text:
Historiography of Decolonisation and Ending of The British Empire
The Lost Dominion: The Story of England's Abdication in India
by A. Carthill
London, 1925
This is a book that actually predicted the End of Empire in India written as it was in 1925. Carthill believed that the increasing democratisation and political division back in Britain would inevitably lead to a dismantling of the enlightened despotism that was used to rule in India.
The Crumbling of Empire: The Disintegration of the World Economy
by Moritz Bonn
Bonn was making an economic case for the weakening of empires when he stated there was a process leading to a general 'crumbling of empire'. This was not surprising given that he was writing at the end of the depression hit 1930s where many of the colonies had had a particularly tough time.
The Political Economy of Growth
by Paul Baran
Baran believed that decolonisation was as a result of a change in the structure of international capitalism. He believed that big business no longer needed the old-style colonial structures. These multinational companies saw the old order as a threat to doing deals with new nationalist politicians. They assumed that a rapid transferance of power to a friendly elite was better than destabilising countries and leading them to non-capitalist alternatives.
The End of Empire
by John Strachey
Strachey believed that the British decision to give up the empire was more to do with the shift in political thinking at home. Increasing liberalism could no longer tolerate brutal colonial methods of maintaining control. Britons preferred to spend their money on the new Welfare State than on military subjagation of nationalists across the empire. Besides, Britain had realised that its future was in new partnerships with the developed economies of Europe and North America rather than with colonial commodoties producers.
The Twilight of European Colonialism: A Political Analysis
by Stewart Easton
Easton believed that Britain was just too weak to maintain its empire in the new era of Superpower rivalries. Britain could no longer match the military, economic and ideological power of the USA or the USSR in the post-war period.
Decolonisation: The British, French, Dutch and Belgian Empires, 1919 - 1963
by Henri Grimal
Grimal believed that the primary reason for decolonisation was due to the local populations themselves. Once compliant peoples were prepared to revolt or fight against foreign rule or domination.
Africa: The Politics of Independence
by Immanuel Wallerstein
Walllerstein agrees on the role of local populations but emphasises the role of colonial elites mobilising nationalist sentiment to allow themselves to come to power after the Europeans. He explains how these new leaders often had to forge an 'invented' nationalism to identify with the borders established by the colonial powers.
by Harold Macmillan
Justifying his own role in the process, Macmillan insisted that The British Empire had 'planned obsolescence' built into its structure. The idea was the British had accepted the imperial burden until the colonial subjects were competent enough to manage their own affairs.
The Non-European Foundations of European Imperialism in Studies in the Theory of Imperialism
by R. Robinson
Robinson believed that the role of local actors was also important. However, he believed that the decolonisation process actually made local elites to shift from supporting the colonial authorities to new nationalist parties that were hoping to take power from Britain. Basically, they could see power ebbing and wanted to ensure that their position was maintained in a post-colonial era.
Decline, Revival and Fall of The British Empire
by John Gallagher
Cambridge, 1982
Gallagher felt that the key to the decline and fall of the empire was due to the triangular relationship between Great Power diplomacy, domestic political imperatives and the extent of colonial collaboration. Although his thesis only ran to 1945 and the ending of the Second World War.
European Decolonization, 1918 - 1981
by R. F. Holland
Holland thought that there was a process of mutual 'disimperialism' as both the core and the periphery reacted to one another's change in tone and circumstances. New interests and needs for both parties led to the obsolescence of the old collaborative working relationships. Europeans were becoming more concerned at sustaining a welfare state and a bulwark against Communism whilst colonial elites threw up leaders who sought new international opportunities or protections. Therefore he saw decolonisation as a process of voluntary disengagement from both sides but for different reasons.
Britain and Decolonisation: The Retreat from Empire in the Post-War World
by John Darwin
Darwin felt that the British had been weakened by WW2 which in turn lead to a problematic post-war economic situation and the rising influence of the two new Superpowers. He believed that the British did try and set up a more informal empire through the Commonwealth but ultimately this failed due to the continued economic and political weakness of Britain in the Post-War World. Bascially, the thesis is that the Second World War started a vicious circle in declining influence which Britain struggled to break out of.
by P. J. Cain and A. G. Hopkins
London, 1993 (2 vols)
In Volume 2, Cain and Hopkins pointed out that the British were trying to create an economic empire in order to maintain its international position well after 1945. It was hoped that the Commonwealth might maintain Britain's economic opportunities whilst still attaching the colonies to the 'Free World' during the Cold War. They referred to this as the final stages of 'gentlemanly capitalism' which they believed was a constant motivating factor for British Imperialism as a whole. However, currency and financial imperatives ultimately made this too difficult to implement - although it was still a primary factor when granting terms to colonies upon their independence.
Britain and the Sterling Area: From Devaluation to Convertability in the 1950s
by Catherine Schenk
Shenck emphasises British attempts at converting their empire into an economic empire in the post-war period. In particular she examined the role of Sterling in the 1950s and how its slow demise ultimately laid low Britain's Post-war imperial plans.
Anticolonialism in British Politics: The Left and the End of Empire, 1918-1964
by Stephen Howe
Oxford, 1993
Howe believed that the view of the 'left' and 'progressives' in British politics set the tone for the post-war decolonisation period. He believed that the Left reconciled themselves to the concept of self-determination and so were at ease in allowing colonies to gain their independence. He further believed that the left's ideas on equality regardless of nationality or colour of skin and their ideas on international cooperation made decolonisation more acceptable to them.
