text:
44 Lessons from Influential Women in Subscription
Jennifer Cline - SUBTA Director of Marketing
Since starting my career, I've been fortunate to find inspiration and mentorship from some really incredible women. As the years went on, however, I quickly realized many of the gaps women face as they grow professionally. The statistics related to women-owned businesses, female executives and funding into women-founded business became alarming.
The subscription industry is vastly different. For many of the most successful businesses in the industry, a woman is leading the charge behind the scenes. Everywhere I turn, inspiring women are empowering others and sharing their wisdom and journeys.
Whether it's declining a $400,000 offer from Shark Tank to go on and raise millions a few years later like Kimberly Lewis did, or play an integral role in the merger of two titans in the beauty subscription industry like Alessandra Sales, or revolutionizing the cannabis subscription space like Eliza Maroney, there are so many amazing women doing incredible things.
Together, we're finding strength and success in connections and collaborations.
Together, we're making significant progress in what it means to be a woman in business. Not only do we feel the progress among our conversations; the data is highlighting the progress, too.
Progress, as in there are nearly 30% more women who own small businesses or franchises this year compared to last.
Progress, as in close to 20% of Black women are working on launching a new business.
Progress, as in 10.1 million people work for businesses operated by women.
And we're not done yet.
Read on to celebrate Women's History Month and meet the influential women in subscription who make this industry what it is.
Much of the business landscape has been dominated by males for decades. These nine influential women in subscription share what it means to be an integral part of some of the most successful brands in the industry.
Chelsie Lee was an instrumental part of SnackNation's pivot to Caroo. As such, she was named the co-founder of the newly branded business.
"Don't wait for someone to offer you a chair at their table. Build your own chair."
Learn more about Chelsie's story
Chelsie Lee
Co-Founder & Chief Product Officer, Caroo
"Being a woman in a male-dominated industry presented challenges, but it also presented me with the opportunity to approach situations differently than others were."
Learn more about Erica's story
Erica Alfonzetti
Head of Subscription Offer & Operations, Volvo
"Building a business can be really difficult. Building a business as a woman adds additional challenges, but we're strong. We've endured a lot."
Learn more about Jamie's story
Jamie Levy
Head of Engagement, North America, Shopify
"There were a couple of times I felt like I was at my wits end and by doing one little push or trying something new I made it past the hump. Also, never stop learning and testing new things. Technology moves fast and you gotta be able to keep up!"
Learn more about our SubSummit 2022 speakers
Cassie Padgett
SubSummit 2022 Speaker and Owner, Owl Post Books
"If you have an idea that feels impactful, press the start button. Do not hesitate, because if you do, someone else will bring the idea to life."
Laura Cellucci
Head of Media Relations, Fish Fixe
"If you can dream it, then you can achieve it. Celebrate every win, no matter how little."
Bola Adesanya
Founder, Lushgirlbox
"Regardless of the challenges, if you're thinking about starting your own subscription business, do it! If you're BIPOC, there's most likely a gap and that's what we need: people to fill those gaps. We're often not the people in mind when things are created, so we have to create it ourselves."
Jamillah Gabriel
Founder, Call Number Box
Kalish leveraged her experience in the corporate world to launch her own business.
"There is no one in my family or around me who has paved the path of successful entrepreneurship or has started to build wealth for their families. So I'm the pioneer of that in my family."
Learn more about Kalish's story
Kalish Nesbitt
Founder, The POSE Box
"So many of us start our businesses after leaving other jobs and industries, and it's easy to think that we only have skills and expertise in certain areas. Being an entrepreneur and subscription box owner gives you the opportunity to learn and grow, to develop new skills in areas you never even thought of before. Just be patient and know that it will probably not be perfect the first time or even the second. But, in the end, you will be better for stepping outside your box."
Learn more about Stephanie's story
Stephanie Philpot
Founder, The Eczema Sample Store
You Don't Have to Do it Alone
"Surround yourself with other supportive and positive women. Implement core values in your business that help create positive change and growth. Create a team that shares the same values as your company. Portray your values to your customer base through your marketing and create a community that both uplifts your company and your customers."
Learn more about Risa's story
Risa Garcia
Co-Founder, The Social Butterfly Box
"Have a bestie that you can talk to about business that understands business and can be a cheerleader with you, support you, have fun with you, and you support them equally in return. Women need to support each other in their endeavors and even if you're in a competing industry there is so much to offer each other and so much room for all of us to shine and show what we do best without stepping on each other."
Learn more about Melanie's story
Melanie Ebersole
Co-Founder & COO, Thanks.io, LLC
"Hire help! As a business owner, you have to make time for yourself in order to be able to stay focused, see the bigger picture, and build a company that will thrive. Most CEOs of successful businesses are NOT doing their own laundry (nor are they cleaning their own houses, grocery shopping, etc.). Get help with things around the house as soon as you can afford to; it will be WELL worth it."
Learn more about Maureen's story
Maureen Vazquez
Founder & Creative Director, Pipsticks
"Set boundaries and only do things that are hell yeses. There are no awards for the busiest, most stressed-out woman."
Learn more about Trudy's story
Trudy Armand
Co-Founder, HER-MINE
Learn from the Influential Women Who Came Before You
Whether it's through networking events, webinars, panels, or a conference, there are endless opportunities for you to learn from women who are leaders in the subscription space. Here are the most valuable lessons that women in subscription have shared at our various events.
SubSummit
"Don't skip the data, don't skip the process of tracking what's working and making decisions about where you need to focus in."
Becky Hoy
SubSummit 2022 Speaker and Founder & CEO, Brave Crate
"I remember when I was first starting in my subscription journey, when I would get the chance to hear others share their stories, or insights that I could learn from, it always helped propel me forward. I believe in sharing what we know and helping each other grow."
Learn more about Jessica's story
Jessica Principe
SubSummit 2022 Speaker and Founder & CEO, All Girl Shave Club
Hoy and Principe designed the Subscription Box Planner to help new entrepreneurs manage and organize their businesses without feeling stressed or overwhelmed.
"Study your market. Focus on what makes you different. Don't be afraid to ask questions and obtain a consultant."
Melissa Hernandez
SubSummit 2022 Speaker and Founder & Owner, Just Deco
Kimberly and her husband, Tim, pitched their business, CurlMix, on the Shark Tank show, and refused a $400,000 funding opportunity from one of the sharks. A few years later, they've been able to raise millions of dollars through crowdfunding.
"A lot of times, we don't focus on accounting money because we focus on making it. Understanding the accounting processes partnered with equity crowdfunding will set your startup business up for success."
Learn more about Kimberly's story
SubSummit 2022 Speaker and Co-Founder & CEO, CurlMix
"Launching your own business means you're betting on yourself. In a world where you can be anything, be BOLD. I started Lucky Box Club with my partner as a means to create our own wealth and offer our customers an experience that simply didn't exist yet. It brings me tremendous pride to be a visionary within the cannabis industry and leader that can create a path forward for other women with similar values & dreams."
Eliza Maroney
SubSummit 2022 Speaker and Co-Founder, Lucky Box Club
"I was inspired to launch my own PR agency when I realized I had the tools and knowledge to do everything on my own. I come from an entrepreneurial family — my Dad has owned and operated a successful advertising agency for 35 years. I grew up around commercial and billboard shoots and saw my Dad work incredibly hard to build his business. It made a life-long impact on my mindset and work ethic. In 2016, I was approached by someone else to launch their marketing/PR agency. A lightbulb went off and I said to myself 'Wait, I can do this on my own.' I received more and more referrals from existing clients and it organically grew into a full-scale business. That was six years ago and I've never looked back. I am grateful for my team and clients every single day."
Lindsey Palmer
SubSummit 2022 Speaker and Founder, Palmer Public
"I was able to bootstrap the brand because I was scrappy, I never invested in things I couldn't afford or take risks that were too big to come back from. I figured out how to work with vendors for terms, use lines of credit, and, ultimately, keep cash flow positive within a few months."
Learn more about Ellyette's story
Ellyette Gheno
SubSummit 2022 Speaker and CEO, BootayBag
"Your pre-launch stage matters! You could have a fantastic idea for a subscription box business but your target audience needs to know you exist. If you spend time during your pre-launch stage building your audience and 'finding your people' you'll have better success with your box right from the start."
Renae Gonzalez
SubSummit 2022 Speaker and Director of Customer Service, Sparkle Hustle Grow
"There's going to be a lot of on-the-job training. I'm a preparer. I researched and I hired coaches that gave me a leg up, but there are some things that you're not going to know until you start."
Learn more about Dorethia's story
Dorethia Kelly
SubSummit 2022 Speaker and CEO, Work • Space • Spark
Susan won the SubSummit 2021 Pitch Competition Presented by Pitney Bowes.
"Take the risk and believe in yourself. Do work you care about. Challenge yourself."
Learn more about Susan's story
Susan Black
Founder, Wowzitude
Attend Round 2 of the 2022 Pitch Competition Presented by Pitney Bowes and Praella on April 21 at 2pm EST. You could win a FREE SubSummit ticket!
"What I know when we niche down is that we're able to find our perfect customer, we're able to speak to that customer a lot better, and we're able to build a community of like-minded people who become part of something that's more than just a box, and it's bigger than themselves."
Learn more insights from Sarah
Sarah Williams
Founder, Launch Your Box
"Growth in the subscription economy is not just about acquisition, it's also about retention. And then even further than that, it's about expansion. In order to do all three things well, you need to not only have a compelling product and service that the customer sees ongoing value from, but you also have to have the right subscriber experience and the right foundational platform."
Learn more insights from Amy
Amy Konary
Global VP, Subscribed Strategy Group, Zuora
Brittany is the ultimate hustler. She participated in last year's Pitch Competition Presented by Pitney Bowes after having a kid THE WEEK before!
"I can be a great mom and I can still have the business. I don't necessarily have to choose."
Learn more about Brittany's story
Brittany Rhodes
Founder, Black Girl MATHgic
Krysta quickly boosted her brand exposure through TikTok during the pandemic. She leverages her personal profile to educate her followers on the makeup industry while promoting her own brand, which has accumulated over 120,000 likes on the platform.
"I know most business owners don't want to be an 'influencer.' But nowadays, that's what consumers are looking for. They're looking for the face behind the brand. They want to get to know you for you."
Learn more insights from Krysta
Krysta Lewis
CEO, Aisling Organics
"When people can discover new ways to collaborate with others, they can find a power they didn't have before. I have seen the power in collaboration and how it can affect lives. When people bring their visions together, that's where the magic happens."
Learn more insights from Dr. Eboni
Dr. Eboni Bell
Founder & Owner, Dream Girl Box
"The idea for MealFinds.com came from my love of meal kits, and the time spent with my family enjoying those meals, combined with a gap in the market for an aggregation-style website for all things online food and drink. My drive and what keeps me going is the desire to prove to myself that I can build a successful business from the ground up."
Learn more insights from Alison
Alison Chew
Founder, MealFinds
"We all have great ideas, but at the end of the day, it's all about execution. If you don't execute well, you will not succeed, and in that sense, that's how important your human resources really are."
Learn more insights from Alessandra
Alessandra Sales
VP of Growth, IPSY
"Know yourself. Before you can even do PR or put your brand out there, you have to know who you are. Your box is going to reflect who you are. You are the box. You are your product."
Learn more insights from Patricia
Patricia Callwood
Founder & Owner, True Serenity Tea
Join the entire subscription community and these influential women at SubSummit 2022 in Orlando, Fla. this June. Get your ticket today.
SUBTA Panels & Webinars
"In the beginning [of my subscription box business] I was not a part of my personal brand… I kept my face hidden away, and I did that because my target market doesn't look like me. My mentor challenged me to do a post and put my face out there, and do like five facts about myself. And since I've done that, it's been my most engaged post… I feel like they're buying into me… It resonates with some people."
Learn more about Saidah's story
Chef Saidah Farrell
Owner, Marshmallow of the Month Club
"Right now, people just want a human that connects with us. We [as entrepreneurs] can drive that and make something. We [as business founders] are educators, mentors, and coaches… we are telling people how to use the products. We are building that trusted brand with our buyers… Personal branding is essential right now."
Learn more about Jill's story
Jill Lodato
CEO & Founder, Kids Baking Club, 2021 Cube Awards Winner
"Her success is not your failure. So often, we get caught up in the comparison trap as we scroll through the beautiful social media feeds or hear of another subscription box hitting a major milestone. You can't allow yourself to feel less than someone else or think that you don't add up. You have a unique journey so keep focused on your own goals. There is more than enough to go around!"
Learn more about Julie's story
Julie Ball
Founder & Subscription Coach, Sparkle Hustle Grow, Subscription Box Bootcamp
In 2011, Akeelah and her husband left their home to travel the world for 13 months. They came back with stories, shared experiences, and a burning desire to teach their kids about the different cultures they came across in their journey. Little Global Citizens was born shortly after to fulfill this mission.
"I did not start [my] business to make loads of money. I started this business because I had a really authentic experience when I traveled around the world that I wanted to bring to my family."
Learn more about Akeelah's story
Akeelah Kuraishi
Co-Founder , Little Global Citizens, 2021 Cube Awards Winner
"Money's going to go up. Money's going to go down. But if you want to make an impact on people, you have to first care about people."
Learn more about Nia-Tayler's story
Nia-Tayler Clark
Founder, BlackLIT
"For both of my businesses (running my subscription box, and coaching others to launch and grow their own sub box), the inspiration came from a very strong internal nudge – a feeling that I wasn't quite on the right path, and was out of alignment with what I should be doing. I've learned to strongly trust those 'off' feelings and be curious about what the alternative might be or open up – to lean into my intuition. As part of that, getting clear on who I wanted to help – and how to delight/support them – inspired what both those businesses became."
Learn more insights from Moira
Moira Fuller
Founder & Subscription Box Coach, Craftiosity, Subscription Box Academy
SUBTA Community
"I would advise other women business owners to have a consistent morning routine, where they take time to be intentional about their purpose and their goals and how they want to show up each day."
Learn more about Tammy's story
Tammy Anderson
Founder, Clove Pink
"Small successes and failures are key to trackable and scalable growth. Keep grinding, learn from mistakes, and repeat successes. Through tracking, measuring, and optimizing, we can grow our business."
Learn more about Suji's story
Suji Sohn
CEO & Co-Founder, Seoulbox
"Don't hesitate or overthink too much. The beauty of subscription is we have the ability to adapt and change every month. Be bold and take risks to see what works!"
Learn more about Betsy's story
Betsy Wild
Co-Founder & CEO, We Craft Box
"Being a woman in business is not for the faint of heart. It's hard work, but rewarding work. My best advice is to find a mentor, even if it's a male mentor. Having a good mentor or coach no matter what stage of business you are in is extremely valuable. You can always learn something from someone who is further along in business than yourself."
Co-Founder and COO, Thanks.io, LLC
"Take your time working out logistics, identifying resources, and building relationships. Relationships will open doors that money and skill won't. When you feel like giving up, finish the day, go to sleep, and hit it fresh. New day = new opportunities. The more you work at it, the greater your chances of success. Lastly, minimize expenses in the months leading up to your launch so that you'll have a reserve to fund your endeavor."
Learn more about their stories
Hayley Figueroa & Irma Marrero
Co-Founders, Dig
"Your audience craves connection and community. Build a space for them to find each other and you'll find your most ardent fans!"
Thien-Kim Lam
Founder, Bawdy Bookworms
Looking to connect with the influential women who are a part of the SUBTA community? Join today.
We are Stronger Together
It's amazing how much we have in common with those we look up to.
Each of the influential women listed above started exactly like every other aspiring entrepreneur: With an idea.
Then came the hard work, the sleepless nights, the stressful days.
Then came the dedication, the "ah-ha!" moments.
Then came the successes, the indescribable joy, the ability to look back at what they've achieved and say "I did it."
Now comes the advice, the suggestions, the will to pass the torch to the next generations of innovators so that progress isn't lost.
The community of women in subscription is filled with so many inspiring pioneers that they all could never fit in a blog. I feel fortunate to hear and share their stories as SUBTA continues to grow alongside them. And for all of the women considering this business journey, I say — go for it. Together, we can do amazing things.
Looking for more entrepreneurial insights from influential women in subscription? Join SUBTA's Women Lightning Talks on March 31 at 2pm EST to hear from Katherine Zabloudil of The Vertical Collective, Dr. Eboni Bell of Dream Girl Box, Krysta Lewis of Aisling Organics, Susan Black of Wowzitude, and Jessica Principe of All Girl Shave Club.
Looking to launch, grow and scale your subscription business? Join SUBTA today to get access to our supportive community, shared resources, new content every month, virtual events, and discounted tickets to our annual world-famous conference, SubSummit.
3 Ways to Stop Feeling Stuck and Unmotivated as a Subscription Entrepreneur
Written by Nadine Ghica – Jr. Marketing Assistant (Community Lead)
March 15 | 6 minute read
Subscription Box Management 101: 5 Ways to Stay Confident When Organizing a Startup Business
Written by Nadine Ghiran - SUBTA
Written by Emily A. Hay - Founder from Hay There Social Media
February 04 | 6 minute read
4 Tips to Prepare for the SubSummit 2022 Pitch Competition Presented by Praella and Pitney Bowes
Written by Louis Ricard - SUBTA
Using Promotions to Drive a Lead Generation Funnel
Written by Christopher George - SUBTA Co-Founder and Chairman
September 29 | 19 minute read
20 Tips to Grow Your Subscription Business
Written by The SUBTA Team


