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Submitted by Stuart Moriarty... on Thu, 01/11/2012 - 9:53pm
Adults who pose risk to kids face bans
Adults who have never been convicted of any crime may soon be banned from living or associating with children on the "balance of probabilities" that they may pose a threat.
A White Paper on Vulnerable Children says this will be one of "a range of tough new measures targeting people who present a high risk of continuing to hurt children." A background document says courts will be given powers to impose new "child abuse prevention orders" regulating a wide range of associations with children.
There might also be a condition available to the court to apply a presumption that any future children of the person be removed, if the court is satisfied that the risk posed by the person justifies such a presumption."
The order may last for up to 10 years with rights to apply for a review.
Social Security Bill Coerces Parents
The Home Education Foundation (HEF) of New Zealand is calling on politicians to reject the coercive new Social Security (Benefit Categories and Work Focus) Amendment Bill. The Bill, sponsored by Minister for Social Development Paula Bennett, passed the First Reading and has been sent to a Government Select Committee.
HEF National Director Barbara Smith says, "I, along with many other Kiwis, have huge concerns about this bill." If the Bill passes, "social obligations" will compel beneficiaries to send children aged 3-5 to an approved Early Childhood Education provider for at least 15 hours per week,
Under the Human Rights Act 1993, parents have a right to choose what kind of education they will give their children. "Over the years there has been a lot of research that children do much better at home than in Early Childhood centres," Mrs. Smith added, citing research available on the HEF website. Mrs Smith says many concerned Kiwis have contacted her about the new legislation. "They want to continue learning at home with their 3-5-year-old children."
Shoplifters banned from entire city
Two Marton women have been banned from Palmerston North after being accused of stealing more than $2000 worth of goods in a spate of shoplifting.
The two were remanded on bail for two weeks and Judge Gregory Ross banned them from the city until then, stating that "Neither of you can enter Palmerston North except to attend court or attend an appointment with an assigned [lawyer] only."
They were also told not to go to Marton's New World supermarket.
Government cracks down on legal highs
Legal highs will undergo a costly and lengthy testing process involving human clinical trials under a strict new regime that could see manufacturers jailed for up to eight years.
Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne has announced new regulations for psychoactive substances that would become law by next August. It would replace a temporary ban on 16 substances contained in more than 50 products that have already been removed from shelves.
Under the new regime, manufacturers would have to pay an application fee of about $180,000 plus testing costs of up to $2 million before any new product was deemed safe for sale, a process that could take up to two years.
The Ministry of Health would regulate the new testing regime, which was likely to include clinical trials on human subjects in New Zealand. Regulators would look at toxicity, adverse effects and mental health impacts before any new products were approved.
The regime would also introduce tough new penalties, including up to eight years in prison for importing, manufacturing or supplying analogues of illegal drugs, and up to two years in prison for importing, manufacturing or supplying unapproved substances. People caught with unapproved products could be fined $300, but it would not be a criminal offence so young people would not be penalised.
The rules would introduce a minimum purchase age of 18 and would restrict which outlets could sell the products, including a ban on dairy sales. Products would face labelling and packaging restrictions and advertising would be banned except for at point of sale. He expected there would be a drop in the number of products available, but denied it was a "back-door way" to ban all products.
Mr. Dunne denied the rules would encourage a black market or push users towards illegal drugs like cannabis, and said that the new rules would ensure products were safe for the people who wanted to use and enjoy them.
Greens make human rights complaint over youth pay
The Green Party have lodged a complaint with the Human Rights Commission over new legislation which will allow employers to pay 80 per cent of the minimum wage to those aged 19 and under.
The Minimum Wage (Starting-Out Wage) Amendment Bill has had its first reading in Parliament and passed by 61 votes to 59. It was supported by National, Act and United Future and opposed by Labour, the Greens, New Zealand First, the Maori Party and Mana.
The Bill will allow employers to pay staff aged under 20 a "starting out" wage of $10.80 an hour for the first six months of their employment.
Three groups will come under the new rules:
- 16 and 17-year-olds in their first six months of work with a new employer,
- 18 and 19-year-olds entering the workforce after more than six months on the benefit,
- 16 to 19 year-old workers in a recognised industry training course involving at least 40 credits a year.
Green Party co-leader Metiria Turei said under the legislation, young people who had been on a benefit for more than six months would be able to be discriminated against, adding that it was illegal under the Human Rights Act to discriminate on the basis of young worker's employment status.
Targeting gender imbalance in NZ sport
Sport New Zealand and the New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) have announced the creation of Development Scholarships to help get more women onto the boards of sports organisations. The joint initiative is the first in a programme to encourage suitably qualified women to put themselves forward for sports governance roles.
NZOC Secretary General, Kereyn Smith said while real progress is being seen on the field of play, in terms of participation and achievement by women, this is not the case off the field.
"The London 2012 Olympic Games provided another example of women achieving at the highest level in the sporting arena, but the representation and value of women is less evident in sports board rooms," she said.
At present women comprise around 27 per cent of sports board membership (being 142 women out of 521 positions among 71 targeted organisations). Targets have been set for women to comprise 33 per cent of sports board membership by 2015 and 40 per cent by 2020. The ultimate target is for 50 per cent representation.
Transgender woman pleads to avoid male jail
A transgender woman who struck a man over the head with a bottle of sparkling wine has pleaded with a judge not to send her to a men's prison.
The accused's lawyer has asked for a reduced sentence to allow her client to serve her sentence at home because she faces great risk of abuse if jailed alongside male inmates.
Lawyer Kelly Ellis said transgender is a recognised medical condition, which can require a variety of treatment options. A transgender woman is a person born male who has gone through, or is in the process of, transition or gender change, said Ms Ellis. Both her lawyer and the judge referred to the accused as a woman during last week's hearing.
The accused is currently on remand in the all-male Ngawha Prison. She has been in custody for several months. Judge Harvey said that by the time she was sentenced she would have been in remand for about 11 months adding that if those 11 months were taken into account, the final sentence might enable home detention to be imposed.
"Under normal circumstances I would not take this approach but it recognises the difficulties of this person in a male prison," the judge said.
"It would be unjust not to hold out hope of home detention."
Business NZ's views on parental leave labelled sexist
Extending paid parental leave to six months may lead to employers discriminating against women of child-bearing age, Business NZ says.
Business NZ employment relations manager Paul Mackay yesterday presented the group's submission on Ms Moroney's Parental Leave and Employment Protection (Six Months' Paid Leave) Amendment Bill. The submission said it was difficult for employers to find suitable temporary staff to fill parental leave vacancies.
"Employers who have been forced to bear considerable replacement costs, or to find those amongst their other employees willing to provide cover, may well think hard before again employing a woman of child-bearing age."
Business NZ accepted that attitude could be seen as discriminatory and Ms Moroney said it was "from a bygone era" and echoed the views of Mr. Thompson, who resigned last year after his suggestion that menstruation could be a factor in women being paid less than men.
Breastfeeding mum asked to leave court
A Wanaka mother asked to leave the Queenstown District Court by Judge Kevin Phillips for breast-feeding her 18-week-old daughter.
Senior judicial communications adviser Neil Billington, of Wellington, told the Otago Daily Times yesterday that judges had a "legal authority" to run their courtrooms "in a manner that they consider appropriate to the administration of justice", adding "It's based on a legal power that each and every judge has ... each judge is independent in terms of how they exercise that authority."
Mr. Billington said, "Although courtrooms are open to the public, they're not 'public places' in the usual sense ... where members of the public are free to do whatever they like", and Judge Phillips would not comment on his decision "and that's the usual situation."
A Ministry of Health website reports that "under the Human Rights Act, it's illegal for someone to stop you breast-feeding in public."
Legal aid law changes watered down
Justice Minister Judith Collins has watered down legal aid reforms that aimed to save money by charging for family and civil disputes.
The minister announced this afternoon that charges for family and civil cases would drop from $100 to $50. Interest would no longer be charged immediately, but would instead be imposed from six months after the final amount of legal aid debt was finalised.
A proposal to make it harder to get legal aid for less serious crimes such as theft, assault or careless driving, has also been dropped by the minister. However, people who were not meeting their legal aid debt repayments would be prevented from getting further legal aid until they began clearing their debt.
New Zealand crime rate lowest on record
Crime statistics show recorded crime is continuing to drop, with a 5.2% decrease on the previous year.
There were 394,522 recorded offences in the 2011-2012 fiscal year, compared with 416,324 the previous year. This represents a decrease of 5.2% or 21,802 offences. New Zealand's resident population increased by 0.7% during that period, resulting in a 5.9% decrease in the number of offences recorded per 10,000 of population.
This is the lowest number of offences in any fiscal year since 1988-1989, and the lowest crime rate per head of population since before electronic records have been maintained.
Deputy Police Commissioner Viv Rickard says "Although movements in crime statistics can be due to several factors, I believe we are seeing some traction from our Prevention First approach, particularly against prolific drug offenders, people who deface our public spaces with graffiti and those who create public disorder."
Hutt teens targeted by police & strip-searched
Two Upper Hutt teenagers have told of their humiliating and traumatising ordeal at the hands of police, who arrested and strip-searched the pair before locking them up for 36 hours.
Apart from making shocking allegations about the incident itself – one of the girls having to express breast milk into a sink after being separated from her baby, not getting toilet paper for the weekend and being denied contact with their parents and lawyers – their experience has also triggered longer-term effects, their families say.
The 16-year-old girl and her 14-year-old cousin were arrested on Saturday, January 7, after police received a complaint about an attack on two other teenage girls. The pair were taken to Upper Hutt police station, strip-searched and placed in individual cells until their court appearance on the Monday.
Earlier this week Youth Court judge Mary O'Dwyer gave permission to report her findings, in which she ruled the arrests unlawful and dismissed the charges. She criticised the police's decision not to free the girls on bail, to keep them in custody for more than 24 hours and to not consult a senior social worker before doing so, which is required by law.
Judge O'Dwyer noted that the descriptions taken of the alleged offenders did not match the 16-year-old, while the evidence in respect to the 14-year-old was weak.
Civil liberties lawyer Michael Bott said "They have an absolute right once they've been arrested to have contact [with a lawyer] . . . that would be a bare minimum standard....It appeared there were multiple breaches, including those of police protocol and the Bill of Rights Act."
The Police Commissioner has publicly reprimanded staff involved in the detainment of the two teenagers.
Dominion Post 4/10/12
Crimestoppers hotline is giving police serious information
After a public campaign in August to raise awareness about the hotline, particularly as a way to pass on information about stolen property, Palmerston North people are warming to the idea of providing tips to police through the anonymous Crimestoppers hotline. Acting Senior Sergeant Phil Ward said tips coming in rose from about four a month, six months ago, to 15, although the amount of information received still fell short of expectations.
Crimestoppers is an independent organisation providing an anonymous way for people to give information about crimes. Any information is then passed on to police. No details about the source are taken, and calls are not recorded or traced.
Mr. Ward said information received through Crimestoppers in September had resulted in the seizure of drugs, and firearms. Two separate pieces of information led to the identification of a recidivist female drink-driver who, although was not caught in the act by police, was spoken to and later referred to Immigration when an issue with her visa was discovered.
In another case a firearm was seized when information about a man suspected of growing drugs was called in. Police did not find any drugs, but the man living with him had an illegal firearm.
Manawatu Standard 11/10/12
Trust in police hits new low survey shows
Public trust in the police has fallen, with overwhelming support for a beefed-up Independent Police Conduct Authority, a survey has found.
The police performance survey of 756 adults, surveyed in emails by Horizon Research during the weekend, found 80.7 per cent of respondents wanted complaints about police to be investigated independently.
Support for added powers for the IPCA was also strong, with 76.3 per cent believing the authority should have the power to initiate a prosecution against police officers. At present, the authority can make recommendations to the police only after an investigation.
The survey also found that, overall, net trust in the police had fallen 11.5 per cent to 59.9 per cent during the past five years.
Police Minister Anne Tolley has questioned the methodology of the survey, and Acting Commissioner Viv Rickard said Police took the matter seriously and had commissioned an independent research organisation to review the Horizon survey. The feedback from this confirmed concerns that the methodology was flawed and the sample produced a biased result, which varied considerably from other robust surveys. Horizon however strongly defended the quality of their research.
Speed cameras improved
Drivers of heavy and towing vehicles will be closely monitored when police begin using better speed camera technology.
Police have updated speed cameras throughout New Zealand to enable the differentiation between general traffic and heavy or towing vehicles. The open road speed limit for motor vehicles weighing more than 3500kg is 90kmh, and for school buses, 80kmh. Vehicles towing trailers must also adhere to a 90kmh speed limit on the open road.
Changes mean heavy or towing vehicles previously not detected by speed cameras unless travelling at more than 110kmh will be identified as speeding if doing more than 95kmh. Cameras will continue to detect general traffic travelling more than 110kmh.
Case thrown out over false arrest
A judge has thrown out a Crown case against 21 accused because police fooled a court into prosecuting an undercover officer.
Justice France has ordered a stay of proceedings in prosecutions of those arrested as part of the police's Operation Explorer, which was a crackdown on motorcycle gang members.
During the investigation, a fake search warrant was prepared, and Justice France said a search warrant could be issued only by a judicial officer.
''This fake warrant, unappealingly described to me by the officers involved as "a prop", purported to be signed by a judicial officer,'' he said.
''The police scrawled an apparent signature ... asserting the warrant has been issued by a deputy registrar, name indecipherable.''
An undercover officer using the name Michael Wiremu Wilson infiltrated the Red Devils in Nelson and police orchestrated a false arrest to boost his criminal credentials.
"However one looks at it, a fraud is being committed on the courts," Justice France said about the false arrest, and ''the court's processes can truly be said to have been abused, first by the use of the warrant, and second, by the laying of a false charge.''
He said judges had been treated ''in a disrespectful way.''
A prosecutor and the defence lawyer were also misled.
He concluded it was ''a fundamental and serious abuse of the court's processes''.
Justice France said: ''The courts are not part of police investigation. There is and can be no suggestion of collaboration. The court is independent and sworn to treat all who come before it equally and without favour.''
Operation Explorer was headed by Detective Inspector Grant Wormald, who also supervised the joint FBI-police raid on Kim Dotcom's Coatesville home for the Organised and Financial Crime Agency.
The Press 24/10/12
Police on to anti-royals
Police have started keeping tabs on anti-royals who might disrupt Prince Charles' visit here next month
Lewis Holden, chairman of the Republican Movement of New Zealand, received a visit from a detective from the threat-assessment unit to ask what plans he had for Charles' visit.
Security expert Dr Paul G. Buchanan said it was normal for police to plan ahead and "tell some of the loudmouths to shut up."
Dodgy taxi drivers can block video
Taxi companies can say no to police requests for security camera footage from cabs if their drivers are the ones misbehaving.
Since last August, video cameras have been compulsory in all taxis as part of new laws aimed at making the industry safer for drivers and passengers.
The Taxi Federation says the move has "dramatically" improved the behaviour of drunk passengers and reduced taxi crime, including serious assaults and robberies of drivers, but it recently reminded its members they have no legal obligation to hand over footage that could incriminate those behind the wheel.
The issue arose after a Dunedin driver was accused of overloading by another taxi driver this year. Police accessed the security footage and the driver was fined as a result.
That prompted the federation to challenge the Transport Agency, which is now drafting new operational policy guidelines to let its staff know that not all taxi video is unrestricted.
Federation executive director Tim Reddish said it was important drivers had that level of protection to stop rival taxi drivers making "frivolous" competition-generated complaints, as was the case in Dunedin. If that culture continued it could see drivers commit a criminal offence by moving their cameras or covering the lens to avoid detection, hindering the ultimate goal of deterring crime, he said.
"The taxi industry will always co-operate with the police . . . and there are many, many instances since cameras have come in where we have . . . 99 times out of 100, we supply the footage.
"We got cameras in there for the protection of taxi drivers and passengers from serious incidents. Not for tit-for-tat complaints where one driver is against another."
Mr. Reddish did not think the legislation was handing taxi drivers a licence to misbehave, as the company would decide whether to hand over the footage. "The drivers have no access to it."
Police could also seek a search warrant if a complaint was serious enough.
'Staggering' security breach at Winz
Thousands of files on the Ministry of Social Development's computer servers, including the personal details of at-risk children, have been accessed through a Wellington Work and Income jobseeker kiosk.
Journalist and blogger Keith Ng described how he went into a Work and Income (WINZ) office and used a self-service kiosk, normally used to look at job vacancies, to access up to 3500 files on the agency's server, "just using the Open File dialogue in Microsoft Office."
Mr. Ng said the files were PDF copies of ministry files and he has posted screen shots of what he found online. He said he had managed to view an invoice to a community group who had supported a family after their family member attempted suicide, including the person's name, invoices relating to children in Child Youth and Family (CYF) care, including addresses, sensitive client case notes, the names of candidates for adoption and passwords in plain text.
Ministry Deputy Chief Executive Marc Warner said the ministry was concerned about the breach and an urgent investigation would be carried out. "We have closed all kiosks in all sites across the country to ensure no further information can be accessed. They will not be reopened unless, and until we can guarantee they are completely secure and we have obtained independent assurance from security experts", he said.
Bars' use of ID scanners raises concern
A new technology that scans and records photo IDs, as well as taking additional photos of bar customers, is being trialled throughout the lower North Island.
There are three ID scanning machines in the country, with two in Auckland and the third being moved around from Wellington to Hawke's Bay. So far the security system has been used on patrons at Trinity Group bars Cambridge Hotel in Wellington, the Empire Hotel in Palmerston North, and Turks Bar in Havelock North. ID Scanner director Thomas Rawson said another two machines had been ordered from overseas.
The ID-checking systems have the support of the bars, but the Office of the Privacy Commissioner has questioned their credentials.
Jeremy Smith, managing director of Trinity Group, said the scanner would not work for every bar because of its "large and cumbersome" size. It includes a monitor, which can blow up ID images; a camera, to take additional photos for comparison; and a scanner.
The scanner is used to identify fraudulent IDs, and to record who has entered a bar and how many times a single ID card is used. Mr. Smith said if all the bars in Wellington used the scanners, troublesome revellers could be banned from town.
Wellington area tactical co-ordinator Senior Sergeant Hamish Milne said the scanners could be useful for police wanting to track down witnesses.
However, a spokeswoman for the privacy commissioner said the scanners raised a number of concerns.
"You have to play by the rules. If these bars are collecting the information through scanning, they have to be clear and upfront as to exactly why they're doing so.
"Are people given an option? People who are concerned about the collection of their personal information may have justifiable reasons - does the bar make allowances for this?"
Bars must ensure no-one could access the stored data for any reason other than security on the premises, she said.
Dominion Post 18/10/12
Privacy fears block police smart-phone ID bid
Police want to be able to use smart-phones to access driver licence photographs on the roadside, to stop people they pull over without identification from using false names. However, Police Minister Anne Tolley says it is not possible because it would breach privacy rules.
Tolley said such a move would require going back to every driver in New Zealand to ask them to explicitly agree to waive their rights under the Privacy Act.
"It's a serious privacy issue and it would be an enormous step for New Zealanders to take. It would be almost moving towards a police state."
Privacy expert and barrister John Edwards said "The licence is there to demonstrate your authority to drive a vehicle on New Zealand roads. It shouldn't migrate into being a de-facto national ID card."
Police got Dotcom's bank details
Police got personal banking details of Kim Dotcom and his staff without getting a search warrant in a move that has implications for bank customers.
Banks, including the ANZ, BNZ and Westpac, turned the information over after deciding there was no Privacy Act reason not to.
The police request referred the banks to a Privacy Act principle that allowed them to release information to "avoid prejudice to the maintenance of the law by any public sector agency including the prevention, detection, investigation, prosecution, and punishment of offences."
The mechanism led to banks releasing, without a legal warrant, the name of the account holder, the account number and home address.
Assistant Privacy Commissioner Katrine Evans said it was up to agencies asked for information to form a "reasonable belief...They need to make their own judgment calls but simply because the request comes from the police isn't necessarily enough."
Numberplate tracker may be illegal
Police software that automatically collects numberplates to catch offenders could be illegal, the privacy commissioner says.
The tracking technology, known as automatic numberplate recognition, has already been condemned overseas, where critics have likened it to Big Brother-style surveillance. The New York Police Department used it to spy on mosques and track worshippers through their numberplates.
In New Zealand, it is still being tested by police, but the Office of the Privacy Commissioner has questioned whether even a trial is legal.
There are particular concerns about police gathering information without people's knowledge, which could then be retained and possibly used for other purposes.
Police have been testing the technology for the past two years, driving unmarked vans through Wellington to capture random numberplates. The police manual on the technology prohibits gathering information on anyone not suspected of "unlawful activity." The trial has been used to identify disqualified drivers, stolen vehicles and other "vehicles of interest." Police can also use it to check alibis and track the movement of vehicles used in a crime.
The Dotcom case (1)
Police are to investigate illegal spying on Kim Dotcom and his co-accused Bram van der Kolk, after it emerged Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) agents illegally snooped on Dotcom and van der Kolk in the run-up to the raid on his home. They are both New Zealand residents, which protects them from spying.
Independent QC Kristy McDonald will review the inquiry and advise whether charges should be laid.
Telecom engineers investigated irregularities in Kim Dotcom's internet connection weeks before GCSB has said it started spying on him, and found that it was being diverted inside New Zealand. Government Communications Security Bureau says it started spying on him.
Asked about the possibility of earlier spying, a spokeswoman said the Prime Minister had sought and received "a fresh assurance" the GCSB and Security Intelligence Service had not carried out any surveillance before December 16.
A Telecom spokeswoman said the company would not give information to the police of "any other government agency" unless legally forced to do so.
Stuff.co.nz 2/10/12; NZ Herald 5/10/12
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As a Certified Parent Educator, with the International Network for Children and Families, I offer workshops and teach in-home parenting classes in the Tampa Bay, Florida area and helping parents and professionals to understand children's behaviors of concern. When parents and program staff work together, practical strategies to support children at home and in the community, allowing children to succeed, make friends, buildself confidence, and develop social skills.
I believe that recreational activities teaches children social, life, and problem solving skills, and how to negotiate boundaries and limits they will face as adults. Children with disabilities need these basic skills just as child without disabilities and when all children play together they can learn together.
So whether you are an agency looking for training or a parent wanting recreation therapy services for your child, together we can work toward finding the balance for a happy and fulfilling life. to experience joy and the true meaning of leisure.
Therapeutic Recreation is a specialized area in the field of recreation that focuses specifically on providing recreation and inclusion services for people with disabilities or health challenges to improve quality of life, enhance well-being, and promote wellness in their families. Services are provided by a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Therapist.
Copyright 2014 [Recreation inclusion consultant]. All rights reserved.


