text:
Community// August 3, 2018
Waking Up In A Hospital Taught Me About My Toxic Relationship With Work
It's amazing how quickly you stop caring about all the junk that life fills up with, when you come within inches of losing everything.
Sonali Kokra, Sonali Kokra
It's tough not to be stressed out in a country like India.
From the minute you step out of your home, to the time you collapse into bed, exhausted, at night (or, more realistically, the early hours of the morning), you can be sure that something will be gnawing away at your consciousness, stubbornly demanding your attention.
When I was in my 20s, fresh out of college and hungry to leave my mark on the creative world, I was constantly told by hiring managers and editors that the future belonged to me, and people like me — young, ambitious, confident, aggressive, willing to do whatever it took. As a somewhat shy, unsure, hesitant-to-speak-up new adult, this flurry of adjectives terrified me. I remember wondering, a little uneasily, what if I didn't want to be any or all these things?
But I brushed away the thought.
There was no time to sit and ponder, to really think about who I wanted to be, or what I wanted my career to look like, when there was so much stuff to do. There were stories to chase, and competition to beat down in the relentless race to cross a constantly moving finish line. It was like being handed a manifesto of what it would take to survive in corporate, competitive India. Which 21-year-old would have the courage to question the holy grail? So, I decided to learn and adapt, instead. I learned how to speak up, and to make my voice heard, even when I had nothing very important to say. I learned that creating the illusion, the perception of relevance, was more important than actually being relevant to the conversation.
It served me, and my ego well. My name cropped up in important, empty conversations, by important, empty people. I spent enormous amounts of time and energy to ensure that I wasn't forgotten. Every time I faltered, a well-meaning mentor would helpfully remind me of the sheer volume of subcontinental millennials who were just as qualified, as talented, perhaps more deserving than me, waiting to take my place.
I'm told that India is a pulsatingly young country, with half of its population under 25, and a third that is under 35. I'm also told that by 2027, it will house the world's largest workforce, with almost a billion people between 15 to 64 years of age. Those are scary numbers. What are the odds of success, when you're competing with a billion other people for the same 15 seconds of fame?
The fear of losing my spot was enough to make me keep my head down and nose to the grindstone. Everything was sacrificed to the race — sleep, friendships, romance, mental well-being, physical health. In that decade of silent confusion and bone-crushing exhaustion, I went from being a quiet, contemplative young woman to a tense, nervous, under-confident but over-achieving go-getter. I was the editor of one up-and-coming webzine, a weekly columnist for another, and a consulting editor for a third. 60-hour weeks were my norm, and 70 were not unheard of.
This toxic, tiring relationship I had with my profession worked well for the various companies I worked for. As long as I was scared, I'd never get around to asking some very important questions of myself. Was I happy? Was this what I wanted? They said that the future belonged to me, but how could it, when I barely had a handle on the present? And most importantly, if not this, then what? Was there an alternative? If yes, what was it?
The beautiful, and tragic thing about the whispering ghosts of your conscience is that you can't outrun them. One way or another, they will catch up with you and make themselves heard. Several things happened in succession, bringing me to a fork in the road that would forever change the course of my life.
In a span of three years, I went through a nervous break-down, watched my father as he walked the tightrope between life and death within the cardiac care units of three different hospitals, and found myself waking up in a hospital with my partner, both our bodies mangled and broken, as our families flew to the city from different parts of the country even as we were being readied for surgery. These incidents changed me in ways that I cannot undo, teaching me things about myself that I can't unknow.
I remember the panic I felt when I sat in front of my laptop, trying to form coherent sentences on the blank document in front of me, without success. I remember the panic slowly turning into desperation, as the hours turned into days, and days into weeks. I remember wondering, frantically, if the universe allotted a finite number of words to each writer, and if I had squandered mine away before I had something important to say.
I remember the four months my mother, sister and I spent, huddled outside intensive and cardiac care units, clutching each other for courage, as my father's condition seesawed daily. The experience broke each of us individually in some ways, but glued our family together in a way it hadn't been for many, many years.
But what I don't remember is why my partner and I ended up in the hospital — there's a big, gaping hole in our memories about what happened. Our best guess is that we fell asleep behind the wheel. It's a good guess, given that we had both been running on less than five hours of sleep for several before the accident. Lying in the hospital dazed and incoherent, as the police fired questions and demanded blood samples, I wondered: was anything in the world worth this?
It took us four months to get back on our feet, six before we could walk without help, and a year for the scars to fade enough for me to be able to look into the mirror and see myself, not the tapestry of marks left behind by the glass that shattered on my forehead and tore through my skin.
It's amazing how quickly you stop caring about all the trivial junk that life unwittingly fills up with when you come within inches of losing everything that makes life worth living — family, the thing that gives your life purpose, the love of your life. Those three experiences made me realise I no longer wanted to be a part of the race, or to spend large chunks of my life and sanity embroiled in worthless equations.
The decision to walk away wasn't easy, but I haven't regretted it once. It's difficult to suddenly stand still, when you've spent a decade moving, moving, moving… Chasing one thing after another, because pausing for breath would be a sign of weakness.
I walked away from work that left me feeling drained and hollow, and started seeking out connections that meant something to me. I worked fewer hours, but took care of myself better. Walking away meant lesser money and lifestyle changes I hadn't thought I'd have to make, and there were days when I was petrified I'd ruined my career, but somehow, miraculously, I had the sense to recognise that the knot in my stomach was the fear of the unknown, never regret. There were fewer fancy dinner parties, but more meals with the family. Fewer bylines, but more of what I was truly proud of. And for the first time in over a decade, I wasn't waking up dreading the day, or pumping myself with caffeine to get through it in a haze of artificially induced vigour. Bit by bit, as my life realigned itself to follow this new path I'd carved for myself, I regained all the parts of me I had thought were lost to me forever.
I reunited with my silence, and realised this silence, not the words and the sounds I had accumulated over the years, was what made me a good writer. I found that I'd spent so much time convincing myself that I didn't need as much sleep as the others that I'd forgotten how to dream. I discovered that I was a better person, partner, family, and friend, when my thoughts weren't blurry and irritable, thanks to the fatigue I was constantly battling. I made better decisions — professionally and personally — when I was at peace.
You can't undo a decade's worth of conditioning in a few short weeks or months. I still have restless days and sleepless nights because my muscle memory still remembers all the years of abuse, but they're fewer and farther apart.
I'm a work in progress, and some days are harder than others because workaholism can be every bit as addictive and difficult to kick as a narcotic, but I've seen what lies on the other side, and paid its full asking price. It's not a price I'm willing to pay a second time around.
— Published on August 3, 2018
Beating Burnout,
Behavior Change,
Burnout,
Lack of Sleep,
Sonali is a writer from Mumbai. For the last 12 years, she has been writing on women's rights, gender, sexuality, art and culture, and health and wellness. She was the lifestyle editor of HuffPost.in, and has written for Ozy.com, Buzzfeed, The National, Elle, Harper's Bazaar, The Quint, Hindustan Times, NDTV.com, The Swaddle, etc.
What dealing with burnout taught us about work, life and taking care of ourselves
by Marju Kettunen
I Survived Burnout, and Here's What I Learned
by Kay Fabella
Unplug & Recharge// February 2, 2017
Preventing Burnout & Recharging Your Batteries — Bulletproof Radio Podcast with Arianna Huffington
by Dave Asprey


