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Brian Duckworth of Taylor Made Aug-Sept Feature Artist
Archive Feature Artist Glory Magazine
glorymagazine August 3, 2016 May 16, 2020
Read Time:7 Minute
Growing up in a small town in Taylor County, West Virginia, Brian Duckworth and his six siblings were raised listening to country, bluegrass, and gospel music. His passion for music began very early on. His family would gather on the back porch with their single mother and a guitar singing songs from Loretta Lynn, Conway Twitty, and round it out with some old-time gospel. Regularly you could find them at church showcasing their family harmony. In fact, they were not tall enough for the microphones. Ladies in the congregation would stand and hold them as they sang for the Sunday service.
"I think we all sang before we could talk," Brian remembered.
After pursuing solo careers Brian, his sister Wendy, and older brother Greg came together as the group I-79 to perform in the Colgate Country Showdown. To their surprise, they won the event. The experience led them to pursue their dreams of being singers. Their three-part harmony was unique and winning the contest became the blessing they were looking for, so they went on to form the band Taylor Made.
Love Me Love My Dog from Taylor Made on Myspace.
Playing wherever they could and riding high on their song "Heavy Duty Beauty," Dale Morris, a well-known manager of notable country acts like Kenny Chesney, Alabama, and Martina McBride gave them their big break. The group signed with Little General Records out of Beckley and found increased exposure and airplay with their songs "Quiet Kind of Crazy" and "Good Love" from their EP release of the same name. In short order, they were winning awards and in 2012 they won Best New Vocal Group from New Music Weekly and in 2013 they won Best New Independent Artist.
Good Love from Taylor Made on Myspace.
Their hard work had given way to success and after their last album Taylor County Line, released in May 2013, things began to cool off and unfortunately interest started to fade for the talented trio.
During that time, Greg seized a different career opportunity, and over the last year and a half, Brian and Wendy decided to regroup and chart a new course for the band.
Brian works full-time as a truck driver. A hard occupation for many but he enjoys what he does and the ability it gives him to provide a good living for his family. Being behind the wheel and traveling also allows him the freedom to continue to write songs that stay focused on his traditional country and gospel upbringing.
"We've wanted to get away from the 'Nashville sound,'" Brian stated.
"I always thought that we had our own sound, our own personality, and our own look. I always thought we were unique. We fell into the same pitfall that a lot of people who go to Nashville fall into–automatically start looking, acting, and sounding just like everybody else."
"I honestly feel we did that. So our new album, My Way, is going back to our original music and doing it my way."
That initial sound, built on a foundation of gospel & bluegrass music, was the starting point. The songs penned by Brian over the last year, reflect his love for God, family, and where he grew up.
"I would call it a West Virginia sound," Brian stated. "When we grew up there were seven of us. We would set out on the porch and sing the gospel songs and some old Conway Twitty. All of our stuff, if you listen to what we have written, all kind of feeds off of that. It has that gospel, old country, bluegrass sound. All of them run together. It has a unique sound to it. That's what I've always liked, and that's where I have always wanted to be but, when you get to Nashville, you find out that you lose a lot of say-so in what you get to be and what you get to do. They want to go with what is marketable or what they think is marketable and not what you think you want people to hear.
READ FULL MAGAZINE HERE
"I want people to hear my music, my way."
Being a father of three sons and happily married to his wife Tina, his face lights up when he speaks about them, and it is evident they are his world. When we asked Brian what has been the most memorable show since he has been performing there was no hesitation in his answer. He emphatically said, "My future wife showing up at the Friends of Coal event."
Brian and Tina, who is a medical assistant (MA), have known each other their whole lives but that particular day, he knew he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her.
"Someone asked me when we met, and I told them I don't remember meeting her. I've always known her.
"When they started our church, she was two years old, and I was one year old. She's older than me! I tease her about it all the time."
One of his newest efforts, "I Believe in God" is a heartfelt proclamation of Brian's faith in God and how He is the strength he needs during these trying times. Brian watched in horror as the Syrian Christians were and are still being persecuted and killed. God put on his heart to give the song to the non-profit charity Mercury One and the Nazarene Fund to help save Christians in the Middle East, but it never materialized.
Brian attends Christian Apostolic Church in Clarksburg. During the interview, we found out that the Sandy's, Russell, Cheri, Rusty, and Zach are very close friends with the Duckworths. Zach's story, featured in the October-November 2015 issue of Glory Magazine, told of how he survived a direct lightning strike and gives God the glory for it.
One day, Doug Joseph, pastor at Christian Apostolic was talking about running short on fundraising for the new church location in Lost Creek. That's when it hit Brian. Maybe the song was meant to go to the church in the first place and be a blessing to his church family.
He immediately gave the song to them in hopes that it will help raise the needed funding to complete the new building.
The song "I Believe in God" is currently available on iTunes and Amazon. The full album is set to release sometime in late summer or early fall and will also be available at local Little General Stores across West Virginia.
"We've never gotten away from our roots even as a band. I can probably count all the shows I've done, on my hands, where there were not a couple of gospel songs in it. That's our roots. That's where we came from, where we started, and where we'll end up eventually. That's where the harmonies started."
"God gave me a talent. He gave me ideas to do this, that, and the other, and I'll just follow it along and see where it ends up."
Taylor Made is excited to be back on stage August 18th, at Summerfest in South Charleston and is looking forward to performing their new songs, along with their hits, and getting back to what they love to do–sing.
Inside the Gates from Taylor Made on Myspace.
When asked what would you like audiences to take away from your newest endeavor, Brian replied, "If somebody can listen to one song and say I can connect to that or that made me feel a little better, then I've done my job. If someone walks away and says, 'That's good music,' that's good enough. I just don't want anyone to buy it and be disappointed."
Brian Duckworth & Wendy Williams of Taylor Made.
With their upcoming album release, Taylor Made is concentrating on being better than ever. Their new music showcases their deep faith, the love they have for family and friends, and the pride they have in their home state. They have never shied away from hard work and their commitment to standing on faith and doing their best at whatever they pursue is on display when they perform. They are looking forward to continuing their musical journey, always remembering their West Virginia roots.
For Booking Information
E-mail: beniholley@gmail.com
Purchase "I Believe in God" On iTunes and Amazon.com
(Main image and above photos-artist supplied.)
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Candice: So D day is nearly upon us. Phil and I will be hanging out with the Shakespearean lovies on Thursday and doing out bit to talk about the trials and tribulations of writing a book at Stratford Literary Festival.
To be honest even the thought of it makes me fell slightly sick.
I don't mind getting up in front of audience to talk. Over the years I've done a lot of drama and presentations and once I get going I'm fine. But is the build up I hate. Thursday morning I will be a wreak and am trying to fill it with other things so I don't think about it all. By the time 2.55pm comes about I'll probably be being sick in the loo.
Saturday night I was watching RSLive. It was a brilliant show celebrating 400 years of the Bard with a raft of stars showing how many ways he has influenced people, from Duke Ellington to Cole Porter. It was very clever in showing us the breadth of Shakespeare's catalogue and its not all the boring text that you had to study at school.
However, the show went on for a few hours and as the actors came on to do their bit one of the things I thought of was, 'they must get nervous waiting in the wings'. Lets face it, does Dame Judi Dench still get stage fright?
But I have learnt over time that sometimes adrenaline does you good. I have literally been throwing up back stage before going on to do a play, and then once I am on stage I can remember every line because I need the adrenaline to help me.
Luckily, Thursday is more off the cuff but we have our cue cards ready and have planned a talk that we hope people will find interesting. Roll on 3.30pm and I can relax with a cuppa.
And if you are coming don't hesitate to come and talk to us after, when I'll be feeling much more chipper!
Candice: I watched an interesting program last night on Christmas singles. There is a big thing in the UK about getting a Christmas number one. Some have been very successful with it over the years and managed to record a Christmas hit which is still being bought and played 30 years plus later.
A few years ago a had the pleasure of meeting Noddy Holder, the man behind "It's Christmas" in of the most well-known and well sold Christmas records ever 'Merry Christmas Everybody'. Noddy had been presented with a star on the Walk of Stars in Birmingham, the West Midlands equivalent to Hollywood Boulevard (though with less hookers). We coupled his celebration with one of the Christmas events happening in the city, and nearly caused a riot. Noddy knew exactly what that record had done for him, he called it his 'retirement fund'. And he was happy to pose for photos and shout that famous line as many times as we wanted him to.
Watching this show it demonstrated how the Christmas single had actually been a very clever ploy for certain bands and record companies. This is before the days of X Factor where Simon Cowell just uses it to line his pockets. Jona Lewie's 'Stop the Calvary' wasn't written to be a Christmas song but by including that one line about, "…wish I could be home for Christmas". tipped it into that favoured slot.
The same can be said for films, 'Elf', 'Home Alone', even 'Die Hard' have a Christmas connection, meaning they get bought year on year.
Phil: This is the first blog post I've written whilst wearing a new pair of glasses. It's very exciting.
Anyway, this time, there is an extra consideration. After my Aussie trip I'd wondered if some sunglasses might be a good idea. Then an advert planted the idea that some reactor lights lenses that automatically change would be a good idea. I love a bit of technology and don't relish carrying glasses, a spare pare of glasses AND sunglasses around.
Fortunately, I discussed the idea with the optician and we hit a snag. You see, when I'm in the studio filming for a DVD, the bright lights in there will set off the lenses so I'll be facing the camera looking a bit like Bono and no-one wants that.
How did being a celebrity become so difficult? Will there be other things like this to trip us up in our inexorable rise to A-list status?
You can laugh but just remember, when you watch Nativity on BBC2 Saturday December 20th at 4.45pm, La Nolan didn't dominate the scene with Pam Ferris and the chocolate fountain without some serious hair dressing!
Candice : I've been hanging out with the rich and famous this week. I've met a few celebs over the years due my different jobs and you can draw a lot of similarities between them and their lifestyles. The people I have met have come from very different celebrity sets – from one hit wonders to long term famous. Interestingly its often the one hit wonders (or reality celebs) who are the worst for thinking the world owes them a favour (Leona Lewis, any one?) Rather than the jobbing acts who have been around for years are much more aware of the fickle nature of celebrity and acknowledge what their place in the world means. Noddy Holder was lovely, completely aware that he pulled a blinder when he wrote 'Merry Xmas Everybody' and quite happy to shout 'Merry Christmas' very loudly for all and sundry.
The chaps I was hanging around with this week have also been around since the '70's: The Wurzels. For those of you who don't know them, they specialise in a type of music called 'Scrumpy and Western'. They hail from the west country and have been around for years as a comedy act, parodying main stream tracks. They were helping me out with promoting something for my current job and we did have a laugh as they tried to lip sync over and over again to the version of the track we had written.
It made me think about how Phil and I will be when we get our slot at the limelight. For years I've been on the periphery with my dabbling in TV work (another interesting bunch, the more famous the actor, the nicer they are) but this is our chance to be front and centre. I'll have a rider of course – free Mulberry handbag at each venue, LK Bennett shoes etc. And I'll be wanting my hair and make up done. I do love it when I get that done when I do a period drama.
Phil, well I think he'll be taking lots of photos (I've seen his Flicker account since going to Oz) but I'm not sure if he'll want to be in too many, being shy. But he has got previous of interviews and TV so he'll probably be more comfortable in front of the camera than me, as I am usually playing a character. Rider, I'm not sure, muffins, tea and a railway magazine perhaps?
This time next year, perhaps we'll be able to answer that question. What would be on yours?


