There's a lot of reason why you can decide to renew your weddings… Simply put, a vow renewal is a way to celebrate your marriage. Perhaps you've made it to 2, 5, 10, 25 or 50 years together and you want the world to know you'd do it all over again in a heartbeat. Maybe you want to reaffirm your commitment to each other after a rough period in your relationship. There's no wrong reason to renew.
Many couples host their own renewals, and some have their children do the honors. One trend we love is the couple's closest friends, perhaps the original maid of honor and best man, choosing to host the event. And don't feel like you have to find a secular event hall or an outdoor space to hold the ceremony—many traditional halls of worship make wonderful, meaningful venues.
You can renew your vows in a house of worship, in a church, at home, on the beach, in a pretty garden or park, on a mountaintop or on a cruise—basically, anywhere that has sentimental meaning for both of you.
You might choose to have an intimate reaffirmation, inviting just close family and friends who've known you through the years. Attendants are unnecessary for a vow renewal, but you might choose to invite your original bridesmaids and groomsmen to stand up for you informally, for sentimental reasons. Many couples also involve their children and grandchildren, perhaps being escorted down the aisle by them or having them perform a reading during the ceremony.
Otherwise you can definitely throw a large party for your extended family and a wider circle of friends. The party can be any style, from a casual backyard barbecue or an intimate family dinner to a cocktail party or dinner as large and complex as a traditional wedding reception. There can be champagne, dancing, a cake—the works. At some point during the celebration, the two of you can thank or toast family members and special friends for what they've contributed to your marriage over the years. And you'll probably be toasted by many of them. Be sure to hire a photographer to capture the event.


I look forward to a Busy Monday morning treating patients with Herniated discs.
Many of my patients that decide to treat using the DRX 9000 have been everwhere.
Most of my patients have had Physical therapy, Pain management, Lidoderm patchs, Failed Back surgery, and some have even tried hypnosis.
The reason so many patients have problem with the disc is the fact that the disc is avascualar(no or diminished blod supply) and once it is injured it doesn't quite heal that easily.
Orthopedic Bracing, and Core Strengthing Excercise.
When this combination is utulized corectlly back pain stops in its track!
If you are in Metro Manhattan and are considering Spinal Decompression my first recommendation is to find a doctor that is close to you ( you will be going in 4 times a week) and Nutrition support like Omega Fatty acid should be taken daily.
As a general recommendation I urge patients to drink One glass of water for every hour they are awake.
Disc Dessication is break down of the annular fibers due to dehydration.


You might have noticed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar popping up on talk shows, timelines and Twitter feeds. Well, it's not just because he trash talked Trump (though that was awesome). It's also because he has a new book out, a novel called Mycroft Holmes.
Now if you're like me, you don't know Abdul-Jabbar for much more than sports (baseketball, right?) and his iconic turn in the Bruce Lee classic Game of Death. So you might think Abdul-Jabbar co-writing a Sherlockian detective novel with Anna Waterhouse seems out of nowhere. But for years, this sky-hooking, kung fu kicking, Trump-trouncing sports star has also been co-authoring books. I certainly didn't until news of Mycroft Holmes sent me down a Google hole.
All this made me curious about Abdul-Jabbar and Mycroft Holmes. And I'm pleased to report, this is a book that rewards curiosity.
The novel introduces us to Mycroft as a young man, spirited, smart, and cocky. As Secretary of State for War, he's gainfully employed. As fiancé to a radiant and educated young woman, he's besotted. As brother to an anti-social and morally ambiguous college student, he's occasionally annoyed. But Mycroft's problems are all decidedly first world. That is until he digs into a curious case of inexplicable killings in Trinidad.
The Watson to this Holmes is the tirelessly patient Cyrus Douglas, who is a bit older, a bit taller, and black. A native of Trinidad, Cyrus has made his home in London, carefully maneuvering racism with a combination of cunning ruses and—when necessary—exceptional fighting skills. When Cyrus hears that locals are blaming beasts from folklore for leaving exsanguinated children on their shores, he hurriedly makes plans to survey the situation himself. So too does Mycroft's lovely bride-to-be Georgiana, who has family on the island. Desperate to keep her stay short, Mycroft ignores her pleas to stay put and tags along with Cyrus. But once aboard the ship, things turn sinister. The pair are trailed by thugs, drugged, and warned in no uncertain terms to go back the way they came. Stranger still: there's no sign of Georgiana.
Blending Mycroft's skeptical nature with the Trinidadian folk lore is an charming collision. But the book wouldn't work without Cyrus. He shoulders the plot evenly with Mycroft, who is green to the depths of depravity and violence from which his privilege has long protected him. Mycroft may be smarter—gifted with a top-notch education and photographic memory—but Cyrus knows this place, has street smarts, and a way with people. And his physical endurance and capability in combat proves crucial as their adventure is as studded with action scenes, as it is intrigue, and wit. Together they make a hell of a team. Yet while they may seem superficially like a twist on Sherlock and Holmes, Abdul-Jabbar and Waterhouse do something more daring.
Mycroft Holmes takes a cue from Mad Max: Fury Road, not only in using a familiar character (Max/Mycroft) to set up the story of a new one (Furiosa/Cyrus), but also to use the entry point of the ever-accessible straight white male to introduce the perspective of a less represented viewpoint. Mycroft may have read about racism, slavery and its violence. But journeying with Cyrus, he's exposed to its realities in a way so raw and real that he's forever changed. And just as Fury Road set up a thrilling story of overthrow of a dominant class, Mycroft Holmes sets up its own tension-filled tale of revolt. Though perhaps regrettably not one that includes a flame-throwing guitar.
Mycroft Holmes is now available.
Kristy Puchko would also like you to know this book contains a scene where Sherlock Holmes gets a solid punch to his nose.


I'm from north carolina, and we just added an amendment against gay marriage. I have never been so disappointed in my otherwise lovely state. I too am a social worker, and cannot agree more with your thought. I wish everyone could set aside their hate for a moment and realize that it really is about people, especially the children. Thank you for your thoughtful post.
Thank you for your comment and your follow. I love North Carolina too and I was saddened by their decision even though I know in the end everything will work out for the greater good.
A lot of good information here. It amazes me that we still need to debate this stuff!


Episode 349 almost finished and will be up tomorrow night.
I am adding some listener voicemails and another segment on to episode 349. It will be up tomorrow night. Thanks for your patience. This one was a lot of fun to record.
Any hints on the subject? Can't wait to listen.
I am releasing it in a few minutes.


