One way of managing your stress effectively and bringing more balance into your life is through Mindfulness Meditation.
Mindfulness Meditation is about being mindful and paying attention to the present moment – it's an invaluable tool for self-growth. Meditation has been proven to calm the mind, relieve stress and anxiety, improve health and emotional well-being, promote awareness and creativity, improve concentration and productivity, sharpen memory, promote better sleep and boost your social life. In a nutshell, Mindfulness Meditation can help you live a happier, healthier, more balanced and fulfilling life.
So how do you get started? Simple… just follow our 10 meditation tips listed below.
Find a quiet place to sit in stillness – your house, office, car, outside in nature… Mute your phone and mobile devices so you won't be distracted. If at home or at work, tell family members or office staff that you don't want to be disturbed.
Don't be discouraged if your mind wanders. We'd be surprised if it didn't! You'll have good days and better days… Just keep it up and it will get easier.
Reward yourself. Treat yourself to a little something after successfully meditating for a week, 21 days, a month… you get the idea. Maybe it's a cupcake, an ice-cream or a pizza… maybe it's seeing a movie with a friend… maybe it's a stroll in the park, a hike or a walk along the beach.
Take one of our easy online self-paced guided meditation courses and start meditating today!


We live in a mediated world saturated with film and video; and most films suggest ideas about the society we live in. Films provide a good resource for sociology.
Look at Jean-Anne Sutherland & Kathryn Feltey Cinematic Sociology: Social Life in Film (2nd ed, 2012) Pine Forge Press, which shows how to use contemporary films to develop the sociological imagination and provides an excellent filmography by theme.
A very valuable book to help you make sense of film is: James Monaco How To Read a Film (2008) 4th edition.
The Sociological Cinema is edited and published by Valerie Chepp, Paul Dean, and Lester Andrist, a team of three public sociologists. "As graduate student colleagues and close friends in the Sociology Department at the University of Maryland, we launched this site in September 2010 as a way to facilitate using popular culture and video to teach and learn about sociology".
One important entrance to global sociology is to watch and analyse films from distinctively different cultures.
Inside I'm Dancing, Damien O'Donnell, 2004.
Murderball Henry, Alex Rubin, 2005.


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The fifth ''Survivor'' castoff talks with EW.com
The Tennessee bartender tells Liane Bonin he wasn't the lazy, manipulative slacker you've seen on TV
By Liane Bonin Updated November 15, 2001 at 05:00 AM EST
Silas Gaither
Credit: Silas Gaither: Monty Brinton
Survivor: Africa
A week ago, TV viewers may have seen Tennessee native Silas Gaither, 23, as the king of the Samburu tribe. But his new teammates on the Boran tribe decided the aspiring actor was more of a joker than African royalty, and they gave him the boot. EW.com talked to Gaither about being a slacker, why it's okay to be hated, and why those little tooth brushing sticks may be the next big trend.
You certainly seemed to take it easy while the older members of your team did all the work. Is that accurate?
This show is made in the editing room. Everybody said something bad, everybody said something good, and everybody said something stupid every day. The producers picked what they wanted to make good television. I busted my tail around camp. Brandon, Kim, Frank and Teresa would be the first to tell you I got all the fire wood. And as far as my sleeping in, I'm a bartender. I work until four in the morning. I can't help it if Frank's been getting up at four in the morning since he was 12.
Asking Frank, Linda and Teresa to vote for Lindsey turned out to be your downfall when they ratted you out to your new team. Are you wishing you'd kept your big mouth shut?
To be honest with you, I don't blame them for being angry. That was a power play that was just a very stupid move. And it should've never been done. It's one of those situations where you're so caught up in the moment it's hard to describe it. In all honesty, I had my game face on during the competition. When you have vulnerability or hesitation, you have weakness. So that's kind of where my attitude of go-get-'em came from. I was thinking, 'Grab the bull by the horns and take him down.'
On the "Survivor" website, you rank dead last in their likeability poll. That's gotta hurt.
Until you've been through an experience yourself it's not fair to be critical, or at least that's what I've always been taught. I'm just like, 'You know what man? That's okay, because they don't know, and they're trying to have fun and figure out the game.' That's the fun part of the TV show. I'm happy to be a part of that.
Did you realize that your own team had thrown the immunity challenge just to get rid of you?
That was a shocker to me. It didn't hit me until I watched the show last night. That was pretty bad. But I think it was a wise move on their part. They played the game well.
Linda really gave you a hard time for getting down on one knee to rally the troops. Where did you pick that up, anyway?
I can't believe it struck such a chord. All my athlete buddies were laughing their heads off saying, 'Man, I do that all the time.' It's just a pep up thing. It's like the quarterback taking the knee in the huddle, like 'C'mon guys, doggone it, let's score this touch down.' It's just part of me, and it came out. But I hate that Linda thought it was cheesy, because I think she's a terrific person.
You're a bartender in Los Angeles. How are people reacting to you? Are you getting better tips?
It's been really sweet. Nothing but positives. There are people that come in and recognize you, and some people that just don't. It hasn't changed a thing. I mean, people aren't mean or anything. They realize it's a game, and they realize that you're out there to win. My parents thought I had won the whole thing. So that was a heart breaker. And, for my parents' sake, I hate the fact that people think I'm portrayed as the manipulative kind of guy. But that's the power of the media.
Do those little tree branches really clean your teeth?
They were unbelievable. They have fluoride in the branches. It really works. In fact, we were making jokes about marketing it in the United States and calling it the African Tree Brush or something. I didn't get any cavities while I was there.
So tell us, why the heck did your team's pots keep breaking?
They didn't show this either, but both tribes busted their pots. To make good television, they have to show just us breaking the pots because it looks like the mall rats are screwing around. It's excellent editing. They told us the pots were tough and that you can just throw them right on the fire and we did that, but they started cracking and breaking. You talk about a nightmare; it was truly, truly a nightmare.
Lex and Tom seemed thoroughly unimpressed with your camp. Were they being too harsh?
I was surprised at their reaction. Each camp had their own system, and, if you remember, they had won a huge tank of water so they didn't have to waste time gathering and boiling water. So of course they had time to stock up on fire wood.
Considering that your team won the first two immunity challenges, were you surprised by how everything fell apart?
You know, it's easier to vote someone off earlier in the game because no one's formed any alliances. We had nine days before we had to vote anybody off, and it basically tore our team apart. When you win like that, you almost create your own destruction.
What did you miss most while you were in Africa?
I missed greasy cheeseburgers. Honestly, probably the food and the things we take for granted in life, the things that we have everyday. You know, a Q-tip. Just the little things.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Franken Opposes Minnesota Federal Judge Nominee
Associated Press Published: September 5, 2017
Minnesota Supreme Court photo
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Sen. Al Franken says he'll oppose Minnesota Supreme Court Justice David Stras' nomination to the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
President Donald Trump nominated Stras in May. Franken, a Democrat, announced Tuesday that he had decided to oppose Stras. He said the justice's background and writings suggest he is too conservative.
Franken's opposition doesn't necessarily block the nomination, but it makes it trickier.
Senators typically get to sign off on judicial nominees from their home states. And while Sen. Amy Klobuchar hasn't said she opposes Stras, she said Tuesday that Franken's opposition means the White House should suggest other nominees.
The 8th Circuit covers Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri and Arkansas.
Filed Under: Al Franken, Appeals Court, Minnesota Supreme Court, President Donald Trump


