This week has seen social media go #nomakeupselfie mad. Cancer Research has raised over £2m and counting in 48 hours by seizing the opportunity and there are some great lessons for brands (be they charities or companies).
If you have managed to avoid a single selfie of a female friend without make-up, let me recap. The #nomakeupselfie trend is said to have started with author Laura Lippman who posted a picture in solidarity with actress Kim Novak, who was recently criticised for her looks – nothing to do with cancer awareness or fundraising.
One wonders how Macmillan, Marie Curie, Breakthrough Breast Cancer Research and myriad other cancer charities feel as they watch the millions going to Cancer Research – I'm sure they won't begrudge them (they are working for the same cause after all), but equally I'm sure they wouldn't have minded a share!
The power of social media never ceases to amaze me and it will be interesting to see how brands adapt following the no make-up phenomenon. One thing I am sure of though, you can't try to recreate or initiate this as a planned campaign - it will never be as powerful as when it is started by the crowd.
BMW may have taken its time entering the electric vehicle (EV) market, but its latest offering, the carbon-fiber i3, is creating a stir in the motor industry.
The result is a carbon fiber chassis, 50% lighter than steel. Amongst other efficiencies, production uses 50% less water and 70% of the energy used in conventional processes.
Designed with disassembly in mind, the i3 is an impressive 95% recyclable. Perhaps just as importantly, it is the sort of car you can imagine people aspiring to. It's not a half-baked nod to sustainability, it's a car that expects to capture a good portion of the market on its own merits. The i3 may well shake up the burgeoning EV market and push its competitors (the hitherto dominant Chevy, Nissan, Tesla and Prius) to go one better. This can only be a good thing- for consumers and for the environment. It's a good example of a competitive marketplace driving a 'race to the top', stimulating more creative thinking to solve our sustainable transportation challenges faster.
Delve a little deeper into BMW's story, however, and you'll discover that supply-chain and community collaboration also played a key part in creating the world's first mass produced carbon fiber vehicle. Carbon fiber is pricey. Very pricey. So in order to make the production process cost effective and reliable, BMW formed a partnership with SGL Carbon SE and opened a hydro-powered carbon fiber plant in Moses Lake, Washington. The two firms worked with a local community college to train employees for the plant, which created 80 new jobs, and according to SGL's Managing Director, Dr Joerg Pohlman aided in "starting the production at a high level of quality and efficiency." Without the bold $100m invested in the Moses Lake joint venture, BMW's vision may have stalled.
The i3 is an interesting example of an innovative, more sustainable product created for a highly competitive market. Yet it is also a useful case study in collaboration and the value of well-managed partnerships in creating social and environmental value.
Perhaps what businesses really need to help solve the knottier social and environmental challenges of our time is more of this kind of thinking- a philosophy that balances intelligent and well executed collaboration with an ability to compete (and fight fairly!) in the evolution of ever more effective and sustainable products and services. Perhaps then we might realise the true power of the emerging social economy.
The lost art of Long term strategic decisions?
Watching Channel 4's recent 'Scandimania' series I learned a fact about Sweden that I had never been aware of: Volvo invented the three point seat belt in 1959, but instead of filing for a regular patent, they filed for an open one, meaning it would be free for anyone to use. In fact, the company went further than this - they sent Nils Bohlin, the inventor, out on a global mission to convince competitors, consumers and governments alike that this technology had to be adopted to save lives.
There had been versions of seatbelts before this, but Bohlin's was the first three point model. Crucially, he realised the importance of consumer behaviour and adoption - customers want a 'no-brainer' solution. So his design ensured it could be buckled quickly, with just one hand.
And it certainly worked - it is estimated that over 1 million lives have been saved to date and it is considered one of the most important safety inventions of all time. The West German Patent office in 1985 voted it in the top eight patents it had handed out in its first 100 years.
Why would a company spend significant money on R&D only to give the invention away and not earn any licencing fees?
Was it completely altruistic or was it actually a long term strategic decision by Volvo?
Would Volvo make the same decision today in the cut throat market that is the 21st century automotive industry?
Having done some internet searches, I'm surprised how little debate there seems to be about Volvo's decision and the questions above.
Volvo maintains that the reason it gave the technology away was that it was simply too important an invention to profit from - increased revenues just didn't stack up against the lives that could be saved. Volvo realised that consumers would be slower to adopt the technology if it was an expensive optional extra in other cars. I also wonder if the Swedish social welfare model and culture of equality contributed to the decision; had Volvo been in a more Anglo-Saxon country one wonders if the same attitude would have been taken.
On the other hand, was it actually a very shrewd business decision? If you asked 100 people to name the first word that comes to mind when you say 'Volvo', 80-90 would probably say 'safe' (unfortunately for Volvo, the rest would probably say 'boring' or 'box' despite neither really holding true any more!). But this is the point - Volvo's differentiator has always been safety and reliability in the first instance. One of Volvo's managing directors, Alan Dessell, is quoted as saying: "The decision to release the three-point seat belt patent was visionary and in line with Volvo's guiding principle of safety." Judging by the fanfare and PR around the 50th anniversary of the three-point seatbelt, perhaps Volvo realised that releasing the technology would help reinforce and build the brand for years to come. How would people have perceived them if they kept the technology to themselves and squandered the opportunity to save so many lives?
This leads us to the question: would they have done the same today? I'd love to think so but fear they wouldn't. The car industry is much more cut-throat today than it was in the early 60s. Volvo has perpetually lagged behind its main German competitors and a breakthrough invention like this could be a brilliant competition killer in the short term. That leaves an uncomfortable question - why, in the economic system we have, would any CEO sanction giving a major patent away?
I would suggest there are three very good reasons. Firstly, trust in big corporations is at an all time low and a gesture like Volvo's could go some way to restoring confidence - after all, I can think of few more trusted brands than Volvo. Secondly, there is long term brand and ultimately bottom line benefit to be had - especially in today's world of social media and marketing campaigns that can go viral. Finally, as the backlash against short-termism and bonus cultures in big corporations continue, managers are likely to be given longer term targets. Decisions like this, which forfeit short term gain for longer term benefit, will work greatly in favour of managers willing to make them - wider societal benefit will increasingly become part of remuneration.
Those who work in sustainability and related fields are prone to fret about language. A lot. In many ways they are right to do so. It is certainly true that the variety of terms in use to describe conducting business responsibly can be baffling to the uninitiated. "What does Sustainability really mean?" we ask ourselves. What does it mean to the (wo)man in the street? What is the difference between corporate responsibility and sustainable development? Is natural capital the same as biodiversity? If I say "responsible business" in my report will shareholders understand?
Whilst I agree that it might be more convenient if every organisation used the same, neat all-encapsulating term, I don't think it's realistic, nor may it be desirable for three main reasons. Let me explain.
Firstly, we need to accept that the field of sustainability is still young (relatively-speaking) and developing fast. Social media is changing perceptions and accelerating discussions. Isn't it only natural that the language should evolve alongside the ideas? There is nothing wrong with that, and the range of terms used by the organisations in Sustainly's survey is evidence that society is trying on the available words for size. Perhaps in five years time 90% of companies will revert to using "Sustainability" – or perhaps it will be an entirely new term yet to be coined. My point is- does it matter, since the language is necessarily a dynamic system? Shouldn't we embrace it as part of the debate?
Secondly, I feel that the diversity of terms available allows organisations to pick the word that best describes their approach- and in so doing, they tell the reader something about them. This is no bad thing- after all, homogeneity is rather dull and undoubtedly the best sustainability programmes are customised to the organisation rather than copied from a textbook. Assuming one common term works across all organisations assumes they are speaking to an identical set of stakeholders- which is of course not true. Since arguably the company is best placed to decide what resonates with their customers, shareholders and interested parties, isn't it positive that they can pick how to frame their sustainability efforts? Of course, you might say that the diversity of terms make comparison difficult, but since the majority of benchmarking is carried out by experts very capable of comparing one firm's 'responsible business' efforts with another firm's 'social & environmental capital' programme I hardly think it's worth sweating over.
Lastly, in response to the argument that all this is confusing to Joe Public- I would argue that semantics mean very little. To the public, actions on social and environmental causes are far more meaningful than words. Whilst reporting has its place, I have seen many hours sweated over a report (to the practitioner's frustration) at the expense of the real stuff- and lets be honest, how many of your friends and family debate corporate sustainability reports over breakfast, or have the time or inclination to search for the information online? In fact, I would go further and say that it is crucial for companies communicating with the public on specific sustainability programmes to tailor their message and use language that is relevant to that audience- whether it fits with the latest "buzzword" or not. The recipients of a youth community football programme do not need to know that this is considered part of the supporting organisation's CR efforts- they simply want to know how to sign up.
If the good work is being done, and the benefit is felt by society at large- do semantics really matter all that much?