Since Woodsy's was started in 1972, sound system installation and rentals have been one of our cornerstones. With this rich history our pro-audio team has the answers to even your hardest sound questions. With industry leading pro-audio and recording manufacturers such as QSC, Crown, Focusrite, Tascam and more, Woodsy's has the gear you are looking for. Looking for something that you don't see?Give us a call at 1-330-673-1525 or email us. Chances are we have it in our vast brick and mortar store inventory or we can get it in for you.


text:
Birmingham Travel Clinic
Manchester Travel Clinic
Leeds Travel Clinic
Liverpool Travel Clinic
Vaccine Overview
Vaccine Prices
All Vaccines A-Z
Chickenpox Vaccine (Varicella)
What is varicella (chickenpox)? How did it originate?
Varicella, commonly known as chickenpox, is an infection caused by the varicella zoster virus. It is highly contagious, spreading in a similar way to flu, and causes a blister-like rash on the skin. It is not life-threatening but can cause complications.
What are the symptoms of chickenpox?
After between 1 and 3 weeks of being exposed to the chickenpox virus, red spots start to appear on the skin. The spots fill with fluid, and may burst, and then scab over and become itchy. In the meantime, spots may spread to other parts of the body.
Other symptoms include fever, muscles aches and pains, and a loss of appetite. Symptoms are usually worse for adults than children.
You are infectious from 2 days before spots appear until they have crusted over, which is usually 5 days after they appear.
How is chickenpox transmitted?
Chickenpox is highly contagious and you can catch it just by being in the same room as someone infected with it. You can also catch it from the fluid in the blisters, for example by touching bedding or clothing.
What is the transmission seasonality?
Chickenpox is a seasonal disease, and most cases occur in winter and spring. There is often a peak between March and May, although this has been less noticeable in recent years.
What are the infected areas in the world?
The chickenpox virus is common in the UK and most children catch it at some point.
What is a chickenpox certificate?
A chickenpox vaccination certificate proves you have been vaccinated against the disease.
Is chickenpox curable?
Talk to your doctor about treatment options. Medication is recommended for patients with chickenpox who are at risk of developing complications from the disease, including:
patients over 12 years of age, who are otherwise healthy
people with chronic lung or skin disease
people taking steroids
pregnant people.
How can you prevent chickenpox?
The best way to prevent chickenpox is to get the chickenpox vaccine.
Chickenpox vaccine is very safe and effective at preventing the disease. Most people who get the vaccine will not get chickenpox. If a vaccinated person does get chickenpox, it is usually mild—with fewer red spots or blisters and mild or no fever. The chickenpox vaccine prevents almost all cases of severe disease.
How long before a trip do you have to get the chickenpox vaccine?
You should allow at least 4 weeks to ensure you complete the full schedule of 2 doses.
Who should get the chickenpox vaccine?
The chickenpox vaccine is recommended if you are in close contact with people who are at risk of complications from chickenpox. If you are a healthcare worker who is not immune to chickenpox, or if you have family or friends who don't have a fully-working immune system, you are advised to get vaccinated so you can't infect people. Laboratory workers in contact with the virus may also need to get vacccinated.
Who should not get the chickenpox vaccine?
The chickenpox vaccine is not suitable for people who are clinically immunosuppressed, either due to drug treatment or illness, as it could cause a serious complications. This includes babies whose mothers have had immunosuppressive treatment while they were pregnant or breastfeeding. See your GP for more information.
The vaccine is not recommended for pregnant women.
What is the minimum age requirement for the chickenpox vaccine?
The minimum age to get the chickenpox vaccine is 12 months.
What is the effectiveness of the chickenpox vaccine?
Two doses of the vaccine give about 98% protection in children and about 75% protection in teenagers and adults.
What are the side effects of the chickenpox vaccine?
The side effects you may experienmce depend on which of the two vaccines available in the UK you get.
As a guide, common side effects include redness, swelling and pain at the injection site, and a fever. Up to one in 10 people experience a rash similar to chickenpox, mild cold-like symptoms, irritability and itching at the injection site.
1 in 100 people experience more sever side effects, including:
swollen glands, sore throat, headache, runny nose or cough
a blistering rash
very high fever
sleepiness, tiredness, or feeling unwell in general.
How many jabs are needed?
Two doses are given, at least 4 weeks apart. The exact spacing between doses depends on the brand of vaccine given and the age of the person receiving the vaccine.
One dose of the chickenpox vaccine offers a 90% protection rate for children, and it is slightly less effective for adults, at 75%. Two doses are recommended to ensure maximum protection.
When and where was the last outbreak of chickenpox?
Chickenpox is common and mostly affects children, although you can get it at any age.
Don't miss our updates!
Join our mailing list to receive important travel health updates.
Need more travel advice?
PrevPrevious VaccineHuman Papillomavirus Vaccine (HPV)
Next VaccineTyphoid VaccineNext
Copyright © 2018-2019 Clari Health. All Rights Reserved.
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site, we will assume that you are okay with it.OKPrivacy policy

