text:
True confessions of a knife-juggling bear
May 1, 2018 Arlo Finch, Projects, Psych 101
This profile on me by Dan Jackson in Thrillist was originally supposed to be about Arlo Finch and Launch, but grew into a bigger piece on the many different projects I tackle simultaneously.
John August presides over a mini-empire steered by curiosity, fortified by experience, and fueled by brain power. With only 24 hours in a day, the multitasking writer of movies like Charlie's Angels, Big Fish, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory scribbles out scripts for big budget Hollywood blockbusters, outlines sequels to middle-grade fantasy novels, maps future episodes of his hit podcast, designs apps for other creative professionals looking to optimize their time, and finds time to invent fonts. If you were granted a golden ticket to tour the laboratory that is his bald head, you'd find a jolly team of meticulous, laser-focused Oompa-Loompas.
That's not really accurate, though. My inner Oompa-Loompas aren't laser-focused. They're a rowdy bunch fighting for control of my various gears and levers, each with a different idea about what the factory should make.
Over the years, I've gotten better at managing them, in part because I've recognized that I am them. There's not a me separate from my interests and fears and jealousies.
I'm the product of these competing impulses, not the master.
But I've gotten good at recognizing when an Oompa-Loompa has an interesting idea, and then marshalling the forces to try it.
"I'm really curious about how things work, and generally the only way to know how things work is to actually do the thing," he tells me over the phone one morning. "Rather than planning the thing or reading up about the thing or interviewing someone about how the thing works, I'll tend to just start doing the thing and then figure it out as it goes along."
I don't second-guess whether it's a good idea, or get fixated on what might go wrong. I don't ask permission. I just assume I'm not any worse than someone else, and I'll figure it out. That's how I started writing my first script, my first musical and my first novel.
But I also leave a lot of projects half-finished. Sometimes they finally come into being years later (Writer Emergency Pack), yet often they don't (an animated short; a new stage musical; my next directing project).
Giving yourself permission to move on to a better idea is tough. You're always wondering if you're one draft away. This will be the one that does it.
But as I look back over the past 20 years, most of my successes — both creatively and commercially — have come from the projects I was excited to do rather than the projects I felt an obligation to start or finish.
I've also had things I love fail. It's heartbreaking.
But the projects I never really cared about? They're worse in a way, because it was just wasted time.
If I have any general recommendations, it's to aim to fill your day and your mind with interesting things, even if it's messy and unfocused. Or as the article puts it:
It's like watching a dancing bear juggle knives.
Such a life is unlikely to go quite as planned, but at least it'll be exciting.
Getting Stuff Written
Episode - 321
October 17, 2017 Books, Challenge, Education, Psych 101, Scriptnotes, Transcribed, Words, Writing Process
John welcomes Grant Faulkner, Executive Director of NaNoWriMo and author of Pep Talks for Writers, to discuss the writing process and how to get out of your own way creatively.
We explore the ubiquity of the Other Syndrome and the perils of envy. We also look at pen names, "throw-away writing," and the advantages of being a beginner.
Grant Faulkner's website and Wikipedia entry.
Pep Talks for Writers by Grant Faulkner is available here.
You can participate in NaNoWriMo, too!
I'm Your Man: The Life of Leonard Cohen by Sylvie Simmons
The Last Invention of Man: How AI might take over the world by Max Tegmark
The Scriptnotes Listeners' Guide!
The USB drives!
John August on Twitter
Grant Faulkner on Twitter
John on Instagram
Find past episodes
Outro by Rajesh Naroth (send us yours!)
Email us at ask@johnaugust.com
You can download the episode here.
UPDATE 10-23-17: The transcript of this episode can be found here.
Should You Give Up?
October 10, 2017 Directors, Film Industry, Follow Up, Formatting, Psych 101, Random Advice, Scriptnotes, Transcribed, Writing Process
John and Craig attempt to answer the question that many aspiring screenwriters dare not ask aloud: when — if ever — is the right time to give up on the dream of becoming a working screenwriter?
Relatedly, is it okay to omit "aspiring" when describing oneself as a screenwriter? How do you ask friends for career help without burning bridges? Is that criminal record a problem?
We also address listener questions about why the Paramount Decree isn't an issue for streaming services, plus working with auteurs, and formatting car chases.
Thanks for sending us examples of Exposition News!
CPG Grey's video, channel, and website
Exposition News on Arrested Development, Community, The Simpsons, and Shaun of the Dead
The BBC adds Nigerian Pidgin
Google's Pixel Buds, or the real-life Babel Fish
Craig Mazin on Twitter
Dennis Lehane on novels vs. screenplays
July 18, 2017 Adaptation, Arlo Finch, Psych 101
Scriptnotes listener Eric in Boston pointed me towards this quote from Dennis Lehane on the difference between writing novels and screenplays:
They're apples and giraffes. Completely different, outside of their core narrative DNA. When you write a novel you're God, in charge of the whole universe, from the farthest galaxy to the smallest pebble. When that book is published, everything in it was filtered through you and you alone (with some nudging and advice from your editor, of course).
When you write a script, you're like a house painter in a large mansion. You give the rooms their color but you don't build the house or concern yourself with the plumbing. A screenwriter is one of, say, 140 people who contributes to the film. And your script is just a schematic to be interpreted by a director, actors, the director of photography, the set designers, costume designers, editor, producers, studio execs, and on and on and on.
It's much harder to be God; novels take way longer to write than scripts and are much more emotionally and psychologically taxing but they're also—by a longshot—more fulfilling.
I largely agree with Lehane, but want to caution that screenwriters shouldn't take his house painter analogy too far. You're not just decorating the rooms; you're deciding where the walls need to be so that the whole thing doesn't collapse.
Particularly when working on their own original projects, screenwriters must be just as invested in every galaxy and pebble. They may not include these details — screenwriting is an art of extreme economy — but you have to know what you're leaving out.
I'm writing book two of the Arlo Finch series right now. The process is rewarding and exhausting, but the level of responsibility I feel to the story's universe and characters is not fundamentally different than when writing the first draft of a script. In both cases, I've moved into their world, and am writing what I see.
The biggest shift comes later, once I'm ready to show the work to others.
With a screenplay, I need to coordinate my vision with dozens of other decision-makers so we can make a movie. That's the psychologically taxing aspect of the job: writing as if it's all yours while knowing it's ultimately not.
With a book, I've made decisions down to the comma and conjunction, knowing they'll persist. Arlo Finch isn't a blueprint; it's the thing itself. No matter what happens down the road, my choices are preserved on the page.
Lehane's right: books and screenplays are like apples and giraffes. I like both of them, and hope to have more of each in the years ahead.


The staff did a fair job. - Loretta K.
Staff takes good care of me!
I am very comfortable with this business. The staff always takes good care of me. - Jerry S.
I really appreciated how thorough the mechanic was in explaining things to me. - Brian W.
I have used the business before and I would recommend them for service. - David H.
This business was friendly and the staff did a good job. - Winston M.
Took care of my vehicle!
This business was really good and they took care of the vehicle very well. They provided a very good experience. - Navneet K.