This is a Disney World "It's My Birthday" button...we're not going on my birthday BUT we are going December 5th-11th!
Ok, I haven't been on here a while, just the same old line! So anyway, my 27th birthday has come and gone. Larry hadn't gotten me anything yet, even though I told him I didn't want anything this year. We had been talking about wanting to go to Disney World again this year. So the Saturday after my birthday, Larry said I have your gift but you have to close your eyes and hold out your hands. So, I said "ok" and closed my eyes and held out my hands. I then felt something kind of heavy in them, so I opened them and it was a "Birnbaum's Guide to Walt Disney World 2010". I loved it, it's our "tradition" to buy one every year since we first went in 2008. He then told me he booked our trip for Disney on Friday and I had no idea! It's our family vacation this year and I'm so excited! We booked our dinner reservations that night too! I was totally surprised! In case you haven't seen my Facebook, I have started a count down and we're at 76 days!
Larry and I recently moved back to my small hometown in Duncan from a busy life in San Antonio. We're really starting to think seriously about expanding our little family! Kind of random, but we love going to Disney World!


Scottish Target Shooting are delighted to announce that after consultation with our members we will be running a First Aid Course in Edinburgh, to make sure clubs have first aid trained individuals to support day to day club activities and club run events.
The Emergency First Aid at Work course provides basic training for people who are required to be emergency first aiders within the workplace. The course syllabus is as specified by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and is fully compliant with The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981.


If you've been following this blog lately, you won't be surprised that I love touring places related to the history of law and criminal justice. Last month, my older daughter and I did a 10-state, 4500-mile road trip. And as we were zooming through Wyoming (at a gloriously legal 80 mph) I was delighted to see a sign advertising the Wyoming Frontier Prison. We exited the freeway in Rawlins so we could take a tour, and I'm so glad we did.
From 1901 until 1981, this was the Wyoming State Penitentiary (a new state pen eventually opened in the same town; that's where Wyoming's felons are now incarcerated). It must have been a miserable place to do time. In the early years, there was no electricity or running water, and our guide said the temperature inside was never more than 20 degrees warmer than the outside temp. Picture that during a Wyoming winter, when the thermometer regularly drops below 0F. Two or even three men would share a single 5 by 7 cell—which at least might have added a bit of body heat.
The state also executed people here. At first they hung them using an interesting—and pretty horrifying—contraption called the Julian gallows. Later they switched to the gas chamber. Which I got to sit in. Yes, some of us have weird vacation thrills.
As you might suspect, many of the prison's inmates had colorful histories. Train robbers, gunslingers, outlaws of all stripes, the desperate and the downtrodden. Women were housed here too. Some inmates escaped or were released, only to end up back behind these walls. Others were murdered by their fellows.
Nowadays it makes for a fascinating tour. As a bonus, we even got to see a couple of the marmots that live in the exercise yard.
Here are some more photos. If you're ever in Rawlins, Wyoming, I recommend a stop.


The New Zealand government's response to the Christchurch earthquake was to assumed greater executive power to help the victims - necessary, in part, due to deficiencies in human rights law the same deficiencies which created a major tragedy at the bottom of the social scale over past 20 yrs.
it was very heartening to see parliament unanimously backing your Government's response to the earthquake – it shows what can be done when there is a will to do so and sound common-sense employed (which our human rights law would have also reflected if the omitted human rights were included and human rights education implemented).
I am traveling to Christchurch on Wednesday, October 27, 2010 (returning November 2), to research your Government's response to the earthquake, specifically with respect to addressing basic human rights and development. I am hoping that the greater executive power assumed by your government can be extended to the rest of the country, for example, cutting through red tape for small business and perhaps 'kick start' domestic demand by increasing benefits above the poverty line. But I will get a clearer picture when in Christchurch.
I consider the need for greater executive power may well, in part, have been necessitated by the omissions in the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 which discriminated against those at the bottom of the social scale and purged the country of 'tall poppies', who would have also helped the former, from all social classes. The result is a timid, very fearful society where mediocrity reins. Consequently I see the government's response to the earthquake as a source of hope for New Zealand – the rebuilding may help many unemployed in the country and an opportunity for your government has arisen as a result of the earthquake which could take New Zealand on a brave new course, perhaps into the unknown for many, whereby we can reestablish an ideas driven entrepreneurial/human rights culture – can the world simply rely on improvements to old ideas i.e. ever more complex computers and cell phones beyond their usefulness to many people, when faced with such massive social problems and increasing internal State conflict (not to mention possible nuclear proliferation) – rather radical ideas are desperately needed in my view. Just as in Christchurch now we need people who 'know what they are doing' rather than political appointments. It is a time when you have to see beyond the surface – life is not always as it seems. If I may quote one of my favorite authors, Erich Fromm (The Fear of Freedom) describing a similar period, it seems, in human history: "In spite of a veneer of optimism and initiative, modern man is overcome by a profound feeling of powerlessness which makes him gaze towards approaching catastrophes as though he were paralyzed". We know about Christchurch and we can see what has happened in Greece and Thailand and what is now happening in Spain, France and elsewhere – we can see the siege mentality of States concerned with possible terrorism – we know about the extremely high levels of world hunger, water shortages and so on. Lets have the same unhesitating courageous response to the earthquake. Humanity has a choice. You know about the ethical approach I advocate to human rights, development and globalizations – lets take a gamble on a better future – it takes courage to confront evil in the world which would like the earthquake take us to the point (but unlike the earthquake after much people damage) of having to change.
As my work shows these omissions (plus the failure of successive governments to fund Section 5(a), human rights education, of the NZ Human Rights Act 1993 which would have alerted people to the above omissions) were primarily responsible for what I describe as a major human rights tragedy at the bottom of the social scale, confirmed by many of the terrible social statistics emerging. I witnessed this tragedy first hand over a period of 20 years and on reflection I am convinced that no witness was meant to survive with their sanity intact and able to articulate what happened. But as you may be aware my book, 'Freedom from our social prisons: the rise of economic, social and cultural rights' (Lexington Books) is now on the United Nations HRBA Portal website, http://hrbaportal.org/?page_id=3180. Like the earthquake States cannot control everything sometimes one just has to have faith in the truth and in people. Those on the bottom rungs of society were also deprived of their basic rights and development (ability to help themselves), as well as many 'tall-poppies', including marginalized academics concerned to seek truth (the father of liberalism John Locke was an academic – there is a strong link between those that uphold intellectual freedom and those independent entrepreneurs following their dreams and seeking their truth. Many of those 'tall poppies' who have not already fled the country can be found in our mental institutions (including some of my middle class friends). The people damage because of ignorance has been huge. The children suffering from high levels of child maltreatment need, when they get older, to understand what was done to their parents.


A press release discusses important features about the products and services that a business offers. In addition to this, it gives a boost to your company's credibility. People are more inclined to trust a product after reading one that talks about its benefits.
What's more, this kind of marketing helps webmasters to add additional content to their sites. This is a great advantage for an online business because it helps spread out the message to a wider range of market. Just like articles, a press release contains the links to the advertiser's website to help people find the site more easily.
Since search engines can pick them out easily, distributing it in the web will help in the business' popularity. Because a press release contains one-way links, it adds up to the credibility of the website.
As an internet marketer, you should definitely explore distributing it. A press release actually costs much less than paying for traditional advertisements. Usually, you only have to pay a few selected websites to distribute your article on your behalf. You can find the best press release distribution services I used before offered by the top companies following the link.
After creating one, consider carefully where you want to distribute them. Always target websites or blogs with content that are relevant to your business. This way, you can be assured that the audience who will read your press release will have a genuine interest on your products or services.
You may e-mail selected webmasters to notify them about your press release. You may also ask for referrals for other webmasters with a relevant concept. This will help you gather your list of appropriate webmasters who can post your press release. Your opt-in email list will also help you in distributing updates for future releases.
How can you make an effective press release? Always remember that it should highlight the benefits of your products or services. People are always interested to know what advantage they can get out of a product. They want to know what's in it for them, why they should try it, why it would make a difference in their lives. Always consider the mindset of your prospective customers and stress on the benefits or advantages.
However, see to it that you can live up to your promises. Don't try to create hype by giving false information to your readers. Remember, once they buy your products and found that it is not all as what is promised in your promotions, you could lose these customers for good.


The draft guidance can be accessed at The Revised Common Rule Compliance Dates and Transition Provision (45 CFR 46.101(l).
The draft guidance document pertains to research conducted or supported by HHS and subject to 45 CFR part 46. It discusses the regulatory implications of institutional decisions to voluntarily transition research studies initiated before January 21, 2019 to the 2018 Requirements (as described in the transition provision). It discusses when and how an institution may transition a study initiated before January 21, 2019 to the 2018 Requirements and describes the regulatory impact that transitioning a study will have on the administration of that study. Depending on when a transition determination is made, it may be necessary, for example, for investigators to revise informed consent forms. The draft document also discusses logistical issues, in the form of Q&As, that pertain to the transition of a study from the pre-2018 Requirements to the 2018 Requirements. It is intended for IRBs, investigators, research administrators and other relevant institutional officials, and funding agencies that may be responsible for review or oversight of human subjects research conducted or supported by HHS, and the general public.
With your Web browser, go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Enter the docket ID number HHS-OPHS-2019-0001 in the "Enter Keyword or ID" field and click on "Search." On the next web page, click "View all documents and comments in this Docket." The list of comments may extend over more than one page, and additional comments can be accessed by clicking the forward or back buttons at the bottom of the page. Note that some comments include attachments that can be opened.
Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Enter the above docket ID number in the "Enter Keyword or ID" field and click on "Search." On the next web page, click on the "Submit a Comment" action and follow the instructions.
Mail/Hand delivery/Courier [For paper, disk, or CD-ROM submissions]: Lauren Hartsmith, J.D., OHRP 1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite 200, Rockville, MD 20852.
Lauren Hartsmith, J.D., OHRP 1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite 200, Rockville, MD 20852, 240-453-6900; e-mail Lauren.Hartsmith@hhs.gov.


