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MISH MASH Issue #4
Label: Monacle Records, 1998
Format: 11 song CD
Can you judge a CD by its cover? It's not often you run across album art that features a band member's grandmother brandishing a shotgun. Needless to say, I was intrigued, if not totally impressed, so I was eager to give this one a listen.
This is one to grow on; the first listen didn't do much for me, but now I'm hooked. These guys have a sound strangely similar to one of last month's reviewees, subReal, as their approach is often laid-back yet full of anticipation. There's also an element of They Might Be Giants in here, number one being the weird sense of humor, and two being the duo/trio vocal style. The best example of this is the first cut, "Martian March-In", which is downright hilarious. It starts off with a lazy shuffle and proceeds into an absolute frantic panic, only to be finished off with a touch of 50s doo-wop. An instant classic.
From there the band delves into a varitey of styles, ranging from the ska-flavored punk of "Ribcage", to the Stray-Cat rockabilly of "When the World Ends". And, the tried-and-true garage rock of "Tilt" is nothing but cool.
There's a lot of talent brewing around on this one. Seek out this disc, but look out for grandma.
MISH MASH Mandate: Their grandmother can kick your a**
AnnA to the Infinite Power website
annainfinity@hotmail.com
Tripsonic
Title: "Ignition"
Format: 6 song CD
Tripsonic is a name that fits this New York-based trio. Their style is based on a big-guitar space-age sound that draws heavily upon post British Invasion rock, with a nice mix of early Seattle grunge.
This EP-length release is short and to the point, and it does a good job of showcasing the band's strongpoints. "Hover" is a catchy, radio-ready rocker that has a memorable melody that's dripping with a thick guitar sound. "Shimmer" is more alternative rock based and pounds away in the style of early Pearl Jam, while "Thing" reminds me of Alice In Chains.
They get into a groovier sound with "OK"--this one is real trippy, and sounds like it could've escaped from the Cult's early-80s album, "Love". I like it, and the guitars are just huge. Rock on.
MISH MASH Mandate: Guitars from Mars
tripsonic@aol.com
Rippopotamus
Title: "Swim"
Label: 2 Funky Int'l
This is a band lost in time. Rippopotamus has a perfect 70s funky groove which is skillfully packaged with a 90s freshness.
"Fanfare of Funk" starts the disc off with a classic sound that revives the best moves of James Brown and the fun quirkiness of Parliament. The band shows off its chops with the semi-instrumental "Happy Little Monkey", which reveals a deep well of musical talent. These guys are super tight, and very together. This cut alone is worth the the price of admission.
My personal favorite is the fast funk of the title track, "Swim". The groove is undeniable, and you can't help but get up and move.
MISH MASH Mandate: Sound your funky horn
Rippopotamus Website
rippo@world.std.com
Listen to "Fanfare of Funk" in WAV.
The Loving Tongue
Title: "Sea of Lights"
Label: Big Tom's Records
Much like their namesake, everything about The Loving Tongue sounds a little dirty, like something you want to hide. At times they sound like a gritty groove/jam band, and at others, full throttle thrash. Packed with a what-you-see-is-what-you-get attitude, this disc grows on you, albeit like a musical fungus.
The Santana-esque sounds of "S.I.O" is a groovy, if not guilty pleasure. I was singing along with the refrain the first time I heard it, only to blush at the song's finale. The bluesy intro of "Groovy Mama" gives way to an even bluesier strut, and the whole song is so cliche that somehow it becomes cool in the end. From there, the band takes a stab at thrash ("Driving Me Crazy"), and even improv jazz ("Sea of Lights").
Sounds a little strange, but the weird thing is I kinda like it. Go ahead and give it a listen. Don't worry, I won't tell.
MISH MASH Mandate: A guilty pleasure
The Loving Tongue Website
Listen to the song "Groovy Mama" in RealAudio
Rodrigo Sigal
Title: "Manifiesto"
Label: CIEM
Some people see the world from a completely different vantage point. Such is the case with aural artist Rodrigo Sigal. His compositions paint remarkable soundscapes which stimulate the imagination, using comparisons and contrasts through variations in sound.
Sigal uses traditional musicians and their respective instruments as the base for his experimentations. He weaves intricate sound tracks beneath the individual instrumental pieces to create his magic. "Babel" uses the extreme contrast of the simple tones of Harrie Starreveld's flute against the harsh complexity of human and digital noise. The result is a strange balance that could be a reminder that there is a way to find peace in our increasingly hectic modern world.
The confusion of clanging church bells competing with a quiet solo piano is the climax of "Fe". Sigal appears to be examining the conflict of religious faith; each of us has a unique perspective, a personal way of looking at God.
Another highlight is "Lagarto", which uses a complete ensemble of instruments working together against a mixed background of crowd and nature sounds. It is an optimistic piece, implying that nature and humans can live together in harmony.
Rodrigo Sigal has the rare ability to go beneath the superficial, and what he has uncovered is stirring and thought provoking. He has gone beyond the emotional elements of music to find its naked spirit.
MISH MASH Mandate: Deep discernment
Rodrigo Sigal Website
Buy this CD at CDBABY
Sigal@city.ac.uk
Listen to "Fe (Faith)" in RealAudio
Tropical Denny
Title: "Music to Beach About"
Label: Houseboat Records
When it's cold outside, it sure is nice to take a nice trip to the beach, even if by way of a daydream. The soothing sounds of Tropical Denny can put you in the mood for a margarita and lounge chair, whether or not the sun is shining in your neighborhood.
Every song on the album features Tropical Denny singing solo along with his acoustic guitar, much like a musician you would find at an island resort. The songs are blues/country inspired, and the thought of Jimmy Buffett enters the mind quickly.
Denny has a storytelling style of songwriting that keeps your interest and is highly entertaining. The song "Suppertime" is a country-flavored number that is written from the viewpoint of a man who's visiting his ex, just because he's hungry for her cooking. He promises not to outstay his welcome; he just wants to eat and run.
So put on your flip-flops, turn up the heat, and fire up the blender. I'm ready for some fun in the sun.
MISH MASH Mandate: Welcome to the endless summer
Tropical Denny Website
tropd@freewwweb.com
Listen to "The Captain and the Cowboy" in RealAudio
Our Contest
Would you like to win a couple of CDs? Sure you would! All you have to do is send us your mailing address in an e-mail with "Contest" in the subject header. Every month we pick one lucky winner from all the entrants.
mishmashmusic@hotmail.com
This month's winner is Tiffany Nevel of Bethlehem, PA.


