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Yes. We are committed to protecting your medical records, and have strict rules to make sure our staff and anyone who needs to see your records keep all your member information confidential. Your medical records or claims details may have to be reviewed. If so, precautions are taken to keep your information safe. In many cases your identity, such as name and address, will not be included in the information given during the review.

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Your first premium payment activates your coverage, so you can start using your health plan within 1–2 days of making your payment, depending on how you pay.

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I need to get a prescription filled but don't have my ID card yet. What can I do?

Even if you haven't received your ID card, you should have received a new member welcome letter within days of your enrollment being completed. Your member identification and group number listed on your welcome letter can be used by the pharmacy to verify your benefits. You will need to pay your first premium payment before you can use your prescription benefits.

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I applied on the Health Insurance Exchange, but haven't heard if my application has been received and accepted. Did my coverage start on the effective date I requested?

We receive new applications from the Exchange every day. If you applied through the Exchange, it will take a few days for processing through the Exchange before they are sent to us. It then takes us about 5–10 business days to process your enrollment in the BCBSNM system.

If you just applied recently, we encourage you to wait to see if you receive your membership information soon. If you applied weeks ago and have not received anything from us, it is possible your application has been held up for some reason.

If you applied on the Health Insurance Exchange or with BCBSNM online and you have not received information from us, call our Customer Service Center at 866-236-1702 and we will look up the status of your application. Our call volumes are still very high, so you may have to hold for a long period before getting through. We will help you as quickly as possible.

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When will I get my member ID cards, and how many will I get?

You should get your member ID cards in the mail soon after your application is approved. Individual and family PPO members will receive no more than 2 membership ID cards. Please note that all member ID cards will have only the subscriber name on it, but can be used by all of the dependents enrolled under the policy. HMO Individual and family plans will get a card for each member enrolled.

You can print a temporary ID card and request additional cards through your Blue Access for Members account. You will need your member identification number and group number to log in to Blue Access for Members. These numbers can be found on the new member welcome letter you will receive within days of enrolling.

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I received my ID cards in the mail but they only have my name on them and not my spouse's. Can I get another ID card with their name on it?

Your member ID cards will only have the primary subscriber's name on them, but they can be used by all of the dependents (in this case your spouse) enrolled under your policy.

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When will I get benefit coverage information and the contract on the plan I selected?

Within days of your application being accepted, you will receive a welcome letter from BCBSNM that includes your member identification number and group number. This information can be used by providers and pharmacies to verify your coverage until you get your member ID card. Your ID card will be sent separately soon after.

Your policy information is available through your Blue Access for Members account once your plan is in effect.

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I've gotten a call from someone asking me questions about my new coverage. Is this person with BCBSNM, and why are they asking these questions?

Since you have new coverage with us, we want to make sure you understand your benefits and that we have the information we need to help you with your health care needs. We are calling to:

  • Explain how your plan works
  • Answer questions you may have, and
  • Tell you about some of the services we offer to help manage your care and your coverage.

We also check to make sure the information we have is correct, such as the names of everyone on your plan, your address and other details.

The call often only takes about 15 to 20 minutes. If you have any concern that the person calling you is not with BCBSNM, ask the caller for a number you can use to call us back.

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When I try to register for Blue Access for Members, I get a message telling me it's not available. When will it be available for me to register?

You may have received this error message during your registration for a number of reasons. Many times, the information you entered may not have matched the data in our system. Please remember to have your group and member ID numbers handy when you register. Both of these numbers can be found on your welcome letter and your member ID card. Register now.

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What communications are available in Spanish?

Members can receive Explanation of Benefits (EOB) statements in Spanish. If you would like to receive available Spanish communications, you can log in to your Blue Access for MembersSM account, go to the Settings tab and choose Preferences. You can also call the Customer Service number on the back of your member ID card. Customer Service will record your preference.

We also have the following tools available to meet the Spanish language preference of our members:

  • Spanish language website — Browse health plans, get information on member services and tips for using your health insurance
  • Provider Finder in Spanish — Locate medical professionals who speak Spanish in your area
  • "Pregúntele a Sara" — Get answers to typical health plan questions using the tool found at the top of the website
  • Assistance Finder in Spanish — Find a nearby Spanish speaking representative to answer your health insurance questions
  • BCBSNM App — Access your secured health plan information easily on your mobile device. The App will open in Spanish if the device language is set to Spanish.
  • Facebook Latino  — Follow us on Facebook en español for content and posts in Spanish

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I missed the open enrollment deadline. Can I still buy health insurance?

In most cases, you can only sign up for a health insurance plan during the open enrollment period. If you missed open enrollment, you may be able to enroll during the special enrollment period. To be eligible, you must have had a qualifying "life event" within the past 60 days or experienced other complications that did not allow you to complete your enrollment . Learn more about special enrollment.

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I received a letter from Equian (formerly Trover Solutions) saying they have partnered with BCBSNM to investigate my medical claim. Should I respond to the letter?

BCBSNM and Equian have partnered to review the medical claim listed on your letter to determine if another person or insurance company should be responsible for the claim. The claim we are investigating may be for treatment you received from an injury experienced at work or from an auto accident.

The information we are requesting is important. It could help to get back money that should be paid by someone else, like another insurance carrier. This process is one of several tools used by BCBSNM to help control rising costs of health care. Call the number, 800-696-4573, on the letter to answer the claim question.

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What are my options to pay my premium?

Here are convenient ways you can pay your bill.

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BCBSNM drafted my bank account twice. When will I get my money back?

We sincerely apologize for our error in drafting your bank account twice for your premium payment. We had two active policies for you in our system, which pulled your records twice when the automated drafts were processed. We have corrected the error in our system, so this should not happen again. We will mail a refund check for the overpayment amount within 5 days of the error. If you don't see it soon, please give us a call. In addition, if you had overdraft fees as a result of the double billing, please contact us so we can refund these charges as well. You can reach us at 800-792-8595.

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I applied for a plan on the Health Insurance Exchange and also applied for a plan directly with BCBSNM, so now I'm getting a bill for both. How do I cancel one?

We cannot process a cancellation request for a Exchange plan. If you want to cancel your Exchange plan, you can call the Exchange at 800-318-2596. If you want to cancel our off-Exchange plan, we can process that cancellation for you. Call Customer Service at 800-538-8833. You can also log in to your Blue Access for Members account and send us a secure email message.

A policy will also automatically be cancelled for nonpayment if you don't pay the premium. This may be your best option. You would simply pay the premium for the plan you want to keep and not pay the premium for the plan you want to cancel.

Members can log in to their Blue Access for Members account from a desktop or mobile browser for more information about benefits, claim status and more.

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What is an HMO? How is it different from other health care plans?

A Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) is a type of health plan that gives you access to certain doctors and hospitals that have contracted with the HMO, often called a provider network or just network. An HMO is different from other health care plans in a number of ways:

  • An HMO is designed to control costs through preventative health care services that help you avoid serious and costly health problems.
  • An HMO typically has lower monthly premium and lower copayment levels than other types of plans.
  • HMO networks are not limited to doctors and hospitals. HMO networks include clinics, pharmacies, labs, imaging centers and medical equipment vendors.
  • When you join an HMO, you selected or were assigned a primary care physician (PCP) to coordinate all your health care services.
  • Also, HMOs generally only cover health care services provided by a network of health professionals and hospitals that together provide a full range of health care services. When choosing your new plan, make sure the doctors and hospitals you want to use are all in the HMO's network.

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What types of doctors can be a primary care physician?

The following doctors can be selected as a primary care physician:

  • Family medicine doctor
  • OB/GYN
  • Pediatrician
  • Internal medicine doctor

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How do I select a doctor?

Use our Provider Finder® online directory to find a physician in the HMO network who best fits your needs. Be sure the doctor you select is accepting new patients.

It's easy to use the Provider Finder by registering for Blue Access for Members (BAM):

  1. Visit Blue Access for Members.
  2. Use the information on your BCBSNM member ID card to complete the registration process.
  3. Once you are registered, log in to BAM. The Provider Finder tool is located under the Doctors & Hospitals tab.
  4. Know the name of your plan and choose it from the dropdown box "Select network type".
  5. Continue to search until you find a doctor who meets your needs and is accepting new patients.

  • Check your Benefit Booklet for your Network Type
  • Make sure you are searching within your network
  • Enter as much information as you know
  • Use filters to help narrow your search

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What happens if I don't select a primary care physician (PCP)?

You must have a primary care physician assigned. If you don't select your own, we will assign one to you.

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Do I need a referral to see a specialist?

No, you do not need a referral. However, if the specialist is not in your plan's network, in most cases, you may have to pay for services which are considered out-of-network.

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Can I continue to see my current doctor when I join the HMO plan?

Yes, if your current doctor is a part of the HMO’s network. If your doctor is not in the network, you will need to select a new primary care physician (PCP). To make sure a provider is in the HMO network, search Provider Finder®, our online directory.

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Do I have coverage if I am traveling?

In an emergency, go directly to the nearest hospital. For non-emergencies, some HMO plans allow you to get health care services from a Blue Cross and Blue Shield - affiliated doctor or hospital when you are traveling outside of New Mexico. If you aren't sure, contact customer service at the number on the back of your member ID card before you go. And always remember to carry your current BCBSNM member ID card. It contains helpful information for accessing health care at home or away.