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Celebrities, Chef, Featured, Movies, TV & Music
Sanjeev Kapoor, Saransh Goila, & Amrita Raichand Are Looking For India's First Ever Digital Chef
Home » Celebrities » Sanjeev Kapoor, Saransh Goila, & Amrita Raichand Are Looking For India's First Ever Digital Chef
Move over gourmands, it's the digital era and technology is here to take over the cooking space as well. After crowning numerous master chefs, popular celebrity chefs Sanjeev Kapoor, Saransh Goila, and Amrita Raichand are now looking for India's first ever 'Digital Chef'. The trio will be seen judging an upcoming web food reality show called India's Digital Chef.
Produced by digital entertainment network One Digital Entertainment, the series will have 15 episodes, during which 16 shortlisted contestants will battle it out for the unique title of India's Digital Chef.
"It's great to have teamed up with One Digital Entertainment for the hunt of the 'India's Digital Chef'. We are looking for the hidden, talented, creative and the next big chef of India. The digital platform is democratic and [there is] no better way to give the true chefs a real chance," said Kapoor.
Going by the show's teaser, which shows Chef Goila whipping up a healthy homemade quinoa pizza, it seems like the series will shine the spotlight on healthy eating as well. "Be it a healthy version of rice or some sweet potato fries, healthy pizzas or whole wheat cookies, this will be your one-stop destination for healthy and delectable recipes", reads the show's official website, clarifying our doubt.
Mummy Ka Magic host Raichand explains her perspective on the central theme of the show, saying "Health and nutrition as a subject is very close to my heart which is why I am exuberant to be able to judge some healthy recipes coming our way."
Meanwhile, Goila, who was recently on the panel of judges for MasterChef Australia, added that it's an honor for him to be a part of IDC's journey. "I started my journey through a challenge seven years back and seven years later, I have an opportunity to find young people who are active digitally.
The show will go on air by the end of August. Check out the teaser featuring Kapoor and Goila below.
India's Digital Chef | Sanjeev Kapoor | Saransh Goila | Send in Your Entries Now
If you think you have what it takes to be India's first-ever Digital chef, click here to register.
chefsentertainmentfood articlesSanjeev KapoorSaransh Goila
The Author Ankita
Binge eater by day and binge watcher by night, Ankita is fluent in food, film, and Internet. When she's not obsessing over the hottest trends, tacos, and the perfect author's bio, you can find her under a pile of Jeffery Archer's novels or looking for the nearest wine shop.
"What does the actor know about nutrition?" Sunita Narain On Celeb Endorsements
New IRCTC Policy Is Underway To Upgrade Railways' Food Quality
Hundreds Of NDA Cadets Down With Food Poisoning After Consuming Hostel Food

