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Maintaining an ecofriendly supply chain puts the 'eco' in economics.
By sean moores on July 28, 2016
In supply chain management, it often all comes down to the financial bottom line. So how does a health system balance environmental responsibility with the challenges of ensuring ready and affordable access to the materials and equipment necessary for its day-to-day operations?
Health systems trying to minimize their impact on the environment while lowering costs and retaining a competitive advantage are finding it is possible to create a sustainable supply chain and still be responsive to financial obligations.
Justin Graves, interim director of materials management, logistics and sustainability and leader of the green team at the University of Maryland Medical Center, acknowledges that purchasing is often driven by clinical need and cost savings, but the hospital is seeing success incorporating sustainability into its supply chain.
Through its environmentally preferable purchasing plan, UMMC works toward responsible use of resources by sourcing safer and more earth-friendly products and reducing overall waste in its system. Participating in Practice Greenhealth's Greening the Supply Chain Initiative, the medical center has implemented a green cleaning policy and integrated sustainability principles into its product value analysis process.
"Value analysis is the process we vet all of our products through. We look at all implications—financial, logistical, waste, total downstream cost of the item and environmental impact," said Graves.
While environmental issues are in mind when creating a sustainable supply chain, all businesses, even not-for-profit hospitals, must keep their eyes on the bottom line. In a free market economy, there are always other businesses that are more than happy to supply services cheaper and faster.
"When you're a billion-plus dollar organization you have to be very serious about where you spend your money. A couple of wrong turns and you can be out of business," said Karl Blomback, vice president of supply chain, decision support, business intelligence, distribution, receiving and charge master at Hackensack University Medical Center.
Companies can't give up their competitive advantage to become sustainable or they won't be in business for long. There must be tangible benefits from green supply chain initiatives in addition to environmental conservation.
The good news is that there is often a direct financial benefit to creating a sustainable supply chain beyond the positive public perception that comes with being ecofriendly. Sustainability can help direct purchasing decisions in a way that will provide benefits for both the business and the environment.
No More Burning Through Budgets
HackensackUMC was one of the first hospitals in the country to implement a policy banning flame retardants in furniture. It was not only safer for the environment, it was also 30 percent cheaper. On one $260,000 project, the hospital saved $50,000 by going flame retardant free, said Kyle Tafuri, senior sustainability advisor at HackensackUMC.
And that is just one example. From purchasing more energy-efficient equipment to eliminating waste, there are many areas where hospitals can save money through a sustainable supply chain. "A big part of what we have been doing in the past few years is looking for items that can be recycled and reused," said UMC's Graves, "and that is one less item we have to manage in our waste stream and pay for."
Single-use medical devices that would once have been sent directly to the landfill are now often cleaned, disassembled, tested, sharpened, sterilized and repackaged. "You have to see past what the vendor is saying because they want their sales. As soon as I can feel comfortable that they are cleaning something as well as a brand new item, I'm all for it," said HackensackUMC's Blomback. "It may hurt their sales, but it helps us in a financial way and keeps waste out of landfills."
HackensackUMC in Hackensack, New Jersey, achieved great success using metrics to track sustainable progress.
Medical device reprocessing has allowed HackensackUMC to reduce medical waste by approximately 13,000 pounds in 2015 and to cut medical waste by 50 percent in addition to the significant financial benefit on the device itself: Reprocessed medical devices are often half the price of that same item new.
Monitoring is essential to the success of a sustainable supply chain. Metrics can illustrate in clear, easy-to-understand ways both the success of a sustainable supply chain and areas where more work is needed. Metrics can also help quantify just how much money particular sustainability initiatives are adding to benefiting the bottom line.
"Metrics help us get a sense of where we stand now and how we are progressing. When we present this to leadership we want to be concise and to the point. Numbers can tell the story much more quickly," said Tafuri.
HackensackUMC tracks metrics in-house, but it has also hired an outside company that collects information from its vendors and produces eye-friendly reports broken down by vendor and product category.
But metrics are not only useful in convincing senior management of the benefits of sustainability; they can also help motivate front-line employees to do their part in making the sustainable supply chain a success by showing them how their small part in the sustainability chain affects the system as a whole. "The supply chain is big and involves multiple pieces and people," said Graves. He knows not everyone is as attuned as others, and aligning priorities is everyone's challenge.
For example, everyone wants to protect the environment in abstract terms, but when a nurse on
7 South chooses to put a potentially repurposable item in a reprocessing bin instead of the trash or a red bag and learns that through the efforts of like-minded individuals, the hospital as a whole has kept thousands of pounds of waste out of a landfill, it makes them a stakeholder in the sustainable supply chain and they are more likely to feel pride in the hospital's sustainability efforts and take that extra step in the future.
UMMC produces reports tailored to individual items and hospital units. For example, a pulse oximeter has the most savings potential. The hospital is able to break collections down by each nursing unit and see how many were used and how many were collected.
"If you look at it globally, it's hard to appreciate their influence on the numbers, but if you break it down to the local level that staff can see and associate with their area, it is very effective to drive compliance," said Graves. And it's been successful. Collection compliance in January 2016 for that device was 49 percent; by April the numbers were up to 61 percent. "We've shown steady improvement," said Graves.
The Importance of Open Communications
With the large number of items in a hospital's supply chain, how does a supply chain manager decide which areas to focus on? Safer chemicals are always a priority because of patient safety, said Tafuri, and reducing waste is an easy target because all businesses want to save money. "We also work with Practice Greenhealth to see what the major priorities are."
UMMC has a list of particular chemicals they are concerned about, including no-go chemicals like mercury. "We are always asking if a safer alternative exists," said Graves. Reprocessing is a major source of savings, but it is limited to what the reprocessor has been approved by the FDA to reprocess. "We compare a reprocessor's list with what we actually use. If it is on their list and we use it, we reprocess it," said Graves.
But meeting goals can be problematic because of the difficulty in discovering exactly what is green, said Graves. "Manufacturer claims need to be validated, and with 80,000 products in the medical center, it's difficult to evaluate all of them for environmental attributes." UMMC's group purchasing organization helps with this. They try to discover what is actually green and who is making the claim.
It also helps to have a dedicated sustainable supply chain leader who can see and understand all aspects of the process. Cost reductions associated with greening the supply chain can fund dedicated positions whose expertise can recognize and implement policies that can drive further cost reductions.
"In many ways, sustainability can be self-funded internally with savings we see from medical waste reductions and recycling. Those savings are how we have justified the cost of having a sustainability position that can manage resources and suppliers more efficiently," said Graves.
A sustainable approach requires cooperation and collaboration not only internally, from management and between departments, but also externally from suppliers, distributors and all phases of the supply chain.
Having a sustainable supply chain also affects a hospital's relationship with its supplier, said Graves. "We push back when they are presenting a new product; it becomes part of the conversation."
For example, packaging has brought big savings. "We just have to throw it away," he said. "Less packaging is better for the environment and less we both have to pay to dispose of." Graves said they have had success on reducing packaging and also points out the great success that the entire health care sector has had convincing suppliers to provide safer chemicals.
Tafuri agrees and adds that implementing a sustainable supply chain requires more open lines of communication and in some cases, closer relationships with all parts of the supply chain. HackensackUMC's GPO helped convince suppliers and distributors to be more receptive to the hospital's needs. The purchasing department green team brings in companies to discuss sustainability. Both sides give presentations on their sustainability programs and they learn from each other. One of HackensackUMC's vendors is even onsite a couple of times a week helping with education on proper waste disposal.
Using a supply chain model that values social and environmental concerns can certainly help protect natural resources and safeguard the environment, but it is more than that. It affects all partners in the supply chain, as well as influencing all departments in a medical center and having a profound effect on patient care. It offers an opportunity to cut costs, improve efficiency and enhance public relations.
"Some initiatives that save money may cost a little bit more, but you want to do things the right way. Sustainability is in line with our principles and mission as a hospital," said Tafuri.
Karl Blomback Really Hates Waste
"I'm one of those guys who goes into a restaurant and says 'don't give me that bag because all I'm going to do is turn around and throw it away,'" said Karl Blomback, Hackensack University Medical Center's vice president of supply chain.
And while he's always hated to see a waste of resources, he wasn't always sold on green sustainability initiatives. Blomback's primary job is to reduce cost in his organization, and his initial perception was that going green would take a lot of work and yield very little return. He was also involved in some reprocessing at a previous job that was not very successful.
Soon, however, he realized that often hospitals had no idea what their costs were. And after transitioning into supply chain and seeing the waste and expense, he recalls thinking, "Someone with some common sense could really make a difference."
Once he saw that making the supply chain more sustainable was not only better for the environment and patients, but could actually save money in many areas, Blomback got the hospital's executive leadership engaged in sustainability and convinced them to create a sustainability network.
HackensackUMC's Senior Sustainability Advisor Kyle Tafuri is Blomback's biggest fan. "Karl saves a lot of money for the hospital," said Tafuri. "He's very supportive of the purchasing department green team and allows us the freedom to be part of these initiatives and to succeed."
And the feelings are mutual. Blomback gives a lot of credit to his green team and Tafuri. "When you have someone who is so passionate about it, it makes it a lot easier for you. If all he needs is a little of my support, and I can move obstacles out of the way or get a company in here and negotiate the contract, I'm happy to do it. It's good for the environment and good for the hospital."
Having high-level buy-in for sustainable supply chain management was just
what the team at HackensackUMC needed.


