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All posts tagged social media
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Facebook Security Tips To Protect You And Your Friends
With social media playing such an important role in everyone's day-to-day lives, one has to wonder how this can affect the security of online accounts and profiles. Social media might have revolutionized the way we communicate with others, but it's also revolutionized the way that hackers stalk their victims.
Imagine this worst case scenario:
Hackers can impersonate your friends or the people you trust easily enough. If your profiles are set to public, nothing is stopping them from browsing your personal information (phone number, email, address), posts on your wall, pictures, videos, and more.
This is all information that helps hackers determine how and when they will target you, or worse, the people you know. The unique issue with social media attacks is that hackers can take advantage of both digital and physical variables in their favor, making it extra important that you take the proper precautions with your approach to social media. To avoid these unnerving possibilities, try these tips to lock down your Facebook account.
Use the Privacy Checkup Shortcut
Upon clicking the padlock icon in the top-right corner of Facebook (near your notifications), you'll notice that there's a new feature called privacy shortcuts. These allow you to quickly and efficiently access some of Facebook's best privacy and security features. By clicking on the Privacy Checkup button, a friendly bipedal blue dinosaur will guide you through a short process. You can set your default post status (public, private, etc), the apps that have access to your account, and certain parts of your profile information. You can then choose to view your profile as either one of your friends, or a stranger, to see if the changes you made were to your specifications.
Enable Login Notifications
You probably know someone who has had their Facebook account hacked. This happens because people are unaware that their accounts have been compromised. Facebook has a measure dedicated to informing you of when someone logs into your account, and from where. You can receive these notifications either through your Facebook notification bar, email, or text messaging.
Facebook also allows you to see where your account is currently logged in, as well as the last location the device connected from. This includes device, operating system, and physical location, effectively allowing you to eliminate suspicious activity before too much damage is done. Click End Activity, which will give them the boot and give you some time to change your password.
Take Advantage of Two-Factor Authentication
Facebook has two-factor authentication, too, which uses a PIN sent to your smartphone to act as an additional login credential. You can also access the Code Generator application on your mobile phone, which gives you a security code that lets you access your account. This helps keep your account open to you and only you.
October 19, 2015 Thomas Fox - Blog	Facebook, privacy, security, social media
Want More Creative Photos?
Our smartphones now allow us to take more photos than ever before, but even as those cameras get better, they still don't allow you to take DSLR-quality images. For that, you still need big sensors and the right kind of lens for the right kind of situation. PhotoSpotLand is a new service for those of us who still like to travel with "real" cameras in order to take images that a smartphone just can't handle. It's a mix between a travel site and photographer community, along with a strong focus on helping you become a better photographer.
At its most basic, you can use the service to find great spots to take images. For that, you can either use the website or the company's recently updated mobile app. What's different about PhotoSpotLand compared to a photo-sharing service is that it shows you everything about the kind of equipment others used in this spot to take a certain photo and other photographers can share tips about the location, too (best time to take an image, whether you'll need a tripod, etc.).
The other aspect is that PhotoSpotLand also tries to help you meet up with other photographers while you are traveling. That part of the service, however, will only really come into play once PhotoSpotLand launches its mobile app in the coming weeks (it's only available in a private beta right now).
What makes the mobile app stand out is that you only need is a working cell connection to send and receive text (SMS) messages — you don't need to have a data connection. PhotoSpotLand smartly encodes your location and other data into a message and can receive information the same way. There is no way to share an image this way, of course, but it's good enough for exchanging location data when necessary. The company argues that this can help users save on international data costs, though your text messages will obviously still cost you a few cents if you want to use this service. The company has applied for a patent on this technology.
For now, the service is still officially in beta, so the number of photo spots that have data available isn't all that high. In Italy, however, the selection is far better, but that's also due to the fact that the company is partially based there. The team is obviously aware of this issue — which any new online community faces — and is working on a program to incentivize travel bloggers to upload photos and spots to the service.
October 27, 2014 Thomas Fox - Blog	photography, photos, social media
Researchers find data leaks in Instagram, Grindr, OoVoo and more
University of New Haven researchers have uncovered a host of data-leakage problems in Instagram, Vine, Nimbuzz, OoVoo, Voxer and several other Android apps.
The problems include storing images and videos in unencrypted form on Web sites, storing chat logs in plaintext on the device, sending passwords in plaintext, and in the case of TextPlus, storing screenshots of app usage the user didn't take.
People may assume that sending messages, pictures and location maps to friends using the same app is private, but it's not.
Some of the problems are similar to privacy problems in the Viber text-messaging app that the group detailed earlier this year. There, the service stored image files unencrypted on a publicly available Web server. That's exactly what's happening now with Facebook's Instagram, OoVoo, Grindr, HeyWire and TextPlus, the researchers found. Here are the other problems identified:
Tango and MessageMe left videos on a server, also unencrypted. TextMe and Nimbuzz stored passwords in plaintext on the device.
Apps that sent text, images, location maps, music and video unencrypted over the network were Instagram, OKCupid, OoVoo, Tango, Kik, Nimbuzz, MeetMe, MessageMe, TextMe, Grindr, HeyWire, Hike and TextPlus. (Not all of them sent all forms unencrypted.)
Several apps also stored chat logs unencrypted on the device. That includes Twitter's Vine, TextPlus, Nimbuzz, TextMe, MeetMe, SayHi, Kik, OoVoo, HeyWire, Hike, MyChat, WeChat, GroupMe, Whisper, Line, Voxer and Zynga's Words with Friends.
All in all, the researchers estimate 968 million people total use the apps
With private messaging features, naturally, your expectation for privacy is heightened. The data often isn't actually protected. In the current climate of government snooping and identity theft, that could be a problem financially or personally.
The researchers found the unencrypted data by monitoring the devices' network traffic, seeing words they'd type into the apps appear in plaintext over the network, and by examining files captured with in-device backup software. The organization hasn't analyzed apps running on iOS, Apple's mobile operating system.
In a statement, Grindr said only, "We monitor and review all reports of security issues regularly. As such, we continue to evaluate and make ongoing changes as necessary to protect our users."
September 10, 2014 Thomas Fox - Blog	data leak, privacy, social media

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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What the Tech? App of the Day: Scholly
Alabama News Network Staff,
Posted: Sep 2, 2022 2:29 PM CDT
Updated: Sep 2, 2022 2:46 PM CDT
by Alabama News Network Staff
Now is the time to start applying for college scholarships for next school year. This app can help.
Montgomery Teen Is Awarded 1.3 Million In Scholarships And Has Over 21 College Acceptance Letters
Posted: Mar 3, 2022 10:27 PM CST
Updated: Mar 3, 2022 10:28 PM CST
17-year old Omarion Calloway, a senior at Park Crossing High School in Montgomery, has been accepted into over 21 universities, including New York University, Howard University, and Hampton University, and has received more than $1.3 million in scholarships.
What the Tech? How to Find College Scholarship Money Using an App
Posted: Aug 6, 2021 2:08 PM CDT
This is the time for high school seniors to begin searching and applying for college scholarships. There are thousands of available college scholarships that most students will never find out about.
What the Tech? App of the Day: Scholly Search
Posted: Sep 24, 2019 12:56 PM CDT
With rising tuition costs and the real possibility of the student leaving school with a mountain of debt, college scholarships are imperative. There are thousands of scholarships available and one app can help you find them. It's called Scholly and although it can pay thousands of dollars for school, many parents have never heard of it. Once you're logged in,…


We have a wide range of experience in caring for the variety of sheep enterprises in the South West. We conduct individual flock health meetings throughout the year to ensure that best practice is in place before the tupping and lambing seasons, as well as offering advice on growing lamb care, based around disease control and other health issues. All the usual health care essentials are also catered for in respect to worming, vaccination policies and fire-brigade work.
We have a new Sheep Discussion Group aimed at larger flocks, to encourage a more pro-active approach to health planning. If you would like to attend or receive more details of upcoming meetings please contact the office on 01666 823035.
Download our SHEEP WORMING PLANNER - Use it as a guide and call us if you have any questions.
We are aware of the different challenges facing our organic clients, and are experienced in working within the organic regulations. Our focus on preventative medicine ties in closely with the organic principles, and it is an approach we encourage on all farms, organic and conventional.


The SPIMHP team produce a regular newsletter. The newsletter shares information about current services and research, highlights training and professional development opportunities and new resources in the field of perinatal and infant mental health. Each issue goes out to approximately 550 people working in, or interested in perinatal and infant mental health. We encourage people to get in touch with us if they have relevant ideas or information about PIMH to share for upcoming issues.
The newsletter is targeted to people working in perinatal and infant mental health, but may be of interest to others and anyone is able to sign up to receive the newsletter. Please email us with your full name, occupation and email address you wish to receive the newsletter to to subscribe.


Amazing place to work, fantastic experience. I would definitely do it again if I can.
I have been treated well by all colleagues regardless of their position.
My manager is very supportive, great at constructive criticism and by far the best manager I had.
Our regular meetings helped me identify and address which technical skills need improving.
To get the most out of any placement my suggestion is to treat it like a full time job.
I was given and trusted with the responsibility of a full time employer. There are plenty of opportunities to get involved in projects outside your team.
I gained invaluable practical engineering experience ,developed new technical skills and enhanced my existing skills.
I would definitely like to come back as a graduate.


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Q: Get Facebook Page Fan's Birthday To Send Birthday Greetings? I was wondering if it would be possible to get a list of a Facebook Page fans and their birthday, then on their birthday have it post a birthday greeting on their wall? I want to do this without the use of a Facebook App and have it post directly from the Facebook Page to the users/fans wall (possibly using OpenGraph and PHP?). I just want to know if this can be done and what I should utilize in the Facebook API?

A: You cannot get details about a fan or post to their timeline / wall without using an app. There are separate permissions required to achieve what you are trying to do, and none of these are possible without using an app, and getting the user to install the app (with the correct permissions).