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Tag Archives: Comedy
Movie Review: Piku (2015)
Buy or rent the movie at iTunes
Rather than the broad, scatological comedy hinted at by the movie's trailers, Piku is a thoughtful, funny movie about the fraught relationship between an adult children and their ailing, aging parents.
Director Shoojit Sircar and screenwriter Juhi Chaturvedi are proving to be Bollywood's most interesting behind-the-scenes partnership. Following their surprise hit debut Vicky Donor and the somber war film Madras Cafe (for which Chaturvedi wrote the dialogue), Piku is the duo's most refined work yet.
Deepika Padukone plays Piku, a 30-year-old Delhi architect who doubles as caretaker for her ailing 70-year-old father, Bhaskor (Amitabh Bachchan). Piku's mother is dead, and the only help she has in caring for cranky Bhaskor is the patient servant Budhan (Balendra Singh).
Piku is a carbon copy of her dad. Both are intelligent and confident, but also stubborn, opinionated, critical, and unable to admit mistakes. Bhaskor's blindness to his own failings is particularly troublesome. On principle, he refuses to let Piku marry, lest she waste her intellect as a stay-at-home wife. However, he sees no hypocrisy in calling her home from the office every time he imagines a rise in his blood pressure or temperature.
Their relationship is the focus of the entire film, and there isn't a lot of action, even when father, daughter, and servant hit the road to visit the family home in Kolkata. The owner of a taxi service, Rana (Irrfan Khan), gets to observe and comment on the family dynamic when pressed into driving them on their 1,500 km journey.
Where Piku differs from many other films about family relationships is that it eschews broad themes. There are no speeches or generalizing statements about love, the importance of family, or the challenges of aging. Piku and Bhaskor don't learn from each other or Rana; they don't evolve.
The characters in the film are who they are, and they all know it. Bhaskor and Piku argue without creating permanent rifts. Detailed discussions of medical conditions devolve into laughter. This is a movie about accepting life as it is, making it work, and finding humor in odd places.
It's a joy to watch the actors portray fully developed characters with such honesty, and Sircar allows the performances to shine. Instead of cutting between closeups of individual actor's faces as one delivers a line and another reacts, Sircar shoots most of the film's conversations so that all the actors' faces are within the frame, simultaneously. When Bhaskor says something ridiculous, we see Piku and Rana look at each other and stifle giggles in real time, all while Budhan naps in the background.
The superb performances are further confirmation of the cast members' immense talents. Bachchan highlights the absurdities inherent in Bhaskor without making him into a joke. Khan brings warmth and perspective into the story through Rana.
Piku teeters on the brink of unlikability without falling off, thanks to Padukone. The character is a woman whose reserve of patience has been exhausted by her father, and she doesn't suffer anyone who makes her life harder than it already is. The qualities that make her difficult are the same that make her endearing. She wins over Rana with her wisdom and sharp humor.
Rana and Piku don't have a typical, dramatic Bollywood love story, but it's romantic nonetheless. For two hard-headed single people with demanding families and jobs, more drama is the last thing they want. An allegiance based on understanding and compassion is much sweeter and more satisfying.
While the film's trailer is full of references to bowel movements, they don't dominate the movie. There's one visual gag — in which a sink clogged by tea leaves is meant to evoke images of something more disgusting — that should've been left out. The movie is too clever for such a cheap joke.
Sircar and Chaturvedi show a real understanding of the emotional complexities of the parent-child relationship as it shifts over time, and the cast is the perfect group of actors to bring the story to life. Piku is really something special.
Piku at Wikipedia
Piku at IMDb
My review of Madras Cafe
My review of Vicky Donor
This entry was posted in Reviews and tagged 2015, 3.5 Stars, Amitabh Bachchan, Balendra Singh, Bollywood, Comedy, Deepika Padukone, Hindi, Indian, Irrfan Khan, Juhi Chaturvedi, Movie Review, Piku, Shoojit Sircar on May 13, 2015 by Kathy.
Opening August 14: Kaminey and Life Partner
The big Hindi film opening in American theaters on Friday, August 14, 2009, is Kaminey ("Scoundrels"), a dark comedy about a pair of feuding identical twins who get into trouble. Shahid Kapoor plays both twins, one of whom has a lisp while the other stutters. Priyanka Chopra plays the stutterer's girlfriend.
In the Chicago area, Kaminey will run at the AMC Loews Pipers Alley 4 in Chicago, AMC South Barrington 30 in South Barrington, AMC Cantera 30 in Warrenville and Big Cinemas Golf Glen 5 in Niles. It has a listed runtime of 2 hrs 15 min.
The Golf Glen 5 and South Barrington 30 will also show this week's other new Hindi film, Life Partner, a comedy about marriage starring Govinda. Its runtime is listed as 2 hrs 20 min.
Love Aaj Kal, which has earned $2,134,627 in U.S. theaters so far, continues for a third week at the Cantera 30, South Barrington 30 and Golf Glen 5 cinemas.
Other Indian movies in theaters this weekend include the Telugu flicks Anjaneyulu at the Golf Glen 5 and Magadheera at Sathyam Cinemas in Downers Grove.
This entry was posted in Weekly Theater Updates and tagged 2009, AMC Cantera 30, AMC South Barrington 30, Anjaneyulu, August 14, Big Cinemas Golf Glen 5, Bollywood, Chicago, Comedy, Downers Grove, Govinda, Hindi, Indian, Kaminey, Life Partner, Love Aaj Kal, Magadheera, Movies, Niles, Priyanka Chopra, Rascals, Runtime, Sathyam Cinemas, Shahid Kapoor, South Barrington, Telugu, Warrenville on August 13, 2009 by Kathy.


