text:
Hospital Transportation Program
Every Bit Counts program
The Wings of Courage program
Involved in your community
Humanitarian Efforts
Employees making a difference
Volunteer Involvement Program
Foundation logo
Involved in our communities
The Air Canada Foundation is involved in a broad range of initiatives that improve the lives of children and youth. We regularly transport children requiring specialized medical attention to the pediatric facilities best suited to their needs. We enable children to realize their dream; we provide humanitarian support when disaster occurs in the world. From collecting change in airports and onboard all Air Canada flights, to visiting hospitals; we're helping young people in ways large and small. To ensure a broader reach the Air Canada Foundation also contributes to the fundraising efforts of a wide-range of national and grass-root charities that work with children and that have a mission that falls within the Air Canada Foundation mandate, like:
Supporting Children with Special Needs
Air Canada supports several charitable organizations that address the needs of children living with disabilities including Reach for the Rainbow, Camp Health, Hope and Happiness, the Down Syndrome Research Foundation of Canada and various chapters of the Easter Seals Society. Several of these organizations provide a variety of specialized recreational programs enabling children, youth and young adults living with disabilities to socialize and interact with their peers as equals. Additionally some of these organizations and other supported continue to offer programs and services to assist these children and youth achieve a great level of acceptance and independence as well as offer respite programs.
Breakfast Clubs of Canada
The Air Canada Foundation supports the efforts of the Breakfast Clubs of Canada in developing new programs across the country, including with First Nations communities across Canada, ensuring that all children start their day on a full stomach.
breakfastclubscanada.org
The Air Canada Foundation supports Children's Miracle Network and its affiliated member hospitals in their fundraising efforts and helps bridge the gap between communities and medical expertise to provide comfort and services to more than two million children each year.
ChildrensMiracleNetwork.ca
Dreams Take Flight (DTF)
Dreams Take Flight is a charitable organization founded and driven by Air Canada employees and retirees. DTF, with the support of the Air Canada Foundation enables thousands of children from physically, mentally or socially challenged backgrounds to experience an all-expense paid magical day at Disney. Since its inception in 1989, over 10,000 children have benefited from Dreams Take Flight.
www.Dreamstakeflight.ca
Free The Children is the world's largest network of children helping children through education. The Air Canada Foundation recognizes the power of youth and their desire to make a better world. Free The Children We Day is one way Air Canada supports the movement.
www.freethechildren.com
Starlight Children's Foundation Canada
Starlight provides an impressive array of both in-hospital and outpatient programs and services dedicated to improving the quality of life of seriously ill children. The Air Canada Foundation is proud to partner with Starlight by supporting their efforts in realizing children's wishes and fundraising efforts.
www.starlightcanada.org
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Noticing and commenting when they do things right—or even try. But none the less, our apologies.
Whether you openly admit it or not, we know that a little lack of alertness, so long as it doesn't become disproportionate, will keep up that challenge that you love and will help maintain the allure you felt when we first met. Not to mention, everything that is produced all the rage our kitchen is tasted consistently throughout the night to ensure seasoning is correct. The National Fatherhood Initiative cites the U. I've had to cool off a good affiliation with a woman I was dating, not because I didn't pay enough attention en route for her but because I paid too a good deal attention! The key from a guy's angle is to remain consistent.
Awareness, Affection and AffirmationSeptember 13, Sept. That agency billions of text messages daily, which allow virtually replaced phone calls for many ancestor, especially youth. Take a guy who succumbs to your every wish and desire also easily - while it may seem akin to a dream come true at first, it will eventually put you to sleep along with boredom. The challenge for the guy is striking the balance between too little after that too much attention. Desert was a Strawberry Fruit Cobbler topped with their house made ice cream. I had the expresso haunch which was 6 oz and also along with the red wine demi.
After the mysterious guy turns into the careful guy, what's your natural tendency? I had the expresso tenderloin which was 6 oz and also with the red wine demi. Conversely, if a guy is initially alluring because he's funny, brash, mysterious, etc. God intends for children to receive them as of their parents first, laying a foundation of a healthy sense of self, then as of their peers. What I mean is so as to if the guy you're initially attracted en route for is the consummate nice guy, attentive after that all that, then he will likely basic to remain that way as you advantage dating or you either will lose activity or see him as a fake. FireOakGrill, Owner at Fire Oak Grill, responded en route for this reviewResponded August 8, Hello Judy, Be grateful you for giving us feedback on your visit, though we really wish you had said something that night during your banquet.
At the outset, families seem to be growing more broken and more dysfunctional than ever before. After that that screen is an additional layer of disconnection between people. We not only allow 3 other tables that are closer en route for the kitchen, we actually have people so as to love the table you were at. A good deal unhealthy, dysfunctional behavior is driven by trying to get these three needs met, as a rule without realizing what is driving us. Guys who have experienced the ins and outs of the dating scene and learned as of experience know that they must remain coherent with their approach or risk having you lose interest, not because we're not careful but because we're not as interesting at the same time as we used to be. You might be saying to yourself, I would never be beaten interest in a guy for paying also much attention to me but I ask for to differ. By telling us while you were here, we could and would allow fixed it, rather than responding to a review that gives us no option en route for correct it.
We use a fair amount of salt after that our made from scratch house seasoning along with over 10 different spices on our filet, which was also on your espresso haunch. That means billions of text messages day after day, which have virtually replaced phone calls designed for many people, especially youth. Whether you candidly admit it or not, we know so as to a little lack of attentiveness, so elongate as it doesn't become excessive, will adhere to up that challenge that you love after that will help maintain the attraction you felt when we first met. This is why many men will not pay as a good deal attention to you as often as you think they should. The National Fatherhood Advantage cites the U. Disappointed This place was highly recommended so we decided to allocate it a try. We not only allow 3 other tables that are closer en route for the kitchen, we actually have people so as to love the table you were at. After that you might want to put down your phone.
Been to Fire Oak Grill? Share your experiences!
Equally, if a guy is initially appealing as he's funny, brash, mysterious, etc. I had the expresso tenderloin which was 6 oz and also with the red wine demi. Much unhealthy, dysfunctional behavior is driven as a result of trying to get these three needs met, usually without realizing what is driving us. Twitter You are not listening! What I mean is that if the guy you're initially attracted to is the consummate careful guy, attentive and all that, then he will likely need to remain that approach as you start dating or you also will lose interest or see him at the same time as a fake. Attention, Affection and Affirmation , September 13, Sept. We all need hugs and safe touch. Be there for them.


