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DFW Newborn Session: Meet Eleanor

Y’all this little girl is about to steal all your hearts. Meet Eleanor Kate Hamilton! Born on March 15th, I had the great pleasure of meeting this sweet baby girl on Day 11 for her first photo shoot. I am beyond thrilled to share a first look at Brenna and Jeff’s little peanut!

This particular set of photos was my favorite because this family just rocked it. Brenna has the brightest smile on her face and Dad, Jeff, cannot take his eyes off of their first born beauty. They all just seem so relaxed, right at home with their new baby!

I had the great pleasure of meeting this little lady’s Mama a few years ago through a mutual friend and way back then, I photographed her sweet pup, who now is long gone but still very much in Brenna’s heart. In fact, in the years since that shoot, Brenna has added a new pup to the family, Piper and this big sister is just smitten with the Hamilton Family’s new addition!

Weighing in at a solid 8 pounds, this little chunk was born with a full head of hair and what appears to be the prettiest blue eyes. So far, Mom and Dad say that her favorite thing to do is eat! Oh, and sleep! What a life!

Brenna and Jeff (and the new Grandma who was there to help) totally trusted my vision and invited me into their home to capture this lifestyle inspired newborn session. We kept it sweet and simple. I made sure to include lots of Mama loving on her baby girl and a ton from the perspective of little Ella in Daddy’s hands, as well as a few of Piper checking out her new roommate.

We had gorgeous light throughout the entire session and I love that each room in their house flooded with natural light in the afternoon. We managed to time feedings and shoot time perfectly. Not one tear was shed though we didn’t really give her a chance. If Eleanor looked even the bit sad, either Mom, Grandma, Dad or I would pick her up and give her hugs before she had a chance to get upset.

We ended the session by letting Eleanor just chill in her crib in her new nursery. Layered in pink lace ruffles and white bow, Eleanor Kate proved that she is in fact “more precious than rubies” and for that, I am thankful. Not only that this job allows me the pleasure of meeting and documenting such sweet baby’s first days in the world but that I know the joy their presence brings each family, especially the Hamiltons!

For information on how to book an in home newborn session or a Fresh 48 Session, message me, Angelina, at therustienailhead@gmail.com and we can discuss package details, due dates and dreamy baby poses.

DFW Portrait Session: The Lane Family

Y’all, Meet the Lane Trio! During our Holiday Mini Season, Mama, Hannah, reached out to book their first ever family portrait session and I was too happy to help them out.

We met at Bear Creek Park in Keller, Texas on a beautiful, but chilly, fall day. I was so glad that December was still offering the deep, rich fall colors. The trees were were vibrant yet the grass was towing the winter line and the contrast would prove to be the perfect back drop.

Mama and Daddy showed up with their sweet baby girl, Brielle. I was happy to learn that their little love was only a month older than our sweet Lucy. I immediately felt like Hannah and I were in a special club for having our babes in the same time frame.

Side note: How funny is it that we do that? All my pregnancy books talked about having a correlation with a celebrity who is pregnant and last year Kate Middleton, Kate Hudson, Cardi B, Joanna Gaines, Hannah and I all got to be pregnant at the same time. I assure you we didn’t plan it this way but 2018 produced some hardcore cuties.

Anyways…the shoot started off so good. Brielle was rocking her little red toboggan and Mama and Daddy were more than happy to wrap up and cuddle her to protect her from the chilly winds. Even with the dropping temperature, their little lady was a perfect angel. She didn’t make one peep throughout the shoot.

I made sure to snap a bunch of Mommy & Daddy loving on their little girl but also to capture a few sweet moments between each parent with Brielle. I found that the posed pictures were adorable but the candies were some of my favorites. New parents always crack me up because in an attempt to make their little love smile, they always make the goofiest faces and the result is simply magic!

I really enjoyed meeting this trio. They were sweet and kind, joking with me about how crazy it is to be new parents. They even sent us a Christmas card! Honestly, it was refreshing to meet people in the same stage of life as we are and I am thankful for their sage advice. Here’s hoping that Lucy and Brielle have a play date soon!

Laurel Highland Portrait Sessions: The Foley Family

Meet the Foley Sisters! Seriously, could they be any cuter? This session was super special to me because these gorgeous gals are my baby cousins and I was so happy that our little Lucy got a chance to meet these babes when we were back in PA!

Mama, Meaghan, is an avid lover of all things fall so when planning this session, I wanted to make sure we got some gorgeous fall colors in the backdrop of their photos. To ensure a vibrant autumn photo shoot, we headed to the Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve. I knew that this location would not disappoint!

The girls came dressed perfectly in matching dusters and coordinating shirts and pants. I love that their Mama chose to add a pop of the popular mustard yellow and that deep rich cranberry to their outfits. They both had so much fun  twirling around in their dusters and the colors popped so perfectly against the autumn landscape.

As usual, Kaylee and Ryan kept me busy during our shoot. They were full of ideas and they both have no problem getting in front of the camera. They perfected the hand-on-the-hip and the sweet smiles and we ended their shoot with promises to meet their newest little love, their cousin and our baby, Lucy! We ate and laughed the night away at Rizzo’s while these little girls affectionately passed Baby Lucy around the table! We look forward to many many more play dates!

Engagement Session: Katie + Mike

Hands down, my favorite session of the year! Why, you might ask. Well, because the gorgeous gal in these photos is my bestest friend and that hottie on her arm is her FIANCÉ!!! Yep, my bestie is getting hitched and I got to photograph their engagement portraits! So, ya, I am a tad excited about these pictures!

Though they have been engaged for close to a year now, these lovebirds haven’t really had the time for pictures which is kinda why I forced them into it! Boy, am I glad I did though. We met at Linn Run State Park near the Adams Falls entrance during the peak of the fall foliage. The backdrop for their shoot was simply awe-inspiring.

I can’t lie. This session was a piece of cake! I got to just hang out with Kayte & her soon-to-be hubs, Mike/Gomez. We cracked jokes, made awkward faces and I even made them dance a little. These two were all smiles, especially for each other and I could not be happier for the two of them!

Their engagement was simple but sweet. On Kate’s birthday last year, Mike had planned to pop the question. When the day came, nothing went as planned. Mike had a terrible cold and felt like crap. To boot, a blizzard hit southwestern Pennsylvania that brought Kate’s birthday festivities to a halt. But, even with all the hiccups, Mike was determined to surprise his soon to be bride. In their home, on a cold winter night, he dropped to one knee with his family heirloom, a diamond ring and Kayte happily agreed to be his forever New Years Eve date.

To Mike and Kate, I wish you nothing but joy and happiness forever and ever. Congratulations. Now, please, pick a date so I can start planning this girl’s bachelorette party!!

Laurel Highlands Holiday Portrait Sessions: The Bolish Family

I am SOOOO excited to finally be able to share the good news! The Bolish Family is officially adding another little one to their gang! It’s been a hard secret to keep but boy am I glad that I finally can yell it from the rooftops!

This wild and crazy bunch are no strangers to the #Blog. In fact, they aren’t strangers at all. These guys are more like family. Daddy, Kendrick, and I have known each other pretty much our whole lives and Mama, Kelly, and I became fast friends shortly after meeting. And as for Kaison, their adorable 2 year old munchkin, well, I would kidnap him if they would let me. He is a polite, kind and all around wild little man and I love him to pieces.

I could not be happier for this family. When they told me the big news, I could literally hear their smiles over the phone! While visiting in PA, I brought Lucy, my daughter, over to meet Mr. Kaison and you could tell right away that he is so ready for a younger sibling. He was just loving on her. I know he is going to be the best little helper!

Though he may have had mixed emotions during the shoot, this guy is so pumped to be a big brother and I am just over the moon with joy about it! Mama and Daddy recently did a gender reveal and they found out that they are a expecting a baby…

GIRL!!! Get ready boys because this summer a true heartbreaker is going to enter the world! I cannot wait to the meet Baby Bolish #2! Congratulations!

Laurel Highlands Portrait Session: Meet Rhett Fodor

Guys, I have been dying to photograph this little munchkin!!! I tried once, right after he was born, but unfortunately, it rained throughout the entirety of his session. And, yes it’s true, we waited an hour for the rain to quit this time too. But in the end, I finally had my chance to get this ginger haired cutie pie in front of my lens! Meet Rhett Fodor, heartthrob and future lady charmer!

Rhett is my college roommate’s (Steph) first born and boy does this little guy look like his Mama. He acquired her ginger hair and infectious smile and I fell in love with him the minute I met him!

Rhett just turned one not too long ago and is in the that “drunk walking” baby phase. He stumbles, he falls but he gets right back up and is on to the next thing that captures his attention. He is definitely keeping my sweet friend, Steph and her hubby, Tyler, on their toes!

The Fodor Family drove in from the eastern side of the state to join us in celebrating at my Baby Shower and in turn, I had them stay an extra day so we could take their little guy out for a few photos! We headed to the Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania so we could let this little one run lose on the expansive property.

He loved the kids’ play area, the old log cabin, the big red barn and just about everywhere we let him run around. I think he was excited for a little freedom to explore and the result for the pictures was perfect! I got the chance to capture Rhett being the sweet and curious little guy that he is!

I wasn’t letting him get off scot-free though! We did pose Mr. Handsome for a few photos and luckily for us, he totally hammed it up and gave us the biggest smiles! He was just sitting on that step with a smirk that screamed, “I know I’m cute! Go ahead, snap away!”.

I am so glad that I finally had the chance to photograph this little bugger and I  won’t lie, I already miss him! I cannot wait for the chance to introduce this fella to our sweet baby and I am so glad that his Mama and I have stayed in touch after all these years! I am so thankful for my friend, Steph, her patient and loving husband, Tyler, and for their mischievous bundle of joy! Until next time, I am going to keep my fingers crossed that  Baby Norris pops out with that same shade of ginger hair!