Party Politics and Decolonization: The Conservative Party and British Colonial Policy in Tropical Africa, 1951 - 64
by Philip Murphy
Murphy believed that it was the Conservatives who should get most of the credit for the decolonisation process. He thought that they were persuaded that the end of empire was the logical fulfilment of its deeper purpose. He believed that this became particularly clear after the 1959 election. He explored the relationship between businessmen and their interests in Africa and their ties to the Conservative party and attempts by the Conservatives to establish 'friendly' regimes who would allow British commercial relations to continue.
The British Empire in the Middle East, 1945 - 51: Arab Nationalism, the United States and Post-War Imperialism
by William Roger Louis
Wm. Roger Louis believed that Britain's experience of the more informal nature of empire in the Middle East reveals Britain's post-war aims at trying to convert all the empire to a more informal one during a period of economic distress for Britain. He also emphasised Britain's complex relationship with the growing power of the USA and Britain reconciling itself to a weakened position.
Merchant Capital and Economic Decolonization: The United Africa Company 1929-1987
by D. K. Fieldhouse
Oxdord, 1994
Looking at economic imperatives, Fieldhouse analysed the fortunes of the United Africa Company but came to the conclusion that it received few favours from the colonial authorities during the decolonisation process. He believed that it basically had to adapt and change itself to respond to the new commercial and political realities unfolding for the post-colonial economy.
Decolonization in Africa
by John Hargreaves
Hargreaves concentrated on the motivations and actions of the Africans themselves in their decolonisation process. He sees Africans as being the prime drivers but within the context of shifting power balances from the old imperial powers to the Super powers and also the emerging role of the newly created post-war international institutions.
Emergencies and Disorders in the European Empires after 1945
ed by R. F. Holland
This collection of essays challenges the widely held belief that the decolonisation process was a largely peaceful affair. It examines and discusses the wide spread incidences of violence and disobedience in the post war period.
Britain's Declining Empire: The Road to Decolonisation, 1918-1968
by Ronald Hyam
Hyam believed that Britain had already been fundamentally weakened by the commitments to the First World War and the depression years of the 1930s even before the effects of the Second World War. When combined with increasing international criticism from allies and enemies alike, he believed that Britain's inability to retain its empire was due to the imbalance of her capabilities when coupled with her substantial global commitments. Within this context, the Cold War meant that Britain would have to shift its defensive priorities back towards Europe.
British Government Policy and Decolonisation 1945-1963: Scrutinising the Official Mind
by Frank Heinlein
Heinlein beleived that the British were trying to transform and manage the decolonisatin process. He believed that officials wanted to retain influence but under the realisation that Britain's economic power was severely waning. The British also sought to manage more successful transfers that would chart a middle way between the collapse of Belgian authority in the Congo and the grim realities for the French in trying to hold on to Algeria at all costs. He also explains that transferring power was not always straightforward and often led to delays as discussions, systems and suitable partners were identified.
Ends of British Imperialism: The Scramble for Empire, Suez, and Decolonization
by Wm. Roger Louis
Expanding on his earlier work, Wm. Roger Louis explains that the Suez Canal Crisis provided the fulcrum for the decolonisation process. He believed that the British were forced to re-evaluate their power and influence in an era of the Superpower.
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Q: Passing primitive type to WCF RESTful service I've been banging my head against the wall for the past couple of hours, here's what we're trying to do: a method expects a primitive/simple type as the request body. Originally we tried with a boolean, but that didn't work so we tried with string and object. Same thing.
Here's the server-side code
[OperationContract]
[WebInvoke(UriTemplate = "/foo/{foo_id}/bar", Method = "POST", ResponseFormat=WebMessageFormat.JSON)]
string G(string foo_id, string content);

And here's the request in Fiddler:
Header:
User-Agent: Fiddler
Host: localhost
Content-Type: 'application/json',
Content-Length: 19

Body:
"hello_world"

We tried to wrap "hello_world" in a json object, like {"content":"hello_world"} but no luck.
Any thoughts?

A: Works fine for me,  here's my code:
[OperationContract]
[WebInvoke(UriTemplate = "/foo/{foo_id}/bar", Method = "POST", ResponseFormat = WebMessageFormat.Json, RequestFormat = WebMessageFormat.Json)]
public string G(string foo_id, string content)
{
    return content + foo_id;
}

You didn't set the request format (a pain I know :))
Here's my Fiddler request:
User-Agent: Fiddler
Content-Type: application/json
Host: localhost:54287
Content-Length: 7
"Hello"

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Objective assessment of involved surface area in patients with psoriasis
Young Min Yune, Sang Yong Park, Hyun Sook Oh, Dong Jun Kim, Dong Su Yoo, Il-Hwan Kim, Jong Sub Moon, Min Ki Kim, Chil Hwan Oh
Background/aims: Although difficult, it is essential to assess the disease severity of psoriasis objectively. The visual grading method currently used for assessing the involved surface area in patients with psoriasis, which is included on the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) scoring system, is a subjective method. The aim of this study was to establish the reliable objective method, in estimating the involved surface area in patients with psoriasis. Methods: Thirty patients with psoriasis participated in this study. The skin lesions of each patient were estimated using the visual grading method and an image analysis system. Results: The differences between five dermatologists' estimates of the involved surface area obtained from the visual grading method were highly significant (P < 0.05, Kruskal-Wallis test). The comparison between the visual grading method and the image analysis system showed that the involved areas measured by the visual grading method were significantly higher than those from the image analysis (P < 0.05, Wilcoxon signed rank test). Conclusions: The visual grading method was neither objective nor reproducible. On the other hand, the image analysis system can be used as an objective method of measuring the involved surface area of patients with psoriasis. Therefore, the image analysis system can be used as a standard for the assessment of the involved area of patients with psoriasis.