Sometimes I don't feel like writing a full review for whatever reason, either because life is busy and I don't have time, or because a book didn't stir me enough. Sometimes, it's because a book was so good that I just don't have anything to say beyond that I loved it! For whatever reason, these are books that only have a few paragraphs of thoughts from me.
I recently reread Ella Enchanted, which was a childhood favorite and is still a book that I love. Full of delightful characters, fun world-building, and a really excellent story, I've read it many times and still enjoy it. Somehow, I hadn't realized that Levine had written another book set in the same world as Ella, although not a direct sequel. Part of me wishes that I still didn't know that, because Fairest was pretty terrible. The main problem was the heroine, Ava, who was incredibly boring, and spent the entire book whining about how ugly she was. I mean CONSTANTLY. Every. Page. And it never really felt like a lesson came out of that, or if it did it was very muddled. If the prince thought she was beautiful the first time he saw her… was she really not as ugly as she thought? Because here's the thing, ugly/plain people often DO become more beautiful in our eyes as we get to know and love them, but if you're just sitting there and someone walks into a room – you don't know anything about them, and literally just judge them on how they appear at that moment. So the prince is either lying, has horrible taste, or Ava isn't actually that ugly. All of those answers annoyed me.
Anyway, the rest of the story was also very weak – I'm never a fan of a plot where the villain is actually NOT the villain but is being controlled by another, in-the-background villain. This seems convoluted and confusing. All in all, I skimmed large portions of Fairest, and had trouble focusing on the pages because I was so busy rolling my eyes at Ava's endless whining about her appearances.
This was my third read for #20BooksofSummer (you can find my original post here), and a thoroughly enjoyable one it was. While I had read Frederica quite a while ago (2012), it had been several years. At the time of my initial reading, it was actually one of the first Heyer books I had read (somehow, I didn't discover her until adulthood!), but even after reading several of Heyer's other books since then, I still found this one to be adorable and fun. I think that part of the reason I love this one so much is that Alverstoke, the unwilling hero, falls in love not just with Frederica, but with her whole family. I just loved the way that he went from being a selfish, lonely Mr. Grumpy-pants to being part of a happy, loving family. While Alverstoke was a smidge *too* selfish to really be my favorite Heyer hero, he was still quite nice. Frederica is a typical, but nonetheless enjoyable, Heyer heroine, being independent and intelligent without being too sassy and obnoxious. She doesn't take any nonsense from Alverstoke (or anyone else) and is such a wonderful sister. My only complaint about her was how she could possibly be blind to her sister's preferred beau??
All in all, Frederica is a delightful read for anyone looking for a bit of relaxation. I wasn't feeling super great over the weekend, and this ended up being the perfect book to devour.
I purchased this book years ago at a book sale somewhere, but somehow had never gotten around to reading it before. This ended up being a perfectly enjoyable, although not outstanding read about a Highland fox cub who is raised in captivity buy then escapes and adjusts to life in the wild. It had a very Jim Kjelgaard-y vibe for me, and it was fun to read an outdoors book about an area of the world that is unfamiliar to me. It was written between the Wars, so it was also an interesting, if somewhat limited, glance into life when things were starting to really undergo a big cultural change. While I'm not convinced this will be a classic that I read time and again, it was still engaging – and also Book #4 for #20BooksofSummer!
This book is so precious that I just wanted to eat it up. Every time I thought the story couldn't get more adorable, it did. These are the kind of children's books that I grew up with, and I can't believe that I didn't discover Nesbit until adulthood! This wasn't a story full of angst or the need for anyone to "discover" herself – just a roly-poly happy story about four children and some magical adventures. I can't wait to read more Nesbit!!! #6 for #20BooksofSummer.
NB: #5 for the list is actually A Wrinkle in Time which I have already read but won't be reviewing until I have finished some more books in the series.
This entry was posted in Book Review, Chick Lit, Children's, Fantasy, Fiction, Mini-Reviews, Oldie, Random Happiness, ReRead, YA and tagged 20BooksofSummer, chick lit, children's, E. Nesbit, Fairest, fantasy, Frances Pitt, Frederica, Gail Carson Levine, Georgette Heyer, oldie, Scotty, The Enchanted Castle, YA. Bookmark the permalink.