A: Use Facebook Ads and target your fan base only on their birthday. Facebook allows you to post the ad to fans but only on their birthdays. Click here for details
http://michaelbrandvold.com/blog/2011/01/2000-things-to-generate-20000-fans-wish-your-fans-a-happy-birthday/

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


"Rise & shine" is kind of tough when it's the dead of winter and the sun doesn't come up until 7:30am. I count it as a win if I can manage to get up in time to do a full workout before the sun rises — and a MAJOR win if I get to work early on top of that.
So I live about 2 minutes away from a Dominos Pizza, and it's a daily test of my strength. I have to walk by it on my way home from work, and on warm summer nights the entire street smells like delicious cheesy pizza. How horrible is that?
If I keep telling myself summer is coming soon, maybe this miserable "spring" weather will finally get its s#!+ together…right? In an effort to help summer speed up, I made a potluck-style pesto pasta salad this week to get myself in the summer mindset leading up to Memorial Day Weekend.
"When I go out wok-in I strut my stuff & I'm so soyed out" - Blister In The Skillet I'm pretty much always looking for an excuse to use my chopsticks. 🍜Yaniv and I tag teamed this dinner (he was in charge of opening the wine and making the soshito peppers.) Loved that it was so colorful and full of veggies 😋. Recipe below! *** CAULIFLOWER RICE STIR FRY WITH BLISTERED SOSHITOS PEPPERS Servings: 4 — [Cauliflower Rice] •sesame oil •soy sauce •Trader Joe's Everything But The Bagel spice •1.5 lb chicken, cubed •2 eggs •5 stalks bok choy, stems chopped finely and leaves chopped loosely •2 red bell peppers, diced •1 medium white onion, diced (I went rogue and bought pre-chopped stock mix with onion, celery, and carrots!) •1 bag Trader Joe's frozen cauliflower rice •2 tbsp cashews, chopped — [Soshito Peppers] •1 bag soshito peppers •sesame oil •soy sauce •juice/zest of 1 orange — [Instructions] 1. In a large skillet, scramble the eggs on medium-low and cook until done. Remove from pan and set aside in a small bowl. 2. Season chicken with everything spice. Heat 1tbsp of sesame oil in the skillet over medium-high heat, add chicken and cover until fully cooked. Drain and set the chicken aside in a bowl. 3. Re-oil pan and add all veggies except the cauliflower. Let simmer for 10-15 minutes. Add frozen cauliflower rice and soy sauce, cook until heated through. Add chicken + egg + a bit more soy sauce. Divide into 4 bowls and sprinkle everything spice on top! 4. In a separate pan, heat 1tsp sesame oil on medium-hot heat. Add soshitos, cook until blistered. 5. Mix soy sauce, sesame oil, and juice/zest of an orange for the dipping sauce.
Grabbin life by the ballz 😂 I just moved to San Diego, and one of the most exciting things about the move for me (other than the weather) was the fact that I'll be working early bird hours and done by 3pm local time! This means I can actually eat dinner at a reasonable hour and spend more time on my personal passions like cooking healthy meals, working out, and sharing those things on social media! This week I went totally off book in the kitchen and invented these Double Coco Peanut Butter Protein Balls! Psyched about these because they are delish, my boyfriend loves them so I won't eat them all myself, and they are 100 calories and 10% of your daily value of protein! 🎊 💪🏼 Recipe below: ~ *DOUBLE COCO PB PROTEIN BALLS* Yields: 25 protein balls (1/serving) — [Balls] •3/4 cup dates •1 cup almonds •1.5 cup oats (divided into 1c + 1/2c) •2 scoops vanilla protein powder •pinch of sea salt •6 tbsp peanut butter (I used the peanut-only kind with no added anything!) •1 tsp honey •1 banana — [Topping] •2 tbsp cocoa nibs •2 tbsp chia seeds •2 tbsp unsweetened coconut — [Instructions] 1. In a @vitamix or food processor, combine dates, almonds, 1c oats, protein, and a pinch of sea salt. Mixture should be powdery like flour. 2. Add peanut butter & honey, blend for 30 secs more. 3. Add the banana, blend until smooth. 4. Stir in the remaining 1/2c oats by hand and refrigerate for 30 min. 5. Mix topping ingredients in a bowl. Roll batter into 1" balls and roll in topping mixture. Refrigerate until ready to eat!
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MANAGE=$(PWD)/tmp/$(PROJECT_NAME)/manage.py

docs:
	rst2html README.rst > index.html && zip docs.zip index.html

clear:
	rm -rf index.html docs.zip build dist django_simple_help.egg-info tmp

build:
	./setup.py bdist_wheel sdist

upload:
	./setup.py bdist_wheel sdist upload

create-virtualenv:
	virtualenv tmp/.env/`arch`

pip-install:
	pip install Django

startproject:
	cd tmp && django-admin.py startproject $(PROJECT_NAME)

makemessages:
	cd $(PROJECT_NAME);\
	for locale in `ls locale`; do\
		$(MANAGE) makemessages --locale=$$locale --extension=py,html,txt;\
	done

compilemessages:
	$(MANAGE) compilemessages

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


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Thursday, May 17, 2012 - Fairlane Center, University of Michigan-Dearborn
Presentation: "Engaged Learning at the Environmental Interpretive Center"
Awards Established, July 1, 2011- April 30, 2012
(No report)
Recommended promotions to the ranks of professor and associate professor, 2012-2013 (click here)
Recommendations for approval of reappointments of regular instructional staff and selected administrative staff
Recommendations for approval of leaves of absence for regular instructional staff and selected academic administrative staff
Recommendations for approval of joint or additional appointments or transfers of regular associate or full professors and selected administrative staff
University of Michigan -Flint
Ann Arbor campus
Adoption of retirement memoirs for Yvonne Abdoo, Ph.D., assistant professor of nursing; Joanne F. Carlisle, Ph.D., professor of education; Todd M. Endelman, Ph.D., William Haber Professor of Modern Jewish History, professor of history, and professor of Judiac studies; Claes Fornell, Ph.D., Donald C. Cook Distinguished Professor of Business Administration and professor of marketing; Margret H. Höft, Ph.D., professor of mathematics, UM-Dearborn; Shuen-fu Lin, Ph.D., professor of Chinese languages and literatures; Guy A. Meadows, Ph.D., professor of physical oceanography and academic director; Ronald P. Morash, Ph.D., professor of mathematics, UM-Dearborn; Robert M. Owen, Ph.D., Arthur F. Thurnau Professor, professor of marine geochemistry, and professor of the environment; Theodosia S. Robertson, Ph.D., associate professor of history, UM-Flint; Dennis G. Severance, Ph.D., Accenture Professor of Computer and Information Systems and professor of computer and information systems; R. Shantaram, Ph.D., associate professor of computer science, UM-Flint; Robert L. Smith, Ph.D., Altarum/ERIM Russell D. O'Neal Professor of Engineering and professor of industrial and operations engineering; John D. Speth, Ph.D., Arthur F. Thurnau Professor, professor of anthropology, and curator of North American Archaeology; Karl E. Weick, Ph.D., Rensis Likert Distinguished University Professor of Organizational Behavior and Psychology, professor of organizational behavior, and professor of psychology; Roland J. Wiley, Ph.D., professor of music (musicology); Reg Arthur Williams, Ph.D., professor of nursing and professor of psychiatry
Information and Technology Services Year 2013 Annual Maintenance Program
Planned Uses of Income from the Julian A. Wolfson and the Marguerite Wolfson Endowment Funds for the fiscal year 2012-2013
University of Michigan Hospitals and Health Centers Livingston County Survival Flight Hangar
University of Michigan Hospitals and Health Centers University Hospital and A. Alfred Taubman Health Care Center Fire Alarm Upgrades
"MINTS" Program Investment Agreements between the University of Michigan and Ambiq Micro, Inc.
Lease Amendment Agreement with Phrixus Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Lease Amendment Agreement with Silicium Energy Inc.
Lease Amendment Agreement with Civionics LLC
Lease Amendment Agreement with 3D Biomatrix Inc.
Authorization to enter into an agreement with NanoBio Corporation (withdrawn)
Extension of contract with Michigan Interiorscaping LLC
Authorization to enter into an agreement with Cornell Farms, LLC
Authorization to enter into an agreement with ArborMetrix
License Agreement between the University of Michigan and Arborlight, LLC
Software Evaluation Agreement between the University of Michigan and ImBio, LLC
Research Agreement between the University of Michigan and JV BioLabs, LLC
License Agreement between the University of Michigan and Rhythm Solutions
License Agreement between the University of Michigan and SenSigma, Inc.
License Agreement between the University of Michigan and Silicium Energy
License Agreement between the University of Michigan and Structured Microsystems, LLC
Amendment to Option Agreement between the University of Michigan and Wolverine Energy Solutions & Technologies, Inc.
Proposed Revisions to Regents' Bylaws 11.38 and 11.58
New Undergraduate Degree program in the School of Information ("Bachelor of Arts or Science in Information")