Colleyville, Texas Portrait Session: Mommy + Me

I am so excited to share this sweet Mother-Daughter Portrait Session with you guys! My sweet friend, Cassie, graciously agreed to a photo shoot with her adorable daughter, Finley, for my Mother’s Day promos and I could not be more in love with the results!

For awhile now, I have wanted to do a Portrait Session at this one particular spot in Colleyville, Texas. There is an old farm house and a bright red BNFS train that sits stationary in the yard nearby. To boot, the field surrounding the train, the tracks and the house is filled with Texas wildflowers so I knew this would be the perfect spot to set up shop.

The bluebonnets, sweet pea and Indian paintbrush were in full bloom at the end of April and I wanted to capture this duo having a little fun flower-picking. We started out in front of the train for a few quick shots and made our way to the nearby farmhouse. It was super bright at 6:30 so I was on a hunt to find some shade until the sun began to set a bit.

As that Golden Hour set in, little Miss Finley’s personality began to shine. She had brought two dresses, one with pink lace and the other, a white chiffon with pink and black anemones adorning the pleats. Both coordinated so well with her Mama’s bohemian chic maxi dress. I just loved the embroidering on her top and the way both dresses complimented the wild grown sweet peas.

Fin managed to find a few daisies to pick and both Mama and daughter posed with the delicate bouquet among the wildflowers. They manged to not only create a path that wouldn’t destroy any of the natural surroundings but to avoid the path of the bees humming around as well.  I think it’s fair to say that both these two have little hippie hearts.

We left the flowers just as the sun began to hide behind the treeline and as the last few rays passed over the leaves, these girls braved the tracks. Fin was her adorable, ham of a self. She was using the tracks as a balance beam and Cassie lovingly helped her daughter regain her balance.

As usual, these girls knocked it out of the park. Just check out their first family session here. I love that I get to photograph my sweet friends with their little ones and I cannot wait for the chance to get them in front of my lens again. There’s no greater joy in the creative world than watching the people you love become comfortable with your craft and that is definitely the case with this gang! Thanks for another beautiful session girls!

Grapevine, TX Family Portrait Session: Jack, Miles & Mommy

 I have been dying to share this session with you guys. I just loved hanging with these guys so much. I met Kristi and her boys through a mutual friend a few years back only to find out that we grew up a few miles away from each other in Pennsylvania. In fact, during our first photo shoot, Kristi’s little guys brought along their terrible towels!!

We hit it off fast the first time around and have stayed in touch since then. I was so thankful when Kristi reached out in hopes of booking a Spring Mini Session with her little fellas. I couldn’t wait to hear what she had in mind.

I was so pleased to hear that Kristi was thinking of having their shoot in Grapevine. She couldn’t have known but this is one of my favorite backdrops of all time. I love the historic charm of the buildings and the abundance of flora lining the promenade of Main St. To boot, Kristi wanted to use the last half of her session to explore the shores of Grapevine Lake. I couldn’t wait to see the excitement on the boys faces when we let them run free.

Our session began on an early April morning. We quickly found a blooming rose bush and began our adventure. Shortly after, we worked our way to the Farmer’s Market for a few quick shots of the kids on a bright yellow Adirondack chair. Did I mention that the boys were angels throughout the shoot?!? Both boys were following Mommy’s directions so well and kept finding ways to surprise us with their manners.

We headed to the old train station next and the boys really started to ham it up. They were making funny faces and pretending to be pirates! It was seriously adorable.

We made our way to the Courtyard across from the Palace Theatre for a few individual shots of Mommy with Miles and Mommy with Jack. I love Mommy and Me Sessions so much, especially with little dudes because they seriously love to love on their Mamas.

Jack investigated the historical cabin while Mommy and Miles took some time to snuggle by the fountain. Though Miles was dangerously close to jumping in, we managed to hold him off. Their personalities were in full force. Jack was curious and wandering around wanting to touch every button he could find and Miles was happy to hang by the water and occasionally try to dip his fingers in the fountain.

We finished up downtown and jumped in the cars. We headed to the lake to let the boys run wild! I know a secret little spot on the shore with lots of shade and plenty of green willowy trees. This spot would be the perfect backdrop for Jack and Miles to play and just be kids.

After the boys had rolled up the pant legs and splashed around for awhile, Mama, Kristi, jumped in on the fun. I didn’t pose them. I didn’t give any direction. I just let them be a family and it was a joy to see. Mama Kristi twirled Miles around while Jack did his best to get me a little wet. I left this session feeling so grateful for clients who exude such joy. The boys made sure to give me hugs before they left and I felt thankful for the opportunity to connect with these little guys and their sweet Mama. I can’t wait to do it again!

PA Portrait Session: the Greece Family

Hey guys! We’re back with more of our Portrait Sessions from our Pennsylvania Trip. The wild and crazy Greece Family is no stranger to the blog. In fact, I had the opportunity to photograph these guys twice last year. Our first portrait session took place at Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve in Latrobe, PA.  You can check out all the adorable photos from their summer session here.

This time around, we met at Twin Lakes Park in Greensburg, PA for a huge family shoot. My Uncle Mark (Elliana and Jake’s Grandpa) had reached out about getting new Family Portraits taken of their whole crew and I was happy to oblige. I will soak up any chance I get to snuggle my precious Goddaughter and her big brother!

I knew this bunch would be a breeze. My Uncle Mark and Aunt Jackie have spent the last 40 some odd years putting their hearts and souls into being the best parents possible and it is such a joy to see them take on the challenge of being Grandparents! Needless to say, they’re naturals. Both Jake and Ellie wouldn’t know what to do without their Mimi and Popop.

We managed to snag a few photos where everyone was looking at the camera but I really fell in love with the one of the whole crew looking at Jake. He just has the biggest smile on his face. It was so wonderful to see them all interacting together and I cannot believe we fit all their BIG HEADS in one shot.

Next up, Uncle Mark and Aunt Jackie. I am always over the moon when Grandma and Grandpa want to jump in on some photos so I made sure to get some of just the two of them together. I had them both giggling when I told them to pose “prom-style”. These were by far my favorite images of the bunch. I even cried a little bit. They’ve been through a lifetime of ups and downs and they’ve still got each other to lean on after all these years.

Aunt Jackie was worried that I wouldn’t be able to get any photos of them with their Grandchildren because Jake and Ellie are movers and shakers. With that in mind, I told them to just play with them instead of posing them and I love the way these turned out. The three images above are a true testament to what a day with their grandparents look like; a whole lotta love and even more laughs!

Last but not least, the best picture, these 2 goofballs. They wanted a photo of them posing like the Stepbrothers DVD cover and how special are they?!? We call this “Real Brothers”! I always have so much fun with these guys! We’ve spent a lifetime growing up together and I love knowing that we will always have each other!

Girls’ Day at the Tulip Farm

Ahhh, Texas Tulips! This place never disappoints. Since moving to the North Texas area, I have made it a point to plan a visit  to this magical place at the beginning of the spring season. Located in Pilot Point, about an hour North of DFW, this Dutch tulip farm is known for its colorful display of blooms!

Last year, Tiffany, of @WanderlustFlorals, and I headed to the Tulip Farm for a day of frolicking and picking out a few of the gorgeous stems. You can read all about that trip, how muddy our boots got and see the variety of blooms here.

This year, I had the opportunity to visit the Tulip Farm with a few first-timers. My dear friend, Jenn, and her daughter, Emma, met me in the wee hours of the morning for a hearty breakfast and then a quick drive north for their first glimpse at the rows and rows of petals popping up at the farm.

Jenn had mentioned that Emma had an interest in photography and I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to let her try out my Canon Mark iii 5D. Plus, I needed a new headshot and Emma didn’t disappoint. She really has a good eye at the tender age of 15 and I cannot wait to see where her new found love for this hobby will take her.

Her Mama, Jenn, came dressed and ready for flower picking. At $2.50 a stem, Jenn’s basket soon become a treasure chest of every color, size and variety of Dutch tulips! I was loving all of her choices so I just kept following her around and grabbing compliments to her bouquet.

We had a blast catching up and I was so glad that they didn’t mind me documenting their first visit to the farm. Jenn and Emma are an adorable Mama/Daughter duo and I was so happy that they allowed me to photograph them enjoying their first experience in Aubrey.

I was equally impressed by the blooms. In the past, I had visited the farm in April when the tulips had been picked through. Though the fields are never scarce, it was really nice to see the fields in such good condition. Each variety had just popped and were bursting with color. The pinks were perfect, the reds were vibrant and the purples were on point!

Towards the end of our visit, Emma was sweet enough to model for me. At 15, this girl is a heartbreaker and I was over the moon to get her in front of my lens. She had all the right poses. She was serious in some and goofy in a few. Emma is a fair-haired beauty and I hope I have the opportunity to photograph her again in the future!

As promised, I made Jenn jump in for a few photos and I couldn’t be happier with the result. These two have such an incredible bond and it really shines through in these portraits. I was so happy to have a day of hanging with these fun-loving girls and I cannot wait to see what adventures we come up with next!


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Artist Spotlight - Isaac Lenkiewicz

Artist Spotlight - Isaac Lenkiewicz

Cute characters, beautiful stories and scenes, Isaac's work is enchanting and magical and we're forever swooning over the worlds he creates.

Now, we're promise we're not being bias by enjoying Isaac's work so much, but he did go to uni with Lize (official sad ghost) so yeah, we've been fans for a while. Isaac's character design is always amazing and he's paid homage to a lot of pop culture characters and we're always excited to see how he's interpreted a much loved personality. You can find a lot of his Simpson's interpretations over at which he's a part of alongside a bunch of talented illustrators.