text:
M/s. Shyam Ice & Cold Storage (P) Ltd. & Others v/s M/s. Syndicate Bank & Another
Civil Misc. Writ Petition No. 8377 of 2012
Decided On, 29 February 2012
At, High Court of Judicature at Allahabad
By, THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE VINEET SARAN & THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE ASHOK PAL SINGH
For the Petitioners: ----. For the Respondents: ----.
1. The petitioner no.1 had taken a loan from the respondent-Syndicate Bank for which the petitioners no.2 to 7 were guarantors. There was default in payment of the loan amount. By order dated 3.4.2010 passed by the General Manager, Syndicate Bank, Agra the account of the petitioners was declared Non-Performing Asset (NPA). The said order was challenged by the petitioners by filing Writ Petition No. 21868 of 2010 in which initially an interim order was granted staying the operation of the order dated 3.4.2010 but the same was not extended subsequently. The said writ petition is still pending. In the meantime, on 15.10.2011, the petitioners filed an application for One Time Settlement (OTS) which was under active consideration of the Bank. However, simultaneously proceedings under the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002 (for short Act of 2002) were initiated against the petitioners and a notice under Section 13 (2) of the Act of 2002 was issued on 30.1.2012. Challenging the said notice dated 30.1.2012, this writ petition has been filed with a further prayer for a direction to the respondents to consider and decide the One Time Settlement proposal of the petitioners dated 15.10.2011.
2. We have heard Sri Shashi Nandan, learned Senior Counsel, assisted by Sri Manish Goyal, appearing for the petitioners as well as Sri P.K. Singhal, learned counsel appearing for the respondent-Bank and have perused the record.
3. Two supplementary affidavits have been filed by the petitioners and a counter affidavit to the averments made in the writ petition has also been filed by the respondent-Bank. Learned counsel for the petitioners has made a statement that the petitioners do not wish to file rejoinder affidavit. Learned counsel for the Bank has stated that they do not wish to file any reply to the supplementary affidavits. With consent of the learned counsel for the parties, this writ petition has been taken up for hearing at this stage.
4. The submission of the learned counsel for the petitioners is that the notice under Section 13 (2) of the Act of 2002 is bad in law and liable to be set aside as the proposal for One Time Settlement is under active consideration of the Bank and as such, without taking any decision on the said proposal of the petitioners for One Time Settlement, the Bank should not be permitted to initiate proceedings under the provisions of the Act of 2002. It is contended that the petitioners would not be in a position to give a proper reply to the notice under Section 13 (2) of the Act of 2002 as long as decision on the proposal for One Time Settlement is pending because they would not know as to on what terms and for what amount the Bank may or may not agree to a settlement with the petitioners. It is further submitted that the OTS proposal dated 15.10.2011 remained under active consideration of the Bank as would be clear from the communication of the General Manager of the Corporate Office of the Bank dated 22.12.2011 by which the petitioners were requested to discuss the proposal of One Time Settlement with the Regional Office of the Bank at Agra. Besides this, after filing of this writ petition and after notice had been served on the learned counsel for the Bank, a communication dated 2.11.2011 had been received by the petitioner on 13.2.2012 whereby the Bank has communicated to the petitioners that if the petitioners were really interested for One Time Settlement, a concrete proposal spelling out the terms of payment, including advance down payment should be submitted. On 21.2.2012 when the matter was last taken up and directed to be listed today, the petitioners were permitted to submit their fresh proposal in response to the communication dated 2.11.2011. It is stated that in pursuance thereof the petitioners have given their fresh proposal dated 25.2.2012 for One Time Settlement, which has been received by the Bank on 27.2.2012.
5. Sri P.K. Singhal, learned counsel for the respondent- Bank has, however, submitted that the proposal dated 15.10.2011 as well as one dated 25.2.2012 are not proper proposals under the One Time Settlement scheme of the Syndicate Bank and as such no action is required to be taken on the said proposals. He has thus stated that filing of such proposals would not amount to there being any valid proposals for One Time Settlement under the guidelines of the Bank and the submission of the petitioners that the proceedings under the Act of 2002 cannot be initiated because of the pendency of such proposal is without any basis. He has further submitted that there is no bar in the Bank proceeding under the Securitisation Act of 2002 even if the One Time Settlement proposal is pending.
6. We have considered the rival submissions of the learned counsel for the parties and have perused the record.
7. From the record it cannot be said that the proposal of One Time Settlement of the petitioners is not pending with the Bank. The filing of the proposal/application dated 15.10.2011 is not denied. The pendency of the said application would be clear from the communication dated 22.12.2011 by which the petitioners have been requested by the Bank to discuss the matter further with the Regional Office with regard to One Time Settlement. Further by communication dated 2.11.2011 (received by the petitioners on 13.2.2012) the Respondent-Bank had required the petitioners to give concrete proposal spelling out terms of payment, meaning thereby that the matter of One Time Settlement of the petitioners was in active consideration by the bank officials.
8. Relying on the guidelines of the respondent-Bank, Sri Singhal states that alongwith the One Time Settlement application, the petitioners were required to deposit 25% of the amount on which the petitioners offered for settlement of the account. For this, he relies on Clause 5.11 of the Comprehensive Recovery Policy for Non-Performing Assets issued by the Corporate office of the Syndicate Bank. The said Clause 5.11 is reproduced below:-
'5.11. Down Payment:
A down payment of 25% of the offer amount shall be insisted from the borrowers at the time of entertaining the settlement proposals to ensure party's intention to pay the OTS amount. However relaxation in down payment not below 10% may be considered by the Regional Offices in respect of proposals with book balance above Rs. 1 lakh. The General Manager (Recovery) may permit the Regional Offices to accept the OTS proposals with out the down payment in deserving cases. Relaxation in down payment to any extent can be considered in the case of settlement proposals with book balance up to Rs.1.00 lakh on case-to-case basis.'
9. A perusal of the aforesaid clause would go to show that on the proposal for One Time Settlement being made by the borrower, the Bank is to insist on down payment of 25%. However, discretion is left with the Bank for making relaxation in down payment upto 10% by the Regional Office and in deserving case, by the General Manager, even on no down payment. The guidelines of the Reserve Bank of India in this regard are to the effect that the amount of settlement arrived at should preferably be paid in one lump sum, but in case the borrower is unable to pay the entire amount in one lump sum, at least 25% of the amount of settlement should be paid upfront and the balance amount of 75% should be recovered in installments within a period of one year together with interest at the existing Prime Lending Rate from the date of settlement upto the date of final payment.
10. The guidelines of the Reserve Bank of India in this regard pre-supposes that the amount to be paid under the One Time Settlement has been arrived at and thereafter, to give effect to the said settlement, either the entire amount is to be paid in one lump sum or 25% immediately and balance 75% within one year. A perusal of Clause 5.11 of the policy of the Syndicate Bank also goes to show that the Bank should insist on 25% of down payment of the settlement proposal which may be relaxed by the Bank to 10% or even to nil. A joint reading of the Clause 5.11 of the guidelines of the Syndicate Bank and the guidelines of the Reserve Bank of India would make it clear that any amount which is to be deposited, whether it be 25% or 10% or even nil, would be of the amount to be paid under the One Time Settlement as may be arrived at between the parties. There cannot be a pre-condition to deposit 25% of the proposed amount at the time of making the proposal for One Time Settlement as the same would be against the guidelines issued by the Reserve Bank of India which are binding on all the scheduled banks, as has been held by the Apex Court in the case of Central Bank of India Vs. Ravindra (2002) 1 SCC 367 and in the case of M/s Sardar Associates Vs. Punjab & Sind Bank AIR 2010 SC 218.
11. From the above, it cannot be said that the proposal made by the petitioner on 15.10.2011, in which the second prayer was to waive the interest from the date of the account becoming NPA i.e. 31.3.2010 and the balance amount be realized from the petitioners as One Time Settlement, is not a valid proposal for the One Time Settlement under the guidelines issued by the Bank or the guidelines issued by the Reserve Bank of India. Even otherwise, at no stage the respondent-Bank has ever communicated to the petitioners that the said proposal of the petitioners was against the terms of the Bank's policy or the guidelines issued by the Reserve Bank of India. On the contrary, on 22.12.2011 the petitioner was required by the Bank to discuss the proposal for One Time Settlement with the Regional Office, meaning thereby that the matter was under active consideration. Further, in response to the communication of the respondent-Bank dated 2.11.2011 and during pendency of this writ petition, another proposal for One Time Settlement dated 25.2.2012 has also been filed and is pending decision.
12. The question which now arises for consideration of this Court is as to whether during the pendency of the proposal for One Time Settlement the Bank can proceed to take steps under the provisions of the Act of 2002. In our view, the same would not be permissible. On one hand the Bank would be communicating to the petitioners for arriving at One Time Settlement, for which purpose the borrower would be taking steps to ascertain as to what best amount he would be able to pay so that the matter may be settled, and on the other hand the Bank would be pressurizing the petitioners to arrive at the settlement by issuing notice under Section 13 (2) of the Act of 2002 and thereby threatening that their assets would be attached and sold under the provisions of the Act of 2002 for recovery of the dues of the Bank.
13. Although there may not be a bar in the Bank proceeding under the Act of 2002 even when the One Time Settlement proposal is under active consideration, but permitting simultaneous proceedings against the borrower would amount to wielding the sword and the stick at the same time, which would not be appropriate. Even a defaulter has his rights. He can be proceeded against only in accordance with law. Merely because he has defaulted in payment of some instalments would not mean that he should be dealt a double or multiple blow. If he has a right to have his One Time Settlement considered (as per the Reserve Bank of India guidelines) then during the pendency of such One Time Settlement proposal, initiation of recovery proceedings under the Act of 2002 will not be permissible. It is for the Bank to choose as to whether they are to proceed for One Time Settlement or they are to recover money from the borrower under the Act of 2002 or any other process. It is only after the Bank rejects the application for One Time Settlement (or if accepted and the borrower does not comply with the terms of settlement) that the Bank can proceed to recover the dues. As held by the Apex Court, the guidelines of the
Reserve Bank of India have statutory force. The scheme for One Time Settlement is under the guidelines of the Reserve Bank of India, which would mean that the petitioners have statutory right for their application/proposal for One Time Settlement filed under the scheme for being considered by the Bank. It is for the Bank to assess the proposal of the borrower and then either reject or accept the proposal after negotiations but as long as the said proposal remains pending with the Bank, it would neither be proper nor permissible for the Bank to proceed to recover the amount from the borrower. 14. In such view of the matter, it is directed that the proposal of the petitioners dated 15.10.2011 and the one dated 25.2.2012 for One Time Settlement be considered by the respondent-Bank in terms of the guidelines issued by the Reserve Bank of India as expeditiously as possible. The notice under Section 13 (2) of the Act of 2002 issued on 30.1.2012 during the pendency of the proposal for One Time Settlement is hereby quashed. If the proposal of the petitioners for One Time Settlement is not accepted, the respondent-Bank shall thereafter be at liberty to issue fresh notice under the Act of 2002 and proceed against the petitioners, in accordance with law. This writ petition stands allowed to the extent indicated as above.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


This superb quality 3 room log cabin is 13' deep x 17' wide (3.89m x 5.28m). Features includes a choice of 34mm, 45mm or 70mm thick logs. The prices include roofing felt. Roof options include felt tiles, genuine cedar shingles and granular steel roof tiles. Other options include double glazing, roof insulation and floor insulation. Standard features include panoramic low level glazing with fully glazed double doors and 2 large windows. Toughened glass and good quality joinery doors and windows are also included. The ridge height is under 2.5 metres high to avoid planning restrictions. Detailed instructions are supplied for DIY self assembly. We offer fitting as a low cost option in many areas.


