text:
Interview with Stephanie Zia
Stephanie Zia joined the BBC at 16 and trained and worked as a production assistant, researcher and director on BBC TV arts documentaries. She began writing when she left the BBC to become a full-time mum. She took a beginner's course in creative writing at Richmond Adult Community College where she later became a guest tutor. Author of 2 Piatkus commercial fiction novels and 2 Hamlyn non-fiction books, Stephanie has written for a variety of British publications. From 2005–11 she was the cleaning guru for The Guardian newspaper's popular Space Solves column. Embracing the independent publishing revolution, Stephanie started Blackbird Digital Books in January 2010 to produce her first ebook Done & Dusted – The Organic Home On A Budget, her collected Guardian columns. Other titles include Ten Good Reasons To Lie About Your Age, a contemporary novel about a widow torn between ageing gracefully or disgracefully, Babe On Board a comedy about a single 40-year-old first-time mum, and her short story collection Made in China – A Fairy Tale For The Internet Age. She lives in London with her partner and teenage daughter.
Huffington Post Books recommends Stephanie's novel Ten Good Reasons To Lie About Your Age as an ideal book for reading and book clubs, calling it insightful and delightful, full of thoughtful dialogue and exceptional clarity.
Deirdra: What is your writing and educational background?
I left school at 15 and joined the BBC at 16 as a junior secretary. They used to promote all their staff in-house so over the years I gradually moved through the system to the place I wanted to be at: TV arts documentaries. I was very lucky and I loved my job, travelling the world helping directors make films about artists and writers. Though an avid reader, I didn't think for a moment I would ever write or do anything creative myself. Then I worked on a film about new music in California and met a host of extraordinary artists including Frank Zappa, Terry Riley and John Cage. They showed me that creativity didn't have a box round it with Not For You written on the outside. Having worked alongside creatives all my life I began to explore my own creativity for the very first time and, to my amazement, ended up directing BBC films instead of assisting. The films were fine but my lack of academic qualifications and my natural shyness didn't get me very far. I was very frustrated for a while but then my partner bought me a beginner's creative writing course as a birthday gift and that was it.
Deirdra: What was the pathway like for you to get your first book published?
I loved my beginner's creative writing course so much I took it again the following year. Then I moved on to an advanced course. After writing short stories for 2 years, my first novel Babe on Board was started in that final third year class. I perfected the first 3 chapters and sent them, with a short synopsis, to 2 agents. One of those took me on, helping me shape and craft the whole novel. She then got me a 2 book deal at Piatkus, now part of Little, Brown.
Deirdra: Were you ever discouraged along the way? If so, how did you deal with it?
Discouragement goes with the territory. My own came in the shape of my 2nd novel not being liked by either my agent or the publisher. I was dropped by both and went back down the snake to Square One! I began a blog about my experiences: Confessions Of An Author, which was mainly about failure as I desperately tried to get my feet back in the stirrups again. I came very close, found a second agent and a publisher, but then it went belly-up again. The tone of the blog changed considerably when ebooks came along and I began to self-publish and sell my own work.
Deirdra: Do you need absolute quiet to write? Do you listen to music when you are writing?
Author: No music. No. But absolute quiet isn't necessary, can 'tune out' of everyday sounds.
Deirdra: What's your secret to making the characters in your books come to life?
Author: Getting the characters to come to life on the page is the biggest joy of it all. On a first draft I will do nothing but give them speech. Get them talking to each other and each voice and personality develops in its own way. That was an early lesson in my beginner's creative writing class, getting the characters talking straight away. I then study the speech patterns as they develop and look for unusual speech ticks that can be repeated elsewhere to enhance the individuality of the person. In looks, eyes and light are important, the light in the eye. Plus air and wind, the way it plays on the hair, breathing – literally breathing – brings life to the page.
Deirdra: What are you working on now?
I'm working on a novel about a film continuity girl who leaves the industry to go and live with a man she met whilst on location in Brazil. When she arrives she doesn't find quite what she expected. I filmed in Brazil and continuity was one of my jobs. I loved Brazil so much and I nearly did go and live there. The news that Amazon Kindle is opening in Brazil later this year has inspired me to finish this novel I started many years ago when filming and the work that you have to do as a production assistant and continuity girl was still fresh in my mind.
Deirdra: What do you hope readers will get from your books?
That they will be entertained but also moved by the extremes of the emotional journey that the main characters go through.
Deirdra: What is the most difficult thing about being an author?
Author: The extremes of the highs and lows. No matter what stage you're at, once your books are published they go on a journey of ups and downs and you have to find a balance between the despair when things don't go as you'd hoped and the excitement when they exceed all expectations. It's a rollercoaster ride.
Deirdra: What is the best thing about being an author?
Author: The rollercoaster ride. And being able to work anywhere at any time, even when you're asleep the subconscious takes over in sorting storylines out. I find that side fascinating.
Deirdra: What are your goals as an author for the next three years?
Author: I'm now publishing other author's books as well as my own at Blackbird Digital Books so have turned from an author into an author/editor/businesswoman. I'm enjoying it hugely. I have several commissions in the pipeline by new authors as well as more books on the way by the wonderful travel writer Susie Kelly. My goal is to get my books selling as well as Susie's! As a writer I hope to return to my children's fantasy novel which I spent about a year writing between agents and before ebooks arrived. The idea is solid but it needs a complete restructure. I'm looking forward to going back to that and reading it again with fresh eyes after so many years.
Deirdra: How do you come up with your character's names?
From a variety of places. Sally Lightfoot the heroine of my latest novel Ten Good Reasons To Lie About Your Age - about a widow unsure whether to age gracefully or disgracefully – was named after a crab! They are mentioned quite often in one of my favorite books of all time, John Steinbecks The Log From The Sea Of Cortez . There's a picture of the crab in that Wikipedia link about the book there. I gave her certain crab characteristics and a Cancer star-sign home-loving personality.
Deirdra: What words of advice do you have for other writers who desire to have their manuscripts become books in print?
Don't look back. Don't dwell on rejection or failure but learn from it and move on. Keep writing is the best advice I was ever given. That's where the biggest joys will come from.
Deirdra: What is the best complement you could receive from a reader?
It has to be the laugh out loud in public one. If I see someone on the train or subway who is looking at a book with a smile on their face I immediately want to know what that book is. I've never actually seen anybody laughing out loud though. My books have moved people to laugh out loud, they tell me, but also cry - which is an added bonus. So yes, laughing and crying, definitely.
Deirdra: Where can readers go to find your books and order them?
My latest books are listed at Blackbird Digital Books http://blackbird-digitalbooks.com/, all my books, ebook and paperback, are available on Amazon.
Here's the US Amazon link:
http://www.amazon.com/Reasons-About-Contemporary-Romance-ebook/dp/B004KAAYD4/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1346671000&sr=1-1&keywords=ten+good+reasons+to+lie+about+your+age
And my other novel, Babe On Board to The Single Mother's Survival Guide To Mom & Baby Groups
http://www.amazon.com/Single-Mothers-Guide-Groups-ebook/dp/B0095TJSRI/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1346779076&sr=1-1&keywords=the+single+mother%27s+guide+to+mom+%26+baby+groups
Thank you so much. It's a real honor to get your insights.
Thank YOU. It's been a pleasure.
Posted by knightesshope at 12:00 AM
Ellie Garratt September 22, 2012 at 11:13 AM
Hey, Deirdra. It's been a while. I'm back from my blogging hiatus and catching up with everyone. Glad to see you're still here and writing.
Fascinating interview!
Stephanie Zia September 23, 2012 at 12:25 PM
Thanks again, Deirdra, was lovely to talk with you. Stephanie
The Watchers Books
Time Management For Creative People Workbook
The Watchers Screenplay
About Deirdra
Clothing Designs and Paper Dolls
Watchers Worldwide
Animal Family
Crafts and Remodeling
Recipes & Food Art
Family Safety Advocacy
Please support the site and become a Follower.
Amazon Best Selling
Follow me on your favorite social media.
Where is your go to place?
Booklikes
I don't endorse any specific ad, but they help fund my site & content creation.
Interview with the lovely Bella Harte
Interview with Ellen Feld
Interview with Avid Reader LunaMoth
Eden Literary
Highlight the code below to get A Storybook World button

Add this to your site
Deirdra Eden is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
All art is © Deirdra Eden background by Shutterstock.com/rkonext. Picture Window theme. Theme images by sndrk. Powered by Blogger.


Office White Decora 1 HDMI plus 1 RCA connector Feed Thru wall plate, Low Profile, single gang decora face plate included. Female to Female connectors, Run 180 degrees straight through Plate. The HDMI Wall Plate allows you to terminate HDMI connector for in-wall connections. It has a 180 degree feed-thru internal connector orientation that provides Horizontal cable drop or connection. The Face Plate is 4 1/2 x 2 3/4 inches and made to fit into standard wall mount, made of durable ABS Plastic and Office White in color. Includes Inner and Outer Faceplate, feed-thru connector and screws.


This setting of The Lord's Prayer alternates between Latin and English. The Latin words are sung to the original plainsong, with the ensuing choral phrases growing out of the plainsong's contours. Interaction between tenor soloist and choir further emphasises the juxtaposition of the two languages.
et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris.


