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Categorized | Reviews

Kathy Butterly @ Manetti Shrem

by David M. Roth

Heavy Head, 2003, clay, glaze, 3 3/8 x 6 x 3 3/4 inches

Kathy Butterly has long held that smaller is better, and in ColorForm, her first career retrospective, she proves it with a dazzling display of more than 50 tabletop works (none taller than nine inches) that, together, affirm her position in the front rank of ceramic sculpture.

Like her early mentors, Voila Frey and Robert Arneson, Butterly has managed to shatter, perhaps once and for all, the physical and conceptual barriers separating sculpture from painting.  She fuses the two so seamlessly that the glazed parts of her works have been favorably compared to the paintings of Mary Heilmann, Amy Sillman, Charline von Heyl, Helen Frankenthaler and Thomas Nozkowski — something that would have never happened a generation ago.  Such comparisons, which barely hint at Butterly’s unique contributions, stand as a measure of the distance ceramic sculpture has traveled since the days when practitioners fought to be recognized as artists rather than makers of plates, bowls and teacups.

In this regard, the show’s appearance at the Manetti Shrem Museum of Art on the UC Davis campus couldn’t be more fitting.  The artist earned her MFA at UCD in 1990. But, contrary to

Juggler, 1991, clay, glaze, 8 3/4 x 3 1/2 4 1/2 inches

what you might take from that association, her output owes far less to Northern California Funk than to what came earlier.  In the quashed, twisted, open-mouth vessels that populate this exhibition, alert viewers will detect strong links to George Orh (the “Mad Potter of Biloxi”) and to others who came later (Ron Nagle, Ken Price and Betty Woodman).   You may also detect in some of the early works, like Juggler (1991), similarities in shape to bronze-age amphorae, as well as to the slender handles that adorned those ancient vessels in subsequent pieces like Middleclassiness (2015).  Still, it is the painterly aspect of the artist’s work — the multi-layered glazes (smooth, cracked and heavily textured) which can take up to 40 firings and six months to a year to complete — that define it.  Applied to drooping, folded, crimped, tired-looking shapes that alternately recall women’s handbags and intertwined human body parts, these exuberantly painted glazes, executed in colors ranging from earth tones to electric reds and yellows, serve as emotional registers of the artist’s life: as a mother of two, an artist tending a burgeoning career and a citizen who, like the rest of us, frets over the deepening political malaise.  Like, William T. Wiley, another artist long linked to UC Davis, Butterly works while listening to NPR, and the news often seeps into her work in ways she comes to understand only through the process of creating.  But regardless of whether a given piece is topical, intensely personal or some combination of the two, the end products invariably reflect her thinking.  Butterly, as she revealed in a public interview with Dan Nadel, the exhibition’s curator, works from a deep inner need, which is where the best art always originates.   As a consequence, the intimacies she shares and the vitality she injects into the smallest details vivify her work, often in pop/cartoonish ways that may remind you of how Philip Guston brought to life mundane objects like cigarette butts, lightbulbs and household trash.

The exhibition, designed by Butterly’s husband, the painter Tom Burckhardt, is lit almost like a surgical theater.  In any other context, this would be off-putting.  Here, it’s a necessity, as each of these compact, heavily worked objects is so laden with visual incident that anything less would be inadequate.  The downside is that you can quickly exhaust yourself cataloging all the

Color Safe, 2018, clay, glaze, 9 3/8 x 8 1/4 x 8 inches

nuances of shape, line, color and texture that Butterly summons to accessorize these objects.  Fifty-five of them, from 1989 to the present, are arranged in reverse chronological order on six thigh-high tables and seven wall-mounted shelves, all of them low enough to afford interior views that call to mind human anatomy seen from the inside.

Each begins life as a cast vessel and alludes, in equal measure, to things biomorphic and anthropomorphic.  And while no two are alike, they share a common aesthetic, which for lack of a better term I’ll call polymorphous perverse, that being Freud’s nomenclature for nonconforming sexual fixations. Nowhere is it expressed better than in Like Butter (1997) wherein the head of a penis (about the size of a pencil eraser) pokes through a pair of bulging pink thighs, bent at the knees and dissolving into a puddle at the base.  It was made, the artist said, to commemorate the relationship she forged with her husband, which began, as many relationships do, with intense physical attraction and with apparent ease, as the title –literalized by bits of ceramic “butter” perched on the rim — suggests.  Like much else in the exhibit, it resembles a collection of misaligned body parts, which you can take either as complicated sex

Glow, 2010, clay, glaze, 5 3/8 x 2 3/4 x 2 3/8 inches

acts or as corporeal metaphors for a kind of psychic grappling on the artist’s part.  Another example is Just for Men (2009), a vertical concatenation of body parts ringed at the top by what appears to be a “flocking” of dark algae, a treatment that echoes Méret Oppenheim’s 1936 Surrealist masterpiece, Breakfast in FurGlow (2009), a tower of twisted “innards” crowned by a squashed purple “nose,” emits even stronger Surrealist overtones.

Other works, like Why Not Knot (2005), made in the wake of court decisions legalizing same-sex marriage, are political statements.  Its focal point is a finger-like protrusion encircled by a wedding band whose gold tendrils enclose a flesh-colored vessel out of which maple-colored cake “frosting” appears to spill — a reference, perhaps, to the pleasures (or perils) of domesticity.   Heavy Head (2003), made after 9/11, is a big drooping bulb attached to a salmon-pink “neck.”  It topples over as if stricken, reflecting how the artist (and so many Americans) felt after the attack.