Born in Redruth in 1958, I did a foundation year at Plymouth School of Art from 1976 to 1977.
I got a place at Cardiff to do a BA in Fine Art but dropped out after a short time and instead went to Oxford Poly to study History of Art and English Literature, followed by a MA and PhD at the Courtauld Institute, London. On completion of these academic studies I decided that I missed painting and Cornwall so I returned in 1986 and have been living and working in St Ives ever since.


The Pathfinder MK10 is identical in terms of fault detection as the MK8, but has the added benefit of a GSM/GPRS module to report the alarm state remotely. As an instrument it has proved remarkably successful and useful when tracking down repetitive transient faults that keep on tripping a pole mounted recloser. A few MK10 instruments located downstream of the recloser can be left out on the network for some days, waiting for the fault, which as soon as the trip occurs, will report their alarm status and the fault engineer can react immediately to find the fault quickly.
Communications can be to the fault engineer's mobile telephone, or can be directed to a P.C. or laptop running data management software, which in itself can be linked to Control. A number of options exist for this to suit individual requirements.
Very effective for tracking down repetitive transient faults.
Can be moved to different locations to narrow the field of search for hard to find faults.
5 year battery life (for normal usage) from long life Lithium battery.


text:
The Most Corrupt People I know
Posted on June 9, 2009 by Adeola
Mrs. Waziri said she is prepared to sacrifice her life in the pursuit of her job as the boss of the EFCC. I have heard or listened to many useless comments before and this is one of the most useless remarks you can hear from a Nigerian official. What about all the corrupt charges hanging on her neck plus all the sacred cows she has preserved for Umaru's next campaign?
I have tried to raise my head high at all times-and I am still doing that. I wear clothes with N.I.G.E.R.I.A on the back and coats of arm on the front. I have a Nigerian flag standing on my parlour shelf and a big Nigerian flag is hanging conspicuously on my window in a white-dominated environment. Despite being torn apart between the choices of nationalities I continue to remind myself that I am Nigerian. I don't know how much longer I can bear the huge cross. It comes with a lot of humiliation-accepting the responsibilities and bearing the shame for what some ignoble people have done and what others are still doing. Thank heaven for the game of football else there will be almost nothing positive about the green-white-green.
Everyday I rehearse at least 1 article in my mind yet I have written less than 7 in the last 6 months. This is because I long for real participation in the struggle that will emancipate Nigerians from the madness that has pervaded the country for 49 years. I thought about my (radical) activities and the plans I had just few weeks before I left Nigeria and I wondered if I would not have been forgotten in the prison by now. Maybe not…
Sometimes I ask myself: Is it just me? Maybe I am crazy. But the answers are quick to come. Human nature is besieged with greed, envy and insatiation. If you add this to the complete lack of cognitive ability in the crude men and women who control violent-takeover of power with ill-gotten wealth in the peculiar Nigerian political landscape, you will end up with probably the most unreliable collection of political aspirators in the universe. This is equals to extremely wicked and selfish people.
I have written on a number of occasions in this square that Nigeria is the most corrupt country in the world. I stand by my observation. In those articles, I have also argued and explained why. The amazing thing is that the situation remains the same. I know about the corruption in South America and South East Asia and elsewhere. The most corrupt people that I know are in Nigeria. I have compared the level of developments in Mexico and Thailand to that of Nigeria and I know that a European tourist will rather go to Mexico with Swine flu than to Nigeria. No amount of Tsunami or molestation of foreigners can derail the tourism industry in Thailand. It will bounce back-branding or no branding.
It is not that Nigeria does not plan. We do. It is not that we don't have visions or missions. We do proclaim those. The very few sensible people among the leaders in Nigeria are very good with textbook versions of how things should be done. But the reality is that the mad act called corruption is the stumbling block to almost everything.
Nigeria as a country will not make progress. Not too soon anyway because the most corrupt people that I have ever known in my life are in charge in Nigeria. Mr Yar Adua is a symbol of corruption. He personifies corruption to the highest power. It is ridiculously shameful. It is one of the major weight hanging on my green-white-green curtain. I am not proud of the position of that office right now. It weighs me down than my personal burdens.
The guy has openly confessed that he was rigged into power. He has also insulted the intelligence of anyone who cares to know that he cannot prosecute all the corrupt people around him because literarily they are all the same. Men and women who have no honour! Altogether, these people have no integrity and their sense of judgments is clouded by greed, selfishness and the corruption that goes with power.
How can any plan, vision or mission work out in such a counterproductive country like Nigeria? The country makes monies that are shared among crooks, godfathers, opportunists, sycophants and extremely corrupt individuals. It takes madness to store money in foreign accounts when Nigerians are starving. In Yar Adua's Katsina, thousands of women fetched dirty water to sell from deep wells. They make less than 1 dollar a day! Generally while Nigerian masses are classified among the poorest in the world, Nigerian politicians are the highest paid in the history of man. Paradox or irony?
Schools has dilapidated, hospitals are so unsecured that even Yar Adua himself depends on voodoo and foreign hospitals. Schools have been shut, opened and shut again. School fees are above the clouds, far beyond the sky and education is no longer for all. Billions of dollars are resting in private accounts and the deaths on the dilapidated roads are blamed on witches and wizards. The electricity supply is the worst in the whole world and the seventh largest producer of crude oil is now a laughing stock in the comity of nations. A nation of 150m people depend on less than 3 000 MW of electricity. Michael Faraday must be turning in his grave. The Niger Delta is now a killing field to the delights of the clique whose groundnuts have been grounded.
President Obama is visiting Ghana because Nigeria is so unbelievably corrupt that any attempt by Obama to visit Nigeria can destroy his political career. Nigerians have been deceived again that the economy will be among the greatest 20 by year 2020. Nonsense! How can that happen? What about the persistence of the crooks and political jobbers that are siphoning the money that we will use to build the economy and infrastructure. Even when I think about FIFA and the world cup saga, I just think that FIFA is simply stupid.
It is only in Nigeria that FIFA deals with government which is against the statutory procedures of FIFA. FIFA knows very well that Nigeria lacks the infrastructure and when we do have them, we don't maintain them. Yet FIFA is still looking in the direction of Nigeria. Will it take a 10 year old boy (born in 1999 when we hosted the world) to inform FIFA that the corruption in Nigeria will not allow us to do anything right? FIFA is not even thinking about the heat in Nigeria and that matches cannot be played at night because of lack of electricity. How does FIFA think sef?
I simply do not understand why Nigerians are allowing all this rubbish. It beats me! Is this why the intelligence question is dangling over our head? How dull are we really? I was expecting a total revolt or some kind of revolution with the nonsense that took place in Ekiti. Was what an election? E gba mi o..! That was absolute rubbish and to think that it passed is unimaginable and unthinkable. What happened to the song we sang those days: how many people police go kill o, how many people police go kill…? What has happened to the resistance that pursued and hastened IBB to Abuja? Some people deserved to be chased to the bush right now.
The most corrupt people that I know are working with the Nigerian government headed by one unserious and incapable Yar Adua and the earlier Nigerians wake up, the better for the future of their children. I seriously do think we need to do something now. The time is now. We must enforced an appropriate electoral reform and pursue early elections. Let's see if we've learnt any lesson. Our future is ruined. The future of our children is stolen..!
Category: Nigeria, WorldTags: corrupt, Corruption, Ghana, Katsina women, Nigeria, Obama, poor, poverty, The most corrupt people I know, Waziri Farida, Yar Adua
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Ahmed Mansur has emerged the new president of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (Ahmed Mansur has emerged the new president of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN).
Speaking in Lagos, the new President pledged to improve the association's collaboration with the federal government toward boosting the competitiveness of the nation's manufacturing sector.
He said the association would strengthen its level of collaboration and interaction with government to ensure that the Executive Order 003 was fully implemented to boost local patronage of made-in-Nigeria products.
According to him, Order 003 shows that the incumbent administration is serious in building local productive capacity.
He said MAN would continue to engage all the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to showcase made-in-Nigeria goods.
"When this contact is made, it will encourage our members to compete both in terms of price and quality.
"I believe that if we continue to work with the government in this manner, we will bridge the gap between us and the public sector requirements," he said in a statement.
Mr Mansur said the association had kick-started the partnership by presenting a compendium of all its members to the government toward showcasing all the locally produced goods.
"They have to know who and where to contact to get quality made-in-Nigeria goods, so this is the first step we have carried out.
"Our interactions with the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) are also steps in the right direction, so that we understand the requirements and their expectations," he said.
The MAN boss urged the government to provide the necessary basic infrastructure toward reducing the cost of production for manufacturers, adding that the impact would boost development of the real sector of the economy.
Commending his predecessor, Mr Mansur said: "Let us thank the outgoing council under the able leadership of Dr Frank Jacobs for the meritorious service they offered during the past four years.
"In spite of the many challenges in both the economic and socio-political spheres confronting our country, Dr Jacobs and his team have steered the ship of MAN most creditably," he said.
Mr Mansur pledged to build on the success recorded by the retiring council, especially in collaborating with government to improve the operating environment and the strategic linkages between Small and Medium Industries (SMI) and the large manufacturers.
He said his administration would also enhance the capacity of the SMI sector, employment generation and wealth creation capacity of the industry.
Mr Mansur said the council was committed to ensure that MAN continued to be recognised as the voice of the manufacturing sector, becomes the leading contributor to economic growth, employment and wealth creation for inclusive economic development and prosperity.
Mr Mansur was elected during the association's 46th Annual General Meeting to steer the affairs of MAN for the next four years.