In my first sales job, I visited over 100 potential customers a week. Every time I walked into a company and asked to see the person who could make a decision to buy the kind of product I was selling, I did so with trepidation. Each time, it became harder and more nerve wracking.
When I occasionally got to talk to decision makers, I was uncomfortable just trying to build a little rapport with them. After 4 months, I had sold nothing, I was thoroughly discouraged, and I was ready to quit.
Then I got lucky. The top salesperson in the huge company that employed me agreed to let me go on sales calls with him. I learned a new way of selling by carefully observing how he worked. I also learned that his truly relaxed way of communicating set him apart from other salespeople.
He did not do any of the typical rapport building techniques that salespeople are taught. He knew how to control the conversation confidently without controlling the prospect. After watching him for a couple of days, I learned how to do that by practicing his way of communicating with everyone I met.
Five years later, I was a highly successful salesperson and managed my first sales force. Since that time, I have hired, trained, and managed hundreds of salespeople. Most of them exhibited the same kind of anxiety that I did as a neophyte salesperson, even after they had been in sales for years. I taught many of them how to be relaxed and confident, and they became much more successful.
Just as I did, people can learn to talk to almost anyone with confidence in their competence if they get the right kind of training and practice.
It was 1995 when business owner Jerry Rubin became a student of High Probability Prospecting. He immediately valued the course and it's teaching, but admits to never quite working the program like he was taught.
Little by little he "diluted" his opening introduction, moving further and further away from what he was taught. He started asking "is that something you're willing to take a look at?" instead of asking "is that something you want?" Rubin admits that there were many times he drove hours to talk to a lead that was "willing to look at" his material and product, only to drive home empty handed and frustrated.
Rubin's "ah-HA" moment came years later, and came in the form of a new employee. As he trained his new hire he remembered the High Probability Selling system and realized the error of his ways. This new realization was sharpened by the fact he was now paying someone else whether he was making a sale or not. Rubin witnessed his new hire working HPS the way it should be, asking for commitments from prospects and getting them.
"Getting a commitment took on whole new meaning, and the light bulb came on," Rubin adds. He took over the reins and started using High Probability Prospecting the way it was designed; asking for the commitment from the leads that were being generated. He immediately saw results and reports he is getting a commitment from 80% of the prospecting calls he makes.
How Scientific is "Scientific Selling"?
I got my first college degree in 1955, with a major in Industrial Sales. They were calling it Scientific Selling back then, which is just another form of needs based selling. The "science" was from a real scientific study of how most people make buying decisions. The result of that study was a simple buying decision model, showing how a buyer goes through these 5 stages: Attention, Interest, Desire, Conviction, and Action (AIDCA).
The original scientific study did not include anything about how to use the AIDCA buying decision model to create a selling process. Nor did it suggest that this model could be used as a basis for manipulating people's minds. However, that is exactly how most salespeople began using it.
The Information Age and the Internet have made the alternative to needs based selling much more attractive. Today, most top sales producers use some form of wants based selling.


Our mission is to encourage sustainable consumption by inspiring people to make small, regular changes in their shopping which are good for them, better for the environment and fairer to others. Our vision is that all products and services become sustainable so really we want every product on the market to be awarded as many badges as possible.
Giki is a Social Enterprise. Our mission is to encourage sustainable consumption by inspiring people to make small, regular changes in their shopping which are good for them, better for the environment and fairer to others.


My point in everything is helping my community and the various populations therein to influence the systems that affect them. My goal in life is about mentorship, about figuring out how to instruct others to fulfill their purpose and understand the sense of self-awareness and application of spirituality to everyday life. To understand that we are worthwhile: economically, politically, educationally, and spiritually. We have a lot to offer.
Ross also appears regularly on various talk shows and news programs to discuss current issues – from politics to sports, pop culture to history, the environment to immigration – and all the intersections with Native life and national dialogues about race. He also writes and speaks about historic and contemporary relations between African Americans and Native Americans.
This video is a collection of Gyasi Ross appearances from shows such as The ED Show, MSNBC and ESPN among others and provides an insight into the problems facing us as a nation of blended cultures.


Persistent Storage is coming to Diego! IBM, Pivotal, and EMC have partnered to extend the Cloud Foundry runtime to include persistence storage. We discuss the approach we are taking, how distributed filesystems and block storage services fit well with our service broker abstraction. and how we plan to offer these services in the marketplace. An overview of the types of storage, their differences, and the effect they have on scheduling and the application lifecycle will be discussed. Example use cases for each type of storage will be covered. We will also discuss the pros and cons of running databases and other services directly on Cloud Foundry.


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Thunder Valley Casino Resort, 10:30 p.m., $54.50-$74.50
By Jonathan Mendick
When I interviewed Tower of Power bandleader Emilio Castillo several years ago, he told me that when he was a kid, his band's goal was to travel from Oakland to play a topless bar in Sacramento. Forty years later, hopefully no one goes topless when the band visits the area to play a New Year's Eve party at Thunder Valley Casino Resort. The group is known for its deep-pounding grooves and hits such as "Soul Vaccination," "What Is Hip?" and "Diggin' on James Brown." It's the ultimate live dance music, as nearly every song is an open invitation from the band to hit the dance floor. 1200 Athens Avenue in Lincoln, www.towerofpower.com.
Ring in the new year with some twangy country music at The Hideaway Bar & Grill.


In theory, the idea of the 12 required credits of foreign languages for the Faculty of Arts is one supported by most students — but the realities of making them required are problematic to many.
Serina Spaingreene, a fourth-year psychology major, sees both the pros and cons of the language requirement, which has been in place at UBC since 1915 and is a common feature of degrees from many universities.
For international students like Spaingreene, achieving 12 credits for the language requirement at around $900 per credit equates to nearly $11,000 in tuition costs.
Other students view the language requirement as a positive opportunity for intercultural understanding.
Stefania Burk, associate dean academic for the Faculty of Arts, believes that foreign languages are a fundamental knowledge base for students with an Arts degree to have, although she can see the disadvantages as well.
Jenna Omassi, AMS VP academic and university affairs, agrees with Burk. "[The requirement] is meant to ensure that students are truly well-rounded ... and that they can come out of UBC with potentially a new language or even elementary proficiency in a new language," she said.
I think that's a very positive experience for people because nowadays we need language to get into jobs … But I think to have it required is very difficult.
According to Burk, when the requirement was first established, students were mostly monolingual and it made sense to have it. Seeing the influx of bilingual students at UBC, however, Burk suggests that there should be reconsideration for the rationale behind the requirement.
Although the benefits of studying a foreign language are clear to Burk, she said the discussion around requirements is ongoing.


Off the Square Player's spring play, "The Cemetery Club," opens Friday night at Ivan's Backstage on the East Troy Village Square.
The play will run April 5, 6, 12, 13 and 14. Friday and Saturday show times are 7:30 p.m. The Sunday matinee will be at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15.
The show features Ann Morrow, East Troy; Beth Perry, Elkhorn; Joan Hay, Delavan; Anne Wales, Elkhorn; and Jeff Gepfert, East Troy.
Nugent said this is the second time she's directed the play, the first about 18 years ago with The Good Company in Lake Geneva.
"One of my cast members was in that production, in a different role, and one woman has done the same role before, but for the other three, it's a new show," Nugent said.
The play is about three widows who meet each month for tea and to visit their husbands' grave. Each woman is coping with the loss of their spouse in a different way. Their routine is disrupted when they meet a widower at the cemetery who is visiting his wife's grave.
Nugent said the cast has enjoyed getting to know their characters and each other.
As in the past, the Players are donating some of the proceeds to a local charity.
Tickets are still available and Ivan's on the Square is taking reservations for dinner/lunch before the show. Ivan's will also have a signature drink for the show, but Nugent said she didn't know what it would be yet.