Please think, why can the memory leak?
1. First, the non static inner class will hold the reference of the external class by default.
2. Then, a static instance is created by using the non static internal class.
3. The life cycle of this static instance is as long as that of the application, which causes the static instance to hold the reference of the Activity, causing the memory resources of the Activity to not be recovered normally.
There are two correct approaches, one is to change the internal class testResource into a static internal class, and the other is to extract the testResource and encapsulate it into a single example, as in the previous example, but when the context is required, a single case should be taken to note the Contex.T leakage, use applicationContext.


text:
Blackpool Tower
Blackpool tower, seen from the beach
Blackpool Tower is a tall structure in Blackpool, a North England seaside town.
It was built in the style of the Eiffel Tower. Building started in 1891 and finished in 1894. It cost £45000 (around $70000), is 518 ft tall and weighs 2586 tons. It is mainly made from steel and cast iron.
It is one of the main tourist attractions in Blackpool. These include the tower itself, the Golden Mile, which is a row of arcades, the Irish Sea and beach, and Pleasure Beach Blackpool (a theme park).
The oldest part of the building is the old aquarium which was part of Dr Cockers' Menagarie and Aquarium since the 1870s. It was kept open to earn money while the tower building was built around it.[1]
The tower was bought by Blackpool Council in 2010 and is now run by Merlin Entertainments for Blackpool Council.
Since Merlin Entertainments started running the tower, the building has been repaired and new attractions have been added. The aquarium was removed to make way for a new attraction.
Attractions at the tower include the Blackpool Dungeon, the Blackpool Tower Eye, the Blackpool Tower Circus, the Blackpool Tower Ballroom and Jungle Jim's.[2]
↑ "Blackpool Tower". eBlackpool. 29 January 2009. Retrieved 2009-01-29.
↑ "The Blackpool Tower". The Blackpool Tower.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Blackpool Tower.
Retrieved from "https://simple.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Blackpool_Tower&oldid=6433174"
1894 establishments in the United Kingdom
Monuments and memorials in England
Buildings and structures completed in the 19th century
This page was last changed on 11 February 2019, at 18:42.


Combine 1 cup sugar and 1/2 cup water in a 9-inch cakepan; cook over low heat 10 minutes or until sugar caramelizes, tipping pan to cover bottom evenly.
Whisk together eggs, yolks, and remaining 1/2 cup sugar until blended. Gradually add milk, whisking constantly; stir in coconut, rum, and vanilla. Pour mixture into prepared pan. Cover with foil; place on a jellyroll pan. Add hot water to jellyroll pan to a depth of 1/4 to 1/2 inch.
Bake at 325° for 1 hour and 10 minutes or until a knife inserted in center comes out clean. Remove from water, and uncover; cool in cakepan on a wire rack. Cover and chill 3 hours.
Run a knife around edge of custard to loosen; invert onto a serving plate. Garnish, if desired.
Note: 8 (4-ounce) custard cups may be substituted for cakepan. Caramelize sugar in heavy saucepan instead of cakepan.


An introduction in the form of three lectures given in Switzerland in 1973 by Herbert Witzenmann to the Course on World Economy given by Rudolf Steiner in Switzerland in 1922. Translated and introduced by Robert Jan Kelder and first presented in bookform in 1998 during the annual meeting of the Social Science Section of the Goetheanum, Free School for Spiritual Science in North America.
The central Council will have to consider its task to be solely whatever lies in the direction of fulfilling the Statutes. It will have to do everything that lies in the direction of fulfilling the Statutes. This gives it great freedom. But at the same time we shall all know what this central Council represents, since from the statutes we can gain a complete picture of what at any time it will be doing.
Dr Steiner: On the whole the imprint will apply only to the lecture cycles and those publications which are equal to the cycles.
Herr Werbeck: What about the National Economy Course given here. Does that count as a cycle?
In so many words, Rudolf Steiner therefore states that his World Economy Course too is to be nurtured, further developed and spiritually protected by the Anthroposophical Society and the Goetheanum. In effect, this means nothing less than that since the Christmas Conference the Goetheanum School also has the task of realizing the new form of the idea of the threefold social organism, here called social organics, in the world. This is something Herbert Witzenmann has constantly endeavored to do from the time that he became leader of the Social Science Section at the Goetheanum in 1965 until his – as he himself writes – removal under coercion from this position by a majority decision of the Executive-Council (Vorstand) of the General Anthroposophical Society in 1972. Afterwards he continued this task, so to speak, in the shadow of the Goetheanum until his death in 1988. To what extent he succeeded in that task may be left up to the judgment of the reader.
The foregoing serves to explain to those anthroposophical readers who were perhaps inclined to ask why these three lectures by Herbert Witzenmann on Just Price were not given in Dornach, but in the nearby village of Arlesheim. Those readers interested in the related question why it has taken 25 years for these three lectures to reach American shores, I refer to my booklet Munsalvaesche in America – Towards the New Grail Community and other relevant literature listed at the end of this publication (not included here, will eb put online soon). Suffice it to say, that after the removal of Herbert Witzenmann from his chair at the Social Science Section, the threefold social idea in this crucial new form was unfortunately all but neglected by the new occupant of this chair in the person of the late President of the General Anthroposophical Society, Manfred Schmidt-Brabant.
How this can be done has been shown by Rudolf Steiner in his course on World Economy in Dornach 1922. In the first of these 14 lectures he states that what he is about to deliver is the new language, even the new way of thinking with which to present the threefold social order in the near future, and that it is above all necessary to come to an understanding of the concept social organism as consisting of humanity and the earth as a whole. This unity was already seen in the spirit by Casper Hauser, who is a vital link in the historic Grail line. The social organism is thus essentially the body of Christ; but He can only wholly incarnate into this earth, if we as humanity practice the threefold order in the sense of Rudolf Steiner's World Economy by creating the right balance among the production factors of the social organism: nature, labor and capital (spirit). This is the Christian justification for taking up the threefold social order or social organics, a term I think that Thoreau would welcome into his Walden and Walt Whitman would plant in his Leaves of Grass.
Again, this veiled 'internal' opposition to the true proponents of Rudolf Steiner's impulse is one of the main reasons that it has taken so long for these vital matters to reach American shores, but come they must and come they will. I am therefore grateful for the support of the organizers of the second and third conferences, namely Bernard Wolf (Social Science Section) and Stuart B. Weeks (Concord Convocation), and others such as the New York City economist David Gilmartin given to my proposal to translate these three lectures during the two weeks between the first and second conference, and present them afterwards as study material. This as a further step in introducing the concept of social organics to America."
The actual translation of The Just Price was begun on my laptop on June 21 in David and Laura Lee Tresemer's Morning Star House just outside of Boulder, Colorado, and continued three days later in the great New York Public Library, whose marble walls provided a welcome albeit temporary relief from a blistering heat wave. Over the 4th of July holiday the proofreading was done with the help of David Gilmartin, who was also so kind as to put me up during most of this time and who also helped finance the printing. Without his help, this working translation would have hardly made it.
The synopsis here was translated from a summary made for a Dutch working translation of The Just Price that was presented in Amsterdam in 1994 by the translator as study material for the Willehalm Institute for Social Organics. The foreword to the German edition of The Just Price by Dr Götz Rehn was not included here, because of lack of time. In this foreword, credit is given to Hans Mrazek who wrote in shorthand the lectures on which the German text is based. The quotations from the World Economy Course are taken from the version by A. O. Barfield and T. Gordon Jones published by the Rudolf Steiner Press in 1972, but here and there I have made what I consider some improvements. I have not made the English pronouns gender neutral, with my apologies to the feminists.
 Rudolf Steiner, The Christmas Conference For The Foundation of the General Anthroposophical Society 1923/1924, Anthroposophic Press 1990, p. 115 ff. In this translation, the last part of the last sentence reads "what it (i.e. the Council) is doing", which weakens this statement considerably, for the German word jemals, meaning ever or at any time, has been omitted. Another, more fundamental problem is the question of the title of this book, which refers to The Foundation of the General Anthroposophical Society. As pointed out in the forewords and footnotes to the statutes in my working translation of Herbert Witzenmann's social esthetic study The Principles of the Anthroposophical Society, which is appearing simultaneously in an updated edition with this present booklet, it was not the General (note the G written as a capital letter) that was founded, but the general Anthroposophical Society (i.e. general as opposed to the national or particular Anthroposophical Societies that were founded as groups of the general society) . During the Christmas Conference, Rudolf Steiner uses both terms interchangeably, but he emphasized that there is in effect only the Anthroposophical Society, the rest are local groups. Moreover, the statutes that were endorsed as well as the membership cards that were issued both read Anthroposophical Society. The General Anthroposophical Society as such derived its name and identity from the Goetheanum Building Association that on February 8, 1925 changed its name accordingly and added to it three sub-divisions, namely the administration of the Anthroposophical Society, the administration of the Goetheanum building itself, the Anthroposophic-Philosophical Publishing Co. and the Clinic. See the foreword to the fifth edition of above-mentioned booklet on the principles for further background information to and insight into this thorny constitutional issue and a solution in the form of a three-act real life mystery play entitled the Kardeiz Saga. See also the coming, revised edition of Munsalvaesche in America – Towards the New Grail Community.
 This paragraph reads (in my translation): "All publications of the Society shall be open to the public as is the case in other public societies. The publications of the Free School of Spiritual Science will not be exempt from this public availability; however, the leadership of the School reserves the right from the outset to challenge the validity of every judgment on these works, that is not based on the schooling of which the works themselves are the outcome. In this sense the leadership, as is altogether customary in the recognized scientific world, will not acknowledge the validity of any judgment that is not based on the appropriate preliminary studies. Therefore the publications of the Free School of Spiritual Science will contain the following imprint: "Printed in manuscript for the members of the Free School of Spiritual Science, Goetheanum, Class ... No person is held qualified to form a judgment on these works who has not, through the School itself or in an equivalent manner recognized by it, acquired the preliminary knowledge advanced by the School. Other opinions will in so far be rejected, as the authors of the works in question do not enter into any type of discussion concerning them."
 Rudolf Steiner, The Christmas Conference…, p. 153 f.
 See the foreword to this third edition for a response to criticism of the editors of the American journal The Threefold Review that Herbert Witzenmann misinterprets and misrepresents Rudolf Steiner's Course on World Economy.
 M. Schmidt-Brabant, who passed away earlier this year, was a brilliant speaker and did much to somehow improve the (outward) appearance of things. However, next to his discontinuation and glaring neglect of the new, actual form of the idea of the threefold nature of the social organism as developed by Rudolf Steiner and expounded by Herbert Witzenmann – a form which later in this foreword is referred to as a, or even, the Grail impulse of the 20th and 21st century – he withdrew the attention from Arlesheim Hermitage to Santiago de Compostella in northern Spain (formerly Portugal) as the central Grail area. See also my introductions to Werner Greub's How The Grail Sites Were Found – Wolfram von Eschenbach and the Reality of the Grail that was recently published by the Willehalm Institute Press in Amsterdam and presented in Montreal and various libraries in New England including the Rudolf Steiner Library in Ghent NY.
 On the vitally important but still relatively unknown, so-called, book question, which in fact is a question concerning the proper representation of Rudolf Steiner's anthroposophy, the nature of the Anthroposophical Society and its research and development center, the Goetheanum, Free School of Spiritual Science, see H. Witzenmann The Principles of the Anthroposophical Society and Munsalvaesche in America by the author.
 German titles: Geldordnung als Bewusstseinsfrage, Gideon Spicker Verlag, 1995 and Sozialorganik – Ideen zu einer Neugestaltung der Wirtschaft, G. Spicker, 1998.