Trump's tweet repeating white nationalist propaganda about land reform in South Africa shows that white supremacy has consistently relied on an international receptivity and interdependence.
Donald Trump speaking with supporters at a campaign rally at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, Arizona. Image credit Gage Skidmore via Flickr.
We have a common enemy. We have this in common: we have a common oppressor, a common exploiter, and a common discriminator. But once we all realize that we have a common enemy, then we unite—on the basis of what we have in common. And what we have foremost in common is that enemy—the white man. He's an enemy to all of us.
South Africa's race society taught the mob the great lesson of which it had always had a confused premonition, that through sheer violence an under-privileged group could create a class lower than itself, that for this purpose it did not even need a revolution but could band together with groups of the ruling classes, and that foreign or backward peoples offered the best opportunities for such tactics.
before they [Europeans] were its victims, they were its accomplices; that they tolerated that Nazism before it was inflicted on them, that they absolved it, shut their eyes to it, legitimized it, because, until then, it had been applied only to non-European peoples.
Scholars have built upon this argument for interdependence in different ways. George Fredrickson pioneered an approach of comparative history between the United States and South Africa in his tersely titled White Supremacy (1981), a three-hundred-year revisionist history of the two countries from Jamestown to the Soweto Uprising. Neither country was "exceptional" as claimed by their founders, but instead based on interrelated patterns of settler colonialism, the displacement and extermination of indigenous peoples, dependence on slavery, and the segregation and exploitation of black labor as part of a process of "modernization." Tiffany Willoughby-Herard has more recently examined the exchange of scientific racism and "segregationist philanthropy" between both countries through the activities of the American Carnegie Corporation—in particular, its financial and technical support for addressing the "poor white problem" during the interwar period—in Waste of a White Skin (2015).
Inspired by W. E. B. Du Bois's enduring assertion that the problem of the 20th century was "the problem of the color line," Marilyn Lake and Henry Reynolds have embraced a larger imperial scale, tracing the emergence of a transnational whiteness specific to the late 19th and early 20th centuries that formed as a defensive reaction to what an Australian politician called the rising power of "the black and yellow races." Among many cases in their book, Drawing the Global Colour Line (2008), is the collaboration and friendship between US President Woodrow Wilson and South African Prime Minister Jan Smuts, two arch-segregationists who shared common ground ideologically and politically and, as a result, ultimately limited the possibilities of self-determination through the League of Nations, in which both were involved. In his statistic-laden Replenishing the Earth (2009), James Belich has taken this global approach further back, describing what he calls the "Settler Revolution"—a historical shift akin to the Industrial Revolution—in the American West and the British West (Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and South Africa) during the 19th century, occasioning the creation of what he calls (chillingly, to my mind) the Anglo-World.
The ways of white supremacy are neither local nor episodic, but recurrent and international. Over a century after his original injunction, we still inhabit Du Bois's world.


The immediate fresh young innocence of Angelic belies a temperament that offers something altogether more intense and deep rooted, born of crisp apple and spicy Asian cardamom underpinned by a mellow Middle Eastern scent fusion and topped with surprising notes of clary sage. Masterfully blended, the effect is one of herbaceous hedonism, sure to enrapture the aficionado and charm the fragrance connoisseur. Embark on a sensory journey quite like no other, venturing deep into unchartered territory where only the cognoscenti truly know their way.


Sopra is pleased to announce that we have joined The Open Group as a silver member. The Open Group are an international organisation which works to establish and maintain open, vendor-neutral IT standards and certifications. Their mission is "Boundaryless Information Flow™ achieved through global interoperability in a secure, reliable and timely manner", a message which sits well with our clients who increasingly see business benefit in the flow of information and communication between systems and users rather than in silo applications and departments.
From an Enterprise Architecture perspective, The Open Group are behind the TOGAF Architecture Methodology which is widely respected and adopted across many of our clients and is the approach Sopra uses as the base for much of our Architecture work. The Open Group are also behind ArchiMate®, an Open Group Standard, is an open and independent modeling language for enterprise architecture that is supported by different tool vendors and consulting firms. ArchiMate provides instruments to enable enterprise architects to describe, analyse and visualize the relationships among business domains in an unambiguous way.
Sopra is a strong believer in open standards and is pleased to demonstrate our support for The Open Group in this way.


Hello Praise 96.5 FM Listener's ! I'm your Precious Jewel of Gospel Music…. Miss Ferrin. I am the daughter of Angelia D. Flowers and Fredrick Lewis, Jr. I'm a 14 yr. old honor student who attends Booker T. Washington Magnet High School. My hobbies include cheering, hanging out with friends. I contribute my accomplishments so far in life by having Faith in God and listening to those life lessons that my Grandmothers Mrs. Daisy M. Cook, Mrs. Darlene Lewis-Favor and my Great Grandmother Mrs. Pauline M. Jeter-Wately taught me. I invite you to listen to me every Saturday from 9 a.m. – 11a.m. as I open up the first edition of Teen Scene Gospel.


text: Q: I have a multiple print options in a page but i need a diiferent page sizes for each print I am using reactjs, I have a multiple print options in my code but i need a diiferent page sizes for each print, so how can i switch to the different page sizes when i click on that button

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


So I have been absent off the blog for a while. My apologies.
It has been a busy couple of weeks. Quite busy. You see, I have been having a blast with the Bolthole forums. The community there is just tremendously great. And the amount of sheer talent over there is unbelievable. Not to mention that there are forums dedicated to asking some of the authors almost any questions relating to their work with BL or their experiences as writers. Even some of the BL staff hang out there sometimes! It is fabulous to say the least.
And most of all, a learning experience as I mentioned in my previous post. My success in getting the short story done and submitted (and hopefully accepted!) will be due to all these amazing people for the most part.
The other thing I have been busy with is particular to the Bolthole. A bunch of the forumites have gotten together to work out a campaign history for an Imperial crusade. Proud to say that I have done my share in contributing to the thread. And elated. Its been another learning experience. This time with the Tau.
And I have come to hate the Tau a little. Just a little, but enough.
You see, its their naming conventions. They are utter ridiculous to say the list and completely bonkers in my opinion. Take a look here. Nevertheless I persevered and came up with fairly simple eleven names for the campaign. Then the matter of fleet assets arose and I volunteered to do the Tau section. Here it gets even better. The convention for naming ships, according to Battlefleet Gothic, is thus: [Sept where vessel is built] [Vessel's class name] [Personal name of first commander] [Personal name of current commander]. Hardly makes sense to me. Needless to say, the vessels I have come up with seem to be hardly any different from each other. They have no personality I guess. Compared to the names of Imperial vessels. Like the Vinco Redemptor of the Dark Angels, or Tycho of the Blood Angels, or the Lord Solar Macharius and the Guardian of Aquinas of the Imperial Navy. These names have a personality, they represent something. I just don't see the same with the Tau.
Other than that though, it has been awesome. The Sable Swords strike force was fun to design with a minor discussion involving the use of a battle-barge versus a plain old strike cruiser. But thankfully, with effort, everything is justifiable. The Sororitas are proving to be a little daunting, given the severe lack of background on them really or how a lot of their units actually work on the battlefield. System designing was fun and intense – matching proper (and random) planets together is no easy task. Especially when you are working to a set idea. Its all moving along quite nicely and I am definitely excited with this.
Feel free to check out the thread here.


