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Review: Fender Newport et Fender Monterey

test fender newport fender monterrey

Fender, the famous American manufacturer lauded for its guitars and amplifiers has entered the market of Bluetooth home speakers and portable speakers with the release of the Fender Newport and Fender Monterey. But is the Fender brand name enough to guarantee quality sound restitution’

Fender Newport: the portable speaker

Founded in 1946 in Fullerton, California, Fender is synonymous with quality conception, high quality sound and reliability in the world of music. The Fender Newport Bluetooth speaker inherits its look from the amplifiers manufactured by the legendary American brand. The Fender Newport is designed for listening to music wirelessly and without the need for a power block, whether you are at home or on a stroll. Thanks to its rechargeable battery, the speaker offers up to eleven hours of listening far from all sources of power on a single charge. An integrated microphone also allows the user to answer phone calls. From looking at the pictures provided by Fender, we thought that the design of the speaker was rather elegant. After opening the box, our impression was confirmed. The plastic parts are sturdy and the aluminum grill gives the speaker a refined flair. While compact, the Fender Newport is surprisingly heavy, which is actually a good sign. It indicates that the manufacturer didn’t try to save on costs by using cheap materials, components and speaker drivers. This Fender Newport is nice and weighty!

test fender newport
The Fender Newport portable Bluetooth speaker.

The top panel of the speaker hosts the various controls: metal switch to power the speaker, LED indicator, Bluetooth pairing button, “talk” button, and three witch hat knobs with 1-10 increments. In addition to the standard volume knob, the Fender Newport also features bass and treble controls.

The Fender Newport is fitted with two mid/bass drivers and a tweeter. The only way to know more about the drivers would be to open the speaker. The integrated class D amplifier can deliver up to 30 Watts. The frequency response is not indicated, which worried us at first. The Bluetooth 4.2 controller is compatible with the SBC (universal), AAC (iPhone), and apt-X codecs. A USB port and a 3.5 mm mini-jack stereo input are located at the back of the speaker which allows the user to charge a device and connect a DAP, for example.

test fender newport
The Fender Newport’s mini-jack line input and the USB port for charging an external device.

Fender Newport: test conditions and listening impressions

We listened to the speaker using an Android smartphone compatible with apt-X transmission (confirmed by the smartphone during our listening session). We listened to MP3 files streamed from Google Play Music, as well as FLAC files stored on our smartphone. We placed the speaker on a desk in a large open-space area, then moved it to our listening room, which benefits from a much better acoustic treatment. We adjusted the tone knobs and quickly found the appropriate settings for both our rooms.

The Fender Newport’s control panel.

A short sequence of electric guitar at medium volume is played when powering the speaker. This sound cannot be adjusted nor deactivated. This is not a major drawback by any stretch, Fender simply wants to remind the listener that he/she is listening to a speaker designed by a guitar manufacturer. Fair enough. The start-up sound sound actually gives a pretty good idea of the speaker’s sound signature. Responsiveness along with an extended frequency response, everything’s there. We started our listening session with Michael Kinawuka’s Cold Little Heart, which was delivered with a lot of energy throughout the entire sound spectrum. A remarkable performance. The highs are slightly highlighted but are skillfully kept under control and therefore do not negatively impact the restitution. The singer’s voice is clearly separated from the instruments and the drums are restituted with an impressive richness for such a compact speaker (18 x 13 x 8 cm). The Fender Newport speaker is rather directive and it is necessary to place it directly facing the listening area to enjoy its full potential. The manufacturer decided to go against the current trend of ultra-wide sound diffusion for compact connected speakers (which inevitably affects the balance of high frequencies).

The Fender Newport’s aluminum grill and Fender logo.

Lows: relatively deep, with a slight bump around 70 Hz. An overall solid performance considering the size of the Newport.
Mids: slightly set back but well balanced.
Highs: flattering to the ear, yet nuanced and detailed.

Fender Newport: compared to…

Klipsch The One: also boasting a vintage design, the Klipsch The One can’t hold a candle to the Fender Newport when it comes to bass delivery nor is it as clear in the highs. The Fender speaker wins this round.

Sony SRS-XB41: acoustically speaking, the Sony is a lot less rigorous and becomes short of breath at high volume. The Sony has the advantage when it comes to battery life and waterproof design but the Fender speaker has the upper hand as far as sound restitution goes.

B&W T7: ultra-compact and resistant, the B&W T7 lacks in power when compared to the Fender Newport whose sound signature sounded more elaborate to our ears. The Fender speaker has the advantage over its competitor.

Fender Newport: conclusion

What we liked:

  • The tonal balance
  • The meticulous restitution
  • The speaker’s look
  • The construction quality
  • The compatibility with the apt-X codec

We would have liked:

  • A carrying handle?

The Fender Newport won us over instantly with its cheerful and expressive restitution. Even at high volume, the speaker stays coherent and balanced. An up-close listening experience ensures a splendid sound resolution, while the tone balance stays absolutely delightful at midrange. Fender went for a no-frills design (WiFi, tactile controls, etc.) and produced a gorgeous speaker offering a serious and captivating sound. Hat’s off.

The Fender Monterey and the compact Fender Newport.

Fender Monterey: presentation

The Fender Monterey Bluetooth speaker is the Newport’s big sister. Both share the same DNA, but the Monterey is much bigger (33 x 24 x 13 cm) and is not equipped with a battery. The Monterey is a home speaker. Its class D amplifier rated at 120 W drives two mid-bass drivers and two tweeters. Here again, the size of the drivers and the type of enclosure was not specified by Fender, but what really matters is the speaker’s performance, right? The Bluetooth controller is SBC, AAC and apt-X compatible. The volume and tone can be adjusted via the control knobs located on the top of the speaker and the loudness mode (considerable reinforcement of the lows) may be activated using a switch situated on the back of the speaker. In addition to the mini-jack 3.5 mm line input, the Fender Monterey speaker also features a RCA stereo line input. The last feature which sets the Monterey and the Newport apart is the presence of a manual source selector on the Monterey.

Tolex finish for the Fender Monterey and plastic for the Fender Newport. The structure of both speakers is reinforced with wood.

Fender Monterey: listening impressions

Same listening conditions for the Fender Monterey Bluetooth speaker: we used a smartphone to listen to MP3 and FLAC files via Bluetooth apt-X transmission in two different listening rooms.

The smartphone we used for the test confirmed that the apt-X codec was activated with the Fender speakers.

With the loudness mode deactivated, the Fender Monterey’s sound signature is a bit drier than that of the Newport. The mids are brought to the fore and are delivered with precision and energy. The highs are detailed (probably the same tweeter) but do not not color the overall listening experience quite as much (even at high volume). The output level is impressive and the Fender Monterey has no problem reaching a high sound level. This Fender speaker is definitely powerful. When the loudness mode is activated, the experience become more physical. It benefits from a generous extension in the lower end of the sound spectrum and its EQ is clearly rock-oriented. The Fender Monterey is the type of speaker which has no trouble delivering music during a party, and was clearly made to deliver sound at high volume.

Lows: commanding, with more impact than depth when the loudness mode is deactivated. Luxuriant and demonstrative when the loudness mode is activated.
Mids: convincing textures, great transient response, it rocks!
Highs: silky and slightly set back compared to the mids.

The Shape selector located at the back of the Fender Monterey lets the user activate or deactivate the loudness mode.

Fender Monterey compared to:

Klipsch The Three: although the sound signature of the two speakers is comparable, the Klipsch fails to reach the Fender’s high sound output without losing its composure, the low register loses its fullness and the highs become aggressive. The Fender stands above its competitor.

Marshall Woburn: while the Marshall Woburn and the Fender Monterey look slightly similar and are both apt-X compatible, their sound signatures are different. The Marshall Woburn delivers a tremendous amount of energy in the high-bass which results in a restricted extension in the lows. The frequency bump in the high-mids also makes it less subtle than the Fender speaker. The Fender Monterey wins this round.

What we liked:

  • The power and the composure at high volume
  • The design
  • The construction quality
  • The compatibility with the apt-X codec

We would have liked:

  • Nothing comes to mind.

Pairing big drivers with a powerful amplifier is not enough to make a great wireless speaker. Fender understood this and worked meticulously on the response curve of the Fender Monterey to ensure an enjoyable listening experience regardless of the conditions. The Monterey also benefits from a strong personality and the energy it displays in the mids results in a unique sound signature.

In the end, although the two speakers were obviously designed for different types of applications, the compact Fender Newport is the one that really won us over. We just weren’t expecting such an enjoyable and accomplished sound signature.

The Fender Newport Bluetooth speaker is a real feat in acoustic design.

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Rédacteur et traducteur amateur de disques vinyle et passionné d'obscurs sous-genres musicaux. Mes préférences cinématographiques s'orientent vers les films d'horreur, des classiques Universal à la courte vague néohorreur française du début des années 2000, ainsi que vers la période américaine d'Alfred Hitchcock. Côté matériel je privilégie les installations sobres avec une paire d'enceintes JBL alimentée par un ampli hi-fi stéréo Denon auquel sont connectés un pré-ampli phono Graham Slee et une platine Dual CS 5000 du début des années 80 pour le vinyle et un DAC Chord Mojo avec une variété d'écouteurs intra-auriculaires pour la musique dématérialisée.

  1. These Fender speakers look great, but I was wondering if it was worth spending a such great amount of money in a Bluetooth speaker? Apart from the design, what make these speakers different from, say, the JBL Flip series of speakers?

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Top 5 Money Saving Tips for Business Travel

Cut your company's travel expenses in half with these tips

Tips for business travel

Did you know, global business travel spend is expected to exceed €1.6 trillion by 2020? This means global business travel spend is one of the biggest costs a company will have year-on-year.