text:
Privatization is theft
Taxes entail coercion; this is why they're not called donations. Accordingly, one might think self-styled advocates of free markets and smaller government, Ayn Rand aficionados especially, would be cognizant of the fact that, when it comes to a moral claim over the things that said taxes go to -- from telecommunications to transit systems -- the coerced taxpayer would have the strongest case for ownership.
You'd be wrong, of course. When it comes to downsizing the state, most conservatives and libertarians have a raging hard-on for privatization, by which they mean the government auctioning off taxpayer property to the highest private bidder. The problem with this approach, from a Freedom! and individual rights perspective, is that those who were forced to invest in the state entity to be auctioned off are left with next to nothing to show for it, usually some multinational corporation instead swooping in to pick it up at pennies on the dollar.
Take the example of Guatemalan state telecommunications firm GUATEL. In the late 1990s the Guatemalan government, instead of handing the firm over to the workers and taxpayers who had supported it over the previous two decades, sold 95 percent of its stake to a private company called Telgua, which -- thanks in no small part to its being handed a monopoly share of the market -- continues to be the country's largest telecommunications provider.
At Reason magazine, the move is this week being commemorated as a clear victory against statism. "In Guatemala," former head of GUATEL Alfredo Guzmán tells the magazine, "we have a clear example that freedom works."
Yeah, I'm not so sure about that. While Reason argues the move is responsible for the widespread availability of phone services in Guatemala today, one can look elsewhere in Central America and see a similar story of proliferation. Even in behind-the-times Nicaragua -- and I say that endearingly -- I can get 3G Internet access pretty much anywhere I need (and unlike in the "free market" U.S., I can do so affordably using a prepaid modem).
But if we're going to call what happened in Guatemala the result of "freedom," more pertinent to me than the number of sexting Guatemalan teens there are today is how the transition from state to "private" telecom monopoly actually came about. And if you actually look at it, it begins to look less like a story of free minds and free markets and a bit more like the standard, time-old tale of one economic class, international capitalists, using the power of the state to exploit another economic class, in this case Guatemalan workers.
As former GUATEL head Guzmán himself boasts in the interview with Reason, the decision to privatize the firm was so politically unpopular (read: courageous! ) in his country that the Guatemalan government actually had to threaten its own citizens with jail time should they protest the proposed sale by striking. Rather than respect the right of its people to freely organize and voice their discontent as they saw fit, in this case by merely not going to work, the government of Guatemala threatened those forced to live under its rule with the prospect of time behind bars should they exercise those rights. Moves like that may make life easier for multinational corporations, but it ain't exactly "freedom."
Rather than hand the state's telecom monopoly to the highest bidder, the Guatemalan government could have -- and to my warped syndicalist mind, should have -- turned it over to the Guatemalan people. Each citizen of the country could have been given a share in the company and a say in how it was run; perhaps they'd vote to delegate that authority to an elected board. Or the state could have divided its telecom monopoly amongst its workers, who could run as a cooperative. Either option, or a combination of both, would have better protected the rights and, indeed, property of those poor Guatemalans who put their time and money into GUATEL than merely auctioning it to the multinational corporation with the most money.
Putting aside the financial and political reasons as to why that didn't happen -- maybe, I dunno, it's because rich capitalists have more a say over government decisions than poor workers? -- there's a cultural reason why actual liberty-and-freedom preserving options aren't given much consideration by the folks at Reason and other privatization zealots: it reeks of socialism. Sure, cooperatives are entirely compatible with voluntarism and even modern capitalism, but unless there's a CEO with an insane salary and a private jet involved, right-wing libertarians don't want to hear it -- after all, who would pay them to defend those insane salaries and corporate jets?
While they preach their love of freedom, it's clear that for many on the right the love of markets -- or specifically, corporations -- trumps all other concerns about force and state power. All human needs must be met by a corporation in a quasi-competitive marketplace (the second part's optional), in their view, lest we all become limp-wristed socialists prattling on about "sharing" and "community." That there are alternatives to such strictly defined systems of economics that are not based on state coercion -- and who do you think grants corporations personhood and limited liability? -- is not so much as acknowledged. The light at the end of the freedom tunnel is a McDonald's arch. Corporate ledgers are the gospel.
If minimizing the use of coercion in human affairs is your goal, however, as opposed to maximizing corporate profits, than faux-privatization schemes like the one Guatemalans were subjected to should be described for what they are: manifestations of corporatism, not liberty and free markets. Again, it bears repeating: Transferring a state monopoly funded by taxpayers to the control of international investors is not a win for freedom. The only thing that changes in that scenario is who profits from state coercion, politicians or capitalists -- if it even does that, given the ties between the two.
Instead of fawning over big business and demanding state power be given to state-created corporations, libertarians and other self-styled proponents of freedom on the right ought to be demanding that power be given to the people. That they're not suggests they should be described not as proponents of liberty, but of corporate capitalism. And no, Virginia (Postrel), they're not the same thing.
Labels: Corporatism
As a libertarian, I wholeheartedly agree with this.
amcevoy 3:40 PM
The "theft" occurred before the "privatization" when the taxpayer's money was used to build something that could be privatized at all. Government should not own business enterprises such as telecommunications and should only "own" public infrastructure like roads, bridges, etc. that were built by contracted, private labor and paid for by taxes.
You demonize libertarians, but it is really the government system that is at fault in your argument. If free markets were present then none of this would have occurred. Also, if a free market was available immediately following the sale of those state assets then the monopoly would quickly lose its grip to competition or else it would provide the best possible service that no one could compete with. Either way, the consumer wins with a free market, which is really what a libertarian would be asking for.
And as for your bit on how, "...unless there's a CEO with an insane salary and a private jet involved, right-wing libertarians don't want to hear it", I don't know who you have been talking to but I don't know any libertarians who have some sort of problem with small businesses. In fact, in many cases they actually serve their customers better than a corporation could, which is really what matters.
sjgmore 4:08 PM
I'm actually kind of with Anonymous 4:38 on this one. I'm a libertarian who stumbled across your blog because of the Ron Paul article and have been lurking for a while because I like what else you have to say, even though I disagree with a lot of it. (And my high school history teacher would love that I'm reading a blog by a guy who idolizes Emma Goldman.) I think what you're articulating in this article is actually pretty compatible with what a lot of libertarians would actually prefer to see when privatization occurs; if anything, I tend to think what you're espousing here really is more inherently "privatizing" whereas the GUATEL example, and others like it, is more just "corporatizing".
There's a reason that even many libertarians dismiss Reason and Cato as "cosmotarians", who have a sort of libertarian white-man's-burden outlook on how to make people "free", i.e., to see to it that everyone on earth lives in modern cities and uses cell-phones and eats Snickers bars--and if that has to be accomplished by corporatizing the culture of third-world nations, then so be it.
I'm not even going to pretend that I'm not more-or-less in agreement with Reason's general outlook, but I still think that you raise serious points about the methods that many people support for the various privatization schemes, which tend to do more good for shareholders in rich countries than they actually do for the people whose benefit it's supposed to be for.
It just makes me think of how Chile is always put forward as a great country of a highly liberalized South American nation, but people kind of conveniently leave out that the liberalization of their economy was the result of Pinochet's military dictatorship. One the one hand, I support the end result... but on the other hand, I'm not really a guy who thinks the ends justify the means.
Maybe--nay, probably--GUATEL has left the Guatemalan communications better off than it was. But I tend to agree that your scheme for privatizing the industry would have been more in keeping with liberal and humanitarian principles, even if the end result hadn't been as efficient or desirable.
nj 4:44 PM
Just to add, I am another libertarian who agrees with you.
If there's "a cultural reason" why Reason won't endorse privatization via the mass dispersal of shares, it somehow failed to stop the publication of articles like this one.
Similarly, its bias against cooperatives somehow failed to prevent items like this and this from appearing.
If your gloss on what happened in Guatamala is correct, Reason missed the boat on what happened there. But it's not hard to find it criticizing crony-capitalist "privatization" in several other places.
amcevoy,
If as you posit the theft occurred when the government taxed its people to build State Enterprise A, then it's continuing to act as a thief if -- instead of returning that property to those it stole it from -- it in turn sells it somebody else, e.g. International Megaconglomerate Inc.
As for Reason, I should preface any of my comments about them by always noting that Jesse Walker, who wrote the majority of the articles about co-ops linked in the comment above, is cool (as are Brian Doherty and Jacob Sullum). And yes, it's published some good stuff on crony capitalism.
But I don't think there's any denying that Reason magazine -- and especially the Reason Foundation -- is much more likely to promote a standard privatization-via-auction argument as opposed to advocating worker control of state enterprises. Just check out the Reason Foundation's page promoting privatized prisons (http://reason.org/areas/topic/prisons-and-corrections). And I also don't think there's any denying that most -- not all -- self-described libertarians glorify corporations as manifestations of the free market. Look at the love for Bill Gates and Steve Jobs, both of whom became billionaires in no small part to "intellectual property"-granted privilege.
R. Douglas Barbieri 6:02 PM
I am a libertarian who agrees with you, mostly, except the part about turning it over to the people and have voting, That's the same as government control.
I hold that all taxation is theft and yes, this company should never have been taken over by the government in the first place. And you are right, all of that money should be given back to the people.
I have no problem auctioning the company off, but perhaps what should have happened instead was when they auctioned it off, the money should have been returned, every penny, to the "taxpayers". In other words, to the victims of the theft to make restitution.
And, if there are laws prohibiting competition with this new private company, then those should go away as well, since that's nothing more than capitalism.
Libertarians like me believe in having a level playing field with no favoritism from government preventing competition.
"...since that's nothing more than capitalism." Er, uh, I mean nothing more than crony-capitalism, or corporatism.
The Hero of Crappy Town 10:01 PM
"Each citizen of the country could have been given a share in the company and a say in how it was run;"
Agreed. Preferably the citizens should be able to trade these shares among themselves, so that someone uninterested in owning the telephone company may get the money taken away from him back by selling the share.
As somebody from Eastern Europe where we had loads of this type of theft in the 1990s this is a huge issue for me so kudos for getting it right!
hank 12:43 PM
According to my beliefs regarding government, it never should have been started by government in the first place. How it was sold is further down on my list of problems with this situation. Forcing people to do a job is slavery. Forcing people not to protest at the point of a rifle is tyranny. Our government has an abysmal record of running everything. Yes, I know we are discussing Guatemala but I have no interest in what happens there. Its just not our business. Most federal programs should be moved to state and local governments where the people have more control over politicians. From there they can be privatized, eliminated or reformed. Just the opinion of a libertarian of the minarchist persuasion.
Ross Kenyon 9:06 PM
Neoliberalism =/= libertarianism. Libertarians sometimes forget how radical they're supposed to be. It's a right shame.
"Instead of fawning over big business and demanding state power be given to state-created corporations, libertarians and other self-styled proponents of freedom on the right ought to be demanding that power be given to the people"
This is the same collectivist logical fallacy used to justify communism. It's an error in reasoning to believe that public ownership is giving power to "the people" (i.e. taxpayers collectively). In fact, it is always giving power to a certain tiny limited number of individuals, and taking it away from "the rest of the people".
It's an error in reasoning to believe that public ownership is giving power to "the people" (i.e. taxpayers collectively). In fact, it is always giving power to a certain tiny limited number of individuals, and taking it away from "the rest of the people".
I didn't call for vague "public ownership," by which you presumably mean ownership by thae state, but rather specifically advocated a syndicalist approach -- workers taking over state entities themselves -- and/or giving all taxpayers an equal share in state institutions.
If you oppose "giving power to a certain tiny limited number of individuals, and taking it away from 'the rest of the people,'" you ought to oppose selling taxpayer goods to corporations, whose executive boards aren't exactly models of decentralized, democratic governance.
Great post. I will just add that in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, some local government services were turned over to worker-owned and run cooperatives and the results have been pretty good from what I understand. Corporate privatization is not the only alternative to state ownership.
By the way, if anybody is interested, here is an interesting little slideshow about the Emilia-Romagna cooperatives:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/8311289/emiliaromagna
Kelly Rek 2:38 PM
As a libertarian, your article sustains the rationale for my opposition to Paul Ryan's Medicare Reform Plan.
I have paid Medicare taxes all my adult life. Paul Ryan proposes to steal this money from the Medicare trust fund, and transfer it into the pockets of insurance company executives (in the form of subsidies).
Whether it be RyanCare, ObamaCare, or RomneyCare -- all three reforms entail a mandated program of corporatism. Public moneys will be funneled into private companies.
The central planners (Republican and Democrat) are peddlers of crony capitalism. This is our road to serfdom.
I believe that true libertarians And conservatives agree with the idea: "Transferring a state monopoly funded by taxpayers to the control of international investors is not a win for freedom." "Public moneys [] funneled into private companies" is crony capatalism.
Jane Mayer wrote about the Koch brothers and their influence in her excellent New Yorker article - http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2010/08/30/100830fa_fact_mayer
David Koch sits on The Reason Foundation's Board of Trustees. Not all people are following the party line, whatever it may have been, like they used to. I like to think this is where the change (revolution) will come from.
I think they mean 'especially'
NIAC says Eli Lake's wrong (drum roll) again
He was a good man, IOZ
Shocker: Neoconservative journalist unapologetical...
Don't leave Tom Friedman in charge of the signs
Preach it, brother Chris
Says it all, really
On 'The Speech'
Did Bradley Manning nearly tip off Osama bin Laden?
Liberals for extrajudicial murder
'The Army is full of a bunch of scumbags'
Give him a trial? Give me a break
Who was Osama bin Laden?
A final word about Ron Paul
Fair is fair
The liberal defense of murder

