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So I final was able to go to school!
I got a call one morning saying, "Be ready in 15-20 minutes! Nelly, another TLG representative is coming to take you to your school!!!" …okay.
So I got my stuff together. And went downstairs and waited. Because I have been sick and wasn't here this past weekend, I haven't really been seen outside the apartment building a lot. This time, I had to stand on the corner at the ready. Of course she didn't come in 15-20 minutes, so I stood there for a long while.
Enough to notice things: We had a gatekeeper. And he mingles and hangs out with the gatekeeper of the building next to ours. I don't know their names yet. There are also some other dudes that congregate with them. One the near side of the intersection, there is a kiosk that serves as a mini bodega. She sells eggs and milk and such. Good to know. Then on the corner across the street to the right is the bus stop. Conveniently beside the bus stop, but smack beside the road, is an ATM from my bank. When I say 'smack beside', I mean you have to stand in the 4-lane highway to access it. Behind the bus stop is another kiosk. This one sells coffee, cigarettes and such. (I'll put a photo here later on.)
Anyway, I wait and wait. And finally she comes in the TLG van with driver. Off we go. Straight into traffic. It took an hour to get to school. I don't even know the way they took. She kept saying, 'Its close.' But I couldn't figure it out.
When she jumped out of the van, I assumed we were there.
First we met the school director. Her name is Tamuna. Great smile and extremely friendly. We chatted for a bit. She's from Guria, too and knows decent English. She called the other English teachers in. There is Tina, an older teacher. She's spunky and is excited to have a native speaker. There is Nino, who is a little younger than Tina. Then Irma, who has only been teaching a couple of years. All of them seemed really excited about me being there.
We exchanged numbers, and then they showed me around the school.
This school is a lot bigger than my school in Oz. Oz was three levels, where this one is four. Most of the rooms are in descent condition until you get to the top floors. Then things start to deteriorate rapidly. Since my school is in the city, its hard to get a great picture of it. Plus, its fronted by thick trees. I'm still looking for a good angle, but until then here is a view out one of the windows.
I was able to pop my head into most of the classrooms, and they were jazzed to see me. Not the same level as Oz so far, but maybe its still early.
The school has no library or computer labs that I saw. And the gym seemed smaller than the one in Oz.
I had to get to a doctor's appointment, so I told them farewell.
As said before, I didn't have the slightest idea of how to get home. Irma repeated again, "Oh, it's close." And pointed to the back of the school…okay.
So, when I walked out of the school, I circled to the back and walked up that block. At the end of the block, lo and behold, I was at the top of my avenue. I decided to walk it to get a feel for the distance and the stores along the way. It was a 40 minute walk… I won't be doing that too often.
Yea, Back in the days when I was young I'm not a kid anymore
But some days I sit and wish I was a kid again.
Yea, I sit and wish I was a kid again,
Yea I sit and wish, man.
School Daze, J. Cole


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So, here I am, 25% through Full-Time MBA and I never felt time fly this quickly before! My first day at Fisher feels like it was just yesterday. Then, I had a three-week long winter break– something that I was absolutely thrilled about…
The highlight of break was a Fisher MBA "Marketing Hop" where first-year and second-year MBA students (myself included) took a trip to Detroit and Chicago to meet and greet major "movers and shakers." This is an annual event (and not the only event of its kind– students take organized "hops" to other cities).
I had a few hours to pack my bags after my last final exam on the night of December 13th– before heading out the next day. It was extremely cold on that morning when we were supposed to report outside Gerlach Hall a.k.a. our "MBA academic powerhouse building." A short bus drive away… and we arrived in Detroit for a stop at Ford Motor Company. Then, we were off to the "Windy City."
We met brilliant people at LinkedIn, Dyson, Groupon, Rise Interactive and a few other digital marketing agencies in Chicago. We also had some fun on the side! The city (even when freezing) was warm enough to me; I got introduced to Giordano's deep-dish pizza by one of my Brazilian friends studying at the University of Chicago, the security check at Skydeck Chicago was gracious to offer me a free ticket, and I enjoyed mouth-watering paan in Chicago's Little Pakistan-India neighborhood. I spent two nights in Chicago before I headed to San Francisco to spend the rest of my break with family.
I began the evening of December 16th by landing at SFO, where a group of my friends came to welcome me! After chatting for hours with my friends while roaming around the streets of San Francisco, my family came to pick me up and the day ended with a lot of homemade Indian delicacies, deep conversations with cousins, and wine. The next few days were exhilarating and packed with a lot of action. My cousins had a plan for every single day and when I look back in hindsight, I believe that I couldn't have lived any of those days better. Highlights include sightseeing San Francisco: walking along the Embarcadero, experiencing the breath-taking views of the bay; biking the Golden Gate bridge with cousins and friends; riding Lombard Street in an SUV (that's the really curvy, downhill street that you've probably seen in pictures), relishing hot chocolate fudge at Ghirardelli Square, and eating the best Thai food with an unforgettable view.
After just a week, I was enthralled with what California has to offer. The city was dressed in lights as Christmas got closer and the vibe of the holiday season could be felt on every street. Following a last-minute change in the plan, we all decided to visit Yosemite National Park for Christmas. Staying at an Airbnb in the middle of the forest for three nights with no internet connectivity gave me time to reflect and cherish quality time with family. Hiking the Yosemite peak during this time of the year was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I never thought that I could even complete the Upper Yosemite Fall Trail with absolutely no training. What I took back from the visit to Yosemite is a new version of myself. I learned that I can be comfortable with the uncomfortable. The next few days were spent enjoying a lot of New Year's Eve parties, learning some board games (such as Monopoly, Catan, Ticket to Ride, and playing the lying-bluffing-fib-till-you-win Fibbage), and trying to get better cooking skills some Indian recipes!
With the onset of the new year and my last week in California wrapping up, I got an opportunity to visit the Apple HQ in Cupertino, California, with our Marketing Professor and Program Director, Dr. Shashi Matta, who (every year) takes a group of students to a road trip in California. I also got a chance to visit GoFundMe, crowdfunding platform to raise money, and Asana, an organization that designs a mobile application to help teams track their work. Plus, I met with Fisher alums while I kept my focus on a summer internship. Lastly, I got to spend my last night in California with some 30 Buckeyes in San Francisco over a meet-and-greet event before leaving for my 12:25am flight back to Columbus.
California was definitely fun and I took back a bag full of memories that I'll cherish forever!

subset: commoncrawl


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CAT Lightweight Tech Full-Zip Sweatshirt has a front hand-warmer pocket with a hidden cell phone pocket and a hook-and-loop closure for security and peace of mind. Wire management system allows safe use of audio cords. CAT lightweight sweatshirt is made from 6.5-oz., 100% cotton French terry. Rib trim with spandex for shape retention. Contrast elbow patches, pocket lining and left-sleeve pen pocket. Specify color and Men's chest size M (38–41), L (42–45), XL (46–49) or 2XL (50–53) in the drop-down menu above.


