text:
Ayrshire teacher is crowned world natural bodybuilding champion
Ross Taylor, 30, is now able to compete for money alongside the biggest names in the sport after earning a pro-card.
Eric McGowan
Ross with his trophies and Lisa Wilson of the Fitness Factory (Image: Irvine Herald)
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A PE teacher from Irvine has been crowned a bodybuilding world champion.
Ross Taylor, 30, won the World Natural Bodybuilding Bantamweight title at a glamorous finals event in New York last week.
Now he's able to compete for money alongside the biggest names in the sport after earning a pro-card.
Ross, who won the British lightweight title in October, admits he put his life on hold for six months to prepare for the event.
He juggled married life and an intense fitness and diet programme with his job at St Matthew's Academy in Saltcoats.
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"It was tough but definitely worth it, he said.
"Everyone's been great especially my wife Stacey. The kids at school have given me a bit of a rinsing about my fake tan though!"
Ross insists he'll bide his time before muscling in on the professional circuit and money-spinning events.
He'll worry about that in a years' time as he puts family and work life first again after a crazy 2019.
"The way the pro-card works you have to compete within the next two years if you don't want to lose it," said Ross who teaches PE at St Matthew's Academy in Saltcoats.
Ross works out with trainer Lisa Wilson (Image: Irvine Herald)
"I'll be taking 2020 off and then going again in 2021.
"It's been a really tough six months, not just for me but my wife Stacey.
"It's been six days a week in the gym, and 28 weeks of dieting with no cheat meals to get ready.
"There were moments I wanted to jack it all in but Stacey kept me going.
"She's been really understanding about everything I've had to do to prepare myself.
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"We actually met at the gym so she knows the mentality you need to adopt .
"She couldn't be with me in New York but there were tears shed from both us when I won.
"I still don't think it's actually sunk in yet but I'm over the moon."
Ross also admits he owes a massive deal of gratitude to the coaches at Irvine's Fitness Factory – where he trains – who helped get him in tip-top condition.
"David Jackson and John Montgomery have been coaching me since I was a teenager and the time and effort they've put into me has been unbelievable, he added. "Without their help and dedication I wouldn't have been able to come this far."
Ross is ready to take a well earned break (Image: Irvine Herald)
Ross' fascination with fitness began when he was 15 but he really started taking it seriously when he turned 21.
Four years later he was crowned Scottish champion but he then took the decision to take some time away from the sport.
Last year, he decided to pour his heart and soul back into it, juggling his preparations with married life and his teaching job.
Ross went on: "Everyone at the school was brilliant and very supportive of me.
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"I basically have to eat constantly when I'm training and the school staff always made sure I had first dibs at the microwave at break and lunchtimes.
"When I got back from New York the headteacher made a wee announcement over the tannoy which was really nice.
"The pupils have been great with me too.
"I've been getting the Shannon Briggs chant 'Let's go Champ' quite a bit which has been funny."
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"Varicella" redirects here. For other uses, see Varicella (disambiguation).
Not to be confused with Fowlpox or Smallpox.
Chickenpox is an airborne disease which spreads easily through the coughs and sneezes of an infected person. It may be spread from one to two days before the rash appears until all lesions have crusted over. It may also spread through contact with the blisters. Those with shingles may spread chickenpox to those who are not immune through contact with the blisters. The disease can usually be diagnosed based on the presenting symptom; however, in unusual cases it may be confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing of the blister fluid or scabs. Testing for antibodies may be done to determine if a person is or is not immune. People usually only get chickenpox once. Although reinfections by the virus occur, these reinfections usually do not cause any symptoms.
Since its introduction in 1995, the varicella vaccine has resulted in a decrease in the number of cases and complications from the disease. It protects about 70 to 90 percent of people from disease with a greater benefit for severe disease. Routine immunization of children is recommended in many countries. Immunization within three days of exposure may improve outcomes in children. Treatment of those infected may include calamine lotion to help with itching, keeping the fingernails short to decrease injury from scratching, and the use of paracetamol (acetaminophen) to help with fevers. For those at increased risk of complications, antiviral medication such as aciclovir are recommended.
Chickenpox occurs in all parts of the world. In 2013 there were 140 million cases of chickenpox and herpes zoster worldwide. Before routine immunization the number of cases occurring each year was similar to the number of people born. Since immunization the number of infections in the United States has decreased nearly 90%. In 2015 chickenpox resulted in 6,400 deaths globally – down from 8,900 in 1990. Death occurs in about 1 per 60,000 cases. Chickenpox was not separated from smallpox until the late 19th century. In 1888 its connection to shingles was determined. The first documented use of the term chicken pox was in 1658. Various explanations have been suggested for the use of "chicken" in the name, one being the relative mildness of the disease.
The early (prodromal) symptoms in adolescents and adults are nausea, loss of appetite, aching muscles, and headache. This is followed by the characteristic rash or oral sores, malaise, and a low-grade fever that signal the presence of the disease. Oral manifestations of the disease (enanthem) not uncommonly may precede the external rash (exanthem). In children the illness is not usually preceded by prodromal symptoms, and the first sign is the rash or the spots in the oral cavity. The rash begins as small red dots on the face, scalp, torso, upper arms and legs; progressing over 10–12 hours to small bumps, blisters and pustules; followed by umbilication and the formation of scabs.
At the blister stage, intense itching is usually present. Blisters may also occur on the palms, soles, and genital area. Commonly, visible evidence of the disease develops in the oral cavity and tonsil areas in the form of small ulcers which can be painful or itchy or both; this enanthem (internal rash) can precede the exanthem (external rash) by 1 to 3 days or can be concurrent. These symptoms of chickenpox appear 10 to 21 days after exposure to a contagious person. Adults may have a more widespread rash and longer fever, and they are more likely to experience complications, such as varicella pneumonia.
Chickenpox is rarely fatal, although it is generally more severe in adult men than in women or children. Non-immune pregnant women and those with a suppressed immune system are at highest risk of serious complications. Arterial ischemic stroke (AIS) associated with chickenpox in the previous year accounts for nearly one third of childhood AIS. The most common late complication of chickenpox is shingles (herpes zoster), caused by reactivation of the varicella zoster virus decades after the initial, often childhood, chickenpox infection.
A child with chickenpox on her face.
Infection late in gestation or immediately following birth is referred to as "neonatal varicella". Maternal infection is associated with premature delivery. The risk of the baby developing the disease is greatest following exposure to infection in the period 7 days before delivery and up to 8 days following the birth. The baby may also be exposed to the virus via infectious siblings or other contacts, but this is of less concern if the mother is immune. Newborns who develop symptoms are at a high risk of pneumonia and other serious complications of the disease.
Exposure to VZV in a healthy child initiates the production of host immunoglobulin G (IgG), immunoglobulin M (IgM), and immunoglobulin A (IgA) antibodies; IgG antibodies persist for life and confer immunity. Cell-mediated immune responses are also important in limiting the scope and the duration of primary varicella infection. After primary infection, VZV is hypothesized to spread from mucosal and epidermal lesions to local sensory nerves. VZV then remains latent in the dorsal ganglion cells of the sensory nerves. Reactivation of VZV results in the clinically distinct syndrome of herpes zoster (i.e., shingles), postherpetic neuralgia, and sometimes Ramsay Hunt syndrome type II. Varicella zoster can affect the arteries in the neck and head, producing stroke, either during childhood, or after a latency period of many years.
After a chickenpox infection, the virus remains dormant in the body's nerve tissues. The immune system keeps the virus at bay, but later in life, usually in an adult, it can be reactivated and cause a different form of the viral infection called shingles (also known as herpes zoster). The United States Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) suggests that every adult over the age of 50 years get the herpes zoster vaccine.
Shingles affects one in five adults infected with chickenpox as children, especially those who are immune-suppressed, particularly from cancer, HIV, or other conditions. Stress can bring on shingles as well, although scientists are still researching the connection. Shingles are most commonly found in adults over the age of 60 who were diagnosed with chickenpox when they were under the age of 1.
The diagnosis of chickenpox is primarily based on the signs and symptoms, with typical early symptoms followed by a characteristic rash. Confirmation of the diagnosis is by examination of the fluid within the vesicles of the rash, or by testing blood for evidence of an acute immunologic response.
Vesicular fluid can be examined with a Tzanck smear, or by testing for direct fluorescent antibody. The fluid can also be "cultured", whereby attempts are made to grow the virus from a fluid sample. Blood tests can be used to identify a response to acute infection (IgM) or previous infection and subsequent immunity (IgG).
Prenatal diagnosis of fetal varicella infection can be performed using ultrasound, though a delay of 5 weeks following primary maternal infection is advised. A PCR (DNA) test of the mother's amniotic fluid can also be performed, though the risk of spontaneous abortion due to the amniocentesis procedure is higher than the risk of the baby's developing fetal varicella syndrome.
The spread of chickenpox can be prevented by isolating affected individuals. Contagion is by exposure to respiratory droplets, or direct contact with lesions, within a period lasting from three days before the onset of the rash, to four days after the onset of the rash. The chickenpox virus is susceptible to disinfectants, notably chlorine bleach (i.e., sodium hypochlorite). Like all enveloped viruses, it is sensitive to desiccation, heat and detergents.
The varicella vaccine is recommended in many countries. Some countries require the varicella vaccination or an exemption before entering elementary school. A second dose is recommended five years after the initial immunization. A vaccinated person is likely to have a milder case of chickenpox if they become infected. Immunization within three days following household contact reduces infection rates and severity in children.
It is part of the routine immunization schedule in the US. Some European countries include it as part of universal vaccinations in children, but not all countries provide the vaccine due to its cost. In the UK as of 2014, the vaccine is only recommended in people who are particularly vulnerable to chickenpox. This is to keep the virus in circulation thereby exposing the population to the virus at an early age, when it is less harmful, and to reduce the occurrence of shingles in those who have already had chickenpox by repeated exposure to the virus later in life. In populations that have not been immunized or if immunity is questionable, a clinician may order an enzyme immunoassay. An immunoassay measures the levels of antibodies against the virus that give immunity to a person. If the levels of antibodies are low (low titer) or questionable, reimmunization may be done.
Treatment mainly consists of easing the symptoms. As a protective measure, people are usually required to stay at home while they are infectious to avoid spreading the disease to others. Cutting the nails short or wearing gloves may prevent scratching and minimize the risk of secondary infections.
Although there have been no formal clinical studies evaluating the effectiveness of topical application of calamine lotion (a topical barrier preparation containing zinc oxide, and one of the most commonly used interventions), it has an excellent safety profile. It is important to maintain good hygiene and daily cleaning of skin with warm water to avoid secondary bacterial infection. Scratching may also increase the risk of secondary infection.
Paracetamol (acetaminophen) but not aspirin may be used to reduce fever. Aspirin use by someone with chickenpox may cause the serious, sometimes fatal disease of the liver and brain, Reye syndrome. People at risk of developing severe complications who have had significant exposure to the virus may be given intra-muscular varicella zoster immune globulin (VZIG), a preparation containing high titres of antibodies to varicella zoster virus, to ward off the disease.
If aciclovir by mouth is started within 24 hours of rash onset, it decreases symptoms by one day but has no effect on complication rates. Use of acyclovir therefore is not currently recommended for individuals with normal immune function. Children younger than 12 years old and older than one month are not meant to receive antiviral drugs unless they have another medical condition which puts them at risk of developing complications.
Treatment of chickenpox in children is aimed at symptoms while the immune system deals with the virus. With children younger than 12 years, cutting nails and keeping them clean is an important part of treatment as they are more likely to scratch their blisters more deeply than adults.
Aspirin is highly contraindicated in children younger than 16 years, as it has been related to Reye syndrome.
Infection in otherwise healthy adults tends to be more severe. Treatment with antiviral drugs (e.g. aciclovir or valaciclovir) is generally advised, as long as it is started within 24–48 hours from rash onset. Remedies to ease the symptoms of chickenpox in adults are basically the same as those used for children. Adults are more often prescribed antiviral medication, as it is effective in reducing the severity of the condition and the likelihood of developing complications. Antiviral medicines do not kill the virus but stop it from multiplying. Adults are advised to increase water intake to reduce dehydration and to relieve headaches. Painkillers such as paracetamol (acetaminophen) are recommended, as they are effective in relieving itching and other symptoms such as fever or pains. Antihistamines relieve itching and may be used in cases where the itching prevents sleep, because they also act as a sedative. As with children, antiviral medication is considered more useful for those adults who are more prone to develop complications. These include pregnant women or people who have a weakened immune system.
Sorivudine, a nucleoside analog, has been reported to be effective in the treatment of primary varicella in healthy adults (case reports only), but large-scale clinical trials are still needed to demonstrate its efficacy.
The duration of the visible blistering caused by varicella zoster virus varies in children usually from 4 to 7 days, and the appearance of new blisters begins to subside after the fifth day. Chickenpox infection is milder in young children, and symptomatic treatment, with sodium bicarbonate baths or antihistamine medication may ease itching. Paracetamol (acetaminophen) is widely used to reduce fever. Aspirin, or products containing aspirin, should not be given to children with chickenpox, as it can cause Reye's Syndrome.
In adults, the disease is more severe, though the incidence is much less common. Infection in adults is associated with greater morbidity and mortality due to pneumonia (either direct viral pneumonia or secondary bacterial pneumonia), bronchitis (either viral bronchitis or secondary bacterial bronchitis), hepatitis, and encephalitis. In particular, up to 10% of pregnant women with chickenpox develop pneumonia, the severity of which increases with onset later in gestation. In England and Wales, 75% of deaths due to chickenpox are in adults. Inflammation of the brain, or encephalitis, can occur in immunocompromised individuals, although the risk is higher with herpes zoster. Necrotizing fasciitis is also a rare complication.
Varicella can be lethal to adults with impaired immunity. The number of people in this high-risk group has increased, due to the HIV epidemic and the increased use of immunosuppressive therapies. Varicella is a particular problem in hospitals, when there are patients with immune systems weakened by drugs (e.g., high-dose steroids) or HIV.
Secondary bacterial infection of skin lesions, manifesting as impetigo, cellulitis, and erysipelas, is the most common complication in healthy children. Disseminated primary varicella infection usually seen in the immunocompromised may have high morbidity. Ninety percent of cases of varicella pneumonia occur in the adult population. Rarer complications of disseminated chickenpox include myocarditis, hepatitis, and glomerulonephritis.
Hemorrhagic complications are more common in the immunocompromised or immunosuppressed populations, although healthy children and adults have been affected. Five major clinical syndromes have been described: febrile purpura, malignant chickenpox with purpura, postinfectious purpura, purpura fulminans, and anaphylactoid purpura. These syndromes have variable courses, with febrile purpura being the most benign of the syndromes and having an uncomplicated outcome. In contrast, malignant chickenpox with purpura is a grave clinical condition that has a mortality rate of greater than 70%. The cause of these hemorrhagic chickenpox syndromes is not known.
Primary varicella occurs in all countries worldwide. In 2015 chickenpox resulted in 6,400 deaths globally – down from 8,900 in 1990. There were 7,000 deaths in 2013.
In temperate countries, chickenpox is primarily a disease of children, with most cases occurring during the winter and spring, most likely due to school contact. It is one of the classic diseases of childhood, with the highest prevalence in the 4–10-year-old age group. Like rubella, it is uncommon in preschool children. Varicella is highly communicable, with an infection rate of 90% in close contacts. In temperate countries, most people become infected before adulthood, and 10% of young adults remain susceptible.
In the tropics, chickenpox often occurs in older people and may cause more serious disease. In adults, the pock marks are darker and the scars more prominent than in children.
In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) does not require state health departments to report infections of chickenpox, and only 31 states currently volunteer this information. However, in a 2013 study conducted by the social media disease surveillance tool called Sickweather, anecdotal reports of chickenpox infections on Facebook and Twitter were used to measure and rank states with the most infections per capita, with Maryland, Tennessee and Illinois in the top three.
How the term chickenpox originated is not clear but it may be due to it being a relatively mild disease. It has been said to be derived from chickpeas, based on resemblance of the vesicles to chickpeas, or to come from the rash resembling chicken pecks. Other suggestions include the designation chicken for a child (i.e., literally 'child pox'), a corruption of itching-pox, or the idea that the disease may have originated in chickens. Samuel Johnson explained the designation as "from its being of no very great danger".
Because chickenpox is usually more severe in adults than it is in children, some parents deliberately expose their children to the virus, for example by taking them to "chickenpox parties". Doctors counter that children are safer getting the vaccine, which is a weakened form of the virus, rather than getting the disease, which can be fatal. Repeated exposure to chickenpox may protect against zoster.
Humans are the only known species that the disease affects naturally. However, chickenpox has been caused in other animals, such as primates, including chimpanzees and gorillas.
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^ Abro AH, Ustadi AM, Das K, Abdou AM, Hussaini HS, Chandra FS (December 2009). "Chickenpox: presentation and complications in adults". Journal of Pakistan Medical Association. 59 (12): 828–831. PMID 20201174. Archived from the original on 20 May 2014. Retrieved 17 April 2013.
^ "Definition of Chickenpox". MedicineNet.com. Archived from the original on 28 July 2006. Retrieved 18 August 2006.
^ "Is Necrotizing Fasciitis a complication of Chickenpox of Cutaneous Vasculitis?". atmedstu.com. Archived from the original on 15 April 2008. Retrieved 18 January 2008.
^ Strangfeld A, Listing J, Herzer P, Liebhaber A, Rockwitz K, Richter C, Zink A (February 2009). "Risk of herpes zoster in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with anti-TNF-alpha agents". JAMA. 301 (7): 737–44. doi:10.1001/jama.2009.146. PMID 19224750.
^ Weller TH (1997). "Varicella-herpes zoster virus". In Evans AS, Kaslow RA (eds.). Viral Infections of Humans: Epidemiology and Control. Plenum Press. pp. 865–92. ISBN 978-0-306-44855-3.
^ Wharton M (1996). "The epidemiology of varicella-zoster virus infections". Infect Dis Clin North Am. 10 (3): 571–81. doi:10.1016/S0891-5520(05)70313-5. PMID 8856352.
^ "Epidemiology of Varicella Zoster Virus Infection, Epidemiology of VZV Infection, Epidemiology of Chicken Pox, Epidemiology of Shingles". Archived from the original on 13 June 2008. Retrieved 22 April 2008.
^ "Georgia ranks 10th for social media admissions of chickenpox". Archived from the original on 21 June 2013. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
^ "Chickenpox in the USA". Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
^ a b Belshe, Robert B. (1984). Textbook of human virology (2nd ed.). Littleton MA: PSG. p. 829. ISBN 978-0-88416-458-6.
^ a b Teri Shors (2011). "Herpesviruses: Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV)". Understanding Viruses (2nd ed.). Jones & Bartlett. p. 459. ISBN 978-0-7637-8553-6. Archived from the original on 1 October 2014.
^ Pattison, John; Zuckerman, Arie J.; Banatvala, J.E. (1994). Principles and practice of clinical virology (3rd ed.). Wiley. p. 37. ISBN 978-0-471-93106-5.
^ Johnson, Samuel (1839). Dictionary of the English language. London: Williamson. p. 195.
^ a b Charles, M.D., Shamard (22 March 2019). "Doctors say Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin is wrong about 'chickenpox on purpose'". NBC News. Retrieved 22 March 2019. Chickenpox parties were once a popular way for parents to expose their children to the virus so they would get sick, recover and build up immunity to the disease. ... Most doctors believe that deliberately infecting a child with the full-blown virus is a bad idea. While chickenpox is mild for most children, it can be a dangerous virus for others — and there's no way to know which child will have a serious case, experts say.
^ "Chicken Pox parties do more harm than good, says doctor". KSLA News 12 Shreveport, Louisiana News Weather & Sports. Archived from the original on 27 January 2012.
^ Committee to Review Adverse Effects of Vaccines; Institute Of, Medicine; Stratton, K.; Ford, A.; Rusch, E.; Clayton, E. W. (25 August 2011). Adverse Effects of Vaccines: Evidence and Causality. doi:10.17226/13164. ISBN 978-0-309-21435-3. PMID 24624471.
^ Ogunjimi, B; Van Damme, P; Beutels, P (2013). "Herpes Zoster Risk Reduction through Exposure to Chickenpox Patients: A Systematic Multidisciplinary Review". PLOS One. 8 (6): e66485. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0066485. PMC 3689818. PMID 23805224.
^ Cohen JI, Moskal T, Shapiro M, Purcell RH (December 1996). "Varicella in Chimpanzees". Journal of Medical Virology. 50 (4): 289–92. doi:10.1002/(SICI)1096-9071(199612)50:4<289::AID-JMV2>3.0.CO;2-4. PMID 8950684.
^ Myers MG, Kramer LW, Stanberry LR (December 1987). "Varicella in a gorilla". Journal of Medical Virology. 23 (4): 317–22. doi:10.1002/jmv.1890230403. PMID 2826674.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chickenpox.
"Prevention of Varicella: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)". Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 12 July 1996. Retrieved 18 May 2013.
"Management of Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV) Infections" (PDF). Federal Bureau of Prisons: Clinical Practice Guideline. December 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 February 2013. Retrieved 18 May 2013.
John W. Gnann Jr. (2007). "Chapter 65 Antiviral therapy of varicella-zoster virus infections". PMID 21348091.
Sarah McSweeney-Ryan; Megan Sandel. "The Health Care of Homeless Persons - Part I - Varicella (Chickenpox" (PDF). Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 September 2015. Retrieved 18 May 2013.
Hamborsky, Jennifer. "Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases: Varicella" (PDF). CDC.