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elegance bratton
How 'The Inspection' tells the incredible story of a gay man's experience in the Marines during 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'
Writer-director Elegance Bratton and stars Jeremy Pope and Gabrielle Union talk new military drama "The Inspection."
Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret
Beau Is Afraid
Titanic (25th Anniversary)
Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3
The Little Mermaid (Teaser Trailer)
Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Former Ambassador Hammers NRA Influence Over U.S. Gun Policy (JTO)
Submitted by: Newslinks Admin
"If U.S. President George W. Bush had been ready to come out publicly in support of extending the ban, Congress could surely have been persuaded to agree to an extension... Unfortunately, the president seems to have given precedence to winning support from the NRA for his re-election over a principled stand in defense of law and order in America."
"The opinion article pointed out that gun crime is much higher in the U.S. than in other democratic countries with strict gun laws, and it suggested that the NRA bears some responsibility for this."
Right. Because it's surely the fault of 4 million law-abiding, peaceable citizens that criminals happen to use guns to commit crimes.
Kerry shotgun still in WV; Democrat hasn't bothered taking steps to bring home
"A September 23, 2004 article in the Charleston (WV) Daily Mail revealed that the 12 ga. Remington Model 11-87 which was presented to John Kerry at a rally earlier this month has never left the state of West Virginia where the photo op took place."
"Presidential candidate John Kerry never took home a semi-automatic shotgun that stirred controversy when he accepted it at a Boone County rally..." ...
"Gun Week magazine Senior Editor Dave Workman wrote last week that Kerry did not have possession of the gun he accepted in West Virginia." ...
"Workman told the newspaper most of his readers believe the gun gift was staged for the image that Kerry is for gun rights."
The War On Our Freedoms!
"America, the greatest, freest nation on the face of earth. The country with the highest standard of living, the best economic opportunities, and surely the best chance to live one�s life without the unnecessary encumbrance of an over-bearing government."
"All the above statements are undeniably true, yet for how much longer can we, as Americans, realistically hope to retain our God-given and Constitutionally protected liberties? ..."
"There are also a growing number of Americans who seem to prefer government solutions to personal responsibilities and liberties. And be very,very sure that the more we allow government to solve our problems the more our liberties will be eroded."
Americans in the crosshairs - the hand-wringing over the AW ban continues
"By allowing the assault weapons ban to expire, Bush�whose re-election campaign has been largely based touting the president's ability to combat terrorism� and Congress chose to make the jobs of terrorists easier. The 9/11 commission report stated that terrorists are encouraged to purchase assault weapons in the United States. As Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry said on Sept. 14, 'For the first time in 10 years, when a killer walks in a gun shop, when a terrorist goes to a gun show somewhere in America, if they want to purchase an AK-47 or some other military assault weapon, they are going to hear one word�sure.' "
Feel free to set this kid straight with some cold, hard facts. mycow8me4lunch@starpower.net
Newspaper: Airport screeners missed guns, knives
"Undercover investigators were able to slip explosives and weapons past security screeners during tests at 15 U.S. airports, according to a 2003 investigation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security."
"Results of the department's tests, which were cited Thursday by USA Today, were presented in a classified report to members of Congress while a less detailed version was released by the agency's inspector general on Wednesday."
Don't you feel safe now, knowing that the fedgov is disarming you, while allowing all kinds of weapons to pass through what they affectionately call "security"?
CA: Six fired in beating videotaped at California youth facility
Six counselors at a high-security juvenile prison in California have been fired -- in connection with a fight with inmates that was caught on videotape.
An investigation found that two of the counselors used excessive force and the four others falsified reports about the beating.
The fight last January at the facility near Stockton began between two youths and two counselors. The tape shows the two counselors continued to beat the two inmates after they were subdued, and the others joined in.
The counselors' union says the workers, who have appealed their firing, were acting in self-defense.
IL: State Senator wants language out of constitution
"A Republican state senator from Plainfield has made a call for a change in the Illinois Constitution regarding citizens rights when it comes to bearing arms."
"Ed Petka, R-Plainfield, is calling for the removal of a phrase from the constitution that places limitations on citizens' rights."
"Article 1, Section 22 gives residents the right to bear arms, but adds a qualification. The section says 'Subject only to the police power, the right of the individual citizen to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.' "
"According to transcripts of the 1970 Constitutional Convention, these words were added to the Amendment. Leonard Foster, a delegate to the Convention from the west side of Chicago, stated four times on the convention floor that the language would allow for a total ban on handguns. This speech has been used in Illinois courts to uphold bans on handguns according to Petka."
"This language came out of a time of great social unrest in Chicago, but the net effect of this language is a deterioration of our 2nd Amendment rights... The 2nd Amendment is a right -- not a privilege and the problems that existed more than 30 years ago is not an acceptable excuse to take away our rights as American citizens. We need to reclaim what was lost in the 1970 Constitution."
VA: Pro-Gun Demo in F.C.?
"Members and supporters of the Virginia Citizens Defense League, a pro-gun rights organization, are mobilizing on-line to show up in big numbers at this Monday's Falls Church City Council meeting. They're angry at F.C. City Manager Dan McKeever's policy, articulated at Council meetings earlier this month, requiring a police inquiry of all individuals carrying guns into public places. A VCDL meeting is scheduled at the Mason District Government Center on Columbia Pike tonight when plans may be solidified."
"The VCDL website and another website, Packing.org, have lit up in the past two weeks with angry comments attacking McKeever's policy and with plans to descend and "fill the room" at Monday's Council meeting. ..."
GA: Ex-Officer Shot, Man Killed in Robbery
"A former Atlanta police officer was wounded and a would-be robber shot and killed Thursday night during a wild shootout that stemmed from a botched carjacking, authorities said."
"J.D. Hudson, 77, the retired director of Atlanta's corrections department and an ex-police officer, was rushed to Grady Memorial Hospital for treatment ..."
"One suspect, whose identity was pending, was pronounced dead at the scene. Police were searching Friday afternoon for a second suspect."
NJ: Retired officer shoots pistol-pointing man
"A retired city police officer shot and wounded a man who pointed a gun at him Friday morning during an argument in a bar, police said."
"Earl Hill, 47, who was carrying his personal Glock 9mm semiautomatic pistol, said other bar patrons were involved in a verbal altercation when he arrived there around 10 a.m. Hill told authorities that Theodore Demetrius Meekins, 39, of Trenton, then took out a handgun and pointed it at him."
OR: Ore. woman won't face charges in shooting of ex-boyfriend
Use the following information to access this article:
Site username: Newslinks@KeepAndBearArms.com
Site password: Newslinks
Must have cookies turned on for it to work.
"Prosecutors cleared a Springfield woman who shot her ex-boyfriend in the head last week after he was warned not to enter a Eugene home." ...
"Although no one else was in the room when the shooting occurred, witnesses backed the account given by the woman, 27-year-old Shannon Luanne Brandt." ...
" 'She told him not to come any closer. He saw she had a gun, and he approached her,' Gardner said. Gardner added that Millican's actions 'posed a substantial threat' to Brandt and the shooting was legally justified."
IN: Deadly Shooting Raises Questions About Officer Training
"One question that will be asked following the deadly shooting of Butler University police officer James Davis is whether he had the proper training to deal with life and death situations."
"Butler police made the transformation from a public safety force in 1995 to full-fledged police department when eight officers were issued guns for the first time. They say they have always taken training seriously." ...
"The Indiana Law Enforcement Academy requires that in order for a new officer to go on board he or she has to go through 40 hours of training on self defense and get a qualifying score on weapons training before being allowed to carry a gun."
"Officer Davis' training was reportedly above and beyond state requirements."
VA: Sheriff's investigator shoots wife while cleaning gun, authorities say
The wife of a Loudoun County Sheriff's investigator is hospitalized with a bullet wound, and authorities say he shot her.
According to the sheriff's office, it appears to be an accident that happened while the investigator was cleaning a handgun at their home in Lovettsville last night. The wife was flown to Washington Hospital Center and is in stable condition.
The sheriff is continuing to investigate and no charges have yet been filed. But the unidentified officer -- a 15-year veteran of the force -- is now on leave with pay.
This "stellar professional," who apparently didn't have enough sense to empty the chamber before cleaning his weapon, can now carry his gun anywhere in the US, while you are apparently not good enough or responsible enough to exercise your Second Amendment rights.
UK: 'Crooked' cash used in fighting gun crime
"CASH seized from criminals is being used in community projects tackling gun crime."
"The scheme is part of the Government's drive to channel proceeds of crime into local anti-crime campaigns."
"It means �250,000 is being made available to groups working in the areas worst affected by gun crime, particularly in London, Manchester and Birmingham."
"In Kirklees, community safety officials hope to produce a video film warning about the dangers of guns."
UK: Gun-wielding man threatens to shoot dog
"A MAN carrying a gun threatened to kill a woman's dog."
"The woman called police at 2.50pm yesterday, but said the incident happened about 20 minutes before, close to Forest Glade in Haverhill."
"She said the man pointed the weapon, believed to be a handgun, at her dog and threatened it."
"The woman left to go home and report the incident and the man ran off down an alleyway in the direction of Ganwick Close."
UK: Guard foils gun raid at garage
"A SECURITY guard foiled gun-toting raiders who struck at a petrol station."
"The Securicor guard was delivering money to the Sovereign service station garage on Penistone Road in Shepley when the thieves struck at 8.10 last night."
"He had taken a money case out of the van when he was confronted by the balaclava-clad robbers."
"One had a gun and they struggled with the guard who managed to push the case back into the van's hatch."
"The thieves tried to grab it but failed and then pointed the gun at the guard."
"He fled into the petrol station."
UK: Zimbabwe man arrested with gun at airport
A citizen of Zimbabwe pleaded guilty Friday to attempting to take a gun aboard a plane at Gatwick airport.
Simon Regis Mandiveyi, 37, was arrested Thursday after X-ray checks detected a firearm in his luggage.
Appearing before Crawley Magistrates' Court, Mandiveyi pleaded guilty to possessing a dangerous and prohibited article on an aircraft.
He was freed on bail pending a hearing in Crown Court, at a date to be determined.
IL: Auburn student arrested on gun charge
"A 17-year-old Auburn High School student faces expulsion and possible jail time after he allegedly brought a handgun to school this week."
"Michael A. Allen was in the Winnebago County Jail Thursday on $100,000 bond facing an unlawful use of weapons on school property charge." ...
"There�s nothing to indicate that he was going to do anything with it..."
"Our biggest problem has been fighting, some of that gang-related ... but everyone can understand that bringing a gun to school is a no-no."
"Thompson said he is considering metal detectors in schools. 'It�s certainly a potential for our Title IV dollars,' he said. 'But we�d have to see what the trade-off is in expense versus perceived problem.' "
MI: Mandan student expelled for bringing BB gun to school
"The School Board here has expelled a student for the remainder of the school year for shooting another student with a BB gun." ...
"Wimer said a 17-year-old girl was hit in her shoulder. The BB went through her sweater, but didn't penetrate her skin, he said."
"Wimer said the boy claims the shooting was an accident."
"The student has been charged in juvenile court for reckless endangerment."
UT: Over-qualified?
Last item in column
Over-qualified? A federal agent working for the Air Force at Hill Air Force Base is eligible for a resident Utah hunting license because he is active duty military.
A fully accredited federal law enforcement agent, he has qualified as a marksman in his military training, has a valid Utah concealed weapon permit and took a hunter safety course in Michigan.
He is cleared to carry a fully automatic M-16 and a concealed semiautomatic 9 mm pistol which, as a federal law enforcement agent, he is permitted to carry on an airplane.
He has been issued hunting licenses in Michigan and New Mexico.
But because he hasn't taken the 15-hour Utah hunter safety course and shot a .22 for a state instructor, he couldn't get a license to hunt sage grouse last weekend with his father-in-law, Sam Scott of Vernal.
CO: Deputies Arrest High School Student, Confiscate Gun
"A 14-year-old Douglas County High School student faces charges after school officials said they found a handgun and pocketknife in his coat pocket."
"The unidentified student was brought to the principal's office after school officials received a tip that he brought a handgun to school, according to the Douglas County Sheriff's Office."
"Deputies were called to the school in Castle Rock, Colo., and the student was taken into custody and booked on charges of carrying a concealed weapon at school, possession of a handgun by a juvenile and reckless endangerment."
"The 14-year-old was transferred to a juvenile detentions center."
KY: Irony at the museum (Letter)
"The Frazier Museum may well be an exciting and educational place to visit, but it is a shame that so many Kentuckians are barred from visiting this 'world class' exhibit."
"No, we are not prohibited by our sexual orientation, the color of our skin, and not even by our gender. The people not allowed to visit this museum are some of the finest, law-abiding citizens that reside in the commonwealth that just so happen to think that the protection of their families and themselves is important enough to be licensed to carry a concealed weapon. Yes, the Frazier Historical Arms Museum does not allow 'weapons' inside of its building."
"The citizens of Kentucky fought a long, hard battle to have the right to carry concealed weapons, much like our forefathers battled to gain independence from England. Kentucky's Constitution guarantees everyone the right to 'openly' carry a firearm, and now for those that choose, we may apply for and receive a license to carry these firearms concealed."
NH: Londonderry school photo may lead to suit
"A Londonderry High School senior may wind up suing the district after the administration denied his request to use a picture with a trapshooting gun on his shoulder as his yearbook photo, said Penny Dean, the student�s Concord-based lawyer."
"According to Steve Juster, a 10-year high school assistant yearbook advisor and longtime teacher, student Blake Douglass� mother first contacted him in mid-August to request that the photograph be used in next spring�s yearbook." ...
"Seniors are allowed to submit their own photos for the yearbook, sometimes choosing to pose with their musical instruments or cars."
"Right after school began in late August, Douglass appealed to Londonderry High School Principal James Elefante, who agreed with Juster and the yearbook staff that Douglass� photo was 'inappropriate.' "
UK: 'Gun Club Pair Held after Murder Weapon Find'
"The discovery of a murder weapon on an Irish river bed led to the arrest of two members of an English gun club, an Old Bailey court heard today."
"Police divers found a 9mm self-loading pistol at the bottom of a river in Co Limerick in December 2002, said Mark Ellison, prosecuting."
"Although it had been officially deactivated some years before 'it was obvious the gun had been reactivated'."
�It had been used in the shooting of a man the month before.�
UK: Boy shot in head while walking dog
"A 12-year-old boy is critically ill in hospital with gunshot wounds to his head after a an incident involving suspected 'lampers', who hunt deer and rabbits at night with powerful lights."
"The boy was shot on an evening walk with his father and the family's dog along a footpath by a golf course near Castleford, West Yorkshire, where the practice is illegal but has been regularly reported in recent months."
"Neighbours in Castleford called for tougher action against gangs who use high-powered torches or car headlights to mesmerise their prey before killing them. Lamping claimed another young victim last month when Byron Evans, 13, was shot by his stepfather in Devon during a legal night-time hunt."
Canada: City firearms draft bylaw infuriates rural councillors
"Hamilton's rural councillors are furious that an attempt to harmonize the city's firearms bylaw has put them in the line of fire." ...
"In an attempt to harmonize the six municipalities' firearms bylaw, city staff crafted a draft bylaw for the whole city that would:
* control the use of air guns, spring guns, cross bows and long bows;
* ban the discharging of firearms within the limits of the city, except when protecting livestock; or on property the firearm user owns;
* able to discharge a firearm from 500 meters away from a dwelling;
* require property owners to receive written permission to allow people to hunt on their property; and
* require property owners to install signs designating the area as for hunting."
Canada: Firearms and the law: what do you really know?
"It seems that most Canadians know very little about firearms and what the law requires and enforces. A national public opinion survey was conducted not long ago by a Simon Fraser University researcher, and it reveals that Canadians know little about existing gun control laws and their support for firearm registration weakens as they become more knowledgeable about the issue. ..."
"This study also reinforces the findings of other surveys indicating that Canadians place a very low priority on stricter gun control laws as a method of combating violent crime."
"This survey was conducted with 5,500 Canadians randomly picked from all over the country and all different walks of life. ..."
UK: Firearms and drugs seized in raids
"Police in North Wales seized more than �1 million worth of cash and drugs and 14 guns in a major operation which they today said was the biggest haul in the force's history."
"Homes in Froncysyllte, near Chirk, and Corwen were raided during the operation, which involved 40 officers. The haul recovered by detectives included �815,000 cash."
"They also found cannabis resin worth �103,000, 14 firearms, an imitation gun and a selection of other drugs."
"The police operation began on Wednesday when, after information received, traffic police stopped a VW Passat between Bala and Llangollen on the A5. Cash totalling �50,000 was discovered in the car."
I Propose A New Amendment To The Constitution
"Unfortunately, many people, including whatever your pet social or political group is, even if it claims to want freedom and individual liberty, seem to have forgotten this. We are not living in a totalitarian state where the government, no matter how well-meaning, should be able to tell citizens how to run their private lives. (Are we?)"
"This includes smoking, the constitutionally guaranteed right to keep and bear arms, the use of trampolines, and other activities which are none of your neighbor's business and none of the government's business." ...
"Pediatricians want to ban guns, emergency room doctors want to ban trampolines, and Playboy magazine thinks it is perfectly fine for Rep. Pete Stark, the national Medicare nanny, to formulate a law saying it is illegal to discuss fees with a naked patient. Isn't this getting a little silly? Isn't it? Aw, come on, admit it!"
"I propose a new Amendment to the Constitution:"
"Congress shall pass no law any funnier than the average Polish joke." ...
WI: Doyle Says He Supports Hunting & Fishing Fee Hikes
"Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle says he plans to recommend an increase in hunting and fishing license fees in his next state budget, and may also call for raising the $55 fee for car registrations. Doyle says that some of the state's hunting and fishing fees have not been raised in years and provide revenue for habitat protection."
Socialism in general has a record of failure so blatant that only an intellectual could ignore or evade it. � Thomas Sowell