"The trouble with the world is not that people know so little, but that they know so many things that ain't so." This observation from Mark Twain is one of many illuminating quotes in an examination by Richard Vetter of the power of myth in science and medicine, and the limited power of hard science in dispelling such myths.
Myths are particularly persuasive when they are consistent with pre-existing beliefs, are repeated frequently, and the origins become lost, says Vetter, in a paper in CAB Reviews. Vetter, from the University of California, Riverside, takes as his focus the urban myths that abound regarding spiders.
One that is still popular is that spiders (particularly black widows) take up residence in elaborate hairstyles, bite the scalp or lay an egg sac which hatches, and the emerging baby spiders cause death through multiple bites. He points out that there are no records of victims of such attacks, and that baby widow spiders cannot pierce human skin, and have very small amounts of venom.
Another myth is that deadly spiders from South America were brought into the USA via airplane toilets. The story is that a buttock-biting spider, Arachnis gluteus, attacked someone in a restaurant at a Chicago airport. In this case, the story was deliberately spread as a hoax (the names of the restaurant, airport and spider species were all invented), but it spread very rapidly by email. A website was set up to debunk the myth, but it has reappeared in a slightly modified form. Vetter says that the author of the hoax said he set out to show how easily false information that could easily be checked was accepted by the general public.
The paper, Myths based in science and medicine – how they initiate, propagate and the role of peer-review research in dispelling them, appears in CAB Reviews: Perspectives in Agriculture, Veterinary Science, Nutrition and Natural Resources 2010 5, No. 041.
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Statement of Federal-Provincial-Territorial Ministers of Health on COVID-19 Immunization
CBS News: Physicists discover galaxy formed in early universe
COVID fallout: Air travel down 60 per cent, as airline industry losses top $370 billion
Boeing Elects Lynne Doughtie to Board of Directors, Following Resignation of Director Caroline Kennedy
Statement from National Security Advisor Robert C. O'Brien 16 January
Cornell to help train state's pioneering public health corps
United States-Eswatini Declaration on 5G Security
Biden taps Eric Lander and Maria Zuber for senior science posts
June 30, 2020 2:07 pm AESTDate Time
Major Impact from COVID-19 to Thailand's Economy, Vulnerable Households, Firms: Report
Thailand's economy is expected to be impacted severely by the COVID-19 pandemic, shrinking by at least 5 percent in 2020 and taking more than two years to return to pre-COVID-19 GDP output levels, according to the World Bank's latest Thailand Economic Monitor, released today. The COVID-19 pandemic shocked the economy especially in the second quarter of 2020 and has led already to widespread job losses, affecting middle-class households and the poor alike.
While Thailand has been successful in stemming the tide of COVID-19 infections over the last three months, the economic impact has been severe. The tourism sector, which makes up close to 15 percent of Thailand's GDP, has been hit hard, with a near cessation of international tourist arrivals since March 2020.
Exports are expected to decline by 6.3 percent in 2020, the sharpest quarterly contraction in five years, as demand for Thai goods abroad remains weakened by the global slowdown. Household consumption is projected to decline by 3.2 percent as movement restrictions and dwindling incomes limit consumer spending, especially in the second quarter of 2020.
As Thailand starts to ease mobility restrictions, domestic consumption, Thailand's traditionally strongest driver of growth, may pick up in the second half of 2020 and in 2021, but economic recovery will be gradual and uncertain. In the baseline, the Thai economy is projected to grow by 4.1 percent in 2021 and by 3.6 percent in 2022, which represents a slow recovery to pre-COVID GDP output levels by mid-2022. The shape of the recovery is subject to considerable downside risks, including weaker global growth, feeble tourism, and continuing trade and supply chain disruptions.
"The strength of the economic recovery will depend in part on an effective policy response, in particular effective support to vulnerable households and firms," said Birgit Hansl, World Bank Country Manager for Thailand. "As the recovery phase begins, a key challenge will be how to help people who lost their jobs reconnect with the labor market. Active labor market measures, such as wage-subsidies targeted to individuals in the most vulnerable sectors, and for on-the-job training to promote reemployment should be explored."
An estimated 8.3 million workers will lose employment or income by the COVID-19 crisis, which has put many jobs, in particularly those related to tourism and services, at risk. The report finds that the number of economically insecure, or those living below USD 5.5 per day (in purchasing power terms), is projected to double from 4.7 million people in the first quarter to 9.7 million people in the second quarter of 2020. In particular, the share of economically insecure middle-class households with workers in the manufacturing and services sector will rise by three-fold, from 6 percent to 20 percent.
To protect vulnerable households, the report recommends extending social protection coverage to ensure that no gaps remain for the elderly and migrant workers. The report also recommends continuing cash transfers for the most vulnerable groups and, where possible, linking such transfers to training, mentoring, and other types of support that could create income-generating opportunities. Over the medium term, Thailand could consider establishing programs with universal benefits to help cushion against epidemic outbreaks as well as other negative shocks, complemented by more targeted programs for the poor.
"For vulnerable firms, the nature of support will need to shift from emergency relief to more support for productive firms that are still standing," said Kiatipong Ariyapruchya, World Bank's Senior Economist for Thailand. "This includes redirecting fiscal support from emergency measures to temporary job creation programs by easing firm participation in public procurement and public works."
Going forward, interventions could revamp firm support programs focused on promoting firms and productivity growth, especially towards promoting investments for worker training, management training, and technology adoption.
Tags:bank, cash, covid-19, crisis, Economy, Emergency, employment, GDP, Impact, market, spending, technology, Thailand, trade, world, World Bank
Liberal Government must extend rental protections Families facing homelessness Needs of tenants and landlords cannot…
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green run 3 The core stage for the first flight of NASAs Space Launch System…
The Department of Health has today reported one new case of COVID-19 in Western Australia,…
Roger Jaensch,Minister for Housing The Tasmanian Government is continuing to deliver our commitment to increase…
Public urged to join the national effort by helping family and friends aged 80 and…
FIFA President supports African football's restart in Cameroon
9:42 am AEDT


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Mood: thoughtful
Write-In Votes & Cultural Expectations
This post is substantially the same thing as what I just posted to the SMOFS e-mail list, but not everyone on SMOFS reads this LJ and vice versa, and I found it interesting enough to add here as well.
I am subscribed to another mailing list (some of you here are on it as well) where the subject of hoax Worldcon bids came up. In response to the semi-joking, "Be careful, you might win," I chipped in, "Not if you didn't file." This led to a series of messages about how the Worldcon site selection process works and also led to me learning something I'd not known that explains some confusion that non-American fans may have had about write-ins on a Worldcon ballot.
To set this up, let me reiterate how the Worldcon system works.
1. The deadline for filing a bid is 180 days before the start of the administering Worldcon. If you file before this deadline, your bid appears on the ballot.
2. The deadline for being an _eligible bid_ is the close of voting. If you file before the close of voting but after the 180-day deadline, your bid is eligible to win, but doesn't appear on the ballot.
3. If you don't file bidding papers, your bid isn't eligible. Even if every single first-preference vote is cast for your bid, you can't win, because the administrator is instructed to eliminate all ineligible bids and take those ballots' next-highest eligible preferences if no eligible has a majority at the end of the first round.
Now this is fairly consistent with American (USA) voting practice. Every ballot I've ever cast includes the ability to vote for a write-in candidate. Usually, write-ins are jokes; however, now and then you get a serious one. I recall a serious write-in candidate for a legislative office in Northern California when I lived in Yuba City, for instance. (He didn't win.) I don't know the details, but I presume that the serious candidate filed the necessary paperwork, only after the ballot deadline.
I've been informed that in Canada (at least in many cases; nobody has completely exhaustive knowledge, of course, nor do I know ever nook and cranny of California state or American federal election law), there are no write-ins -- you are either on the ballot or you're not eligible at all, and voting for an ineligible candidate (that is, trying to write something in) can invalidate your ballot. The ballots themselves are apparently designed with no provisions for write-in candidates.
I don't know about UK or Australian ballots; some of you here might be able to answer the question of whether it's possible to write in a candidate on those ballots without invalidating the ballots.
It occurred to me that this could be the source of confusion between Americans and non-Americans. Americans take the concept of write-in votes for granted. WSFS rules and practices are, at the root, an outgrowth of American traditional practice; indeed, our very governance is rooted in the New England Town Meeting form of government. The WSFS Business Meeting would object (and has objected) to anything that removes the ability for voters to cast write-in votes; we do, however, include rules that administratively prevent non-serious write-in bids from winning.
Non-Americans, not having the write-in electoral concept as a basic part of political life, have no obvious way of knowing that there's a distinction between eligible and ineligible write-ins. Of course, many Americans probably don't understand this either, but at least American electoral practice does include the write-in concept, so Americans are more likely to recognize it when they see a WSFS ballot.
I'm wondering if this is similar to the now-pretty-well-known difference between the US and UK meanings of "to table" -- in case there's anyone here who hasn't heard it before, "to table" has opposite meanings in American and British English, which apparently caused some confusion in WWII planning sessions between American and British commands. It's a culture difference that's somewhat subtle.
Tags: worldcon, wsfs


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The Hart Trophy race is as tight as ever at halfway point of NHL season
With a slew of top talent lighting it up in the NHL this season, there's no clear favorite for the Hart Trophy. Matt Larkin and Ken Campbell broke down the frontrunners early on.
Jack Eichel and Nathan MacKinnon|Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images
With a slew of top talent lighting it up in the NHL this season, there's no clear favorite for the Hart Trophy. Matt Larkin and Ken Campbell broke down the frontrunners early on.
https://youtu.be/9GTD4N20i5g
Tags: buffalo sabres, colorado avalanche, video, nhl, video podcast