Skin Research and Technology
Published - 2003 Nov 1
Image analysis system
PASI scoring system
Visual grading method
Yune, Y. M., Park, S. Y., Oh, H. S., Kim, D. J., Yoo, D. S., Kim, I-H., ... Oh, C. H. (2003). Objective assessment of involved surface area in patients with psoriasis. Skin Research and Technology, 9(4), 339-342. https://doi.org/10.1034/j.1600-0846.2003.00042.x
Objective assessment of involved surface area in patients with psoriasis. / Yune, Young Min; Park, Sang Yong; Oh, Hyun Sook; Kim, Dong Jun; Yoo, Dong Su; Kim, Il-Hwan; Moon, Jong Sub; Kim, Min Ki; Oh, Chil Hwan.
In: Skin Research and Technology, Vol. 9, No. 4, 01.11.2003, p. 339-342.
Yune, YM, Park, SY, Oh, HS, Kim, DJ, Yoo, DS, Kim, I-H, Moon, JS, Kim, MK & Oh, CH 2003, 'Objective assessment of involved surface area in patients with psoriasis', Skin Research and Technology, vol. 9, no. 4, pp. 339-342. https://doi.org/10.1034/j.1600-0846.2003.00042.x
Yune YM, Park SY, Oh HS, Kim DJ, Yoo DS, Kim I-H et al. Objective assessment of involved surface area in patients with psoriasis. Skin Research and Technology. 2003 Nov 1;9(4):339-342. https://doi.org/10.1034/j.1600-0846.2003.00042.x
Yune, Young Min ; Park, Sang Yong ; Oh, Hyun Sook ; Kim, Dong Jun ; Yoo, Dong Su ; Kim, Il-Hwan ; Moon, Jong Sub ; Kim, Min Ki ; Oh, Chil Hwan. / Objective assessment of involved surface area in patients with psoriasis. In: Skin Research and Technology. 2003 ; Vol. 9, No. 4. pp. 339-342.
@article{17920a4fc31d449b93f62b85dc6930a6,
title = "Objective assessment of involved surface area in patients with psoriasis",
abstract = "Background/aims: Although difficult, it is essential to assess the disease severity of psoriasis objectively. The visual grading method currently used for assessing the involved surface area in patients with psoriasis, which is included on the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) scoring system, is a subjective method. The aim of this study was to establish the reliable objective method, in estimating the involved surface area in patients with psoriasis. Methods: Thirty patients with psoriasis participated in this study. The skin lesions of each patient were estimated using the visual grading method and an image analysis system. Results: The differences between five dermatologists' estimates of the involved surface area obtained from the visual grading method were highly significant (P < 0.05, Kruskal-Wallis test). The comparison between the visual grading method and the image analysis system showed that the involved areas measured by the visual grading method were significantly higher than those from the image analysis (P < 0.05, Wilcoxon signed rank test). Conclusions: The visual grading method was neither objective nor reproducible. On the other hand, the image analysis system can be used as an objective method of measuring the involved surface area of patients with psoriasis. Therefore, the image analysis system can be used as a standard for the assessment of the involved area of patients with psoriasis.",
keywords = "Image analysis system, PASI scoring system, Visual grading method",
author = "Yune, {Young Min} and Park, {Sang Yong} and Oh, {Hyun Sook} and Kim, {Dong Jun} and Yoo, {Dong Su} and Il-Hwan Kim and Moon, {Jong Sub} and Kim, {Min Ki} and Oh, {Chil Hwan}",
journal = "Skin Research and Technology",
T1 - Objective assessment of involved surface area in patients with psoriasis
AU - Yune, Young Min
AU - Park, Sang Yong
AU - Oh, Hyun Sook
AU - Kim, Dong Jun
AU - Yoo, Dong Su
AU - Kim, Il-Hwan
AU - Moon, Jong Sub
AU - Kim, Min Ki
AU - Oh, Chil Hwan
N2 - Background/aims: Although difficult, it is essential to assess the disease severity of psoriasis objectively. The visual grading method currently used for assessing the involved surface area in patients with psoriasis, which is included on the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) scoring system, is a subjective method. The aim of this study was to establish the reliable objective method, in estimating the involved surface area in patients with psoriasis. Methods: Thirty patients with psoriasis participated in this study. The skin lesions of each patient were estimated using the visual grading method and an image analysis system. Results: The differences between five dermatologists' estimates of the involved surface area obtained from the visual grading method were highly significant (P < 0.05, Kruskal-Wallis test). The comparison between the visual grading method and the image analysis system showed that the involved areas measured by the visual grading method were significantly higher than those from the image analysis (P < 0.05, Wilcoxon signed rank test). Conclusions: The visual grading method was neither objective nor reproducible. On the other hand, the image analysis system can be used as an objective method of measuring the involved surface area of patients with psoriasis. Therefore, the image analysis system can be used as a standard for the assessment of the involved area of patients with psoriasis.