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Rural Frail, Elderly Beneficiaries Being Shifted to Medicaid Managed Care Plans
By David Gorn	 December 3, 2014
About Capitol Desk
Capitol Desk delivers the latest in health care policy and politics from Sacramento and around the state. Have an idea? Let us know.
This week, state health officials launched a new phase in the rural expansion of Medi-Cal managed care, moving about 24,000 medically complicated seniors and the disabled into managed care plans.
Coincidentally, the annual conference of the California State Rural Health Association convenes on Wednesday in Sacramento.
The transition of seniors and persons with disabilities in rural areas into Medi-Cal managed care plans started Monday. The shift in care affects the SPD population in 19 rural counties.
"This week will be a week of transition for these members," said Anthony Cava, information officer at the Department of Health Care Services, which oversees Medi-Cal. "Affected members received three notices at 30, 60 and 90 days prior to transition and two outreach calls to assist them with their managed care health plan choice."
Cava said one goal of switching to managed care is to provide more comprehensive care management.
"Members will receive the same care they did under the fee-for-service system, but with the benefit of having a coordinated, integrated health plan that will meet their medical, dental, mental health, substance use disorder treatment services and long-term care needs," Cava said.
SPDs generally have multiple chronic conditions, along with many different providers and medications. The state's 2011 transition of the non-rural SPD population did not go smoothly, and there were many reported lapses and gaps in care. Cava said the state has learned from that experience.
"DHCS and CMS solicited stakeholder input to ensure a thoughtful transition for SPDs in these counties," he said. "DHCS has also had multiple conversations with CMS to address any concerns regarding the mandatory enrollment of SPDs in these counties. These conversations included an evaluation of lessons learned from previous mandatory SPD transitions to ensure that this population will transition smoothly from Medi-Cal fee-for-service to managed care in the rural counties."
David Gorn: @dgornreports
Capitol Desk Medi-Cal
By David Gorn
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The Kama Sutra of Getting Published
Chuck Sambuchino
Put yourself in these three publishing positions to maximize your chances.
I wrote my first book-length manuscript at the foolish age of 19 and thought it would set the New York publishing houses ablaze. A few dozen rejection letters and no blaze later, and I came to understand what we all understand as writers: this ain't gonna be easy. Over 20 years later, I'm releasing my thriller FACE BLIND through Minotaur Books. In those two decades, I learned a lot that I wish my 19-year-old self would have known. I discovered the secret.
And the secret is love.
Column by Lance Hawvermale, author of FACE BLIND
(Aug. 2016, Minotaur Books). Lance published the thrillers
SEEING PINK (2003) and FUGITIVE SHOES (2006)
under the female pseudonym of Erin O'Rourke. His poetry
and fiction have garnered numerous awards. He is an
alumnus of AmeriCorps, performing his service on the
Otoe-Missouria tribal lands in Red Rock, Oklahoma.
Follow him on Twitter.
Position #1: The Embrace - Hug the Fanboy/Fangirl Inside of You
(Literary agents share helpful advice for new writers.)
Your love of the written word should be ungovernable and borderline embarrassing. As the late Ray Bradbury advises us, "Write only what you love, and love what you write. The key word is love. You have to get up in the morning and write something you love, something to live for."
Start by choosing two or three writers you adore. When you read their prose, it's like being kissed for the first time. Then practice writing like your idols. Mimic their phrasing; make your characters' dialogue sound like theirs; craft your plots in a similar structure. Do this for long enough, and somewhere along the way, you'll find your own style, a fusion of what you love and what's naturally inside of you. You will no longer sound like everyone else in your writers' workshop. You will sound, incredibly, like you.
Example: I have written exactly one piece of fan mail in my life, a letter to Ray Bradbury, a few years before he died. Knowing the value of a powerful first sentence, I began like this:
"Dear Mr. Bradbury. Thank you for the lizard."
I went on to explain that finding my own writing style was like trying to capture one of those dart-quick spiny lizards so common here in the Southwest. For years my own style eluded me, and I played around in Bradbury's garden until one day, I grabbed that lizard by the tail. Weeks after sending my letter, I received one in return from Ray himself, praising me for my diligence. He signed his letter like this:
"Ray Bradbury and lizard."
Today that letter hangs framed on my office wall, reminding me to write 1000 words a day, no matter the weather, no matter the ache in my trembling fingers.
Position #2: The Stretch – Keep Going Even When it Hurts
Rejection is hardwired into the publishing industry. In William Goldman's novel THE COLOR OF LIGHT, one his characters—an aspiring writer—clings to this mantra, no matter his current failure or success: "On to the next." If your manuscript has been rejected by everyone, on to the next. If you're lucky enough one day to write something beloved by everyone, on to the next. Writing as a love affair is not about victory or defeat; it's about forward momentum. So it's on to the next, no matter if your stories are praised or ignored.
Check Out These Great Upcoming Writers' Conferences:
Feb. 11, 2017: Writers Conference of Minnesota (St. Paul, MN)
Feb. 16–19, 2017: San Francisco Writers Conference (San Francisco, CA)
Feb. 24, 2017: The Alabama Writers Conference (Birmingham, AL)
Feb. 25, 2017: Atlanta Writing Workshop (Atlanta, GA)
March 25, 2017: Michigan Writers Conference (Detroit, MI)
March 25, 2017: Kansas City Writing Workshop (Kansas City, MO)
April 8, 2017: Philadelphia Writing Workshop (Philadelphia, PA)
April 22, 2017: Get Published in Kentucky Conference (Louisville, KY)
April 22, 2017: New Orleans Writers Conference (New Orleans, LA)
May 6, 2017: Seattle Writers Conference (Seattle, WA)
May 19-21, 2017: PennWriters Conference (Pittsburgh, PA)
June 24, 2017: The Writing Workshop of Chicago (Chicago, IL)
July 22, 2017: Tennessee Writers Workshop (Nashville, TN)
Aug. 18–20, 2017: Writer's Digest Conference (New York, NY)
Example: My mom gave me a dictionary one year for Christmas. This was before we had smartphones and dictionary apps, so when I say "dictionary," I mean a massive Merriam-Webster tome that could be used as a doorstop or burglar repellent. I consulted it for years as an unpublished writer, toiling away on my latest manuscript and always on the lookout for that next great word. One evening I was yet again thumbing through my beloved dictionary when something on one of the pages caught my eye. Here in the "Q" section of the book, someone had pasted a piece of square white paper on the page, completely covering up one of the definitions. Of course, Mom had done this years earlier when she gave me the book, but she never told me about it. On that little pasted note she'd written this: "There is no 'quit' in this dictionary."
As I write this, I'm getting goosebumps—again. No matter how many times I tell this story, it never fails to move me.
Position #3: The Open Arms – Take in Everything and Hold Nothing Back
Finding an agent is no job for laser beams. If your focus is too narrow, you'll limit your odds of success. Send to as many literary agencies as possible. You may receive rejections from 200 agents, and these will weigh like old stones around your soul, but number 201 might say yes. (In the meantime, though, while you're waiting to hear back from all of them, on to the next.)
Yet here's the contradiction: though you want to contact as many agencies as possible, you must personalize every query letter you send. Do not submit your romance novel to agents who represent only travelogues and cookbooks. Likewise, do not address your queries generically. There's a real person on the receiving end of that query, and their name isn't "Sir/Madam."
Example: For my book, FACE BLIND, I queried 43 different agencies with personalized letters after conducting my research and narrowing the field. Most agents replied with kind but impersonal rejections, and some simply didn't reply at all. About a dozen requested sample chapters, and then eleven of those declined (or as they like to put it, they "took a pass" on the manuscript). Over a year after I started the process, one of them offered to represent the book as a literary agent. That makes me 1 out of 43. But that one is all it takes.
Bradbury reminds us that we can't resist love—"You get an idea, someone says something, and you're in love."
(Just starting out as a writer? See a collection of great writing advice for beginners.)
Now go out there and be in love.
Your new complete and updated instructional guide
to finding an agent is finally here: The 2015 book
GET A LITERARY AGENT shares advice from more
than 110 literary agents who share advice on querying,
craft, the submission process, researching agents, and
much more. Filled with all the advice you'll ever need to
find an agent, this resource makes a great partner book to
the agent database, Guide to Literary Agents.
Other writing/publishing articles & links for you:
Agent Adam Muhlig of McIntosh & Otis seeks queries.
If you get your short fiction published in journals, literary agents will come to YOU.
"7 things I've learned so far from writing and researching novels."
Agent Carole Jelen is looking for nonfiction authors & queries.
Don't be hamstrung by the admonition to "write what you know."
5 Easy Ways to Publicize & Promote Your Books.
Follow Chuck Sambuchino on Twitter or find him on Facebook. Learn all about his writing guides on how to get published, how to find a literary agent, and writing a query letter.
Lance HawvermaleFace Blindtips for writingthrillergetting published