Thanks must go to the Secret Poets for their help with revising this poem.
I was unhappy with the final line and when we were discussing the poem as a whole Fanon's book The Wretched of The Earth nominated itself as a better ending.
top of the pile, an indentured tradesman.
and on a whim, buy the Financial Times.
A thick, pink window on an alien world.
this is for them with the money.
at how other people live.
He shakes his head, tuts.
claiming that Britain is done for.
to bring up his kids somewhere with a future.
reading The Wretched of The Earth.
Those of you who follow this blog will know of my championing of Ryley Walker.
Here is a short film about him.
A couple of Saturdays ago I was once again judging the poetry/creative writing competition at Winscombe Michaelmas Fair, as I have for the past seven years or so. Paul Mortimer gave me hand this time, thanks Paul.
As we stood admiring the jam sponges we got to talking about how they are selected. Neither of us knowing anything about the judging of cakes. So we decided that this would be a good subject to write a poem about.
I spent part of the afternoon writing a list of words and phrases which I thought might make it into the poem or at least be a starting point.
and must be approached with respect.
Never forget this is science not art.
The list of words gave me the voice for the character. I wanted someone who did not subscribe to the idea that cookery is art.
I think the poem could be about there, but it will go away for a couple of months now.
I think Carrie and Lowell is a stunning lp.
I awoke the other morning with the idea for this post's poem half formed in my head. It was a memory from childhood.
The second stanza wrote itself as I played about with the idea.
my mother wraps a strip of bacon around my finger.
for the required number of minutes.
as her mother had before.
on a bush in the yard.
but there is no wart on my finger.
I just looked up wart charms and discovered it is quite a common superstition.
As I say I have no memory of the charm working.
Here is a memory transformed into a poem.
I just want to clarify a couple of points beforehand.
Bagging room is slang for the tea room. The place where you have your tea and lunch breaks in the factory. It is either Widnesian or Runcornian slang and very specific to a small area of the North West.
Franz Fanon was involved in the Algerian War for Independence. He wrote The Wretched of The Earth, which explores the dehumanising effects of colonisation and offers a path forward for post colonial countries and people.
Marcus Garvey promoted pan-African unity and founded the UNIA-ACL.
and I am left sat there shamed.
and bring up his kids somewhere with a future.
reading Franz Fanon and Marcus Garvey.
The poem came pretty much as it is. I have been revising it all week.
Here's the wondrous Ryley Walker with a new song.
I've been toying with an idea for some time now. It began with the title and I have been considering what it means.
This is a very rough draft.
I am sure there is more to say, but this will do for the moment.
I saw Ryley Walker last Saturday. He was wondrous. Here is a video of Roundabout from the gig.
Try to catch him live. He is incredible.


text:
Nick White Writing
2017 – Irony
2015 – Destiny and Dynasty
2014 – The Owl Flies at Night
2012 – The Hollow Statue & Stranded in Eternity
2011 – Compliance is Futile
2009 – The Princess Who Wanted Snow
Peter's Fish
The Shade of Hades
Fogland
Parables – the book
The Good Terrorist
The Parable of the Cold Island
Actor Christopher Power's autobiography
Christopher Lee Power's story
Some people are born with all the lucky breaks. For example, take the children of famous actors who want to become actors themselves. But what if you want to become an actor and all you have is raw talent? What if, on top of that you are born into a poor family and have a speech impediment?
Actor Christopher Lee Power knows adversity. Life hasn't been easy and he has had to work hard. He has a past which includes being the victim of sexual abuse, an involvement with drugs, gang life and crime. In the late 70's and early 80's he made what he says were some foolish choices. Imprisoned for robbery he paid for his mistakes by serving a prison term.
"I was oblivious to the dangers of drugs, excessive drinking and gambling and the consequences of that lifestyle. It was a vicious circle for any young teenager. Stealing to feed the addictions became the path that I took. I was frustrated and angry, looking for a way out, looking for attention and acceptance. Turning to teenage gangs and stealing was not the answer but that's the choice I made and I paid the price."
And it was in prison that his life began to change. With nowhere to turn he prayed to God and asked God to help him. Something changed for Christopher from that time because when he left prison he not only joined a church, but also went into education again and learnt about life, about society, art and drama. He spent years in training to become an actor in professional acting schools including RADA. Since then he has appeared in Coronation Street, played war poet Wilfred Owen, done Shakespeare and has even had a book of his life published called 'Breaking Free'.
Now he wants to help those who are caught up in crime and drugs.
"I want to inspire other young people that they too could break free from the lifestyle I am familiar with. And to say that anyone, no matter what background they come from can follow their dreams. My dream is to see a film of my book."
You could say he is making a stand. But it's a dream that needs support. It's a dream which has a whole new set of adversities. Christopher needs funding and all kinds of help for his project. It's a project which would make a difference in society, giving people the hope they need to change their lives for the better. Helping others to fulfill their own dreams. And it's a dream which could snowball into something amazing.
Anyone who can help Christopher in any way to make Breaking Free, please contact him at cpower@talktalk.net.
Christopher Lee Power
The Medusa Kind
Light sources – two narratives
Stories Make The World Go 'Round
Destiny and Dynasty
The Owl Flies at Night
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© Nick White


Which oldschool character do you see here?
Name this classic cartoon character.
Can you tell us who this character is?
Which '50s/60s character is this?
Match this guy to the name he was given.
Tell us who this is.
Give us this character's name.
Which back-in-the day cartoon is this?
Which old school character is pictured her?
Can you tell us the name of this animated character?
Match this character to its name.
Who is this cartoon personality?
Identify the name this character goes by.
Out of these characters, which name matches the one pictured here?
Which old-time character is pictured here?
Pick the name that goes with the character in the picture.
Which classic character is here in this picture?
Which of these people is pictured here?
Can You Name All of These TV Shows From the '50s and '60s?


text:
Proud to present: 'A Small Nick or Cut, they say…'
On December 5, 2016 December 6, 2016 By SahiyoIn 16 Days of Activism, News
Sahiyo is extremely proud to share 'A Small Nick or Cut, they say' – a short video produced by Love Matters India and written and directed by our very own Sahiyo co-founder Priya Goswami. The film features Dawoodi Bohra women and men speaking, boldly and earnestly, about the need to end Khatna, or Type I Female Genital Cutting.
If you have been reading up about Female Genital Cutting/Mutilation, you have probably come across the figure of 200 million. It's a statistic from the United Nations: at least 200 million girls in 30 countries around the world have been subjected to the practice of FGC/M, a ritual that involves cutting away varying degrees of the female genitalia.
The World Health Organisation classifies FGC into four types, depending on how severe the cut is. And for decades, activists, researchers, funders and the media have focused mainly on Types II and III, the most severe forms of genital cutting.
Type I has often been overlooked. This form of FGC involves cutting the clitoral hood, and/or part or all of the clitoris, and it is prevalent in a number of Asian communities, including the Dawoodi Bohra community.
All too often, concerns about this "mild" form genital cutting are dismissed as overreactions. "It is just a small nick, a small slice of skin," we are told. "It is not the same as the mutilation done in Africa," they say.
In this video, we are here to say, "No More". No more shall we brush aside the varied experiences of thousands of women across Asia or of Asian descent who were cut against their will. No more shall we allow "mild" genital cutting to be condoned because it is "not as bad" as the more severe forms. We shall speak, because even this least severe type of cut is a form of gender violence, and our girls should never be cut at all.
This video, produced by Love Matters India and Sahiyo, is an attempt to give voice to the multitude of experiences associated with Type I FGC. It is also an attempt to acknowledge the complexities and limitations of language – the dilemma of labeling people as "victims" or "survivors".
The women and men featured in the video include, among others, Sahiyo's co-founders and a father-daughter duo – Abbas and Saleha Paatwala – who want a better future for the next generation of Dawoodi Bohras.
Do watch and share the video, and join the global movement to help abandon FGC!
And finally, a big thank you to all those who have made this video possible:
A film by Love Matters India and RNW Media
Written and Directed by Priya Goswami
Director of Photography: Jayanth Mathavan
Sound Recording and Post: Tanmay Das
Music: Prabir Sekhri
Director's Associate: Sabika Muzaffar
Production Assistance, Mumbai: Saurav Sahu; Delhi: Saleha Paatwala
Edit and Graphics: Priya Goswami
Color Correction: Mahak Gupta
Special Thanks: Siddharth Meer
As a follow-up to this video, Love Matters and Sahiyo will host a Twitter Chat on Type 1 FGC on December 7. Read more here and join us in the discussion!
AsiaBohraFGCkhatnaLove MattersSahiyoType 1 FGMvideo
A letter on khatna by a young Bohra man
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SAP ABAP Developer required to join a leading organisation in the Olso area.
The contract will be for a duration of 9 months with a view to extend.
To begin with you will be required to be based on site at least 4 days a week but after a couple of months there is the potential opportunity to work remotely.