Senator Dianne Feinstein has declared that she wants the investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct, against Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, reopened if the Democrats take control of the Senate following the November Midterms.
During a debate in San Francisco, the California Democrat stated that she would "be in favor of opening an investigation into the allegations" made by Christine Blasey Ford against President Trump's nomination for SCOTUS.
Feinstein, the ranking minority member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, told her challenger, state Sen. Kevin de León, that she would push for the unfounded claims to be reinvestigated.
de León, a fellow Democrat, is challenging one of the Senate's longest-tenured members for her seat after emerging from California's hectic jungle primary system.
According to Fox News, Feinstein has come under fire from both Republicans and her fellow Democrats since the Kavanaugh confirmation after it was revealed that one of Judge Kavanaugh's accusers, Christine Blasey Ford, had reached out to the lawmaker with her allegations and asked that they remain confidential.
Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., said last month that Feinstein's office will be investigated to determine whether or not it leaked Ford's letter to the press.
"They have betrayed her," Cotton, R-Ark, said on CBS' "Face the Nation" about Ford.
During Wednesday's debate, de León agreed with Feinstein that he would also support a renewed investigation into the allegations against Kavanaugh.
And while this was one of many issues on which the two Democrats appeared to be eye-to-eye, de León was critical of Feinstein and the rest of Congress's slowness in tackling issues like climate change, immigration reform, and healthcare.
Will we be forced to endure another testimony from Christine Blasey Ford?
"Because of the lack of action in Washington, I've had to move by myself here in California," he said.
In regards to immigration – a major topic of discussion in a state that is 39 percent Latino and 27 percent of its population is foreign-born – Feinstein said that if Democrats take control of the Senate in the midterm, immigration reform will be one of the first things the new Congress tackles.
"If Democrats are in the majority, there will be a comprehensive immigration reform bill before the [Senate Judiciary] committee," she said.