text:
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Prof. Amit Dutta
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Prof. Surendra Gupta
Prof. M. L. Vaidya
Prof. P. Raghunathan
Prof. Arbind Kumar Lal
Prof. Naresh Chandra Mathur
Prof. Kashinath Eknath Hole (Prof. K. E. Hole)
Prof. Pramod Subramanyan
Prof. Ramachandra Rao Dasari
Prof. M.V. George
Prof. U B Tewari
Prof. Sudipta Dutta
Prof. Samares Kar
Prof. B.L. Dhoopar
Prof. K. Sri Ram
Dr. Vinod Kumar Gupta
Prof. Usha Kumar
Dr. Rai Mahesh Kumar Sinha
Prof. Singamsetti Surya Rao
Prof. S. Ranganathan
Prof. N.G.Ramakanth Iyengar
Prof. Arun Kumar Biswas
Er. Aftab Alam
Professor Sultan Ali Shaida
Professor P. P. Sah
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Professor H K Kesavan,
Professor Himanshu Hatwal,
Professor AVS Prabhakara Rao,
Professor Ashvini Kumar,
Professor Sanjeev Kumar Aggarwal,
Professor Dayal Saran,
Professor Narendra Lal Arora
Professor Man Mohan Choudhary
Dr. Anupam Pal,
Professor P. T. Narasimhan,
Professor Manohar Prasad,
Professor Laxmipuram Srinivasachar Srinath,
Dr. Nadikerianda Belliappa Meena,
Mr. Sanjeev S. Kashalkar,
Professor Lalita Sarkar
Dr. Arun Chandra Pandey,
Professor Satish Kumar Mullick,
Professor Rajat Kumar Ray,
Professor A.S. Parasnis,
Dr. G. C. Ray,
Professor M. P. Kapoor,
Professor B. D. Gupta,
Professor Vishwas N Kulkarni,
Professor Satish Joglekar,
Professor Ramamurthy Balasubramaniam,
Rajeev Motwani,