text:
How emergency services organisations can – and do – utilise research
AJEM 33:2 – April 2018
AJEM April 2018 Foreword 2017 Lessons Management Workshop Case studies point to research use Learning for the future: the emotional cycle of bushfire Volunteers: the ageing and the millennials Connecting communities through volunteering: lessons learnt at NSW SES Firebombing at night – why not! A vital layer of safety for Australia's airports Case study: urban aircraft deployment in Victoria Case study: lessons management capability in emergency management and beyond Case study: the preparedness puzzle Case study: the Victorian Emergency Management Community Resilience Index We learn as one: Victoria's journey to collaborative lessons management Book review: Aitape Story: the Great New Guinea Tsunami of 1998 How emergency services organisations can – and do – utilise research Can major post-event inquiries and reviews contribute to lessons management? Updating the costs of disasters in Australia The Total Flood Warning System: what have we learnt since 1990 and where are the gaps nderstanding the role gender plays in survivor responses to natural disaster: evaluating the Lessons in Disaster Program Animal emergency management in South Australia: a case study of the Sampson Flat bushfire Community empowerment and trust: social media use during the Hazelwood mine fire EM Online: The Australian Emergency Management Library
In emergency management organisations, the drive to use research to inform practice has been growing for some time. This paper discusses findings from a survey used to investigate perceived effectiveness of a number of important processes in research utilisation. In 2016, a survey was completed by 266 respondents in 29 fire and emergency services agencies. Questions sought answers on perceived effectiveness in disseminating research within agencies, assessing and evaluating the impacts on agency practice of the research, implementing agency changes that may be needed, monitoring processes to track changes and communicate outcomes of changes made as a result of research. The study found that there were differences in levels of perceived effectiveness between those in senior management and front-line service positions. The differences suggest that front-line services personnel have lower levels of perceived effectiveness in how research is disseminated. The study also found agencies had different approaches to keep up-to-date with research advances. An examination of the activities identified four developmental levels of research utilisation maturity. The findings suggest more work is needed to better understand the enablers and constraints to utilising research to support development of evidence-informed practice.
Research utilisation is critical not just for organisational growth, competitiveness and sustainability (Standing et al. 2016) but also for wide-scale sector development, community and economic wellbeing (Cutler 2008, Ratten, Ferreira & Fernandes 2017). In many countries collaboration and innovation are supported by government policies and initiatives that fund cooperative research centres to take a collaborative approach to research and development. These research centres produce ideas and outputs that can be adopted by organisations and used. However, research examining how research outcomes lead to innovation, including enablers and constraints, appears limited to the medical field in general (Elliott & Popay 2000, Kothari, Birch & Charles 2005) and nursing in particular (Brown et al. 2010, Carrion, Woods & Norman 2004, Retsas 2000).
This paper considers this gap for the fire and emergency services sector and investigates the approaches to using research outputs to inform work practice. The emergency services sector gains insights from research undertaken through a range of sources such as direct commission and academic institutions, as well as through bodies such as the Australasian Fire and Emergency Services Authority (AFAC) and the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC (CRC).
Emergency services organisations currently grapple with complex and 'wicked' problems (Bosomworth, Owen & Curnin 2017). When engaging with cooperative research centres agencies typically ensure that the research being undertaken is aligned to their needs. Over the past decade there has been increasing scrutiny on these organisations to justify actions (e.g. Eburn & Dovers 2015, Boin & t'Hart 2010). There is an urgent need for these organisations to develop their evidence-informed practice. One way to is to actively use research outcomes from their partnerships with cooperative research centres.
The value of utilising research is well established (e.g. Brown & Frame 2016, Cutler 2008, Dearing 2009, Janssen 2003). When research utilisation is done well it enables:
the pace of adoption processes to be accelerated (Helmsley-Brown 2004, Marcati, Guido & Peluso 2008)
the number of adoptions possible from conducted research to be increased (Dearing 2009, Retsas 2000)
the quality of research implementation to be enhanced (Janssen 2003, Kothari, Birch & Charles 2005)
the use of worthy innovations (Glasgow, Lichenstein & Marcus 2003, Standing et al. 2016)
the research effectiveness at agency and sector levels to be demonstrated (Elliott & Popay 2000).
Research is only one of several ingredients for successful innovation and, in many respects, only the start of the process. Utilisation from research does not magically follow from research outputs. What is needed is a systematic follow through from research insights to consider the implications and to develop processes that support review and, where needed, implementation and change.
Studies of utilisation and the barriers that need to be overcome (e.g. Funk et al. 1991, Cummings et al. 2007, Brown et al. 2010) suggest that research is used through a process by which new information or new ideas are communicated through certain channels, over time and among members of a social system. The process includes:
disseminating new ideas or findings among members of a social system (Hemsley-Brown 2004, Brown & Frame 2016)
assessing and evaluating the ideas in terms of their relevance to members of the social system (Carrion, Woods & Norman 2004, Dearing 2009)
implementing changes that may be needed (Brown et al. 2010, Elliott & Popay 2000)
monitoring the effects of the changes put in place (Cummings et al. 2007, Cutler 2008)
reporting outcomes of changes made as a result of the new idea (Glasgow, Lichtenstein & Marcus 2003, Standing et al. 2016).
Research utilisation occurs through social interaction and the development of shared understanding as well as organisational processes to embed new ideas into work practice.
This brief review shows that a better understanding of the processes to utilise research is important, especially if emergency services organisations are to maximise investment and engagement with cooperative research centres.
A survey was distributed in 2016 to heads of emergency services agencies seeking a stratified sample of personnel within the agency. This included those working at:
senior management levels including the most senior person in the organisation responsible for communications, training and development, operations, community safety, knowledge management, innovation and research
middle management levels including regional, operational and non-operational personnel
operational or front-line service positions (e.g. field operations personnel, community education officers and training instructors).
In the survey 'research' was defined as a systematic approach to answering a question or testing a hypothesis using a methodological study. The researcher enquires into a problem, systematically collects data and analyses these to develop findings to advance knowledge. Doing research in this way is distinguished from gathering general information by reading a book or surfing the internet. 'Research utilisation' was defined as the process of synthesising, disseminating and using research-generated knowledge to make an impact on or change the existing practice. Respondents were asked to consider research that may have come from a source internal to their organisation (conducting its own research) and from an external source, such as cooperative research centres and other research institutions.
In the 2016 sample, 50 agencies were invited and 266 responses were received from 29 organisations. The agency participation rate (58 per cent) is appropriate for online surveys of this type (Barach & Holtom 2008). The median number of years that survey respondents have been in the sector was 22 and the median number of years within the agency was 13; demonstrating the level of experience in emergency services of those responding.
There was a reasonable spread of participation from the kinds of agencies included in the sector with the exception of urban agencies, where only one agency participated yielding 12 (five per cent) of responses. Most of the responses came from people participating in agencies that have multiple hazard roles (n=77 or 35 per cent). This indicates the structural shifts occurring within the sector as well as a broadening of the stakeholder base. Participation from rural agencies was well represented (n=52 or 21 per cent). Land management agencies (n=37 or 15 per cent), State Emergency Services (n=35 or 14 per cent) and agencies with other roles (e.g. critical infrastructure, humanitarian, specialist science roles (n=38 or 15 per cent).
Of the respondents who answered the question about their position in the agency, 29 (15 per cent) were in senior management positions (e.g. directors), 128 (66 per cent) were in middle management roles (e.g. district managers) and 37 (19 per cent) had front-line responsibilities (e.g. training instructors).
The survey consisted of a number of quantitative Likert-type questions where respondents were asked to rate their level of agreement on a scale of 1 to 7, with an option for 'can't answer'. In addition there were qualitative questions inviting comments. One in particular is discussed in detail here. The qualitative responses to the question 'What strategies does your agency have in place to keep up-to-date with research?' yielded comments from 168 respondents. These were initially coded and discussed between two coders. A sample of 30 comments was coded to develop a framework to discuss. Once the coders achieved an inter-rater reliability of 88 per cent the rest of the comments were coded to four identified themes.
While there are processes in place to ensure that the research being undertaken is addressing a gap in knowledge, what has not been discussed is if that research is the best available to advance societal goals (Sarewitz & Pielke 2007). The focus in this paper has assumed that those processes are already in place between agencies and their research suppliers.
The qualitative framework of research maturity (discussed below) is based only on what the participant had recorded, meaning that a respondent's agency may be more active but this was not articulated in the comment.
Perceived effectiveness of research utilisation processes
Respondents were asked to rate the perceived effectiveness of their agency in terms of its processes to:
disseminate research within the agency
assess and evaluate the impact on agency practice of the research
implement any agency changes that are needed
establish monitoring processes to track changes
disseminate the outcomes of changes made as a result of research.
Differences were found in the ways respondents rated their levels of satisfaction on these items. On average respondents rated their agency's effectiveness in 'Assessing and evaluating the impact of research in agency practice' significantly lower than they did its effectiveness in disseminating Bushfire CRC research.1 In addition 'Putting in place processes to monitor and track changes' was also significantly lower.2 This indicates that while there are higher perceptions of effectiveness with the ways in which personnel receive information about the research, there is less satisfaction with effectiveness in considering the implications or implementation.
Given the sustained effort that the CRC and AFAC have put into packaging materials to make dissemination a relatively straightforward and accessible process for agencies, this may indicate that similar resources and tools are required to help agencies undertake other aspects important in the utilisation process.
What is interesting is that while levels of perceived effectiveness with disseminating research were high overall, there were differences based on the hierarchical role the respondent had in the organisation. Figure 1 shows the averages and standard deviations for senior managers, middle managers and those working on the front-line. There was a significant difference between senior managers and front-line personnel.3 The difference suggests that front-line services personnel lower levels of perceived effectiveness in how research is disseminated. This has implications for their roles as these personnel are expected to translate research outcomes into practice (e.g. training and community outreach programs).
Figure 1: Mean differences with perceived effectiveness with disseminating research within the agency for senior, middle management and front-line services personnel.
Keeping up-to-date with research
Respondents were asked to provide comments on the ways they knew of to keep up-to-date with research. This is a first step to then being able to consider implications for agency practice and whether or not anything needs to change. There were 168 respondents who provided comments in the 2016 survey. These included comments in relation to participating in CRC or AFAC events, such as attending a conference or Research Advisory Forum as well as participating in the research project team as an end-user.
Table 1: Research utilisation maturity codes and examples.
Description Examples in data to question (if yes) what strategies does your agency have in place to keep up-to-date with research?
1. Low (Basic) N=39; (24%)
Systems are ad hoc and unsystematic. Attempts to keep up-to-date with research depend on individual effort.
'Undefined, not clearly communicated within communications. Nil business unit assigned to research and development.'
'…the onus for keeping up-to-date is largely upon individuals maintaining an interest, or subscribing to emails.'
2. Moderate (Developing) N=63; (39%)
Some systems and processes are documented, which enables research to be disseminated. There is little or no evidence of analysis or impact assessment.