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Pooja Shenoy
|Karen Here's a really freaky coincidence I encountered with my friend Pooja. We were taking a walk in our neighbourhood, when this extremely cute guy passed by on his scooter! He was a new face to the both of us, had amazing hair, killer looks and was dressed formally (probably going to church, it was a Sunday evening). So anyway, we couldn't stop gawking at him (from afar) until he entered his house! After that, all we could do is gossip about when he moved here, how old he is, if he's single, and of course, what his name is! Now here's the freaky coincidence, the question 'what name suits him best?' was raised. We paused for a moment, and then at the exact same time we both said "Ivan!" I don't know how and why we both thought of that name, but it was such a freaky coincidence! After a couple of weeks we did find out his real name but I'd rather not mention that here! And anyway, he'll always be "Ivan" to us!


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Updated: October 29, 2015
Many homes have pipes, solders and/or plumbing fixtures made from copper, lead or other metals. Corrosive water can sometimes dissolve enough of these metals to create both aesthetic and health-related problems in drinking water. In certain cases, corrosion can be severe enough to cause leaks in the plumbing system.
Corrosive water can dissolve high concentrations of copper from pipes and fixtures. Copper can cause bluish-green stains in sinks and a metallic taste to water, especially with water in contact with pipes for several hours (overnight). Corrosive water can also dissolve lead from solders joining copper pipes or occasionally from lead pipes. Lead was a common component of solders used in plumbing systems until it was banned in 1991. If your home was built prior to 1991 and has a metal plumbing system, it is likely that some lead is present. Lead can cause many health effects in adults and children (see Drinking Water Standards). Lead is harmful at concentrations in water that can only be detected by water testing. A recent survey of private water systems in Pennsylvania found that about 20% contained dangerous amounts of dissolved lead.
While most corrosive water problems occur with metal plumbing systems, corrosion of plastic PVC plumbing components is also possible resulting in dangerous amounts of vinyl chloride in drinking water. This usually only occurs when inferior plastic pipe that was not approved for drinking water systems has been used. Approved plastic pipe is directly stamped with a "NSF" (National Sanitation Foundation) seal on the side.
Approximately 60% of the wells, springs and cisterns serving individual homes in Pennsylvania have corrosive water. Corrosive water tends to be most common in northern and western Pennsylvania where more acidic groundwater is prevalent although areas underlain by Triassic shales in southeastern Pennsylvania also produce corrosive water. It is least common in the agricultural valleys underlain by limestone but the sandstone ridges between these valleys often yield corrosive water. Cistern water can also be quite corrosive unless it is stored in an unlined masonry cistern.
In some cases, it may be obvious that you have corrosive water based upon symptoms exhibited by your water. You may notice the telltale bluish-green stains in your sinks, metallic taste of the first water out of the tap, or small leaks in your metal plumbing components. In addition to these symptoms, water testing can be used to measure the level of corrosivity of your water and to determine if metals like copper and lead are above recommended or health-related standards.
Many characteristics of water determine its corrosivity including pH, calcium concentration, hardness, dissolved solids content and temperature. Water that is soft and acidic (pH < 7.0) tends to be more corrosive but the generally accepted measures of water corrosivity are the stability or saturation indices. These indices use chemical characteristics of the water, such as hardness and pH, to estimate the corrosiveness of the water. The Langelier Saturation Index (LSI) is the most common and the index for which there is a secondary drinking water standard. Negative values of the LSI indicate corrosive water while positive results indicate non-corrosive water. Another common index is the Ryzner Stability Index or RSI. A RSI greater than about 6.5 indicates water that is probably corrosive with higher values being increasingly corrosive.
An alternative to measuring corrosivity is to test directly for products of corrosive water such as lead and/or copper. Unlike testing for most water pollutants, testing water for lead and copper is normally accomplished by collecting the first water out of the drinking water tap in the morning (also known as the "first-draw" water). Copper and lead concentrations are usually highest in the first water out of the tap since this water has been in contact with the plumbing for a longer time. Metals concentrations from corrosion will decrease as water is flushed through the plumbing system. If this doesn't happen, the source of the metals is most likely your well water itself.
Contact a certified commercial water-testing laboratory to arrange to have your water tested for corrosivity, copper, or lead. You can find a list of state accredited water testing labs on the PA Department of Environmental Protection website. On that website, page down to the "Search Environmental Laboratories" and click on the "Quick Reference List". You can sort that list of labs by county and choose a Commercial or Academic lab.
Because corrosive water is not a drinking water concern by itself, there is only a recommended or secondary drinking water standard that water be noncorrosive (i.e. the LSI should be greater than zero). However, the by-products of corrosion (principally copper and lead) do have drinking water standards. Copper has a secondary drinking water standard of 1.0 mg/L because it causes a bitter, metallic taste to water and a blue-green stain in sinks and bathtubs. Copper also has a primary drinking water standard of 1.3 mg/L because it may cause severe stomach cramps and intestinal illnesses at higher concentrations.
Lead is a more serious health concern in drinking water. It has a primary drinking water standard of 15 micrograms per liter (ug/L) or 15 parts per billion (ppb). Long-term exposure to lead concentrations in excess of the drinking water standard has been linked to many health effects in adults including cancer, stroke and high blood pressure. At even greater risk are children, whose rapidly growing bodies absorb lead more quickly and efficiently. Lead can cause premature birth, reduced birth weight, seizures, behavioral disorders, brain damage and lowered IQ in children.
For more information, see Lead in Drinking Water .
Problems with corrosive water can be solved using a variety of approaches. These include replacement of plumbing system components, treating water to make it less corrosive, or reducing the products of corrosion such as lead and copper. Each approach has advantages and disadvantages that must be considered when solving a corrosive water problem.
Since corrosive water attacks plumbing system components, one way to correct the problem is to install plumbing components that are resistant to corrosion. Most often this involves replacement of copper pipe or substandard plastic pipe with approved plastic PVC pipe. Approved plastic pipe is directly stamped with "NSF" (National Sanitation Foundation) and "Drinking Water" on the side.
Treatment units such as neutralizing filters or chemical feed systems can be installed to reduce water corrosivity by adding alkaline chemicals to the water. Since corrosion affects the entire plumbing system, these treatment devices are installed where the water enters the home to treat all of the household water (Point-of-Entry or POE).
Acid neutralizing filters are very simple water treatment units that are intended to increase pH and add calcium thereby decreasing corrosivity. They consist of a tank filled with calcium carbonate (limestone) chips, marble chips, magnesium oxide, or other alkaline material. The acid neutralizing filter is usually installed after the pressure tank. Raw water flows through the tank and as it contacts the media, its pH is increased and corrosivity decreased. It is important to note that this process will increase the hardness of the water but this is necessary for proper corrosion control. Also, the resistance of the neutralizing material may lower water pressure.
Frequent maintenance is required for neutralizing filters. The tank must be routinely refilled with neutralizing material as it is dissolved. The rate of refilling can range from weeks to months depending on the raw water corrosivity, water use, and the type of neutralizing material. Backwashing is recommended to remove trapped particles and oxidized metals unless a sediment filter is installed ahead of the unit.
Corrosivity can also be treated by injecting a sodium hydroxide or soda ash solution using a chemical feed pump before the pressure tank. This treatment system is simple and inexpensive and it does not increase water hardness. Since the unit is installed ahead of the pressure tank, there is no reduction in water pressure that sometimes occurs with neutralizing filters. There is significant maintenance including filling solution tanks and maintaining the feed pump. Soda ash is preferred over sodium hydroxide because it is safer to handle. Sodium hydroxide is extremely caustic and must be handled using accepted safety practices.
In many cases, water corrosivity is not severe enough to cause leaks in the plumbing but it does cause increases in copper and/or lead in the water. In this case, various options are available to reduce or eliminate the metals from the drinking water.
Since copper and lead normally accumulate in drinking water as the water sits in contact with the metal plumbing, the most simple and inexpensive solution is to flush your plumbing system by running the water for one minute before drinking the water. This draws fresh water from the pressure tank or well that has not had sufficient contact with the plumbing system to accumulate metals. Flushing is only necessary if the water has been in contact with the plumbing for at least one hour. If you choose this method, you should collect a water sample after you have run the water for one minute and have it analyzed for copper and lead to insure that they are reduced to safe concentrations. You can conserve water by flushing the plumbing system in the morning and filling a container with drinking water for use during the day.
If excessive lead and copper persist after flushing, or if flushing is an undesirable method, there are numerous alternatives for reducing lead and copper in water. Unlike the neutralizing filters and chemical injection units discussed above that treat all of the water entering the home by preventing corrosion of metals, these units are smaller point-of use (POU) devices that remove the metals at individual taps. Distillation, reverse osmosis, and activated alumina filters are all acceptable methods but they will generally only treat enough water for drinking and cooking during the day. Granular activated carbon filters are not recommended for copper and lead removal. Some organizations, like Consumer Reports, also provide reviews of the relative merits of some of these water treatment devices.
For more discussion on the advantages and disadvantages of treatment equipment and for guidance on equipment selection, consult Tips for Buying Water Treatment Equipment .
Prepared by Bryan R. Swistock, Extension Associate, William E. Sharpe, Professor of Forest Hydrology, and Paul D. Robillard, Associate Professor of Agricultural Engineering
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STR: Caribbean/Mexico hotel pipeline for August 2016
STR's August 2016 Pipeline Report shows 27,951 rooms in 172 projects Under Contract in the Caribbean/Mexico region. The total represents a 1.7% decrease in rooms Under Contract compared with August 2015.
Under Contract data includes projects in the In Construction, Final Planning and Planning stages but does not include projects in the Unconfirmed stage.
The region reported 13,098 rooms in 82 projects In Construction for the month, which is a 0.9% increase in year-over-year comparisons.
Among the countries in the region, Mexico reported the most rooms In Construction with 8,306 rooms in 60 hotels. The Dominican Republic (1,512 rooms in six hotels) was the only other country to report more than 1,000 rooms In Construction.