San Bernardino County firefighter/paramedic Eric Sherwin oversees the hoist rescue of an injured hiker in shorts, running shoes and a T-shirt on Mount Baldy Wednesday, March 15, on a San Bernardino County Sheriff s Department helicopter flown by Corporal Jon Anderson and Crew Chief Corporal Mike Ells.
The West Valley Search and Rescue team, a volunteer group overseen by San Bernardino County Sheriff s Department Deputy Rich Farrow, takes part in team training on Mount Baldy, aka Mount San Antonio, in December 2016.
Bishop climber/photographer Trevor Anthes, a guide with Sierra Mountaineering International, and mountaineer Lloyd Charton, the 69-year-old founder of Lux Adventures in Dana Point, camp in the best of spirits on the summit of Mt. Baldy, aka Mount San Antonio, about 2 p.m. Friday, March 10. Charton died Saturday, March 11, after reportedly falling off an unsupported shelf of overhanging snow known as a cornice on the Devil s Backbone Trail.
On Friday, March 10, Lloyd Charton and Trevor Anthes were in the best of spirits, snowcamping on the summit of Mt. Baldy.
But tragedy struck the two mountaineers the next day. Charton, the 69-year-old founder of Lux Adventures in Dana Point, died after reportedly falling off a shelf of overhanging snow known as a cornice on the mountain's notorious Devil's Backbone Trail.
Bishop photographer Trevor Anthes, a mountain guide with Sierra Mountaineering International, was rescued by a San Bernardino County Sheriff's helicopter after suffering serious head injuries trying to help his fallen partner.
Charton was the second person to die this winter in separate mountaineering accidents on the knife-edged ridgeline leading to and from the 10,064-foot summit of Mount Baldy, aka Mount San Antonio.
After this year's deaths and at least three on Mt. Baldy last winter, some now wonder if the Devil's Backbone Trail and other upper-elevation routes should be closed by Angeles National Forest officials, at least temporarily.
There hasn't been talk of a closure this winter, on the sheriff's end or from the forest officials, said Sgt. James Mahan with the sheriff's emergency operations division.
"The dangers are very well known," he said.
The trail was closed for five days last year after three people died on Mt. Baldy or nearby Icehouse Saddle and crews rescued 9 others in one day.
This year, Mt. Baldy has been hit with rapidly changing winter mountain conditions including deep snow, avalanche danger, treacherous ice, snow-covered trails, and cornices or overhanging snow off the Devil's Backbone. The nine-mile trail to the summit is currently all snow and ice above the San Antonio Ski Hut.
That makes this a dangerous time to be up there, said San Bernardino County firefighter/paramedic Eric Sherwin, who takes part in rescues on Mt. Baldy.
"We're dealing with an environment where mistakes can have fatal consequences," Sherwin said.
Safely navigating those conditions requires experience and equipment, such as crampons and ice axes.
Yet Charton and Anthes were experienced. Charton, an attorney, had climbed 20,310-foot Denali and 22,838-foot Mt. Aconcagua. Anthes, 42, had just climbed Vinson Massif in Antarctica. He was airlifted to Loma Linda University Medical Center but has since been released from the hospital.
The word on the mountain last Saturday was that Charton fell from a cornice, said Further Your Adventure mountain guide/So Cal Snow Avalanche Center Director Allen Giernet, who was on Mt. Baldy that day.
Torrance resident Yucheng Jia, 26, is believed to have died falling from a cornice Feb. 4. Jia's body was found 1,000 feet below the Devil's Backbone and recovered Feb. 9 by San Bernardino County Sheriff's Deputy Rich Farrow, two West Valley Search and Rescue team members and a sheriff's helicopter crew.
Angeles National Forest spokesman Jamahl Butler said no forest officials were available to comment Friday.
Searches usually happen because people don't have navigation tools and skills and don't realize they're off-trail until it's too late, said Farrow, who coordinates the West Valley Search and Rescue Team.
Mt. Baldy is popular with many unequipped, inexperienced hikers and even endurance runners in shorts, T-shirts and running shoes because they can take two ski resort lifts up and hike a short way to the Devil's Backbone, then ride lifts back down, Giernet said.
Sun, rain and melting snow have left the top layer of Mt. Baldy's snowpack heavy and unstable. Wind has blown snow into cornices on the Devil's Backbone, which in some areas is 12 to 24 inches wide with drops up to 1,500 feet on one side and up to 1,800 feet on the other side.
The snow makes the trail look 12 to 15 feet wide. People are hesitant to stay to one side of the trail because they're scared that's weak snow, Farrow said.
"But that's where the trail actually is," he said.
The estimated average cost for a search and rescue is less than $10,000. San Bernardino County residents needing assistance aren't charged. Other counties are charged if their residents must be rescued, said Sheriff's Department spokeswoman Jodi Miller.
Sherwin noted that the risks involved draw many to explore the mountains. But he urged people to get mountaineering training and experience handling changing conditions.
"The trail you hiked yesterday is not the trail you'll see today. Nor is it the trail you'll see tomorrow," he said.
Note: San Bernardino County residents needing assistance aren't charged. Other counties are charged if their residents need to be rescued.
• Check conditions and weather forecasts before entering the mountains.
• Find trip reports and snow and avalanche conditions through guiding services and So Cal Snow Avalanche Center, socalsnow.org.
• Get basic mountaineering skills instruction. Learn proper use of crampons and ice axes.
• Practice stopping yourself with ice axes before heading to high-risk areas.
• Have alternate plans and route options in case you encounter conditions beyond your skill level or risk acceptance. If you're scared, change plans.
• Never underestimate the potential danger in the mountains.
• Have a rescue plan. Make plans to deal with potential problems.
• Get wilderness medical training. Help may take hours or days after an accident in the backcountry.
• Hire a guide if you're new to an area. Work with someone who can share knowledge about the terrain and reinforce the safety skills.
* Rescues by San Bernardino County Sheriff's and Fire departments, the primary responders. Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department performs backup rescues.
Sources: San Bernardino County Sheriff's Sgt. James Mahan and spokeswoman Jodi Miller; Allen Giernet, founder/lead mountain guide for Further Your Adventure and So Cal Snow Avalanche Center director.


Here at All Things Cake we take a fresh innovative approach to cake making. We love nothing more than to bake the exact cake that was in your mind's eye.
Here's some examples of our work.
Whether it is an 18th birthday cake, a cake for a 50th celebration or any birthday in between, we'll be able to design and bake something special for you.
Our celebration cakes are lovingly created down to the last detail. We take the time to understand what you're looking for and then create exactly that.
Children's birthday and celebration cakes are often an important focus of the party. Especially being sang to before blowing out the candles and making that all important wish!
We make memorable cakes which stand out and will put big smiles on your kid's faces.
Your child's Christening is an important milestone, often cause for a lovely big celebration with family and friends. We've created multi-tiered christening cakes and cupcakes to help people celebrate the occasion.
Sometimes your special occasion will call for something celebratory but not over the top. Cupcakes are the perfect solution.
Our cupcakes are lovingly crafted so that they are a centre piece of your party or event.
There's a reason people say, "the icing on the cake" it's special and an important part of making the cake stand out.
We can do some very inventive things with icing and would class it as one of our specialities.
We take a very consultative approach to your cake needs. We'll be happy to talk through all the options and produce sketches for you to ensure that you get exactly the cake you have in your mind's eye.
Lighting up people's faces with visually stunning and heavenly tasting cakes.
This site was lovingly designed and built by Shoestring Digital.


The living room is among the most used rooms of a home or condo. It's in a approach the mirror of your persona – a mirror that you've the chance to share together with your company from their first go to. Right now, we're a significant component within the creation of a classy lounge: the fashionable design couch .
Utilizing 20 examples in footage, we are going to discover the couch in all its varieties and colours and uncover a number of tips to combine the decor with subtlety and class. There are three key phrases on the subject of sofas : color, fashion and particularly consolation. So scroll down and uncover yours.