This is Chapter 8 of the OpenOffice.org 3 Writer Guide, produced by the OOoAuthors group. A PDF of this chapter is available from this wiki page. The PDFs are up to date for the second edition of the book, but not all of the wiki pages for this chapter have been updated yet. The only page not updated is the graphic file types page.
When you create a text document using OpenOffice.org (OOo) Writer, you may need to include some graphic illustrations. Graphics are added to textual documents for a wide variety of reasons: from supporting the description provided in the text—such as that used in this Guide—to providing an immediate visual impact of the contents, such as what is often found in a newspaper.
This chapter covers the first two types of graphic illustrations.
More detailed descriptions on working with drawing tools can be found in the Draw Guide and Impress Guide. Instructions on how to create charts are given in the Calc Guide.
This page was last modified on 28 August 2011, at 21:05.


text:
The Joneses: "Hoping We Will Be Next"
October 2, 2018·Joanna Holbert·Education, Your Story
Yes, it's really heartbreaking when you get that letter for a second time saying you did not get an ESA.
(Note: This story is about a public school teacher who wants an ESA, so she and her family asked to remain anonymous.)
For parents of children with special needs, sifting through loads of paperwork and learning about what options are available can seem like a daunting task. The amount of red tape paired with the process to ensure a child is given the services needed can seem overwhelming at times, and with little guidance parents are left to navigate the educational waters alone.
That was the experience for Mr. and Mrs. Jones of Rankin County. The Joneses have two children who struggle with learning disabilities. When the time came for their daughter, now age 10, to enroll in kindergarten they looked no further than the local public school. At the time, they recognized that something was not quite right with their little girl.
"It takes a long time to get through the evaluation process when a teacher and a parent see that there is a deficiency in a child," said Mrs. Jones, a public school teacher. "There is a lot of paperwork and the waiting is just too much."
Their daughter was diagnosed with dyslexia and Auditory Processing Disorder (APD), a hearing problem that affects about five percent of school-aged children. Kids with this condition can't process what they hear in the same way other kids do because their ears and brain don't fully coordinate. Something interferes with the way the brain recognizes and interprets sounds, especially speech.
"With any background noise – shuffling of papers, air conditioner kicking on – even if students are perfectly quiet, our daughter has a hard time getting the information she needs from the teacher. As we were told by an audiologist, often a child looks like they have autism or ADHD when, in fact, it's auditory processing disorder but they have given up trying to hear in the classroom."
The Joneses had made every effort to get their daughter the treatment she needed, but it wasn't enough for the school district.
"We had many doctors' diagnoses," said Mrs. Jones. "Even though we had spent lots of money out-of-pocket, the school district still had to go through their six-week process which seemed to waste everyone's time when we already had people with lots of degrees giving us these rulings."
The costs associated with helping their daughter thrive in the classroom were rising.
"At that time, the school did not offer the Roger Focus device to help her hear better in the classroom so that was another out-of-pocket expense for us as parents," said Mrs. Jones. "Of course, we were going to make that happen and unfortunately it wasn't covered by insurance. It was a really expensive process to get her what she needed."
During her kindergarten year, the Joneses' daughter began to struggle.
"We knew that with her entering kindergarten it was going to be a wait-and-see year. She had an amazing, loving teacher who treated our daughter like she was the only one she taught. Her teacher stayed in contact with us throughout the year, and we saw some improvements but towards the end of the year, her behavior manifested as defiant, shutting down and would not work. I had to go up to the school several times and just get her back working."
During that year, their daughter underwent a dyslexia screening. She failed the screening but would have to wait another year for a full dyslexia evaluation which was not offered to students until they failed the first grade. Their daughter moved to first grade where, according to Mrs. Jones, she again had a wonderful teacher. During her first-grade year the Joneses took their daughter to see a psychometrist where she received an official, dyslexia ruling.
"We were thankful for the loving teachers she had," Mrs. Jones said, "but nobody knew what to do. There is very little training offered to teachers to deal with these kinds of issues. We knew that she was not going to progress in that environment, and we had to make some decisions. It's very unfortunate that we do very little training for teachers in how to help students who learn in a different way."
The Joneses met with administrators at the school with few results.
"The meetings were unproductive," said Mrs. Jones, "because we were asking for more services. It was going to cost them more, and we weren't given what we needed."
Mr. Jones began researching alternative education routes for their daughter and stumbled upon the dyslexia scholarship. Adopted by the legislature in 2012, the Dyslexia Therapy Scholarship became Mississippi's first private choice program. The Dyslexia Therapy Scholarship may be used for tuition at one of six state-approved schools. The Joneses secured a scholarship for their daughter enabling them to send her to New Summit School in Jackson.
Their daughter's fourth grade math teacher is teaching her for the second time since she moved to New Summit.
"Her teacher said she is a different child now from the time she started at New Summit. She is animated and communicates with her friends," said Mrs. Jones. "She loves school. Learning is still not easy, but it is met with a joy."
Their daughter has regained her self-esteem and Mrs. Jones says she is confident knowing that everyone learns in a different way as evidenced daily in the classroom with her classmates.
"We felt like the first year at New Summit was a year to catch our breath and find a safe place. We've just seen an improvement with her as a student every year we've been at New Summit. We thank God every day for New Summit. We are so grateful that a school has purposed to meet the needs of learners who don't learn as a typical child would. They recognize that you need a smaller environment and need pieces in place that public schools have not yet been able to provide," said Mrs. Jones.
Now with the addition of their son, age 6, who is ADHD and dyslexic, the family finds themselves charting the same course as with their daughter and have added even more costs to the ever-growing education expenses for their children.
"The struggle wasn't quite as intense with our son because we knew what to expect having just been through it with our daughter," said Mrs. Jones. "Our biggest question was how do we get him to New Summit because we would now be paying two tuitions to private school that we had not anticipated."
Thankfully, they are both able to use the dyslexia scholarship, but even so the cost for services and therapy is very expensive. The Joneses learned of additional help in the form of the Special Needs Education Scholarship Account (ESA) which would go further in covering their expenses. By law, they can't participate in both programs at once, but the ESA offers around $1,500 more.
The Legislature authorized 500 seats in the first year of the Special Needs ESA program (2015) and an additional 500 new seats each year, bringing the total number of authorized seats to 2,000 this school year. However, because the program continues to be level-funded, a slight increase in the value of the ESA accounts translates into a decrease in the number of ESAs available: 428 this school year. The Joneses are one of over 200 families on a waiting list to receive one of the ESAs which are handed out by the Mississippi Department of Education in a lottery twice a year.
"With our son, when we applied for the ESA, we were trying to hold off on his testing for dyslexia because we knew that was going to be another major investment and we thought that if we got the ESA that would take care of everything," Mrs. Jones said.
Yet, the Joneses remain on the wait list with little communication from the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE).
"The biggest thing MDE could do for this program is be up front with the process, what is needed, and how the names will be drawn," said Mrs. Jones. "When we met with Empower Mississippi they let us know that the drawing would be held through a lottery. It was comforting to get information on how the ESA process worked."
"A little more communication on their part would help us not feel like we are left in the dark," she said. "They are not very forthcoming with information concerning the ESA."
In fact, throughout the year as the Joneses were preparing their application packet for the ESA, the application on MDE's website showed old dates.
"It remained on MDE's website all last year with the wrong date," Mrs. Jones said. "It showed the date from the previous school year, and we could not get anyone to confirm to us that if we were filling out the form with the wrong date we would be guaranteed that our application would not be rejected."
They were left to fend for themselves and take a risk that the old application with the wrong date would suffice.
"We finally had to go with it," said Mrs. Jones.
Once the applications were submitted, the wait began – again with little communication from MDE.
"Not having it clearly posted on the MDE website when the ESAs will be drawn and when you will be notified made for a lot of questions. I had to call and I'm sure, by the sound of the person's voice at MDE, that they had gotten a lot of calls and were tired of fielding questions," said Mrs. Jones.
Based on limited interactions with MDE officials, Mrs. Jones was able to gather that they would be notified by mail as to whether they had received the ESA.
"Yes, it's really heartbreaking when you get that letter for a second time saying you did not get an ESA," she said. "The second time through since we were enrolled in New Summit made it a little easier to bear but it would be very nice help as we pay for school. For now, we are going to keep plugging away with the ESA and hopefully more will become available. If MDE would post it and communicate through the process that would help."
Mrs. Jones also noted that holding the lottery at a better time would help families on the waitlist.
"Don't wait until July 31 to hold the lottery," she said. "Go ahead with it sooner in the summer because some of these private schools have kids trying to get in and they are losing their spots because they are waiting to find out if they have the funds or not. Not revealing the winners until school starts is outrageous."
For the 2018-2019 school year, one lottery was held July 6 and another August 30 with notifications mailed to families shortly afterward.
For now, the Joneses continue to provide the best education possible to their children at their own expense.
"It would be huge if we could get the ESA," said Mrs. Jones. "We will just continue to wait, hoping that we will be next."
Joanna is the Director of Outreach. She is responsible for strengthening Empower Mississippi's outreach to individuals who are most affected by education, work, and justice public policies, with a commitment to providing a platform for these impacted voices.