As a company, you must have the tools on hand to manage this growth. So, whether you're the CFO, a Global Travel Manager or a Financial Accountant, saving money on business travel expenses should always be on the top of your list.

We've put together a list of our top tips to save money on your corporate travel.

1. Plan Ahead.

This rule is #1 for a reason.

It's always wise to book flights, hotels, etc. well in advance if at all possible. Many of these costs can dramatically increase closer to the time.

The key is to do your research beforehand. Planning ahead also means you can be smart about whom you send to meetings, events, etc. abroad. Why would you send someone hundreds of miles to a meeting if there’s already an employee there who can cover it?

2. Reinforce Your Company's Travel Policy.

Your company's travel policy is often quite detailed, which also means that there's plenty of places for expenses to slip through. Take a closer look at your existing travel policy, and review elements that may need to be updated.

This may mean reviewing the approval process for expenses, the protocol for on-site spending, and guidelines for bookings and reservations. By making all these elements clear, and more importantly, realistic, it can ensure you're not adding costs that could be easily avoided.

3. Reward Employees.

Restricting business travel costs as well as imposing the company's travel policy can increase the pain for employees. Entice your employees to save for the company money, but for their benefit. This can be done through reward schemes, time off - any way of you can think of to thank them for reducing travel costs.

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4. Bleisure - More Rewards!

Bleisure is a relatively new phenomenon, brought about by the ever-influential millennials and their needs. Besides the obvious increases in employee morale, you could also save money on business flights. Flights are more expensive on Fridays, Sundays and Monday mornings - it's when business travelers typically fly!

So, if your employee is looking to add a few more days to their business trip, and decides to return and fly back mid-week - it could save you hundreds.

5. Reclaim Your Value Added Tax.

When employees travel abroad for business, incurring T&E expenses on meals, hotels, taxis, etc. - you are paying VAT (value added tax) - sometimes as high as 27%!

Managing VAT is time-consuming and tedious, and many organisations only recover a fraction of what’s owed to them. Without automation and in-house VAT expertise, it’s nearly impossible to keep up with changing laws, regulations and filing requirements in every country that charge some form of VAT.

At Taxback International, we integrate seamlessly with the largest expense management systems and corporate card providers worldwide. You can add savings to your bottom line, and increase your revenue flow by reclaiming that VAT spends in EU countries. As the leaders in VAT reclaim globally, we've not only got the powerful technology to get your VAT to reclaim but we have got our experts on-hand to ensure you're reclaiming correctly.

These are just some of the ways you can make savings on business travel all over your company. With the number of mobile workers growing every year, managing corporate travel spend is becoming increasingly difficult, but even more important.

Looking to go futher with your business travel but still keep your costs down? Talk to VAT expert at Taxback Ineternational to see how your organisation can use Value Added Tax reclaims to increase revenue.

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The 6 Must Have Compound Bow Accessories Guide

Archery is one of the oldest sports in history and over the centuries, it has evolved significantly.

Before, archery has been used as a great skill when it comes to warfare or hunting. Now, it is generally for sports and recreation. With this, its equipments (the bow and arrow) have also changed notably from those made out of wood to those that are made out of the best metals.

Mastering this sport has never been easier. Many shooting techniques could be done and each one requires specific use of bow accessories. In this compound bow accessories guide, we will through the must-have equipment for your bows.

The Must-Have Compound Bow Accessories

1. Bow Sight

This equipment is mounted on the riser of your bow and it helps you to aim your arrow.

It gives you a guide to where your projectile is pointed. Although you can shoot without a bow sight, this is highly recommended specially at long ranges.

There is a variety of this kind of equipment depending on your type of archery. There are compound target sights, compound hunting sights, recurve target sights, sight pins, scopes and peep sights.With the help of these bow sights, even a novice can be astonishingly precise.

For a complete archery bow sight guide: Best bow sights review and complete guide

Sight pins is the most common among hunters. These allow them to fix distances of their targets. Once fixed, the pins remain in their position. Adjusting the pins is easy to do but it requires trial and error. If the distance of the target is 10 yards away, you simply sight the bow by placing your pre-set 10-yard pin on the intended target.  This equipment somehow requires you to master the skill of estimating distances in which most hunters must possess.

Target sights are mostly used in competition because it gives the most accurate details you need. This is often called 3D competition Sight. It is very sophisticated and larger than the other sights. Typically six to twelve inches forward of the bow’s riser via a quick-disconnect dovetail system.

2. Arrow Rest

This equipment holds your arrow in position until you shoot the bow. Like the bow sight, this device varies from simple to complex rests. It comes in different types. The following are the most common ones.

For more arrow rest information: Best Archery Rest Guide

Drop Away Arrow Rest is a rest that drops away as the arrow is fired. The reason why it is dropped is that the arrow will fly out of the bow without the rest hindering the flight of the arrow. This type of rest is recommended for hunters as it helps to position you perfectly.This rest is distinguished from fall away rest wherein it simply falls when the arrow is shot. The drop away arrow rest is the most sophisticated rest available today.

Shoot-Thru Arrow Rest. This device is also known as the “prong” rest. This type of rest is called a “Shoot-Thru” because the bottom feather or vane passes between the two prongs when you shoot the arrow. It is used generally by many because it is simpler to install and it works for most of the applications. But I don’t recommend this rest because it has its features that disrupt the flight of the arrow.

Containment Arrow Rests eliminate the possibility of the arrow falling from the rest. Hunters prefer this rest because it is easy to install and adjust. This keeps you from worrying with arrows that fall from the rest. Rather, you will be focused on your actual shot. However, since the rest is connected to the arrow for a long time, this device is said to be less forgiving to errors in shooting techniques.

3. Bow Stabilizer

It is a bow equipment that helps you increase your precision as it lessens the movement on release of the arrow. It gives you a balance of the bow to attain accuracy.

This is recommended for those who have not achieved a perfect shooting technique just yet. It reduces the shock during your aim because of the weight added by the stabilizer to the center section.

It also reduces the noise produced during the shot. Using this equipment however requires more energy in order to hold the bow. There are many types of stabilizer and each requires actual testing in order to get the perfect match of the bow and arrows.

Essential Read: Compound Bow Stabilizer Guide

Twin Stabilizer is perfect if your main goal is stability. This equipment is mostly recommended for hunters. It is short and normally, one is mounted directly above the hand grip and the other immediately below it close to where the limbs meet the centre section. The twin weights resist rotation instigated by a bow-hand error and it reduces the tendency for the bow hand to twist upon release.

Long-Rod Stabilizer’s main objective is to attain accuracy. This equipment ranges 36 inches and above in length, fitted into the centre section in line with the bow arm, or just below the hand position. This equipment is mostly used in competitions and target archery. It reduces the sideways twisting of the bow-hand as well as the downward and upward inconsistencies.

Reverse Stabilizers are usually used with the long-rod. It is fitted below the bow-hand on the center section pointing towards the archer. It reduces the vertical turning caused by bow-hand torque. Like other stabilizers, this type also varies in size.

4. The Bow Stringer

To safely string a bow, you will need this equipment. It allows you to use your body weight to bend the recurve bow in order to slip the string over the limb tips.

For those who are new to this sport, you may want to try Selway Limbsaver Recurve Bow Stringer. It is easy to use to consistently string the bows securely. The equipment covers a good amount of your limb, so the tension should be more dispersed. Check out this article for how to choose the best bow strings.

5. Archery Release

Prior to the release of the arrow, there is a great tension between the bow and the fingers of the archer. Because of this, a single error will cause a wayward shot which the archer should avoid.

This equipment distributes the tension created by the pulling and holding from the fingertips to the finger joints, wrist, and arm. Thus, this gives the archer a better control in his shot. However you have to take note that this equipment mostly breaks easily.

Archery release is a must-have accessory if you are a bow hunter, read the top bow release review here.

6. Quiver

This accessory is one of the most essential one an archer needs to have. It is a container for arrows, traditionally made out of leather, wood and animal fur. There are many designs available in the market; belt, back, ground or arrow bag, which could be attached in any part of the body depending on the archer’s choice.

So here it is, a brief explanation for each must-have compound bow accessory. By now you should have some basic knowledge about each of the equipment. These accessories are designed to improve your archery performance. For example the archery sight improves your accuracy and the archery release improves your arrow relesae speed. If you are serious about archery, you should consider investing in these equipments sooner or later.

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Early Stages of Pregnancy – 20 Facts About Your First Trimester

20 facts you might not know about your first trimester

First and foremost, many congratulations on your pregnancy! Your body is phenomenal, I still gaze in awe at every baby I deliver – I’m taken aback as to how a woman can grow a tiny human within her so perfectly! No wonder you may feel overwhelmed and unsure about your body’s changes during the first trimester.

There are lots of myths about pregnancy so these 20 facts aim to answer your queries and provide you with trustworthy, reliable facts you might not know about your first trimester!

1. The first trimester lasts 12 weeks

By 12 weeks, your baby is fully formed! They’ll continue to grow and develop their organs from this point onwards but everything is formed, including parts of the brain!

2. Consider the environment around you

As important as your work and the environment that you’re in are, they generally don’t get covered enough. Think about what you are exposing yourself to whilst your baby is forming vital organs and brain tissue. Are you exposed to chemicals or harmful pollution? Do you have to do heavy lifting? These influences can get dismissed, especially before your pregnancy is showing but could be vital to the health of you and your baby. If you work with or around chemicals talk to HR as soon as possible and consider alternative duties if necessary.

3. Folic acid

It’s advisable to take folic acid for the first 12 weeks of your pregnancy. As your baby is fully formed by 12 weeks, folic acid is no longer required so don’t waste your money.

To reassure you, most symptoms in the first trimester are normal and nothing to worry about – you just need to know what is abnormal and how to tackle the normal symptoms.