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HomeNews and eventsEvents8 FROM 8
31 Jul 2019,
Australian Film Television and Radio School
RSVP closed
Eight exciting Australian screen storytellers from each of Australia's eight States and Territories give their unique perspectives on genesis and development of Australian stories in a digital age.
New technologies, new platforms and new audience demands are changing the ways that we conceive and create content. What do these rapid and dramatic shifts mean for Australian creatives today? What opportunities arise from this fast moving, digitising and increasingly global marketplace for stories?
Storytelling has been at the heart of the AFTRS' mission since its inception in 1973. The school remains committed to finding, developing and supporting the storytellers of the future and leading debates about the nature of the stories we conceive, create and consume.
Niki Aken (ACT)
Kate Croser (SA)
Philip Denson (NT)
Martine Delaney (TAS)
Kelrick Martin (WA)
Lee May (QLD)
Natasha Pincus (VIC)
S. Shakthidharan (NSW)
Hosted by AFTRS Chair Russel Howcroft and followed by drinks.
If you can't make it on the night, the event will be live streamed on the AFTRS Facebook page.
Questions? Contact events@aftrs.edu.au.
Niki Aken is a writer for television, working across drama and comedy.
Niki co-wrote The Hunting for SBS / Closer Productions, which premiered at Series Mania in 2019. Niki also script produced the highly anticipated comedy-drama series Upright, starring Tim Minchin, for Foxtel and Sky UK. Prior to this, Niki story-lined on series two and three of acclaimed legal thriller Janet King for ABC, as well as script editing the second series.
Niki co-wrote the WW1 mini-series ANZAC Girls, which won the Best Adapted Screenplay AWGIE (Australian Writers' Guild Award) in 2014, and was the most watched Australian drama series on the ABC that year. She researched and wrote two episodes – including the finale – for the true-crime drama Underbelly: Badness, which was awarded the Best Original Miniseries AWGIE in 2013.
Niki was one of three Australian writers to adapt the U.S. thriller Chosen for Playmaker Media, which has clocked over 30 million views on Chinese streaming platform IQIYI. Other television work includes Why Are You Like This? for ABC, Hyde and Seek for Matchbox Pictures/Nine Network and The Secret Daughter for Screentime/Seven.
Kate Croser is Head of Production and Development at KOJO and an award-winning producer whose previous work includes Wayne Blair's rom com feature Top End Wedding (2019 Sundance Film Festival), supernatural drama feature film Boys in the Trees (2016 Venice Film Festival and Toronto International Film Festival); critically acclaimed time travel comedy feature film The Infinite Man (2014 SXSW Film Festival); two seasons of SBS cult comedy television series Danger 5, both of which were nominated for Australian Academy Awards Best TV Comedy series; and the Australian-Iranian feature film collaboration My Tehran For Sale (2009 Toronto International Film Festival, 2009 IF Independent Spirit Award). She is currently producing climate change sci-fi thriller 2067 in association with We Are Arcadia's Lisa Shaunessy, and children's TV series First Day for ABC Me with Kirsty Stark's Epic Films.
Philip Tarl Denson (NT)
Philip Tarl Denson is a screenwriter living in remote Northern Territory. Philip has optioned several screenplays in the US and has a number of feature film and television projects in development including his 2016 INSITE finalist script, Borderline, his NT Literary Award-winning script, Lucid, and his sci-fi feature, Singularity, based off his original theatre piece of the same name, moving towards production with Intrepid Pictures. Philip was recently selected to take part in Imagine Impact, a professional development initiative founded by Ron Howard and Brian Grazer under the auspices of Imagine Entertainment, developing an original science fiction television series titled Anomaly which has since attached producer Michael London at Groundswell Entertainment.
In 2018, Philip produced the animated online series Mining Boom with support from Screen Australia and Screen Territory garnering over 6 million views online and winning Best Animation at the LA Film Awards. Philip was also the winner of the NT Literary Award for Screenwriting, shortlisted for the 2016 John Hinde award for Science Fiction, Finalist in the 2016 INSITE award, finalist in the BlueCat Screenplay competition, finalist in the Fresh Voices Screenplay competition, quarter-finalist in the Nicholl Fellowship screenwriting contest and finalist in the 2017 Gateway LA 'Aussie List' of the best unproduced scripts by Australian writers.
Occasionally known as the Sex-Change Soccer Star Cyber-Tranny Granny, in recent years Martine's been an LGBTI advocate/lobbyist, a stand-up comic, briefly dead, a ghost tour guide, a book in the Hobart Human Library and a Greens candidate in a Federal election. All while, with her partner of fifteen years, raising a child who – almost twelve years ago – was abandoned at their home as a six-week old baby.
Aged 59, and frustrated by the lack of employers looking for an outspoken transgender employee, she tried writing a feature film two years ago. Weirdly, this first attempt was optioned and is now in slow development. And Martine entered a new world, one she still doesn't really understand. She's spent most of the time since working with Hobart's Roar Film, on some very cool projects.
Her personal slate currently includes three feature projects – that original optioned project, another about a month away from delivering a script to producers, and a third sitting on a backburner with a LOI attached. With support from both Screen Australia and Screen Tasmania, she's also developing a 3×1-hr documentary series on the world's most revolutionary dementia village. Martine's a little excited by all this. Confused, but excited.
Kelrick Martin is a Ngarluma/Bunuba man from Broome WA, currently Head of Indigenous at ABC TV. Kelrick started as a cadet radio broadcaster for Goolarri Media. Moving to Sydney in 1998, he presented ABC Radio National's Awaye! and was the inaugural presenter of ABC TV's Message Stick. In 2002 he completed his Masters in Documentary Writing and Directing at AFTRS, and in 2007 returned to WA to become NITV's Commissioning Editor.
He formed Spear Point Productions in 2010 – credits include documentaries Yagan, Outside Chance, Prison Songs, and short drama, Karroyul – a 2015 AACTA Award nominee. Prior to re-joining the ABC, Kelrick was the Indigenous Manager for Western Australia's state screen funding agency Screenwest.
Lee May is a game designer at Defiant Development, where he serves as a writer and editor on the critically-acclaimed Hand of Fate series. Prior to joining the studio, he spent nine years as a critic and journalist on Brisbane's 4ZZZ, co-hosting Australia's longest-running gaming radio program.
Natasha Pincus graduated with first class honours in Law and Science. She worked as a research scientist and practiced corporate law before hanging up her lab coat and suit to focus on her screenwriting and directing career.
Natasha has written and directed short films that have screened at dozens of film festivals worldwide and received recognition through awards such as the Platinum Remi (Short Drama) at the Worldfest International Film Festival, and a nomination for the Sydney Film Festival Dendy Award.
Natasha specialises in creating distinctive music video works and has directed internationally regarded videos for a number of Australia's favourite musicians, including Powderfinger, Paul Kelly, Gotye, Missy Higgins, Kasey Chambers, Pete Murray, Paper Kites and Sarah Blasko. Natasha has won two ARIA awards for Best Music Video and has been nominated for the MTV VMA for Best Music Video and Best Editing. Natasha's iconic video for Gotye's Somebody That I Used To Know has been viewed over 1 billion times on YouTube.
Natasha was recently commissioned to create a large-scale film work for the Australian premiere of David Bowie's Lazarus, a theatre musical performed at Melbourne's Arts Centre. The project saw Natasha devising, directing and producing 16 bespoke Bowie music videos and integrating them into a singular screen work live projected through the show.
As a screenwriter, Natasha's screenplay Middle of the Air was a Winner of the UCLA Screenwriting Competition and her screenplay Clive was included on the US Hollywood Blacklist and was a semi-finalist of the Nicholl Fellowship. The feature film of Natasha's screenplay Fell, directed by Kasimir Burgess, premiered In Competition at the Sydney Film Festival. Natasha has now written more than 20 feature film scripts on assignment or spec, including adapting the Pulitzer-nominated novel Snow Child for New York producers Amy Hobby and Anne Hubble (Tangerine Entertainment), and co-writing The Twisted for Ridley Scott's Scott Free Productions. She has just completed writing the original screenplay North Star (director Stephen McCallum) and is currently writing Second Time, a new TV series for Christopher Sharp at Thumper Pictures.
Shakthi is a western Sydney storyteller with Sri Lankan heritage and Tamil ancestry. He's a writer, director and producer of theatre and film, and composer of original music as one half of the band Kurinji. Recent projects include his debut play, Counting and Cracking, which recently completed a sold out season to rave reviews at the 2019 Sydney Festival, with Belvoir; Laka, a multi-platform film and VR project touring around the world, from Brewarrina to Los Angeles; and Rizzy's 18th Birthday Party, which premiered at Carriageworks in 2014 and was adapted into feature film Riz for the 2015 Sydney Film Festival.
Shakthi is the current Artistic Lead at Co-Curious. Co-Curious is a sister company to CuriousWorks, where Shakthi was the Founder and Artistic Director from 2003-2018 and his leadership led to several long-term, multi-platform arts initiatives as well as significant grassroots social change in communities in Western Sydney and remote Western Australia. Shakthi was the inaugural Associate Artist at Carriageworks and is the recipient of both the Phillip Parson's and Kirk Robson awards.


text:
module Ceely
  module Beats
    class Block < Ceely::Beat
    end
  end
end