text:
The Other Gas Power
Replacing Coal in a Small Town
Fuel Cells Can Replace Shore Power, Auxiliary Diesel at Ports, Says Study
The Risks and Rewards of Surging Mexican Demand for U.S. Gas
Hybrid Inlet Chilling for Small Gas Turbines
NRG Adds Another Gas Plant to California Fleet
Courtesy: Siemens. Copyright Brian Haux—SkyHawk Photography
No nukes? No problem.
The state of California, once home to three major nuclear power plants, weathered an early July heat wave in good shape despite having only one operating reactor, Unit 2 at Diablo Canyon Power Plant. Unit 1 at Diablo Canyon was forced to shut down for about a week on June 27 after a minor leak was discovered in the residual heat removal system. The San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station north of San Diego, out of service since early 2012, was officially retired earlier this summer by its owners.
Despite the lost capacity, the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) only needed to ask customers in Northern California to conserve power during the heat wave. Reserve margins remained within safe territory.
The reason is in part the substantial amount of gas-fired capacity that has been added to the CAISO grid in the past few years. The newest plant to come online is NRG's 720-MW Marsh Landing Generating Station, near Antioch on the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta. The four-unit simple cycle plant entered commercial operation on May 1, replacing the 1950s-era Contra Costa Power Plant on the same site. That two-unit steam plant was shut down in part because of its reliance on once-through cooling. The new plant will require only a tiny fraction of the old plant's water consumption while generating more electricity.
The Marsh Landing plant supplies all its power to Pacific Gas & Electric under a 10-year power purchase agreement. The fast-start facility was specifically designed to compensate for the large amount of wind generation in the area, much of it from nearby Altamont Pass.
Siemens supplied the four SGT6-5000F gas turbines, four SGen-1000A generators, the SPPA-T3000 control system and auxiliary and secondary systems for the plant, as well as providing technical support with installation and commissioning. During commissioning, all four F-Class turbines demonstrated the ability to ramp up to full load in 12 minutes. Siemens' fast-start "Flex-Plant" technology also minimizes transient emissions while ramping. The turbines incorporate ultra-low NOx combustors and a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system to control NOx emissions.
In addition to the emissions controls, builder Kiewit followed Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) building standards in constructing the facility.
"Siemens' state of the art fast-start technology and emissions controls demonstrated that we can meet California's aggressive environmental goals and clean air standards," said John Chillemi, president of NRG's West Region in a statement. "The fast-start technology employed by Marsh Landing also supports the integration of new renewable energy sources that are expected to come online over the next decade."
The project has seen some ups and downs since first being proposed. It was begun by Mirant in 2010 before its merger with RRI Energy to form GenOn. GenOn itself merged with NRG last fall as construction was wrapping up. Despite the corporate musical chairs going on off-site, the project was completed on schedule at a total cost of around $700 million.
"Our goal was to bring this facility online before the California summer peak arrived," Chillemi said, "and we were able to make it happen."
While much of the Bay Area, especially around San Francisco, has been markedly hostile to new fossil fuel–fired power plants, cities in the East Bay, such as Antioch, have thrown out the welcome mats in hopes of attracting jobs and tax dollars. San Francisco shuttered its last fossil plant in 2010, but Contra Costa County across the bay has opened four new plants since 1996, with several others in development. The relatively small area contributes about 7.5% of the state's power. While local environmentalists have lamented the warm reception the plants have gotten, supporters have pointed out that most of them are replacing dirtier and less-efficient generation.
"These plants are using clean natural gas technology and eliminating older, dirtier methods," Antioch city councilman Gary Agopian told the Oakland Tribune. "We aren't selling our souls here."
—Thomas W. Overton, JD is POWER's gas technology editor. Follow Tom on Twitter @thomas_overton.
New Gas-Fired Technology Gains Backers
A new gas-fired power generation technology that uses an oxyfuel, high-pressure, supercritical carbon dioxide cycle and produces pipeline-ready…
Pushing the 60% Efficiency Gas Turbine Barrier
Gas turbine makers GE, Siemens, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) in the last week of May separately profiled…
Mitsubishi Wraps Up Development of J-Class Mega Turbine
This March, Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. (MHI) quietly completed development of the "J-series" gas turbine — a…
Reciprocating Engines Continue to Be Flexible Workhorses
With applications that range from firming intermittent resources to providing combined heat and power solutions, reciprocating engine manufacturers…


As you may know I run a Tuesday evening group and we decided to think outside the box. We wanted to paint something we had never painted before and that was a train. None of us had painted a train before but it turned out to be great fun. We were bouncing ideas of off each other and above is my finished painting. This just goes to show how easy it is to get stuck in a rut and by trying different things this can really improve you as an artist. You can then take what you have learnt and use it else where in your artistic life. We painted this using acrylic paint and when finished overlay the painting with oil paint. This gave a lovely effect and is something I would deffinately do again There is a lot that can be done to it but for my first attempt I was reasonably pleased.
Hi everyone would just like to let you know how I got on at the Houghton craft fair. Things started off well as the sun was out and the weather looked good. Where I was situated in the room the sun was beaming down we even had to draw the blinds. Sadly that didn't last for that long half way through the day it really through it down. It didn't dampen our spirits though. Both me and other stall holders had a great day and I got my brushes out and started to paint. It was a good day no matter what the weather did.
Houghton craft fair is one that I always like to go to. Its a great Christmas fair with lots of different crafts to see. We used to live there so it was nice to see people that we knew years ago. Its always nice to catch up and talk.
The sun came out again in the afternoon it was so busy too. I managed to sell one of the paintings of the easel still wet. Also I got a commission for another Poppy painting. I really enjoyed my day at the craft fair and will return next year.
My next Christmas fair is in South Wigston on December 2nd which is a Saturday.
if you would like to learn this way of painting please give me a call or visit my website.
Walk in the woods workshop is this Friday 26th October and I have a couple spaces spare. If you would like to have a go at this workshop then please let me know. You can do this through my website or just give me a call 07483869591.
This is a great workshop and we will use the wet on wet painting technique using good old oil paint. The cost of the workshop is £45-00 and all of the materials are supplied. All you would need to bring with you is your lunch and an apron and some paper towels. This is a wonderful opportunity not only to learn this fabulous way of painting. Also you can obtain workshop vouchers from me which make a great gift idea.
Hi everyone you know you've always had it at the back of your mind I would like to paint. Well now you can I can teach you the wet on wet method of painting. In just one day on my workshop I will teach you all I know about painting using oil paint.
Many people that have come to my workshops have said that they have always wanted to do this. Or they have had it on there bucket list of things to do. My workshops are from 10.am to 4 pm. In that time we will start a painting and finish it in that one session. All of my workshops cost £45-00 and all of the materials are included. The only things you would need to bring with you is your lunch an apron and some paper towels.
My aim is to pass on what I have learnt over the years. So you to can enjoy this fabulous hobby and create wonderful artwork. Anyone can paint like this and once you have learnt this technique you can paint anything.
The image I have posted is the sort of things that you will be able to do. Please take a look at my website where there are many more paintings to choose from . Take a look and see what you would like to paint. If there is nothing you would like to learn then please give me a ring. I will try to fit in with you so you can learn this way of painting.
How I would paint a still life. Still Life well this is a subject that I have never wanted to do. Its also a subject that I knew nothing about what the procedures were in making a still life. This meant I would always skip by still life it didn't interest me at all.
One day I was in my studio did not know what to paint. So I stuck to what I knew best Landscapes. Well that didn't work for me either. I just got a cloth and wiped it off smudging all the different colours together. It looked a right mess and I was just about to scrape the paint off so I could reuse the canvas for something else when. I looked at the canvas and thought that makes a great background for a flower. I don't know why but I started to paint a still life my first ever and I didn't know why I was doing it I had not got a picture to follow. This was amazing for me, but I was really enjoying it. Completely out of my comfort zone but I carried on with it.
Gradually it was coming together. I was always looking at it and thinking what else do I need to add. I did add more but decided that less was more. Your views are very welcome.
I think that it has taught me not to limit myself. Just because I had never done this before shouldn't deter me from trying. It may not be the best still life ever but I so enjoyed it. It will be something I do more of in the future.
How to paint a flower many people ask me that question. Well in this and another newsletter I will try and show you how I set about painting a flower. There are many ways to paint flowers but this is how I do it. First find yourself a good quality photo of the flower you want to paint. Then decide on a background to put your flower against. Usually an out of focus background as the flower is the star of the painting. I usually say for your first painting try a poppy as it does not have to many petals. Petal placement can be a nightmare so I would say a poppy is a good place to start. We can move onto a rose later.
Note the soft back ground and the blended green area. We don't want any hard edges we blend the green into the back ground photo 1. This is how I start every flower painting note the two oval unpainted areas. This is where my flowers are going to be. In painting 2 you can see where I have added some more leaves in. I will add more at the end of the painting If I think they are needed.
In my next News Letter I will speak more about how to form the flowers themselves. Creating the shadows and finish the painting off with our detail. This detail will really bring your painting fully to life.
and to teach bob Ross class's.
Rose painting using oil paint.
This is a trip that I have been looking forward to for some time now. I want to have a go at painting Roses the really open sort. I want to learn to get looser with my floral paintings. So with this in mind I am going down to Gloucestershire to paint with Karen Underwood who is a fantastic artist.
Also I was teaching the Bob Ross method to a gentleman from Spain while I was there with Karen. His wife was painting flowers with Karen. The idea is I paint one day using Bob Ross method with Len and one day with his wife and Karen painting flowers.
Well as you can imagine as the time got closer I got a little more nervous on meeting these two from Spain. Well I need not have worried we met on day one and hit it of straight away. They were a really lovely couple and I very much enjoyed my time with them. I thought that Len had made a really great job with both of his paintings. I was teaching in Karen Underwood's studio. Karen was teaching how to paint flowers and I was teaching the Bob Ross Technique. Karen is a fantastic teacher I really enjoy painting with her.
Well we started on day one I asked Len if he had a painting in mind that he would like to do. He said he was not bothered just the typical Bob Ross scene, So we made it up as we went along. This I always find is a fantastic way to paint.
With this in mind we decided to paint a summer scene and a daylight scene the rest came as we went on. We would start with the sky then we would add our mountains and the water all as we went on. It was a great days painting and we had such a laugh.
On day two I painted with Karen her brief was I did not mind what I painted I just wanted to be a little looser. This was another great day for painting but also such a fun day as well.
On the third day I was teaching Len again, and again we made it up as we went along. We painted a snow scene which also was another very enjoyable day. All in all a very good 3 days painting and lots fun and two new friends. Can't wait to do this again thank you Karen for the hospitality and great instruction you gave.


Arturo Pallardó '15 (Master in Economics) and Christopher Gandrud (Lecturer, City University London) have put together a summary of the European multilevel bank regulatory structure.
The health of the European banking system has come back into the media spotlight. The recent fall in bank shares; the creation of the Italian "bad bank"; and Britain's demands to shield its banks from rules governing the euro region; suggest that the debate on the design and functioning of the European banking regulatory architecture will be on the table in the following months.
Given the complex and evolving nature of European banking regulation, there is much confusion about what has already been established and what plans are being discussed. We hope to clarify the current and proposed state of the European bank regulatory architecture. We differentiate which rules and institutions form the so-called "banking union" and which rules are part of the more general EU single market for financial services.
You can read the full summary on bankingunion.eu, a website run by Arturo that curates content and fosters debate on the European banking union's evolution.
Economics alum Arturo Pallardó '15 has created a new website to follow the evolution of the European banking union.
As expressed by the European Central Bank, the construction of a banking union emerged from the financial crisis of 2008 and the subsequent sovereign debt crisis: "It became clear that, especially in a monetary union such as the euro area, problems caused by close links between public sector finances and the banking sector can easily spill over national borders and cause financial distress in other EU countries".
However, this European project is still under construction. The ultimate goal of this www.bankingunion.eu website is to gather and structure banking union-related documents, from legislative acts to research papers, while fostering the debate on those issues that are unfinished.
Meanwhile, in the current beta version of the web the reader will find different interviews with academics, researchers and professionals discussing some of these banking union topics.