4. Odd sensations and symptoms

You may get several odd sensations and symptoms during the early stages of your pregnancy. Sore/uncomfortable breasts are common and some women even experience shooting pains. This is just related to a surge of progesterone and an important hormone known as human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) which is responsible for the maintenance of your pregnancy – it’s the hormone that is detected in your pregnancy tests. Your breasts will change again during pregnancy and after birth.

5. Morning sickness is not always in the morning!

Around 85% of women experience morning sickness. It can actually be a sign of a healthy pregnancy as it’s thought to be caused by changing levels of the hormone HCG which is produced by the placenta after implantation.

Morning sickness is more likely (or worse) in the morning for many women due to low blood sugar, so try to eat little and often. Ginger biscuits are good (for those of you that like ginger), as ginger is a natural way to reduce sickness. Also, the texture of a biscuit is best when you feel nauseous. Hydration is also key – be sure to drink at least a litre of filtered water a day, preferably from a glass bottle.

6. Excessive vomiting (hyperemesis) is not normal.

There’s a big difference between ‘morning sickness’ nausea and occasional vomiting and not being able to keep much or anything down (hyperemesis). You can become dehydrated quickly and as this is an important time for your baby, it’s vital that you’re getting the hydration, vitamins and nutrition you need. Call your midwife or doctor if you think you are developing hyperemesis as you may need intravenous fluids to help you. Keep calm though – help is on hand! The Duchess of Cambridge had hyperemesis when she was pregnant with George.

7. A metallic taste in your mouth (parageusia)

You can blame oestrogen for this one! Some women say it’s like sucking on a penny, the taste is that strong. Drinks may also taste different and you may start to dislike your favourite drinks. This is completely normal and will go by the end of the first trimester. To help alleviate the taste, try orange juice or lemonade.

8. You might bleed – don’t panic!

Bleeding happens in around 20% of pregnancies but don’t panic it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re having a miscarriage. Contact your midwife or doctor as they’ll be able to advise you about any blood loss.

9. Your hair might grow, become thicker and more glossy!

There’s a well-supported theory that you ‘bloom’ in pregnancy. This ‘bloom’ is due to good old hormone surges – mainly oestrogen. It tends to occur at the beginning of your pregnancy to keep the male around so that the pregnant woman has protection as she becomes more vulnerable. Enjoy!

10. You may need to pee more often (now and throughout)

Right now your baby is low in your pelvis, below your belly button, which means that he/she can put pressure on your bladder causing the need to pee more frequently. This is completely normal and nothing to worry about, unless you have additional symptoms such as burning, stinging, change of colour or smell of urine. If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, let your midwife know and she’ll send off a mid-stream urine (MSU) specimen to be tested to check that everything is ok.

11. Fatigue

Fatigue is most common during the first trimester. Your blood sugar levels and blood pressure can lower as your metabolic rate increases to provide your baby with everything it needs to develop, which can make you feel very tired. Again, try to eat little and often and drink plenty because this will really help you to feel better. A surge in hormones, especially progesterone, is also responsible for tiredness. Take it easy as much as you can – don’t forget your body has started to grow a human!

12. Feeling emotional?

It’s very common in early pregnancy to feel a change in your emotions – whether it’s feeling ecstatic, having mixed emotions or feeling anxious. These feelings are all normal, whether your pregnancy is planned or not, it’s a lot to take on. So, don’t be hard on yourself, just know that your hormones may be heavily affecting your mood. Don’t worry too much about the ups and downs, just take things as they come and trust the process. If you’re crying most days and really not yourself, then talk to your midwife about how you feel, she’ll be there to fully support you.

13. Cramps, aches, twinges and pinches

As your uterus expands to accommodate your growing baby you may start to get ligament pain. This is normal and should settle – there’s not much you can do to stop this as your uterus has to expand. Don’t fret as some cramping and lower abominable pain can be very normal! If it continues for hours and is paired with bleeding, then call your midwife and she’ll advise you further.

14. Backache

Most people, quite rightly, associate backache with the third trimester but it’s also associated with the first. The sudden release of the hormone relaxin allows your uterus to expand, which means the ligaments in your back need to accommodate your growing baby. To help reduce aching, try to wear flatter shoes if you usually wear high heels and maintain good posture by distributing your weight evenly and sitting upright. If you work in an office, make sure your chair is at the right height for you and consider a back support. It’s vitally important to look after your back from the beginning of your pregnancy.

Now that I’ve covered some of the common symptoms you may experience in the first trimester, here are a few other facts you may find interesting:

15. Twins?

Around 2% of natural conception results in twins. You may feel quite early on that you are having twins due to all of the changes discussed and there’s a small chance that you are. You’ll find out at your routine 12-week scan, if this is the case!

16. By just 6 weeks your baby has a heartbeat…

17. And by 8 weeks your baby is officially called a foetus, this means ‘little one’ in Latin.

18. Make the most of free dental care!

Once your pregnancy is confirmed by ultrasound and up until your baby is 12 weeks old, you’ll be entitled to free dental care. Take advantage of this and see your dentist or hygienist regularly. They’ll spot any changes early on, which may prevent tooth loss and gum disease.

19. Understanding testing

You’ll be offered testing during the first trimester by the NHS. All tests should be fully explained to you. There are also options available privately such as the Harmony test, which looks for serious abnormalities in the DNA of your baby via a blood test (maternal cells). The most important thing to remember when it comes to testing is to understand the options, tests available and what they may tell you.

20. Look after yourself

Last but not least, the first 12 weeks may be the most consuming because everything is so new, especially if this is your first pregnancy. A lot of physiological changes have taken place by the time you reach the end of the first trimester. Hormones, increase in blood volume, metabolic rate and anxiety may all play a part in how you feel. So, look after yourself, take it easy and listen to your body when you need rest!

It’s always important to remember that the midwives and health care professionals that you meet along the way are there to help and guide you. They’ll provide you with evidence-based information so that you can make informed decisions. They’re not there to take over or tell you what to do because they’re referring to your body and your baby, so you should feel in control at all times.

Shop for your newborn essentials with Uber Kids!

Marie Louise, The Modern Midwife - 20 facts about the First Trimester
Marie Louise, The Modern Midwife
Marie Louise, The Modern Midwife

Marie Louise is a senior midwife, maternity educator and managing director of Marie Louise Maternity

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Anti-Corruption Compliance for Medium and Small Companies

“People are doing the best that they can from their own level of consciousness.”  — Deepak Chopra

If you travel on the anti-corruption seminar circuit (which is far more enjoyable than the proverbial “rubber chicken” circuit), you will hear from some of the most accomplished compliance professionals working at Fortune 50 companies. They are proud, and should be, about the compliance programs they oversee and helped design and implement. These are the “Cadillac[s]” of compliance programs. Everyone can learn important lessons from these programs. Most of these companies have compliance programs that are well designed, operate efficiently and stand out as model programs.

But for most companies these programs do not have any relevance. Approximately 40 percent of all Fortune 500 companies do not have a specific FCPA program in place, other than general statements of compliance as part of an overall code of conduct or general legal compliance program.

Most companies are designing and implementing compliance programs based on Department of Justice guidance and with the assistance of outside professionals. As companies face these issues, here are some general tips for developing compliance programs.

1. Gradually Roll Out Your Compliance Program: No business one should try and impose a new compliance regime by suddenly announcing the implementation of new policies from top-to-bottom. Buy-in is critical and can only be accomplished by rolling out parts of a compliance program in a careful and calculated way. Communication is the key and taking time to explain the rationale for compliance requirements to sales, regulatory, management and key constituencies will ensure success.

2. Develop a Realistic Schedule for Implementing Your Compliance Program: A company has to be realistic as to the timing for implementing each stage of a compliance program. All too often, I have heard CEOs direct compliance staff to “get the job done” as quickly as possible. While encouraging prompt implementation is a good policy, a company has to be committed to a realistic schedule for effective implementation.

3. Design Your Compliance Program Consistent with Available Resources: Medium and small companies do not have the resources to design and implement a “Cadillac” compliance program. Neither DOJ nor the SEC can hold medium and small companies to a standard of compliance achieved by Fortune 50 (not 500) companies which have access to abundant resources.

4. Make Sure Your Program Includes Basic Compliance Requirements: DOJ has outlined the basic requirements for a compliance program. The Federal Sentencing guidelines include basic principles, which are mirrored in the UK Bribery Act Guidance. Companies know (or should know) each of the required elements and make sure each element is addressed in the overall plan. For example, every program must be based on a “tone from the top” commitment to compliance, and every program should designate a compliance officer at a sufficiently high management level who is responsible for overseeing the program. (Whether the compliance officer is separate from the general counsel’s office can be decided based on specific circumstances). I am not going to list all of the required elements — they have been repeated over and over by the Justice Department, professional compliance advisers and almost every FCPA practitioner.

5. Do Not Get Sidetracked Into Investigating Historical Conduct: Companies need to keep their focus on the objective — designing and implementing an effective compliance program. While doing so, they are bound to uncover potential problem areas — e.g. red flags relating to third party agents. But the focus has to be on going forward, not looking backward. That is not to say the problem should be ignored; rather, a commitment needs to be made to come back and address the problem after the compliance program has been addressed.

For every company, big or small, they must abide by Deepak Chopra’s advice — “do the best you can” and everything will be all right.

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Teacher Safety: Information and Resources from CEA

Every educator has the right to a safe working environment. As your union, CEA wants to ensure that if you are threatened or assaulted at school, appropriate steps are taken to protect you.

That’s why we’ve made resources available to you on the CEA website—everything from reporting forms to model contract language to information about scheduling a CEA workshop. These resources aim to educate you about your rights and provide your local Association with the necessary tools to address your safety concerns.

If you have specific concerns about your safety, don’t wait. Contact your local president or CEA UniServ Representative.