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Australia denies citizenship to Chinese political donor Huang Xiangmo and strips his permanent residency
By political reporters Dan Conifer and Stephanie Borys Updated Sat 6 Apr 2019, 12:39 AM AEDT
Huang Xiangmo (left) alongside Malcolm Turnbull at Chinese New Year celebrations in Sydney in 2016.
Supplied
Australia has stripped Chinese billionaire political donor Huang Xiangmo of permanent residency and killed off his citizenship application.
Huang Xiangmo and his companies have donated at least $2 million to Australian political parties
Authorities have rejected his bid for Australian citizenship and stripped his permanent residency
Australia's spy agency has previously warned political parties against accepting money from the billionaire
Mr Huang quickly rose to become a leading pro-China lobbyist, courting politicians and donating at least $2 million to Australian political parties through his companies.
But the decision from the Home Affairs Department, made while Mr Huang was offshore, leaves him unable to re-enter the country.
The ABC confirmed the businessman's "right to return to Australia has been cancelled".
The Nine media group reported the application had been refused for a number of reasons, including on character grounds and because of concerns about the reliability of answers given during interviews.
The ABC understands the decision to ban Mr Huang from Australia was delivered months ago.
A joint ABC-Fairfax investigation in 2017 revealed his bid for an Australian passport had stalled amid concerns among security agencies about Mr Huang and his links to the Chinese Communist Party.
Domestic spy agency ASIO, which scrutinised the citizenship request, previously warned the Liberal, Labor and National parties about taking cash from Mr Huang, fearing he could try to advance Beijing's interests.
Some analysts predicted that Beijing would react angrily if any of its citizens were targeted under legislation designed to crack down on foreign interference.
But the Foreign Minister Marise Payne played down that possibility.
"[China] has not raised it with me and I don't expect to be the subject of a bilateral discussion. These are matters that occur from time to time," she said.
"We have a good and constructive relationship based on mutual respect and engagement. If there were issues to be raised I'm sure we can address those."
Prime Minister Scott Morrison remained tight-lipped about the reports.
"The Government has always acted consistent with the advice that we've received and that's what has happened on this occasion," he said.
Mr Morrison highlighted laws banning foreign donations that came into force on January 1.
He said previous political donations had been accepted "in good faith", based on information known at the time, suggesting the Liberal Party would not return any of Mr Huang's contributions.
"We have prospective laws that deal with that into the future."
The property developer moved to Australia in 2011 before making his first political donation the following year — $150,000 to the NSW branch of the ALP during Sam Dastyari's time as party secretary.
Photo Huang Xiangmo (second from left) with former prime minster Julia Gillard and former senator Sam Dastyari.
Mr Huang was also president of a Communist Party-aligned body charged with promoting its interests — the Australian Council for the Promotion of the Peaceful Reunification of China.
One of his companies poured $50,000 into a fundraising organisation linked to former trade minister Andrew Robb, he paid $55,000 to dine with Federal Opposition Leader Bill Shorten, while Mr Huang also helped establish an Australia-China research body headed by former NSW premier Bob Carr.
Mr Dastyari's career as a Labor senator ended last year over his links to Huang Xiangmo and China:
Mr Dastyari allowed Mr Huang's Yuhu Group to pay a legal bill on his behalf
The politician repeatedly approached the then-immigration department about the citizenship application
Standing alongside the donor, he spoke against the ALP's policy on the South China Sea dispute ahead of the 2016 election
The former rising star reportedly warned Mr Huang his phone was probably being tapped by security agencies
Before the department's decision, the controversial figure lived in a mansion boasting Sydney Harbour views in the exclusive suburb of Mosman.
Mr Huang's lawyer would not say whether an appeal would be launched to challenge the decision and his spokesman refused to comment.
Mr Huang in 2017 denied having a relationship with the Chinese Communist Party.
Posted Wed 6 Feb 2019, 3:24 PM AEDT
ASIO warns political parties over foreign donations
Beyond Dastyari: Chinese businessman's political donation web revealed
Antony Green


There are a lot of ways to measure volatility (changeability). One of them is calculation of the standard deviation of returns for a certain period of time. Sometimes the current volatility on a short period of time (for example, 6 days) is correlated with volatility of a larger period (for example 100 days). This indicator calculates the correlation of a short volatility Vol_short and a long volatility Vol_long.


text:
Themba Hadebe/AP/Press Association Images Oscar Pistorius (file photo).
# pending
Date set for Pistorius bail appeal in South African court
The athlete is set to learn his fate in relation to the decision on March 28.
Mar 22nd 2013, 2:45 PM
SOUTH AFRICAN OLYMPIC and Paralympic runner Oscar Pistorius, who is accused of murdering his girlfriend, will approach South Africa's High Court next week to appeal his stringent bail conditions, prosecutors said Friday.
"The date for the hearing has been set down for March 28," said Bulelwa Makeke, the spokeswoman for the National Prosecuting Authority.
The bail conditions imposed on February 22 include the surrender of his passport, making it impossible for Pistorius to travel outside the country, and mandatory drug and alcohol tests.
He was also banned from talking to residents of his upmarket gated community in Pretoria, where he shot his model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day.
The 26-year-old, who became the first double amputee to compete against able-bodied athletes in the Olympic Games last year in London, is currently out on bail of one million rand ($107,000, 83,000 euros).
He has denied a charge that the murder was premeditated, insisting that he repeatedly shot at Steenkamp through a locked bathroom door having mistaken her for a burglar.
His arrest and bail hearing made world headlines, forcing him to withdraw from all competitions.
Several local and international sponsors have also cancelled deals with the athlete.
- © AFP, 2013
Jennifer Capriati faces charges for attacking ex-boyfriend>
Remember Jerry Kiernan's anti-GAA rant? Here's more of the same — from 1988>
BAIL DATE HIGH COURT NATIONAL PROSECUTING AUTHORITY OLYMPIC GAMES OSCAR PISTORIUS PENDING REEVA STEENKAMP
<iframe width="600" height="460" frameborder="0" style="border:0px;" src="https://www.the42.ie/https://www.the42.ie/oscar-pistorius-bail-date-set-841757-Mar2013/?embedpost=841757&width=600&height=460" ></iframe>
Email "Date set for Pistorius bail appeal in South African court".
Feedback on "Date set for Pistorius bail appeal in South African court".