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COVID-19: Virus alert extended, rules tightened
A level 2 COVID-19 alert has been extended until Jan. 24, while a mask mandate and other measures have been tightened in response to an increase in local transmissions of the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said yesterday.
Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung (陳時中), who heads the center, said that the main rule to be revised under the level 2 alert is the mask mandate: The circumstances under which the mask mandate was previously eased are no longer exempted.
"The wearing of masks will once again be required when exercising, singing, taking photos, broadcasting live, recording video, hosting, reporting, giving a speech, lecturing, or participating in the filming of events with discussions or interviews," he said.
Children playing soccer outdoors yesterday wear masks to comply with tightened COVID-19 prevention rules.
A few exemptions would remain if social distancing could be maintained, such as people in agriculture, forestry, fishing and animal husbandry who work outdoors, as well as people visiting forests, beaches, springs, steam baths, spas or saunas, or taking part in water activities, Chen said.
However, such people would need to carry a mask and put it on if they are unable to practice social distancing with strangers, or if they have suspected COVID-19 symptoms, he said.
When they go out, people can take off their mask when eating or drinking, he added.
People wear masks yesterday as they have their photograph taken with their pet dog at a display for the approaching Year of the Tiger.
Businesses and public facilities, including public transportation, must strictly implement contact registration, body temperature checks and enhanced disinfection measures, while monitoring the health of employees and responding immediately to confirmed cases, Chen said, adding that the sampling of food in stores and the making of toasts at each table at banquets is prohibited.
Crowd flow must be controlled and crowd limits respected in businesses and public venues, with people to remain 1.5m apart indoors (2.25m2 per person) and 1m apart outdoors (1m2 per person), he said.
More infected travelers are expected to arrive in Taiwan, so the "line of defense" would be moved up, Chen said, adding that travelers on long-haul flights would need to test negative at airports before being transported to a quarantine hotel or facility.
At local airports, passenger routes and rest areas would be re-designed and the testing method would be decided in a couple of days, with the new policy hopefully being implemented as soon as possible, he said.
Asked about local Omicron cases in northern Taiwan, Chen said that visiting patients at hospitals in Taipei, New Taipei City, Keelung and Taoyuan is banned to protect patients and healthcare workers, and conserve medical capacity.
Where there are exceptions granted by local governments or individual hospitals, visitors must provide a negative rapid antigen test result or a negative polymerase chain reaction test result from within three days of the visit.
Fully vaccinated visitors are offered a government-funded test, while those who are not fully vaccinated must pay for the test.
Hospitalized patients can only be accompanied by one caregiver who, whether they are vaccinated or not, must undergo a government-funded test for COVID-19 before entering the hospital room, and cannot have suspected symptoms or have had contact with a confirmed case.
Healthcare workers taking care of COVID-19 patients who are eligible for a booster dose should receive it before Feb. 1 or be assigned to other hospital duties.
COVID-19 safety guidelines for long-term care facilities in Taipei, New Taipei City, Keelung and Taoyuan have been revised to reduce the risk of virus transmission in the facilities, Chen said.
Visitors to such facilities are also banned, unless given special approval by the facility, he said, adding that visitors must also provide a negative result from a self-paid COVID-19 test administered within three days of visiting.
New residents, whether vaccinated or not, must present a negative result from a self-paid COVID-19 test within three days of checking in.
At a facility that has more than 90 percent of the workers and 80 percent of the residents fully vaccinated, a new resident should avoid attending group activities for the first 14 days.


Often seen as a pose accessible to only a few students, Hanumanasana (front splits) certainly is a challenge. This workshop will help you understand the mechanics of the pose and allow you to work through the various challenges it presents. Through a carefully structured sequence and skills & drills training, we will approach the splits with knowledge and courage.
This workshop will leave you feeling encouraged, inspired and ready to tackle the splits in your own self practice or during class. You may also feel tired but energised!!
Suitable for those who already have a regular yoga practice however modifications and options will be provided. Not suitable for complete beginners. If you have any questions, ask Aubrey!
We'd love to see you!.
If you are brand new to Yoga, you might like to try a Beginner Yoga class, where we will go through the basics and take it slow. Everyone is welcome to come along to any class however, we'll make you feel welcome, regardless of your level.
You are welcome to book your pass online, or just turn up to 39 Hayward Street, Stafford and we'll sort out everything there!
It's that easy! Just come along!


If you had a Java-capable browser, you could play Mecklenbeck Chess here.
Pawns may promote on the sixth rank or beyond.
Mecklenbeck Chess. This is the name by which Pritchard calls this variant. This author uses the term "Mecklenburg" for a four-handed game on a 16x8 board.


Metallic Collection rose gold - a new luxurious S'well Bottle look - a great looking designer gift. Dust bag to protect the shiny exterior. Great for yoga, gym, fitness, hiking, workout.
Your premium Rose Gold bottle comes in a lightweight and flexible carrying bag to keep the luster finish in perfect condition. This multi use bag is great for your polishing needs from jewelry to sunglasses, for smudge-free perfection.
Product care: luxurious smooth finish, use dust bag to remove finger prints. Temporary finger prints appear easily.


text:
Q: How to make a receiver on Android phone? I want to implement an receiver on Android system(android phone/android pad)
I find an app  "CastReceiver" can do this.  so I try to reverse,but the important method its write with c++,on libAirReceiver.so,it's  hard to reverse. I try three days and forgive it.
so, I try to make an app ,step by step. First step, this app register the Googlecast mdns service,but I can't find my devices use chrome on my Mac. but I use "dns-sd -B _googlecast",it show in the list.
code here:
    manager = (NsdManager) getSystemService(Context.NSD_SERVICE);
        String type = "_googlecast._tcp.";
        NsdServiceInfo info = new NsdServiceInfo();
        info.setServiceType(type);
        info.setServiceName("TEST");
        info.setPort(8008);
        String str2 = UUID.randomUUID().toString().replaceAll("-", "");
        info.setAttribute("id", str2);
        info.setAttribute("bs", "C09A71866E39");//MAC
        info.setAttribute("ca", "4101");
        info.setAttribute("cd", str2);
        info.setAttribute("fn", "TEST");
        info.setAttribute("ic", "/setup/icon.png");
        info.setAttribute("md", "Receiver");
        info.setAttribute("nf", "1");
        info.setAttribute("rm", "");
        info.setAttribute("rmodel", "Receiver");
        info.setAttribute("rs", "");
        info.setAttribute("st", "0");
        info.setAttribute("ve", "05");
        manager.registerService(info, PROTOCOL_DNS_SD, getListener());

anyone has idea how to build this app? help~

A: Just in case it helps somehow, libAirReceiver.so works with an AIDL that you can find in same apk:
package com.softmedia.receiver.app;

import com.softmedia.receiver.app.AirReceiverAPICallback;

interface AirReceiverAPI {
    void setOpenDialFriendlyName(String name);
    String getOpenDialFriendlyName();
    void setOpenDialEnable(boolean isEnable);
    boolean isOpenDialEnable();

    void setCastFriendlyName(String name);
    String getCastFriendlyName();
    void setCastEnable(boolean isEnable);
    boolean isCastEnable();

    void setRendererFriendlyName(String name);
    String getRendererFriendlyName();
    void setRendererEnable(boolean isEnable);
    boolean isRendererEnable();

    void setAirPlayDeviceName(String name);
    String getAirPlayDeviceName();
    void setAirPlayEnable(boolean isEnable);
    boolean isAirPlayEnable();
    void setAirPlayPassword(String password);
    String getAirPlayPassword();
    boolean isAirplayBlockNewConnection();
    void setAirplayBlockNewConnection(boolean enable);
    boolean isAirPlayConnected();
    boolean isUsingSystemMediaPlayer();

    void setPlaybackPlayerSetting(int playerSetting);
    int  getPlaybackPlayerSetting();

    void setAirMirrorResolution(int resolution);
    int  getAirMirrorResolution();
    void setAirMirrorOrientation(int orientation);
    int  getAirMirrorOrientation();

    void setAirMirrorRecordEnable(boolean isEnable);
    boolean isAirMirrorRecordEnable();
    void setAirMirrorRecordAudioEnable(boolean isEnable);
    boolean isAirMirrorRecordAudioEnable();
    void setAirMirrorRecordPath(String path);
    String getAirMirrorRecordPath();

    void setAirTunesAudioLatency(int latency);
    int  getAirTunesAudioLatency();
    void setHideAirTunesUI(boolean isEnable);
    boolean isHideAirTunesUI();

    void setUseMediaCodec(boolean isEnable);
    boolean isUseMediaCodec();

    void setHideNotification(boolean isEnable);
    boolean isHideNotification();

    void setCallback(AirReceiverAPICallback callback);
}

And the callback:
package com.softmedia.receiver.app;

interface AirReceiverAPICallback {
    void onCastInvalidSystemTime();
    boolean onCastSessionAccept(String ip);
    void onCastSessionStarted(String ip);
    void onCastSessionEnded();
}

I am actually interested on having an implementation working in a multiplatform way, but a trick should be there that I don't know as looking at internet what I saw out there is that a certificate is needed.. And obviously I don't have it..