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Complexions Spa for Beauty and Wellness has added a new massage to its spa menu that taps the skin and wellness benefits of Himalayan salt.
Denis Dubois, owner of Complexions Spa for Beauty and Wellness explains why she turned toward offering this treatment in her spa saying, "It's important to me that we are always evolving and offering our guests the most effective, innovative wellness services."
Himalayan salt has been shown to have many benefits through providing different minerals and hydration to the skin. For starters, Himalayan salt is said to reduce muscle cramps, improve hydration, improve sleep, detoxify the body and balance blood sugar.
"We're all exposed to environmental toxins daily and feel the negative effects of stress; the salt stones draw out these toxins and leave the body feeling relaxed and renewed." Denise Dubois.
"Himalayan salt has been used medicinally and theraperutically for hundreds of years. The salt contains 84 naturally occuring minerals that help nourish our bodies," Dubois explains.
The Himalayan Rock Salt Massage is a 90-minute treatment for $175. This massage was designed to harness the benefits of Himalayan salt, and it uses hand-carved salt stones from the Himalayan Mountains.
For the treatment, the hand-carved salt stones are warmed, which allows them to emit negative ions that neutralize positive ions in the body; this helps to decrease inflammation, increase mental awareness and protect the body from germs and toxins. These stones also help to promote circulation while gently exfoliating the skin.
After the treatment, clients are also gifted a salt stone to take home and further continue the treatment. These home-care stones can be used after a shower and as a deodorant; they can also be frozen to provide a cooling sensation to the skin when used.
This massage technique can very easily be incorporated in any spa that wants to try the treatment. Dubois explains how this can make a nice alternative to a hot stone massage. "Our Himalayan salt stones are 100% pure pink Himalayan salt, certified organic and naturally antimicrobial and antibacterial," Dubois emphasized.
Any clientele could benefit from this treatment if they desire it. Since there are no contraindications, there are no limitations on who can experience the Himalyan salt massage.


Have you ever had to go somewhere either for holiday or work and had a nightmare about how to get your packing done, or spent ages with your luggage wondering how to get everything packed?
It can be a real challenge for sisters to pack because we want to pack everything that is in our wardrobe, or we just don't have enough time to make sure we've packed everything we need! As a frequent traveller, I have picked up a few useful hacks to ensure that I save time and be prepared for all circumstances. There's a saying that you should 'travel light' and this in turn can make your mind lighter too. As a seasoned traveller, I live by this motto and it usually leads to a more productive trip without the stress of having to carry around unnecessary baggage.
In this article, I will be sharing tips on how to pack in an organised manner, and ensure you have packed the essentials for both short and long trips, whether you are travelling for business or leisure.
Sisters have a tendency to want to pack everything, from their best hijabs to the nicest abayas. Depending on where you are going and how long you are going for, it is always useful to invest in a weekend bag. I bought one many years ago from Trip, which has been very useful for packing the essentials I need on a plane and is also exceptionally helpful if (Allah forbid!) your luggage goes missing. A weekend bag is usually cabin sized so you can take with you onto the plane and is big enough to fit in useful items like documents, laptops and tablets, along with spare clothing. It will also be big enough to take with you if you are travelling within the country you are visiting. It is also big enough for short weekend trips – smaller luggage will force you to pack less! This specific super lightweight cabin bag is easy to carry and pull along, and has been a life-saver for me, I take it on short trips and it actually allows me to fit in enough clothes for four days (yes, I've done it!). Another quick tip: get yourself a luggage tag holder to make it easy to spot your luggage when it comes to collecting your luggage at the end of a journey.
Many sisters spend time packing their toiletries and are then not able to find what they need when they need it most, for example when using the bathroom on a plane or at the airport. Compartmentalised travel bags are essential as you have separate areas for all your essentials like shampoo, sanitary items, moisturisers and makeup. These are especially handy as you can fit in items like sanitary items with discretion. Opt for one which has a transparent inlay and use these to store safety pins and hijab accessories safely. You can now find toiletries bags that are designed to help you pass through security easily as they allow only a certain amount of liquid to fit inside.
Recently whilst travelling to the States, I had a few trips planned, so when I went to buy an adapter, I discovered a multi-country adapter. This multi-country travel adapter will allow you to charge your gadgets by using one single adapter in different countries. This is a good investment as you are saving on buying new chargers every time you travel. It is also useful to get a portable charger, so you will never be without a charged phone.
To go even lighter when you travel, buy full-sized toiletries in the country you are visiting, though I do recommend buying travel-size products to take with you to use on the go. Alternatively, you can buy most essentials in airports after security. It is important to also pack emergency medication like painkillers, as well as hand sanitisers and first aid items like plasters. Although pharmacies may be available in the country or city you are going to, it is better to be prepared in case they are not easy to reach. If you are like me and don't want to forget to pack anything, use the Triplist app. This allows you to make a list of things to pack and usefully reminds you before you travel, what to pack or buy when you're at the airport.
e) a travel prayer mat.
I usually have a book I like to read as waiting times at airports can be very long and time-consuming; this could also be on your tablet or iPad as I do tend to read books on Kindle to keep the load light! The pen and journal are useful to write your reflections, or on capturing things that you come across whilst travelling, as well as, writing down important information you may need to remember, like directions to a new place when you arrive in the city. It is also essential to get yourself a passport holder or have a separate small bag to hold your boarding pass, tickets and passport in. Too often, we find that we are looking everywhere in our handbag to find the passport or boarding pass – and you don't want to miss the flight if you can't find it!
The travel prayer mat is invaluable to me when travelling, especially for long journeys. Alhamdulillah, we are fortunate that many airports and train stations have multi-faith spaces, however, it is essential to carry one so that we don't miss salah. Mini travel mats are so inexpensive, and usually come with a case and a compass. It is also good to have a travel sized mushaf. Alternatively, Qur'an apps are so accessible, so you can listen to, recite or reflect on verses of the Qur'an whilst travelling.
I hope the above practical tips are helpful, so next time you won't need to pack too many hijabs, and instead focus on only packing the most important items in an organised and stress-free manner! Share with us your other tips on how to pack productively!


text:
Bank Bay is an unincorporated area in central Alberta, Canada within the Municipal District of Bonnyville No. 87. It is located on the bank of the Cold Lake Provincial Park.

See also
List of communities in Alberta

Localities in the Municipal District of Bonnyville No. 87

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


I've got a 50s OP with a worn bracelet. I can tell you on that particular model a bracelet in maybe 70% condition or less cost over 100% of the watch's value, and if I ever find one in acceptable shape I have no doubt that it will be over $1000 on its own. I'll say what I always say to people looking to save money by buying "vintage": Don't do it. After 30 years there is no parts guarantee. Service, whether through RSC or not, is going to cost nearly as much if not more than the watch itself, and even more if you need any parts replaced, if they're available. It's not as accurate as a modern Rolex, or as accurate as a modern $1000 watch. If it's been kept in good condition and serviced a few times it should still be waterproof, but you really don't know. It's just a bad investment all around. I get the allure of a vintage Rolex, I get the bragging rights of having the name on the dial, but you'd be better off either buying a different brand, or spending more money. Just my two cents.
Sell the Aqua Terra and pick up the Datejust. There are some really nice examples out there for under $3k.
My choice for a 39MM Oyster Perpetual. Lol.
Collecting Rolex is a very addictive hobby. Since you have about $10k budget, why not look at SS Daytona, GMT 2, Submariner, Explorer 2? If you like dress watch, I would look at 2 tone DJ2. These are all within your budget, maybe not for the SS Daytona.
I just saw this: Happy birthday Jason !
Great review. I also think the OP is a fantastic watch and a great example of a nice, simple sports watch that has all of the attributes that make Rolex watches so good.
Great looking watch. I'd love to see it on the bracelet as well.
You may find that the Rolex is very different than the Omegas you own. Have you considered a Sub? Maybe a Hulk? You should be able to find a LNIB one in the sales section within your budget. If you do decide to sell 1 or both to fund a Rolex make sure it really sings to you or you'll regret it as others including myself can a test.
I recently had to sell a Speedy Pro and my 300mc for a Daytona. I sold the speedy because I had the feeling it's too similar to the D - which it isn't and I should have kept it. The 300mc I sold solely for the money - and also miss it dearly. So if you can avoid it: don't sell. If you need to for the money: sell the Omega which gets the least amount of wrist time now. Both the DJ II and the GMT Master II are insanely nice watches and you'll see that they're clearly a notch above anything Omega has to offer.
I'd like to know where you are seeing a matte triple six for "well under $6k". A Gloss with WG surrounds.......maybe less than $6k, but not a matte-dialed version of the triple six. Those are typically around $10,000 or more.
I agree it's to big. But The real point is that an inhouse movement would make the 3565 a lot more expensive.
Is it possible to salvage this IWC strap?
*sigh* due to the overwhelming support for destroying the above-photoed strap, I've decided to purchase not one, but two proper replacement straps (cheergiant and Jacobstraps). I'll try to post a few photos when they are united with the watch, so you can see the thrilling conclusion to this post. Thank you all for your opinions. I do appreciate it.
Holy smokes, Miro! Simply fantastic! I especially love the Raketa 2209 collection, really beautiful. Do you wear any of the watches without straps, or are they only for collection? I agree with elsoldemayo that it's time to share the rest :) Truly remarkable, well done!
Hi Comrades, My Dad recently bought this nice pocket watch, he asked in the vintage/pocket watch section it's age and who makes it etc, just wondered if any of the regulars in here know anymore about it? fellow member Emre thinks it's an older Molnija in a newer case. Anyone know anymore about it? Is молния Russian for Lightning? or have I read it wrong? Thanks in advance, Chris.
Congrats on the 3 really love those sub second.
those all look great - thanks for the help. I think I'll start with option 2, but can see myself getting addicted and going with the 3rd choice. Thanks again!


text:
"use strict";

//  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

const Exchange = require ('./base/Exchange')
const { ExchangeError, AuthenticationError } = require ('./base/errors')