text:
Robin Sharp joins DTM Legal from international law firm.
Date: 15/02/2019 Author: DTM Legal
Specialist commercial property lawyer, Robin Sharp has joined law firm DTM Legal.
Robin Sharp is recommended by the Legal 500 and has more than 15 years' experience advising developers, landowners, tenants, funders and investors in the commercial property industry. Robin has most recently focused on advising clients within the UK retail, leisure, corporate landlord and occupier sectors. Robin has been involved with some of the UK's largest retail and hotel brands in their new-build development programs.
Robin said: "I'm delighted to be taking a new step in my career and to be joining a dynamic and client-oriented law firm which also has a great reputation for developing its staff. The team has already made me feel very welcome and I am eager to help the business grow over the coming years."
Anna Duffy, head of the property team, welcomed Robin.
She said: "Robin makes a fantastic addition to the team, supporting the department's on-going growth."
"Robin's arrival will bolster our specialist property development department and he will add significant value through his technical expertise and innovative solutions. Robin has gained invaluable experience working in senior roles in-house at a number of well-known companies such as Betfred, Tote, and through secondment at Virgin Media and experienced the importance of key client drivers which enables Robin to understand the need for a commercial approach and adding value to a business.
To contact Robin, click here

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Q: NTLM authentication in WCF calling .net core API I have a WCF service (A) that calls another WCF service (B) with the below configuration.
<security mode="TransportCredentialOnly">
  <transport clientCredentialType="Ntlm" proxyCredentialType="None" realm="" />
  <message clientCredentialType="UserName" algorithmSuite="Default" />
</security>

I'm working on calling service B from a .net core (v2.2) service. I have the below setup:
BasicHttpBinding basicHttpBinding = new BasicHttpBinding();
basicHttpBinding.Security.Mode = BasicHttpSecurityMode.TransportCredentialOnly;
basicHttpBinding.Security.Transport.ClientCredentialType = HttpClientCredentialType.Ntlm;
basicHttpBinding.Security.Transport.ProxyCredentialType = HttpProxyCredentialType.Ntlm;
basicHttpBinding.Security.Message.ClientCredentialType = BasicHttpMessageCredentialType.UserName;

// doesn't have Default as the option. Only TripleDes
//basicHttpBinding.Security.Message.AlgorithmSuite = SecurityAlgorithmSuite.TripleDes
basicHttpBinding.MaxReceivedMessageSize = int.MaxValue;
basicHttpBinding.ReceiveTimeout = new TimeSpan(250000000000);//Timespan in nanoseconds.

EndpointAddress endpointAddress = new EndpointAddress("http://");

customerServiceClient = new CustomerServiceClient(basicHttpBinding, endpointAddress);
NetworkCredential networkCredential = new NetworkCredential("user", "password", "domain");
customerServiceClient.ClientCredentials.Windows.ClientCredential = networkCredential;
customerServiceClient.ClientCredentials.Windows.AllowedImpersonationLevel = TokenImpersonationLevel.Impersonation;

I'm getting the error: Authentication failed because the connection could not be reused. Below is the partial stack of the exception:
{"Message":"Authentication failed because the connection could not be reused.","Data":{},"InnerException":{"Message":"Authentication failed because the connection could not be reused.","Data":{},"InnerException":null,"StackTrace":"   at System.Net.Http.HttpConnection.DrainResponseAsync(HttpResponseMessage response)\r\n   at System.Net.Http.AuthenticationHelper.SendWithNtAuthAsync(HttpRequestMessage request, Uri authUri, ICredentials credentials, Boolean isProxyAuth, HttpConnection connection, HttpConnectionPool connectionPool, CancellationToken cancellationToken)\r\n   at System.Net.Http.HttpConnectionPool.SendWithNtConnectionAuthAsync(HttpConnection connection, HttpRequestMessage request, Boolean doRequestAuth, CancellationToken cancellationToken)\r\n   at System.Net.Http.HttpConnectionPool.SendWithRetryAsync(HttpRequestMessage request, Boolean doRequestAuth, CancellationToken cancellationToken)\r\n   at System.Net.Http.AuthenticationHelper.SendWithAuthAsync(HttpRequestMessage request, Uri authUri, ICredentials credentials, Boolean preAuthenticate, Boolean isProxyAuth, Boolean doRequestAuth, HttpConnectionPool pool, CancellationToken cancellationToken)\r\n   at System.Net.Http.RedirectHandler.SendAsync(HttpRequestMessage request, CancellationToken cancellationToken)\r\n   at System.Net.Http.DecompressionHandler.SendAsync(HttpRequestMessage request, CancellationToken cancellationToken)\r\n...

Please let me know how to get this fixed. Also, this API will be deployed into PCF.
Thanks,
Arun

A: At present, NetCore doesn't support message security mode. Thereby the below statement won't work.
basicHttpBinding.Security.Message.ClientCredentialType = BasicHttpMessageCredentialType.UserName;

But the NetCore2.2 supports the WCF service with TransportCredentialOnly security mode.
Here is an example of invocating the service.
 ServiceReference1.ServiceClient client = new ServiceReference1.ServiceClient();
        NetworkCredential nc = new NetworkCredential("administrator", "abcd1234!");
        client.ClientCredentials.Windows.ClientCredential = nc;
        var result = client.TestAsync().Result;
        Console.WriteLine(result);

After we add connected service reference, the binding settings and endpoints have already configured in the Reference.cs file.
We just need to modify the default service endpoint address.

Then we configure the Windows credential on the client-side. On my side, it works.
Please make sure your client project based on AspNet Core2.2
Besides, please refer to the discussion in the official Github repository. It might be useful to you.
https://github.com/dotnet/wcf/issues/2923
Feel free to let me know if there is anything I can help with.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Facebook says it is making advertising on the social network more "transparent" by publishing more information about the adverts firms are running on the site.
Facebook said it would also start displaying more information about pages, even if they do not advertise, to give users a better understanding of their history.
The firm said this information would include any recent name changes as well as information on when the page was created.
Facebook confirmed it will add more information to this section in the "coming weeks".
The new details on firms can be found by visiting its Facebook page and clicking on the "Info and Ads" section.
"The vast majority of ads on Facebook are run by legitimate organisations – whether it's a small business looking for new customers, an advocacy group raising money for their cause, or a politician running for office," the social network said.
"But we've seen that bad actors can misuse our products, too. These steps are just the start – we're always looking for more ways to improve.
Facebook has come under intense scrutiny over a wide range of its business practices, including how its advertising network is used for political purposes.
Alongside the new transparency measures, Facebook said it would soon begin rolling out labelling for political advertising on the platform in Brazil, ahead of the country's general election in October.