I interviewed a friend of mine who is working as an ALT (assistant language teacher) on the JET Program (Japan Exchange and Teaching). She wanted to tell her story about her experience working in Japan with chronic illness and hoped it would be helpful to others worried about their own disabilities.
I'm a third year JET ALT who teaches junior high and elementary English in Eastern Japan. In my third year, I became a member of a prefectural JET committee which creates prefecture-wide conferences and seminars for all JETs. I am also an ALT leader at my city's Board of Education.
I am diagnosed with fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, Hashimoto's disease, and depression and anxiety, among various other chronic illnesses/disorders.
Well it varies for people depending on the severity of their symptoms, but for me, it means that I am in pain virtually every moment of every day. Sometimes it's excruciating, other times it's just an annoying, deep hurting, but it's always there in some form or another.
The other big issue is fatigue. It's much deeper than feeling "tired". I can't remember what it feels like to feel well-rested or energetic. I'm constantly a varying degree of absolutely exhausted.
There's a lot more to it, but those are personally my two main struggles.
Did you include information about your disabilities when you applied to JET?
I was very nervous to include it all so I can very much understand why a prospective JET would be too.
My strategy was honesty, with reassurances from my doctor written next to each illness. I know a lot of us are afraid to put that information down and not get accepted, but I wanted to be up-front and honest and I felt that I had nothing to be ashamed of or to hide.
I also wanted the JET Program to be aware of my limitations when considering where to place me.
I was sure to include a positive note from my doctor noting that I had been under treatment for six years at that point and that my health issues were "stable." She was really kind and went the extra mile without me asking and wrote that she had no doubt that I would be a valued employee.
How do you think your JET experience has varied from that of the average JET?
Well, the life of someone with chronic illness will always be at least a bit differently lived than someone without that struggle.
I like to tell friends and family about the "Spoon Theory". This theory describes having an allotted amount of energy and when you run out of energy, you can borrow energy from the allotment you have for the next activity or day, but that means you'll burn out eventually and not be able to complete tasks. That's a good way to describe how I function.
So at work, I push through the day and give it my all, but unfortunately that leaves me without enough "spoons" (energy) to do other things.
I knew coming into JET that the majority of my energy would be invested in my work with very little allotment for anything else. That's the price of working full-time. When I come home from work, I rest and sleep. I don't often have time or energy for "extra" things. I spend a lot of my vacation time at home recovering rather than traveling. And I socialize a lot less than a majority of JETs because I just don't have the spoons.
I sometimes feel like I've somehow cheated the kids out of having a "real" ALT. I stress out every time I don't have what I see in my mind as the ideal ALT's level of energy in class. I feel a certain level of grief when I can't go run around on the playground with the kids like other ALTs. I feel guilt when I occasionally can't muster the spoons to go help out at cleaning time. The list goes on.
But my ideas about this have gradually changed over my years on JET. I started thinking about it differently.
Sure, I can't participate in sports at recess, but I can play cards and games!
I can make colorful posters to cheer the kids on at school festivals, to welcome new students to the school, to encourage them before entrance exams, or to celebrate their graduations.
I can make a sign for sports competitions and cheer the kids on with all my might while I wave the sign around like a fool.
I can teach English music in class and play the guitar.
I can create an English media library for kids to check out English music and books.
My second and third year have been more focused on my "can" list than my "can't".
And honestly, I've learned that a lot of the students don't actually want an overly bubbly, hyper, (sometimes fake-seeming) ALT. A lot of them respond better when I'm mellow and talk with them as my authentic self.
Some of them know that I have Hashimoto's disease because I was diagnosed with it here in Japan. I haven't had the courage to tell people about anything else.
There are many reasons why I didn't tell people, but ultimately my main reason for not telling them has been not wanting to change our relationship.
I am depended on by my team-teaching partners for an enormous amount of work, and I don't want anyone to feel like they can't give me that responsibility. I want to work hard and be dependable, and I've always been terrified of being tip-toed around.
What has been the response from the JET community?
How about the response from the local Japanese community?
The support from Japanese community members has been overwhelmingly positive.
I'm a member of a local choir and several of the women know. One woman in particular, a dear friend, went so far out of her way to find a book on fibromyalgia (a topic very unknown in Japan still), read the medical jargon-filled book, research online, and search for pain clinics for me, all without me asking for any of it. She sends me texts and letters asking how I'm feeling when the weather takes a turn for the worse.
This, by far, has quite possibly been the single most compassionate response I have ever had to explaining my life.
All-in-all, are you happy you did JET?
I've grown immeasurably during my time on JET, both personally and a professionally. I've had some truly life-changing experiences here. I wouldn't be the same person if I hadn't experienced the last three years. I'm more independent and confident.
I'm satisfied that I've succeeded at my job. I was able to chase my dream of living in Japan again and my Japanese skills have sky-rocketed and I finally know what career I might want to pursue come July. I even met my husband through the JET Program!
Ultimately, despite my challenges, I want to live my life to the fullest and tackle the goals that I have for myself. If I hadn't at least applied for JET, I would have regretted missing the opportunity. I never want my disabilities to determine what level of success I can reach in my life. I won't let the challenges determine my path.
Finally, any advice for prospective JETs with disabilities?
1) Making sure that you are in a physically, emotionally, and mentally stable state is key to ensuring your success.
If you find yourself struggling to stay afloat back home, taking another year to stabilize and applying the next year may be wise choice. And there's no shame in that whatsoever.
2) Arm yourself with as many tools as possible.
Research Japan. If you have never been abroad or to Japan, research culture shock and cultural fatigue, and learn at least basic language skills. Write out and learn key medical care phrases. Print out cards with vocabulary or phrases you may need when ill. Prepare a small medical binder with any info you think is necessary to have with you. The more you can prepare yourself beforehand, the more secure you'll feel.
3) Keep in touch with your support back home.
Sometimes people underestimate the emotional toll of moving abroad. Skype family and friends, email your support group, text best friends, post on forums, play MMORPGs. Anything! Just be sure to keep in touch and remember everyone is still there when you need them, even if they seem a galaxy away.
4) Make sure that you have a treatment plan firmly in place before you leave.
Also that you have coping skills to fall back on when things get tough. Make sure that your medicine and treatment plans are readily available in Japan or that someone back home is willing and able to legally and reliably send you what you need.
5) Be ready for challenges, but also be ready for wonderful things. On the other hand, don't feel bad when you have to say no to things.
Some JET participants will push the idea of "Say 'Yes!' to everything!" as a means of pushing the limits of your comfort zone and experiencing things you might not have. While saying yes is instrumental, running yourself ragged within a month of coming is certain to be bad times. Remember to save your spoons and spend them wisely.
6) Stand strong and know yourself.
In any community we live in, we will always meet at least one person who treats us terribly due to our challenges. Try not to let those people hurt or influence you. You are strong. And you are worthy. And those people have no idea what they're talking about.
7) Lastly, as annoying as it is to hear pre-departure…every situation really is different.
No placement on JET is exactly alike, so each JET has to find their own way to a certain extent, but there are resources at the ready: predecessors, fellow JETs, AJET, CLAIR, etc. In time, community members and coworkers will be there as well. Be ready to roll with the punches and take change and challenge in stride.


Madison public officials, students and educators crowded behind a podium at the Doyle Administration Building in Madison, and asked state and federal representatives to call a special session to take up legislation on guns.
These requests came in the form of a press conference Monday and a petition that has been delivered to Gov. Scott Walker and U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Janesville.
preventing domestic violence offenders from owning firearms.
Parisi criticized Ryan and Walker on their inaction to take up gun reform.
"They have the power to make a difference in the gun violence epidemic; so far, they've done nothing," Parisi said. "Today we are calling on them to lead, to lead our community, state and nation who want action."
The petition comes less than two weeks after a mass shooting at a high school in Parkland, Florida that left 17 people dead.
"We're calling on them to be true leaders," Parisi continued. "Because true leaders serve their community, not the gun lobby."
Madison Metropolitan School District Superintendent Jennifer Cheatham also called on legislators to put the safety of students first.
"Our students have the right to learn and thrive in an environment that nurtures their talents, their sense of belonging, and their joy without having to worry about the threat of a school shooting," Cheatham said.
Students from area high schools listened as representatives called for their safety.
Ellis Kondrashov, a freshman at Madison East High School, said he's afraid of someone coming into his school with a gun, and that it's important for legislators to listen to students.
"We're the ones who are the most affected," he said. "We're the ones who would be killed if a shooter came into the school, not any of the lawmakers. And I kind of doubt that many of them grew up in a time where this was such a central fear in schools and such a big issue."
Madison's Board of Education will be reading a resolution on gun safety Monday night. Board President James Howard said the resolution will call for, "sensible legislation around gun control."
Howard went on to say that gun control is a community issue, not just a school issue. Speaking alongside public officials, he addressed a question of emergency resources officers and the state Assembly passing funding for more armed guards in schools.
"How many EROs in schools would make you happy and comfortable?" he said. "How many do we have to put in? One? Five? Ten? Remember schools aren't prisons, they're a place for kids to come and learn, enjoy themselves and to learn to be adults."
Howard added that the community needed to handle the bigger problem.
"The core issue is the accessibility to guns and the lack of legislation to govern their use," he said.
Students in Madison and across the country are planning a school walkout March 14 to protest gun violence.
The governor's office did not respond to a request for comment by deadline.


Home › Dress Set Outfit "Solid Teal Ruffle"
Dress Set Outfit "Solid Teal Ruffle"
This cute cotton dress set comes with the long sleeve top and solid ruffle pants. Pants have an elastic waist to help them fit over cloth!
Cotton/spandex blend top, cotton/spandex blend pants.


Abstract: This study was conducted in Nallıhan Bird Paradise (Nallıhan, Ankara), which displays seasonal wetland characteristics. Within the scope of this study, a 12 month field study between August 2000 and July 2001 was carried out in order to determine the avifauna of Nallıhan Bird Paradise. One hundred and thirty bird species belonging to 14 orders and 41 families were recorded in the study area. It was concluded that this area was probably used by a total of 41 actual and/or possible bird species for breeding purposes.


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Officer's Choice Blue lauds people who choose the right path in life
Created by Metaphor Communications, the campaign featuring MS Dhoni acknowledges and salutes all who do not, and did not, resort to any 'setting' in life
BestMediaInfo Bureau Mumbai, November 09, 2018
Click on the image to watch the TVC.
Officer's Choice Blue Snacks has launched its new TVC campaign featuring Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Created by Metaphor Communications, the campaign takes a stand on the core human values of integrity and doing things right.
The 45-second film begins with MS Dhoni acknowledging and saluting all who do not, and did not, resort to any 'setting' in life. Dhoni then walks us through 'slice of life' situations lauding the honesty of people who have not done any 'setting' to achieve their goals. The film smartly covers relatable issues of college admissions, traffic penalties, business contracts and elections. It also touches on social issues such as dowry and reinforces the importance of making the right choice. The TVC ends with the acknowledgement of, 'Salute Toh Banta Hai', for people who have not done any 'setting'. For them, the end does not justify the means, #setting nahi ki. The credibility of thought is built with Dhoni's candid narration, and the film is set stylishly with the transitions of different situations a visual delight.
Ahmed Rahimtoola, Head Marketing, Allied Blenders and Distillers, said, "Officer's Choice Blue snacks has always stood for a strong sense of purpose. Positioned on the platform of righteousness, the brand has built a distinctive personality around honesty and integrity. MS Dhoni as a brand embodies similar values and we found a strong fit to pursue this engagement. We're hoping #SettingNahinKi becomes an inspiration for people to walk the right path; no matter how harsh the challenge appears to be."
Speaking about the campaign, MS Dhoni, said, "Life is all about the choices we make; and those who make the right choice deserve a salute. I'm glad Officer's Choice Blue Snacks is inspiring people to always stay 'righteous' in walks of life, regardless of the difficulty of situation and severity of demands."
Jyotsna Parikh, Creative Head (Mumbai), Metaphor Communications, said, "Given the righteousness platform that the brand has been built on, connecting it to Dhoni's own principles in life was a natural progression. We're hoping #SettingNahinKi becomes an inspiration for people to walk the right path however difficult it may be."
Virendra Saini, Executive Director, Triton Communications, said, "The brand Officers Choice Blue with its differentiated positioning of righteousness has always inspired the common man to stand by what is right. The new creative interpretation of #SettingNahiKi is another beautiful idea that will resonate with the target group. From a successful launch in 2008 to this fitting association with MSD, it has been an enriching experience to be a part of this brand's growth trajectory. This will surely be a game changer."
Arun Pandey, Chairman of Rhiti Sports, said, "The whole nation looks up to MS Dhoni as an inspiration and this campaign is a sincere effort to laud the honest people of this country to chase their dreams the right way."
Client: Officer's Choice Blue
Agency: Metaphor (a group company of Triton Communications)
Executive Director: Virendra Saini
Servicing Team: Virendra Saini, Nehal Tolia, Khushboo Patil, Sagar Parikh
Creative Head Mumbai: Jyotsna Parikh
Script: Jyotsna Parikh
NCD: Ullas Chopra
Production House: DLB (Deepak Bhosle)
Director: Llyod Baptista
Client: Bikram Basu, Ahmed Rahimtoola
Tags: Officer's Choice Blue Metaphor Communications MS Dhoni