AB - Background/aims: Although difficult, it is essential to assess the disease severity of psoriasis objectively. The visual grading method currently used for assessing the involved surface area in patients with psoriasis, which is included on the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) scoring system, is a subjective method. The aim of this study was to establish the reliable objective method, in estimating the involved surface area in patients with psoriasis. Methods: Thirty patients with psoriasis participated in this study. The skin lesions of each patient were estimated using the visual grading method and an image analysis system. Results: The differences between five dermatologists' estimates of the involved surface area obtained from the visual grading method were highly significant (P < 0.05, Kruskal-Wallis test). The comparison between the visual grading method and the image analysis system showed that the involved areas measured by the visual grading method were significantly higher than those from the image analysis (P < 0.05, Wilcoxon signed rank test). Conclusions: The visual grading method was neither objective nor reproducible. On the other hand, the image analysis system can be used as an objective method of measuring the involved surface area of patients with psoriasis. Therefore, the image analysis system can be used as a standard for the assessment of the involved area of patients with psoriasis.
KW - Image analysis system
KW - PASI scoring system
KW - Visual grading method
JO - Skin Research and Technology
JF - Skin Research and Technology

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Arrow Video FrightFest 2019: Depraved review
Bluefinch Films
Field surgeon Henry (David Call) suffers from PTSD and he spends his days in his Brooklyn loft making a man out of body parts in a bid to impress his friend Polidori (Joshua Leonard), who is keen on making money from finding cures for battlefield disfigurement. When he manages to bring the man, whom he calls Adam (Alex Breaux), to life Henry attempts to teach him to live like a normal human. The problem is that Adam has flashbacks to things he doesn't remember and as he starts to gain his independence, Henry struggles to control his creation.
Depraved is essentially an updated take on Mary Shelley's iconic Frankenstein but with a modern twist and a few tweaks here and there. Anyone who knows the tale of Frankenstein will be able to guess how the film pans out but that doesn't mean it's not an enjoyable ride to get there. The opening sequence of the film throws you completely when it shows Alex (Owen Campbell) arguing with his girlfriend Lucy (Chloë Levine) about becoming parents after they've had sex. Leaving her apartment, he's fatally stabbed on the street and when the action cuts to Henry's loft, it's made clear that Adam operates from Alex's brain.
Credit: Bluefinch Films
Once you get past that little shock, much of the next hour is taken up with Henry trying to teach Adam how to be a normal adult human. Henry underestimates the curiosity of his new creation, which is peaked when his ex-girlfriend Liz (Ana Kayne) unexpectedly stops by the loft and discovers Adam. Aware of what Henry and Polidori were up to, she takes it all in her stride but her kindness towards Adam gives the creature new feelings that he's not sure how to act on.
Writer/director Larry Fessenden spends a lot of time developing the relationship between Henry and Adam, and that's the most interesting part of the film. It's very much a father-son relationship in many ways but Henry's PTSD makes it difficult for him not to show his anger and frustration when Adam doesn't do exactly what he expects. Henry's pushiness unwittingly unleashes Adam's independence, which kicks off a spiral of escalating situations leading to an inevitable violent climax.
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Thank you for stopping by to check out my port! I'm really interested in fashion, funky or sports shots and trying to achieve unique styles to build on my port.
I'm interested in working TFP/TFCD or paid work at this stage.
If you would like a chance to work together please feel free to contact me.


To launch a lifelong contemplation of the vibration of Beauty and its potential for healing the individual and the community.
To begin to develop the spiritual practices and practical skills to live harmoniously with all of life as it is unfolding.
To nourish those who intend to be a healing presence in the world today.
The Walking the Beauty Way Retreats gather a circle of souls who are intent on bringing more Light into a world that seems to be getting darker. You will be able to pause and refresh your spirit through an in-depth contemplation of the Neter of Beauty. (In SoulCollage®, Neter means energy or presence.) We will explore the Neter of Beauty's potential to restore balance and harmony and to facilitate change in your inner and outer worlds.
Both new and seasoned SoulCollagers are welcome to this time of quiet renewal. You can expect a delicious mix of the hands-on creativity of SoulCollage®, the quietude of meditation, and grounding in some practical skills to carry you forward after the retreat. Surprises, Synchronicities and the Sacred will enliven and enlighten your Soul. Plus you will delight in the joy of shared ritual and soul stories.
At the heart of your retreat is the creation of a work of art, your personal expression of the healing power of the Neter of Beauty in your life. The only thing needed to make this art piece is your trust of the process, your trusty pair of scissors, and some special images. All other materials will be provided.
At the Walking the Beauty Way Retreat you will find support and nurture in a community of ones who, like you, are called to share their heart-lights. Perhaps you'll discover a new sense of hope and possibility about your own power to change your world.
In addition, you will receive a Walking the Beauty Way Toolkit that will be useful after the retreat. The Toolkit will ground you in the practices of SoulCollage® and Meditation. It also includes coaching on the use of Harmony Self-Promises to help you stay focused in your daily life as you continue to bring beauty and harmony into your world.
And for those who wish to go deeper after the retreat, there will be the option of joining the Walking the Beauty Way Practice Circle. There you will have an opportunity to give and receive support from the Walking the Beauty Way community and receive coaching on how to master the skills and practices provided in the Walking the Beauty Way Toolkit.