Isaac's zines are a firm favourite in the studio, his comics tell great stories and again, we're totally obsessed with the characters he creates.

Our number one zine is his Lichens comic which tells the story of three little lichens, we highly recommend, it's beautiful.

Ok so, what's he made for the club?

Obviously we were all VERY excited to see Isaac's version of the sad ghost, so we thought an enamel pin would be perfect!

Isn't it just the cutest squishiest ghost you've ever seen?! We think it's perfect and we hope you ghosties LOVE it! It comes with a sticker too for ultimate Isaac X Sad Ghost vibes.

Find the pin here!

So onto the Questions!

You can find more of Isaac's work here

1) What's your favourite fictitious Ghost from popular media?

2) What's the best item in your pencil case?

One thing that stays in my pencil case and I always end up using one way or another is a disposable brush pen from Muji.

3) Paint? Pencil? or Tablet?

Yes! All of those. But my favourite things to work with are a dip pen and ink.

4) What's your go-to motivational album?

Charlie Brown’s Holiday Hits by The Vince Guaraldi Trio! My favourite tracks are Thanksgiving Theme, Linus & Lucy and the Great Pumpkin Waltz.

5) How would you describe your work? Are there any common themes?

I draw things, make comics & sculpt and hand paint badges. I like spooky things and stories with kids as the protagonists.

6) What’s your proudest piece that you've worked on?

A large paper mache snail shellI made for halloween once.

7) Do you have any/many artist rituals?

I don’t think I have rituals, but I do tend to make work that correlates with whatever season it happens to be.

8) What motivates you?

The idea that I could make something that isn’t already out there and I would like to see, or even better something I would have loved to see when I was a kid.

9) What do you do, that you think no one else does whilst working?

Stand up and walk away in the middle of what I’m doing, forgetting that I’m supposed be working?

10) Who are you inspired by?

There’s a long list of people I’m inspired by, but at the top are probably comic artists Christophe Blain and Joann Sfar.

11) What's your favourite way to practice self care? (Especially after a busy week!)

I’ll either go for a big walk by myself while listening to horror stories, go rock climbing or just hideout in my room and eat Chinese food. (Which doesn’t sound that good, but it FEELS good)

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LGBTQIA+ An Educational Series: What is Polyamory?

By Savi Ettinger

Illustration by Kadia King

This is an educational series meant to distribute information about subjects of sexuality and gender orientations. All of this month’s information comes from the Gender Equity Resource Center at UC Berkeley.

This month’s topic is polyamory. Polyamory is defined by UC Berkeley as “the desire, practice, or acceptance of having more than one loving, intimate relationship at a time, with the full knowledge and consent of everyone involved.” It is a type of consensual non-monogamy. The important part of this definition is that each relationship happens with the expressed consent of any and all people within the relationship(s). Polyamory can involve a solely physical non-monogamous relationship, but often has elements of romantic love as well.

People can be part of polyamorous relationships for a variety of reasons. Some people are in long-distance relationships, but miss physical intimacy, or want the possibility of new relationships as well. Others love more than one person at once, or feel that their needs and desires are more fulfilled by multiple people, rather than one. There are many other reasons as well.

Due to stigma, there are not many models of how healthy polyamorous relationships work, making communication between partners incredibly important. Jealousy is as common in polyamorous relationships as in any other, and must be worked out between partners as well. Cheating can also exist in polyamorous relationships if a romantic or sexual interaction happens without the consent of everyone involved.

This series is meant to be educational and to inform people of terminology. Gender and sexual identity are personal traits, and people may define themselves as they choose or may decide to not use labels. Stay tuned for the next installment of LGBTQIA+ in The Salemite!

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The Outlaw Ocean Music Project | Top Tracks Overall – Part One (#20-11)

A couple of weeks ago, I was approached by Ian Urbina, a New York Times journalist with an ambitious plan. He asked me to provide press coverage for his global initiative, ‘The Outlaw Ocean Music Project‘. I was delighted to receive the offer and immediately immersed myself in the vast library of musical compositions that have been created so far. Last week, I wrote an extensive piece outlining the whole ideology behind the project’s conception. You can read that here to get a full grasp of what it’s all about.

Over three hundred artists have contributed to create a bank of over 900 songs between them. I tasked myself with the job of listening through and curating my top twenty. This undertaking would be a daunting job for some, but became an enjoyable treasure hunt for me.

Sometimes the finest gems are the ones hardest to uncover. This has been a hugely enjoyable experience and quickly became the deepest crate dig of my blogging career.

20 // Ash – Dystopia

To set things in motion: I bring you the atmospheric and vibrant sounds of Egyptian multi-instrumentalist Ash. The Montreal-based electronic producer chimed in with a sensational single, titled ‘Dystopia‘. This tune features some snippets of dialogue from Urbina’s field work. He incorporates them subtly into the track which is littered with beautiful string arrangements and a wavy, wandering, downtempo bass-line.

Ash’s melancholic soundscape is a fitting way to start of this really exciting countdown. Dystopia is a tune of the highest quality and the list wouldn’t have felt right without it’s inclusion.

Listen to more from Ash – HERE

19 // Nu – Try Feeling

Berlin-based producer Nu is one of the most high profile contributors to have taken part. The eclectic beat-maker released a creative and thought-provoking three track EP on Friday – each tune riddled with really pleasing old-school radio transmissions. Nu’s 2011 single, ‘Who Loves The Sun‘, is one of my all-time favourite holiday songs, therefore it was a no-brainer to include his work here.

Seeing such high-class musicians jumping in to promote journalism is quite exciting. Try Feeling is a slow, plodding production that is not dissimilar to the sound of Nicolas Jaar. Nu’s work is always intriguing, this little EP for ‘The Outlaw Ocean Music Project’ is no different.

Listen to more from NUHERE

18 // Tom Day – Oceans

Australian ambient electronic artist Tom Day decided to get involved and his wonderfully whimsical, ‘Oceans‘, makes it into my list today. Day uses the softest of textures here – ordinarily, I’m not a huge fan of beat-less music, but my word, this one is a thing of beauty. Euphoric clinks and clanks seep through from the synths. This tune transports me right into a lovely uplifting zone – a mesmerizing piece of artistry.

This project lays claim to scores of hidden gems, Tom Day’s mix of ‘Oceans‘ is one of the most tranquil and quaint.

Listen to more from Tom DayHERE

17 // Shanti People – Protection

Hailing from Ukraine, Shanti People operate in the EDM sphere of things. Protection fuses Ian Urbina’s audio footage with brooding, intense and impactful beats. This track is one of the most experimentally creative of the whole collection. The band combine a couple of different styles – we hear heavy electronic elements, traditional vocals and the consistent integration of Ian’s footage, all rolled into one meandering, yet hard-hitting composition. Supreme work.

Listen to more from Shanti People HERE

16 // Idealism – Only Forward

We fall deep into a state of trance and zen with Idealism’s beautifully cinematic Only forward. Once again, I get chills unearthing music like this, his work is moving and emotive. We can hear radio transmissions weaving in and out throughout this piece. The piano melodies are played softly and elegantly to ensure we are kept in a peaceful frame of mind. A nice contrast to the wild and rugged reality of life on the ocean.

As the radio transmission checks out with the words ‘Happy Birthday Everybody’, the tempo shifts and we are elevated even further into other-worldly melancholy.

Listen to more of Idealism‘s music – HERE

15 // Cap Kendricks – Fish Biscuits

Munich-based producer Cap Kendricks really got into the mood whilst producing Fish Biscuits. This high octane piece of electronic/Trip-Hop was a nice change in genre, as I explored the collection. Plenty of the releases were based around ambient sounds and minimal production – Cap Kendricks’ interpretation was somewhat more heavy-handed.

Fish Biscuits is wild and rampant with snares and symbols crashing everywhere. It’s a literal adaptation of a storm out at sea.

I tip my hat to Cap for this one……I know, sorry.

Listen to more from Cap KendricksHERE

14 // Shook – The Void

Shook is a Dutch producer who’s music is often heard in the coolest of settings. A few years ago, a tune he produced called Milestones was featured in an episode of Better Call Saul. In 2016, he was diagnosed with Pancreatitis which required extensive periods of hospitalization. His illness made him really appreciate the purity of life itself. He vowed to continue making music whenever he could and agreed to take part in Outlaw Ocean.

This year, his five song EP for ‘The Outlaw Ocean Music Project’ was released and it was predictably enchanting. The Void is the stand-out – it’s slow, purposeful and chilling.

Check out more music from Shook HERE

13 // Huez – Metaphor For Infinity

Crisp production from Los Angeles-based beat-maker Huez grabs the thirteenth spot. Metaphor For Infinity is a charming little instrumental – it feels quite minimal and sparse, yet packs a punch. It has enough force to stand out in a sea of 52 hours worth of music. This is a sleek production and well worthy of it’s addition into my top picks. There’s something very endearing about Huez’s production style.

Listen to more from HuezHERE

12 // Tekkla – Resistance

The first of two heavy techno-styled tracks featured in the list – Swedish duo TEKKLA decided a marauding, intense take on the project would be ideal. Resistance is a powerful tune with loads of booming bass and wicked arpeggios rippling around. Add in a couple of snippets from Ian Urbina’s archive and you’ve got yourself a techno soundtrack to The Outlaw Ocean.

I love this adaptation – the lads really put a lot of work into it. Hellishly talented lads, it’s no wonder they are signed to Australian label Clipp.Art (one of my favourite electro labels)

Listen to more from TEKKLAHERE

11 // Township Rebellion – Chasing Thunder

Following on from TEKKLA – here is the second techno track included in the feature. Chasing Thunder was only released this weekend and has managed to sneak it’s way in. Township Rebellion are a German collective who have been in operation since 2012.