text:
Vesicular stomatitis virus-based vaccine protects hamsters against lethal challenge with andes virus
Kyle S. Brown, David Safronetz, Andrea Marzi, Hideki Ebihara, Heinz Feldmann
Andes virus (ANDV) is a highly pathogenic South American hantavirus that causes hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS). A high case fatality rate, the potential for human-to-human transmission, the capacity to infect via aerosolization, and the absence of effective therapies make it imperative that a safe, fast-acting, and effective ANDV vaccine be developed. We generated and characterized a recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) vector expressing the ANDV surface glycoprotein precursor (VSVΔG/ANDVGPC) as a possible vaccine candidate and tested its efficacy in the only lethal-disease animal model of HPS. Syrian hamsters immunized with a single injection of VSVΔG/ANDVGPC were fully protected against disease when challenged at 28, 14, 7, or 3 days postimmunization with a lethal dose of ANDV; however, the mechanism of protection seems to differ depending on when the immunization occurs. At 28 days postimmunization, a lack of detectable ANDV RNA in lung, liver, and blood tissue samples, as well as a lack of seroconversion to the ANDV nucleocapsidprotein in nearly all animals, suggested largely sterile immunity. The vaccine was able to generate high levels of neutralizing anti-ANDV G N/G C antibodies, which seem to play a role as a mechanism of vaccine protection. Administration of the vaccine at 7 or 3 days before challenge also resulted in full protection but with no specific neutralizing humoral immune response, suggesting a possible role of innate responses in protection against challenge virus replication. Administration of the vaccine 24 h postchallenge was successful in protecting 90% of hamsters and again suggested the induction of a potent antiviral state by the recombinant vector as a potential mechanism. Overall, our data suggest the potential for the use of the VSV platform as a fast-acting and effective prophylaxis/postexposure treatment against lethal hantavirus infections.
https://doi.org/10.1128/JVI.00794-11
Fingerprint Dive into the research topics of 'Vesicular stomatitis virus-based vaccine protects hamsters against lethal challenge with andes virus'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.
Andes virus Agriculture & Biology
Hantavirus Medicine & Life Sciences
Vesiculovirus Agriculture & Biology
Vesicular Stomatitis Medicine & Life Sciences
Cricetinae Medicine & Life Sciences
lethal genes Agriculture & Biology
hamsters Agriculture & Biology
vaccines Agriculture & Biology
Brown, K. S., Safronetz, D., Marzi, A., Ebihara, H., & Feldmann, H. (2011). Vesicular stomatitis virus-based vaccine protects hamsters against lethal challenge with andes virus. Journal of virology, 85(23), 12781-12791. https://doi.org/10.1128/JVI.00794-11
Vesicular stomatitis virus-based vaccine protects hamsters against lethal challenge with andes virus. / Brown, Kyle S.; Safronetz, David; Marzi, Andrea; Ebihara, Hideki; Feldmann, Heinz.
In: Journal of virology, Vol. 85, No. 23, 12.2011, p. 12781-12791.
Brown, KS, Safronetz, D, Marzi, A, Ebihara, H & Feldmann, H 2011, 'Vesicular stomatitis virus-based vaccine protects hamsters against lethal challenge with andes virus', Journal of virology, vol. 85, no. 23, pp. 12781-12791. https://doi.org/10.1128/JVI.00794-11
Brown KS, Safronetz D, Marzi A, Ebihara H, Feldmann H. Vesicular stomatitis virus-based vaccine protects hamsters against lethal challenge with andes virus. Journal of virology. 2011 Dec;85(23):12781-12791. https://doi.org/10.1128/JVI.00794-11
Brown, Kyle S. ; Safronetz, David ; Marzi, Andrea ; Ebihara, Hideki ; Feldmann, Heinz. / Vesicular stomatitis virus-based vaccine protects hamsters against lethal challenge with andes virus. In: Journal of virology. 2011 ; Vol. 85, No. 23. pp. 12781-12791.
@article{f3319741a2be4945b9007b063ae82b69,
title = "Vesicular stomatitis virus-based vaccine protects hamsters against lethal challenge with andes virus",
abstract = "Andes virus (ANDV) is a highly pathogenic South American hantavirus that causes hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS). A high case fatality rate, the potential for human-to-human transmission, the capacity to infect via aerosolization, and the absence of effective therapies make it imperative that a safe, fast-acting, and effective ANDV vaccine be developed. We generated and characterized a recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) vector expressing the ANDV surface glycoprotein precursor (VSVΔG/ANDVGPC) as a possible vaccine candidate and tested its efficacy in the only lethal-disease animal model of HPS. Syrian hamsters immunized with a single injection of VSVΔG/ANDVGPC were fully protected against disease when challenged at 28, 14, 7, or 3 days postimmunization with a lethal dose of ANDV; however, the mechanism of protection seems to differ depending on when the immunization occurs. At 28 days postimmunization, a lack of detectable ANDV RNA in lung, liver, and blood tissue samples, as well as a lack of seroconversion to the ANDV nucleocapsidprotein in nearly all animals, suggested largely sterile immunity. The vaccine was able to generate high levels of neutralizing anti-ANDV G N/G C antibodies, which seem to play a role as a mechanism of vaccine protection. Administration of the vaccine at 7 or 3 days before challenge also resulted in full protection but with no specific neutralizing humoral immune response, suggesting a possible role of innate responses in protection against challenge virus replication. Administration of the vaccine 24 h postchallenge was successful in protecting 90% of hamsters and again suggested the induction of a potent antiviral state by the recombinant vector as a potential mechanism. Overall, our data suggest the potential for the use of the VSV platform as a fast-acting and effective prophylaxis/postexposure treatment against lethal hantavirus infections.",
author = "Brown, {Kyle S.} and David Safronetz and Andrea Marzi and Hideki Ebihara and Heinz Feldmann",
doi = "10.1128/JVI.00794-11",
journal = "Journal of Virology",
publisher = "American Society for Microbiology",
T1 - Vesicular stomatitis virus-based vaccine protects hamsters against lethal challenge with andes virus
AU - Brown, Kyle S.
AU - Safronetz, David
AU - Marzi, Andrea
AU - Ebihara, Hideki
AU - Feldmann, Heinz
N2 - Andes virus (ANDV) is a highly pathogenic South American hantavirus that causes hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS). A high case fatality rate, the potential for human-to-human transmission, the capacity to infect via aerosolization, and the absence of effective therapies make it imperative that a safe, fast-acting, and effective ANDV vaccine be developed. We generated and characterized a recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) vector expressing the ANDV surface glycoprotein precursor (VSVΔG/ANDVGPC) as a possible vaccine candidate and tested its efficacy in the only lethal-disease animal model of HPS. Syrian hamsters immunized with a single injection of VSVΔG/ANDVGPC were fully protected against disease when challenged at 28, 14, 7, or 3 days postimmunization with a lethal dose of ANDV; however, the mechanism of protection seems to differ depending on when the immunization occurs. At 28 days postimmunization, a lack of detectable ANDV RNA in lung, liver, and blood tissue samples, as well as a lack of seroconversion to the ANDV nucleocapsidprotein in nearly all animals, suggested largely sterile immunity. The vaccine was able to generate high levels of neutralizing anti-ANDV G N/G C antibodies, which seem to play a role as a mechanism of vaccine protection. Administration of the vaccine at 7 or 3 days before challenge also resulted in full protection but with no specific neutralizing humoral immune response, suggesting a possible role of innate responses in protection against challenge virus replication. Administration of the vaccine 24 h postchallenge was successful in protecting 90% of hamsters and again suggested the induction of a potent antiviral state by the recombinant vector as a potential mechanism. Overall, our data suggest the potential for the use of the VSV platform as a fast-acting and effective prophylaxis/postexposure treatment against lethal hantavirus infections.
AB - Andes virus (ANDV) is a highly pathogenic South American hantavirus that causes hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS). A high case fatality rate, the potential for human-to-human transmission, the capacity to infect via aerosolization, and the absence of effective therapies make it imperative that a safe, fast-acting, and effective ANDV vaccine be developed. We generated and characterized a recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) vector expressing the ANDV surface glycoprotein precursor (VSVΔG/ANDVGPC) as a possible vaccine candidate and tested its efficacy in the only lethal-disease animal model of HPS. Syrian hamsters immunized with a single injection of VSVΔG/ANDVGPC were fully protected against disease when challenged at 28, 14, 7, or 3 days postimmunization with a lethal dose of ANDV; however, the mechanism of protection seems to differ depending on when the immunization occurs. At 28 days postimmunization, a lack of detectable ANDV RNA in lung, liver, and blood tissue samples, as well as a lack of seroconversion to the ANDV nucleocapsidprotein in nearly all animals, suggested largely sterile immunity. The vaccine was able to generate high levels of neutralizing anti-ANDV G N/G C antibodies, which seem to play a role as a mechanism of vaccine protection. Administration of the vaccine at 7 or 3 days before challenge also resulted in full protection but with no specific neutralizing humoral immune response, suggesting a possible role of innate responses in protection against challenge virus replication. Administration of the vaccine 24 h postchallenge was successful in protecting 90% of hamsters and again suggested the induction of a potent antiviral state by the recombinant vector as a potential mechanism. Overall, our data suggest the potential for the use of the VSV platform as a fast-acting and effective prophylaxis/postexposure treatment against lethal hantavirus infections.
U2 - 10.1128/JVI.00794-11
DO - 10.1128/JVI.00794-11
JO - Journal of Virology
JF - Journal of Virology

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Constructora Garca Ponce, S.A. de C.V.
Full construction of the Puente de la Unidad. In: News. The VSL-Intrafor Magazine, v. 14, n. 1 ( 2003), pp. 12.
High skills packed together. In: News. The VSL-Intrafor Magazine, v. 13, n. 2 ( 2002), pp. 6-10.
Working toward unity. In: News. The VSL-Intrafor Magazine, v. 14, n. 2 ( 2003), pp. 22-30.


Tagged with D3 Go, mobile gaming, Alien: Blackout, Alien: Isolation.
Tagged with feature, mobile gaming, Supporter, Westworld.
Tagged with Blizzard Entertainment, mobile gaming, Warcraft III, World of Warcraft.
Tagged with 2K, mobile gaming, BioShock.


On MDsave, the cost of a Bone Density DXA Scan in Paragould, Arkansas, is $162. Those on high deductible health plans or without insurance can shop, compare prices and save. Read more about how it works.
MDsave has pre-negotiated savings with 2 providers in the Paragould, AR area.


How can a company spot talent effectively and efficiently? With almost a dozen open roles, hundreds of applicants, and an HR team of one, this was a critical question for our small, rapidly growing company to answer. Doing so lead us to re-think two fundamental pieces of traditional applications, cover letters and resumes, and resulted in increased quality and a more than 10% jump in efficiency.
We don't ask for resumes. This pillar of the application process may have made sense before digital record keeping when the only way to give your qualifications was with a written summary. However, being the best available technology doesn't mean that resumes have ever been an effective one. First, resumes are not comprehensive. It's just not possible to portray an entire career on a 2D 8.5×11 piece of paper. Second, much of the information on a resume (years of experience, GPA, prestige of college and previous companies, etc.) is shown to poorly indicate future performance. And finally, resume reviews are frought with unconcious bias, allowing discrimination to creep into the hiring process even at companies that value diversity.
Processing and reading resumes also takes time. To thoroughly review a resume takes several minutes, not to mention the time to find the file, open it, and close it down again. If you invest three minutes per resume and have 100 candidates, that's five hours of resume reading. Now, there are automated tools available that can pre-screen resumes and shorten this, but it doesn't matter how efficient you make a process if the end result is still nearly useless.
Instead, we ask applicants for digital portfolios (like LinkedIn), that paint a richer picture of skills, history, work samples, recommendations, etc. Even these are not the first thing we look at. We use them primarily as a reference point, not a decision making tool. For our first screening tool, we use a short questionnaire customized to each role that automatically filters out candidates who don't meet fundamental qualifications.
While a good cover letter can be very valuable, there are two big problems: 1) most cover letters are not good, and 2) the ability to write a good cover letter may or may not correlate to job competencies. For example, if Charles Dickens applied to a software engineering role, you know he would have a fantastic cover letter, and probably be a terrible software engineer. As with resumes, to properly write and thoroughly review cover letters take a lot of time. If you add cover letters to the resumes of those 100 hypothetical applicants we were talking about earlier, spending two minutes per letter you're over 11 hours total. Even if you only read letters for your top 25 resumes, you're still over nine hours and you haven't even started interviews. This doesn't even count the amount of time those poor applicants spent crafting their letters, which should also be considered.
We ask our applicants for written responses to a few carefully chosen questions, but not for a cover letter. Often candidates include letters anyway, in which case they get a cursory glance and a read if they explain important information not otherwise available, like a special circumstance.
At the core of our recruiting and hiring process we've placed a simple philosophy: focus on the skills and traits that matter, cut away everything else. Taken together, rethinking resumes and killing cover letters have allowed us to review applications up to ten times faster with more accurate results. It is important to note that being more efficient doesn't mean spending very little time on recruiting and hiring over all. After the initial application, our process is very intensive, but being efficient lets us put our time into what is most valuable. This is also better for our applicants, because instead of spending hours crafting an application only to send it off into a black hole, we only ask them to invest time in us if we're sincerely interested in hiring them.
The world is digital, interconnected, and increasingly data driven. Recruiting and hiring practices need to be open to change and take advantage of new tech, because great talent can come from surprising places.