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Switzerland, Luxembourg apply for China-led infrastructure bank
China's Finance Minister Lou Jiwei (Reuters / Kim Kyung-Hoo) © Reuters
Despite negative noises from the US, Switzerland and Luxembourg have become the latest European nations to apply to join the Beijing-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), the Chinese Finance Ministry announced.
Earlier in March, the EU's leading economies – the UK, France and Germany –announced plans to participate in the new international financial institution.
China's Finance Ministry released a statement on Friday saying it welcomes the Swiss decision to apply.
Switzerland is to become the bank's founding member later this month if other nation members involved approve its candidacy.
The ministry released a separate statement on March 20, saying Luxembourg also wants to join the China-led project.
READ MORE: France, Germany, Italy to join China-led $50bn infrastructure bank
The AIIB has already gathered together 27 "prospective" founding members, Chinese Finance Minister Lou Jiwei told the local Xinhua news agency.
The application deadline for membership is March 31, with China planning for the AIIB to become operational before the end of 2015.
According to Lou, other nations will still be able to join the AIIB after the deadline expires, but only as common members.
The institution is expected to boast an initial subscribed capital of $50 billion and focus on supporting infrastructure projects across Asia.
Head of the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD), Angel Gurria, praised the European states for their participation in the bank.
READ MORE: Australia ponders 'vote of confidence' on joining China-led bank, Japan on fence
"The fact that some of the European countries are now associating with the project makes me even more convinced that it is going to be run in a very professional, transparent way," Gurria is cited as saying by AFP.
However, US officials have been skeptical, expressing fears that it may undermine the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
US Treasury Secretary, Jacob Lew, stressed Washington has doubts if the China-led bank will be able to "adhere to the kind of high standards that the international financial institutions have developed."
"Will it protect the rights of workers, the environment, will it deal with corruption issues appropriately?" Lew asked.
But the Chinese finance minister gave an assurance that the AIIB will not compete with existing international organizations.
"History revisited, the establishment of regional investment banks including the ADB (Asian Development Bank) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development did not weaken established (institutions), rather they reinforced the multilateral financial organizations and more vigorously pushed forward the global economy," Lou stressed.
According to the minister, China will remain an important member of the World Bank and the ADB, continuing to support their efforts towards global poverty relief and development.
France, Germany, Italy to join China-led $50bn infrastructure bank
Australia ponders 'vote of confidence' on joining China-led bank, Japan on fence

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Our Favourite UK Moorlands To Visit
Did you know that there is more heather moorland in the UK and Ireland than anywhere else in the world? One of our most important habitats, these great expanses of unenclosed, wild uplands play a vital environmental role thanks to an amazing plant called sphagnum and its ability to capture carbon. When growing healthily, this plant powerhouse takes as much carbon out of the atmosphere as all the forests in the UK and France combined.That's one of the reasons why it's so important we protect our moorland areas.
We're firm believers that our understanding and appreciation for our moorlands can be enhanced by visiting them. Already treasured by walkers and wildlife enthusiasts alike, travelling through these landscapes can impart you with a sense of freedom and adventure. They can also leave you at the mercy of the elements! Well worth a visit, it's time to grab your waterproofs and brush up on your navigation skills, as we pick out some of our favourite moorland areas to visit in the UK.
North York Moors, Yorkshire
Spend some time in the North York Moors National Park and you'll quickly realise it's a special place. One of the largest continuous moorland expanses in England, in early summer you'll hear the call of the moorland birds, such as the red grouse, curlew and golden plover, then later, as the summer evenings draw in, the flowering heather turns the moorland into a purple carpet that stretches for mile after mile. What's more, much of the North York Moors is open access land, meaning that you can enjoy miles of this spectacular landscape on foot, without having to follow a defined path or track. Unenclosed and unsurpassed, this incredible place responds sensitively to the changing seasons and has a quiet drama all of its own.
Dartmoor, South Devon
A wonderfully wild and exhilarating place, Dartmoor's 386 sq. miles really does have something for everyone – from cycling, horseback riding, kayaking to wild swimming. However, it's the open, windswept upland moors, characterised by large expanses of grass and heather, peat blanket bogs, valley mires and staggering granite tors, that make this place a particular paradise for hikers. Walking here offers exciting challenges and some of the most dramatic views in England. Rich in history and legend, the moorland landscapes around here have long provided inspiration for some of Britain's best authors, poets and playwrights, from Arthur Conan Doyle to Thomas Hardy and Jane Austen. Parts of Dartmoor are also one of the few places in England you can wild camp, so sleeping out is another option for you to immerse yourself in this unique landscape.
Exmoor, Somerset / Devon
The outstanding beauty, wildness and tranquillity of the moorlands which dominate Exmoor's landscape, are some of the UK's finest. Overlooking the whole of West Somerset, North Devon and the Bristol Channel coast, Exmoor is the protected home to a vast array of species, including majestic red deer and some of the UK's rarest butterflies and bats. A winding network of footpaths mesh the park together, allowing countless opportunities for exploration. One of the best is The Coleridge Way – a long distance route which rambles over moorland and farmland from Lynton to Nether Stowey, following in the footsteps of Britain's Romantic poets. Spend time walking here and it's impossible, like Samuel Taylor Coleridge before you, not to feel inspired.
Forest of Bowland, Lancashire
From its heather-clad moorlands and peat bogs, to the deeply incised wooded valleys and picturesque villages, The Forest of Bowland is an area of richly diverse landscapes, wildlife and heritage with its own distinctive sense of place. Designated as an area of outstanding natural beauty, blanket bog in particular is a Bowland speciality and one of the best places in the world to find this type of habitat. Supporting a range of scarce and unusual wild plant species, in April and May in some areas of the Bowland fells you might see one of the UK's rarest – bog rosemary, which though less aromatic than its cultivated cousins, has beautiful pinky-white bell-shaped flowers.
Bodmin Moor, Cornwall
Set in the rugged heart of Cornwall, this expanse of remote grassland and heather, punctuated by granite outcrops and strewn with boulders, retains a surprising sense of wildness. One the wettest and warmest uplands in Britain (though you might not think so in the snowy depths of winter!) it's also the only place in the world where the rare Cornish Path Moss grows. Legends and ghost stories abound on Bodmin Moor. Dozmary Pool, where many believe King Arthur's sword Excalibur still lurks, is located here. And should you happen to find yourself alone on the moor as dusk is falling, whatever you do, try not to let your mind dwell on the infamous Beast of Bodmin – named as the result of some sixty sightings of a black panther-like big cat with a supposed taste for attacking the local livestock!
Marsden Moor, The Pennines
With over 5000 acres of moorland to explore, Marsden Moor is the perfect place to get away from it all. Deep peat covers most of it, providing the ideal habitat for plants and animals that can cope with heavy rainfall, little shelter and acidic soil. The mixed heather and cotton grass moorland are home to mountain hares which with any luck you may see bounding across the moors in a zigzag pattern. Marsden is also a site of special scientific interest on account of its breeding bird population and is of European importance for some declining upland species. Criss-crossed with footpaths, everything from gentle strolls to challenging full day hikes, there's something here to suit all walking abilities and, more often than not, you'll have it all to yourself.
Northumberland National Park, Northumberland
Northumberland is renowned for its wide-open heather moorland habitat, which covers about 70% of its National Park. The best displays of heather grow on the long sandstone ridge of the Simonside Hills, but other plants, flowers and animals have thrived here too. Ling, the most common heather in the park, carpets large areas, providing food for red grouse - one of the few birds to live in the hills all year round. In August each year, when the moors turn purple in a spectacular display of flowering heather, local beekeepers move their hives to this nectar source and harvest delicious, thick honey. Peat bogs too, whilst admittedly not great to walk on, are vital for the local landscape. And let it be known, Northumberland has some of the best bogs you can find anywhere in Europe.
Kinder Moorland, Peak District
If you're looking for dramatic landscapes look no further than the High Peak Moors; rocky tors, spectacular valleys and cloughs, and miles of wild and remote peat bog – this place has it all. Walk from Edale station up onto the windswept Kinder plateau and it's easy to see why this place is loved and valued by so many for exercise, to witness amazing wildlife, or simply to catch a view. These moorlands also provide an important nesting habitat for a wide range of bird species from the iconic raptors such as hen harrier, merlin and short eared owl, through to wading birds such as curlew and golden plover which in summer enrich the moor with some of nature's most iconic sounds.
Rannoch Moor, Glencoe Highlands
Often referred to as one of the last remaining wildernesses in Europe, Rannoch Moor is a place of extremes and contradictions, and over the centuries it has inspired and awed in equal measure. Providing a suitably contrasting backdrop to the mountains of Glen Coe, this is surely one the UK's most dramatic landscapes. Despite its harsh conditions, this challenging stretch of blanket peat bog, lochans, rivers, heather hillocks and rocky outcrops supports a wealth of plants, insect, bird and animal life, ranging from curlews and grouse to roe and red deer. Its remoteness is striking and traversing it on foot is an unforgettable experience. Alternatively, the famous West Highland Railway line crosses the moorland for 23 miles, offering a unique and accessible perspective on Scotland's signature landscape.
Dava Moor, Moray
If you cross Dava moor on a clear day you will be rewarded with views to the north over the shire counties of Nairn, Inverness, Moray, Ross & Cromarty, and Sutherland whilst to the south the Cromdale Hills and the Cairngorm Mountains dominate the skyline. If you walk the 24-mile Dava Way which links the historic towns of Forres in Moray with Grantown-on-Spey in the Cairngorms National Park, keep an eye out for red deer and red grouse across the moors and black grouse where moorland meets the woodland.
Denbigh Moors, Conwy & Denbighshire
This upland region between Snowdonia and the Clwydian ranges is a surviving part of an immense grouse moor and shooting estate. Whilst the eastern side includes the peaks of Tir Mostyn and Foel Goch, as well as the Alwen and Brenig – the moorland's two major valleys, as you rise over the moorland between Denbigh and Bala you'll find the ghostly ruins of a once lavish mansion - Gwylfa Hiraethog. Built in 1911 it's said to have once been the highest inhabited house in Wales, boasting wider views than any other house in Britain. Just after it was built, former Prime Minister Lloyd George addressed a large crowd from its balcony, presumably with a voice a powerful as the winds that sweep across this remote place. Nowadays the house is a remote and foreboding ruin, which you can visit in conjunction with a drink in Wales' highest pub – The Sportsmans – which is located nearby.
The Garron Plateau, County Antrim
This Area of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI) is the largest area of intact blanket bog in Northern Ireland. Located to the north-east of Ballymena and stretching to Garron Point, where dramatic stepped cliffs fall into the sea, the plateau supports one of the UK's largest populations of the marsh saxifrage – a yellow-flowered perennial plant that can't be found anywhere else in Northern Ireland. If you manage to find it, perhaps you'll also be able to locate the abandoned settlement of Galboly, otherwise known as 'the hidden village', nestled amongst one of the nine glens of Antrim above Garron Point. It's last resident – a monk - died in 2013 and its since been one of the more remote locations used for the ever-popular Game of Thrones.