Plain and simple, I was hooked in by the introductory piano chords and fully embroiled by the time the high-powered techno kick arrived. This is a warehouse friendly, darkly lit, techno tune – it has somehow found it’s way onto Ian Urbina’s project, gotta love that. Moody.

Listen to more from Township RebellionHERE

There you have my countdown all the way down from #20 to #11.

Observing the diverse, varied and innovative way that each musician tackled the project was eye-opening. Each one of them stamped their own mark on the sound effects at their disposal and made some truly inspiring songs. I hope this feature sheds light on the incredible work they have done.

I was blown away by the quality of the tracks and it gives me a great sense of pride to share this list with you all. Tune into part two to continue the countdown.

Playlist of entire top 20 tracks – Curated by The Sound Sniffer

Read more about The Outlaw Ocean Music Project here.

About ‘The Sound Sniffer’

The Sound Sniffer is a one-man music blog which is still only a baby – Founded and run by Kevin Coakley in early 2019. He is a music writer and ghostwriter. ‘The Sound Sniffer’ also runs gigs and showcases in London since Oct 2019. The showcases are picked from artists I find in my submissions inbox.

Check out my Interviews HERE

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Prime minister Jacinda Ardern and Labour Party president Claire Szabo speak to media at parliament today. Screengrab: RNZ

‘Worst nightmare’: Labour staffer complainants respond to Dew report

Former Labour volunteers say they’re left feeling ‘shattered’ following the report, which substantially finds the allegations, including sexual assault, are ‘not established’, and finds that evidence presented by a key complainant was unreliable.

Note: Representatives of the respondent have contacted The Spinoff reiterating that he adamantly rejects any allegations of sexual assault, and noting that Maria Dew QC found a key complainant to have provided misleading information to the Dew inquiry. The Dew report can be read here.

Complainants involved in the Labour Party inquiry into the conduct of a party staffer say they are “angry” and “disappointed” following the release of a report into their allegations. The Spinoff has spoken to some of the former Labour volunteers since the release of a summary of findings by Maria Dew QC into allegations of sexual assault, sexual harassment and bullying by a Labour staffer. Despite hearing from five complainants, Dew found that almost all the allegations were “not established”.

The QC’s report was commissioned by the prime minister and Labour leader, Jacinda Ardern, after Newshub, Stuff and The Spinoff reported on the botched inquiry into a former Labour staffer at the centre of numerous serious complaints including harassment, assault and bullying. The full report has been withheld to protect the confidentiality of those who participated, but an executive summary was published this afternoon. It found “insufficient evidence” to back up the most serious allegations – and suggested parts of a key complainant’s version of events were incorrect.

Citing the confidentiality agreement that all complainants and the respondent were required to sign, the woman who alleged sexual assault said she could not address the details of the report. She did, however, say that she had only received a full version of the report this morning, and stressed that she stood by her account as shared with The Spinoff. She said she also wished to acknowledge the “huge plethora of women who aren’t able to prove sexual assaults”.

“This isn’t the result that we wanted and we are disappointed,” another complainant involved in the process said. “I still believe all the complainants and their stories and am proud of the work that they did in coming forward.” Another described experience as a whole as amounting to “the worst nightmare” for anyone considering speaking up about sexual violence. “I just feel shattered.”

The Spinoff understands that on the advice of a sexual violence agency, it was recommended that the release of the report be delayed until welfare concerns for several of the complainants could be resolved. As reported by Newshub, at least one complainant has been hospitalised and another accessed mental health crisis services during the review process. “We have no tools to cope with this stuff,” one complainant said.

“[Labour] had a choice to delay it but they wanted to drag us all through the mud instead,” one complainant told The Spinoff.

Dew did find examples to substantiate complaints of “aggressive and overbearing” behaviour, but it was “not sufficient to meet the threshold for unlawful bullying”, insofar as such conduct “must be ‘repeated’ towards a party member or group of members, such that it may cause physical or psychological harm”. Dew also found, contrary to what Stuff and The Spinoff were repeatedly told, that the respondent and the woman known as Sarah in the Spinoff story, were in an eight month relationship – something Sarah continues to deny.

Dew’s eight-page summary can be read here.

The most serious of the complaints – reported by Newshub and Stuff and detailed in a Spinoff article published in September – related to allegations of a serious sexual assault in February of 2018.

Dew concludes, however, that “the allegation… is not established”.

She writes: “There is insufficient evidence that the events occurred as alleged by Ms 1 [“Sarah” in the Spinoff report] at any time during February 2018. Her evidence was incorrect in several critical respects in relation to the events of that evening.” The summary acknowledges that the complainant has never resiled from the central allegation, with Dew noting: “I do wish to acknowledge that Ms 1 will be distressed that this allegation is not established.”

The executive summary notes a disputed email exchange with the Labour committee initially tasked with inquiring into the allegations in March of 2019. It says Ms 1 / Sarah had “accepted that she had provided misleading information to this investigation and the party about her email dated 9 March 2019”. It is unclear what specific information this refers to. The report determines that “on the balance of probabilities, the emails … did not contain any attached document detailing her allegation of sexual assault by the respondent.”

There is no reference in Dew’s report to the email sent to the Labour panel on April 26 which seeks “an update on the investigation” and stresses: “Just adding the seriousness of the situation here, an accusation of sexual assault, manipulation, bullying and emotional abuse.”

Nor is there any reference to another email, dated June 11, sent to the three members of the investigation panel, in which the complainant directs them to “attached … notes of testimony”. The attached document, as previously reported by The Spinoff, contains clear reference to her allegation: “SEXUAL ASSAULT occurred February 2018”.

Speaking to reporters this afternoon, the recently elected Labour Party president, Claire Szabo, said: “Regardless of the findings from Maria Dew, the party’s previous processes failed everybody and have taken a toll on all involved… It is now time for us to get on with applying the lessons we have learned.”

When it was put to Jacinda Ardern by Newshub’s Tova O’Brien that complainants had told her they had been rebuffed when asking for the publication of the summary to be delayed, and that they stood by their accounts, Ardern said she would not be discussing “elements of the report”, but would “leave it as it stands.”

She said: “We don’t want any more harm done by this situation … This process has poorly served everyone. Harm has been done to everyone involved. Now it’s time for us to draw a line in the sand and to try and get back to best practice, because that hasn’t been the case here.”

She added: “It’s time for us to start trying to look after our Labour members … We know we can and must do better.”

Nigel Haworth, the president of the Labour Party at the time of the original inquiry, resigned his position on September 11 after Ardern said she had been provided with “the correspondence from complainants written to the party several months ago”. Those documents, she said, “confirm that the allegations made were extremely serious, that the process caused complainants additional distress, and that ultimately, in my view, the party was never equipped to appropriately deal with the issue.”

The man at the centre of allegations resigned as a Labour staffer the following day, saying he had “made the very difficult decision to resign because of the stress of the situation, and my wish not to be a distraction to the work of the government”.

He added: “I adamantly refute the serious allegations made against me.” A further report, examining the Labour Party’s handling of the complaints, is expected in the new year.

According to one of the complainants, they have been asked to provide all relevant documentation to that inquiry within two days. A complainant told The Spinoff: “If I had a message for anyone reading this news who has experienced sexual violence, it would be to not feel discouraged because of this outcome.

“Speaking up is the most important thing that we can continue to do right now.”

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Home News Russia is getting involved in the resolve of Kosovo issue?

Russia is getting involved in the resolve of Kosovo issue?

Dusan Janjic from the Forum for Ethnic Relations says a new format of Belgrade-Pristina dialogue is likely to be created to include new players.

In a statement given to “Politika” daily, he said that in addition to US Envoy Matthew Palmer, it is possible that Germany and France would appoint a joint representative, or that each of these countries has a representative.

“All of them, like Palmer, will be special envoys for the Western Balkans to monitor the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, they will attend the sessions, but the chief negotiator will be the person appointed by the EU for the job, instead of Federica Mogherini. It will most likely be László Trócsányi, Enlargement Commissioner, but that has not been decided yet”, Janjic said.

He announced the possibility of including Russia in the dialogue. “One of the options is to establish a special secretariat, which would also include Russia with its representative, which is something that is now being agreed upon,” Janjic concluded.

Source: b92

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Instant Approval & Publishing Free Guest Blogging Website

Barcelona squad set to start against Real Sociedad

The Supercopa de Espana return on Wednesday night with Barcelona facing Real Sociedad in the first semi-final.

The loss to Atletico Madrid in this competition last season proved to be the last straw for then Barca manager Ernesto Valverde and current boss Ronald Koeman is hoping he won’t suffer the same fate if the Blaugrana fail to advance to the final.

At least the omens are good. Barcelona entered it undefeated in eight games and beat their opponents 2-1 when they met in La Liga in December.

Here is the starting XI that Koeman should select for the game …

Marc André Ter Stegen
Ter Stegen has recorded second best save percentage in La Liga this season | Quality sports images / Getty Images

Marc-André ter Stegen (GK) – Recently ranked fourth best goalkeeper on the planet by 90min, Ter Stegen has been in impressive shape since recovering from a knee injury in November.

Sergino Dest (RB) – Ajax’s summer arrival, Dest has missed just two La Liga games all season. It’s an exciting prospect and should continue to the right-back.

Clement Lenglet (CB) – After missing Barca’s last game against Granada by suspension, Lenglet is expected to be reinstated in the starting XI.

Ronald Araujo (CB) – Several players could take the other center-back position, including Oscar Mingueza or Samuel Umtiti. However, after resting the last time, Araujo is most likely to be selected.

