text:
Joseph Haber Cree, his wife Martha (née Millward) and their family of six young children left their home in Swanwick, Derbyshire, England, in 1843 to seek a new life in America. This is their story and also to some extent the story of those they left behind, Joseph's parents, brothers and sisters.
It is mainly told through letters written to Joseph and Martha which were kept in a leather pouch in an old oak chest which they had brought from England. The oak chest, the pouch and the letters survived being carried across the Atlantic, from New York City to Upper New York State and then to Iowa, and are still in the care of his descendants in America. Through these letters, Joseph's family and friends speak directly to us of their lives, their feelings and hopes and their reactions to good times and bad. There is just one letter written by Joseph Cree himself.
The letters cover the period from 1844, just after the family migrated to America, to 1870, just before Joseph's death.
i Discovering the letters
ii Joseph Cree's ancestry
iii Alfreton in the 1840s
The Letters:
1. 1844: This letter was written to Joseph and Martha by Joseph's mother Elizebeth (Cutts) Cree a couple of months after they left England.
2. 1846: This letter to Joseph is from William Greaves, a friend he had known back home and who was now living in Philadelphia.
3. 1848: This letter to the whole family is from Joseph's mother Elizabeth.
4. 1852: From Thomas Jefferson Cree of Wheelock, Vermont, to Joseph Cree replying to a letter from Joseph enquiring whether they might be related.
5. 1853: To Joseph and Martha from Joseph's sister Rebecca Cree. There is also a note from Joe's mother Elizebeth Cree
6. 1856: To Joseph from his sister Rebecca Cree. There are also letters from his mother Elizabeth and his nephew William Frisby.
7. c1864: To Joseph from Robert Hogbin, a friend he had known in New York.
8. 1870: To Joseph from his son-in-law Chris Hodsdon in Fremont, Iowa.
9. 1870: From Joseph to Mary and Chris Hodsdon, his daughter and son-in-law in Fremont, Iowa
10. 1870: From Chris Hodsdon to his wife Mary, who was visiting her father Joseph in Pompey, New York State.
Postscript: What happened afterwards
| Next page |
All the transcriptions, notes and commentaries are copyright © Mike Spathaky 2009.


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Category Archives: clubs
1980s, clubs, culture, entertainment, fashion, london, music, television, Uncategorized
Goodbye, George
I thought that 2016 had already done its fair share of disposing of iconic artists, but it still had a few cards to play. So the irony of hearing George Michael had passed away on Christmas day seemed a cruel joke too far (one that social media predictably jumped on in its crass, insensitive way almost as soon as the news hit that evening). But like Prince and Bowie before him, the sudden and unexpected nature of his passing was perhaps the biggest surprise, given he was only 53.
I know that it's the new norm in the social media age to bear ones feelings online, and to lace tragedy with hyperbole and flowery language, an arms race to see who is the most upset or struck by these events, but while Bowie and Prince have been ever-present in my life, they were never the soundtrack to my childhood. George Michael, in Wham! and as a solo artist was definitely that, even before I knew much about him, or – blissfully unaware as a 7 year-old – his life, I was dancing round the living room to Club Tropicana and Wham Rap and recording hits off the radio on tape (yes, remember that?) Like any child of the 80s (born in '75, but growing up in that oddly bleak yet flamboyant decade), pop music was central to my formative years. And what a decade for pop it was, perhaps never bettered, with so many big acts to choose from, even the one-hit wonders were somehow brilliant (think Owen Paul, Jermaine Stewart, The Buggles, Cutting Crew, Nina, MARRS). But alongside globe-spanning heavyweights like Duran Duran, Madonna, Prince, U2, Queen and Bowie, George Michael felt much more like one of us. The son of a Greek-Cypriot restaurant owner, born and raised in Kingsbury then Radlett, meeting Andrew Ridgely at school with dreams of pop stardom.
Forming Wham! in 1981, (I don't know what you were doing when you were 18, but I was listening to his records, and wondering what my Geography degree would get me in life) they had a no.1 album within two years, with 3 top ten singles, including Wham Rap and the iconic Club Tropicana. The latter was filmed at the famous Pikes Hotel in Ibiza, and when I found this fact out much later on in life, I spent 2 summers trying to find the place outside San Antonio, just to be able to stand where that famous video was shot, such was its legend. It seemed crazy that I could be walking around that pool (luckily, no white pants for me), replaying that video in my head, wondering – and wishing – what it would've been like to have been at one of those weekend parties there in the mid 80s with George, Andy, Freddie, Grace and the rest. He just made it all look so fun.
From there, the hits rolled almost non-stop, with staggering numbers: 100m albums sold, 7 UK no.1s, 8 US Billboard no.1s, his debut solo album, Faith, sold 20m alone, not to mention the list of awards, from 3 Ivor Novellos to countless Brits, MTV, Grammy and American Music Awards. But above all, he was a star, and a star all of his own making. George Michael did things his own way, and all his success came at a time when, if you were gay, you still had enough problems to deal with from daily life, but when you were a megastar, you'd be hounded relentlessly and mercilessly by the tabloids, rabidly obsessed with outing and shaming homosexuals. These are the same tabloids now eulogising him. It has ever been thus, the hypocrisy hanging rank in the air.. But Michael refused to be ashamed of his life. Much has been made of him not coming out until 1998, following his much-publicised bust (sorry, sting) in LA by an undercover police officer. But he didn't care personally that he was gay, only that coming out publicly would affect his parents more than anything. In many ways, he was still the outsider from suburban London, but also, he didn't exercise rigid control on his public or private life because he was ashamed, but because he felt it was none of anyone's business. This infuriated the press, who simply attacked him further, and just made us root for him even more. His refusal to be a sexless, ashamed, out-gay man, is to be lauded, and still feels an outlier today, but in the late 90s, (having endured and survived the turbulent 80s) he was one of a few pop stars to be willing to put his head above the parapet. Even back then almost half the UK still thought same-sex relations 'always or mostly wrong'. Many thought his career would suffer then, but of course, it was arguably one of the finest ripostes to a celebrity shaming there's ever been: he made Outside in weeks after that arrest and 'scandal', lampooning at once the press, the LA Police, homophobes everywhere, showing that gay sex was still just sex, and making them all uncomfortable at the same time. A masterstroke, and one that many others would never have dared risk. He did it with gusto and humour, and I only loved him more.
There was the usual narrative of the 'troubled' star, yet no one bared this truth more honestly than George himself, speaking of his demons and addictions openly and causing many of us that were teens or younger at the time to go back over lyrics and feel embarrassment over what was overtly personal and downright dirty songs, released in plain sight. But it was all part of a talent that wrote and sang songs that were emotionally inclusive and soul-baring. When he was playing the James Dean role on Faith, he was also singing about a quick shag on Fast Love, or more brazenly pushing the tolerance of radio stations and tv channels with 'I Want Your Sex' (famously writing 'explore monogamy' on his partner's back in lipstick'. But for all his brazen nature, great copy and partying, tragedy and difficulty was never far away either. Watching Anselmo Feleppa, his partner, die of AIDS-related illness in 1993, and penning Jesus To A Child to commemorate him. Even the accidents and incidents that put him in prison briefly, the public shame heaped on him made him no less forgiving, and it was hard not to love him for that, particularly when you detest the right-wing press and their motives so much. All the while, he still looked for that next hit, writing dozens of news songs, fighting his label for control, and in recent years that next album that never saw the light of day, robbing us perhaps of a next chapter to his remarkable story.