The rumbling tensions reflect anger over the destruction on Sunday of the much-loved yet dilapidated museum, which suffered from declining federal funding. It stirred emotions in Brazil, whose angry electorate is reeling from a frail economy, widespread graft and rising violence ahead of an unpredictable presidential election in October.
Brazil's culture minister Sergio Leitao told the Estado de S.Paulo newspaper the blaze was likely caused by either an electrical short-circuit or a homemade paper hot-air balloon that may have landed on the roof. Launching such balloons is a long-held tradition in Brazil and they routinely cause fires.
Both possibilities were being considered, Culture Ministry spokeswoman Roberta de Oliveira Ribeiro said in an email, but the cause would not be known until an investigation was completed. The Rio de Janeiro federal university did not immediately respond to a question on whether the museum was insured.The museum's pastel-yellow facade remained standing after the blaze, but a peek inside its giant windows revealed a roofless interior of blackened hallways and charred beams. Every so often, firemen emerged with a pot or a painting they had managed to rescue.
The museum's vice director, Luiz Duarte, told Globo TV the institution had been neglected by successive federal governments. He said a 21.6 million-real ($5.23 million) financing plan with the state-run development bank BNDES announced in June included, ironically, a plan to install modern fire protection equipment.
The Rio fire department's commander, Roberto Robadey, said the hydrants outside the building were dry when firefighters arrived, forcing them to turn to a nearby lake and tanker trucks for water.
"Yesterday was one of the saddest days of my career," he said.
The museum is not the first to burn down in Brazil, where public money for cultural projects has been drying up after a deep recession. In 2015, for example, a blaze destroyed the prestigious Museum of the Portuguese Language in Sao Paulo.
In 2016, President Michel Temer was forced to reinstate the Culture Ministry after an outcry from some of the country's top artists over his policy to fold it into the Education Ministry to save money.
Education Minister Rossieli Soares told reporters outside the burned-out building on Monday that the federal government would spend an initial 15 million reais, in two separate instalments, to restore the structure and rebuild its collection. He added that Brazil would seek international help, and was already in discussions with UNESCO.
The museum's decline did not happen overnight, said Renato Rodriguez Cabral, a teacher in the geology and palaeontology department.
Between 2013 and 2017, the National Museum in Rio's federal funding fell about a third, to 643,567 reais, according to official budget data. The funding cuts were particularly acute this year, with the museum receiving just 98,115 reais between January and August.
Late last year,, after a termite attack shuttered a room hosting the bones of the Maxakalisaurus dinosaur, the National Museum was forced to turn to a crowdfunding site to seek funds for reopening the exhibit.
It raised nearly 60,000 reais, almost double its goal.
The National Museum's collection ranged from archaeological finds to historical memorabilia.
The museum, which is tied to the Rio de Janeiro federal university and the education ministry, was founded in 1818 and housed several landmark collections, including Egyptian artefacts and the oldest human fossil found in Brazil.
The destruction of the building, where emperors once lived, was an "incalculable loss for Brazil," Temer said in a statement.
His office did not respond to requests for comment on widespread allegations of neglect.


Located 35 minutes from the Washington D.C. beltway, via Interstate 95, and 10 minutes from Quantico Marine Base. Hampton Oaks has many amenities, including a Community Center, pool, a Summer Swim team, and tennis courts.
Directions to Hampton Oaks - From Interstate 95, take Exit 143B (Garrisonville), make a left turn at the third stop light (Mine Road). The Townes of Hampton Oaks are approximately .75 miles from that intersection and to the left. The single-family homes begin about .5 miles down Mine Road.
Due to the military, Federal Bureau of Investigation and Drug Enforcement Administration population in our community, we have a number of homes available for sale at peak government rotation cycles. Hampton Oaks' homes sell fast, so don't miss an opportunity to live in our wonderful community!
Please use this site to find information about Hampton Oaks and North Stafford County.
Hampton Oaks Community Center. Pool and tennis courts are also visible.


text:
Richard "Coach Nell" Donnell Hamilton
Crown Hill Funeral Home & Cemetery
March 22, 1979 – January 11, 2023
Richard "Donnell" Hamilton was born March 22, 1979, to Donna M. Hamilton in Indianapolis, Indiana. He departed this life on January 11, 2023, at the age of 43. Donnell accepted Christ an early age, while attending Kiddie College. He joined Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church with his grandma Margaret E. Hamilton (VI). While on the set of recording a podcast, he met Reverend Dr. Wayne L. Moore, lead pastor at Olivet Missionary Baptist Church. In elementary he played little league at Tabernacle (TAB) and picked up his passion and love for Football. Donnell graduated from Broad Ripple High School in 1997 but excelled in sports his earlier years of high school at Bishop Chatard. He received All Conference and All-State Honors being one of the best football players in the state. Donnell continued his education at Western Kentucky University where he continued his dominated reign in football. He started as a true freshman (LB) and Return Man in 1998. Donnell was known for having "That Dog" in him having a competitive spirit and flying around the field making plays. While attending Western Kentucky University, Donnell met the love of his life, Tiffany Hamilton, in the summer of 1999. They were united in Marriage on July 16, 2006, and loved all of their children deeply with open arms. He is preceded in death by his great-grandmother. Left to cherish his memory is his loving Wife, Tiffany Hamilton, Daughter Dynia Hamilton, Sons; Isaiah Carver, Richard Donnell Hamilton Jr., Dontaye Hamil-ton, Granddaughter Mylah Carver, Mother Donna Hamilton, Mother-In-Law Gloria Anthony, Father-In-Law Thomas Anthony, Brother Noral Parham III, Sister Breonna, Grandmother Vi Hamilton, Grandfather Tommy Hamil-ton, Aunts; Pamela Alexander and Dianne Buckley, Uncle David W. Hamilton, 3 nieces, 1 nephew, 1 great niece, 2 great nephews, a host of cousins, extended relatives, friends, parents, and players. A visitation for Coach Nell will be held Saturday, January 21, 2023, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Olivet Missionary Baptist Church, 4141 N. Highschool Rd, Indianapolis, IN 46254, followed by a celebration of life at 12:00 PM. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.crownhill.org for the Hamilton family.
In Memory Of Richard "Coach Nell" Donnell Hamilton