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Home PRESS RELEASE
Pirates return home to host cross-state rival Phillies and first-ever Yinzerpalooza on Friday, July 29
in PRESS RELEASE
STATEMENT OF U.S. ATTORNEY PHILIP R. SELLINGER
Press Release | Press Releases | Newsroom
The Pittsburgh Pirates are set host their cross-state rival Philadelphia Phillies to open up a seven game homestand beginning on Thursday, July 28. On Friday, July 29, the Pirates will ramp up the hometown atmosphere at PNC Park by hosting Yinzerpalooza, a night designed to celebrate all that's great about Pittsburgh, featuring a postgame concert from Pittsburgh-native band, The Clarks.
The night will begin with the first round of a pierogy eating contest on the Highmark Riverwalk. Twelve contestants made up of Pirates Season Ticket Holders, Pirates fans and social followers will face off before the grand prize finals take place during the game. The grand prize winner will receive a year's supply of Mrs. T's pierogies, Home Plate Club tickets to a future game and the opportunity to hold the finish line during the pierogy race.
The pregame ceremonies will continue with the Pittsburgh theme with a national anthem performance by The University of Pittsburgh Marching Band as part of University of Pitt Night tied to the Yinzerpalooza celebration. The first pitch honors will be held by a true Pittsburgh sports legend and two-time Super Bowl Champion, Ben Roethlisberger. It is only appropriate that Pirates All-Star Yinzer, David Bednar catch his first pitch.
"Pirates baseball is all about celebrating the great city of Pittsburgh in the summertime at PNC Park," said Team President Travis Williams, "Adding a special night to our promotional calendar as we face our cross-state rival the Phillies seemed like an obvious choice and a great opportunity to showcase our Pittsburgh pride."
In addition, there will be special appearances and autograph signings from former Pirates and MLB alumni Ken Macha, Kevin Orie, Chris Peters and John Wehner. The Pirate Parrot will be joined by Steely McBeam and Iceburgh for festivities throughout the night as fans can enjoy many fun surprises throughout the in-game presentation.
Also, on display at the Highmark Riverwalk will be special artwork by local Pittsburgh artists. Ten local Pittsburgh artists have each designed and decorated an MLB official sized home plate with artwork that represents what they love about Pittsburgh. Fans will have the chance to bid on these unique art pieces starting Wednesday, July 27 and concluding on Saturday, July 30.
Finally, following the game, there will be a postgame concert featuring the Pittsburgh-native band, The Clarks. With a highlight reel that includes the Late Show with David Letterman, The Simpsons and others, The Clarks are continuing their long and storied history on tour this summer.
Fans can purchase tickets at pirates.com/yinzerpalooza.
Other highlights of the upcoming homestand include:
Thursday, July 28 – Phillies vs. Pirates (7:05 p.m.)
• Sugardale Dollar Dog Night: Enjoy $1 hot dogs at select concession stands throughout PNC Park thanks to Sugardale.
Saturday, July 30 – Phillies vs. Pirates (7:15 p.m.)
• Jim Beam Block Party: Head to the game early and enjoy a Jim Beam Block Party featuring live music from East Coast Turnaround, food,
• Police and Firefighters Appreciation Night: Guardian Protection continued their support of our local heroes by purchasing and distributing thousands of tickets to local Police and Firefighters. Join us as we celebrate our local heroes.
• Zambelli Fireworks Night: Stay after the game to watch Zambelli Fireworks light up the city skyline presented by Guardian Protection.
• Penn State Night: Penn State alumni and fans are in for a treat with a special ticket offer celebrating Penn State at PNC Park. Tickets include a co-branded Pirates/Penn State water bottle and access to a pregame happy hour in the Left Field Lounge. A portion of each ticket purchased will benefit THON. This special ticket package may be purchased at pirates.com/PennState.
Sunday, July 31 – Phillies vs. Pirates (1:35 p.m.)
• Kids Days + Kids Poster Giveaway Get to Federal Street early to enjoy the Family Fun Zone with fun activities for the whole family. Enjoy a balloon artist, face painters, inflatables and more. In addition, all kids 14 & younger will receive a Pirates poster painted by local artist Johno Prascak.
• Kent State University Day: Kent State alumni and fans are in for a treat with a special ticket offer celebrating Kent State at PNC Park. Tickets include a co-branded Pirates/Kent State water bottle and access to a pregame happy hour in the Left Field Lounge. This special ticket package may be purchased at pirates.com/KentState.
• Kids of Steel: Members of Kids of STEEL can participate in a warning track parade during pregame. Special ticket purchase is required. Visit pirates.com/kidsofsteel.
Tuesday, August 2 – Brewers vs. Pirates (7:05 p.m.)
• Pup Night – Pirates fans with pups can enjoy a special Pup Night on the Rooftop at PNC Park. Seats are limited and can be purchased at pirates.com/pupnight.
Wednesday, August 3 – Brewers vs. Pirates (7:05 p.m.)
• Beer Passport Night – With a special ticket purchase, fans can enjoy an exclusive sampling of beers from FatHeads on the Highmark Riverwalk. All participants will also receive an exclusive Pirates koozie. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased at pirates.com/beerpassport.
• Josh Gibson MLB Hall of Fame Plaque – To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Josh Gibson's National Baseball Hall of Fame induction, the Pirates are proud to host Gibson's plaque at PNC Park August 3 and 4. Fans attending the games both nights will have the opportunity to take a photo with the plaque, during the rare visit away from its home in Cooperstown. Gibson was an American baseball catcher primarily in the Negro leagues for Pittsburgh's Homestead Grays. Baseball historians consider Gibson among the best power hitters and catchers in baseball history. In 1972, he became the second Negro league player to be inducted in the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
Thursday, August 4 – Brewers vs. Pirates (12:35 p.m.)
Gun Deaths Rose 30% Among U.S. Kids in a Decade
plum and cream scone cobbler – smitten kitchen
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It's our calling in life to provide individuals and families with works that tell your stories, herald your beauty, character and relationships. We celebrate your accomplishments.
In the 1930's, people communicated with telegrams and calling cards. Today, our written words are found on blogs and in texts. This is the blog for The Welcome Gallery photographic services sprinkled with some local events and photo industry updates.
Cat play! Moxie greets the Scarampella. What do you do when your clients allow their cat to enter the room with a Scarampella violin you're commissioned to photograph? If the owner doesn't mind you hold your breath and continue making images.


Charmese - Name Meaning, What does Charmese mean?
Charmese as a girls' name is of English origin, and Charmese means "charm". Charmese is a version of Charmaine (English).
Recommended sound-alike names are Caree, Caresa, Carisse, Carlise, Carlyse, Carmel, Carmela▼, Carmeli, Carmen, Carmesa, Carmesha, Carmie, Carmisha, Carree, Cerese, Chalise, Chalyse, Chanee, Chanele, Chanise, Chantee, Chanteese, Chantele, Charee, Chareese, Charela (see Harela), Charell, Charelle, Charice, Charie, Chariety, Charis, Charise, Charisse, Charle, Charlee▲, Charleen, Charleene, Charleesa (see Charlene), Charlene▼, Charlett, Charlette, Charley▲, Charlice, Charline, Charlsie, Charlyne, Charmiane, Charysse, Chelese, Cherece, Cheree, Chereese, Cherene, Cherese, Cheriese, Cherree, Cheryse, Clarene, Claresa, Clarise, Clarisse, Dareese, Jamese, Shaneese, Shanese, Sharee, Shareese, Sharene, Sharise, Sharlee, Sharyse, Shereese, Sherese and Therese▼. These names tend to be more frequently used than Charmese.


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Braunthal Reports
Karen Levy
PhD in Planning Studies
UCL, 2002 to 2003
Karen Levy is the Director of Global Innovation at EvidenceAction. In this role, she leads the organization's innovation strategy andoversees "Evidence Action Beta", the department responsible for testing andbuilding a viable path to scale for promising evidence-based interventions.
Previously, Karen served as the Regional Director of Deworm the World,providing technical and strategic support to senior government officials forthe design, implementation, and monitoring of scaled school-based dewormingprograms. Kenya's National School-Based Deworming Program, which Karen buil tfrom a randomized controlled evaluation to a national program, now reaches over6 million children annually. Karen established Innovations for Poverty Action'scountry office in Kenya and served as Country Director from 2006-2010.
In 1995,Karen co-founded the Tawasal Institute for community development on Kenya'scoast, and was awarded the Echoing Green Fellowship for her leadership as asocial entrepreneur. She received her PhD from the University of Londonand has lived in Kenya for over 20 years.
Francesca Fabbri
Copyright Frederick Bonnart-Braunthal Trust.
UK Registered Charity Number 1094967
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Posts Tagged 'retrofit'
Breathability, airtightness, ventilation
By Roger Hunt | November 28, 2013
When it comes to old buildings and making them energy efficient there's one very important point to understand: old buildings work in a different way to modern buildings. Old solid wall buildings – whether medieval timber-framed houses or Edwardian terraces – are designed to allow a degree of moisture penetration into their structure. But, and…
Energy saving control
Not so long ago home automation was just a fancy way of saying a home had a cabled music system with loudspeakers hidden in the ceilings. Not any more. Today the feel-good factor of buying a home equipped with the latest technology is as much about saving energy as relaxing to a melody. Yes, there's…
Overheating in homes
By Roger Hunt | July 15, 2013
A lot has been written about overheating in homes recently, especially in relation to energy efficiency measures introduced under the Green Deal. The BBC quotes Prof Chris Goodier, of Loughborough University's department of civil and building engineering, who "said the risk of overheating had been overlooked in the 'big rush to insulate and make homes…
Lighting history
By Roger Hunt | May 20, 2013 | 2
Incandescent light bulbs (lamps) have illuminated the world for more than a century. They've done it in a way that has felt natural in historic interiors and has been flattering to the complexion because traditional tungsten filaments provide a spectrum of light not dissimilar to fire or candlelight. Now they've been banned in favour of…
By Roger Hunt | March 28, 2013 | 1
Each time I write a book I say to myself "never again". This is all very well but when a good idea comes along it's hard to resist. Towards the end of 2010 I watched as the ink dried on my signature at the bottom of a contract for "a book provisionally entitled 'The Old…
Climate change partnership
By Roger Hunt | February 16, 2013
Your Social Housing in a Changing Climate is a new report from the London Climate Change Partnership. It makes fascinating reading and there were some illuminating presentations at its launch at City Hall earlier this week. The report focuses on the Colne and Mersea blocks in the London Borough of Dagenham. These two blocks, comprising 200 flats,…
Centred on solar
By Roger Hunt | January 31, 2013
The solar PV (photovoltaic) industry has had a bumpy ride of late and more than one installer has told me that "domestic solar has fallen off a cliff". Even so, at the recent launch of the BRE National Solar Centre in St Austell, Cornwall, Greg Barker, Energy and Climate Change Minister, tempered the difficulties of the past…
Think before buying
By Roger Hunt | January 17, 2013 | 1
Yesterday a double glazing salesman arrive at my door at the very moment the phone rang with a call from a solar panel saleswoman. Such annoyances are rarely quite so simultaneous but they are regular. This is one of the reasons I'm pleased to hear that the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has written to…
Old houses and The Green Deal
By Roger Hunt | August 3, 2011 | 1
Good to see a letter in The Times yesterday on The Green Deal, albeit under the slightly misleading headline 'Insulation is bad for old buildings'. Signed by the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, Kevin McCloud, The National Trust, Loyd Grossman, Chair Churches Conservation Trust and many other organisations and individuals from the conservation…
The Ashden Awards
By Roger Hunt | June 21, 2011
Over the years I've sat through a good many awards ceremonies but few, if any, have been as inspiring as last week's Ashden Awards for sustainable energy. There was none of the hype or greenwash often associated with sustainable solutions; just ordinary people, or rather I should say extraordinary people, with good ideas and the…
Insulation worries
By Roger Hunt | March 28, 2011
Four days of speaking and answering questions at the National Homebuilding & Renovating Show in Birmingham has only strengthened my concerns about the issues relating to the insulation of walls in old buildings. Twelve months ago the subject was barely on most people's radar but, this year, the volume of questions relating to the topic…
Read the story of my first major renovation project… here