And all through it, he was a trailblazer and a star. While he was releasing solo classics like Listen Without Prejudice Vol.1, he was donating money to charities and individuals. Stories of giving a nurse fifteen thousand pounds anonymously for her IVF, or a concert for NHS nurses following his mother's death, donating royalties to Childline, or Terrence Higgens' trust for AIDS, making clear that having 'more money than he could spend' didn't mean he didn't know how to use it. In a world where celebrities now do much work for charity but do like to talk about it, he was the opposite. His work for LGBT charities was huge, and he also wore the position of a global pop star figurehead for a movement with zest, whatever the personal cost. The trail he blazed didn't just inspire musicians and others from his music, but made it easier for people after him to be who they needed to be, and as his music success waned, his legacy's impact increased only further.
Ultimately though, for those of a certain age, his death leaves a sizeable hole. From as early as I can remember, I danced to his music, wanted to be him – and yes, long before I had a clue he was gay, we all wanted to be him, or be with him, such was his attraction to women – and bought his records. The tapes I had from back then are mostly long gone – I still remember being so excited to buy the cassette single of he and one of my other childhood icons, Elton John, duetting on Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me from Our Price in Redhill in 1991, when it really wasn't cool to like either that much any more – but the records remain. So many hits, that it seemed like one of his records was permanently in the charts from 1981 to the late 90s, a staggering output, especially when success is so fleeting in the modern musical world. He did so much that seems normal now, but lost him friends, success and money back then, whether it was refusing to be in his own videos (Freedom, particularly, irked Sony, but it's now one of the most replayed videos that era, chock-full of supermodels), suing his own record company for creative control, and simply be unashamed being out and gay when it was accepted to be a career-killer. Lesser artists would've been hit, but he just did what he wanted to, and that's why people rooted for him.
I've dabbled as a DJ over the past two decades, and now the radio show I do is based around being the best wedding set you've ever heard. Understandably, Wham! and George Michael have always been high on my list of #bangers since the start. How can they not? So many of them have such happy memories for me, whether it's listening to Wham! in Africa when I was a kid, or mesmerised by him joining Elton at Live Aid, or cracking up when the LA policeman sued him for making Outside, with George at the centre of his own joke. And every new year's day for the last seven years, dancing to Everything She Wants at Bugged Out. Even last week, I played Last Christmas (how could you not?) on my radio show's festive edition. It seems so sad that it's now an epitaph, rather than a celebration of someone you hoped still had gas in their career for a long time to come. He also joins the list of artists I never saw live and that I'll never get that chance to. Everyone I know that did was in awe. That voice of his had few peers.
As we get older, it's inevitable that those we love, and revere and worship will slowly slip away before our eyes. Only a fool would be unwilling to accept this. But 53 is no age to go, discovered by your partner lying calmly in bed on Christmas morning. Not when you're re-releasing a classic album in 2017, and planning a documentary that we'll now never see. Nostalgia is a business all of its own these days, but when a chunk of your childhood becomes a freeze-frame of memories, and no longer a living, breathing person, part of that dies with them. It's not overdramatic to say that, because while I listen to so much new music, there's a huge part of me that's still that little nerdy kid dancing round the room with a comb singing Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go, and wanting to be that flamboyant guy on tv in tennis shorts and a haircut bigger than my torso, bobbing around alongside Andrew Ridgely. Knowing that George Michael is 'never gonna dance again' is a sad, sad day indeed.
1980s1990sa different cornerandrew ridgleyandy ridgleyband aidbritainclub tropicanafaithfast lovegeorge michaelgreecelisten without prejudice vol.1live aidoutsidepop musicrest in peaceripsongwritingwake me up before you go gowham rapwham!
acid house, clubs, music
September 28, 2008 whyohwhyohwhy	Leave a comment
As if the body blow of losing Turnmills, The Key, The Cross and Canvas wasn't enough in 2008, the news that the End would close for good on 24th Jan 2009 was probably the worst of all for the capital's clubbers. In its 13 years it's played host to some of the best-loved DJs, with residents from founders Layo and Bushwacka! and Mr C to Danny Howells, Laurent Garnier, Steve Lawler, DJ Marky, Andy C and stalwarts like Chew The Fat, DTPM, Milk'n'2 Sugars, Simple, Olmeto, Cocoon, Circo Loco, not to mention a list of guests that reads like a who's who of dance music, it's a tragedy that it'll finally, along with its little sister, the AKA, close its doors. The centre of town is now more barren than it's ever been.
With times tight, it's not impossible to understand that the last in a long line of offers for the premises would be too good to turn down. The team has been there from the start, and 13 years is a long time in clubland. When time for change came, leaving it to anyone else to run wouldn't see right, when it's something so close to all of them, and especially when the future years, and the desire to continue ad infinitum, must be weighed up. But for those that have gone time and time again it'll be a huge loss to the capital, as it's surely the light that's shone brightest in the past two decades in a capital with nightlife that is the envy of the world.
But, as they say, all good things must come to an end. And, over the past thirteen years, we've been spoilt. Personal memories are so many, some hazier than others. From early visits for Underwater, Missdemeanours, Be As One and Riot! to midweek carnage of record launches (Digweed and Howells' Choice Ones were the stuff of legend) and Sunday nights misspent at Clandestino, and Mondays at Trash, maybe the least-known but most lauded residencies the club has seen. The one thing that run through it all was how easy it was to have a good time in those two hallowed rooms. The club was (and still is) run so well, with nothing more important than the clubbers and the music, that, for the uptight reputation that the capital has, it could've easily been Manchester or Leeds. It was a pocket of friendliness and cool that seemed to sit outside the confines of the city.
I'm not 100% sure when I first set foot in the club, it would've been around the end of the 90s, but I remember queueing for ages, which, back then, proved it must've been an experience worth repeating. And despite the changing times and clubbing climate, very little changed downstairs. It didn't need to. The main room, with its raised central booth perfect for both worship of and performance from the DJ, and the lounge, as much for chatting, catching up, and boozing as dancing, were an example to many others on how simplicity really was the best watchword. I've lost count of the many times I've stood up the end of the bar buying shots or more beers, whether it was the fun and games of Riot! on Sundays gone by, where so many of my current friends were met, or Cocoon, taking a break from the pounding main room. It won't seem right not having that familiar spot to take a breather, or add to the hangover of the morning after. I've been lucky enough to get behind the decks. It may have been only once, in the Lounge at Riot! (sadly the 2nd last in 2006) but I'm able to say I played my favourite club, and I'm not sure how many could say that.
So, what of the future? Despite all the wailing and gnashing of teeth, there are still 4 months left to give the club the send-off it deserves. Plans and line-ups for the final weeks are as yet still unreleased, but it almost doesn't matter who plays, it'll be the last chance to say goodbye to the place with the people that matter. Much like those gone before it, it'll be hard to get used to walking from Holborn to Tottenham Court Road and glancing down West Central Street and finding that famous view no longer there. But like other legends before it, we can at least say, without a hint of smugness or ego, that we were lucky enough to spend many a lost weekend in its confines, and look back over those memories at the fun we had. The clubbing map is always in a state of flux, and while, 2 years ago, if someone had told me five of the capital's finest nightspots would be lost to developers, i'd have laughed and also prayed. But we can only look back and think how lucky we were that the people behind the End gave us all those years, not be angry that it's gone. Its significance can only be understood even more once it's finally closed its doors. And I'll be there when it happens, you can count on that. Monday the 25th January will be a black day in more than one way, but I'll be taking holiday. I think I'll need it….
akabe as oneclosureclubsgoodbyejanuarylondonriotthe endtrashunderwater