In the summer of 2016, my thoughts and emotions were headed toward the abyss as I observed the enormity of our world's conflicts and the breakdown of civil discourse in the United States of America, my country. My mind was filled with worry and overcome with dread about the unique difficulties my grandchildren will inherit.
Vowing to keep myself sane and balanced, I resolved to return to my familiar contemplation of the Nature of Beauty. Putting my attention on Beauty has been a primary practice since childhood. When I do, everything changes.
At a young age, I knew that Beauty is a human need. Beauty is a tonic. Beauty is good for what ails you. As a young adult, during many years of working among the desperately poor, I witnessed the power of Beauty to heal broken dreams. I learned that Beauty is an elixir for the body, mind and spirit.
So that summer of 2016, noticing that others around me were also struggling with the same concerns, I was inspired to create and teach a year-long course called Walking the Beauty Way. Beginning in January 2017, my students and I created a circle where we committed to an in-depth exploration of the Neter of Beauty. Because Walking the Beauty Way is all about creating more harmony in our lives, we practiced meditation, SoulCollage®, and action planning.
The year-long course and now, the Walking the Beauty Way Retreat, are the culmination of lessons learned over four decades from many wise teachers. I have incorporated those wisdom teachings about what is required to climb out of the shadowy abyss and remain calm—practical lessons about keeping one's balance in difficult circumstances.
Today, more than ever, there is a great need for more harmony and civility, inside of us and among us. We humans need to cultivate resilience and the inner resources to meet the painful challenges we encounter in life. We need supportive communities to help us get through hard times, to share our experiences, and celebrate our changes. We need rituals and practices to make meaning of it all.
Nearing my 70's, I join a growing flotilla of LightBearers carrying hope and possibility to struggling souls. I feel called to offer the teachings of Walking the Beauty Way as my small part in response to those needs. I am committed to support those Healers willing to bring the vibration of Beauty into the world.
I invite you to join me by coming to the retreat or by sharing its message with friends.
WHAT IS THE BEAUTY WAY?
The "Beauty Way" is derived from ancient indigenous wisdom that a life without Beauty is soul-crushing and toxic for the mind and body.
To Walk the Beauty Way means to live harmoniously with all of Life—with our own self, with our loved ones and with our communities. Clearly, a task that requires much awareness, community support, spiritual practice, ritual and ceremony!
The Walking the Beauty Way Retreat is an invitation to begin a lifelong contemplation of the essence of the Neter of Beauty.
It promises to begin a dialogue on what it would mean for you to live in harmony with all of Life—with your own self, with your loved ones, and with your communities.
It promises you practical tools and practices so you are grounded as you live in harmony with all of Life.
It asks you to consider how you would walk the Beauty Way when you return to your daily life.
"Walking the Beauty Way course provides both a deeply spiritual approach to lifestyle change as well as specific "how-to's" for daily life. Marti's skills as a facilitator/mentor are firmly grounded in her own spiritual discipline. Her preparation and presentation always includes thorough background information, a creative assortment of tools and materials, along with the flexibility and willingness to tailor the class to specific needs as they arise—a winning combination! I know I will continue to use the practices I learned as I move forward in life."
"Walking the Beauty Way has shifted the way I am experiencing my own life journey. As someone who's always struggled to balance the many areas of my life, I find this level of SoulCollage® work pulls a lot of my pieces together. The Walking the Beauty Way course has helped me thread together where I've been, where I am now, and envision where I'd like to be going. The work has shifted my perspective, effectively shifting my reality."
In October 2007, Marti was fortunate to train as a Facilitator with Seena B. Frost, the birth-mother of SoulCollage®. She has served the SoulCollage® community as Associate Editor of the Neter Letter and contributed to several writing projects including the e-book, "Seena Frost Answers Questions About SoulCollage®." In 2011, she served with Anne Marie Bennett as Co-chair of the SoulCollage® Facilitators Conference where she introduced the Circle Way practice as a facilitating tool. Marti and her Illinois peer circle support JoAnn Flynn, a Connecticut, USA Facilitator who ministers to women in prison. Marti also serves as Mentor/Coach to other Facilitators who wish to start their own peer circle or who want to use Circle Way practices as a container for their teaching.
Marti brings over four decades of experience equipping hundreds of people of all ages and backgrounds to claim the inner and outer resources needed to be happy in work and love. She gracefully blends creativity, spirituality and practicality in all she does. Marti facilitates her SoulCollage® work in the sanctuary of circle where each person has the spaciousness to listen to and express their inner wisdom in the presence of respectful community. Marti's greatest joy is encouraging others to know, do and be more of who they truly are, their SoulEssence. That is what makes for a more beautiful world!
Lori Harris is an artist, butterfly farmer, and teacher who finds peace and guidance in nature. She raises and releases thousands of native butterflies with her community every summer. Lori's artwork and community work inspire others to appreciate and care for the beauty in their own backyards.
In 2015 Lori was introduced to SoulCollage® in Marti Beddoe's Circle at the Westmont People's Resource Center, and has studied with her ever since. She finds the process of working with images quiets all the distracting noises, internal and external, allowing a more authentic narrative or story to emerge from the card itself. Lori often redraws her SoulCollage®cards in pastel when she feels they have more to teach her.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: please complete the Contact Form and Marti will be in touch as soon as she is able.


In October 2017, I started working with a group of 19 youth at the Boys and Girls Club of Central Minnesota (Eastside Club). We took on the ambitious effort to create 4 large scale (4x5') canvases that would be installed in the Eastside Club cafeteria.