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


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Amendments to the Health Research Regulations
In this briefing, we consider recent updates to the Health Research Regulations.
The Data Protection Act 2018 (Section 36(2)) (Health Research) Regulations 2018 (S.I. No. 314/2018) (the "Health Research Regulations"), which contain stringent rules in relation to the collection, use and sharing of personal data for health research purposes, have been amended by the Minister for Health by way of the Data Protection Act 2018 (Section 36(2)) (Health Research) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 (the "2021 Regulations").
As discussed in a 2019 briefing on the Health Research Regulations (available here) The Department of Health had identified retrospective chart reviews, pre-screening for the purpose of assessing eligibility/suitability for inclusion in health research, and a data subject's capacity to consent, as areas that would require further consideration in relation to the requirement for explicit consent / a consent declaration. The 2021 Regulations, which were developed in consultation with the Data Protection Commission, have clarified the position on these issues, as well as reformulating the definition of explicit consent, and providing for some procedural changes in relation to the consent declaration appeals process. The Department of Health's guidance on the 2021 Regulations (the "Guidance") is available here.
Regulation 3(1)(e) of the Health Research Regulations required data controllers to obtain data subjects' "explicit consent" prior to the commencement of health research for the processing of their personal data for the purpose of specified health research. This was broadly understood to mean that controllers needed to obtain "explicit consent" within the meaning of the GDPR, by way of an express statement of freely given, specific, informed and unambiguous consent (ideally via a written record), which could be withdrawn at any time.
Under the 2021 Regulations, in addition to retaining a copy of such consent (as they were already required to do to demonstrate compliance pursuant to Article 7(1) GDPR), controllers must provide data subjects with a copy of the consent, and the consent must be obtained "in accordance with international best practice on the ethical conduct of health research (which includes informed consent, transparency and independent ethical oversight)." The Guidance elaborates that best practice in conducting health research runs in favour of informed consent that:
Identifies the scope of the specified research;
Provides information, in a timely manner, in an intelligible and easily accessible form, using clear and plain language;
Gives choices to individuals in terms of the areas of research that they want their information to be used in and third parties that they are willing to have their information shared or not shared with;
Allows the withdrawal of consent in a convenient way and where that is not possible, explains the limits of withdrawal; and
Is documented by the data controller in written, electronic or other format with a copy of the record of consent provided to the individual.
Further, the Guidance notes that consent must always be voluntary, and researchers must ensure that the data subject is advised that whether or not they give consent will not impact the care or treatment that they receive from a health practitioner.
In reality, it seems that the re-formulated requirement simply echoes the conditions of explicit consent under the GDPR. As such, this amendment should not impact data controllers who already endeavour to obtain freely given, specific, informed and unambiguous expressions of consent by way of written statements, which are securely retained to demonstrate that valid consent was obtained.
Deferred Consent
The 2021 Regulations introduce a concept of "deferred consent" for exceptional circumstances where an individual is unable to give consent because they are physically or mentally incapacitated. This exception will only apply where the principal purpose of the processing of the personal data by the data controller is necessary for the provision of health care to a data subject and to protect their vital interests. In such circumstances, the personal data may also be processed by the data controller for a related health research purpose, provided that the health research has been approved by a research ethics committee, until such time as the data subject concerned has the capacity to give their consent.
Importantly, deferred consent does not dispose of the requirement for explicit consent. As soon as the data subject regains decision-making capacity, the controller must inform the data subject, orally and in writing, of the processing of their personal data for health research purposes, provide information in relation to the sharing of their personal data, and seek explicit consent for the processing. If the data subject does not provide explicit consent, the processing must stop, and any personal data already processed must be erased, except where to do so would be likely to render impossible or seriously impair the achievement of the objectives of that processing (in alignment with Article 17(3)(d) GDPR and section 61 of the Data Protection Act 2018). In the event that the data cannot be erased, the data controller must inform the data subject as soon as practicable, orally and in writing, to provide the reasons why such data cannot be erased.
The Guidance notes that any controller with a consent declaration application awaiting consideration by the Health Research Consent Declaration Committee ("HRCDC") that is affected by this amendment should contact the committee secretariat to discuss their application.
Informed Consent obtained pursuant to the EU Data Protection Directive
Under Regulation 6 of the Health Research Regulations, data controllers carrying out research that commenced prior to 8 August 2018 who intended to process or further process personal data for the purposes of health research after 8 August 2018 were required to apply for a consent declaration from the HRCDC by 7 August 2019, even if they had obtained valid consent for the processing under the Data Protection Directive 95/46/EC and the Data Protection Acts 1988-2003 and that consent had not been withdrawn.
In a welcome recognition of the needless difficulties caused by Regulation 6, the 2021 Regulations acknowledge that consent will be considered valid if "informed" consent was obtained in accordance with the prior legislation pre-GDPR, and if that consent has not since been withdrawn. Further, the data controller must have a lawful basis for the processing of the personal data under Article 6 GDPR and meet one of the conditions for processing special categories of data under Article 9(2) GDPR.
Blanket consent will not be considered valid, as such consent would not have been in accordance with the Data Protection Directive 95/46/EC.
This amendment will be relevant to data controllers who have a re-consenting application awaiting consideration by the HRCDC.
Subject to compliance with Regulation 3(2) (as amended), the 2021 Regulations permit the processing of patient records for pre-screening purposes (to determine whether the individual is suitable or eligible for inclusion in a study) without the data subject's explicit consent and without the ethical approval of a research ethics committee.
Previously, only healthcare staff involved in the care and treatment of a data subject could access their patient records for pre-screening purposes without the data subject's explicit consent. Pre-screening may now be carried out by: (i) a health practitioner employed by the data controller or a person studying to be a health practitioner under the direction and control of the data controller; (ii) an employee of the data controller who would ordinarily have access to the personal data of individuals that is held by the controller in the course of their duties; or (iii) an "authorised person".
An "authorised person" may be an employee of:
an institution of higher education;
a body or person whose principal activity is the provision, management or development of a health practitioner; or
a registered charitable organisation, one of whose objects is to support research and education in the health services,
who is under the direction and control of a health practitioner who is an employee of the controller.
In respect of "authorised persons," the 2021 Regulations require data controllers to implement and publicise an authorisation process, and to enter a contract with the employer of the authorised person that prohibits the use of personal data without explicit consent for purposes other than pre-screening purposes. Further, the 2021 Regulations require additional transparency measures to make patients aware of the fact that an authorised person is involved in the processing of their personal data for health research purposes.
Although the 2021 Regulations expand the categories of persons who may access personal data for pre-screening purposes without the data subject's explicit consent, the Guidance notes that it is best practice for the data subject's interest in the research to be gauged by a health practitioner. The Guidance also further elaborates on what is expected from data controllers in respect of the management of authorised persons.
Retrospective Chart Review
The 2021 Regulations facilitate the conduct of low risk retrospective chart reviews (studies in which pre-recorded patient personal data is used to answer a research question) without the data subject's explicit consent where such a review has been approved by a research ethics committee and meets specified transparency requirements.
While the Health Research Regulations already require data controllers to assess the data protection implications of proposed research (pursuant to Regulation 3(1)(c)(i)), to conduct a retrospective chart review without the data subject's consent, the risk assessment must conclude that the risk to the data subject is low, and the relevant research ethics committee must be satisfied with the data controller's assessment.
Retrospective chart reviews may only be conducted by: (i) health practitioners who are employed by the data controller or persons studying to be health practitioners who are under the direction and control of the data controller; or (ii) employees of the data controller who would ordinarily have access to the personal data of individuals that is held by the data controller in the course of their duties.
Again, the 2021 Regulations require enhanced (and relatively prescriptive) transparency measures to make patients aware that personal data collected by the data controller for the provision of health care to a patient may be used in a retrospective chart review study.
This is a welcome amendment that reflects the Department of Health's previous confirmation (in consultation with the Data Protection Commission) that the requirement for explicit consent for retrospective chart reviews would be deferred in these circumstances.
Updates to the Appeals Process
The 2021 Regulations also introduce changes to the appeals process that is available to data controllers who are unsuccessful in seeking a consent declaration from the HRCDC.
Where the Health Research Regulations were silent as to when the appellant would be required to provide written submissions (referring only to the need to provide notice of an appeal within 30 working days of receipt of the HRCDC's decision), the 2021 Regulations provide welcome clarification that the appellant has a full 30 working days from the establishment of the appeal panel to provide written information pertaining to the appeal.
Perhaps most interestingly, the 2021 Regulations give greater clarity to the scope of the appeal panel's review, and in doing so, also give the HRCDC more influence on the appeals process. Pursuant to Regulation 11(e), an appeal panel will now be required to request the HRCDC's observations on the appellant's submissions, and it may also "invite submissions from any person that it considers appropriate" and "consult with any person who it believes could assist in the consideration of an appeal."
Further changes include: increasing the size of the appeal panel from three to not less than five and no more than seven; increasing the time allowed to set up the appeal panel from forty working days to sixty working days from receipt of the notice of appeal; and not dissolving the appeal panel until thirty working days after it has made its decision so that it can provide formal clarification on any matters arising from its decision. The 2021 Regulations also explicitly provide that the HRCDC can revoke a consent declaration where it is satisfied that the conditions imposed by an appeal panel are not being met.
The 2021 Regulations address a number of issues that posed difficulties for data controllers engaged in health research. While the explicit consent of the data subject remains paramount, the 2021 Regulations have introduced some measures that address the realities faced by health practitioners and researchers that will facilitate health research while ensuring that the personal data of patients is handled safely and transparently.
The authors would like to thank Shannon Buckley Barnes for her contribution to this article.
Colin Rooney
colin.rooney@arthurcox.com
Joanelle O'Cleirigh
joanelle.ocleirigh@arthurcox.com
Caoimhe Stafford
Caoimhe.Stafford@arthurcox.com


text:
Home Sports NBA roundup: Mavericks manhandle Sixers
NBA roundup: Mavericks manhandle Sixers
on: December 21, 2019 In: Sports
Tim Hardaway Jr. made seven 3-pointers and scored 27 points to lift the visiting Dallas Mavericks past the Philadelphia 76ers, 117-98, on Friday.
Kristaps Porzingis added 22 points and a career-high 18 rebounds to go along with three blocked shots as the Mavericks improved to 11-2 on the road.
The Mavericks won handily despite playing without injured guard Luka Doncic.
Joel Embiid led the Sixers with 33 points and 17 rebounds for his 19th double-double, but they dropped their third in a row. It was also the Sixers' second consecutive home loss after opening the season with 14 straight wins. Ben Simmons had 12 points, eight assists and six rebounds for Philadelphia.
Boston Celtics 114 – Detroit Pistons 93
Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum scored 26 points apiece to lead host Boston to its second straight win, a rout of Detroit, which has lost four of five.
Rookie Grant Williams chipped in a season-high 18 points off the bench, and Enes Kanter had 18 rebounds for the Celtics. Kemba…
Christmas tree app updates tradition in Estonia
Colombia awards three operators bandwidth in $1.5 billion auction
MLB and players agree framework for 2020 season
Horse racing: Battaash lands King's Stand Stakes to hand Crowley Royal Ascot treble
WNBA to play season at single site in Florida without fans