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Lawyer on a Mission in Afghanistan
Scott Delius puts practice on hold to help set up the Afghan military justice system
CPT Delius outside Kabul, Afghanistan
Fulton County Daily Report
Scott Delius has a mission.
Delius put his law practice on hold last October to go to Afghanistan with the Army National Guard, which is part of the NATO coalition training the Afghan National Army.
After a month's training in Mississippi, Delius arrived in Kabul in late November, where he is the Judge Advocate General officer attached to the Kabul Military Training Center. It is the country's largest base, he said in a telephone interview, with about 8,000 new recruits being trained at any one time. He is working with the base's top Afghan legal officer to establish a military justice system there. He also advises the Afghans and the U.S. base commander on any legal issues that come up and helps U.S. soldiers with any legal problems that arise for them back home.
CPT Delius, left, conducting mission briefing for humanitarian convoy
Delius recently added a personal mission to his official duties.
He was prompted by a visit he'd made that morning to a refugee village that his unit was assessing for a humanitarian mission. "It just floored me," he said. "There were children with no shoes, trash everywhere, livestock eating it, and people burning the trash to keep warm."
Delius keeps a blog, where he has been recording his experiences in Kabul. On his blog that day, he wrote, "Since I left the village this morning I've been walking around in a fog. I am overwhelmed by what I saw," and he posted pictures he'd taken of the desolate conditions in the encampment.
He said he'd seen the ravaged condition of the country when on convoy traveling from base to base. But, he said, with "boots on the ground, having the opportunity to walk through the village—I really saw it then."
Afghan kids lining up for school supplies
Food donations to be distributed to Afghan civilians
Tons of clothing donations received from the U.S. to be distributed to Afghan civilians
Delius, who is 37, became a guardsman two years ago. He said the 9/11 attacks prompted him to join the military. He made several attempts to enlist in the Army Reserves, but they turned him away each time because of a knee surgery he'd had years before. He finally contacted the Army National Guard, which he said understood that the surgery doesn't affect his physical performance and signed him up.
Although Delius is a JAG officer in Decatur's 78th Troop Command, he is serving in Afghanistan as part of an Oregon National Guard unit, the 41st Brigade. At officers' basic training, an Oregon national guardsman told Delius his unit was going to be sent to Afghanistan as part of the NATO mission training the Afghan army. Almost two years later, the Oregonian e-mailed him about an opening on the mission, and Delius volunteered to go.
In civilian life, Delius has a solo law practice. While he is in Kabul, two colleagues have taken on a lot of his cases, which he said has been a huge help. But he acknowledged that he does not know how much of a law practice he'll have when he returns in May or June. "I'm going to have to work hard to rebuild," he said.
Right now, he is working to build the Afghan National Army. "We're training them to be good soldiers who can help this nation stand on its own," he said.
Afghan kids taking home clothing donations
After the Soviets withdrew from Afghanistan in 1989, the country fell into civil war and then Taliban rule until the U.S. invasion in 2001 toppled the Taliban government. Since December 2001, a NATO force, which includes the United States, has been supporting the government of President Hamid Karzai.
New soldiers, all volunteers, come through the Kabul Military Training Center, where a NATO coalition is assisting with their basic training.
Establishing a well-functioning military justice system is a crucial part of getting the Afghan army, known as the ANA, to stand on its own, Delius said.
A well-functioning army "involves instilling a system of fairness and justice throughout the ANA ranks," he wrote on his blog. "The thought is that if we start the soldiers off right at the beginning here at [the training center], they will become conscientious soldiers and future citizens. You can't instill this type of outlook without having a military justice system. Imagine trying to motivate a soldier to fight for his country if rules within his own army aren't enforced and if infractions go unpunished."
Delius is mentoring the Afghans as they set up a military court at the base. "They had no military justice system at all," he said.
Last month, an Afghan soldier was tried for a male-on-male rape on the base. Delius said the Afghans handled the legal work themselves—from arrest and investigation to trial and sentencing—which he called a success story for the new system. "We got a very strong conviction of eight years," he added.
"We are trying to get the Afghan government and military to go after people who are breaking the laws," he said, explaining that Afghans are often afraid, after years of civil war, lawlessness, and Taliban rule, of repercussions to themselves and their families if they report crimes.
Delius and an Afghan Army colonel are creating training programs for the soldiers. A lot of them are illiterate, he said, "so we have to come up with creative ways to teach them law of war issues." Delius's team has produced what is informally referred to as the "comic book," with pictures showing what is right and wrong on the battlefield—for instance, that they should not kill the people they capture and should treat them humanely. Other photos, posted on his blog, instruct soldiers not to sleep on guard duty or go AWOL and illustrate that it's a crime to sell weapons or other items issued by the military. (A literacy program has been established at the base.)
They are also teaching the officers more appropriate ways to discipline their own soldiers for infractions, such as giving them extra duty instead of physical punishment. "We're helping them change their mindset," Delius explained.
He emphasized that the Afghan soldiers are smart people who grasp things quickly. "You have to remember that the older officers were brought up through the Soviet system, which was much harsher. They had a different way of doing things. They didn't always play by the rules."
American news outlets have reported that the violence in Afghanistan has reached the worst levels since the U.S. attack against the Taliban in 2001. Delius said that he and other soldiers cannot leave the base unless fully armed and in convoy with other soldiers.
To deliver the clothes and supplies to the village, he must organize "a full convoy complete with MP security, because it will be dangerous to go out there."
Hundreds of shoes to be distributed to Afghan kids
He added that he hoped media coverage of the worsening violence would encourage other countries to send troops to help the NATO coalition in Afghanistan, where the United States has about 18,000 troops stationed.
Despite the surge in violence from the Taliban, Delius is optimistic about the Afghan army, which he said is getting a "strong stream" of volunteers. "The army is standing up on its own," he said. "People here are tired of war. They are tired of fighting. There is a generation here that has known nothing but war. They are tired of it and want it to stop."
Atlanta JAG Carries Out Aid Mission for Afghan Refugee Village
CPT Delius at a humanitarian food distribution site in Kabul
On Friday, U.S. soldiers distributed two seven-ton trucks' worth of clothes, shoes, and supplies to a refugee village near Kabul Military Training Center in Afghanistan. Atlanta solo attorney Scott Delius, serving in Afghanistan as an Army National Guard JAG since November 2006, organized the relief effort.
Scott D. Delius is ordinarily a solo attorney in Atlanta but has been serving in Afghanistan as an Army National Guard member since November 2006. He is stationed at the country's largest military training base as a judge advocate general helping to train the Afghan National Army.
Soldiers line up to distribute food supplies to Afghan flood victims
The contributions were enough to fill two seven-ton trucks.
On Friday, more than 50 soldiers at Delius' base volunteered to help him transport the donations to a nearby village and distribute them to the Afghans. Since Friday is a Muslim holiday, it is the soldiers' day off at the base.
Delius wrote on the blog that he's keeping his tour, Afghanistan JAG, that it took him about two weeks to plan the trip. He checked out the village three times, then planned the route and organized the personnel before Friday's expedition of the base.
Crowd control was the soldiers' biggest task; the villagers jockeyed for better spots in line for the clothing and shoes. Delius writes that there were no women or girls in the line because the men and boys kept pushing them aside, so the soldiers moved the girls to the front of the line, where they received all the clothes they could carry.
"We were able to put shoes, pants, shirts, and jackets on over 500 people and size them correctly. That is a massive undertaking," he said on his blog, where he also has posted pictures of the humanitarian mission. Delius, who was promoted to captain in April, is due to return to Atlanta later this month. He and his colleagues and family are working with a humanitarian organization to keep the aid effort going after his return and send shoes and clothes to Afghans in other villages.
Good People: Help for Afghanistan
WXIA News Channel 11, Atlanta
When 9/11 happened, a young Atlanta attorney decided to do something. So, he volunteered for the National Guard and eventually was sent to Afghanistan.
But the attorney-soldier who went to fight for our country came back an honored humanitarian.
What Captain Scott Delius did over there makes him Good People.
He's got a collection of military medals—some, every soldier gets when they go to war. But not every soldier gets this—
"This is the meritorious service medal which goes with the certificate," said Scott Delius.
Delius just got back from six months in Afghanistan, a soldier with the Georgia National Guard and an attorney. He was sent to Afghanistan to help set up a military court system. He never expected to be moved by what he saw.
"Seeing children with no clothes," he said. "And it was way below freezing. I'm bundled up. I'm comfortable, but I'm seeing children with no shoes that live in mud huts."
The villages of Afghanistan changed everything for Scott.
"That just struck me really hard," he said. "I just didn't feel like I could walk away from that."
"Scott sent this e-mail saying what are we gonna do about this," said his wife, Allison. "Oh my gosh, this is making me so upset and so sad—there was a couple of people that responded and said I want to help. Tell me what to do."
It snowballed. The pictures Scott sent were wrenching. His wife forwarded them, and friends of friends and their friends got involved.
"I was surprised, overwhelmed really," Scott said.
It was a hero moment. Scott and his fellow soldiers handed out clothes from village to village to grateful families—so many clothes sometimes the bags were bigger than the kids.
"They really appreciate it," Scott said. "They don't have anything, I mean, at all. They don't have any shoes, they don't have any warm coats. They're very appreciative."
Scott likes helping people. He's an attorney. But what happened in Afghanistan deepened his desire to change lives. He went on to set up that military judicial system, and then he came home a different man.
"When you go day to day wondering if you're gonna make it through that day, that changes your perspective," Scott said. "You have a sense of maybe what's important and what's not now that I didn't have before."
Scott said now, the small things don't bother him anymore—not even Atlanta traffic.
By the way, they distributed those clothes all while keeping watch for suicide bombers. Some donations are still coming in.
Operation Backpack at Camp Alamo Afghanistan
CPT Delius on firing range outside Kabul
Defense Transportation Journal
The press describes the area around Camp Alamo, which is located inside the walls of the Kabul Military Training Center (KMTC), as "home to bloodthirsty drug gangs, al-Qaeda suicide bombers, floods, and flesh-eating scorpions," yet this does not deter our troops from venturing beyond the confines to distribute school supplies to needy children. Sometimes, the people coordinating the effort do not have specialized training in distribution or logistics, but they do have heart. And that's what it takes when the destination involves "one of the most dangerous places on earth."
What follows are two separate accounts from Captain Scott Delius, U.S. Army National Guard, and Chief Petty Officer Mike Ploeger, U.S. Navy Reserve. They both were moved by the children; they both found solutions to deliver help in resourceful ways. Their mission is informally known as "Operation Backpack" and is sustained today through a resilient network of friends and comrades.