text:
After health-insurance controversy, most public workers to avoid large premium increases
GIC Commission Vote on February 1, 2018
By Priyanka Dayal McCluskey GLOBE STAFF FEBRUARY 22, 2018
Massachusetts public employees and retirees received an unusual bit of good news from state officials Thursday: their health insurance premiums are not rising significantly — and costs for many will actually decrease.
The rates approved by the Massachusetts Group Insurance Commission apply to hundreds of thousands of state and local employees, retirees, and their families, including teachers, transportation workers, social workers, and those in all branches of state government.
The commission came under fire last month after making a surprise decision to eliminate commercial health plans from three popular insurance companies, a change that would have disrupted some 200,000 people. That angered public workers, labor unions, and elected officials, and after an outcry, the commission reversed course and decided to maintain the commercial insurance options it currently offers.
But public workers and retirees still worried that their health insurance costs could soar. The fact that premiums will remain relatively flat next year should come as a relief — at least, temporarily.
"Our average premium increase will be zero — well ahead of our goal," said Dr. Roberta Herman, executive director of the state commission, which is controlled by the Baker administration.
Half of the people who get health benefits through the state will see their premiums go down, commission officials said. Forty percent will see premium increases, but for most of them, the increases will be 2 percent or less.
For 10 percent of those enrolled in state health benefits, premiums will stay approximately the same. The new premiums take effect in July.
Also, the benefits, co-pays, and deductibles for public workers and retirees will stay about the same.
"This is kind of unheard of," Herman said, noting that in the broader health insurance market, costs are increasing at a faster clip.
Herman said commission officials made two big changes to help contain costs. They consolidated prescription drug benefits to two pharmacy benefit managers and will contract with those companies directly. They also decided to bear the insurance risk for more of their enrollees.
"For the members, it's a great thing," said Timothy D. Sullivan, who represents the Massachusetts Teachers Association on the Group Insurance Commission. "I think members will be very pleased."
"What next year brings, nobody knows," Sullivan added in an interview.
Still, about 5,000 people who receive health coverage through the commission will see increases of more than 10 percent.
Commissioner Jane Edmonds said she was concerned about a subset of retirees who will have to pay significantly higher rates.
"What can we do to address these individuals?" she asked. "I can imagine some people will say 'I just can't afford it.' "
Herman said the commission staff would continue looking for ways to keep costs affordable.
Following the controversy of the past several weeks, Herman said the commission staff also has expanded efforts to communicate with commissioners, legislators, and others. "We've been sharing a lot more," she told reporters.
The commission took heat in recent weeks for poor communication. On Jan. 18, it voted 8-5 to slash costs in part by cutting commercial health plans from Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Tufts Health Plan, and Fallon Health — all Massachusetts-based nonprofit insurers.
The surprise move was widely condemned by public workers and politicians. Governor Charlie Baker acknowledged the commission's process was flawed and had stirred confusion. Attorney General Maura Healey's office began investigating whether the commission violated the state's Open Meeting Law, and state senators questioned commission officials at a public hearing.
Following the backlash, the commission reversed its decision on Feb. 1.
Public employees on commercial health plans will continue to have six carrier options: Harvard Pilgrim, Tufts, Fallon, Neighborhood Health Plan, Health New England, and UniCare.
Retirees on Medicare plans can choose from Harvard Pilgrim, Tufts, Health New England, and UniCare.
"It's been a rough month for us, given our failed effort to consolidate the plans," said commissioner Melvin A. Kleckner, the town administrator of Brookline.
"I guess we've rebounded from that and are moving forward."
Kleckner said he was pleased with the new insurance rates and that "they are really going to make a significant difference to the Commonwealth and cities and towns."
Priyanka Dayal McCluskey can be reached at priyanka.mccluskey@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @priyanka_dayal.
Read Full Article:
Posted: Feb 22, 2018Tags:


