning of it to another, but talking about an image doesn't bring about the same inner movement as taking in the image first hand. That's because words and images are processed in different parts of the mind. Pictures speak to the subconscious mind, a part of the mind that operates largely outside of conscious awareness. Language is the primary means of communication of the conscious mind, the part that is rational and logical, that plans and sets goals and sets out with the pure grit of willpower… Read full article


text:
Indora's Claim
Indora Prime
The first planet in the Indora system colonized by humanity. Chosen for it's abundance of water, a key ingredient in terraforming. Small and covered in ice it wasn't exactly the paradise that the counsel was hoping for. Still it had potential to yield great results in the long term after the full terraforming is complete. The dome in New Moscow is perfect shelter from the extreme temperature and weather of the planet.
Covered in Ice and Snow
Extremely cold
Low gravity
When not along the equator
Too cold to live (p)