The stylish, authentic leather case adds a wonderfully tactile feel to shooting and perfectly suits the FUJIFILM X-T1's classic design. With the FUJIFILM X-T1 snugly protected within it you can even change batteries without removing the camera and a matching leather shoulder strap and protective cloth to wrap around your camera are included.
The stylish, authentic leather case adds a wonderfully tactile feel to shooting and perfectly suits the FUJIFILM X-T10's classic design. With the FUJIFILM X-T10 snugly protected within it you can even change batteries without removing the camera and a matching leather shoulder strap is included.
Made of premium, genuine leather that molds to your grip with usage, this "Quick Shot" case has an elegant design that integrates perfectly with the compact and lightweight FUJIFILM X-M1 camera body.
Made of premium, genuine leather that molds to your grip as it ages, this "Quick Shot" case has an elegant design that integrates perfectly with the compact and lightweight camera body.
Equipped with a shutter release button, twin command dials, AE-L button , AF-L button and Focus Assist button , the vertical grip not only lets you hold the FUJIFILM X-T1 vertically with a more confident grip, but also puts all the controls where your fingers expect them to be. The tripod mounting socket is located in line with the camera's optical axis, just like on the regular body. In addition to comfortable shooting, the vertical grip also holds an auxiliary battery(NP-W126). Combined with the rechargeable battery in the body, the battery in the dust-and water-resistant vertical grip provides enough change for approximately 700 frames.
No need to remove MHG-XT Small to open the camera's battery cover, providing speedy access to the battery.
While never sacrificing the FUJIFILM X-T1's streamlined design, the metal hand grip provides a secure hold and masterful control of the camera. Just like the Vertical Grip, the tripod mounting screw socket is aligned with the optical axis. Also, you can access the battery compartment and memory card without removing the grip. The bottom face is equipped with rails for use with a quick release plate.
No need to remove MHG-XT Large to open the camera's battery cover, providing speedy access to the battery.
While never sacrificing the FUJIFILM X-T10's streamlined design, the metal hand grip provides a secure hold and masterful control of the camera. The tripod mounting screw socket is aligned with the optical axis. Also, you can access the battery compartment and memory card without removing the grip. The bottom face is equipped with rails for use with a quick release plate.
It is designed specifically to allow users to open the camera's battery cover for speedy access to the battery or memory card even while the grip is mounted on a tripod.


Growing up, my mother always used home-ground flour in our bread when we made homemade bread. However, there were significant stretches of time were the vast majority of the bread we ate was purchased. My brother or I would usually be tasked with grinding the flour.
We had a Champion Juicer, and the grain mill we used was the grain mill attachment designed for the Champion Juicer. I'm not sure if my mother kept this set at it's finest setting, but the flour produced, while acceptable for bread, was coarser than I would prefer for bread, and–in my opinion–too course for anything other than bread. It also made an incredible racket when running. The manufacturer's web site states that it should only be used for Spelt or Kamut in small amounts, and we wanted to use both of those grains in our bread. However, the biggest reason we did not go with this option is that we do not own a Champion Juicer.
My mother-in-law grinds her own flour for her homemade bread, and she uses a mill called The Kitchen Mill. She is quite happy with her mill. It makes good quality bread flour, though not quite as fine as I'd prefer for other uses. It is extremely loud and obnoxious, but it is also fast, so you don't have to listen to it for too long. Initially, this is what I was planning on purchasing, as it was what my wife was familiar with and it seemed to do a decent job. However, the $300+ price tag was a little steep, so I remained open to other options.
My wife has a commercial-model Kitchen-Aid mixer, and I thought that perhaps a good option would be a mill that attached to that. I found that Kitchen-Aid makes its own grain mill attachment for its mixers, but reading the reviews left me less than impressed. First, many reviewers stated that the bottom of the stand makes it almost impossible to place a bowl to catch the flour, and then many reviewers also warned that you had to be careful not to overheat the mixer. Finally, a number of reviewers stated that they ran their grain through the mill two or even three times to get it fine enough for baking.
I found another mill designed for the Kitchen-Aid, the Mockmill. It features a spout for the milled flour that directs it into the Kitchen-Aid's own mixing bowl. It also seemed to have better reviews overall, and particularly when it came to the fineness of the flour produced. I had essentially made up my mind to get this mill, when a lady from church who bakes a lot told us about her mill. It was wonderful, she said. Not only did it make great flour, but you could take off the mill and put on a flaker and make your own rolled oats out of whole oats, or make flakes of other grains. And if the power went out, there was a hand-crank base you could attach the mill to, and then you could operate it by hand.
The mill was called The Family Grain Mill, and it seemed to offer several advantages. It certainly wasn't cheap, but it was modular. You could buy an adapter to use the mill attachment on your Kitchen-Aid, a hand base, and the milling head, and then you would have the ability to grind flour both by hand and under power for a little over $200. While I hadn't even thought about a hand mill prior to this, I was quickly sold on at least having the ability to operate the mill by hand. We plan to someday build our own place, off the grid, and anytime I can I choose products that can be operated by hand. However, as I watched some videos on the Family Grain Mill, I was very dissatisfied with the hand base, which appears to be very cheaply made out of plywood.
So it was back to square one, this time looking for a mill that at least could be powered by hand. I found three high-end hand mills that were well out of our price range: the Grain Maker, the Diamant, and the Country Living. Out of these, the Country Living is the cheapest at about $450, but also the worst designed, with the flour exiting so close to the center stand that only square containers can be used to catch the flour. If we had to shell out $450 plus to make our own flour, it wasn't going to happen for a long time. However, I found three less-expensive hand mills that–while certainly not as nice as the three expensive ones–seemed to be well made and potential options.
The first option was the WonderMill Junior, which sells for a little over $250. However, it is currently out of stock everywhere that I found, with no known date of being back in stock. It has a solid metal, powdercoated construction, and offers the advantage of being able to make peanut butter in addition to flour. An optional pulley can be attached instead of the handle, which allows the mill to be driven by a motor via a belt. The reviews were quite good, with the clamping system receiving special kudos. The only downside that I found was that it is made in India. If this had been in stock anywhere, or had a date of estimated arrival back in stock, I may have purchased this.
The second option was the Lehman's Own hand mill. This mill is made in the USA, and sells for $200. I really wanted to like this mill (made in USA), but one major handicap stopped me from purchasing it. This mill, like the WonderMill Jr., can make peanut butter. Lehman's also offers an option cast iron flywheel for the mill that makes hand grinding easier and also features a groove so the mill can be motorized via a belt. The stones are a bit smaller than the WonderMill, which means a lower output, and the clamp is not quite as good. The hopper is detachable plastic, which I do not like as much as the integral metal hopper of the WonderMill Jr. However, the main drawback of the Lehman's Mill is that there is no flour guide around the stones–the flour simply drops from between the stones. In watching videos of the mill in action, I saw flour go everywhere, creating quite the mess. This drawback was a dealbreaker for me. The flour should drop into the bowl without creating a mess, and grinding flour should not necessitate sweeping the kitchen.
The third, and cheapest option, which I purchased, was the Victorio Deluxe Hand Mill. This mill is made in Tiawan, and we purchased it on Amazon for $73. It is metal construction with a plastic hopper, and cannot make peanut butter. The clamp works, but is not nearly as substantial as the clamp on the WonderMill Jr. The flour guide directs flour right into your bowl, without creating a mess. The handle can be removed, and Victorio sells an optional electric motor that attaches in place of the handle to motorize the mill. We have been quite happy with this purchase so far. We were surprised at how fine the flower is. Our spelt flour comes out a pastry-flour fineness, and the bread is wonderful. We were also surprised at how easy it is to turn. Your arm will get sore after a while, but it more from the repetitive motion than from the turning being difficult. We knew the Victorio would be slower than more expensive mills, but we were also surprised at how quickly we were able to grind enough flour for a batch of bread. We used to make large batches of 4-5 loafs, but part of the idea of grinding our own grain is to keep things as fresh as possible, so now we make single loaf batches as a loaf lasts us about two days. It takes only a few minutes to grind the grain necessary for a loaf. We are quite happy with the results, and I'm also happy to have paid less than $75 for the mill. If you are looking for an inexpensive grain mill that produces fine, pastry-quality flour, I highly recommend the Victorio Deluxe Grain Mill.
I have similar mill and can definetly recommend it.


text:
You are at:Home»News»What's in the Bag: Brooks Koepka Outduels Tiger Woods to Win 2018 PGA Championship
What's in the Bag: Brooks Koepka Outduels Tiger Woods to Win 2018 PGA Championship
By Neil Sagebiel on	 August 13, 2018 News, The Pros
Brooks Koepka isn't going to wilt under pressure.
Not when Tiger Woods returns from the golfing dead and shoots a blistering 64 in the final round of a major. Not when Masters champion Adam Scott, playing alongside Koepka in the final pairing, makes a birdie run to co-lead the tournament. Not when pent-up Tiger roars from a major-less decade are blasting across Bellerive Country Club. And not when seemingly everybody except Koepka's caddie, mom and girlfriend willed a different outcome.
None of it seemed to matter to Koepka, the placid 28-year-old Floridian who shot a final-round 66 to win the PGA Championship by two strokes over Woods, the 14-time major winner and the overwhelming fan and media favorite.
Koepka finished at 16-under 264 (69, 63, 66, 66), setting a new scoring record in the PGA Championship. He is now in select company, one of only five players to win both the U.S. Open and PGA Championship in the same season. In addition, Koepka has won three majors in the last 14 months, including back-to-back U.S. Opens.
What did the man himself think about these developments?
"Surreal," Koepka said. "That's all I can say."
What did Tiger, who threw everything he had at Koepka and Bellerive Country Club, think?
"He's a tough guy to beat when he's hitting it 340 in the air," Woods said, admiringly. "That's the new game."
Yes, the Popeye-like Koepka, who visited a St. Louis gym for a workout before teeing off in the final round, manhandles golf courses with massive drives and laser-like approach shots, such as the 4-iron on the 248-yard par-3 16th hole that set up a crucial birdie from six feet.
"One of the longest hitters on the PGA TOUR, Koepka leaned on his TaylorMade M3 driver all week," reported PGATOUR.COM, "ranking second in the field in driving distance (324.2 yards) and Strokes Gained: Off-the-tee (plus-5.879)."
The Wanamaker Trophy is a whale of a trophy, weighing 27 pounds. Once again at a major Brooks Koepka was the strongest man in the field. So it made perfect sense for him to lift that large silver trophy on Sunday evening, with no strain whatsoever, a broad smile on his face.
Brooks Koepka's Clubs
(As reported by PGATOUR)
In the PGA Championship at Bellerive Country Club, Brooks Koepka employed the same equipment that he used to win his second consecutive U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills in June.
Koepka's mixed set includes clubs made by TaylorMade, Nike, Mizuno and Titleist. Here's a look at his winning setup at the 100th PGA Championship.
Driver: TaylorMade M3 (9.5 degrees) with Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 70TX shaft
3-Wood: TaylorMade M2 Tour HL (16.5 degrees) with Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 80TX shaft
Irons: Nike Vapor Fly Pro (3-iron) with Fujikura Pro 95 Tour Spec X shaft; Mizuno JPX-900 Tour (4-PW) with True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 shafts
Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM7 (52-12F, 56-10S, 60-08M degrees) with True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 shafts
Putter: Scotty Cameron T10 Select Newport 2
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
Neil Sagebiel
Neil Sagebiel is a golf writer and author of two golf books published by St. Martin's Press, THE LONGEST SHOT and DRAW IN THE DUNES. He lives in Floyd, Virginia.
Latest posts by Neil Sagebiel (see all)
Playing Other Sports Can Help Improve Your Golf Game - November 17, 2018
VIDEO GOLF INSTRUCTION: Dave Pelz on Hitting Wedge Shots in the Wind - October 5, 2018
2018 Ryder Cup: Team USA Still Lacks Team Mindset - October 1, 2018