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Dr. J’s Xmas Viewing List

Hey, Y’all,

The holiday season is upon us, and if you’re like me, that means one thing: movie and TV marathon! I thought I’d share with you my typical December rotation. Unfortunately, I don’t really know any television shows or movies that deal with Hanukah or Kwanza outside of a couple episodes of Community and Futurama, so feel free to share your own listsin the comments below.

 So, without further ado, here be the list (in no particular order):

  1. The Garfield Christmas Special
  2. Opus and Bill: A Wish for Wings that Work
  3. Community: “Abed’s Uncontrollable Christmas”
  4. Futurama: “Xmas Story”
  5. Futurama: “A Tale of Two Santas”
  6. Doctor Who: “The Christmas Invasion”
  7. Doctor Who: “Voyage of the Damned”
  8. Blackadder: “Blackadder’s Christmas Carol”
  9. Mystery Science Theater 3000: “Santa Claus Conquers the Martians”
  10. Mystery Science Theater 3000: “Santa Claus”

  1. A Christmas Story
  2. Scrooged
  3. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
  4. Muppet Christmas Carol

  1. Rifftrax Christmas Shorts-Stravaganza!
  2. Rifftrax: Santa and the Ice Cream Bunny
  3. Rifftrax: The Star Wars Holiday Special

And there you have it. No matter what you celebrate, I hope y’all have a great December!

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Creative writing Instructor, Full Sail University. Writer of fiction, poetry, literary criticism, and reviews.

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The SmarK Rant for Mid-South Wrestling–01.14.84

The SmarK Rant for Mid-South Wrestling – 01.14.84

OK, so much like I decided to move ahead a couple of years in Mid-Atlantic because 82 was boring me, 82 is also pretty depressing for Mid-South, so let’s magically wind forward 2 years to the beginning of 1984 instead and see what Bill Watts was up to at the dawn of Hulkamania.

Your host is now young Jim Ross, along with Bill Watts.

Last week, Crusher Darsow and Nikolai Volkoff think all Americans are CHICKEN, and speaking of which, Terry Taylor makes his debut and answers their challenge. That’s so perfect. At this point, Darsow was doing an American defector gimmick, and wasn’t actually supposed to be Russian. So Taylor gets in Volkoff’s face and Nikolai pounds him in the corner, but Taylor rolls him up out of the corner for the pin in 0:30 and cleans house on the filthy Russkies with AMERICAN DROPKICKS. Bill Watts is all over that shit.

Terry Taylor v. Doug Vines

Taylor works a headlock and takes Vines down with a hammerlock and Watts notes that the red commie bastards were left with egg on their face last week…AMERICAN EGG on their face. Taylor quickly hits a forearm and cradles for the pin at 1:42, and now the Russians are here for another fight, at which point Jim Duggan and JYD storm the ring and save Taylor. If this was prison, Taylor would have to be their bitch in return. But it’s not. Thank god. 1 for 1.

JYD & Jim Duggan v. Jeff Sword & Larry Higgens

Interesting that longtime team Jeff Sword & Doug Vines are split into separate squashes here. Also of note, Larry Higgens is better known as Hacksaw Higgins as a journeyman NWA guy later on. Duggan quickly slams Higgens and drops an elbow as Bill Watts relates the philosophy of America: God bless America because I have freedom of speech and can do whatever I want. I don’t think that’s how it’s supposed to work. Unless you’re the President, I guess. Higgens runs away and brings Sword in, but Dog quickly destroys him with a clothesline for two and the faces pinfall Sword in the corner. Duggan drops a knee for two as the announcers talk about the cage match tag title match with TA & Mr. Wrestling v. Reed & Neidhart, so we’re right into the thick of Mid-South now. Duggan finishes Sword with the three point stance at 3:02, but those dirty socialist fucks storm the ring again and brawl with the All American babyfaces and generally get the Stalin beat out of them. 2 for 2.

Magnum TA & Mr. Wrestling II v. Don Ralston & Jeff Garner

Magnum & II are the tag champions at this point, leading up to the awesome angle that would come soon after. Jim Cornette quickly jumps into the ring and calls the champions CHICKENS for not defending against the Midnight Express, and indeed they run into the ring and destroy the champions after Condrey knocks TA out with a BLACKJACK. And then Cornette, swear to god, TARS AND FEATHERS Magnum TA while the Express holds him down. The crowd is irate and ready to riot and I love it. MILLION BILLION STARS. 3 for 3.

The Midnight Express v. George Weingroff & Lanny Poffo

Oh man, I didn’t even know I was jumping in during the early days of the Midnight Express and now I’m so very happy I did. Cornette declares that TA is Mid-South version of the San Diego Chicken. Poffo holds off the Express, but tags in Weingroff and he works the arm of Condrey. He backdrops Eaton out of the corner and Poffo comes in with an Oklahoma roll for two. Eaton catches him with a choke in the corner and slugs him over the top and to the floor, and Condrey throws him right back in, and then slugs Weingroff off the apron and taunts Poffo by letting him go back to his corner where no partner awaits. Poffo desperately crawls for the tag and the Express just tortures him, holding him down and dropping elbows on him before hitting Weingroff off the apron multiple times. Poffo keeps crawling and they keep cutting him off and even Watts has to grudgingly admit what great tag team wrestling this is. Even though he’s disgusted by their actions, you understand. Condrey with a bearhug to keep him away and Eaton keeps knocking Weingroff off the apron, and a powerslam on Poffo gets two. Poor Lanny crawls for the corner again and finally makes a hot tag to Weingroff, and he runs wild and rams them together while Poffo recovers from the beating outside. And the Express quickly cheats and cuts Weingroff’s comeback off short, and finish him with a Condrey body vice into an Eaton top rope elbow at 6:07. MAGNIFICENT. 4 for 4.

So next up, Bill Watts has to interview Wrestling II and Magnum TA with a straight face, and this what TA looks like…

And of course he pulls it off! Wrestling II promises that there’s gonna be some PLUCKING going on for the Express. Magnum thinks some people might this funny (LIKE ME!) but now he’s pissed off. I’m betting Jim Cornette gets feathered before all is said and done.

Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart v. Tom Lentz

Anvil launches himself into the corner and beats on Lentz with shoulderblocks, then slams him as Watts recaps the sad breakup between Anvil and Reed, as Butch turned on him following the title loss to TA & Wrestling II. Neidhart beats on Lentz in the corner again and pounds away with forearms, then puts him away with a samoan drop at 1:52. Nothing to this one, but I needed a breather anyway. 4 for 5.

Steve “Dr. Death” Williams v. Krusher Darsow

Doc just unloads on Darsow as Watts explains that Williams hates Russians and loves the US. He gets a pair of slams and goes up for a splash, but hits the knees and Darsow takes over. Watts is of course disgusted by an American lad like Darsow selfishly turning TRAITOR and falling under the spell of Nikolai Volkoff. Darsow with a chinlock, but Doc powers out eventually and then runs into a knee. Darsow knees him down for two and then slams him right onto the remnants of the feathers, but misses an elbow and Doc makes the comeback with shoulderblocks as Darsow runs away and gets advice from Volkoff outside. That advice? “Hit him with the foreign object I just gave you” and indeed Darsow does just that and gets the pin at 5:20. GODDAMN RUSSKIES. Williams was kind of shitty at this point in his career, to say the least. 4 for 6.

Hacksaw Butch Reed v. Rick Rood

Rood was a young babyface at this point, soon to be part of a famous talent exchange with Jerry Jarrett where he went to Memphis and completely reinvented himself in exchange for the Rock N Roll Express coming to Mid-South. So yeah, that worked out pretty well for everyone. Reed stomps him to the floor and chokes away back in the ring. Reed kind of slips on the feathers and Rood slugs away in the corner, but Reed pounds him down as Watts indeed hypes up this new Rock N Roll Express team that is coming to Mid-South next week. OH BABY. Reed grabs a facelock as we’re running out of airtime and then drops Rood on the top rope and finishes him with a press slam at 4:42. Good little match. 5 for 7.

I picked the right era to start reviewing this show again! Magnum TA gets TARRED AND FEATHERED and we’re about to have the first ever Midnights v. RNR matches! MOTHERFUCKING BILL WATTS, baby!


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Tagged: sociology

Analects of the Core: Mead on the sexes

The knowledge that the personalities of the two sexes are socially produced is congenial to every programme that looks forward to a planned order of society. It is a two-edged sword that can be used to hew a more flexible, more varied society than the human race has ever built, or merely to cut a […]

Analects of the Core: Darwin on the confidence of the ignorant

Today’s analect was inspired by Core alumni Tim Martinez (Core ’07-’09, CAS ’11) with reference to the study of Evolution and Society occurring in CC203, which Tim marks as one of his favorite courses he’s taken here at BU.  Since taking it, he’s maintained a strong interest in Sociology, but has persisted in his IR […]

Gender Inequality: CC204 & The Claims of Esquire’s Editor

Relating to last week’s lecture by Professor Mears on gender inequality and Hochschild’s readings, are two articles discussing the claim made by the Esquire‘s editor, that “women are there to be beautiful objects”. Some extracts: “The women we feature in the magazine are ornamental,” he said, speaking at the Advertising Week Europe conference in London on Tuesday. […]

April 13: Hochschild lecture at BU

A lecture happening here at BU next month may of particular interest to students in CC204, who in the course of their study of the problem of inequality have been reading The Second Shift. The author of that book, Arlie Russell Hochschild (University of California, Berkeley), will be on campus on Friday, April 13, 2012, […]


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fossils2 WN 2-21-19 feat

Fossil Records in Limestone of Wakulla’s Past

Wakulla County Residents Reminisce

The road work on highway 319 has affected almost every resident of Wakulla County. Pastures, timberland and even a few roadside stores are now in the process of being converted to a speedy route to the coast and Tallahassee.