Jordi Alba (LB) – One of the few remaining players in Barcelona’s old guard, Alba has only missed three games all season. He hopes to add to his seven assists on Wednesday.

Pedro Gonzalez aka Pedri
Pedri is one of the most exciting young talents | Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno / Getty Images

Sergio Busquets (CM) – There are three certainties in life: death, taxes and Busquets from the base of the Barcelona midfielder.

Frenkie de Jong (CM) – After a successful debut season, De Jong has watched more at home this campaign. He already tied last season’s goal pledges and will be looking to add to them against La Real.

Pedri (AM) – 2020 was an annus horribilis for Barcelona, but a bright spark was the emergence of Pedri. The happy 18 year old will hopefully give us more magic in the Supercopa.

Antoine Griezmann
Griezmann presented a winning game last time around | Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno / Getty Images

Ousmane Dembele (RW) – After a few eventful years, Dembele has shown his talent more frequently in recent times. He has scored two goals in his last three games and has particularly impressed in the Champions League this season.

Lionel Messi (ST) – His future may not be clear, but as long as he stays at Camp Nou Messi is the first name on the squad sheet.

Antoine Griezmann (LW) – After securing a brace against Granada last time around, Koeman would be crazy to let the Frenchman out.

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Sports Research, Tart Cherry Concentrate, 800 mg, 60 Softgels

Sports Research

Only 11 left!

  • Made With Organic Fruit
  • Dietary Supplement
  • Made With Non-GMO Ingredients
  • Gluten Free
  • GMP Certified
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  • Rich in Antioxidants
  • Non-GMO & Gluten Free
  • Made With Whole Fruit

Sports Research Tart Cherry Concentrate is made from organic whole cherries, providing you with the complete antioxidant benefits, but without the calories, sugar or carbohydrates.

Suggested Use

As a dietary supplement, adults take 1 to 2 liquid softgel(s) per day, or as directed by a healthcare professional.

Other Ingredients

Organic extra virgin olive oil, organic yellow beeswax, softgel capsule (kosher gelatin, kosher vegetable glycerin, purified water).

This product does not contain: Gluten, dairy, egg, peanut, fish, soy, shellfish, wheat, yeast, fillers, binders, preservatives, artificial ingredients or magnesium stearate.

Keep out of the reach of children and pets. Do not use if safety seal is damaged or missing.

Caution: Check with your doctor before using this product, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, have existing medical conditions or are taking prescription medications. Do not exceed recommended daily intake. Store at room temperature, tightly closed.

While The Supplement Shop strives to ensure the accuracy of its product images and information, some manufacturing changes to packaging and/or ingredients may be pending update on our site. Although items may occasionally ship with alternate packaging, freshness is always guaranteed. We recommend that you read labels, warnings and directions of all products before use and not rely solely on the information provided by The Supplement Shop.

Supplement Facts
Serving Size: 1 Liquid Softgel
Serving Per Container: 60
  Amount Per Serving %DV*
Organic Tart Cherry Whole Fruit 800 mg
Total Carbohydrates <1 g
† Daily Value (DV) not established


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Home / Tech/ Science / SpaceX Team Seeks Help on Twitter

SpaceX Team Seeks Help on Twitter

Submitted by: YiWen Yang

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk is seeking help on Twitter regarding the investigation of the explosion that happened last week. Musk’s Falcon 9 Rocket blew up, destroying a Facebook satelite. The blast is a mystery to everyone because the engines were inactive at the time of the launch, which means that there should not have been an explosion. He and his team have been working to solve the issue by searching for possible triggers of the blast, but they have not found anything yet. He has reached out to “@NASA, @FAA, @AFPAA, and other” to help find the cause. Many other Twitter users have also joined in; some suggested that something might have hit the rocket, and Musk responded that it is a possibility.

About Cindy Guo

Cindy is senior at Henry M. Gunn High School and is incredibly honored to be a part of the Rising Star Magazine team. She enjoys belting out Disney songs, playing piano, watching Chinese dramas, and babysitting. Cindy serves as California DECA's VP of Silicon Valley and is also the singing teacher at FCSN and the President of HEARTS Nonprofit. She can be contacted at cindy@risingstarmagazine.com

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Home / Tag Archives: Chinese

Tag Archives: Chinese

Interview with Dublin Mayor Candidate

By: Max Zhuang Max Zhuang: Why did you decide to be involved in politics and what are you running for? David Haubert: I will be running for Mayor of Dublin and my involvement started when I first moved to Dublin. My daughter …

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“The UK is in political chaos” says government whose citizens have protested every weekend this year

Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dačić has warned his citizens against travelling to the UK because of “major political chaos” in what researchers have described as “measurably the most ironic statement ever made.”

Dačić – who represents a country that has changed its name three times in the past 30 years – made the statement on Thursday. With Brexit negotiations collapsing, he advised Serbs to avoid the UK’s dangerous “daily demonstrations” and instead stay at home, where the protests only happen once a week.

“I recommend that they don’t go [to the UK], so as not to put themselves in danger,” Dačić actually told local news site B92.

Several linguists analysing Dačić’s accusation have concluded that it is indeed the most ironic thing anybody has ever said.

“This really is the holy grail of ironic statements,” the head linguist told The Tragic Traveller. “We didn’t think anyone would ever outdo Donald Trump’s boast that he ‘broke the glass ceiling on behalf of women.’ But when we considered that the Republic of Serbia didn’t technically exist until 2006 because of – you guessed it – political chaos, we knew we had a new winner.”

“Let’s put it this way,” the linguist continued. “The foreign minister’s accusation is akin to Piers Morgan calling Simon Cowell ‘a posh, angry prick.’ Yes, it’s technically true, but it’s also so hypocritical that you couldn’t possibly take it seriously.”

The researchers went on to clarify that their criticism extended only to the Serbian government, not the country as a whole.

“Look, Serbia is undoubtedly a safe country and an excellent tourist destination,” the researcher added. “It’s known for its hospitable people, excellent food, and well-preserved cultural traditions.”

“Unfortunately, the best-preserved of those traditions is being held ransom by a comically dysfunctional and corrupt government that can hardly organise its own public transport system, let alone manage an economy that supports 7 million people. So, to paraphrase the Bible, Dačić should probably get his own shit together before he criticises the UK.”

Shortly after his controversial comments, Dačić had reportedly published a tweet that began: “Given Western Europe’s well-documented problems with football hooliganism …”

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Pilot pops off for scheduled break during catastrophic engine fire

A pilot for Australia’s largest airline has today stuck to his guns and taken his scheduled 15-minute break on a Hawaii-Sydney flight despite both the plane’s engines being on fire and the plane itself being stuck in a critical nosedive.

Captain Scud Morrisey, 51, said he had booked his break “months ago” and it would be extremely inconvenient to cancel his trip to the bathroom at such late notice. He reiterated that he was being briefed regularly on the plane’s crash status while he was relaxing on the toilet.

“I don’t understand what the big deal is,” Morrisey told The Tragic Traveller via emergency radio. “The engine fires have already been burning for minutes. There’s nothing more I can do from my position.”

My co-pilot is perfectly capable of handling the situation while I’m away.

Morrisey then chided younger passengers for spreading “needless anxiety” about the trajectory of the plane.

“Engine fires are a natural part of the air travel ecosystem. There’s nothing to suggest these fires are any different from the engine failures of the past. Those passengers who have been complaining about me and my flight crew should get back to their in-flight entertainment.”

Just under 50% of the passengers on board were furious that their pilot had abandoned them during a crisis. However, the remainder felt he’d been working really hard and deserved a break, no big deal.

Captain Morrisey later apologised for any upset his absence may have caused, although he never actually admitted wrongdoing. Classic pilot move.

At publication time, sources confirmed that it didn’t matter because everybody aboard the plane was fucked anyway.

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Dilemmas of Decision-Making

Information overload combined with a lack of clear answers can be confusing, frustrating, and discouraging. It’s tempting to think it would be so much easier if life were black and white, if someone else could tell us the precise course of action to guarantee the results we want. But that won’t be happening any time soon.

And really, that isn’t the point of life, as far as I can tell. From my viewpoint, life is about learning and growing. And health issues certainly provide us with opportunities to do that.

So it’s on us to be conscious and engaged when making health-related choices. Here are a few thoughts to consider.

1. We are organic, not mechanical, systems.

Repairing a mechanical system is usually a straightforward, clear-cut, logical process. Not so with living systems, which are elegantly complex and sometimes incomprehensible. We have a capacity for emotion, interconnected body systems, and strong survival instincts. No wonder it’s challenging to zero in on the one correct thing to do.

2. It helps a lot to adopt an experimental mindset.

Because maybe there isn’t just one perfect answer. Maybe it’s a zig-zag path to where we want to be.

In this culture, we tend to look for a direct path to the right and perfect solution. This search can have the unintended consequence of preventing  any action at all because you can never be really sure you’ve found the correct one.

On the other hand, an experimental approach allows us to be curious. It opens up possibilities and gives you a chance to learn what works and what doesn’t. It’s a time-honoured approach, as illustrated by this story from Thomas Edison’s friend and associate Walter S. Mallory.

I said to him, “Isn’t it a shame that with the tremendous amount of work you have done you haven’t been able to get any results?” Edison turned on me like a flash, and with a smile replied: “Results! Why, man, I have gotten lots of results! I know several thousand things that won’t work!”

With an attitude like that, there’s no need to feel like a failure when you try something that doesn’t work. After all, you were just testing a theory, not staking your reputation for success on it.