Early last year, Taco Bell introduced us to the Naked Chicken Chalupa (review). On Thursday, May 10th, the Naked Chicken Chalupa is back and along with it is the new Wilder Naked Chicken Chalupa which features a new "bold, smoky" Wild Sauce. The original Naked Chicken Chalupa features an all-white meat crispy chicken shell seasoned with Mexican spices and is filled with Shredded lettuce, tomatoes, cheddar cheese and avocado ranch sauce. Taco Bell's Wilder Naked Chicken Chalupa subs out the avocado ranch for the new Wild Sauce. Both are priced at $2.99 a la carte or in a $5 Box combo'd with a Doritos Locos Taco (review), a Crunchy Taco, and a medium drink.
Finally a new reason to go to Taco Bell! This is totally overpriced even as the "box" though, I just wish they'd throw in some cinnamon twists or something because I don't want to pay $5 for a meal and not even be full LOL! I can get 4 for $4 at Wendy's and at least get some dessert included. What's with TB calling this a "combo" if all you get is a few tacos and a tiny drink?
Unless you consider fries dessert, I have no idea WTF you're talking about. Typical for a Johnnyboy comment.
Well, Wendys does let you swap out the soft drink for a Frosty.
That's right Johnnyboy. TB be playing us son, we need an extra gordita and chalupa to call this a combo. We should be getting at least 4 tacos/burritos with every box and a free drink and free yello nacho cheese.
Looks good. And happy to see Johnnyboy agrees with Johnnyboy!
This was SO GOOD. I don't care if they changed it, glad to see it back.
I wonder if this "Wild Sauce" will actually be the Lava Sauce in disguise?
Congratulations Taco Bell on being named America's favorite Mexican restaurant!
Yawn…..still waiting on lava sauce and mango strawberry fruitistas.
Smoky is definitely not how I'd describe the wild sauce. It has some kick to it, though.
The TB I visited in OH doesn't have the original version w/ avocado ranch, but they had one with nacho cheese.
I wanna get wild with Johnnyboy! Woooooooo Woooooooooooo!
I'm not going to try this, but $5 for three item box seems fine. What annoys me is how they keep changing the cravings deal. The original deal was awesome, then they dropped the burito supreme for a beefy 5 layer (fine with me cus I always got no lettuce or tomato on the burrito anyway), then they dropped the nachos for cinnamon twists, now the cheesy gordita crunch for a plain old chalupa. It's just not a good deal anymore.
Some thing, they have a Mild and Wild version. This was a bad naming decision because trying to order this in the drive-thru was tough. They kept thinking I said Mild, I was yelling Mild, finally had to drive to the window to order. Also, all of the tomatoes where on the outside of my taco, lol.
I was not a fan of the wild sauce. It wasn't spicy forme, but just added a weird taste in my opinion. I'll stick to the mild.
I loved the spicy one (my stomach afterwards, did not). I agree it's quite a problem for the cashiers to understand wild vs mild.
meh. did not like the wild sauce. bring back lava and baja sauce!
I agree on the Wild sauce. Not "wild" and not good tasting. Totally on board with bringing back Lava and Baja sauces, even as LTOs.
Don't know about 'wild', but this was one of the best things I've ever eaten!


Currently available on iTunes and VOD, and opening in theaters on July 6th is the new drama from acclaimed filmmaker Rob Reiner (Stand By Me, The Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally, Misery) entitled The Magic of Belle Isle. The movie stars several actors who have worked with Reiner before including Academy Award-winner Morgan Freeman (The Shawshank Redemption, Million Dollar Baby, The Bucket List, The Dark Knight), Academy Award-nominee Virginia Madsen (Dune, Highlander II: The Quickening, Ghosts of Mississippi, Sideways), Kevin Pollack (Avalon, A Few Good Men, The Usual Suspects, Casino), and Fred Willard (This Is Spinal Tap, Best in Show, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, Wall-E).
IAR's Managing Editor Jami Philbrick recently had a chance to sit down with veteran filmmaker Rob Reiner to talk about his work on The Magic of Belle Islle, as well as the possibility of making a sequel to his classic mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap. The director discussed his new film, the common themes found in all his movies, reuniting with actors Morgan Freeman and Virginia Madsen, how technology has changed filmmaking, and why This Is Spinal Tap is the only one of his prior films that he would consider revisiting for a sequel.
To watch our exclusive interview with director Rob Reiner about The Magic of Belle Isle, please click on the video player above.
Monte Wildhorn (Freeman) is a famous Western novelist whose struggle with alcoholism has sapped his passion for writing. He takes a lakeside cabin for the summer in picturesque Belle Isle, and befriends teh family next door - an acttractive single mom (Madsen) - and her young daughters who help him find inspiration.
The Magic of Belle Isle is currently available on iTunes and VOD, and opens in theaters on July 6th.
To watch our exclusive interview with Morgan Freeman and Virginia Madsen about The Magic of Belle Isle, please click here.


text:
Jessica Elizabeth Pike1
F, #520331, b. 4 June 1987
Jessica Elizabeth Pike was born on 4 June 1987.1 She is the daughter of James Eben Pike and Mary Elaine Goodburn.1
[S5626] Jessica Pike, "re: Pike Family," e-mail message to Darryl Roger LUNDY (101053), 23 September 2011. Hereinafter cited as "re: Pike Family."
Emma Louise Pike1
F, #520332, b. 20 May 1989
Emma Louise Pike was born on 20 May 1989.1 She is the daughter of James Eben Pike and Mary Elaine Goodburn.1
Raymond Charles Goodburn1,2
M, #520333, b. 1 July 1924
Last Edited=26 Nov 2011
Raymond Charles Goodburn was born on 1 July 1924.2 He married Edna Maria Norman.1
Children of Raymond Charles Goodburn and Edna Maria Norman
Mary Elaine Goodburn+1
Elizabeth Anne Goodburn1
[S5735] Mary Pike, "re: Goodburn Family," e-mail message to Darryl Roger LUNDY (101053), 24 November 2011. Hereinafter cited as "re: Goodburn Family."
Edna Maria Norman1,2
F, #520334, b. 21 June 1925
Edna Maria Norman was born on 21 June 1925.2 She married Raymond Charles Goodburn.1
Her married name became Goodburn.1
Children of Edna Maria Norman and Raymond Charles Goodburn
Elizabeth Anne Goodburn1,2
Elizabeth Anne Goodburn is the daughter of Raymond Charles Goodburn and Edna Maria Norman.1
Maria O'Donnell1
F, #520336, d. 1809
Last Edited=5 Dec 2018
Maria O'Donnell was the daughter of Sir Neal O'Donnell, 1st Bt. and Mary Coane.1 She married Dodwell Browne, son of Dodwell Browne and Elizabeth Cuffe, in 1797.1 She died in 1809.1
From 1797, her married name became Browne.1
Children of Maria O'Donnell and Dodwell Browne
Hugh John Henry Browne1 b. 6 Feb 1800, d. 2 Oct 1868
Neal O'Donel Browne+1 b. 29 Dec 1804, d. 15 Mar 1874
[S5627] Candy O'Donel-Browne, "re: Browne Family," e-mail message to Darryl Roger LUNDY (101053), 23 September 2011. Hereinafter cited as "re: Browne Family."
Mary Coane1
Mary Coane is the daughter of William Coane.1 She married Sir Neal O'Donnell, 1st Bt., son of Hugh Mór O'Donnell and Maud Brown, in 1766.2
From 1766, her married name became O'Donnell.
Children of Mary Coane and Sir Neal O'Donnell, 1st Bt.
Colonel Hugh O'Donnell+1
Maria O'Donnell+3 d. 1809
Sir Neal O'Donnell, 2nd Bt.+4 d. 1 Mar 1827
James Moore O'Donnell4
Connel O'Donnell4
Margaret O'Donnell4
[S6042] Sir Bernard Burke, editor, Burke's Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage, 51st edition (London, U.K.: Burke's Peerage Ltd, 1889), page 1059. Hereinafter cited as Burkes Peerage and Baronetage, 51st ed.
Reverend Cuffe Browne1
Reverend Cuffe Browne is the son of Dodwell Browne and Elizabeth Cuffe.1
John Henry Browne1
M, #520339, d. 18 May 1794
John Henry Browne was the son of Dodwell Browne and Elizabeth Cuffe.1 He died on 18 May 1794, killed in action.1
He gained the rank of Lieutenant in the 8th Irish Dragoons.1 He fought in the Battle on the Plain of Fleurys on 18 May 1794.1
Elizabeth Browne1
F, #520340, b. circa 1763, d. 5 June 1781
Elizabeth Browne was born circa 1763.1 She was the daughter of Dodwell Browne and Elizabeth Cuffe.1 She died on 5 June 1781, young.1