//  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

module.exports = class flowbtc extends Exchange {

    describe () {
        return this.deepExtend (super.describe (), {
            'id': 'flowbtc',
            'name': 'flowBTC',
            'countries': 'BR', // Brazil
            'version': 'v1',
            'rateLimit': 1000,
            'hasCORS': true,
            'urls': {
                'logo': 'https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/1294454/28162465-cd815d4c-67cf-11e7-8e57-438bea0523a2.jpg',
                'api': 'https://api.flowbtc.com:8400/ajax',
                'www': 'https://trader.flowbtc.com',
                'doc': 'http://www.flowbtc.com.br/api/',
            },
            'requiredCredentials': {
                'apiKey': true,
                'secret': true,
                'uid': true,
            },
            'api': {
                'public': {
                    'post': [
                        'GetTicker',
                        'GetTrades',
                        'GetTradesByDate',
                        'GetOrderBook',
                        'GetProductPairs',
                        'GetProducts',
                    ],
                },
                'private': {
                    'post': [
                        'CreateAccount',
                        'GetUserInfo',
                        'SetUserInfo',
                        'GetAccountInfo',
                        'GetAccountTrades',
                        'GetDepositAddresses',
                        'Withdraw',
                        'CreateOrder',
                        'ModifyOrder',
                        'CancelOrder',
                        'CancelAllOrders',
                        'GetAccountOpenOrders',
                        'GetOrderFee',
                    ],
                },
            },
        });
    }

    async fetchMarkets () {
        let response = await this.publicPostGetProductPairs ();
        let markets = response['productPairs'];
        let result = [];
        for (let p = 0; p < markets.length; p++) {
            let market = markets[p];
            let id = market['name'];
            let base = market['product1Label'];
            let quote = market['product2Label'];
            let symbol = base + '/' + quote;
            result.push ({
                'id': id,
                'symbol': symbol,
                'base': base,
                'quote': quote,
                'info': market,
            });
        }
        return result;
    }

    async fetchBalance (params = {}) {
        await this.loadMarkets ();
        let response = await this.privatePostGetAccountInfo ();
        let balances = response['currencies'];
        let result = { 'info': response };
        for (let b = 0; b < balances.length; b++) {
            let balance = balances[b];
            let currency = balance['name'];
            let account = {
                'free': balance['balance'],
                'used': balance['hold'],
                'total': 0.0,
            };
            account['total'] = this.sum (account['free'], account['used']);
            result[currency] = account;
        }
        return this.parseBalance (result);
    }

    async fetchOrderBook (symbol, params = {}) {
        await this.loadMarkets ();
        let market = this.market (symbol);
        let orderbook = await this.publicPostGetOrderBook (this.extend ({
            'productPair': market['id'],
        }, params));
        return this.parseOrderBook (orderbook, undefined, 'bids', 'asks', 'px', 'qty');
    }

    async fetchTicker (symbol, params = {}) {
        await this.loadMarkets ();
        let market = this.market (symbol);
        let ticker = await this.publicPostGetTicker (this.extend ({
            'productPair': market['id'],
        }, params));
        let timestamp = this.milliseconds ();
        return {
            'symbol': symbol,
            'timestamp': timestamp,
            'datetime': this.iso8601 (timestamp),
            'high': parseFloat (ticker['high']),
            'low': parseFloat (ticker['low']),
            'bid': parseFloat (ticker['bid']),
            'ask': parseFloat (ticker['ask']),
            'vwap': undefined,
            'open': undefined,
            'close': undefined,
            'first': undefined,
            'last': parseFloat (ticker['last']),
            'change': undefined,
            'percentage': undefined,
            'average': undefined,
            'baseVolume': parseFloat (ticker['volume24hr']),
            'quoteVolume': parseFloat (ticker['volume24hrProduct2']),
            'info': ticker,
        };
    }

    parseTrade (trade, market) {
        let timestamp = trade['unixtime'] * 1000;
        let side = (trade['incomingOrderSide'] == 0) ? 'buy' : 'sell';
        return {
            'info': trade,
            'timestamp': timestamp,
            'datetime': this.iso8601 (timestamp),
            'symbol': market['symbol'],
            'id': trade['tid'].toString (),
            'order': undefined,
            'type': undefined,
            'side': side,
            'price': trade['px'],
            'amount': trade['qty'],
        };
    }

    async fetchTrades (symbol, since = undefined, limit = undefined, params = {}) {
        await this.loadMarkets ();
        let market = this.market (symbol);
        let response = await this.publicPostGetTrades (this.extend ({
            'ins': market['id'],
            'startIndex': -1,
        }, params));
        return this.parseTrades (response['trades'], market, since, limit);
    }

    async createOrder (symbol, type, side, amount, price = undefined, params = {}) {
        await this.loadMarkets ();
        let orderType = (type == 'market') ? 1 : 0;
        let order = {
            'ins': this.marketId (symbol),
            'side': side,
            'orderType': orderType,
            'qty': amount,
            'px': price,
        };
        let response = await this.privatePostCreateOrder (this.extend (order, params));
        return {
            'info': response,
            'id': response['serverOrderId'],
        };
    }

    async cancelOrder (id, symbol = undefined, params = {}) {
        await this.loadMarkets ();
        if ('ins' in params) {
            return await this.privatePostCancelOrder (this.extend ({
                'serverOrderId': id,
            }, params));
        }
        throw new ExchangeError (this.id + ' requires `ins` symbol parameter for cancelling an order');
    }

    sign (path, api = 'public', method = 'GET', params = {}, headers = undefined, body = undefined) {
        let url = this.urls['api'] + '/' + this.version + '/' + path;
        if (api == 'public') {
            if (Object.keys (params).length) {
                body = this.json (params);
            }
        } else {
            this.checkRequiredCredentials ();
            let nonce = this.nonce ();
            let auth = nonce.toString () + this.uid + this.apiKey;
            let signature = this.hmac (this.encode (auth), this.encode (this.secret));
            body = this.json (this.extend ({
                'apiKey': this.apiKey,
                'apiNonce': nonce,
                'apiSig': signature.toUpperCase (),
            }, params));
            headers = {
                'Content-Type': 'application/json',
            };
        }
        return { 'url': url, 'method': method, 'body': body, 'headers': headers };
    }

    async request (path, api = 'public', method = 'GET', params = {}, headers = undefined, body = undefined) {
        let response = await this.fetch2 (path, api, method, params, headers, body);
        if ('isAccepted' in response)
            if (response['isAccepted'])
                return response;
        throw new ExchangeError (this.id + ' ' + this.json (response));
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Nothoscordum velazcoense är en amaryllisväxtart som beskrevs av Pierfelice Ravenna. Nothoscordum velazcoense ingår i släktet vaniljlökar, och familjen amaryllisväxter. Inga underarter finns listade i Catalogue of Life.

Källor

Vaniljlökar
velazcoense


Located in the largest national park in the continental United States is The Inn at Death Valley. The lush oasis Inn is surrounded by a vast and arid desert. It is close to Death Valley National Park Visitor Center, which is extremely convenient. It is also near the Furnace Creek Visitor Center and just 3.4 miles away from Zabriskie Point. Dante's View is 24 miles away. Guests seeking the bright lights of a city are just a 120 mile, two-hour ride away from Las Vegas and just 275 miles northeast of Los Angeles.
Death Valley National Park is the largest national park in the lower 48 states and has been declared an International Biosphere Reserve. Approximately 95% of the park is a designated wilderness area. It is the hottest and driest of the national parks in the United States.
For more information or to make reservations, visit The Inn at Death Valley or call +1 800 236 7916.