"I don't think women have to deal with overt sexism in the workplace anymore." My very kind male friend said those words a week prior to my writing this, as I was trying to pick a topic for this column. It occurred to me that many people may share his view that the age of overt sexism is over. Perhaps they believe that the "Mad Men"-esque days of Don Draper-types telling their secretaries to go get the rolling pin ended years ago.
A few months ago, I attended an expert panel on the topic of crafting the ideal corporate culture. To my surprise, these executives instead spent the entire discussion talking about their brand. The person sitting next to me leaned over and asked: "Are they confused, or ahead of their time?" It was a good question.
While most organizations think of brand and culture as separate ideas supported by separate teams, they are remarkably interconnected and must be aligned for long-term sustainability. Ultimately, if your culture and brand are not aligned, any brand equity is inauthentic. While it might be possible to fool your clients for a period of time, the truth inevitably comes out.
I describe organizational culture as a messy web of systems, processes, roles, communication practices, assumptions, attitudes, goals and personalities. Oh, and there isn't just one culture. Depending on the size of your organization, there could be thousands across departments (which is perfectly normal). Culture is embedded in every aspect of the organizational system. Every little change within the system has repercussions — some obvious and others less so; some immediate and others long-term. As a result, organizational culture change cannot happen on its own.
CEOs need to fully understand the values, beliefs and norms of their organizational culture before they can create any change. But it's challenging for a CEO to reach this depth of understanding because, unsurprisingly, people have a difficult time giving the person at the top bad news. The CEO controls the purse strings, and the hiring and firing decisions. Giving the leader critical feedback, telling them what they are doing wrong or where their blind spots exist, can be — to put it mildly — a career-limiting move.
There's a lot of controversy about team-building exercises in the corporate world. Do they really boost morale? Does rappelling down a cliff actually build trust that translates into a more productive accounting office? Is retreating worth the time and expense?
First things first: You have to understand the difference between team building and team socializing. Many leaders who take their employees out for happy hour call it team building. It is not. Other leaders schedule structured activities such as escape rooms or go-karting and call it team building. It is not. Those activities are team socializing. Real team building, on the other hand, is thoughtful, done over time and proactive.
Moving offices is a dangerously stressful time for a business: Employee retention rates, cultural harmony and productivity will suffer. Your relocation might just be the straw that breaks your bottom line.
Today, your employees are continuously being asked to adapt to a stream of new processes, systems and technology, and master new skills and competencies. The list goes on. For your employees, the one constant is their personal office space.
In his 2005 book Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking,"Malcolm Gladwell polled Fortune 500 companies and found that 30 percent of CEOs were 6 feet 2 inches or taller. In comparison, only 3.9 percent of the U.S. population are of that height.
Also known as implicit bias, this tendency refers to the mental processes, classifications, stereotyping and decisions that are made in our minds, but outside our mental awareness. These snap judgments lead us to, for example, be more likely to see a tall individual as a leader than a short individual, and are a result of genetically determined processes in which we make quick decisions in order to survive hostile environments. Our brains take shortcuts to judge, classify and act based on limited — and often inaccurate — information.
On this episode of Action Items, Dr. Jessica Kriegel, an organizational development consultant at Oracle and author of the book "Unfairly Labeled: How Your Workplace Can Benefit From Ditching Generational Stereotypes," and Angélica Quirarte, a government innovations strategist for the California Government Operations Agency, and join host Tre Borden to discuss how the State — and private organizations — can address an aging workforce and prepare for a younger generation of workers.


Tucker is closing in on the big THREE-POINT-OH, and recently his verbal abilities have taken a big leap forward.
As most parents will tell you, this is both a blessing and a curse. It has definitely given me a lot of laughs though, and I thought I'd share a few brief conversations we've had.


text:
How Many Coffee Dates Does it Take to Find The One?
By Heather Sellers
My friends are married people and stunned. "Why are you doing this?" "I could never do it." We say this same thing about tragedy, as though we have a choice. About wheelchairs and Down syndrome babies and cancer and missing limbs. Looking for love isn't a tragedy or a defect. It's a situation.
I'm doing this because I've been divorced three years and I haven't had a single date. No one has asked me out. I called the single father on my street before Christmas and asked him to go out for a drink. He said he didn't have any money right now.
My friends think I am trying too hard. "Stop trying and then it will happen!" "When you give up, that is when it will happen." They think I am so happy alone and I will not admit it. They have also suggested my standards are too low (the mechanic/hunter/libertarian who cursed in every single sentence he uttered) and too high (the baker who was thrilled to talk about gluten-free, who compared my body to that of a supermodel's. Whom I didn't want to see again—he had so many kids, a long commute, and byzantine ice hockey commitments).
My friends claim they can't imagine dating. If their husbands die, they say, they will make it alone. They pat their mates when they say this. They seem not madly in love but madly in small vague terror. I am helping them remember the good parts of marriage after a long, crabby day.
It's funny to me how many of the divorced men from Match say to me in conversation, "my wife." How much they talk about the lives from which they have been fired. As though I am a babysitter, guy, shrink, or nice wall.
Fed up with men's ads "seeking women age 18–[one year younger than whatever age they are]," I change my profile. I say I am looking for a man age range 18–41; I'm 42 years old. But my friend who met the furnituremaker says it isn't funny. You can't sound bitter, she says. You can't make a commentary; this isn't the time to make a point.
My friend Ellen met three gorgeous millionaires on Match. All wanted to study Buddhism with her and ride bikes with her; she picked the cyclist from Italy, who is ten years younger and crazy in love with her. "It's not like dating in your 20s," she told me. She says I need to be in my 50s to really do this right. "You're at just the wrong age," she said.
I do not know if dating in my 20s was like dating in my 20s. I was pretending to be a person similar to myself. The pretend person was much better and much worse than my true self. I had no real beliefs.
Almost a year later, I've made it to a couple of dozen.
Number 31 has, he says, simplified his life. "So tell me your life story in 20 words or less," he says, and I do, and he talks for the next 25 minutes, leaning forward, elbows on the table: his financial statement, his business plan, his recovery program, four children, his "wife." A man pushing an empty wheelchair can't get past our table. My coffee date doesn't see this, because it is taking place behind him and he is talking to me about the $3 million house in Aspen and how it's good he doesn't have it anymore. I stand up, pull the table a bit. The coffee date sees how, moves chairs. The man pushing the wheelchair still struggles. The chair is like a prop—something he has never seen before, much less used. Finally, he gets past us.
From the September 2009 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine
5 Things Every Smart, Single Man Is Looking for in a Woman
Getting Married: The Strategic Approach
How to Diffuse a Fight
How (Not) to Get a Man
10 Love Resolutions for 2010
The Scariest Dating Questions You Need to Ask Yourself
What Marriage Counselors Want You to Know About Real Love
What Never to Say to a Single Woman