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Legally Mated (MM Gay Mpreg Romance)
Mercy Hills Pack, Book 5
By: Ann-Katrin Byrde
Narrated by: Nick J. Russo
Series: Mercy Hills Pack, Book 5
Categories: LGBTQ+, Romance
The Omega's Alpha
Barren, unwanted - a lot of omegas would have given up. But not Holland. Tired of living down to others' opinions, he reaches for something more and seduces the new alpha, only to fall so far in love he can't see the moon for the trees. Quin's ghosts won't leave him alone. He lives like a ghost himself, but Holland's shining light gives him courage to reach for healing and, maybe, a family.
Thoroughly Enjoyable
By BJones on 10-21-19
A Tale from the Mercy Hills Universe
Ori and Patton have been best friends since they were pups. But growing up changes everything - Ori must settle on an alpha to mate, while Patton takes on the beta's work of maintaining the walled enclave their pack lives within. They try to make the best of it, until a wealthy suitor comes calling for Ori, and they realize neither of them can face a future without the other. And on a moonless night, Ori and Patton escape over the enclave walls, breaking both shifter and human law in their determination to reach the sanctuary of Mercy Hills.
A Daring Escape with Sweet Love
By L.D. on 02-14-20
Duke's Baby Deal
Bram wants more. He wants adventure, excitement, romance, and something different than looking after pups for the rest of his life. He flirts and teases with all the alphas, but the one he wants, he can't figure out how to get. Until one of his more dangerous suitors goes too far and Bram finds himself in a situation that could ruin him for life. Duke steps in with an offer of a respectable mating, and everything Bram wanted is somehow now within reach. But all gifts come with trials, and both Duke and Bram have difficult paths to tread on the way to happiness.
Love this series.
By MisMissyC on 07-19-21
Mercy Hills Pack - Bundle One
Books 1 - 3 Plus Extras
Come explore the world of Mercy Hills and the lives of the shifters who live among us. Watch as they struggle against oppression and prejudice, yet still find their way to love and happiness and strange new friendships within the walled enclaves that make up their home. This bundle contains the first three books of the epic urban fantasy series, and four never-before-seen bonus stories that explore life both inside and outside the enclaves.
By Gabrielle on 12-04-20
Mating the Omega
Mercy Hills Pack, Volume 1
Omega wolf Jason and his family have been on the run for six years, to keep Jason from being forcefully mated to his pack's cruel Alpha. When a brutal attack leaves his father desperately injured, Jason comes to the conclusion that it's time to call it quits. Terrified as he is to deliver himself into an Alpha's power, he makes a deal to mate with the Alpha of the richest pack in the country, and discovers that he'd rather mate the Alpha's handsome Head of Security.
Beyond my wildest expectations!
By Jensine28 on 08-15-17
Abel's Omega
Bax is desperate. Recently widowed, he takes his pups and flees his pack to avoid a new mate who wants him - but not his babies. At Mercy Hills, he finds the help he'd hoped for, but also a man who both attracts and unnerves him. He doesn't want another alpha mate, or even any mate, though he knows an omega has to have one. But Abel is unlike any other alpha he's ever met, and the hope that had been crushed out of him begins to grow again in the warmth of Abel's kindness and strength.
Great Shifter series that I'm obsessed with!
By Tammy on 08-30-18
Oceanport Omegas
Complete Series Bundle
Narrated by: John Solo
This non-shifter mpreg bundle includes all six books of the Oceanport Omegas series, as well as several bonus scenes to round out your experience of the story. Full of love, babies, puppies, and romance, these stories are guaranteed to leave you with a warm feeling this fall.
The full cast 🥰
Mercy Hills Pack Extras
Short Story Collection Two
These stories have already been published as part of the second Mercy Hills Bundle so if you've already bought the bundle, you already have these stories. If you bought Alpha's Omega, Legally Mated, and Sanctuary as single titles, this audiobook contains the bonus stories that were included in that bundle, to make your collection complete!
Was Great Catch up
By FIDO on 07-14-20
Blood Legacy Chronicles
By: Susi Hawke
Narrated by: Drew Bacca
The Blood Legacy Chronicles is an mpreg shifter series like you've never seen before. The adventurous journey begins in book one, where the portal that separates our realm from that of Fae is broken. Over the course of the series, the legacy pack is slowly brought together and given the monumental task of fixing the rift and saving our world before the Fae come back to beguile, trick, maim, and kill. A beguiling mix of fun, fantasy, friendship and family, this series will take your breath away.
A great bundle!
By LacrYmosa Wolford on 05-20-20
Other parents give their children toys and party games for their birthday. My dad gave me and my siblings wooden stakes and flash grenades. To protect us from vampires. From the moment he adopted us, he warned us about the dangers that lurk in the dark. Obviously, I thought he was crazy. Vampires aren't real, and I was already enduring enough panic attacks without buying into dad's insane ideas. But then I met Talon.
Mpreg and Vampires!
By JKS on 12-25-19
The Outcast Chronicles Complete Series
By: Crista Crown, Harper B. Cole
Narrated by: Kenneth Obi
The Outcast Chronicles is an epic mpreg shifter series that takes a small, rag-tag team of bounty hunters and turns them into a tight-knit pack of found family, fighting a war that started centuries ago...but will end with them. This bundle includes all six books from the series, including four brand-new, never been seen epilogues that happen years after the ending.
Fun shifter stories
By MagicalAM on 11-13-20
By: Crista Crown, and others
Alphabits: The Complete Series
By: Susi Hawke, Crista Crown
Narrated by: John Solo, Kirt Graves
Lost. Stolen. Forgotten...until the Alphabits step in. Seven audiobooks, four epilogues, one complete volume! Join the Alphabits on seven separate missions while they rescue shifter kids in danger, find true love, and discover what it means to be part of a team...and a family. The Alphabits aren't vigilantes. These former soldiers and officers of the law have to do things by the book - even when it tears them apart to do so. But once all their ducks are in a row, the bad guys had better beware! You do not want this team of protective alphas on your tail.
By Latecia M Jennings on 09-01-20
By: Susi Hawke, and others
Short Story Collection One
A collection of short stories set in the Mercy Hills Universe. One extra story for each of the first three novels in the series, plus one extra - the story of a rambunctious, kind, and determined alpha shifter from way up north, who we'll be seeing again in a later book.
A collection filled with love and heart
By Zizawah on 07-14-20
Love Bleeds
Thicker than Water, Book 2
I used to think vampires were the stuff of fiction. Now my brother has a baby with fangs and there's bottles of blood in our fridge, so obviously, I was wrong about that. It's not the only thing I was wrong about, either. I'm a nerd, I'm supposed to be smart, but honestly? I'm starting to realize I can be pretty darn clueless. For one, I never realized that my best friend was in love with me. Not until after he died in a vampire attack. To protect me. His death shattered my whole world. Seeing him again is like a miracle. Even if he has fangs now.
A sweet friends to lovers vampire romance!
By RACHEL REED on 11-10-20
Hunter's Haven
A Wolf Shifter Mpreg Romance Bundle
By: Liam Kingsley
Narrated by: J. Bordeaux
Being the CEO of Infinity Gaming means that I've got a lot on my plate - and I'm so close to success on this shifter dating app I can taste it. I'm hoping that my new developer can work miracles with this code…but I'm not prepared for the temptation he works on my heart.
Mates and babies!
By April Reads and Listens on 06-06-20
Line Mates & Study Dates
CU Hockey Series, Book 4
By: Eden Finley, Saxon James
Narrated by: Alexander Cendese, Iggy Toma
Hockey, studying, and school runs. That's my life now. After a tragic accident that took our parents' lives, it's up to me and my big brother to take care of our five younger siblings. In between burning their meals and keeping them from killing each other, I'm supposed to get a college degree. If I don't get my grades up, I'm in danger of losing the one thing that makes me happy: my spot on the hockey team.
So hockey Good
By Nova on 01-02-22
By: Eden Finley, and others
Northern Pines Den Alphas Books 1-3
Northern Pines Den Bundle, Book 1
This three audiobook bundle contains the first three books in the best-selling Northern Pines Den series and is guaranteed to give a serious case of the feels. When the wolf pack and the bear den initiate an exchange program to help shifters find their fated mates, adventurous omega Taylor is the first to volunteer, drawing the attention of the den's lonely alpha, Mikael. Mikael knows the tiny, colorful omega will either breathe new life into their stilted bear community or cause an outrage. Either way, it won't be boring to have him around.
A cute threesome
By The Book Wench on 04-06-19
Homerun Daddy
Timberwood Cove, Book 1
Narrated by: Zachary Zaba
Not only is Jaxon a born alpha, he is also one by choice. Or, at least, he's about to be. His adoptive father wants to pass on leadership of the Timberwood Cove Pack to him, but Jaxon has reservations. Why? Because, this shifter wants his mate. When Jaxon scents his fated mate at a local diner, he knows it's only a matter of time before he claims the man. But their courtship is complicated. Even though Bryce is an omega, he has no idea shifters exist. What's more, he blames a wolf for the death of his sister and his current painful circumstances.
Liam Stole The Show
More than a century ago, the Segregation Laws made enemies of humans and shifters, and imprisoned the pack behind their enclave walls.
Laine wants Garrick. He wants him out from behind those walls and being what he was meant to be - a brilliant lawyer. He also wants to claim Garrick openly as his partner, but with the prejudice on both sides, he'll never get what he wants. Unless he can pull off something spectacular.
Like getting Garrick admitted to the Bar.
Garrick's spent so much of his life keeping secrets, he doesn't know how to open up to another person. Even if it's Laine, the human lawyer who stole Garrick's heart and made him want things he could never have. But Laine's pushing too hard, and there's another lawyer, one from Washington, holding out the promise of truly eliminating the laws keeping shifters locked behind walls. If they could bring those down, then maybe some of Garrick's dreams could become reality. If only he could make Laine see....