Frustrated, and in response to the extreme poverty he encountered in surrounding villages outside Camp Alamo, Captain Scott Delius set about collecting clothes, shoes, notebooks, and backpacks in his spare time for the youngsters.
Captain Delius arrived in Kabul in late November 2006 after a month's training in Mississippi and was assigned as the Judge Advocate General (JAG) officer attached to the Kabul Military Training Center (KMTC). It is the country's largest base, with about 8,000 new recruits in training at any one time. He worked with the base's top Afghan legal officer to establish a military justice system, and he helped U.S. soldiers with legal problems that came up back home. His role didn't require expertise in transportation or logistics, but when facing mountains of donated supplies—enough to fill two seven-ton trucks after all was said and done—he was forced to assume a new mindset and develop additional problem-solving skills.
Other opportunities for hands-on learning surfaced from time to time, like the time a devastating flood swamped in Kabul. Shovels, tarps, saws, and hammers were delivered along with food and clothing. "More than 6,000 people [in Kabul] lost their homes. A police chief contacted our intelligence officer and asked for assistance," Captain Delius remembers. The supplies were critical in rebuilding homes and lives.
In May of this year, he returned home to rekindle his law practice, but the legacy of goodwill lives on at Camp Alamo—and in surprising ways.
One day, out of the clear blue, NDTA member Mike Meyer received a call. It was from his longtime friend Mike Ploeger, now a Chief Petty Officer with the Naval Reserves and stationed at Camp Alamo as Public Affairs Officer. Way back when, they were raised in the same neighborhood and grew up to own and operate their own trucks for the same companies, spending many long stretches on the road together. That was 30 years ago, and now, Chief Ploeger was calling for help. Coordination was needed to collect a barrage of donations earmarked for Afghanistan; goods were coming from around South Carolina in response to communications from the 218th National Guard out of Columbia and the 178th Combat Engineers out of Rock Hill and Fort Mill armories, both units deployed to Camp Alamo. Chief Ploeger had to get the word out. After all, winter was approaching, and the kids needed coats and shoes!
Meyer stepped up to coordinate the necessary stateside logistics. "I contacted trucking companies and others in the industry to assist with transport. Ana Bundy, with Blackwater, a private security firm, agreed to offload and warehouse items, as well as provide airlift to Afghanistan." He continues, "Some aspects [of this effort] are easier than others, and having a private company onboard to handle shipment over to Afghanistan can speed up the process. It hasn't been hard to get others involved—there are many people with connections to someone over there [at Camp Alamo], and they want to contribute."
Volunteers in South Carolina sorted and boxed the goods, which even included old military uniforms for the Afghan trainees at KMTC; the American soldiers' names were taken off garments that were no longer a standard issue. The domestic trucking was arranged through Andy Clarke and provided by his firm, Panther Expedited Services. Chris Koehring of Panther coordinated the multiple pickups and the delivery without delay. The Herald News in Rock Hill, South Carolina reported that the truck drivers from Panther were so impressed with the humanitarian effort that they donated mileage from part of the trip, which translates as money that they would normally earn.
Friendships, whether casual or work-related, help build the bridges that move things along…in this case, to Camp Alamo, and thanks to two old friends. By October, enough shoes, coats, hats, gloves, and clothing were collected to warm the kids (who play barefoot in the snow), their mothers (whose husbands and fathers were killed in war), and the aged village farmers (who till the fields by hand).
Preparing to leave for the humanitarian mission
Chief Ploeger joined Camp Alamo just as Captain Delius was preparing to leave in May. They became quick friends. They didn't spend much time together in transition, and they were not related by either their uniform or by their profession. But they shared a strong commitment, a resourceful spirit, and an "army" of friends back home that keeps "Operation Backpack" alive. So far, six Humanitarian Aid (HA) missions have taken place, with almost 2,000 man-hours of off-duty time contributed by the coalition soldiers. The missions include three schools in an area that sustained several IED strikes, two village clothing distributions, and a distribution of food and clothing to the families of Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers that were killed this past July in a mortar training accident.
Deal's JNC Draws From Diverse Group
Co-chairman Randy Evans: Commission reflects the mix of geographic regions, firm sizes, and practices
The 20 lawyers Gov. Nathan Deal named in his first week in office to serve on the Judicial Nominating Commission draw on diverse practices and regions of the state.
"We didn't start with that objective, but when we finished, it ended up being quite diverse," said McKenna Long & Aldridge partner J. Randolph "Randy" Evans, former Republican Party of Georgia general counsel and Deal's personal attorney, one of two co-chairmen of the new JNC.
The other co-chairman is Miller P. "Pete" Robinson, Deal's transition team co-chairman and head of the Troutman Sanders lobbying group. They replace one-time attorney general Michael J. Bowers, a partner with Balch & Bingham.
Evans and Robinson said the naming of two chairmen was for practical purposes: both have busy law practices.
Evans heads McKenna's financial institutions practice, handling high-profile, complex litigation in state and federal courts. He also serves as outside counsel to a list of Republicans that includes Deal, Sarah Palin, former U.S. House speakers Dennis Hastert and Newt Gingrich, and former congressman J.C. Watts.
Robinson, a Columbus resident, is chairman of Troutman Sanders Strategies, a federal, state, and local lobbying firm. He is a former member of the state Senate, where he was a Democratic majority leader. He notes he was the only Georgia Senate president pro tempore ever to be nominated for that role by both the Republican and Democratic leaders. Like Deal, whom he came to know in the state Senate, Robinson later became a Republican but has retained ties to both parties. "I try to be non-partisan," Robinson said. "Politics is not my issue."
Despite the Republican credentials of a number of the new panel members, Evans was adamant that politics would not be a part of the judicial selection process. "The commission will base its decisions on the merits of the candidates," Robinson added. "Randy and I are both looking forward to working together to name a list of good, qualified, fair candidates for the governor to consider."
The co-chairmen said the list of lawyers who will help the governor choose judges is a product of conversations Deal had with them and his executive council, D. Todd Markle, formerly a litigator with Mabry & McClelland, as well as W. Ryan Teague, deputy executive counsel under Gov. Sonny Perdue who remains in the same position with Deal, and other members of the new governor's team.
"If you made a list of big firms, small firms, solos, judges, plaintiffs, the defense bar, prosecutors, criminal defense, it's all there," Evans said. "It's a reflection of the role the governor expects the group to take. It's reflective of all geographic areas, all practices, all size law firms, all kinds of people. It's reflective of the bar and reflective of the things that Georgians look for in a judge."
The JNC dates back to 1972 when then-Gov. Jimmy Carter created it by executive order. The group traditionally has interviewed candidates for judicial positions and provided the governor with shortlists from which to choose. Members serve at the pleasure of the governor, who is not bound to follow its recommendations. The JNC in the past has made public the detailed questionnaires completed by judicial candidates but has conducted interviews in private.
Evans and Robinson declined to answer questions about how the judicial nominating process may change, saying the new members of the JNC will soon have an organizational meeting to make decisions and plan procedures. But they did express what Evans described as "a strong preference for transparency."
Evans said he believes the judicial nominating process will be different from the previous administration, but it's too soon to say how. "We have an advantage because Gov. Deal is a lawyer. That'll make our job easier," said Evans. "It'll change how he views our recommendations and probably what he does with our recommendations."
Deal's new JNC includes three lawyers who served previously under Perdue: James B. Franklin, Robert S. Highsmith Jr., and Frank B. Strickland.
Franklin, a litigator with Franklin, Taulbee, Rushing, Snipes & Marsh in Statesboro, served as an honorary co-chairman of the lawyers' committee for Sam Olens' campaign for attorney general and as a co-chairman of the Olens transition team. Franklin is a past president of the State Bar of Georgia (2001-2002).
Highsmith, a government relations partner with Holland & Knight in Atlanta, was also a member of the Olens transition team. He is a former assistant general counsel to the Georgia Republican Party, chief of staff to the Republican Caucus of the Georgia House of Representatives, and deputy executive counsel under Perdue.
Strickland, an education, government affairs, and campaign finance lawyer at Strickland Brockington Lewis, was appointed to the JNC by Perdue in 2003.
Republican Sam Olens, the new attorney general, will replace his predecessor, Thurbert E. Baker, on the JNC.
The other new members are:
Mary P. Adams is a medical malpractice defense lawyer with Green & Sapp in Atlanta and one of only two women on the commission.
James A. Bishop of the Bishop Law Firm in Brunswick is a member of the Georgia Board of Regents. Bishop's first job out of Mercer University Law School was practicing with Anthony A. Alaimo, who went on to become a U.S. District Court judge for the Southern District of Georgia.
Thomas P. Bishop is general counsel for Georgia Power Co. and a former chairman of the board of directors for the Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta, which matches corporate lawyers with nonprofit organizations needing legal help. Bishop lives in Cartersville.
Waycross Judicial Circuit Superior Court Judge Michael P. Boggs was nominated in the search for a replacement for Georgia Supreme Court Justice Leah Ward Sears when she retired in 2009, but he was not on the shortlist.
Christopher M. Carr is chief of staff for U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson and a former vice president of the Georgia Public Policy Foundation.
Dennis T. Cathey is a trial lawyer with Cathey & Strain in Cornelia, near Deal's hometown of Gainesville, and a former Georgia Trial Lawyers Association president.
Dwight J. Davis is a senior litigation partner at King & Spalding and a fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers.
Scott D. Delius is a solo lawyer and mediator with Miles Mediation & Arbitration Services and has made JNC shortlists twice himself for Fulton County judicial positions. He served in Afghanistan as a Georgia Army National Guard JAG officer.
Arthur B. "Skin" Edge IV is a Republican political supporter who served 10 years in the Georgia Senate dating back to 1987, is a partner with the law firm of Wood, Odom & Edge in Newnan and is associated with the lobbying group GeorgiaLink, which has connections to the Perdue administration.
Robert D. James Jr. is a Democrat who was elected as DeKalb County's district attorney last fall and previously served as DeKalb's solicitor general. He is the panel's lone African-American member.
J. David McDade is the Douglas County district attorney who prosecuted then-17-year-old Genarlow Wilson—whose case was later overturned by the Georgia Supreme Court—for having oral sex with another teenager at a high school party.
Patrick T. O'Connor is a mediator, arbitrator, trial lawyer, and managing partner with Oliver Maner in Savannah and a member of the State Bar of Georgia Board of Governors.
Daniel A. Summer is a self-described "right-wing Democrat" and Deal supporter who practices law with his wife, Chandelle T. Summer, at Summer & Summer in Gainesville, and the only member from Deal's native Hall County.
Rebecca A. Wright is the Augusta Judicial Circuit district attorney. She was an assistant district attorney in 2008 when Perdue appointed her to fill the office opened when Perdue named her boss, former DA Daniel J. Craig, to the Augusta Superior Court.