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Area's Black lawmakers ready for a fight
Historic opening seen for passing equitable laws with teeth
by Michael Romain August 18, 2020 Updated January 29, 2021
State Sen. Kimberly Lightford speaks at a Juneteenth rally in Broadview earlier this year. Lightford, Welch (pictured in the Black Lives Matter T-shirt) and other members of the Black Caucus say they're going to November's veto session in Springfield prepared to fight for a range of equity-related proposals.
In 1989, the Business Enterprise for Minorities, Women, and Persons with Disabilities Act, or BEP, was adopted into law in Illinois, intended to eliminate the barriers that had been blocking small businesses owned by historically disadvantaged minorities from receiving state contracts.
"That's a state law, but you wouldn't know it," said Illinois Senate Majority Leader Kimberly Lightford (4th), who represents parts of Oak Park and River Forest. "These are some of the things that have blown my mind."
Lightford and members of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus, which she chairs, believe they are governing in a uniquely unprecedented moment — when laws and policies that are as monumental as the historic challenges they seek to remedy stand a good chance of passing.
Before George Floyd's death in May prompted a national racial reckoning, laws like the BEP Act were par for the course — big in name only, Lightford said.
Some two decades after that law passed, the percentage of the state budget spent with Black-owned businesses is one-tenth of 1 percent, according to data in a 2018 Fair Practices in Contracting Task Force report.
Even the creation of the task force, which former Gov. Bruce Rauner formed in 2016 with no power to enforce the lofty goals in the BEP Act, was largely symbolic, Lightford argues. In 2018, as Rauner was running for re-election, the senator blasted the former governor's motivations for signing an executive order similar to the one creating the task force.
"Records show that in January 2015, Gov. Rauner announced an executive order studying barriers in contracting for minority businesses," Lightford's office explained in a statement released that year.
"Then in November 2015, the Rauner administration secretly waived minority participation requirements for a $94 million state contract. … In 2016, we established the Fair Practices in Contracting Task Force. Here we are two years later, conveniently when the governor's running for re-election, he signs another order to address the same disparities — I'm tired of the political games."
Lightford may be at the peak of her powers heading into the November veto session, which marks a sudden turn of the tide. In May, not long after she narrowly lost a historic bid to become Senate President to Oak Park Sen. Don Harmon (38th), Lightford resigned as chairperson of the Black Caucus — only to be reinstated in July.
"Since I initially offered my resignation as chairman of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus, the world has changed," Lightford said at the time. "And here in Illinois we too have a historic opportunity before us to bring about change, but it will not last forever."
"I think the George Floyd murder has brought the caucus, and Black people in general, together," said state Rep. Emanuel "Chris" Welch (7th), who was influential in persuading Lightford to continue as chairperson of the caucus.
"I think Leader Lightford's returning as our chair is an indication of that," Welch added. "This is not a time to be divided. It's a time to be united."
In July, Lightford stated that the caucus was firmly united behind addressing "four pillars of issues where change is desperately needed: Criminal justice reform; violence reduction and police accountability; health care and human services; economic access, equity and opportunity; and education and workforce development."
Last week, Lightford said the caucus is preparing to file the first of a series of bills meant to fundamentally address those issues. The bills will be heard in joint committee hearings in November, she said.
One of the most significant proposals the caucus is working on is the creation of an oversight body that can actually enforce legislation like the BEP Act, Lightford said.
"We're in a moment in time where we can use our leverage to ensure we do everything we can to remove systemic racism and oppression," she said. "There has been quite a bit of legislation, that the Black Caucus has pushed for, that has never been implemented. We have to have accountability and there has to be that hammer, that oversight, ensuring that if you don't follow the law, this happens to you."
In the last several months, Welch has introduced a flurry of proposals designed to push the state to take more seriously its ostensible goals of addressing systemic racism.
Earlier this month, he wrote an open letter to Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, urging him to take enforcement action against Medicaid providers that fail to meet contracting goals for minority- and women-owned business.
Welch sent the letter to Raul a month after he sent Gov. J.B. Pritzker an open letter, "imploring the governor's administration to prevent social equity licenses from being awarded to companies with straw ownership schemes," according to a statement Welch's office released in July.
Welch referenced a Cincinnati Enquirer report showing that the state of Ohio had busted a number of straw ownership schemes in which companies posed as Black-owned businesses to try to secure marijuana dispensary licenses.
Welch has also been vocal about racial inequities in the banking industries and college athletics. Earlier this month, he sent letters to executives at some of the largest banks in the Chicago area, urging them to release data on their contracts with Black-owned businesses. And last year, he sponsored a bill that would allow student-athletes in Illinois, many of whom are Black, to earn compensation from the use of their name, image or likeness.
Last week, Welch said that Blacks are "just being left out across the board," adding that a recent retreat of Black Caucus members "recognized what our power is."
"They're going to learn very quickly that things won't make it out of committee if the dollars aren't flowing into our communities," he said. "They can doubt us if they want to, but we're more invigorated than ever."
State Representatives La Shawn K. Ford (8th) and Camille Y. Lilly (78th), both of whom are also members of the Black Caucus, struck a similar note of resolve during a press conference, Aug. 12, in the wake of the looting that broke out on the Magnificent Mile on Aug. 10.
"Our social polices don't take into account human rights," Lilly said. "Those issues are not being taken into account, which our young people are looking at. … We have failed generations for decades."
"After that last round of looting last week in Chicago, I believe now more than ever that Black people are hurting and we need to help," Ford said, before calling for more resources in Black communities to deal with issues like mental health, behavioral health and substance abuse disorder.
Last week, Lightford was not understated in describing just how monumental an opportunity Black lawmakers have in the months ahead.
"This chance we have, everybody is watching," she said. "This is biblical. This is it. I saw every nationality on those [marches] with signs saying 'Black Lives Matter' or 'Enough is Enough' or 'I can't breathe' or no 'Justice, No Peace'. … We have a charge. We have to develop a strong pathway toward transforming our community."
CONTACT: michael@oakpark.com


If you are a Silver or Gold sponsor of the SDnet Index, then there are additional links you can place in your page. Better make use of them.
Each SDnet Index page includes a link to the website of the vendor or project in question.
Just email us at info@sdnetindex.com with the additional links you want for your page.


I was so proud of myself last January when I became the proud mother to a 2011 Hyundai Elantra with all the features; bluetooth, heated seats (I know...I'm in Florida...but still, they were nifty on the one cold day we had this year!), radio and other controls on the steering wheel, speaking of wheels, those beauties are alloy 17"; sun roof, and the list goes on.
And, to help me feel better, the service personnel explained that lots of folks have been having problems with the factory installed bluetooth...after just 6 months, so I'm doing great given it took over a year for mine to begin failing, and that such low gas mileage is turning out to be typical.
I think next time I'll stick with Honda.


text:
Mountain Lake (Minnesota, USA)
From GAMEO
Revision as of 23:21, 10 March 2019 by AlfRedekopp (talk | contribs) (→Bibliography)
A checked version of this page, approved on 10 March 2019, was based on this revision.
Mountain Lake, Minnesota, a village of about 2,000 in 1957, 2,082 in 2000, located in the southwestern part of the state in Cottonwood County. In 1873, when the first Mennonites came to this area, it was a little village; by 1880 about 295 Mennonite families had settled in the Mountain Lake community. At the turn of the century the population of the village was 595. Most of these Mennonites came from the Molotschna settlement in Russia. However, a number of Manitoba Mennonite families joined the settlement, who were of Chortitza background. Most of the inhabitants of Mountain Lake in the 1950s were Mennonites. They also predominated in the surrounding farming area.
In the early days the Mennonites of Mountain Lake had progressive leadership in the realm of education. I. I. Bargen started the Mountain Lake Preparatory School in 1886. This school still exists, although its purpose and name have changed, as the Mountain Lake Bible School (later Mountain Lake Christian School). In 1956 there were three Mennonite groups represented in the Mountain Lake community. The General Conference Mennonite Church had a membership of 1,394 (1956) in three congregations-Bethel Mennonite Church, First Mennonite Church, and Gospel Mennonite Church. Three additional General Conference Mennonite churches were located in the communities of Butterfield and Delft. The Mennonite Brethren Church had 452 (1956) members in two churches, Mountain Lake and Carson. The Evangelical Mennonite Brethren Church of Mountain Lake consisted of 255 members. Of these nine churches four were located within the city limits—three General Conference and one Mennonite Brethren.
Mountain Lake in 1956 had a hospital (see Bethel Deaconess Hospital), nurses' home, Basinger Clinic, Mennonite Aid Society, and the Eventide Home. The hospital and the old people's home had served the community over many decades. The present building of the hospital was opened for service in 1921 and the Eventide Home in 1950. The Mountain Lake Observer, published locally since 1894, has at times been in Mennonite hands.
Great changes have taken place in the community. The High German language has been replaced by English. Low German was still spoken among older people. Sixty-three per cent (in 1956) went to Mennonite colleges. Only 35 per cent of the young men were conscientious objectors during World War II. In only 19 of the 34 marriages in 1950, were both partners Mennonites.
When Saskatchewan invited settlers in its pioneer days, 157 families from Mountain Lake accepted the invitation. Many other families and young people have gone to other states and to the cities. On the other hand, non-Mennonites have moved into the city.
Brosamen aus Erfahrungen der Mennoniten in und um Mountain Lake, Minnesota. n.p., n.d.
Hege, Christian and Christian Neff. Mennonitisches Lexikon, 4 vols. Frankfurt & Weierhof: Hege; Karlsruhe: Schneider, 1913-1967: v. III, 171 f.
Jubilaeumsfeier, Mountain Lake, Minnesota, 1875-1925. n.p., n.d.
Redekop, Calvin. "A Changing Mountain Lake." Mennonite Life 11, no. 3 (July 1956).
Schultz, F. P. A History of the Settlement of German Mennonites from Russia at Mountain Lake, Minnesota. Author, 1938.
Seventy-five years in Minnesota, 1874-1949. Mennonite Churches in Mountain Lake Community. n.p. n.d. Available in full electronic text at: https://archive.org/details/seventyfiveyears00unse_0.
J. John Friesen
Cornelius Krahn
Friesen, J. John and Cornelius Krahn. "Mountain Lake (Minnesota, USA)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. 1957. Web. 17 Jul 2019. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Mountain_Lake_(Minnesota,_USA)&oldid=163541.
Friesen, J. John and Cornelius Krahn. (1957). Mountain Lake (Minnesota, USA). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 17 July 2019, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Mountain_Lake_(Minnesota,_USA)&oldid=163541.
Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 3, pp. 760-761. All rights reserved.
©1996-2019 by the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. All rights reserved.
Retrieved from "https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Mountain_Lake_(Minnesota,_USA)&oldid=163541"


After 4 years in the market, Seedrs launched a deep report about their activity, concerning the impact of the funding managed on their platform.
253 businesses were funded through the biggest European equity crowdfunding platform between July 2012 and December 2015. Most of the operations were below 100 thousand pounds and happened last year, for mainly digital businesses.
The report shows these deals have achieved in aggregate a 14.44% non-tax-adjusted internal rate of return.
Jeff Lynn says, co-founder and CEO.
The report and the processes to calculate the numbers were all reviewed by Ernst & Young.
Seedrs has been involved in investments worth more than 100 million pounds from 75 investors in more than 38 thousand investments. Numbers reveal the investors who have built portfolios of 20 or more investments have outperformed the overall market, achieving an average 15.01% return.
Roughly, 40% of their deals have been for digital businesses, and 20% for non-digital. The remaining 40% have been hybrid digital/non-digital models. The later have performed better than pure digital and pure non-digital businesses on average, achieving an internal rate of return of 16.88%. Businesses with both B2B and B2C models have outperformed pure B2B and B2C businesses on average.
Seedrs was launched in 2012 as the first regulated equity crowdfunding platform in the world. With offices in Lisbon, London, New York and Amsterdam, it recently received an authorization to operate in any country in the European Union.
Explore the full version of the report.