3. You’ll be a lot more confident in making health decisions once you learn to access your innate self-knowing.

Self-knowing is the key to being able to rest easy with your decisions. It’s the aspect of decision-making that provides the greatest opportunity for growth, and the one that’s easiest to overlook.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll explore how you can marshal your resources to know what to do. In the meantime, here are The Delta Rhythm Boys to sing us out…

2 thoughts on “Dilemmas of Decision-Making

  1. Laurana, My husband Don has been on Synthroid for about 15 years. He was diagnosed with low thyroid because he was so tired. No other definite diagnosis. Since about 2012 he has had bad brainfog. The gerentologist has not found any problem with the brain scan , says he has no alzheimber’s and no meds for confusion and some anxiety. I still think we are missing something . Is there another way to enhance the thyroid action other than Synthroid.?

    • Hi Maryl. Yes, there are alternatives to Synthroid, which is a brand of T4. It is also possible to get desiccated thyroid (which contains T1, T2, T3, T4). And T3, preferably time release, which you will need to get from a compounding pharmacy. A note about online research: American brands are different. When they refer to Armor Thyroid, think desiccated thyroid. Their T4 is Levothyroxin; our counterpart is Synthroid.

      In my experience, doctors are not trained in their use and so typically prescribe only Synthroid. I experienced severe brain fog while on Synthroid after my total thyroidectomy. I convinced my doctor to switch me to desiccated thyroid on the strength of a research study I found in my online research. The brain fog lifted in days. A year later I found a doctor who tried me on T3, and now I take a combination of T3 and desiccated thyroid. More in the early part of my story here. and here

      For everything you might want to know about thyroid, you won’t want to miss an excellent online documentary series called The Thyroid Secret, which starts tomorrow, March 1. Register here

      For me, carbohydrates were also implicated in brain fog and I didn’t make that discovery until ten years later. I was also treated for ailing mitochondria. You’ll find more in my blogs from last summer.

      Kudos for following your instincts and pursuing it further. I hope this gives you a place to start. Feel free to be in touch if there’s anything else I can do.

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My Year of Horror: Why Does Nature Hate Me?

Entering the ninth month of My Year of Horror I didn’t think I could bear another vengeful ghost lying in wait to say “boo” nor another arterial spray from a suffering teen so I turned to Mother Nature. Her labor pains have produced armies of children to strike out against humanity. She has, at least according to Hollywood, given birth to giant bugs, angry birds, armies of arachnids and a crush of aliens of all kinds. Unless we can look at these cautionary tales as guidebooks for avoiding her wrath, Mother Nature is probably going to stomp us out.

The horror films of each generation reflect the dominant fears of the time. In the 1950’s swarms of massive, nuclear bugs marched from LA to cinemas across America. Nuclear power was still new and Hollywood capitalized on the fear its unknown effects. In successive generations, Hollywood has found new ways to motivate nature’s revenge, adding or subtracting chemical agents, space exploration and/or misguided science with a healthy dose of human folly. The basic formula is one part male hero, one part attractive, female scientist and one part resistant government / business / criminal element.

It almost seems a cheat to include The Birds (1963) here. Its flaws and weaknesses have been discussed in longer forums than this monthly series permits me, but that’s why it’s here. It simply fits the bill (sorry) as an exceptional film in the genre. It also sends the tropes of the genre flying on new wings. There’s no pseudo-scientific mumbo jumbo but there is a strong-willed lead female, her heroic love-interest and the resistance of a small town – partly represented by the hero’s domineering mother.

You know the plot: the birds are sick of us. We have no idea why but these angry birds are pecking out eyes and pooping on Tippi Hendren’s perfectly smart suit (by the great Edith Head.)

Edith Head's costume for Tippi Hedren in The Birds

If you haven’t seen it, where have you been? If you have seen it, watch it again if only for the scene in which Jessica Tandy discovers a neighbor’s corpse. What Hitch does with this discovery is a sequence to rival the shower scene in Psycho.

For a bit of accidental camp, there’s a moment during the attack on the diner when Ms. Hedren is asked to make 4 distinct faces of horror as Hitch cuts between her and a spreading fire. It’s perfectly ridiculous and almost spoils one of the film’s highlights.

The four faces of Tippi.

But, oh, that ending! I once debated with a friend of a friend who said, “The movie has no ending.” So much for those who need everything spelled out for them. The final frames of the film are chilling … and even a little sadistic.

The rest of the films in this month’s line-up sort of have to compete with Hitch. That may be unfair. So I’ll start with the most meretricious.

Them! (1954) – This flick about giant ants is the queen bee of big bug movies. And like other films of the genre, relies heavily on the notion that scientists, doctors and authority figures are always right – that is, when they’re not completely misguided (as in Tarantula.)

Produced for Warner Brothers, the film stars James Whitmore, Edmund Gwenn (Santa in Miracle on 34th Street), Joan Weldon and James Arness, well-known to horror fans as The Thing from Another World (1951). Its success was followed, like an army of ants at a picnic, by imitators from other studios marching toward a feast.

The mystery of Them begins somewhere in the New Mexico desert. (Hopefully you’re putting two and two together since I’ve already mentioned radioactivity.) A little girl is discovered alive near the remnants of her family’s vacation trailer. Her family missing and the trailer destroyed, the girl is in a state of shock. It’s a terrific opener and climaxes when the girl is drawn out of near-catatonia by an entomologist Dr. Medford (Gwenn) whose theory is the film’s raison d’être. The girl’s reaction to a substance called “formic acid” re-affirms the scientist’s suspicion but when his lovely daughter (also an entomologist, natch) bumps into a giant ant, Medford’s suspicions are confirmed. Joan Weldon, by the way, plays Medford’s lovely daughter.

Joan Weldon hides from one of Them!

The monsters are wisely kept out of sight for the first half of the film. Them received an Oscar nod for Best Special Effects and they (them?) are things of appreciable monster movie beauty, impressive even if they seem quaint to a 2013 crowd weaned on CGI (which can look equally phony.) I wonder how the monstrous, irradiated ants from this classic appeared to 1954 movie-goers? The technicians, who built them, like the artisans of Creature from the Black Lagoon, deserve credit for their massive undertaking.

Sci-fi horror in our world-weary age has to work harder to lure us in but Them is enjoyable for being a solid early genre pic – and the first in a string of derivatives like The Deadly Mantis, The Black Scorpion and Tarantula which all have their own merits as well.

The Call of Cthulhu (2005) is a little, indie gem based on H.P. Lovecraft’s definitive story about an ancient evil lying in wait beneath the sea. Lovecraft’s fragmented narrative is like a Chinese box, with each piece of the story uncovering another alarming element until the climactic meeting with a monster so horrific the mere mention of his name causes madness.

If it’s true that the unknown is more terrifying that the monster exposed, Lovecraft knew how to get the blood pumping; he built-in a layer of dread to raise the tide of anticipation by re-upping the levels of fear and madness experienced by each storyteller until the big reveal. The monster, Cthulhu, is beyond human comprehension and director Andrew Leman uses ingeniously stylized art direction and the silent film format to awaken the subconscious. I’ll admit, silent movies aren’t everyone’s idea of a good time but this film is an inspired realization of Lovecraft’s nearly-impossible descriptions.

When The Man (Matt Foyer), our narrator, begins piecing together the mysteries of his grand-uncle’s madness and death, we are treated to a murderous cult, a series of horror stories surrounding artifacts, journals and papers, and a web of characters with impossibly similar nightmares. These disparate clues lead The Man on a sea voyage where the last “box” is opened – one final tale of terror on the high seas which is the source of the narrator’s own insanity – and the final revelation of the titular monster.

Lovecraft's Cthulhu in Andrew Leman's 2005 silent film

The movie is ingeniously crafted on a micro-budget, using simple technology to great effect. The “ocean” is constructed of fabric, glitter and elbow grease making the sea undulate. The sky looks to be loosely pieced cotton balls and works beautifully. Lovecraft’s tentacled leviathan, depicted in stop-motion, recalls Ray Harryhausen but its combination with art direction and stylized acting makes the film more frightening than you might imagine. Highly recommended.

Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954) I remember Universal’s B-movie classic as a battle of man vs. monster but unlike the purely carnivorous great white star of Jaws, Creature’s creature has needs beyond food. This movie is about what lies beneath the surface.

Julia Adams and the gill man (Ricou Browning underwater.) The gill man was played by Ben Chapman on dry land.

The plot is simple: a bunch of scientists travel to the Amazon in search of the find of the century. They stumble onto the lair of the gill man, a creature with a link to our evolutionary past. Cue murder and mayhem – and the creature’s infatuation with the lovely female scientist (who, thanks to 1950’s Hollywood, never once picks up a beaker, a magnifying glass or microscope.) The creature goes from monster to awkward Romeo, to pitiable captive before regaining his power and absconding with his prize.

Cock of the walk: two Dicks (Richard Carlson and Richard Denning) fight over their female colleague .

Julia Adams (also credited as Julie) makes a fine heroine, giving a very good performance as a marine biologist who accidentally swims into the creature’s current. She’s a bit more than a damsel in distress though the scuba diving and heavy, scientific lifting go to the shirtless, marine biologists who are rivals for her affection. (Thank you for the beefcake.) Instead donning a regulator and diving mask, Ms. Adams takes a dip in a weirdly placid Amazon, showing off her “racy” white, one-piece which met with censor objection due to the high cut of the thigh. Ms. Adams’ great gams don’t go unnoticed by the the gill man (played by two different actors: one by land and one by sea) and the result is an underwater pas de deux which floods the film with innuendo and subliminal sex.

The gill man gets his jollies.

If my review sounds like a lot of sexist objectification, I should defend myself by telling you there’s a LOT of bare flesh in this movie, both male and female. The gill man’s peek at our heroine is more poetry than peril. Waves of Beauty and the Best wash over the film well before this scene with both male leads strutting like cocks in a henhouse.