text:
Tag: architecture
Saturday Snapshot February 8: Cabin Fever continues…
The snow and cold persist. I've to revisit Southern France to assuage cabin fever. Here are more photos from my Provence travels in the summer of 2010.
Avignon, the historic centre of Western Christendom in the Middle Ages. Its Palais des Papes, or, Palace of the Popes, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Medieval Gothic architecture was designed as a fortress and palace, residence for the Popes. Six papal conclaves were held there in the 14th century.
Signs pointing to others historic monuments:
The Bridge of Avignon, Pont St. Bénezet, or Pont d'Avignon, was built between 1177 – 1185, rebuilt in 1234 after it was damaged in a siege by Louise VIII, King of France. It was an important crossing over the Rhone River. Only four arches now remain:
Not all serious history though… Right outside the Palais Des Papes, I saw an elephant doing Yoga:
And in the town centre, this beautiful merry-go-round:
And puppeteers getting ready for a skeleton show:
Snap back to reality… no elephant in the room or dancing skeleton. And it's -16C outside. Just let me hop back on that merry-go-round…
Saturday Snapshot is hosted by Melinda of Metro Mommy Reads.
CLICK HERE to see what others have posted.
ALL PHOTOS TAKEN BY ARTI OF RIPPLE EFFECTS.
DO NO COPY OR REBLOG
Posted on February 8, 2014 February 13, 2014 Categories Architecture, Art, Photography, travelTags architecture, Avignon, France, History, Photography, Provence, travel photography24 Comments on Saturday Snapshot February 8: Cabin Fever continues…
Is This A Library?
(Title inspired by Stefanie of So Many Books)
I gasped and asked myself this question. For Saturday Snapshot Sept. 21, here are some views:
The answer to the question of course is Yes. It's the Toronto Reference Library. I was most excited to have made a serendipitous find in there too.
There was a gallery in the library. Its current exhibit was entitled
FLIGHT: A THRILLING HISTORY OF AN IDEA.
Human has long been mesmerized by the idea of flight.
From Daedalus:
to Da Vinci:
From Jules Verne:
to Audubon:
Yes, it's a library all right.
Saturday Snapshot is hosted by Melinda of West Metro Mommy Reads. Click Here to see what others have posted.
Posted on September 21, 2013 Categories Architecture, Art, Birds, Books, Photography, readingTags architecture, Library, Photography, Toronto, Toronto Reference Library51 Comments on Is This A Library?
Saturday Snapshot May 18: The Bow
The Bow is the newest addition to our downtown cityscape. Design architects are the acclaimed, London-based Foster and Partners. This new kid on the block has put Cowtown Calgary on the map as it is recently named one of The World's Most Spectacular Corporate Buildings by the German building database Emporis.
You can see how spectacular it is on Foster and Partners' website with their professional presentation. But for Arti, the Cowtown inhabitant roaming in the midst of the buzz and the dust, weaving through busy downtown traffic, these snapshots are personal and authentic, no posing, and believe it or not, shot with just her iPhone:
The Bow is named after the river that winds through our City. So it's apt to design the building in a crescent shape, fluid as the river, and shaped like a bow:
A bit closer now, you can see the art installation in front of the building. It's a 12 m. tall wire sculpture entitled 'Wonderland', created by the renowned Barcelona-based designer Jaume Plensa whose works can be found all over the world:
It's the head of a girl, intriguing when you think of the title 'Wonderland'. Why, of course, it must be a wonder to enter someone's head. Here, you can do that through a door. See the green balloon inside her nose?
Saturday Snapshot is hosted by Alyce of At Home With Books. Click Here to see what other bloggers have posted.
Posted on May 18, 2013 May 18, 2013 Categories Architecture, Art, Calgary, Canada, Canadian, PhotographyTags architecture, Art, Calgary, Canada, Photography, The Bow44 Comments on Saturday Snapshot May 18: The Bow
Salk Institute, La Jolla, CA
Hope lies in dreams, in imagination, and in the courage of those who dare to make dreams into reality. — Jonas Salk
American medical researcher and virologist Jonas Edward Salk (1914-1995) discovered the polio vaccine in 1955. In 1960, he founded the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, to create a collaborative environment for exploring the basic principles of life.
Some of the renowned consulting scientists at the conception of the Institute included Warren Weaver, who first coined the term "molecular biology', and Francis Crick, co-discoverer of the DNA molecule. The Salk Institute remains one of the top research facilities in the world, generating five Nobel Laureates since its inception.
The building of the Salk Institute began in 1962 on 27 acres of pristine land donated by The City of San Diego. The site is endowed with a vantage point 350 feet above the Pacific Ocean on the coastal bluffs of La Jolla.
Jonas Salk commissioned the renowned architect Louis I. Kahn (1901-1974) to design the structures: "Create a facility worthy of a visit by Pablo Picasso." Kahn proficiently rose to the challenge. The Salk Institute was completed in 1965. In 1992, it received the American Institute of Architects Twenty-Five Year Award.
So much for the objective facts. Here's my experience.
I joined an architectural tour of the site. As I came to the courtyard, the entrance to the main area, I was confronted with this view. This could well be the most existential space I'd ever set foot on:
What first captivated me was the void in between the two mirrored structures. The buildings on both sides act as a frame to augment the negative space in the middle. That lookout is towards the Pacific Ocean. As I saw it then, it looked like a misty unknown, an entrance towards eternity. The last part of Terrence Malick's film The Tree of Life came to mind.
"Architecture is the reaching out for the truth." — Louis I. Kahn
Through the massive centre court made of travertine marble flows a stream towards the direction of the ocean, a visual metaphor for life. The water collects into a pool at the end that leads to a small waterfall, then recirculates:
Angled walls offer view from every step:
"The sun never knew how great it was until it struck the side of a building." — Louis I. Kahn
Like parallel mirrors, concrete walls can form infinite, interesting vantage points:
Every room of the senior scientists looks out into the ocean… for creativity, inspiration, and the view of the greater scheme of things.
At the reception building where we met to begin the tour, I discovered the work of another artist: Dale Chihuly's glass work The Sun, suspended from the ceiling:
Chihuly's glasswork is a showcase of colors and vibrancy, depicting visually the exploratory spirit of the Institute. And I think, a wonderful contrast to the minimalist concrete walls around.
As soon as I came back home, I took out a DVD which I'd bought some years now but still haven't yet watched. How wonderful to have that waiting for me: 2004 Oscar Nominee for Best Documentary, a film by Nathaniel Kahn My Architect: A Son's Journey.
Son of Louis Kahn and Harriet Pattison, Nathaniel Kahn embarked on a journey to discover the father who died when he was only eleven, a father whom he wishes to have known more before a heart attack ended his life inside a washroom at a New York Subway station.
The film is not only a personal journey, but a reconciliation, a late and poignant search for a father and a son's identity. Further, it's a tribute to a great architect from his peers, as his son seeks out those who had known the architect professionally: Philip Johnson, I. M. Pei, Frank O. Gehry, Moshe Safdie, Robert A. M. Stern.
It is also about three women and their families who had experienced the joy and pain of being Kahn's own, a complicated predicament in his life and after his death.
It is also a virtual gallery of the magnificent works situated all over the world. The most impressive to me, other than Salk Institute, is the one on the cover of the DVD, The National Parliament Building in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
"Design is not making beauty, beauty emerges from selection, affinity, integration, love." — Louis I. Kahn
All photos of Salk Institute taken by Arti of Ripple Effects, Feb. 2, 2012. All Rights Reserved.
Photo of DVD cover from myarchitectfilm.com
Click here to read more about Louis I. Kahn
Click here to see glass artist Dale Chihuly's works.
Click here to read more about the architecture of Salk Institute
Click here to read more about Salk Institute
Click here to read my review of the film The Tree of Life
Posted on February 8, 2012 February 9, 2012 Categories Art, Photography, quotes, travelTags Architects, architecture, Dale Chihuly, Louis Kahn, Salk Institute, San Diego19 Comments on Salk Institute, La Jolla, CA
Urban Sanctuary
June has been a month of travelling for me. From the natural beauty of Vancouver to über busy and congested Metro Toronto, I've shifted gear and gone from park to overdrive in two short weeks. Quiet garden paths have been replaced by the 12-lane Highway 401, rain forest has turned into concrete jungle. And so I was pleasantly surprised by this serendipitous find right in the heart of downtown Toronto. Amidst the hustle and bustle, I found this sanctuary… literal and spiritual, the Trinity College Chapel on the campus of the University of Toronto:
Every step into the magnificent architecture instills awe and wonder, every artefact a symbol:
Looking back to the choir loft is another stunning view (this photo from Wikipedia):
The painting on the wall in the narthex, a crucifix, is entitled "Mediterranean Christ" by the artist Juan Sala Santonja:
Another joy of discovery is Grace Church On the Hill, Anglican. My expectation of my short sojourn in Toronto had never been stained glass or religious art. But here I was, beholding Biblical themes in beautiful stained glass:
This contemporary wall sculpture created by Catherine Widgery of Montreal juxtaposes well among the stained glass, for its message points to a similar theme:
Entitled "By Her Own Radiant Light", John Milton's verse is engraved on a brass plaque beside the installation:
By her own radiant light, though sun and moon
were in the flat sea sunk.
And Wisdom's self
oft seeks to sweet retired solitude,
Where, with her best nurse
She plumes her feathers,
and lets grow her wings.
The pamphlet beside the art installation conveys the meaning: As the Moon's illumination is the reflection of the Sun, Christian disciples are reflectors of the Greater Light. The phases of the moon suggest an eternal cycle of life, death and rebirth. Loss returns to fullness; darkness becomes light. The fragments of reflected light on water form a triangle below the full moon. Each fragment of light is a single piece of metal, cut and assembled so as to suggest the light's effect on the surface of the water. At the heart of the circle, the light reflected on the surface is brilliant and intense, and diminishes as it spreads farther from the source.
As someone who's always drawn to ripples, I spotted this installation right away as I entered the sanctuary. Reading Milton's verse and the explanation of the art work helped me gain a deeper appreciation of the visual symbolism.
No rain forests and greenery, but I was drawn to explore another landscape, one where art and imagination formed a bridge towards the unseen and spiritual, no less powerful in bringing out the wonders of creation and the Creator, the Source of Light and Wisdom.
CLICK HERE to watch a video clip with visual artist Catherine Widgery
PHOTOS: All photos were taken by Arti of Ripple Effects except the one noted from Wikipedia. Arti's photos taken in June, 2011. All Rights Reserved.
Posted on June 30, 2011 Categories Art, Canada, Canadian, Christianity, life, Photography, thoughts, travelTags architecture, Christ, John Milton, Toronto, Trinity College Chapel, University of Toronto9 Comments on Urban Sanctuary
Bath's Persuasion
Solution to Arti's Cryptic Challenge #2: Bath
From London's Paddington Station we took the 90 minute train ride to Bath Spa, saving us half the time than with the bus. The City of Bath is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its magnificent Roman Baths and stylish Georgian streets and architecture make this a wonderful gem for tourists. The first time I visited there was in December, 2007. For a more general overview of the beauty of Bath you can find my two previous posts here and here.
In this revisit, I was a more intentional traveller. I let Austen's Persuasion be my guide. With a detailed street map of Bath in my hand, I went exploring the places mentioned in the novel, coincidentally, many of them I missed in my last visit.
"I was not so much changed…" was Anne Elliot's words to Captain Wentworth upon seeing him eight years after turning him down. The termination of their relationship was not her own intention, but duty had driven her to yield to Lady Russell's persuasion. It would have been a "throw-away" for Anne at 19 to engage with "a young man who had nothing but himself to recommend him, and no hopes of attaining affluence, … uncertain profession, and no connections." (p. 20)
But the star-crossed lovers are granted the bliss of a second chance, and rightly grab it this time. Austen's setting of Bath in the book is no coincidence. The Georgian City was the centre of fashion and the epitome of genteel society, a hotbed of social phenom for the critic and satirist in Austen. Jane had lived in Bath herself for four years, 1801 – 1805, with her sister Cassandra and their parents. Ironically, she was unpersuaded by its attractions according to her biographer Claire Tomalin.
Austen aptly uses Bath's addresses for the purpose of her characterization. Geographical location is everything in a class-conscious society, as Keiko Parker's excellent article Jane Austen's Use of Bath in Persuasion points out.
First off, there's the Pump Room, where in Jane Austen's days people socialized and met one another, gathered to drink the therapeutic water, catch the latest fashion, simply to see and be seen. The magnificent structure and decor makes The Pump Room a fine restaurant now:
Despite its grand decor, the areas around the baths are residences for the common folks in Austen's time. Mrs. Smith, the poor, infirmed widow with whom Anne maintains a loyal friendship, lives in the Westgate Buildings close to the Baths. Anne becomes a laughing stock for the snobbish Sir Walter when he hears of her least favourite daughter is determined to visit Mrs. Smith instead of accepting an invitation to Lady Dalrymple's, someone belonging to the upper echelon of society:
"Miss Anne Elliot, you have the most extraordinary taste! Everything that revolts other people, low company, paltry rooms, foul air, disgusting associations, are inviting to you." (p. 113)
Today, the open area outside the Pump Room by the Roman Baths is perhaps the most popular tourist gathering place. Tour buses stop at the Bath Abbey for pick up and drop off, buskers perform in the open space outside the Roman Baths and Pump Room:
Nearby is Sally Lunn's Bun, originated in 1680 by a young French refugee, in the oldest house of Bath, ca. 1482. Now a restaurant on top with the cellar a museum that houses the original kitchen and cookwares, Sally Lunn's serves this traditional creation: a large, soft, round bun that can go with just about anything. But probably best like this, simply with garlic butter:
The beautiful street corner outside Sally Lunn's:
Further up the town, there's Milsom Street, a vibrant commercial area of shops and businesses. The first time Anne saw Captain Wentworth again in Bath was on Milsom Street. Here's a present day view of the same site:
As for Sir Walter himself, despite having to rent out his country mansion Kellynch Hall to avoid financial ruins, he has no intention that his retreat to Bath should compromise his status and comfort. It's only natural that others are curious: "What part of Bath do you think they'll settle in?" The answer is quite obvious: the part that is befitting their social standing. According to Keiko Parker's insightful article, physical elevation in Bath directly corresponds to social standing. The highest point at that time would have to be Camden Place, which is today's Camden Crescent. While I was looking for it, the 'Ye Old Farmhouse Pub' was mentioned to me as the marker. I was glad to find it while walking up Landsdown Road, for it was indeed quite an uphill walk.
"Sir Walter had taken a very good house in Camden Place, a lofty, dignified situation, such as becomes a man of consequence; and both he and Elizabeth were settled there, much to their satisfaction.
Anne entered it with a sinking heart, anticipating an imprisonment of many months…" (p. 98)
Just typical Austen, the overt contrast of characters using something indirect, here, the sense of place.
The houses on Camden Crescent has unobstructive view of lower Bath. They are not grand mansions, but then again, location is everything. The following are some of the houses found on this road across from the escarpment:
And where do Sir Walter's tenants Admiral and Mrs. Croft lodge during their short stay in Bath? On Gay Street, not too high, not too low: "… perfectly to Sir Walter's satisfaction. He was not at all ashamed of the acquaintance, and did, in fact, think and talk a great deal more about the Admiral than the Admiral ever thought or talked about him." (p. 121)
Elizabeth is not even half as kind as her vain and snobbish father. Regarding the Crofts' arrival in Bath, she suggests to Sir Walter that "We had better leave the Crofts to find their own level." (p. 120)
In contrast, Anne has a good impression of the Admiral and his dear wife, the kind and down-to-earth couple, Mrs. Croft being the sister of Captain Wentworth having minimal bearing on Anne's fondness of them. During their sojourn in Bath to mend a gouty Admiral Croft, Anne enjoys watching them strolling together, "it was a most attractive picture of happiness to her." (p. 121)