Inscape Publico is one of the first three certified SEED firms! Inscape Publico was selected for our ability to work with clients and communities through collaboration and participation to create the highest level of positive impact through design, increasing the public value of each project. Certified SEED firms have the capacity to understand the greater needs of clients and communities that often lie outside of the traditional scope of the architect.
SEED is a principle-based network of individuals and organizations dedicated to building and supporting a culture of civic responsibility and engagement in the built environment and the public realm. The SEED network is part of a global movement that believes design can support a community from the ground up.


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Posted on July 19, 2018 by Zach
Auto Pilot: The Weird Al Show
Filed under Auto Pilot
If there's one thing that should unite everyone on Earth, it's the fact that Weird Al is the absolute best and his short lived Saturday morning show is no exception.
Episode Title: Bad Influence
Original Air Date: September 13, 1997
Did I Know Anything Going In?: I love all things Al (Running with Scissors was one of the first ever albums I bought) and UHF is one of my all time favorite movies. I have seen the Holiday episode of The Weird Al Show, which aired in December of 1997 and was the "Christmas" episode but was actually a celebration of literally every holiday you could possibly think of.
Al had been pitching the idea of hosting a Pee-Wee's Playhouseesque kid's show since 1984 but it took almost a decade before CBS got involved, looking for content that would let them meet new FCC regulations regarding educational programming. Al and his team and CBS apparently clashed constantly as Al and his writers had a specific and subversive sense of humor they wanted to impart on the show but the network was constantly passing back notes and censoring content. The show lasted 13 episodes and 1 season before being cancelled but, despite all the problems, it's still a hilarious show that still holds up despite a few dated pop culture references here and there. Ant-Man and The Wasp director Peyton Reed actually produced and directed every episode of the show and Wayne White, the production designer for Pee-Wee's Playhouse, came on to design the show and, while not quite as iconic as the Playhouse and it's denizens, it's still an amazing set with tons of detail and odd accents jammed into every nook and cranny.
Based on the unsurprisingly excellent theme song sung by Al (which is like an abbreviated version of his classic track Albuquerque), Al bounced between strange living spaces like a sewer and a tree and held various odd jobs, like working on a tater tot farm. He spends his entire life savings on a cave at the center of the Earth for himself and his best friend, Harvey the Wonder Hamster, and one day, while walking in the woods, he finds a man trapped in a bear trap and, after freeing him, he learns the man is a network TV executive and gives Al his own show in gratitude. In this first episode, Al is getting ready for a visit from his "cool" friend Spike, who Al is hoping will allow him to become a member of Spike's super exclusive club. Spike, played by future Alias co-star Kevin Weisman, turns out to be a super stereotypical greaser bully type, tricking and intimidating Al into doing a series of humiliating feats, like shaving one eyebrow and plunging his arms in a vat of scalding hot melted chocolate, all under the guise of what the "cool" people are doing. One of the many educational mandates for the show by CBS is that each show had to have a morality lesson for the kids watching and this episodes was about not going along with something just because it's cool and to think for yourself. Al and his team's snarky response to these forced morals was to start each episode with a narrator, played by Billy West, screaming the lesson in the most blatant way possible and then mostly ignoring it to do the skits and gags they really wanted to do. The Weird Al Show has tons of the stuff that makes UHF such a classic, with lots of strange but endearing quirks from Al and some excellent parody TV shows and commercials, like a pizza company called Pizza Quick whose big innovation is to eliminate the box (because it wastes precious seconds in the delivery process) and just sends their delivery boys running into the streets with scalding, oven hot pizza on their arms. There's also a cameo from Downtown Julie Brown, giving a rundown of what's currently cool, all of which do not apply to Al at all thanks to Spike's pranks. There's also educational video parodies, usually when Al's friend Bobby the Inquisitive Boy shows up asking about a specific topic (Bobby is played by Gary LeRoi Gray, who would later co-star or provide voices for shows like Rocket Power, Even Stevens, The Fairly OddParents and more). Eventually Spike's friend Seymour shows up, played by Patton Oswalt, who reveals to Al that there is no club and they leave Al to wallow for being so impressionable and dumb. Luckily, Bobby and Al's superhero friend Hooded Avenger (Brian Haley) arrive to cheer Al up and also The Barenaked Ladies just happen to stop by on their way to a Ren Faire and make their network television debut performing their song "Shoebox"
Despite it's shortness, The Weird Al Show has become a cult classic, like most thing Al is involved with, and it featured tons of weird and wonderful guest stars like Macho Man Randy Savage, John Tesh, Michael McKean, Alex Trebek, Fabio, Daisy Fuentes, Hanson, Dr. Demento, Dick Clark, Gilbert Gottfried, Drew Carey and many more. If you love UHF and Pee-Wee's Playhouse and have not seen The Weird Al Show, definitely do yourself a favor and head over to TubiTV and watch the entire series.
1997 autopilot barenaked ladies billy west bnl bobby the inquisitive boy cbs fake commericals first episode harvey the wonder hamster hooded avenger kevin weisman patton oswalt pee wee's playhouse peyton reed saturday morning the weird al show tubiTV tv parodies tv pilot uhf wayne white weird al
Auto Pilot: CSI
About Zach
I'm like the J. Jonah Jameson of Everything Action, writing and editing and constantly demanding pictures of Spider-Man.
View all posts by Zach →


text:
Cab Chat Daily Monday 19-11-2018
Posted by Cab Chat | Nov 19, 2018 | Cab Chat, Podcasts | 0 |
https://media.blubrry.com/listenagain/p/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/16258156/cab_chat_daily_monday_19_11_2018.mp3
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS | More
CAB CHAT IN ASSOCIATION WITH
PLAN INSURANCE 0800 542 2869 Plan Insurance
DRIVERTAX 020 8529 2600 drivertax.co.uk
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The ITA have called a series of Demos planned to start on Monday 26th November 2018 with the first planned for London Bridge on the 26th at 4pm.
This action was called in response to TFL's proposal to ban taxis from using Tooley Street.
The ITA state "where buses go we should go"
This is a series of planned action everyday until this issue is resolved.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
A private hire driver who sexually assaulted three female passengers has been sentenced yesterday at Wood Green Crown Court.
Hire Mire, 51 years old from Harrow, received two years' imprisonment to run concurrently. He was also placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years and received a Sexual Harm Prevention Order which prevents him being in the same vehicle as other females he doesn't know.
The driver can also not apply or act to be a licensed Private Hire driver or Taxi driver with any authority within England and Wales.
Mire was found guilty on Friday 9 November 2018, at Wood Green Crown Court of three offences of sexual assault by touching.
The first offence took place on 22 September 2017 in the Buckinghamshire area. Over the following two days he committed a further two offences in Surrey and Hackney.
Following a separate trial he was convicted on 9 April 2018 at Highbury Corner Magistrates Court of two offences of section 4a Public Order. These two offences involved speaking to lone female passengers in a sexual manner, making them feel intimidated and vulnerable.
The first of these incidents took place on 22 May 2017 in Camden; the second on 22 September 2017 in the Buckinghamshire area.
Police were informed by Transport for London in October 2017 that Mire had been responsible for the assault on 24 September in Hackney. The female had made a complaint to the private hire company who in turn informed TfL. An investigation was launched by officers from the Met's Taxi and Private Hire Policing Team.
In each of the incidents Mire targeted lone females. He would either sexually touch them or make sexual remarks of a graphic nature. In one case, after trying to grab the victim's hand and speaking to her in a suggestive manner he made 21 attempts to contact her via her mobile phone after she gave into his demands that she hand over her phone number.
Florida Uber driver allegedly solicited sex, or "a sexual favor," from a passenger that requested a ride to work via the ride-sharing app. The passenger reportedly canceled the request after receiving the indecent proposal from the driver but made sure to report the incident to Uber.
Matthew Marston of Orlando, Florida, reportedly hailed an Uber around 3 a.m. earlier this week. His driver allegedly then messaged him before pick-up with the offer of riding for free if he performed a sexual favor.
"Hey, I'll give you a free ride if you let me [redacted]," the driver allegedly told Marston, according to NBC 2 WESH.
"I was shocked. It felt uncomfortable," Marston told the channel. "Of course I canceled the Uber. But I was uncomfortable calling another Uber. You know, I was thinking about calling out of work."
Marston followed by hailing a second ride but was still issued a $5 cancellation fee for his first ride.
"It was a five dollar fee for canceling it," Marston added. "That's why I've been trying to get in contact with them [Uber]."
LONDON (Reuters) – Uber Technologies has hired an ex-adviser to former British prime minister David Cameron to lead the ride-hailing firm's lobbying efforts in northern Europe, less than a month after the company won a reprieve to operate in London.
The U.S. company has appointed Adam Atashzai as its head of policy for northern Europe, which includes the UK and countries in the Nordics and Benelux, an Uber spokesman told Reuters. His role will include engaging with governments as well as academics and charities, the spokesman said. Atashzai declined to comment.
The appointment comes after Uber recently moved to improve strained relations in the British capital as it faced the threat of a ban in its most important European market.
Atashzai is currently a partner at Finsbury, a public relations firm owned by WPP, and was previously deputy political director to Cameron. He left politics following Cameron's resignation in the wake of the June 2016 EU referendum and joined Finsbury later that year.
Taxi App have promised every driver £13.60 per month subs if they manage to attract 500 new drivers by the end of November.
A driver on Twitter replied by saying you need someone out there selling it to the public, you won't keep drivers without any work.
A cabby on FaceBook has posted, that a London MP he picked advised him:
"TfL have no intention of getting London's traffic moving again, the current congestion is contrived at the highest level within TfL and share holders of a certain construction maintenance company appear to be making a killing."
He went on to say: Top officers in TfL should be investigated to see if they have any financial conflict of interest in this gridlock madness."
Chris Johnson still needs to raise £4000 through his crowdfunding efforts for his employment claim against My Taxi.
If the target of £15,000 is not met within the next 10 days then the case will be unable to go ahead.
A preliminary court date has been set for the 8th January 2019.
Chris needs to raise a total of £18,000 by the end of December for this case to proceed, Chris said if the target is not reached there will not be the money to pay the barristers to represent him at the employment tribunal.
You can find Chris's crowdfunding page at https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/mytaxi/
And our very own Joe Lewis and Jon Cox have released a Christmas Single called Christmas just ain't Christmas without you.
You will be able to hear the song on ou Weekly show this Wednesday.
The track will be available for download from Monday 26th November from iTunes and all major outlets.
We will post a link to download the track when it becomes available.
Events in London this weekend kindly supplied by Sherbet London
Gary Numan at the Royal Albert Hall finish time approx 22:30.
The Dead Daisies at the o2 Academy Islington finish time approx 22:00.
Christine and the Queens at the Apollo Hammersmith finish time approx 22:30
Verdi Requiem at the Royal Albert Hall finish time approx 22:15.
Metric at o2 Forum Kentish Town finish time approx 22:30.
Hothouse Flowers at the 02 Shepherds Bush Empire finish time approx 22:30.
Lil Pump at the Brixton Academy Brixton finish time approx 22:30.
The next Cab Chat Pie & Mash Club meet is on Monday 17th December at Pie & Mash Welling in Upper Wickham Lane, Welling at 1pm, all are welcome to come along and meet the team and enjoy some traditional London Fayre.
Email: admin@cabchatshow.uk
http://cabchatshow.uk
Cab Chat is a podcast about London and it World Famous Taxi Drivers, taking a light-hearted and humorous look at what's going on in London
PreviousThe Mick The Brit Brodcast 16-11-2018
NextAsher Moses Interview Nov 2018 by Cab Chat
The Cab Chat Show E214 17-07-2019
Stakeholders – SuperCabby Podcast S2E01
Cab Chat Show E221 16-10-2019