All while an unforeseen gift of history creates rumbles of change in the packs, and drives Mercy Hills to an announcement that will rock shifter society to the roots.
©2017 Ann-Katrin Byrde (P)2019 Ann-Katrin Byrde
Romance Paranormal
Omega's Flight
Mercy Hills Pack, Bundle Two
Learning to Feel
Royally Unexpected: The Farcliff Kingdom Accidental Baby Trilogy
What listeners say about Legally Mated (MM Gay Mpreg Romance)
F. Moon
Just What I Expect from Mercy Hills
I've read the book, and the audio follows it perfectly. Nick J. Russo narrates the story beautifully, and gives the reader exactly what is needed in this installment of the Mercy Hills series. Throughly enjoyable.
BJones
It came to life for me
I love this series but this was not my favorite book. Listening to the audio has changed everything for me. The narrator brought this book to life for me and let me see the characters with new eyes. I highly recommend, not only this series, but this book.
I am enjoying this series so Much! Highly recommend. Need more to the series. In Audible.
an amazing series
I love this continuing story of the Mercy Hills Pack. In this story Laine, the pack's human lawyer, gets together with Garrick. Garrick has a secret he's hiding that could change everything for him, even his relationship with Laine.
Narrator Nick J. Russo does an amazing job in bringing these characters to life.
Law and Love
This is the fifth book in the Mercy Hills Series and the first four books should be read before enjoying this book.
Garrick is a shifter and a lawyer. Except, he's not really a lawyer because significant obstacles have been thrown in his way which prevented him from taking the bar test. Laine, his lover and employer, is determined to change that. Laine, in fact, is determined to change a lot of things wrong with their world, because Laine is in love with Garrick. Humans and shifters aren't supposed to fall in love and be together, but Laine and Garrick have started the journey to change that.
This book picks up right where book four left off, and we learn more about the laws governing shifter and human interactions, as well as the history of the enclaves and hidden history of Omegas. I adore all this world-building and political/social intrigue. I find it fascinating how political the Omegas have to be interacting not only with other shifters, but with humans who fear them and humans who have put them on a pedestal. Laine, the human lawyer, is such a wonderfully crafted character – he's independent, arrogant, yet still so vulnerable when it comes to Garrick.
I love getting more glimpses inside this world and putting all the pieces together when it comes to how shifters survive in a world that would rather they disappeared. Change is in the air, and I'm excited for the next books to see how this all plays out.
B.McGrath
struggles and perseverance
A fight for freedom and more. It was a shame that they even had to go to the lengths they did to free Garrick toblet hom sit for the tests and practice law. I would have been frustrated and stifled if that would have been me. Laine was relentless in his efforts, and I admired that tenacity. The hard fought battles for life and equality were gutwrenching and heartwarming. I voluntarily listened to a free copy of this and am giving an honest review. The narrator did a great job bringing the characters and story to life.
Morgan A Skye
Love Nick, this is a good addition to the series
You have to be tenacious with these stories but they're all really good.
I think the author could use a strong hand with editing and the stories would be improved, but I do love the characters and their journey to growth.
This story did not emphasize the MCs as much as I'd wish but their story was sweet in the end. For this, I had to mark it down in ratings – I read these for the romance and that wasn't as much the focus as in the other books.
I've really enjoyed watching where this band of shifters has gone over time.
I love Nick J Russo and so listening to these (long) stories is very enjoyable.
When you put together the complex world written by Ann-Katrin Byrde, and the wonderful acting voice of Nick J Russo you'll get many hours enjoying one of the best book in the series. Ms Byrde created the world of Mercy Hills Pack series and you'll find that a shifter's story could be even more interesting when you added to the normal pack dynamics between alphas and omegas, topics like intolerance, discrimination, interspecies relationships and genre roles. Laine's and Garrick's story is one of the best I've ever read because the balance between the issues than any couple in a romantic relationship could have and all the Issues a shifter-human couple in a dystopian reality actually had. Brilliant!!
Sadie G
Can't wait for the next book.
First off, I disappointed by the lack of MPREG even though it's in the title. This book is all about the politics with the smallest amount of time spent on Laine and Garrick's relationship. I liked the book but I didn't love it. I'm hoping for more in the next book. Nick J. Russo does an amazing job as usual.
l love this series but I think this book was my least favorite. I liked Layne but Garrett l had trouble with, I just didn't really like him at all so I had trouble the book because of it.
we'll see with the next book how it goes.
Legal love!
Garrick is a shifter, living in a world where shifters are segregated and with a big secret. He studied law but he can't take the bar. He works of Laine, his lover. In a perfect world, Laine would be his Mate but he is human. I liked the political side of the story, how Garrick's Pack is working to change laws and give the shifters better opportunities. It takes a lot for the MC to finally be together but it was worth it. Great narration too. Nick Russo has an awesome voice.
Belinda Zamora
Another great addition to the series
Laine can't understand Garrick's reluctance, but he's holding himself back as well.
Garrick is having trouble and finds himself caught between two worlds.
I enjoyed the pack dynamics and seeing character growth.
The omega are finally coming into their own and it's a beautiful thing to behold.
There's also a compelling and intriguing mystery to be solved.
Nick J. Russo has done a superb job of bringing these characters to life as usual.
Aussiebumwearer
Yet another fine instalment from this great series.
This one definitely goes into more detail about the 'True Omega' and what it is actually starting to mean.
I do love this series of audiobooks as it has a fine mix of everything, without leaving anything out or cliffhangers.
The only negative thing I have to say is, the audiobook format comes out a lot later than the actual book release. Apart from that issue, it is a fantastic listen from beginning to end.
I highly recommend, but you will really benefit from listening to this series in order, to fully understand the characters as they are mentioned regularly in each book as new characters are introduced.
Dannyfiredragon
One of my favorite mpreg series
This series is really addictive. The combination of Nick J Russo's and Ann-Katrin Byrde's storytelling completely draws their readers/listeners into the world of Mercy Hills.
Danielle Allan
Not my favourite
I found this book difficult because Layne is a sweet man and garret is a whiny brat. He never allowed Layne to learn anything but held his ignorance against him.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Don't Worry Darling
Verdict: This intriguing and stylish psychological thriller boasts sensational performances from Florence Pugh, Chris Pine, and Olivia Wilde
Cast: Florence Pugh, Olivia Wilde, Chris Pine, Gemma Chan, Harry Styles
Release: September 23rd 2022
Director: Olivia Wilde
Florence Pugh plays a 1950s housewife who questions her existence in Olivia Wilde's much talked-about psychological thriller Don't Worry Darling.
After small appearances in Dunkirk and Eternals, Harry Styles makes his big splash in the acting world with Olivia Wilde's psychological thriller Don't Worry Darling.
In the movie, he plays Jack, who lives in Victory, a town in 1950s Palm Springs, with his wife Alice, played by Florence Pugh. Every day, he and all the men in town go to work at the mysterious Victory Project while the wives stay home and cook, clean, and make themselves look fabulous for the next event.
The cracks start to show when Alice begins to question the work the men are doing for the Victory Project. She becomes convinced that nothing is as it seems in Victory – but is she losing her mind or seeing the community for what it really is?
Thanks to the stunning cinematography, production design, hair, make-up and costumes, Wilde has created a perfect, idyllic utopia in Victory. The town has an eerie edge because you can sense that something isn't quite right. You can't figure it out and you're with Alice every step of the way as she tries to get to the bottom of it.
Wilde slowly ramps up the unsettling feeling as Alice descends further and further into madness and the story is very compelling because you just can't wait to get some answers.
Unfortunately, the pace is slightly too slow so you really have to be patient. Also, you probably won't receive all the answers you need to make the ending feel truly satisfying.
There have been "style over substance" criticisms aimed at this film but that isn't the case – it is certainly stylish but there is enough story to get invested in, even if it unfolds a bit too slowly.
Naturally, given this is Styles' biggest role yet, many are curious about the music star's skills. He isn't terrible at all – he is fine – but he pales in comparison to the force that is Pugh, and unfortunately for him, the vast majority of his scenes are with her.
She has this innate ability to access an impressive depth of emotion and vulnerability at the drop of a hat whereas it doesn't come as easy to him, and so, he lacks her level of believability. Pugh became Alice, whereas Styles acted like Jack.
Out of their supporting cast, the biggest standouts were Pine as Victory's cult-style leader Frank, who is attractive, charming, and sinister in a very subtle way. Mess with him at your peril.
There is also Wilde herself as Jack and Alice's next-door neighbour Bunny. She is a fabulous gossip with a cigarette and martini almost permanently in hand and is the most comedic member of the cast.
Given the gossip surrounding the movie, it's a shame it isn't a total smash hit. It's good, but it could have been great if improvements were made to the pacing and the third-act explanation.
In cinemas from Friday 23rd September.