Cute Pics Of Non Disclosure Agreement Template Doc – Through the thousands of Photograph on the internet in relation to non disclosure agreement template doc, we all picks the top choices having excellent resolution merely for you, and this photographs is considered one of stocks collections within our greatest photos gallery concerning Cute Pics Of Non Disclosure Agreement Template Doc. I'm hoping you will love it.
published through Elizabeth Jenkins at 2018-11-08 04:13:00. To discover most models throughout Cute Pics Of Non Disclosure Agreement Template Doc images gallery you should stick to this specific web page URL.


text:
0.5 mm ()es una película dramática japonesa de 2014 escrita y dirigida por Momoko Andô. Fue estrenada en Japón el 8 de noviembre de 2014.

Reparto
 Sakura Ando como Sawa Yamagishi.
 Akira Emoto
 Toshio Sakata
 Mitsuko Kusabue
Masahiko Tsugawa como Makabe.
 Junkichi Orimoto como Kataoka.
 Midori Kiuchi como Yukiko.
 Nozomi Tsuchiya
 Tatsuo Inoue como Yasuo.
 Masahiro Higashide.

Recepción

Respuesta crítica
En la revista Variety, Maggie Lee considera que la película es «un trabajo de precisión fresca y atractiva excentricidad».

Premios
En la edición 36 del Festival de Cine de Yokohama, la película fue seleccionada la tercera mejor película japonesa del año y Momoko Yō ganó el premio al mejor director.

En el certamen 39 de los Hochi Film Awards, la cinta ganó el premio a la mejor película y Masahiko Tsugawa fue condecorado como el mejor actor de reparto.

En la versión 69 de los Mainichi Film Awards, Momoko Andô ganó el premio al mejor guion y Sakura Ando el premio a la mejor actriz.

Véase también
 300 millas al cielo

Referencias

Enlaces externos

Películas dramáticas de los años 2010
Películas de 2014
Películas en japonés
Películas de Japón
Películas basadas en novelas japonesas

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Penetration-Free Attachment Standing seam metal actually offers advantages over other roof types when mounting of ancillary fixtures does become necessary. The outer curb features the same design and material as previously described. There may also be a need for satellite dishes, lightning protection, solar panels, advertising signage, fall protection systems—and the list goes on. The pipe flashing must be anchored to the roof panel only, and not to the building structure or deck. Facility Executive August Issue The August issue features facility security, including biometrics, school security, and stopping hackers. Rooftops Present Big Risks The majority of the nearly 5, workplace fatalities each year occur as a result of a fall.
Frame mounted HVAC unit using pipe supports extending down to the building structure and flashed through the roof using rubber pipe flashings Round Penetrations Round shapes, such as plumbing vents or pipe supports for rooftop equipment, should be flashed through the roof using EPDM Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer rubber pipe flashings.
Learn more at hidglobal. Facility Executive August Issue The August issue features facility security, including biometrics, school security, and stopping hackers. The Security Of Security: Guidance On Anti-Terrorism Security. There are a few rules for handling these kinds of rooftop penetrations in low slope standing seam that will help ensure trouble-free service.


If soaring down a 3 kilometre frozen shaft sounds a little extreme, it is because it is.
ISMO R&D releases footage of Jamie Mulensar, test skier, making the harrowing high speed descent down a track that has been dubbed "The Abyss". Excavators have modified the previous mining vein into a combination downhill and ice track descending more than 5000 meters.


Sunshine Week 2011 runs from March 13-19 this year, and that is indeed a time all of us ink-bloods truly appreciate.
Well, it's designed to call attention to those who have conducted the proverbial "fight city hall" by causing governmental organizations to open their files and reports in the interest of public knowledge.
The winner of the contest held last year, Suzanne Harris, of Florida, filed a lawsuit against county officials that forced that organization to make significant changes in the way they handle public records. A couple recognized by the American Society of News Editors gathered more than 100 pages of government documents that showed their city treasurer had allegedly mishandled about $400,000 in public monies.
These are real-life Erin Brockovich characters who have forced governmental bodies big and small to "open their books" to the public.
And that is something we greatly admire.
President Barrack Obama has called time and time again for more transparency in the federal government. Local officials consistently call for the same thing. But for whatever reason, it is still a battle to secure information in a timely manner without putting forth amazing effort. By bringing Sunshine Week to the public forefront, the hope is that will change.
For more information on Sunshine Week, visit the Web site at www.sunshineweek.org or www.ombwatch.com. Their are event listed on both sites regarding the celebration of Sunshine Week 2011 throughout the nation.


← Come for the song, stay for the stinger!
Delve deep into the history of the movie riffing experience and discover what it means to our personal lives and the American culture.
"In the late 1980s, Mystery Science Theater 3000 was unleashed upon the world and forever changed the way we look at bad movies. Since it's cancellation in 1999, cast members of MST3K have filled the void left by the show with their own projects, namely Michael J. Nelson's RiffTrax and Joel Hodgson's Cinematic Titanic. But it hasn't stopped there. Fans of the show have begun making their own riffs of bad movies, making the concept of movie riffing a wide ranging creative sandbox for anybody to play in, and is literally changing lives in the process.
In our film, RiffLife, we want to document this history of the movie riffing phenomenon from MST3K up to the present day. We want to delve deep into the ocean of bad movies and see what it really takes to be "riffworthy." We want to explore the bodies of work already produced by these genius men and women and get their thoughts on the best of the best and the worst of the worst. But that's not all. We want to talk to the creators and fans and hear stories about what movie riffing means to them personally. Our ultimate goal is to determine where riffing fits into the zeitgeist of American popular culture.
But we need your help. As fans of movie riffing, we all know that movies made with no budget are really, really terrible! Our goal is to raise enough money to not only secure interviews with as many relevant individuals within the world of riffing as we can, but also to make it a top notch production worthy of the price tag we put on it. And to do that, we need to actually PAY people. Take a look at our reward levels and see if anything catches your fancy.


The Road Accident Fund ("RAF") is a public entity which has been set up to pay compensation to people injured in road accidents or the dependents of people fatally injured in road accidents, arising from the negligent driving of a motor vehicle in South Africa. The RAF is financed by a fuel levy included in the price of petrol and diesel.
A claimant under the age of 18 years must be assisted by a parent or legal guardian.
If you were involved in an accident on or after 1 August 2008, it is now a requirement to establish that you sustained a serious injury in order to qualify for general damages. At MED Attorneys, we operate in a network of specially trained medical practitioners certified by the American Board of Independent Medical Examiners to expertly assess the seriousness of the impact of an injury on your lifestyle and livelihood.
What is the time period that needs to be adhered to in terms of claiming against the RAF?
For claims in which the identity of the infringing motorist has been established, a claim must be lodged within 3 years from the date of the cause of action and action must be instituted within 5 years from the date of cause of action. For "hit and run" claims, a claim must be lodged within 2 years from the date of accident and action must be instituted within 5 years from the date of accident.


text:
15 Jul 2019, Mon	Islamic Calender
Skill Development in India: TikTok Partners with NSDC
WhatsApp, Telegram media files could be manipulated
Hyderabad: Father attempts to kill daughter
Official swings into action after Bonalu fiasco at Golconda
Father and daughter who were shot in Christchurch returns home
Mo and Rash dash off to avoid champagne spray, hailed
Babri Masjid: Special Judge seeks more time to complete trial
Mob Lynching: Muslim leaders hold Round Table Conference
Cheers as Rural Warangal breaks caste, cash barriers
Home / Top Stories /
Trump announces 2020 Presidential campaign in Orlando
Posted by Sameer Updated: June 19, 2019, 7:49 am IST
Florida [USA]: US President Donald Trump announced his intent to run for a second term by contesting in the 2020 Presidential elections during a massive rally in Orlando here on Tuesday.
"Exactly 4 years ago this week, I announced my campaign for President of the United States…it turned out to be a great political movement because of you…" he told the crowd in Orlando.
"Nobody has done what we have done in two and a half years…Our future has never ever looked brighter or sharper," CNN further quoted the President as saying.
Trump set off for the rally in Orlando along with First Lady Melania Trump on Tuesday. Vice President Mike Pence and his wife were also present at the rally when Trump announced his bid for re-election.
He had started off his speech by taking a dig at the media. "You know, if we have three or four empty seats, the fake news will say headlines he didn't fill the arena," he said.
"The American dream is back. It's bigger, better and stronger than ever before," he told the gathered crowd while announcing his reelection bid.
"He truly loves this country and will continue to work on your behalf for as long as he can. All of us will," CNN quoted the First Lady as telling the gathered crowd, with Trump on stage.
"Re-elect Donald Trump and we will keep America great!" Pence said before the Trumps came on stage at the massive rally.
The incumbent US President was propelled to power after the 2016 Presidential elections, where he beat Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton to secure a clear majority.
The 2016 Presidential polls, however, were marred with allegations against the Trump campaign's alleged collusion with the Russians, which was proved to be untrue through Special Counsel Robert Mueller's extensive investigations which recently culminated.
Even though he has claimed to bring good to the United States during his Presidential tenure, calls for Trump's impeachment have been rampant amongst the Democrats.
While there has only been one clear candidate for the Presidential polls from the Republicans' side, scores of Democrats have launched their campaigns, including former Vice President Joe Biden. In fact, opinion polls project Biden to be a frontrunner as the Democrats' candidate for the 2020 polls, with Bernie Sanders trailing behind.
During Tuesday's rally, Trump targetted the Democrats in his speech. "Our radical Democrat opponents are driven by hatred prejudice and rage. They want to destroy you and they want to destroy our country as we know it. Not acceptable. It's not going to happen," he said.
(Stay up to date on all the latest Top Stories news with The Siasat Daily App. Download now for iOS & Android)
Related Topics: Democrats Donald elections Melania Mike Pence polls Presidential Republicans Trump USA
Trump slammed for 'racist' jibes at Democratic congresswomen
Trump escalates 'racist' verbal spat with Democrats
Victorious debut for Vijender Singh in USA
Trump, Netanyahu discuss Iran's 'malign actions' on call