Thomas Macaulay Capital is a specialized Investment Banking and Financial Advisory Services company.
We provide advisory services that assist private companies and public sector organizations to simplify and facilitate the complex transactions that impact their financial and capital structures.
Our broad range of advisory services cover - mergers & acquisitions, restructuring, privatization, structured finance, bond markets, and equity markets. We complement our advisory services with research reports that provide unique insights into selected sectors of the economy.
We strongly believe in the potentials of the emerging economies across Africa. We serve corporations, institutions and governments in Nigeria and other frontier economies within Africa.
Our advisory services mobilize and structure financial resources for a range of complex transactions. With our deep understanding of the African region and market trends, we are able to capitalize on our proven industry networks to ensure the success of every transaction. Our multi-disciplinary team which cut across a diverse blend of industry backgrounds and experiences offer independent, unbiased, and integrated advice which support practical, commercial and innovative solutions.
The TMC team have led diverse transactions for clients across three continents, namely Africa, Asia and the America.
Our capabilities enable us to serve corporations, financial institutions, public sector institutions and governments world-wide offering independent, integrated advice for practical, commercial and innovative solutions.
TMC is a trusted specialist within the arduous emerging economies of Africa. We combine our in-depth understanding of market trends, regional expertise, and proven business networks to minimize market risks, maximize returns, and ensure the success of every transaction and client engagements.
At the cornerstone of our services is our commitment to building partnerships while exemplifying professionalism, integrity, passion, competence, and relationship.


text:
Amirkabir University of Technology
4.1 out of 5 (27 ratings / 23 reviews) Azadshahr, Iran
Our mission is to to serve humanity through higher education and research, attract qualified faculty members, provide continuing education and technical training opportunities for working professionals and extend our quality of service by collaborating with with other universities at the international level.
1 Masters
M.B.A. Business Administration
Amirkabir University of Technology (AUT) was originally established in October of 1956. The initial core of the university was formed under the name "Tehran Polytechnic" in order to expand the activities of two technical institutes of the time: "Civil Engineering Institute" and the "Higher Art Center".
University of Amirkabir has more than 16 different engineering programs to explore and over 60 technical graduate programs.
There are 28 research centers, 16 centers of excellence and 250 research/educational labs that host respective BS, MS, and PhD students. Research labs essentially serve as the backbone of centers of excellence for developing new ideas and prototyping them with either simulations, experiments or both.
The career center at AUT is governed by specialists who foster small businesses and help them expand, while supporting any start up relating to technology with goals in science.
This office helps small to medium businesses in the area of applicable research, engineering design, reverse engineering, technology transfer and commercialization of research to establish themselves in a competitive job market.
Student career counselling, assisting employers in finding recruitments from Amirkabir alumni, organizing workshops and directing new ideas in a lucrative path are some of the other provided services. Students are encouraged to stop by and explore all the services and resources available.
678 -3
AUT's Students Office creates a culture of care for students and their families by providing exemplary programs and services designed to enhance students' academic and personal life.
The library and document center at AUT is the largest technical and engineering library in Iran's capital and one of the richest academic libraries in the technical and engineering field in the region. This library includes a central library and 16 satellitic libraries in Tehran and Bandar Abbas and offers visitors reading rooms, books, journals, papers, disks and databases.
The Wellness Center at AUT offers counseling services in the form of individual counseling, education, marriage, family, children and teenagers counseling.
AUT is located in the heart of the most dynamic city in Iran. Tehran, the capital of Iran is the largest and the most diverse city in this country. Surrounded by the oldest and the most vibrant neighborhoods of Tehran, AUT has always been a central hub for art and culture. Tehran City Theatre (Teatr-e-Shahr) is the largest performing arts complex in Tehran and is just steps away from AUT. The Artistic Center of Tehran also borders with AUT from the east. Valiasr Street, the longest street in Tehran and probably one the longest in the world, is lined by trees so tall that cover its lively commercial centers.
Anonymous rated 3 out of 5 stars
it is a good university when it comes to co-curricular activities. In academics our university is not really good.
Programming Engineer
I am studying at Amirkabir University, one of the best universities in IRAN. My course related to IoT and it is in fond of me. I have great perseverance in working, and loads of time, I devoted my energy on programming.
Amirkabir review
It was cool and kinda usefull . This university has a high rank
Azadshahr, Iran
Get More Information About Iran
1 Bachelors


Linea NEUTRA All production is manufactured using stainless steel AISI 304 (on request AISI 316). All projects and processes are managed by highly qualified and performed by high-tech machining centers thus guaranteeing extremely high quality standards so both serial lines in both bespoke machining.
All production is manufactured using stainless steel AISI 304 (on request AISI 316). All projects and processes are managed by highly qualified and performed by high-tech machining centers thus guaranteeing extremely high quality standards so both serial lines in both bespoke machining.
We deal, on request, transport and assembly of the items we produce. After-sales is based on the seriousness and reliability of the service center that is being followed in a careful and timely by our collaborators.
The full range of our articles. production allows us to set up "turnkey" all dedicated to the "food" departments.


text:
Aim Bulletin
Iain Gilbert Sharecast News
04 May, 2020 16:13 04 May, 2020 16:13
Diversified Gas & Oil maintains dividend despite recent volatility in oil prices
Diversified Gas & Oil
Natural gas group Diversified Gas & Oil said on Monday that it would be paying out dividends despite recent volatility in global energy markets.
FTSE AIM 100
FTSE AIM 50
FTSE AIM All-Share
Gas, Water & Multiutilities
Diversified Gas & Oil, which will move to the London Stock Exchange's main market later in the month, said it would pay a dividend of 3.5 cents per share after daily production had been maintained at 94,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day throughout the first quarter despite Covid-19 disruptions.
The AIM-listed firm also revealed it had pulled in $78m of earnings during the period, consistent with what it recorded a year earlier.
Chief executive Rusty Hutson said DGOC's handling of market disruptions vindicated its business model.
Hutson said: "Navigating unprecedented market volatility and general economic uncertainty validates the business model DGO defined nearly 20 years ago.
"Having now formally announced our plans to transition from AIM to a premium listing on the Main Market, I remain optimistic as ever about the firm's future as we continue to evaluate ways to create long-term, sustainable value for shareholders."
As of 1500 BST, DGOC shares were up 0.31% at 96.30p.