All it takes to get 100 free Hyatt Gold Passport Points is 10 seconds at the maximum. Though 100 points may not be a big deal, but is sweet enough when you consider that it takes 10 seconds of your time and is free. Also, Hyatt points expire after 24 months of inactivity, so it may well help your account remain active as well.
2. That's it! 100 Hyatt points will be added to your account in maybe 24 hours or so.
If you're not a Hyatt Gold Passport member yet, you can use this link to create an account.


Scarecrow Syllables for Second Grade Activity - Look! We're Learning!
It's time for another entry in our second-grade activity series! This week, we're talking about how to help second graders count and identify syllables in common words.
With Pooh, we use the typical "clap it out" method to count syllables. So we'll have him say a word and then for each sound he hears, he claps his hands.
For example, when he says the word "amazing", he'll end up clapping three times: A-MAZ-ING. That helps him see that there are three syllables in the word.
To reinforce syllable identification skills, I made a fall-themed syllable counting lesson to teach syllables for second graders. Read on to get your copy of our Scarecrow Syllables for Second Graders activity!
And for more early elementary learning printables, take a look at our Second Grade Learning Bundle! It's packed with ELA and math resources for grades 1-3!
This printable language arts pack includes 20 second-grade vocabulary words, a full answer key, and a set of instructions.
Kids can sound out the words, count the syllables, and then draw lines to match the words with the correct number of scarecrows to show the right number of syllables.
He was really serious about that explanation.
After we talked about what syllables really were, we tried matching up the words with the right number of scarecrows.
The "clap it out" method worked beautifully!
Scroll down to get your copy of our printable Scarecrow Syllables for Second Graders Activity!
Looking for more early elementary learning printables? Don't miss these!
And see more ways to make fall learning fun on my Fall Activities for Kids Pinterest board!
To get your copy of our Scarecrow Syllable Practice Pack, sign up for our email newsletter using the widget below! You'll get access to this printable, plus a bunch of other exclusive freebies for our subscribers!
Check out the other scarecrow-themed posts from the 2nd Grade Blogging Team!


text:
Some page content will be lost or rendered incorrectly.
Please install a more recent version of your browser.
Magazine Tools Advice Promotion Creative industries
en nl Magazine Search Tools Advice Promotion Creative industries
How e5 mode, caroline biss and Café Costume are contributing to a more sustainable fashion industry
Jasmien Wynants, Flanders DC
Café Costume © Bart Kiggen
Home Magazine How e5 mode, caroline biss and Café Costume are contributing to a more sustainable fashion industry
Back to selection
Here at Flanders DC, we make no secret about the fact that we truly believe that sustainability is the future. So if you want to be ready for tomorrow (and tomorrow's consumer), you had better start thinking today how you can implement a more sustainable way of working in your company. And that's something e5 mode, caroline biss and Café Costume have all taken on board in full.
Earlier this year, the three companies signed up to our brand-new "Corporate Social Responsibility" course. They succeeded in convincing us of their desire to form part of this adventure in which we developed a more sustainable and customised working method with them.
Café Costume
CSR: what is it exactly?
CSR stands for Corporate Social Responsibility. Though the term is a little unwieldy, it's something you hear more and more about these days.
And although books upon books have been written about CSR, it boils down to three key basic concepts:
Profit - so economic progress
People - where the effects on humans and society inside and outside the company are a key element
Planet - being the effects on the environment and so on our planet
These three dimensions influence each other, complement each other and sometimes come into conflict with each other. As such, the search for the right balance is one of the great challenges of CSR.
e5 mode
It all sounds great in theory, but how does it work in practice?
We asked ourselves that question too! That's why we set off on a quest for the answer together with three Flemish fashion companies. We sat down with Café Costume, e5 mode and caroline biss to see how sustainably they work at the moment and what opportunities are available to them.
Based on the characteristics of each company, and the challenges and opportunities that we saw, we worked out a tailor-made course. Unique, customised, just for them. Together with a few experts, we are now putting our money where our mouth is and will be working hard in the coming months to integrate the CSR approach into these three companies.
Of course, we don't want to let the cat completely out of the bag yet (some secrets must be kept, after all), but we are already revealing a first glimpse through the words of the following valiant fellows.
"Sustainability is actually embedded in the DNA of our company in various ways, even though we don't openly advertise it. For example, look at the made-to-measure system with which we work. It ensures on the one hand that we have little to no stock or overproduction, and on the other that our customers become very attached to the tailor-made suit they buy from us. We are now ready for the next step in which we can take things to the next level and so are taking a critical look at our whole business model." Bruno Van Gils, CEO of Café Costume
"We are aware that the future can only be safeguarded if we take responsibility for people and the environment. That's why a number of major steps have already been planned within our company. With this project we want to go a whole lot further and are aiming to become an example for the clothing, fashion and retail industry. We really are diving head-first into an exciting experiment which we hope is only the beginning of an adjustment of our range of clothing on a large scale..." Hans Van Rijckeghem, CEO of e5 mode
"For us, the challenge lies above all in making our company more sustainable without compromising in terms of creativity, flexibility and commercial drive. With this project, we want to explore those boundaries and move from a way of doing things based on healthy common sense (which is certainly already the case in terms of sustainability today) to a real policy. Step by step, we want to raise standards and now also work in a more formalised way throughout the whole chain." Bart Saelen, CEO of caroline biss
Good for them, but what about me?
The fact that the three companies are so different (size, target group, product and working method) is no coincidence because of course it will come as no surprise that we want to learn lessons from this experience that apply to the industry as a whole. Behind the scenes, Flanders DC is working hard to learn as many lessons as possible from these experiences so that we can share them with the wider fashion industry. Would you like to know more?
Come to Fashion Talks! There's a great deal of sustainability on the programme. Follow the Close The Loopplatform via Facebook or sign up for our brand-new newsletter published every two months. You can then be sure that you'll be among the first to know about the twists and turns in this adventure!
with support of the Flemish Government – MVO Vlaanderen
Subscribe to our newsletter to be informed about our activities.
Discover more in our magazine.
Digital or physical? How to improve the traditional fashion industry by using digital tools.
Close The Loop: working future proof is working with responsability.
Takeaways from the Fashion Talks 2019.
Fashion entrepreneur Annelies Lambert (go as u.r): "Starting is taking the plunge to make it happen."
Fashion and sustainability: how to communicate your efforts.
Discover the winners of the Belgian Fashion Awards 2018!
3 reasons why you should join us on SuperNova.
To the Berlin Fashion Week as part of the United Fashion project: Tom Duhoux of HNST recounts his experiences.
Together for strong entrepreneurship
Flanders DC / for Design
Flanders DC / for Fashion
Flanders DC / for Gaming
© 2021 Flanders DC
Select your industry *
selectarchitectureaudiovisual industriesartcommunications, pr and advertisingdesigncultural heritagegamingprinted and digital mediafashionmusicnew mediaperforming artsNot active in the creative industries
We promise not to share your privacy details with third parties. You can find more info in our privacy policy.
Je organisatie *
Je ondernemingsnummer *
architectureaudiovisual industriesartcommunications, pr and advertisingdesigncultural heritagegamingprinted and digital mediafashionmusicnew mediaperforming artsNot active in the creative industries
Nog niet ingeschreven voor onze mailing? Duid hieronder je voorkeur aan en blijf op de hoogte van Flanders DC nieuws en activiteiten.
Algemene Flanders DC updates
Flanders DC updates omtrent design
Flanders DC updates omtrent mode
Flanders DC updates omtrent duurzaamheid
This website works best with cookies
These are essential cookies that ensure that this website functions properly.
These enable us to measure the general use of this website.
These are used to store your personal details.
You can change these settings at any time in your cookie-preferences. You can also view our privacy policy.
I accept all cookies I want to set my cookie-preferences manually.
Cookies saved


Want to join as essay writer?
Looking for online teaching jobs - Tutoring jobs Are you teaching students? Now looking for building a career in online teaching? Seeking a trusted platform which offers online teaching jobs? Become a online tutor to most preferred field.


D6_Concept/idea: Culture and tradition is a prominent and most esteemed part of Samoan identity. Yet the reality of the past colonialism in Samoa is evident within the architecture today. The cultural richness of the traditional Pacific tectonics has slowly withered away and adapted towards westernised ideas of form, material, finishings and enclosing of spaces. More buildings in Samoa are becoming universally recognised and not practical in terms of cultural dynamics or the local climate. A cultural and performance centre was proposed in dedication Samoan culture. The overall design responds to cultural ideas and the local environment. Structural ideas and forms are derived from the fale (Samoan house/building) and the vaka/va'a (boat) while integrating modern tectonics.


i hope everyone had a fantastic easter weekend. we had a pretty relaxing weekend. lots of family time since husband took off work friday, and we hung out with his side of the family after church yesterday. i can't wait til miss p can play with her cousins. they are just too much fun. they love to love on her and give her kisses. too cute!