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Jan Fisher - Card Player Cruises partners.
Jan Fisher started her poker career in 1977 when she moved from Seattle, Washington to Las Vegas, Nevada to become a poker dealer. Having dealt in many of the cardrooms in Las Vegas during about a 15-year period, Jan moved on to semi-professional playing and poker management.
Besides being a partner in Card Player Cruises, she also hosts and directs the semi-annual Eureka Open poker tournament held at the Eureka Resort and Casino in Mesquite, Nevada. She is a founder of the Tournament Directors Association and has served as the tournament director for the highly successful PartyPoker.com Million events.
Jan wrote the Poker 101 column for Card Player magazine for ten years and currently writes the column "Fishing Around" for Poker Player newspaper. She is a past member of the Board of Directors for the Poker Players Alliance and still is very active in the PPA and their mission. Jan was seen on the Travel Channel as the live studio announcer for the Professional Poker Tour and also was the statistician for the World Poker Tour for its first six seasons. She gives poker seminars and lessons around the country, is an instructor for WPT Boot Camp, and is involved in many charity projects.
As a co-founder of Poker Gives, she is realizing a dream of truly making a difference to so many worthwhile organizations.
Jan was inducted into the Women in Poker Hall of Fame, in June of 2009.


At Quotezone, by completing just one form, you could compare policies from UK insurance providers.
Your home is probably the most expensive purchase you have made so you may find yourself asking, "Where can I find a cheap home insurance quote?". Look no further - use Quotezone's free online home comparison system for a cheap home insurance quote today. We compare quotes from detached houses to flats or terrace houses to bungalows. Quotes displayed are provided by our panel of UK insurance providers.
Most policies also cover a certain amount of personal liability. For example, if someone is injured while in the home and the homeowner is found to be legally responsible, insurance may cover some or all of the compensation and legal costs.
Coverage for accidental damage not covered by the standard policy, such as accidental damage caused by the homeowner, or accidental damage of possessions that are taken outside the home.
Coverage for legal advice and other legal expenses for incidents relating to personal injury disputes, property disputes, and other specified types of disputes.
Identity theft cover, which provides financial compensation for any costs incurred when reclaiming identity.
Home emergency cover, for costs associated with repairs and labour. Some policies may also cover accommodation costs if an emergency forces someone to spend the night in a hotel.
Making home insurance comparisons might be easier online, but it's still important to be thorough when shopping for insurance. It might not be as simple as to buy the home insurance that's the cheapest, it could be wise to check the level and type of cover of each policy as well.
Looking closely at what's covered in the policy, and not making any assumptions about what's covered as standard could be a wise step. For example, few policies cover damage caused in the home by the homeowner, or cover loss or damage to personal items that are taken out of the home. And if the home is let to tenants or stands empty, coverage may be restricted.
Another difference is new-for-old versus indemnity cover. With new-for-old, the policy covers the replacement cost of possessions and the cost of building a new home. With indemnity cover, depreciation is factored into payouts. Indemnity policies are cheaper but don't provide the same level of protection as new-for-old cover.


The traditional, scholarly approach toward literary analysis focuses solely on the structure of a literary work in order to determine both its worth and its meaning. This school of literary analysis is known as New Criticism. New Critics focus on the written work isolated from everything else because, they believe that, by closely examining the way the author uses language, one is eventually able to establish the true meaning of the work. A series of close readings focusing on the author's ability to use words is the means of appreciating and valuing works; therefore, New Critics focus on the aesthetics of literature when making an evaluation.
The aesthetics of a novel include the way an author uses elements of style, such as imagery, irony, and paradox, to enhance characters, plot, and theme. From this perspective, The Jungle is not considered quality literature. New Critics argue that Sinclair uses the form of the novel to promote his political agenda at the expense of his art. Lack of character development, inconsistency in tone and voice, and the loss of narrative at the end are just a few of the criticisms raised against The Jungle.
This lack of aesthetics mixed with an unpopular message resulted in a lack of respect for The Jungle in literary circles. Throughout most of the twentieth century, most critics considered Sinclair's book as either propaganda or muckraking — no more and no less. Most critics considered the majority of Sinclair's works of fiction in this manner; therefore, his reputation as a serious novelist was not high. However, as literary theory and critics advanced and changed, so too did the perception of The Jungle.
One of the primary critiques of New Criticism is that this literary theory isolates a work from the world in which it was created. Although focusing on the structure of a work is an important aspect of literary analysis in an educational system, this technique is inherently problematic because this isolation prevents critics from understanding the work in relation to the society that created it. More recent trends in literary theory argue that New Criticism should be the starting point rather than the end of literary analysis. Many contemporary critics attempt to re-establish literature's place in the world by focusing on the relationship between works and the culture in which they are created.
These "cultural critics" prefer to use the term texts instead of works and view their criticism as "a practice rather than a doctrine." The value of literature, for cultural critics, exceeds the actual words on the page. New Critics tend to focus on and value only poetical language whereas cultural critics focus on and value both poetical and literal language. For cultural critics, what is traditionally referred to as literature is neither superior nor inferior to the non-literary works of a particular period. Instead of literature consisting of a body of works, it consists of a set of texts that act as models for that particular culture. Texts are created within a culture and therefore must be examined within the context of that culture.
Culture is the complex means by which a society produces and simultaneously reproduces itself; texts are the means of reproduction. Therefore, texts are not only an expression of a view of a culture: They also help create that culture's view. This endless chain of events is easily illustrated by examining the historical impact of The Jungle.
When Upton Sinclair visited the stockyards in Chicago, that industrial culture provided the raw materials for his text for The Jungle (an example of culture creating text). However, when The Jungle was printed, its content so affected the reading population that an immediate outcry against the meatpackers ensued (text creating culture). Before the publication of The Jungle, the majority of the meat eating, reading public had no idea of the atrocities within the industry. Also, generations reading The Jungle 100 years after its initial publication have no idea of the horrors that existed, and for the most part, only have Sinclair's text to illustrate these horrors. The text continues to influence culture, regardless of its accuracy or immediacy.
In addition to illustrating the dynamic relationship between culture and text, The Jungle also shows the relative unimportance of authorial intention when it comes to literary analysis. Sinclair's primary focus of socialism did not take hold with readers of his own era, nor did it provide any lasting impression on future generations; yet the continued claim to fame for The Jungle is its exposure of abuse in the meatpacking industry. Instead of having just one integral meaning, texts can have multiple meanings.
Cultural critics see The Jungle as a text that is both representative of time and place as well as simultaneously having an effect on future cultures. They recognize that Sinclair's form did not adhere to traditional genres, so he effectively created his own medium. His text created a kind of power over the industry and was a means of change. Contemporary critics view literature as more than just an autonomous piece of writing isolated from the rest of the world. This does not mean that contemporary critics routinely dismiss literary style and the use of irony, paradox, and metaphor. Rather, they examine how particular texts use (or do not use) particular devices and determine how this affects the reception of a text. Some texts have universal appeal; others are limited to a particular sub-culture within a culture. But all are important. Unlike New Criticism, which tends to be an academic affair, cutting a work off from society, cultural criticism attempts to save and value literature by acknowledging its significance.


7th July 2015 saw the culmination of MAWSPA committee bringing forward the first ever spa attire fashion show in Malaysia and the spa operation seminar held together in PWTC Kuala Lumpur. These two events under one roof, drawing together a balance crowd from the industry professionals and media partners.
The 1st ever spa attire fashion show brings together some of the most stylish spa therapist uniform on the stage. Stage is filled with impressive spa attire that provide inspiration for spa owners, hoteliers in getting the most appropriate attire for their therapist which will also symbolize their professionalism, culture and spirit.
Puan Ayu Mudiasih, Managing Director of Cemarayu Sdn Bhd and the owner of Tirta spa impressed many with her many various designs of spa uniform concepts. On top of that all the models showcasing the spa attires are complimented by current trend makeups and hairstyles that are appropriate for spa employees.
As the house lights dimmed and the music started to build the packed floor did not disappoint. The show proved to be a real success with more than 85 invitees and media partners came to have a first glance of the showcase.
Another highlight of the show was the comprehensive spa seminar program drawing over 60 attendees. Among the diversified program, topics in focus include "Treatment and professional home-care and advice" by Ayu Mudiasih, "Understanding the Industry" by Dr Baskaran Kosthi, "Team, Communication and Confidence" by Shah Amirudin, "Etiquette and Presentation" by Datin Dorothea Justin and more.
The operation seminar seeks to build the basics understanding of spa operation, customer relationship, interpersonal skills and more. The seminar was attended by more than 70 delegates featuring mostly spa owners, managers and executives from the spa, hotel and wellness industry. Certificate of participation were given to all the seminar participants after the programme ended followed by an Iftar with the delegates at the PWTC ground floor open buffet area.
Overall it was a very enjoyable afternoon for the committee and those who participated for the entire programme and we hope to see you again next year!