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What if I'll be away for more than 90 consecutive days?

If you or a covered family member will be temporarily living outside of New Mexico for 90 days or more, you may be eligible for guest membership in a Blue Cross and Blue Shield-affiliated HMO. In some circumstances, moving can also qualify you to be able to enroll in a new plan in your new location. You can call the customer service number on the back of your ID card to find out if your plan covers you when living outside New Mexico and to discuss all your options.

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What if I'm already in treatment when I enroll and my provider isn't in the network?

We'll work with you to provide coverage for the most appropriate care for your medical situation, especially if you are pregnant or receiving treatment for a serious illness. You may still be able to see your current provider for a brief time. Call us at the customer service number on the back of your BCBSNM ID card for more information.

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What if I have a chronic health issue like heart disease or asthma?

If you are already seeing a specialist for your condition, make sure your doctor is in your plan's network. If the doctor is not in your plan's network, you will pay more in most cases. Also make sure your specialist uses providers and facilities in your plan's network when sending you for other services or hospitalization. If you have any questions, please call us at the customer service number on the back of your BCBSNM ID card. If you are looking for a doctor for your chronic condition, you can use the Provider Finder tool. Click on "Network Type" at the top and select the name of your HMO plan to see a list of doctors and hospitals in your plan's network.

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Does my plan cover prescriptions?

Your BCBSNM HMO benefits also cover prescription drugs. Not all drugs are covered. You can visit our website to view the list of prescriptions your plan covers. This list is called a preferred drug list. To look for your medicines, you will need to know:

  • The medicine's exact name
  • The dose you take
  • How many pills your doctor often prescribes for you

While costs can vary depending on your benefit plan, you usually pay less for generic drugs and more for brand name drugs. Your plan may cover some of the costs of drugs not on your preferred drug list. You can learn more by looking in your benefit book, or calling the customer service number on the back of your ID card.

Learn more on Connect

Get answers. Share information. Gain knowledge.

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* BCBSNM has contracted with a third-party vendor, Alacriti Payments, LLC, to process your ACH/electronic check payment. In order to process this payment, you will be redirected to Alacriti's secure payment site, OrbiPay. If you have any problems with your payment, please contact BCBSNM customer service at 800-538-8833.


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Tag Archives: disability

Warcross by Marie Lu

Warcross by Marie Lu
Putnam, 2017.

I enjoyed Marie Lu’s Legend series and thought it was one of the better YA dystopian series. Warcross, the electrifying start of a new series, is set in a just-over-the-horizon future and toggles between a sort of Blade Runneresque Tokyo and a virtual reality game called Warcross that the world is obsessed with.

Emi Chen is scraping a living bounty hunting in New York, when she uses her hacking skills to exploit a glitch in Warcross. She is immediately invited to Tokyo by the young (and dishily charismatic, of course) designer of Warcross, Hideo Tanaka. He wants her to participate in the Warcross world championship to catch a hacker called Zero who seems to have nefarious ideas and Emi is chosen to be in the Phoenix Riders team to take part in the tournament.

The most exhilarating parts of the novel are set in the games themselves and it’s a little Hunger Gamesy, though apparently without the threat of imminent death. Ms Lu comes from a game design background and it shows in her wildly imaginative set-ups and fluent descriptions.

Emi is a feisty, thoughtful, and sympathetic protagonist. There are way too many undeveloped characters, at least initially, though as we progress into the world championships this settles down a bit. There is a notable diversity of skin tones, countries of origin, and physical ablebodiedness. Hideo himself, however, comes straight out of central casting as leading man with a tragic background.

There are a few glitches in the plotting – most notably in the revelation of Zero’s identity, which at this stage just doesn’t make sense (in fact, the person who I had tabbed for this fits soooo much better). Additionally, and this may be addressed in the next novel (did I say that this was a series? Well, of course, it’s a series), the novel doesn’t address why, or even how, Warcross is such a global phenomenon to the extent that apparently everyone, even old fogies like me play it or at least watch it. The ending sets us up for the sequel, albeit with a rather tedious dump of exposition.

But I’m mostly quibbling here – Ms Lu is a fine author and when she’s on her home territory she pulled me in and had me thrilled by her VR game.

Will I read the sequel? Past experience suggests that the stakes will be upped from personal to national or even global, which probably means less actual time in Warcross, so it’s probably a no for me, though I’ll take a view when it comes out.

Grit by Gillian French

Grit by Gillian French
HarperTeen, 2017.

This evocative realistic YA story of secrets and small mindedness in a small white working class Maine town, Sasanoa, centers around rising high school senior Darcy Prentiss, a young woman with a reputation.

Rumors are rife and knowing about what Darcy was doing last year when her ex-best friend Rhiannon disappeared. Darcy’s loyalty to her family and her streak of independence means she won’t tell the truth because she’s keeping the secret of her cognitively disadvantaged cousin Nell.

The author wonderfully imbues the claustrophobia of the dead end town and its old fashioned, but not in a good way, views of how girls should behave. This setting reminded me of Kara Thomas’s Little Monsters, though the plot is more romance and less mystery.

Self-aware narrator Darcy and her family crackle off the page with life and seething resentments. I particularly appreciated Aunt Libby whose bitterness embodies all of the town’s phoniness, and Darcy’s sister Mags who knows who she is and expects Darcy to live up to those standards. There are other characters who are rooting for Darcy, even if she initially doesn’t recognize it.

Several storylines weave through the novel and each of them connects to Sasanoa’s attitudes towards those who are different: Rhiannon’s disappearance, tension between local teens and migrant workers as they harvest blueberries, Darcy’s fledgling romance with a boy who isn’t just interested in hooking up, and the competition for pageant queen which both Darcy and her mentally challenged cousin Nell are entered in. The strands all gradually converge and the hypocrisies of the town are laid bare as Darcy, with the support of others, disentangles herself from what other people’s opinions have made her.

Ideal for teens who enjoy novels driven by gutsy young women and laced with cultural consciousness.

Giant Pumpkin Suite by Melanie Heuiser Hill

Giant Pumpkin Suite by Melanie Heuiser Hill
Candlewick, September 2017.

12 year-old Rose Brautigan is a musical prodigy, has skipped several grades at school, and is cruising through college level math. Her twin brother, Thomas, on the other hand is just a regular kid. But over the course of one summer, their interests come together as they grow a giant pumpkin.

Rose herself starts off as an insufferable prig – she makes little allowance for others’ passions or foibles, and is very self-centered. The author neatly shows how the events of the summer are an awakening for her and she softens in her attitudes. Other characters are somewhat more two-dimensional. The denizens of Rose’s Minnesota neighborhood are remarkably varied – I hesitate to say it but it did feel a bit like the author had a diversity checklist she was working through (Japanese – check, Latinx – check, gay couple – check). However, Ms Hill does a nice job of showing how the pumpkin project brings the community together.

I found it very odd that Rose is eighteen inches taller than her twin brother and no explanation is ever given for this. Is it a medical condition? Is it something that can happen with fraternal twins? It’s not clear, and I’m not sure of the purpose of it either. It does emphasize their difference for sure, but then so does Rose playing cello while Thomas mucks about in the garden.

Overall, I found this a fairly pleasant read but it is very long at 448 pages for an upper elementary/lower middle school novel. And there is A LOT going on and it doesn’t always mesh together very well. The author clearly has some fascinating ideas and interests and has done her research thoroughly, but doesn’t quite manage to shape it all into a smooth flowing novel. Rose and Thomas are sad to learn that they should cull all but one of their pumpkins so all the growing energy can be focused on that biggest one – I rather feel that’s a metaphor for this novel.

Thanks to Candlewick for the review copy.

What to Say Next by Julie Buxbaum

What to Say Next by Julie Buxbaum
Delacorte, July, 2017.

We are in very familiar territory here. Again. It’s a two-hander – a girl and a boy, each with an ‘issue’ (Kit’s father recently died in a car crash, David is on the high functioning end of the Autism spectrum), meet up, become friends, and then maybe more. Not much new to see here.

The main characters are appealing and well written, and the author digs into their emotional depths with skill. The support characters are almost entirely peopled from TV and movie high schools – and the author mentions this often enough for it to, almost, be a sly wink. David’s family is feels straight out of some soapy TV dramedy – say This is Us. Kit’s homelife, on the other hand, feels more off the beaten track, as her Indian mother sinks into depression and despair.

The plot follows its expected route, as Kit and David get to know each other and both credibly find themselves changing as a result of this relationship. There’s a couple of unexpected swerves, the mean kids mostly get their comeuppances, and there’s even a makeover scene, though maybe not quite what you’re expecting.

The author’s note mentions “lots of research” though nothing specific is detailed. I assume this is on the autism spectrum but, as David notes, quoting a well-known aphorism, if you’ve met one person with autism, you’ve met one person with autism. I have to say, he feels a bit like a caricature of a kid with autism, though with much of the inconvenient stuff rubbed off.

So this has been something of a negative review, which actually doesn’t seem entirely fair, because I did enjoy the novel. It’s easy to read, the characters are engaging and I was rooting for them, the tensions in the plot are nicely balanced, and the pace is brisk but not rushed. It’s not going to change the world but it will give you a pleasant afternoon.

Thanks to Delacorte for the review copy.

Liberty by Kirby Larson

libertyLiberty by Kirby Larson
Scholastic, 2016.