When I was in LA, I got to sit down with my dear friend Naha from 22 Teachings and House of Intuition and have a great conversation. We talked about so many topics. Guides, portals, magic, astrology, our own paths and history together. I loved chatting with her and I think you'll enjoy hearing our discussion. Thanks for watching!
This moment is just a moment. Let it be what it is.
You are what you're seeking. You already contain what you desire. Any resistance of your life is only resistance of yourself. A lack of faith in your god/source/creator is simply a lack of faith in you.


Searching for Hot air balloon trips in Corona? Welcome to the right place! Finding a firm to provide Hot air balloon trips is easy. Also, you can check additional pages here, or look in your yellow pages.
Enjoying Hot air balloon trips is something the entire family can $do, but it is also a popular way to go on a date! When you speak with the firm you are thinking about booking with, don't forget to ask how many others will be aboard the balloon.


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2021 Sakıp Sabancı International Research Awards
The theme for the 2021 edition of the annual Sakıp Sabancı International Research Awards given by Sabancı University is "Post-Corona World And Turkey: Social Psychological And Political Impacts Of The Pandemics." The deadline for submissions is January 15, 2021.
The Sakıp Sabancı International Research Awards involves a Jury Prize that will be awarded to an individual who has made distinguished contributions on the above-mentioned theme.
In addition to the Jury Prize, Essay Awards will be given to three researchers under 45 years of age. An independent and international jury will select the Essay Award and Jury Prize awardees.
Award Theme
In coping with Covid-19 pandemic, government policies in the world displayed considerable differences. While some governments implemented social distancing through emergency laws, others approached this as a matter of personal choice and ventured into persuading their citizens towards self-confinement, with mixed success. In the fight against the pandemic, the success of the government policies became increasingly dependent on the behavior of their citizens. Civic activism was curtailed along with the decline in the citizens' ability to come together, organize and advocate. Nevertheless, new civil society actors and a novel type of civic activism emerged in attempts to provide essential services such as food and masks, stop the spread of incorrect and harmful information as well as protect the disadvantaged and marginalized groups.
What were the social psychological factors in understanding the impact of perceived threat of spreading Covid-19? Did the pandemic increase potentially maladaptive collective defensive behaviors, such as stigmatization, xenophobia, social isolation, fear of job loss, distrust toward health system and governments, as well as adaptive social behaviors, such as, social cohesion, creative collective actions, and altruism?
What were the factors behind the adoption of such different government policies and citizen behavior in the face of the pandemic? Did the pandemic trigger novel government policies and citizen behavior or rather lend more credence to the already existing tendencies and status quo? What were the impacts of societal underpinnings such as the prevalence of individual and/or collective life styles in different societies in addressing the pandemic? Can individual autonomy coexist alongside the collective needs of the societies facing the pandemic? How did the government and citizens in Turkey respond to the pandemic and how do these responses compare with their counterparts in other countries? Can responses to the pandemic enable us to cope better with other impending threats such as climate change?
SUBMISSIONS GUIDELINES FOR THE ESSAY AWARDS
• Submissions must be made via the website at https://award.sabanciuniv.edu/submityourentryform E-mail submissions will be dismissed.
• Submissions must be in English and related to the theme of the year.
• Submissions must be unpublished original work. Unpublished working papers that appeared in series (such as NBER, CEPR Working Papers...etc.) or departmental websites are eligible to apply as long as there are not published.
• To be eligible, all coauthors in the submitted papers must be born in or after 1976.
• In case of coauthored submissions, all authors must be eligible to apply.
• Submissions must be in pdf format.
• Submissions must be anonymous. Please eliminate any indications that may help identify the coauthors.
• There are no formatting guidelines in terms of font size, line spacing, etc.
• Submissions must include a short CV of the submitting coauthor.
• Submissions must include a separate title page including the name and contact details of all coauthors, acknowledgements and an abstract of less than 150 words.


I have to say that right now I'm a little frustrated with the internet (no surprise there). There's so much misinformation out there. People confidently post information or advertisements about topics they are almost entirely unfamiliar with, and they can seriously waste their readers' time and money by doing so.
Recently, I was following a thread on a DIY forum about keeping stink bugs out of the house. Several of the participants had consulted someone about stink bugs (be it a hardware store employee or a one-man pest control operation) and had been told that there's nothing that can be done about them and that their presence in homes is inevitable. Others had been told that winter treatments are crucial for stinkbug control to try to kill the stink bug eggs before they hatch in the spring. All of this misinformation is very troubling to us at Russell's Pest Control because we would rather you be stink bug-free whether we do a treatment on your house or not. So, here we will give a brief repetition of some information about overwintering pests so that we can dispel some myths that are floating around on the uninformed internet.
Myth 1: Stink bugs are trying to get in the house so that they can lay their eggs.
This is just not true. Many pests in East Tennessee wait out the winter weather in their egg form, but stink bugs do not fall in that category. The adults move into warm, safe locations to hibernate during the winter and re-emerge to lay their eggs outside on leaves in the spring. If you have stink bugs in your house, they are NOT reproducing in your wall voids during the cold months.
Myth 2: Treatments during the fall and winter will eliminate the stink bugs.
We highly recommend that you do not have stink bugs treated in your home during the cold months if they are already inside in large numbers. Your options for doing so are very limited, and the treatment won't really help much. Because stink bugs stay in attics and wall voids, treating them is extremely difficult and would involve using lots of product over large spaces. You might kill some stink bugs that way, but their bodies will be in hard-to-access places that you can't clean. Those dead stink bugs will draw other pests (like rodents), thus making your problem worse, not better. If someone is trying to get you to pay for multiple winter treatments, then he or she is either uninformed or, worse, is hoping to waste your money. In fact, if you call Russell's Pest Control in the winter and beg for the opportunity to pay us to treat your stink bugs, we still won't do it; it just wouldn't be right to do so when the treatment can't possibly be fully effective.
Myth 3: Stink bugs are inevitable, and nothing can be done to keep them out of the house.
It is true that brown marmorated stink bugs have hit the United States hard, and they can prove to be quite a challenge, even for well-informed pest professionals. However, that doesn't mean that nothing can be done. Contact Russell's Pest Control on this page if you'd like to hear about our treatment options. Bear in mind that this treatment needs to be done BEFORE the stink bugs come inside, so you need to make an appointment before we start seeing frosts on the ground.