'We have two people that email CRC updates to staff.'
'Lots of material is distributed via our portal and email to keep staff and volunteers informed.'
3. Intermediate
There are established processes in place for reviewing research (e.g. dissemination and review either through job responsibilities or an internal research committee). No evidence of how the findings are translated or connected to operational activities.
'Developed a research committee.'
'SMEs appointed as capability custodians to ensure up-to-date best practice.'
4. High (Leading) N=23 (14%)
There is evidence of active connections between research and operational activities. Operational and strategic decisions are informed by assessing research using formal research utilisation processes. These processes and systems are widely understood and embedded in multiple areas of practice.
'… a process of ensuring results are read by key specialist staff involved in program design and delivery, are interpreted and analysed for their implications and relevance and then used to inform decision-making and strategy through numerous internal fora.'
'Alignment of evidence-based decision-making in the planning phases of annual planning and the development of indicators around causal factors that inform emergent risk.'
Other ways included keeping abreast of the research from emails or other forms of information dissemination. An analysis of the comments shows that some agencies have formalised processes in place to discuss and review research while other agencies leave this up to individual personnel (Table 1).
Given the importance of the methods agencies use to keep up-to-date with research these comments were further analysed. Four themes emerged that could be identified as developmental in terms of a new variable labelled research utilisation maturity. Examples of these developmental levels are presented in Table 1.
The comments were given a ranking of research utilisation maturity indicated in Table 1. The variable (research utilisation maturity) was added to the database and used to further analyse and compare quantitative responses.
Figure 2 shows the mean scores for each of the coded research utilisation maturity groups. Those coded to the high research utilisation maturity group rated significantly higher levels of perceived effectiveness on all processes associated with learning from research outputs compared to the lower ranked group. Responses on the utilisation maturity framework yielded statistically significant results for perceptions of effectiveness in disseminating research within the agency,4 assessing and evaluating the impact on agency practice of research,5 implementing any changes that may be needed,6 putting in place monitoring processes to track changes7 and communicating outcomes of changes made as a result of research.8 Respondents were asked to rate the degree to which they thought their agency was one that exemplified a learning organisation. This was defined as an organisation that learns from experience of its members or learns from the experience of others.8
Respondents reporting strategies that were coded to the higher level of research utilisation maturity rated their organisations as significantly higher than those coded to lower levels of research utilisation maturity.9
These findings suggest that the approaches discussed by those in the higher research utilisation maturity group may provide insights for others. Leading agencies were ones that had:
Established governance processes. They have established governance processes where business goals include research review (e.g. such as having a research review committee and a research framework as part of the business strategy). They also have active connections between research engagement and operations.
Utilisation embedded into job roles. People have responsibilities for learning and review built into their job roles and into their group work. There is a widespread expectation that all personnel are responsible for learning and innovation and will adopt evidence-informed processes. This is supported by access to professional development opportunities.
Active testing of outputs. They actively engage in testing outputs rather than accepting off-the-shelf products. They consult widely and know where to go for help and can access networks of expertise (internal or external to the agency) when needed.
Communities of practice. They are actively engaged in agency and sector communities-of-practice (including other industries such as health) to communicate and innovate. They recognise that there are no magic solutions and they are able to articulate what is not known, problematic or uncertain that needs investigation. They recognise that learning is a process of continuous improvement.
The differences reported between agency hierarchical roles suggests communication between senior management, middle management and front-line service roles needs attention. While it is reasonable to conclude that the onus of decision-making to determine if a change in practice is warranted will remain with senior personnel, if those in front-line positions are not as familiar with research outputs, it will be difficult for them to bring the required changes into practice. A focus on dissemination of research outputs to those responsible for front-line service delivery may be helpful.
In addition, agencies reporting higher levels of research utilisation maturity provide insights for others. It is important to recognise that change and innovation is developmental and requires adjustments to governance processes, job responsibilities and participation in communities-of-practice. These findings indicate that it may be possible to develop an adapted scale of organisational maturity to assess and measure research utilisation. Further research would identify agency profiles of maturity in research utilisation so that appropriate supports can be facilitated.
These findings suggest that more attention on how organisations learn to utilise research is required. Given the significant scrutiny placed on organisations and the emergency services sector as well as the pressure to demonstrate an evidence-base to practice, having a strong approach to research utilisation would seem essential. The study also suggests some other implications for future consideration
Who is doing the utilisation and for whom? Are the same utilisation processes used for all research outputs or are different approaches needed, depending on the outputs? Is there a double edge to drawing on the perceptions of the 'thought leaders' who have been working in the agency for 20+ years, given that they are likely to be enculturated into established ways of seeing the world?
What is being utilised from research? Are some research outputs easier (or acceptable) to utilise than others? Are there insights and outputs from research that are not utilised and why is this the case?
Why are some barriers to utilisation more impervious to change? Are there research problems where proposed utilisation of insights or outputs is stifled?
Figure 2: Perceptions of effectiveness for four identified levels of agency research utilisation maturity.
Implications for future research from these findings suggest there is a need to tease out the elements that comprise learning and innovation cultures and what skills, processes and structures are needed. Further work is needed to better understand how perceived barriers can be overcome in order to increase and strengthen cultures of learning within agencies and the sector. Doing so will support goals of agility and innovation within the sector through research utilisation, which include the acceleration of adoption, maximising the value of research and increasing the worthiness of innovation.
It is vital that agencies—and the sector—builds capability in developing robust processes of deliberative review, assessment and evaluation so that evidence-informed practice can be demonstrated. This is necessary if the sector and involved agencies are to reap the full benefits of research.
Paired t-test: Disseminate the Bushfire CRC research within the agency (M = 3.97, SE = 0.109) and Assess and evaluate the impact of the research in agency practice (M = 3.57; SE = 0.104), t (239) = 5.955, p = 0005, r = .81
Paired t-test: Disseminate the Bushfire CRC research within the agency (M = 3.99, SE = 0.108) and Put in place monitoring processes to track changes (M = 3.44; SE = 0.106), t (233) = 6.208, p = 0005, r = .66
ANOVA (F(2, 186) = 4.356, p <.014, ω =.045
ANOVA (F(3, 155) = 24.987, p <.0005, ω =.326
ANOVA F(3, 151) = 31.516, p <.0005, ω =.385
ANOVA (F(3, 147) = 14.5072, p < .0005, ω =.228
The authors acknowledge the huge losses suffered as a result of the 2009 Gippsland bushfires and thank the young adult participants of this research for their generosity of time and wisdom.
Baruch Y & Holtom BC 2008, Survey response rate levels and trends in organizational research. Human Relations, vol. 61, no. 8, pp. 139-1160.
Boin A & 't Hart P 2010, Organising for Effective Emergency Management: Lessons from Research. Australian Journal of Public Administration vol. 69, no. 4, pp. 357-371.
Bosomworth K, Owen C & Curnin S 2017, Addressing challenges for future strategic-level emergency management: reframing, networking, and capacity-building. Disasters, vol. 41, no. 2, 306-323.
Brown C & Frame P 2016, Role of transitory communities of practice in business school collaborative knowledge-sharing projects: from the partner's perspective. International Journal of Innovation and Learning, vol. 19, no. 1, pp. 109-124.
Brown CE, Ecoff L, Kim SC, Wickline MA, Rose B, Klimpel K & Glaser D 2010, Multi-institutional study of barriers to research utilisation and evidence-based practice among hospital nurses. Journal of Clinical Nursing, vol.19, no. 13-14, pp. 1944-1951.
Carrion M, Woods P & Norman I 2004, Barriers to research utilisation among forensic mental health nurses. International Journal of Nursing Studies, vol. 41, no. 6, pp. 613-619.
Cummings GG, Estabrooks CA, Midodzi WK, Wallin L & Hayduk L 2007, Influence of organizational characteristics and context on research utilization. Nursing Research, vol. 56, no. 4, pp. 24-39.
Cutler T 2008, Venturous Australia Report for the Minister for Innovation, Sector, Science and Research, Cutler and Company, Melbourne.
Dearing J 2009, Applying Diffusion of Innovation Theory to Intervention Development. Research on Social Work Practice, vol. 19, no. 5, pp. 503-518.
Eburn M & Dovers S 2015, Learning Lessons from Disasters: Alternatives to Royal Commissions and Other Quasi-Judicial Inquiries. Australian Journal of Public Administration vol. 74, no. 4, pp. 495-508.
Elliott H & Popay J 2000, How are policy makers using evidence? Models of research utilisation and local NHS policy making. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, vol. 54, no. 6, pp. 461-468.
Funk SG, Champagne MT, Weise RA & Tornquist EM 1991, Barriers to using research findings: The clinicians perspective, Applied Nursing Research, vol. 4, pp. 90-95.
Glasgow RE, Lichtenstein E & Marcus AC 2003, Why don't we see more translation of health promotion research to practice?
Rethinking the efficacy-to-effectiveness transition. American Journal of Public Health, vol. 93, no. 8, pp. 1261-1267.
Hemsley-Brown J 2004, Facilitating research utilisation: a cross- sector review of research evidence. International Journal of Public Sector Management, vol. 17, no. 6, pp. 534-552.
Janssen O 2003, Innovative behaviour and job involvement at the price of conflict and less satisfactory relations with co-workers. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, vol 76, no. 3, pp. 347-364.
Kothari A, Birch S & Charles C 2005, Interaction and research utilisation in health policies and programs: does it work? Health Policy, vol. 71, no. 1, pp. 117-125.
Marcati A, Guido G & Peluso AM 2008, The role of SME entrepreneurs' innovativeness and personality in the adoption of innovations. Research Policy, vol. 37 no. 9, pp. 1579-1590.
Ratten V, Ferreira JJ & Fernandes CI 2017, Innovation management-current trends and future directions. International Journal of Innovation and Learning, vol. 22, no. 2, pp. 135-155.
Retsas A 2000, Barriers to using research evidence in nursing practice. Journal of Advanced Nursing, vol. 31, no. 3, pp. 599-606.
Sarewitz D & Pielke Jr RA 2007, The neglected heart of science policy: reconciling supply of and demand for science. Environmental Science and Policy, vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 5-16.
Standing C, Jackson D, Larsen AC, Suseno Y, Fulford R & Gengatharen D 2016, Enhancing individual innovation in organisations: a review of the literature. International Journal of Innovation and Learning, vol. 19, no. 1, pp. 44-62.
Dr Christine Owen is an organisational behaviour and learning researcher at the University of Tasmania.
Can major post-event inquiries and reviews contribute to lessons management? Can major post-event inquiries and reviews contribute to lessons management? Lawson Cole, Emeritus Professor Stephen Dovers, Martijn Gough and Associate Professor Michael Eburn Significant disaster and emergency management events are invariably followed by formal post-event inquiries and reviews. Such reviews identify lessons to improve future capacities and set the agenda for policy and management reform for emergency management organisations. As a result, there is a substantial body of reflections and recommendations gathered across all hazard types and jurisdictions by formal, structured inquiry processes that contribute to lessons management for the emergency sector. However, whether there is any coherence or core lessons emerging for the Australian sector from the totality of post-event inquiries is unknown. The work reported here identifies the recommendations from these inquiries. A meta-analysis of 1336 recommendations made in 55 Australian major post-event reviews and inquiries since 2009 revealed common themes. The recommendations were compiled into a comprehensive database and categorised into 32 themes. The analysis highlighted recurrent themes from recommendations spanning multiple jurisdictions. The study indicates the potential value for Australian and New Zealand emergency management agencies and jurisdictions of using the aggregate data organised as a resource for lessons management.
Dr Christine Owen
University of Tasmania, Hobart
Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience
Submitted: 20 January 2018
Accepted: 8 March 2018
Download PDF 0.2 MB