Born on August 26, 1959 .
Passed away on January 30, 2011 .
This memorial website was created in memory of our loved one, Mary Aiken Ferzzetti 51 years old , born on August 26, 1959 and passed away on January 30, 2011. We will remember her forever.
I just found this , forgot about it ,But never will forget you sissy, i miss you soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much . and wish you were here. wish i knew what happened for real. WILL see you soon. REST TILL I GET THERE!


Trunature® Grape Seed & Resveratrol provides timed-release action which makes it easy to take. A timed-release product works by dissolving over a period of time, which allows for an extended release of the dietary ingredients into the body. That means you take ONLY one tablet for sustained benefits every day. Just take it and forget it until the next day. You get 235 mg of grape seed extract, 75 mg of grape skin extract, 25 mg of grape juice extract, 75 mg of resveratrol, and 100 mg of Vitamin C all in one small tablet that is easy-to-swallow.
This formulation may help provide cardiovascular support from grape seed, plus it contains resveratrol, which may provide added heart health advantages. The grape seed and grape skin extracts in our formulation are both standardized so that each tablet provides a consistent amount of polyphenols and proanthocyanidins.
Polyphenols and proanthocyanidins are naturally found in plants and are attributed, at least in part, with antioxidant protection. Resveratrol is the compound found in red wine that may provide additional heart support through various mechanisms.
Usually, the body's own antioxidants can counter free radical production. However, as we age, the free radical production may begin to speed up. The theory behind taking an antioxidant is that it may assist in stopping the chain reaction set off by free radicals.
This product has more antioxidants with the benefits of Whole Grape and Vitamin C than with Grape Seed alone. It is a source of proanthocyanidins. These antioxidants may help to limit damage by free radicals.


The Samsung SBP-300HM6 Hanging Mount Adapter Dubai is a Medium Cap Adapter Accessory. The SBP-300HM6 is compatible with Samsung SCV-6081R, SNV-7084/R, SNV-6084/R, SNV-5084/R) Works with Mount (SBP-300WM1,SBP-300WM, SBP-300CM, SBP-300LM).
The SamsungSBP-300HM6 Hanging Mount Adaptor Dubaiis actually a Medium Cap Adapter Accessory. The SBP-300HM6 works along with Samsung SCV-6081R, SNV-7084/ R, SNV-6084/ R, SNV-5084/ R) Works along with Mount (SBP-300WM1, SBP-300WM, SBP-300CENTIMETERS, SBP-300LM).
The SBP-300HM6 Dubai Hanging Mount coming from Samsung permits you to mount a suitable Samsung camera to a Samsung roof, wall structure, or even parapet mount which is actually readily available independently. The SBP-300HM6 is actually showcased along with Hanging Mount Adapter, Indoor/Outdoor Use, Aluminium Material as well as Used along with SBP-300CENTIMETERS, SBP-300WM, SBP-300WM1, SBP-300LM as well as SBP-SCP/SN.


text:
<?php

namespace Cipen\InternacionBundle\Form;

use Symfony\Component\Form\AbstractType;
use Symfony\Component\Form\FormBuilderInterface;
use Cipen\InternacionBundle\Entity\Internacion;
use Symfony\Component\OptionsResolver\OptionsResolverInterface;

class EgresoType extends AbstractType
{
    public function buildForm(FormBuilderInterface $builder, array $options)
    {
        $builder
            ->add('diagnosticoEgreso','collection',array(
                'type' => 'autocomplete',
                'options' => array(
                    'class' => 'CipenDiagnosticoBundle:Diagnostico',
                    'url' => $options['urlDiagnostico'],
                 ),
                'allow_add' => true,
                'allow_delete' => true,
                'prototype' => true,
            ))
            ->add('fechaHoraEgreso', 'date', array(
                'widget' => 'single_text',
                'format' => 'dd/MM/yyyy HH:mm',
                'attr'=>array(
                    'data-jquery'=>'datetime'
                    ),
            ))
            ->add('tipoAlta', 'choice',array('choices'=>  Internacion::$tiposAltas))
            ;
    }

    public function getName()
    {
        return 'internacion_egreso';
    }

    public function setDefaultOptions(OptionsResolverInterface $resolver)
    {
        $resolver->setDefaults(array(
            'data_class' => 'Cipen\InternacionBundle\Entity\Internacion',
        ));

        $resolver->setRequired(array('urlDiagnostico'))

            ;
    }

}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Are Documentation and Records Really that Important to Protect My Business?
Critical to demonstrating compliance for all certification programs, private or government, are the requirements for well documented and consistently maintained records that will verify activities including inputs being free of contaminants and staff are complying with hygienic production protocols.
This is not surprising as records are the primary form of evidence that an auditor, private or government, relies on for verification of any past activities plus it is also key for growers and managers to confirm if production activities have been carried out and for detecting any issues with plant health and quality.
Having these records in place certainly shields your business from production processes that are not being carried out appropriately.
What are documents and records in a BioSecure HACCP system?
Effective records are ones that are documented on time, provide sufficient dated historical facts of the activity and are linked for traceability (on a per batch basis) right from the time of planting to the customer purchase. Some examples of documentation that are common in a certified production nursery practicing hygienic systems such as BioSecure HACCP are pest monitoring, import and dispatch inspections, staff training, sanitation and water testing records, all of which go a long way to protect the integrity of your business but more importantly provide you as the manager the confidence that you have control.
For many growers this is standard practice, but unfortunately for some other growers adhering to all of this documentation process on-farm can seem overbearing, excessive and perceived as having no real value. This often means higher priority is given to the hands-on duties and as a consequence there is reduced record keeping which can expose the business to a serious level of risk from pest and pathogen infestations that will only surface when it becomes exceedingly obvious through crop damage.
Whilst hands on duties are important continuing the documenting and recording of activities should be treated as of equal value and to be used as a tool to improve production practices and create opportunities within the business, not as something to avoid or drop off.
two is the record is documented at the time of the production activity which confirms when and who carried it out. A basic example of this can be an equipment sanitation record as seen below.
Why do we have these documented processes?
Simply put, it is so procedures and work instructions can be communicated to key staff and feedback gathered from the recorded information. Staff and managers can assess the data under an objective review system forming the basis of a continuous improvement process as demonstrated in this cycle below.
This real-time feedback is critical for some businesses where it is not possible for the manager to be supervising the entire production process or managing high staff turnover areas.
It is pointless to have what you believe as the best systems in place if firstly, due to poor training, communication or having no procedures in place, your staff are not able to carry out their duties effectively and efficiently and secondly you have no record that an activity actually occurred.
Also, not having this recording process in place makes corrective action a hit and miss affair as you do not have sufficient information for a traceback investigation, which could mean the difference between a quarantine of the entire production nursery (real risk losing customers and/or market access) or just focusing on a small group of plants that can be isolated via well maintained records.
What other value can be realized?
The objective of every grower is to produce from each batch of plants a high percentage of Grade 1 salable produce and to limit plant failures in each batch as this eats into the businesses profitability. By focusing heavily on propagation, particularly the early stages of plant growth, with tight procedural documentation and regimented monitoring records that are reviewed by management at these key times (both real-time, during or end of season) the opportunity to reduce the failure/mortality rate is very high. Of course, this should be maintained right up to the point of sale.
impact on your reputation as a safe, reliable and quality producer.
Another recognized value of documentation and records is in the implementation of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs. These programs usually require good staff training for correct monitoring techniques and pest identification as well as maintaining appropriate records to pick up pest and beneficial trends early. This is necessary for IPM as the options for control usually take more time to overcome the infestation which, if applied too late, may breach the tolerance threshold for plant damage.
Fortunately for the Nursery Industry we have excellent prescribed programs such as NIASA and BioSecure HACCP that provide a high standard in procedural guidelines, documentation and record keeping for growers to implement on-farm with government recognition. Please refer to the Nursery Production Farm Management System (Nursery Production FMS) website http://nurseryproductionfms.com.au/ and for more information on the BioSecure HACCP program please contact NGIA at email: biosecure@ngia.com.au.


I may have mentioned this before, but I have a new camera!
I haven't taken it out and about yet, though I'm really looking forward to doing that. In the meantime, though, here are a few trial photos of flowers in my home and garden - click on the photo to see a larger version.
I'm thrilled with how they've turned out, I really am. These are by far the best photos I've ever taken. I've always known how I wanted my photos to look, but they never did, so I was always disappointed with them, and came to regard photography as a means to an end - some images I could work up into a design - rather than an end in itself. All of a sudden, things have changed. I think I've found a new hobby!


text:
Теодор Лабарр (; 5 березня 1805, Париж — 9 березня 1870, Париж) — французький музикант і композитор.

Закінчив Паризьку консерваторію, в якій був учнем Франсуа-Жозефа Надермана і Ніколя Бокса. У 1823 році був вшанований другою Римською премією за кантату «Пірам і Фісба». Концертував як соліст у Франції та Великій Британії. У 1844 році випустив теоретичну працю «Школа гри на арфі» (). У 1851 році очолив приватну капелу майбутнього імператора Наполеона III. З 1867 року — професор арфи в Паризькій консерваторії. Серед його учнів — Фелікс Годефруа.

Автор понад ста творів для арфи — фантазій, дуетів, тріо і т. д. Крім того, написав дев'ять опер і балетів, найбільшою популярністю з яких користувався балет «Повстання в сералі» (), поставлений на сцені Паризької Опери балетмейстером Філіппо Тальоні (головну роль на прем'єрі 4 грудня 1833 року виконала його донька, знаменита балерина Марія Тальоні).