So I'm just not a bit surprised to see their temporary lodging in Bath being on Gay Street. Who else had lived there? Jane Austen herself: #25 to be exact:
As for a suitable place for socializing, Sir Walter and his favourite daughter Elizabeth choose the Upper Assembly Rooms, a much newer development closer to their upper, more fashionable side of town, although he would prefer entertaining in private which is even more prestigious.
The Assembly Rooms are a magnificent architectural legacy in their own rights. Designed by John Wood the Younger, who raised the £20,000 needed for the venture, the ground-breaking project began in 1769 and opened for public use in 1771. It was the biggest investment in a single building in 18th Century Bath. Four public rooms made up the suite: The Octagon, Ball Room, Card Room, and Tea Room.
"Sir Walter, his two daughters, and Mrs, Clay, were the earliest of all their party at the rooms in the evening; and as Lady Dalrymple must be waited for, they took their station by one of the fires in the Octagon Room (p. 131).
Here's the exquisite Octagon Room:
Regarding the chandelier, there's this interesting account in The Authorised Guide (p.7):
"On 15 August 1771 Jonathan Collett quoted £400 for supplying five cut-glass chandeliers for the Ball Room. They were up in time for the opening of the Rooms in September, but the following month disaster struck when 'one of the arms of the chandilers in the Ballroom fell down during the time the company was dancing, narrowly missing Gainsborough. What could be salvaged from the set was made up into a single chandelier, which now hangs in the Octagon."
I was just simply amazed at how long these chandeliers had lasted, well over 300 years, and in excellent shape. Their brilliance had not faded, evolving first from candlelight, then to gas, and now electric:
Anne and her party attend a music program in the Concert Hall. That's a function in the Tea Room. Despite the name which seems to convey a small and cozy setting, the Tea Room is a gorgeous room of 60 ft. by 43 ft. dimension. On one end is a magnificent colonnade of the Ionic order. Subscription concerts are regular events held in the Tea Room. Mozart and Haydn had written compositions to be performed there, with Haydn himself having graced the magnificent venue.
But what does Anne Elliot think about all the grandeur? After earlier in the Octagon Room talking with Captain Wentworth, who has openly expressed his long-held passion for her, Anne, overwhelmed by a great flood of euphoria, now walks into the Concert Room (Tea Room):
"Anne saw nothing, thought nothing of the brilliancy of the room. Her happiness was from within. Her eyes were bright, and her cheeks glowed; but she knew nothing about it. She was thinking only of the last half hour…" (p. 134)
As a visitor to the historic venue, I was captivated by the well-maintained interior and its elegance, and presently amused and surprised to find this display in between two columns: The Chair, which is mentioned several times in Persuasion. The Bath Chair was invented right here in the Georgian City to transport the rich and the sick. It could be steered by the passenger:
Jane might have noticed the frivolity and seen through the façade of high society of her time, and sharply depicted her observations in her brilliant novels, but as a modern day tourist and Janeite, I'm just amazed at how well history has been preserved, and that all these locations and life had been experienced by Jane herself. She might have the burden of society on her, which ironically had inspired and unleashed her talents, but for me, a present day tourist and reader of her works, I am totally persuaded that Bath is a place I will definitely revisit some more in the future.
All photos taken by Arti of Ripple Effects, August 2010. All Rights Reserved.
1. Jane Austen: A Life by Claire Tomalin, Penguin Books, 2000.
2. Persuasion by Jane Austen, The Modern Library Classics, Introduction by Amy Bloom, Modern Library Paperback Edition, 2001.
3. The Authorised Guide: The Assembly Rooms, Bath. Published by the Heritage Services division of Bath and North East Somerset Council in association with the National Trust. Written by Oliver Garnett and Patricia Dunlop.
4. "What Part of Bath Do You Think They Will Settle In?": Jane Austen's Use of Bath in Persuasion by Keiko Parker. Retrieved Online http://www.jasna.org/persuasions/printed/number23/parker.pdf
Posted on September 8, 2010 December 16, 2011 Categories Art, Books, Jane Austen, literature, Photography, reading, travel, writingTags architecture, Bath, historical preservation, History, Persuasion, World Heritage Sites15 Comments on Bath's Persuasion
There are several interesting facts about the AGO. That it is situated in Toronto's Chinatown is an example of the vibrant cultural mix an urban centre can sustain. And in multicultural Canada, that sits well indeed. These are the buildings right across from the front entrance of the AGO on Dundas Street:
On the upper floor of the building to the left, the four characters indicate it's the "United Chinese Drama Society". The main floor is a French Café. The building to the right is home to a Chinese clan association. And the barber shop below… oh, what does it matter.
And across the street, spanning one full block from Beverley to McCaul, adjacent the Ontario College of Art and Design is the Art Gallery of Ontario:
The AGO originally began as The Art Museum of Toronto in 1900. Its first home was The Grange, a Georgian Mansion built in 1817. The last hundred years saw several stages of expansion. In 2008, the Gallery received a major facelift. The prominent architect Frank Gehry brought the AGO into a new phase, and to finally contribute to the Canadian architectural landscape with his first design in Canada. And what an approparite choice. According to the AGO guide who led our tour, Gehry was born right here on this street some blocks away. He holds fond childhood memories of the area, particularly the AGO.
At the back, one can see the very postmodern juxtaposition of the old Georgian Mansion The Grange with the new Gehry-designed AGO:
But the outside does not prepare one for what is installed within. I was amazed many times over as I explored the gallery spaces. Photography was not allowed in the exhibits areas. So I've only captured the general interiors, and they are breathtaking, elegant and exquisite:
I love the contemporary light wood contours placed against the classical styling. The overall color scheme is soothing and relaxing, without the austerity of some art galleries and museums. Natural light is plentiful as it is let in through the glass ceiling. Light and shadows play out in an interesting way:
The central spiral stairwell is the main attraction. It is made of B.C. douglas fir, light, fluid, swirls gracefully down from the top. As I made my way down, every step I took offered me a new perspective. An inspiration in itself:
And finally we were shown this magnificent design, right against the glass inside the front of the building:
Unlike Gehry's other more showy works of bending metals, the AGO is decidedly unpretentious, curving wood against arches, blending nature with art, art with architecture, and architecture with an urban neighborhood.
TEXT AND PHOTOS by Arti of Ripple Effects, July 2010. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Posted on July 21, 2010 June 10, 2014 Categories Art, Canada, CanadianTags AGO, Architects, architecture, art gallery, Art Gallery of Ontario, Frank Gehry, Toronto9 Comments on Art Gallery of Ontario
Art Gallery of Alberta
Drove up to Edmonton to take in the new Art Gallery of Alberta. My first impression when I looked at the promotional materials was its similarity to a Frank Gehry like the Disney Concert Hall in L.A. and the Peter B. Lewis Building on the Case Western Reserve University campus.
A look at it in real life confirmed my thought, it sure was a Gehry style architecture. A little googling later led me to the information that its architect Randall Stout used to work at Frank Gehry's studio. CLICK HERE for an extensive interview of Randall Stout and some spectacular images of his portfolio.
I don't have any sophisticated photo software to take out the traffic lights and the sewage repair work underway, so the following picture shows the real life street scene of the remarkable structure at its most authentic. But for some sparkling clear views and a detailed description of the architecture, CLICK HERE.
And here are some pictures of the inside, like the above, were taken by my little Panasonic Lumix pocket camera, no touch-up or editing:
The AGA is situated adjacent the Sir Winston Churchill Square in downtown Edmonton, a public open space linking the City Hall with the arts:
The Winspear Centre, home of the Edmonton Symphony is just across from the Square:
To finish off my day visit, I saw this colourful reflection of the slowly setting sun on the downtown buildings:
Of course, I didn't drive three hours from Calgary just see the the architecture, but the exhibits. And that has to be another post.
Photos taken by Arti of Ripple Effects, March 2010.
Posted on April 7, 2010 Categories Art, Canada, Canadian, PhotographyTags Alberta, architecture, art gallery, Art Gallery of Alberta, Edmonton, Frank Gehry, galleries9 Comments on Art Gallery of Alberta
Beauty and Truth
Unlike my previous trips out here, this time in Vancouver is a learning experience. I'm spending two weeks at Regent College on the UBC campus to learn the language of faith and film. The art and architecture of Regent set the inspiring milieu for exploring beauty and truth. Here are a few vignettes:
The True North Wind Tower and Lux Nova Art Glass:
Installed in 2007, the tower stands as a symbol of integration. Its highest point is designed to be in line with the North Star, the beacon of direction through the ages. The structure brings together the seemingly polarized ends of science and art, and accentuates faith in all aspects of life. CLICK HERE to read more about this 40 foot tall distinguished landmark.
Architect Clive Grout designed the self-sustaining, energy efficient True North Wind Tower as a natural ventilation system for the library built underneath it. Artist Sarah Hall incorporated solar cells into a cascade of glass work. They store energy during the day to illuminate a colored, celestial waterfall at night. This is the first installation of solar energy and art glass fusion in North America.
Embellishing this graceful design are twelve dichroic glass crosses, weaving through an inscription of the Lord's Prayer in Aramaic, the spoken language in Jesus' time. What a magnificent alchemy of art, architecture, faith and science. Just two weeks ago, on April 29th, this beautiful architecture won the prestigious Design Merit Award for Sacred Landscapes from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) in San Francisco. CLICK HERE to read more about this Award.
A closer look at the art glass:
For the magnificent night view, CLICK HERE to go to Regent's site.
As for the theology library built underneath the tower, it's another beauty:
A stone-throw away from the Wind Tower is this serene setting:
Even the wisteria speak to the intertwining togetherness of Beauty and Truth:
Original Photos and Text by Arti of Ripple Effects. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, May, 2009. If you see them on a site that is not Ripple Effects, then they are copied without permission. CLICK HERE to go to the original post https://rippleeffects.wordpress.com
Posted on May 15, 2009 May 15, 2009 Categories Art, Canada, Canadian, Christianity, Education, PhotographyTags architecture, faith, Regent College, Vancouver10 Comments on Beauty and Truth
Sketches of Frank Gehry (2005) DVD
"You can look anywhere and find inspiration."
—- Frank Gehry
The past couple of months I've been tied down with previewing films for an upcoming International Film Festival that I haven't time to watch films of my own choosing. The past weekend I decided to cease the dry spell and watched the DVD I've purchased for a long while but haven't the chance to view. My only regret: Why did I wait so long?
This is a documentary about and made by two of my favorite artists: Architect Frank Gehry and film director Sydney Pollack (Best Director 1985, Out of Africa), whom I sadly miss upon his untimely passing on May 26. (To read my tribute to Sydney Pollack, click here.) Pollack worked on this film, his first documentary, over weekends
for about five years. An official selection at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival, Sketches of Frank Gehry is his last directorial work.
Pollack has taken a simple and casual approach to present his long time friend Frank Gehry to the viewer, and that's what impresses me. The low-key yet artistic design of the film is a modest portrait of the architect whose body of work is often associated with rule-defying, bold and striking structures around the world.
Born 1929 in Toronto, Canada, Gehry moved to the United States with his family in 1947. His career spans four decades, establishing himself with renowned projects such as the Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao, Spain (1997), the Vitra Design Museum, Germany (1989), and more recently the Walt Disney Concert Hall, L.A. (2004). The personal and unpretentious portrayal of the architect brings out the mild and human side behind these massive physical structures.
Through informal dialogues, the filmmaker effectively captured the essence of artistic pursuit: the self-doubt during the creative process, the incubation and collaboration of ideas, the uncertainty of the soundness and appeal, and the ultimate exhilaration of the successful completion and reception of the work. Interestingly, the film works like a double-edged sword. It explores the creative process of both the subject and the filmmaker. And it is such revelation that makes the documentary so appealing.
In the beginning was the void:
Sydney: Is starting hard?
Frank: You know it is… I'm always scared that I'm not gonna know what to do. It's a terrifying moment. And then when I start, I'm always amazed, "Oh, that wasn't so bad."
The veteran director had his uncertainties as well:
Sydney: Several people approached him with the idea of making a documentary about him. And when he asked me if I'd do it, I thought he was crazy. Not just that I didn't know anything about making documentaries, I don't know anything about architecture.
"That's why you're perfect," he said.
Maybe all our training and experience that we hang on to so dearly are impediments to a fresh, new perspective.
The film gives us the insider view of the Gehry creative process. It is a collaborative effort involving inputs from design partners mulling over paper models and computer expertise transferring concepts to 3D digital mode. Despite the elaborate and sometimes long incubation period, every piece of work begins with the architect's own signature squiggles on a blank piece of paper.
We see Pollack using a hand-held digital camera to capture more agile and personal shots. As the title suggests, the filmmaker interviewed and chatted with various artists, architects, critic, and even Gehry's therapist to gain different perspectives into the heart and mind of the architect. He was able to elicit some insightful comments.
Writer and curator Mildred Friedman has this to say about Gehry:
He's an architect who's also an artist. He takes so many risks. And that's what artists do. Artists take risks to do something new that no one has seen before.
Gehry's therapist Milton Wexler:
A great many people come to me hoping they can change themselves, settle their anxieties, their problems, their marriage or whatever… When an artist comes to me, he wants to know how to change the world.
And from Pollack, when talking about the epic and mythical Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao, Spain:
He sees that the whole reason for being an artist is that moment in somebody's eyes when you reach him.
The nay-sayer is represented by Hal Foster, Professor of Art and Archaeology, Princeton University, who criticizes Gehry of making a spectacle of his work. We also see montage of printed words from the media, such as "ugly", and even "perverse".
Responding to criticisms about Gehry's galleries and museums competing with the very exhibits they showcase, Julian Schnabel, artist and filmmaker (The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, 2007), defends Gehry's design with this audacious sum up:
I feel very comfortable in his spaces. He understands scale. And if it does compete with the art, maybe that art isn't good enough.
Such thought-provoking comments are just some ideas one can mull over long after the film.
I must also mention the original score composed by Sorman and Nystrom. Like a soothing balm, it is pure delight looking at Gehry's fluid designs with the equally flowing and meditative musical rendering.
The special features on the DVD include a bonus 35 minutes interview and audience Q & A with Sydney Pollack at the L. A. Premiere of the film. The icing on the cake, this feature offers Pollack's reminiscence of the production and more thoughts on the creative process. A valuable DVD to keep for anyone interested in the artistic expression of the human mind.
~ ~ ~ ½ Ripples
A note on the photos: Arti has the pleasure of visiting two of Frank Gehry's work. The above photos are taken by Arti in October 2007 and February, 2008. The first two are the Walt Disney Concert Hall in L.A. The last two are different views of The Peter B. Lewis Building at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. All Rights Reserved.
The source for the squiggles image: Maclean's Magazine.
Posted on July 18, 2008 April 19, 2010 Categories Art, Canadian, DVD, entertainment, films, movies, Photography, reviews, thoughtsTags architecture, creative process, documentaries, Frank Gehry, Julian Schnabel, Sketches of Frank Gehry, Sydney Pollack11 Comments on Sketches of Frank Gehry (2005) DVD