McNees Attorney on Board of Directors of The Central Penn Business Group on Health - McNees Wallace & Nurick LLC.
HARRISBURG, Pa. – (February 4, 2019) McNees Wallace & Nurick LLC attorney Eric Athey has been elected to the Board of Directors of The Central Penn Business Group on Health for a two-year term.
The Central Penn Business Group on Health works to promote continuous improvements in the quality and cost of healthcare for its member companies, their employees and dependents. Its goal is to promote a collaborative dialogue among stakeholders, including businesses, healthcare providers, insurers and brokers to preserve the quality of care while also keeping healthcare affordable.
Eric is Co-Chair of the McNees Labor and Employment Practice Group where he provides counseling and representation to employers on a wide range of labor and employment matters, including compliance assistance with laws such as the Affordable Care Act, FMLA, ADA, OSHA and wage and hour laws. He routinely helps unionized and non-union clients navigate difficult situations involving allegations of discrimination and harassment, as well as labor negotiations and arbitrations, employment contracts, and employment policy development. He represents private and public sector employers before state and federal courts, arbitrators and administrative agencies.


Sara Lee owns 30% of Israels leading textile company Delta Galil. Sara Lee is the world's largest clothing manufacturer, this opens the worlds markets to Israel, with cloths originating in Israel being sold around the world under one of the many famous Sara Lee brands.
See the letter writing campaign we have launched.
"Sara Lee, for example, has a minority interest in Delta Galil Industries, an underwear and sock manufacturer in Israel, and now distributes its clothing around the United States."
"Delta Galilis the nation's largest manufacturer and marketer of textiles and is one of the largest private-label underwear manufacturers in the world.
The company was one of the first local firms to benefit from the peace process, as it moved manufacturing to neighboring countries with low labor costs. Delta currently manufactures in Egypt, Jordan, Turkey and Scotland.
Dov Lautman, Delta's chairman and largest shareholder holds 56% of the company and Sara Lee, the world's largest clothing manufacturer, has some 30%. The remainder is traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange."
"Nilit of Migdal HaEmek has signed a joint venture agreement with The US-based Sara Lee Corporation to manufacture POY yarn. The two will collaborate in the creation of a new firm, S.N.Fibres, at a $30 million investment, to make the fibers. Under the terms of their agreement, all of S.N.Fibres' output will be purchased by Sara Lee for processing. Sara Lee has already been involved in various Israeli textile ventures. Nilit is a nylon manufacturer for the textiles and plastics industry."
countries friendly to the United States.
with Israel by certain Arab countries.


Kissed by Raspberry Bars Recipe just for you!
It's that time of year again huh? Family time, warm fires, lights, yummy treats... If you agree with me on that last one, try out this recipe. I call it Kissed by Raspberry Bars.
Before anything, preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
Mix together the flour, oats, sugars, and salt. Stir in the butter until the mixture looks like coarse crumbs. Scoop a cup of this and set it aside for later. Press the rest of the mixutre into a grease 9 inch square baking pan. Slather the jam and the chocolate chips on top of that and then cover it up with the set aside mixture. Bake for 30-35 minutes. It should be lightly brown colored.


text:
USAGE="""
XMT

usage:
  xmt init      [-v...] [--parse=OPTS] [--transfer=OPTS] [--generate=OPTS]
                [--rephrase=OPTS] [--full] [--reverse] [--ace-bin=PATH]
                DIR [ITEM...]
  xmt parse     [-v...] [ITEM...]
  xmt transfer  [-v...] [ITEM...]
  xmt generate  [-v...] [ITEM...]
  xmt rephrase  [-v...] [ITEM...]
  xmt evaluate  [--coverage] [--bleu] [--oracle-bleu] [--all] [--ignore=S]
                [--summary-only] [-v...] [ITEM...]
  xmt select    [--oracle-bleu] [--tokenize] [--rephrasing] [--item-id]
                [-v...] [ITEM...]
  xmt [--help|--version]

Tasks:
  init                      create/modify workspace and import profiles
  parse                     analyze input strings with source grammar
  transfer                  transfer source to target semantics
  generate                  realize strings from target semantics
  rephrase                  realize strings from source semantics
  evaluate                  evaluate results of other tasks
  select                    print translation/realization pairs

Arguments:
  DIR                       workspace directory
  ITEM                      profile to process

Options:
  -h, --help                print usage and exit
  -V, --version             print version and exit
  -v, --verbose             increase logging verbosity (may be repeated)
  --parse OPTS              configure parsing with OPTS
  --transfer OPTS           configure transfer with OPTS
  --generate OPTS           configure generation with OPTS
  --rephrase OPTS           configure rephrasing with OPTS
  --full                    import full profiles, not just item info
  --reverse                 switch input and translation sentences
  --ace-bin PATH            path to ace binary [default=ace]

Evaluation Options:
  --coverage
  --bleu
  --oracle-bleu
  --all
  --ignore S
  --summary-only

"""

OPTS_USAGE="""
Usage: task -g PATH [-n N] [-y] [--timeout S]
            [--max-chart-megabytes=M] [--max-unpack-megabytes=M]
            [--only-subsuming]

Options:
  -g PATH                   path to a grammar image
  -n N                      only record the top N results [default=5]
  -y                        use yy mode on input
  --timeout S               allow S seconds per item [default=60]
  --max-chart-megabytes M   max RAM for parse chart in MB [default=1200]
  --max-unpack-megabytes M  max RAM for unpacking in MB [default=1500]
  --only-subsuming          realization MRS must subsume input MRS

"""

import os
import re
import shlex
from glob import glob
import json
import logging
from configparser import ConfigParser

from docopt import docopt

from delphin import itsdb

from xmt import task, select, evaluate, util

__version__ = '0.2.0'

default_config = {
    'DEFAULT': {
        'ace-bin': 'ace',
        'num-results': 5,
        'timeout': 60,
        'result-buffer-size': 1000,
        'max-chart-megabytes': 1200,
        'max-unpack-megabytes': 1500,
        'only-subsuming': 'no',
        'yy-mode': 'no',
    },
    'parse': {},
    'transfer': {},
    'generate': {},
    'rephrase': {},
}

relations_string = '''
item:
  i-id :integer :key                    # item id
  i-input :string                       # input string
  i-length :integer                     # number of tokens in input
  i-translation :string                 # reference translation

p-info:
  i-id :integer :key                    # item parsed
  time :integer                         # processing time (msec)
  memory :integer                       # bytes of memory allocated

p-result:
  i-id :integer :key                    # item parsed
  p-id :integer :key                    # parse result id
  derivation :string                    # derivation tree for this reading
  mrs :string                           # mrs for this reading
  score :float                          # parse reranker score

x-info:
  i-id :integer :key                    # item parsed
  p-id :integer :key                    # parse result id
  time :integer                         # processing time (msec)
  memory :integer                       # bytes of memory allocated

x-result:
  i-id :integer :key                    # item parsed
  p-id :integer :key                    # parse result id
  x-id :integer :key                    # transfer result id
  mrs :string                           # transferred mrs
  score :float                          # transfer reranker score

g-info:
  i-id :integer :key                    # item parsed
  p-id :integer :key                    # parse result id
  x-id :integer :key                    # transfer result id
  time :integer                         # processing time (msec)
  memory :integer                       # bytes of memory allocated

g-result:
  i-id :integer :key                    # item parsed
  p-id :integer :key                    # parse result id
  x-id :integer :key                    # transfer result id
  g-id :integer :key                    # generation result id
  surface :string                       # realization string
  mrs :string                           # specified mrs used in realization
  score :float                          # realization reranker score

r-info:
  i-id :integer :key                    # item parsed
  p-id :integer :key                    # parse result id
  time :integer                         # processing time (msec)
  memory :integer                       # bytes of memory allocated

r-result:
  i-id :integer :key                    # item parsed
  p-id :integer :key                    # parse result id
  r-id :integer :key                    # rephrase result id
  surface :string                       # realization string
  mrs :string                           # specified mrs used in realization
  score :float                          # parse reranker score

'''

def main():
    args = docopt(
        USAGE,
        version='Xmt {}'.format(__version__),
        # options_first=True
    )
    logging.basicConfig(level=50 - ((args['--verbose'] + 2) * 10))

    args['ITEM'] = [i for pattern in args['ITEM'] for i in glob(pattern)]

    if args['init']:
        init(args)
    elif args['parse']:
        task.do('parse', args)
    elif args['transfer']:
        task.do('transfer', args)
    elif args['generate']:
        task.do('generate', args)
    elif args['rephrase']:
        task.do('rephrase', args)
    elif args['evaluate']:
        evaluate.do(args)
    elif args['select']:
        select.do(args)

def init(args):
    d = args['DIR']

    prepare_workspace_dir(d)
    config = ConfigParser()
    config.read(os.path.join(d, 'default.conf'))

    config['DEFAULT'] = dict(default_config['DEFAULT'])
    util._update_config(config['DEFAULT'], args, None)

    for task in ('parse', 'transfer', 'generate', 'rephrase'):
        config.setdefault(task, default_config.get(task, {}))
        if args['--' + task]:
            argv = shlex.split(args['--' + task])
            taskargs = docopt(OPTS_USAGE, argv=argv)
            util._update_config(config[task], taskargs, task)