Various Composers - Henle Album - Piano Music from Bach to Debussy - Compumusic, Inc.
J. S. Bach Aria from Partita 4 BWV 828, Fuga 10 BWV 855; D.Scarlatti Sonata b minor K. 197; G. F. Händel Courante from Suite Bb major HWV 440, Sarabande from Suite g minor HWV 432; C.P.E. Bach Sonata movement from Sonata C major Wq 62/10; J. Haydn Sonata movement from Sonata C major Hob. XVI:10, Sonata movement from Sonata b minor Hob. XVI:32; W.A. Mozart Minuet G major K. 1(1e), Marche funèbre K. 453a, Sonata movement from Sonata C major K. 330(300h); L.v.Beethoven Sonata movement from Sonata No. 9 E major op. 14/1, 6 Variations on a Swiss Song WoO 64, Bagatelle WoO 56; C.M.v.Weber Sonata movement from Sonata C major op. 24; F.Schubert Moment musical No. 6 from Moments musicaux op. 94 D 780, Sonata movement from Sonata Eb major op. post. 122 D 568, Variation on a Waltz by A. Diabelli D 718; F.Mendelssohn Bartholdy Children's Piece from Children's Pieces op. 72, Song without Words op. 19/4; F. Chopin Prélude b minor op. 28/6, Nocturne c minor KK IVb/8, Mazurka a minor op. 68/2; R.Schumann Verrufene Stelle from Waldszenen op. 72, Armes Waisen-kind from Album for the Young op. 68, Impromptu from Album Leaves op. 124; F. Liszt Le mal du pays from Anneés de Pèleri-nage, Première Année, Consolation No.1; C. Wieck-Schumann Romance from Quatre Pièces Caractéristiques op. 5; Th. Kirchner Albumleave op. 7/9; J. Brahms Waltz A major op. 39/15, Inter-mezzo a minor op. 118/1; P. I. Tschaikowsky Feuillet d'album from Six pieces for piano op. 19; A. Dvorák, Plauderei / Na táckách from Poetic tone pictures op. 85; E. Grieg Knut Luråsens Halling I from Norwegian Peasant Dances op. 72; C.Debussy Des pas sur la neige from PréludesI, Morceau de concours; A. Skrjabin Prélude E major op. 11/9; M. Reger, Melodie from Blätter und Blüten.


In this edition of the Enforcement Roundup, we highlight four British Columbia Securities Commission (BCSC) panel decisions, one settlement agreement, a temporary order, and a notice of funds received.
This roundup also includes one settlement agreement from the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) and a settlement agreement from the Mutual Funder Dealers Association of Canada (MFDA).
A BCSC panel permanently banned Lian and Keller for fraud and breaches of cease trade and temporary orders. The panel also ordered permanent bans against EagleMark Ventures, LLC, and Falcon Holdings, LLC, for breaching the same cease trade and temporary orders. Keller also engaged in unregistered trading without an exemption.
For their misconduct, Lian and Keller are permanently banned from BC's capital markets and have each been ordered to pay administrative penalties of $2.42 million. Lian has also been ordered to pay a disgorgement order of US$2.4 million.
The panel found that YDS Energy, Resources and Humanitarian Relief Corporation, SunCentro, Carswell, Helina, Weiss, Khan, and Kato illegally distributed securities to investors without a prospectus.
The panel also found that as directors and officers of SunCentro, Helina and Carswell were liable for all 19 of SunCentro's illegal distributions in the amount of US$165,500. The panel also found that as directors and officers of YDS, Kato and Khan were each liable for all 19 of YDS's illegal distributions in the amount of US$165,500.
The panel also dismissed some allegations of illegal distributions against certain of the respondents on the basis that those respondents had a due diligence defence to those allegations.
As a result of this misconduct, the panel permanently ceased-traded SunCentro securities and permanently prohibited SunCentro from purchasing or trading any securities or exchange contracts. The company must also pay a penalty of US$165,000. YDS Energy is subject to various market bans, and must pay disgorgement orders of US$4,020 and $11,755.
Carswell, Helina, Kato, Khan, and Weiss are subject to various market bans that are outlined in the news release.
Siu Mui "Debbie" Wong, Siu Kon "Bonnie" Soo, Wheatland Industrial Park Inc., 1300302 Alberta Inc, and D&E Arctic Investments Inc.
A BCSC panel has permanently banned Wong and Soo from BC's capital markets for illegal distributions and acts of fraud.
The panel ordered permanent bans against two joint venture companies, 1300302 and D&E Arctic, for illegal distributions. The panel declined to make market bans against Wheatland as the company is no longer directed or controlled by Wong and Soo.Wong and Soo were eached ordered to pay $6 million in administrative penalities.
Wong, Soo must also pay disgorgement orders totaling $9,857,850 with joint and several liability. D&E Arctic and 1300302 are liable for portions of that disgorgement.
Brendan James Schouw and Hornby Residences, Ltd.
A BCSC panel has found that Brendan James Schouw and Hornby Residences Ltd. perpetrated fraud on an investor. The panel also found that as Hornby's sole director and officer, Schouw permitted or acquiesced to Hornby's misconduct and is thus liable for Hornby's fraud.
The panel directed the parties to make submissions on sanctions according to the schedule set out in the findings, which can be viewed in the findings document in the hearing file.
A BCSC panel found that Cerisse made false or misleading statements to BCSC investigators. In the same decision, the panel dismissed allegations of misrepresentation, market manipulation, and illegal distribution against Cerisse and two other B.C. residents, Laurence (a.k.a. Lawrence) Frederick Austin, and Thomas John Sadler.
The panel directed Cerisse and the Executive Director to make submissions on sanctions according to the schedule set out in the findings. You can read more in the hearing file.
In a settlement agreement with the BCSC, Dancho admitted to breaching the Securities Act by signing promissory notes for investments to which no exemptions applied.
For her misconduct, Dancho is subject to various permanent market bans. She also agreed to pay $70,000 to the BCSC.
On February 7, 2017, the BCSC's Executive Director issued a temporary order to allow staff to complete an investigation into whether 13 people and nine companies have violated securities legislation. The respondents have raised approximately $36 million from over 300 investors. The order prohibits all the respondents from trading in any securities with limited exceptions. In addition, all securities of the FS Strategies and related companies have been cease traded.
According to the order, Lim and Low are founding directors of FS Financial Strategies Inc.
The BCSC received $120,000 pursuant to an order a panel issued against Ayaz Dhanani on December 16, 2016.
The BCSC must make money it receives from this order available to eligible applicants who lost money as a direct result of Dhanani's misconduct. Investors can make a claim to the BCSC using the required form no later than February 23, 2020.
Find out how to make a claim in the news release.
In the settlement agreement, McCullough admitted that he accepted a gift in the order of $750,000 from a client without the knowledge or consent of his dealer member firm and that he failed to report he had been served with a Notice of Civil Claim related to his dealings with that client.
McCullough agreed to an $80,000 fine and suspension from any registration with IIROC for five years. He also agreed to pay costs of $5,000.
In the settlement agreement, Lemay admitted to breaching various MFDA rules when making recommendations to at least 142 clients regarding their investment holdings in precious metals sector funds. He also admitted, among other things, to failing to fully explain the risks and benefits of investing in the precious metals sector.
As a consequence, Lemay agreed to a permanent prohibition from conducting securities related business while in the employ of or association with any MFDA member, pay a fine of $5,000, and pay $2,500 in costs.


text:
SHERPA -Everyone Ends up Losing Eventually
"LISTEN TO IT!", "WATCH IT!", NEWS
One of our beloved Danish duos – SHERPA – ends up 2019 with a bang which is their single "Everyone Ends up Losing Eventually", released in November. The song is a great proposition for those of you who like progressive pop music and contradiction.
Lyrically, at the beginning "Everyone Ends up Losing Eventually" leaves the listener with no hope. There are no winners in the SHERPA world in this song. The helplessness is total and undoable. At least at the first listen. The more I hear Carsten Sherpa singing "Everyone Ends up Losing Eventually" like a mantra, the more it makes me think – maybe the whole point is that in the end, we are all equal? It's not as depressive as the initial thought.
Carsten Sherpa says about the lyrics:
"The song is mostly about how to be yourself and don't worry too much about others expectations. We all end up the same place, in the end, so you shouldn't think too much about other people opinions, but instead, believe in yourself and the choices you make."
Musically, "Everyone Ends up Losing Eventually" creates a very vivid, very tense atmosphere. There is a kind of impatience even in the beat. The song sounds a bit like a darker, more disturbing version of a-ha music. Yet, as always, SHERPA managed to take what's best from the past and add what's best at their sound. The vibrant, powerful vocals of Carsten Sherpa are perfectly in sync with the characteristic vibe of the melody.
Along with the song, SHERPA released a one-take video session, which is as intriguing as the song itself. Don't miss it!
We are looking forward to hearing more new music from the guys from SHERPA in 2020!
Arletta
arletta@goodbecausedanish.com