text:
In Times of Divorce, You Still Need to Properly Disclose the Financials
Author: Regina Franco
By law, spouses are subject to the general rules governing fiduciary relationships which control the actions of persons occupying confidential relations with each other. This confidential relationship imposes a duty of the highest good faith and fair dealing on each spouse, and neither shall take any unfair advantage of the other. Family Code § 721. This fiduciary duty arises on the date of marriage and does not end just because divorce proceedings have begun.
Among the issues requiring resolution through divorce is property division. In order to effectuate a division of property within the parameters of the law, parties must comply with the disclosure requirements of the Family Code. Parties are required to exchange complete and accurate declarations of disclosures listing all assets and debts in which a party has an interest regardless of whether the characterization of the asset or debt is separate or community property. When making disclosures, parties must uphold their fiduciary duties owed to each other and once disclosures are exchanged, the fiduciary duty requires that the parties update and augment their disclosures to the extent there have been any material changes so that when the parties enter into an agreement regarding property division, each has full and complete knowledge of the relevant underlying facts. Family Code § 2100.
The Court will not enter a judgment of divorce unless the disclosure requirements have been met. Completing and exchanging declarations of disclosures are not only a technical step to getting divorced, but a very serious requirement. A violation of the disclosure requirements or a breach of the fiduciary duty could result in an award of 100% of the undisclosed asset to the complying spouse or a set aside of a judgment of divorce. There is no question that full disclosure is not only best practice, but also is mandated by law.
Author Scripta Ad Astra StaffPosted on September 10, 2016 Categories UncategorizedLeave a comment on In Times of Divorce, You Still Need to Properly Disclose the Financials
Court Declines to Enforce Uber's Terms of Service
Scripta Ad Astra is extremely pleased to present a guest post by Nicole Syzdek. Ms. Syzdek is an Associate with our friends at Brand & Branch LLP, who focus on branding (trademark protection, registration and enforcement), and provides advice on privacy and data security practices.
Author: Nicole Syzdek
On July 29, 2016, the Southern District of New York in Meyer v. Kalanick declined to enforce the arbitration provision of Uber's Terms of Service on the grounds that the plaintiff did not have adequate notice of, and consequently did not consent to, Uber's Terms. Since each online user interface differs, there is no bright-line rule to ensure the enforceability of your terms of service. Nevertheless, decisions like Meyer are instructive in helping business owners understand how to ensure that their own terms of service are enforceable if violated.
The central issue in Meyer v. Kalanick was whether the plaintiff actually agreed to Uber's Terms of Service when he signed up to use Uber through his mobile phone. Below is an image of what the plaintiff saw prior to registration:
The court categorized this as a "sign-in wrap" since the user was notified of the existence and applicability of the Terms while registering as a user but was not required to view them. The court took issue with the appearance and placement of the terms of service language, which was located below the options to use PayPal or Google Wallet and stated:
By creating an Uber account, you agree to the
The court found that this language was in a font barely legible on a smartphone and not prominently displayed in relation to the color and size of the overall design of the registration screen. This layout, the court said, did not adequately draw users' attention to the Terms of Service—let alone to the fact that by registering to use Uber, a user was agreeing to Uber's Terms.
Why Should You Care?
As a business owner, it's your responsibility to limit risk and keep your business running smoothly. One way to limit liability with respect to your websites and mobile applications is to have strong, enforceable terms of service. Your terms of service are your contract with your website visitors; they protect you by telling your customers what they are and are not allowed to do on your website or mobile app, and what they can and cannot expect from your website or service. Your terms should also enable you to ban users who violate these terms from your website, or terminate their accounts from your service.
Your terms of use are an incredibly important and powerful tool in managing your potential liability—but only if they're actually enforceable.
The Uber decision makes clear that "click-wrap" agreements—which require a user to click through your terms of service—are the safest bet and most likely to be enforceable. By contrast, "browsewrap" agreements—burying your terms in a link at the bottom of the page or smartphone screen—are usually only enforced against other businesses that should be knowledgeable about the terms. "Sign-in wrap" agreements like Uber's may be enforceable, but the notice of acceptance and link to the terms of service must be prominently positioned prior to the user completing the registration process.
Nicole Syzdek is an Associate at Brand & Branch LLP, focusing on intellectual property and technology matters, including trademark and copyright prosecution and enforcement, Trademark Trial and Appeal Board proceedings, licensing agreements, Internet policies, and privacy. She may be reached at nicole@brandandbranch.com.
To read additional posts visit www.brandandbranch.com.
Author Scripta Ad Astra StaffPosted on September 15, 2016 February 1, 2019 Categories BlogTags Brand & Branch LLP, Meyer v. Kalanick, Nicole Syzdec, Uber's Terms of ServiceLeave a comment on Court Declines to Enforce Uber's Terms of Service
Welcome to the Ad Astra Law Group, LLP Blog!
Federal Judge Holds California's Death Penalty Unconstitutional
Demurrers to Answers: Changing the Practice of Drafting Defenses
Opinion Roundup: California District Courts and the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act – January 2014 through June 2014 – Part One
Back to School Special on Estate Plans
Opinion Roundup: California District Courts and the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act – January 2014 through June 2014 – Part Two
Opinion Roundup: California District Courts and the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act – January 2014 through June 2014 – Part Three
2014 ABC Desk Guide
NSF Funds New UCLA Cybersecurity Research Center and Other News
Congressman Darrell Issa Not Happy With The Federal Trade Commission Taking Action Against LabMD For Data Security Breaches