text:
2014, Mystery & thriller/Horror, 1h 30m
14 Reviews 500+ Ratings
Happy Hunting
The Theatre Bizarre
The Houses October Built
The Black String
Rent/buy Rent/buy Buy
Preservation Photos
An anesthesiologist (Wrenn Schmidt) must awaken her animal instincts when she, her husband and her brother-in-law become the quarry of unseen hunters who want to turn them all into trophies.
Mystery & thriller, Horror
Christopher Denham
Jennifer Dubin, Cora Olson
Jan 9, 2015 limited
Wrenn Schmidt
Wit Neary
Pablo Schreiber
Sean Neary
Aaron Staton
Mike Neary
Cody Saintgnue
Nick Saso
Michael Chacon
Connie Cummings
Anne Renton
Jennifer Dubin
Cora Olson
Samuel Jones
Alexis Marsh
Nicola Marsh
Brendan Walsh
Stephanie Holbrook
Krista Gall
Jeff Subik
Regina Amato
News & Interviews for Preservation
Now Streaming: The Theory of Everything, Beyond the Lights, and More
Critics Consensus: Taken 3 Is Less Than Captivating
Critic Reviews for Preservation
All Critics (14) | Top Critics (6) | Fresh (7) | Rotten (7)
Full Review… Robert Abele Los Angeles Times Full Review… Brian Tallerico RogerEbert.com Full Review… Nicolas Rapold New York Times Full Review… Joe Leydon Variety Full Review… Sherilyn Connelly Village Voice Full Review… Nick Schager Slant Magazine Full Review… Jason Adams The Film Experience Full Review… Emma Wolfe SpookyAstronauts Full Review… Jared Mobarak The Film Stage Full Review… David Nusair Reel Film Reviews Full Review… Glenn Lovell CinemaDope Full Review… Maitland McDonagh Film Journal International
Audience Reviews for Preservation
Sometimes, the smallest of twists in the most common of stories, can make all the difference. Preservation is nothing you haven't seen before, as it features three hikers who get lost in the woods and are then hunted, while trying to find their way out. The real difference in this film is who is hunting them and why. To me, the scariest horror films are the ones that are believable. The events of this film could really happen and that is more terrifying than any ghost or goblin that Hollywood can create. Aside from the trip to the woods, there is a back story that features the hikers, making them seem all the more real to the audience. Unlike many similar film, the innocent hikers are people the audience will feel like it knows and they feel like people one can relate to. Preservation also features differences from other similar films, in the methods that the hunted use. How many times have you watched a film and said, "these people are stupid, I would never do that in a situation like this!?" In Preservation, they don't make those mistakes, in fact, they pretty much do everything a reasonable person would do. Finally, the cast is almost entirely made up of newcomers and they are truly terrific. Wrenn Schmidt is the kind of common hero that people tend to love, while Cody Saintgnue is the baby face who could do no wrong. At first I thought this film would be just like every other romp through the woods, but it's so much better than that. The film is extremely realistic and very well written, making it one of those independent films that you want to tell all your friends about.
Todd S Super Reviewer
Not so much of a horror film as it is more of a survival drama. The film certainly frames itself as horror, but it doesn't play out in the conventional manner. There aren't any real scares. Then again there are plenty of non-scary horror movies around. Slashers for one would be a prime example where they're not particularly scary and they would still fit within the genre. Honestly there's nothing about this film that's really unique to it. To say it borrows heavily from other sources is a definite understatement. This film IS its other sources. But, you know what, I thought this was a damn good thriller. Perhaps not really good. But within its limitations and its context, I thought it worked better than this type of film would normally play out with this type of framing. It's well-shot, the cast is strong, the score to the film is excellent and I just think the progression of the story builds up the tension very well and the climax is very, very good. Some of the scripting of the dialogue itself isn't great, but it could've been worse, all things considered. In some ways, this movie isn't really about the dialogue, it's more about the hunt and what that entails. Not saying that this has a lot of action, but it's not long before the 'hunt', as it were, begins and these masked killers try to murder off our protagonists. I think this is one of the better examples of the hunted becoming the hunter in a while. While I thought that You're Next, an overall better movie than this, did a good job at that element, it didn't do so as effectively as this one did. It's very simple but it works. Wit is tired of these motherfuckers hunting her, her husband, and her brother-in-law so she decides to take matters into her own hands. I guess that sort of spoils what goes on in the film. But if you've seen even more than 2 of this type of film then you'd know where it's heading. It's also a fairly interesting look at how youth, in both Mike's and Sean's cases growing up and the villains in the film, sort of grow up with violence always surrounding them. And how that somewhat desensitizes people to some pretty horrific actions or how they view this type of violent death as something normal and that there are no consequences. There's a subplot in the story about Sean, the soldier, being discharged for something that is never revealed. Listening to some of Sean's stories, it's obvious that it had something to do with him killing someone for no other reason than he could. It's never revealed but that's the conclusion you come to on your own. This is something that dates back to long before this generation. Kids playing cops and robbers or cowboys and indians come directly to mind. Most of these 'games' were around the 50s, when westerns were super popular. So it's been going on for generations. Of course in this day and age you have violent movies, violent games, violent TV series, etc. There's also the internet, which allows you to find all kinds of horrific things. And this isn't even as a criticism as those mediums, as I'll be the first one to say that just because a few people happened to watch violent movies, play violent videogames, etc. does not mean that these forms of art, and that is what they are, are truly harmful. And I say this because there are millions upon millions upon millions of people who watch violent movies or play violent games that are perfectly normal, law-abiding citizens. I just think that the message tries to call attention to that fact though. That youth, and everybody really, not just the youth, are going through life seeing violence all around them. This movie takes that concept and pushes it to the extreme. Even though it's not the bloodiest film I've ever seen, not by a long shot. I'm honestly surprised this movie got such a negative reception among users of this website. I'll freely admit that this is not perfect but there's far worse films out there. And on the scale of horror films, if we're trying to narrow it down, this wouldn't even come close to being bad. I wonder if it's because the film so openly borrows from other sources. But that's hardly a reason to hate on a movie. Out of all films currently in production maybe a good 5-10% of them will truly be an original work of art. And that's probably being generous. And by truly original I mean something that no one, no where, has ever done before. Something that is completely new. I suppose I could read the reviews but I have no interest in doing that honestly. But yea, this is a good little movie here. I would recommend it for a solid Netflix Instant watch. Nothing more and nothing less.