MyPillow Color Codes – Which Color is Right for You?
Finding the right pillow is a game changer when it comes to getting a good night's sleep. The National Sleep Foundation endorses MyPillow in part due to its excellent back and neck support. MyPillow is soft to the touch and the interlocking chambers adjust to your sleep position during the night. MyPillow claims the pillows will maintain their shape for years. Understanding the MyPillow color codes is essential to selecting the appropriate pillow for you.
MyPillow is machine washable and comes in a variety of sizes, which are easily distinguishable by a color code on the label (the "size" refers to the amount of stuffing in each pillow, and not the dimensions of the pillow).
So, which MyPillow color code is right for you?
This color indicates it is meant for a child, ten years old or younger, and women who prefer to only sleep on their stomachs. It is also for very petite women (5' or below). Out of all the pillows, this one is the least firm and most malleable. This is a great option if your child has had trouble sleeping and is constantly getting up and waking you up.
This pillow is the most appropriate for the average woman. It has slightly more stuffing than the Yellow and is still relatively soft without being too firm. This makes it the most comfortable for people of average shoulder width and shorter necks. This pillow works for any sleep position (back, side, etc). It is also appropriate for smaller men (approximately 5'9" and below). Generally, this pillow is meant for individuals who are not super broad in the shoulder. If this describes you and you are tired of waking up with neck pain, white is best for you!
Similarly, this pillow is most appropriate for the average man. It has slightly more stuffing than the previous pillows, which means we are starting to get into the firmer pillows. Green is best for men up to approximately 5'9" to 6'1" (or anyone who wears an XL shirt). This pillow is also for women who have broader shoulders, especially if they prefer to sleep on their side. This pillow will allow them to sleep with the least amount of neck pain because it is firmer and will keep their spinal cord as a relatively straight line. It is also ideal for men who are mild snorers and don't need to use another anti-snoring device such as a mouthpiece, nasal dilators or strips. There are many naturals ways to alliterate snoring, and sleeping on your side is one of them.
Intended for men over 6'1" who are very broad and stocky in the shoulders. This pillow is very firm to give the best support to someone with wide shoulders who prefers to sleep on their side. Very few women use this pillow. Due to its firmness, it would cause someone who is too small for it to have neck or back pain. Men often have the most trouble with snoring, and sleeping on your side makes you less likely to snore.
This is Big Red and it is for men who are extremely broad in the shoulder who ONLY sleep on their side. We like to call this pillow "the linebacker pillow." No matter who you are or your size you will be unable to sleep on your back. The pillow is very firm and bulky to allow this person to sleep on their side and maintain a straight line from their neck down their spinal cords while taking the pressure off their shoulders.
It is important to remember these pillows will not lose their shape and become flat. Your pillow will maintain its shape and be right for you, which is why it is incredibly important to buy the appropriate pillow for yourself. Additionally, MyPillow is also available in king size and all the color codes will be the same. If you are still having trouble with snoring, there are several other methods you can try including snoring mouth guards such as SnoreRx, ZQuiet, and Zyppah. But a good night sleeps starts with a good pillow. Treat yourself today and start dreaming.
MyPillow has plenty of variation that will allow you to find just the right solution for pillow comfort. The MyPillow color codes are easy to follow and ensure that no matter what your age or sleeping habits MyPillow has a choice for your needs. The design properties set it apart from the competition.
As a bonus, many sleep apnea sufferers who use MyPillow claim that MyPillow complements CPAP machines. Since MyPillow helps align your back and neck, users are much less likely to toss and turn. Tossing and turning, which can twist and pull the CPAP lines, often force CPAP users to turn off the machine or accidentally disconnect it. MyPillow use results in fewer instances of this happening according to testimonials.


Bernard Madoff is sentenced to 150 years in prison for the biggest Ponzi scheme in history, Bloomberg reports.
"Madoff appeared in court before U.S. District Judge Denny Chin for the first time since his March 12 guilty plea. 'I don't ask for any forgiveness,' Madoff, 71, told Chin. He said he deceived his brothers, his two sons and his wife. Madoff pleaded guilty to securities fraud, mail fraud, wire fraud, investment adviser fraud, three counts of money laundering, false statements, perjury, false filings with the SEC and theft from an employee benefit plan."
The U.S. Attorney's office in Manhattan asked for the statutory maximum of 150 years "or a sentence that will effectively guarantee" the 71-year-old Madoff spends the rest of his life in prison, reports the Wall Street Journal. Madoff's lawyer asked for a sentence :of as little as 12 years" in prison.
Madoff's epic swindle may have reached $65 billion and impacted thousands of investors, including charities, hedge funds, trusts and individuals. Some investors lost their life savings overnight and are penniless.
Enjoy the rest of your life, Mr, Madoff.