If you are an owner, trainer or supervisor, join them on Wednesday, October 12, 2011 at 2:00 PM ET for Maintenance Team Training and Motivation. Click here to reserve your spot now. Let's Talk Training is always free of charge, so it will fit nicely into your training budget!


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Karamo Brown
In Conversation with Sam Sanders
Mar 6, 2019 • 7:00 pm
This program does not include a book signing. All books will be pre-signed by the author.
When Karamo Brown first auditioned for Netflix's "Queer Eye," he knew he wouldn't win the role of culture expert by discussing art and theater. Instead he decided to redefine what "culture" could mean for the show as how people feel about themselves and others, how they relate to the world, and how shared labels and experiences affect daily lives.
In Karamo: My Story of Embracing Purpose, Healing, and Hope he shares his story for the first time, exploring how the challenges in his own life have allowed him to transform the lives of those in need. Trained as a social worker and psychotherapist, Karamo overcame colorism, physical and emotional abuse, and alcohol and drug addiction.
By exploring difficulties, Karamo feels that the makeovers on "Queer Eye" can attain their full, lasting meaning. Styling your hair and getting new clothes is important, but figuring out why you haven't done so in twenty years can truly change your life.
Reflecting on the lessons he has learned along the way, the gay, single father of two shares his story to help others adjust their mindsets, heal emotionally, and move forward to live their best lives. In conversation with Sam Sanders, a reporter and host of It's Been a Minute with Sam Sanders at NPR.
More Info: Author's Website, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube
Jan 25, 2021 • 7:00 pm
Charles Blow
In Conversation with Laura Barrón-López
Feb 8, 2021 • 7:00 pm
In Conversation with Admiral (Ret.) William H. McRaven and First Sergeant U.S. Army (Ret.) Matt Eversmann
Chani Nicholas
In Conversation with Fatimah Asghar
Feb 17, 2021 • 7:00 pm
In Conversation with Rashida Jones
Shankar Vedantam
In Conversation with David Greene
Julia Turshen
Mari Andrew
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The staple dishes of the restaurant are, or course, gator! The Gator Tail Bites are amazing. Each bit has the perfect amount of seasoning, and the secret Sawgrass Sauce adds that special something to make the dish truly unique! If you are feeling a bit more daring, try the Gator Bite Tacos! They are nothing like your traditional taco, as the main meat is gator and coleslaw is strewn over it before the amazing Sawgrass Sauce is drizzled over the top. Either dish is delicious and will make your mouth water in anticipation of the next bite! If you want a bit more than the main course, be sure to add some fries!
For those that aim to stay on the more traditional lunch route, the Glades Burger is something delightful to sink your teeth into! It is an Angus beef burger that is typically served with tomato, lettuce, onion, pickles, and the signature Sawgrass Sauce to top it off. Of course, you can mix it up adding or removing any toppings that you'd like. The fresh Kaser bun seals the deal, making it a winning pick! The Chicken Tender Sandwich is also an awesome choice. It is simple, and uses lettuce and tomato toppings to tantalize your taste buds!
If seafood is what your after, there are also a couple choices for you! The Mahi Fish Sandwich is a great dish to dive into! The fish is grilled just enough and served on a bun. As with most other dishes, it has the secret Sawgrass Sauce, lettuce, onion, and tomato. In addition to the Mahi Fish Sandwich, you also have the option of Mahi Fish Tacos. Just as the Gator Bite Tacos are served, these ones also have the crispy coleslaw and Sawgrass Sauce.
When it comes to the little ones, "Snappy Meals' are sure to delight! Hot dogs are chicken tenders are the main courses to choose from, and applesauce, cookies, and water or apple juice are included. It even comes in a gator themed box! If they want a souvenir, a Snappy Cup can be used multiple times and will remind them of their adventure for years to come!
Other options including pork and cold cuts are also available, as only the most popular dishes are mentioned above. Fries can be added to any meal for a small charge, and they are certainly worth it. The appetizer options are also great, especially the chili. For the best of both worlds, try the chili fries with cheese!
Gator Grill is the go-to restaurant near the Everglades Tours, as a family of four can easily eat for under $40.00! There are many different combinations to choose from, and it will definately be hard to decide what you would like to order! You will be tempted to try a bite or two of your family members selections, too! Everything is fresh, delicious, and made to your liking!
If you just can't get enough of the Gator Grill during your time at Sawgrass, consider them when choosing a catering company for your next event. Not only will you be satiated with the selections, but your guests will have the opportunity to try the amazing foods as well!


Evergreen Insurance understands that dental coverage is an essential employee benefit. For most employers, dental plans are a relatively low-cost, high-value benefit that can help them attract and retain quality employees, decrease missed work hours, provide diagnostic opportunities and reduce overall health risks.
Our team of benefit specialists work with companies to design dental programs that add tremendous value for employees without adding substantial costs to employers. We offer a variety of group dental products from all of the leading insurance carriers.


David Griffiths: Introduction to Electrodynamics Here are my solutions to various problems in David J. Griffiths's excellent textbook Introduction to Electrodynamics, Third Edition . Obviously I can't offer any guarantee that all the solutions are actually correct , but I've given them my best shot.
quantum mechanics by david griffiths solution manual free download Get Read & Download Ebook quantum mechanics by david griffiths solution manual free download as PDF for free at The Biggest ebook library in the world.
Introduction to Electrodynamics, 4th Edition; Introduction to Elementary Particles; Introduction to Quantum Mechanics, 2nd edition; We are going to discuss the salient features of Introduction to Thermodynamics 4th ed. by David J. Griffiths.


Fifth wall design tip #2 Paint the fifth wall to provide a compelling color accent for the room. In the HGTV® Smart Home 2017, designer Tiffany Brooks painted the ceilings in the master bathroom and closet a rich, chocolate brown for dramatic effect. VELUX skylights add natural light that make this dramatic color accent pop. Fifth wall design tip #3 Leave exposed beams natural, paint them in a contrasting color or paint them the same color as your fifth wall for architectural interest above. Exposed beams combined with skylights can also create interesting shadow patterns as the sun traverses the sky. Fifth wall design tip #4 Go a step further and apply wallpaper to the fifth wall for an overhead pattern that speaks to similar designs found in upholstery, pillows or rugs below.


A study released last week showed that just 30% of self-pay accounts, comprised primarily of patients who are uninsured, have generated 80% of self-pay revenue for hospitals.
That's certainly a lopsided statistic, one made especially significant by the ballooning uninsured rate.
But what should revenue cycle executives do—in a practical sense—with that finding?
HealthLeaders posed that question to Dave Wojczynski, president of TransUnion Healthcare, which conducted the analysis.
"Assuming all patients have the same ability and willingness to pay their bills is no longer an effective collections strategy," he said via email.
Instead, revenue cycle leaders need to work hard at figuring out which patients are most likely to pay their bill and which will toss their bill into the trash repeatedly.
"Propensity to pay and charity scoring are tools to stratify the bad debt portfolio into the appropriate payment categories," Wojczynski says. "Providers must identify those accounts with an ability and willingness to pay accurately and efficiently to drive collections and, ultimately, revenue yield."
The analysis also yielded other findings, including one that Wojczynski believes is especially relevant for revenue cycle leaders: An increase in PBAI (patient balances after insurance) from 8% to 12% over a five-year period.
This finding is "compelling" because it "points to the growing trend of the patient as the payer," Wojczynski says.
However, continuing with "billing-as-usual" isn't going to cut it.
"Traditional billing on a disengaged patient, after discharge, will result in continued challenges in uncompensated care," he says.
There are lots of ways to shift away from traditional billing and boost engagement.
For instance, an increasing number of providers are offering text-based billing options and and giving patients a "retail-like experience" for point-of-service payments. They're also taking steps to improve front-end collections.
Others are learning that by making billing easier and more convenient by allowing patients to choose what kind of communication they prefer (text, email, or paper, for instance), they can actually boost collections in the long run.
"Engaging patients early to protect earned revenue will be critical in providers' patient experience and loyalty initiatives to drive volume and revenue from positive patient payment experiences," Wojczynski says.
Stratify the bad debt portfolio using propensity-to-pay and charity-scoring tools.
Shift away from traditional billing to engage patients who are unlikely to pay.
Create positive patient payment experiences to drive volume and revenue.