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Value Added Tax (VAT) is charged on most business-to-business and business-to-consumer transactions in the UK and on goods and some services, imported from other European Union (EU) countries and from outside the EU.
VAT is charged to a buyer by a VAT-registered seller. It is reclaimed by a VAT-registered buyer after goods and services are purchased. VAT registration is required if turnover for the previous 12 months is over a specific limit – currently £73,000 – or if turnover is likely to soon exceed this limit.
There are three different rates of VAT, which apply to different types of goods and services:
- standard rate: the rate is 20% and applies to all goods and services unless they are zero rated, reduced rate or exempt.
- reduced rate: the rate of 5% is charged on items including domestic heating fuel, children's car seats, nicotine replacement products to help people stop smoking
- zero rate: this 0% rate applies to items including books and newspapers, protective boots and helmets for industrial use, children's clothing and footwear and water supplies.
If you are registered for VAT, you must keep certain business records and VAT records of your sales and purchases. You must also keep a separate VAT account.
How to pay: At the end of each VAT period – usually every three months – you need to fill in a VAT return. A VAT return tells HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) how much VAT you charged to your customers, how much VAT you paid to your suppliers and the amount of VAT you must pay to or reclaim from HMRC.
From April 2012, all VAT-registered businesses will have to submit their VAT returns online and pay any VAT due on those returns electronically. As part of HMRC's phased introduction of online returns, from April 2010 any business registering for VAT, or a business already registered that has a turnover is more than £100,000, must file its VAT return online and pay VAT electronically.
HMRC recommends that VAT payments are made electronically, for example by Bacs, direct debit, Bank Giro or telephone or internet banking. Post Office payments also count as electronic.
VAT returns must be filed and any VAT owed paid by the due date. Failure to do so can lead to a surcharge of a percentage of the unpaid VAT. The percentage of unpaid VAT charged will rise if filing or payments continue to be late.
For more information, visit www.hmrc.gov.uk/vat.
For Independent Financial Advice, please visit www.inspirewealth.co.uk.