У 1862 році вшанований Орденом Почесного легіону .

Примітки

Посилання
 Лабарр, Теодор: ноти творів на International Music Score Library Project

Французькі музичні педагоги
Французькі композитори


text:
Arashi, cuyo kanji es 嵐, es la palabra japonesa para tormenta, y puede hacer referencia a:

 Un destructor de la clase Kagerō de la Armada Imperial Japonesa, el Arashi (destructor).
 Un grupo musical japonés, Arashi (banda).
 La canción Arashi (canción) del grupo anterior.
 Un municipio de Aruba, Arashi (Aruba).


One Voice is a new community singing group for all abilities with the intention to sing from the heart and celebrate the profound joy and healing energy that music brings to our spirit. Songs range from deeply contemplative to joyously ecstatic. Drummers are encouraged to bring drums and rhythm instruments.


P ortrait subjects are asked to pose for at least one sitting. Photographs are taken at that time for reference. Depending on the circumstances, the subject may come to the artist's studio or Mr. Morris will travel to the client's home or office. He guides the client through the creative process, advising on matters such as clothing, the location where the portrait will hang, and suitable framing.
A t an interim stage of the portrait development, the client will receive three prints for approval before the artist's brush touches the final canvas. The first is an 8×10 print of the subject's face, so the client can see the expression and skin tones that will appear in the final painting. The second is a photo composite of the overall composition of the portrait to give a general idea of the colors of the portrait. And finally, the artist sends a large, black & white print that is blown up to the exact size of the final canvas. This shows the client how exactly how big the final canvas will be and how large the figure will be on the canvas. This gives the client a lot of control and input and allows the client to visualize what the final painting will look like. This way, the client won't have any disappointments when the finished portrait is unveiled.
U pon completion, he returns the completed painting to the client and will arrange for adjustments or a final sitting, if necessary, before the unveiling of the final portrait.


text:
Great Irish Fair
National Grid CFO Leads Irish Fair As Chief Brehon
By Marie Elena Giossi
This year's Chief Brehon of the Great Irish Fair is Queens-born Margaret M. (Peggy) Smyth, chief financial officer of National Grid. She is the second female Brehon in the history of the fair.
"This is all about celebrating family, God, culture and heritage. That's why the Great Irish Fair is such a special event," Smyth told attendees at the fair's kickoff reception, held at St. Francis College, Brooklyn Heights.
A proud second-generation Irish-American, Smyth was born and raised in the Rockaways. Her parents, Anthony and Margaret Hannon, belong to St. Francis de Sales parish in Belle Harbor, where she attended the parish school. She was baptized there, received First Holy Communion and Confirmation, and was later married there.
"My parents are still in the same house. They will be married 60 years in October," she said.
She grew up in a two-family home with her grandparents living upstairs –close enough to instill their faith, culture and heritage in the next generation.
"My grandparents were all Irish immigrants," Smyth said. "They came over … in the steerage of boats like the Titanic" from counties Sligo, Mayo and Leitrim.
"My mother's parents lived with us in our home in the Rockaways. My grandmother, when she had come over to this country, was 16 years old – and she had all of her worldly possessions in a trunk," Smyth said.
Full of family history and treasures, that trunk remained in the basement of her parents' Rockaway home until Hurricane Sandy hit in 2012.
"Of course, it got destroyed. And that was the only thing – after losing two cars and most of their house – that my mom cried about. That just illustrates how important your heritage is, your family is, your belief in God is," she said.
Smyth has brought those strong values from her family and upbringing into her work ethic at one of the largest utility companies in America. At National Grid, she is known for leading team transformations that result in increased productivity, engagement and performance. Customer value and energy affordability are cornerstones of her work.
Under Smyth's leadership, National Grid is driving the transition to clean energy – developing financing models for new energy solutions like battery storage, solar energy and the expansion of electric vehicle charging stations.
Smyth has a personal interest in advancing sustainability accounting practices, and is a Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) FSA Credential Holder. She led a CFO roundtable at the United Nations in 2018, spearheading dialogue about the business case for sustainable decision-making.
Smyth formerly served as vice president of finance at Consolidated Edison, Inc. in New York and was previously the chief financial officer and vice president of finance at Hamilton Sundstrand, a United Technologies (UTC) company. She held financial leadership roles at 3M, Deloitte and Arthur Andersen.
Smyth and her husband, Berney, the son of Irish immigrants, have two sons of their own; they all have dual citizenship with Ireland. The family resides in Connecticut but also has a second home – a farm where Smyth's mother-in-law was raised – in County Roscommon, Ireland.
Tags: Great Irish Fair 2018
Previous Great Irish Fair Story
Next Great Irish Fair Story


In order to help you become more efficient when doing your English homework, the following suggests 10 different ways which you can make life easier for yourself.
If you're studying a particular book, such as one of the works of Shakespeare, then you may wish to purchase a study guide which will give details about a wide range of issues relating to that particular piece of literature.
Alternatively, rather than buying study guide, if you are studying a particular piece of literature then you may wish to make notes alongside in the page margin. This is a great way of highlighting any important passages, which can then be found easily later on.
If you need to write an essay then you may wish to look for free samples that can be found on websites offering essays to students around the world. This is a great way of getting extra inspiration for topic ideas and content for your English homework.
Another great way of finding inspiration and information is to look on blogs or articles that focus on the subject of literature, and may have been written by individuals, media companies or anyone else.
If you're stuck on a particular question then you may wish to head to a forum that specialises in the subject of English.
Just as you may find answers using forums, so too might you by using question and answer websites that are found online.
In order to improve your efficiency when doing the work, it is good idea to make a plan before you start, outlining what needs to be done and when you will do it.
Ideally, you want to do your homework whilst sitting at a desk that is free of any clutter. You will also want a good chair and good lighting so as to ensure that you are as comfortable as possible whilst doing the work.
Turn off mobile phones and any other electronic devices that can act as a distraction, as this will help to prevent you from procrastinating.
Finally, organise your time as efficiently as possible. It is a good idea to get into the habit of completing homework at the same time, based on a daily routine.


Outside of wanting to understand your own and your competitors' market share, it's valuable to understand "how" competitors are attaining it. Reverse engineering their tactics with these tools is an effective way to beat them at their own game.
Data is useless. Insight, and then action, is the key to advancing your program. These are some of the more important, and underutilized, metrics that can help you find performance breakthroughs – it's critical that you get this part right.
Building links without a thoughtful strategy only burns time and money. Link building isn't purely a numbers game. Relevance and quality really do matter. Here's how to keep your focus on the end user and make sure your content offers value.
On-site optimization has long been a cornerstone in any organic search effort. Two important principles to remember are to optimize toward the end user and plan holistically. Here are some core on-site attributes and how to best utilize them.
Applying direct response methodology, granular keyword-level data analysis, and focusing on quality over quantity are three keys that drive SEO success. Here's how to determine which keywords to focus on, relevance, user intent, and business impact.
Ad copy testing is critical to seizing a competitive advantage in PPC, but with an endless number of attributes to test it can be a little daunting to pick a starting point. Start with these ad copy attributes to improve your paid search campaigns.
When optimizing for Google's Display Network, taking the easy road never yields fantastic results. Many accounts struggle to reach an acceptable efficiency goal within the Display Network, but a huge opportunity exists. Take control. Shift placements from automatic to manual.
Make your life a little easier by avoiding these three paid search emergencies associated with keyword insertion, use of broad match, and attribution.
The combined power of business operations and empirical marketing data is powerful and is a win for the entire business. A real life example of why it pays off to meticulously analyze your paid search data.


This week our country gets a new president, our 45th, Donald J. Trump.
Many people spark to Trump's blunt "If you hit me I hit back twice as hard" style. They find him refreshing.
I don't find Donald Trump refreshing.
I think he's the most ill-prepared and ill-suited person ever elevated to the office. With that said, I hope he turns out to be as "amazing," "fantastic," "terrific," "awesome," and "really, really, really good" as he claims he will be.
I don't root for presidents to fail.
I didn't root for George W. Bush or Barack Obama to fail. I'm not going to root for Donald J. Trump to fail. If I cut off my nose, my glasses fall on the floor. They're no good to me down there. He was not my candidate, but like it or not, he is my president.
And that worries me greatly.
Two weeks ago, in a rare gesture of political magnanimity, Hillary Clinton and former President Bill Clinton agreed to attend Trump's inaugural ceremony alongside former Presidents Bush (43), Carter, and of course, Obama. While many of Clinton's supporters are eager to de-legitimize Trump's presidency, the woman with the greatest reason to resent his victory has risen above her own bitter disappointment to present a unified face to the nation and the world.
So we're back to that again.
After being offered an olive branch, Trump chose to stomp on it. Don't be shocked if Hillary and Bill suddenly remember they have dental appointments on Friday.
To return to "she's guilty as hell" one week out from taking the oath of office is further proof we have elected a man without impulse control, just one of the many chilling character defects Trump brings to Washington.
It serves neither the nation nor his personal interests to continue hammering away at Clinton. The campaign is over. Clinton offered to stand by Trump's side while he takes the oath office, despite getting 3 million more votes than he did. Rather than express gratitude, Trump chose to reopen campaign wounds. The only thing worse than a sore loser is a sore winner.
So what to do if you're one of the many millions who didn't vote for Trump? Read as much as possible. Read magazines, newspapers and websites, especially those you disagree with. Stay in constant contact with your elected representatives. Run for office. Vote. Roll up your sleeves and get involved in L.A. or Long Beach, or Pasadena or wherever you live.
Here's what won't make things better: throwing rocks at cops. Tying up traffic in protests that only punish working people trying to get home after a long day. Unfriending people you've loved and laughed with for decades. Insulting and denigrating anyone who did vote for Trump in an endless stream of online screeds. Lobbying for California (or any other state) to secede from the Union — that ship sailed 152 years ago at Appomattox Court House. And most importantly, don't assume everything proposed by Trump and his party comes from evil intent. There are other points of view in the world.
And what role should Trump supporters play these next four years?
Read as much as possible. Read magazines, newspapers and websites, especially those you don't agree with. Don't justify the unjustifiable with a laundry list of Clinton's or Obama's transgressions. If we don't accept "He did it first!" from our kids when they act up, we certainly shouldn't accept it from our president. And most importantly, don't assume everyone who opposes Trump and his party is doing so out of evil intent. There are other points of view in the world.