Their eyes were glowing out of the woods.
Coyotes are transient, and ultimately will move on, he added.
In February, a German Shepherd therapy dog was attacked by coyotes in its backyard in Weddington. A GoFundMe page to raise money for surgeries to help the dog walk again has already raised more than $10,000.
Last month, coyote sightings ranged from Interstate 77 N. near Sunset Road, alongside a creek in Matthews and behind a Cornelius cul-de-sac, county records show.
Then there's Michelle Blair, who lives near W.T. Harris Boulevard and Reedy Creek Park in Charlotte. She said she had a cat that went missing after it had gone outside. She got another cat, and it disappeared, as did a third one.
"After three cats I was like, something's wrong," Blair said, and concluded that coyotes had gotten them.
Blair said she had seen other dead animals around, including rabbits. She got so frustrated she wanted to shoot the coyotes but said by that point they had moved on.
And shooting them would have been against the law. Matthews stressed that it is illegal to shoot coyotes within the city limits of Charlotte, and any other area with a gun ordinance that restricts such activity, which includes much of Mecklenburg County.
Last year, Tega Cay, S.C., officials kept hearing from residents about coyote sightings and even had to bat down false rumors that the state brought in coyotes to thin out the deer population, City Manager Charlie Funderburk said.
They held a public forum and put information on the city website about coyotes.
But the calls and emails continued. "A lot of people were scared that their child might be attacked by a coyote," Funderburk said, even though coyotes are generally scared of humans.
City council reached the point where it agreed to spend $1,400 and hire a professional licensed trapper for two weeks in February. Four coyotes were trapped and put down in a humane way, according to Funderburk.
But that didn't stop council members from getting 80 emails in one day from around the country protesting the move in what Funderburk thinks might have been a coordinated effort by an animal rights group.
The calls and emails about coyote sightings in the city have decreased, he said, and it's unclear whether the city will use a trapper again, Funderburk said.
▪ Back away slowly while yelling and waving your arms. Don't run.
▪ Call 911 only if your life is in danger or you are being threatened by coyotes or other animals.
▪ Keep dogs on leashes when walking them, as coyotes are much less likely to approach if a person is nearby.
▪ Look around your backyard for the animals before you let the dogs out.
▪ Store trash in covered, heavy-duty animal-proof containers.
▪ Fence off outside animal enclosures and include a top.
▪ Don't leave pet food and water out at night.
▪ Make sure pets' rabies vaccination are up to date. If they come into contact with a wild animal the vaccination will save its life.


You are probably familiar with RAID-1, which is a mirroring technique for synchronizing data between two or more disks for the sake of redundancy. Normally, RAID-1 mirrors data between several local disks, but you can also sync them over Ethernet. This is not conventional RAID-1 but at least comparable.


text:
Home / Social Sciences / Criminal Justice / Lynchings / Lynchings in Kansas, 1850s–1932
Lynchings in Kansas, 1850s–1932
Lynchings in Kansas, 1850s–1932 quantity
SKU: 9780786468324 Categories: American West, Criminal Justice, History, Lynchings, Social Sciences, United States
In 1933, Genevieve Yost, Kansas State Historical Society cataloger, published a "History of Lynching in Kansas." The present book is a development of that work, researched with the benefit of modern technology. The author locates 58 lynchings Yost missed and removes 19 from her list that for various reasons are not lynchings in Kansas.
Yost apparently catalogued her 123 entries, some containing up to six names, based on her newspaper sources' headlines, not the actual stories on the lynchings. Her catalog places some events in counties that did not exist at the time of the lynching. In this book, errors in her data are corrected: misspelled names, incorrect places and dates, and the number of victims per incident.
In agreement with Yost, the author finds that most of the victims were white men who were horse thieves, their deaths taking place in the eastern tier of counties bordering Missouri, an area then and now where most Kansans lived. The last lynching in Kansas took place in 1932 in the extreme northwest of the state, and an interview of an eyewitness is included.
Harriet C. Frazier, attorney and retired law professor in the Criminal Justice Department at University of Central Missouri, also has a Ph.D. in English. She lives in Missouri.
Harriet C. Frazier
Bibliographic Info: 11 photos and illustrations, 3 maps, appendices, notes, bibliography, index
Acknowledgments	ix
Preface	1
1. Territorial Times, 1850s–1860	5
2. Civil War Years, 1861–1865	21
3. High Water Mark of Mob Murders, 1866–1870	36
4. Mob Murders Down: Victims Likely Include Sons of a Former Illinois Governor, 1871–1875	54
5. Horse Thief Lynchings Continue, and 5,000 Witness Cruel Death of Black Rapist, 1876–1880	70
6. Railroads End Lynching of Horse Thieves, 1881–1885	85
7. Mob Murders Decline; Three Blacks and Nine Whites, 1886–1889	102
8. Seven Blacks and Nine Whites, 1890–1899	120
9. Three Blacks and Three Whites, 1900–1923	138
Epilogue: A Tale of Eight Counties and One White, 1932	159
Appendix 1: Statistical Summary of Kansas Lynchings, 1850s–1932	167
Appendix 2: Falsely Reported, Border or Slavery Warfare, Doubtful, and Foiled Lynchings, 1855–1922	181
Chapter Notes	195
You're viewing: Lynchings in Kansas, 1850s–1932 $39.95