text:
ilham aliyev
Iran's IRCG views Aliyev's visit to Khodaafarin dam on the border
On 17 November, Azerbaijan's President Aliyev and wife (Vice President) visited areas recently taken over during the war in Nagorno Karabkah near the border with Iran, notably, the Khodaafarin dam area with the old bridge (location on map here). From Iran, these photos were taken (possibly around 14.30 hours localContinue Reading
Azeri President visits new military base 10 km from line-of-contact
Azeri President Ilham Aliyev paid a visit to newly-constructed military base 10 km from the central segment of the line-of-contact near the abandoned town of Aghdam. News of the visit was published on the president's official webpage as well as that of the Defence Ministry. This is significant, in that,Continue Reading
Tactical drills conducted at major Azeri military training ground
Units of the Azeri Armed Forces took part in a series of drills consisting of physical tests, live-fire drills and other tactical exercises, including with military vehicles. Little details on the drills were made available, but the drills were headed by officers of the mentioned units. Map of the militaryContinue Reading
Summary: The OSCE'S recent visit to Armenia, Azerbaijan and Nagorno Karabakh
The OSCE Minsk Group concluded an official visit to the South Caucasus where the Co-Chairs Andrew Schofer (United States), Igor Popov (Russia), Stephane Visconti (France) and the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Andrzej Kasprzyk met with the heads of state of Armenia(15 October),de facto Nagorno Karabakh (16 October) andContinue Reading
TASS – Armenia, Azerbaijan seem ready for dialogue on Nagorno-Karabakh issue – Russian ministry
Source: "Armenia, Azerbaijan seem ready for dialogue on Nagorno-Karabakh issue – Russian ministry ", TASS, 10 MAY 2019 *all opinions expressed are those of the original author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or stance of Nagorno Karabakh Observer. Moscow can see that Baku and Yerevan areContinue Reading
Rationalising the Tonoyan Doctrine: Armenia's Active Deterrence Strategy
Source: Abrahamyan, Eduard "Rationalizing the Tonoyan Doctrine: Armenia's Active Deterrence Strategy", Eurasia Daily Monitor, Vol. 16 Issue 64, 02 MAY 2019 *all opinions expressed are those of those of the original author. Even as Armenia and Azerbaijan have intensified their diplomatic contacts over the future status of the latter's breakawayContinue Reading
Pashinyan and Aliyev officially meet in Vienna
On 29 March, the Heads of state of Azerbaijan and Armenia, Ilham Aliyev and Nikol Pashinyan respectively, meet for their first official meeting in Vienna under the auspices of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) organised by the Minsk Group Co-Chairs Igor Papov, Andrew Schofer and StéphaneContinue Reading
The Minsk Process: Behind the Words and Principles
SOURCE: KALFAYAN, PHILLIPPE RAFFI "The Minsk Process: Behind the Words and Principles", The Armenian Mirror-Spectator, 07 MAR 2019 *all opinions expressed are those of those of the original author. The new Armenian government claims positive developments in the settlement process of the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute, and officials offer smiling facesContinue Reading
Azerbaijan to carry out large-scale military exercises
Azerbaijan's highest authority, president Ilham Aliyev, announced the starting of large-scale military exercises between 11-15 March. The announcement can be found on the Defence Ministry's official webpage, made on 08 March. The events involve 10.000 military personnel, 500 armoured vehicles (tanks, personnel carriers, etc. ), 300 artillery pieces (cannon-launched artillery,Continue Reading
Azeri Foreign Minister receives new OSCE head Miroslav Lajcak
On 05 March, Azeri Foreign Minister Elmar Mammedyarov received the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe's (OSCE) new head (officially titled Chairperson-in-Office) Miroslav Lajcak to discuss recent developments regarding the Nagorno Karabakh peace negotiations. Mr Mammedyarov expressed his opinions on the recent comments made by Armenian prime minister NikolContinue Reading
Armenian Prime Minister and Azeri President meet at Davos
On 22 January the World Economic Forum of this year celebrated in Davos, Switzerland became the scene of a non-official meeting between the Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azeri President Ilham Aliyev. This was the first meeting between the two leaders this year, which constituted an unofficial meeting onContinue Reading
Baku and Stepanakert announce more modernisation of armed forces
Just a few days apart, the leaders of Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan, Bako Sahakyan and Ilham Aliyev both announced changes in their armed forces for the upcoming year. Both leaders announced modernisation plans for their armed forces for 2019. Aliyev was the first to announce such a change, which isContinue Reading


I have worked closely with local business for more than three decades. A Chartered Accountant by training, I advise SME's on a range of areas helping businesses to grow alongside providing essential statutory audit support. As a strong advocate of Leicestershire, I am a prominent member of the local business community being a Board Member of the East Midlands Chamber of Commerce and former Chairman of the Leicestershire Chamber. Throughout the majority of my career, I was myself a business owner of a successful regional accountancy practice, before joining RSM in Leicester in 2017 as a Partner.
I am the Director of SajeImpact, an organisation which offers a wide variety of bespoke support and advice to Sports Bodies, NGBs, Social Enterprises and Faith Charities, making sure their strategies and communications are effective with the key stakeholders in their sector and bringing social transformation projects to life.
I was formerly the Labour & Co-operative MP for Loughborough between 1997 and 2010.
As well as the work I do through SajeImpact I also serve on a number of Sport Bodies, Christian organisations and local charities as a volunteer. This is part of the reason for SajeImpact to allow a balance of the way I am able to contribute and have impact.
In June 2012, I was awarded an OBE in the Queens Honours List for contribution to sport and the Community and in 2014, I was appointed a Professor of Sport Policy & Development at Liverpool John Moores University.
I am passionate about the Leicester and Leicestershire area, having grown up and lived here for my whole life. I want to add a new dimension to the Board through my varied sporting, political and religious background.
I joined East Midlands Airport as Managing Director in April 2018. Previously I held several senior operational roles at London Stansted Airport.
Joining Stansted in June 2014, I was appointed as the Customer Services and Security Director, responsible for over 800 people and one of the busiest airport terminals in the country, helping to ensure that 60,000 passengers a day have the best possible customer experience at the airport. I became the Asset Management Director in 2016, responsible for ensuring that the Airport infrastructure meets the demands of both our B2B and B2C customer; quite a challenge at one of the fastest growing UK airports.
I started my career in the Royal Air Force initially as an aircraft engineer before retraining as an air traffic controller. After over 20 years in the RAF I joined Serco, carrying out numerous roles culminating as Partnership Director of their Defence and aviation business.
I'm keen to immerse myself within the local community and play and key role in helping to shape and drive forward strategies that will lead to greater regional prosperity.
I was born and brought up in Leicester then studied law at Sheffield University. I trained at Stephenson Harwood in London and moved back to Leicester joining what was Harvey Ingram in 1992, where I stayed until December 2016. I then moved to Freeths LLP as a Director in their Dispute Management team based in the Leicester office. I also worked as a Senior Lecturer on the LPC at De Montfort University in the mid 1990s.
My work area is commercial dispute management and I deal with technical and complex commercial/contract disputes, company disputes, warranty claims and employment support work. I was recently involved in a large insurance dispute and worked for a major energy sector client while at Shakespeares.
I have been, and continue to be, involved in various business development projects with the firms I have worked for. At Freeths I am leading a professional women's networking group as part of a firm wide initiative. I am also a trustee of Big Difference Company – best known for running the Leicester Comedy Festival – which also works with charities in terms of health and well-being projects. My involvement as a trustee involves giving legal advice to the board.
My strong local connections and contacts coupled with the fact that I have spent the vast majority of my career in Leicester and Leicestershire demonstrate my commitment to the development of our region and have enabled me to gain an understanding of the issues that it faces which I look forward to building on as a board member of the LLEP.
As CEO at Morningside Pharmaceutical Ltd, I have utilised my passion for drug discovery and International Trade towards our commitment to "Making Quality Healthcare an Affordable and Accessible Reality throughout the World".
I understand the needs and challenges faced by businesses through the development and growth of Morningside from a garage start-up to a large corporate over 25 years.
I draw on my expertise in R&D and worldwide ethnic and cultural diversities gained through visiting most continents, and experience of exporting Healthcare products worldwide. I grew up in Leicestershire and I have a strong passion for giving back to the local community, country and International Aid Sectors.
Appointed as a Board Member to the LLEP from July 2017, I want to utilise my knowledge and experiences to assist the board to drive investment, business growth and to create jobs in Leicestershire. I am delighted to represent the Life Sciences sector on the LLEP Board.
I have worked for eight visitor attractions including Madame Tussauds, Alton Towers and the National Space Centre where I have been Chief Executive since its launch in 2001.
The National Space Academy and NSC Creative production company were launched in 2008. This role has introduced me to the space industry in which I have done consultancy work on its conference and skills need, and recently helped develop Government's Innovation and Growth Strategy for Space.
My partnership work with the University of Leicester, several colleges and a number of space companies, together with my creative industries experience and non-executive roles for five organisations including two start-ups, will help me provide an insight into a range of Leicester and Leicestershire's priority sectors in the coming years.
As an owner of a Leicester based SME, using digital technology to help businesses run their companies from anywhere in the world, I am keen to grow an environment that encourages the development of a digital & technology skills in our area.
I have served on the Business Board of the LLEP for several years, I am an Enterprise Advisor at my local college – building stronger understanding and working relationships between business & education and I am now privileged to be a governor.
I want to use these experiences and 40 years in business to help us create a vibrant economy and society.
I began my career at an electrical installation firm in Sileby, before joining a manufacturing company of which I became the MD and eventually purchased in 2006.
I became the first Asian president of the Leicester Electrical Society and president of Leicestershire Asian Business Association (LABA) in 2006, and have led the formation of the National Asian Business Association. LABA hosts the Indo British Trade Council which has for the last twenty years actively supported inward and outward trade missions, inward investment and bilateral trade to India.
I frequently liaise with Government to ensure that British Asian businesses are given an opportunity to play an active part in promoting British exports and attract inward investment from countries which they have historical, religious and trading ties.
I became a LLEP Board member in 2014 and offer sound business, trade and commercial expertise from many years' experience.
I am the current Chair of Voluntary Action Leicestershire and alongside this Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) experience, I have over 30 years of global business experience.
I have an extensive board level experience of governance, strategic management, working with senior executives, influencing stakeholders and contributing to overall wellbeing of the organizations and their future sustainability within commercial and VCS sectors.
My global business experience includes significant expertise around global leadership, technology, outsourcing and business transformation through use of technology. I am a highly experienced professional executive with 30 years' international experience of delivering major transformational change (Technology, Business, Culture and organizational) within numerous different industry sectors and across different countries.
I'm also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management, a Chartered Engineer, Fellow of BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, and a member of the Institute of Directors.
I became Vice-Chancellor and President of Loughborough University in September 2012 after holding roles as Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research at Sussex University and Dean of Social Sciences of Health and Head of the Department of Geography at Durham University.
I was educated at Northallerton Grammar School, before gaining a B.A. in Geography from Hull University in 1982. I then went on to achieve a Ph.D. in Geography from King's College, University of London in 1986.
I am involved with the Natural Environment Research Council, Higher Education Funding Council for England and the Department for Business Innovation and Skills. I have been a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society since 1990 and have also been Chair of the British Society for Geomprohology.
I believe that Universities are fundamental to the success of the local economy on many levels and I am delighted to represent Higher Education on the LLEP Board.
I grew up in Hertfordshire and went to a local comprehensive. On gaining a law degree from Oxford University in 1988 I pursued a career in Further Education, beginning with roles at the City and Guilds of London Institute and with Training and Enterprise Councils in the capital. On the creation of the Learning and Skills Council in 2001 I moved into senior management, holding a number of positions including Regional Director for the East Midlands and National Director of Funding, Planning and Performance.
Most recently a senior civil servant with the Skills Funding Agency in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, I was appointed Principal and Chief Executive of Leicester College in January 2013. I currently chair the Student Loans Company's Advanced Learning Loans Stakeholder Group, the Leicester and Leicestershire Principals' Group and I am Chair of the Members of a Multi-Academy Trust in the city. I live in Lutterworth with my husband Mark, an artist, and my nine year old son.
I was first elected to public office in 1986 to represent the Ivanhoe Ward on Ashby Town Council and the Ivanhoe Ward on North West Leicestershire District Council. I was elected to Leicestershire County Council in 1989, serving until 1993, where I was Group Spokesman on the Social Services Committee and Conservative Lead Member on the Scrutiny Commission.
In 2001, I was re-elected to Leicestershire County Council representing the Valley Division and since that time, have been in the ruling Cabinet, Deputy Leader of the County Council and in September 2012, elected as Leader of the County Council.
I also serve on the General Assembly of the Local Government Association nationally, and I am a County Council representative on the County Councils Network.
I am the first elected mayor of Leicester and previously, was M.P. for Leicester South. I was also a Labour councillor for Leicester City Council for nearly 30 years; 17 of which as council leader.
I have also served on the Audit Commission and as deputy chair of British Waterways.
I am proud to be leading the delivery of an inspiring economic action plan for the city that draws on and reinforces the key themes of the LLEP's growth strategy, alongside streamlining council purchasing processes to benefit local businesses.
I commenced my political career as a Parish Councillor for Narborough almost 30 years ago, became a District Councillor in 2011 and, taking over as Leader of Blaby District Council in 2015. I also represent the division of Narborough and Whetstone.
I entered politics to make a difference and, am delighted to represent the Leicestershire District Councils on the LLEP Board.
Before retirement, I worked for a major bank for 41 years, specialising in International Trade and Trade Finance, working with Companies of all sizes to assist them in both Exporting and Importing.
I have been married to my wife Louise for 41 years and we have two children and four grandchildren. Apart from snooker, my active sports days are behind me but I enjoy watching all sports, am an avid reader and enjoy travelling, especially to explore different cultures.