I've been waiting for a couple of things to arrive in the mail this week. Not patiently waiting. Waiting while getting crankier and crankier. Yesterday, a miracle occurred because packages arrived. Just not everything I was expecting.
However, it was all happy mail.
Norma had a contest on her blog last week, and I won a prize. Who knew the random number generator would pick* #1? I mean really!
Think that's enough links for one short paragraph?
Please keep in mind it's so dark and stormy here that the cat ate breakfast and went back to bed. Not that I blame her. Once I'm done typing this, I'm joining her. Too yucky outside to be outside the covers.
I'm not sure what the roving is beyond it's pink and lovely. I'm guessing it's a blend, but we'll have to see if Norma tells us.
Now if the yarn I need would just get here, I could get started on the project knitting.
Oh, and currently I'm working on a pair of boring ribbed socks in freezer (stash) yarn. I like the yarn and this time of year, I'm loving that drawer of hand knit socks. I've blocked out knitting most of them, but I do love them.
*I typed "pink" and had to fix it. Think that means something? Shut up!
Now you just have to start spinning ... and not in circles like your cat!
Beautiful roving! Do you spin?
Oh, dear. I thought I said. Silly me -- why would I, I suppose? I even forgot I sent it to you. Hee.
Anyhoo, it's (some kind of nice) wool and Tussah silk, hand blended by the lovely Kae of Faerielady Knits.
Verra verra nice. Take that wool to bed with you. It'll keep you extra warm.
I hope ya'll stay dry up there.
I think that is lovely roving from Norma. Makes me think of mid-February. I hope you and the cat are staying warm and cozy.
me wants to eats it.
Ohh pretty roving. Hope you are having a relaxing day.
Norma wasn't kidding, it sure is pink here! Listen, the cats pay the vets (I don't know how) to make us believe that they could be going at any time. It's a feline subversive underground thing and the vets will never tell.
LOL: roving in a rainstorm!
You made a pink heart! You are my hero. For more reasons than that, of course!
Love, love LOVE the pink. Kae does wonderful work. I think Dave bought some from me when I did my mini de-stash. Or maybe it was Jen. I don't know. But I still have some left to spin.
Ok... so you don't like knitting... I see a spinning obsession coming on. I mean REALLY! You're stocking up for the end of the world over there.