I have really enjoyed Ms Larson’s historical novels, particularly Hattie Big Sky (2008) and The Friendship Doll (2011) (both of which I read pre-blog, so no reviews I’m afraid). Liberty is the third book in a elementary grade series which uses the device of a kid and a dog to explore different experiences in World War II America. The books stand alone, and will appeal to readers who enjoy dog stories and historical settings (duh).

Liberty is a touching story with a boy and a dog at the heart of a tale set in New Orleans in 1944.

White 5th grader Michael ‘Fish’ Elliott is working hard to overcome the effects of polio on his leg, and when he adopts a stray dog, Liberty, she gives him the incentive to try harder. With Pop away building bridges for the Allies, Fish lives with his sister Mo, and Liberty opens up their neighborhood to them.

Larson skillfully squeezes a lot of thematic weight into the supporting characters – enough to be informative and maybe pique some interest for further pursuit, but without getting didactic. Fish’s friend and neighbor Olympia is “dark-skinned,” and through her he sees the prejudices and exclusions of Jim Crow. Mo wants to be an engineer and, though she works for Andrew Jackson Higgins whose company produces the “boats that will win the war,” there is little opportunity for her. Erich is a young German, though not Nazi, prisoner of war at Camp Plauche in New Orleans, and Fish reminds him of his younger brother. All these strands are pulled together when Liberty runs off after a storm.

Fish is an inventor and fixer, inspired by Edison and Higgins: he likes to work through tricky problems and find practical solutions, whether it’s training Liberty or exercising his knee. He is an earnest, engaging character, and his love for Liberty brings out his determination and confidence.

Ms Larson includes information about the era in an Author’s Note. Mo predicts that it will be different for black people and women after the war and, of course it is, to an extent. But 70+ years on, and there are still different standards for black people and women, and the reflective reader will realize that.

The Pearl Thief by Elizabeth Wein

pearl-thiefThe Pearl Thief by Elizabeth Wein
Disney-Hyperion, May 2017

At the start of this mystery novel, set in pre-World War II Scotland, 15 year-old Julie Beaufort-Stuart arrives back from finishing school in Switzerland. Sitting down by the river on her grandfather’s estate, she is knocked unconscious, and her gradual recollection of what led up to this attack is the key to the whereabouts of some missing river pearls and the identity of the thief.

The mystery itself is not particularly gripping or original, but it is a hook to hang the development of Julie, later to become Verity of Code Name Verity (2012), on. She loves putting the pieces of a puzzle together, she enjoys fooling people, and she relishes leading a conspiracy. She is empathetic, adventurous, impulsive, brave if somewhat foolhardy, willing to give anything a shot, and discontented with the lot of women in this era. As you can see, these are threads that will lead her to her role in that outstanding novel.

The Pearl Thief is also interested in social justice, through its portrayal of the McEwen family who are Travellers, often disparagingly referred to as “tinkers.” Many of the establishment figures, from the police to the librarian, are quick to jump to conclusions about their morals and behavior, instantly blaming them for everything from theft to murder. Julie, however, is less bound to this and takes their side (I can’t say I’m wild about this trope of the tolerant toffs and the bigoted working class). Ms Wein’s note on Travellers is a model of explanation and caveat.

Julie is yearning for romance, and her description of her relationship with Ellen McEwen suggests that her feelings are more than just that of a friend. The two girls along with their brothers, make an appealing quartet as they investigate the mystery.

As with her other novels, but particularly for me, Black Dove, White Raven (2015) Ms Wein evocatively and exquisitely describes the period and the setting. The death of Julie’s grandfather, the Earl of Strathfearn, means the family must sell off his estate to pay off his debts, and that melancholy task gives added resonance to Julie’s description of the countryside (though they do have a castle to go to, so let’s not shed too many tears).

This is an early ARC, and it has some issues that I’m sure will be sorted out. I found some of Julie’s narration and breaking of the fourth wall to be a bit too jolly hockey sticks (defined by the Cambridge Dictionary as “used to describe a woman or girl of a high social class who is enthusiastic in a way that annoys most people.”) The tone shifts around a bit as well, but I suspect both these quibbles will be fixed before publication.

CNV was such a great novel, and though Ms Wein’s subsequent novels have been very good, they have not achieved that same level. Nor, currently, does The Pearl Thief, but it is still a fine historical mystery novel with an engaging and complex narrator and some thoughtful ideas about society in 1938.

Thanks to Disney-Hyperion and Edelweiss for the digital ARC.

As I Descended by Robin Talley

AsIDescended-highresAs I Descended by Robin Talley
HarperTeen, September 2016

I have really enjoyed Ms Talley’s two previous books, particularly What We Left Behind  (2015), one of my top books of 2016. Both those books were about, among other things, young women coming to terms with their gender and sexuality. In her latest, many of her characters just happen to be gay and lesbian, and none of them have any issues with this (though their parents might have), and the author has ventured into genre territory – an exceedingly chilling modern day retelling of Macbeth, setting in a Virginia boarding school.

When spirits tell brown-skinned Maria, through a Ouija board, that she will have what she most desires, she decides to take matters into her own hands, goaded on by her white girlfriend Lily. The prize is the prestigious Cawdor Kingsley scholarship, and once the spirits offer it, Maria can’t stop wanting it, and will let nothing get in her way, beginning with deposing Queen Bee, Delilah.

Though this isn’t a completely faithful rendition of Macbeth – none of the characters have children, for example – it is surprisingly close and works extremely well. Some of it is a little forced – the football field is rather clunkily called Dunsinane – but the characters and their motivations and arcs are remarkably faithful. It will work just fine for readers unfamiliar with the Scottish play, but for those who do know it, there are some clever nods and reimaginings.

The story is told from the point of view of several characters, and they are mostly well-developed despite being players in a melodramatic story. However, Maria/Macbeth starts off well, but as she gets further into the web woven for her by the malignant forces, l lost the feel of her and she seemed to become more of a chess piece to get through a plot. However, Lily/Lady Macbeth and Brandon/Banquo avoid this, and are heartbreaking in their roles.

Because it’s based on a Shakespearean tragedy, there is a lot of Gothic drama and the writing becomes very feverish and a little overwrought. However, Ms Talley brings a creepiness that kept me awake and a little nervous in my holiday cottage in Ireland, and which will appeal to fans of Maggie Stiefvater.

Thanks to HarperCollins and Edelweiss for the digital review copy.

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Niche vs. Designer; the example of Cereus # 12.

There was yet another thread on this subject recently, which you can read at:

My first contribution to this thread was:

At this point I certainly wouldn’t blind buy recent niche or designer. One major problem is that due to new IFRA guidelines, I can’t imagine any great new constructions. I don’t need another decent gourmand or other kind of scent that can still be well done, I’ve got enough oud scents to last a lifetime, etc. I can’t stand at least some of the synthetic wood notes being used in many of today’s niche and designer, and there are more than a few niche scents that have too much iso e super for me. If none of this bothers you, then keep in mind that many designer houses now have a niche or niche-like line of scents anyway.

I didn’t even bother to mention that there is a great deal of “crossover,” since I thought it was implied (others pointed this out in any case). However, a scent I tried recently that I do think is worthy of being placed in the niche category is Cereus #12, which is marketed to women. My review of it is:

The fruit accord lasts a very long time. At first, it’s somewhere between a juicy orange and some kind of orange candy. It never comes across to me as “feminine” peach. I’m not much of a fan of scents with strong fruit notes, but this one doesn’t bother me as most do. There is a fairly good rosewood note in here, but you have to give it time. Otherwise, vanilla and musk are the other major players. After a couple hours I get a better sense of the different fruit notes involved, especially the black currant, and it’s more natural smelling. Perhaps if the wood note was stronger this could be marketed as unisex, but I have no problem wearing it. If it seems weak just spray more. This is only slightly sweet and the vanilla is not very strong, so I think this would be good for the office if the weather isn’t really hot or really cold. Note that I never detected any watermelon, and I’ve got a Popy Moreni scent that possesses this note clearly, so I guess it was a very fleeting (and perhaps weak) top note. I’m not sure why “ozonic” was used to describe this, because this is on the “thick” side, not the airy!

What makes this “niche” for me is that there is a focus on a small number of notes, which means that if the “quality” is poor, it would likely smell awful to me. In this case we have a base that includes vanilla (not syrupy or overly sweet) and rosewood, though there’s clearly some musk as well (not animalic). I recently purchased some rosewood essential oil that is supposed of high quality. I diluted it with vodka, but it was still quite strong. Then I came across this scent at a good price and did a “blind buy.” I was a bit disappointed at first, but once the dense fruit notes began to dissipate, I realized that I had found the kind of rosewood-centered scent that I’d been seeking for quite a while (the rosewood in it is “smoothed out” but it’s still obvious and has no “rough edges”). I still enjoy Equipage and vintage Uomo? Moschino (when I’m in the mood), which also feature obvious rosewood, but Cereus #12 has a Silver Mountain Water type of construction (with black currant playing an important role in both), though with strong notes that I prefer; because it’s so different from the other two, I have never found myself struggling to decide which one to wear when I want to smell clear rosewood.

A few days after the Basenotes thread mentioned above, a new one appeared in which the author argued for a new way to classify these concoctions:

Designer v niche is not a very good system for classifying fragrances, so I have come up with a new system, which we should all use from now on:

Designer – self explanatory
Luxe – AdP, Guerlain, Creed*, Chanel les exclusifs, TF private blend, etc
Independent – Frederic Malle, Mona di Orio, etc…

After reading this, my thought was, “who needs this or any classification framework?” At this point, there are so many “hybrids” as well as novel compositions that this sort of thing may be helpful to newbies but a waste of time for someone like myself. After all, if I sample a “Luxe” scent that comes across as “cheap,” both in terms of construction/composition and the ingredients used (for example, a lot of iso e super), why should I regard it as superior to “typical designer?” In short, why is it so important to do something more than assess each scent on its own merits? If we want to talk in generalizations, why not be more specific? For example, Creed scents come across to me as more “natural” smelling but not all that unique, though this may be wrong for any particular Creed scent, even if you agree with this generalization. So again, this may be somewhat helpful to a newbie, but don’t aficionados want to sample the scent and then classify it based upon their experience?

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Ca Mau faces shrimp scarcity for export due to drought

Vietnam+ | Tue, Jun 14, 2016 09:48:19 AM Share this on

The Mekong Delta province of Ca Mau is facing a lack of shrimp for export due to the recent drought and saline intrusion that affected over 53,000 hectares of shrimp farms.

The province’s total shrimp production in the first five months of this year was 143,000 tonnes. The figure is estimated to reach 159,000 tones in first half of the year, a drop of 3 percent over the same period last year, the local People’s Committee reported.

The drought and salinity, reaching its peak during April and May, resulted in complete loss in several farms and caused diseases to others in many localities across the province.

Ca Mau has announced a natural disaster on aquaculture, with an estimated repair cost mounting to over 142 billion VND (6.36 million USD).

According to Ngo Thanh Linh, Secretary-General of the Ca Mau Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers, local shrimp processing factories are forecast to operate at 50-60 percent of their capacity to the end of this year, with estimated export revenue of about 1 billion USD for the whole year, lower than the province’s target of 1.2 billion USD.

Furthermore, rising shrimp prices and competition from Chinese traders also make it difficult for factories to supply enough shrimp, he added.

The Ca Mau People’s Committee estimates that total seafood exports in the first six months of this year is 416 million USD, equal to 98 percent of that in the same period last year.

Local seafood processors, especially small and medium-sized, are in need of supportive measures to maintain their production in the rest of the year.

However, Le Van Quang, Director of Minh Phu Seafood Company, said that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development should still strictly control the amount of antibiotics in shrimp to ensure the reputation of Vietnam’s seafood in the world market.-VNA

Source: Vietnam+


text:
Here’s to you Blue 1×7

You ask so little and you give so much in return. Perhaps I will reward you with a set of studded tires.

I’ve been annoyed and frustrated with it as a vehicle for the past month, ever since I discovered the kink in the rear axle. During the holidays I started to consider rotating it out of the collection, letting the trucker take over commuting duties and rolling in something faster and roadier at the top of my bike collection. The cyclical logic path went sort of like this…

  1. Have to replace the rear wheel on the 1×7 which is going to cost $$.
  2. Even though it fits OK, the 1×7 isn’t really sized for me. (notice how far forward the brake hoods are in the pic above in relation to the stem. I’m almost in the ‘tri position when I rest my hands on the hoods where they spend most of their time.). As a consequence of that and its original mountain geometry, it ‘walks the line’ I decide for it at the beginning of a turn and doesn’t listen to any revisions.
  3. I’ve become stronger since I put on the 35t ring up front. Now I spend most of my time in the top 3 cogs on the back and don’t have high enough gear for the downhills. (for a winter bike this could almost be a good thing b/c I can’t get going too fast, then hit a patch of ice.)
  4. I could take all the parts I’ve been saving up from random clearance sales or birthdays and build a new bike with just a frame purchase, headset, and maybe 3 other parts.
  5. Surf the net, look at frames. Start with cheap solutions like Nashbar and Surly, progress upward through the range to custom frames. This step takes 2 days by itself.
  6. Ponder the absurdity of buying a brand new frame in the dead of winter or building a ‘lighter, faster’ bike when the engine is still built for a tank.
  7. Pause and do something else for a few days…
  8. GO TO 1

After 5 revolutions I jumped off that gerbil wheel. When I was in the basement last weekend cleaning up I pulled out the 7 speed hub that was attached to my original broken wheel from last Feb, cleaned, inspected, and lubed it. Next I took careful measurements and called up BBW to order a rim for a wheel build. It may not be my fave, but every now and then I have to put things into perspective for myself and remember its purpose – an old bike to ride through the nasty salty winters, lock up downtown, and generally abuse for all the right reasons. I’ve been doing a decent job of staying focused, but I get distracted whenever anything breaks.

In lieu of worrying about equipment choices, I resolve to do more of the following things in the meantime… ride, strength exercises, stretching, eating right, taking photos, reading, drawing, web design, javascript programming, LAMP server admin, math, fix some stuff around the house, figure out some MORE good stuff to do rather than surf the web…and build a wheel.

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Just too much to catch up on after yesterday’s breaking news.

So hold on to your handlebars, it’s going to be a bumpy ride.

Looks like everyone is condemning Beverly Hills for their shortsighted, misguided and wrong-headed refusal to put bike lanes on the soon-to-be-rebuilt Santa Monica Blvd; even a realty website is getting in on the act.

And its a 70’s era traffic planning blast from the past from their like-minded contemporaries in Carlsbad, as the local Planning Commission says roads are for cars, and they’re tired of hearing about bikes. Thanks to The Editors for the heads-up.

Evidently desperate for click bait, a bike-hating Chicago writer calls people on bikes “reckless terrorists,” and “rude, vulgar and violently intimidating” “imbecile muff monkeys.” And says bicyclists should be forced to carry a special ID at all times, and face fines up to $1000 and a year in jail just for riding on the sidewalk.

No, really, that’s what he said.

VeloNews lists five winners and losers from the just completed Tour de France. And Bicycling finishes their long, long five-part story on who punched the great Eddy Merckx. Did I say it was long?

Hats off to Streetsblog guest writer Michael Fleming, who calls out Westside Councilmember Paul Koretz for his hypocritical support for fighting climate change while blocking bike lanes on Westwood Blvd.

The LACBC is hosting a feeder ride to the RevisitReseda Blvd celebration this Thursday.

Metro is holding a series of weekly contests asking people illustrate how you walk or bike instead.

The Pomona Valley Bicycle Club is hosting a Bicycle Photo Scavenger Hunt next week.

Our old friend Rick Bernardi looks at the problem of cyclists getting buzzed by CHP officers, and cops who don’t know bike laws. Or care.

An El Cajon cyclist was seriously injured in a hit-and-run crash; police are looking for an older, grey 3-Series BMW.

A Las Vegas writer rides San Diego’s coastal North County.

A day after a Hollister boy was killed by a bus while riding his bike, local restaurants pitch in to raise funds for the victim’s family, and a Hollister councilwoman bemoans kids riding and skating without helmets — even though she has no idea if the victim was wearing one.

Evidently, getting dragged from your home and beaten by San Francisco police for the crime of biking on the sidewalk while black is only worth a $20,000 settlement.

San Francisco police ticket bike riders for squeezing past a several-block queue of backed-up cars on the left, even though there’s no valid alternative for it, and even though lane splitting is legal in California. In a brilliant move, cyclists plan to protest the police crackdown by riding legally en masse.

No bias here. A Bay Area website says a cyclist riding downhill was injured when he crashed into the windshield of a car.

A 61-year old Sacramento cyclist was killed in a hit-and-run.

A Chico man confronts bike thieves with his own vigilante bait bike program.

It’s the 30th anniversary of many people’s favorite bike movie. So here are 20 things you didn’t know about Pee-wee’s Big Adventure.

The National Law Review considers one of the burning questions of jurisprudence: How often should your bike helmet be replaced.

A Portland bike shop employee spots a stolen track bike, wrestles it from the thief and the thief into submission, all before the police arrive.

Caught on video: A Seattle bike rider captures the hit-and-run driver who left crossed him on his helmet cam; not only did the driver flee the scene, but he was caught looking at his phone as he turned. A Minnesota writer responds by questionng if a safe bike ride is too much to ask. Thanks to @BrianMScott for the heads-up.

A dump truck driver from my hometown faces a vehicular homicide charge for attempting to pass a bike rider despite a double yellow line, then cutting back because of oncoming traffic, trapping the victim under his truck.

Boulder CO says not so fast on right-sizing those streets to make room for separated bike lanes; they want to see how the first one works out first.

San Antonio TX wants more hikers and bikers, and less motor vehicle traffic. Well, who doesn’t? Aside from Beverly Hills and Carlsbad, of course.

A Chicago woman is suing another bike rider for causing a three-bike pileup on a bike path. Proof you’re not always safe even when you’re protected from cars.

Anyone can tell you how to keep from getting hurt on your bike; an Indiana TV station offers tips on avoiding injuries after a long bike ride.

An Albany NY website says a new protected bike lane is for all kinds of people, and that the city’s first one shouldn’t be the last. They’re preaching to the choir.

A New York advocate says bike lanes should be a default feature of street designs under the city’s Vision Zero Plan. The same goes for LA’s Vision Zero, which is supposed to be officially announced next month.

This is why you never lock your bike to a tree, as a Brooklyn bike thief chopped down a 25-foot tree to get the bike chained to it. Not only did the cyclist lose his bike, but the rat bastard killed the damn tree in the process.

A Pennsylvania cyclist is behind bars pending trial for the crime of obstructing traffic by riding in the lane, and getting pissed off when impatient drivers tried to pass him. Since when are traffic violations a criminal offense? And unless he threatened or attacked motorists, swearing was protected by the First Amendment, last I heard.

Philadelphia plans to sweep away abandoned bikes so they won’t besmirch the streets when bike-riding Pope Francis comes to call. Meanwhile, a Philly lawyer offers a detailed look at the problems faced by bicyclists and pedestrians in the city, and what can be done about it short of papal intervention.

A new policy passed by hard-hearted city officials in Durham NC requires ghost bikes to be removed after just 45 days, or even sooner if someone complains; not surprisingly, friends and relatives of bicycling victims object.

Thanks to a law change, it’s legal to ride without holding on to your handlebars in Florida. Shouting “Look ma, no hands!” remains optional.

A new Canadian study confirms that traffic lanes 10 to 10.5 feet wide improve safety at intersections, while still allowing traffic to move efficiently.

No bias here, either. A Calgary website calls the victim of a hit-and-run a “pedestrian,” but the driver who may have killed her is a “person.”

Caught on video: A Toronto pedestrian kicks a cyclist’s bike and punches him in the face after the rider collided with him on a shared waterfront pathway.

Three Ontario sisters are stopped by police for riding their bikes topless; after pointing out that it’s legal in the province, the cop says he was really just doing a light and bell check. Right.

Evidently, life is cheap in the UK, as a British driver who killed a cyclist on the Isle of Man walks away — literally, perhaps — with a suspended sentence and a three-year driving ban. Thanks to Megan Lynch for the link.

A road raging Brit cop is accused of knocking a cyclist off his bike, then throwing him into a store window. Then again, it goes both ways, as London police are looking for the road raging bike rider who attacked a driver with a glass bottle; the victim appears to have survived getting whacked in the knee.

Caught on video: A motorcyclist catches a London woman somehow managing to drive while simultaneously talking on the phone and eating cereal.

The Dutch are riding further after getting a boost from their e-bikes.

New Zealand parents are rightfully upset after their six-year old son isn’t allowed to bring his bike onto an otherwise empty bus.

More proof cyclists are tough. An Aussie man rides his bike home after being stabbed by a woman.

Let me see if I’ve got this straight. An Ohio man fled from the coppers on his bike after stealing two rolls of copper, and was caught after getting hit by a car making his escape. If you’re going to flee the scene on a bike you pulled out of the trunk of the stolen car you just crashed into a telephone pole, it helps if you’re sober enough to ride it.

And one last caught on video, as a Brazilian cyclist takes a car parked in a bike lane into his own hands. Literally.

  1. mwandaw says:

    …a Brazilian cyclist takes a car parked in a bike lane into his own hands.

    What a stud!

  2. JD says:

    Our prayers go up for the family and friends of the young Hollister rider and the Sacramento cyclist.

  3. Mark Elliot says:

    Thanks for the support, Ted! Funny that these locavore media picked up on the story about Beverly Hills nixing the Santa Monica Boulevard bike lanes, but our local outlets, Beverly Hills Weekly and the Courier, hardly even mentioned the Council’s action. AND THE NEWS HAPPENED HERE.

    No wonder: neither local paper ever gave a CRAP about street safety or our city’s persistently high rate of crash injuries of all kinds (even when we offered them the story on a plate).

    Our only motivation for continuing this fight against a City Hall so evidently opposed to safe streets? If we didn’t, no outlet would. And progressive measures proposed to make walking and riding our streets more safe would simply get swept away, little examined.

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Local Color and Culture, Market News and Trends

Austin in the news … in case you missed it

CBS Evening News with Katie Couric featured Austin on Friday, January 7.  In case you missed it, click here.

This is really a good feature about the state of employment and unemployment in the United States.  The segments before and after the discussion of Austin are well worth your time.

That said, in my humble opinion, it is not a coincidence that five of the top job-creating cities in the country are in Texas.  Austin in particular has a thriving entrepreneurial spirit that fosters the creation of new companies and the growth of existing firms, and continues to attract corporate relocations.

Mild winters, beautiful hills and lakes, active and varied cultural and musical environment, an active and fitness-oriented population, possibly the most stable housing sector in the country, and a strong and supportive business climate.  What a great place to be!

About Bill Morris, Realtor

More than thirty years of business experience (high tech, client service, business organization and start-up, including many years in real estate) tell me that service is the key to success and I look forward to serving you. I represent both buyers and sellers throughout the Austin metropolitan area, which means first-hand market knowledge is brought to bear on serving your needs: -- Seller Representation is a comprehensive process that begins with thorough market analysis and consultation, continues with properly staging the home to achieve the highest price possible in a reasonable time on market, a complete program of marketing and promotion, ongoing updates and communication, closing coordination, and follow-up throughout (and after) the sale. -- Buyer Representation is also full service: shopping, previewing, price and market consultation, contracting, negotiating, coordination of inspections, appraisals, repairs, and closing details, and follow-up beyond the closing of your purchase to ensure your lasting satisfaction. Because the real estate industry is becoming more sophisticated and challenging every day, you need a professional that understands the industry and is positioned to stay ahead of the game. I go the extra mile to help you achieve your goals. That's why I constantly research the market and property values so your home is priced effectively from day one. I also make sure the public knows your home is for sale by using innovative advertising and marketing techniques to attract potential buyers.

  1. Pingback: Austin in the news … in case you missed it « Bill Morris' Austin … | Market My Home Local - January 10, 2011

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Nick Pikis

Residential Sales Specialist

Consistently driven to gain outstanding results for his clients, Nick has etched a solid track record of top sales. He is an astute negotiator and adept at tailoring strategic campaigns to maximise outcomes. Of paramount importance to Nick is listening to his clients with the wholehearted intention of representing their best interests.

Nick is an extraordinary professional and a valued member of the LJ Hooker Belmore/Lakemba team to contact for confidential, impartial advice, or to engage for your next property transaction.

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What our customers say

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Throughout the process of sale, I found Nick to be so incredibly personable and professional in all his dealings with myself and Peter. This made the entire purchasing experience so efficient and effortless. I could not recommend Nick enough and am truly looking forward to working with him again in the future.

Nick was fantastic to deal with! He was communicative, informative, helpful with clarifying any questions I had, and he went above and beyond to get me a fabulous price. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Nick to others, or to work with him again myself in the future. Thanks Nick!

Nick was very helpful in securing a sale and he is arguably the leading agent in the area. Would certainly recommend him over others in the Belmore area.

Joseph and Rita

Nick was extremely helpful and personable. Was always able to answer any and all of our questions and was available at all times. Would highly recommend him to anyone looking to purchase or sell their property.


text:
Sunday, December 18, 2011

I was asked to speak on Joy and what that means in our home.

I said of course, and proceed to realize that I had just set myself up for an intellectual quest.

I come from a long line of scientists and engineers so I started out with trying to figure out a consensus of definition.

In our day in age there is a dictionary which in a way said that joy is things like fun and happy to the 11.

But what does that mean, other than it is really, really, really, really a happy moment for us humans?

So, I did what any other person has the option of doing today and asked  what joy mean to people on Twitter and Facebook.

The answers were mostly expected,  a few that made me ponder more and I was starting to see some patterns.

I work with some tough kids, so I took this question to them and got some more expected answers, and some unexpected ones... but the patterns were holding... though somewhat elusive in setting into concrete language.

I asked a friend with whom I pursue issues of intellect and faith. I mentioned that I was starting to see that community was a theme, especially if the people were parents.  My friend suggested that it was about being a part of something bigger than oneself.

More to think about. I have to admit that I was starting to question if those moments I would have called joyful actually were. I tend to avoid definitions that require faith, as it is something that is not really definable.

A few days later I was sitting in one of my favorite coffee shops, getting ready for a meeting and a dear friend happened to walk in.  In the course of our conversation I decided they would be a good person to ask this question to... They revealed some interesting things to think about.

Among the things they said was that they tended to associate the word joy with the Christian faith. That in their work they used that word most commonly with Christians and not so much with people of an other faith.

I reacted quickly, saying that I thought joy was more of a universal concept, that it really did not have a faith barrier.

But, with time, and my typical Scottish Presbyterian upbringing tendency to dwell on such matters...  I started to think there was something very valid in that assertion. The word joy is very Christian (though it does appear in the old testament and in other sacred texts).

Joy is sometime that often comes up around this time of year, in reference to Christmas of course.

So, I had to give in to the notion that Joy was a Christian notion... though in doing so I don't say that it is ONLY a Christian one.

I think that the patterns I was noticing, that of community were about being a part of something bigger than ones self. That is was feeling content, that it was not always an easy emotion, that it could include things like watching children being themselves and feeling your heart swell with something that could only be joy, that it could be about our senses being stimulated with simple things like a favorite horse chewing on alfalfa or sugar and just how magical that moment could be. I would even allow for the answers that threw me a little and might not apply to me; a sense of accomplishment, feeling buzzed, and listening to music.

One thing I do know... for me, the most constant source of joy comes from witnessing Squink grow up and be a part of the world he was born into.

Patricia Tryon said...

Beautiful reflection. Thanks.

tiffany jewellery said...

This is a really good read for me, Must admit that you are one of the best bloggers I ever saw.Thanks for posting this informative article.


text:
Why Porn is good for Society

This might come as a surprise but I thought I might give some insight as to why porn is good for our society. Christians constantly claim it has bad effects on the people viewing it and that it is destroying our society. But then can we really listen to a bunch of “fairy tale believing adults”? Porn is simply adult entertainment and adults have the right to access whatever it is they like. Also, internet pornography comes with an age verification process, thereby allowing for the protection of children from viewing adult material. That makes sense doesn’t it?

Adults do have the right to do with their lives as they please, however, statistics show that the average age of first exposure to pornography is 11 years old…11 years old! How effective is the age verification process if all you have to do is click “Yes, I am above 18” to view porn.  According to the ABC, children are viewing porn online as young as 6 years old.  Porn is addictive, yet unlike Cocaine it is legal in most countries. Adults should have the right to access what they please but in the case of drugs, we as a society don’t afford that right to people. Why? Because it destroys people and it has negative effects on society.

While there are many studies into the effects of childhood exposure to media violence, there is very little being done in the area of exposure to sexually explicit material; sex scenes in movies inclusive. Is it so important for adults to have their entertainment at the expense of children? Clearly, what is intended for adults is mostly being accessed by children and believe me, we have given way to a storm that will destroy our world in ways we never thought possible. Sex isn’t meant to be watched, but what we have done is taken private acts and made them public.

I am the face of a child whose first exposure to sex in the media was before age 11. It was a sex-scene in a movie. I have no idea who brought the movie into the house and I don’t think my parents even knew it was present. I had already been exposed to sex at the time and maybe that made me more curious, I don’t know and I won’t make excuses. I used to sometimes wait till no one was there or when everyone was asleep and put the movie on and fast forward to the one scene. At age 16 I viewed porn online and it left me feeling suicidal. I watched it again and again and believe me, it has ruined me in ways that most can never understand. What is the real cost of adult entertainment? Can anyone really answer that?

Fact is, we are learning to objectify each other, yes, men and women, not just men. In a world where we only see human beings as something that can satisfy our desires, how then do we function as a society? In a world where kids grow up as sex crazed animals, what sort of leaders are we producing? Porn crosses all sorts of boundaries and the more you indulge, the more of it you want and soon watching behind a TV screen or monitor isn’t enough and you want to experiment. And even that ceases to be enough and you start crossing boundaries in relationships. A few years ago, there were news reports of kids dying because they were choking themselves during sex. Where did they learn to do these things??? Marriages are breaking down, Congress men are tweeting nude photos of themselves, Sexual violence and perversions are rampant, we are a society destroying ourselves and refusing to protect the most vulnerable. I have to say the fairy tale believing adults (I do not in anyway think God is a fairy tale and totally believe in Him), are right in their assessment of porn.

Why I refuse to support Compassion and other similar ministries

Controversial I know, but it seems I’m always in a controversial place. From the post you can tell that I don’t support aid agencies. I used to but not anymore. I’ve even sponsored a child with compassion before but canceled the sponsorship because I had to reduce my working hours and wasn’t going to manage the expense. However that is not the reason I do not support aid agencies. I should state that I do believe Compassion and some of the other organisations are doing an honourable job and that this post is by no means an attack on them.

The year I moved to Perth I saw a very interesting advert on TV, I can’t remember for sure but I think it was a save the children ad (Emphasis on Not sure), on helping a village in Zambia get clean water and what was annoying about the ad was that it showed a Masai man getting water out of a dirty well. It was definitely not a Compassion or World Vision ad. The truth is, Zambia has no Masai tribes…None! In fact there has only been an influx of Masai men recently, who happen to be mostly illegal immigrants, mostly coming to work as hair dressers. They do not have villages in Zambia. My question is, if you are out to help the Zambian people, why not show us the need that’s there? Or is it a case of we are all African anyway so it doesn’t really matter? A quick search in google and you can find out that the Masai are found in Tanzania and Kenya. I will not support an organisation that misleads people to get funds. Yes, Australian’s probably won’t realise the error, but as a sign of respect for the people you’re claiming to help and care for, put out right and accurate information.

That is a minor reason for my not rallying behind Aid agencies. The other issue I have is aid in general. While people are genuinely trying to help, I believe that, (and I speak for my country and won’t speak for others) there is a need for people within our communities to rise up and change the landscape of our country. I believe in giving short-term aid, what I don’t agree with is aid being given over extended periods of time because I am of the opinion that people stop fighting to improve their lives if what they need is provided for them. All the great economies of the world were built on adversity and hard work and as a people, our discomfort should cause us to want to do better.

The fact that Zambia is ridden with malaria should cause Zambians to get into research and find a way to eradicate it…not us depending on outsiders to provide us with the means to eradicate it at prices that we can’t afford. Our country is full of resources. We have a very good climate and rain comes every year, but do we capitalise on it? No…Our people are still living in poverty. I don’t want it to sound like I’m blaming aid for our failures, I just believe that unless we fight for the change we need, the same cycles will continue and only we can truly determine what we want. So at the end of the day, I do support honourable agencies like Compassion but on a different level. We need to rise up and change what we want changed.

Migrants got talent 2013

I recently entered a competition called Migrants got talent (MGT), which is held every year in Perth, Western Australia. Made it to the top 3 and this is the poem that got me to the top 3.

It’s a poem about a woman who I spent a lot of my life with. She was a beautiful woman. She was a daughter, sister, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and friend. As MGT finale was a just a couple of weeks after her death, and a day before mother’s day, I decided the poem would be a great tribute to the woman who was Bwalya Nelson Nyirenda. Her death has been the hardest experience this far.

The poem I performed in the top 3 is this one

The volume is low because had to do it without a mic so if you put the volume up, should be able to hear.

As for the competition, the lovely Miss Ruth Kulaisi won the competition and I believe everyone who took part enjoyed it a lot and we made new friends and it was a place where different people where helping each other out and trying to make sure the other person’s act worked. It was just a lovely experience, with lovely people and I learnt a lot and my confidence levels just went North. I was humbled, and made more aware of this gift that I have been given. It truly is a gift because for me Poetry isn’t something I learnt or can force out of myself. I’m realising more and more that I can touch people with this gift in ways I never thought possible and God can be glorified through it. It is not something to use to make myself feel better than others or make others feel less but it should lift people to where they can be.

I never thought I would ever be on a stage performing poetry and yet here I am. Nothing that day went according to plan! gets you to a point where you laugh despite the chaos! and possibly in spite of it…lol…it was fun! I managed to leave out one line in each poem and the performances weren’t as good as I would have liked but people were moved and it was a great improvement from my first poetry slam. I got to stand on a stage with people with massive voices, great dancing ability and kindness beyond measure and got leadership training. It  was beautiful…Really beautiful.

I will post details for anyone interested in taking part in the next one whenever that will be. For anyone interested in helping out the Metropolitan Migrants Resource Centre or If you are a migrant living in Western Australia, feel free to visit their website at http://www.mmrcwa.org.au/ and check out what they are up to and whatever help they could offer or you could offer the community.


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September 12, 2014 AT 5:00 pm

Make Your Own NeoGeo Watch With FLORA #AdafruitWeekendProject

Keep time with style withFLORA NeoGeo watch. The LED ring can be used as GPS navigation and tell time with this Adafruit tutorial!

Make your own LED timepiece! Use FLORA and its GPS module to tell time with a ring of pixels. A leather cuff holds the circuit and hides the battery. The watch is chunky but still looks and feels great on tiny wrists!

The circuit sandwich becomes the face of the watch, and you’ll use a tactile switch to make a mode selector. The watch has timekeeping (one LED for hours and one for minutes), GPS navigation (customize your waypoint in the provided Arduino sketch), and compass modes.

This is an intermediate-level project requiring soldering and precision crafting. Before you begin, you should read and practice the following guides:
Getting Started with FLORA

FLORA Wearable GPS

FLORA Accelerometer

Adafruit NeoPixel Überguide

This project is a collaboration with Tyler Cooper! Project help and modeling from Risa Rose.

Full Tutorial

Check out all the Circuit Playground Episodes! Our new kid’s show and subscribe!

Have an amazing project to share? Join the SHOW-AND-TELL every Wednesday night at 7:30pm ET on Google+ Hangouts.

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When In Rio

Hope everyone is just as hyped for the Oympics as we have been and cheering on your country as they compete at the highest level of athletics there is. When we think of an Olympic athlete we seem them on this pedestal, like they are perfect. What we forget as they are just a human as us and still have body confidence issues. Team USA’s swimmer Cody Miller, is a prime example of just this.

Miller, the 24-year-old breaststroker showed up in Rio chasing his Olympic dream, despite his lifelong body image issues. Miller was born with a condition called Pectus Excavatum, which caused a big deformity in his chest, he always was diagnosed with Asthma. Both of these put a ton of stress on his respiratory system. As what Miller calls “a giant hole in my chest”, has gotten him negative attention all his life. Always wearing a shirt, being nervous about what people thought about him when he was walking around the pool. Body confidence issues that people go through on a day to day basis.

Miller stated, “No one is 100% satisfied with the way they look. Everyone has something about themselves they dislike,” and those words have inspired people across so many social media platforms. From the Olympic Trials to the Rio Olympics, Miller has become an icon to look up to. That no matter what you can accomplish your dreams, no matter what card life has dealt you.

We here at Fashom love Cody Miller’s story and like him, we want our users to realize that has body confidence issues but we want to inspire others and come together to overcome this!

Source: Mashable

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What Programming Language Should I Learn First? 2017 Edition

What Programming Langauge Should I Learn First?

From the casually curious, to the seriously motivated, “What Programming Language Should I Learn First?” is the most common question I get. For years I gave a nuanced answer. “Well, that depends on what you want to do…” That answer … Continue reading

QuickBytes: Build a Javascript Application with Mark

Javascript Application: Movie Information This is a fun Javascript Application that you can build in just a few minutes. This application will contact the OMDB API and get information about any movie in the database. The Javascript application then parses … Continue reading

HTML5: MP3 Player Project Tutorial 2016 Edition

Figure 1.2

In this article we will be making an mp3 player from scratch, using the most basic pieces: Basic text editor Up to date browser (Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, Opera, Safari….) jQuery 1.12.3 uncompressed developer edition (https://jquery.com/download/) Languages: HTML5 and JavaScript … Continue reading


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Why Do Second, Third and Fourth Positions on PPC Listings Generate Higher Profits?

Published: Jun 02, 2006

While it’s certain that PPC ads in the #1 position on search engines receive more clicks than ads in any other position, it doesn’t mean that they generate more sales. In recent studies, we found that “real buyers” want to look around to get the best price, the best shipping, the best quality, the best guarantee, and, of course. the best product. According to a Planet Ocean article (May 2006) on PPC campaigns, the #2 and #4 PPC positions on search engines generally convert more lookers than the number one spot. Here’s why.

Generally, online shoppers are just looking for information on products and services, educating themselves on the possibilities, prior to making their purchasing decision. While most “lookers” or shoppers click on the top ad to see what’s out there, most buyers, or in terms of the lodging industry “bookers,” will click on the ads below that appear to offer the deal they truly want. In most scenarios, the ads in positions #3 or #4 snag the buyer because the education process and the buying decision take place almost concurrently. The online shopper uses the ads in the first two or three positions to gain awareness, and by the time they scroll down to positions #3 or #4 they realize that basically everyone offers the same deals . . . and end up buying where they are.

It’s been our experience that this is a very consistent buying behavior. In conclusion, we find that positioning your ads between spots #2 and #4 generates the highest conversions and profits. Think like a shopper and you’ll be unstoppable.

Google AdWords Adds Position Preference Feature

Fortunately, Google AdWords PPC now gives you greater control over exactly what position your AdWords PPCs will appear and lets you specify where your ads should not appear.

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8 Tips and Tricks For Getting Free Wi-Fi Anywhere

8 Tips and Tricks For Getting Free Wi-Fi Anywhere
Image Credit by = http://bit.ly/2hE3b0f

With so much to do on the internet these days, it is very easy for us to use up all of our mobile data really quickly. Some people without limits or data end up going over and racking up huge bills each month. But what can a person do when there is so much stuff to check out and do online? The best way to browse the web, avoid wasting your mobile data and getting a huge bill is using free Wi-Fi when you can.

These 8 tips and tricks for getting free Wi-Fi anywhere can help you do just that. Best of all, you can find out about some really cool tricks that you may not even been aware of. The truth is that with so many ways for people to have access to the internet now, finding ways to browse the web for free is essential. Wi-Fi is the answer for all of those people who have data limits or simply want to spend all day using the web without paying.

Trains & Buses

If you use public transportation, then chances are you can get free Wi-Fi as you ride to your destination. In most cities, buses and trains are now equipped with free Wi-Fi spots for customers to use. In cities like New York, the MTA is now looking to add even more underground WiFi stations for riders to enjoy. So get on the train or bus and search for that free Wi-Fi spot as you ride.

Don’t miss reading these 8 Things You Should Do Before Selling Your Phone

A lot of parks are getting in on the act of offering free Wi-Fi to those that visit or use them. It is the best thing to happen since the slice bread for a lot of people. Being able to go to the park and relax while you surf the web for free is simply awesome. Check online to see which parks in your area have Wifi available.

Seek Out Hidden Networks

There are hundreds, if not thousands of hidden Wi-Fi networks out there. There are also several apps which allow you to find these hidden networks as well. Lounges in airports, electronic stores and a few other places all usually have hidden networks. It may take some searching, but if you do your homework, chances are you will find a few out there. However, when you do find one or two, keep them to yourself. If you start telling others about it, chances are the Wi-Fi owners will begin to notice and protect it.

Get It From Your Cable

Most cable providers now offer customers access to all of their Wi-Fi hotspots they have around the city. If you are a cable subscriber or use it for internet at home, then you can get free access from them as well. Take a look at their website to see where the hotspots are near you. Most of them have mobile apps which show you as well.

Join Loyalty Programs

There are hundreds of loyalty programs you can join for which in return for signing up, give you free Wi-Fi. Hotels and restaurants such as Kimpton, Marriott and many others, all have these loyalty programs. Of course you may get bombarded with lots of emails in return. But you can just put your spam filter to work if that happens and continue using the Wi-Fi.

Tether Your Smartphone

One of the most easiest ways to get internet access is by tethering your cellphone. If you have a phone with 3G or 4G capabilities, then you can use your computer to tether it. For Android users, there are several apps you can use, but you still need to root your phone. In the same manner, iPhone users will need to have their phones jailbroken to do so as well. Still, once you do it, you will be able to use this method just about anywhere in the world.

Get Coupon Codes

It may take some digging, but there are a few places which give you coupons to get Wi-Fi for free. Several companies give users vouchers they can use for hot spots in their areas. A few of them, partner with other businesses as way to offer these cool services.

Do Some MAC Spoofing

For those that have some computer knowledge, there is a great way to find and use free Wi-Fi. Most free Wi-Fi spots only give you a few hours limit. But if you can do some MAC address spoofing, it is easy to extend that time. There are people who have unlimited access to Wi-Fi services. If you can spoof their MAC address, then you are on your way to unlimited Wi-Fi.

You may also want to check out How To Use Your Cellular Phone As A Wi-Fi Hotspot

Use Free Wi-Fi With Caution

Although there are a lot of benefits to using free Wi-Fi spots, you also have to be aware of the dangers. Hackers tend to offer unrestricted Wi-Fi access to users as a way to lure them to using their services. However, once you log on to their Wi-Fi, they can gain access to your personal data. Try to avoid doing any financial or credit card transaction while you are using free Wi-Fi spots. Save these matters for when you are on your computer or on a trusted network. Keep this in mind and you will be able to enjoy the wonderful benefits of using free Wi-Fi every day!


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Optimizely Blog

Tips & Tricks for Building Your Experimentation Program

On the Optimizely Blog we occasionally supplement our original content with quality articles from guest contributors. If you would like to be considered as a guest blogger for the Optimizely Blog, please submit this form.

Why Write For Optimizely

Optimizely is the market leader in experimentation and experience optimization.

Forbes has named the Optimizely Blog as one of the 10 B2B Companies That Show What a Killer Blog Looks Like and NG Data named the Optimizely Blog as one of the Top 50 Data-Driven Marketing Blogs.

All posts published to our blog are sent to our list of emails subscribers and promoted via our social media and syndication channels.

Optimizely’s Voice & Style

Optimizely blog articles should inspire the reader via storytelling, teach them something new, or challenge conventional wisdom with real-world examples and data. We are humans writing for other humans. Be real. Our style is educational, insightful, and actionable. Articles should answer the actionable information up front and provide takeaways for readers at the end.

The post should highlight your knowledge and expertise without explicitly promoting your business. Help readers understand why we should trust you—establish credibility for yourself. Most important, your article should further our mission of converting our readers into smarter and more data-driven thinkers.

All articles are subject to approval of the Optimizely editorial team and are not guaranteed to be published.

Content We Want

Our audience consists of data-driven marketers, developers, and product managers from around the world. The types of articles that do well with our readers include:

  • Case studies on A/B testing, personalization, mitigating risk through experimentation, server-side experimentation and conversion rate optimization
  • Online marketing strategies with real data and actionable takeaways
  • Tactical articles aimed at specific verticals (B2B, e-commerce, travel, media, financial services etc.) that is aligned to the above
  • Articles on how to build and grow a company’s experimentation culture in order to innovate

Content We Do Not Want

  • Articles or other content that has been previously published online elsewhere – contributions to the Optimizely blog should be unique
  • Content that is promoting your product or service
  • Content that is not aligned to our blog topics

From Pitch To Publish: An Overview

  1. Please fully read the guest blog post guidelines.
  2. Fill in this quick form with your information and blog synopsis ideas. Please allow us 5 business days to review and provide feedback.
  3. Next send us a full draft of the post in Google Doc format. Include images! Please allow 7 business days to review and provide edits/feedback.
  4. Include an author bio (50 words max) and a headshot image
  5. After final edits are made and the post is approved, we will put your post in the guest blog post queue. We publish one guest blog post a week and the guest blog post queue is anywhere from 2-3 weeks at any point in time. The calendar is subject to change, so guest posts will sometimes need to be rescheduled.
  6. Lastly, we will let you know the publish date and time so you can co-promote on the launch date.