The disruptions and longer commute times are temporary and can be chalked up to progress. Long time residents will reminisce about how things were different in the 1960’s, 50’s or earlier, but life in the 21st century will continue to see many changes, positive or negative depending on one’s perspective.

Curiously the roadwork has unearthed evidence of a very different Wakulla County still present today, but rarely recognized.  All one has to do is look at the boulders and rock turned up for the confirmation of a time before human occupants arrived.

North Florida In The Fossills

The unwritten history of north Florida is recorded in the fossil record of the area’s limestone and with relics often darkened by tannic acid from trees. The remains from this prehistoric era are not dinosaurs which were long gone before many of the area’s fossils were produced.

fossils1 WN 2-21-19 insert

Recently unearthed limestone has the record of life in Wakulla County in the epochs long before people arrived.

From a geological standpoint, the Florida landmass known today is a very recent occurrence.   It is thought glacial activity caused the Gulf of Mexico to retreat several time exposing what would become Florida during the Pliocene Epoch.

The development of fossils was aided by environmental factors present at the time. First the area was geologically tranquil for 25 to 30 million years.

While Florida was submerged the shallow bays became stable collection points for the remains of sea-life which was buried. The ebb and flow of tides covered and preserved the hard tissues which were calcium based.

Once the retreating sea left dry land, no mountains were pushed up by subterranean plates which would have changed rainfall patterns or caused rushing waters. The steep inclines and scouring water movement would have removed the potential fossil remains.

There were no volcanoes which would have covered large areas with lava and ash, deeply burying anything on the surface.  Nor were there earthquakes which would have dropped large chunks into the gulf.

Limestone Deposits

Limestone deposits close to the surface also aided the process.  Over time some of the deposits dissolved and produced caves and sinkholes which are still evident fossils2 WN 2-21-19 inserttoday.

Animals became ensnared in these natural traps and, over time fossilized. Their hard tissue was preserved along with rare examples of tree bark which absorbed minerals as the cellulose dissolved.

If the long term conditions were suitable, the shell had a high concentration of calcium carbonate it could survive to the present.  If not, then only the imprint had the potential to last.

Shark’s Teeth

Shark’s teeth are the most commonly encountered Florida fossil.  In many cases, only the tooth’s color has been changed and it is still as sharp as when the sharks were using them.

Shells and shell imprints, sea urchins, and bones from fish and marine mammals are also in the solidified mud from a distant time.  Most are broken, but occasionally a complete specimen is encountered.

It is ironic how contemporary events confirm the philosophy that the only thing constant is change.

To learn more about geology and fossils in Wakulla County, visit the UF/IFAS Wakulla County website at or call 850-926-3931.

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information, and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions, or affiliations. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A&M University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating

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Jan EichhornIt is a mistake, committed by many, to equate a substantial SNP vote with an alleged rise in nationalism or nationalist sentiment in Scotland, argues Jan Eichhorn. The evidence indicates the contrary: data from the Scottish Social Attitudes Survey suggests that fewer people emphasise their Scottish national identity distinctively.

The 2015 general election will be memorable for many reasons, a key one being the remarkable victory of the SNP gaining 56 of 59 seats in Scotland (increasing their share dramatically from just 6 seats in 2010). Naturally, such a landslide attracts the focus of journalists, commentators and politicians who aim to assess the outcome of the election. Since the exit polls closed a lot of people have tried to make sense of what happened in Scotland. Unfortunately a lot of them made statements that have to be rejected as simply inaccurate.

It is a mistake, committed by many, to equate a substantial SNP vote with an alleged rise in nationalism or nationalist sentiment in Scotland. It may seem a plausible assumption to engage with (if you do not understand the attitudes of the Scottish electorate), but it cannot be supported by any empirical evidence. To the contrary: the best evidence we have to give us a long term perspective, data from the high-quality, face-to-face Scottish Social Attitudes Survey (SSA) suggests that, if anything, fewer people than before emphasise their Scottish national identity distinctively.

The figure below summarises how people in Scotland weigh their Scottish identity in comparison to their British identity. They have not become un-Scottish since the opening of the Scottish Parliament in 1999: The proportion of people in Scotland that says they identify as more British than Scottish or British only remains small at just over 10 per cent. However, at the other end of spectrum we have seen some quite substantial change.

Figure 1: Scottish and British National Identity in Scotland, SSA 1999-2014

Eichorn election fig 1

Until 2006 each year around two thirds of respondents said that they felt more Scottish than British or Scottish and not British at all. At the same time, only just over one in five rated their Scottishness equally to their Britishness. This has changed with the numbers of those not favouring one identity over the other increasing since the SNP began to form the government in Scotland following the Scottish Parliament elections of 2007. In the year of the independence referendum, nearly one third of respondents fell into this middle group, while those singularly identifying as Scottish only had dropped from over a third in the early years of devolution to just under a quarter.

To just make the point absolutely clear: Scottish identity or sentiment has not been increasing, but decreasing gradually since the advent of devolution. There has not been a higher relative level of emphasising Britishness in Scotland than in the year when the referendum on its independence was held.

To those who study Scottish political attitudes that is not a surprise. In 2011, when the Scottish Parliament elections saw the SNP get an absolute majority of seats (with around 45 per cent of the vote), support for independence was at the lowest level recorded by the SSA with just one in four Scots supporting it. Amongst those who voted SNP, over 40 per cent were not in favour of independence at the time. While support for independence has grown of course since (and reached 45 per cent in last year’s referendum), this tells us an important message about SNP support: The SNP has not gained voters because it could increase the feeling of national identity, but has done so for other reasons. And in this general election they were able to translate the 2011 support from Scotland to the UK level (and gain some additional votes).

Crucially, commentators need to stop painting a picture in which the majority of Scotland predominantly base their political decision making mostly on their national identity. There has been no rise in nationalistic sentiment in Scotland. As we (amongst others) have repeatedly shown in our research, the strongest determinants of both independence and SNP support were pragmatic evaluations about economic prospects, trustworthiness and political personnel. For most people in Scotland the SNP is a normal party, that they like, hate or are indifferent to, but those evaluations for most are based on whether people agree with their policies and how they evaluate their representation.

If commentators want to understand why the SNP is successful, they need to make a greater effort at properly understanding how public attitudes are formed in Scotland. Suggesting that it is down to sentiment is lazy at best, but actually misrepresenting the majority of Scottish voters. For political parties trying to challenge the SNP, first and foremost Scottish Labour, a similar message applies: to have a chance of engaging them successfully, they need to stop focusing mostly on high-level questions about different types of nationality. Instead they need to challenge the SNP on concrete policy debates around issues that affect people’s lives and which voters in Scotland are much more likely to base their votes on than identity-driven arguments.

Note: This article gives the views of the author, and not the position of the British Politics and Policy blog, nor of the London School of Economics. Please read our comments policy before posting.

About the Author

Jan EichhornJan Eichhorn is Chancellor’s Fellow (Social Policy) at the University of Edinburgh. He tweets from @eichhorn_jan.

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The attempt to contain MnSCU textbook costs

As you can tell from my previous post, the Minnesota state textbook world is a little wild right now.

And unless you’re a wheeling, dealing entrepreneurial type, if you’re a student it’s costing you a ton.

In a packed forum here at a student leadership conference, students peppered Todd Digby, MnSCU’s director of libraries — and, secondarily, the go-to man for textbook issues — with questions about where the textbook market is going. And they wanted to know how MnSCU could help them keep the price of books down.

Listening to them, I got the following impressions:

  • Students don’t know where to look for help.
  • They don’t understand how the textbook market works and why costs are so high
  • They don’t know what money-saving options are available on campus
  • Their campus bookstores aren’t too familiar with the options, either.

In short, I have the picture that the bookstores on the dozens of campuses have their own system, don’t really talk much amongst each other and don’t communicate well with their student bodies.

Digby gave them a sympathetic ear and showed them a number of pilot projects and ideas — such as textbook swapping, and reserved texts in libraries for checkout — that some campuses were carrying out. (I’m hoping to detail these at a later date.)

It sounds like he has taken on the role of trying to corral a textbook system with no centralization.

He called on students to talk to their bookstore owners to participate in various programs to help lower prices.

They need to talk to professors, too — who sound like the most oblivious of the bunch.

How so?

Digby told the audience:

“Some don’t even know how much their textbook is costing.”

  • Anonymous

    E-textbooks are the answer.

    The problem is the viewer to use. iPad or the new Kindle? I am working on a post about this, that will appear in the Chronicle of Higher Ed. I do believe that in the long run e-textbooks will save students a lot of money…

    Right now the iPad is too expensive and the Kindle can’t do color. This problem will be solved soon I am sure.

    Bill Gleason, U of M faculty and alum.


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Kaler takes questions at the U

“It was interesting to see how he had so many ideas formulated already in such a wonderfully developed way,” Brown said. “It wasn’t just general ideas; it wasn’t just general talking points. He had a lot of nice specific ideas, a lot of great experience that he was ready to transfer over.”

University of Minnesota graduate student Jonathan Brown after listening to the U’s sole presidential finalist, Eric Kaler, answer questions at a public forum last night. He had the impression Kaler would be ready to lead from Day One.

Read the whole story and listen to the audio by MPR’s Tim Post.


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UMN grad assistants: An unofficial majority say they want a union

A majority of the University of Minnesota’s 4,500 or so graduate assistants have signed cards indicating they want a to form a union, a representative of the group told me today.

They’re actually having a rally this morning with a number of supportive politicians, including Democratic U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison.

Spokeswoman Diane O’Brien said the Rev. Douglas Donley, pastor of University Baptist Church, and Bishop D. L. Bryant-Kemp, former pastor of the Greater Refuge Temple in St. Paul, have verified the number of cards submitted.