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Q: Proving with a given definition that if $|A|=|B|$ then $A,B$ are equivalent (with induction but without using the induction hypothesis)
Let $A,B$ be finite sets, we'll say the sets are equivalent if $|A\setminus B|=|B\setminus A|$.
Prove with the above definition that if $|A|=|B|$ then $A,B$ are equivalent.

Suppose $|A|=|B|=n$.
If $A\cap B =\emptyset$ then $A\setminus B= A, B\setminus A= B$ and we know they're equivalent.
Move to induction:
Suppose $A\cap B \neq\emptyset$ then there's a least one shared element.
So $|A\setminus B|=n-1=|B\setminus A|$
Suppose that the statement hold for all $k\in \mathbb N: k<n$ shared elements and we'll prove that it holds for $n$ shared elements.
If there are $n$ shared elements then $|A\setminus B|=0=|B\setminus A|$ and we're done.
Notice I didn't use the induction hypothesis, so is there actually no need for induction here? If so how this could be proved any differently?
Is it wrong to use induction without using the induction hypothesis?

A: We have, $|A|=|A\backslash B|+|A \cap B|$,
and  $|B|=|B \backslash A|+|A \cap B|$
 if $|A|=|B|$, then $|A\backslash B|+|A \cap B|=|B \backslash A|+|A \cap B|$.
We deduce that $|A\backslash B|=|B \backslash A|$
So, $A$ and $B$ are equivalent.
Ps. The inductive hypothesis is necessary to initialize the proof.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


A wonderful advocacy group I follow on facebook, Hannah's Heroes shared this meme on their Facebook page over the weekend.
And, I would like to add to this.
Yes, going to can and should be like going to the doctor when you're sick.
But it can also be like going to an emotional personal trainer or the gym.
Poor emotional skills and destructive habits are hard to change and have this nasty habit of working "just a little bit." If you don't have something new to try when a stressful or difficult situation comes up, you're just going to keep having the same problems over and over again.
One session with a therapist isn't necessarily going to give you the skills you need to fix the habits and coping mechanisms you've developed over a lifetime.
You might have to go back, again and again, week after week, as you learn to be yourself, as you learn to feel your feelings and deal with them instead of stuffing them, projecting them, eating them, or lashing out at the people you love.
Actually seeing a therapist (instead of thinking about therapy, talking about how great therapy is for "other people," and wondering how you find a therapist) kind of sucked at first.
Learning to act, be, feel, and respond in new ways did not come easily, and I messed up a lot. I had to ask for forgiveness and apologize to my husband, my kids, my self.
But, over time you start to notice a difference.
You start to catch yourself before you fall down in the spiral of depression.
You start to take care of yourself before your emotional gas tank is totally empty.
You start to ask for help instead of thinking that you really can do all on your own.
You start to realize that you suddenly have a lot more time now that you aren't spending days reliving your worst moments, agonizing about some upcoming thing, or just feeling so nebulously sad that it takes all your energy to just go through the motions of your day.
You have so much more time. And energy. And presence.
So, yes. Go to the doctor. But also recognize that it may have taken awhile to get to this point, and you might need a guide to help you out. And just like when you go to the doctor, sometimes it isn't the right fit; and you need a second or third or fourth opinion – that is okay, and sometimes it's part of it. But it's important. Because whatever you're going through can be gotten through. But often it requires help.
Next Do I need a coach or a therapist?


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Eucalyptus Shallow Root Danger
By SF Gate Contributor Updated December 21, 2020
Installing a Fence in Between Trees
Cutting Down a Fruitless Mulberry Tree
How to Prune Eucalyptus
Why Trees Lean
What Are the Dangers of Cutting Tree Roots?
Eucalyptus trees (Eucalyptus spp.) are native to Australia, but have adapted to climates all over the world thanks to their shallow root system, and grow in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 7 through 10. These trees have a shallow root system, which developed as a way to survive in a harsh native environment, where accessing a limited amount of rainfall is crucial to survival. It's this shallow root system that can make eucalyptus trees a danger.
Possible Landscape Damage
About 90 percent of a eucalyptus tree's roots grow in the top 12 inches of soil, says Gardening Know How. This shallow root system grows rapidly, and along with a strong taproot, the lateral roots are vital to keeping a eucalyptus tree upright. A eucalyptus tree's taproot must grow down into the soil at least 6 feet to ensure good anchorage. The lateral roots spread out for up to 100 feet to help support the rest of the tree, and this can be an issue for nearby buildings and structures.
The roots and rootlets of eucalyptus trees planted in a yard can grow into ditches, clog water pipes, and crack septic tanks and cisterns. The roots of eucalyptus trees planted in an urban environment can damage sidewalks, curbs and gutters. As the shallow eucalyptus roots grow and produce secondary thickening growth, they can heave up paved surfaces above and around them.
Trees Are Easily Uprooted
In exposed locations, where eucalyptus trees are subjected to strong winds, a shallow root system presents a hazard to people, homes and other structures. If the root system is not well established, winds can cause the tree to sway, which loosens the soil around the root collar. This causes the shallow roots to tear and the tree may fall over. Newly planted eucalyptus will show a cone-shaped hole around the base where the soil is lost around the root collar, which indicates the tree is at risk of uprooting.
Additional Eucalyptus Trees Problems
Eucalyptus trees have a massive, long-reaching root system that can be a danger to the health of other plants. Because much of the root system is in the upper layers of soil, it can absorb water and nutrients rapidly. Eucalyptus trees are heavy feeders and need an extraordinary amount of water. This often leaves nothing for nearby plants to take up.
As the shallow root system expands, it invades the habitat of other species and can take over an area of the yard. Once it has established, it can be extremely difficult to eradicate a eucalyptus tree from your yard, because when the tree is cut down it undergoes mass-sprouting from the base and the root system and may reestablish growth.
Reducing the Dangers
If you choose to plant eucalyptus trees, you can limit or prevent some of the dangers associated with its shallow root system with proper planting and maintenance. Plant eucalyptus trees so the distance away from buildings, structures and roadways is equal to two-thirds the potential mature height of the tree.
If you plant your tree in clay soil, plant it further away because clay soils shrink when dry, increasing the risk of uprooting. Coppice the tree regularly to restrict growth, particularly when it grows too tall, is top-heavy or unstable. Coppicing is the process of cutting a tree down to allow the stump to regenerate.
Eucalyptus roots grow rapidly, and coppicing serves to reduce the overall size of the tree, and restricts root and branch growth by stopping the food supply of the tree temporarily. This prevents the tree from storing up nutrients to build a bigger root system.
Gardening Know How: Eucalyptus Tree Problems: How To Avoid Eucalyptus Tree Root Damage
Oregon State University: Eucalyptus
Do Eucalyptus Trees Have Weak Roots?
How to Plant a Tree on a Hill
How to Correct a Leaning Eucalyptus Tree
Evergreen Tree Root & Sewer Danger
The Properties of Eucalyptus Wood
What Grows Under Eucalyptus Trees?
Eucalyptus for Hedges
The Disadvantages of Spruce
Eucalyptus Tree Information
1 Do Eucalyptus Trees Have Weak Roots?
2 How to Plant a Tree on a Hill
3 How to Correct a Leaning Eucalyptus Tree
4 Evergreen Tree Root & Sewer Danger


By using the UV light to treat algae and pathogens in the water, cloudy or green water problems can be resolved. The pond water becomes clear and provides the ideal habitat for fish and other pond inhabitants.
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୧. ଆପଣାର ବା ଅନ୍ୟବ୍ୟକ୍ତିର ଜୀବନ ରକ୍ଷା କରିବା — ୧. To save or preserve or spare the life of another or of one's self.
୨. ଜୀଆଁଇବା; ପୋଷିବା; ପାଳିବା — ୨. To sustain; to rear up; to maintain.
୩. ବିପଦରୁ ଉଦ୍ଧାର ବା ରକ୍ଷା କରିବା — ୩. To save from impending danger.
୫. ସହିବା; ସମ୍ଭାଳି ନେବା —୫. To bear.
୬. ଛଳାଇବା —୬. To speak with hints.
୭. (ଆଘତାରୁ ଦେହକୁ) ଏଡ଼ାଇବବା; ରକ୍ଷା କରିବା — ୭. To ward off (a blow).
୮. ପ୍ରତାରିତ କରିବା; ଭଣ୍ଡିବା; ବଞ୍ଚିତ କରିବା — ୮. To ddefraud; to inveigle.
୯. କୌଣସି କାର୍ଯ୍ୟକୁ ସମ୍ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣରୂପେ ବା ଏକାବେଳକେ ନ କରିବା —୯. To shelve up a matter.
୧. ଏକାବେଳକେ ଖର୍ଚ୍ଚ ନ କରି ରଖି ରଖି ଖର୍ଚ୍ଚ କରିବା — ୧୦. To spare; to use frugally.
୧୧. କୌଣସି ବ୍ୟ୍ୟକ୍ତିକୁ ନିନ୍ଦା ବା ଦୋଷ ବା ତ୍ରୁଟିର ଅଭିଯୋଗରୁ ମୁକ୍ତ କରିବା —୧୧. To save a person from blame or any other charge.


Home › Academy › Help & FAQs › Do you require upfront payments for custom work?
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Hello and welcome to Savvy Sassy She's Podcast Episode #001 - An Introduction!
I'm so excited to share with you my first podcast. I have dreaming of this for years and have finally created one! It is not super polished or 100% fabulous, but I'm am going down the road of 'progress not perfection'! I am so proud that I faded in and out music, recorded it and then edited this 'masterpiece'!
Enjoy! And if there are any tips, tricks of feedback please let me know - I am enormously grateful around any improvements or insights you may have around it.
Episode #001 is an introduction to Savvy Sassy She and a little background about myself.
Beautiful and so open Arienne :) Your podcast is very clear and love the fading in and out of music - am impressed.