    # default rephrase grammar to parse grammar
    if 'grammar' not in config['rephrase'] and 'grammar' in config['parse']:
        config['rephrase']['grammar'] = config['parse']['grammar']

    for item in args['ITEM']:
        item = os.path.normpath(item)
        rows = item_rows(item, args['--reverse'])
        itemdir = _unique_pathname(d, os.path.basename(item))
        os.makedirs(itemdir)
        with open(os.path.join(itemdir, 'relations'), 'w') as fh:
            print(relations_string, file=fh)
        p = itsdb.ItsdbProfile(itemdir)
        p.write_table('item', rows, gzip=True)
        if args['--full']:
            info, results = _parse_tables(item)
            p.write_table('p-info', info, gzip=True)
            p.write_table('p-result', results, gzip=True)

    with open(os.path.join(d, 'default.conf'), 'w') as fh:
        config.write(fh)

def item_rows(item, reverse=False):
    data = []
    if os.path.isdir(item):
        p = itsdb.ItsdbProfile(item)
        output_fn = os.path.join(p.root, 'output')
        if ((os.path.isfile(output_fn) or os.path.isfile(output_fn + '.gz'))
                and len(list(p.read_table('output'))) > 0):
            for row in p.join('item', 'output'):
                data.append((
                    row['item:i-id'],
                    row['item:i-input'],
                    row['output:o-surface']
                ))
        else:
            data.extend(p.select('item', ['i-id', 'i-input', 'i-translation']))
    elif os.path.isfile(item):
        for i, line in enumerate(open(item)):
            src, tgt = line.split('\t', 1)
            data.append(((i+1)*10, src.rstrip(), tgt.rstrip()))
    else:
        raise ValueError('Invalid item: ' + str(item))

    rows = []
    for i_id, src, tgt in data:
        if reverse:
            src, tgt = tgt, src
        rows.append({
            'i-id': i_id,
            'i-input': src,
            'i-length': len(src.split()),
            'i-translation': tgt
        })
    return rows

def _parse_tables(item):
    info, results = [], []
    makeinfo = lambda a, b, c: {
        'i-id': a, 'time': b, 'memory': c
    }
    makeresult = lambda a, b, c, d, e: {
        'i-id': a, 'p-id': b, 'derivation': c, 'mrs': d, 'score': e
    }
    if os.path.isdir(item):
        p = itsdb.ItsdbProfile(item)
        fn = os.path.join(p.root, 'parse')
        if os.path.isfile(fn) or os.path.isfile(fn + '.gz'):
            for row in p.read_table('parse'):
                info.append(makeinfo(row['i-id'], row['total'], row['others']))
        fn = os.path.join(p.root, 'result')
        if os.path.isfile(fn) or os.path.isfile(fn + '.gz'):
            for row in p.join('parse', 'result'):
                results.append(makeresult(
                    row['parse:i-id'], row['result:result-id'],
                    row['result:derivation'], row['result:mrs'],
                    '1.0'  # for now
                    ))
    else:
        raise ValueError('Only profiles allowed with --full: ' + str(item))
    return info, results

def _unique_pathname(d, bn):
    fn = os.path.join(d, bn)
    i = 0
    while os.path.exists(fn):
        i += 1
        fn = os.path.join(d, bn + '.' + str(i))
    return fn

def validate(args):
    defaults = docopt(ACE_OPTS_USAGE, argv=args['--ace-opts'] or '')
    p_opts = docopt(ACE_OPTS_USAGE, argv=args['--parse'] or '')
    t_opts = docopt(ACE_OPTS_USAGE, argv=args['--transfer'] or '')
    g_opts = docopt(ACE_OPTS_USAGE, argv=args['--generate'] or '')
    g_opts = docopt(ACE_OPTS_USAGE, argv=args['--rephrase'] or '')

def prepare_workspace_dir(d):
    if not os.path.isdir(d):
        os.makedirs(d)

if __name__ == '__main__':
    main()

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Central government, Crime & Justice, Inspection & regulation
MoJ takes over control of G4S run jail
Emily Twinch and Aishah Hussain
The government has today taken over the running of HMP Birmingham days after a shocking inspector's report on the privately-managed men's prison.
The Ministry of Justice will put in place one of the prison service's "best governors" after HM chief inspector of prisons Peter Clarke wrote to justice secretary David Gauke of his "significant concerns".
Raising an 'urgent notification', Clarke called on the MoJ to take immediate action to address the "squalor, violence, prevalence of drugs and looming lack of control" at the jail.
The inspector, in an unannounced inspection of the prison between 30 July and 9 August, found rising levels of violence with 71% of prisoners saying they felt unsafe in HMP Birmingham and "prisoners isolating themselves in their cells, refusing to emerge because of their fear of violence".
"I was astounded that HMP Birmingham had been allowed to deteriorate so dramatically over the 18 months since the previous inspection," Clarke wrote.
"There has clearly been an abject failure of contract management and delivery."
The executive agency HM Prison and Probation Service has recently been working with the prison's private operator G4S to "drive up standards at the prison", the MoJ said today.
But prisons minister Rory Stewart admitted: "What we have seen at Birmingham is unacceptable and it has become clear that drastic action is required to bring about the improvements we require."
The HMPPS will now take over the prison in accordance with the Criminal Justice Act 1991 for an initial six-month.
The MoJ said this would be done "at no additional cost to the taxpayer".
At least 30 of the HMPPS officers will be deployed to Birmingham and the jail's capacity will be reduced by 300 places while improvement action is underway.
This follows an announcement by Stewart on Friday last week the MoJ has allocated a £10m package to trail an approach to improve standards and security in prisons.
A pilot will be run in 10 of the "most challenging prisons" in England, which have acute problems with high drug use, violence and building issues.
Those involved in the trial will be Hull, Humber, Leeds, Lindholme, Moorland, Wealstun, Nottingham, Ranby, Isis and Wormwood Scrubs.
The project will be up and running in all 10 prisons by the end of the year and tangible results will be expected within the following 12 months, the MoJ said.
Emily is deputy editor of PF and Aishah is a university student
Prisons latest
More offenders granted temporary release to cut reoffending costs
Government sets up prisons corruption taskforce
Government takes back control of Birmingham prison
Prisons hit by record levels of violence
Troubled Birmingham prison 'violent and unsafe'
Cuts prompt rise in prison violence, inspector warns
CQC chief steps down


My name is Paul Brocklehurst; I am a Scot residing in France. I have degrees in Speech Therapy and Psycholinguistics, and I have devoted my adult life to speech research.
I began stuttering at the age of 3 during a stay in hospital due to complications that arose from glandular fever. Initially my stutter consisted of long silent blocks, but within a few years I had also developed an array of secondary symptoms the most prominent of which were head-jerks and facial contortions. I had standard speech-therapy from a number of speech therapists throughout my childhood, none of which made any lasting difference. I also had elocution lessons, various forms of psychotherapy and hypnosis. Despite all of these interventions my stutter continued to grow more severe and, by the age of 14, I not only stuttered severely but also suffered from severe social anxiety.
At the age of 15, I enrolled on an intensive course of systematic desensitization and behaviour therapy for stuttering which was run by a psychiatrist at Friern Barnet hospital in London. After two weeks of daily exercises, my stutter went into remission and for the first time in my life I was able to hold real conversations, and it seemed like the stutter had completely disappeared. But then, after a week or so of what seemed like completely fluent speech, I started noticing a few minor dysfluencies and I started to worry that the stutter might be coming back. My worrying spiralled out of control and over the course of the following two weeks the stutter returned in full force. In desperation I re-started the systematic desensitization therapy all over again. But this time, for some reason, it no longer worked. Although very frustrating, this experience of remission followed by relapse fascinated me and it was at that point that I made up my mind to become a doctor and dedicate my life to researching stuttering.
At 18 I won a place at Southampton University to study medicine. But very soon after starting there it became clear that my stutter was too severe to enable me to satisfactorily fulfil many of the speech-related aspects of the course. It was also isolating me socially and causing me a lot of anxiety. Things came to a head when one day, I witnessed a serious motor cycle accident. Being the first person on the scene, I tried to call for help and found myself completely unable to utter a single word. This experience left me feeling inadequate and depressed and eventually led to me giving up on my medical studies.
At the age of 21, I started reading about Zen, joined a Zen meditation group, and started meditating each morning and evening and practicing mindfulness whenever I remembered to do so throughout the day. After about 18 months of determined practice my stuttering went into remission. In the beginning the remission was total and I thought the stutter had finally gone away. However, a couple of years later, after moving to Greece and trying to learn to speak Greek, I noticed myself starting to block when I tried to pronounce some of the more difficult words in Greek. This shook my confidence and I started to worry that the stutter might return. Then, gradually, I started to notice myself blocking on some English words as well. These fears of relapse led me to return to practicing meditation and mindfulness. But despite this practice, the stutter did indeed return, albeit in a much milder form than previously. On returning to England, although nobody thought that I still had a problem with stuttering, the fear of it returning in full force was still present, and it was becoming increasingly clear to me that I was only managing to sustain the appearance of having it under control by avoiding challenging situations. And, despite appearances, the stutter was once again holding me back in life. I struggled on like this for a further 15 years until, at the age of 40, I finally decided that I had to do something about it, and once again started reading books about stuttering.
A big breakthrough came about after reading a new theory of stuttering developed by a team of psycholinguistic researchers in Holland. Essentially, the theory (known as the Covert Repair Hypothesis) was that stuttering occurs because whenever we perceive that a word is not going to come out right, our automatic response is to go back and try again. On reading this, the thought occurred to me that perhaps if, instead of continually going back and trying again and again to say the sounds I couldn't say, if I just simply abandoned those sounds and instead carried on saying the remaining sounds that I could say, then perhaps the net result would be an improvement in my speech. This process is akin to Lee's Crutches 3, skip words and 6, rephrase the thought. To my surprise, this pragmatic approach worked extremely well and within a few days I found that my tendency to block had substantially diminished, as had my fear of getting stuck. Over the course of the following weeks, in addition to jumping over the sounds I couldn't say (similar to Lee's Crutch 1, omitting syllables or words), I developed an array of purely pragmatic "crutches" that enabled me to successfully keep moving forward in practically all speaking situations. As I now look at Lee's 12 (13) Crutches, I can see that I stumbled on many of the same methods as did Lee. Indeed, our tortured paths and solutions seemed to overlap.
Because of my previous experiences of relapse, I waited a year just to make sure that I wasn't just undergoing yet another temporary remission. Then finally, after a year of waiting, I decided to return to university. I successfully completed degrees in Speech Therapy and Psycholinguistics and then, quite unexpectedly, was awarded funding to do a PhD to research the relationship between stuttering and perfectionism. Following the PhD, I then went on to develop a therapy programme that incorporated the methods that had helped me and that was based on the findings of the research I had been involved with, which seem to parallel many of Lee's. Over the past few years I have continued to develop this programme, an online course, available at no charge, that can be found at http://www.stammeringresearch.org/onlinecourse/.
A few months ago, one of my clients mentioned to me that Lee Lovett had written a book that seemed to be advocating an approach that was very similar to my own. So I bought Lee's book (Stuttering & Anxiety Self-Cures, 2nd Edition), and was delighted to find that Lee has indeed described, in beautifully clear and simple language, essentially exactly the same combination of psychological approach and practical crutches that have enabled me to attain the level of fluency and confidence that I now have. It seems that the two of us have undergone parallel journeys and quite independently arrived at the same destination.
Since then, I emailed Lee, and we have exchanged ideas extensively and enjoyed a four-hour tea together in London. As a result, I volunteered to join SAA as a "Coach" and then accepted Lee's invitation to become a member of Speech Anxiety Anonymous' Advisory Board. Although I still describe myself as a stutterer, I have achieved a "self-cure", as Lee/SAA define it, and I did so using methods substantially similar to Lee's, and I subscribe to most of the rest of his methods. (There will always be difference in style. I used Zen meditation where Lee used auto suggestion/self-hypnosis. As Lee agrees, stuttering is a very individual condition, and not all methods will help all PWS equally.) As such, I am further pleased to post this Success Story and join SAA's Speech Hall of Fame.
Finally, I applaud SAA and its noble, unselfish goals to aid PWS worldwide at no cost. Thus, it gives me great pleasure to urge speech sufferers to read Lee's beautifully written and lucid book and to avail themselves of SAA's Coaching and thus join its War against Stuttering.