text:
Q: Socket.io failing to connect because of nsp I have a problem with socket.io@^1.0. The setup is fine because it works locally, the server is correctly configured and when i try to connect to the server from my Angular APP it works fine with this:
io.connect("localhost:8080");

The connection is established and i can send and receive event. Now in the production environment, "locahost:8080" is replaced with the address of the server Launched:
io.connect("https://domain-name.com/api");

I know that the problem here is the /api, since socket.io is considering it as a namespace and it's trying to connect to it, in my network console I see 500 Internal server error with the address https://domain-name.com without the /api when i replace the request url to add the /api I get a 200 OK with type octet-stream.
So the question here is: how do I connect to the correct path without consideration of the namespace?
Thanks in advance for any help :)

A: I think you want to use the path option (documented here):
// client
var socket = io.connect('https://domain-name.com/', {
  path : '/api/socket.io'
});

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Allegations of a lack of accountability in money management and a possible conflict of bylaws has been given as reasons for a Parkville organization losing out on thousands of dollars in grant money.
A marketing grant from one Parkville organization to another has been pulled after the sponsoring Parkville Old Towne Market Community Improvement District (referenced in this article as POTMCID or simply CID) says it needs better accountability from Main Street Parkville Association (MSPA).
The CID has withdrawn $15,000 that had remained in a $30,000 grant intended for MSPA.
Officials from the CID say that since its formation in 2006, the CID--supported by a one cent downtown sales tax--has worked closely with the Main Street Parkville organization to support and fund a marketing program for Downtown Historic Parkville.
Over this time frame, officials from the CID say POTMCID has provided more than $225,000 in grants to support the MSPA marketing campaigns, including radio, television and print marketing. This is in addition to the grants POTMCID has made to MSPA for downtown beautification, developing and supporting the MSPA website, administrative expenses, event fees and advertising, snow removal, and street and building lighting.
Tom Hutsler, chairman of the CID, says the CID has worked in partnership with MSPA to support efforts for enhancing Parkville's downtown and business viability.
The POTMCID board says it funded these grants after a thorough review of MSPA's financial statements and the proposed activities to be funded by the grant. The grants were approved based on the marketing activities proposed by MSPA and were funded as reimbursements to actual expenses for the activities.
Earlier this year, the CID approved a $30,000 grant requested by MSPA to support a digital marketing campaign to promote Downtown Parkville and the various MSPA events that bring thousands of visitors and shoppers to downtown.
Hutsler says the grant was approved to fund a digital marketing campaign. In its proposal to POTMCID, MSPA confirmed the marketing campaign would include production and airing of a video about Downtown Parkville on Spectrum television channels beginning in January.
POTMCID was supportive of the video campaign to bring shoppers to downtown, especially during the early months of 2017, which Hutsler said is consistently a time when there are fewer shoppers coming to downtown.
In late spring, POTMCID reimbursed MSPA $15,000 of the approved grant funds for the marketing activities. Hutsler says at that time MSPA was unable to provide up-to-date financial statements. The CID board requested MSPA provide the financial statements as soon as possible, Hutsler explained.
Hutsler says MSPA officials then reported to the CID they were unhappy with the production of the video that was targeted to run beginning in January and requested the video not be aired. Hutsler said this issue was not resolved until May when a new video was produced.
According to Hutsler, the CID was very concerned the "free" promotion for downtown was not resolved until late spring, missing what he says is the critical period of time from January through April to promote downtown.
In addition, Hutsler says MSPA informed the CID in April that its books were not correct or up-to-date for 2016.
The new MSPA executive director was working to correct and update the books but had not completed the task, according to the CID. This POTMCID board informed MSPA all grants are based on accurate and up-to-date accounting.
Members of the CID board say they offered their assistance in clearing up the financial statements. However, as of the Sept. 6 meeting of the POTMCID board, MSPA had not provided the updated, correct 2016 financial statements, Hutsler said.
At the Sept. 6 meeting, the CID approved a resolution to rescind the remaining $15,000 of the originally approved grant of $30,000.
This decision, Hutsler says, was made based on the fact MSPA had not provided the updated, correct financial statements and had allegedly mismanaged the grant funds because of the delay in the television advertising until May.
In addition, Hutsler said the CID board expressed serious concern that MSPA was not following its own bylaws concerning conflict of interest of board members.
The most recent revision of the MSPA bylaws, which included this description of conflict of interest for board members, was approved by the MSPA board in May 2017.
Hutsler said CID officials are concerned that John Putnam and his wife Kelly (owners of Cool Vintage Watches) are tenants of Mike Emmick of Edward Jones, who is the vice president of the MSPA board. Kelly Putnam is also the paid executive director of MSPA.
Reached by phone Tuesday night, Kelly Putnam declined to comment in detail on any matters dealing with bylaws, saying that topic would be an issue for the MSPA board to discuss.
She did say in her opinion the MSPA is not in violation of its bylaws. She declined to go into specifics, saying the CID had not provided details to MSPA in writing in regard to why the grant was pulled. She declined the opportunity to hear specifically in what way the CID is alleging the MSPA is violating its own bylaws.
As for issues of money management inside the MSPA, Putnam said there were issues with the 2016 financial records but "we worked diligently to correct" those.
"The MSPA financial records are current and reconciled and accurate through August of 2017," she said.
The CID notified MSPA that it was pulling the grant effective immediately. Putnam said the MSPA received the letter from the CID on Sept. 10.


Shot with Kodak Tri-X Super 8 film, during a photo shoot in Bordeaux (France), for 2013/14 Fall / Winter catalog.
Direction & Photo: José Luis Villar.
Model: Silvia Zamora Lady Addict´s Blog.
Style: Manuel de Villar & Leire Yanguas.
Editor: José Luis Villar studio.
Filmed with Canon 1014 xls and Beaulieu 4008 ZM2.


Attention Mountain Mermaids! Can you hear it? The Big Island of Hawaii is calling you! This retreat is designed to nurture the nurturer, healer, teacher, and leader. Come cleanse your body, mind, and spirit as your rejuvenate and activate your highest creative expression. Let nature fill your soul and remind you of who you came here to be.
$500 non-refundable deposit due by September 30. Space is limited. Sign up early to secure your place in paradise!
Steph Barton is a Certified Life Coach & Transformational Catalyst who is committed to assisting humanity's awakening through energetic frequency awareness, nature, play, and heart centered DNA activation.
Hale Kai (ocean house) is a living and learning center on the south Kona coast of the Big Island of Hawaii. This sanctuary is set in a remote traditional fishing village, off the grid and nestled in the special exotic beauty of ancient Hawaii. Hale Kai offers a setting which allows the soul to merge with the spirit. Enjoy the open comfortable living, warm ocean breeze and enchanting atmosphere.
Hale Kai has been called exotic, comfortable, homey, and luxuriously rustic… providing everything one needs and nothing more (a remote, unique and magical taste of old Hawaii, Polynesian style). Rejuvenate in the beautiful double-occupancy, Balinese style cottages (2 beds in each room). Just steps to the ocean and short walk to the beach. You will feel the sacred grounding of the land the second you step foot onto the property.
Set your playful spirit free as you swim in the warm ocean waters and snorkel in stunning colorful reefs. As we nurture ourselves and our "cells", we will collectively be sending healing to our precious ocean through Ho'oponopono. In the process, we transform ourselves and send positive intentions to our planet. Connect with like minds and play as nature reveals her magic and Steph guides you in remembering who you really are through play, guided meditations, visualizations and DNA activations.
To register or for any questions, please email or call Stephanie at sbarton@lifedreamcoach.com, 435-901-2093.


text:
Joseph J. Brandemuehl is a former brigadier general in the United States Air National Guard and commander of the 115th Fighter Wing at the Truax Field Air National Guard Base in Madison, Wisconsin.

Career
Brandemuehl originally enlisted in 1979 and was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1985. In 1990 he received a B.S. in Engineering Mechanics – Astronautical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and in 1992 he received a M.S. in Engineering Mechanics – Structural Dynamics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He has accumulated more than 3,000 flying hours in a Cessna T-41 Mescalero, Cessna T-37 Tweet, Northrop T-38 Talon, the Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II, Fairchild C-26 Metroliner, and the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon.

Awards he received during his career include the Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Aerial Achievement Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Army Commendation Medal, the Air Force Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with valor device and four oak leaf clusters, the Combat Readiness Medal with one silver oak leaf cluster and three bronze oak leaf clusters, the Air Force Good Conduct Medal, the Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, with service star, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Air Force Overseas Service Ribbon, the Air Force Longevity Service Award with silver oak leaf cluster, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with silver hourglass device and mobilization device, the Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon with service star, and the Air Force Training Ribbon with oak leaf cluster.