text:
The Skinny: Carolina 5, Isles 2. Carolina wins the series 4 games to 0.
Eastern Conference Second Round Game 4
Carolina 5, Isles 2
Carolina wins series 4-0
School is out. The Islander season ended at 9:35pm on May 3, 2019 in the same building it began at 7:15pm on October 4, 2018.
Teuvo Teravainen and Greg McKee scored goal 66 seconds apart early in the second period to break a 1-1 tie as the Carolina Hurricanes completed a four-game sweep of the Islanders, winning the final game 5-2 before a franchise-record crowd of 19,495 at PNC Arena.
Curtis McElhinney recorded his third straight win in the series as the Islanders became the first team since the 1993 Buffalo Sabres to sweep the first round (Boston) and be swept in the second (Montreal).
It's the only time all season that the Isles have lost four straight games, the first time that they have been swept in a playoff series since 1994 (Rangers), and the first time they have been swept in a series that they opened at home.
Mathew Barzal (2) Devon Toews, Jordan Eberle 02:30 NYI 1,CAR 0 PPG
Sebastian Aho (4) Teuvo Teravainen, Justin Faulk 04:44 NYI 1,CAR 1 PPG
Teuvo Teravainen (6) Warren Foegele, Sebastian Aho 02:11 NYI 1,CAR 2
Greg McKegg (1) Brett Pesce, Jordan Martinook 03:17 NYI 1,CAR 3
Justin Williams (3) Jordan Staal, Nino Niederreiter 08:51 NYI 1,CAR 4
Andrei Svechnikov (3) Justin Faulk 15:13 NYI 1,CAR 5
Brock Nelson (4) Scott Mayfield, Devon Toews 18:51 NYI 2,CAR 5
The Series (Carolina wins 4-0)
Game 1: Carolina 1, Isles 0
The Canes scores a pair of goals in 66 seconds or less in each of the last three games of the series… The Isles scored power play goals in each of the last three games of the series; they did that only once in the regular season (4-game streak in October)…The Isles had not allowed a power play goal in a franchise-record six straight playoff games before Sebastian Aho ended the streak.… Justin Williams recorded his 100th career playoff point…The Canes have won six straight games since trailing the Caps three games to two… Warren Foegele tied the Hurricane rookie record with his ninth point of the playoffs… All-time, the Isles are 26-21 when facing elimination, including 10-16 on the road…Carolina clinched a series at home for the first time since the 2006 Stanley Cup Final…Carolina has advanced to the third round in each of their last four trips to the playoffs…Brock Nelson's late goal gave him a share of the team playoff goal-scoring lead (4) with Jordan Eberle and Josh Bailey…Eberle and Mathew Barzal shared the team lead in playoff assists (5) while Eberle led the team in points (9) as he recorded at least one point in every playoff game that the Isles scored in…The Isles scored only two second period goals in the eight playoff games.
Overtime is Our Time
The Isles are 34-17 (.667) all-time in overtime, including 18-10 (.643) at home. The .667 overall percentage and .643 home percentages are both the best in NHL history. The Isles are 1-1 in overtime this season; nine of the 25 playoff games the Isles have played since 2015 have gone to overtime with the Isles holding a 5-4 record.
Lead/Tie/Trail
In game 1, the game was tied for 64:04.
In game 2, the Isles led for 27:00, the game was tied for 14:05, and Carolina led for 18:55.
In game 3, the game was tied for 46:21 and Carolina led for 13:39
In game 4, the Isles led for 2:14, the game was tied for 19:57, and Carolina led for 37:49.
Series Total: The Isles have led for 29:14, the game was tied for 144:27, and Carolina led for 70:23.
Vs Pittsburgh, the Isles led for 127:34, the game was tied for 112:14 and Pittsburgh led for 4:51
Playoffs All-Time
The Isles fall to 148-124 in 272 all-time playoff games. They are 84-46 at home (including 2-5 at Barclays) and 64-78 on the road.
The Isles finished 2nd in the Metro Division, 4th in the Eastern Conference and 5th in the NHL. The Isles have not finished that high since the conference was created. They last finished that high in a conference in 87-88, when they were 3rd in the Wales Conference. It's the first time since 1985-86 that the Isles have finished in the top five overall.
The Best (Fourth) Line in Hockey
In the regular season, the Isles were 35-16-6 when Casey Cizikas, Matt Martin and Cal Clutterbuck all play and are 13-11-1 when one or more miss a game. They are 4-3 when all three play in the playoffs and 0-1 when one (Clutterbuck) misses a game.
Most Points (Post-Cup Era)
• 103: 2018-19
Most Road Points (Post Cup Era)
• 51: 2018-19
Worst to First
The Isles allowed the most goals in the NHL last season and the fewest goals in the NHL this season. Only once before in NHL history had a team allowed the most goals in one season and the fewest in the next; the Ottawa Senators did so in 1917-18 and 1918-19.
Coach Trotz
In regular season play, Barry Trotz is 2nd among active coaches in games and third in wins. Trotz' NHL record is 810-595-60-141 in 1,606 games.
Most Coaching Wins
1. Scotty Bowman 1,244
2. Joel Quenneville 890
3. Ken Hitchcock 849
4. Barry Trotz 810
Most Games Coached
2. Joel Quenneville 1,636
4. Barry Trotz 1,606
5. Ken Hitchcock 1,598
Trotz, who is a finalist for the Jack Adams Award, will catch Al Arbour in games coached on Opening Night next season.
Coach Trotz (Playoffs)
Barry Trotz has now coached 121 playoff games (59-62), breaking a tie with Lindy Ruff for 14th all-time in games coached. His 59 wins are 19th all time, two behind Jacques Lemaire and four behind Fred Shero and Claude Julien. Trotz won the Stanley Cup last season; Joel Quenneville (3) and Mike Sullivan (2) are the only active coaches with multiple Stanley Cups.
Most playoff wins by Islander coaches:
• Al Arbour 123
• Jack Capuano 10
• Terry Simpson 9
• Barry Trotz 4
• Peter Laviolette 4
• Ted Nolan 1
• Steve Stirling 1
Most playoff games coached (Islanders):
• Terry Simpson 20
• Peter Laviolette 12
Most overtime wins/overtime record:
• Al Arbour 26 (26-9)
• Jack Capuano 4 (4-5)
• Terry Simpson 3 (3-0)
• Barry Trotz 1 (1-1)
• Peter Laviolette 0 (0-1)
• Steve Stirling 0 (0-1)
Most playoff series wins:
• Al Arbour 29
• Jack Capuano 1
What a Difference a Year Makes
This Season: 48-27-7 (103 points), with 228 goals scored and 196 goals allowed (includes SO winners)
Last Season: 35-37-10 (80 points), with 264 goals scored and 296 goals allowed (includes SO winners)
The Isles allowed 100 fewer goals, a decrease of 33.7% as compared to last season.
The Isles are 1-2 when scoring first and are 3-2 when allowing the first goal in the playoffs.
Isles 10-6-12=28
Carolina 6-11-4=21
Shots by Game
• Game 1: Isles 31, Carolina 32
• Series: Isles 116, Carolina 109
• Vs Pittsburgh: Isles 129, Pittsburgh 136
• Playoff Totals: Isles 245, Opponents 245
The Isles are 1-2 when they outshoot their opponents, 0-0 when the shots are even and 3-2 when they are outshot. [The Isles won a franchise-record 31 games when outshot this season.]
Robin Lehner made 8 saves before being replaced after Carolina's 3rd goal. Lehner falls to 4-4 in the playoffs and 0-3 in his career against Carolina. Thomas Greiss made eight saves in his first appearance of the playoffs.
Curtis McElhinney made 26 saves and improves to 3-0 in the playoffs and 3-0 in his career against the Isles.
The Isles were 1-3 on the power play in 5:17 of PP time; Carolina was 1-3 on the power play in 4:42 of PP time.
Power Plays by Game
• Game 1: Isles 0-4 (7:43; 7 shots), Carolina 0-4 (5:43, 7 shots)
• Series: Isles 3-12 (21:05; 20 shots), Carolina 1-14 (21:00, 18 shots)
• Vs Pittsburgh: Isles 2-13 (20:47, 25 shots), Pittsburgh 1-12 (19:32, 11 shots)
• Playoff Totals: Isles 5-25 (41:52, 45 shots), Opponents 2-26 (40:32, 29 shots)
The Isles are 4-0 in the playoffs when they score at least three goals and 0-4 when they do not. In the regular season the Isles went 38-2-2 when they scored at least three goals (including shootout winners) and 10-25-5 when they did not. The 10 wins when being held to two goals or fewer are a franchise record.
The Isles are 1-2 in the playoffs in one-goal games (0-1 in regulation and 1-1 in overtime); they were 19-6-7 in games decided by a single goal in the regular season. The Isles are 1-1 in playoff games where an empty-net goal turns a 1-goal game into a 2-goal game.
Isles: Ryan Pulock (24:10); Carolina: Justin Faulk (27:07)
Josh Bailey Isles forwards with 19:50 of ice-time
Isles record by ice-time leader: Adam Pelech (1-0), Ryan Pulock (3-4)
Isles 23, Carolina 24 (49%).
Valtteri Filppula won 3 of 4 for the Isles; Jordan Staal won 11 of 19 for Carolina.
Face-offs by period: 1st period 6/14; 2nd period 9/15; 3rd period 8/18.
Face-offs by strength: Even strength: 19/38, Power play 1/4, Penalty kill 3/5.
Face-offs by Game
• Game 1: Isles 36, Carolina 23 (59%).
• Game 2: Isles 30, Carolina 22 (58%)
• Series: Isles 113, Carolina 113 (50%).
• Vs Pittsburgh: Isles 120, Pittsburgh 112 (52%)
• Playoff Total: Isles 233, Opponents 225 (51%)
Isles 34 (Leo Komarov -5)
Carolina 28 (Justin Faulk-7)
Hits Game by Game:
• Playoff Total: Isles 330, Opponents 295
There were no fights. Playoff total -0. The Isles were involved in 16 fights in the regular season.
The Isles blocked 11 shots (Ryan Pulock -4).
All situations: Isles 62, Carolina 43
5-on-5 Isles 46, Carolina 30
Isles: Mathew Barzal +16
Carolina: Greg McKegg EVEN
Corsi Game by Game:
• Game 1 (All) Isles 57, Carolina 60; (5-on-5) Isles 42, Carolina 43
• Series (All) Isles 231, Carolina 230; (5-on-5) Isles 177, Carolina 187
(Andrew Ladd -INJ), (Tanner Fritz- INJ), (Johnny Boychuk-INJ), Luca Sbisa, Dennis Seidenberg, Ross Johnston, (Cal Clutterbuck-INJ)
Playoff games lost: 21. The Isles lost 153 man-games in the regular season
Post-Season Late Heroes
The Isles have scored once in overtime:
4/10 – PIT Penguins-Josh Bailey scored the winning goal (4:39 of OT)
Post-Season Late Goals Allowed
The Isles have allowed a goal once in the final two minutes of regulation to either tie or win a game, and have allowed one overtime goal:
4/10 – PIT Penguins – Justin Schultz tied the game (18:31), but the Isles won in overtime.
4/26 – CAR Hurricanes – Jordan Staal scored the winning goal (4:04 of OT)
Playoff Offside Challenges
4/10 – PIT Penguins – Isles goal overturned after successful Penguin challenge.
Bridgeport finished the regular season with a record of 43-24-6-3; the 97 points is their most ever in a 76-game schedule and their highest total since Jack Capuano led them to a 106-point campaign in 2008-09 (80 games). The Sound Tigers were eliminated in the playoffs by Hershey in 5 games.
The NHL Awards will be handed out in Las Vegas on June 19th; the NHL Entry Draft will be held in Vancouver on June 21st-22nd.
The Isles will pick 22nd in the first round of the draft if Columbus beats Boston and will pick 23rd if the Bruins win that series. The Isles own Calgary's 2nd round pick (but not their own).
90 games, 90 editions of The Skinny. A perfect season, at least in attendance. The Skinny streak is 592 consecutive games (including playoffs). We'll look to hit 600 sometime in October.
Thanks to my very understanding family for their support and thanks to everyone for reading and commenting on The Skinny all year round!
Eric Hornick has been the statistician on Islander home game telecasts since January 21, 1982. Information contained in "The Skinny" has been gathered from various sources. Follow Eric @ehornick on Twitter & on his blog www.nyiskinny.com.
The Skinny: Carolina 5, Isles 2. Carolina wins th...
The Skinny on: Time to Stave
The Skinny: Carolina 5, Isles 2. Carolina leads 3...


text:
On a budget at Country Thunder? Here's your guide to cheap eats for $5 or less
Lauren Saria
What do airports, theme parks and festivals have in common? Usually, really expensive food.
But for the thousands of country music fans spending a long weekend at Country Thunder Arizona, there's good news. The festival's food court isn't just a haven for those who love deep-fried food and Dole whips. There are some deals to be found — if you know where to look.
For the budget-conscious country music lovers, here are five items to eat for $5 at Country Thunder this year.
Where: Pizza Palace
What to expect: Choose from cheese, pepperoni, sausage or "kitchen sink" slices of pizza at Pizza Palace. Each is $5. If you're feeding a family, however, you can also opt for a whole 18-inch pie, which costs $30. Other affordable options include $4 bread sticks with dipping sauce, $5 nachos and a $4 churro.
Quarter-pound corn dog
Where: Giovanni's Concessions
What to expect: For the most part, Giovanni's Concessions serves New York- and Italian-themed fare such as cheese steaks, Italian sausages and burgers. But for a heartier item that won't break the bank, you can get a quarter-pound corn dog for $5. It's not hand-dipped or particularly memorable, but it delivers lots of calories for not a lot of cash.
Two churros
Where: Carne Cafe Taco Stand
What to expect: Despite this vendor's name, there's not a lot of Mexican fare coming out of this trailer. You can get street tacos (three for $8) and carne asada fries ($10). But the best bargains include a deep-fried bean and cheese burrito for $6 and a pair of churros for $5.
Frozen dipped banana
Where: Extreme Ice Cream
What to expect: On Day One at Country Thunder, Extreme Ice Cream was already a popular spot for families looking for a cool treat. Cones in classic flavors (chocolate, vanilla and swirl) start at $5 and increase in price when you upgrade to a waffle cone or cup. But a frozen banana costs $5 and can come plain, with nuts, with sprinkles or with Reese's Pieces.
Soft-serve ice cream cone
Where: Sundae Factory
What to expect: Though it's not the only place for frozen treats, Sundae Factory wins on value. You can get a classic soft-serve cone (in a locally made Joy Cone) and top it with sprinkles for $5. Other vendors upcharge for toppings.
Reach the reporter at lauren.saria@azcentral.com. Follow her on Instagram at laurensaria, on Twitter at lhsaria and on Facebook at facebook.com/lsaria.
Support local journalism and subscribe to azcentral.com today.
Dierks Bentley comes home to Country Thunder Brett Eldredge brought soul to Country Thunder The highs and lows of Country Thunder so far A field guide to food and drink at Country Thunder 2019 The people of Country Thunder Arizona 2019