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When the call comes, and there's no foster home available
by Jacqueline Rabe Thomas September 25, 2018 @ 5:00 am Updated March 4, 2022 @ 11:38 pm
Tyla Narcisse's Monopoly-esque board game about being a DCF foster child. Allison Park / New Haven Independent
It's a phone call Brian Lynch has received too many times to count.
A child has been removed from her home by the Connecticut Department of Children and Families, she has significant needs – ranging from autism to psychiatric issues – and the agency is looking for a foster family to house and care for her.
A visiting room at DCF's New Britain offices for families to meet with children in foster care. Jacqueline Rabe Thomas / CtMirror.org
Sometimes the call comes in the middle of the night.
"Every day the phone is just ringing off the hook. 'We have a kid. Do you have a bed?'" said Lynch, whose New Haven-based nonprofit works to recruit and retain foster families, describing the conversation he has with the state agency. "But we don't have a bed. It's a problem."
On any given day, there are 107 high-needs children in the state waiting for a spot to open at a therapeutic foster home, where the family has been trained to accommodate children with more complex needs than the typical youth in state care.
The array of services made available for these homes is more substantial, which means the foster parents have services, like a babysitter, so they get short breaks and have around-the-clock support in a crisis from nonprofits like the one Lynch runs, The Connecticut Children's Community Programs.
Most of these children wait in a group home or another institutional-like setting where workers take shifts to care for them until a spot opens in therapeutic foster home – waits that can stretch to 32 days, on average.
Now this system is headed for a shake-up.
In an attempt to reduce the waitlist, DCF has announced a major change, beginning in November, in who will be responsible for finding placements for these children.
Under the current system, when a child is identified as needing therapeutic care, the onus is on DCF to find a home from one of the 14 nonprofits that contract with the state agency to recruit and retain families.
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These nonprofits have a network of 771 foster families that are licensed to provide therapeutic care for 1,211 youth. But many of those families don't have any youth living with them, and carry a 9 percent vacancy rate.
"We have a lot of kids waiting. And they have open beds," said Linda Dixon, the agency's administrator of adolescent and juvenile services. "This [new] system is supposed to prevent that from happening."
"We have a lot of kids waiting. And they have open beds"
Linda Dixon
DCF's administrator of adolescent and juvenile services
Beginning in a few weeks, one of these nonprofits will be put in charge of coordinating placements with the other providers in each of the six regions of the state.
That's worrying the providers, for several reasons.
The problem, several say, is that there aren't enough people signing up to become foster families. While it is true that some already licensed homes don't have a child from month-to-month, that's because there wasn't an appropriate match or because they needed a break before taking in another youth.
"I can't and shouldn't make a family take a kid that they don't feel comfortable taking," said Lynch. For example, a family might feel comfortable caring for a youth with autism but not someone with a history of aggressive behavior.
But DCF officials said their solution with this reorganization isn't about forcing mismatches. Instead, the agency said, it's about identifying which homes are capable of succeeding, given the right supports.
"There are families out there that are willing to take and serve youth with complex needs," said Dixon, who is confident that adding more pressure for nonprofits to find matches with this new setup will help make them more responsive. Providers will not have access to DCF's vast network of alternative placements without special permission.
Several providers, in addition to Lynch, declined to be interviewed on the record because they rely on DCF contracts, but expressed concerns about the change.
Dixon points out that plan the agency plans to roll out in November is similar to the system for making placements prior to early 2012.
"We aren't having as many providers step up as when we had [nonprofits leading placements] in place," said Dixon. "When you tap a home for a specific child, they are more likely to step up."
But providers said even with that setup – known as the SALA model – there were still major shortages of foster homes.
"Considering the previously established SALA system was unsuccessful, the Alliance is concerned that without substantial changes to the SALA model, the Department risks placing providers in a position to reinstate a model that may not be appropriate or sustainable," Brunilda Ferraj, director of policy research for The Alliance, an organization that represents nonprofits in Connecticut, wrote DCF.
Perhaps most concerning for providers is how DCF plans to pay for this shift – by making the providers pay the new lead nonprofit to coordinate.
The cost is expected to reach $800,000 – which is almost 3 percent of what the state spends on therapeutic foster care. These providers have received one small rate increase from the state in the last 10 years, which was coupled with increased requirements surrounding recruitment of foster families.
"State resources are pretty tight. Everybody is tightening their belts. It's a requirement in this environment," said Gary Kleeblatt, DCF's spokesman.
But that's setting providers up to fail, warns Ferraj.
"Year after year, providers struggle to operate with inadequate funding, and now they are being asked to do more with less," she said. "It's not sustainable."
Dixon said the state cannot wait until there is money to pay for this change.
"In terms of why now? Why not now. We have kids waiting. Why should they wait? Their needs are the most important," she said.
And so providers are bracing for this shift, hoping it works out.
"I am not sure [the new system] will address the basic problem of getting more foster homes," said Lynch. "We are all in a really tough place so I think we all have to try this. I don't think this is the magic solution, but maybe it is the start of figuring out how we fix this problem."
Jacqueline Rabe Thomas
jrabe@ctmirror.org
Jacqueline was CT Mirror's Education and Housing Reporter, and an original member of the CT Mirror staff, joining shortly before our January 2010 launch. Her awards include the best-of-show Theodore A. Driscoll Investigative Award from the Connecticut Society of Professional Journalists in 2019 for reporting on inadequate inmate health care, first-place for investigative reporting from the New England Newspaper and Press Association in 2020 for reporting on housing segregation, and two first-place awards from the National Education Writers Association in 2012. She was selected for a prestigious, year-long Propublica Local Reporting Network grant in 2019, exploring a range of affordable and low-income housing issues. Before joining CT Mirror, Jacqueline was a reporter, online editor and website developer for The Washington Post Co.'s Maryland newspaper chains. Jacqueline received an undergraduate degree in journalism from Bowling Green State University and a master's in public policy from Trinity College.
More by Jacqueline Rabe Thomas