References

Military personnel from Wisconsin
United States Air Force generals
University of Wisconsin–Madison College of Engineering alumni
Living people
Year of birth missing (living people)


text:
2020 Democrat: Trump is a national security risk
By Marina Pitofsky - 06/17/19 04:15 PM EDT
Rep. Eric Swalwell Eric Michael SwalwellMatt Gaetz hints prosecutor won't press charges against threatening caller for political reasons Fundraising numbers highlight growing divide in 2020 race The Hill's 12:30 Report: Pelosi looks to squash fight with progressives MORE (D-Calif.) called President Trump Donald John Trump#IStandWithIlhan trends after crowd at Trump rally chants 'Send her back' 'Racism' top search after Trump rally: Merriam Webster Ocasio-Cortez offers encouragement to those 'scared for our future' after Trump rally MORE a national security risk in a CNN interview, slamming the president for his foreign policy priorities.
Swalwell, who's running for the White House in 2020, criticized the president for not taking a more aggressive stance toward Russia when asked about a Saturday report from The New York Times that officials are ramping up "digital incursions" into Russia's power grid and not briefing Trump about the efforts because of "concern over his reaction."
When asked by CNN host Ana Cabrera, "Do you consider President Trump a national security risk?," Swalwell replied that he did.
"Yes, I do. He has invited the Russians to attack us again. He has not disclosed to us his financial arrangements with the Russians that he and his family have talked about in the past, and he's failed to act against them to punish them for what they did in the last election," Swalwell told Cabrera.
Swalwell also cited the Trump administration lifting some sanctions on Russian businesses and his decision to pull American troops out of Syria, a decision that was criticized by several congressional Republicans.
"He's actually gone the other direction — reducing sanctions, pulling us out of Syria at their request," Swalwell said.
.@AnaCabrera: "Do you consider President Trump a national security risk?"
Democratic @RepSwalwell: "Yes, I do. He has invited the Russians to attack us again. He has not disclosed to us his financial arrangements." https://t.co/T4SKb4eojv pic.twitter.com/QKtzfgPh5I
— CNN Newsroom (@CNNnewsroom) June 17, 2019
Trump on Saturday accused the Times of committing "a virtual act of Treason" over its report about the U.S. increasing cyberattacks on Russia's electric power grid, while saying in a separate tweet that the story was "NOT TRUE!"
"Do you believe that the Failing New York Times just did a story stating that the United States is substantially increasing Cyber Attacks on Russia," Trump tweeted. "This is a virtual act of Treason by a once great paper so desperate for a story, any story, even if bad for our Country."
"Anything goes with our Corrupt News Media today," he added in another tweet. "They will do, or say, whatever it takes, with not even the slightest thought of consequence! These are true cowards and without doubt, THE ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE!"
The Times stood by its story, saying on Twitter that "accusing the press of treason is dangerous."
The California lawmaker, who serves on the House Intelligence Committee, added in the CNN interview that if he were elected president, he would work on strengthening relations with America's "traditional allies," like NATO countries.
"We'll spend more on national defense in our country if we have fewer friends or if we have the wrong friends like the Russians, the North Koreans and the Saudis. If we don't have the right friends, like our traditional allies, we're going to have to spend more," Swalwell said.
Tags Eric Swalwell Donald Trump


Twenty years ago I had the worst interview of my life. It was the first time that I had ever been face-to-face with what is now called "psychometric testing," a practice that is increasingly being used by interviewing companies.
Today's employers want to feel as secure about you as possible before taking the leap and making an offer. While your background may fit the job specifications perfectly, many companies believe that they don't truly know you until you have been through a battery of tests that look for personality characteristics and/or forecast interpersonal difficulties. Some of these tests even try to measure problem-solving ability and determine whether you have the potential to supervise others. Companies that use these interview tools take the philosophy that you are not the contents of your CV or resume; they believe that lists of lab skills and techniques don't truly reflect the real you.
In my case, I had set up an interview at a firm where I had a friend in a key role who assured me that I was an excellent fit for the position. I really did my homework by investigating the company and preparing for the interview. That's why I was so surprised when the hiring manager interrupted our series of personal meetings to say that I had an appointment scheduled with the company's "psychologist consultant." Suddenly I was being driven off-site in a cab and taken to this consultant's office. Everyone assured me that it was only because the firm was very interested in me that it took this step.
The consultant told me how the company wanted to assure a match with its internal culture. To that end, he had developed a series of tests that would help the firm determine if there was a fit. I remember sitting down with a stack of paperwork, some number 2 pencils, and a lousy attitude. Things went along OK for a time until he started showing me some of those ink-blot pictures and doing word associations. "Too weird," I thought. At that point, although I wasn't really making a conscious decision, I believe that I gave up on the interview. Needless to say, I didn't get the job offer.
Should my friend have warned me about the use of psychometric testing at the company? I wish he had, but in reality I couldn't have done anything with that information. You can't prepare for this type of test with the traditional pre-interview research. However, getting familiar with the type of questions used in psychometric testing can indeed make you more comfortable when you are suddenly thrust into the process, pencil in hand.
Most importantly, knowing that these kinds of interviews are out there and developing an open attitude toward this testing will mean that you won't suffer the shock that I did when you encounter it. After all, the fewer surprises on interview day, the better!
Philip Carter is the co-author of an excellent new release from Wiley, More Psychometric Testing * ; he and Ken Russell also wrote the original 2001 release in this series called Psychometric Testing: 1000 Ways to Assess Your Personality, Creativity, Intelligence and Lateral Thinking. Carter is passionate about the value of these tests to the employer, and in my interview with him he offered readers some excellent tips on how to deal with the whole practice of testing during interviews.
"It is important for your readers to realize the cost of hiring," Carter began. "There is a tremendous expense to recruitment and the initial hiring process. Anything that an employer can do to assure that the fit is a good one is generally considered worth doing."
My personal feeling, which I expressed in my chat with Carter, is that while it may be to the employer's advantage to reduce risk in this way, I still have trouble figuring out why I need to share my fear of traffic jams (see sidebar). I told him that many of these tests go way over the border into unnecessary personal information that many people may find offensive, as I did.
"The process shouldn't be perceived negatively. Applicants should take the positive view that this form of testing gives them the opportunity to demonstrate to the employer that they are the best person for the job," Carter cautioned. "Besides, an organization will not base its entire decision on ... an individual's test results. Psychometric testing is a part of the selection process, and it is not a substitute for interviewing. It works best when it is combined with an in-depth personal interview."
Culled from a variety of sources, here are some of the questions that can be asked during psychometric tests given by employers to identify personality traits or creativity in their prospective recruits.
From "How Well Do You Cope Under Pressure . . ."
How important to you is the need to succeed?
Does working to deadlines give you a buzz?
You are sitting in a traffic jam. Which of the following is likely to be your strongest feeling?
From "Asking for What You Want . . ."
From "Do You Have the Secret to Success?"
Later in the month, a department head at a major university told me about two equally qualified graduate students who had interviewed for jobs at one of America's largest and best-known companies, a software firm. Both of these new Ph.D. graduates were given a large geometric puzzle with a zillion pieces, and they were asked to solve it in 10 minutes. They were timed, and the pressure was intense. One of these new Ph.D.s reported that he was sweating all over the desk and that he made very little progress on the puzzle. He didn't get the job offer. The other Ph.D. got an offer and is now at work at the company. But he didn't solve the puzzle either.
This successful Ph.D. took the same analytical approach that he gave his science. He spent a few minutes looking at the puzzle from a variety of angles and then set it down in front of him. He told the interviewer that he could solve it but that it would take about an hour. He then proceeded to tell that person about the reasoning process that he would use to solve it. It turns out that this is all they were hoping to learn.
I asked Carter if there is a way to cram for the testing, in order to assure a better result. After all, many of our readers are used to studying for exams. Is there a way to do this for the interview testing?
"At all times, applicants need to follow the instructions and be entirely truthful in their responses," he cautioned. "Cramming for a test would imply that there is one correct answer to these questions. That isn't usually the case. Whenever you are faced with a personality questionnaire, it is important to answer the questions truthfully, because an attempt to guess the answer that you think your employer wants to hear has every chance of being spotted. When the tests are analyzed, your manipulation will certainly come to light."
As Carter went on to describe how many tests guard against manipulation by posing the same question more than once but in different ways, I realized that this is most likely why I didn't get that job offer many years ago. I wanted that job so badly that each time I looked at a question, I tried to determine what the employer was trying to get at. The secret to psychometric testing, as it turns out, is that the person who answers the questions entirely truthfully has a much better chance at the job than the sharpie who thinks he or she can figure the thing out!
As you can see from the sidebar, a series of examples listed in More Psychometric Testing, these tests are so broad in scope that there really isn't a lot of common ground. Some are personality tests, some are math- and numbers-related, and others are attempts to measure your creativity. They are as varied as the types of employers using them.
So above all, if you run into any kind of psychometric testing on your next interview, you'll now know to answer the questions as truthfully as possible and to avoid the temptation to try thinking like your interviewer. This is not the time to be creative. Unlike a lot of creative thinking, this time it won't win you a job offer.
* Philip Carter and Ken Russell, More Psychometric Testing (Wiley, West Sussex, U.K., 2003).