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The Morebattle RICHARDSONs continue to spread their tentacles.
Something drew me to a RICHARDSON/CAIRNS headstone at Denholm and I decided to investigate a little further.
Sure enough, John RICHARDSON led me back to Morebattle, albeit via Selkirk (his birthplace) and Ancrum (father Jasper's), Jasper's parents being John RICHARDSON and Janet INGLES or INGRAM, depending on which records you believe, or whether or not John remarried to a Janet of the same age and birthplace but a different surname.
John being shown as born Morebattle or Eckford, again depending on which records you believe, the son of Jasper RICHARDSON & Mary HOPE.
The family of Thomas and Cecilia (YOUNG) RICHARDSON will be added to my RICHARDSON page. They do appear to have more connections to Southdean than to Morebattle, but inter-relate to several other families, so my research may as well show up somewhere!
Wednesday, 29 August 2012
What about Jasper?
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The Trump Administration's fulfillment of a promise to back out of the Paris Climate Accord is under way. It is tragic, isolationist, perverse in its reasoning, and will ultimately lead to much suffering. There is nothing justifiable, rational, or scientifically sound about this decision, and I will not rehash the obvious. Time will tell if the efforts of progressive U.S states, cities, and corporations can mitigate this catastrophic action. The actions of the rest of the world matter even more. It might be too late, even with the Paris Accord, to stop the inevitable climate change disaster. And so while we are hoping for new leadership, new technologies, and perhaps some future geoengineering messiah, a few small daily commitments from billions of people might help. So here is my Paris Micro-Accord:
1) I hereby commit to purchasing/leasing a Tesla electric vehicle in the next few years. With the prices of new models coming down, mass production of batteries with state-of-the-art tech, and a visionary leader, Tesla deserves to be rewarded. This set will require ratification from wife, and some major financial planning. Should be less expensive than a dumb Chevy Tahoe and the like.
2) Schedule a meeting at my office for one lousy hour to brainstorm ways to run the office more efficiently, cut down on energy consumption, waste, better promote recycling, and encourage more green-minded food consumption. This might include a review of the travesty that is the trash can after one single lunch break, full of plastic containers, fast food packaging, water bottles, etc. Lights are constantly left on. During the course of a single day, the heat has been put on in the morning, windows opened midday, and the air conditioning turned on by the afternoon, often with the windows still open. Are you kidding me?
3) I vow to plant more trees in open sidewalk cut-outs in my city. These ugly dirt pits are crying out for a tree to suck up carbon, cool the street with shade, and scare away criminals – seriously.
4) As a physician, I recommit to lifestyle counseling instead of heavy reliance on pharmaceuticals. For example, a recent study proved that going for a 15 minute walk after each meal for a person with diabetes can be more effective than a single medication for treatment of diabetes. Eating for the environment (organic, plant-based, minimizing meat and processed foods, etc) is good for the body, mind, and planet. It takes 441 gallons of water to produce a pound of beef, and 28 calories of fossil fuel energy to produce 1 calorie of energy from meat. The production of methane from the cattle industry is absurdly high, and the rest of the meat story on our planet is terrible.
5) I will try to synthesize a 1 page non-partisan tip sheet to give/email to patients, highlighting the overlapping benefits of certain behaviors, lifestyle choices, and dietary measures for body health and planetary sustainability.
5) I also vow to approach climate change skeptics and deniers with more compassion, understanding, and good-hearted manipulation tactics. Not simply quoting scientists, talking down to people, or forcing them to go along with the rest of their conservative tribe might help. Reading through this transcript of a conversation held on Science Friday with Ira Flatow interviewing three panelists/experts was very helpful in terms of techniques.
In the end, it's going to be a mess. But we must fight the good, rational fight. Maybe it will work out, and in the process of fighting the good fight, may we find a rational coping mechanism for the anguish felt in this epic tragedy that is unfolding.
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This Search Engine Can Help You Browse The Web With Privacy
It's a big duck pond out there, stay safe while you swim.
The internet can be a scary place. And it can be made scarier by knowing that the websites you likely frequent are tracking every single thing you do.
Enter DuckDuckGo. It's an alternative search engine focused on privacy that was even banned in China in 2014. But it's now upgrading its extensions and apps to offer even more privacy to users.
The search engine now boasts a built-in tracker blocker to stop ad networks from following you and collecting tons of data as you browse the internet. The extension will also list all of those networks that it has blocked, including those from Google and Facebook, in an effort to keep users informed of what's actually going on online when they search.
DuckDuckGo will also give each site that users visit a privacy rating.That rating will increase after the browser blocks any tracks. So don't be surprised if you see a 'D' turn into a 'B.'
You wont see many 'A' grades, however. "That's because hardly any website out there truly prioritizes your privacy," said DuckDuckGo in a blog post.
To further boost your privacy, the search engine will ensure you've loaded the encrypted version of a website whenever possible.
If you're interested in these services, you can download the upgraded DuckDuckGo extension for Firefox, Safari and Chrome. It's also available for smartphones, both iOS and Android.


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The Return of Thankful Thursday
What better day to bring back Thankful Thursday than on Thanksgiving?! (Even if it isn't Canadian Thanksgiving. On a day when millions of people just across the border are giving thanks it totally still counts right?) So, friends, without further ado:
When I was a kid, my favourite gift to ask for at birthdays and Christmas was a "runaway bag." Yup, I hoped that my parents would buy me a bag that I could pack up with favourite toys, cookies, maybe a blanket (you know, the essentials) and run away. I never got farther than the backyard, but I had big plans. (Don't get me wrong – I loved my family and my home, but I wanted adventures. Especially if they involved climbing things.)
But today? Today I'm so thankful for home. Even if it isn't building-a-pillow-fort-in-my-parents'-living-room home, or climbing-the-tree-in-my-grandparents-backyard home, or even summer-reunions-with-my-bestests home, I'm thankful for my own bed in my own apartment and the friends and loved ones I surround myself with here and now. For the past two months I've been busy working and travelling and letting the days blur together into one big adventure; it's a new kind of wonderful to stay still.
I don't say it nearly enough, and I'm really pretty terrible at showing it, so: thank you, thank you, thank you to the friends and family in my life, whether I text you 5 times a day or haven't seen you in months (eep, I'm sorry x12). You mean the world to me – all of you – and I'm so thankful you've stuck around.


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Hi everyone! We have a special guest today!
I've gotten to know Kristin a little bit over the last few weeks, while we've been putting together recipes for each other! She's really sweet and I love all the yummy recipes she shares on her blog! Be sure to check it out and leave some bloggin' love! :)
Hi, this is Kristin from Grateful Belly.
I'm so happy to be here today doing a guest post!
Isn't this a fun, cute blog?
I love it, and I think Sophia is pretty darn talented!
I've loved getting to know her a little, and
I can tell we have a lot in common in the dessert area. We both love them!
And...I love, love, love Chocolate Chip Cookies.
I love making them and I love eating them, and so do my kids!
So, I feel like sometimes I get into a cookie rut.
(Which is okay with me, I'm not complaining, or anything!)
But, I like this recipe because it's still an
awesomely delicious Chocolate Chip Cookie,
but even better, with oatmeal and peanut butter.
Sometimes I like to live dangerously...what can I say?
Jumbo Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cookies
3/4 cup margarine
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1/4 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 1/2 cups oatmeal
2 cups chocolate chips
Cream margarine, peanut butter, brown sugar, and sugar. Add eggs, milk, and vanilla and mix well. Gradually add the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Stir in the oatmeal and chocolate chips. Drop large spoonfuls of dough onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 for 10 minutes.
WOW! See what I mean when I said she shares yummy recipes? I think I'm going to have to give those a try! Thanks again Kristin! :)
Also be sure to head on over to her blog today! I'm guest posting with
some lovely truffles you don't want to miss out on!
Also be sure to head on over to her blog today! I'm guest posting with
some lovely truffles you don't want to miss out on!