text:
Home Analysis The Ombudsman as an Institution of European Administrative Law
The Ombudsman as an Institution of European Administrative Law
—Dr. Julia Haas, Attorney-at-law (Rechtsanwältin), Hamburg (Germany)
The ombudsman is presumably one of the most important Scandinavian contributions to worldwide constitutional development. Its origins can be traced back to the Swedish institution of the Justitieombudsman which was introduced in the Swedish constitution of 1809. The original Swedish idea of an "ombudsman" (meaning "representative" or "commissioner") is that of an independent public official appointed by the legislative branch of government in order to control the administration on the basis of complaints by individuals or on its own initiative.
Apart from Finland, where an ombudsman was introduced in 1919 in accordance with the Swedish prototype, the ombudsman idea remained largely unnoticed outside of Sweden for almost 150 years. But the implementation and further development of the ombudsman in Denmark in the middle of the 1950s triggered the spread of the institution worldwide. Today, the ombudsman is represented in over 150 national and regional jurisdictions worldwide in over 128 countries on all continents and in all different kinds of legal cultures. The ombudsman has been in the focus of international legal research for many years now with numerous studies covering different national and regional institutions as well as various aspects and functions of the ombudsman.
In my recent work, I have focused on the ombudsman's classical role in administrative supervision and have developed the legal concept of a control-oriented model ombudsman.
From a European point of view, one of the most striking recent developments seems to be the ombudsman's evolution into a core institution of the multi-layered system of European Administrative Law: At the national level, nearly all European Union member states have introduced an ombudsman (apart from Germany and Italy which only have regional ombudsmen in some federal states or regions). At the supranational level of European Union Law, there exists a European Ombudsman since 1995 forming the prototype of a fully-fledged classical ombudsman at the international plane to foster extrajudicial redress and control regarding the Union institutions and bodies. Finally, the ombudsman idea also affects the field of indirect enforcement of EU Law and cooperation structures when national ombudsman institutions in the member states and the European Ombudsman interact in an informal "European Network of Ombudsmen" to supervise national authorities when enforcing EU Law or cooperation structures between national and supranational authorities.
In contrast to that, it seems striking that the Ombudsman is often perceived as an institution of minor importance, if not sometimes still as an "unknown creature" in Germany. This may be due to the fact that in German legal research the ombudsman idea is – apart from some older, rather enthusiastic ombudsman studies dating back to the 1960s and 1970s – faced with skepticism or ignorance. Probably, this attitude is to a great extent rooted in the rejection of the ombudsman idea as superfluous in the German system of administrative control by courts and petition committees, which is perceived as "complete" and "comprehensive" by many German scholars who often also transfer this view to the supranational level of European Union Law when assessing the European Ombudsman.
Against this background, it seemed challenging to write a comparative ombudsman study which examines the legal design, status and mode of operation of European ombudsman institutions and which – in contrast to some current legal research with its focus on the ombudsman's human rights protection and mediation functions – tries to outline the ombudsman's potential for administrative supervision in the field of European Administrative Law. Such an attempt has to deal with the current terminological, functional and legal diversity of the ombudsman idea in Europe, since the triumphal march of the ombudsman worldwide with its implementation in different legal systems, legal fields and factual contexts has led to a great number of various forms of the ombudsman which deviate from the classical Scandinavian prototypes in Sweden and Denmark.
Even though this variety of ombudsman institutions could be regarded as the result of meaningful adaptations of the original idea to different factual and legal environments – thereby giving the proliferation of the ombudsman idea an even further boost – the omnipresence of the ombudsman in various contexts fosters misinterpretations of its status and its operation in the respective legal, constitutional and administrative system: The original meaning of the legal term "ombudsman" has blurred and interpretations range between the poles of its elevation to a "messianic saviour" (H. Matthes) with an omnipotent competence to provide solutions and its degradation to a mere "ombudsmouse" (D. C. Rowat) with no significant influence at all.
Therefore, the first part of my study addresses the terminological diversity of the institution of the ombudsman by defining the Ombudsman – according to its Scandinavian origins in Swedish and Danish law – as an independent public law institution which conducts investigations on the basis of complaints of individuals or on its own motion to control whether the administrative authorities acted legally and properly.
The second part describes the legal design of ombudsman institutions in the EU member states and the European Ombudsman at the supranational level and their respective interaction in a "European Network of Ombudsmen".
In the third part, the current functions of European ombudsman institutions are analyzed and, on the basis of the comparative analysis, the legal design of a control-oriented model ombudsman is developed, which is supposed to act mainly according to its dominating administrative justice function to enforce legality and the principles of good administration by means of hard investigative powers, but soft decisions making powers, thereby relying on the power of persuasion and on public accountability by issuing reports, criticism and recommendations.
Finally, the study concludes with a summary of the main findings and some legal policy proposals for the legal systems of the European member states as well as for European Union Law.
The full study is available here, in German. A detailed English summary of the study can be found on pages 711-28.
Suggested Citation: Julia Haas, The Ombudsman as an Institution of European Administrative Law, Int'l J. Const. L. Blog, Mar. 27, 2013, available at: http://www.iconnectblog.com/2013/03/the-ombudsman-as-an-institution-of-european-administrative-law.
Author: Julia Haas Filed under: Analysis, Younger Comparativists; New Scholarship
Tags: administrative law, European Union, Ombudsman, Sweden
« Why *Judicial* Review: A Preli...
Petition 72: The Struggle for ... »
Ran Hirschl
Thanks, Julia. Great post. Made me think again about the fuzzy boundaries between constitutional law, what may be termed "state law" or the laws of government institutions, and the broader category of public law. Many public entities have what is sometimes termed "controller", an institutional guardian that may be more effective than complex litigation processes and less politically contested than judicial activism. Either way, I'm curious: In your research about the ombudsman institution, have you encountered some political trends that may explain why the institution is established or empowered, when is this more likely to occur, say akin to judicial empowerment or the spread of constitutionalism and judicial review more generally? Or is it driven by diffusion and emulation, or by a global convergence to certain norms of clean, transparent government?
Julia Haas
Many thanks, Ran, for your interesting observations. I have encountered nearly all of the (political) trends raised in your questions in my research about the ombudsman institution:
First of all, I have encountered that the ombudsman is to some extent linked to the discussion on a further expansion of judicial review when it is inter alia assessed whether the ombudsman institution could be a useful concept to substitute judicial review by courts – at least in some respect. It is suggested for example that ombudsmen could handle small claims which could relieve the court system and provide aggrieved individuals with an easy accessible and cost effective means of redress. But also from a more control-oriented perspective, the ombudsman can function as a meaningful supplement (but not necessarily complete substitue) of judicial review when for example reviewing procedural errors or other administrative misconduct which is – at least in some jurisdictions – not reviewed extensively in court proceedings.
Moerover, as you suggested, I would agree that the spread of the ombudsman institution is driven by politicals trends of emulation as well. The ombudsman idea has gained wide acceptance and has therefore been introduced in many jurisdictions worldwide also because of its sucessful operation in other jurisdictions and its good reputation as a guardian of the rule of law and good administration. For example, ombudsmen have been introduced in Eastern Europe after the fall of the Iron Curtain as a distinct (political) statement to foster constitutionalism and human rights.
Finally, I would also consider the spread of the ombudsman institution as the result of a trend towards a global convergence to certain values of transparency, good government and principles of good administration. By reviewing not only the legality of administrative behaviour, ombudsmen have contributed to the development of prinicples of good administration, e. g. at the level of European Union Law, thereby producing important precedents on administrative procedures, organization of administrative authorities and citizen-friendly behaviour.