Lie detector tests are any mechanical or electrical devices used to render a diagnostic opinion about the honesty or dishonesty of an individual. In the workplace, they are generally administered when investigating a specific criminal incident. Lie detector tests include polygraphs, deceptographs, psychological stress evaluators, and voice stress analyzers. Generally, private-sector employers may use only polygraphs in limited circumstances. This course describes the use of lie detector tests (specifically polygraph tests) in the workplace, including the laws and regulations that govern them, the criteria for administering them, and the rights of employees who may be asked to take them. The goal of the course is to enable the learner to administer polygraph tests in a manner compliant with current law.
This course will take approximately 60 minutes.
To increase knowledge and awareness of the acceptable uses of polygraph tests in the workplace and to enable the learner to administer legally compliant polygraph tests.
understand and observe the rights of employees throughout the testing process.
The Human Equation is recognized by SHRM to offer Professional Development Credits (PDCs) for the SHRM-CPSM or SHRM-SCPSM. This program is valid for 1.0 PDCs for the SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP. For more information about certification or recertification, please visit SHRM.


SAR-E-PUL - A strong partnership between government and civil society is a critical necessity for improved service delivery, good governance and rural development, said participants at a UN-backed event in the northern province of Sar-e-Pul.
More than 60 civil society representatives, government officials, tribal elders, journalists and academics came together at the event to discuss ways to strengthen civil society's engagement with provincial authorities. The event was organized by UNAMA's Mazar regional office to foster conversation around government services and economic development, particularly in remote districts.
"This event is intended to help institutionalize a culture and tradition of face-to-face dialogue and honest engagement between the people and the government in the interest of delivering essential services throughout the province," said Hekmatullah Haidari, a civil society representative.
Sar-e-Pul, a mostly mountainous and province, consists of nearly 1,000 villages spread across seven districts. In recent years, residents have faced insecurity that has displaced hundreds of families and affected services such as health and education.
During the event's lively discussion, participants made several recommendations, including addressing the security situation and developing a systematic work plan between civil society and provincial authorities for effective planning, monitoring and implementation of development programmes.
For their part, the provincial authorities participating in the event welcomed the efforts of civil society in calling for good governance and supporting better engagement around development programmes.
The event was organized by UNAMA's Mazar regional office as one of many other similar programmes, events and initiatives resulting from UNAMA reaching out to a range of groups across the country to create spaces, both physical and on social media, for them to come together and discuss issues that are of critical importance to them, and to strategize on the best way forward.


Search Keeneland homes & real estate in Nicholasville, KY. For information about Keeneland properties for sale in Nicholasville, Kentucky or to schedule a private showing, contact your local Keeneland Nicholasville real estate agents today.
Want to purchase a home in Keeneland? Call the Nick Ratliff Realty Team at (859) 554-2075. Your neighborhood Keeneland real estate professionals are here to help with the Keeneland Nicholasville, KY real estate market.


Things of gotten quiet here fast. The nature of clubs these days, I guess? So, let's talk YCM politics.
You mean the current election? Kinda sad that I came 11th overall in the pre election voting. Looking forward to a new mod though.
I got tied for 11th along with you. At least I got some support. And yay for CowCow and Black.
As for a topic, I just got done watching the 2003 Clone Wars series. Has anyone else watched it?
No regular beer. I drank it all.
Of course there is root beer here. I'd be stupid not to keep some in stock. Now, "As for a topic, I just got done watching the 2003 Clone Wars series. Has anyone else watched it?"
Well, looks like people considered this thread a fad. Still, I'm taking this seriously. Who here has played the older Assassin's Creed games?
One of my fellow co-founders has finally returned. Rejoice. Anyway, what's the hardest game you've played?
This back and forth game between you and I. Striker, I am confessing my love here. Let's stop fooling ourselves. Will you marry me?
No. And please discuss the topic at hand. This isn't Misc.
Striker, I am discussing the topic. The game of our love is the hardest game I am playing.
Anyways, hello. I only played the first Assassin's Creed game. I do have Origins though.


text:
Back To Basis: Restoring Trust In AI
From viral filters to suspiciously specific—though convenient—search recommendations, artificial intelligence (AI) underpins just about every action we take on social media today. Similar to other successful modern technologies like smartphones and the internet, AI has become ubiquitous—almost to the point of invisibility.
This article first appeared on Asian Scientist Magazine.
For tech behemoths like Facebook and Google, AI provides an unparalleled opportunity to generate insights from massive amounts of data at scale. However, beyond the buzz of Silicon Valley, other organisations worldwide—both large and small—continue to struggle with implementing machine learning technology.
"We knew that the opportunity for machine learning adoption outside the big tech companies was monumental," shared Liu Feng-Yuan, CEO and co-founder of Singapore-headquartered BasisAI, which builds bespoke AI solutions for enterprises. "Many organisations want to be more data-driven and automated in their approaches, but face a whole host of challenges in getting machine learning to work for their businesses."
Some of these issues arise from the sheer diversity of applications that AI can be applied to. For instance, according to Liu, data scientists and software engineers can have vastly different methods and mental models of the best machine learning approach to a given problem. Still, the real challenge comes into play after—putting the resulting machine learning models into practice is easier said than done.
A lack of infrastructure, especially for smaller companies, can thwart the ability to track the performance of machine learning models after deployment. Just like a 'black box,' companies can see the initial data and final decision, but are unable to visualise the processes in between. More ominously, harmful biases can unknowingly creep into AI systems—as is often the case when organisations take the plunge into AI without fully understanding the technology.
As AI automates life-changing decisions like hiring and even criminal sentencing, such biased 'black boxes' begin to raise major concerns. Because AI systems are typically trained using existing data, they can inherit existing societal prejudices.
"Decisions have an impact on the real world and usually. decisions are made by human beings with agency," explained Liu. "Now the moment AI software makes decisions, there arise questions about how these decisions are made and whether they are made in an ethical way."
Joining forces with seasoned Silicon Valley veterans (and brothers) Linus and Silvanus Lee, Liu sought to address all these seemingly disparate challenges through one solution: BasisAI's proprietary machine learning platform, Bedrock. As its name implies, Bedrock gives enterprises a foundation to deploy AI for decision-making successfully—and responsibly.
In other words, Bedrock enables users to finally peer inside the black box of AI. With the power to experiment and explain the models used, organisations can reduce biases and scale AI solutions to match their specific needs. While BasisAI has unsurprisingly courted customers across financial services, government, tech and insurance spaces, Bedrock's applications extend even to creating bespoke AI engines for animal conservation.
"We have come a really long way in just two years—from securing S$8 million in seed funding from Temasek and Sequoia at the start of 2019 to launching Bedrock in July 2020," said Liu. "It's time to look at expanding the business, building out the team, our product and our commitment to responsible AI for enterprises in the region and beyond."
With BasisAI leading the charge for accessible and responsible AI, Liu hopes to realize a future where important decisions are made with facts and data rather than steered by biases and emotions.
"We need to choose a brighter future. One in which we harness the power of AI and machine learning to deliver outcomes that make the world a better place for everyone," concluded Liu.
Read more from Asian Scientist Magazine at: https://www.asianscientist.com/2021/04/features/asias-changemakers-basisai-liu-feng-yuan/
Enjoy? Share with your friends
Is Your Company Ready for AI?
AI regulation is here: what does it mean for businesses?
Introducing Boxkite: open source model observability for MLOps teams
Stay always up-to-date with our Aicadium newsletter, we keep you up to date with the latest trends around Artificial Intelligence.


text:
Ex-Baltimore Mayor Indicted In Scheme To Divert Money From Book Sales
By Peter Hecht
Catherine Pugh penned children's books about a girl named "Healthy Holly." U.S. authorities say it was a ruse to divert cash to her mayoral campaign.
Former Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh is facing federal charges for allegedly funding fraudulent donations to her mayoral campaign through bogus and duplicate sales of children's books she authored.
Pugh, a former Maryland state senator who became Baltimore's mayor in Dec. 2016, owned a children's book publishing company called Healthy Holly. A federal indictment announced Wednesday said her books were sold for distribution to non-profit organizations and foundations, including many doing city business. But thousands of books were never delivered.
Federal authorities announced that two Baltimore city employees have pleaded guilty to federal wire fraud and tax charges in the scheme.
FBI agents raided Pugh's home and City Hall office on April 25, 24 days after the mayor and five staffers went on paid leave. Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan announced he directed state authorities April 1 to "investigate the disturbing allegations surrounding Mayor Catherine Pugh's questionable financial dealings."
Pugh resigned on May 2, writing in a statement: "I am sorry for the harm that I have caused to the image of Baltimore and the credibility of the office of the mayor."
The New York Times reported that Pugh, a long-time fitness buff, signed a $500,000 deal to sell her healthy-lifestyle books, featuring a character called Healthy Holly, to the University of Maryland Medical System. At the time, Pugh served on its board of directors.
Pugh claimed the books were being donated to libraries and youth groups. But few of the purported 100,000 copies materialized. That prompted The Baltimore Sun newspaper to editorialize: "We have to consider Healthy Holly a missing person."
Authorities said many of the books were being diverted and resold to funnel money to Pugh, associates and her mayoral campaign. In announcing the indictments, U.S. Attorney Robert Hur said: "Corrupt public employees rip off the taxpayers and undermine everyone's faith in government."
Pugh, who is 69, faces 11 federal charges, including wire fraud, conspiracy and tax evasion. She was ordered to surrender to U.S. Marshalls and to appear for an arraignment on Thursday.