text:
The 'boots and all' approach to community and corporate responsibility
October 26, 2015 Newss11_admin Blundstone
Despite growing to become one of the worlds' most recognisable and trusted boot brands, Blundstone has always retained its family values.
As a family orientated company, Blundstone highly values its people, its suppliers, customers, the environment, and the broader local community.
From an operational point of view, the boot makers' core values ensure legal, ethical and responsible practices are adopted throughout the company at all times.
This commitment has enabled it to grow and prosper for over 145 years, and underpins its ongoing commercial success.
This is combined with the fact that as more people around the world discover the comfort, quality, durability and style of the iconic Blundstone boot, the company needs to expand its production capability.
It's important for everyone to know that, as it does this, Blundstone is keeping a firm eye on the ethical standards of the manufacturers that produce its world-famous boots.
"For us to be involved with a supplier, we must be satisfied that they comply with strict requirements in how they treat their people and their environment," said Steve Gunn, Blundstone's Chief Executive Officer.
"We research internationally for supply sources and we're fussy about the partners we select. We demand not only stringent quality standards, but healthy labour conditions and working environments.
"We employ our own people on site at all manufacturing locations to ensure this occurs."
This means that respect for human rights and compliance with labour laws is high on the company's agenda.
It's written into their Factory Workplace Code of Conduct and the Factory Labour Practice Certification that they insist upon from their suppliers.
Not only do their partners sign up to these, but they must ensure employees are informed about them and agree to periodic and unannounced audits for compliance.
"Our requirements for ethical behaviour ensure there's no forced or child labour, harassment or abuse, or discrimination," said Mr Gunn.
"Our company is also committed to the policies of Sustainable Development, which are shaping the agricultural, industrial and commercial profile of our state.
"We maximise our use of recycled and recyclable materials in our manufacture and packaging. We minimise the use of raw material, chemicals and fossil fuels, and conform to, and where possible, exceed all Federal, State and Local Government regulations.
"This ensures appropriate health and safety, freedom of association and collective bargaining, wages and benefits, hours of work, overtime compensation, and environmental standards.
"In terms of social responsibility, we recently announced special leave for family violence victims – a move that was hailed as being trailblazing, and received widespread commendation."
This company-wide corporate and social commitment philosophy is translated in the passion of its people, which in turn has helped the iconic boot maker determine how its products and company have evolved.
"Our people are dedicated, highly skilled, innovative and focussed on our customers. We seek and attract people who understand that the power of the team will get the best results for the people who decide to wear our products," said Mr Gunn.
Blundstone is also very active across a number of community-related events.
For example, recently, Blundstone donated 200 pairs of school shoes and socks to students at Yuille Park Community College in Ballarat after one of their teachers, Bri Dredge, pledged to buy shoes for all the kids after she won $20,000 on Millionaire Hot Seat.
When the company heard of her amazing act of generosity, it jumped at the chance to help out, with Millionaire Hot Seat host Eddie McGuire turning up to hand out the shoes, along with Mr Gunn.
"It's not just our boots that stand out for their quality and workmanship – doing the right thing is part and parcel of who we are."
"We're a family-owned company with a long and proud heritage, and a firm commitment to behaving as an ethical global citizen."
For more information on Blundstone click here. and please link to website www.blundstone.com
'Tougher than old boots: 3 Things you want from Mining Footwear'
The head-to-toe guide to basic mining safety
Ansell sells protective footwear business
Oliver releases new range of safety footwear
← Methane metabolising organisms discovered. The benefits of renting your mine site compressors →
Australian Mining
Wages in Australia's mining industry have risen to levels above those seen in the boom period of 2003 to 2013. ...
WA mining salaries now higher than during boom - Australian Mining
BDO Australia has reported that wages in the mining sector are rising above the levels seen in the last boom, particularly in Western Australia.
BHP has reported productivity losses worth over $1 billion in the 2019 financial year. ...
BHP on track for successful year despite productivity losses - Australian Mining
BHP remains optimistic about delivering high volumes over the next year despite recording approximately $US1 billion in negative movement in productivity.


Hand crafted, elegant Tangleweeds design. A hand-forged, teardrop shape is accented by shimmery, faceted chrysoprase stones (see first two photos, more stone options are pictured in the rest of the photos.) Ear wires are hand-forged from gold-plated, surgical steel, perfect for sensitive ears.


text:
Skanska to Develop $151M Houston High-Rise
The 35-story tower will consist of approximately 780,000 square feet of office space, with nearly 26,000 square feet of retail.
Skanska will develop and build a new $151 million, 35-story office tower in downtown Houston, which will be anchored by Bank of America.
Capitol Tower Lobby
"We have what we feel is an amazing building," Matt Damborsky, Skanska Commercial Development's executive vice president, told Commercial Property Executive. "It has a modern design, interior spaces that encourage collaboration and creativity, and we tried to make the building as efficient as possible to allow tenants the ability to downsize if they needed to do so."
The property will consist of approximately 780,000 square feet of office space, with nearly 26,000 square feet of retail space. The project also includes an 11-level parking garage.
Bank of America will occupy about 215,000 square feet after completion…