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Change city Prague (en)
Things to do Attractions Hotels Restaurants Bars
Time Out Prague
Things to do Attractions Hotels Restaurants Bars More
Worldwide icon-chevron-right Europe icon-chevron-right Czech Republic icon-chevron-right Prague icon-chevron-right 11 of the best Airbnbs in Prague
11 of the best Airbnbs in Prague
From swanky lofts to charming traditional apartments, here's how to do the city in style with the best Airbnbs in Prague
By Kyra Hanson | Posted: Friday February 22 2019
Prague is a stunner of a city—steeped in history with plenty of characterful baroque buildings, hip bars and stunning musems to explore. So, it's not surprising that its Airbnb offerings in this magical part of the world are some of the most aesthetically pleasing around. But you know what? Many of them are also seriously well-designed, with all the most mod of mod cons you could ever need. Plus, most of them come without the price tag of the city's best hotels. So check out our pick of the 11 best Airbnbs you'll find in the Czech Republic's capital city.
Best Airbnbs in Prague
©Airbnb
Spacious one-bed loft, Wenceslas Square
Claustrophobes can breathe easy as this place has space, lots of it. But if you think the temperature will be hard to regulate in these cavernous rooms, think again. Underfloor heating, air conditioning and remote-control operated windows ensure maximum comfort. This centrally-located pad sleeps four if two are happy on the sofa bed.
Luxury one-bed apartment, St. Peter's Square
You could stay in a hotel but would your room come with a HD home cinema, high-tech sound system, Nespresso coffee machine and breakfast staples? Probably not, which is why you should stay at this bright and stylish flat, situated five minutes from the Old Town Square. With its nude decor, natural light and indulgent king-sized bed, this pad is perfect for a romantic getaway – and there's even a hammock in the bedroom (in case of lovers' tiffs...).
Fifteenth century gothic one-bed studio, Old Town Square
Want to be in the thick of it but still get a good night's kip? This secluded studio opens out onto a little garden oasis, where you can breakfast before heading into town, which won't take long. In just 18 steps you can be in the Old Town Square, with the rest of Prague's highlights within walking distance. Pretty neat eh?
Restored, wooden, three-bed houseboat
Dry land is great 'n all but it comes at a premium. A boat, on the other hand, could be a cheap and convenient option for a couple or lone traveller. This one has been designed by an architect – which explains the charming wood interior, stylish utilities and equally pleasant soft furnishings. There's also a balcony (perfect for enjoying a warm evening). Plus, nearby trains, trams and buses can have you in the centre of town in around 15-minutes.
A loft hideaway near Náplavka Riverbank district
A monochrome spot that is anything but boring, this contemporary space is full of the little flourishes that we long for in our own homes; especially the vanity bathroom mirror and a deliciously grand entrance. Beyond appearances, there are also all the amenities you could possibly need. After romance? Take a stroll along the river when the sun sets.
Family-sized houseboat in Cisarska louka - Imperial Meadow
"There is nothing — absolutely nothing — half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats." If a talking rat in Wind in the Willows is anything to go by, then you'll have a jolly good time exploring Prague from this surprisingly spacious houseboat. It's a peaceful spot, where up to eight guests can refuel, feed the swans and admire the views from the water's edge before cruising up river (20 mins) or hopping on a tram/the metro (15 mins) to reach the city centre.
Charming two-bed apartment, Old Town
Bright, good-sized rooms, river views and location – in the heart of the Old Town, make this two-bed a perfect choice for family travellers. Though on the small side, the lift means you won't have to carry tired toddlers (or heavy prams) up the stairs. Nab the room with the balcony and you're laughing.
Boho-chic six-bed attic, Old Town
With its hanging plants, wooden beams and colourful hodgepodge furnishings, this pad oozes bohemian vibes. Charles Bridge and the Old Town Square are a short stroll away, so it's easy enough to pop back and chill before taking on your next tourist spot. Six guests should have no complaints staying here – there are two king-sized bedrooms and a queen-sized sofa bed.
Boutique one-bed apartment, Zizkov district
Just 20 minutes out of the centre is this bohemian beauty. Situated in the downtown area, you'll be well located to explore the cafe culture and burgeoning art scene springing up from young startups. The top floor is roomy enough for a couple who like to spread out.
Art Deco three-bed apartment, Vinohrady
Do Prague in style with a stay at this aesthetically pleasing pad, which is full of art deco features. Wenceslas, the Old Town Square and Astronomical Clock can be reached by metro in four minutes. For comfort, convenience and interior design inspiration, this three bedroom apartment is a good shout.
Hip two-bed flat, Malá Strana
If you're the kind of travellers who are more likely to be in the bar than in bed complaining about the noise then you'll have a grand time at this artsy flat, where the rooms are inspired by writers and the beds are made out of pallets. And yes, it is above a bar but if you can't beat them, join them.
A quick itinerary
Photograph: Courtesy CC/Flickr/Roman Boed
How to spend 48 hours in Prague
This itinerary takes in some classic sites in Prague as well as unique things to do that should be on any visitor's bucket list.
Time Out Prague Site map


Here, students will find important information and guidelines regarding their IT Service Management Assignment.
The word limit for this assessment task is 3,250 to 3,750.
Value: Total value of this assessment is 25% and 100 marks are assigned.
References (Harvard AGPS style) must be used.
LO3: synthesize the support and nature of the IT service management principles and practice frameworks like ISO/IEC 20000, IT Infrastructure Library and IT4IT in offering practice frameworks for IT service management.
LO4: analyze the goals, events and linked roles and accountabilities so enable operational planning, organization, and enhancement of IT service management.
LO5: assess execution of certain IT service management standards and practice frameworks in case studies comprising features of IT service strategy, service transition, service design, service operation and constant service enhancement.
In this activity, you will be provided a case study.
To complete this assessment, take on the role of a consultant who has been hired by the case organization (NNIT) to support a review of ITSM at the organization. You'll need to prepare a report for the head of IT at NNIT.
Based on the case study, identify the ITIL processes in place at NNIT and report them in a table, categorized by ITIL lifecycle stages. Based on the case and your knowledge, which of the ITIL processes are of the highest priority to be implemented/ improved for NNIT? Justify your selection.
According to the case study, few IT service providers have a service portfolio and the difference between a service catalog and a service portfolio is commonly not well understood. Based on the case study and your knowledge, explain the main differences between a 'service catalog' and a 'service portfolio'. What are the main factors that helped NNIT to implement a service portfolio?
According to the case study at the time of designing the service portfolio framework at NNIT no ITSM tools were available with the required functionalities to support the management of a service portfolio. Based on your research of available ITSM tools provide a short list and description of three ITSM tools that could be considered for portfolio management.
Summarize the key strength and weaknesses of ITSM implementation at NNIT you learned from this case study. Provide recommendations for further improvement if ITSM at NNIT, including your preferred ITSM tool for portfolio management.
Students may face different problems while attempting this assessment like lack of programming skills, identifying various processes of IT Service Management, insufficient time etc. We provide best help and guidance to students regarding their academic challenges. Our experts will help you in the best way to excel your career.


**Please note level three 5500 sq. ft. is the Guest/Pool house, a separate structure.** This custom home cost 1.2 million dollars to build in 1998. The attention to detail and quality is evident. Old world craftsmanship and rich paneled hardwoods adorn this extraordinary home. The exterior is castle quality, split authentic stone with a unique fireproof shake-style roof. You are welcomed with a dramatic two-story entry with coffered wood ceilings, Lux European style wall paneling and Venetian plaster. This level of quality continues throughout the home. The Office, along with much of the home, is designed with furniture style custom cabinetry. The great room, with its warm woods and solid bronze/alabaster chandelier, leads you to the outside deck for entertaining with unobstructed magnificent views of the surrounding mountains and canyon. The kitchen offers eat-in dining with gorgeous views,double oven and gas range. Intimate Master suite with vaulted ceilings and moon roof. Master bath has luxurious claw foot tub, separate shower and walk in closet with built-ins. Elegant formal dining and powder room complete the main floor. Upstairs has three beautifully appointed bedrooms and two full baths. Basement features acoustically optimized state of the art home theater, game room, kitchenette, exercise area and large guest bedroom with full bath. The entire home is wired and equipped for audio and automation. The 5500 sf guest house features an upstairs three bedroom apartment with living room, kitchen and bathroom. Main floor includes a photo studio, 4 car garage and lots of storage. Ground level boasts indoor sport style pool with automatic cover and unique Italian accents. Perfect for entertaining or just relaxing. Pool area flows to outdoor space complete with gas fireplace, bar-b-que and even more views. This home truly is One of a Kind.