text:
O'Connor maintains 29-6A lead with win over Harlan
Sports // High School SportsHigh School Basketball
David Hinojosa, Staff writer
Jan. 9, 2021 Updated: Jan. 9, 2021 5:23 p.m.
Since closing non-district play with back-to-back losses, O'Connor has been perfect.
The Panthers continued that trend Saturday when they posted a wire-to-wire 59-50 victory against Harlan at Taylor Field House to remain undefeated in District 29-6A play.
The No. 6 Panthers improved to 14-2 overall and 6-0 in district play. O'Connor is now 1½ games ahead of second-place Warren (10-5, 4-1). Harlan (8-5, 4-2) dropped to third.
Senior guard Isaac Orozco led O'Connor with 16 points. Adam Benhayoune and Thomas Worrich added 10 points apiece.
"This was really big because the last two years we've been third in district by one or two games, so this year we are really focusing on every game," Orozco said. "(Harlan) just came to (Class) 6A, and us being able to get this win gives us confidence."
The Panthers won their sixth straight. They've responded nicely since losing to top-ranked Antonian (64-54) on Dec. 4 and No. 9 McCollum (71-58) on Dec. 5.
Harlan's Jarin Hall, left, blocks a shot by O'Connor's Josh Alcocer during their District 29-6A boys basketball game at Paul Taylor Field House on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021. O'Connor beat Harlan 59-50.
Marvin Pfeiffer, San Antonio Express-News / Staff PhotographerShow MoreShow Less
Harlan's Jaylen Streeter, left, tries to block a shot by O'Connor's Josh Alcocer during their District 29-6A boys basketball game at Paul Taylor Field House on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021. O'Connor beat Harlan 59-50.
O'Connor's Josh Alcocer, left, drives to the basket as Harlan's Aashon Holmes defends during their District 29-6A boys basketball game at Paul Taylor Field House on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021. O'Connor beat Harlan 59-50.
O'Connor's Isaac Orozco, right, drives upcourt past Harlan's Kalon Hargrove during their District 29-6A boys basketball game at Paul Taylor Field House on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021. O'Connor beat Harlan 59-50.
Harlan's Michael Bell, right, rejects a shot by O'Connor's Isaac Orozco during their District 29-6A boys basketball game at Paul Taylor Field House on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021. O'Connor beat Harlan 59-50.
O'Connor's Josh Alcocer is fouled as he drives to the basket between Harlan's Paul Pullins, left, and Jaylen Streeter during their District 29-6A boys basketball game at Paul Taylor Field House on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021. O'Connor beat Harlan 59-50.
Harlan's Ja'Koby Barkley, right, tries for a layup over O'Connor's Adam Benhayoune during their District 29-6A boys basketball game at Paul Taylor Field House on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021. O'Connor beat Harlan 59-50.
O'Connor's Josh Alcocer, left, tries to drive around Harlan's Caleb McCrackin during their District 29-6A boys basketball game at Paul Taylor Field House on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021. O'Connor beat Harlan 59-50.
O'Connor's Josh Alcocer puts up a layup during their District 29-6A boys basketball game with Harlan at Paul Taylor Field House on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021. O'Connor beat Harlan 59-50.
O'Connor's Adam Benhayoune, right, drives to the basket past Harlan's Paul Pullins during their District 29-6A boys basketball game at Paul Taylor Field House on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021. O'Connor beat Harlan 59-50.
O'Connor's Isaac Orozco, center, shoots between Harlan's Paul Pullins, left, and Jarin Hall during their District 29-6A boys basketball game at Paul Taylor Field House on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021. O'Connor beat Harlan 59-50.
Harlan's Caleb McCrackin, left, watches as Jaylen Streeter pulls down a defensive rebound during their District 29-6A boys basketball game with O'Connor at Paul Taylor Field House on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021. O'Connor beat Harlan 59-50.
O'Connor's Isaac Orozco tries a layup as he drives into the lane during their District 29-6A boys basketball game with Harlan at Paul Taylor Field House on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021. O'Connor beat Harlan 59-50.
Harlan head coach Jarvin Hall, standing left, and associate head coach Keith Taylor react to a call on the court during their District 29-6A boys basketball game with O'Connor at Paul Taylor Field House on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021. O'Connor beat Harlan 59-50.
"When you play good people and lose games, that's a blessing sometimes," O'Connor coach Brett Jewasko said. "You learn a lot from those losses, and so I thought it was a good opportunity for us to play some good people and find out some things we needed to get better at and that's helped us."
Among the victories in the Panthers' winning streak was a 46-45 nail-biter against Warren on Dec. 30. They've posted four decisive victories since then, including Saturday's victory against the Hawks.
"Pre-district, out of district games, we love to win them, but we knew we were getting prepared for our district games," Orozco said. "Those are the ones that matter, so we tried putting those games behind us and just focus on winning out in district."
Orozco's 3-pointer followed a Kyle Saunders trey to close the first quarter and the Panthers leading 14-5.
"We always look for ways to just bring the energy and take momentum, so hitting those shots gives us confidence, and it translates to our defense and our chemistry overall," Orozco said.
O'Connor built its advantage to 20-6 when Josh Alcocer knocked in a put-back at the 6:11 mark of the second quarter.
The Hawks closed the second quarter with a 13-8 run to make it 28-19 at halftime.
Harlan chopped it to 30-24 following a pair of free throws by J.D. Riojas with 4:32 left in the third quarter.
O'Connor responded with a 3-pointer from Jalon Munoz that sparked a 6-0 run to make it 36-24. Justin Adam added a trey that helped O'Connor make it 43-31 after three quarters.
The Hawks, who were led by Jalen Streeter's 16 points, didn't get closer than eight points the rest of the way.
"Seeing them go on runs, we knew it would happen," Orozco said. "We didn't let that get to our heads. We had to get down and grind. We just made our own runs and ultimately it won us a game."
dhinojosa@express-news.net
Twitter: @hinojosa_david
David Hinojosa
Reach David on
David Hinojosa has been working as a sports writer since 1993. He has also covered sports for the McAllen Monitor and the Dallas Morning News.


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The Fate of Anatomical Collections
DOI link for The Fate of Anatomical Collections
The Fate of Anatomical Collections book
ByRina Knoeff, Robert Zwijnenberg
eBook Published 9 March 2016
SubjectsHumanities, Museum and Heritage Studies, Social Sciences
From Bottled Babies to Biobanks: Medical Collections in the Twenty-First Century
The history of anatomical and pathological collections demonstrates the central role of collecting and preserving human material in medical practice. Yet many such collections have lost their central position in medical research and teaching as attention has shifted towards the cellular and molecular levels. Several collections are now perceived as historical rather than medical and, as a consequence, the curatorship has changed hands from doctors to historians.1 Likewise, the majority of scholarship on medical museums (including hospital and university collections) concentrates on historical practices. While this chapter takes historical practices as its point of departure, its main purpose is to argue that many aspects of historical collecting practices are still in evidence in today's biomedicine. The history of anatomical and pathological collections in medical museums is thus not a story about collections in decline, but rather part of a bigger story about the enduring importance of collecting in medicine.


text:
Didiereaceae és una petita família de plantes suculentes endèmic del sud i sud-oest de Madagascar. Compta amb 11 espècies. Els estudis moleculars mostren que el gènere Portulacaria (abans dins la família Portulacaceae) forma part d'aquesta familia i això porta la seva distribucióo més enllà de l'illa de Madagascar.

Descripció
Són plantes suculentes i espinoses en forma d'arbusts o arbres de 2 a 20 m d'alt, les fulles són suculentes i cauen durant la llarga estació seca. Totes les espècies són dioiques. Estan relacionades amb les cactàcies i fins i tot poden ser empeltades sobre alguns cactus.

Gèneres i espècies
Alluaudia
 Alluaudia ascendens
 Alluaudia comosa
 Alluaudia dumosa
 Alluaudia humbertii
 Alluaudia montagnacii  – probably a natural hybrid of A. ascendens and A. procera
 Alluaudia procera  –la més sovint cultivada

Alluaudiopsis
 Alluaudiopsis fiherensis
 Alluaudiopsis marnieriana

Decaria
 Decaria madagascariensis

Didierea
 Didierea madagascariensis
 Didierea trollii

Diverses espècies són plantes d'interior ornamentals.

Bibliografia

 Eggli, Urs (Ed.): Sukkulentenlexikon Band 2: Zweikeimblättrige Pflanzen (Dicotyledonen) Eugen Ulmer Verlag, Germany 2002.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
After inheriting multiple wax models from her deceased mentor Dr Phillipe Curtius, Marie Tussaud, upon invitation by Magic Lantern pioneer Paul Philidor, brought her work to London in 1802. Unable to travel back to France following the Napoleonic Wars, Madame Tussaud took her exhibition on tour around the British Isles before establishing a base at the Baker Street Bazaar in 1835.
Inside the current Madame Tussauds, which Tussaud's grandsons later moved from Baker Street to its present site on Marylebone Road, visitors can see famous faces from sport, film, and culture, both past and present.
The museum likes to remain current and up-to-date; recent additions to the gallery include Tom Hiddleston alongside an animatronic 18-foot King Kong to celebrate the success of 'Kong: Skull Island', and models of YouTube royalty Zoe Sugg and Alfie Deyes aka Zoella and PointlessBlog. Visitors will be amazed by the exciting Marvel Super Heroes 4D and Star Wars experiences where they will be able to pose with some of the most famous characters in film.
It takes six months, more than 250 precise measurements and photographs, 2,400 lbs of wax and roughly £150,000 to make each of Madame Tussaud's wax portraits
There are currently 24 Madame Tussauds museums worldwide, including seven in the USA and museums in Beijing, Amsterdam, Tokyo and Sydney
There are three wax portraits of Madame Marie Tussaud within the current collection, one of which is a self portrait
The museum also includes Tussaud's first wax model, that of French philosopher Voltaire which she created at the age of 16