text:
HomeArticles Beyond Media Revolutions: Is Arab Media Truly Free?
Beyond Media Revolutions: Is Arab Media Truly Free?
May 3, 2008 Articles
By Ramzy Baroud
On February 12, 2008, Arab League information ministers issued a communique outlining 'tough' guidelines for Arab satellite channels. The new guidelines specifically prohibited the broadcasting of negative reporting of heads of state, religious or national figures.
In following days, a massive campaign of denunciation, led by those who felt targeted by the new policy, joined by various rights organizations, ensued. The communiqué was unfair, they argued, because it was largely political, and aimed at protecting from censure the very individuals and institutions that have brought about many of the ailments afflicting Arab societies and governments. Of course, they were correct.
How can the media in the Arab world fulfil its duties – as a platform from which civil society is able to monitor the state, and hold to account those who deviate from the principles of the relevant social and political contracts – under such 'guidelines'?
While only two countries – Qatar and Lebanon – refused to sign, many intellectuals, journalists and rights advocates protested. However, Abd A-Rahman A-Rashid, general manager of the Dubai-based Al-Arabiya satellite channel, told the Media Line website that the Arab ministers' guidelines were largely ineffectual and would not stop the spread of information.
The story in the West naturally generated immense interest; for once again Arabs were wrangling with issues of freedom of expression, a value for which successive US administrations have supposedly advocated.
More, forums were abruptly held where the official transgressions of Arab governments were candidly chastised. In its monthly policy discussion, the Brookings Centre Doha raised the question: 'Forward or backward? The 2008 Arab satellite TV charter and the future of Arab Media, society and democracy'. Speakers included Saad Eddin Ibrahim, professor of Political Sociology at the American University in Cairo, Ibrahim Helal, deputy managing director, Al Jazeera English, and Michael Ratney, Charge d'Affaires at the American embassy. The session was chaired by Hady Amr, director of the Brookings Doha Centre and fellow at the Saban Centre for Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institute. The Saban Center at the Brookings Institute is headed by Martin Indyk, former US Ambassador to Israel, and despite his personal dedication to the cause of Israel, remains one of the most frequent guests on Arab TV stations.
What is painted to look like a classic conflict between corrupt governments and their fed up constituencies, the former labouring to gag the latter's freedom of expression, is a lot more convoluted. It is not that the corrupt elites are not indeed labouring to suppress dissent, or that the suppressed multitudes are not fiercely fighting back. In fact, it's this relationship that constitutes the push and pull which came to define Arab media in the first place. But who has decided that Arab satellite stations – or pan Arab print publications or other forms of media – represent in any way the interests of Arab masses, or have improved in any measurable way the welfare of Arab people, especially the poorer, discounted classes?
More, how could entities such as the Brookings Institute and its Saban Centre – known for holding and promoting policies that hardly deviate from that of the US administration, if not its most rigid qualities – become themselves mediators for such freedoms, which if genuinely granted would prove most harmful to the US administration and its interests in the Arab world?
So is the true state of Arab media, marred with confusion, uncertainty and mixed messages.
Since the advent of Aljazeera in 1996, something fundamental morphed in the world of Arab media. We have heard this argument numerous times and for good reason. True, but rash conclusions of 'the Aljazeera revolution' no longer suffice.
Aljazeera was not the only media forum that allowed for the expression of tabooed views, while censoring others. Egypt's Voice of the Arabs, during the Nasser years, for example, decried reactionary Arab regimes left and right, and it too enjoyed a large following amongst Arab masses from the gulf to the ocean and beyond. Media technology has advanced immensely since then, and Aljazeera is packed with less pan-Arab rhetoric and is much more discreet in its political leanings. The fact that Aljazeera refrains from any serious criticism of Qatar and is much more candid in targeting specific Arab countries is overlooked by many since, frankly the world of Qatari politics is relatively trivial in the greater scheme of things.
Since then, numerous copycats have sprung up across the Arab world. Satellite stations with or without political agendas have grown out of control and now number over 500. This was accompanied by a massive surge of newspapers and glossy magazines, most offering next to nothing in terms of content value. It was a media revolution that lacked true substance, thus impacting little the collective self-awareness of Arab peoples or the Arab individual's need for self-assertion in a time of considerable global transformation.
Those who are on good terms with the official authorities can easily be granted a license, and thus a new TV station or new magazine is welcomed into the fold. Those who are not would only need to relocate to London or another, preferably hostile Arab capital and resume his media 'mission.' Of course, funds for such endeavours are available on conditions, either to refrain from bashing certain entities and giving free hand to censure others, or to stay away from politics altogether.
With cheap American TV content and their Arab imitators, content per se is never an issue. It's quality content that poses a problem. To pretend that such low quality programs haven't deeply scarred Arab societies and their cultural and societal identities is to defy reality, but that is for another discussion.
The fact is that Arab media is largely political, with political, religious, nationalistic, even tribal leanings, affiliations and priorities. While some media have done less harm than others, none represent the untainted exception.
The Arab foreign ministers communiqué can be understood as a call for a truce between various Arab governments: you hold your journalists back from attacking me, I'll hold mine. It's neither a call for the suppression of civil society nor the gagging of free expression: the former is largely suppressed and truly free expression never fully existed.
Two points remain to be made; one is that dominating media in the West is afflicted by similar ailments, themselves owned by big corporations that pander to their respective official authorities, with the US being the most notable example.
And two, a truly independent media that is completely free from the whims of individuals or those holding the financial or political leverage is only possible in theory. What civil society usually aspires to achieve, however, are mediums that are less bias, less totalitarian and as representative of the whole as possible. This can only be achieved by collective struggle, organization and pressure, using home-grown platforms, as opposed to imported ones.
When civil society organizes and speaks out, neither a communiqué by a few ministers, nor a decree by a totalitarian ruler can silence it.
-Ramzy Baroud (www.ramzybaroud.net) is an author and editor of PalestineChronicle.com. His work has been published in many newspapers and journals worldwide. His latest book is The Second Palestinian Intifada: A Chronicle of a People's Struggle (Pluto Press, London).
The Three Stooges and Israel
Is Sadr City Becoming the Next Gaza?


text:
Looking for Memory Care? Call now for a Suite Deal! Ask for Tim! (205) 344-2855
Short-Term Respite Care
Studio Deluxe
The Tides Memory Care
Crimson Club
Crimson Village
Staying safe with the Delta variant
Living independently can become increasingly challenging with age, and the past 18 months are no exception. Transitioning to an assisted living community brings its own challenges, with potential COVID risks being the most concerning. The latest variant of the virus brings new challenges that can be of particular concern to those over age 65 who rely on a senior living facility to help maintain their health.
That's why Crimson Village has implemented precautionary measures and is dedicated to following all Alabama Department of Public Health guidelines. Our Tuscaloosa-based assisted living community has been specifically designed to help residents fully enjoy their golden years, and that means being vigilant about protecting their health and well-being.
Dr. Ramesh Peramsetty, Medical Director at Crimson Village, has led the community's ongoing efforts surrounding COVID. His efforts include keeping the community healthy and informed and ensuring that all Crimson Village residents and staff have ensures staff and residents have direct access to COVID-19 vaccinations. In addition, Dr. Peramsetty has spearheaded vaccination clinics for the surrounding community.
Beyond the ongoing safety efforts at Crimson Village, there are a few additional things to know about the delta variant of COVID-19:
It spreads quickly
One thing that sets the delta variant apart from other coronavirus strains is how quickly it spreads. The delta variant appears to be around twice as transmissible as the original strains.
In just a few months, the delta variant went from being nonexistent in the U.S. to now making up the vast majority (about 83 percent) of new COVID-19 cases, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Delta may cause different symptoms
Cold-like symptoms, including headache, runny nose, and a sore throat, now top the list of most common symptoms among those who've contracted the delta variant. More traditional COVID-19 symptoms — loss of smell, shortness of breath, fever, and persistent cough — have become less common. The staff at Crimson Village are watchful of these new symptoms, whether among current residents or visitors, to ensure proper precautions are taken in the event of exposure.
COVID vaccines provide strong protection against delta
Vaccinated people are eight times less likely to get sick and 25 times less likely to end up in the hospital compared with unvaccinated people. Despite this latest mutation, COVID is still no match for the authorized vaccines, which experts say provide a high level of protection from severe illness from delta and other variants circulating in the U.S. So far, less than 1 percent of fully vaccinated individuals have been hospitalized or have died from COVID-19, according to the CDC.
At Crimson Village, we have direct access to COVID treatment. Our medical director has been a leader for our community for covid testing, vaccines, and treatment. If you are worried about your loved ones contracting COVID, know that Crimson Village has the resources to provide aftercare. Monoclonal antibody treatment has proved to be a crucial treatment for high-risk individuals who contract COVID-19 or who have been directly exposed. Crimson Village continues to follow ADPH guidelines to help Crimson Village stay as safe as possible.
The COVID-19 protocols implemented at Crimson Village are just one clear indication of the ongoing commitment to excellence and community care. The 91-apartment facility was specifically designed to provide top-tier care and services for seniors, with a variety of floor plan and price point options. In addition to lovely, spacious apartments, the community also features well-appointed common areas to encourage residents to socialize with one another and participate in daily activities. In short, Crimson Village was built to provide a friendly, caring, and safe community for seniors to fully enjoy their golden years.
Explore our website for more information or contact our dedicated team members via email at marketing@crimsonvillage.com or by phone at 205-632-6699 to discuss your specific needs.
Touching Base with Elderly Loved Ones during the Holidays
Staying Social May Keep Seniors Healthy
Transitioning to Senior Living During Covid
© 2021 Crimson Village
email: marketing@crimsonvillage.com | adress: 1410 18th Avenue East
Tuscaloosa, AL 35404 phone: (205) 632-6699 fax: (205) 632-6698