Skill-building is an important aspect of the the Youth Arts Initiative at the BGCMN, as part of a research grant with the Wallace Foundation. For this project, the skills of color mixing, drawing (faces), and painting accompanied the complex intellectual aspects of art making: reflection, editing, and team work.


text:
Argentine airline flies on rented planes
Argentina's largest airline on Tuesday said it is renting aircraft from other companies to resume part of its operations idled by a six-day-long strike by pilots and mechanics.
Aerolineas Argentinas also said 100 more strikers were fired, bringing to 337 the number of workers who have lost their jobs since the strike over salaries started.
According to spokesman Julio Scaramella the work stoppage has cost the company US$8.5 million in lost income after being forced to cancel 258 domestic and international flights.
Scaramella said nearly 50,000 passengers have been affected.
"The company is renting airplanes from other companies in order to fulfill our obligations with those who have bought tickets," he said.
On Monday, strikers blocked the access to Buenos Aires' Ezeiza airport for several hours, forcing passengers of other airlines to haul their luggage several blocks to reach the airport.
Strikers are demanding a 35 percent salary raise and Aerolineas Argentinas has offered a 5 percent increase, the AP reports.
V.Y.


text:
Humans Are Terrible At Taking Back Control From Autonomous Cars
What happens when you're not paying attention and suddenly have to take control of the wheel in an emergency? Nothing good.
[Photo: Angelo Merendino/AFP/Getty Images]
By Charlie Sorrel 3 minute Read
One of the big safeguards for autonomous cars is a human backup driver. In most self-driving car trials, a human sits behind the wheel, ready to take back control if the car freaks out and doesn't know what to do. But in practice, things don't quite work out like that. Humans, says a new study from Stanford, are terrible at handling the sudden context change required to take over in an instant.
"Many people have been doing research on paying attention and situation awareness. That's very important," lead author Holly Russell told the Stanford University News. "But, in addition, there is this physical change and we need to acknowledge that people's performance might not be at its peak if they haven't actively been participating in the driving."
Holly Russell, former graduate student in the Dynamic Design Lab, is lead author of a new study on the handover of control from an autonomous car to a human driver. She is shown in Stanford's X1 experimental vehicle. [Photo: Steve Castillo]
Russell, of Stanford's Dynamic Design Lab, sent participants around a 15-second course in Stanford's autonomous test vehicle. They drove a loop, then let the car drive a loop, four times in total. Then the test began, and the drivers drove the course 10 more times, only when they took back control, the steering had been modified to simulate changes in sensitivity that occur at different speeds. For instance, you might haul the wheel around to make a small change while parking, but if you try that at highways speeds you'll end up flipping onto the grass verge.
Drivers were warned before each change, but even then they had trouble readjusting. It took a few moments of wobbling to get accustomed with the new steering sensitivity. "Even knowing about the change, being able to make a plan and do some explicit motor planning for how to compensate," said co-author Lane Harbott, "you still saw a very different steering behavior and compromised performance."
If you ever took the wheel for a moment while in the passenger seat, you'll know how odd it is to suddenly be thrown into a new context while trying to drive. The big catch here is that an autonomous car is most likely to hand back control in an emergency situation, which is precisely when you don't have a spare few moments to dither.
And this was just steering. In a real car on a real road, there are many more variables that would need to be assessed on takeover. Also remember that this was a controlled test, with the human drivers paying attention the whole time. Out on the real streets, human drivers already ignore the road ahead while they're in charge of a vehicle, preferring to send a text or otherwise endanger the life of everyone around them. What will happen when the car drives itself? Do we really think that requiring a car to hand back control to a human driver in an emergency will work out well? What if the "driver" is pouring a coffee, or totally engrossed in reading a book? In the cases, even a confused car will do better than a surprised and panicked human.
It's likely that human takeover will still be a requirement, if only because the alternative–full autonomous control with no backup–seems so scary. But while self-driving cars will get better and better as they log more miles, the handover will always be jeopardized by one weak element: the human driver. It's impossible to predict what a person will do when tossed into the middle of a potential crash situation, but if we continue to insist on believing that people are capable of driving safely, we will have a lot of work to do.
"If someone is designing a method for automated vehicle handover, there will need to be detailed research on that specific method," says Harbott. "This study is tip of an iceberg."
Previously found writing at Wired.com, Cult of Mac and Straight No filter.
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If any hoteliers have logged on to their Facebook Business page today you'll have noticed a new addition on top of the main header image.
Hoteliers can now add a Book Now Button to their site whilst other retailers can drive traffic directly to their online stores or whatever conversion landing page they wish in fact.
As always it is about Reducing Friction and if that means simplifying the journey from Facebook to your booking page then we would say that's a pretty decent move and it will only takes a few minutes to achieve but do remember not to link back to your homepage - it says Book Now so take the visitor to where they expect to be taken!
We've created one of our Tourism Matters Briefings to guide you through and make sure you link to the right place.
How Much Social Media Do I Need?
For as long as we can remember we have been discussing the merits of increasing distribution of content through as many channels as possible.
Of course every business can control their own channels and what information goes through those channels - websites, blogs, Facebook and Twitter, photo sharing sites, video channels and even online travel agents - but what is unclear is where that information then goes. The whole reason for uploading content into the cloud is to try to get it shared as widely as possible. Put it up and let it go.