Length: 459mm. Image shows painted and assembled kit.
This R/C model assembly kit recreates the Ford Mustang GT4, a race-ready powerhouse race-ready powerhouse featuring honed aerodynamic form with front spoiler, rear wing and diffuser, improved brakes, plus lightweight carbon fiber vented engine hood, roof, door panels and more. Its high-performance 5.2-liter V8 engine is housed in the front. The model captures the car's muscular form with a polycarbonate body, plus separate parts depicting rear wing, side mirrors and more. Stickers are included to recreate the markings seen when the car was exhibited at the November 2016 SEMA show.
★Left: The rear of the model oozes power, with representations of the quad exhausts, diffuser shape, and rear wing.
★Right: Looked at from the side, the model shows off the car's muscular, powerful form in real style.
★Left: Light cases are separate polycarbonate parts, with stickers included to finish off the realistic look.
★Right: At the rear, too, separate polycarbonate light cases and stickers are employed to capture taillights.
The shaft-driven 4WD TT-02 chassis employs a longitudinal layout with the battery on the left and the motor on the right, to give excellent stability. In addition, it features identical left and right suspension arms and uprights for ease of assembly, plus easy-to-maintain gearboxes. It is a highly adaptable chassis, as it offers 2 different wheelbases, 2 ground clearance settings and 2 tread set-ups in addition to a range of 10 possible gear ratios. It is not short on looks either, with brake disc-shaped wheel hubs and stylish front bumper supports. Gun metal color 10-spoke wheels and slick tires make for a racy finish.
★Length: 459mm, Width: 188mm, Height: 130mm ★Wheelbase: 257mm ★Tire Width/Diameter: 27/67mm (Front & Rear) ★Bathtub-type Frame ★Shaft-Driven 4WD ★Front/Rear 4-Bevel Resin Differentials ★3-Piece Steering Tie-Rod ★4-Wheel Double Wishbone Suspension ★Front/Rear Friction Dampers ★Gear Ratio = 8.27:1 (9 further ratios from 11.38:1 to 7.28:1 possible with use of separately-sold pinions) ★Type 540 Motor ★Electronic Speed Controller (ESC) is sold separately.


Looking back on my life a decade ago, I just wasn't taking care of myself.
I was overweight, deeply in debt, a smoker, junk-food addict, stressed out, clutter piling up all around me, I didn't floss … my life was a mess.
And the solutions were so simple: little acts of self-care that really add up over time.
They're so easy: go for a walk, do a few pushups, meditate for a few minutes, clear a little bit of clutter, take a minute to floss. But I put these things off, avoided even thinking about them, and my problems piled up.
One of the most stressful problem areas was my financial life. I had unpaid bills that I stuffed in a drawer because I didn't want to face them. I had creditors calling, collection agencies whose calls I avoided. I borrowed money from family, even from my kids' piggy banks, just to put food on the table until my next paycheck. I'm not proud of any of this.
I was constantly stressed out, and even though I avoided thinking about the whole mess, it was always on the back of my mind. Some of you know the feeling of desperation that you're not going to make it, that you won't survive until your next paycheck. That's what I was going through. And then there's the feeling of helplessness when you don't think you can get out off the hole you've dug yourself into.
So what happened to turn things around?
I made a simple list of all my bills and the amounts I owe.
I prioritized them in terms of urgency, and made a plan to pay them off. If they were equally urgent, I paid off the smaller ones first just to shrink my list of bills.
I started canceling subscriptions and other payments I didn't really need. I eliminated all but the essential.
I started saving, even if it was just $20 a paycheck at first.
I started regularly reviewing and taking care of my finances (weekly).
Eventually I increased my savings and started investing as my debts became paid off.
I took on extra jobs to pay off debts faster.
I learned how to automate my finances so I didn't have to think about them as much.
It was a slow process, but these small steps of self-care changed my life. Soon my debts became manageable and then became zero! My savings slowly grew, and then I transitioned to investing in low-fee index funds. My bills came under control, and I developed a fundamental financial safety that has been a keystone to my peace of mind in the last 10 years.
It didn't happen overnight, but it did change. And I've been so much happier ever since.
What can you do if you're in a similar situation? Start to see these simple financial steps as a part of taking care of yourself. Just as you should take care of your hygiene, you should take care of your bills and savings. That doesn't mean you need to think about it every minute of the day, or even every day … just regularly.
Once you start this simple form of self-care, you'll be amazed at the changes you'll see.
If you'd like help developing these habits of financial self-care, join my Sea Change Program in July as we work on debt elimination and savings/investments in my new Awesome Finances module.
We'll have articles (by me, and one from Michael Gardon, editor of The Simple Dollar), a forum and accountability groups, and a live video webinar with guest expert J.D. Roth (founder of Get Rich Slowly).
It's free for 7 days, then $10 a month after that. Sign up here.


For a long time the UK has vetoed the prospect of having a centralised EU Defence/Military force. However, having now voted to leave the EU, combined with some key figures (Macron & Merkel), it is somewhat more likely to be something we will see in the future.
I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on the matter?
How will this effect the RN & NATO? Do you think the UK will have a part to play?
The UK having left the EU will stick with the tried and tested NATO. No point trying to ride two horses.
There is already an EU Naval Force. I don't think we currently have any surface ships attached but the boss is CGRM.
There is - if I recall correctly - no requirement to be EU to operate with EUNavFor. Navies tend to 'get on' strategically and operationally as well as socially.
Interesting @Seadog. So do you think if this single EU Defence Force were to become a reality, the EUNAVFOR would remain separate? Or do you think it would be sucked into the single and centrally commanded EU Force?
Am I right that Op SOPHIA is an EUNAVFOR operation? How do EUNAVFOR and NATO integrate with one another? I'd be interested to know who would take the lead, if for example, there was a need to defend the baltic region from Russian aggression etc (in a non article 5 context)? I assume NATO, given the fact that they are regularly exercising in the region and the instability that could be caused by mishandling the situation?!
Forgive me if I am talking utter nonsense. I am just trying to increase by knowledge base and understanding pre AIB.
You're preparing for the AIB, you're not being interviewed for a DS slot at Staff College. Knowing the big picture and is to be encouraged - some in the Service seem to think it's for the grown ups only-but I'm not convinced the kind of detail you're after will serve you well at AIB.
IIRC, on a recent occasion the Royal Norwegian Navy put its NATO contribution under EUNavFor Command.
Mod edit @ratsroden sort the attributions out. Use the helpful quote function.
Be aware of the big difference.
NATO ( and other co-operations) are about sovreign nations lending assets to a multi-national force. As in "Voila, M. Le Admiral Francais, vous avez HMS Floaty pour votre use." EUNAVFOR uses this basis.
What the EU want, in the long run, is specific EU forces, as in "You ain't a British Sailor now, Jack, you are a Eurosailor. And you are serving on the EU Flotable, regardless of where you where born, and that's an EU passport, not a national one."
The costs of such investment, both in equipment and personnel is huge, and will do nothing to support NATO. Its about the EU Federation having its own forces for its own use. We want no part of it.
ABOARD HNLMS ABRAHAM CRIJNSSEN — Standing on the deck of this sleek Dutch frigate knifing through the harbour ice of Den Helder, one might see a British Admiral whistling in admiration as it glided toward the North Sea.
If the admiral came aboard the 3,400-ton warship and looked around, he might turn purple with rage or white with shock.
There he would find unionized sailors with long hair and gold earrings drinking at one of three bars on board, the engine room deserted while the frigate was underway, and only three of the 180 crew members standing watch on the bridge at night cavorting with the lady sailors.
Mod edit: that's not ratsroden's quote at the top but Seadog's. Ratsroden has managed to set a misquoting domino effect through the thread.
They're part of this EU Naval Force you speak of.
sort out your use of the quote function. You are making a Horlicks of this already failing thread.
Completely agreed with the official recommendation . I also don't see any way to prevent the process crash. What puzzles me is the current VS runner experience - the run completes successfully when there's a runaway exception. So apparently somebody is swallowing these exceptions (or mitigating their side effects) somehow. Not sure how.
Today, some tests might pass in VS (ex., BackgroundThreadShouldThrowUnhandledException_WhenBadStuffHappens) and crash under another runner. Ideally for parity, the VS runner would crash rather than swallow these exceptions.
Is there anything xUnit.net is doing in terms of AppDomains/threads that could be swallowing background exceptions, or any VS behaviour that could be change? Or perhaps the underlying VS test runner infrastructure is just doing something bad one can't change.
Don't forget if it does not suit France, they will pull out as they did in 1966 under Charles De Gaulle who also kept us out of the E.E.C.
Hands up all who understood that/\ ?
Whereas I already have one that will better serve the thread.
This is really about the EU intention, since Monnet in the 1940s, to become a Superstate with its own armed forces controlled from Brussels. Come on lads, enlist to fight for the blue and gold! I think not.
Whereas a multinational Corps / Division / Flag Staff can already operate in one language -for example - English, at unit level in an EU Army there would be no lingua franca. Creating the linguistic capability and flexibility across all ranks to create and appoint the "Euro Sailor" is a big ask.
Yes, that's what Seaweed said. Well done for quoting him.
We won't. We will work with both as there are significant merits.
The EDA is not entirely the same as NATO but it allows us access to European procurement projects and programmes and will also help UK defence manufacturers especially SMES.
Operationally having a foot in both camps has worked for us, just Google the number of past and present EU led operations. It's especially useful when NATO can't or won't commit and national resources aren't sufficient.
We work with both at the moment, simply varying the levels of commitment as we see fit or find necessary. I can't see it altering.