Did you enjoy making the Mola over the weekend? I hope you did because now I have another project for you to enjoy making. This "Holy Herb" bed topper is life! When I first saw this I gasp at the sight of it. I love how Folksy it is and how the Indie Folk fabrics are showcased on this project.


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Image via Flickr Creative Commons, courtesy of Anamorphic Mike.
Since the boom of the digital age, would-be writers have been practically coming out of the woodwork. Everyone wants to be a writer and hey, I can't blame them. Sweet gig if you can score it. Yet, many of these eager folks are ill-prepared for the reality of what all an author's job entails and this job is so much more than simply writing the book (though that is a saber-toothed bugaboo all in itself).
The first three books you write likely will be total crap. Don't get too attached.
You can't do this for the money.
Book signings are WAY overrated.
Remember to put on pants when leaving the house.
Me, being a total neophyte completely rolled my eyes because I knew *flips hair* that I was the exception. Yeah about that.
Frankly all of this is seriously excellent advice, especially the part about the pants. But why am I mentioning all of this? Well, I decided to become a novelist…in 2002.
I just published my debut fiction…Tuesday. As in of this week.
Granted, I did take a side-trip. I knew social media was going to be a MAJOR game-changer for authors. All the people I saw teaching how build a platform were insisting writers turn into marketing robots that shoveled out spam faster than C-Span shovels out BS. And I knew their approach would be more successful at turning writers into cutters than actually selling any books.
For me, becoming a branding expert for creative people was a moral imperative…a calling.
Just not my original calling.
I recall a conversation with a friend back in 2011. She was laying into me that I needed to work on my fiction. My answer?
My years of blogging and being a social media expert and craft teacher kind of remind me of the movie Karate Kid. Instead of writing glorious novels that became instantly famous and were made into movies? Here was Kristen….
Wax on. Wax off. Wax on. Wax off.
But, I was willing to do it (yeah that hadn't happened before). Sure technical writing, and editing and blogging and writing social media books wasn't making me a novelist…but I sensed it would get me there and that it was MY road. The road that I needed. The one involving way more @$$ kicking.
Granted, if I am brutally honest, there is a part of me that feels like a complete loser that it took FIFTEEN years to become a novelist, but I wouldn't change how this all happened because this seriously long@$$ journey changed who I was. It shaped this undisciplined, self-centered, unlikable, lazy pile of wanna-be-hack into an actual honest to God pro.
Before I decided on "author" I tried a lot of things. Hell, I wanted to be frigging everything when I grew up.
I loved ballet. I wanted to be a dancer. I loved being on stage. But the bleeding, wrecked, blistered feet? Practice six days a week for four hours a day? Working my a$$ off just to end up in the background waving a rose?
Then I was going to be a doctor. Loved me some science. Even won a military scholarship to become a doctor. I looked seriously cool in the white jacket and practiced signing Dr. Lamb…and deliberately making it messy because who the hell ever heard of a real doctor with legible handwriting?
All was cool at first, but then I had to start dissecting stuff. I'm not squeamish at all. Hell, my mom is a nurse.
But then I hit a crossroad in Majors Biology with, of all things? A starfish. The super smart Indian kid next to me in lab? His starfish was PERFECT. Like razor lines and every tiny organ laid out and delicately pinned in artful perfection.
My starfish? It looked like it got drunk then called Chuck Liddell a p***y at which point said starfish got pounded into paste…then peed on.
And what I realized was that, while science and medicine "in theory" fascinated me, I just wasn't in love with the process of getting any good at it. Hell if I did that to a starfish? Yeah. Probably best not to let me near people.
There is a point in all of this and hopefully one that you guys will find helpful. I certainly had aptitude for all the careers that interested me, but I lacked one critical element—love for the process.
Was I willing to do anything for however long it took to get good at it? Really good. Maybe even the best? Nope.
That was, until I decided to become an author. Then everything changed.
There is this myth perpetuated by popular culture that talent is vitally important, when in actuality it is highly overrated. People seem to believe that if we are skilled with language then magically we're capable of creating a work spanning 60K-110K words as easily as breathing.
They seem to think anyone with command of their native tongue can whip out a novel, no problemo. Writing is EASY!
No, writing is not easy. It is a craft. We are builders. But instead of getting wood and nails and sheetrock and concrete and crews of people helping us build? We are tasked with creating entire worlds from various combinations of 26 letters…alone.
It's a skill and it often has a long and brutal apprenticeship filled with blood, tears, rejection, and too much box wine. We get down on ourselves because friends and family, six months after we start, are certain we're a failure because we aren't toppling J.K. Rowling out of her top spots on the best-seller lists.
But this is why loving process is critical. When we love the process, we keep at it. We learn all we can. We are willing to tweet and blog and maybe even figure out what the hell is so interesting about Instagram. We learn to ignore the naysayers. We gut through the unfun stuff because love fuels all we do. It has to.
I am not particularly worried about the millions of other "published writers" because many won't be in it for the long haul. A lot of them are there for the cover, the book in hand and a "signing" and "launch party" and nothing wrong with that. It is their fun. Not all dreams are meant to be life callings.
But, often when these sort of folks discover this isn't all a giant unicorn hug? That sure we authors can get raving 5 star reviews, but we can also get raving ONE star reviews from lunatics who have nothing better to do than be cruel and crush a writer's will to live?
Or maybe they are pretty good writers, but they don't want to do the unfun stuff like building a platform (which actually IS a lot of fun if you do it the way I teach it). And these folks will languish in Amazon purgatory because they only loved part of the process, the fun parts.
Some will invest years and never get there and give up because it is taking too long. Heck took me 15 years. I can appreciate that kind of discouragement.
So yes! My romantic mystery thriller is finally out and available for .99 on Kindle (just click the cover pic above). We will do more official "launch" stuff next week. And thank you kindly for sticking with me these many long years. You have no idea how many times I would have given up had it not been for this blog, knowing y'all were there in the trenches rooting for me. So THANK YOU.
In the end, lighten up on yourself and give yourself a break. Not too much of one. You still need to get your tail to work. But remember everyone has their own road, their own journey and process and keep your eyes on YOU and YOUR work.
What are your thoughts? Do you get discouraged with the process of writing? I know I do. Would be awesome to just spend 8 hours a day making up stories but there is a lot more to this. Do you maybe feel better if you believed you were taking too long? 15 years is a tough number to beat, LOL. Did you have a similar experience? Did you try a career you thought you'd love but then went…yeah NO.
And to prove it and show my love, for the month of MAY, everyone who leaves a comment I will put your name in a hat. If you comment and link back to my blog on your blog, you get your name in the hat twice. What do you win? The unvarnished truth from yours truly.
***April's winner is Carl D'Agostino. Please send your 5000 word WORD document to kristen at wana intl dot com. Double-spaced, one-inch margins and New Times Roman and CONGRATULATIONS!
Great post, as always! It IS easy to get discouraged. While many have your back, there are those welding a big-$ssed butcher knife (suspense writer here :)) waiting to plunge it in your heart.
But, if it's your true life's dream you owe it yourself to beat those naysayers away and go for the gold!
Congrats on your big release, love the cover!
Yay! Congrats! You've earned this moment in the sun.
Thank you so, so, so much for this! Right I alternate between feeling like that pulverized starfish and the kid being eaten by the alligator. I too said the exact same thing to myself as you did when hearing how hard and long the road to authorship would be; "That won't happen to me." And now, I'm watching myself going through it year after year. But you're right, you have to love the process and want to be here for the long haul, because every time I want to quit I can't. I love the words too much. And yes, sometimes I feel like having to do all the added stuff – the platform, the blogs, the social media – I don't even know where to start and wish it was as easy as just writing a book. But I see it's not and you have shown me that there is reward in all the processes. So thank you, and congrats on your book, and I'm thinking I'm going to have to sign up for one/or more of your seminars!
Congratulations Yoda! 🙂 Book looks great. Just bought, can't wait to read. THANKS for sharing your hard work and wisdom.
I knew this was going to take a while, for me personally I had to overcome horrible spelling, grammar, and punctuation. No skills what so ever.
It's been gosh 2012 so 5 years! Ack.
Write, studdy, write, study, read, write, study, read, place forhead on screen and stare at blank page.
Bug much of Wattpads cridics for critiques, learn write, learn, revise.
Yep that ate up five years. I'm probably stupid too as I refused to give up on the first book and have revised it from then to now. Though I've have been carefull not to squash what makes it fun. Imop.
Wow 15 years! I'm glad you stuck with it, we need your storys. ?
Thst sucked up time too learning it, it is hard to do at times.
Guitarist aren't expected to learn to play right awso why the flaming hells do people still think writing is easy?
Okay, 1: You are too cute. These are COMMENTS and a lot of folks type on a phone so I get they are going to have typos and 2: If you don't rat yourself out I usually fix them for you before approving 😉 .
I appreciate the time, love and energy to comment so don't sweat the small stuff.
Lol. Okay. xD On some sites people have a bit of a fit if I don't say something or will chew my head off.
Excellent blog. Congratulations for the published novel AND your sticktoittiveness. I call myself an author. Am I published? If you count my self-published cookbook, well, maybe. But not yet in fiction. I totally get the waiting process, five years. And the social media process. I have a blog. A website. A Facebook fan site. A twitter account. Can I say I use them appropriately? NO. I am either too goofy or politically charged. I need to up my game.
In the writing process, my story changed. My main characters haunted me when I slept, they slowly came to life. One of them, I kinda wish… ahem, sorry. I am still learning the craft. It … will … never … end. 'Til Jesus comes, then I get to be a know it all as all other writers in heaven.
I was in the medical field. Was my bread and butter. It sucked the life out of me with textbooks, clinicals, classes, work, single mom-hood. But as you, I wanted to be everything in the world. First, a cowgirl, but the kind with guns (hey, I was five). A writer (a teacher said I had talent, my dad said, not on God's green earth will we pay for you to be an English major). Then an archeologist, same answer (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *Jurassic Park, Hellllooooooo?).
In all reality I am blessed to have been rejected a bazillion times, have harsh but helpful critics–because it forced and still does force me – to look at what I write and look at the floor for those dropped participles and comma splices. Some things I can't grasp. Like grammar.
I've read several ugh, trashy novels in the genre I write, wonder how big publishing houses would gloss over glaring errors, characters that can't jump off the page, 25 deus ex machine per chapter,thin plots, no takeaway- and those times were discouraging (of course this is how I started out, but worse). This from Harper Collins to Bethany House (**why I decided to court an agency**). Since it's in the agencies hands (for another six months, waiting waiting waiting), I put that one down and started another. It's as horrendous as my first draft(s)of my first novel.
BUT. Don't we write because we are compelled to, no matter how awful our writing is? Press on to make it a better story? I read the end of my first novel-the waiting in the agency hands one- and still cry. Made my critiquers cry. YAY! that was my goal. Sigh baby, sigh. Make your mama cry(*FIREFLY*).
So today, instead of going all political on CNN, oops, already did…I will hit up my blog and tweet something appropriate.
Thank you for the inspiration to … wait. LOL. LOVE YOU, your blogs are great.
The rest that focus on FB, Twitter and the like tell writers to post averts all the time.
Soulds like a built in way to get readers to hate you before you've even started!
I say be yourself advertise you book in the wsy that you woukd want to be advertised to; inatrusave and not too often.
Kudos on launching your novel, which is already residing on my Kindle waiting for my eager eyes. And thanks for the pep talk, which gave me an injection of perspective and resolve. Rock on, Ms. Lamb!
Congrats on the new book! I instabought it, and now I'm leaving to dig in.
From the time I started drawing breath, I've been connected to animals. Lived and breathed cats, dogs, horses, or anything else that moved and wasn't human. I KNEW I was destined to be a veterinarian. But my grades sucked, because I was too busy riding my horse, or earning a paycheck to pay for my horse's keep (from the age of 16) to do my homework.
At the age of 26, I went back to school. Enrolled in university to finally go for that vet degree, but had to get a bachelor of science first.
Hmm. Could barely get passing grades in Chemistry, Physics, and Calculus, but was getting easy A's in Biology and my "filler" classes like Psychology, Sociology, Poetry, and Creative writing.
Twelve years ago, I decided to pursue a lifelong dream to write a book. (I was a voracious reader). I set a goal to write it in a year. I wrote two. And kept writing. Can't stop.
I started self-publishing after 7 years, and the work of getting noticed was daunting. But it didn't matter. People have suggested I'm not cut out for the marketing portion of being an author, but I don't care. I keep digging and digging, and sticking my neck out because THIS is what I was meant to be doing.
Just like I know I'm meant to share, by teaching workshops to writers. I love it.