This requires a distribution strategy and a positive content creation strategy and it is clear that individual businesses can never reach all distribution channels with a single message nor hit all niche markets with a standard line of promotion.
A successful content distribution strategy therefore requires others to start talking about you. The more chatter there is out there the more chance you have of being found by the customer you had never even thought existed. Keep your distribution to normal channels and you by definition narrow your target market and will keep fishing in the same pool with an ever diminishing number of fish to catch.
It is therefore our belief that nurturing partnerships who wish to talk about your product positively is the best PR possible, of course you don't control the message but if that partner is a trusted one then the benefits are always likely to outweigh the benefits.
If that is accepted then you can never have enough positive distribution channels across multiple media. Your product may be doing well but it requires new markets to replace old in an ever changing marketplace and not looking beyond the present distribution may be seen as being very ricky. Make sure therefore that you develop these third party relationships, that you provide the resource that they need and encourage their positive PR whenever and wherever possible. It is the lowest cost of marketing available and third party non aligned recommendations are often the most effective in terms of return on investment.
Share Press Releases. Make images copyright free and accessible online. Share video. Offer incentives. They all will help build third party content distribution and increase your exposure.
Set up costs for social media may be small but the investment you need to make to ensure its effectiveness is time. And time is expensive. If someone else is doing this for you and indeed with you, that reduces risk and increases potentials reach. Win win scenario.
Search is a moveable feast and changes in logarithms has the potential to wipe out some of your best and most effective channels overnight. By increasing the routes to market you again by default reduce the risk of exposure to negative change.
So in short, can you ever have too many social media and content distribution channels?


A commitment to provide a market leading standard of customer service to every Autoclimate customer sits at the heart of the company. Autoclimate's customer service advisors are a highly skilled team that handle over 2,500 parts estimates every week – identifying the correct parts first time using the latest manufacturer parts software. The ordering process is kept as simple as possible; simply provide the vehicle registration number and a list of the parts required and our customer services team will do the rest. Over 1,000 UK accident repairers can testify to Autoclimate's accuracy and high levels of customer service.
By being allocated their own geographical region, Autoclimate's customer service representatives can build strong working relationships with individuals within a customer's business offering support and advice throughout the parts ordering process.
Keeping customers up to date with the latest industry developments and ensuring they have the right equipment for their needs is a key goal for Autoclimate. To ensure high quality service we have a dedicated department trained in capital equipment, new products and our best selling consumables.
The team are allocated to a geographical region and follow set call patterns to our customers, contacting every one at least once in any 12 week period. Autoclimate are always introducing new and innovative products and our advisors are happy to discuss not only our customer's immediate requirements but also advise on changes that may affect them in the future.
Each sales advisor and business manager has a wide range of experience and depth of knowledge. Customers are able to benefit from clear guidance and technical advice in product selection, fast quotations and a professional, personal service from start to finish.
Autoclimate has a national network of fully qualified field engineers who provide on-site maintenance and repair services for Robinair RMS equipment.
Although the majority of equipment-related issues are resolved remotely, if this is not possible, an engineer visit will be arranged, together with shipment of the most likely replacement parts.
In addition the Autoclimate field engineers carry out annual servicing on RMS equipment according to manufacturer recommended schedules. Regular servicing is important - it is designed to help keep equipment working correctly and delivering best operational performance for maximum investment value.


Do you always choose long braids and now want a change? Or maybe you are looking for a completely new hairstyle? If so, this is the place to be. We have put together 23 of the most beautiful short box braid hairstyles. You will find cute bobs, accessorized braids, updos and more. There are also some cool color ideas too. Any one of these hairstyles will look amazing and with the summer approaching fast, it is the perfect time to try a new, shorter style. So, take a look! You won't be able to choose your favorite as you will love them all!
First up we have this chic braided bob. The hair has been styled into a side part and features simple and trendy box braids in a length that sits just below the chin. These braids are easy to wear and they will suit everyone. You can recreate this look or try using thicker braids, you can try different hair colors too.
If you are starting to get a little bored of your hair then you can try something trendy like this! For this look the hair is styled into chunky braids with triangle partings. The braids are also a beautiful color too. This is a unique and stunning hairstyle that will make you stand out from the crowd. Try a similar style to this or you can try triangle part braids in a natural color. Either way, your hair will look amazing. Down below is the full video tutorial by Kersti Pitre. Make sure to check it out! Hair used: RastAfriBraid.
Just because your braids are short it doesn't mean that you have to miss out on stylish updos. You can create beautiful hairstyles with short braids and here is a great example. These braids have a length that sits just above the shoulders. Half of the braids are loose and half are styled into a high bun. As you can see, the braids look amazing in the bun and a style like this will suit every face shape.
Next, we have a super stylish hair idea to show you. This is a jumbo box braid bob. It is a simple and beautiful hairstyle that will look amazing for any occasion. Recreate this style for an easy to wear bob or you can jazz it up by adding braids in different colors or by adding accessories.
Looking for a bolder hairstyle to try? Then you need to check out this next look. The hair is braided into chunky box braids with funky partings. Some of the braids have electric blue hair weaved into them and one braid is accessorized with a blue cord too. This is a vibrant hairstyle that is perfect for the ladies that want to make a statement. Recreate the beautiful blue look or try a color of your choice.