text:
An Interview with Dr. Tom Wynn
The Independent, Friday 4th November
We translated the Marquis de Sade's most obscene work – here's how
Hannah McIntyre interviews Dr Tom Wynn, Reader and Director of Research in the School of Modern Languages and Cultures.
What is your main area of academic research?
18th century French lit specialising in Libertine literature and the period's theatre.
What are you currently working on?
I'm working on what looks like a very boring play by Voltaire called La Prude, it's about a woman who pretends to be a prude and she's actually very sexually voracious, and what's interesting is that there's a transvestite figure in there. Marjorie Garber says that when there is a transvestite they're not the problem, they point to a fracture elsewhere, so I'm trying to figure out what the transvestite is doing, there's a problem somewhere else. So I'm working on a play about false prudes, false genders.
How early on in your academic career did you focus in on your specialist area?
It was the fourth year as an undergraduate. I actually found a book, this is such a metaphor, I found a book on my mother's bookshelf on the Marquis de Sade and I thought this looks really interesting. And I remember, someone at Cambridge was doing a talk, where I did my undergrad, someone was offering a course on Sade and I was the only one who turned up. We still meet up on occasion actually.
Your work has often focused on rehabilitating Libertine texts that may be considered as 'low culture', do you think academia in general places too much emphasis on supposed 'high culture?'
Not anymore. In fact, I think that there might be a tendency towards forgetting the canon in the name of broadening out. In the aim of giving voice to minority voices. What I find interesting is how those minority voices take up the canon, rework it, and deploy it to other ends that you wouldn't expect. So actually I think you need the great canonical works and the perceived minor works in dialogue with each other. It makes for better research, it makes for better teaching.
How much has your research been divided between the two?
My PhD was on Sade's theatre. Sade is now taken seriously as a great writer, but no one takes his plays seriously. So it's like OK let's look at some elements of his work that haven't been looked at, and make that valid. I work a lot on Voltaire, the biggest figure of the 18th century, certainly in France, possibly across Europe. A figurehead of the Enlightenment. But I look at his plays. He was very well known in his own period for his plays but now that aspect of his work is totally forgotten.
What do you enjoy reading outside of your areas of research?
Shirley Jackson's We Have Always Lived in the Castle is the best fucking book I've read in ages. Fan-bloody-tastic. It's great. In fact, I was just harassing someone at the bookshop about it this weekend. She was also reading it. It's really good. It's about a psychotic family and the entire family's been wiped out. And as a plug for my colleague's work, Catherine Dousteyssier-Khoze's new novel La logique de l'amanite, that's also about a killer in the family, it's very good.
Do you get much time to read?
I've decided to turn my phone off so I have time to read.
So no social media?
No. Not on Facebook, I've never been on Facebook. I'm too old. I've got nothing to say. I'm not opposed to social media, I think when my translation of Sade comes out I'll go on Twitter more.
You didn't mention Sade when we talked about what you're working on, are you anticipating it to be a big seller? How did the project come about? (Dr Wynn is currently translating the highly controversial 120 Days of Sodom for Penguin World Classics)
Yeah, I hope so. It's a collaboration with Will McMorran from Queen Mary, he's great. We sent a proposal to the head of the division at Penguin, and they got back within three hours saying yes. Which, I'm told, is the fastest they've ever heard. Then we took a year longer than we thought we would translating the book. It should be coming out next year. And we think it's going to be big. It would be interesting to know if it's going to be controversial or not. Given that it deals with such dark material and problematic material, how will that land? A new book I'm reading is called Trigger Warning: Is the fear of Being Offensive Killing Free Speech? It looks at the increasing, well the perception that universities are increasingly becoming a place where students want safety, and confirmation, and consensus. And actually what you want is debate and robust discussion and contestation, so what place does very difficult material have in a university when people say oh we want trigger warnings, oh we don't want to deal with difficult material. So it will be interesting to see how this book, in a culture of perceived increased sensitivity, what will happen.
A lot of your research, particularly in Libertinage, focuses on erotic or explicit texts. Is it a difficult subject to teach?
It's hard, no pun intended, but it's hard studying sex stuff with students. I'm the one giggling at the front. Students don't want to talk out. I can imagine, it's extremely difficult talking about sex in front of your peers let alone your module convenor. It's agonising, well it's agonising for a bit and then you kind of go oh for god's sake it's not a big deal.
So why teach it?
Precisely because it's agonising. Because if it's agonising that means it's disruptive, it's problematic, and those subjects take you to questions about libertine individuality, selfhood, power, gender, politics. I think I'm done with sex stuff now, I think I want to move on to other questions. It'll still be related to questions of selfhood and subjectivity, but moving away from the libertine angle to things like identity fraud in the 18th century.
So are you going to stop running your Libertinage module?
Yeah, I think so. I found some police records in Paris, there were some people who were locked up in the Bastille for impersonating other people so there was this woman who claimed to be the duchess of some distant place in Germany, and it turned out she was the daughter of a barman from Alsace-Lorraine. And she passed herself off as a duchess, and she got the diamonds and she got the coach and someone said you know "oi it's Brenda from Luneville". So she's busted. And there were others: there was a supposed Arabian prince, there's a man who claims to be able to contact the dead, you know that kind of fraud, so all these questions of identity fraud, so I think that's my next project, I'll maybe do a module on that – somehow!
For the libertinage module, is it a conscious decision to include the more explicit material in your 4th-year module rather than 2nd-year?
Well the only complaint I had was about teaching a political by Sade. It's included in La Philosophie dans le boudoir. We look at it in 2nd year, and there was some debate amongst students as to whether that was appropriate to teach at university. That was fascinating because there was a belief that I would leave that problematic material unchallenged. But of course, we take that material, which gets you to think critically about the French Revolution.
It gets you to think about the assumptions behind the Revolution, its ambiguities, and you know university is not here to be a safe ride, and it just confirms the idea that people who don't do literature are unblinking and think that books are just there to be a nice cushion to our lives. There's a lot of material that I work on that I don't think is "good". It's by looking at the literature that you can get a better sense of the society as a whole, you can get an idea of what its needs were, what its neuroses were, you can get a better sense of it that way.
Do you think that the arts are undervalued in the university system?
No, not at Durham.
In general?
No, I think you can see that culture has been taken and used to add something to cities that they didn't have before. If you look at Newcastle and Gateshead, look at the Baltic and the Sage, and Workplace, in Gateshead, for me the best gallery outside London. What they do for the local community, local artists, it's terrific. So I don't think that culturally we dismiss the arts. I was at the Royal Academy this weekend, there were queues around the block for Ai Weiwei. So no I don't think the Arts are dismissed.
I do think the Arts are becoming increasingly instrumentalised, why study the arts? And you can't just reply – "why not?" The Arts have to justify themselves, you know reading books doesn't save babies from leukaemia, so you've got to say what do they bring to the world. And what they bring, precisely, is: contestation, critical thinking, reassessing received opinions.
To instrumentalise language studies, you know language studies get you good jobs, my partner speaks three other languages and got a very good job precisely on the basis of speaking those languages. I think language studies as a discipline needs to figure out what we do, what we do well, what we do better than other disciplines. A friend of mine, who is at another university now, says that we do everything English does but better, because we're like the Ginger Rogers to their Fred Astaire, everything they can do we can do backwards and in high heels.
What do you enjoy about working at Durham?
The students. You've got to have the input from the students. The lecturer can have passion, and I think that's very important, but the students have to do the work.
I have to say, I know you're in my final year, and I'm not saying this because it's being recorded, this is the best final year I've ever had. Absolutely fantastic. The dissertation students are brilliant. They come in they've done the reading, they've got the spikiness, they've got the punchiness. Fantastic students.
What advice would you give to Durham MLAC students?
Read more. Read better. Be intellectually curious. When you hear of someone saying oh this is an interesting filmmaker, track her stuff down and see it. Because, and this is kind of the value of getting old, you think, gosh I had those four years at university to do whatever I want, well relatively, whatever I want, so you can spend the next few weeks looking at interesting Japanese cinema, or 17th century French, or Russian poems. You think oh god just do it. See what it's like. Be intellectually curious. Go for it.
What do you think about the introduction of the compulsory dissertation?
Brilliant. Entirely for it. It gets students, these are kind of clichéd Blairite words, but you take ownership of something, you make it your own, it's your passion. I don't think it should be for academics to say to students this is your subject, the student has to find it and if he or she can't, well it's your responsibility. You find a subject you love, you go for it. And when else are you going to write 8,000 or 12,500 words on, I don't know, manga, or humour in Sade?
I think what we want to show, is that you do languages to gain access to cultures, that language learning isn't just about verb tables, that with this dissertation, you can access stuff that you'd never have seen otherwise, and that's why I think the dissertation is fantastic. It's also to be able to go to a job interview and say, I've read that many books, and produced a report that big, look at what I can do, and I can do it in another language. Any employer would want that.
Do you have any advice for students wishing to pursue postgraduate education or even a career in academia?
I hated my MA. Hated it. I remember sitting in an MA session thinking - that's it I'm giving up - never doing this again. It was a really boring seminar. But my PhD was amazing. You choose the right PhD supervisor, it's transformative. If you're intellectually curious, do it. Pursuing an academic career? It's hard. It makes me think of acting, so you get loads of really talented actors coming out of their training and they've got to go for audition after audition and there'll always be someone getting the role ahead of you. It's exceptionally competitive. But, and you know, I get more and more sentimental as I get older - there's nothing more satisfying. It's such a satisfying job. To be able to get up and say this is what I'm researching today, this is what I'm studying. And I know it sounds puke-worthy but when you have great students? It makes all the difference. And I haven't met any total shits at Durham. No, I haven't honestly, they haven't come my way, or maybe they keep quiet, or they just don't turn up for class.
And finally, what's your favourite essay question you've ever set?
Oh, well there's two. "'No romance without finance,' (G. Guthrie) Discuss with reference to Manon Lescaut." And people said oh as Guthrie has argued and I'm like wait a minute I'm talking about Gwen Guthrie the singer, early 80s electro. Then there was another one like that like "'Love is a Battlefield'. Discuss with reference to Andromaque."
I love a good song lyric, put a song lyric in your dissertation and I'll probably give you a first, well if it's Morrissey, Kate Bush or The Supremes I definitely would. You probably shouldn't put that in the interview….
Interviewed by
Hannah McIntyre
An Interview With Becky Wyde
An Interview With Dr. Joe Ford
An Interview With Dr. Tracey Reinmann-Dawe
An Interview With DU Erasmus Society
An Interview With Professor Andy Beresford
An Interview With Rachel White
An Interview With Renata Flores Rivera
An Interview With Sebastien Roger De Nunez
An Interview With The French Society
Photo used under Creative Commons from Alexandre Dulaunoy