text:
Rhea's laugh reminded me of a piglet with asthma. "Apollo, Grandson, beautiful child…Has being a god ever stopped someone from being stupid?"
She had a point. Not about me personally, of course, but the stories I could tell you about the other Olympians…
"The emperors of Rome." I tried to come to terms with the idea. "They can't all be immortal."
"No," Rhea said. "Just the worst of them, the most notorious. They live in human memory, man. That's what keeps them alive. Same as us, really. They're tied to the course of Western civilization, even though that whole concept is imperialist Eurocentric propaganda, man. Like my guru would tell you—"
"Rhea"—I put my hands against my throbbing temples—"can we stick to one problem at a time?"
"Yeah, okay. I didn't mean to blow your mind."
"But how can they affect our lines of communication? How can they be so powerful?"
"They've had centuries, Apollo. Centuries. All that time, plotting and making war, building up their capitalist empire, waiting for this moment when you are mortal, when the Oracles are vulnerable for a hostile takeover. It's just evil. They have no chill whatsoever."
"I thought that was a more modern term."
"Evil?"
"No. Chill. Never mind. The Beast…he is the leader?"
"Afraid so. He's as twisted as the others, but he's the smartest and the most stable—in a sociopathic homicidal way. You know who he is—who he was, right?"
Unfortunately, I did. I remembered where I had seen his smirking ugly face. I could hear his nasal voice echoing through the arena, ordering the execution of hundreds while the crowds cheered. I wanted to ask Rhea who his two compatriots were in the Triumvirate, but I decided I could not bear the information at present. None of the options were good, and knowing their names might bring me more despair than I could handle.
"It's true, then," I said. "The other Oracles still exist. The emperors hold them all?"
"They're working on it. Python has Delphi—that's the biggest problem. But you won't have the strength to take him head-on. You've got to pry their fingers off the minor Oracles first, loosen their power. To do that, you need a new source of prophecy for this camp—an Oracle that is older and independent."
"Dodona," I said. "Your whispering grove."
"Right on," Rhea said. "I thought the grove was gone forever. But then—I don't know how—the oak trees regrew themselves in the heart of these woods. You have to find the grove and protect it."
"I'm working on that." I touched the sticky wound on the side of my face. "But my friend Meg—"
"Yeah. You had some setbacks. But there are always setbacks, Apollo. When Lizzy Stanton and I hosted the first women's rights convention in Woodstock—"
"I think you mean Seneca Falls?"
Rhea frowned. "Wasn't that in the '60s?"
"The '40s," I said. "The 1840s, if memory serves."
"So…Jimi Hendrix wasn't there?"
"Doubtful."
Rhea fiddled with her peace symbol. "Then who set that guitar on fire? Ah, never mind. The point is, you have to persevere. Sometimes change takes centuries."
"Except that I'm mortal now," I said. "I don't have centuries."
"But you have willpower," Rhea said. "You have mortal drive and urgency. Those are things the gods often lack."
At her side, her lion roared.
"I've gotta split," Rhea said. "If the imperators track me down—bad scene, man. I've been off the grid too long. I'm not going to get sucked into that patriarchal institutional oppression again. Just find Dodona. That's your first trial."
"And if the Beast finds the grove first?"
"Oh, he's already found the gates, but he'll never get through them without you and the girl."
"I—I don't understand."
"That's cool. Just breathe. Find your center. Enlightenment has to come from within."
It was very much like a line I would've given my worshippers. I was tempted to choke Rhea with her macramé belt, but I doubted I would have the strength. Also, she had two lions. "But what do I do? How do I save Meg?"
"First, get healed. Rest up. Then…well, how you save Meg is up to you. The journey is greater than the destination, you know?"
She held out her hand. Draped on her fingers was a set of wind chimes—a collection of hollow brass tubes and medallions engraved with ancient Greek and Cretan symbols. "Hang these in the largest ancient oak. That will help you focus the voices of the Oracle. If you get a prophecy, groovy. It'll only be the beginning, but without Dodona, nothing else will be possible. The emperors will suffocate our future and divide up the world. Only when you have defeated Python can you reclaim your rightful place on Olympus. My kid, Zeus…he's got this whole 'tough love' disciplinarian hang-up, you dig? Taking back Delphi is the only way you're going to get on his good side."
"I—I was afraid you would say that."
"There's one other thing," she warned. "The Beast is planning some kind of attack on your camp. I don't know what it is, but it's going to be big. Like, even worse than napalm. You have to warn your friends."
The nearest lion nudged me. I wrapped my arms around his neck and allowed him to pull me to my feet. I managed to remain standing, but only because my legs locked up in complete fright. For the first time, I understood the trials that awaited me. I knew the enemies I must face. I would need more than wind chimes and enlightenment. I'd need a miracle. And as a god, I can tell you that those are never distributed lightly.
"Good luck, Apollo." The Titan queen placed the wind chimes in my hands. "I've got to check my kiln before my pots crack. Keep on trucking, and save those trees!"
The woods dissolved. I found myself standing in the central green at Camp Half-Blood, face-to-face with Chiara Benvenuti, who jumped back in alarm. "Apollo?"
I smiled. "Hey, girl." My eyes rolled up in my head and, for the second time that week, I charmingly passed out in front of her.
For pretty much everything
Wow, I'm a good guy
"WAKE," SAID A VOICE.
I opened my eyes and saw a ghost—his face just as precious to me as Daphne's. I knew his copper skin, his kind smile, the dark curls of his hair, and those eyes as purple as senatorial robes.
"Hyacinthus," I sobbed. "I'm so sorry…"
He turned his face toward the sunlight, revealing the ugly dent above his left ear where the discus had struck him. My own wounded face throbbed in sympathy.
"Seek the caverns," he said. "Near the springs of blue. Oh, Apollo…your sanity will be taken away, but do not…"
His image faded and began to retreat. I rose from my sickbed. I rushed after him and grabbed his shoulders. "Do not what? Please don't leave me again!"
My vision cleared. I found myself by the window in Cabin Seven, holding a ceramic pot of purple and red hyacinths. Nearby, looking very concerned, Will and Nico stood as if ready to catch me.
"He's talking to the flowers," Nico noted. "Is that normal?"
"Apollo," Will said, "you had a concussion. I healed you, but—"
"These hyacinths," I demanded. "Have they always been here?"
Will frowned. "Honestly, I don't know where they came from, but…" He took the flowerpot from my hands and set it back on the windowsill. "Let's worry about you, okay?"
Usually that would've been excellent advice, but now I could only stare at the hyacinths and wonder if they were some sort of message. How cruel to see them—the flowers that I had created to honor my fallen love, with their plumes stained red like his blood or hued violet like his eyes. They bloomed so cheerfully in the window, reminding me of the joy I had lost.
Nico rested his hand on Will's shoulder. "Apollo, we were worried. Will was especially."
Seeing them together, supporting each other, made my heart feel even heavier. During my delirium, both of my great loves had visited me. Now, once again, I was devastatingly alone.
Still, I had a task to complete. A friend needed my help.
"Meg is in trouble," I said. "How long was I unconscious?"
Will and Nico glanced at each other.
"It's about noon now," Will said. "You showed up on the green around six this morning. When Meg didn't return with you, we wanted to search the woods for her, but Chiron wouldn't let us."
"Chiron was absolutely correct," I said. "I won't allow any others to put themselves at risk. But I must hurry. Meg has until tonight at the latest."
"Then what happens?" Nico asked.
I couldn't say it. I couldn't even think about it without losing my nerve. I looked down. Aside from Paolo's Brazilian-flag bandana and my ukulele-string necklace, I was wearing only my boxer shorts. My offensive flabbiness was on display for everyone to see, but I no longer cared about that. (Well, not much, anyway.) "I have to get dressed."
I staggered back to my cot. I fumbled through my meager supplies and found Percy Jackson's Led Zeppelin T-shirt. I tugged it on. It seemed more appropriate than ever.
Will hovered nearby. "Look, Apollo, I don't think you're back to a hundred percent."
"I'll be fine." I pulled on my jeans. "I have to save Meg."
"Let us help you," Nico said. "Tell us where she is and I can shadow-travel—"
"No!" I snapped. "No, you have to stay here and protect the camp."
Will's expression reminded me very much of his mother, Naomi—that look of trepidation she got just before she went onstage. "Protect the camp from what?"
"I—I'm not sure. You must tell Chiron the emperors have returned. Or rather, they never went away. They've been plotting, building their resources for centuries."
Nico's eyes glinted warily. "When you say emperors—"
"I mean the Roman ones."
Will stepped back. "You're saying the emperors of ancient Rome are alive? How? The Doors of Death?"
"No." I could barely speak through the taste of bile. "The emperors made themselves gods. They had their own temples and altars. They encouraged the people to worship them."
"But that was just propaganda," Nico said. "They weren't really divine."
I laughed mirthlessly. "Gods are sustained by worship, son of Hades. They continue to exist because of the collective memories of a culture. It's true for the Olympians; it's also true for the emperors. Somehow, the most powerful of them have survived. All these centuries, they have clung to half-life, hiding, waiting to reclaim their power."
Will shook his head. "That's impossible. How—?"
"I don't know!" I tried to steady my breathing. "Tell Rachel the men behind Triumvirate Holdings are former emperors of Rome. They've been plotting against us all this time, and we gods have been blind. Blind."
I pulled on my coat. The ambrosia Nico had given me yesterday was still in the left pocket. In the right pocket, Rhea's wind chimes clanked, though I had no idea how they'd gotten there.
"The Beast is planning some sort of attack on the camp," I said. "I don't know what, and I don't know when, but tell Chiron you must be prepared. I have to go."
"Wait!" Will said as I reached the door. "Who is the Beast? Which emperor are we dealing with?"
"The worst of my descendants." My fingers dug into the doorframe. "The Christians called him the Beast because he burned them alive. Our enemy is Emperor Nero."
They must have been too stunned to follow me.
I ran toward the armory. Several campers gave me strange looks. Some called after me, offering help, but I ignored them. I could only think about Meg alone in the myrmekes' lair, and the visions I'd had of Daphne, Rhea, and Hyacinthus—all of them urging me onward, telling me to do the impossible in this inadequate mortal form.
When I reached the armory, I scanned the rack of bows. My hand trembling, I picked out the weapon Meg had tried to give me the day before. It was carved from mountain laurel wood. The bitter irony appealed to me.
I had sworn not to use a bow until I was a god again. But I had also sworn not to play music, and I had already broken that part of the oath in the most egregious, Neil-Diamondy way possible.
The curse of the River Styx could kill me in its slow cancerous way, or Zeus could strike me down. But my oath to save Meg McCaffrey had to come first.
I turned my face to the sky. "If you want to punish me, Father, be my guest, but have the courage to hurt me directly, not my mortal companion. BE A MAN!"
To my surprise, the skies remained silent. Lightning did not vaporize me. Perhaps Zeus was too taken aback to react, but I knew he would never overlook such an insult.
To Tartarus with him. I had work to do.
I grabbed a quiver and stuffed it with all the extra arrows I could find. Then I ran for the woods, Meg's two rings jangling on my makeshift necklace. Too late, I realized I had forgotten my combat ukulele, but I had no time to turn back. My singing voice would have to be enough.
I'm not sure how I found the nest.
Perhaps the forest simply allowed me to reach it, knowing that I was marching to my death. I've found that when one is searching for danger, it's never hard to find.
Soon I was crouched behind a fallen tree, studying the myrmekes' lair in the clearing ahead. To call the place an anthill would be like calling Versailles Palace a single-family home. Earthen ramparts rose almost to the tops of the surrounding trees—a hundred feet at least. The circumference could have accommodated a Roman hippodrome. A steady stream of soldiers and drones swarmed in and out of the mound. Some carried fallen trees. One, inexplicably, was dragging a 1967 Chevy Impala.
How many ants would I be facing? I had no idea. After you reach the number impossible, there's no point in counting.
I nocked an arrow and stepped into the clearing.
When the nearest myrmeke spotted me, he dropped his Chevy. He watched me approach, his antennae bobbing. I ignored him and strolled past, heading for the nearest tunnel entrance. That confused him even more.
Several other ants gathered to watch.
I've learned that if you act like you are supposed to be somewhere, most people (or ants) will not confront you. Normally, acting confident isn't a problem for me. Gods are allowed to be anywhere. It was a bit tougher for Lester Papadopoulos, dork teen extraordinaire, but I made it all the way to the nest without being challenged.
I plunged inside and began to sing.
This time I needed no ukulele. I needed no muse for my inspiration. I remembered Daphne's face in the trees. I remembered Hyacinthus turning away, his death wound glistening on his scalp. My voice filled with anguish. I sang of heartbreak. Rather than collapsing under my own despair, I projected it outward.
The tunnels amplified my voice, carrying it through the nest, making the entire hill my musical instrument.
Each time I passed an ant, it curled its legs and touched its forehead to the floor, its antennae quivering from the vibrations of my voice.
Had I been a god, the song would have been stronger, but this was enough. I was impressed by how much sorrow a human voice could convey.
I wandered deeper into the hill. I had no idea where I was going until I spotted a geranium blooming from the tunnel floor.
My song faltered.
Meg. She must have regained consciousness. She had dropped one of her emergency seeds to leave me a trail. The geranium's purple flowers all faced a smaller tunnel leading off to the left.
"Clever girl," I said, choosing that tunnel.
A clattering sound alerted me to the approaching myrmeke.
I turned and raised my bow. Freed from the enchantment of my voice, the insect charged, its mouth foaming with acid. I drew and fired. The arrow embedded itself up to the fletching in the ant's forehead.
The creature dropped, its back legs twitching in death throes. I tried to retrieve my arrow, but the shaft snapped in my hand, the broken end covered in steaming corrosive goo. So much for reusing ammunition.
I called, "MEG!"
The only answer was the clattering of more giant ants moving in my direction. I began to sing again. Now, though, I had higher hopes of finding Meg, which made it difficult to summon the proper amount of melancholy. The ants I encountered were no longer catatonic. They moved slowly and unsteadily, but they still attacked. I was forced to shoot one after another.
I passed a cave filled with glittering treasure, but I was not interested in shiny things at the moment. I kept moving.
At the next intersection, another geranium sprouted from the floor, all its flowers facing right. I turned that direction, calling Meg's name again, then returning to my song.
As my spirits lifted, my song became less effective and the ants more aggressive. After a dozen kills, my quiver was growing dangerously light.
I had to reach deeper into my feelings of despair. I had to get the blues, good and proper.
For the first time in four thousand years, I sang of my own faults.
I poured out my guilt about Daphne's death. My boastfulness, envy, and desire had caused her destruction. When she ran from me, I should have let her go. Instead, I chased her relentlessly. I wanted her, and I intended to have her. Because of that, I had left Daphne no choice. To escape me, she sacrificed her life and turned into a tree, leaving my heart scarred forever….But it was my fault. I apologized in song. I begged Daphne's forgiveness.
I sang of Hyacinthus, the most handsome of men. The West Wind Zephyros had also loved him, but I refused to share even a moment of Hyacinthus's time. In my jealousy, I threatened Zephyros. I dared him, dared him to interfere.
I sang of the day Hyacinthus and I played discus in the fields, and how the West Wind blew my disc off course—right into the side of Hyacinthus's head.
To keep Hyacinthus in the sunlight where he belonged, I created hyacinth flowers from his blood. I held Zephyros accountable, but my own petty greed had caused Hyacinthus's death. I poured out my sorrow. I took all the blame.
I sang of my failures, my eternal heartbreak and loneliness. I was the worst of the gods, the most guilt-ridden and unfocused. I couldn't commit myself to one lover. I couldn't even choose what to be the god of. I kept shifting from one skill to another—distracted and dissatisfied.
My golden life was a sham. My coolness was pretense. My heart was a lump of petrified wood.
All around me, myrmekes collapsed. The nest itself trembled with grief.
I found a third geranium, then a fourth.
Finally, pausing between verses, I heard a small voice up ahead: the sound of a girl crying.
"Meg!" I gave up on my song and ran.
She lay in the middle of a cavernous food larder, just as I had imagined. Around her were stacked the carcasses of animals—cows, deer, horses—all sheathed in hardened goop and slowly decaying. The smell hit my nasal passages like an avalanche.
Meg was also enveloped, but she was fighting back with the power of geraniums. Patches of leaves sprouted from the thinnest parts of her cocoon. A frilly collar of flowers kept the goo away from her face. She had even managed to free one of her arms, thanks to an explosion of pink geraniums at her left armpit.
Her eyes were puffy from crying. I assumed she was frightened, possibly in pain, but when I knelt next to her, her first words were, "I'm so sorry."
I brushed a tear from the tip of her nose. "Why, dear Meg? You did nothing wrong. I failed you."
A sob caught in her throat. "You don't understand. That song you were singing. Oh, gods…Apollo, if I'd known—"