Volvo L110H and L120H wheel loaders were developed to boost productivity and lower costs for operators.
Whether it's the L120H for increased load capacity or the L110H for smaller movements onsite, the machines take advantage of equipment supplier CJD's authorised partnership with Volvo CE. This is also bolstered by nationwide branches of dealers and service agents.
With low energy consumption, ease of use and durability, the machines leverage Volvo's 180 years of experience as a leading construction equipment provider.
The machine's unique OptiShift technology works to reduce fuel consumption by up to 18 per cent and increase machine performance. A reverse by braking function senses the loader's direction and slows the machine when the operator needs to change direction. It does so by reducing engine revolutions and applying service brakes automatically, while increasing operator comfort and reducing stress on the drive train.
Productivity, reliability and power is delivered by a premium Volvo Tier 4 Final/Stage IV engine, which meets emissions regulations and offers high performance and low fuel consumption.
A spacious, safe and quiet environment unlocks productivity with all-round visibility and a comfortable seat. Within the cab is twin level control for ease of operation, an information panel with vital information such as fuel levels and warnings and safe access via a three-point access ladder with anti-slip steps.


We all have important documents that impact the order and planning of our lives now and in the future – like life insurance, home insurance, wills, advance directives – you get the idea. And because circumstances have a funny way of changing, it's important that we keep up with these guiding documents (and not just the Kardashians) and update them periodically to reflect what's occurred as we navigate this thing called life.
Well, guess what? This also applies to the review of your nonprofit's important "governing" documents, developed when your organization was first established to direct how it should conduct its business and mission work. They include things like the articles of incorporation, a public document with basic information about the organization and its membership structure; bylaws, which lay out rules and procedures and are considered the organization's legal guide; and other governing documents like policies and procedures.
And who is responsible for periodic reviews of these important guiding documents? Your board. Best practice says the board should review governing instruments at least every five years. And while the board can delegate some of this review to a smaller committee, the entire board is responsible for considering and acting on the committee's recommendations.
Let's say your board members significantly amend your nonprofit's governing documents. They'll need to report those changes as a part of information filed annually with the IRS (and perhaps with state regulatory agencies, as well). In most cases, state attorneys general can hold boards accountable for failing to follow charter documents. So your board would be well advised to amend guiding documents it's no longer following because they've become dated or are no longer feasible tout de suite. Your board also needs to file the revised versions with the state (sometimes court approval of modifications is required).
Want more resources? Check out Independent Sector's Principles Resources Center.
Would you like to share additional resources that support Principle 18? Tell us about them in the comments section below, along with other thoughts that might benefit our readers. You can also use #npethics on social media.


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Peyronelina är ett släkte av svampar. Peyronelina ingår i familjen Niaceae, ordningen Agaricales, klassen Agaricomycetes, divisionen basidiesvampar och riket svampar.

Källor

Basidiesvampar
Peyronelina

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Can you imagine spending a week with the FBI ?
Reading is fun hour is in its seventh year of sharing the love of reading to eager young minds!
Reading books on virtues, ethics, patriotic history and leadership can encourage our youth to make the right choices and become successful adults and community leaders!
The Reading is Fun Hour is designed to encourage elementary age youngsters to read...PERIOD! Our goal is to pick books that stress and promote positive self-esteem and confidence in kids of all backgrounds.
Both Beth Bailey and Marilynn Vallori are the directors for the FBI –Reading is Fun program. The two schools participating are North Miami Elementary, and our newer one, Colonial Drive Elementary. We would like to expand the program and are working with other Alumni to do so. The team works in conjunction with both the Principals and the Media Specialists to identify a monthly reading. Typically, this outreach is on Thursdays and last 1-2 hours depending on member participation. For school year 2019, our goal is to increase participation of readers to the program. Studies have shown that reading aloud to young children not only stimulates language and cognitive skills, but also, builds motivation, curiosity and memory. Please join us and be a part of making a difference to a young reader!
Akhil Bhandare is our reading is fun program director for the Broward initiative. His group has continued to partner with Mirror Lake Elementary school in Plantation this past year. Many thanks to Mr. Howard Kahn for being such a great participant in the program and the kids love him.
Hicham Moujahid is the program director for Broward's afterschool ESOL reading program.
The FBI Miami Citizens Academy Alumni Association is a nonprofit organization separate and apart from the FBI.


I have three sons ages twenty-four, twenty, and three. The thing I love about boys is they adore their mom. My approval of them matters and I forget sometimes that my disapproval hits the heart of a boy.
I've been reminded of this after raising another young boy after having big guys around the house. After adopting Casey last year, we went through months and months of therapy to build a bond. When he first came to our home, Casey could care less what I thought of him (or his actions!). He did what he did because he wanted to.
His favorite thing was dumping. Dumping a gallon of milk on the floor. Dumping all the laundry detergent. Dumping every bucket of toys he could find. Sigh.
As our bond was built, Casey's actions changed too. When he was choosing whether or not to dump toys, his decisions were based on more than just the fun factor. He looked to me–his mom–and learned to seek my approval.
I started thinking about the importance of this recently because every time Casey disobeyed and hat to face consequences, he asked me the question, " Do you still love me?" I don't know where he got that from, but I know his concern is genuine.
If any kid understands this, it's this one. He is a child that has come from a "hard place." In the first two years of his life he moved six times for "placements." Even though he could hardly talk, he'd learned a lot in his young life. "I better be good or I'm going to have to go to another home." The truth is that none of the chances in his placements had to do with his obedience–but try explaining that to a young heart still trying to figure out this world.
Yes, we get frustrated. Yes, we sometimes are short with our boys. But even on those days when we keep calm and react as we should, the worry and fear still rises up in our sons' heart.
Because of my littlest son's question, I'm doing better and reminding him often–with my words as much as my deeds–of my love.
Here's your breakfast…do you remember I love you?
Let's go for a walk…I love being with you, and I love you.
That was not a good choice, and you have to be disciplined…but I love you all the same.
I guarantee this is a concern deep in every boy's heart, but thankfully today your words–your assurance of your love–can make all the difference, today and every day of your son's life.
Even though you show love often, your son needs to hear you verbally express your love.
Your son looks to you for approval. Try to praise ten times more often than you discipline. Make sure your praise is built on their real-life actions.
Even though my son is rough and tough, please remind me often how tender his heart is. Remind me often of your love for me, as a mom, and help me relate my love so my son will grow to understand your love even more. Amen.
What are three things (real-life actions) you could praise your son for right now?
What's your biggest struggle when it comes to verbally expressing your love for your son?
What is one action step you are going to take this week to better express your love for your son?
I really appreciate this post, since this is something it took me a while to discover as a boy mom. Yes, my boys are rough and tough, but they are still sensitive little souls who seek my approval. I forget that in the midst of the noise and dirt sometimes. Thank you for the reminder. I especially like the point about assuring them of my love even when I need to scold them. Mine will not verbalize, "Do you still love me?" but I'm sure the thought is there. I will do better at that.
A phrase I have used is, "Because I love you, I want to teach you right from wrong and I'm not being a good mom if I don't correct this behavior." Other reminders like, "No matter what, I will always love you," and "I might not love your actions/attitude/mess, but nothing will change my love for YOU." It's an important message to convey…kudos for the efforts to insure your guy with a tough start can take such words to heart.
SO good, thank you!! I see this in all four of my boys in different ways. Even my oldest (nearing 15) kind of stalls before bed each night b/c I know he is waiting for a goodnight hug. 🙂 I love it, but I can pretty easily miss it. Well said, aloha!


Cook Pasta as per package instructions. Also add peas to it.If the peas is frozen then add 2 minutes before cooking completes.Mix together cheese and corn starch. This avoids the cheese from being too stringy.
Heat butter in a pan.As it starts to melt lower the gas and add pasta peas combo first and then milk to it.Mix to coat well.Add cheese -cornstarch mixture.Mix well.Top with grated parmesan cheese.Add salt and pepper.Serve hot.
Pasta looks yummy. Nice pic.


Mothers Day Decor. The perfect Happy Mother's Day Banner for a Mothers Day Luncheon, wish all the Mother's in your life a great day with this gorgeous Happy Mother's Day Banner. Perfect to take a photo on Mother's day or to hang over your lunch table.


Re: Facebook fan page or group?
Fan pages are very very good source of providing traffic to the website.
I think Facebook Fanpage is very helpful. also just go through some post. really nice. Thank you for sharing.
It's better to have fan page, you can still make use of the group since you can do your advertisement there. Join more groups!
I think Facebool Group is more effective than Page. I have 3 Groups and there are so many users in that. Thank you.
Group is great, you just have to come up with an idea on how to make it a lot viral. The discussions on the group is great. With fan page, you are able to gain extra likes and followers, then that is still good:) Two are equally great!
i like fan page,i have fan page on facebook.1000 member is on my page.i am enjoy that.
so use it according to your needed.
There are difference between Facebook Page or Group & both works different on their way but I personally think Facebook Group is best than Page... There are many active members in Group those always post something new in Group it means, Group Membes are active but on Faceboo fan page.
Peoples just like page & don't pay much attention toward page.
All members will love joining the group because they can share information with each other.
fantpage:You have to be the content builder-It gives results for the higher order,very time consuming.
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