The achievement of a majority is largely symbolic, because the assistants must still hold an election to decide whether to establish a union. But I figure it does give some indication of their leaning.


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Control = employee

On September 16, 2011, in news, by

At the SMBMVPtour stop in Portland we’re having a business lunch.  My topic will be employee versus independent contractor.

What I don’t want to hear from anyone is… “I’m going to hire an employee and give them a 1099”.  An employee is someone that you control the business relationship.  If you control, you are an employer not a hire-er of a contractor.

“If you have the right to control or direct not only what is to be done, but also how it is to be done, then your workers are most likely employees.
If you can direct or control only the result of the work done — and not the means and methods of accomplishing the result — then your workers are probably independent contractors.
Employers who misclassify workers as independent contractors can end up with substantial tax bills. Additionally, they can face penalties for failing to pay employment taxes and for failing to file required tax forms”,,id=173423,00.html

Independent contractors have to be independent.  They have to set their own hours, their own schedule.  They have to provide their own tools.

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Community Magic: Real-World Sessions for Your Consideration at SAP TechEd Las Vegas

Every year, SAP provides an opportunity for 10 community members (non-SAP employees) who have made outstanding contributions within the SAP ecosystem to deliver a session at SAP TechEd. It’s been my high honor for a few years to collaborate with active SAP Mentor, SAP user extraordinaire, and Kansas Jayhawk fan Tammy Powlas in this process.  Community sessions will also be offered at SAP TechEd in Barcelona this year, with SAP Mentors Peter Langner and Katarina Fischer curating and Jason Cao writing the summary post on that.

This year a collection of SAP Mentors, Mentor alums, and/or everyday community heroes will be taking the stage in Las Vegas in September to present what they do with a broad array of SAP technologies. Each speaker has worked hard to make a difference with their topics and here on the SAP Community. Regardless of your interest with SAP, all sessions are worth your while to check out.

Herewith, we present to you the complete list of 2017 community sessions at SAP TechEd Las Vegas along with a little bit about each of the speakers who have made the magic happen. We hope you add them to your SAP TechEd Las Vegas agenda today and connect with the speakers here or while you are there!

Thanks for your engagement and see you there!

Michelle Crapo

Crazy SAP ABAP Programmer at Furst-Mcness Company, Community Enthusiast, Owned by Animals. SAP Mentor Alumnus

Personas or Not Really Personas: Old Version Trick to Create a Nice Layout

Michelle took the opportunity to overachieve and write not one but two not two — but three! blogs introducing her and her session, so this is a great tip that this is something you really want to check out. Head to her blogs to find out more:

Do not miss.

Eshwar Venkatadri

BI Solutions Specialist

Visual BI

SAP Analytics Cloud: An Independent Expert’s Guide

This one provides you another opportunity to get an inside look at the real world of using SAP. Check out the abstract itself, which promises that Eshwar cuts through all the hype around SAP Analytics Cloud and provides easy-to-understand guidelines to assess how it might enhance your analytics landscape and strategy, what data can be accessed and how, and technical considerations for deployment. A must-see if you’re working with analytics!

Richard Pulliam

Sr. Business Data Analyst

Beyond a Dashboard: Predictive Analytics for a Smarter Factory

Richard also took the time to drop a blog about his session:

If you’re interested in dashboards and predictive analytics, Richard will show you practical real-world applications and help you do more with them. Check this one out!

Erik Ebert

SAP SuccessFactors Solutions Director

GP Strategies

Happy Husband and father of FOUR!

Customizing SAP SuccessFactors Solutions with SAP Cloud Applications

Erik’s session talks about his work in the realm of one of SAP Cloud Platform’s key differentiators: extensibility. He blogs about what he’ll focus on his session — SAP CP’s promise of helping companies build cost-effective applications on a secure platform, without disrupting core business applications:

A must-see for anyone embarking on digital transformation work with SAP Cloud Platform.

John Patterson

Relentless sharer, passionate learner, pragmatic developer, tragic golfer. Specializes in integrating SAP people, process and technology. SAP Mentor.

Ten tips from Using the ABAP Programming Model for SAP Fiori on AnyDB

While preparing for this session, John dropped an interesting tweet:

In which: “Working on a quick demo of SAP OVP and Fiori Elements for my #SAPTechEd talk  – wrote no javascript just CDS + annotations #AnyDB” touched off a fairly epicTwitter thread.

He also talked a bit about what he’s up to in this blog.

Definitely check this one out!

Srinivas Tanikella

Dir, IT Solutions

SMART Modular Technologies Inc.

Enterprise Architect, Technology Thinker, SAP Mentor, ASUG volunteer.

Transitioning to SAP HANA? Best Practices for a Successful Journey

Active SAP Mentor Srini has a thing or two to say about transitioning to SAP HANA. Would you believe his company and their hosting partner were able to accomplish the migration to SAP HANA in just eight weeks? Come hear how this got done including challenges and planning tips, and what the results were in terms of efficiency and productivity. Go for it.

Jelle de Bruijn, Martin Jaspers

SAP Integration Consultants

Q for IT B.V.

Experience with SAP Cloud Platform Integration

Jelle is one of our newest bloggers on the SAP Community and we love that he’s taking the time to share his fresh look at SAP Cloud Platform Integration, SuccessFactors, and more. He’ll be joined by colleague Martin Jaspers for the session and he blogged about what to expect here:

Check them out!

Manuel Blechschmidt

FarmFacts GmbH

Incentergy GmbH

Hasso-Plattner Institut alum

Optimizing an SAP Fiori Application Based on a Real World Example

Did we mention we love community perspectives because they come from the real world?

Manuel’s session also delivers on that promise – and he wrote more about it and about himself:

Since it has something to do with farming, I have a feeling Michelle and Manuel should meet up while in Las Vegas, since she seems to live in a farm.

Paul Hardy

Senior ABAP Developer

Hanson Australia

Person who has sat in the Queen’s throne. SAP Mentor.

Real-World Example of Preparing ABAP Code for SAP S/4HANA

“Like it or not, if you want to stay with SAP, sooner or later you are going to have to make the jump to S/4 HANA.”

I think you just have to hear Paul tell this story himself:

Do not miss.

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January 21, 2014 4:03 pm

The 7 step guide to taking puddlegrams on your Nokia Lumia

Photography has always come in many weird and wonderful forms. Now, with the advent of mobile technology, this ability to dazzle with new genres has become even easier.

One man who has created a type of photography very much his own is Danish Instagramer Morten Nordstrøm. A few weeks back we showcased some of his work in our Around the world in 80 Lumias series. His puddle reflected images of Copenhagen, shot on a Nokia Lumia 925, have gained him plaudits far and wide as well as an ever increasing number of followers. In fact, this week he celebrated his twenty thousandth follower with a cool competition. We’ve now invited Morten back to share his magic, so we can all learn the incredible art of the puddlegram. Over to you, Morten!

1. Find a puddle

First of all, when shooting puddlegrams you will obviously need a puddle. The bigger the better, but you will be surprised how little water you need to make a big impact. Go check for yourself!

2. Focus on the focal point

My experience is that I get the best effect when I look for a strong central focal point and try to get some depth in the perspective. Streets often meet these requirements due to their vanishing points, which is one of the reasons puddlegrams are so good in urban cityscapes. Moreover they are often full of life, which gives life to the picture and helps telling a unique story.

3. Go low

Another thing is that if you want to do a proper puddlegram, make sure your lens is as close to the ground as possible – even if it means you have to turn your device upside-down (my Lumia’s camera is in the middle of the phone, so it means nothing, but in some phones the camera is placed in the corner, and here it can make a great difference). Moreover, mind the weather. Windy puddles won’t serve you well.

4. Get the right perspective

When it comes to shooting, I often think a lot about my perspective before I shoot. What will work? What won’t? Should I wait for somebody to walk by, or will that be interrupting? Other times I just walk around and look for details and shoot what I find interesting and inspiring.

5. Experiment with apps and angles

I’m always shooting with my Nokia Lumia 925 and I have been experimenting a lot with the different camera possibilities. Normally I just use the native camera, other times I use the Nokia Pro Camera or ProShot which gives me more adjustability. Good advice when taking puddlegrams is to experiment with the number of shots you’re taking and see the different outcomes you can get. Analyzing strengths and weaknesses in these will help making you a more skilled puddleshooter! I might as well just tell you now that people will be looking at you, when you sit down and place your phone in a puddle. It doesn’t bother me anymore, but in the beginning I chose to think about the magical perspectives I was capturing and said to myself, that they were only looking, because they didn’t know better.

6. Take time to edit

A lot of magic takes place in the editing process. For editing, I have explored the different Windows Phone app possibilities quite intensely. After doing this I ended up always using the same two apps: the Nokia Creative Studio app and Fhotoroom. They are very different and suits each other well. I like to keep things simple and often aim for a high sharpness, cold tones and not too strong colors, since I find them disturbing.

7. Stay on top of the crop

Finally, I pay a lot of attention in the cropping process. A good cropping can change a picture entirely and so can a bad one.

Seven fantastic tips to turn even an amateur Instagramer into the sharpest puddleshooter. If you want to see more of Morten’s work be sure to hook up with him on Instagram. In the meantime, why not grab your wellies and find some puddles. If you come up trumps, be sure to share your reflected glory on Instagram with the hashtag #Lumiapuddles,  so we can showcase the best of the best.


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Regional FlagOondasta and Nalak Loot Eligibility ChangeSource
Community Manager
Target Source
#1 - 2013/04/23 10:29:00 AM
Back in early March we made a hotfix to remove loot and bonus roll eligibility for players that defeated Oondasta and Nalak while visiting from a different realm. At the time, the change was made to address realm stability issues. Since then, we’ve address those issues by making tuning adjustments for Oondasta such as increasing the spawn rate, and reducing Oondasta’s health by 50%.