The time has come – I'm days away from leaving for my first MSF posting. I've decided that I wanted to write a blog while I'm on assignment because I've read so many MSF blog posts over the last year. I've found them to be inspiring and helpful in deciding/preparing to work for MSF.
In Jharkhand in India, malnutrition among children and pregnant women is common. Subashini, an MSF health promoter, explains why she's passionate about being part of the team.


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Please view the following FAQ regarding the IAM National Pension Fund (IAMNPF).
During the airline industry restructuring of the 2000s, most airlines either terminated of froze employee defined-benefit pension plans and replaced them with defined contribution (401k) plans. The move was aimed to slash future financial obligations to current employees and shift the risk and funding of retirement plans from the airlines to their employees.
IAM-represented airline employees, however, fared much better than did other airline employees because of the IAM National Pension Fund (IAMNPF). IAM negotiators were able to replace terminated or frozen pension plans with the IAM National Pension Plan (IAMNPP), most notably at United Airlines and US Airways.
Please visit the www.iamnpf.org for more information and please read the below FAQ.
Links to important IAMNPF pamphlets:
Don't gamble with your retirement.
The Number One Retirement Plan.
Working Today to Ensure Your Retirement Tomorrow.
Information Guide.
Pension Benefits Payment Options.
View the Annual Funding Notice.
Is the IAM National Pension Fund a part of the IAMAW Union?
The IAM National Pension Fund is a separate entity from the IAMAW Union. While the National Pension Plan is funded by contributing employers, it was created for the sole benefit of IAM members who have negotiated the plan into their collective bargaining agreements.
Is participation in the plan limited to IAM members?
No. Companies with participating IAM members can include other collectively bargained and certain non-union or special-class employees in the plan.
Does any portion of union dues go toward this plan?
No. Negotiated employer contributions fund the plan.
How is the plan funded?
The plan is funded through employer contributions and earnings on investments
Why is there a joint Board of Trustees?
The National Pension Plan is a joint labor-management multi-employer pension plan. It is legally required to have representation by both IAM leaders and contributing employers.
What do you mean when you say that benefits are "portable"?
If you are a participant of the National Pension Plan, and you go to work for another employer who also contributes to the National Pension Plan, you continue to accrue benefits under the plan.
How many participants are in the National Pension Plan?
The plan currently covers more than 100,000 active participants.
Can a company of any size join the National Pension Plan?
Yes. The plan covers members from companies of any size, from one member to thousands of members.
How can I get more information about the National Pension Plan?
You can contact the IAM National Pension Fund Office directly to get more information about the plan.
Are there death and disability benefits under the plan?
Yes. If you pass away, your spouse or your beneficiary(ies) may be eligible for death benefits under the terms of the plan. Also, If you become totally and permanently disabled before normal retirement age, you may be entitled to a Disability Pension.
What payment options are available under the plan?
The plan offers a 50%, 75% or 100% spouse pension, lifetime pensions with 60 or 120 certain payments, Social Security option and a partial lump sum option with 60 or 120 certain payments. Benefits are payable for the participant's lifetime. The plan also provides a mandatory cash out payment if the actuarial equivalent benefit is less than $5,000, or a voluntary cash out payment if the actuarial equivalent benefit is less than $10,000.
When was the Fund started?
The Fund was established in 1960.
Who manages the Fund's assets?
The Fund's assets are managed by professional investment managers who follow the investment objectives set by the Fund's investment committee.
Who oversees the Fund's operations?
The joint Board of Trustees is responsible for overseeing the Fund's operations and performance. The Fund Director oversees its day-to-day operations.
What does the Fund do with earnings on investments?
The Fund is a not-for-profit organization. All investment earnings are used to provide benefits to pensioners and beneficiaries, and to cover the cost of running the Fund.
Is the Fund financially sound?
Yes. Unlike many single-employer or company pension plans, the National Pension Plan is well funded and financially sound.
What are some of the advantages of the National Pension Plan compared to a 401(k) plan?
Some advantages of the National Pension Plan are that benefits are guaranteed by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. (PBGC) and are payable for your lifetime. Contributions are made by your employer, not you, and the Fund assumes the full risk for providing benefits. In addition, given the same assumptions in terms of contributions and earnings, the National Pension Plan may provide higher benefits.
If the National Pension Plan is better, why are 401(k) plans so popular?
401(k) plans are popular with employers because they shift the expense and investment risk to employees. They are popular with employees because 1) payroll deductions are made on a before-tax basis (which allows employees to defer paying taxes on the portion they contribute to the plan); 2) they often offer a choice of investment options and 3) account balances are generally accessible either through loans, hardship withdrawals or in-service withdrawals, or at the time an employee leaves the employer.
Can I be in both the National Pension Plan and a 401(k) plan?
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Can I be in the National Pension Plan and contribute to an IRA (Individual Retirement Account)?
Yes. However, you should consult with a tax advisor, as some tax benefits of an IRA are limited if you're also in a pension plan.
Why is the National Pension Plan so valuable?
For four good reasons: 1) contributions are made by the employer and not the employee; 2) since the benefits are guaranteed by the PBGC, there is limited risk to you when you participate in the plan; 3) the benefits are solely for retirement and cannot be used for any other purpose; and 4) benefit amounts are known and are paid for your lifetime.
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featured Inclusion Racism
Justice Impeded: Larry Haiven on why the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission needs to change
By Nova Scotia Advocate - January 8, 2021
2018 Equity Watch rally at the Nova Scotia Human Right Commission offices in Halifax. Photo Robert Devet
KJIPUKTUK (Halifax) – Earlier this week we reported how Equity Watch calls for major structural changes to the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission to deal with the many complaints about its fairness and timeliness that have been raised over the years.
We also published the transcribed remarks by Liane Tessier and Connor Smithers-Mapp. The final speaker at the virtual report launch was Larry Haiven, who summarized some of the report's recommendations. Here are his remarks.
I'm going to continue with some of our criticisms. I'm going to tell you about the Ontario system that has a lot to recommend it, and touch on some of our 25 or so recommendations.
Self-representation
The first thing I want to talk about is self-representation. Complainants are well advised to have legal counsel, even from the start of a complaint at the Human Rights Commission, but they do so at their own expense. Also, at Boards of Inquiry, the Commission's lawyers do not act for them. Boards of Inquiry are more relaxed than the courts, and it's possible for people to represent themselves, but they do follow the rules of courtroom procedure and frequently issues of some legal complexity arise.
A recent case, just last month, is that of Gyasi Symonds, an African Nova Scotian man. He claimed that Halifax police officers treated him over-aggressively and did not act in a similar fashion with white people doing exactly the same thing. Though he was very competent in directing his own case last month, Symonds was not a trained lawyer. And he was faced with a bevy of lawyers representing all of the other parties, including the adjudicator. He himself pointed out that all of those attending the hearing were being paid for their time and services except for him. In those hearings there was a complex argument to be made about systemic discrimination, that required legal training and research. The Commission's legal team could have made that argument more forcefully, but did not. And Symonds could hardly have been expected to do so. You'll see in a moment what we recommend.
The second thing I want to talk about is restorative justice. Our Human Rights Commission is noted for its extensive use of so called restorative justice. This approach emerged from reforms in the criminal carceral regime over the past 30 years. Sounds laudable in theory, but a solution meant to keep relatively powerless and disadvantaged offenders out of jail in the criminal system may not be totally appropriate in a human rights setting, where offenders are often privileged and powerful employers, landlords or business owners. In our report, we go through several complaints about this approach, and recommend that the Commission's use of it is due for a thorough and honest review.
I want to talk about non-disclosure agreements, which are basically gag orders. Of the few complaints finally accepted by the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission close to one third are settled by private agreement among the parties. Respondents, e.g. the perpetrators, usually demand and get a nondisclosure agreement or gag order, wherein complainants promise they will disclose nothing about the terms of the settlement.
If two of the main purposes of a human rights regime are public education and general deterrence, then a gag order renders the settlement route absolutely useless. We need look only at the Harvey Weinstein case in the United States to see the damage that non disclosure agreements can do to the public interest.
Expanding prohibited grounds of discrimination
I also want to talk about expanding prohibited grounds of discrimination. These grounds differ among the Canadian jurisdictions. But there are blatant causes of discrimination that have evaded justice for far too long. And it's been it's been 20 years at least, since there's been a major review of the grounds of discrimination. But here are two of them that I could point to. One is body size. Unless you're also discriminating on the basis of race or sex or religion, body size is excluded. Bullying also, again, unless the bullying is done on some other prohibited ground, is not covered at all and desperately needs review. And we need much more flexibility in the grounds of discrimination that come before the Human Rights Commission.
The Ontario model
Now, I want to talk as briefly as possible, but we do go into it in great detail in our report, about the Ontario model.
Our human rights regime cries out for change. We are fed up. Therefore we're compelled to look to alternative models in Canada. Such an alternative exists in Ontario for 16 years. It's a tripartite system with a clear division among three different agencies, a Human Rights Commission, a tribunal, and human rights legal support center. It was brought in precisely because of the problems similar to those present in Nova Scotia. And we talk in the report about the Pinto report, which I would recommend that people read.
A warning, the tripartite model comes as a package. It works only if all three agencies exist, and if they're properly resourced. You can't take away the Human Rights Commission and just have a direct access tribunal. And you can't just have the tribunal without a legal support center.
So just looking into these three agencies briefly, the the Human Rights Commission in Ontario does not screen complaints of discrimination. It's restricted to policy matters, public education and research. It does have the power to act on its own initiative to bring forward complex issues like systemic discrimination, and racial profiling.
The Human Rights Tribunal is a permanent (entity), as opposed to Nova Scotia where it's ad hoc. It's a permanent direct-access body that processes and hears complaints. Obviously it tries to mediate and get settlements, but there's one big innovation. The Ontario Human Rights Code provides that no complainant is denied access to a so-called day in court of some sort, if that is what they wish. That day in court may be as short as a summary hearing, or it could be a full inquiry.
And finally, the legal support center, which offers legal advice to applicants, and assists them in framing their complaints. It operates separate from the legal aid system, and does not apply means tests.
Some of the recommendations
I just want to move very quickly through some of our recommendations.
We are recommending that Nova Scotia move to a tripartite system similar to that in Ontario, with distinct agencies. (We recommend) that these agencies be properly resourced, that they report directly to the legislature and not to the Minister of Justice. And we go into some lengths to explain why the system now is too politicized. It's the Minister of Justice that accepts a report and it should be given to the legislature as a whole.
We want clear service delivery standards and time limits, including length of investigations, similar to what Connor mentioned.
There should be no non-disclosure agreements except at the wish of the complainant.
We want less reliance on restorative justice, especially where power and resources are tilted towards the perpetrators or respondents. We recommend a move away from passive diversity and inclusion models of remediation toward more activist approaches.
We want the time limits for complainants to the tribunal opened up to three years because of the trauma that Connor mentioned.
We want a citizen's review Board, independent of the Human Rights Commission, which would include representatives of equity seeking groups. And included in its mandate would be monitoring progress on any set of remedial measures, ordered by the tribunal or agreed to by settlement. In other words, Leanne mentioned the fact that her employers, the fire service and HRM, made six promises to the people of Nova Scotia and to her, and we cannot find out what the progress of those are.
And finally, as Connor mentioned and I don't need to go into more detail, (we need) a much more activist approach on the part of the Commission, a Commission that is actually getting out there and not waiting for complaints to come through the door, but actually doing some research based on statistics and investigations.
Tags: #Equity Watch #Human Rights Act #Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission
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Conrad Francis
I have a case pending with the NSHRC. It has moved through the system at a snail's pace. In the initial
proceedings they were reluctant to address the case because of who I was making the case against. I
had to point out very clearly that my case fell within their mandated jurisdiction. I had to hire a lawyer
at great expense to formalize and initiate my case before the commission. Although, I could have easily
done the same thing but rather have some legal perspective to my case. They tried to dance around my
case BUT had no choice but to accept it. PS: They realized I knew the procedure(s) from my previous work
(internship) with the agency.
I applaud the new initiatives and fully understand the frustration many face when dealing with issues of importance
in their lives.