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McDonald's closing all restaurants
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(NaturalNews) McDonald's happy image and its golden arches aren't the gateway to bliss in Bolivia. This South American country isn't falling for the barrage of advertising and fast food cooking methods that so easily engulf countries like the United States.
Bolivians simply don't trust food prepared in such little time. The quick and easy, mass production method of fast food actually turns Bolivians off altogether. Sixty percent of Bolivians are an indigenous population who generally don't find it worth their health or money to step foot in a McDonald's. Despite its economically friendly fast food prices, McDonald's couldn't coax enough of the indigenous population of Bolivia to eat their BigMacs, McNuggets or McRibs.
One indigenous woman, Esther Choque, waiting for a bus to arrive outside a McDonald's restaurant, said, "The closest I ever came was one day when a rain shower fell and I climbed the steps to keep dry by the door. Then they came out and shooed me away. They said I was dirtying the place. Why would I care if McDonald's leaves [Bolivia]?"
Fast food chain remained for a decade, despite losses every year
The eight remaining McDonald's fast food shops that stuck it out in the Bolivian city's of La Paz, Cochabamba, and Santa Cruz de la Sierra, had reportedly operated on losses every year for a decade. The McDonald's franchise had been persistent over that time, flexing its franchise's deep pockets to continue business in Bolivia.
Any small business operating in the red for that long would have folded and left the area in less than half that time. Even as persistent as McDonald's was in gaining influence there, it couldn't continue operating in the red. After 14 years of presence in the country, their extensive network couldn't hold up the Bolivian chain. Store after store shut down as Bolivia rejected the McDonald's fast food agenda. Soon enough, they kissed the last McDonald's goodbye.
Deep cultural rejection
The McDonald's impact and its departure from Bolivia was so lasting and important, that marketing managers immediately filmed a documentary called, "Why McDonalds's went broke in Bolivia."
Featuring, cooks, nutritionist, historians, and educators, this documentary breaks down the disgusting reality of how McDonald's food is prepared and why Bolivians reject the whole fast food philosophy of eating.
The rejection isn't necessarily based on the taste or the type of food McDonald's prepared. The rejection of the fast food system stemmed from Bolivian's mindset of how meals are to be properly prepared. Bolivians more so respect their bodies, valuing the quality of what goes into their stomach. The time it takes for fast food to be prepared throws up a warning flag in their minds. Where other cultures see no risk, eating McDonald's every week; Bolivians feel that it just isn't worth the health risk. Bolivians seek well prepared, local meals, and want to know that their food was prepared the right way.
This self respect helps Bolivians avoid processed "restructured meat technology," often used by fast food joints like McDonald's.
The McRib: 70 ingredients all restructured into one
Did you know that the McRib is processed with 70 different ingredients which include azodicarbonamide, a flour-bleaching agent often used in producing foamed plastics? McRib's are basically "restructured meat technology" containing a mixture of tripe, heart, and scalded stomach. Proteins are extracted from this muscle mixture and they bind the pork trimmings together so they can be molded in a factory. The McRib is really just a molded blob of restructured meat, advertised and sold like fresh ribs. There's nothing real about it, the preparation or the substance. In fact, McRibs really came about because of a chicken shortage. The restructured meat technology approach kept the McRib on the menu, despite the shortage, and the profits continued rolling in.
This is the very disgusting idea that the Bolivians have rejected in their country.
The Bolivian rejection of McDonald's has set a proper example for the rest of the world to follow.
Tags:Fast Food, Mcdonald's. Bolivia, Nation, omg, Restaurants
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Brandlive, a top-tier Brand and Retailer platform for producing and hosting interactive live video events, is looking for local production partners in the Brussels area to create live video, audio and streaming content. The ideal person for this role is either a freelancer or a small production company. You will need to be mobile and have a wide variety of production skills - video, sound, lighting and technical production.
Great Brandlive producers have an understanding of brand and retail product training, marketing and e-commerce. Each Brandlive event has real-time interaction with the live viewers watching the event.
Camera - Multiple years' experience setting up shots, framing and camera settings. Clean and compelling visuals are a key component of any Brandlive broadcast.
Audio - Strong experience setting up lapel mics with a basic audio mixer. Demonstrate the ability to troubleshoot audio and fine-tune mic settings for high quality audio. Audio and video quality go hand-in-hand when creating a successful Brandlive experience.
Lighting - Understanding of color temperatures, and comfort working with both natural and artificial light sources. Most Brandlive events require basic 2- or 3-point lighting, and the ability to manipulate available light sources if needed is important.
Strong computer technical skills - MacBook Pro or Mac Pro running Wirecast, Adobe Premiere and Final Cut Pro. You will be taking live video and audio feeds, mixing them and cutting them together to produce a live show. Typical run of show has 1-3 cameras, slides and a few recorded videos.
Strong troubleshooting skills - Running a live video event can throw a lot of curveballs at you. Even when you plan ahead, you can run into unexpected issues. Being able to remain calm while troubleshooting stressful situations is critical. The customer relies on your professional expertise; you must be able to communicate clearly with them as you navigate technical hurdles.
Brandlive Platform - Quickly learn to use and explain the moderation features of the Brandlive platform to customers on set.
Editing - Generally very little video editing is required, but it is a good skill set to have.
Culture matters. You must be personable, patient, and solution-oriented. You will often be working with customers and on-screen product presenters that are not "talent", so you need to help them feel at ease with the live video experience.
Most of our partners are paid day or hourly rates, plus rental costs for equipment as needed.
How are you connected to Brandlive?


Amazon makes Texas a jobs-for-taxes offer… Companies from outside Silicon Valley are looking for IT talent in Silicon Valley. And a question for you: Are you just venting in your blog comments, or do you really mean it? Watch the video, then click here to tell us what you think.
I value your news and opinion regarding the job market..Please continue doing the good work.
I really do think the Amazon/Texas tax swap deal for 4.5 years is a good one: it's a win-win for both Amazon — AND Texas. Texas is lucky to have some forward thinking people, not only in their legislators and executive branch, but also in the C levels of many companies here. Texas is creating more jobs, per capita, than just about anywhere else in the country.
I think the 4.5 years moratorium on the taxes for Amazon will be a boost to the economy in Austin and Texas, as they build and fill positions in their expansion of their distribution centers.
The only thing that might concern me is the failure to hold their end of the bargain due to technology as more people buy digital products versus hard copy. If the sales of hard copy product goes down, there may not be a need for "distribution centers" per se, of books. But, then again, I could be wrong: they have other durable goods besides books which can be fulfilled, such as housewares, office supplies, electronics, music and video. Even the music and video is being delivered electronically more these days, but the other durable goods may hold well for Amazon's growth. If Amazon simply has a drop ship arrangement with manufacturers, then I suspect they may not be able to keep their end of the bargain and may end up going the way of Wal Mart in some cities.
As to the Silicon Valley, I think it will be helpful to the economy in California, but until we get back to manufacturing and wean our economy off of the service sector, we're not going to see any serious growth in GDP in CA.
As to the grumbling of job seekers, they may have some legitimate complaints in certain sectors and regions. While there is job growth in some areas of the country, others are lackluster. And, yes, some H/R departments are out of touch with regards to certain fields, but overall, I believe they're sincere in their efforts to hire the best for their companies.
It may take some old fashioned "re-inventing" of one's self (and resume) to see some change. I have always experienced tremendous growth during stressed economic times when people are challenged to put their skills under the microscope and revamp themselves.
I've been in the industry for 25 years. When I was hiring, I used to ask HR for ALL the resumes. What I found was that the people I wanted to hire were the ones in their discard stack – the ones with the plain, but techie resumes. The ones HR wanted to hire were the fancy resumes. My practice was to set all the parchment and designer folders aside and go thru the real resumes. I want to hire techs, not sales people.
Over the last ten years I've worked as a programmer contractor on and off. During this time I also looked for staff work when not on a contract. What I found was that corporate HR is not hiring. They are doing busy work to make it look like they are. Because I have contacts in most of the companies I apply to, I know when jobs have been filled and closed, or when they've just been removed. Most of the jobs I've applied and interviewed for never hired. They go thru all the motions and then remove the job posting. Or they hired from within and filled some management requirement to interview outside.
One large retail firm here in Illinois posts dozens of jobs for six month or more and never fills a single one. Mid-level management is told there's a hiring freeze, but the posting stay up on the companies job board and the interviews continue.
These days, I'm independent. Having developed my own business to the point where it supports me, I have no need to deal with these people anymore.
As far as HR being out of touch, they never were in touch. I view them as oblivious. They are usually just repeating things they get from company management. I've seen internal references that no one outside would understand used in job descriptions. Form letter job descriptions used that are clearly off target for the job title. And then there's basic mis-use of the English language.
On Dice right now there are over 900 listings that contain the word "incumbent". I'd hazard a guess that 890 of them are incorrectly using the word. Somewhere along the line someone misused it and over the years they've copied it from job description to job description as they cut and pasted and plagerized their way forward.
Good, how many years do applicants need?
That's great, what will I be doing if I get the job?
Good for them, will I get to do that too?
These are the people that are keeping us from interviewing.
telling them, Its more like hear fill this slot. then it gets passed on to head hunters, who have never worked in the industry. So they don't know any better either! I interview for support positions the interviewers want some one who programs writes C++ & is willing to teach folks how to use win7.
It really gets frustrating!!!! Oh I am learning C++ now..
It's not just the HR managers that are to blame. A lot of times they are just doing what people in the company are telling them to do. The ad for the position I currently have was written so poorly and so missed what they were really looking for that I didn't even apply for it. It wasn't until a friend inside the company recruited me that I even sent a resume. My brother sent in several resumes to a company with no response only to be recruited several months later on Linkedin.
I think Texas is exhibiting a much more business friendly environment than California. Something that California should look closely into if it hopes to crawl out of the massive debt soon.
However, if Texas accepts Amazon's offer, it could set a precedent where promise of future employment replaces back taxes. Besides Amazon stands to gain a lot more than Texas, especially if there are chances that Amazon may go belly up in the next five years. Texas will try its best to avoid that event in turn offering a kind of security to Amazon. Wonderful!
As for HR, that is an entire debate in itself. I agree to most of what Alan has to say about in-house HR. I'm not a HR person, but have talked to enough recruiters of all types, in-house, retained, contingent and staffing agencies. They have a difficult job of finding the right candidate. And lets face it, they are there to please the hiring company, after all that's who pays them, not the candidate. Then there are only a handful of recruiters who think long term and view todays candidate as tomorrow's hiring manager.
The job-seekers do have legitimate concerns especially when they find out that the juicy carrots they are pursuing are actually fake props. Too many experiences like these can put a damper on anyone. Many have a long road and some make too many compromises to adversely affect them long term.
The help in finding work is when you, Mark Feffer, give the actual hiring manager's e-mail address.
Otherwise, looking for work by your suggestions is picking up an anonymous ad in the Newspaper, et cetera!!!
Usually venting is when you get so tired of hearing BS, that you DO say what you REALLY mean… so I would venture to say that most of the comments really are what people mean. On the Texas-Amazon deal… Old Slick Rick, aka Rick Perry, is willing to sell Texas out if it means padding for his own pocket or a means for political posturing on his clawing to the top of the political food chain.
I've noticed that there's a lot of whining and sarcasm, especially coming from tech folks with less than 5 years of experience. In my experience, a lot of these less experienced workers expect management right out of school and the keys to the executive washroom shortly after that. It just doesn't work that way. Everyone gets to pay their dues. That means getting out there, being told no over and over, then getting a position writing reports or maintaining a legacy app, then working your way up from there. It takes hard work and humility, and Mark can't magically wave his hands and give you a job. No one can. His advice IS helpful; you just have to think for a moment about how it applies to you and take action and personal responsibility for your careers success.
Ted, the collection of sales tax online's been a big deal for both sides: Companies don't want the hassle of collecting it, plus it gives them an advantage over businesses that do collect. But states want the revenue, and more of them are starting to plug the whole that had the question of whether sales taxes applied for companies that were physically located out of state. In this case, it looks like Texas believes it will gain more in the long run by doing this deal with Amazon — the state gets 6,000 jobs and millions spent on construction of its new facilities (which will require some number of separate jobs be created to build them.) The five year period where Amazon didn't pay tax, in this case, was in Texas only. The company's doing similar deals in other states.
I have been contracting in the New York City area, mostly, for going on 20 years, and have stopped entirely from submitting a cover letter with my resume.
Depending upon the spot being advertised, I reply with one of 10 resumes….
Alan, have you noticed any difference since you stopped submitting cover letters? And how come you stopped them?
I think an issue with Dice reporting is , for example , that you might say that there is a big market for people with Mainframe skills and then say there are hundreds of openings nationally . That works out to 3 openings in Boston today … Only . Making a career U-turn for 3 openings when you can't get an interview in a field with hundreds of local openings does not make sense . Also, the ad requires 10 years of experience . You can't get 10 years of experience by waiting for Mark on Dice to announce that Mainframes are Hot this year . You have to invest in a field many years in advance to take advantage when it happens to be "Hot" . The "Day Trader" career advice contrasts sharply and negatively with the "Long Horizon Warren Buffett" strategy required to be an industry professional .