text:
175. Fostering Collaboration to Drive Team Performance 0
An award-winning performance coach and recognized educator and mentor, Dr. Ivan Joseph is passionate about empowering others by helping them build self-confidence. As the Director of Athletics at Ryerson University, Dr. Joseph leads the department of athletics and recreation including 11 varsity teams and more than 20 intramural leagues.
In this interview with the AFP Conversations podcast, Dr. Joseph previews his AFP 2019 session, discussing how leaders can foster an environment and culture that recognizes and promotes collaboration. Learn how leaders can build community among their teams and bring people from diverse backgrounds together.
174. Casey Gerald: There Will Be No Miracles Here 0
Casey Gerald, author of "There Will Be No Miracles Here," was the poster child for the American Dream, escaping a harrowing childhood to enter a new world of elite universities and secret societies. But as he climbed the social ladder, he saw how this hierarchical divide stifled those at the margins. He came to understand that "salvation stories" like his could be used to keep others from rising.
In this interview with AFP President and CEO Jim Kaitz, Gerald turns the American Dream narrative on its head, explaining how to keep a positive, but realistic mindset when faced with adversity, while challenging our preconceived notions of success. At AFP 2019, he will elaborate on these ideas even further in a special presentation.
173. Anne-Marie Slaughter: The Future of Work 0
Anne-Marie Slaughter is the CEO of New America, a public policy institute and idea incubator whose mission is to realize America's highest ideals by confronting the challenges posed by technological and social change. Together with her team of scientists, technologists and political and economic thinkers, Slaughter works to generate big ideas as templates for change.
Slaughter, who was named one of Foreign Policy's Top 100 Global Thinkers from 2009 to 2012, is also a celebrated author and editor. In her latest book "The Chessboard and the Web: Strategies of Connection in a Networked World," she uses network science to develop a new way of thinking about strategy in business and politics in the current era of rapid change and disruption.
She was the first woman to serve as the Director of Policy Planning, a title she held from 2009 to 2011, under U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and President Barack Obama. Also professor and a lawyer, Slaughter is the Bert G. Kerstetter '66 University Professor Emerita of Politics and International Affairs at Princeton University and was the Dean of Princeton's Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs from 2002 to 2009.
This fall, Slaughter will be a spotlight speaker at AFP 2019 in Boston, in which she will speak on the future of work. She'll examine how work is changing, and how everyone, regardless of age or tenure, has to continue to learn and develop new skills.


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package com.lefu.remote.netty.client;

import java.net.InetSocketAddress;
import java.net.SocketAddress;
import java.util.concurrent.CountDownLatch;
import java.util.concurrent.atomic.AtomicBoolean;

import io.netty.bootstrap.Bootstrap;
import io.netty.channel.Channel;
import io.netty.channel.ChannelFuture;
import io.netty.channel.ChannelFutureListener;
import io.netty.channel.ChannelInitializer;
import io.netty.channel.nio.NioEventLoopGroup;
import io.netty.channel.socket.nio.NioSocketChannel;

import org.slf4j.Logger;
import org.slf4j.LoggerFactory;

import com.lefu.remote.netty.EventLoopGroupFactory;

/**
 *
 * @author jiang.li
 *
 */
public abstract class AbstractClientConfigure implements NettyClient {
	private final Logger log = LoggerFactory.getLogger(getClass());
	protected Bootstrap bootstrap;
	protected NioEventLoopGroup bossGroup;
	protected ChannelInitializer<? extends Channel> channelInitializer;

	private boolean bossGroupSetted = false;
	private AtomicBoolean isStarted = new AtomicBoolean(false);
	private AtomicBoolean isShutdown = new AtomicBoolean(false);
	private int bossGroupSize = 1;

	/**
	 * 配置Client options
	 * @param bootstrap
	 */
	protected abstract void options(Bootstrap bootstrap);

	@Override
	public Channel connect(String host, int port) throws Exception {
		SocketAddress socketAddress = new InetSocketAddress(host, port);
		return connect(socketAddress);
	}

	@Override
	public Channel connect(SocketAddress socketAddress) throws Exception {
		if (!isStarted.get()) {
			throw new IllegalStateException("Netty client bootstrap is not start!");
		}
		ChannelFuture channelFuture = bootstrap.connect(socketAddress);
		final CountDownLatch downLatch = new CountDownLatch(1);
		channelFuture.addListener(new ChannelFutureListener() {

			@Override
			public void operationComplete(ChannelFuture future)
					throws Exception {
				downLatch.countDown();
			}});
		downLatch.await();
		if (!channelFuture.isSuccess()) {
			throw new RuntimeException("Connect to " + socketAddress.toString() + " fail");
		}
		return channelFuture.channel();
	}

	@Override
	public void init() throws Exception {
		if (isStarted.get()) {
			throw new IllegalStateException("Netty client bootstrap already started!");
		}
		configure();
		if (channelInitializer == null) {
			throw new IllegalStateException("ChannelInitializer is null, unset in configure() ?");
		}
		if (!bossGroupSetted) {
			bossGroup = EventLoopGroupFactory.newNioLoopGroup(bossGroupSize);
		}
		bootstrap = new Bootstrap();
		bootstrap.group(bossGroup)
				.channel(NioSocketChannel.class)
				.handler(channelInitializer);
		options(bootstrap);
		isStarted.set(true);
		isShutdown.set(false);
		log.info(String.format("Netty client started with properties -> [BossGroupSize=%1$d]", bossGroup.executorCount()));
	}

	@Override
	public void destroy() {
		if (isShutdown.get()) {
			return;
		}
		if (bossGroup != null) {
			bossGroup.shutdownGracefully();
		}
		isStarted.set(false);
		isShutdown.set(true);
		bossGroupSetted = false;
		log.info("Netty client bootstrap is going shutdown!");
	}

	public NioEventLoopGroup getBossGroup() {
		return bossGroup;
	}

	public void setBossGroup(NioEventLoopGroup bossGroup) {
		if (bossGroup != null) {
			bossGroupSetted = true;
			this.bossGroup = bossGroup;
		}
	}

	public void setBossGroupSize(int bossGroupSize) {
		this.bossGroupSize = bossGroupSize;
	}

	protected void setChannelInitializer(
			ChannelInitializer<? extends Channel> channelInitializer) {
		this.channelInitializer = channelInitializer;
	}

	public boolean getIsStarted() {
		return isStarted.get();
	}

	public boolean getIsShutdown() {
		return isShutdown.get();
	}

	public Bootstrap getBootstrap() {
		return bootstrap;
	}

}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


In this swap we will send different bits of yarn, ribbon, and strips of fabric out of our stash around to multiple people, and in the end we will all have enough to make rapunzel scarves. Here is the famous Rapunzel Scarf. The basic scarf is made from 30 pieces of ten foot yarn, ribbons, strips of fabric, etc.
Please Note: Depending on the amount of people who sign up, the numbers may need to be tweaked a bit, so please remain flexible on the matter. You may need to send a little more or less to make everything fair and even. Depending on the number of participants, we may get to express a few preferences. (I will try to match up people with preferences, but it may not be possible.) This swap is a little different from other swaps in that you will be shipping to multiple partners. The good news is that your yarn, ribbon, etc. can fit in an envelope and will weigh very little.
Please label PMs to organizer with title of "yarn swap".
When you send, label PM as "SENT: yarn swap". (don't forget to include your DC#). Send this message to the organizer and your partner.
When you receive, label PM as "RECEIVED: yarn swap". Send this message to the organizer and your partner.
FEEDBACK: Given when a package is received (verified through PM or DC#) I will be keeping track of what has been received by gallery pictures (This is why it is important for you to take pictures of your items, just in case your partner does not) *Please PM if there is difficulty with pictures.* NOTE: Lack of communication and explanation, such as no PMs of sending/receiving, will be noted in your feedback.
Okay, you've read my long intro. Now to the fun bit!
If you want to participate, fill out below questionnaire and send to organizer.
What would you prefer to receive?
What colors/colours would you like to receive?
What colors would you prefer not to receive?
Would you rather have everything be the same color/colorway, or would you like a variety of different colors?
lol...saw this one and said "another scarf? oh yeah"
I know another scarf swap!! I love rapunzel scarves! This one will be quick and easy!! I can't wait!!
This looks cool, I'm excited to get started!
This one isn't crafting! You're just cutting yarn!