text:
On the last weekend of August there was a mighty musical event at the Kangaroo Island Brewery. We presented a gaggle of talent unearthed from beneath the rocks, nooks and…
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Well known author, Kurt Vonnegut, shared wisdom for aspiring musicians and I'd like to share his words with you. As a teacher for over 25 years, I've seen the uncertainty…
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1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Convertible, the 1957 Bel Air is among the most recognizable of the Tri-Five Chevrolet's.
The exterior of this Bel Air is finished black with a black convertible top and a two tone red and silver interior. The car features fender skirts, continental kit, power steering and brakes, dual exhaust and a power top. This Bel Air has the first year available 283 cubic inch motor with a powerglide transmission.
This Bel Air Convertible was the recipient of full restoration and sometime has passed since it was completed. The exterior paint has a few imperfections but is in very good overall condition. The interior and convertible top of this car presents in excellent condition as well as the engine bay and underside.


The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 is once again in your news feed. The lone holdout among U.S. carriers who have decided to disable the phone — Verizon — has changed its mind and will be killing the Note 7 come January 5, 2017.
When AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile announced the path to the end for the Note 7, Verizon didn't go along with it and instead insisted that holiday travelers would need to be able to use their Note 7 to make calls.
Samsung will be releasing a Note 7 software update on December 19. This update prevents the device from charging and eliminates the ability for it to work as a mobile device. Verizon will not be pushing this software update to your device until January 5, 2017. We want to make sure you can contact family, first responders, and emergency medical professionals during the holiday travel season. However, we urge you to stop using your Note7, upgrade it to another device, and return the Note7 to us.
This lines up with everything else we've heard about Samsung trying to put the remaining Note 7 phones to sleep. You'll still be able to make those holiday travel phone calls with your Note 7 on Verizon, but you'd probably be better off just getting your money back while you still can.


text:
Q: Java: How to make a variable's value change outside a switch? (just read the post) EDIT: Full Code for people who need it: https://hastebin.com/tovazutuni.cs
ok so im working on a big burger shop challenge, but to keep it simple, here is a similair problem im facing:
public class Burger {

private double priceWithAdditions = 5.00;
private double price = 5.00;
private String addition1;
private double addition1Price;

switch(burgersAdditionScanner()){
   case "mayo":

       this.addition1 = "Mayo";
       this.addition1Price = 0.40;
       this.priceWithAdditions += this.addition1Price;
       System.out.println("Added Additions " + this.addition1 + " for the price of $" +this.addition1Price);

           break;

default: System.out.println("Get Out");

Later down in the code, I have a method to print the receipt, but the values of the variables changed inside the switch do not update outside of it:
public void Receipt() {

    System.out.println("You Bought " + this.name + " burger for the price of $" + this.price + " with the following \nAdditions:");

    if(this.addition1 != null ) {

        System.out.println("Addition " + this.addition1 + " for $" + this.addition1Price);

    }

System.out.println("The final price is " + this.priceWithAdditions); }

Considering the values of addition1 and priceWithAdditions didnt change in the case, addition 1 is null and priceWithAdditions is still 5.00 instead of 5.40. Does anyone know how to make the values of these variables update ourside of the switch. If you can help me Id really appreciate it, please and thank you
Console Output: (There's a scanner so I can type my choices)
    add addition 1

Choose Addition 1
Lettuce  -  $0.50
Cheese  -   $1.00
Ketchup  -  $0.20
Mayo  -   $0.40

mayo

Added Addition Mayonaise for the price of $0.4

Add Additions or none
Add Addition 1
Add Addition 2
Add Adition 3
Add Adition 4
Receipt

receipt

You Bought Amer's Booty burger for the price of $5.0 with the following
Additions:
The final price is 5.0
Get Out

A: The problem is you are calling Receipt() on the wrong instance of Burger. For all calls to Receipt() (that I'm seeing), you are calling it on a new instance of a Burger, like so:
case "receipt":
    HealthyBurger burgerReceipt = new HealthyBurger();
    burgerReceipt.Receipt();

burgerReceipt is a new instance of a HealthyBurger, and not the one that you called any of your addition operators on. As such, it will contain the default values of your HealthyBurger. You can fix this, by calling Receipt on the same instance of HealthyBurger that was mutated. For example:
HealthyBurger burger = new HealthyBurger()
burger.addAddition6()
burger.Receipt()

Your code is a bit too messy for me to give you an exact solution to your problem, but you are creating new instances of Burger all over the place, in a Restaurant class which also happens to be a Burger itself. I think if you take the time to read up on basic inheritance/object oriented principles, you should be able to simplify your code significantly.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Josiah Warren (; 1798–1874) was an American utopian socialist, American individualist anarchist, individualist philosopher, polymath, social reformer, inventor, musician, printer and author. He is regarded by anarchist historians like James J. Martin and Peter Marshall among others as the first American anarchist (although Warren never used the term anarchism himself) and the four-page weekly paper he edited during 1833, The Peaceful Revolutionist, the first anarchist periodical published, was an enterprise for which he built his own printing press, cast his own type, and made his own printing plates.

Life

Warren was born June 26, 1798. He moved from Boston to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he worked as a music teacher and orchestra leader. They had two children, Caroline (1820–1850) and George (1826–1902), and George wrote a remembrance of his father that can be found in the Labadie Library at the University of Michigan. He invented a tallow-burning lamp in 1821 and manufactured his invention for a number of years in Cincinnati.

In 1825, Warren became aware of the "social system" of Robert Owen and began to talk with others in Cincinnati about founding a communist colony. A Cincinnati colony was attempted without Warren's involvement, but failed.

Cincinnati and Utopia

He put his theories to the test by establishing an experimental "labor for labor store" called the Cincinnati Time Store in downtown Cincinnati, which facilitated trade by notes backed by a promise to perform labor. This was the first store to use a labor-for-labor note.

Between 1827 and 1830, the store proved successful. Warren closed the store to pursue establishing colonies based on economic mutualism, including "Utopia" and "Modern Times."

Modern Times

Modern Times, which was located in what is now Brentwood, New York, lasted from approximately 1851 to 1864. It was Josiah Warren's last attempt to put his ideas of Equitable Commerce and sovereignty of the individual, which he had developed over a lifetime of study and experimentation, into action. In 1850, Warren came back to Boston from the Midwest and began searching for an area near a major city, with low land prices, to establish a utopian community.  The inexpensive land enabled Warren to be able to implement his plan to provide homes for families that had never owned one before. The Pine Barrens of long Island where Modern Times was located had an undeserved reputation as having poor soil so he was able to purchase 400 acres at $2.75 an acre with a very small down payment.  Modern Times was a town with neither government nor money nor laws and can accurately be described as anarchistic, yet there was no crime and very little commotion.  The citizens of Modern Times although eschewing the profit motive, were not socialistic in their attitude toward ownership of property or the means of production.  According to author Roger Wunderlich, "On 7 September 1864 the name of the village was changed to Brentwood."

Later life and death
Warren later returned to the Boston area. From 1864 to 1869, he resided in Cliftondale, Massachusetts, where he twice attempted to establish a mutual town. He then moved back to Boston, where he remained until his death.

Warren died on April 14, 1874, in Charlestown at the home of a friend after developing edema.