TOKYO (AP) — The twin earthquakes that struck southern Japan were having ripple effects far beyond the disaster zone, forcing Toyota to suspend production at most of its factories across the country over a scarcity of parts, and affecting other manufacturers.
The quake damaged Honda's motorcycle plant in Kumamoto, the largest city affected by the two quakes that hit late Thursday and early Saturday, killing at least 42 people. Japan's Nikkei 225 stock index tumbled more than 3 percent Monday in part on worries over quake repercussions as well as a spike in the yen and drop in oil prices.
But the economic impact is nowhere near as large as the havoc wreaked by the 2011 quake and tsunami disasters, which slammed supply chains so badly that Japanese automakers' production was halted even in the U.S. They learned the hard way about their vulnerability to such interruptions, especially from second-tier and third-tier suppliers, and have worked to create contingency plans.
Disasters tend to hobble Japan's mighty manufacturers because they are supported by small machine-shops that provide components to bigger suppliers, which in turn supply bigger players.
"That kind of lesson has been learned," said Nissan Motor Co. spokesman Dion Corbett. "We now have maps that show where exactly the suppliers are."
Nissan's two plants in Kyushu were temporarily shut down after the quakes for checkups. The checks found damage was minor, allowing the plants to be resume operations on Monday, he said.
Some of the worst affected areas are deep in the mountains surrounding Mount Aso, Japan's largest active volcano, an area renowned for dairy farming. But one of the hardest hit cities was Mashiki, a center for semiconductor fabrication and other manufacturing.
Sony Corp. said its sensor and device plant in Kumamoto was closed. Although the building's structure was intact and no employees were injured, the precise nature of the production processes requires that delicately calibrated equipment must be checked carefully.
"The impact to near-term economic activity looks inevitable, while the comprehensive picture is difficult to gauge now, particularly due to the continued aftershocks," Masamichi Adachi of J.P.Morgan said in a commentary.
Overall, the risk to the outlook for growth is "to the downside," he said.
In trading Monday, Toyota's shares lost 4.8 percent, Nissan lost 2.8 percent and Sony shed 6.8 percent.
Renesas Electronics Corp.'s computer chip plant in Kumamoto city was also shuttered, spokeswoman Makie Uehara said. It was unclear when production could resume. Gases that can be dangerous are used to maintain antiseptic conditions for chip production, and so safety had to be confirmed before other damage could be checked.
Toyota Motor Corp., the most heavily affected of the big car makers, has stopped production not only at a factory in Kyushu but at 15 others in Japan through Friday. Output will resume depending on the availability of parts.
Toyota's Japan output will drop by 50,000 vehicles in April, or about 7 percent of Japan production, according to a report on the quake's effects on automakers by SMBC Nikko. Toyota declined comment on that estimate.
Critically affected parts include door frames, door hinges and cast-aluminum engine parts, said Toyota spokesman Itsuki Kurosu. The maker of the Camry sedan, Prius hybrid and Lexus luxury models was working hard to get substitute parts, he said.
Honda Motor Corp.'s motorcycle plant was severely damaged. Due to repeated aftershocks, it is unsafe even to go inside to carefully inspect the damage, said Teruhiko Tatebe. Production has been stopped until Friday at least.
So far production at its auto plants has not been affected, he said. The company did not rule out future supply problems.
"So far we are OK," he said of the auto plants.