text:
Independent or dependent? How our councillors voted
Cr Rob Mills celebrates with Lib councillors at Christmas in Narellan.
We may only have seen six meetings since the 2016 council elections but already voting patterns are emerging that tell us a lot about alliances.
Over the course of these six meetings we have had 122 votes. Of these, 74 were unanimous, where all the councillors agreed to a proposed motion.
That leaves us with 48 contested votes.
Of those 48 contested votes the Liberal councillors have voted together as a bloc every single time. That's a perfect 100%.
Meanwhile, Labor councillors disagreed with each other on 8 of those 48 votes. That's 16% of the time and about average for an independent council – as you can see in this earlier story.
That statistic suggests the Labor councillors are not voting along party political lines but behaving very much like independents, as they promised in the lead-up to the election. We have even seen mother and daughter-in-law, Cindy Cagney and Ashleigh Cagney, vote against each other on four occasions.
Independent Eva Campbell did not attend the last meeting but it is clear that, whether you agree with her or not, she continues her record of voting according to what she sees as the merits of each business matter. She has voted against members of all parties in contested votes and even voted with the Liberal bloc twice in contested votes.
But where does the other independent, Cr Rob Mills, sit in terms of his vote?
It is a tale of two very distinct parts.
During the first meeting following the election - which included the mayoral election and then voting for committee members - Cr Mills voted with the Liberal bloc 21 times and voted with the other councillors for committee positions 10 times.
He still handed majority control of the council to the Liberals and gave them plum committee positions, as I noted in this report, but it appeared at this first meeting that every now and then he would go out on his own.
It's important to recognise, whether by accident or intention, by handing power to the Liberals Cr Mills ensured that his vote alone became the single pivotal casting vote for this council. This is what we clearly saw during the committee elections.
But when we come to the second part of his voting patterns it seems to be a power he chooses not to exercise.
Aside from that first committee selection meeting, Cr Mills has since voted every single time with the Liberal bloc.
And he does it silently, without explanation.
Admittedly I missed the meeting of November 22, as I was interstate, but to this point I have yet to hear Cr Mills speak on a single motion.
Council records also show he is the only councillor who has not yet moved or even seconded a single motion in the Chamber, choosing to vote along with the Liberal bloc on all occasions without comment.
It is worth remembering that the Liberals only received 32% of the total vote at the last election and most of that came from a strong above-the-line party vote in North Ward.
The great majority of Camden residents (43%) voted for an independent candidate.
Cr Mills has never made a public statement about why he handed the Liberals a majority with his vote other than what he told me immediately after the mayoral election.
The fact is, he now holds the balance of power and could, if he chose to, control the future direction of this council.
It will be interesting to see if he continues to vote with the Liberals in the coming year and whether he will have the confidence to take a more active role in future Council debates.
Until then, residents can only make judgments about his independence based on his current voting record, which on current form suggests a silent but dependable vote for Camden Council's Liberal bloc.
Allan Cassar
It's painfully clear Cr Mills is as independent as a newborn baby in as he may breathe for himself but is tied to the hip of the Liberal party councilors. Lest hope his New Years Resoloution is to become and Vote truly indepentent just as he was elected to do.
Johnny B Good
To me it was obvious that Mills was not a "true independent" from the word go. He has Liberal leanings and that's fair enough but he should not have hoodwinked voters in Central Ward. Also I feel the reason he has not had anything to say about any motions coming before Council is that he is not used to the sudden scrutiny associated with this important position. He now finds himself being out of his depth in local government, that's why he has nothing to say for or against any motions. Maybe his wife Nancy should have stood for council or one of his daughters or sister, as they appear to do all the talking for him. I hope he comes out of his shell, but he now knows Council matters are a lot different to working in a butchers shop.
Only real people and friends can call him Mills ...
Jeff fairbairn
The man Mills himself told me on the phone , the reason he backed the liberals was that Greg warren told him to back Lara for mayor
Hello Jeff .. umm the cricket club we apparently don't sponsor that Robert had to attend to take photos with the day after he spoke too you ..
Johnny B Good link
What humbug Mills. Nancy still doing your media releases???
N mills
G Day Johnny Be Good , Chuck Faulkner or should I say Ron


text:
Supermarkets Will Take Precautions Against COVID-19
by Joy-Ann Gill | Apr 7, 2020 | Corona Virus, Top Stories
Press Conference at COVID-19 Update feat. the Hon. Santia Bradshaw
Posted by Barbados Government Information Service on Tuesday, April 7, 2020
A COVID-19 update featuring Acting Prime Minister, Santia Bradshaw – April 7, 2020. (PMO)
Barbadians can expect that supermarket workers will be taking the necessary precaution against the transmission of COVID-19.
This was made clear by the Acting Prime Minister Santia Bradshaw during a press conference that updated media representatives on a new regime that includes online and curb side accessibility to supermarkets, expected to go into effect from tomorrow, Wednesday, April 8, with the elderly and other vulnerable groups in mind.
The Acting Prime Minister, queried as to whether there may be legislation that might be necessary for some form of hazard allowance for such workers, said: "We've indicated to all of the persons in the private sector, all of the supermarket owners that they can take the necessary precautions to provide their respective workers with certainly a mask, a cloth mask. We've said before that we are permitting the use of masks for those individuals; we reserve the N95 for the frontline workers."
Further explaining, Ms. Bradshaw said: "We will, and we have asked them to take the necessary precautions to protect persons, which is why we have insisted equally on the social distancing, and we've been in a lot of discussions with even the police force as well as the various retailers to ensure that those protocols are put in place outside of the premises, because for the most part, many of the operators have actually been compliant inside of the supermarkets, but we've had to do a lot of logistical arrangements to be able to ensure that that social distancing continues on the outside because our priority is first and foremost to ensure that our workers are protected."
joy-ann.gill@barbados,.gov.bb
Tags: Acting Prime Minister, COVID -19, Santia Bradshaw, social distancing, supermarkets, workers