Seasons greetings to everyone from around the globe!
This greeting card was created in Adobe Photoshop with my image of the Beaver Moon taken last November 28, 2012 featured on the right side. Other clip-art images were found through a Google Image search. No copyright infringement intended.


80's Rock Tribute "LIXX" returns to Belfast on Friday 29th June for another Rock Radio NI gig.
They'll be performing in Voodoo on Fountain Street. Tickets cost £6 in advance and can be bought from Voodoo, Warren's Newsagents or Fresh Garbage. Admission on the night will be £8.
Support on the night will be by local rockers Maverick who recently released their new EP.


text:
Appen steht für:

 Appen, Gemeinde im Kreis Pinneberg in Schleswig-Holstein
 Appen (Waldburg), Ortsteil der Gemeinde Waldburg, Landkreis Ravensburg, Baden-Württemberg

von Appen ist der Familienname folgender Personen:

 Henrik von Appen (* 1994), chilenischer Skirennläufer
 Karl von Appen (1900–1981), deutscher Bühnenbildner
 Mario von Appen (* 1965), deutscher Kanute
 Marlene von Appen (* 2005), deutsche Filmschauspielerin und Kinderdarstellerin
 Philipp von Appen (* 1953), deutscher Bildhauer

Siehe auch:
 Apen (Begriffsklärung)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


The Science Department aims: to familiarise students with the world in which they live and to help them understand the impact of science on society so as to enable them to adjust themselves to their environment; to acquaint them with the 'scientific method' and to enable them to develop the scientific attitude; to give students a historical perspective, so that they may understand the evolution of the scientific development. Our objectives are to develop scientific knowledge, skills and practical abilities. Students develop an appreciation of the value of science to society and the skills necessary to pursue a scientific career.
» Click here to download the Science curriculum.


text:
We at Narcissi productions have the experience of more than two decades of documentary and TV productions. Although the company was established in 2016 it is the fruit of years of productions in other production companies.
As an innovative and ambitious entity, we currently specialise in producing the documentary (short and long) and TV talk shows. The company has set up a dedicated team in addition to a network of professionals, enthusiast film-makers and producers in the UK, Middle East, Europe, Latin America, North America and in fact around the globe in a way that with minimal costs can create some very high-class broadcasting programmes.
Our motto is "small is beautiful" so we believe a dedicated small team is able to do projects that a big production company cannot believe it is possible to do with such a small team.
We also tend to employ talented young filmmakers and newcomers whenever possible.
We pride ourselves on providing top quality studio services, training, production and post-production facilities.
For all inquiries, write to info@narcissiltd.com