In an upcoming hotfix, players coalesced from a different realm will be eligible to receive loot or use a bonus roll after defeating Oondasta or Nalak once more. Keep in mind, players are still only eligible to receive loot or use a bonus roll once a week.

This change will take effect in each region after their scheduled weekly realm maintenance.


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Beer Geeks: Rockwall craft beer bottleshop continues curbside through Phase 1 of Texas re-opening

(ROCKWALL, TX – April 30, 2020) Our friends at Beer Geeks in Downtown Rockwall Texas want you to know they’re remaining in TO GO mode through Phase 1 of the re-opening. CALL 972-437-2360 or SHOP ONLINE 24/7 at All orders are curbside pickup during store hours Wed-Sat noon-7pm.

Difficult times bring difficult decisions,” they write on their Beer Geeks facebook page. “We have made the tough decision to remain in To Go mode thru Phase I. Due to our size #smallestbottleshopintexas With the 25% capacity, that is 2.75 people total in the shop at any point in time. We already have 2 on staff, and last time we checked no human was .75 of a person LOL. We want you to have the best and safest shopping experience possible….Cheers to go!”

In the meantime, enjoy a couple of their GOOD BREW columns that we’ve featured both online and in our print editions. Look for more columns to come soon.

Good Brew: Grain to Glass – Intro to Home Brewing

Good Brew: Taking on a CAN-do attitude

 Beer Geeks is a craft beer bottleshop located in downtown Rockwall. They have over 275 craft beers from all over the world. Where it’s okay to geek out about beer!

Beer Geeks is a sponsored guest column appearing regularly in Blue Ribbon News and online at

Our print edition is delivered free to ~15,500 homes in Rockwall and Heath, TX.

To share your good news and events, email

Subscribe to our email newsletter here.

Advertising: 214-342-8000 or


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Blu-ray Releases Details
The Phantom of the Opera

Sale Price 24.96
List Price 29.99(17% OFF)
Go To Store
3rd Party 24.96
This title will be released on August 11, 2020. Pre-order now.
  • Note To Viewer

    This disc has not yet been reviewed. The following information has been provided by the distributor.

Genres: Drama, Horror, Music
Starring: Herbert Lom, Heather Sears, Edward de Souza, Thorley Walters
Director: Terence Fisher
Plot Synopsis:

Herbert Lom stars as The Phantom in Hammer Films' celebrated production of Gaston Leroux's horror classic.

Mysterious mishaps bedevil a London opera house, but when tragedy strikes during an opening night performance, it's clear that these "accidents" are the deliberate work of a deranged madman – The Phantom. When Christine (Heather Sears), the young star of a new musical is contacted by the shadowy specter, her producer investigates, tracking the ghostly Phantom to his secret underground lair.

More than an evil apparition, The Phantom proves to be a brilliant composer. Disfigured and nearly destroyed, he now demands his hellish revenge. Christine, his new star, is his one weakness, and he pays the ultimate price to keep his love alive.

  • Release Details
    Release Date: August 11th, 2020
    MPAA Rating: Not Rated
    Movie Release Year: 1962
    Release Country: United States
    Movie Studio: Scream Factory
  • Technical Specs
    Length:85 Minutes
    Specs:Blu-ray Disc
    Video Resolution/Codec:1080p AVC/MPEG-4
    Aspect Ratio(s):1.85:1
    Audio Formats:English: DTS-HD MA 2.0
    Subtitles/Captions:English SDH


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In addition to knowledge of basic trading procedures, day traders need to keep up on the latest stock market news and events that affect stocks—the Fed's interest rate plans, the economic outlook, etc. So do your homework. Make a wish list of stocks you'd like to trade and keep yourself informed about the selected companies and general markets. Scan business news and visit reliable financial websites.
Investment ideas can come from many places. Ask your family members what products and services they are most interested in—and why. Look at trends in the world and companies that are in a position to benefit from them. Stroll the aisles of your grocery store with an eye for what is emerging. You can also seek guidance from professional research services such as Standard & Poor's and ValueLine. Many online sources also exist for investment ideas.
B (Good) - The stock has a good track record for balancing performance with risk. Compared to other stocks, it has achieved above-average returns given the level of risk in its underlying investments. While the risk-adjusted performance of any stock is subject to change, we believe that this fund has proven to be a good investment in the recent past.
To make comparisons between companies, sectors and markets a little easier, there are a number of mathematical models used. The most common and often the most helpful is the P/E ratio. The Price to Earnings ratio takes the share price and is divided by the earnings per share. It is possible to calculate this using past earnings, projected future earnings and with all sorts of moving averages ;-) Therefore, this is one number that it is vital for any investor to know and understand.
Remember that free stock picks usually exist because of the vested interests of the company or the promoter. There are some exceptions, such as in the case of top book publishers, like John Wiley & Sons, who produce works like, "Penny Stocks for Dummies." Their exhaustive vetting process alone is usually thorough enough to provide you with some serious confidence in who they choose.

In order to be successful at both stock trading and investing, you need to be patient and maintain your composure in every situation. The nature of work is stressful, almost hectic, and you are bound to be losing substantial amounts of money some days. It could be very tempting to try to recuperate your losses by “doubling up” on your gamble, or opening high-risk positions that were not a part of your game plan, but this is precisely what you should be avoiding. That does not mean you shouldn’t dynamically adjust your investment plan to fit the current market conditions—it just means you shouldn’t modify your plans in a rushed or disorganized manner while carrying an emotional burden.
Investing in stocks can be done in many ways. If you would like to form a strategy and manage your own investments, you can open a brokerage account. If you're unsure about where to start, consider opening an account with a robo advisor who will do the work at a lower cost. For those who want more guidance about their retirement plans, turning to financial advisors might be a good solution.
Most of these services offer some form of free portfolio tracking - this enables you to create a portfolio and track it properly to see how you do with no money on the line. This used to be known as paper trading in the 'good old days' before 2001. This kind of exercise can be a good way to learn and play around with things without being either serious or costly.
The last thing we need to cover before we get into some examples of great beginner stocks is what you should avoid as a beginning investor (and, in some cases, even when you become an experienced investor). Investing in the wrong type of stock can make your portfolio's value look like a roller coaster ride and can even cause you to lose your entire investment.
Before deciding where to allocate your investments, it’s critical to think about your long-term and short-term goals. It’s important to know how much risk you are willing to accept. As you approach retirement, fixed-income securities, such as highly-rated bonds and money market accounts, offer a greater level of safety. But a younger investor might want a more high-risk, high-reward strategy for at least part of their investments to maximize returns over a long period of time.
Investing is a way to set aside money while you are busy with life and have that money work for you so that you can fully reap the rewards of your labor in the future. Investing is a means to a happier ending. Legendary investor Warren Buffett defines investing as "… the process of laying out money now to receive more money in the future." The goal of investing is to put your money to work in one or more types of investment vehicles in the hopes of growing your money over time.
Phrases like “earnings movers” and “intraday highs” don’t mean much to the average investor, and in many cases, they shouldn’t. If you’re in it for the long term — with, say, a portfolio of mutual funds geared toward retirement — you don’t need to worry about what these words mean, or about the flashes of red or green that cross the bottom of your TV screen. You can get by just fine without understanding the stock market much at all.
3. Get an education. Warren Buffett has suggested in the past that every investor should be able to understand basic accountancy principles, an annual report and stock market history. You probably do not need to become an accountant, but being able to understand the scoring system of the game can only help. There are thousands of books about investing and trading - you don't need to read them all, but you probably ought to read a few to enhance your theoretical knowledge.
Most of these services offer some form of free portfolio tracking - this enables you to create a portfolio and track it properly to see how you do with no money on the line. This used to be known as paper trading in the 'good old days' before 2001. This kind of exercise can be a good way to learn and play around with things without being either serious or costly.
You may see a number of sales charges called loads when you buy mutual funds. Some are front-end loads, but you will also see no-load, and back-end load funds. Be sure you understand whether a fund you are considering carries a sales load prior to buying it. Check out your broker's list of no-load funds, and no-transaction-fee funds if you want to avoid these extra charges.
The stock market is made up of exchanges, like the New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq. Stocks are listed on a specific exchange, which brings buyers and sellers together and acts as a market for the shares of those stocks. The exchange tracks the supply and demand — and directly related, the price — of each stock. (Need to back up a bit? Read our explainer about stocks.)
One constant principle of investing is that markets fluctuate. Stock prices will rise and fall for a number of reasons: the economy, investor sentiment, political uncertainty at home or abroad, energy or weather problems, or even corporate scandals. This means market performance isn’t always predictable. That is why diversification, or spreading the investments in your portfolio among different asset classes and across different sectors within each class, is such an important strategy. Diversification is a time-tested way to manage risk.
Comparing the cash flow statements of companies is going to help you narrow your list down even further. So you’ve found a few sectors that are really going to benefit from these broad themes, that’s step one. Then you find the companies within those sectors that are able to generate cash for investors at a faster pace and that are using cash responsibly.
Nerd tip: If you're tempted to open a brokerage account but need more advice on choosing the right one, see our 2019 roundup of the best brokers for stock investors. It compares today's top online brokerages across all the metrics that matter most to investors: fees, investment selection, minimum balances to open and investor tools and resources. Read: Best online brokers for stock investors »
Building a diversified portfolio is the priority for beginners who should consider adding index funds that capture the broader market, Swope says. Mutual funds and ETFs are the easiest solutions since they own hundreds to thousands of stocks and are less volatile than individual stocks. ETFs tend to have low minimums, allowing investors to spread their first $10,000 between a few funds and gain access to a variety of areas in the market, he says.
Discount brokers used to be the exception, but now they're the norm. Discount online brokers give you tools to select and place your own transactions, and many of them also offer a set-it-and-forget-it robo-advisory service too. As the space of financial services has progressed in the 21st century, online brokers have added more features including educational materials on their sites and mobile apps.
Over the long run, value stocks outperform growth, so look for stocks trading at relatively cheap valuations based on price-to-earnings ratio (P/E), price-to-sales ratio (P/S), and price-to-free-cash-flow ratio (P/FCF). It is vital not to chase opportunities, but rather wait for them because patience always pays. Solid fundamentals and a large moat (barrier to entry) are also vital for long-term sustained success. Also, use technical analysis and charting to better help pinpoint both the entry and exit points for the stock under consideration—both for a target profit area and a stop loss.