1st, big congrats! Thanks for sharing with us the process.
15 years? Yup, did that. I started writing novels age 12. Writing major at a great college, valedictorian. Scholarships then grad school fellowships–though I was flattered away from an MFA into the cutthroat world of Shakespeare studies. No hardship; I adored anything Anglo-Saxon, medieval and Reanissance; I lived for the history of the English language.
But the career life? Not so appealing. And job prospects were at a horrific low in the late 80s.
But the final blow to my creative writing was a diagnosis of TLE and Geschwinds–the writer's disease. Suddenly my whole career and very personality were an accident of biology! I felt like a fake.
So the bottom fell out of my writing while I set off to find out who I was in the real world.
So here I am starting over, the older lady standout among all these young enthusiastic NaNos, and it's been a blast.
OH gosh! I have the same thing TLE. Since age 14. I did manage to get thru college three times (associates, bachelors, masters-just to be clear I didn't repeat…).
Anyway, the change in my medication has freed me from the fog of feeling over-medicated, so that I could pursue writing and everything else.
Bakatcha! I've come full circle on this thing…Maybe the shamans and mystics of old had their TLE hallucinations AND a hotline to the divine; maybe that's how it always worked. I credit Oliver Sachs for making me believe a person can be more than a diagnosis even when that diagnosis is inseparable from the personality. A little compassion goes a long way and frees me up to appreciate my "gifts" when they behave as such.
Thank you for your inspiring advice. I always like that you tell it like it is. Congratulations on your first novel. I'm anxious to read it, the cover has me very interested!
Congrats, Kristen! I'm learning that being published is just the beginning, and marketing your books is a whole other level of learning. The work never ends, it just evolves.
I checked out your book. Where's the part where there's writing advice? Fiction? Huh?What's that all about? (Just kidding.) Congratulations! The book sounds great and is in my queue. The roads may vary, but the success is always just as sweet no matter who you are. I'm still plugging along, but celebrate what you've done and those you've helped along the way. Well done!
One thing that bothered me during this digital age is that anyone can be a writer and published their book. It doesn't have much screening as compared to the past but the advantage is that those aspiring author can finally have a platform to self-publish their books. It is those who engage ghost-writers in making it as their own that bothers me. For example, the YouTubers now are getting book deals just because of their fanbase which is unfair to many serious authors.
Yup, Just bought it; cause you said so!
Excellent post, Kristen. Much wisdom for authors, new and 'been there.' Makes me glad I signed up.
Keep on keeping on. Can't wait for the next post.
I've thought about writing for a very long time … a very long time. I had an Creative Writing Teacher as an undergrad (early 80's) that drug my stories through the mud, over the coals, and then shredded them with razors. Deserved? Maybe. But that experience broke my spirit for years. After attempting a career in computer graphics, which was so NOT my calling, I went back to grad school and have now been a veterinarian for almost twenty-one years. It's been a good run, but I've never felt vet med was my calling either – despite the assurances of family members and friends for as long as I can remember telling me I was meant to do the job. Since the fall of 2013, I've sat in front of my computer whenever possible and typed, completing my first three works of crap. With my last two efforts I feel like I finally get it. I've taken craft courses because I know there is always more to learn. I love spending my off hours writing and getting lost in my worlds. Next step, my author platform, query letters and rejection notices. I have no idea what I'm doing, but like anything else, we try, we fail, we learn, and we talk to people who've been there.
Hugs on the process but Hoo! Congratulations on the book.
Pom-poms madly waving for you and this fab-u-luz step into novel-land!
I can so relate to your journey! When I was in college, which was pre-internet days, I was sure that I was going to be a writer. I was even Vice-President in a literary group on campus that the President and I developed for short fiction. Then I was hit by family and other naysayers and the gist of it was that you were never discovered until after you died, like an artist, and there was no way to make a living at it. Be practical, find a "real" job. So, I went through several jobs, mainly in customer service and sales. I hated it! I realized that I've always been a free spirit and I felt trapped in any job where I had to be there at a certain time every single day. I was a slave to the dreams of someone else, not myself. When I was disabled, I finally had my freedom to write. I was excited but frightened. I still am. I have no problem writing short fiction. I am working on my first novel, a historical mystery, and I love the research and the craft study, but it has been in my mind constantly since 2012 and I have yet to actually begin writing. I don't understand why. I have written many notes but no actual start to the story. I have wondered if I should stick with short stories, but I have always wanted to be a novelist. I wonder if this is normal for writers later in life? Most I've seen are quite confident.
Kristen, congratulations on your Romantic Mystery Thriller! I will buy it as soon as I'm done typing this message.
2) I would love attend a class on a formula for blogging. You are so awesome at what you do, it seems effortless to your audience. I would love a breakdown of your blog in an instructional format. Basically, blogging structure, i.e. your introduction, than your points, and how you bring it home for a rock star ending. If you have already done this, please point me in the right direction of the blog or book, if not, I'd be the first to sign up for that class.
Actually I do teach blogging and am about to list a class so just stay posted. I will be in North Carolina next month. Presenting at the Writers Who Run Retreat (No, I am not running 🙂 ). Thanks for the support and YES I can certainly help you out ((HUGS)).
Your posts are timely. I admit to taking a big hit in the past week that has balled my writing up, and tossed it across the floor. I'm slowing unwinding the ball of stress to free up my writing hand, but in the meantime I'm glad to come over here and read with friends.
Say, is that you on the cover?
I have got to the point where I can't even remember how long I've been working on this novel. Years. Lots of them. But expecting 2017 to be the last!
Just ordered your book and can't wait to read it. Thank you for your dedication to the craft.
I am halfway through your novel (had to stop at 1 am, seemed reasonable). I LOVE IT LOVE, REALLY LOVE IT!!!!!
okay so I used to many exclamation points. BUT IT FREAKING DESERVED IT!!!!!!!
I love your voice. I laugh, I cry, I bite my nails (not having touched a corpse …). I love the realistic situations, the comedy of the prophecy and your MCs reaction (I had to read a bunch of this to my husband).
I woke up late, drank my coffee, did devotions, and now … back to finish by tonight. When I am done, I will give you a 5 star review (deserves that already) and I love to give a little social media hug to authors I love.
Wow! Thanks for making my day/week/month! I really appreciate it!
Oh, like I couldn't comment on the sheer awesome of your work! BTW, I was inspired by Ida's prophecy to expound in a sort of paraphrase on my blog/website, along with a Biblical reference to the spiritual battle we face: Ephesians 6. Yowsa, it does hit home. FOR so many of us.
I personally like Romi's reaction to being labeled "weak and foolish." It fit, but no need to give me a paper cut and rub salt in it, LOL.
Ha ha! I laughed (while my husband was watching a truly tragic show, gave me the …'look,') when Romi asked Ida if she was going to speak in tongues. LOLOL.
Fabulous post. Loved it. Mega congrats on the new release. Looks awesome. I'm on it. Thanks.
Congratulations on the book release! I just downloaded it and can't wait to read it!
I just finished it. You will not be disappointed. I had so much fun reading it, had to read to my husband, and blathered all over my social media. Free PR. Should I ask for a paid position as PR marketer? LOL. It was great.
It's admirable that you recognized your own path and had the strength of conviction to believe in it. And congratulations.
Reading about your other professional aspirations, I'm struck by how familiar it is. I once knew someone who loved science, particularly cellular and micro-biology, until she learned that a big part of the field was working in a sterile room, with very little social interaction, and long decontamination periods to enter or leave.
I think every profession has its pros and cons, and many underestimate the importance of the cons. The good times need to be worth the price, but we also need to be comfortable paying it.
And it's always nice to be reminded that a long meandering path is not so unusual.
Kristen's novel was full of deep point of view, lots of twists and turns, and altogether a great suspense/romance with a sassy main character. I had to stop several times to wipe tears of laughter away.
Anyone not buying her book is missing out. All her great advice is wrapped into her fictional characters, surroundings, etc. I wouldn't plug a book if I didn't believe in it.
As a writer too, I think it is seriously important for us to read/support other authors. Read as a reader. I have seen authors go onto amazon and trash work for things a reader would never look at. BTW good luck finding anything wrong with Kristen's book.
It doesn't matter the genre for me, if I like the writing style, I read it. I happen to like her genre and that's a total plus. I like S. King, too, but despise his genre.
So when you get 1. the genre you like 2. deep point of view 3. humor/sarcasm/witty 4. great timing 5. well-written (and I could go on), I might say no batter hits like that.
Don't just congratulate, please. Those are great words, but if you read, give a review and plug it, that makes an author's day. I hope someday when I am published, authors will do the same for me. Word of mouth is the best PR.
This has to be one of your best posts yet – or maybe I just think so because, yeah, I'm a writer. Anyway, I found so many things I wanted to quote that I'm just going to share the whole post. Great stuff here!!
C–my reading season is so crowded already right now! But you're making it really hard to put off this one…Nice job. And good points. It really is good to see a fellow writer move ahead. Even if I never publish, giving this kind of support is still a fun way to share.
True! It's inspiring to see the success stories of ppl who have worked the craft into perfection (did you see on Amazon she got a review from Joel Eisenberg?!?!?!?) and have the patience of a saint. I agree, while I never give up, I may sigh, but always support authors. It is not an easy job. Like K says, great gig if you get it.
Big question here, this is probably stupid question. Did you put MS aside or send it on every 3-6 months to new agents/PHs? I heard one person had waited (actually, gave up) and was accepted 23 years LATER!!! GADS by that time, I'll have dementia, read the book ten times and have no idea who the writer is … was..
Randomness! I think a poem contest would be fun.
At 74 yrs, I'm wondering if I'll have time to finally get this craft good enough to be published before I croak! ? Four novels under the bed (plus 1 discarded) & I'm editing the fifth. There is truly so much to learn about this art of writing.
Cheers on your newly published novel!
it's never too late! You are already ahead of the game with five novels–four maybe under the bed but they are simmering, bursting at the seams to get out there. Your characters are thinking on how to thwart you! They plan, plot and refuse to do what's right. You get to be the marionette of them, ha! Don't give up. I too am getting up there. No. Really. And I am just on my second novel. If just one gets out there, that would be awesome, however scribbling feeds that insatiable need to write and do what I was meant to do, what I am driven to do, and answers that question: why I was knit in my mother's womb with this purpose-whether it makes it in any fashion, or not.
Once again, Thanks Kristen for sharing your path and struggles on becoming published. I especially appreciate your mentioning that we have to love the process, or we might as well go find something else to do. Apparently I love it enough to stick it out, because I started my novel sixteen years ago, and it has now turned into a series of 5 books. Between following the advice of people like you, and my wonderful, yet brutal editor who is always pushing me, I am starting to actually enjoy the process. Every time I learn something new in this industry, it takes some of the mystery out of it, and therefore the fear as well. Thanks for keeping it real.
Thanks so much for this post Kristen. I have been writing for a long time too and my first book is almost complete. There are many half written ones in my desk drawer!! But you give me hope that I will get there. And I know my writing has improved so much in that time.
My first "book" took 25 years to finish. And it's been hiding under the bed since then. My first "real" book took 4 months to write and 18 months to be published. The difference was several years of craft, conferences, workshops, critique, and books on the same. Knowing what I didn't know. I'm still working on the next books, and the first one recently crawled out from under the bed to say hello and ask if it could finally come out and play. Writing is hard. Anyone who says differently probably isn't a writer, or at least not one who gets paid for it. Thanks for your informative, and always fun, blogs.
This is why I do everything to teach you to work smarter not HARDER. And if you read Rise of the Machines? I talk about Autumn and Winter Writers, those who are starting later in life and I lay out all the advantages YOU guys have that the young folk do not. So you can do it! You are already way ahead of the game with so many years writing and being beholden to deadlines.
And yes fiction IS a whole other ballgame. *fist bump* I was in the same spot. Great at copy, tech writing, non-fiction and essays but fiction? *bursts into flames*. It's why I spend a lot of blogs and classes teaching it because I might as well have ben trying to learn Sanskrit. I do recommend my upcoming class Plotting for Dummies or just peruse the archives. LOADS of free help.
15 years? Hmmmm… I'm 83. Published first book at 81, second last year. Working on third and plotting a fourth. I guess I better hustle.
I am very glad you took the longer path as I've found incredible wisdom and support in your blogs…which I've only just discovered! I can definitely support that it's a process, and it's one I've just started learning.
Thanks for the continued support and information!