text:
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;
using System.Threading.Tasks;
using System.Windows;
using System.Windows.Controls;
using System.Windows.Data;
using System.Windows.Documents;
using System.Windows.Input;
using System.Windows.Media;
using System.Windows.Media.Imaging;
using System.Windows.Navigation;
using System.Windows.Shapes;
using ToDoTool.Helpers;
using ToDoTool.Models;

namespace ToDoTool.Views
{
    /// <summary>
    /// Interaktionslogik für RegistrationView.xaml
    /// </summary>
    public partial class RegistrationView : UserControl
    {
        private MainWindow _mw;
        private ApplicationDbContext _db = new ApplicationDbContext();

        public RegistrationView(MainWindow mw)
        {
            this._mw = mw;
            InitializeComponent();
        }

        private void ClearBorders()
        {
            tbxBenutzername.BorderBrush = new SolidColorBrush(Color.FromRgb(0, 0, 0));
            tbxBenutzeremail.BorderBrush = new SolidColorBrush(Color.FromRgb(0, 0, 0));
            tbxPasswort.BorderBrush = new SolidColorBrush(Color.FromRgb(0, 0, 0));
            tbxPasswortConfirm.BorderBrush = new SolidColorBrush(Color.FromRgb(0, 0, 0));
        }

        private void BtnRegistrieren_OnClick(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
        {
            Cursor = Cursors.Wait;
            var username = tbxBenutzername.Text;
            var email = tbxBenutzeremail.Text;
            var password = tbxPasswort.Password;
            var passwordConfirm = tbxPasswortConfirm.Password;

            var results = new bool[]
            {
                Validator.IsNotEmpty(username),
                Validator.IsEmail(email),
                Validator.ValidatePassword(password),
                passwordConfirm == password
            };

            if (_db.Users.FirstOrDefault(x => x.Username.Equals(username)) != null)
            {
                results[0] = false;
            }
            if (_db.Users.FirstOrDefault(x => x.Email.Equals(email)) != null)
            {
                results[1] = false;
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Big fifth inning leads Dutchtown past EA
East Ascension has had a great bounce-back season so far in 2022, winning eight games after finishing winless last year.
The Lady Spartans showed that progression in much of their game against parish and district rival Dutchtown on Tuesday evening. They outscored the Lady Griffins, 3-1, in five innings.
Unfortunately for East Ascension, two big innings by Dutchtown put the game out of reach. The Lady Griffins scored three in the first, and they exploded for six in the fifth to take a 9-0 lead. Dutchtown eventually rolled to a 10-3 victory.
To begin the game for the Lady Griffins, Katelyn Bessonette walked, and Lysia Russell was hit by a pitch. Harper Dupre then drove both players home with a triple, and she was able to score following a Lady Spartan error.
But after taking the early 3-0 lead, East Ascension pitcher Alisha Brown settled down and pitched three straight scoreless innings.
"We got the lead there in the first, but I would like to see more of that every inning," Dutchtown head coach Nancy Ensminger said. "We got the lead and kind of pulled off the gas pedal. I didn't like that part."
Still up 3-0 in the top of the fifth, Dutchtown scored six runs, mostly as a result of East Ascension miscues.
The Lady Griffins loaded the bases to begin the frame, and Alexa Womack walked to score a run.
Next, Mallory Melancon reached base and two Dutchtown players scored following two East Ascension errors.
The Lady Griffins' final three runs were scored following an infield single by Riley Bennett, a passed ball and a wild pitch.
"I'm proud of what they did there. They put it in play and made them make plays," Ensminger said. "I like how we were able to capitalize on their mistakes. That's the exciting part of the game. I still think we need to make more adjustments at the plate. Their pitcher was a little different from what we've seen in a while, but we're going to see all different types of pitchers throughout the season, so we have to be able to adjust."
East Ascension finally got on the board in the bottom of the sixth.
Grace Burke and Kate Rills each singled, and Corin Waguespack drove them both home with a double that made it 9-2.
The teams exchanged runs in the final inning. Dutchtown's Brynn Songy produced an RBI double, while East Ascension's Tobie Landry came up with a sac grounder.
In the loss, Rills, Maycee Sonnier and Mya Lahoux each went 2-3. Waguespack was 1-3 with two RBIs.
East Ascension actually out-hit the Lady Griffins, 9-5.
Dutchtown was led by Songy, who went 2-3 with two walks and an RBI.
It was the Lady Griffins' fifth straight victory. They've continued to win games, despite dealing with injuries at key positions.
"I was impressed that kids that haven't played a lot of positions have stepped up," Ensminger said. "Our third-baseman today usually plays second. That's huge, and she made some really nice plays out there. I'm proud of her. People have had to come off of the bench and step up as well. Hopefully, they've learned a little bit from today. I know we won, but we want more. And they're young, so I understand that. But I want them to embrace the fact that we have to finish strong."