Please join us for our annual event to spruce up the grounds of Colonial Hills Elementary School and make the ravine an open and safe place for our students to explore and learn! Volunteers are needed to weed, mulch, remove invasive species and plant trees. Come for as little or as long as you can, ALL family members are welcome.
* Please bring tools if you can (trowels, loppers, hand shears, wheel barrows, dirt rakes).


The following list includes terms, notions and concepts that shape my thinking, hence are relevant for my research. This list should be understood as evolutionary in the sense that it is continuously growing and revised. I attempt to include definitions and key (seminar) sources for the concepts. I like to share this list, because it might be also a valuable collection for colleagues.


Inside the gleaming pyramid on the beach - a tiny space, barely a brick womb with a sandy floor - I couldn't see my own hand in the total darkness.
That is, until a man dressed in white entered with the furious orange glow of volcanic rocks so hot they seemed as if they might return to their liquid state - and dropped them inches from my spot.
Maybe I should have chosen the massage instead.
Here along the Yucatan's Caribbean coast, among the descendents of the Maya and a few miles from some of the culture's most spectacular structures, ancient traditions have as much influence on the spas and the treatments they offer as they did on traditional Mayan life itself.
And unlike in most spas in the Caribbean (so generic they could be nearly anywhere), there's a sense of place in most spas here, many of them incorporating pre-Hispanic steam bath, holistic ritual, Mayan craftsmanship and indigenous plants, for medicinal properties as well as sacred tradition.
The question becomes, then, is it possible to gain greater cultural awareness - and relaxed muscles and better skin - in a setting known more for pedicures and exfoliation? Some may get a sense of a place through cuisine and music. I hoped to get to know the Riviera Maya through its spas.
Sitting in a sweat lodge may seem akin to watching paint dry to some, but the temazcal ceremony is far from passive. The word comes from the Nahuatl language, but is used here more often than the Mayan equivalent: tuj. Although details may vary, the ritual is usually performed in a mud or stone structure with heated lava rocks at the center. Herb-infused water douses the rocks to add steam, and the trained healer (known as a temazcalera) leads chants and determines when to add more hot rocks.
The temazcal at Maroma's Kinan Spa is a bright white pyramid with stone designs to represent the four compass directions. My group, led by temazcalera Teresa, entered the structure wearing our bathing suits. An hour later, we emerged to be swathed in plush towels before sipping tea and relaxing at the water's edge.
Although the temazcal is a great antidote for travel tension, there are other Kinan Spa treatments to sample in the 7,000-square-foot space that's like an outdoor living room. Pick a body treatment that incorporates local herbs (rue, chamomile, rosemary, basil and lemon grass) and honey; slather yourself in Mayan clay and flowers before hitting the steam room; or lounge under a tree and meditate.
Throughout the spa, the open-air rooms let in sunbeams, sea breezes and sounds of the nearby jungle. Each building was constructed by a family of Mayan stonemasons and aligned to the stars to ensure a positive energy flow. Maybe that's what I felt pulling me back when it was time to leave.
The benefit of a spa trip in the Riviera Maya is the wealth of opportunities. Leave one, and five more are ready to show you a relaxing time. When I thought I'd found the best mix of Mexican and Mayan cultures, I visited another spa that blended it all differently.
When I entered Esencia's Aroma Spa, tucked into a quiet corner of the estate, I passed through a cloud of copal incense wafting from a terra-cotta bowl. A tree resin much like frankincense and myrrh, copal nuggets look like amber. The Maya have used it for a variety of secular and religious purposes, and in my travels here, I've come to expect the crisp scent on a daily basis.
The spa sits under a colossal thatched roof, and aside from the open-air treatment rooms and domed steam rooms, my favorite spot is where containers of herbs are kept - next to a drying rack with tufts of greenery. I immediately wanted to know more about their ancient herbal secrets.
"We often go to the jungle to learn from Doña Bena Tun, a local wise woman," said Veronica Vergara, the spa director. "When we go to places with her, gather the clay and collect plants with our own hands, it's a deeper experience that we can bring to our practice."
Especially true to the regional culture is the Baaxal ritual, which employs the technique of sobada - incorporating stretching with a vigorous deep-tissue massage. Considered much like massages given to Mayan messengers, it's still used in the region's rural areas for people who regularly engage in strenuous labor. If you believe that sitting on an airplane for hours qualifies you, nobody will scoff at your reasoning.
Doña Bena also visits Esencia, to lend her skill in keeping indigenous traditions alive at the resort. If she had anything to do with the creamy guacamole or tangy lime soup I enjoyed while dining poolside, I wish she'd visit my home as well.
Aside from seeing the nearby ruins at Tulum or Coba, it's difficult to imagine how the ancient Maya lived among nature when nearly everywhere you look, there's a hotel full of amenities to make the modern traveler's life cushy. While the Hacienda Tres Ríos didn't exactly bring me back to pre-modern times, the resort's location within a nature preserve helped me lose the desire to check my e-mail. Instead, I wandered down a forest path to swim in a freshwater cenote where fish nibbled at my toes (not technically a spa treatment).
Originally from the Yucatec Mayan word for sinkhole, dzonot, an estimated 6,000 cenotes have been found in the Yucatan Peninsula. Traditional belief held that they were the entrance to the underworld - Xibalba. At the Hacienda Tres Ríos, visitors can swim in seven of the 10 cenotes on the property. The remaining three are kept in their natural state.
Also sacred to local culture is the ceiba, a tree with buttress roots and an umbrella-shaped crown that emerges above the forest. Known as ya'ax che to the Maya, the ceiba was believed to connect Xibalba to the terrestrial world and the heavens. The hotel's Ya'ax Che Spa is named after the tree, which fits well with goals to use ancient wisdom and Mayan techniques to restore balance to mind, body and spirit.
The spa's offerings include natural ingredients, such as lime, aloe, cocoa, honey, jasmine, lemon grass and rain forest flowers. A couple's massage takes place on the beach by moonlight. There's also an igloo-shaped temazcal that seems palatial compared to the little pyramid structure at Maroma.
Because I'd already done my sweating for the trip, I opted for the SenseAdventure Experience, billed as a "magical journey through nature." Standing on a narrow path in the nature park, I was fitted with a blindfold and told not to peek or talk. A holistic guide led me along the path, wordlessly presenting me with natural elements.
I smelled rich copal incense, dragged my fingers through a pile of seeds and heard the piercing song of a great-tailed grackle above me. At first, I focused more on identifying each item and guessing what would come next, but I eventually relaxed and enjoyed what was happening in the moment.
Although it can feel like discovering a culture and its ancient past, I wondered if Indiana Jones would have considered it.
Or would he have chosen the massage instead.
Cancun International Airport (CUN) is the gateway airport to the Riviera Maya. Some hotels provide airport transfers, however if you're planning to investigate the area between spa appointments, it's best to rent a car or book a taxi.
Hacienda Tres Ríos, Carretera Cancún-Tulum Km. 54, Tres Ríos; (800) 494-9173; www.haciendatresrios.com. Rates start at $245 per night. All-inclusive sustainable resort in the middle of a 326-acre nature park. The Ya'ax Ché Spa (rates start at $12) offers temazcal, massages, balancing therapies, facials and body treatments, as well as a beauty salon.
Cabanas Copal, (866) 471-3472, www.cabanascopal.com. Funky, jungle feel, with rustic beach cabanas on a bluff above the beach in Tulum (call for address). Rates start at $70-$120, depending on season. The on-site spa is Maya Spa (maya-spa.com). Rates range from $40 for a 30-minute massage to $240 for a 180-minute couples massage. They also have temazcal, Mayan-healing therapies and body wraps.
Freddy's Tequila and Ceviche Bar (at Maroma). Dig your toes in the sand while you feast on fresh ceviche and wash it down with crisp Tequila. The exotic ceviche menu changes daily - not so the list of more than 100 Tequilas. Entrees, $16 to $30.
La Cueva del Chango, Calle 28 at Fifth Avenue, Playa del Carmen; +52 (984) 147-0271; www.lacuevadelchango.com. Set amid a garden, this restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Try the fresh juices and eggs with chaya (a spinach-like plant) for a great start to the day. Entrees, $6 to $13.
Sal y Fuego (at Esencia). Dine near the garden in an open-air palapa on the estate grounds. Fresh fish is the highlight of the menu, especially the Tikin Xic - broiled fish seasoned with achiote and wrapped in a banana leaf. Entrees, $18 to $40.
Riviera Maya Destination Marketing Office, +52 (984) 206-3150; www.rivieramaya.com.
Rates start at $765 per night at this luxurious 65-room hideaway on 25 acres of beach. The Kinan Spa offers temazcal (below), massages, body and facial treatments, a mud bar, beauty salon and yoga classes. Spa rates start at $15. Carretera Cancún-Tulum Km. 51, Solidaridad; (866) 454-9351; www.maromahotel.com.
On one of the best beaches in the area (Xpu-Ha), this estate was once the retreat of an Italian duchess and rooms have either tropical or sea views. Rates start at $499 per night. The Aroma Spa features temazcal, massages, body wraps, facial treatments, healing therapies, a beauty salon, as well as yoga and meditation classes (far right). Spa rates start at $15. Carretera Cancún-Tulum Km. 51, Xpu-Ha; (877) 528-3490; www.hotelesencia.com.