Bobs can be created in different lengths and thicknesses. A stylish length you should consider trying is chin length. This bob is a beautiful example. The hair is styled into box braids and they end just under the chin. As you can see, this creates a chic and trendy hairstyle. You can recreate the accessorized version or try simple braids without the cord.
You can glam up any braided hairstyle with hair cuffs. Don't just take our word for it, check out this next look. Here we have a braided long bob that has been styled with lots of gold hair cuffs. The accessories are so stylish and make the classic braided bob look unique. You can buy hair cuffs online and you can choose from different colors and styles. Learn how to revamp your long box braids into these short ones with the help of Tommie's YouTube tutorial down below.
The next hairstyle we have to show you is so stylish and beautiful. Here we have a box braid bob where the braids have been swept to one side. By having all the braids styled this way, you get a chic and glam look. A hairstyle like this can be worn for any occasion and it will keep you looking trendy every day.
Another cool way to make your hair stand out from the crowd is by choosing stylish a hair color just like this. This braided style features stunning red box braids and it is finished off with gold accessories. The hair would look fabulous with just the red color but the gold accessories compliment the color perfectly. Red braids like these will suit everyone and you can recreate this shade or go for a lighter or darker tone.
Next, we have a cute and chic bob. For this look, the hair is parted on the side and it is braided into beautiful box braids. The bob is finished off with glam gold hair cords. It is just a super stylish bob that is easy to wear. Recreate this look or add your own accessories to make the bob unique to you.


On the heels of another wild week, today the man who has become legendary for his predictions on QE, historic moves in currencies, and major global events, spoke with King World News about how devastating the coming worldwide financial destruction will be.
Egon von Greyerz continues: "Stocks have been a massive beneficiary of the biggest monetary expansion that the world has ever experienced. If we look at the Dow since the last major economic cycle started in the early 1980s, we find the most remarkable rise. In early 1980, the Dow was at 850 and today we are 18,870. That is a rise of 18,000 Dow points in 36 years. This means that the Dow has gone up by 9% per year on average since 1981. A 9% annual increase means that the index doubles every 8 years. What a great investment. You buy stocks in 1980 for $10,000 and today in 2016 you have $220,000 without having to lift a finger. On top of that there has been a dividend yield of around 2% on average. But this growth in the stock market has not just happened on its own accord. Stocks don't grow at 9% annually for 36 years without some rocket fuel. And the explanation is very simple. Debt has provided the fuel. Because US debt has also grown by 9% annually since 1981. So the recipe for becoming a successful and loved president is just to print and borrow money. There is an absolute correlation between the increase in US debt and the growth in the stock market.
Reagan knew the secret. During his reign, he tripled debt from $900 billion to $2.6 trillion, leading to a tripling of the Dow from 900 to 2,700. And so it continued. Clinton didn't have to print as much money to get the market up but Bush Jr. had to almost double debt and still the market ended lower than when he took over eight years earlier. Obama doubled both debt and the Dow in line with the longer trend.
The problem for Trump is that we are now at the point of diminishing returns and this started with George W already. When Bush Jr. took over, the Dow was 10,800 and now it is 18,800, a 74% increase. But to achieve that 74% rise in the Dow, debt had to go up by 250%. This means that Trump will have to print an awful lot of money to keep the stock market going up. Bearing in mind that the Dow is at record levels with P/E at over 20 and corporate profits falling, this is going to be virtually impossible to achieve. The chances for Trump to be re-elected after four years are very slim due to the present high level of the stock market together with record debt. Much better to become president with a weak economy and weak market like Reagan did.
In 1929 the Dow peaked at 400 and then collapsed to 40 in 1932. This 90% fall occurred at a point when economic conditions in the US and globally were a lot more benign then they are today. Since 1981 the Dow has gone up 22x. With the world experiencing a historical asset and credit bubble of unprecedented proportions, an implosion of debt could easily see the Dow down 90% like in 1929-32, or probably even 95% to get back to the 850 level where this bull market started. This would mean a fall of 95% in real terms. I say real terms because it is not unlikely that we will see the biggest money printing experiment in history with central banks worldwide printing trillions or even quadrillions of dollars in a futile attempt to save the financial system and the world economy. This massive money printing could lead to the Dow reaching much higher levels in nominal or hyperinflationary terms.
The Dow/Gold ratio peaked in 1999 and is now in a downtrend. Once the current correction is finished the ratio will continue down towards the 1:1 level like in 1980 when the Dow was 850 and Gold was $850. The only question is at what level the Dow and gold will be when they reach the 1:1 ratio. Will it be Dow 10,000 and Gold $10,000? Or will we see hyperinflationary levels of 100,000 Dow and $100,000 gold? The absolute level is really irrelevant. Because at whatever level they meet it will involve a catastrophic loss of real capital for a stock market investor.
Finally, the property market has also been fueled by the credit explosion. I meet many wealthy investors who believe that property is the best form of wealth preservation. It is of course true that property has been a fantastic investment for the last 100 years. For hundreds of years before 1913, inflation remained stable at 1-2% per year. It was the same with property values. A house in the early 1700s did not move much in price for 200 years until the early 1900s. But the creation of the Fed lead to credit growth and money printing of exponential proportions in most of the Western world. And this is why property prices have moved up 1,000s of percent in the last 100 years. But to believe that property now represents real value after the biggest rise in history is very dangerous. In the last few years this bubble has additionally been fueled by virtually free money with interest rates at zero or even negative.
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