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Brentford have signed striker Marcello Trotta from Fulham for the first half of the 2013/14 season.
The Italian Under-19 international will be making his second loan move to Griffin Park after spending six months there last season.
Trotta, who will stay until January 5, netted nine goals in 29 appearances for the Bees, but will be remembered by many as having missed the last-gasp penalty against Doncaster which would have sent Brentford into the Championship.
Brentford manager Uwe Rosler told the club's official website: "It is human nature to think that the glass is half empty and maybe remembering the things which weren't working out.
"I remember he joined us on November 24 and he then played every single game for us when we were unbeaten in 10 and won seven out of 10.
"He is still very young and he learned a lot last year."
Trotta, who has also been on loan at Watford and Wycombe, has made three substitute appearances for Fulham.


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Tuesday, September 3, 2013
Wear your "motto"
Whatever you believe in; you can let everyone know about it with fashion! Now it is more accurate and almost no possiblity for anyone to get you wrong by tshirts & accessories with mottos on them.
I am thinking to make a post about tshirts seperately; here you will only find some accessory ideas. As you know chains are everywhere this year; You can put on a few necklace or a few rings at the same time. While doing that, you can select one of it with a motto on it; reflecting your daily mood or lifestyle.
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Fusion-io ioXtreme PCIe SSD gets reviewed
I am a computer enthusiast like most of you are who read TweakTown. I want my machine to be as fast as possible, but I am not yet willing to spend the money it takes to get an SSD. They are still too expensive and offer too little storage capacity for my tastes. If you are the damn the cost type of enthusiast HotHardware has reviewed the Fusion-io ioXtreme PCI Express SSD.
The crux of the review is that the thing is very fast and very expensive. The 80GB version sells for $895. All I can say is at that price it had better come with a topless hottie to bring me more Cheetos when I run out.
HotHardware reports that the SSD produced consistent 700MB/sec reads and 300MB/sec writes. The big catch is that right now it's not bootable. However, a fix for that issue is said to be incoming. Hit the link below for the full review.


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Published: Apr 19, 2010 - 11:03 pm
Story Found By: chiefmartec 3224 Days ago
Category: SEM
9 Comments
I've promoted this to the home page as an Editor's Choice because it's very thorough and also somewhat different than what commonly gets noticed and embraced by the community.
I really don't like the Editor's Choice rule. I wouldn't want one of my posts put on the start page because of the will of one person. It is like sponsored cheating.
Now to the post. It doesn't bring anything new to the table. Yes, it presents itself as though it is, but technology has been a part of marketing since marketing begun. The technology has changed over the years. From stone, to paper and pen, to paper and press. From radio, to tv and now the Internet. The need to understand these medias have been as important throughout the history.
Why separate technology from the creative process? If you don't have a CTO that can converge the communicative will of the organization into technology, then you need to fire the CTO rather than hire a person to cover for him/her. So, do CTOs need to understand marketing - yes!! But should you create a new role within the technology infrastructure... probably no.
Anyhow. Again, why is there even an "editor's choice"?
Haven't commented here in a long time, but I really like this new "editors choice" concept and wanted to say so. I know it's weird to have this opinion in the social media / user-generated world, but I often feel that great content curators can do a far better job than "users" of surfacing valuable, useful material.
Keep up the great work!
I'm with Rand on editor's choice.
If anyone thinks that user votes will brings the best stories to the top they obviously haven't studied what really happens. (There are exceptions, of course.) Example: Digg - perhaps 99% of stories that make front page are promoted by power users. Votes are by a miniscule minority of users. Sphinn is the same.
Editor's choice lets users see some of the many quality posts that are written but not promoted.
Thanks for the curation!
You make a good counterpoint, Jesper. I think there is a question as to whether the universe of technology in which marketing is now operating is analogous to other shifts in media. In my humble opinion, I think it's more than that -- at least once you get below the very high philosophical level.
I think we agree on your second point though: I believe that technology should be more tightly integrated with the creative process. That's why I think marketing should have technologists under its umbrella, rather than separated by the organizational distance -- and often a big cultural difference -- in the IT department.
With agencies, particularly interactive agencies, that's probably less of a concern, as they've synthesized creative and technology together for a while -- in many ways, I think they're an inspiration for what in-house marketing departments can achieve. (Although many of the "internal" technologies discussed in the slide presentation go beyond what outside agencies are usually able to address.)
@randfish - I have no problem whatsoever if they publish content they like in their blog. But they have created a crowd sourcing website to source the crowd for what's good and what is not. I think it is quite selfdevastating to corrupt such a system.
@Nunney - exactly. Users like content that is easy to consume. And so if you have a crowd sourcing website it is the popular vote that will prevail. With your kind of reasoning, communism was a great idea as the people in charge knew what was REALLY quality.
No, remove the editors choice and push good entries you find in your blog so that people can find them and vote for them instead of bypassing the voting system.
@chiefmartec Yes, it I think we believe in the same solution as well. My main point is that we have to continue to work with communication, regardless of technology. First decide on what to communicate, then decide on how.
Word. Kudos on this new feature! Some of the best content on Sphinn (and other networks) goes unnoticed because the original person to submit is less networked.
Jesper, sorry to hear you don't like the Editor's Choice.
Your comment that this story "doesn't bring anything new to the table" is ironic because many of our users have issued the same complaint about the stories that the community often votes to the home page. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and just as we don't expect everyone to agree with the community-voted "hot" stories, we don't expect everyone to agree with the Editors' Choices, either.
Ultimately, we want the Sphinn home page to be a reflection of the best/most valuable/most interesting stories from across the industry -- not just the most popular stuff that users with large followings can get pushed to the home page. So that sometimes means manually promoting stories that the community as a whole hasn't read or voted up. Rand basically answered your question about why this exists -- we also feel there's value in having content curators helping to make sure valuable content is exposed to the widest Sphinn audience possible. (Thx Rand.)
The second ironic thing in the comments here is the suggestion that we should use our blog to highlight stories we like, combined with the comments that the Editor's Choice is new around here. It's actually been in place for more than six months now, and was originally announced on our blog:
The idea that at least some of our users think this is new kinda proves that many more people look at the Sphinn home page than look at our blog. Not saying that's good or bad, but it's reality. People look to the home page here to see what's going on with Sphinn, so it makes sense that this is where we'd highlight content we feel is valuable for one reason or another.
I have nothing against the story you promoted other than that it wasn't very optimized for the online format. A video would have been a lot better to get the same point across. But the story is beside the point.
Just as you say, the beauty is in the eye of the beholder and on a website like this, it means that popular content, which can be consumed and understood by many people, reach the front page more often than content that isn't as accessible.
Thus also my suggestion. I don't see the irony in you not having faith in your own blog and its power to promote stories you like. It is the users that build this website, if you don't like the way they build it, then that's the irony of this story. However, it is indeed up to you to implement what ever rules you wish as it is indeed your website.
I probably wouldn't have commented on it unless I would have read the section in the latest blog post you shared here on Sphinn. I don't mind an occational Editor's Choice in some form or another. But when you write that you are going to use this "more often" from now on, I felt like I had to air my concerns.
I don't expect you to change, I'm not stupid :), so.. thnx for your time and hope for the best in the future.