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Dowa Police appeals defiled girl's case
Dowa Police has appealed a case in which first grade magistrate Titus Banda acquitted a 50-year-old Rwandan who allegedly raped a 10 year-old.
Bushiri says not seeking political intervention
Malawi closes in on hefty us deal
According to Dowa Police public relations officer Richard Kaponda, the girl was allegedly raped when she went to Dzaleka Refugee Camp to recharge her mother's phone at Seleman Jonathan's shop.
"The mother of the girl noticed that her daughter had problems walking and doing house chores. After asking her what had happened, she was told of the rape and she reported the case to police," he said.
Kaponda said a medical report confirmed that the girl was raped; hence, the suspect was arrested on December 13 2012.
"On December 31, the matter was in Dowa First Grade Magistrate's Court and the magistrate ruled that the suspect be acquitted on the premises that the defiled girl did not feel any pain during the rape, the victim did not report the matter to her parents and the medical report did not give in-depth evidence to show that the girl was raped.
"As police, we feel that the judgement was unsatisfactory and we have appealed so that the case can be reviewed," said Kaponda.
High Court acting registrar Michael Tembo said they heard of the judgement from the media and have since called for the judgement files for review.
Tembo said the story attracted a lot of public interest which made the court decide to review the judgement.
"The judgement files have already been sent to the High Court for review. After the review, the court will decide to overwrite the first judgement or maintain it based on what it will find. The accused will also be dealt with according to the reviewed judgement," said Tembo.
Malawi Law Society (MLS) chairperson John-Gift Mwakhwawa said the judgement needs to be investigated because if the man slept with the girl without her consent, there was an element of rape.
"A judgement cannot be passed on the question of pain because if the consent to sleep with her was by force, threat or duress, there is an element of rape.
"The issue should be critically looked into in order to clear any misconceptions that may have occurred. To say a person should be acquitted for the said premises is wrong because they are not defensive and
should not mitigate the judgement passed," said Mwakhwawa.
Nomads defeat Red Lions
JB eyes four roads in northern Malawi


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Psychotria madulidii är en måreväxtart som beskrevs av Seymour Hans Sohmer och Aaron Paul Davis. Psychotria madulidii ingår i släktet Psychotria och familjen måreväxter. Inga underarter finns listade i Catalogue of Life.