The Sarus Crane is the world's tallest flying bird, India's only resident breeding crane and the official State Bird of Uttar Pradesh (UP). Since 2013, the Sarus Crane Conservation Project, run across 10 districts of eastern UP by Wildlife Trust of India in collaboration with Tata Trusts and the UP Forest Department, has sought to involve local communities in monitoring and protecting this iconic bird and the wetlands that sustain it. 'Where the Sarus Sings' is a short film that outlines this community-driven approach to conservation.
With the tiger facing a serious challenge in its entire distribution range, the Global Tiger Forum has compiled the latest Tiger Action Plans of 13 tiger range states into this third edition of the Action Tiger, giving scientists and conservationists an insight into the strategies adopted by governments to deal with the problem.
In conjunction with long-term measures it is essential that rapidly deployable and field-tested solutions to alleviate Human Wildlife Conflict be brought to the forefront. This inaugural volume of the Conservation Action Solutions series does just that, summarising ten successful conflict mitigation measures already employed by WTI, and two new ideas that are worth implementing as pilot projects.
This Conservation Reference Series publication brings together, in its second edition, a comprehensive listing of India's 101 elephant corridors as listed and mapped by elephant experts in consultation with all state forest departments that are part of the elephant range in the country. Securing these corridors so that elephants and other species can locally migrate between habitats is crucial to their survival.
The dawn of the New Year holds no fascination for most beings, but for those plucked, declawed and defanged apes also known as humans, it seems to have some special significance.
Standing on the shores of 2018, we at Wildlife Trust of India see the unending tide of conservation battles still to be fought. Yet humans we are (if of the wild-at-heart persuasion), and the date affords us the minor satisfaction of stock-taking.
Here, we present our picks from among a range of conservation activities we continued or initiated in the year gone by.
Just as 2016 drew to a close, the field team of our Whale Shark Conservation Project satellite-tagged a female whale shark off the Saurashtra coast – the seventh whale shark to be tagged under the project. By August 2017 this whale shark had been monitored via satellite for over 200 days – the first and longest migratory movement of whale sharks ever recorded from the Indian subcontinent. Also in August, we announced the launch of a massive awareness campaign aimed at securing a safer future for whale sharks off the coasts of Kerala and Lakshadweep.
The country's National Heritage Animal is in a beleaguered state, its habitats being destroyed and fragmented and its ancient migratory paths impeded, forcing it into human-use areas and into conflict with people. In New Delhi on World Elephant Day we launched the Gaj Yatra, a campaign to highlight the plight of elephants and point to solutions that would afford them their unhindered right of passage through vital habitats. Described by WTI's Executive Director & CEO Vivek Menon as "a march to reclaim the national consciousness", the Gaj Yatra is backed by the technical depth of the Right of Passage publication, also released last year, which details the 101 corridors that elephants need to move between their habitats in India.
Work on our long-term Right of Passage project to secure these 101 corridors continued apace, meanwhile, with the Chilla-Motichur Corridor in Uttarakhand being declared free of human habitation, patta documents being given to relocated families in Ram Terang, and an additional area of 245 hectares being added to the Jadegindam Village Reserve Forest, providing more area for elephant movement through the Rewak-Emangre Corridor in Meghalaya. Just six of the 101 corridors have been secured thus far though; clearly, there's need for an urgent march ahead.
If the 2016 floods were 'the worst to hit Kaziranga in a decade', the floods last year were probably the worst in 30 years. Over 85 percent of the national park's area was inundated, hundreds of wild animals died, and many more – including tigers, rhinos, elephants, wild buffaloes and hog deer – were displaced by the fast-rising floodwaters. Over the two flood waves that occurred in July and August, Mobile Veterinary Service (MVS) teams from our Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation – CWRC, run in partnership with IFAW and the Assam Forest Department – attended over 100 emergency cases related to wildlife in distress. In August, four rhino calves were rescued in separate incidents and brought to CWRC's Large Animal Nursery within just 24 hours!
When Valmiki Tiger Reserve in Bihar was awarded the prestigious 'RBS Earth Guardian Award' for 2017 in October, it was a matter of great satisfaction for us. We've partnered with the Bihar Forest Department since 2003 for a long-term project to restore this neglected Protected Area: conducting tiger density estimations, monitoring prey populations, mapping key habitats, training frontline staff, working with local communities to create green livelihood opportunities, and restocking the Gandak with captive-bred gharials. Derided 15 years ago as a 'tiger reserve without tigers', Valmiki is today being hailed as an exemplar of conservation success.
Human population growth; the shrinking of wild habitats; the depletion of wild prey populations – all of these intertwined factors have led to an increase in conflict between people and wild cat species in recent years. Our Rapid Response Teams were consequently kept on their toes in several conflict situations: helping capture a man-eater near Pilibhit Tiger Reserve at the beginning of the year, tranquilising a tiger that had strayed into a village in Maharashtra towards the close, and surviving a close encounter or two besides. Dealing with carnivore conflict is about more than dealing with wild cats, however, and we continued efforts to engage with communities living on the fringes of Protected Areas – without being partial to big cat species either.
Rehabilitation into the wild is the outcome we strive towards whenever we're required to bring wild animals under our care, whether for short-term interventions or following years of hand-raising. Among our several successes this year were 'Makumi' and 'Karbi', the two western hoolock gibbons hand-raised at CWRC and released into the Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong landscape; the six civet pups (three of them leucistic) rehabilitated into Similipal Tiger Reserve; and two leopard cats our Western Assam MVS helped send back to the wild. In September, in a resounding endorsement of our rhino rehabilitation efforts in Manas National Park, 'Jamuna', a female rhino that had been hand-raised at CWRC and rehabilitated in 2010, gave birth to her second calf in the wild. As the curtain came down on 2017, three lesser adjutant storks, brought to CWRC in critical condition as fledglings, were just about ready to spread their wings and take flight.
Wait, but how could we forget the kids? Our interface with children across several projects was, indeed, one of the high points of our year. Whether through a street play on Park Opening Day in Manas, on Global Tiger Day or during Wildlife Week, on Gujarat Whale Shark Day or World Environment Day, or through several local wildlife awareness events; from Kunhimangalam to Gondia, from Baramulla to Mudahalli, we celebrated wildlife with young 'uns.
Wildlife Trust of India's mega-campaign for India's wild elephants gets underway.


text:
Open main entertainment navigation Entertainment
KFC 'heiress' hates Lifetime's sexy Mario Lopez movie
Social Links for Marisa Dellatto
More On: kfc
Customer shot KFC worker after being told restaurant was out of corn
Woman shares foul photos of her KFC fries discovery
KFC apologizes for Kristallnacht promotion in Germany
Fitness coach challenges three McDonald's hacks
This chicken "heiress" has her feathers in a bunch.
Kaila Methven is clucking about Lifetime's sexy, new short film, "A Recipe for Seduction," a collaboration with Kentucky Fried Chicken starring Mario Lopez.
Methven's maternal grandfather, Stanley Methven, founded Rainbow Chicken Unlimited, which once supplied nearly all of KFC's poultry, according to Fox News.
"I think certain aspects of the film can be construed as something that's very vulgar," she told the outlet, adding that the video is "definitely not something" her family — worth around $600 million — "would ever approve of."
In the steamy, 16-minute mini movie, 47-year-old Lopez portrays a hot chef named Harland Sanders — a k a brand symbol Colonel Sanders — who gets with Jessica, an heiress whose father has died.
Mario Lopez is a finger-lickin' good Colonel Sanders in 'Recipe' movie
It hit a little too close for home for Methven, a 29-year-old lingerie designer.
"A bunch of people were asking me if that was my grandmother or if it was my mother the film was portraying," she said. Her mom, Lisa, committed suicide in 2006 when Melvin was 14 years old.
"[It] reminded me of my mother's family – lies, scandals and money," Methven said. "Everyone in my family married into wealthy families except for me."
"A Recipe for Seduction" premiered on Lifetime on Sunday, Dec. 13.
Although she called it "cute and cheesy," Methven also found it to be "degrading," especially because Jessica's conniving mother is placed in a mental hospital at the end of the story.
Methven is "embarrassed that [Lifetime and KFC] would take an American family franchise that my grandfather made worldly and turn it into some kind of a cheap movie about a guy whoring himself out to a rich family," she said.
"I find this completely inappropriate and so shameful. I want no part of it and I apologize on behalf of everyone that they are seeing KFC in this way as it's very hurtful."
Kaila Methven
Read Next The best TV shows of 2020