Philosophy

Like Pierre-Joseph Proudhon, Warren chose the libertarian socialist path of anarchism, individualism, and
mutualism. Warren has been considered the "American Proudhon" due to his belief in his labor theory of value "cost the limit of price" in a free-market socialism system  in addition to his support for mutualism through encouraging Mutualist Banks:
"In a letter to John Sullivan Dwight, Greene, writing in January, 1850, mentioned a petition to the Massachusetts General Court for permission to establish a mutual bank, which was signed by Warren, among others."

Warren's individualistic philosophy arose out of his rejection of Robert Owen's cooperative movement, of which he was an early participant, witnessing in person the failure of Owen's New Harmony commune. Of it, he wrote: "It seemed that the difference of opinion, tastes, and purposes increased just in proportion to the demand for conformity ... It appeared that it was nature's own inherent law of diversity that had conquered us ... our 'united interests' were directly at war with the individualities of persons and circumstances and the instinct of self-preservation". According to Warren, there should be absolutely no community of property; all property should be individualized, and "those who advocated any type of communism with connected property, interests, and responsibilities were doomed to failure because of the individuality of the persons involved in such an experiment." Warren is notable for expounding the idea of "sovereignty of the individual".

In his Manifesto, Warren writes:

Warren said that Stephen Pearl Andrews' The Science of Society, published in 1852, was the most lucid and complete exposition of Warren's own theories  including Warren's belief that employers should pay their employees the full value of their labor according to the cost principle. Warren's theory of value places him within the tradition of free-market socialism. William Bailie states:

The outcome of Warren's theory of value, of Cost the Limit of Price, was to place him squarely in line with the cardinal doctrine of all other schools of modern socialism. He believed that labor was robbed through rent, interest, and profit and his aim, like that of the Socialists, was to prevent these modes of exploitation.

Ethics of pricing
In 1827, Warren conceived the idea of labor notes, a scheme which was later practised in socialist Owenite labour exchanges in the mid-1830s.

Warren termed the phrase "cost the limit of price," with "cost" here referring not to monetary price paid but the labor one exerted to produce an item. He believed that goods and services should trade according to how much labor was exerted to produce them and bring them to market, instead of according to how individuals believed them to be subjectively worth.

Therefore, he "proposed a system to pay people with certificates indicating how many hours of work they did. They could exchange the notes at local time stores for goods that took the same amount of time to produce." To charge more labor for something that entailed less labor was "cannibalism," according to him. Moreover, he believed that trading according to "cost the limit of price" would promote increasing efficiency in an economy, as he explains in Equitable Commerce:

Inventions
Josiah Warren is the inventor of the first rotary press. Warren began working on the idea in 1830, but he did not patent the invention, it was "simply given to the public.". A few years after exhibiting the invention in New York, Hoe and Company was reaping large sums of money marketing an identical press, one that would revolutionize printing toward the end of the 19th century.

Influence
Catalan historian Xavier Diez reports that the intentional communal experiments pioneered by Warren were influential in European individualist anarchists of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries such as Émile Armand and the intentional communities started by them. In the United States Benjamin Tucker dedicated his collection of essays, Instead of a Book, to the memory of Warren, "my friend and master ... whose teachings were my first source of light". Tucker credits Warren with being "the first man to expound and formulate the doctrine now known as Anarchism."

John Stuart Mill, author of On Liberty, said Warren's philosophy, "though being a superficial resemblance to some of the project of the Socialists, is diametrically opposed to them in principle, since it recognizes no authority whatever in Society, over the individual, except to enforce equal freedom of development for all individuals." Warren's principle of the "sovereignty of the individual" was later taken up by Mill and Herbert Spencer.

See also

 Anarchist economics
 Individualist anarchism in the United States
 Libertarian socialism
 Mutualism (economic theory)
 Time-based currency
 Utopian socialism

Notes

References
 Martin, James J. Men Against the State: The Expositors of Individualist Anarchism in America, 1827–1908. Colorado Springs, CO: Ralph Myles Publishers, 1970.
 Miskelly, Matthew; and Jaime Noce. (eds) Political Theories For Students. Farmington Hills, MI: The Gale Group Inc., 2002.
 Wunderlich, Roger. Low Living and High Thinking at Modern Times, New York. Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press, 1992.

External links

 A biography of Warren by his son George W. Warren
 Josiah Warren's Manifesto
 Equitable Commerce by Josiah Warren
 Plan of the Cincinnati Labor for Labor Store by Josiah Warren
 True Civilization by Josiah Warren, hosted by the Anarchy Archives
 The Science of Society, by Stephan Pearl Andrews
 Josiah Warren: The First American Anarchist, by William Bailie
 Utopia The Successful Libertarian Market Socialist Economy by Nicholas Evans, hosted by BAD Press
 Utopia Drive: A Road Trip Through America's Most Radical Idea by Erik Reece
 Dyson, Verne. A History of Modern Times. Brentwood Public Library, 2015.
 Josiah Warren by his son George
 The Josiah Warren Project
 Josiah Warren – The First American Anarchist: "A Remarkable American", by Magdalena Modrzejewska

1798 births
1874 deaths
19th-century American inventors
19th-century American male writers
19th-century American non-fiction writers
American anarchists
American anti-capitalists
American libertarians
American male non-fiction writers
American political writers
Deaths from edema
Founders of utopian communities
Free love advocates
Individualist anarchists
Mutualists
People from New Harmony, Indiana
People from Saugus, Massachusetts
Writers from Boston

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
'Lordy Rodriguez: Code Switch'
California energy officials plan to slash incentives for rooftop solar
Arts & Entertainment // Arts & Theater
Kimberly Chun
4. Lordy Rodriguez Untitled 802, 2012 ink on paper 18 x 40 inches Image courtesy of the artist and Hosfelt Gallery, San FranciscoHosfelt Gallery
The strangest place to locate Hayward artist Lordy Rodriguez's practice, which revolves around map making and signifiers of identity, might be that magnetic, warped interzone called reality TV.
"I've been watching a lot of reality shows - I'm always cautious about saying that!" says the Texas-bred Filipino American artist, 36, who lectures at Stanford and UC Berkeley. "There's a stigma attached to reality TV - with good reason - and it's very similar to cartographers and maps.
"We look at maps and assume they are a proper representation of reality, but no matter how accurate a map is, it's going to always be flawed or incorrect."
Looking at, for instance, the show "Breaking Amish" for what Rodriguez describes as "data sets" for "Untitled 803 (Amish Reality)," he hit on the pattern of a quilt draped over a sofa behind a young Amish man in full confessional mode, talking about testing the edges of his spiritual and cultural identity.
"I thought it was interesting that here was this guy, trying to experience the modern world, and there's still this tie back to the Amish - it's a constant reminder, and this pattern is already loaded with signs of identity," Rodriguez says.
"So I used the pattern to designate a land mass, and there's a orange river running through the pattern, and I'm taking the associations of these patterns and putting them underneath the structure of the map language, in the process of furthering our understanding of the tools we use to identify our culture and ourselves."
"Untitled 803" is one of the works on paper on exhibit in "Code Switch" that incorporate the visual language of advertising, fashion, decoration, pop culture and celebrity fine artists into maps. "Gangnam, America," say, locates "cultural capitals" emerging from immigrant or gay neighborhoods and mashes up spots like South Beach and Allentown on a landmass floating in a sea of Burberry plaid.
"Reading up on Gangnam, a posh neighborhood in Seoul," Rodriguez says, "it seemed like the phrase 'Gangnam style' really encapsulated how we use the identity of place, which in turn appropriated its identity from somewhere else."
It's an evolution from Rodriguez's 10-years-in-the-making map series reconstructing the United States - that project stemmed directly from cross-country drives between his hometown of Houston and New York, where the homesick artist was attending college.
"Map language was a way to figure out my identity and also play around with identity politics," he recalls. Now, Rodriguez says, "it's not about me being a Filipino American from Texas. With this new work, the focus is what are some of the signifiers that make up someone from Texas, what are the recognizable signifiers of identity, and where does that come from?"
Lordy Rodriguez: Code Switch: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Reception 4 p.m. June 8. Through July 13. Hosfelt Gallery, 260 Utah St., S.F. (415) 495-5454. www.hosfeltgallery.com.
Kimberly Chun is a Berkeley writer. E-mail: 96hours@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kimberlychun