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madulidii

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Dagon and The Deep Ones In The Movies
H.P. Lovecraft's short story Dagon was published in November, 1919, in issue number one of The Vagrant (Tchoutoye "Dagon (short story)"). The Stuart Gordon directed movie Dagon was released in 2001 (IMDB). The short story by Lovecraft is a marvelously well-constructed, compact examination of one man's escape from captivity, only to find himself descending into a hellish Abyss from which he can never fully escape. Dagon the movie is a visually interesting, but ultimately miserable movie experience about a man who starts on a pleasure cruise and ends up running from various fish-like mutations for ninety minutes. It is my intention to explore to what extent the Stuart Gordon movie titled Dagon draws from the Lovecraft story of the same name, and compare and contrast the artistic merits of the story versus the movie "version." In this exploration I will utilize the opinions of respected movie reviewers, literary critics, and Lovecraft scholars.
Dagon, a fish God of either Philistine or Babylonian origin ("Dagon the Fish-God"), makes only a very brief appearance in both the story and the movie. In the story, one sentence is devoted to describing Dagon: "Vast, Polyphemus-like, and loathsome, it darted like a stupendous monster of nightmares to the monolith, about which it flung its gigantic scaly arms, the while it bowed its hideous head and gave vent to certain measured sounds. I think I went mad then" ("Dagon"). (For purposes of this paper, when I refer to Lovecraft's short story Dagon, I will be referencing the Dagonbytes.com website). In the movie, what we are to assume is Dagon appears only as a huge mass of tentacles that emerges from the bottom of a well to snatch the protagonist's girlfriend.
In the story only the protagonist and Dagon appear, though there is an implication that something is coming for the protagonist at the end: "I hear a noise at the door, as of some immense slippery body lumbering against it" ("Dagon"), but the movie version is teeming with all sorts of fish-like abominations, which most likely are akin to Lovecraft's Deep Ones, whom Lovecraft scholar Maurice Levy describes this way: "The Deep Ones… have kept many aspects of their original humanity (56), and are characterized by what Levy calls a hybridism of humanity and "disparate elements of some creature of antiquity" (56). Mostly, they're just horrific combinations of humanity and aquatic creatures. The movie version does a very credible job in creating a convincing array of tentacled, gilled, fish-eyed humanoids. This is one of the very few ways I would say the movie version has any advantage over the story. I would also opine the creatures who inhabit this movie are more like the teenage fantasies of a special-effects nerd than the inhabitants of Lovecraft's Cthulhu mythos.
However, a movie can sometimes be the victim of its own success. Allow me to put forward examples like The Exorcist or the needlessly mean and excruciatingly "realistic" movies of Todd Solondz, who directed Welcome to the Dollhouse and the ironically titled Happiness. I doubt very few moviegoers ever walked out of any of these productions whistling a happy tune. Dagon is similar to these movies in that it is a miserable viewing experience. It is important to note this is Gordon's intention in making the landscape gray, barren and rainy- and it is this respect that it is most similar to the Lovecraft story, but for the viewer it's just painful. Lovecraft is able to attain far superior results with just the power of his written word, showing that a million dollars of special effects cannot improve on good-old well-wrought imagery and story telling.
Lovecraft's Dagon is a very short story in 22 paragraphs, which succeeds amazingly in taking the reader on the descent into horror and madness of a man who escapes from a prison ship, is washed up upon a foreign land, descends into the Abyss, meets a terrifying creature, then spends his life in a heroin-addicted haze, fearing the return of the beast. All of this takes place in 22 paragraphs, and by paragraph four the protagonist has already washed up upon the hellish island. That's pretty good economy of words. The movie is exactly the opposite. It meanders. There are numerous chases and extraneous encounters with strange beasts that seem more like opportunities to showcase the special effects than moving along the story. One hour into the movie the viewer is still left watching the protagonist being chased around a bleak village by fish-headed mutants, trying to save his girlfriend, but no closer to any kind of landscape or scenario that is similar to the Lovecraft story. Such a drawn-out set up is in stark contrast to the very fast-paced, compact way in which Lovecraft tells the original story.
Another very apparent contrast between the movie and the story is the internal dialogue of the protagonist. In the story the main character is a tortured man, who has been through an experience so traumatizing he can never forget it and move on with his life. He lives now in a nightmare existence where the heroin is either the cause of, or the only escape from, the nightmares. However, even in his darkest moments of horror on the island, he was a curious and all-too human explorer, who felt "a certain thrill of the scientist's or archaeologist's delight" ("Dagon) at being in such a wondrous, if not perfidious land. The experience is so profound, so numinous to him, that he spends the rest of his life trying to put it in some perspective. In the movie the main character is a goof trying hard to be Bruce Campbell, or even Jeffrey Combs. He has no particular concern for the metaphysical implications of stumbling upon a village that worships a centuries-old Philistine fish god. The Lovecraft character knows his mythology. He understands where he has been and why life can never be the same. Even in the deepest moments of horror he realizes the significance of where he is and what he is witnessing. The character from the movie seems oblivious to it all. He is a hollow character.
A descent into the Abyss is a key element of the Lovecraft story, but merely a tangential story line in the movie. The character in the story is descending into Hell, and knows it. He makes allusions to "Stygian deeps" (paragraph 13) and references Dore, who illustrated Dante's The Divine Comedy (paragraph 17), and as he peers into the mound he will soon descend he comments, "Through my terror ran curious reminiscences of Paradise Lost, and Satan's hideous climb through the unfashioned realms of darkness ("Dagon", chapter 12). These are three distinct references to Hell, intentionally referenced by Lovecraft to illustrate the protagonist knows where he is and knows the consequences of being there. It is interesting to note he uses both Christian and Greek allusions to the underworld. In the movie there are some vague references to a defiled Catholic church, and allusions to some sort of undefined cult that worships Dagon, but no real development of the mythological or theological, or even anthropological aspects of Dagon. Once again, the story is able to exceed winningly in just 22 paragraphs in accomplishing what the film cannot do in over ninety minutes of run time.
Setting is a key element of both the film and story, and once again we have rather sharp contrasts in what Lovecraft wrote and what Gordon filmed. The film Dagon, according to The Internet Movie Data Base, was filmed in Spain, whereas Lovecraft scholar Maurice Levy states "With few exceptions, the Lovecraftian Universe is circumscribed in a well-determined region of the United States (35), and "This choice world is New England" (35). However, we know as readers that Dagon is one of these exceptions, in that the castaway describes himself as possibly being swept south of the equator ("Dagon," paragraph 3). But, because it is fair to assume the movie Dagon bears more resemblance to the novella The Shadow of Innsmouth than Dagon, and The Shadows of Innsmouth is set in "the ancient Massachusetts seaport of Innsmouth (Lovecraft 1), we have another disparity between the movie and story versions.
Descent into madness is a theme that the story explores which is left out of the movie. Here we have warring opinions from two Lovecraft scholars. It is Massimo Berruti's opinion that Lovecraft is trying to tell us that "only through the utter negation of rationality, i.e. through insanity, that man attains superior knowledge" (Berruti 11). Marilyn Michaud is not convinced. She states that "For Lovecraft, those fictional protagonists who seek to transcend time by entering or searching the "known universe's utmost rim" (Lovecraft: 427) ultimately face madness and dissolution" (Micahaud "Dream Worlds and Alien Civilizations"). It's an interesting debate. Ultimately it seems that Michaud may have won the point, and may be interpreting Lovecraft more correctly. The protagonist in Dagon derives no benefit from what he witnesses. He is destroyed by it. It does not make him stronger. Psychoanalyst Otto Rank once postulated that those who have nervous breakdowns are fortunate, because if they come out of it they are wiser and stronger. The key is coming out of it, which the character in Dagon never clearly does. Furthermore, since the character seems like one who appreciates all the depths of human experience and is literate in many cultures and philosophies, we would expect him, of all people, to consider his experience some sort of revelatory gift. He clearly does not. He is running from it. He is in horror of it returning to claim him. He does not want any more encounters with the numinous
Although the critical works of S.T Joshi were considered, they are not widely cited here because I find his assertion that a large component in the backdrop of Dagon is the War slightly unconvincing. Of course it's a fact that WWI drastically changed all the writers and philosophers of that era, I don't find a great deal of evidence to suggest anything beyond the original setup that the protagonist is an escaped war prisoner has to do symbolically with the War. However I do find of note his opinion that we find creature such as those who populate Lovecraft's mythos particularly frightening because "we are concerned with a non-human civilization that poses a threat to the dominance of humanity" (Joshi 64). What location can offer more possibility for uncharted races that have existed far longer and far more successfully than humanity, and that at any time could break into our world, or worse, we could be sucked into theirs, than the deep?
The characters in both the movie and story version find only one way to escape the Hell they've stumbled into: suicide. We learn from the narrator of Lovecraft's Dagon that he has decided "I can bear the torture no longer; and shall cast myself from this garret window into the squalid street below ("Dagon" paragraph 1). Similarly, in the movie version, when the main character learns he is to be mated to his mermaid/squidlike half-sister he immolates his gasoline, but is cast into the water and later "saved" by his sister/mate.
Reviews of the movie Dagon were generally tepid, as evidenced by a 56% rating at the movie review and rating site, Rotten Tomatoes. Rob Gonsalves' review is fairly typical, so I shall excerpt it here and comment. He opines that this is one of the weaker of Stuart Gordon's adaptations of H.P. Lovecraft stories. His main objection to the movie is that it's just not a lot of fun, as earlier Gordon film adaptations of Lovecraft stories, like Re-Animator were (Gonsalves "Rotten Tomatoes). He goes on to answer the question as to whether Gordon's movies are faithful the original Lovecraft stories by stating Gordon just takes an original premise and runs with it, which "never fails to piss off Lovecraft die-hards", to which he replies: "deal with it." (Gonsalves). In general, Gonsalves liked this movie, but didn't believe it had similarity to the Lovecraft story. That seemed to be the consensus of most reviewers and Lovecraft fans, though the fans seemed to be a little more angry about it.
In my opinion, I tend to agree with most of the movie-going and reviewing community. This is an alright movie, a little bit of a downer, and has virtually nothing to do with the story I read by Lovecraft, which I enjoyed immensely. I remember enjoying the movie more when I first saw it in the mid 1990's, and it's possible if I hadn't read the story I would still have enjoyed it about that much. I don't believe Gordon has done any great service to Lovecraft's legacy with his films, and when I say that I mean I think he hasn't really shown a lot of reverence or respect for the original intention of the author. H.P. Lovecraft was a damn good writer, and someone who knew his craft and also knew about theology, mythology and anthropology. There is a wealth of all three in the stories I have read so far, and if Gordon respected that, he would have taken more extensive measures to honor Lovecraft's legacy rather than just seeming to capitalize off of it by "borrowing" the title and not being faithful to the content of the stories. Also, the cheap gimmicky tricks like having characters wear Miskatonic sweatshirts is just sort of goofy. In my opinion there's a lot more in the stories that is worthy of being treated as serious movie material and I hope a good version of a movie like The Shadows Over Innsmouth is produced.
To sum, if one were to formulate an opinion about the writer H.P. Lovecraft from viewing the movies rather than formulate an opinion about the movies after reading the stories, that opinion would be based on far less credible sources than Lovecraft deserves. The movies: Re-Animator, From Beyond, Necronomicon, Dagon, The Unnamable are good horror flicks, but not necessarily good representations of the literary works of H.P Lovecraft. In particular, the movie Dagon, while a credible made horror movie, has very little likeness in quality or faithfulness, to the H.P. Lovecraft story.
-Thomas L. Vaultonburg
Labels: Cthulhu, Dagon, HP Lovecraft


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How can we save on groceries?
Last time we had seen how credit cards help us save on groceries. In this article, we would focus on ways other than credit cards. No doubt coupons like big basket coupons from klippd or grofers coupons from klippd does help but in this article let is focus on the offline shopping like big bazaar etc.
So, one of the better ways would be to use gift vouchers which are available at discounts. So for eg, you can get a big bazaar gift voucher easily at 5% discount and in combinations of credit cards, the discounts just gets cumulative.
While klippd would help you search the best gift card option available but we our self would have to do some self research.
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