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The 30 minute journey that takes me nearly two hours: The harsh reality of relying on buses in Kent
Users can spend a staggering 32 and a half days a year more than a driver waiting around or travelling to and from work
Tom Schwartz
Journeys on buses in Kent are inordinately long
When I found out my journey into work takes nearly four times as long as it would in a car, I was pretty surprised.
Being reliant on buses, I was well aware that my journey would take more time, especially considering I have to hang around a while waiting for the connection.
But to get in for my start time of 8.45am using the buses, I have to leave my house at 6.50am, whereas a car owner would not have to leave until 8.15am.
And for the return journey it's the same story. I finish at 6pm, but don't get home until nearly 8pm.
South Western Railway driver's stunning insight into life behind the controls
That means using the buses wastes nearly three hours a day more than using a car.
This adds up to a staggering 32 and a half days a year more than a car user that I would spend waiting around or travelling to and from work.
My day starts at 6am when I wake up. Having crawled out of bed, I then have just under an hour before I have to drag myself out of the house to the bus stop just outside my house for the first step of my journey from Canterbury to Sandwich.
In all fairness, the bus stop is far closer to my house than anywhere I could park, which is one thing the buses do have going for them.
A double-decker pulls up, despite there being only a couple of people on board.
This is something I see pretty regularly in Canterbury. During peak times, double-deckers are definitely needed, but for the morning buses it seems a bit excessive. That being said, it does afford me the luxury of having the entire downstairs deck to myself.
A waste of space? The bus was completely empty
A 20 minute bus journey later, which would only have taken 25 to walk, and I am in Canterbury city centre.
The fact that the journey takes so long isn't really Stagecoach's fault. Canterbury is a city full of winding, slow-paced roads. Even so, it doesn't make the journey any less frustrating.
Then, it's a (chilly) 30 minute wait for the connection, before I am on the second leg of my travels - another double decker with less than a dozen people on it.
The 9 things I wish someone had told me before I moved to Folkestone
This leg usually takes half an hour, but traffic holds us up by an extra ten minutes. Admittedly, being stuck in traffic on a bus is probably a lot less stressful than when in a car, and the view is pretty good from atop the double-decker.
At least the bus is...comfortable
I also managed to get some work done on my laptop whilst travelling, something which a car-driver would not have been able to.
Once I get into Sandwich, I am still over a mile away from the Discovery Park.
Discovery Park, Sandwich (Image: Getty Images)
There is a bus which would take me right there, but it doesn't get in until gone 9am, despite the majority of the workers at the park starting at that time.
So it's a lengthy 25 minute walk before I actually make it into the office, mentally and physically drained.
Then once my shift is over, it's the same again but in reverse.
You may be reading this may be thinking "just get a car".
But not everyone can afford that luxury - especially if you work part time.
Then there's the fact that public transport is so much more environmentally friendly than single-occupancy car journeys.
If we really want to get fewer cars on the road, then surely, the solution is getting more public transport.
As mentioned before, the buses on the route are often double-decker, and yet rarely, if not never, have more passengers than could fit on a single bus. So why not use a cheaper, smaller bus, and use the money saved to run extra services?
Stagecoach statement
Stagecoach runs the bus services in east Kent
We put this to Stagecoach, who responded by saying: "Unfortunately we can't offer direct buses for every possible journey requirement.
"Sometimes a change of bus is needed which will add time to the overall journey.
"We believe that the cost of using the bus on a regular basis is significantly cheaper than commuting by car.
"Regarding double decker buses, these are used on routes where we require the capacity to carry large numbers of people at peak times, such as school-time or commuter journeys."
Kent rail fare rises: How much your Southeastern season ticket could go up in 2020
Kent weather: Met Office issues Level 2 heatwave alert for the Bank Holiday
KentLive: We have Kent covered
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Here's the link to our main Facebook page where we share our latest stories, including anything from breaking news to features, court coverage and much, much more.
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You can also follow KentLive on Twitter here, as well as on our Instagram page where we share great pictures of Kent.
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Jigsaw puzzle for free online for adults of a pair of brown sunglasses. The sunglasses are laying on a straw hat on the beach.
Would love to drag my toes through the wet sand at the sea shore today. 105 F (40.5 C) here in Nor Cal today. Definitely hat and sunglasses weather.
In the midst of another fibro flare the last couple of weeks and my daughter had another surgery Monday morning. This time to have a pain pump put in. Sure hope it works to manage her pain better than pills have done.
Thank you, olamae61. I went to the dr. and he was able to give me something that has helped a lot. With the heat, I still don't have much energy or desire to do much but at least the pain is less severe. God bless you too.
On my list to put in my travel purse today. Leaving tomorrow morning for class reunion.
BayGrannie, I've been thinking about you today. How are you doing?
Me too BayGrannie, have not seen anything from you for a few days! How are you doing?
Dear trynfindit & CatLady--I've been so worried about my dog & now Vet found another tumor. We sent cell samples to Boston & if cancer has spread, well that will be my answer, but thanks for the thoughts & prayers. It is truly amazing to me how we have all gotten together & really care about each other. A true gift from above! THX!
The owner of the hat and glasses must be in for a swim.
Laying on the beach, and soaking up the sun rays! Ahhh!
With a good book of course!
Lovely place to be on a warm summer's day. Not right now for this area.
" What did the Pacific Ocean say to the Atlantic Ocean? … Nothing, it just waved."
"What is a blue whale's favourite James Bond Film? … Licence to Krill."
Good night dear friends I think I need to go to bed lol. God bless you. Hugs.
I'm chuckling! Thanks again, Aussie!
First day of Summer, folk! Enjoy it and play safe! That means a hat, sun glasses and sun protection. Now, get out there!
I finally managed to do a puzzle - I had to take my laptop into another room to get a wi-fi signal.


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P&G Signs Merger Deal with Coty Inc.
by Anne Moratto | July 9, 2015
Earlier today, the Procter & Gamble Company announced the signing of a definitive agreement to merge 43 of its beauty brands with Coty Inc. in a Reverse Morris Trust Transaction. Among others, the transaction includes P&G's Salon Professional business.
P&G Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer A.G. Lafley commented, "This represents a significant step forward in the work to focus our portfolio on the 10 categories and 65 brands that best leverage P&G's core competencies. Coty will provide an excellent new home for the businesses and brands we are merging today, as well as for the talented people who are operating them."
This agreement will enhance Coty's beauty portfolio and expand its offering in the salon professional channel, where it has already built a nail care category presence through the acquisition of OPI in 2010.
"We are delighted and privileged to join forces with the Wella team and its portfolio of iconic salon brands," said Bart Becht, chairman and CEO of Coty. "The salon channel is a large and attractive category at the very top end of beauty, and Wella is a key building block of our growth strategy. With its legacy, unique brand portfolio and highly capable organization, Wella has firmly earned its place as a leading partner for hair salons. We are looking forward to being a part of its continued success."
"As two iconic houses strongly anchored in their beauty heritage, Coty and Wella are a perfect fit. We are both driven by a passion for beauty, creative freedom and the entrepreneurial spirit that was embodied by our founders. We are honored to join the Coty family and are excited about the possibilities this represents for Wella's mission of elevating hairdressers and the hairdressing industry," said Sylvie Moreau, global executive vice-president of Wella.
Until deal closing, expected in the second half of 2016 and subject to all the necessary regulatory approvals and completion of any required information and consultation processes, Wella will continue to operate as the Salon Professional unit of Procter & Gamble. Separately, certain of the fragrance brands require the consent of the licensor to transfer.
"We're looking forward to our future with Coty, and we remain firmly focused on supporting our salon partners consistently and with the continued excellence that they have come to expect from us," commented Sal Mauceri, Wella North America.
"Over the past years, Wella has been going from strength to strength, and we have great plans to continue to delight our salons. We will continue to build on our portfolio with several exciting product and service innovations, supported by our world-class sales and education team."
Coty Beauty


Martha Farrell was a passionate civil society leader, renowned and respected in India and around the world for her work on women's rights, gender equality and adult education. She was among 14 people killed in a terrorist attack on a guest house in Kabul, Afghanistan on May 13, 2015. She had been leading a gender training workshop with the Aga Khan Foundation in Kabul at the time of the attack.
Daughter of Iona and Noel Farrell, Martha was born in Delhi into an Anglo-Indian family. She studied English literature at Delhi University, and did a Master's in social work at the Delhi School of Social Work. She began her career in 1981 as a literacy worker at Ankur, an NGO working for women's literacy and empowerment in Delhi. She broadened her focus into adult education, where she began her lifelong practice of participatory learning methodology. In 1991, she co-founded Creative Learning for Change, an NGO consisting of development professionals involved in research, training and documentation of learning materials for students, teachers and facilitators in non-formal settings. She remained connected to this initiative throughout her career.
Martha formally joined PRIA (Society for Participatory Research in Asia) in 1996, working alongside her husband and founder of PRIA, Dr. Rajesh Tandon. As Director of PRIA's program on Gender Mainstreaming in Institutions, she trained thousands of grassroots women leaders and professionals from different walks of life on issues related to citizen engagement in local governance, gender mainstreaming and sexual harassment. From 2005 onwards, she led PRIA's work on distance education, founding and developing PRIA International Academy, the academic wing of the organization. She also taught part-time at the University of Victoria and Royal Roads University in Canada.
Martha's crusade for gender mainstreaming in organizations began in 1998 when the Vishakha Guidelines for the prevention of sexual harassment at workplaces were formulated by the Supreme Court of India. Until then, the major focus of gender mainstreaming in development had been around programs and projects in the field. Martha championed the focus of making gender mainstreaming an integral part of all organizations – business, government and civil society. She undertook pioneering work on sexual harassment in the workplace in India, completing her PhD on the subject from Jamia Millia Islamia University, Delhi. In 2014, she published the first Indian book on the subject, Engendering the Workplace: Gender Discrimination & Prevention of Sexual Harassment in Organizations. This book is an important part of her work in PRIA, and a milestone for those wishing to pursue further work on the issue of sexual harassment at the workplace.
Alongside her professional contributions, she supported PRIA to become a place of warm welcome and comfort for all staff and visitors, so that learning could take place in a caring and safe environment. Martha was fiercely loyal to PRIA, its values and resources. She reminded her colleagues to 'walk the talk' and practice these values in everyday life. In the same way, she lived and sacrificed her life for gender equality and women's empowerment.
Amongst Martha's great personal characteristics was her ability to seamlessly integrate with everyone from all walks of life. Martha was a thoughtful friend, a great support to others, and a generous giver of gifts, great food and warm hospitality. The Tandon/Farrell household was always full of guests, laughter, and more food than one could finish. A dedicated professional, compassionate colleague, beloved mother, loving spouse and avid cook – Martha was many things to many people and she is dearly missed.
Dear Martha This is a letter of my appreciation for all your qualities that I should have written long back but never did because our relationship was always about banter and gentle ribbing of each other. You, about anything to do with male chauvinism and me about your obsession with that. I remember how you came into the lives of two disorganized bachelors who lived in Safdarjung Enclave. Suddenly, things became so much more organized, food quality improved but funnily enough, the neighbor ..


text:
Q: Nginx status per vhost Is there any nginx plugin that can display the stats that normal mod_status is displaying, but per vhost?
Thanks.

A: Sorry bump old post, but now you can use this module to see traffic status per vhost
https://github.com/vozlt/nginx-module-vts
You need to manually re-compile your nginx, and add this block to your site config
    location /status {
        vhost_traffic_status_display;
        vhost_traffic_status_display_format html;
    }

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange