text:
HANOI, Vietnam, October 8, 2013 (ENS) – Oil is spilling from a cargo vessel that ran aground on the reefs off Vietnam’s Ly Son island, roughly 730 kilometers (450 miles) south of the Vietnamese capital, Hanoi.

The Panama-flagged ship Bright Royal, ran aground early Friday in waters about six nautical miles northwest of the island in Quang Ngai province on Vietnam’s south central coast.

According to the Quang Ngai Port Authority, the ship smashed into the island’s reefs, causing 387 tons of fuel oil to spill from two tanks.

Bright Royal

The cargo ship Bright Royal (Photo courtesy Vanguard Maritime, Ltd.)

Provincial officials estimate the spill now spans an area of 20,000 square meters. The oil slick continues to spread out over the sea surface,  provincial border guards told the Chinese newswire Xinhua.

They say the ship is likely to sink.

The accident occurred when the cargo ship, managed by Vanguard Maritime Ltd. of Chittagong, Bangladesh, part of the BSA Group of companies, was traveling from Ha Tinh province’s Vung Ang port in Vietnam to Bangladesh, Vietnam’s state-run radio online reported Friday.

The Quang Ngai Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Prevention and Control ordered the provincial People’s Committee to work with relevant agencies to rescue the
24 crewmembers on board and deal with the oil spill.

Ly Son, an island of 21,500 people, is a major offshore fishing center, accounting for about one-fourth of the entire seafood production of Quang Ngai province.

Whale worship among Ly Son fishermen is common and temples house skeletons of giant whales that beached on the island more than 100 years ago.

“Praying to the whale will help us if we encounter trouble at sea,” a Ly Son fisherman told Agence France Press in November 2012 as he and his crew prepared to set sail.

The practice of traditional rituals such as whale worship now is encouraged by communist authorities, which for years restricted all religious activities, before lifting restrictions in 2004.

Since the turn of the 21st century Ly Son has been developing its tourist industry, based in part on the presence of the giant whales in its waters.

Copyright Environment News Service (ENS) 2013. All rights reserved.


Content-Type: application/http; msgtype=response

WARC-Identified-Payload-Type: text/html

WARC-Truncated: length

WARC-Type: response

text:
The Real Alternative

Leave a comment

Today’s Top Tweets

Today’s another day where I won’t have time to comment on these stories until later. So I thought I’d just list my favs for now:

Leave a comment

Further to that story about China Looking For Aliens

8,000 people were displaced from their homes to make room for a new ET seeking dish in China. Given China’s track record with forcibly removing people for the Beijing Olympics, one can only wonder about the reliability of official reports saying the common people will be justly compensated.

I’m trying out a new web browser extension that allows you to highlight text and then post a link to the highlight. So hopefully the above link will take you right to the highlighted material in the original story. Here’s the original tweet:

Leave a comment

Today’s Top Tweets

Every morning I go through the news in specific categories. I tweet stories that I feel are important because they are often overlooked on the front page. I often react to the stories and would like to comment. But I don’t always have time. So today I thought I’d list some of the top tweets. There are more, listed at right column.

Leave a comment

Horrendous allegations about organ harvesting coming out of China

Last night we got a full color pamphlet in the mail about something that seemed so terrible, I thought the organization publishing the pamphlet must have been some half-baked extremist group. Today, however, I did a search and found several articles.

Internet articles can be misleading and downright wrong, of course. So I thought I’d check Wikipedia, which is not the Gospel Truth either but definitely makes an attempt to be reliable. Here’s what I found at Wiki. Click on image for full entry.

Leave a comment

Detergent ad controversy: Is China less racist than the West?

Leave a comment

Miasma – An ancient view of sin and pollution

The poster reads

The poster reads “Firmly support the decision of the Central Committee to deal with the illegal organization of ‘Falun Gong'” (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

One of the more underdeveloped concepts we have today is that of pollution. Sure, we all know about measurable pollution like CO2 / global warming and our dying oceans. But how about spiritual pollution?

Not too many people talk about this. Part of the reason might be due to the misuse of the idea. In China, for instance, certain religious groups can be banned, and their members persecuted for ‘polluting’ the state—Falun Gong being a prime example.

The Chinese authorities periodically try to make ‘pollution’ a spiritual issue. This seems a perversion of a genuinely spiritual understanding of pollution. The Chinese authorities’ agenda with their version of ‘spiritual pollution’ is primarily ideological, and state oppression is tangibly real.

“Every several years — maybe five to seven years — China is likely to have a ‘spiritual pollution’ campaign and ‘anti-spiritual pollution’ campaign which means that they don’t like what they perceive to be coming from the West: sex, the freedoms, drug use; all of these very sensationalistic television programs.”¹

Considering the gross misuse of the term ‘spiritual pollution’ by governments overly concerned with social control, many of us in liberal democratic countries might see it as politically incorrect – or impolite – to say anything at all about spiritual pollution. However, liberal-democratic political correctness, no matter how well-intentioned, can sometimes stand in the way of progressive theory. People may be reluctant to talk about certain issues for fear of being branded a zealot. And I think this might be the case with spiritual pollution.

A 1772 painting by Jacques-Louis David depicting Niobe attempting to shield her children from Artemis and Apollo – via Wikipedia

We walk a fine line with religion these days. Few of us want to upset the apple cart, and for good reason. No person in their right mind wants to hurt or harm another for no reason. But if this also means that discussing the idea of spiritual pollution is utterly taboo, then something’s amiss and freedom wanes.²

The ancient world had a complicated view of spiritual pollution. It certainly was not without its sociological elements. But there was more. Gods and goddesses could be involved, along with demons. Not being a classics scholar, I find it relatively difficult to come up with good material on this. It’s all out there, but one has to weed through the ancient texts to get at it. So I was happily surprised to discover two things.

  • JSTOR now is open to the public. You can access up to three journal articles per 14 days for free. Then after 14 days, three different articles.³
  • While reading a footnote in the revised edition of G. M. A. Grube’s translation of Plato’s Rebublic, I noticed the following reference, which I found at JSTOR.
I can’t recommend this review strongly enough for those interested in ancient Greece and the idea of spiritual pollution. It contains a plethora of references to the idea of spiritual pollution as portrayed in classical literature, making it a good starting point for further research.
¹ Nikola Krastev, “China: Report Says Media Control Is Tightening,”Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Thursday, February 23, 2006.
² I make a preliminary attempt in “Pollution” at
³ I can access JSTOR through the Toronto Public Library. But that only works for me for as long as I live in Toronto, which may not be forever. So I was quick to sign up for my free account, independent of the library.

Confucianism – A General Summary of the Religion

Birthday anniversary of Confucius celebrated around China, Sept. 28, 2013. via Tumblr

By William Bailey

Confucius (551 BC – 479 BC) is a well-known philosopher who is known for his work in governmental and personal morality, sincerity, justice, and the correctness of social relationships. He is known as a Chinese thinker and philosopher during the Spring and Autumn Periods, which corresponds to the first half of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty (771 to 476 BC).

Confucianism is an ancient Chinese religion with approximately 6 million followers worldwide, and named after the well-known philosopher, Confucius. The religion involves the worshiping of the spirits of the forefathers, the great God of Heaven, and the consecrating angles. In addition to the religious values and traditions that were inherited from their forefathers, Confucius added moral values and his own philosophy. The sum of these ideals equaled sound behavior, which is one of the main attributes of Confucianism.

Confucianism is centralized around the core concept of humanism. Humanism is a philosophy or practice that is based on human values and concerns. It’s believed that humans are able to improve themselves through teachings and self-creation. Confucianism focuses on the refinement of one’s ethics and personal virtue, specifically ren, yi, and li. Li deals with one’s overall demeanor within a community. Ren is caring for the welfare of others within one’s society, and Yi is the adherence to one’s moral principles that benefit the community from within. A true Confucianist must be willing to give their life while upholding their virtues and moral ethics. Confucianism doesn’t involve the belief of a God or the supernatural world, therefore is a non-theistic religion.

Confucianism originated in mainland China and spread throughout other territories including Japan, Korea, Vietnam, and Taiwan. Themes of Confucian thought are elements such as modesty, reverence, righteousness, loyalty, honesty, shame, bravery, cleanliness, gentleness, frugalness, and kindheartedness.

Relationships are a key concept in the religion of Confucianism. There are numerous stages of relationships in one’s life. As a junior, one has relationships with parents and elders. Juniors owe reverence to their seniors. As a senior, one has relationships with juniors. Seniors are required to have loyalty and care for the welfare of juniors. This loyalty and feelings of benevolence are present, even in today’s East Asian’s society. This harmonic social class order is only possible when each individual of the society are both aware and plays a part in his or her social role.

A key concept within the Confucianist society is ‘The Great Learning’ teachings. The following six principles and key aspects are essential concepts of the religion:

  • Tao – Is a metaphysical concept meaning the underlying natural order of the universe, and the state of refining your moral self and achieving balance.
  • The path will be reveled to one, after the proper rest, reflection, and calmness is achieved.
  • Focusing properly will allow one to set priorities that are essential to one’s goal, thereby allowing achievement of the goal attainable.
  • Education is both comprehensive and imperative to one’s future.
  • Confucianist must utilize the trickle-down theory in reference to one’s personal relationships, organization, and product. When one’s personal or home life is in order the positive results will reflect in their professional activities.
  • Confucianism believes in the concept of effort over knowledge. Political influence, financial compensation, or social status has no bearing on one’s capability of learning.

Beginning in the Han Dynasty (206 BCE – 220 CE), Confucianism regulated gender roles as the cornerstone of its religion, thus shaping social life and societal stability in East Asia. Confucius regulated the following female and male roles in society:

  • Women remained dependent to their father prior to marrying.
  • Women became dependent on their husband after marriage.
  • Women became dependent on their child if in fact their husband passed away.
  • In ancient times, successful men had many side relationships (concubines) with women who they were not married to.
  • Men had the option to remarry, whereas women were supposed to retain their vow of chastity when their husbands were lost.

Ban Zhao (45 – 116CE) was born in Fufenganlin (in current day it’s called Shanxi Province). Ban Zhao followed in her father’s (Ban Biao) footsteps and became a famous historian. She has the honor of being the first known female Chinese historian. In the Han dynasty period, Ban Zhao wrote the important Confucian text titled ‘Lessons for Women’, or ‘Nujie’. These lessons were written by a woman and for women. The book listed the following proper roles for women:

  • All women should be hard working, follow instruction, and remain silent.
  • Ban Zhao enforced the yin-yang theory of how opposites are interdependent. She utilized this theory by showing how men and women are equally dependent upon one another however, she points out the fact that the yang-male is dominant.
  • In contrast to typical Confucianism practices, Ban Zhao maps out a solid educational plan for all females of all ages.
English: Commentaries of the Analects of Confu...

Commentaries of the Analects of Confucius, composed by He Yan in Cao Wei and published in Ming Dynasty (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The question of the Confucianism religion being secular or non-secular dates back to the 16th Century. When Europeans (Christian Jesuits) arrived in China, they researched Confucianism and came to the conclusion that it was a non-religious based ethical system, however compatible with Christianity. The debate of Confucianism being a religion continues today. That said, two aspects of the religion have been agreed upon. Confucianism is both humanistic, and a non-theistic religion.

Confucianism deals with the here and now. The cornerstone and root of its religion is moral values. The moral values include, reciprocating harmony, the act of turning the other cheek when receiving an unwelcome statement or hypocrisy.

Analects of Confucius are records of acts, words, and discussions of Confucius and his disciples. The Analects are considered the core belief system of Confucianism. These records were written around 500 BC with the vast majority written approximately 40 years after his death. Confucius began writing the Analects in the Spring and Autumn Period. It is believed that Confucius’s disciples and ‘second generation’ disciples wrote the vast majority of the Analects, and completed the records during the Warring States Period, with the content being Confucius’s theories, ideas, and thoughts.

‘I transmit but do not create, I place my trust in the teachings of antiquity.’

Written by – Confucius, Analects VII

Article Source:

About the Author

William Bailey has written and published numerous books, E-books, papers, articles, research papers, reviews, and other publications in various genres including politics, children’s literature, fiction, non-fiction, science fiction, self-help, How-To, article reporting, and other categories of genres and sub-genres.

William Bailey’s writing website is as follows:

Reverend Doctor William Bailey: received his ordination confirmation in the year 2011, thereby making him, Rev. William Bailey. He then competed his Dissertation of Divinity in 2012 making him Rev. Dr. William Bailey. Aricles relating to religions or a spiritual nature published on this website are from research materials acquired while completing his Doctorate of Divinity. He has founded a Spiritual Network online at the following address:

Rev. Dr. William Bailey has an additional email for religious correspondents:

As always his general email address is:

warcinfo:
robots: classic
hostname: ip-10-45-104-224.ec2.internal
software: Nutch 1.6 (CC)
isPartOf: CC-MAIN-2017-51
operator: Common Crawl Admin
description: Wide crawl of the web for December 2017
publisher: Common Crawl
format: WARC File Format 1.0
conformsTo: http://bibnum.bnf.fr/WARC/WARC_ISO_28500_version1_latestdraft.pdf


text:
What Wows You? The Little Things

As we’re finishing up the big things on the renovation—the electric, plumbing, floors, painting, etc.—we’re starting to turn our attention to the smaller details we hope will impress potential buyers. Sometimes the smallest features can make a home stand out. For us, things like antique-style crystal doorknobs, soft-closing drawers, and an ice-maker on the fridge helped win us over.

We knew when we started the renovation that we’d be budgeting a bit for these details, and we’ve been brainstorming a list of things we plan to include. Here’s what we’ve got so far:

  • A smart thermostat (likely a Nest)
  • USB-compatible outlets
  • Dual-flush toilets
  • Under-cabinet lighting
  • 6-burner gas stove

So what are we missing? What are some smaller features that help a home stand out in your mind? I’d love to hear your ideas!

One thought on “What Wows You? The Little Things

  1. Clara May 26, 2016 / 1:01 pm

    What about a small culinary herb garden? Rosemary, thyme and lemon thyme, basil, parsley, a mint or two. Just basic.

    Liked by 3 people

Leave a Reply

Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in:

WordPress.com Logo

You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Log Out / Change )

Twitter picture

You are commenting using your Twitter account. Log Out / Change )

Facebook photo

You are commenting using your Facebook account. Log Out / Change )

Google+ photo

You are commenting using your Google+ account. Log Out / Change )

Connecting to %s


text:
Monday, December 30, 2013

Favourite Discoveries 2013 (6)

Today's instalment of favourite discoveries of 2013 comes from me. I've bumped my entry up the list as the book I'm covering is in the Kindle sale until the end of the month.

Karen Meek's Favourite Discovery of 2013

My favourite discovery of the year is THE MANGLE STREET MURDERS by M R C Kasasian. I first heard mention of it on The Readers podcast and put it in my wishlist based on the title alone. I reserved it from the library and read it just before its current 99p promotion on UK Kindle. It's the first in a series and is the author's debut and has Sherlock Holmes echoes about it. It takes the form of a chronicle by March Middleton of a case that happened sixty years earlier in the 1880s.

Young March Middleton has had to leave her family home and come to London to be personal (not private!) detective Sidney Grice's ward. March is a feisty young woman, a smoker and drinker and who has seen a lot by dint of travelling with her army surgeon father. She hides these “vices” from her new guardian but not her ready wit and intelligence. Grice is a vegetarian, non-smoker, non-drinker and works for money rather than a sense of helping his fellow citizens. So when he is approached by a woman whose daughter has been murdered and whose son-in-law has been arrested for the crime, falsely she claims, he turns her down because she has no money. However March steps in with the last of her inheritance to pay Grice to take on the case on the proviso that she, March, can accompany him.

And so the unlikely pairing investigate the case by interviewing the son-in-law, visiting the crime scene and untangling what turns about to be a rather complicated case.

As well as the detective element we also get short diary entries about March's love affair with a soldier.

I really loved reading this book. It is very amusing, with Grice's logical statements and March's witty ripostes to any slurs against womanhood:

“Not much of a place for soppy girls,” one of them said.
“Just as well there are no soppy girls here then, “ I said.

The mystery is intriguing and twisty, you really feel like you're in Victorian London and there is much more to know about Grice and March in future books. I just wish the second book was already available!

1 comment:

Clothes In Books said...

Sounds excellent - I will definitely try this one.


text:
Ukrainian oligarchs who are detested by Moscow

Ihor Kolomoysky

Espreso TV has rated the top five oligarchs who have ended up in Russia’s disfavor over recent events in Ukraine

Ihor Kolomoysky — for offending the Kremlin

Ihor Kolomoysky took first place in the rankings. Kolomoysky began the series of activities disliked by the northern neighbor as soon as he moved into the governor’s chair. At first he organized the hunt for the weapons and terrorists so cherished by Russia. He promised cash rewards: US $1,000 for a gun, US $ 1,500 for a machine gun, US $10,000 for each captured “green man.”

Then he created his own army, rapidly destroying the beginnings of separatism in the region, and began a battle with the pro-Russian militants in the Donbas. But the worst thing is that he attacked the holy of holies and publicly called Putin a short schizophrenic. “He is totally inadequate, completely crazy,” Kolomoysky said. “His messianism, the restoration of the Russian Empire of 1913 or the USSR of 1991 could bring the world to disaster.”

The Russian president, greatly offended, responded that “in Dnipropetrovsk, Mr. Kolomoysky was brought to power. He is the same cheat who even swindled our oligarch Abramovich.” Immediately a whole flock of Putin’s sheep started attacking Kolomoysky in unison. At first, on March 6, 2014, the Moscomprivatbank  was placed under the temporary administration of the Central Bank of Russia, which is why Kolomoysky was forced to put his Moscow subsidiary on the market. Then Ermek Taychibekov, an entrepreneur from Kazakhstan, announced a reward of 1 million rubles for the removal or detention of Kolomoysky, carefully setting a May 1 deadline for the “hunt.”

The State Duma deputy Mikhail Markelov began to demand that Kolomoysky be excommunicated from Jewish religious organizations. Additionally, the deputy wrote a letter to Israel demanding that Kolomoysky be deprived of Israeli citizenship, have all his bank accounts frozen and his property seized. Even the relatively unknown “Cyber Berkut,” became interested in Kolomoysky and proceeded to announce various illegal schemes of his operations. Finally, the Russian mass media began to write about Kolomoysky with greater regularity than about Putin and Medvedev — usually some abomination.

Oleh Bakhmatyuk

Bachmatyuk’s failed “dinner”

The usually private agricultural magnate Oleh Bakhmatyuk unexpectedly made our ranking after he became the hero of the TV channel Russia 24. Russian journalists devoted several stories to his restaurant dinner with the Minister of Justice Pavlo Petrenko and presented it as a “Masonic conspiracy.” And in the same story, the Russians compared Bakhmatyuk to Kolomoysky and almost called him enemy No 2 themselves.

The authors of the story were especially interested in why the minister would dine with the billionaire. And they found the answer. According to Russia 24, Bakhmatyuk owes the Russian Sberbank US $600 million, but with the support of the Ministry of Justice is trying to avoid responsibility for the debt and is attempting to swindle the Russian bank. It should be noted that the remaining Sberbank debt is lower than the stated amount. Besides, just how Ukraine’s minister of justice would help avoid the debt payment is a mystery.

The proof of the conspiracy, according to the Russian journalists, is the fact that the meeting took place in one of the most expensive restaurants in Kyiv, without ties, and that the two supposedly ate lobster soup for the first course and tenderloin steak for the second. It should be noted that the dinner menu is not visible in the photo and is probably no more than the fruit of the vivid imagination of the story’s authors.

Rinat Akmetov

Akhmeto’v horn

After hesitating for a long time between “light and darkness,” the richest man in the country, Rinat Akhmetov, finally took a position regarding the terrorists and the so-called “Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR).” He led the workers of his companies to a warning strike against separatism, which the people called “a horn blast,” since the demonstration began with the sound of horns at all Donbas enterprises “to support peace and avoid bloodshed.” He called the representatives of the DPR “a bunch of thugs who are terrorizing Donbas and who will be driven away soon.” Immediately the Russian media space exploded with a whole series of analytical articles about the shameful actions of the oligarch. And the leaderships of the DPR declared that it was nationalizing his businesses, beginning with Akhmetov’s residence in Donetsk.

Serhiy Taruta

Taruta’s and the DPR militants

The Donetsk governor Serhiy Taruta ended up on the “hit list” of the Russian Federation after he headed up the biggest pocket of separatism. His previous position as a sort of “Leopold the Cat” (Soviet animation series about a good-natured cat — Ed.), who tried to decide issues through negotiations did not impress the separatists or their Russian master. The DPR militants repeatedly trashed the offices of the ISD company, which used to belong to Taruta, and seized his hotel Victoria, where the oblast administration recently worked.

Furthermore, a portion of Serhiy Taruta’s assets were seized in Cyprus — and offshore, the football club “Metalurg” was frozen, where a number of shares of the Industrial Union of Donbas were invested. The pretext for these sanctions was the Russian VTB Bank, which still in 2008-2011 provided loans to TOV Construction Company (which started bankruptcy proceedings) for the general sum of US $ 203.2 million. Taruta himself did not borrow money from VTB, but was the loan guarantor for several loans totaling more than US $30 million. It is worth noting that the court in Cyprus took 4 days to review the claim and reach a decision. Experts believe this is a new development in Russian sanctions for disobedience.

Oleksiy Vadatursky

Vadatursky on the hook

The director of NIBULON and Hero of Ukraine Oleksiy Vadatursky ended up under the watchful eye of the Kremlin after he, influenced by Kolomoysky, declared his readiness to pay monetary rewards for help in detaining collaborators, conspirators and pro-Russian separatists, who are attempting to violate the constitutional order and integrity of Ukraine. He also declared his intention to equip the “people’s militia” of Mykolayiv and equip the checkpoints at the entrances to the city. Furthermore, Vadatursky frankly expressed his opinion of Putin, calling him a liar. “We see how the head of the Russian Federation lies, publicly denying the presence of Russian troops in Crimea — on Ukraine’s sovereign territory. We can see how he lies to the citizens of Russia, how he lies to the entire world, and therefore to Ukrainians,” he said.

So far Vadatursky has not been “rewarded” with a suitable response but, as experience shows, this is only a matter of time.

By Olha Lukinova, Espreso TV, May 28, 2014

Translated by Anna Mostovych

EuromaidanPR is a public initiative that, in line with the spirit of Maidan, provides truthful, reliable and accurate information on developments in Ukraine. If you would like to support our activities you can do so here.
Join EuromaidanPR & stay with usWebYouTubeTwitter ENGTwitter RUSFacebook ENGFacebook DEFacebook ITInstagrameuromaidan_pr

2 thoughts on “Ukrainian oligarchs who are detested by Moscow

  1. 5 of the most corrupt Ukrainian oligarch’s from the poorest parts of Ukraine are now Russia’s enemies. They’d better find someplace to hide in the world.

Leave a Reply

Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: Logo

You are commenting using your account. Log Out / Change )

Twitter picture

You are commenting using your Twitter account. Log Out / Change )

Facebook photo

You are commenting using your Facebook account. Log Out / Change )

Google+ photo

You are commenting using your Google+ account. Log Out / Change )

Connecting to %s


text:
Song Review – Ivi Adamou – La La Love (Cyprus)

When we think of Cyprus, we cant help thinking about how they always manage to bag 12 points no matter what the song is like, of course that’s thanks to Greece.

La la Love is a rather upbeat entry and does appear quite refreshing, you just cant help tapping your feet to the beat. Is it Eurovision gold though? We think not, despite a lot of talk about the song a few months back, general opinion seems to have lowered within the Eurovision community. If the song is sung well on the night it could bag some well deserved points.

We predict that Cyprus will advance to the final this year.

Leave a Reply

Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: Logo

You are commenting using your account. Log Out / Change )

Twitter picture

You are commenting using your Twitter account. Log Out / Change )

Facebook photo

You are commenting using your Facebook account. Log Out / Change )

Google+ photo

You are commenting using your Google+ account. Log Out / Change )

Connecting to %s


text:
Saturday, December 5, 2015

The Pyx (1973)

          A Canadian-made thriller with elements of character drama, police procedure, and supernatural horror, The Pyx is noteworthy for the presence of American actress Karen Black in the leading role. In addition to contributing poignant and subtle work to many scenes, she sings a few wispy songs on the soundtrack. Although it would be pleasant to report that the movie is a quality piece deserving of Black’s commitment, The Pyx is a rudderless and sluggish, with Christopher Plummer’s half-hearted performance in the underwritten co-leading role of a hard-driving police detective draining much of the energy that Black’s portrayal generates. Furthermore, because of the story’s structure, the stars never have scenes together. By the time The Pyx climaxes with a grim showdown involving Satan worship, the picture has devolved into utter mediocrity. That said, how many movies have been made about Montreal devil cults? The picture opens with the death of Black’s character—she falls or is pushed from a balcony atop a high-rise building and splats on the pavement far below. Two detectives, Jim Henderson (Plummer) and his French-Canadian partner Pierre Paquette (Donald Pilon), lead the ensuing investigation. The movie cuts back and forth between cop scenes and extended flashbacks depicting the final days of Elizabeth Lucy (Black), a heroin-addicted prostitute who ran with a dangerous crowd.
          The cop scenes are rudimentary, with Plummer essaying a tight-lipped tough guy who seems to get off on beating suspects even as he withholds his emotions from his long-suffering girlfriend. Yawn. The investigation itself is just as plodding, because none of the informants and/or suspects makes a real impression. Happily, the flashbacks bear more fruit. Not only do these scenes culminate in a creepy ritual, which adds much-needed visual flair, but Black does a fair job of conveying her character’s angst, confusion, and self-loathing. In one effectively overwrought scene, for instance, Elizabeth tries to comfort a drug-addicted friend while foolishly claiming that she can control her own addiction. The notion, presumably, was to demonstrate why Elizabeth’s psychological wounds made her susceptible to victimization by Satanists. In any event, the true thematic focus of the picture remains as murky as the storyline itself, even though The Pyx features a handful of colorful and emotional peaks.

The Pyx: FUNKY

starofshonteff0 said...

I found this to be really grim and oppressive, filled with the kind of Catholic self-loathing to make William Peter Blatty proud. However, without the sensational elements that turned THE EXORCIST into such a phenomenon, it's simply too bleak to be the North American breakout hit that the Canadian film industry was desperately seeking at the time.

Cindylover1969 said...

Too many rough movie cops with emotional remoteness; too few movie cops who are happily married with children (like Roger Murtaugh in the "Lethal Weapon" movies).


text:
2014: A Year of Transformation

At the end of 2013 I was at the highest weight of my entire life. I couldn’t sleep, had massive headaches, digestive problems, carpal tunnel, bad knees, mysterious aches and shooting pains all over my body, and to top it off I couldn’t stop eating. Despite all my physical issues I realized for the first time that I actually liked myself as a person and wanted the best for me. So when I wrote my 2014 resolutions the idea was to become healthier and happier whether or not I lost weight.

2014 started out strong with an 11 pound weight loss in the first two months through gradual diet changes and increased activity (swimming lessons). The following months my weight loss came to a standstill due to loss of activity (lessons ended and I didn’t purchase a membership) and job stress. After experiencing several health scares due to my now “too healthy” diet, I gave up and comforted myself by consuming everything my stomach desired. It made me feel “normal” but the job stress didn’t go away, my appetite became insatiable and my physical issues increased tenfold. Over the next month I gained back 7 pounds.

In July I reached rock bottom and was absolutely miserable. It was then I started soul searching and praying to be released from this food addiction that was destroying my life and threatened my future. It was obvious that massive change was necessary but I had no strength or motivation. Needing to clear my head, I spent a few days away from home in August and through prayer gained clarity about my next steps. I returned home and released rent on my studio, donating everything that didn’t fit into my bedroom. I started watching Heavy and Supersize vs. Super Skinny every day and was encouraged by their stories. I came to understand that if I waited for motivation I would never start turning my life around. I also gave myself permission to set all my hobbies aside and focus on my health and wellbeing.

On September first, once again at my 11 pound weight loss, I recommitted and invited God to be with me during every step of my journey. That first week was really hard. It was so foreign to say “no” and walk away from food. It was tedious having to take it one decision and one day at a time praying constantly for strength. During that week I had several revelations which inspired me to call off of work the following Monday and sign up for a gym membership, swimming lessons and dance lessons. Also in that second week I decided that I was tired of looking frumpy and got my hair cut and layered, got fitted for a bra, and purchased an exercise shirt in my current size. A few days later I realized that I love the shape of my calves and wanted to show them off and purchased my first pair of skinny jeans. J

It quickly became apparent with swimming that I would need to practice outside of class so that I could get the maximum benefit of having an instructor. So at first I added one additional day and then another as I built stamina. Despite changing my diet and exercising, the scale was barely going down. L But I kept at it anyway.

In October after a long internal battle, I scheduled all my wellness appointments and finally ordered contacts. During my physical the doctor recommended the 1,200 calorie diet and gave a sample menu plan. I hated the idea but I knew that something needed to change so I committed it to prayer and slowly started adjusting my diet again.

On November 1st I started the 1,200 calorie diet. Relying on Smart Ones and other portioned healthy foods I also upped my produce intake, substituted almond milk and eliminated sugar and bread from consumption. Group swimming classes ended and I transitioned into private lessons where I learned the butterfly stroke and started working on stamina building exercises. Between the three days of swimming, one day of dance and 1,200 calorie diet I started losing up to 3 pounds a week consistently. I noticed that my carpal tunnel was gone and that I wasn’t getting winded on the stairs. Also I felt more energy and my clothes dropped a few sizes. Excited in these new changes and after completing a craftshow, I took it upon myself to crochet my grandma an afghan, my instructor a scarf, my brother, dad and favorite waitress a hat after making three dishcloths, two chibi teacups, two Tako-sans and a Tako-sama for my coworkers. :D:D:D

In December I renewed my gym membership and completed my dance and private swim lessons. Temptations around every corner, I prayed consistently for strength and had my starting point in mind. Despite having several birthdays and holidays I kept up with my diet with very few splurges. With swimming I had a few times where I could only make it to the pool twice in a week due to overtime, however when I’m there I push myself and completed a 600, an 800 and a 1,000 yard ladder on my own. It’s crazy to think that one year ago I could barely doggy paddle!

To summarize my year, lots of hard work, tears, prayer and soul searching but I lost 38.2 pounds, dropped 4 clothing sizes and I am getting my life back! 😀 God is so good!!! 2014 was truly a year of transformation and 2015 with God at my side is going to be an amazing continuation.

Thanks for reading!

-Anna San

First Swimming Class

Second session of Adult Swim lessons at the RAC!

Apparently each session doesn’t progress with your level but resets back to square one. Bummer.

Our class has a total of seven students of varying levels (Maru and I being the highest) and our instructor is a young woman named Laura who seems to have limited teaching experience. Her method is interesting which makes us continuing students wonder how adequately the new students are being taught… However just as every instructor educates differently, each person learns differently as well. That concern aside, my sister and I have already made our goals known to Laura, which is to work on our technique, build stamina, and learn new strokes. So we are headed to the lap pool next week! Can’t wait!

Thanks for reading!

-Anna San

6th week!

It’s hard to believe, but this Saturday is going to be my last swimming class! Where’d the time go???

I started swimming laps last Saturday and it’s not pretty. Even though I have made sure to breathe through my mouth, I still get water up my nose and the lap ends abruptly. Not fun. Dave has been giving some suggestions about humming or ballooning my cheeks when I swim. To be honest I’m really not that great of a multi-tasker. I will give it a try however I’m also going to bring along the nose plug that came with my goggles. (It looks sooooooooo weird!!!)

Fatigued Swimmer

Maru and I had our second swimming class today. I was determined to do better this week.

So I:

  • Had my alarm set earlier
  • Got hydrated
  • I packed my bag
  • I added minutes to my phone
  • I picked up my sister
  • I got us there early
  • I asked about drop-in rates at the center for my mom
  • I brought my goggles!

Everything was going great until I couldn’t straighten out of a front float. As a well rounded woman I have a lot of buoyancy and float quite easily. So floating in the water wasn’t the issue. When coming out of the front float my instructor asked us to lift our heads back and tuck our legs to our chest so our bodies would swing right side up so that we could stand. Easy right?

I tried again and again and again and again and again. I tried it with the wall, without the wall, tried to tuck my legs before lifting my head after lifting my head… Dave said that I was partially tucking my legs and then would stop and kept asking why I didn’t finish pulling them in. My response was they wouldn’t tuck. My legs and arms weren’t responding and were stiffening up and the weight wasn’t reallocating as it should. Sometimes I got my limbs to partially respond which the instructor would see and he kept saying that I was shaking my head like I was doing it wrong when I was doing it right. I know I was doing it wrong because I wasn’t able to replicate that fluke occurrence and I didn’t know what I did to make it happen in the first place. By the end I was seriously frustrated and exhausted and the instructor said that I can’t move on to the lap pool or to strokes until I master this. Bucket of cold water.

When I got out of the pool I was completely spent, could barely walk and had a cramp in my side that I hadn’t been fully aware of in the water due to my focus on trying to get it right.

Reflecting on this I should have trusted my instructor enough to understand that I was getting massively tired and I think we weren’t communicating effectively. I believe that my brain had also partially shut down. I know I can communicate better than what was happening today after all I coach 32 people at work for corn’s sake!

Reflecting even further I didn’t set myself up to win this morning which is probably why my body stopped responding to me.

  • I got only 4-5 hours of sleep last night
  • I didn’t give myself time to eat or get caffeinated before class
  • I forgot to take my vitamins
  • I didn’t stretch or warm up before I starting swimming
  • I started panicking and trying harder because I don’t want to be held back (I want to get as much as possible out of these lessons!!!)

Although disappointing it is also an important lesson. I’m going to work on my core this week, get more sleep and I’m going to have a word with my instructor next Saturday. We’ll see who’s tucking then!

-Anna San

Swim Gear Has Arrived!

Despite the shipping delay due to the bizarre weather patterns my swimsuit and goggles have arrived!

Speedo Vanquisher 2.0 Plus Mirrored Goggles

My goggles are all blue silver and shiny. I think I will like them better when I learn how to adjust the straps tomorrow. (Yay!)

My Endurance+ swimsuit however is nothing to brag about. Sadly its only applaud point is that it technically fits. Whoo… The rouching/shirring does nothing to slim down my tum and Speedo must think that my breasts hang down to my bellybutton because that is approximately where the support cups land. -_-||

I exaggerate of course – but how it looks on doesn’t make me feel very good about myself or my effort to change my lifestyle. However I don’t have the time to keep shopping around for the perfect swimwear. So do I suck it up and accept that this is where I am at right now and keep it, or do I return it? Decisions. :/

Getting Along Swimmingly

Maru and I had our first swimming lesson this morning at the Romulus Athletic Center. The facility is very nice and it’s exterior is similarly styled to Detroit Metro Airport’s MacNamara terminal. We arrived 10 minutes to 8, however with getting our gear on and stuff stashed in a locker we were late getting out to the pool… >_>;

The class was low key with only 5 students and lead by a young male instructor named Dave.  Just having his insight about swimming basics helped me understand what I’ve been doing wrong since I took lessons as a kid. (No wonder I was always getting water up my nose!) After trying out floats, glides and backstroke, the instructor said since our class is progressing fast we will start in the lap pool next week! Can’t wait!


text:
Max Verstappen previews the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

F1PPThe final race of the 2017 F1 season sees Max Verstappen and his Red Bull Racing team head to Abu Dhabi and the Yas Marina Circuit. And with Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton already having wrapped up the World Championship, the Dutchman will nonetheless be hoping for a strong finish to a season which has so far seen him record two race victories, in Malaysia and Mexico. @Mobil1TheGrid spoke to Verstappen at the SEMA show in Las Vegas, to find out more about the race head and why he intends to end the season on a high.

Leave a Reply

Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: Logo

You are commenting using your account. Log Out / Change )

Twitter picture

You are commenting using your Twitter account. Log Out / Change )

Facebook photo

You are commenting using your Facebook account. Log Out / Change )

Google+ photo

You are commenting using your Google+ account. Log Out / Change )

Connecting to %s

Powered by

Up ↑

%d bloggers like this:


text:
Giveaway: Save-A-Lot Gift Card

We are giving away a $15 gift card to Save-A-Lot Food Stores.
Not sure if you have a Save-A-Lot in your area check here.
If you do have one in your areas make sure you get the $5 off $25 coupon here.

1. Tell us which Save-A-Lot location you will shop
2. Become a NEW subscriber via RRS feed or email

3. Become a FAN (and comment on our page OR LINK TO US IN YOUR STATUS UPDATE).

4. Follow us on Twitter (and TWEET ABOUT IT!).

5. Add our to your blog

You MUST leave a separate comment for EACH entry… HERE on the blog!!
Contest ends at 11:59 am Thursday December.17th.
If you are already a Fabuless follower, subscriber, fb friend, twitter buddy, just let us know!
Winner will be chosen via and announce after the winning entry is verified.

Bookmark and Share

Leave a Reply

Want to see your picture by your comment? Get your custom avatar by registering for free at Gravatar.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


text:
Matson Driscoll & Damico LLP

This Employer has not claimed their page.

Want to hear more aboutMatson Driscoll & Damico LLP?

Would you like HR to provide official benefits information here? Tell us and we'll ask them.

For Employers

Claim your profile by filling out the form below.

*Required field

Find Out

What are women saying about your company?

Click Here

Share This

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Share with Friends
  • Share Anonymously


text:
Sasaki Associates

This Employer has not claimed their page.

Want to hear more aboutSasaki Associates?

Would you like HR to provide official benefits information here? Tell us and we'll ask them.

For Employers

Claim your profile by filling out the form below.

*Required field

Find Out

What are women saying about your company?

Click Here

Share This

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Share with Friends
  • Share Anonymously


WARC-Identified-Payload-Type: application/xhtml+xml

text:
No picture for this one because I’m planning on making it this week, but while I was thinking about it, I thought I had to share it because it’s one of the best meals I make.

It’s perfect for Peter and I with a few leftovers and not too spicy.  Just writing out the recipe made me hungry.

Originally from sugarcrafter, but I’ve cut the recipe in half and changed the spices a smidge.

3 slices of bacon

2 links of chorizo

1/4 onion, diced

1 clove of garlic, diced

1/2 green bell pepper, diced

1/2 Tbsp Chili powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp paprika

1/4 tsp pepper

1/4 tsp oregano

1/4 tsp thyme

1/4 tsp red pepper flakes

1 small tomato

1/4 c plain tomato sauce

1/2 c chicken broth

1/4 lb shrimp

1 1/2 c brown rice, cooked

1.  Chop the bacon into 1″ pieces.  Chop the sausage into 1/2″ pieces

2. In a large saucepan, saute bacon until almost crisp.  Add chorizo, onion, garlic and pepper.  Cook until softened.  Add spices, tomato, tomato sauce and broth.  Bring to a boil, reduce to simmer.  Cook until thickened about 45 minutes.  Stir occasionally.

3. Stir in shrimp and rice and cook until heated through.


text:
Faith and the Academy 2015 Conference

Please make plans to attend the Institute of Faith and the Academy 2015 Conference on February 6, 2015. Dr. John Mark Reynolds will be speaking on the conference theme, “Ancient Words and Modern Voices: Practical Wisdom in Times of Change.”

Provost, Houston Baptist University

Provost, Houston Baptist University

John Mark Reynolds has his Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of Rochester, and is the provost of Houston Baptist University. He is also the founder of the Torrey Honors Institute, a great books program, at Biola University.  Dr. Reynolds is a founder and board member of Wheatstone Ministries. Dr. Reynolds lectures frequently on ancient philosophy, philosophy of science, home schooling and cultural trends. He regularly appears on radio talk shows, such as the Hugh Hewitt Show, and actively blogs on cultural issues at The City Online, and the Washington Post’s “On Faith” column. His books include When Athens Met Jerusalem: An Introduction to Classical and Christian Thought (IVP), What’s Right and Wrong About the New Atheism (with Phillip E. Johnson, IVP), and he is the editor of the Great Books Reader: Excerpts and Essays on the Most Influential Books in Western Civilization (Bethany House). His most recent book is a fantasy novel Chasing Shadows with Unlocking Press.

If you are interested in submitting an abstract for presenting at the conference, please direct all inquiries to the

This entry was posted in Uncategorized. Bookmark the permalink.

Leave a Reply

Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: Logo

You are commenting using your account. Log Out / Change )

Twitter picture

You are commenting using your Twitter account. Log Out / Change )

Facebook photo

You are commenting using your Facebook account. Log Out / Change )

Google+ photo

You are commenting using your Google+ account. Log Out / Change )

Connecting to %s


text:
Monthly Archives: April 2011

Apparently, He Brought Obama’s Birth Certificate

How was your Easter?  I had a lovely time in Newton Grove (or Circle City, as my Daddy likes to call it).  On my way down on Sunday morning, I ran by the new Whole Foods on Six Forks Rd and grabbed two fruit tarts for $4.99 each for Sweet Thing and Uncle Carl, and a lavender bunny cake for $6.99 for Mama and Daddy.  They were a hit!  And I loved that my family was eating products made with ingredients like cage-free eggs, natural butter, and unbleached flour.  (  I was able to spend the entire afternoon relaxing and visiting and chatting.  I love using Hallmark’s FREE e-cards to surprise friends and family on holidays (my favorite this year was ‘Candy Wrappers’, a rapping chick and bunny duo), but I also picked up seven Easter cards and one birthday card at Kroger for $8.18.  (  Of course, my folks never let me come back to Raleighwood empty-handed.  Mama saved her recent collection of “Good Housekeeping”, “Southern Living”, and “Redbook” magazines for me, and Daddy had three baby tomato plants waiting.  The simple gifts are always the sweetest.  Looks like the Easter Bunny wasn’t empty-handed, either, in DC… Apparently, he brought Obama’s birth certificate.

Since last week, I walked my dog, downward-facing, at one of my two FREE yoga classes offered each week.  Both classes break for the summer, so I need to get in the habit of practicing on my own.  Instead of paying for gym membership fees, Andrew and I have opted to take part in FREE outdoor activities now that the temperatures are soaring and the days are longer, like walking around Lake Lynn with Chuti, Scott, Alex, and Chela.  (Can you imagine how excited I was to hear almost-two-year-old Alex say my name?!)  (  Andrew and I took a road trip to Goldsboro to the Wings Over Wayne air show on Sunday.  My absolute favorite trick was the snow white exhaust from a jet forming a humongous heart in the bright, blue sky.  Afterwards, we had dinner at the local Outback.  I was able to get my favorite Signature Side Salad (the blue cheese pecan chopped salad) in an entree size, at NO additional charge ($3.99).  Andrew’s father, Dale, gave me a FREE Adele CD.  Love, love, love it.  Think Macy Gray meets Amy Winehouse.  We redeemed a $4 off coupon at Red Lobster.  I had one of my favorite dishes (a tuna salad salad) at one of my favorite places (Shish Kabob) for only $5.50.  I used the last of my $50 gift card to Goodberry’s that I paid only $25 for.  I will miss those late night frozen custard runs.  I racked up at Trader Joe’s:  salsa, spicy black bean dip, gorgonzola crackers, fig cereal bars, pita chips, 2 pounds of pink lady apples, blue corn tortilla chips, apricot and raspberry shortbread cookies, oat and wheat bran cereal, 2 cans of no salt added albacore tuna, 4 bananas, and tea tree oil facial wash…. all for $32.49.  No coupons, none needed, and still not cooking!  (  I destroyed my Citipass book.  It was starting to look mangy from all of the missing coupons and pages, so I put it out of its misery and ripped out all of the remaining pages.  For the coupons that I wouldn’t use, I made piles for various friends and passed the rest around my office.  (  On Monday, Andrew and I took advantage of PF Chang’s tax day special (15% off all orders) and dined on Mandarin Chicken and Buddha’s Feast for $17.47.  On 4/19, I did Ornamentea’s Try-It Tuesday project (Fabulous Floral Earrings) with Bluefish.  We wrapped pastel flowers and beads around copper-colored hoops.  On 4/26, Andrea and I did the Try-It Tuesday Comfy Summer Bangle project.  I made mine for Miss Morgan, with purple beads, of course.  (  It’s that time of year again – time to take continuing ed classes to keep my NC real estate license active.  Of all the schools (HPW, JY Monk, Fonville Morisey, etc), Legacy offers the most affordable classes at $45 per class versus $50-$65 for other schools.  (  I know it is only April, but I have already ordered my first Christmas gift, for Andrew’s grandmother!  I also found a cute gift for Brian, whose birthday is not until August.  With such passion for the ‘Pack, this family is easy to shop for.  (  Tonight, Chavon, Andrew, and I joined tons of other folks at Brio for $2.95 appetizers in the bar.  Don’t let the price fool you; these appetizers are hearty.  Try the margherita flatbread and ravioli.  (

In response to the devastation caused by last Saturday’s tornadoes, folks at work donated items to the Red Cross.  (  I shopped at Costco, which allowed me to buy in bulk and use coupons from this month’s coupon booklet for 5 out of 8 items purchased, saving me $11.75.  I donated 90 33-gallon Kirkland trash bags, 36 jumbo rolls of Cottonelle toilet tissue, 12 rolls of Kirkland paper towels, 2 loaves of Nature’s Own bread, 4 packs of 320 Lysol wipes, 35 half-liters of Deer Park bottled water, 152 Ziploc gallon size freezer bags, and 2 48-ounce JIF creamy peanut butter jars, all for about $81.  We also held a bake sale to raise $565 for Christina Alvarez.  You may have read about her story on WRAL.  (  She lost two nephews, a son, and an infant daughter when a tree crushed her home.  Donations can be made at the McDonald’s at the corner of Six Forks and Wake Forest roads.  In times like these, a high school classmate’s recent Facebook status comes to mind, “Instead of thinking about what you’re missing, try thinking about what you have that everyone else is missing.”  It is my hope that Kewana’s thoughts touch your heart and encourage you to give time, money, or needed items.

From Thursday until Saturday, Andrew and I enjoyed a mini vacation in Richmond, Virginia.  Andrew’s childhood friend, Quincy Latimore, plays minor league baseball and we always try to watch as many games as possible.  He plays for Altoona Curve, which happened to be the away team playing against the Richmond Flying Squirrels, that weekend.  (  Quincy is sweet enough to offer FREE tickets to his games, which we gratefully accepted for both Thursday and Friday nights.  I thought I was a damn good sport (no pun intended) on Friday night when we finally left the ball field at 11:30pm, after 5 hours and 15 innings, wearing a sweater and three light jackets (I could barely bend my arms, like Ralphie in “A Christmas Story”), holding an umbrella in 48 degree temps.  Ugh.  At least Altoona won…  While vacationing, we received 15% off of our meal at Quaker by simply showing our hotel room key and enjoyed complimentary breakfasts (including divine Earl Grey tea… mmmmm).  Admission to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts was FREE and I scored Sweet Thing’s birthday gift of Renoir greeting cards for $13.95 and an adorable bird mobile for the guest bedroom at $6.95.  (  We were super excited to find a Costco near our hotel, which saved us money on gas.  On our way home on Saturday, we stopped by downtown to attend Richmond’s Earth Day street festival, with live music and a gorgeous view from the top of the pedestrian bridge.

Some Things To Look Forward To:

Today 4/29 – Whole Foods One Day Sale – organic strawberries $1.99/lb  (

Today 4/29 – FREE Midnight showing of “Princess Bride” at NCSU’s Witherspoon Student Center  (

4/29-30 – 25th Annual NC Pickle Festival (Mt. Olive) – FREE admission  (

4/30 – Designer’s Downtown Market  (

4/30 – 18th Annual Spring Daze (Cary) – FREE admission  (

5/1 – American Tobacco’s “Explore… Create… Move” (Durham) – a 4 part series for kids featuring an expert leader and a theme – $5 registration fee  (

5/1-8 – Sherwin Williams – 25% off paint  (

Through 5/2 – Lowe’s 4 for $10 Spring Essential Sale  (

5/2-3 – FREE 7pm and 9pm showings of “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers:  The Movie” at NCSU’s Witherspoon Student Center (

5/3 – $2 Try-It Tuesday Coreopsis Bangle project at Ornamentea  (

5/6-7 – North Carolina Symphony – $20 tickets to “Blues in the Night” – code SPRING*  (

Through 5/8, $3.50 off any $10 purchase at Ulta (

5/12-14 – North Carolina Symphony – $20 tickets to “Composer Portraits:  Mahler” – code SPRING*  (

Every Thursday through 8/25 – Midtown Music Concert Series – FREE  (

20th of Every Month – Shop Local Raleigh – $20 on the 20th  ($20-onthe-$20th-Promotions)

Beginning Every Tuesday – Half price rolls at Carolina Sushi and Roll.  Check under “Events” for a list of the discounted items and also under “Coupon” for a buy one get one half off deal.  Tell Edward and Nahbi that Andrew and Amanda sent you.  C-dub and I dined their recently for only $11!  (

Borders Bargain Blowout – BOGO FREE  (

Bed, Bath, & Beyond now offers wedding invitations and stationery, online.  FREE shipping on your FREE printed samples.  (

Vestique – fabulous styles at affordable prices.  Be sure to read “Our Story”.  (

Hamlin Drug Company – FREE deliveries to downtown Raleigh for prescriptions, which are by Segway  (

Taste of Home – $5 cookbook sale  ($5-Cookbooks/5CBK,default,sc.html)

Food Network Breast Cancer Merchandise – all items $5 or $10 – 100% of the net profit is donated  (

FREE legal assistance by the North Carolina Bar Association to those affected by recent storms  (

$1.00 off any cream cheese tub at Bruegger’s  (

JC Penney – $10 off a $25 purchase  (

Happy Royal Wedding Day!  I am super excited to see Kate’s gown and to view the festivities on tv.  Get prepared by purchasing a big, fancy hat and perfecting your royal wedding guest name (Lady or Lord + your grandmother’s or grandfather’s first name + the name of your first pet + the name of the street where you grew up).

Lady LaRoyce Midnight Rosin Hill

Put ‘Em Up! Put ‘Em Up!

What a scary day with tornadoes, high winds, and severe thunderstorms.  Luckily, I saw only rain at my house, but the area around downtown Raleigh and Yonkers Rd was another story.  There, the bad weather brought with it downed power lines, uprooted trees, and even an overturned truck.  The Cowardly Lion in “The Wizard of Oz” said it best…  “Unusual weather we’re having, ain’t it?”

Last Sunday, Andrew and I celebrated 2 years together.  You can imagine my surprise when I received 2 dozen roses delivered to my office on Friday!  What a great way to start the weekend.  The surprises continued on Saturday with dinner at Second Empire and tickets to the new “Hop” movie.  My treats to him on Sunday were massages at Massage Envy for both of us and dinner at Kanki.  Who said you can’t find deals for special occasions?  You’ll be proud to know that the massages were a special introductory rate of $49.99 each for one hour and Kanki offered a 5 course meal for 2 for $39.99.  Sure, we don’t like to spend that kind of money for any ol’ meal, but that was a decent price for an anniversary meal of soup, salad, appetizer, entree, and dessert (plus the fake ketchup squirt and volcano onion).  Speaking of Kanki, triangle sushi chef and Japanese native Yuya Chiba of the Durham Kanki restaurant designed a special sushi roll to raise money for the earthquake victims in Japan.  Three triangle Kanki restaurants are selling the $10 rolls, with $5 going to the Japanese Relief Fund established by the United Nations Children’s Fund.  These restaurants are also selling the chef’s original artwork and T-shirts to raise money for the cause.

Spring is in the air and Easter is quickly approaching.  Are you ready?  Costco has 21 cute and delicious frosted spring sugar cookies for $3.89 versus 8-10 cookies of the same type at any typical grocery store for about the same price.  This would be a super easy way to contribute a festive dessert to an Easter gathering.  Just place the cookies on a pastel plate and sprinkle flour in your hair.  Voila!  Also at Costco are braided azalea trees (2.65 quarts) for $21.65.  With rich color options like red, white, light pink, and hot pink, you can’t go wrong.  Andrew’s grandmother loved the light pink kind for her birthday.  For Miss Morgan, I decided on Build-A-Bear’s Make-And-Play Hoppy Spring Bunny ($10 from Wal-Mart).  She’ll be able to sew, stuff, decorate, and dress her bunny with the included stuffing, safety needle, clothes, and accessories.

Well, so far the carpet paint cleaning failed!  Even with Justin’s steam cleaner and the special Lowes solution, the new red designs just aren’t budging.  At this point, I’m willing to try anything.  With Mama’s and Kendrick’s suggestions, I purchased from Wal-Mart Clorox ($1.22) and WD-40 ($3.27).  If the paint doesn’t come up, I’ll either have a white or black spot where the red once was.  Oh well, at least the accent colors are red, black, and white, already!

There will be no more decreased sale prices to report at the Borders central Raleigh store, as it has officially closed.  Luckily, the Six Forks Rd location is still fairly close to both my house and office, so the weekly coupons will still be appreciated.

Since you last heard from me, I redeemed a coupon for $1 off at Shish Kabob.  I enjoyed a FREE vanilla concrete with bananas and Reese’s peanut butter cups at Goodberry’s with my gift card.  I redeemed a Groupon coupon to The Pickled Onion ($10 for $20 worth of food).  Try the ahi tuna steak and enjoy the laid back atmosphere and sports trivia (  I received another $50 gift card from Blue Cross Blue Shield via their Points system.  I enjoyed a BOGO FREE meal deal at Cafe Carolina.  Thanks Donna!  Speaking of Cafe Carolina, try their new coconut cream and strawberries and cream cupcakes.  Also courtesy of Donna, I am now reading “All Your Worth: The Ultimate Lifetime Money Plan” by Elizabeth Warren and Amelia Warren Tyagi.  And I received the Dove men’s samples of deodorant and body wash that I registered online for several weeks ago.  Andrew reaps the benefit of that freebie!

As summer approaches, do you wish for fresh produce but can’t always make it to your local farmer’s market?  Check out The Produce Box at  Have your box delivered to your home or office, decide to skip a week or even an extended period of time, and choose the contents of your box.

I was actually able to listen to The Dave Ramsey Show this week.  I was running errands when it dawned on me that perhaps I could hear the man who provides such inspiration for this very blog.  Of course, William responded to my text in a nanosecond with “680A.M. 11am-2pm”.  This witty line stuck with me for the rest of the day: “The man who became a gazillionaire by being so cheap,” a reference to Dave by a colleague being interviewed by him.

Race for the Cure’s 15th anniversary challenge encourages participants to raise $300 for the cause to receive a $25 gift card to Belk.  So, hound your friends and family for some funds to “Save Second Base”.  (I couldn’t resist using this charming slogan.)  (

Upcoming Events:

Today, 4/17, is the Wings Over Wayne FREE air show.  Andrew and I are prepared with his new chair in a bag from Wal-Mart for $9.88 (NCSU red, of course) and ear plugs (6 pairs for $1.97).  (

Also today, get a $6 Durham Bulls ticket for a Terrace Reserved or Diamond View seat and a Brightleaf hot dog.  Just use promo code “TWC” at checkout, online.  There is a limit of 8 tickets per household.  (

At Johnny Carinos, take part in their Pasta Harvest and enjoy all you can eat pasta and salad for $8.99 per person.  (

4/17-18, Bruegger’s hosts a Tax Day Special of a baker’s dozen of bagels and 2 tubs of cream cheese for $10.40. (

Through 4/18, Lowes has 2-quart perennials, 3 for $10.  (

4/18 is a Tax Relief Special at PF Chang’s, with 15% off all orders.  (

Like Chili’s on Facebook and get a coupon for one FREE appetizer or dessert per table on 4/18.  (

On 4/18 at participating locations, Cinnabon will be giving out two FREE bites to each customer from 6-8pm.  (

In honor of tax season, Office Depot is welcoming all customers to make copies of their 2010 tax returns, FREE, anytime through Monday, 4/18.  (

With Maggie Moo’s Sundae Stimulus, all customers get a FREE mini sundae from 3 – 6pm on 4/18. The freebie being handed out is a Crumb Cake Fundae, which consists of cinnamon ice cream, cinnamon cake, caramel sauce, nuts, and whipped cream.  (

While not tied directly to tax season, 4/16-24 just happens to be National Parks Week, when admission is FREE to all parks and monuments that normally charge fees. Some of your tax money goes to funding these parks, so here’s your chance to enjoy them without having to pay more at the gate.  (

McCormick & Schmick’s offers $10.40 “Tax Relief Certificates” to guests dining in the bar on 4/18. Special entrees are priced at $10.40, too.  (

Through 4/18 at Snapfish, buy one custom photo book and get 2 FREE.  Use the code MOMMYBOOKS at checkout.  Also, through 4/20, spend $25 and save $10.40 using code TAXDAY at your online checkout.  (

Ornamentea’s Try-It Tuesday class on 4/19 features Fabulous Floral Earrings, for just $2.  (

Now through 5/12, Barnes & Noble’s latest offer is to buy 2 paperbacks, get the 3rd FREE.  Selected titles only.  (

The Kids Bowl Free program starts 5/1.  This program allows 2 FREE games of bowling per child per day and lasts throughout the summer.  (

At 2pm on 5/7 is the Throne of Fire Release Party at Borders.  Kids ages 8-12 are invited to celebrate the new Rick Riordan book with a FREE Lego Pharaoh’s Quest building set.  (

Vinos Finos & Picadas offers FREE wine tasting every Tuesday night from 5:30-7pm.  (

On Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at Mirage, buy one sushi roll, get one FREE.  (

Each week, Toys R Us holds FREE events for babies and older children, alike.  (

Each month, Barnes & Noble offers an online story time.  Currently the story being read online is “The Very Hungry Caterpillar”, read by the book’s author Eric Carle.  Beginning 5/3, the story read online will be “Charlie the Ranch Dog”.  (

Whew!  Lots for you to plan and do!  If I don’t post again before Sunday, may you find lots of freebies and discounts in your basket.  And don’t forget to stock up on half price chocolates on Monday, 4/25.  Happy Easter!

Is it the pollen that’s making everyone so crazy?!  Just this week, I spilled coffee in the car and put my contacts in the wrong eyes.  If this wasn’t bad enough, there were pigs stopping traffic on I-40 and, now, Donald Trump is toying with the idea of running for President.  Unbeweavable…

Pollen or not, the warmer weather has gotten me in the mood for butterflies and flowers.  So, I rummaged through the bins in the attic and found my darling Easter egg tree and rabbit that talks and moves its cottonball tail.  Just in time for spring, I signed up to receive FREE “Creative Ideas” magazines and various newsletters (e.g. weekend projects, energy solutions) through Lowes.  (

I finally visited the new Whole Foods on Six Forks Rd and fell in love.  What other store can brag this way?  “Water in our toilets comes from our 10,600 gallon cistern, which harvests rainwater.”  My family rolls their eyes even more now that I have ventured further into greenness by trying my first organic/green glass cleaner, toilet bowl cleaner, shampoo, and facial cleanser.  When you’re there, grab some 2% Fage yogurt and get an easy 17 grams of protein!  And say hello to Dwayne with the ponytail.  But skip the bacon and egg Easter candy – a chocolate egg with a bacon and chocolate truffle center.  I can’t give my honest opinion since my anti-pig stance prevents me from tasting the stuff, but even my cousin Tommy, who owns a bacon wallet and bacon wall clock, turned his snout up to it.  The hot bar and salad bar offer tons of choices for $7.99 per pound.  Monty suggests getting no bone-in meat and to limit starches, as these increase the weight and price of the plate.  But don’t leave without a white chocolate raspberry brownie.

Still chipping away at the ol’ consumer debt, like with my federal income tax refund, I put all of my state income tax refund towards my credit card with the smallest balance.  I am proud to say that the smallest balance is now under $1k!  I just might have to crack open a bottle of Three Wishes to celebrate!  (Three Wishes wine is carried by Whole Foods at $2.99 per bottle.)

Recently, I used a manufacturer’s coupon for $1.50 off of Tide laundry detergent, redeemed an Asian Grill Groupon coupon ($10 for $20 worth of food), and enjoyed a FREE appetizer at The Flying Biscuit Cafe.  I was unable to use a Filtrate coupon at Target because they didn’t have the size air filter I needed, but Filtrate filters were on sale $2 off AND a register coupon printed for $3 off a Filtrate filter.  Imagine my luck!  Nikki, Dave, Andrew, and I were able to redeem coupons for $1.50 off our dinner buffets at Sweet Tomatoes.

I finally tackled the organize-the-pantry project.  I purchased from Walmart three plastic containers – $2.64 for the large one and $1.97 for two smaller ones – to separate light bulbs and batteries.  No more cardboard boxes and bulky packages.  My daily planner was bursting at the seams with coupons, so I invested in a purple expanding file to house them.  I found this at Walmart, also, for $4.47.

Fun Facts:

Dave Ramsey is now on Twitter!  (

Twisted Fork offers BOGO desserts every Friday night.  (

Borders Central Raleigh’s store (Six Forks Rd and Wake Forest Rd intersection) Final Days Sale is still underway.  Prices have been slashed 60-80%.

Got an extra $25?  Check out Kiva – a nonprofit organization that connects people around the world through lending to alleviate poverty.  (

LL Bean offers FREE shipping – no minimum price and no expiration date.  (

Get $5 off of a “Real Simple” magazine subscription (through Bed, Bath, and Beyond).  (

Borders now has cuddle toys made from soy.  Just in time for Earth Day, buy a Greenzy’s stuffed animal and the Arbor Day Foundation will plant a tree in your honor.  (

During the month of April, kids 12 and under eat FREE everyday from 4-10pm at IHOP.  With the purchase of an adult entree, receive one FREE kid’s meal from the Just for Kids menu.

The Midtown Farmer’s Market is now open (April – November).  Enjoy local entertainment while purchasing from local farmers every Saturday from 8am-12pm.  (

I mentioned in my last post that Sherwin Willliams would have another paint sale 4/8-10.  Unlike last time, this sale is for 40% off (versus 30%)!

Through 4/10, get a coupon for $5 off of a $40 purchase when you like CVS on Facebook.

Harris Teeter has one pound of strawberries on sale for $1.25 through 4/12.

Don’t fee like slaving in the kitchen on Easter (4/24)?  The Flying Biscuit Cafe is open from 7am-10pm.  The menu offers something for everyone at reasonable prices.

Fun Events:

On 4/8-10, WRAL’s SmartShopper (Faye Prosser) will be conducting two classes at The Southern Women’s Show – Let’s Bake a Meal Deal and Cut Grocery Bills.  Each class will be taught on all three days during the event.  (

Logan’s Trading Company is holding Logan’s Spring Fling on 4/9.  There will be promotions throughout the store (buy any 3 packages of bulbs and receive 25% off; Easter egg surprises from 11-2pm with Logan’s bucks, coupons, and candy) and FREE classes – Square Foot Gardening at 9am and Japanese Maples at 3pm.  (

The 13th Annual Lebanese Festival occurs 4/9-10 at the NC State Fairgrounds.  Admission is $2 for adults and FREE for children age 6 and under.  The Arabian Night Party on Saturday night is FREE for all.  (

Ornamentea’s Try-It-Tuesday $2 class on 4/12 features a Domed Disc Necklace.

On The Border has begun its Cinco de Mayo Countdown Party, unveiling a new, introductory-priced drink each Thursday in April from 4-7pm.  Tonight’s drink was a CoronaRita – a frozen House Margarita infused with an ice-cold Coronita.  (

The 2011 Fourth Annual Planet Earth Celebration is on 4/16 from 11am-5pm.  This FREE event is hosted by Burt’s Bees and the North Carolina Museum of Natural Science.  (

Subway’s Customer Appreciation Day is also 4/16.  From 7am-10pm, buy one footlong sub, get one FREE.

4/16 is the North Carolina ‘Cuegrass Festival.  The Pit sponsors the event with barbeque and bluegrass music.  Your $5 admission fee is donated to North Carolina farmers via Animal Welfare Approved (AWA).  (

On 4/17, Target hosts its Earth Day Exclusive – a FREE reusable bag (with purchase) to the first one million guests.  When you use a Target reusable bag 10 times, you’ll keep 25 plastic bags out of landfills.

At Starbucks on 4/22, bring in your own travel cup and receive a FREE coffee or tea as an Earth Day promotion.

4/29-5/1 is the 2011 Fayetteville Dogwood Festival.  To enter the festival is FREE, with individual event prices varying.  (

The Smithfield Ham & Yam Festival is on 5/7.  Like the Dogwood Festival, entering is FREE, with individual event prices varying.  (

I’m hoping for a fabulous weekend, beginning with waking up Saturday morning to find the federal government still operating.  I’ll be busy attempting to remove the high heel shoe shaped paint stain on the carpet in the master bedroom.  The walls look amazing in their new Showstopper Red, but the spotted tan carpet is questionable.  Oh well, I can always buy a rug!


text:
Tag Archives: jewelry

Nuthin’ but Luv for Ya

Valentine’s Day is more than a week away, but I am already excited about celebrating… without the stuffed animals!  I’ve never been a fan of something that looks a little creepy and just stares at me from my bed.  So, I move them to the closet, then eventually they find a nice home at Goodwill.  *shudder*

Anywho, I have seen two great deals to help you celebrate the lovely holiday.

Gigi’s Cupcakes offers two deals – the Lots of Love box has 6 cupcakes for $15.99, and the Love Box has 4 cupcakes for $10.99.  These aren’t just any ol’ cupcakes, either.  These are the most adorable cupcakes with colors and shapes that Cupid would approve of.  And Gigi’s makes it easy – you can place your order ahead of time!

Stein Mart has the cutest costume jewelry to help spread the love.  And for $7.99 each, you can still afford the most important of all gifts – wine and chocolate.  (Let me be the first to spread the love by thanking Trader Joe’s for their Two-Buck Chuck.)

Remember to let the important people in your life know how much they mean to you… on Valentine’s Day and everyday.

Do you remember how you felt, as a child, to excitedly look forward to a super fun family vacation?  Do you remember counting down the school days until summer vacation?  Do you remember the nostalgia that began after Thanksgiving and lasted through Christmas?  Okay, so this one still happens for me…  Well, here’s another one of life’s highs – paying off a credit card.  I was on target to pay that sucker off in December, but fate had another plan.  I know you’ve heard of the gold-buying sales commercials.  I was skeptical, too.  Skeptical until two co-workers racked up.  This past Saturday, I took a handful of gold jewelry (two necklaces with two charms and two bracelets) to Bailey’s in Cameron Village.  The place was buzzing with other hopefuls like me.  I left with a nice check and used that to pay off the credit card early.  The debt snowball is gaining speed and the baby steps are more within reach.  I am far from done, but this accomplishment gives me the motivation to keep on keepin’ on.  Here’s to motivation, and here’s to GOLD!


text:
Skip to main content

The Windfall Foundation

Last profile update: 05/02/2017

At A Glance

The Windfall Foundation

11355 W. Olympic Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA United States 90064-1606

Telephone: 2122467203

Type of Grantmaker

Independent foundation

Additional Descriptor

Established in 1992 in CA - Founded by the late Robin Williams, a comedian and actor who was best known for his role in the hit television sitcom, "Mork and Mindy," which ran from 1978 to 1982. Mr. Williams also starred in such movies as "Good Will Hunting," for which he earned an Academy Award, "Good Morning, Vietnam," "Awakenings," "The Fisher King," and "Mrs. Doubtfire," all of which earned him Golden Globe Awards. Some of his other films include "Patch Adams," "What Dreams May Come," "Bicentennial Man," "Jakob the Liar," "One Hour Photo," "The Final Cut," and "World's Greatest Dad." In 1988, Mr. Williams starred opposite actor Steve Martin in an off-Broadway revival of Samuel Beckett's "Waiting for Godot," and in 2011, he made his Broadway acting debut in the play "Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo."


text:
Stay Safe and Secure this Holiday Season!

December 8, 2017

By Fighting Chance Solutions

With the weather turning colder and smiles getting brighter, the holiday season is here. Last minute shopping and holiday parties mean more time than usual away from the home, providing burglars ample opportunities to damper your festivities. With more cheer comes time for more precaution. Here are some simple ways to keep your home and belongings safe this holiday season.

1. Keep lights on!

Burglars love when you turn off the lights. They can roam around in the dark so it’s harder for people to see them. Keep internal and external lights on a timer, so when you’re not home the house will be lit up.

However, it is important to remember to turn off holiday and Christmas tree lights when you leave the home to avoid a fire hazard.

2. Set a scene.

If you have a car parked in the driveway, place a pair of men’s glove on the dash. You may also put a large dog bowl near an entryway. Burglars will think twice if they suspect a man or big dog lives in the house.

This is especially important if you plan to travel during the holidays. Inform a neighbor of your travel plans for an extra set of eyes watching over your house. Consider putting a hold on your mail while away. An overflowing mailbox is an easy indication that you have been away for awhile. If you are expecting a package, plan to pick it up at the post office so it is not waiting on your doorstep.

3. Consider a home security upgrade.

Consider buying a home security system. This can give you peace of mind that your home and valuables are secure when you are away. Installing floodlights or motion sensors outside will help keep unwelcomed visitors away.

4. Be cautious of what you post on social media.

Potential burglars will watch social media seeking information on holiday travel and Christmas shopping. Burglars will strike at the easiest moments. So wait to post that picture of you sipping a Piña Colada on the beach!

Changing your social media privacy settings is a good idea too. Having strict privacy settings ensures only friends can see what you are posting. Be cautious when RSVP’ing to a Facebook event. This is an open invitation for a burglar to enter your home knowing you are away.

5. Don’t let people see what you purchased.

When unpacking from your holiday shopping, unpack in the garage with the door closed. Make sure potential burglars cannot see what you purchased. Remove valuable gifts from your vehicle and consider placing them in safe or hidden location around the house.

Keep presents away from the window. Anything visible from the street is also visible to a burglar. Do not put boxes out on the curb, instead consider taking them to a dumpster.

6. Lock it up!

This may seem simple, but remembering to lock doors and windows is the easiest step you can take to securing your home. Double-checking before you leave your home will help protect you from an unfortunate situation later.

Most important tip of all is to enjoy this time with friends and family! Happy Holidays from Fighting Chance Solutions!

How to Stay Safe and Alert on College Campuses

October 25, 2017
By ISU PD Officer Anthony Greiter

College campuses are meant to be a place for higher education and growth. However, campuses are becoming playgrounds for theft, assaults, and violent situations. It has become more crucial than ever for college students across the nation to learn the importance of personal safety and self-protection. We had the opportunity to talk with Officer Greiter of the Iowa State University Police Department on ways to make sure students and faculty can be safe, cautious, and protected while on campus.

Q: Any suggestions for walking around campus at night, and what is the safest way to walk alone?

A: When walking at night, try to stay in well-lit areas and always keep your cell phone with you. With a decent charge and your local police department’s non-emergency number saved as a contact, your cell phone can be your greatest safety tool. If you’re uncomfortable walking, consider your options for getting a ride. Many colleges and universities offer a free shuttle or ride during night hours.

Q: Tips for securing your room and valuable possessions such as passports, banking statements, and expensive possessions?

A: Nobody deserves to be the victim of a crime. No matter what preventative actions you take, someone may still choose to victimize you.

Whether items are kept in your room, a vehicle, or a safe, always lock your valuables and personal information. It only takes a few seconds for someone to step into a room to take a laptop sitting on a desk. No matter how long you plan to be away from an area, lock any valuables that remain. If you’re in a public location, take your valuables with you everywhere you go – even to the bathroom!

Q: Do you recommend taking a self-defense course, or carrying pepper spray?

A: Before carrying pepper spray, consider checking with your college or university and local law enforcement to make sure it’s permitted in your area. If you choose to carry pepper spray or any other personal defense mechanism, understand how to use it and test it in a safe location on a regular basis. All self-defense mechanisms are worthless if you aren’t prepared to use them properly. Similarly, self-defense courses can provide great knowledge about how to use your surroundings to your advantage. But if you think you’ll be a ninja after one course, think again.

Q: How important is it to learn about and understand your campus’ security programs?

A: Your campus security or police department is there to help you enjoy your college experience in a safe way. At the Iowa State University Police Department, we recognize students will make decisions that may or may not align with state law and college or university policies. Our goal is to encourage intelligent decisions and safe practices no matter what choices are made.

If you’re interested in learning more about your campus police department or security program, just ask! If your local police department or campus security is on social media, that’s a great place to learn more about them; you can find us at @ISUPD on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram (though our Twitter game is especially strong). You can often find us at college or university events and we’re happy to talk to you about what we can do to make your experience better.

Q: If you find yourself in a dangerous situation, what would be the first step you should take to remove yourself from the situation?

A: The safest place to be during a dangerous situation is… someplace else. Leave the area as soon as possible. If you can help remove others from the dangerous situation, that’s an added bonus. As soon as it’s safe to do so, please call law enforcement so we can begin to address the situation and prevent further escalation.

Iowa State University Police Department Officer Anthony Greiter

Six Steps to Better Prepare Your School for an Emergency

October 3, 2017
By Fighting Chance Solutions

Wrapping up National Preparedness Month

During an emergency, every second counts. For the month of September, the Nation was challenged to prepare, evaluate, and raise awareness on the importance of emergency preparedness. All month long, schools, workplaces, family homes, and communities were encouraged to share their plans and explore new resources. As National Preparedness Month has come to a close, it is important for leaders in our school systems to consistently evaluate and practice their emergency plans throughout the year.

Below are proven school-wide preparedness and classroom security recommendations our Fighting Chance Solutions team has learned over the years we believe are essential to properly handle any emergency or crisis situation.

1.  The first and best line of defense is a highly alert, well-trained staff and student body
It is important to hold regularly scheduled trainings with school administrators, educators, and support staff on school violence prevention, school security and school emergency planning best practices.

2. Proactive measures
Simple classroom layouts allow for easy, quick in-and-outs. Pre-plan how to barricade a room in the case of a violent intruder. Know your options.

3.Updating, coordinating, and exercising school emergency preparedness plans
It wasn’t until the Columbine attack in April 1999, when most schools created emergency/crisis plans, but how often have those plans been evaluated and updated? Plans should be evaluated every set number of years, determined by the administration or a major operational change to the building/district. Schools should have district-level building plans, and be on the lookout for gaps in emergency plans. These might include a lack of training of school staff on emergency plans, or a lack of exercising plans in cooperation with public safety partners.

4. Strengthening partnerships with public safety officials
School officials should meet regularly with their public safety partners including police, fire, emergency medical services, and emergency management agencies to discuss safety, security, and emergency planning strategies. School officials and public safety officials should have the same diagrams and nomenclature for campus building layouts, entrances, and stairwells.

5. Plan to manage an incident, not just to prevent one
Coordinate areas ahead of time and have separate locations for responders to set up:
-A command post
-Medical response (separated from media and parents)
-Media staging
-Parent/family staging (separated from media and medical response

6. Be aware and communicate
In 93% of incidents of targeted school violence, the student engaged in the behavior prior to the attack that elicited concern. This means many aspects of these threats can be addressed in advance with proper assessment, reporting, and information sharing.

Additional Resources
The U.S. Department of Education provides funding to some school districts for emergency-management planning through its “Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools” grant program: Found here

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security provides funding to local jurisdictions and state for emergency-management planning. Some of this funding can be provided to school districts for emergency-management planning purposes.

How to be Proactive Against an Active Shooter

September 22, 2017
By Noell Bishop

In a world that is becoming more and more violent we see active shooters in businesses, malls, schools, colleges, movie theaters, airports, churches, parking garages or any place people gather. Most know the three tenants of an active shooter response: Run, Hide, Fight, but what can you do prepare yourself in your place of business or while out in public? We are going to run through all three of these but will highlight the Fight part as it pertains to the actual active shooter, Esteban Santiago at Fort Lauderdale Airport.

  1. Run – At work, do you have a plan that in the event of an active shooter you can get out? If you are in your office or work place, do you have a route that will provide you cover (protect you from bullets) or concealment (allows you not to be seen) to one or more exits? While in public, like at a mall, do you constantly know where the exits are or the rear exit of the store you are in?

  1. Hide – If you are in your office at work, can you secure the door so that a shooter could not get in? You might say, “Oh yea, I would just shove the filing cabinet in front of it”, well, can you even move the filing cabinet? Do you think about where you can hide while in public? Restrooms or the storage room in the back of a store are two places to consider.

  1. Fight – Most colleges and institutions do not address this in their briefings and just let law enforcement handle the situations. That’s all good until you are the one getting shot at and you have no idea what to do.   So, let’s take the example of Esteban Santiago, the Fort Lauderdale Airport shooter. Take a look here at what he did on the closed camera and what everyone else did, or didn’t do. There were a number of people all around and some just stood there and watched him shoot people. Some just lay on the ground. One lady is clearly seen hiding behind a baggage cart. I didn’t see anyone taking cover. What if one of the individuals next to Santiago tackled him? What if someone hit him with some type of field expedient weapon like an umbrella or small piece of luggage? I guarantee you that if one person would have known what to do or showed some leadership by tackling him or assaulting him, others would have joined in. Unfortunately, no one did and as a result, 5 people died and 6 were injured.

The Santiago shooting is a clear case of complete lack of training and having no survival mindset. The people in the luggage claim are just walked into the worst day of their life and had no idea how to react.

Noell Bishop is a retired Special Forces Officer, combat veteran and a retired Special Agent with the DEA who has received ALERRT active shooter training and teaches active shooter training in his company, Bishop 30 Solutions.


text:
U.S. Markets closed

Cap seen on gains in Williams-Sonoma

Chris McKhann (chris.mckhann@optionmonster.com)

One trader sees limited up side in Williams-Sonoma as it sits in the middle of a relatively tight range.

More than 5,400 January 52.50 calls have traded today, led bt a big print of 3,800 that was sold for the bid price of $1.90, according to optionMONSTER systems. This is clearly new positioning, as open interest in the strike was just 9 contracts before the session began.

The calls were not tied to any trading in the underlying shares identified by our scanners today, so this could be naked selling with an initial bearish bias. But these options also could have been traded against an existing long stock position in a covered call strategy, which would be bullish up to the strike price but not beyond. (See our Education section)

WSM is up 1.22 percent to $45.56 this morning. The specialty retailer has been in a range between $43 and $48 since September, reaching a high of $48.07 in November.

optionMONSTER systems show that more than 6,200 WSM options have traded today, compared to the daily average of 1,050.

More From optionMONSTER


text:
How to Trade the VIX

To gauge the prevailing fear and dread among stock market investors, traders look to the VIX, formally known as the Chicago Board Options Exchange Market Volatility Index. An index of options prices that rises -- along with options values -- whenever market volatility is high, the VIX itself is open to trading, either for speculation or hedging. Exchange-traded funds make the play a fairly easy one even for novice investors.

Step 1

Open a trading account with a broker or via an online platform. Fund the account with risk capital -- money you can afford to lose. Investors who want to trade the market indexes, such as the S&P; 500 or the VIX, have several options, including active exchange-traded notes, or ETNs. Your broker may require a review of your credit and trading history before you can speculate in futures or options contracts.

Step 2

Research the ETNs tied to the VIX index. These include the iPath S thus the ETNs make a good hedge against a market crash. The ETNs, as well as exchange-traded funds on the VIX, hold futures contracts on the VIX options, which trade on their own.

Step 3

Research puts and calls on the VIX index, listed on the Chicago Board Options Exchange. A put is a contract to sell, with the expectation that the index will fall; a call is a contract to buy, in the hopes the index will rise. You need an option-approved trading account to trade these options, which are not priced based on the "spot" or current value of the VIX index. They are based on expected performance of the S&P; over the next 30 days, as indicated by S&P; index options that expire in the current or following month. For this reason, the VIX options usually don't swing as much in price as the spot value of the VIX index, which you can't trade directly.

  • The VIX can be useful as disaster insurance, as the index generally moves in opposition to the S&P; 500. If you are holding stocks but fearing a downturn, you can protect against losses by "going long" -- buying the VIX index through ETNs, ETFs or call options contracts. This involves a lot less risk than shorting indexes or individual stocks.

  • The exchange-traded funds and notes based on the VIX tend to lose their intrinsic value quickly over a short period. Buying and holding these instruments, therefore, is not likely to be a successful strategy. For longer-term plays on market volatility, consider put and call options on the S&P; 500 index that have several months remaining until contracts expire.

About the Author

Founder/president of the innovative reference publisher The Archive LLC, Tom Streissguth has been a self-employed business owner, independent bookseller and freelance author in the school/library market. Holding a bachelor's degree from Yale, Streissguth has published more than 100 works of history, biography, current affairs and geography for young readers.

Zacks Investment Research

is an A+ Rated BBB

Accredited Business.


text:
Today's Featured Artist: Michael Godard

Need your order in time for Christmas? Check out our Holiday Shipping Deadlines.

Home | Contests | Tasty Textures

Contest - Tasty Textures

Tasty Textures Overview

This contest is over.   Click here to view the winners!

Contest Rules

Tasty Textures this contest is sponsored by the group Wacky and Whimsical. You are not required to join, but if you are not a member and you win the contest...the prize gets passed on. The contest 'Tasty Textures ' is about any kind of food and creative use of texture! Keep in mind that we are heading into summer foods like ice cream, fruits, fresh veggies, back yard BBQ ....those sorts of things would be really popular now. You can submit up to 3 images in any medium. (Please note that the images need to represent food or it will be removed from the contest) VOTING IS OPEN TO GENERAL PUBLIC SO FACEBOOK LIKE AND TWEET TO GET MORE ATTENTION

Submission Rules

Each participant may submit 3 images.

Voting Rules

1)   Votes may be cast by any visitor to (members and non-members).

2)   You may only vote once per image.

3)   You may vote for as many images as you like... but only once for any given image.

Contest Timeline

Status: This contest is over.

Submissions Begin:

Thursday, May 23rd, 2013 - 11:18 PM

Submissions End / Voting Begins:

Saturday, June 1st, 2013 - 11:18 PM

Voting Ends / Prizes Awarded:

Thursday, June 6th, 2013 - 11:18 PM

Current Time (Eastern United States):

Tuesday, December 12th, 2017 - 5:42 PM

Contest Prizes

This contest will be awarding the following prizes:

1st Place:

New Group Avatar

2nd Place:

Homepage Feature

3rd Place:

Pat yourself on the back!

Contest Administrator

Yvonne Kroupa

Grand Rapids, MI

United States

Sponsoring Group

Join Contest

Click here to submit your artwork to this contest.

Invite Others to Join

Contest Overview


text:
Today's Featured Artist: Michael Godard

Need your order in time for Christmas? Check out our Holiday Shipping Deadlines.

Poster Digital Art - HEX by John Sibley

HEX is a piece of digital artwork by John Sibley which was uploaded on April 4th, 2016.

More from John Sibley

View Profile  |  Search

Post a Comment

There are no comments for HEX.   Click here to post the first comment.