Yes, yes … I have four cats.
I know how many that is.
I know how much food they eat each month (not as much as you would think), and how many daily litter box cleanings it takes to keep the house smell free (more than you would want to know). I know that many consider me on the verge of becoming (or already there) a crazy cat lady.
But the reality is that cats are better in pairs and I essentially have two pairs of cats — one pair considered seniors and one under four years of age.
Izzy and Gus are my two oldest at 10 and 9 years of age, respectively. As "seniors" (as opposed to geriatric cats, which is apparently reserved more for those over 12 years of age), they need yearly check ups and blood work to check kidney functions, liver enzymes and thyroid levels, among other things. Things can go so wrong so quickly that it's important to keep close tabs on their health.
Soooo … this past week, I loaded up both cats and trundled off to the vet with them at the same time.
It's always an adventure to go to the vet with Gus. As I have said before, he loves his little hidey holes, but he hates it when he realizes he is being locked in a box for a trip. He immediately urinates in the crate and spends the entire trip yowling pitifully. I half think that he believes he is being taken back to the shelter, never to return again, because the moment we arrive back home and he realizes he is safe again, he spends the rest of the day following me around and demanding attention.
Given the fact that he had messed the crate and it needed to be cleaned before I left the office, the vet decided to examine him first. Again, true to Gus' non-confrontational demeanor, he spent the entire visit trying to hide his face in my shirt or the crook of my arm, almost as if he believes that if he doesn't see the vet, she isn't really there. The only time we managed to get him away from me was when we put him on the scale — he weighed in at a healthy 14 pounds, 2 ounces — and when they whisked him into the back room to take his blood.
Within about five minutes, the vet popped her head back in to ask me if I wanted the techs to trim Gus' nails. I agreed, but only later found out that she asked because Gus decided to show the staff his rather impressive claws when they were trying to draw blood. I have to admit that he boasts fairly large, stark white claws that appear enormous and lethal against his coal-black coat, but I also know he would never use them to inflict harm. He actually shows them most often when he's being loved on. And then they come out as he extends his front paws, so that he can stretch and writhe and show you another part of his body that needs to be scratched.
Then it was Ms. Izzy's turn. Unlike Gus, she seems to take vet visits in stride. She doesn't like them, but she's not terrified of them either.
I was a little nervous, though. Especially as I placed her on the scale.
See, when I first adopted Izzy, she weighed more than 14 pounds, which is too much for her little frame. When I moved the cats over to an easy-to-digest food for Gus' stomach, she actually gained about a pound and a half. About a year and a half ago, I managed to move Izzy over to a diet food and she has been steadily losing weight. The last time she was on a scale, she was still over 11 pounds and I only hoped that she hadn't regained any of the weight.
When the numbers finally stopped shifting, the scale showed that Izzy was now a svelte 10 pounds, 7 ounces. The first thing the vet did (after rechecking the scale) was to ask if I was trying to get her to drop weight or if she could be sick. I told her that this was, in fact, on purpose. After smiling, she said that — despite my belief that I had to get her down to 10 pounds — I didn't have to continue trying to take the weight off. The little girl was at a good weight for her size and age.
I can't even begin to tell you how relieved I was.
Eventually, she was taken in the back for a blood draw. When the vet returned, she brought two little plastic bags filled with black pellets and a syringe. Apparently, they couldn't get urine from either cat (although give that Gus had used the crate as a litter box on the way to the vet, that wasn't all that surprising), and I needed to try to collect it at home.
Yeah … easier said than done. After 12 hours of Izzy being locked in a room with a box filled with the little pellets, a bed and a bowl of water, she refused to do anything. When I finally let her out, she ran for the stairs and demanded to be fed (even though I had fed her while she was in the room).
Next up, I get to try it with Gus.
Despite the fact that we haven't been able to check their urine yet, it would appear that I have two incredibly healthy senior kitties. Their blood work showed near perfect levels across the board. The only thing that needs to be addressed is that they could both use a teeth cleaning. Izzy is going to go in first because her teeth are showing her age a little more than Gus', but that is to be expected.
Hopefully, I will be blessed enough to have both of them in my life for a long, long time.


Dear Jesus Christ, who suffered, died and rose for our salvation, we give you thanks and ask you to have mercy on our priests, deacons and seminarians, especially _______ and ______. May they know an abundance of Your love, peace and joy as they bring us the graces of these Lenten and Easter seasons.
*In formation for permanent Diaconate.


Dogs in airports are usually led through the premises at the heels of particularly imposing security guards, sniffing around for questionable packages and sometimes catching a perp or two. However, an increasing number of airports in the United States are now using dogs as part of therapy programs designed to alleviate the stress of agitated passengers, having discovered the powerful results of momentary human-dog interaction.
Researchers hypothesize that petting, playing, and talking to our furry friends cause endorphins — the brain's "feel-good" chemical — to release into the bloodstream, resulting in feelings of euphoria and a temporary inability to feel pain and anxiety. This endorphin fix is the perfect cure for the elevated stress and anxiety levels that most air travellers experience. The chaotic crowds, slow lines, and extended wait times that characterize the typical airport experience are usually enough to raise a traveller's blood pressure by a notch or two.
Currently, no major Canadian airports have a comfort dog program in place, but the program would likely be extremely well received, judging by its popularity and effectiveness in the United States. However, some institutions of higher learning in Canada — such as Dalhousie University, York University, and the University of Toronto, have made comfort dogs available to students during exam times to alleviate the stress associated with studying and juggling multiple assignments.
A volunteer airport chaplain at Mineta San Jose International Airport discovered the comforting effects of dogs in airports. He brought his pooch, Orion, to work one day in late 2001, when the anxiety surrounding air travel was fast approaching its climax in the United States. Orion's presence considerably improved the mood of anxious and fearful travellers, and the airport decided to formalize a dog therapy program that's still in place today.
Other airports soon followed suit. Miami International Airport currently uses one comfort dog to put a smile on the face of travellers — a golden retriever named Casey. A testament to her immense popularity, Casey has her own website, frequently receives fanmail, and has a starring role in the reality TV show Airport 24/7: Miami.
Dickie Davis, director of terminal operations and customer service at Miami International Airport, has nothing but praise for the beloved pooch.
"Casey is so pure and genuine,"
"She's not asking for anything or selling anything. She is just a love magnet."
Continuing the trend of using comfort dogs to make navigation through busy airports that much easier, Los Angeles International Airport (ranked the second most stressful airport in 2012) uses nine comfort dogs and plans to expand its comfort dog program. The furry group is currently rounded out by a field spaniel, three Australian labradoodles, a poodle, a Doberman, a long-haired Dalmatian, a lab-pointer mix, and an Irish wolfhound named Finn.
"When I'm around Finn, it makes me feel like things are okay. When Finn's around other people, they are okay. It's almost instant, even if just for a moment."
In airports with formal comfort dog programs, volunteers lead specially clothed dogs through a designated portion of an airport's terminal, where most passengers can't resist rubbing the canine's belly, gently petting her head, or asking to shake a paw. The results are remarkable, according to Heidi Huebner, director of volunteers at Los Angeles Airport.
"You can literally feel the stress levels drop. People start smiling, strangers start talking to each other and everybody walks away feeling really, really good,"
In order to qualify for the program, dogs must be healthy, well mannered, stable, calm, and comfortable with large, noisy crowds. Their handlers are taught to be on the lookout for people who fear dogs or may be allergic. Generally, though, people approach the dogs and begin to play, talk, or simply enjoy being close to the little balls of joy.
"You can just see the reactions of people. That's anybody — passengers, employees here, TSA (Transportation Security Administration) agents, everybody smiles."


text:
Fostering the Arts and Creating Community Theater Since 1920!
Production Archive
Central Heat and A/C Campaign
Production Opportunities
Directions to the Studio
Upcoming 100th Season
History of the Players
The Bob Spindler Bowl Award
The Player's Studio
Rewind 106.5 Ads
The Players' Studio is located at 165 South Street in Springfield, Vermont.
View Larger Map | Get Directions | View Bird's Eye
From Springfield: From the blinker at the intersection of Main, Clinton, Mineral & South Streets, drive up the South St. toward Springfield High School. Continue straight at the top of the hill for about 1/4 mile. The Players' Studio is a 1-story red building on the right at 165 South Street, just before Jake's Market.
From I-91: Take Rte. 11 West toward Springfield. At the second blinking yellow light, turn left up South Street hill, toward Springfield High School. Continue straight at the top of the hill for about 1/4 mile. The Players' Studio is a 1-story red building on the right at 165 South Street, just before Jake's Market.
From Chester: Take Rte. 11 East toward Springfield. Go past the Springfield Shopping Plaza into downtown Springfield. Continue straight at the light at Summer St. At the next light, a flashing yellow signal where Rte. 11 turns to head toward I-91, do not turn left toward I-91. Instead, proceed straight ahead just a few feet to the Stop sign and then go straight across the intersection and up the South St. hill. Continue straight at the top of the hill for about 1/4 mile. The Players' Studio is a 1-story red building on the right at 165 South Street, just before Jake's Market.
From Ludlow: Take Rte. 103 South to Rte. 10. Take Rte. 10 East 5 miles to Rte. 106 South in North Springfield. Take Rte. 106 South into Springfield. At Rte. 11, take Rte. 11 East into the business section of Springfield. Continue straight on Rte. 11 at the light at Summer St. At the next light, a flashing yellow signal where Rte. 11 turns to head toward I-91, do not turn left toward I-91. Instead, proceed straight ahead just a few feet to the Stop sign and then go straight across the intersection and up the South St. hill. Continue straight at the top of the hill for about 1/4 mile. The Players' Studio is a 1-story red building on the right at 165 South Street, just before Jake's Market.
From North Springfield: Take Rte. 106 South into Springfield. At Rte. 11, take Rte. 11 East into the business section of Springfield. Continue straight on Rte. 11 at the light at Summer St. At the next light, a flashing yellow signal where Rte. 11 turns to head toward I-91, do not turn left toward I-91. Instead, proceed straight ahead just a few feet to the Stop sign and then go straight across the intersection and up the South St. hill. Continue straight at the top of the hill for about 1/4 mile. The Players' Studio is a 1-story red building on the right at 165 South Street, just before Jake's Market.
Copyright © 2020 Springfield Community Players. All Rights Reserved.
Vermont Web Design and Vermont Web Hosting by AdvantageCreations.com.