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National Budget Circular 542, issued by the Department of Budget and Management on August 29, 2012, reiterates compliance with Section 93 of the General Appropriations Act of FY 2012. Section 93 is the Transparency Seal provision, to wit:
Sec. 93. Transparency Seal. To enhance transparency and enforce accountability, all national government agencies shall maintain a transparency seal on their official websites. The transparency seal shall contain the following information: (i) the agency's mandates and functions, names of its officials with their position and designation, and contact information; (ii) annual reports, as required under National Budget Circular Nos. 507 and 507-A dated January 31, 2007 and June 12, 2007, respectively, for the last three (3) years; (iii) their respective approved budgets and corresponding targets immediately upon approval of this Act; (iv) major programs and projects categorized in accordance with the five key results areas under E.O. No. 43, s. 2011; (v) the program/projects beneficiaries as identified in the applicable special provisions; (vi) status of implementation and program/project evaluation and/or assessment reports; and (vii) annual procurement plan, contracts awarded and the name of contractors/suppliers/consultants.
The respective heads of the agencies shall be responsible for ensuring compliance with this section.
A Transparency Seal, prominently displayed on the main page of the website of a particular government agency, is a certificate that it has complied with the requirements of Section 93. This Seal links to a page within the agency's website which contains an index of downloadable items of each of the above-mentioned documents.
I. The Agency's mandates and function, names of its officials with their position and designation, and contact information
List of Officials
II. Annual Financial Reports
A. FOR NGA/SUCs
A.1 LFBAR No. 2: Statement of Allotment, Obligation, Disbursement and Balances
A.2 LFBAR No. 4: Report of Detailed Disbursement
A.3 LFBAR No. 1: Monthly Physical and Financial Reports of Operation
2018 (December)
A.4 LFBAR No. 6: Report on Revenue and Other Receipts
A.5 Financial Plan (Detailed Statement of Current Year's Obligations, Disbursement and Unpaid Obligations)
B.1 Annual Report/Accomplishment Report
III. DBM Approved Budget and Targets
2018 (LFBP Form 2-A: Agency Physical and Financial Targets Funded by Local Fund)
IV. Projects, Programs and Activities, Beneficiaries, and Status of Implementation
A. Projects, Programs 2018
V. Annual Procurement Plan 2018
VII. Quality Management System Certified by International certifying body or Agency Operations Manual
VIII. Updated Calendar of Activities
IX. Signed Memorandum of Agreement/Understanding of recently concluded, on-going, and future activities, projects or programs with different organizations and government agencies
XI. Services (Citizens Charter)
XIII. Recruitment and Vacancies


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- Introduction to Shelter
- General
- Assessment tools
- Planning tools
- Implementation tools
- Technical reading
- Case studies
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world's largest humanitarian organization, with 190 member National Societies . As part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, our work is guided by seven fundamental principles; humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality. About this site & copyright


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In my last post I showed my ADFS Sign On page for my it-worxx domain.
Ink on the post wasn't dry before I had several mails asking to explain how to do that.
I'll re-use some of the text I used on my other post about Bing Wallpaper automation, which you can find here.
Disclaimer: Doing this might be a legal issue and you need to confirm that you are allowed to do this.
All legal things aside (and I take no responsibility whatsoever), here's my solution.
I am using a PowerShell script, running on my ADFS 3.0 server, which uses a modified version of the function that colleague Michael Verbeek started, which you can find here.
Since the Bing wallpaper changes once a day, we need to run the script at least once a day to change the ADFS theme reflect Bing's daily image.
Create a Scheduled task using Task Scheduler (under Administrative Tools) for this.
Run whether user is logged on or not (always run). Run with highest privileges (we need to be able to write the downloaded wallpaper, and set it in the ADFS theme). In this example I run the task in the Domain Administrator context. Remember this is not best practice. Instead create a user for this purpose and assign it just the right amount of rights to run this task.
Whichever user you use, make sure this user has a profile in which Internet Explorer was started (or make sure you have a policy that disables the first-run experience for every user), and modify the execution policy for PowerShell scripts for this user (or make sure you have a policy that does this for you).
To make things easy, just sign on once with the user that is going to run the task, start Internet Explorer and go through the first-run experience, and start PowerShell. Run the command "set-executionpolicy unrestricted -force", then logout again and create the task with an administrative account.
Add a schedule to the task:
I choose to run it all day, each hour, since I have no clue when the Bing Wallpaper is updated. Create a schedule that fits your needs.
Of course we want a program to run. Type "powershell" in the Program/script box and in the Add arguments box type the full path to the script (which you can download using the link at the end of this post).
In my case the argument is "C:\adfstheme\Set-AdfsThemeIllustration.ps1" since that is where I have my script.
If you want to be able to run the script manually don't forget to check this:
And that's it.
And running the Scheduled Task has the desired results:
November 29th image.
You can download the script here.
When you download it edit the first two lines to reflect your settings.
Mine are:
Without editing those lines the script won't work for you (they are empty in the downloaded version).
If you need to find out the current theme name for your ADFS 3.0 installation, log on to the ADFS server, open a PowerShell prompt and type the following command: Get-AdfsWebConfig
This will show you the active theme name:
All pre-requisites for this to work:
Windows Server 2012R2 ADFS 3.0 (untested on ADFS 2.0, might work though)
The account that is defined in the scheduled task must have rights to modify the ADFS theme
The account that is defined in the scheduled task must be able to write the downloaded wallpaper
The account that is defined in the scheduled task must not be presented with Internet Explorer first-run experience
The account that is defined in the scheduled task must be able to run PowerShell scripts
The script as is must be run on the ADFS server
The ADFS server must be able to access bing.com using http (port 80)
Until next time,


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You know, even is it was blistering, I'm glad that you sported this outfit. It's adorable! I love blazers for autumn. That cute and colorful blouse underneath is a great addition. It's actually cooling down here in the Pacific Northwest. I actually can enjoy being outside again!ReplyDelete
Oh, it's fall here in NC! SO lovely.. How can you stand that weather in jeans?!ReplyDelete
only thing i like about provo, fall. its perfect right now. i love 65 degree weather and its about hitting that target. my hubbies parents just got back to gilbert and said it was 102, no fun. sorry, but you still look adorable.ReplyDelete
Yes it feels like fall here! Our patio out back is covered in gorgeous gold, red, yellow, brown leaves. Its beautiful! And that's why I've decided to never move to a southern, hot state, cuz you really don't get fall that much, right? so yeah. :)ReplyDelete
love love LOVE your outfit soo much!! its adorbs. :) and your hair is the same length as mine now! haha
i love the outfit!ReplyDelete
ps: im a new follower :)


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Culver dons jammies to fight ALS
Culver area students and businesses donned their pajamas one Friday last week, both to battle ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), long known as Lou Gehrig's Disease, but to support a Culver girl's tribute to her late father.
Reilly Reinhold, who lost her dad, Rob, to ALS earlier this year, expanded a fund-raiser she executed at Culver Elementary last year, to include local businesses by way of the Culver Chamber of Commerce. Employees at participating Culver entities could choose to wear pajamas to work in exchange for a donation to the ALS Association of Indiana, and a number of businessespeople joined the endeavor, besides allowing Reinhold to place donation jars at their locations.
Students at Culver Elementary joined the crusade as well, and if the number of pajama-clad youngsters filling the school that day were any indication, the effort was a success.
Pictured is Sandi Michalski, one of many members of the Culver business community who donned sleepwear for the cause. Sandi is a regular barista at the Culver Coffee Company on Lake Shore Drive.


text: January 11, 2015 by admin 4 Comments Today we have release the database files for the blockbusters: No Good Deed, English Track Get On Up, English Track Download Free Trial Now! | Download For Registered Users CategoriesBlogTags New Database files available All Posts New Database files available 4 Comments email@example.com January 18, 2015 at 9:38 pm Thanks, need one for Predestination. admin January 27, 2015 at 8:47 am Ready for download. email@example.com February 2, 2015 at 3:29 pm A Walk Among The Tombstones admin February 4, 2015 at 8:39 am No Cinavia on the disk. 0 Pings & Trackbacks Leave a Reply Cancel replyYou must be logged in to post a comment.


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Health, United States – Infographics
Current Health, United States Spotlight Infographics
Past Health, United States Spotlight Infographics
- Spotlight on Health Care Utilization & Resources, April 2017 (Posted 5/1/17)
- Spotlight on Health Care Expenditures & Payers, September 2016 (Posted 9/21/16) [PDF – 1.16 MB]
- Spotlight on Health Status & Determinants, Spring 2016 (Posted 6/13/16) [PDF – 1 MB]
- Spotlight on Selected Health Indicators, Winter 2016 (Posted 2/16/16) [PDF – 407 KB]
About the Health, United States Spotlight Infographics
Health, United States Spotlights are infographics of selected health data available in Health, United States, the annual report on the health of the nation submitted by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services to the President and Congress. Content includes selected indicators on important public health issues from the report's four subject areas: health status and determinants, utilization of health resources, health care resources, and health care expenditures and payers. Like the report, the Spotlights display the most current data available and, where possible, trends over a ten-year period. For some indicators, a different set of data years or combined years of data may be shown, depending on survey cycles and design changes. Data sources are identified for each health indicator to enable further exploration and include data systems from both the National Center for Health Statistics and partnering government and private agencies. Changes over time and differences among groups are presented using standard statistical techniques used in Health, United States.
Each Spotlight displays approximately four health indicators allowing users to visualize and interpret complex information from different data systems and Health, United States subject areas. Multiple infographics will be released throughout the year to spotlight important and relevant health data from Health, United States.
The full Health, United States report is available at: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/hus.htm
- Page last reviewed: August 6, 2018
- Page last updated: August 6, 2018
- Content source:


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If you like more natural colors and designs, check out these neutral shades of lead containers. The whimsical illustrations of pomegranate and fish makes this special. Each container contains 20 pieces of 0.7 mm lead.
Note: We cannot provide specific versions of this product at this time. You will get one randomly while supplies as supplies last!
Additional Information


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The idea of this specific product is the design of the food blender along with protection and also washability enhancements. The main benefit of that invention may be the removal with any kind of dangerous reducing elements. The actual electrical energy will be transported for the motor unit only if the top component is positioned within the cup — the form of the platform enables a central rotor to happen within the induction transmission device.
The actual food blender includes 3 unique elements: a thin platform — together with a transformer plus the electromagnetic transmission device, the glass cup, and also the top set up — such as the motor unit, a central rotor plus the cutting system. Furthermore, the standard stainless-steel blade has been changed through 6 nylon material wires functioning such as the reduce system of the brushcutter.
Via Behance
Computer spider
Cell phone holograms
New iPod technology
Future gadgets
Bluetooth stereo speakers
May 17th, 2012 at 12:49 pm
It looks like a mini weed whacker! LOL But kind of in a stylish way


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Davis Family Hearing - Spring Hill
Clinic staff
April Frenton
Dr. April Michelle Frenton is a licensed audiologist who earned a Doctorate in audiology from the University of South Florida. She joined our team during her residency when we opened our doors in 2013 and has been here ever since. Dr. Frenton is experienced in every aspect of audiology and finds satisfaction in finding a solution for each of her hearing loss patients.
This provider participates in the following insurance and discount plans: AFE USA, AMAC, TruHearing, Prime Health, Harmony Hearing, Hearing Care Solutions, Homelink, OCCM, AARP-HearUSA, UAW, Federal Employee Program, Advanced Hearing Providers, Northwood, NEI, CAP Connection, Perkspot and MCAS.
Allison Hatcher
Dr. Allison Hatcher is a licensed audiologist on our team of professionals who specializes in helping our pediatric population.
This provider participates in the following insurance and discount plans: Advanced Hearing Providers, Federal Employee Program, AARP-HearUSA, AFE USA, TruHearing, Perkspot, Prime Health, AMAC, NEI, Hearing Care Solutions, Harmony Hearing, UAW, Homelink, OCCM, CAP Connection, Northwood and MCAS.
Joanie Davis
Dr. Joanie Davis is a licensed audiologist and the proud owner of Davis Family Hearing. She earned her Doctorate in audiology from West Virginia University in 2003 and has gained experience over the next 5 years working as a clinical audiologist before opening her first clinic in 2013. Dr. Davis believes in providing a facility that catered to the needs of people from newborn to senior in hearing healthcare.
This provider participates in the following insurance and discount plans: MCAS, HUSA, CAP Connection, Harmony Hearing, AMAC, TruHearing, Perkspot, Hearing Care Solutions, Homelink, Advanced Hearing Providers, OCCM, UAW, Federal Employee Program, AARP-HearUSA, Northwood, NEI, AFE USA and Prime Health.
Arielle Shashaty
Dr. Arielle Shashaty is a licensed audiologist who earned her degree in audiology from Northeastern University in Boston. She began her residency in 2016 in our Davis Family Hearing clinic and has since become our Leading Newborn Hearing Screener. Dr. Shashaty enjoys staying abreast of the newest technology and treatment methods in the field of audiology.
This provider participates in the following insurance and discount plans: AMAC, Prime Health, Perkspot, Harmony Hearing, Advanced Hearing Providers, AFE USA, AARP-HearUSA, Federal Employee Program, CAP Connection, MCAS, Northwood, Homelink, Hearing Care Solutions, OCCM, UAW, TruHearing and NEI.
Clinic reviews
More information
About this clinic
Davis Family Hearing clinics will work with you to find the hearing solution that fits your needs, lifestyle and budget. Our professionals are trained in the latest technology and offer a complete selection of hearing aids and devices from the top manufacturers. From diagnosis to treatment, and through the life of your hearing instruments, we provide our patients the best care in the industry.
Visit one of our locations today to begin your journey to better hearing.
11325 Little Road
New Port Richey, FL 34654
13101 Spring Hill Drive
Spring Hill, FL 34609
5119 Commercial Way
Weeki Wachee, FL 34606
Clinic services
- FREE diagnostic hearing evaluations
- Full line of hearing aids including digital technology
- Assistive listening devices
- Follow-up appointments
- Batteries and accessories for hearing aids
- Hearing aid repairs and cleaning services
- Balance evaluations and treatment
- Tinnitus management
- Cochlear implants
Call this clinic today!
Or request an appointment online
Hours of operation
|Open by appointment
|Open by appointment
|Open by appointment
|Open by appointment
|Open by appointment
Clinic links
Accepted forms of payment
- Visa
- MasterCard
- Cash
- Check
- Debit
- Insurance accepted, please call for details


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New Beginnings
David Married Blanca Mercedes Perdomo in 1980 in Oakland California. David and Mercedes are the proud parents of 6 Children, David, Alexander, Kirsten, Richard, Jenna and Ariana.
These young children grew up in the Army and have been world travelers from a young age.
These wonderful people have transitioned one at a time from children to adults. Leaving home they started their own lives, married, and provided 15 grandchildren for their grandparents enjoyment.
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text:
First published in English in 1934 and 1935, this Routledge Revival set is a reissue of Wicksell's two volume work on political economy, first published in Sweden in 1901 and 1906. This work is aimed at both the professional economist and the advanced student alike, as well as all those interested in the theoretical development of political economy.
Known as the "economist's economist" for his work on creating a synthetic economic theory, Swedish economist Knut Wicksell was a controversial, but highly influential figure in modern economic thought. His contributions to marginal productivity theory, income distribution and,…
Hardback – 2010-12-15
Routledge Revivals: Lectures on Political Economy


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It's fifteen years since I first read 'Starting Over', a title which has been used by other authors: I have at least two other different books by this title. It's a useful generic title for stories about ends and beginnings, and that's what this novel is focussed on.
It's a bit confusing at first, with rather a large cast of characters. We first meet Liz, who has worked on a farm all her life. We quickly learn that her husband left her six months before the story starts, and that she and her student son Alex are now living with Liz's father. It's a bit awkward, because her husband lives on the neighbouring farm, and the two have been combined since their marriage. Worse than that, both farms are struggling to make ends meet. An offer has been made to purchase most of the land to turn it into a prestigious golf course, but Liz really doesn't want any more change in her life…
The first few chapters introduce us to Liz, Alex, and some of their local community, then there's a slight jar as we switch focus to one of Alex's university lecturers, who is living with a very pernickety landlady and keeps breaking her rules. Then suddenly we leap across the world to Australia, where we meet Roberta, a single woman in her late fifties who has been living with her elderly parents. The only, rather tentative connection is that she and her father love to play golf… although her father, at ninety, is becoming increasingly frail.
Inevitably the different storylines are woven together, and the story features several different subplots: primarily the fate of the farms, and the various relationships that develop. The writing is good, and the conversations believable. However, there are rather too many detailed descriptions of places for my tastes. I didn't need to know the names of streets, and what exactly a character could see as they looked from a hotel window. I mostly skimmed these parts, but felt a little irritated at what felt like an attempt either to educate the reader, or to demonstrate the author's research skills.
It's not Rosamunde Pilcher, and I was aware several times of the author being male. The women in the book are very well-drawn; the author clearly likes women. Liz is strong, intelligent and knowledgeable about both farming and machinery. She's a great role model. But at times she seems to respond to other people in what felt like a rather masculine way. There's a tad more bad language than I'm comfortable with, although I was pleased that intimate scenes are non-existent, relying on hints and memories rather than any detail.
All in all, I liked this book very much, particularly the ending. After fifteen years I had entirely forgotten the plot - it's not particularly memorable, as there are so many different storylines - and I look forward to reading it again in another ten or more years.
No longer in print in paperback, but available in Kindle form. Sometimes found second-hand, either on its own or in an omnibus edition with one of the author's other novels.
Review by Sue F copyright 2017 Sue's Book Reviews


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This morning a British court ruled that the HM Revenue & Customs unlawfully concealed information into the status of an investigation into the export of surveillance technology to repressive regimes.
IBTimes UK spoke with Ala'a Shehabi, a British-Bahraini human rights activist who was targeted by spyware FinFisher, distributed by British company Gamma International.
Music courtesy of royaltyfreekings.com