It is also worth trying to keep up to date with the latest thinking related to the area of investment that you are trying to specialise in. Therefore, if you plan to invest in defensive or income stocks, for example, it would be wise to read regularly about value investing and dividends. If you plan to invest in growth stocks, it would be wise to read about technology and the latest trends. Perhaps you could subscribe to one or more trade publications that relate to the sector(s) that you are most interested in.

Buy “the basket”: Can’t decide which of the companies in a particular industry will be the long-term winner? Buy ’em all! Buying a basket of stocks takes the pressure off picking “the one.” Having a stake in all the players that pass muster in your analysis means you won’t miss out if one takes off, and you can use gains from that winner to offset any losses. This strategy will also help you identify which company is “the one” so you can double down on your position if desired.


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Leaf Pixie/ Earth Elemental Body Glitter Tattoo Shoot Norwich

 Another shoot from last year (Nov), with photos embargo’d until now when the March 2011 Issue of Illusion Magazine, which contained them, was published. Been killing me to keep  them hidden, loved these!

This was with Hayley Bird again, who was able to fill in when a model cancelled on this shoot at short notice.

Victoria and I had seen each other’s online portfolios and wanted to work together; she had studio access but was keen on an autumnal shoot too. Seeing a it was a chilly November, I thought a glitter tattoo would be best, as clothes can be worn over it so the model could be painted elsewhere (ie in a WARM house), and travel to the shoot/ stay in clothes during the shoot, would be best.

The leaves on her torso too 3 hours; I had already gathered a bunch of real autumn leaves and decorated them with the same glitters. Hayley did her hair and makeup, I added Glitzer glitter gel and a little paint on top.

We met Victoria at Mousehold Woods in Norwich. I slashed up a jumper Hayley didn’t mind being ruined so she had coverage over her back/ sides, then she leapt around (barefoot!) posing in trees, leaf litter, bracken etc.

Hayley leaf glitter tatt tree arms bpc

We surprised a few dog walkers but most of the cyclists completely missed us – not sure why, we had Hayley’s rolling suitcase of clothes etc with us so were fairly obvious!

Leafy Hayley glitter tatt leaves face bpc

Just when her toes were about to snap off, we returned to the studio to warm her up and get a different set of shots. I had to leave to go paint faces with a Star Wars club for Children In Need, so had a lovely surprise when the super-fast Victoria sent the Cd the NEXT day!! Wow.

Hayley leafy g;itter studio dark chest bpc 0530

Hayley leaf glitter tatt studio sat bpc

Leafy Hayley glitter tatt studio akimbo bpc

One thought on “Leaf Pixie/ Earth Elemental Body Glitter Tattoo Shoot Norwich

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Play it now: RadOS

The age of obsequious, infantilizing, anthropomorphic operating systems—think Clippy and his cohort—may be a dim comic memory, but it's helped inspire an entire (though brief) generation of art and music.

Now, a new jam game called RadOS, billed as a "modern horror experience", summons the simultaneously hilarious and nightmarish circumstance of cursing softly at a bright, gooey GUI as you struggle desperately against losing everything. Your virtual assistant is a goofy, wittering submarine sandwich wearing shoes (this is never explained), who cheerfully informs you that thanks to some crucial updates, your system will restart in 30 seconds. That's about how much time you have to save all your unsaved work.

RadOS presents you with the impossible feat of saving several windows' worth of work in those 30 seconds, and these vary for each playthrough—figuring out how to save, export, submit, et cetera each open project is made ever more enraging by the assistant continually popping in to "help."

If it's possible to succeed, I haven't managed it; I think instead it's a nihilistic commentary on Windows 95, designed to frustrate you and make you laugh a little bit (the user icon, a cavernous hood with a blossom emerging from its depths, is wonderfully eerie).

RadOS was made for the recent Toronto Game Jam and is downloadable for free. There's no Mac version.


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Hippo attacks car

Wikus Ceronie, a welding inspector, describes his encounter with a truculent hippo:

This is my first time ever working in Mozambique and I was on a jolly journey back home to South Africa.

I was crossing the border from Kruger National Park when I noticed a hippo on the bridge.
There were people walking around in the nearby vicinity so I automatically assumed this hippo was used to humans. I was quite fascinated by this so I took out my phone to start filming.

Suddenly the hippo turned and just started charging… I braced myself as I realized he wasn’t going to stop. He hit the bakkie head on and then tried biting it. I guess after that he decided he had won because he just turned around and left.

This was terrifying for me because I realized I had nowhere to go and no time to do it in. Beside me was a 50m drop so had he hit me on the side I have no doubt the car would have rolled down the embankment. Even though there was damage done to the bonnet of my vehicle and the door couldn’t open, I’m grateful there were no serious injuries at the end of day.


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Light fare

In these very serious times, I’ve been doing some reading of not-so-serious books. I like to think of them as junk food, although I don’t want to seem like I am denigrating these books or the reading of them by me or anyone else. I’m just saying that, like the difference between eating a gourmet four-course dinner or grabbing some cookies to satisfy your sweet tooth, there is a difference, both in the writer’s skill and in the reader’s level of engagement. Even if you are eating cookies, you are getting some nutrition along with your treat,
whether it’s from oatmeal or nuts or dark chocolate. You just aren’t participating at the level of a good salade niçoise or some mushroom bourgignon! (In these self-isolating times, many of us are also participating to a greater degree in cooking and baking—
can you tell?)

Finfarran1Anyway, my latest foray into relationship fiction is a duo by Irish writer Felicity Hayes-McCoy that, predictably for me, have to do with books and librarianship. The Library at the Edge of the World (Finfarran Peninsula #1) is described by its publisher as “a warm, feel-good novel about the importance of finding a place where you belong, perfect for fans of Maeve Binchy.” I think that stretches its importance a bit; I would be inclined to call these “Binchy lite.” But it is a lovely look at a few key people and a bunch more peripheral ones in an interesting locale teetering between community and estrangement. It reminded me a bit more of Jenny Colgan’s books.

Hanna Casey works as the librarian in Lissbeg, one of the small towns along the Finfarran peninsula. Her family goes way back on Finfarran but, until a few years ago, Hanna had embraced a much more active, well-to-do, and interesting life in London with her lawyer husband, Malcolm, and her daughter, Jasmine. Then she was devastated to discover that her husband had been having a long-term relationship with a colleague at work, a woman who purported to be her good friend, and in her anger and hurt she decamped with Jazz back to Ireland, telling her husband she wanted nothing from him. A few years later she is beginning to regret that hasty decision, as living with her outspoken and idiosyncratic mother in a small cottage is definitely beginning to pall, particularly since their buffer, Jasmine, has finished school and is pursuing a career elsewhere.

This is not the typical librarian pictured in this kind of feel-good fiction: Hanna wanted to be an archivist, dealing with great works of art in the rarefied atmosphere of a city museum or gallery, and somewhat resents the “depths” to which she has fallen as a small-town public librarian. She is in her early 50s, yet acts like some of the crotchety old-school librarians we all dreaded in our youth, who shushed us or kicked us out of the library for every tiny noise infraction and weren’t interested in providing such heretical innovations as computer classes or toddler story times.

Hanna’s saving grace is that she has come, gradually over the years, to believe in the power of reading, and spends two days a week driving a bookmobile to the far-flung tiny farming communities that populate most of the peninsula, developing a feel for what books to bring the many characters she encounters.

She has recently rediscovered a legacy left to her by her aunt, a piece of property that she couldn’t imagine being of any use to her while she was raising her daughter and decorating her beautiful home in London; but it has suddenly occurred to her that it might be an “out” to her nigh-intolerable living situation, and she thinks if she is careful with her money and can also get a loan, she can renovate Maggie’s old cottage and live in splendid isolation on the bluffs above the sea.

Then, plans by the bureaucrats of Finfarran come to light, which will polarize the peninsula by centralizing services in a grand new center located in the most populous town, thus cutting off all the small businesses and tourist attractions everywhere else, and also closing Hanna’s library. Hanna wakes up from her dazed existence and suddenly discovers within herself the will to fight for what she wants, and seeks allies to preserve a lifestyle she didn’t realize she had come to love.

I enjoyed this story quite a bit. I liked getting a look at rural life in the Irish countryside; the quirky characters were well developed and fun; and the story line was a good message about inclusiveness and community being more important than short-sighted financial success. The ending was a little pat, but played nicely off of Hanna’s former aspirations as an archivist.

The sequel, Summer at the Garden Café, was good, but not quite up to the first one. It furthered some of the relationships established in that book, it gave some interesting insight into the relative who left Hanna her house, and it moved some pieces around on the chessboard between London and Ireland. Basically, it was pleasant and innocuous, connecting here and there with real emotions when it details the situation of Hanna’s daughter, Jasmine.

There is a third book, The Mistletoe Matchmaker, which pulls in a different family mentioned peripherally in the first books, and sets up a romance for the Canadian granddaughter visiting her Irish family. I placed a hold on the e-book at the library, and will eventually report on the last of the trilogy. (If it is the last…)

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