There is no one thing that makes someone feel settled in a new place – it's a lot of little things put together. Having been in the UK for almost three months now, there are lots of little things different from my life in Australia. But I realised early on that there was no use comparing. Thanks to the help of my dear friend Rukmini, who so eloquently and artistically put this into words (actually it was her image which prompted me to realise that comparing was actually one of the worst things I could be doing). I had to see everything as a new experience, a new way of life. It was hard thinking that I had to let go of the old ways (the stubborn kapha nature in me) – not let go completely, but let go enough to make room for the new.
When I first looked at it, EVERY little thing was different. The bathroom, the way a particular dish was cooked, the way the clothes are washed – EVERYTHING. And I'd keep thinking, "Oh, in Australia, we'd do it like this…." But then I started to feel miserable because it just reminded me of home, and how I wasn't there. There's this incredible grace that women (especially Indian women) have – of just embracing a new family as their own. I used to think there was a button that got switched on the minute you were married – of entering a new family and seeing them as your own. But that's not the case – this happens over time, as you build a relationship with each member of the family, getting to know them like you would your own. And plus, humans are adaptable beings – so over time, new routines will develop, new relationships formed, and I guess the new becomes home.
Besides life at home, you'll find differences everywhere you look – the grocery store, how people drive, how they talk. But when you find the similarities, that's when the scales tip in the favour of being settled. And for me that was when I found a job at The Alternative Healthcare. As an Ayurvedic therapist – just two days a week to begin with – but doing pretty much exactly what I used to do in Brisbane. And it fills me with so much happiness! Connecting with strangers through Ayurveda. It's amazing how the healing powers of a 5000 year-old medicine system has transcended time and place boundaries – being just as effective to ancient sages in India, as it is to local Aussies or Brits. It reaffirms my faith and belief in this science, and makes me feel fortunate, that I'm able turn my passion into my career.
Similarities don't just exist in where they are obviously manifest, but they also exist in where you see them. It's how I perceive of things that helps me feel settled – and not just focus on things as they are. Whilst there are new relationships and friendships – I look for similarities in what I value; whilst there are new foods and grocery stores – I look for the similarities in how I enjoy these foods; whilst there are differences in weather (SUCH DIFFERENCES) – I look for the similarities in routine, and try and make it regular regardless of the weather.
This great move is a big lesson in detachment – letting go of things that were, to embrace things to come – and in a twisted way it helps you prepare for the ultimate move: death. You come into this world with nothing and you leave with nothing, and the less attached you are to things and people, the easier the final move will be. Sounds morbid I know – but it's the truth.
I'm kind of in two minds about publishing this post, because if the opportunity arose, I would jump at the chance of moving back to Australia. But I don't want to live life holding onto the possibility of that opportunity – if it comes, then seize it I will! – for now, my clothes are unpacked, my two feet are in England, and very soon, my heart and mind will follow too.
So it happened. The great migration – from Brisbane to Crawley. I'm coming up on three weeks into my new life here in England. While lots can be said about that (possibly more on that later), there's a thought that has been on my mind for sometime now – and now time to get that thought from mind to paper (blog post).
Having just been married almost three months, and planning a wedding before that, two things became apparent. 1. Wedding planning is a catalyst for putting relationships to the test – emotions are high, tensions are even higher – it's all a recipe for chaos. 2. Marriage (among a million other things) means getting to know someone like you've never known them before. Duh, you must be thinking – of course everyone knows that!
But let me explain: while it is widely understood that in a wedding TWO people are getting married, it is probably more widely understood, that in planning a wedding, MORE than two people's opinions matter. Of course it's the big day of the bride and groom in question, and it should be about what they want. But very rarely is the wedding organised by just these two people in question – mine was a mammoth effort requiring the help of countless people (to whom I am extremely grateful!). And so when you have a lot of people, you have a lot of ideas, and while they all differ, they all stem from the same cause – LOVE. I quickly realised – that while I didn't necessarily see eye-to-eye with a lot of ideas being thrown around (from decoration, to logistics, to food – you name it!), they all came from a place of love – people were suggesting these things because they loved me (or so I hoped!). And the same happened in reverse – I would make requests of people of what I thought was the best idea in the world, and while they silently mocked my suggestions, they humbly did what I asked of them – again out of love. It was interesting to see how the same emotion had SO many different expressions.
This takes a lot more than just two people to pull off!
Two people in the one relationship may speak a different love language – and when the two parties realise what the other speaks, and respond accordingly, then true love will be fully manifest and expressed in that relationship. So while I may show my love by making lunch in the morning, my husband may not see that as anything extraordinary, and would rather me spend quality time with him. Again, this highlighted to me the vast differences in expressions of love.
It's almost humbling to think that my idea of love isn't the one accepted by everyone, especially those close to me. I guess that's what love really is – doing what the other person loves, even and especially, if it is something that you don't love. It's an act of sacrifice, of surrender – starting on the earthly realm with those you love, and ending in Divine love. Even Krishna has ideals on how He would like to be loved – mainly through the acts of sravanam (hearing) and kirtanam (chanting) – but He's so kind, that even if we can't do that yet, He will accept any form of love we offer Him. So we can start by loving Him the way WE want, and ultimately through practise, we can come to the stage of loving Him the way HE wants – pure, unmotivated and interrupted love.
So look introspective at the way you love others – is it how you want to love, or is it how they want to be loved?
New Year or New Day?
New Year's always start off with great hype and optimism. At least for me they do. Exercise more, eat healthier, read more etc etc. The list sounds all too familiar, thanks to the over-saturation of New Year's resolutions in social media over the last few years. Self-improvement websites are all the rage at this time of year with 50 New Year's Resolutions and How To Keep Them or New Year's Resolutions You Should Never Make, making headlines.
On top of this, marketing companies have jumped on this bandwagon and started bombarding us with New Year sales, to help us keep those said New Year's resolutions. As cynical as it may seem, discounts on yoga passes, offers on cleanses or sales on gratitude journals are not really going to help us keep those resolutions for the next 364 days of the year.
I too went through a phase where I'd make these absurd resolutions – pretty much setting myself up to fail the second the ideas formed in my head. 'I'll walk up Mt Coot-tha EVERY single day' she said. Yeah right. The year would be shaped a bit like a series of parabola's put together – a week where I would walk up Mt Coot-tha everyday, then a week of doing nothing, then a week of walking, then a week of nothing… you get the pattern. For someone who's not naturally good at implementing new habits or routines, the prospect of doing multiple new things 365 days of the year looked pretty grim.
But then, like many other things in my life, I looked at it from a different perspective. What if I didn't think of it as a New Year, but a New Day? If I didn't go on that walk one day, there was no need to beat myself up about it, but realise that tomorrow was a NEW day, a new chance at picking myself up again. I was given a whole new set of 24 hours to live again! And when I began to look at things like this, the year didn't look 365 days looong, but more like 365 chances at getting 24 hours again!
It was such a nice way to begin each day – with a strong inner resolve – something I could plan new for each day, rather than be daunted by the task of having to do it every day for 1 year. And what gave each day more strength was the very nature of this inner resolve. The more I read about sankalpa, the more I was drawn to it's spiritual and mystical nature – qualities which contributed to its strength.
In times of need, our sankalpa shows us the way like stars that twinkle in a dark night sky. But you need to treat it like a good friend, and then cultivate it.
In the school of life there are always tests – which ultimately serve our purpose only. These tests are there to make us stronger in our determination. When your sankalpa gets tested, remember that your life is a unique gift to you personally and that you are expected to find your own path which is true to yourself. You can not live the life of another. Just like eating and breathing is something that only you yourself can do – a sankalpa is also highly personalized.
What we must realise is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled; their work is done.
I read this on Facebook recently, but have heard it in conversation in the past few months. As I wrap up over 4 years of work at Back2Health, so many emotions keep running through my head – and this poem comes at a very apt time. I've always had difficulty in letting things go – I remember balling my eyes out in grade 7 when we all parted for different high schools. Tears rolled down my cheeks as I hugged pretty much every person in the grade, promising we would still see each other every Friday afternoon at the Indooroopilly food court, and belting out the words to Friends Forever.
A familiar and welcoming corridor – Queenslander from the outside, oasis on the inside.
Parts of this explain me to a T. But sometimes life forces you to change – and whether you like it or not, it's going to happen! And from the advice of others – it's better to embrace this change than to resist it.
Butterflies are a beautiful byproduct of change.. if they can do it, maybe so can I.
Four years in one workplace is a long time (at least for me!), and it's grown to be a big part of my life. The team that I work with, the clients I treat – everything has become so familiar and comfortable. While each exchange with clients is completely different – from a logistical point of view there's definitely an element of familiarity – stable place of work, stable client base, and people know me! With identity comes a sense of ego… and letting go of work and clients, means letting go of the fact that I will be someone to help them on their wellness journey. I know this is not the only way to look at the situation – but I can't help dwell on this as I try to understand why it is so difficult for me to leave or move on. This is not the only reason, but digging deeper, I can understand that it definitely has a role to play in how I'm feeling.
That being said – modern technology enables us to stay in touch with those who may only enter our lives for a short period of time. And I plan to take full advantage of that! While I may write of letting go, I don't think I've got the handle on applying it so well. I'm still a kapha and still want to keep my connections close. So hopefully I can have my cake and eat it too! Assisting people on their Ayurveda journey from the other side of the pond – and if you ever cross it, my doors are always open to you!
So here's to pushing out of my kapha zone, embracing change, and enabling others from a distance!
As one chapter ends, I'm writing the outline for the next one – a month of learning cooking from my mum! Learning traditional Indian dishes, some not-so-traditional dishes and maybe a little bit of experimenting!
Obviously I didn't abide by the end date.
100 days of keeping in touch. This was a little project I embarked on earlier this year (and thought it to have been well finished by now!), but as many other things in my life – it got dragged out considerably. But I'm finally doing this! And so for my last post for #100daysofkeepingintouch, I thought I would share some reflections AND revive a long lost friend – my blog!
One thing that definitely struck me, was how integral maintaining relationships was in all spheres of life. Be it professional, social or even spiritual. The situation could be as diverse as this: a professional multi-million dollar company striving to close on a huge business deal OR a non-for-profit spiritual organisation working hard to spread their mission and teachings. Fundamentally, both of these can succeed only on the basis of maintaining good relationships. For the multi-million dollar company, even though it may be about numbers, deals, strategies, reports etc – at the end of the day, without good relationships between all the employees – nothing can really be achieved. And while the non-for-profit organisation maybe centred on giving back, charity, selflessness etc – unless its members work in a cooperative mood, then the vision just remains on paper.
Another thing that I realised is that keeping in touch can be so simple! I tried to outdo myself and get creative in the ways in which I kept in touch – through cards, presents, food, voice messages, video messages – there is no end to this list! But then I realised that it wasn't so much the medium through which I was keeping in touch, but more the fact that I WAS keeping in touch. Reaching out to someone in a personal and direct way creates a huge and lasting change – and it doesn't have to be complicated. Just send them a text to let them know you're thinking of them, or call them, or pop by to see them – the best times were when I kept in touch JUST BECAUSE, without any agenda, no need for any occasion – just that I wanted the pleasure of their company. This is what I found that recipients appreciated the most. Everyone calls you on your birthday, or to congratulate you on a new achievement – but how many times do you call/keep in touch with people JUST for their company – without needing anything from them or it being an occasion.
Hopefully this is a chance for me to revive and regularly post on this blog. Who knows what is in store for the future? More #100day projects? #100daysofsoup?