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Q: Can't get django-storages to set defaultStorage I'm using Amazon AWS S3, and trying to set up my Django app to deploy on Heroku and set static and media files using the django-storages package (which also uses boto).
My settings.py includes the following:
DEBUG = False
STATICFILES_FINDERS = (
    'django.contrib.staticfiles.finders.FileSystemFinder',
    'django.contrib.staticfiles.finders.AppDirectoriesFinder',
   'django.contrib.staticfiles.finders.DefaultStorageFinder',
)

if not DEBUG:
    DEFAULT_FILE_STORAGE = 'storages.backends.s3boto.S3BotoStorage'
    AWS_STORAGE_BUCKET_NAME = os.environ['AWS_STORAGE_BUCKET_NAME']
    STATICFILES_STORAGE = 'storages.backends.s3boto.S3BotoStorage'
    S3_URL = 'http://%s.s3.amazonaws.com/' % AWS_STORAGE_BUCKET_NAME
    STATIC_URL = S3_URL
    ADMIN_MEDIA_PREFIX = STATIC_URL + 'admin/'

INSTALLED_APPS += (
    'storages',
)

When I log into my console to see if the default storages are set, though, I'm not getting what I should according to the django-storages getting started guide.
Here's a sample from my shell session:
>>> from django.core.files.storage import default_storage
>>> print default_storage.__class__
<class 'django.core.files.storage.DefaultStorage'>

According to the guide, I should have got this back:
>>> from django.core.files.storage import default_storage
>>> print default_storage.__class__
<class 'S3Storage.S3Storage'>

I have tried importing my settings.py into the interactive shell. No luck. However, my other AWS settings are stored fine, such as S3_URL, which is retrieving the env variable and inserting into the amazon URL.
Can anyone give me a clue?
TIA.

A: have you installed boto? If boto is not installed properly, likely that django-storages will set you back to the default storage class if it could not properly import boto.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Accountant/Student Account Representative
Posting Number: AS570P
Primary Responsibility :
Responsible for all aspects of student accounts, with emphasis on entering billing charges on student accounts and maintaining billing code database that includes appropriate general ledger accounting. Responsible for refunds of credit balances on student accounts.
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Additional Comments & Information:
Requires Bachelors Degree in Accounting.
About Lipscomb:
Lipscomb University is a Christian institution committed to creating students whose academic excellence, faith and practice, and community service reflect our ideals of global citizenship. Our mission is to integrate Christian faith and practice with academic excellence, not only in the classroom but also by involvement in numerous services to the church and the larger community. It is a place that sees the city as our campus and the world as our classroom. This is what grounds us, and it is also what has grown us.
The institution includes both Lipscomb University and Lipscomb Academy. The University enrolls more than 4,600 students, has a 10-year growth rate from 2007-2017 of almost 70 percent and offers students an intellectually challenging academic program of study that includes eight bachelor's degrees with over 100 majors spanning the liberal arts to programs of study in pre-professional and professional disciplines, 24 master's degrees in 70 fields of study, four education specialist degrees and three doctoral degrees. Each year, Lipscomb students contribute an average of 60,000 hours of service to nonprofits and organizations. Classified as a national university by U.S. News & World Report, Lipscomb University is classified as a doctoral university by the Carnegie Foundation, placing it among 7 percent of schools nationwide.
Lipscomb Academy is a leader in PreK-12th schools in the Nashville area and enrolls over 1,200 students in academic programs from 2-year-olds to 12th grade where students are equipped to love to learn, learn to love, and live to serve. Lipscomb Academy's mission as a Christ-centered PreK-12th grade institution has been greater than shaping the minds of children; we guide children to discover their God-given gifts and passions, to develop as a whole person and to become a positive influence in their local and the greater global community. Throughout its existence, the Academy has benefitted from its unique association with Lipscomb University through access to its college-level professors, equipment and resources while delivering rigorous academic opportunities and offering compelling and competitive athletic programs all wrapped in an environment grounded in spiritual formation.
In addition to Lipscomb's residential campuses in the Green Hills area of Nashville, Tennessee, there are two satellite locations and numerous online programs. At the heart of Lipscomb University are more than 860 full-time faculty and staff at the University and 160 full-time faculty and staff at the Academy who are committed to creating a lasting impact beyond the campus, serving the good of humanity to the glory of God. As you learn more about Lipscomb, we hope you find it to be a place that is joyfully and energetically committed to God and a place where you truly want to share and invest your talents and skills.
Non-Discrimination Statement:
Lipscomb University complies with all applicable federal and state nondiscrimination laws and does not engage in prohibited discrimination on the basis of race, religion, sex, age, color, national or ethnic origin, or disability in the administration of its educational policies, programs and activities.
Hiring Statement: Lipscomb is a private, Christian university associated with the fellowship of the Church of Christ and governed by religious tenets held by the Church of Christ. Preference will be given to qualified applicants who are members of the Church of Christ.
About Lipscomb University
Lipscomb University is a Christian institution committed to creating students whose academic excellence, faith and practice, and community service reflect our ideals of global citizenship. With more than 4,600 students and a 10-year growth rate of 85 percent, Lipscomb is a dynamic university offering students a choice of eight bachelor's degrees in 136 majors, 24 master's degrees in 70 fields of study, four education specialist degrees and three doctoral degrees. In addition to Lipscomb's residential campus in the Green Hills area of Nashville, Tennessee, there are five satellite locations and numerous online programs. U.S. News & World Report, which named Lipscomb University as an up-and-coming university and one of the most innovative universities in the South, ranked Lipscomb for the first time in school history as a national university in the annual "2017 America's Guide to Colleges." In 2016 the Carnegie Foundation classified Lipscomb as a doctoral university, placing it among 7 percent of schools nationwide. At the heart of Lipscomb University are more than 940 full-time faculty and staff who are committed to creating a lasting impact beyond the campus, serving the good of hu...manity to the glory of God. As you learn more about Lipscomb, we hope you find it to be a place that is joyfully and energetically committed to God and a place where you truly want to share and invest your talents and skills.
Connections working at Lipscomb University