Length, Images, Links

  • Strive for anywhere between 500-1200 words.
  • Feel free to suggest or include supporting images or screenshots if they are relevant.
  • Include  hyperlinks but we reserve the right to remove them if they are not specific to the content.
  • Cite your sources.

Examples of Successful Posts

If you have any questions that are not answered on this page, feel free to reach out to us at


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Get in touch

Welcome to the TIND Blog

Why I joined TIND: working with the “Tesla” of Library Management Systems

Posted by Kathy McCarthy on 9/14/16 7:30 PM

Kathy McCarthy joined TIND as VP of Partnership Development in September 2016, previously employed at Innovative Interfaces.

I could see right away that TIND was a completely different type of library management system. At Innovative Interfaces, there’d been a longstanding metaphor of Millennium as the Cadillac of the ILS world. Having worked there for eight years in various capacities, I was feeling ready to drive something lighter; sleeker. Less a Cadillac and more a Tesla.

Seeing TIND for the first time, I felt that it offered a fresh, modern perspective on the library software platform and, with a small start-up, the opportunity to be hands-on in the process of re-envisioning the tools that libraries use. I knew that I wanted to be a part of that and was thrilled to accept the position of Vice President of Partnership Development. As the first US hire and first degreed librarian to join the team, I knew that I could bring valuable insight and market exposure to what I believe is a truly novel approach to the LSP platform.

One of the things that immediately impressed me about the TIND ILS is how it reduces the need to toggle between discrete interfaces for staff and patrons. Staff functions can be accessed directly from the OPAC, which reference librarians will love, having typically expressed frustration at the amount of back and forth required between the back-end staff interface and the catalog, often within a single reference session. TIND allows reference librarians to operate seamlessly within the OPAC; a real differentiating characteristic of the platform.

For a number of years now, I’ve heard library professionals express an urgent desire to get away from legacy workflows and streamline staff processes, and for good reason. If we think about the ways that libraries’ resources and patron needs have fundamentally evolved, the software we use needs to do that as well, and fast. With legacy systems built on and invested in legacy tools, that type of rapid, dramatic change is just not possible. They’ll always be playing catch up to industry demands, when what we need to be doing is thinking 5 years ahead.

With TIND’s sleek and elegant architecture, rapid evolution is a reality. I look forward to championing TIND in the library marketplace and helping develop partnerships with other forward-thinking libraries, ready to make a change.

Interested in learning more about TIND's ILS?

Download Brochure

Topics: Mission, Library Management System, Integrated Library System

About this blog

We're a small group with big ambitions wanting to make a difference in the library technology market. Be sure to come here for the latest info and news about TIND and related topics.

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Genesis 2

Good morning y’all. Today we continue in our study of Genesis. We are in chapter 2.

Holy Spirit we ask you open our eyes to see, our ears to hear and our hearts to perceive the truth in the word today. Without you we can’t understand what we are reading so we ask for your help. In Jesus Name. Amen.

This chapter further breaks down the summary of creation we saw in chapter 1. Tells how man and woman were created and we also have our 1st romance story i think 🙂 in this chapter.

Here we go 🙂

God rested on the 7th day. This tells me we too need to rest every now and then. We need to get refreshed so that we don’t burn out. Jesus was a good example of this. Every time after he spent his day with the crowd, scripture says he always retreated to a quiet place to pray and spend time with his father to get re-energized for the next assignment.

God made provision for the man. V15 says God put the man in the garden of Eden to care for it and work for it. God already knows our needs. If he could provide for Adam without him asking I’m sure God can meet our need as well. Lets trust and believe He will meet us at our point of need.

God gives the 1st instruction to man in v 16-17. He was told he can eat any fruit except one – fruit from the tree which gives knowledge of good and evil. Gods instructions are not for his own benefit rather they are for ours. He knows what we can handle so when he asks us not to do something it’s because he is a loving father who wants what’s best for his children.

Again we see God in V18 looking out for the man. Adam didn’t tell God he needed a mate but God knew he would be lonely as there was none of his species around to relate to. Even when we are not aware, God is always looking out for us…looking for ways to meet our needs and show us how much he loves us.

V19 Says whatever Adam called each living thing, that became it’s name. What are you calling the situations in your life. The power of life and death is in your tongue, use it wisely.

God created woman to be a help meet for the man. I like the story of how this came to being. This is pure boy meets girl fall in love instantly kind of story we find in these verses (V19 -23). Pls indulge me to tell the story my own style 🙂
So man went to sleep one day and he woke up and right in front of him was this specie he had never seen before. Now don’t forget that before man went to sleep he had been busy naming every living thing, so he had seen every specie possible at least that’s what he thot. Then he took a rest for the day. Woke up and lo and behold this magnificent heavenly looking, fine from head to toe specie was before him. I’m sure man thot he was dreaming.  Probably he pinched himself a couple of times to just make sure it was reality…lol. Anyways when man finally realised oh boy this real, he was so flabawhelmed and overghasted that he exclaimed Wo! Man!. And till today that specie is known as Woman (Oh I’m glad he exclaimed woman and not something else…no telling what we would be He claimed her as his own, recognised her instantly knowing she was taken out of him a part of his flesh and bones. And they lived happily ever after. 🙂

As women our job is to help our men, encourage them to be all that God has called them to be, to be their loudest cheerleader and their number 1 fan. We are not to be tearing them down or making them feel incompetent. That’s so against the original purpose why we were created.

They were naked but not ashamed that’s because there was no sin. Sin is what brings the guilt and shame. Thanks to Jesus we are no longer ashamed. His blood has washed away our sins and we can bodly come before the father now without feeling ashamed or condemned.

Thanks for joining today and pray you have been blessed.  Feel free to share your thoughts on the chapter.

We continue in chapter 3 tomorrow.

Have a blessed day and Remember we are no longer ashamed thanks to Jesus 🙂

***With God all things are possible***

One thought on “Genesis 2

  1. Pingback: GENESIS -THE STORY SO FAR… part 1 | BlogThruDaBible

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Mark 1 – What are you willing to leave behind?

Good evening y’all, welcome to the book of Mark 🙂

First of all, I sincerely apologise for going off the radar for a while during the Job study 😦 . It was a difficult time for me but thanks to God i’m back and ready to blog through the book of Mark 🙂 I’m excited to see what God has in store for us as we journey through this book together 🙂 . I pray the Holy Spirit will enlighten us and speak to our hearts as we study and give the grace to put into practice all that we will learn. In Jesus’ name. Amen

Today we begin chapter 1….be blessed 🙂

As i read the chapter, verse 16 – 20 immediately jumped at me. I was amazed at how Simon, Andrew, James and John left all to follow Jesus.

“As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him. When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him”.(Matthew 1: 16 – 20 NLT)

I ask myself how come it was easy for them to leave all and follow Jesus? Did they know about him before as scripture doesnt tell of any meeting with Jesus prior to him calling them…what was it that motivated a fisherman to leave his boat- his source of livelihood and run after Jesus?

I don’t have the answer to be honest but whatever be the reason, the fact is these men left all to follow Jesus and follow Him to the end they did. It wasn’t smooth sailing all the way for them, but nonetheless they stuck with Jesus.

Following Jesus is not always going to be easy….it comes at a cost but in the end its worth it. The fishermen in todays chapter left their source of livelihood. James and John even left their father and ran after Jesus!

Jesus himself said in Mark 8:34- 37-

“Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?”

My question today is: what are we willing to leave behind in order to follow Jesus wholly? Is there anything too precious to give up for Him?

I pray the Holy spirit will enlighten our hearts and help us see those things that are hindering us from following Jesus wholly and give us the grace to follow Jesus in all humility and sincerity of heart. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Thanks for joining today. Please feel free to leave your thoughts on the chapter. Tomorrow, we continue with chapter 2.

Have a blessed evening 🙂

***With God all things are possible***

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LitterBox2\MeowRoom\8mins from MRT Zhishan - Apartments for Rent in Shilin District
Apartment in Shilin District, Taiwan. -This is my home,not a hotel.Take good care as I do.- -This is my home,not a hotel,read the description before booking.- Old aprtment with no lift, that helps you lose some calories, and you have enough distance to enjoy leisure time on the way h...
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In Front of the Sea, Portocolom - Häuser zur Miete in Portocolom, Mallorca, Spanien
Ganze Unterkunft in Portocolom, Spanien. Modern and quiet apartment in front of the sea located in the most beautiful part of the village. Wi-Fi, air conditioning, heater for winter. Great see view terrace for relaxing days! Ideal place for families. The nearest beach is less than 500 m....
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Jeroen's Guidebook
Jeroen's Guidebook. Hello, I am Jeroen, Dutch, I have worked several seasons as a rep of holiday cottages at this campsite. Knowing this campsite for years, I found the nicest mobile home at the nicest pitch. Besides my job as a flightattendant I like to stay in touch with this lovely campsite life.
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Convenient Ultra LUX Penn Quarter 1 Bedroom Unit - Apartments for Rent in Washington
Apartment in Washington, United States. Ultra LUX One Bedroom 1.5 Bath Unit in the heart of DC. WALK TO INAUGURATION ACTIVITIES! Avoid public transit and simply walk from your cozy location to the National Mall, White House, and other hot spots over the course of Inauguration weekend. U...
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