With limited special effects aside from the striking underwater photography, the most surprising aspect of Creature is its make-up and costume design. The monster is a thing of beauty even by today’s standards. Millicent Patrick designed the gill man for Universal Films, having been given parameters and a rough sketch by director Jack Arnold via make-up and special effects artist Bud Westmore, who had also contributed to the monster’s look.

"I love you this much!"

But it was Ms. Patrick’s final vision which gave us the gill man we know today. When Westmore became angry at the overemphasis on Ms. Patrick’s contributions, he succeeding in derailing her career but not before she exercised her incredible creativity with two other sci-fi monsters: the Metaluna mutant from This Island Earth and the Xenomorph in It Came from Outer Space. However it came to pass, the the gill man is a masterful lesson in design for students of movie make-up. He is as iconic as Giger’s Alien, Frankenstein’s monster and Lugosi’s Dracula.

Mutant and Xenomorph designed by Millicent Patrick

Attack the Block (2011) makes a good case for itself. In a cinematic sea of films like this, Joe Cornish’s take on the alien invasion genre gives us a coming-of-age story set in a public housing block – the UK equivalent of Section 8.

A gang of ne’er-do-wells, who spend Guy Fawkes’ Night thieving, piss off an invading alien species which proceeds to set upon their apartment block. Take it from there. Unlikely friendships are formed and the rough-and-tumble gang leader, the ironically-named Moses (John Boyega), learns a lesson about himself and about honor. The aliens aren’t particularly scary-looking but they are ferocious and I liked their solid black, eyeless bodies and glowing blue teeth.

Moses (John Boyega) has only one commandment: RUN!

These aliens are all ferocity, which makes them enough of a threat to warrant running and screaming by the cast. The young characters are asked to step into their courageousness and Moses must face his part in the disaster and make amends. A host of interesting secondary characters also keeps the plot’s formulaic familiarity from swallowing it.

Ultimately, it’s not a remarkable film but it is enjoyable for the chemistry and commitment of its cast and the care with which it has been made. And you know what else? Thank goodness for multi-racial casting. It seems to go on a lot more in the UK than in the US.

Basket Case (1982) is a schlock film about a fella and the mad, deformed creature he keeps in a basket no one seems very curious about. There’s a bit of low-budget pleasure to be had in this movie’s deliberate goofiness but after watching so many of these films I can only give so much slack.

Duane comes to New York City with a basket and a dream. After checking into an SRO, Duane goes about taking revenge on the doctors who did The Terrible Thing to him and to his companion, Belial of the basket, who communicates with Duane telepathically. When Duane starts to fall for a girl, Belial’s own sexual urges and jealousy threaten to drive the pair apart, putting Belial’s rage into the red zone.

Belial is the Basket Case

There are no technical aspects to speak of: the movie is below low budget: like early John Waters but without the deliberate perversity. Well, I take that back, there is one moment when our dickless creature goes at it with a gal while his telepathic counterpart dreams of running all cock-bobbingly full frontal through the streets of New York. Duane dreams of Belial’s imaginary transformation into a full-figured fella. By this time we’ve seen Belial either as a foam-rubber hand puppet – looking all too much like someone put Sesame Street‘s Ernie into a panini press – or as a stop-motion figurine like a nightmare in the Davey and Goliath household.

I watched this for you. I don’t think I need to see it again.

The Trollenberg Terror (aka The Crawling Eye) (1958) is not a dizzying work of staggering genius. It requires that you turn a blind eye to the cheesy special effects – cheesy, even by B-picture standards. In the days of Creature Feature, this flick, known by its alternate title, was a staple of TV horror fests. Now it has largely disappeared from view.

I’ve usually got half an eye on camp value when it comes to B-movies and while we don’t get full Ed Wood, The Trollenberg Terror hits the bull’s-eye at least a few times. In no other film will you find radioactive, brain-eating aliens, a mind-reading sister act, zombie assassins, tumbling mountain climbers, and Forrest Tucker all together in an avalanche-proof observatory in the Swiss Alps. (Say that three times fast.)

Mysterious happenings are happening on one of the most popular mountains near Trollenberg. “Something in the mist” (to quote Frank Darabont’s adaptation of Stephen King’s The Mist) has got the locals all bug-eyed. When the aforementioned sister act stops off in Trollenberg along with a United Nations investigator (does the UN have investigators?) played by Mr. Tucker, things get REALLY weird. Not only does Tucker go misty-eyed over the elder sister (winningly played by Jennifer Jayne) but younger sister, Anne (an equally good Janet Munro) tunes in on broadcasts to her third eye.

Made by a UK production company, its original title hangs on to the mystery of what the monsters may be. The American title gives it away so I won’t be spoiling anything by telling you that these giant, eye monsters would give Amanda Seyfried a run for her money.

The eyes have it. (Too easy?)

Despite the camp value, this film has some very good acting from its dedicated cast as well as decently developed characters – everyone plays it straight. You care about their plight, until the appearance of the giant, crawling eye-aliens (tentacles included). Well – let me rephrase – they’re models of giant crawling eyes with tentacles and they live in a radioactive mist. (John Carpenter’s The Fog uses a mist more effectively and Stephen King’s The Mist is an expansion of this film’s motif.) The climax is too easy but the events leading up to it are just peculiar enough to keep you looking for more.

I remember this movie fondly for the scene in which a genuinely terrible child actress is snatched from the jaws of the eye by Tucker in one of his many moments of heroic derring-do. I’m still not sure how the aliens get the heads off of people, since eyes don’t have teeth, but I’ll get back to you on that.

Kingdom of the Spiders (1977) – Any movie featuring thousands of real spiders has a built-in ick-factor that tips the scales in favor of its success. Kingdom of the Spiders, fondly remembered by fan-kids of the 70’s, has about as many shortcomings as specimens and wears out its promise with ludicrous opening murder – a spider attack on a prize cow – which is framed like a cross between a photo bomb and a derp.

"Ermahgerd! Sperders!" Natasha Ryan and Uncredited Cow

Following the death of said cow, local vet Robert “Rack” Hansen (William Shatner) sends blood tests for analysis. Mercedes-driving arachnologist Diane Ashley (Tiffany Bolling) brings her findings directly to town: a high concentration of spider venom (sound familiar?). A spider community is discovered at a local farm, despite the normally cannibalistic disposition of the tarantulas who have instead bonded over meals of local pets and their owners.

Brave extras playing dead.

Thousands of spiders, gathered for the shoot at $10/spider by Mexican immigrants, cover cows, extras and Shatner. Enough spiders were killed during the making of the film (sometimes on camera) that it nearly makes this movie difficult to watch. Despite their shiver-inducing physiognomy, tarantulas are delicate creatures and fractures to their exoskeletons can mean death. Spiders are tossed, dropped and thrown to the ground, burned, crushed underfoot and under tire – mostly on camera for the sake of drama. PETA would have a field day.

Only slightly better than a TV movie, Kingdom barely gets by with a serviceable script and game actors who, during filming, suffered a lot of skin irritation from the spiders’ urticating bristles (the fur spiders scrape off their abdomens as a defense.) Bolling, in one scene, has to handle a spider as if she is an expert and does an admirable job though if you watch closely you can see her hands shaking.

You get the sense that she wanted to get it right on the first take.

About Tom Gualtieri

Tom Gualtieri (@TomGGualtieri)is a theatre artist with his hand in many disciplines: lyricist, playwright, performer, director, knitter. He maintains an ongoing collaboration with composer David Sisco. His solo play, That Play: A Solo Macbeth, was nominated for a 2013 Drama Desk Award.
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Week 5 Chronicles: Hymns Old and New

Week 5 Chronicles is an occasional series on experimental worship formats whenever there is a fifth Sunday in a month.

Someone once said that a hymn is theology set to music. Others say that, in contrast to much of modern worship’s being deeply personal, a hymn is an expression of objective praise. That is not all together true, of course, because many hymns contain lyrics with a deep subjective element (for example, “Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine…”).

There is a certain quality to a song that makes it a hymn. Theological richness is one aspect. Another perhaps is a developed narrative which often puts story to theology. Yet another is a simplicity of structure.

Many hymns have stood the test of time (and presumably, like all categories of worship songs generally), some have not. Those that have endured have left a rich heritage of faith for the generations that have come before us. There are also great hymns being written today that will carve a legacy of fresh faith for the generations to follow.

Last Sunday, I had the privilege of leading an all-hymns worship set at Faith Community Church, Perth. It was a refreshing departure from the usual two fast songs, two slow songs worship mode we had become accustomed to. But whilst I was keen to design a set around hymns only, I thought that it would be apt to also recognise more contemporary songs which I would also characterise as hymns, such as Brooke Ligertwood’s “King of Kings”.

So, I called the set “Hymns: Old and New”.

It was an amazing time of worship. The singers and the music were on point. And the congregation was in full roar. It was one of my most enjoyable worship sessions in memory.

But memorising the lyrics was a killer. Sessions like these make me extremely grateful to our media team who run the confidence monitors.

The songs were:

Amazing Grace (acapella) (D-E)
This I Believe (The Creed) (A)
When I Survey the Wondrous Cross (D-E)
Nothing But the Blood (E)
What a Friend We Have in Jesus (E)
‘Tis so Sweet to Trust in Jesus (E)
In Christ Alone/The Solid Rock (E)
King of Kings (E)

Here is the recording.

Special thanks to the team for making it all happen.

Vox: Me, Ritchell, Lydia, Crystal, Joanna
Keys: Joe Lyn, Joseph
Guitars: Keegan, Marcus
Bass: Addie
Drums: Ephraim
Cello: Tiffany
Sound: Senny
Stage: KK
AV: Marco
Lights: Daniel

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Photographed by Samuel Black

Amy-Jane was born and raised in North Wales, growing up in a small, seaside town. Early experiences on stage as a dancer sparked a life-long love for theatre and performance. After briefly attending Bangor University to study English Literature with Theatre, Amy relocated to Manchester to pursue her aspiration to become an actress. She recieved a First Class Honours degree in Media and Performance at the University of Salford in 2012 and signed with her first Agent at the University Showcase.