text:
Taunton School > Nursery (Aged 0-4) > Nursery Curriculum > Mathematics
Games and activities play a key role in developing mathematical understanding and problem solving.
Through engaging play and fun activities in the Nursery, which includes songs, number rhymes, stories and counting games, your child will become familiar with and understand numbers, shapes, measures and space.
By using everyday objects, we encourage your naturally inquisitive child to explore ordering, matching, sorting and recreating patterns, as well as counting from one to ten in order to broaden their mathematic skills and eventually achieve a high level of numeracy.
Before long your child's use of mathematical language will develop, along with their ability to add and subtract and perform numerous mathematical tasks. Plus, demonstrate how to use mathematics to solve both real and theoretical problems.
An update from the TS Foundation The Taunton School Foundation was founded nearly 20 years ago with a mission to engage a global community of Old Tauntonians, parents and friends to support children at Taunton School. However, our culture of philanthropy is rooted in a history that long predates the establishment of the Foundation. Almost…
What Black History Month means to me
I always forget that October is Black History Month, because I guess I'm programmed to think that black history should be embedded in history EVERY day. I read an amazing article about the way Black people often feel invisible and threatened and unwelcome in the great outdoors yesterday – the author said: We belong here….
I've attended Chapel, watched hockey fixtures, taught lessons, felt the passion of house matches, been on duty in the new dining room, visited a boarding house and delivered an assembly. The students are smiling and delighted to be with their friends. It's great to be back with my colleagues and to feel their passion for…
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Four-year-old Monty conquers Mini-triathlon
Four year old Monty, who attends Taunton School Nursery, has undertaken the challenge to complete his first ever mini-triathlon for charity. Monty was inspired by his parents and grandfather, and although he can't officially do a full triathlon until he's eight years old, decided to undertake his own version with a 100m open water swim,…
School Choir triumphs with poignant virtual VE Day performance
The Taunton School Music Department have managed to produce an incredible large-scale choir performance remotely with over 60 singers in spite of lockdown measures. Director of Music Mark Cracknell and his team have been holding virtual rehearsals for the past three weeks with the School's Community Choir – a group which includes students, staff and…
Six-year-old Patrick making items for NHS workers
Six-year-old Patrick is the youngest member of a local volunteer group "Taunton Scrubbers" sewing essential items for NHS workers. Since learning to use a sewing machine at the age of 5, Patrick Dixon, who is in Year 1 at Taunton Pre-Prep School, has been busy creating facemasks and headbands on his sewing machine, under the…
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Taunton School's Head of Design & Technology, Glyn Bough, has risen to the challenge to support the NHS by using school devices to make specialist PPE equipment. Having been made aware of the need to supply medical visors, Glyn set the school 3D printers to work 24/7 making essential visor clip components. He has been…


Just a few short months ago Paris Jackson was interrogated and deposed by lawyers connected to the Jackson Family's wrongful death lawsuit against AEG, the promoter who was in charge of Michael Jackson's final tour. Paris was asked about her father's former secretary-turned-nanny, Grace Rwaramba. There had been rumors over the years that Grace was Michael's closest confidante and at one point marriage between the two was speculated on.
According to Paris, the relationship between Michael and Grace was nothing like people thought. Instead Michael felt sorry for Grace and that's part of the reason that he kept her on the pay roll. Radar Online got its' hands on the video of Paris' deposition and she recounted a pretty creepy scenario regarding Grace.
She used to be (one of the nannies) but she got really creepy. This is going to freak you out. One time, it was before — me and my brother were really young — before Blanket was born. When he would stay in a hotel, or whatever, she would call the hotel and say that she was his wife. She was obsessed with him… They let her in and he'd wake up and she would be in his bed.
Ironically, the fifteen-year old was absolutely animated and adorable on this video. It's obvious now, a few months later that Paris has learned how to hide her feelings and bury what's really going on. Do you think that more interesting nuggets from Paris' testimony will leak out? Should she be made to testify in the first place? Do you think that being forced to testify and the stress of the trial has been one of the things to crush this teen girl? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!


text:
Bells é uma cidade  localizada no estado norte-americano do Texas, no Condado de Grayson.

Demografia
Segundo o censo norte-americano de 2000, a sua população era de 1190 habitantes.
Em 2006, foi estimada uma população de 1288, um aumento de 98 (8.2%).

Geografia
De acordo com o United States Census Bureau tem uma área de
5,9 km², dos quais 5,9 km² cobertos por terra e 0,0 km² cobertos por água.

Localidades na vizinhança
O diagrama seguinte representa as localidades num raio de 20 km ao redor de Bells.

Ligações externas

Cidades do Texas
Condado de Grayson (Texas)


Dr Sara Bennett provides leadership and specialist advice to the Centre's Design for Impact programme and the design and delivery of the Centre's framework services.
Sara has assisted health and social sector agencies with organisational and strategic development, capability and capacity development, evaluation, mentoring and coaching, and research support. She works collaboratively with organisations to strengthen them and support their sustainable growth and development.
Sara has a PhD in Community Health from the University of Auckland.


When people ask Cynthia VanRooy where she's from, her usual answer is, "Where would you like me to be from? I've probably been there!"
She was born the daughter of a career army officer and married a career naval officer. She has spent most of her life moving every two years to new states and countries--providing diverse background locations for her novels.
She strives to write books that give the reader a warm fuzzy by the time they have finished reading. She writes romance for the happy endings. There is enough misery and despair in the world without putting it on the page. Romance is her small effort to bring a higher love vibration to the planet. It's called light reading for a reason!


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Exhibitors told to maintain COVID-19 protocol during Aero India show
The organisers of the Aero India 2023 want the participants, especially the exhibitors, to undertake all precautions and maintain COVID-19 protocol during the airshow, which is to be held at the Air Force Station, Yelahanka, between February 13 and 17.
The exhibitors' manual of the airshow has asked the exhibitors to strictly adhere to the safety and health precautionary measure as per the advisories and directives of State and Central governments.
"If the pandemic situation of COVID-19 emerges, the exhibitors shall strictly adhere to the safety and health precautionary measures during the pre-construction and post-construction period as per the advisories, directives of State and Central governments," states the manual.
It has also asked the exhibitors to maintain a record of all the entrants and participants who will enter the stall. "They should be able to provide traceability support of suspects to local health authorities, if required. In line with the government guidelines, the entrants screened-out based on travel history, symptoms, information based on the medical interview sheet may be refused entry. Availability of information of any overseas COVID-19 cases, who were detected during or after the event, should be passed onto their respective embassies and the event organisers," the manual adds.
With regard to food service, it says that the mode of food service is liable to change as per COVID-19 protocols like serving packed food. Exhibitors have also been asked to refrain from distributing printed and promotional material related to their products.
"The said material could be conveyed in digital format in light of the prevailing health concerns," it adds.
During the last edition of the airshow in 2021, the organisers apart from asking all participants to follow COVID-19 related guidelines like wearing of masks and maintaining social distancing, also had directed visitors to produce a COVID-19 negative report taken 72 hours prior to their entry to the exhibition area. This time no such guidelines have been issued.


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Where to get legal education
Legal education can best get in one of the three largest law schools in Russia, located in Moscow. An attractive possibility is to obtain a good education abroad.
How to become a lawyer
How to get quick higher education
Where to go with a legal background, in addition lawyer
The question of choosing a particular institution to obtain a legal education does not lose its relevance, since this activity remains attractive and promising in our country. It is recommended to give preference to universities that are training in a different direction for the future of the legal profession, provide practical application of acquired skills. To distinguish between relevant educational institutions is usually quite easy, since in their composition there are some institutions or professions that are dedicated to various spheres of application of the acquired knowledge (e.g. the prosecution service, the justice Institute, the Institute of international law).
Where located-reputed educational institutions
The best quality of legal education in Russia are three educational institutions that are located in the capital. To them traditionally will include the Moscow state law Academy, Moscow state Institute of international relations under the Ministry of foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, legal faculty of the Moscow state University. These universities occupy the first place in the rankings measuring the quality of educational services in the legal field. That they should pay attention to those students who want to be really popular in the legal field, to obtain specialized education, to consolidate the acquired skills in practical activities, including the possibility of internships in other States. If the prospect of moving to study in the capital region is missing, it is recommended to choose as a place to receive this education law schools in state universities located in regional centres.
Is it worth it to get a law degree abroad
Higher legal education in some European countries traditionally valued by major employers and subsequently allows to work in large international companies. The main problem in this case is the necessity of incurring substantial costs for accommodation, training in another country. If the applicant cannot afford the tuition at Harvard or Oxford University, it is recommended to choose the law faculties in the educational institutions of Eastern Europe. Thus, the high quality demand and the relatively low cost of different education in the law faculties of Prague or Cracow University.
Where to go to work lawyer
How to go to law school
Where to go to law school.
How to act to Institute the prosecution
Where to get a lawyer
How to become a military Prosecutor
How to get a second degree in teaching
How to choose a second higher education
How to obtain a lawyer's license
How to learn to be an investigator
How to start working as a lawyer
What will be the schedule of school holidays in the 2016-2017 school year
In recent years, the schedule of school holidays has become "floating": they have no precise...