In this week's episode, we reminisce on the three experiences of the Royal Rumble in Philadelphia that we have had in its history that we (Respass and Walton) have attended all of them live, Peach only missed 2004. We talk about the experience, how all three of them are famous for three completely different reasons and how the ending of each of these Royal Rumbles had a huge impact on the landscape of the WWE. We cannot recommend enough that anyone who has the chance to actually attend a Royal Rumble should do so because it is an absolute blast. We also cover how we actually made it on TMZ, missed a key moment in Royal Rumble history due to our seating position and took pleasure in booing both The Rock and Roman Reigns in that infamous 2015 Royal Rumble.


text:
__author__ = 'Alexandre Cloquet'

from django.utils.translation import ugettext as _

from django.contrib.auth.models import User
from django.db import models

class Game(models.Model):
    name = models.CharField(max_length=128)
    image = models.ImageField(upload_to='game/', blank=True)
    url_api = models.URLField(blank=True, null=True)
    image_thumbnail = models.ImageField(upload_to='game/thumbnail/', blank=True)

    class Meta:
        verbose_name = _('Game')
        verbose_name_plural = _('Games')

    def __str__(self):
        return self.name

    def get_out_raid(self):
        list_out_raid = []
        for raid in self.raid_set.all():
            for out_raid in raid.get_out_raid():
                list_out_raid.append(out_raid)
        return list_out_raid

    def percent_of_player(self):
        all_user_for_game = len(self.userprofile_set.all())
        all_user = len(User.objects.all()) - 1
        return float((all_user_for_game * 100) / all_user)

class Class(models.Model):
    name = models.CharField(max_length=64)
    game = models.ForeignKey(Game)

    class Meta:
        verbose_name = _('Class')
        verbose_name_plural = _('Class')

    def __str__(self):
        return self.name

class FieldValue(models.Model):

    field_value = models.CharField(_('value'), max_length=64)

    def __str__(self):
        return self.field_value

    class Meta:
        verbose_name = _('Table entry')
        verbose_name_plural = _('Tables entries')

class TypeValue(models.Model):
    field_value = models.CharField(_('value'), max_length=64)
    game = models.ForeignKey(Game, null=True)

    def __str__(self):
        return self.field_value

    class Meta:
        verbose_name = _('Table name')
        verbose_name_plural = _('Tables names')

class CharacterAttribute(models.Model):

    attribute_name = models.ForeignKey(TypeValue)
    attribute_value = models.ForeignKey(FieldValue)
    for_game = models.ForeignKey(Game, null=True)

    def __str__(self):
        return '[' + self.for_game.name + '] ' + self.attribute_name.field_value + ' - ' +  self.attribute_value.field_value

    class Meta:
        verbose_name = _('Table relation')
        verbose_name_plural = _('Tables relations')