Since graduating, Amy has worked in television; including Hollyoaks (C4/E4) and Casualty (BBC). And also in theatre; including Blood Brothers (UK Tour) and Gaslight (UK Tour) performing at some of the largest theatres across the country.

In 2020, Amy-Jane took a break from acting (prior to the enforced break of a global pandemic) for her most important and rewarding role to date: becoming a mum.

Her daughter, Ada-Mae Rosabella, was born in the wee small hours of a sunny morning in June 2020 and has been delighting her mother every day since.

Currently living in Oxfordshire with her partner and daughter, Amy-Jane spends much of her time exploring the city, drinking oat lattes, watching Frozen (lots and lots of Frozen) and, of course, writing. That is, whenever the muse appears and the baby permits…

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The impacts of the pandemic have reverberated into many lines of insurance, but perhaps one of the most direct consequences of country-wide lockdowns in the US has been evident in auto insurance. In our guide to car insurance and coronavirus, we’ll explore the implications of this worldwide pandemic on the car insurance industry and what it means for you as an insurance customer.

Major Changes in Driving Habits Could Mean Savings

Lockdown orders due to the coronavirus pandemic have led to dramatic mileage decreases for many drivers. So what does this mean for auto insurance and consumers’ coverage needs? Insurance companies are navigating the tricky questions raised by the social and economic disruption brought about by COVID-19. The companies’ decisions and policy changes during this unprecedented period could have an impact on policyholders’ pockets.

As the pandemic began to spread in March and state-mandated shutdowns followed suit, the widespread turn to remote work meant that vehicles were left parked for potentially weeks, if not months. As a result, many auto insurers began to offer discounts and refunds on their customers’ auto insurance premiums. Now, despite the fact that many drivers have returned to the roads, the pandemic’s reverberations on vehicle usage and insurance cover will likely continue into the future.

What if I’m No Longer Commuting?

Whether you’re working from home or looking for work, you’re likely finding yourself at home for days on end while your car goes undriven for extended lengths of time. Car insurance based on telematics or per-mile usage may appear to be an attractive option for these situations.

While it may initially be cheaper, keep in mind that it’s usually a better option for those who are not driving much for the long term. Once you resume your daily commute and other activities, these telematics and pay-per-mile insurance options may actually become more expensive than a traditional policy. However, they are definitely worth looking into if you’re looking to tighten your costs and lower your premium.

If There’s Less Risk, Are There More Rewards?

Rewinding back to the pandemic’s early days in the US, lockdowns led to a drop of 40.2% in miles driven in April and a 25.5% drop in May. After all, alongside the drop in traffic during the lockdown period, there was also a reduction in the number of accidents and the dollars associated with those because of the inactivity in the marketplace from an economic standpoint.

The question is, will there be another round of premium refunds, will COVID lead to another full shutdown of the economy or significant portions of the economy shutting down, and will that lead to another dip in total premiums and loss activity.

Currently, the general sense among experts is that premiums will take a while to return to pre-COVID levels because although the economy is starting to get back to work and shutdowns are not nearly as severe as they once were, some changes in driving behavior are going to stick around. Several companies have already made public announcements that their employees will continue to work remotely for the foreseeable future, which in turn will lead to insurance companies potentially reducing rates, and getting less premiums because of less exposure for risk in the marketplace.

How Will Coronavirus Affect My Rates?

It is still too early to ascertain the impact of COVID-19 on car insurance rates, even as Americans sharply reduce how often they’re on the road. While auto insurance companies have reported fewer accidents and claims attributed to state lockdown orders, it is difficult to say definitively that they will pass on savings in the form of coronavirus car insurance discounts.

Insurance companies use multiple years’ worth of data to set premiums, and this makes any changes to rates very gradual. Unless this substantial decrease in accidents and claims persists for a lengthy period of time, it is unlikely that auto insurance rates will permanently decrease as a side effect of the pandemic.


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Home Topics Addiction Treatment

Quick Links

Topics that may interest you

Through treatment you can stop and reverse many of the harmful effects of alcohol and drug use and reclaim your life.

Addiction is a difficult, chronic disease, and like other chronic diseases recovery takes time and may involve relapses. However, there are effective treatments for addiction, and it’s worth making the effort.

An overall treatment approach to alcohol dependence and drug addiction often begins with detoxification, followed by treatment and then follow-up for relapse prevention. A long-term, customized continuum of care that addresses all aspects of your life can be crucial to success in staying clean and sober. Once you have achieved sobriety, recovery is a lifelong process

Treatment facts

Years of scientific research have aided our understanding of addiction and ways to treat it. The National Institute on Drug Abuse has identified key findings on addiction treatment based on scientific research:

  • No single treatment is appropriate for all individuals.
  • Treatment needs to be readily available.
  • Effective treatment attends to the health needs of the whole person, not just the addiction.
  • A treatment plan should be assessed often and changed to meet the person’s needs.
  • Remaining in treatment for an adequate period of time is critical for treatment to be effective.
  • Counseling and other behavioral therapies are critical parts of effective treatments for addiction.
  • For certain types of addiction, medications are an important element of treatment, especially when combined with counseling and other behavioral therapies.
  • Addicted or drug-abusing individuals with coexisting mental disorders should have both disorders treated in an integrated way.
  • Medical management of withdrawal syndrome is only the first stage of addiction treatment and by itself does little to change long-term drug use.
  • Treatment does not need to be voluntary to be effective.
  • Possible drug use during treatment must be monitored continuously.
  • Treatment programs should provide assessment for HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B and C, tuberculosis, and other infectious diseases, and should provide counseling to help patients modify or change behaviors that place themselves or others at risk of infection.
  • As is the case with other chronic, relapsing diseases, recovery from addiction can be a long-term process and typically requires multiple episodes of treatment, including "booster" sessions and other forms of continuing care.

Detoxification and withdrawal

Depending on how dependent you are on a drug and how much you’ve been using recently, the first step may be detoxification and withdrawal. It is very important that this take place under medical supervision, in a medical facility. Medications can help to manage withdrawal symptoms during the several days it can take to detox, and medical supervision can help ensure that detoxification happens safely.

Detoxification may be a necessary first step for eliminating a drug that’s still in your system, but it is not in itself treatment. People with an addiction who go through medically assisted withdrawal but who do not receive any further treatment show drug abuse patterns similar to those who were never treated.

Treatment programs

Treatment can include a variety of steps tailored to care for the whole person, such as:

  • Medical assessment and treatment, including detoxification, and treatment of health problems common to addiction
  • Prescribed medications to help reduce cravings, such as methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone
  • A change in environment to one free of drugs and alcohol and the surroundings, stresses, and companions that may trigger using habits
  • Individual, group, and family therapy, such as cognitive behavior therapy
  • 12-step or other self-help recovery groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous
  • Education for the person and family
  • Activity therapy
  • Access to spiritual counsel and faith practices
  • Alternative therapies such as mindfulness-based meditation and acupuncture

Some of these treatments are available on an outpatient basis. Many people also find residential treatment programs to be very effective in providing a complete treatment program for a period of time. The right type of treatment for you should be determined from a thorough evaluation by a qualified addiction professional.

Therapeutic communities
There are also therapeutic communities available for those with more serious problems, such as a long history of addiction, involvement in criminal activity, or impaired social functioning. Some are designed to accommodate the needs of women who are pregnant or have children. The person who is recovering typically lives in the therapeutic community for six to 12 months. Therapeutic communities are highly structured programs that include complete sobriety and responsibilities to the community.

Relapse prevention and support in recovery

Alcohol dependence and drug addiction are chronic disorders. Like many other chronic illnesses, recovering from addiction may mean experiencing relapses. People in recovery are most vulnerable to relapses within a few months of treatment, but they can also occur years or decades later.

Many residential treatment programs provide aftercare such as support groups, education programs, and 12-step groups to support a person’s recovery.

Most communities have 12-step group meetings. Some people in recovery go to groups weekly; some daily. Many people in 12-step groups have a sponsor with whom they speak on a regular basis or when they are experiencing a craving, trigger, or stressful event.

These aftercare and support groups can help you identify the triggers and warning signs of a relapse, create a plan for avoiding and responding to triggers, and be available to support you during times of crisis or relapse.

Connect With Us

Find Help

Locate mental health and well-being support organizations in your area.


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We are one of Melbourne’s leading wool carpet specialist’s and have access to the best carpet manufacturer’s in loop, twist and plush piles from Australia and New Zealand. Exquisite patterns, textures and colors which are on trend with modern and traditional designs that will enhance the interior of any home.

Be inspired with our many choices of timber and vinyl flooring, our specialised consultant will guide you with selections to suit your home.
Bespoke rugs and runners which we can manufacture locally to suit any room from our extensive ranges in our showroom.

We offer a wide selection of roller blinds, timber venetians, curtains and sheers using local fabrics and workrooms. Our interior consultants are professionally trained to offer you the best solutions for your windows and free measure and quote within Melbourne metropolitan area.

Our interior consultants will guide you through our extensive range of plantation shutters and outdoor awning options. Awnings can be either manual or automated, our services include free measure and quote within Melbourne metropolitan area.

All carpets are installed according to the Australian Standards by our own trained, qualified and insured layers. A warranty of 5 years for all residential projects, subject to conditions. We aim to maximise the life of your carpet with minimal joins where possible, also using a high quality underlay which will provide long term durability for your carpet.


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Original research
Night shift work is associated with an increased risk of asthma
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