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Femina Miss India World 2020 Manasa Varanasi On Her Dreams & Achievements
by Eden Noronha | September 8, 2021, 13:42 IST
Photograph: Avinash George
From working a corporate job to winning the title of Femina Miss India World 2020, Manasa Varanasi is a force to reckon with. She talks to us about her journey to the crown and what led her to follow her dreams and achieve success.
Growing up, what did you aspire to become?
I always wanted to become a teacher because I loved all my teachers back in school; I was always inspired by them ever since. When I saw the kind of of positive impact they had on the children, I wanted to create a similar impact too.
"I saw all these signboards for Femina Miss India around me, and it felt like the universe was giving me a sign saying, "Go for it!" And so I did." – Manasa Varanasi
How did Femina Miss India happen?
I think it was a combination of my curiosity and a desire to explore the other side of the world. My desire to break out of my monotonous nine-to-five job and get into the world of fashion. Somewhere deep down, I knew that I wanted to connect with a purpose much greater than the life I was leading. One thing led to another, and Femina Miss India happened. I had graduated with a computer science degree and gone on to work with a financial software firm. I had a great time working there because I love learning and I had a great team. In 2019, my friend sort of pushed me into enrolling for the pageant. She said, "Why don't you give it a shot?" Then I saw all these signboards for Femina Miss India around me, and it felt like the universe was giving me a sign saying, "Go for it!" And so I did. I participated, but I did not make it far in that contest, although it was a fun learning experience. It taught me what I needed to work on as a person, and I prepared and poured all my energy into the process, and, when I came back the next year, it was a success.
What was it like to prep for the Femina Miss India pageant during a pandemic?
In a way, the lockdown did serve as a silver lining because I was, in fact, working throughout the pandemic. So, I had my job and my tasks to do from 9 to 5, but the fact that I have a great team really served as a blessing. I am so grateful to them because they would help me juggle my work every now and then. There would be times when I had to practise a lot of my walking and my speech, as well as just introspect on everything. I think one of the biggest parts of my preparation process was getting to understand the person that I am and what my goals and my wishes are. That was a huge part of the process. The mental and emotional prep that goes into it.
"I think the biggest thing that makes my journey unique is that I was a very different person before Femina Miss India." – Manasa Varanasi
How has the journey been a unique experience?
Well, it's been unique because of the work and the years that have built up to this moment. I think the biggest thing that makes my journey unique is that I was a very different person before Femina Miss India. I was very shy growing up, very introverted; I liked to stay inside my little bubble. It's taken a lot of pushing myself out of my comfort zone and really stretching myself to come here. I see a sort of beauty in the transformation, and the people I've met along the way have helped me come up to this point. So, what makes it unique is the wonderful, phenomenal people I've met and drawn inspiration from, as well as the transformation as an individual that I see in myself.
How are you staying safe and healthy during the lockdown?
I think attempting to stay physically fit with yoga has helped me protect my mental health to a large extent as well. When it comes to diet and food, I just got my diet chart a month ago, and it was quite a new thing for me because I've never followed a diet before in my life. I love eating to my heart's content and so getting that was interesting because I'm a rice baby; I love eating rice twice a day, but this diet eliminated rice almost entirely, and so I had to cut down to eating it only twice a week. That came as a shocker but, since I'm at home, it feels great to be back.
"I like books that are inspirational, which have a lot of stories to tell, things connecting to that soulful side of yourself." – Manasa Varanasi
What are your hobbies?
I'm always trying to fuel that constant desire to learn something, read something or even create something new. But, over the past few months, I haven't been able to pursue my hobbies too much because it's mostly been about prepping for the pageant that I have focused all my energy towards, and I continue to do so. Otherwise, I'm a huge music lover. I love listening to music, exploring new songs with my friends, and doing Netflix parties! I love reading. I am happy listening to anything from rock and roll to anything that is soulful and R&B. I appreciate almost all kinds of music except maybe EDM. Reading books while growing up, I was mostly into fiction, but, of late, I've been reading a lot of nonfiction. I like books that are inspirational, which have a lot of stories to tell, things connecting to that soulful side of yourself.
What is the one change you would like to bring about in this country?
The change I'd like to bring about mostly has to do with access to quality education for children, that helps fuel youth, by giving them access to education and a chance to dream big, just like how I am right now. I want to extend the freedom that I currently have to many people because we all deserve that chance to lead our best lives.
Also read: #DefendersOfOurFreedom: Squadron Leader Minty Aggarwal
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ISLAMABAD: Chinese Information Technology and services company Shenzhen ZNV Technology Co.Ltd launched its office here for providing solution for telecommunication, Internet date centre, railroad and education.
Shenzhen ZNT was the global provider of comprehensive management solutions, taking lead in ensurance of energy conservation and efficiency improvement, said Chairman and CEO Robert Zhu while addressing the inauguration ceremony of company here Thursday.
He said ZNV was first established in 1995 as ZTE's Monitoring Product Line and began to operate independently from 2005.
He said the network of ZNV had covered 31 Chinese provinces, municipalities and more than 70 overseas countries and regions with high-quality products and services.
Rober Zhu said many scientific solutions of ZNV had helped customers not only in productivity and efficiency, but also in operation cost.
Chairman Robert Zhu said the ZNV had established partnerships with more than 50 telecom operators in Asia, Africa, America and Europe.
He said China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was a project of strategic significance for China as well as a big opportunity for Pakistan.
The mega projects would play pivotal role for the development and prosperity of China and Pakistan.


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RYAN ALLEN MULLINS
Ryan Allen Mullins, 23, passed away on July 14, 2009, in a local hospital.
Ryan was born in Norfolk and was a graduate of Salem High School, class of 2004. He had been formerly employed with his mother and grandmother at the DoNut Dinette in Norfolk, and most recently at Footers Sports Pub in Virginia Beach.
He is survived by his mother, Sheila Schneider Hess and her husband, Greg of Hampton; his father, Allen Mullins and his wife, Lenora of Corapeake, N.C.; a sister, Ashley H. Mullins of Hampton; a brother, Nathan F. Mullins and his children Kara, River, Braxton, Megan, Mia and Jack all of Rockwell, N.C.; maternal grandfather, Bill Massengill, Farmville, N.C.; paternal grandparents, Jerry and Jenny Mullins of Chesapeake; and several aunts, uncles, cousins, and many loving friends.
He was preceded in death by his grandmother, Ruby Schneider Massengill.
The family will receive friends from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday in H.D. Oliver Funeral Apts., Laskin Road Chapel. A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday by the Rev. Ralph Haddock in the funeral home chapel. Interment will follow in Forest Lawn Cemetery in Norfolk.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to LifeNet Health Foundation, 1864 Concert Dr., Virginia Beach, VA 23453, or consider being a donor yourself. Online condolences may be made at www.hdoliver.com.


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Dodgers place Yasiel Puig and Joel Peralta on the DL
By Drew SilvaApr 26, 2015, 2:58 PM EDT
As announced Sunday on the Los Angeles Dodgers' official Twitter feed …
Yasiel Puig and Joel Peralta have been placed on the 15-day disabled list, and pitchers Scott Baker and Carlos Frias have joined team. (1/2)
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) April 26, 2015
Puig initially injured his left hamstring on April 13 while trying to make a catch in the outfield and wound up missing the Dodgers' next three games. He returned on April 18 and even went 2-for-3 with an RBI double, but he had a noticeable hobble in that game and then had to be pulled from Friday night's series opener against the Padres with renewed hamstring discomfort. Andre Ethier will presumably serve as the Dodgers' primary right fielder over the next couple of weeks. He's starting there in Sunday's series finale with the Friars.
Peralta has been filling in at closer for LA while Kenley Jansen recovers from offseason foot surgery, converting three saves in three opportunities without allowing a run. Chris Hatcher may be the guy now.
Follow @drewsilv