Retha "Rita" May Morse, 87, the widow of Lincoln Morse, went home to be with the Lord on Friday, August 2, 2013, at the Tidelands Community Hospice House.
Mrs. Morse was born the daughter of Tom Strickland and Pearl Strickland on May 14, 1926 in Spring Hope, NC. She committed her life to acts of selfless giving for her family, and an unconditional love to earn her the distinguished title – Beloved Mother.
She leaves behind: four children, Carol Christine (Chris) Iverson, Lynn Beaulieu, Buck Lee Beaulieu, and Jim Dean Morse; ten grandchildren, Ellen Gumusdear, Ashley Thomas, Austin Smothers, Jody Whalens, Johnny Lowe, Todd Beaulieu, Sierra Beaulieu, Lori Iverson, Amanda Beaulieu, and Stephany Ann Beaulieu; and sixteen great-grandchildren.
She was predeceased by: her parents; her husband; a son, George Stephen Beaulieu; three brothers, Gilbert Strickland, Gerly Strickland, Zilly Pike; and a sister, Ida Strickland.
The Morse Family will receive family and friends from 5-7 PM, Tuesday evening, August 6, 2013 at the Georgetown Chapel.
No Service has been planned at this time.


text:
Back To News & Views
A STRONGER NATION
We All Must Do More
Lumina President Jamie Merisotis on Leadership for Racial Justice and Educational Equity in the Wake of Charlottesville
There are moments that call for moral clarity and public accountability—moments that require us to affirm our core values and commit to concrete action in the face of deep threats. In the wake of shameful acts of racist violence and terrorism in Charlottesville, Virginia, this is such a moment.
Our nation has a long, sordid history of racism. At Lumina Foundation, I am privileged to work with many people who take seriously their responsibility to educate all Americans about our nation's history—including the shameful parts that reflect racist beliefs. A battle over our nation's historical memory and the monuments we erect was the context for demonstrations over the weekend that resulted in unspeakable violence. We must directly and forcefully denounce that violence, which was motivated by racial and ethnic hostility.
Lumina Foundation has committed to ending systemic inequalities that, throughout this nation's history, have led to persistent and unacceptable gaps in educational opportunity and outcomes. These disparities threaten not only our economy, but the future of our democracy by eroding the moral underpinning on which our country was established.
Access to educational opportunity is inequitable in America, at least in part, because of our nation's long history of racism. As a philanthropic organization, we collaborate with many individuals and institutions across the country who work diligently to confront and reverse the effects of this racial history. We will continue to advance this important mission, and we will speak up when we believe our voice needs to be heard.
But I am more convinced than ever we can and must do more. This call to action is true for Lumina, and it must apply to every philanthropic organization seeking to drive social change. Ensuring fair and equitable results in a country sullied by hundreds of years of systemic racism and oppression is not just a part of our collective work in philanthropy. It is the work.
With a clarity of mission, and with ample resources that give us the opportunity to actually do something, we must accept leadership and hold ourselves accountable for making a difference. Those of us in philanthropy must step up to confront not just the long-term effects of implicit biases, but the immediate and real threat of white supremacy, neo-Nazism, and racially motivated hatred.
I am honored to be the leader of a mission-driven, philanthropic organization. But I am also a white man—a father, a husband, a community member, and an American citizen who is outraged at expressions of white power and racism that didn't begin in Charlottesville. Clearly, the nation is engaged in a searching dialogue about economic disadvantage, but it is simply not the case that whites in America are disadvantaged by the color of their skin. We need a conversation about economic opportunity for every American, but it really must begin with the need to achieve equitable results for historically disadvantaged people. We must be clear with ourselves about the realities of privilege and disadvantage—and the roots of both.
Expressions of outrage won't stop the ongoing fight over our nation's racial legacy. Frankly, it is frustrating to issue formal statements that seem wholly inadequate to the outrageous bigotry we continue to witness. Yes, we must speak up—standing against hate and against complacency, false equivalencies, and excuses—but we need to do so in ways that commit us to do more.
In this moment, it's unclear how we can ever stop racism born of fear and ignorance. Some will say these enduring elements of human character will always write the darkest chapters of the human story. But our rational optimism tells us there's hope, even in the sadness of this moment.
At Lumina, we believe postsecondary learning is critical to shared prosperity. We've seen first-hand the transformative effects of learning. We know that from education comes understanding—and that understanding is the first step in the healing that must take place.
Lumina Foundation can do more for racial justice and equity. And as the foundation's president, I commit to report publicly on what we are doing, and if it is working. In the coming days and weeks, I will be talking with other foundation leaders about ways we can work together toward greater racial equity, because I believe philanthropy can and must play an important leadership role in this essential work.
In the end, we all must do more—in our workplaces, in our families, in our places of worship, in our communities. More with our resources. More with our voices. More with our actions. Our shared future depends on nothing less.
The Equity-Minded Civic Learning All Americans Need | Inside HigherEd | Sept. 25, 2017
Kate Snedeker
Indicators of Higher Education Equity in the United States
Lumina's Equity Imperative | 2 pg. PDF
Proposal for protecting and empowering students and borrowers of color
View More by Topic: equity »


text:
connor lambourne
Management Trainee, Interiors
Changing lives through the trainee challenge
Our Foundation Challenge empowers trainees to make a real difference to peoples' lives; Connor Lambourne talks about his experience…
Willmott Dixon's trainee scheme aims to take talented people from across the country and develops them into industry leading professionals. Key to this leading process is understanding our role helping those less fortunate then us.
When I became a trainee in 2013 as a year out student, I had no experience in any type of community investment. I leave the scheme now as the 2017 Willmott Dixon Foundation Trainee Challenge winner, something I am immensely proud of.
Connor Lambourne with Katrina Jinadu at Age UK after he led a team that refurbished its Lewisham and Southwark Healthy Centre
The trainee challenge was first introduced as an award in 2013, designed to challenge trainees from across the business to take on a social value project that would significantly enhance lives of people in their communities.
Working for Interiors, the first community challenge I worked on was led by my colleague Natalie Briden. Situated in Brixton, I was part of the team that transformed a local youth centre and their garden area with the help of members from Construction Youth.
Seeing the difference we made to that community was something I had never experienced before, and you could feel what it meant to everyone involved. Natalie won the first ever trainee challenge award and set the bar unbelievably high. That challenge, in my opinion, will always be the foundation of every winning challenge, it certainly was with mine!
Connor picking up his award from Rick Willmott
Leading a trainee challenge is exactly what is says on the tin…challenging, but during pre-construction is where a challenge is won. Planning is essential as once it's underway, acquiring any goods or services is a nightmare and often expensive. Our supply chain responds incredibly to the challenges, so getting your procurement needs and agreeing sub-contractor involvement early provides an invaluable safety net and often expert guidance. Raising awareness before the event also allows all those involved to know what you're up to and can generate a buzz around the challenge, so when staff and volunteers arrive on site they have a good idea of who they are helping, what they will be doing and why.
Only the bravest of trainee must put themselves forward for the challenge, but with high risk comes high reward. Leading a challenge helps develop you as a manager intensely across all areas. The challenge gives the opportunity to effectively plan, procure and deliver your own job from cradle to grave in the position of an operations manager. If this wasn't difficult enough, nearly everything you do or use is donated or given in good will.
This is the most difficult yet enjoyable aspect of a challenge but you must always remember two things; the buck stops with you and you can always do more. I was lucky enough to be surrounded by some of the most capable and talented trainees in the business, who I utilised and built in a team around me. Without them, nothing would have been possible.
Leading a challenge like this is not for the faint hearted, but I would recommend it to anyone looking to gain experience like no other and deliver something truly special, win or lose. With each year the standard gets higher, with each year we achieve more, with each year we change the lives of hundreds if not thousands of people across the country. Taking part in the challenge really does embed the values of Willmott Dixon into its trainees; the difference we are able to make is incredible.
Winning the trainee challenge is one of the proudest moments of my life!
Watch Connor's trainee challenge video here
Blogs from our people
Management Trainees
Start your journey to senior management with our Management Trainee Scheme


text:
Title: Criminal Careers of Two Generations of Family Members in the Cambridge Study in Delinquent Development
Journal: Studies on Crime and Crime Prevention Volume:7 Issue:1 Dated:1998 Pages:85-106
Author(s): D P Farrington; S Lambert; D J West
Annotation: The Cambridge Study in Delinquent Development is a prospective longitudinal survey of 411 South London males, and the current research project documented the criminal careers of these males up to 40 years of age based on conviction records.
Abstract: The research project also investigated the criminal careers of biological mothers and fathers up to 70 years of age and those of brothers, sisters, wives, and cohabitees. Findings revealed the prevalence of convictions was remarkably high for study males (40 percent) and their brothers up to 40 years of age (43 percent). The age-crime curve showed a peak in the teenage years only for the young generation. The average age of offending was 30 years for fathers and 35 years for mothers, and offending by mothers was equally likely at older and younger ages. About 5 to 6 percent of males and 2 percent of females committed half of all offenses in each offender category. Most male offenders did not desist after the first offense but persisted in offending. The probability of persistence was especially high after the fourth offense. The average age of onset was 18-21 years for the younger generation, 27 years for fathers, and 33 years for mothers. The average age of desistance was 24-25 years for the young generation, 36 years for fathers, and 38 years for mothers. Excluding one-time offenders, the average duration of criminal careers was 8-11 years for the young generation and 15-16 years for the older generation. The average time interval between offenses was 3 years for the younger generation and 8 years for the older generation. In many comparisons, the most striking differences between generations rather than between males and females. The authors conclude that, when criminal careers are followed up to later ages, offending seems far less concentrated in the teenage years and far more persistent throughout life than is commonly believed. 45 references, 8 tables, and 2 figures
Index Term(s): Age group comparisons; Crime in foreign countries; Criminal career patterns; England; Female deviance; Foreign criminal justice research; Foreign juvenile delinquency; Foreign offenders; Habitual offenders; Juvenile delinquency research; Longitudinal studies; Male juvenile delinquents; Male offenders; Offender statistics; Offense statistics; Recidivism statistics; Recidivists