The third and fourth books in the Wars of the Roses series. I don't own the first two but I do want to read them because after reading the Cousin War series by Philippa Gregory I want to read more books about this time period.
I haven't read much about Mary Queen of Scots but I want to so plan on reading soon.
I received this in my December PageHabit subscription box, I didn't receive it until January as I live in Canada. This is a novel about Ada Lovelace who studies mathematics and science and doesn't conform to society expectations.
Book two and three in the Mistress of the Art of Death series. I read the first one a long time ago and have been meaning to continue on with the series. This is a medieval mystery series that I found enjoyable. The MC Adelia is a forensic medical examiner in 1171 England.
Roberta finds a letter of her Grandmothers that leads her to uncover dark truths. I believe this is a dual timeline novel one with Roberta in the present day and of Dorothea(Roberta's grandmother) during WWII. Sounds so good I think I might read it soon and only 271 pages.
A story about three people who's lives become intertwined during WWII. I feel like I have seen this everywhere but at the same time have heard nothing about it. All I know it I needed to have it.
Another WWII novel following Clara Vine who is a British actress in Berlin and while in enemy territory she acts as a spy for British intelligence. I love a good WWII novel and this one seems like it will be a page turner.
This is the last WWII novel that I bought this month. I am not sure what this one is about really, I mostly bought because it was part of the 3 for 10 selection and no other books appealed to me.
Maud Heghton becomes a live-in companion to Sylvie Morels and everything is perfect until she soon discovers some of the Morels' family secrets. Love books about uncovering secrets and betrayal. Look forward to reading.
This was given to me by a co-worker and I am thankful that she has given it to me to read. I don't know too much about this but it is set in 16th century Venice and is about a renowned midwife.
I have been wanting to read this since it came out and I found it at my used bookstore for $2 and in great condition. Can't wait to read it.
This one sounds a little weird but I liked the cover of it and that was my main reason for buying it. All I know is it is about a librarian who finds a book that reveals a family curse of travelling circus mermaids who die.
Ellen Hopkins is an auto-buy author and I want to own all her books, so, I picked this up without know what it is about.
This is a prequel to Practical Magic following Fran and Jet Owens.
Received in my pagehabit box and is the 7th book in the Inspector Challis series.
I didn't love Lauren Oliver's young adult books but I wanted to give her another chance and see how she does in adult fiction. This is a ghost/haunted house story.
I feel like I am the last one to read this book and I plan on reading this soon and then watch the movie.
I was excited when I found this at the second-hand shop I have been meaning to buy this in a physical format since forever. I want to reread it this year.
I also picked this up at a second-hand shop and am so glad that I own it again.
Again I am one of the last people to read this. It just seems like such a commitment.
I've heard nothing but great things and need to get to it soon.
Not even sure what this one is about but I know I want to read it soon. Love mystery thrillers books.
I own an e-book version but had to get the physical form when I seen it at second-hand store.
I bought this without knowing much about I seen it on BookOutlet and liked the title so I got it.
This book gives me Shadow of the Wind vibes and I love that book and so I think I will love this one too.
Bought this because it was the Storytime with Squibbles book club pick for January.
These YA books haven been hyped and am pretty sure everyone knows about them so I am not going to go in to detail.
I want to start reading more non-fiction and I have quite a few on my shelves that remain unread. All but two are about writing, I am really interested in reading about writing at the moment.
I hope you enjoyed my January book haul. What books have you bought recently?


A KNIFE IN THE FOG and DUST AND SHADOW are both sensational thrillers. The two books have a few things in common, including exceptional historical research, an investigative trio, and a satisfying conclusion, yet each offers an original take on Victorian London's most heinous true crime.
The narrator is Arthur Conan Doyle himself.
In the summer of 1888, Doyle is a practicing doctor in Portsmouth and has published A Study in Scarlett, the story which introduced Sherlock Holmes. His wife is pregnant with their first child and his future looks to be that of a general practitioner and family man, writing stories on the side to augment his income and amuse himself.
Doyle receives a summons to London from the office of former prime minister William Gladstone, whose secretary has read Doyle's story and wishes him to become a paid consultant to find the killer terrorizing London's East End. Doyle agrees on condition that his former mentor, Professor Joseph Bell, joins the effort. Bell, a Scottish surgeon and lecturer at the medical school of the University of Edinburgh and widely regarded as the real-life inspiration for the character of Sherlock Holmes, soon joins Doyle in London.
A third real-life figure joins Doyle and Bell. Margaret Harkness is an investigative journalist and social commentator whose writings expose London's poverty and social injustices. Often using the pen name John Law and disguising herself as a man, Margaret will be an invaluable guide and ally.
By giving Doyle a voice of his own, author Harper has created a character as appealing as Holmes. Doyle is considerate and charming, with the formalities and vocabulary of the British gentleman of 1888. Doyle draws the reader into his confidence as the three develop a working relationship, navigate Victorian social rules as well as London's dark and dangerous passageways, and encounter Jack the Ripper's missives and victims. Margaret is tireless and Doyle's growing feelings for her provide a quiet complication.
With deductive reasoning worthy of Sherlock Holmes, the three encounter danger and deceit on the way to identifying Jack the Ripper. The end is a heart-stopper.
DUST AND SHADOW by Lyndsay Faye delivers a more familiar construct in which Dr. John Watson narrates an investigation conducted by the famous detective Sherlock Holmes. Watson, as in the Conan Doyle stories, is the perfect everyman foil to his brilliant friend. Faye amps up the legendary Holmes formula, however, immersing the reader in the details of life with Holmes: his moodiness, restlessness, investigative prowess, the many trials of Mrs. Hudson the housekeeper. Holmes's dialogue crackles with acerbic personality and sharp wit. I swear I heard Benedict Cumberbatch's voice in my head.
An investigative trio is also formed in DUST AND SHADOW when Holmes hires Mary Ann Monk, the friend of one of the Ripper's victims. The investigation initially turns on the whereabouts of an Army man supposedly seen with an early Riper victim.
Warned by his Baker Street Irregulars—the group of street urchins that provide Holmes with intelligence—Holmes and Watson are able to arrive first on more than one murder scene. When Holmes is stabbed in pursuit of the Ripper, the gutter press begins to question if he is the killer. With his credibility strained and vigilantes out to get him, Holmes goes undercover to ferret out the Ripper. Mary Ann and Watson carry on until the three reunite for a stunning and wholly believable climax.
If you are a Sherlock Holmes fan or a student of the Ripper's crimes, both A KNIFE IN THE FOG and DUST AND SHADOW are unmissable treats. The only spoiler I'll reveal is that the identity of the Ripper is different in each book. Both are highly recommended.


They're going to be displaying their original work at our House of MTV during MTV Music Week!
The time has come to announce our MTV Breaks artist winners.
We've been on the hunt for four talented London-based artists for a local opportunity at MTV Music Week, in partnership with VOXI by Vodafone, in the run-up to the MTV EMA. We asked hopeful artists to tag a photo of their best large-scale work, as the winners will be creating original large-scale pieces to be displayed throughout MTV Music Week at our amazing House of MTV in Hackney!
And there was SO much talent. But, after combing through the entries and conducting interviews, we've finally made our decision.
Our (incredible) MTV Breaks artist winners are… Emmanuel Unaji, Samboleap Tol, Tara Parambi and Ruben Varela!
Congrats, guys. We can't WAIT to see what you're going to create.
On November 8th, our House of MTV in Hackney will finally throw open its doors, marking the beginning of MTV Music Week. During the day, the house will hold ticketed MTV Breaks sessions, where music industry insiders will be inviting audiences into their world, offering top tips and tricks into making it to the big-time. In the evening there'll be live acoustic performances. Plus, there'll be food and entertainment throughout - what's not to love?!
So if you're around East London between the 8th - 11th November, come visit our House of MTV. Soak up the atmosphere, get some industry insider tips and, of course, check out the MTV Breaks Artist winners' finished products! For more about the MTV Music Week schedule, click here.
MTV Breaks will be Facebook Live-ing the sessions so that everyone can watch and learn, even if they couldn't get tickets. Keep an eye on our Facebook page and of course follow us on Twitter and Instagram for the latest news!
THURSDAY 9TH NOVEMBER. 3pm - 5pm. The Journey Of Grime w/ AJ Tracey, RISKY ROADZ & more.
FRIDAY 10TH NOVEMBER. 5:30pm - 7:30pm. Dance Music: Past. Present. Future w/ Eats Everything & more.