Newsletter form: promotional newsletters registration about new services or events, participation in surveys about our services and sending of commercial communications via automated means such as e-mail and paper mail.
The provision of data for the purposes referred to in point 1) optional however it is a prerequisite for the conclusion of the contract of which you are a party. Failure to provide them will make it impossible for the writer to provide the requested service and to conclude the contractual relationship. In the provision of data for the purposes indicated in points 2) the legal basis is the freely expressed consent, which can be revoked by you at any time without affecting the lawfulness of the processing based on consent given before revocation.
For a list of external Processors you can contact the addresses above.
Outside of these assumptions your data will not be disclosed to third parties or transferred to third countries outside the European Union.
The data necessary for the purposes of point 1) will be stored for the duration of the contractual relationships established and thereafter in accordance with the rules on the preservation of administrative documents for the completion of all legal requirements related to tax, accounting, and administrative duties. Instead for the purposes referred to in points 2) they will be kept for a period of 2 years unless withdrawal of consent.
right to the portability of data, that is the right to receive the personal data you provided in a structured, commonly used format and readable by an automatic device.
Your personal data will not be disclosed to any automated decision-making process, including profiling.
This website is not intended for children under the age of 16 years. In case you are under the age of 16, you will not be able to register or use this website without the permission of the parent or the legal guardian.


Yes, to give a simple answer.
Although lots of people find medication (usually serotonin reuptake inhibitors or clomipramine) helpful in making their obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms less severe, there are certainly ways to feel better without medication.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which helps the patient identify their thought patterns and the ways they affect their feelings and behavior, has been the preferred form of psychotherapy in the US and Europe for decades. It's fairly effective for a wide range of things. There are also plenty of CBT offshoots, like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT).
For OCD, another CBT offshoot has been demonstrated most effective in a number of studies since the 1980s: exposure and response prevention, or ERP. Most of these studies suggest it's about as effective as SRIs or clomipramine. A combination of ERP and either SRIs or clomipramine has been shown to be most effective.
We're always talking about ERP, because it's helped a number of us and experts still consider it the best non-medication option for most people with OCD. But it's worth knowing that 1) it's highly recommended that you first consult with a licensed professional; and 2) like any other option, ERP doesn't work for everyone. This second point is especially true for some people with comorbid conditions like depression and bipolar disorder, where it can either exacerbate the other condition or just end up less effective because of it. That's another good reason to check with a therapist first.
ERP is a specific form of CBT that has two simultaneous components: exposure and response prevention. In an exposure, someone faces a situation that's likely to trigger obsessions and cause distress. The response prevention part means they're resisting their compulsions so their anxiety level can naturally decrease and they can get used to tolerating distress.
Exposures are planned with a clinician, who will help you identify the triggers that are especially difficult for you–people, places, objects, thoughts, and feelings. We'll get into this more soon, but by creating a hierarchy of your exposures you can make sure things are challenging but not overwhelmingly so.
Response prevention can be difficult, because the natural urge is to get rid of unwanted feelings. However, when we think about our lives and all the things we'd like to do, it becomes clear that compulsions are getting in the way. Because this is often the most difficult part of ERP for people to understand– what does it mean to just prevent your compulsions from happening?– we'll do another post on response prevention soon. In the meantime, if you have RP strategies that work well, let us know on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram at @treatmyocd.


Taste test: These just might be the best flavored potato chips we've ever tried (and we've tried quite a few over the years). It's a high order to make a potato chip taste like a hot dog, but somehow Shearer's did it. The wide-rippled chips tasted exactly like a fresh-off-the-grill dog loaded with mustard, relish, onions and other condiments. Amazing.
It's hard to get a large group of tasters to agree on anything, but the ones we shared these with were just about unanimous in declaring that the taste was just like eating a hot dog, and most went so far as to rave about just how good these were.
Smell test: Smells like a grilled hot dog with all the fixins. Really. Wow.


CSA Week 4: The Heat is On!
While it might be run of the mill to Montana lifers, my body is still adjusting to these sudden high temperatures. As a Pacific Northwest transplant, I'm not used to summer temps above 85 let alone, 100. Yeesh!
Out here at Harlequin we're starting our workday two hours earlier to avoid the hottest part of the afternoon. On harvest days this is especially important as greens will wilt and our wax produce boxes start to melt after noon. We also had to put the shade cloth on the hoop house. Check out pictures below of that high-tech process.
Brian's flame weeder made its inaugaral run this week in the field we call Mad Dog. It ran like a dream and did exactly what it was supposed to do, kill all the weeds before our crops germinate. Timing the first run, it looks like this tool will cut our weeding time by 3/4, which is a huge efficiency boost. Of course, Brian is already talking about ways to improve the tool. First thing's first. It needs a name. Any suggestions out there? I'll get some video up soon so you can all see it in action.
We were really hoping the snap peas would make it into this week's share, but we'll have to wait one more week. It also looks like we might have some summer squash ready to go on the 9th. In the meantime we must tide ourselves with the classics. For those salad turnip fans out there, the heat means the end of their season, so enjoy them this week as we may not see them again for a while.
With an eye toward the Fourth of July, Autumn has a great hummus recipe for a Harlequin veggie tray as well as a pickled red onion recipe that I consider essential for grilling sausages.
Kaly demonstrates perfect follow through on a duct tape toss.
Once all the lines are over the top of the hoop house, we use them to pull the shade cloth up and over from the other side.


My work has continued to be a morphing of real location and imagined worlds. The drawings and paintings I make, take imagery and inspiration from collected maps, visited landscapes, aerial views and anatomies of trees and bodies. Manipulating paper maps and reducing cartographic elements, the landscapes I map back, offer new and contorted views, creating a sense of place that is distorted and unfamiliar. References to both the man-made and organic are also made through depictions of pulsating roads and growths of cities that mimic organisms on macroscopic and microscopic levels. Re-visiting memories of places and merging map with nature, the resonance of places lived and visited continues to inform my current work.
I graduated from the Royal College of Art with an MA in Painting in 1999. Previous to that I completed a BA in Fine Art at Norwich School of Art and Design in 1997. I currently live and work in Buckinghamshire.


text:
Reporter's Notebook: A Final View of the Refugee Camp
March 25, 2016 | Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Syrian-born pediatric neurologist Tarif Bakdash (center) poses for a photo after speaking to a group of students, residents and faculty at the University of Jordan Medical School. Image by Mark Hoffman. Jordan, 2016.
ZAATARI REFUGEE CAMP, Jordan—As our van pulled away from the camp at Zaatari, I looked out the back window and saw a group of girls skipping rope on a tiny patch of gravel near the clinic.
It was my last glimpse of the Syrian refugees who live here in limbo, waiting until it is safe to go home or until another nation will agree to take them.
For four days, a medical mission from Wisconsin had tried to help them, treating their wounds—the physical and the psychic. Toward the end, the doctors, nurses and social worker who took part in the mission wondered if four days had been enough to make much difference.
"My work here is very humble, very simple. The true impact is the people on the ground (the clinic's permanent staff)," said Tarif Bakdash, the Syrian-born pediatric neurologist who led the Wisconsin mission.
A member of the clinic's permanent staff, Medical Coordinator Malik Al Sadi, said he had been impressed by the Wisconsin team, "by how warm you all were, the love and compassion you showed for the patients."
He presented each member of the mission with a certificate. There were hugs goodbye.
Then that last view of the camp: the girls jumping rope in a place that is a temporary home at best.
On Thursday, mission members went their separate ways; some to see Petra, the ancient city in southern Jordan known for its rock-cut architecture; others to watch Bakdash give a couple of talks to medical students and professors at the University of Jordan.
At 4:30 Friday morning, Bakdash will leave on the second leg of his journey, bound this time for Germany, a country in turmoil over what to do with the hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees it has taken in.
He hopes to bring more attention to the suffering of the refugees.
Healing for Refugees from Syria
Mark is a health and science reporter at The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel where he has worked since 2000. He shared the 2011 Pulitzer Prize for explanatory reporting with four other...
View this story on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Aid, Migrants, Displaced People and Refugees, Human Rights
Reporter's Notebook: Mother's Day in Zaatari Refugee Camp
Reporter's Notebook: On the Way to Jordan
Reporter's Notebook: Wisconsin Volunteers Help Syrian Refugees in Jordan
Migration and Refugees