Shapes such as these only partially define the content of Butterly’s art; color and texture are what give it emotional heft, enabling her to express vulnerability, strength and humor all in the same package.  Two practices in particular – a pervasive use of pink and the repeated use of vessels resembling women’s handbags – imbue each work with a distinct female identity.  What

Blue Crawl, 2007, porcelain, glaze, 7 3/4 x 9 x 6 inches

we get are psychological self-portraits animated by a contradiction: slouching forms that signal tired disarray and virtuoso displays of color and texture that declare an exuberant devil-may-care sensuality.

The “generic” cast forms, Butterly explained to Nadel, function “sort of like a three-dimensional Rorschachs.” Out of them, “I enable the piece to become what it wants to be” using a “mass of color so thick that it becomes a form unto itself,” something akin to “the antagonist in the piece.”  Hence, the title ColorForm.

Blue Crawl, (2007), for example, is a marbleized dome shape riddled with pink craquelure and topped with a “cap” that looks like it was made of cowhide.  Resting atop it are a bright yellow “sponge” and an enormous pink “tongue,” the verisimilitude of which brings to mind the trompe-l’oeil effects conjured by Marilyn Levine (1935-2005).  Whale Burger (2008), another tongue shape, is molded in the shape of a whale’s head.  The structure, laid out horizontally looks as if it had been extruded volcanically from its upended pedestal, the extreme craquelure of it being but one of several elements that sustain that impression.  Line Dance (2012), a cup ornamented with mauve ruffles, lends credence to the cliché about sculpture being “drawing in space.”  The lines may evoke a Victorian-era petticoat, but the rhythms exude rambunctious, irrepressible energy.  The Weight of Color (2015), another open-at-top “handbag,” carries, at its sides, waterfall-like spills of multi-colored pebbles that make it appear as if a geological process had mysteriously intersected with an unsuspecting object.

Butterly’s skills as a colorist hit a peak in a series of 16 nail polish drawings executed on pages of her own exhibition catalogs.  Each is a stunner.  The artist treats nail polish like watercolor, but the effects more closely resemble a combination of spun smoke and liquified marble, aligning them with “Flow Painting,” a term the LA critic Peter Frank coined to denote

Line Dance, 2012, clay, glaze 4 5/8 x 4 1/2 x 4 1/2"

painters, who, with only minimal intervention, allow pigment to do what it does naturally.  In these works, Butterly leaves visible only the pedestals on which the sculptures were originally situated.  What we see mostly are cascades of precisely controlled color, and the contrast the barely visible areas of the photos and the painted portions is as disconcerting as it is exhilarating.

Ironically, when Butterly began studying art, she intended to become a painter.  It didn’t click.  A visit from Viola Frey to Moore College of Art and Design in Philadelphia, where she was then studying did, and it proved life-changing.  As the artist explained to Faye Hirsch in 2015, Frey “gave a demonstration in which she took a big hunk of clay, 25 pounds, and whomped it down on the wheel. Her whole body started swaying as she threw a giant base.  And then she started talking.  She was political, strong-willed, feminist – awesome…A lightbulb went off: “Oh, ceramics!”   Other influential encounters with Arneson, Price and Nagle soon followed.  Butterly later enrolled at UC Davis and began working directly with Arenson.  At the time, she was making large pieces with lots of carved imagery but also experimenting with smaller works,

Rush, 2018, nail polish on catalog page, 10 3/8 x 8 3/4 inches

which she kept hidden.  Arenson accidentally discovered one of them and said, “This is powerful. This is what you’re all about.”   After a spell, she came to agree with his assessment.  “What I found was I felt like I was illustrating my ideas rather than the piece being the real deal. I don't want to illustrate anything.  I don't want to tell stories.  I want the piece to be the story,” the artist told Nadel.  “What I did was reach into these large forms and pull out the heart.”

“Art,” she maintains, “is how you live your life.  And what you make is an extension of who you are and your experiences.”

#  #  #

Kathy Butterly: “ColorForm” @ Manetti Shrem Museum of Art through December 29, 2019.  The artist will be in conversation with Vincent Fecteau on September 25 at CCA Oakland, Nahl Hall @ 7:30 p.m. and @ Manetti Shrem on September 26 with curator Jenelle Porter @ 6 p.m.

About the author:

David M. Roth is the editor and publisher of Squarecylinder.

One Response to “Kathy Butterly @ Manetti Shrem”

  1. Sandra Shannonhouse says:

    Another wonderful review! Many thanks. Sandra Shannonhouse

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#SRCZ MixTape // Stuff We Like In Random Order（其のⅡ）

Sometimes things happen that just aren’t good but whatever happens you have to look forward.  But what if you can’t do anything about them? What do you do? How do you react positively? Sometimes it’s best to step back and consider what can be done and that’s where music comes into play. Whatever your problems with the world settle back from it for a moment and see how much of a problem it really is. Whatever your mood, listen on to the MixTape below…

Featured artists include Portico (featuring Jono McCleery), The Helio Sequence, Actor, Grave Babies, Ezra Furman, Total Babes, Gwenno, Pete Wiggs, Detail, Mr Bongo & Lomepal. Make sure to check them out on social media and give this playlist a share to your followers and friends!

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What Features Make the Difference to a Running Hurdle?

Although there may be several different styles of running Hurdles available in Track & Field, all competition running hurdles are built around the same concept to meet IAAF and UKA specifications. However, there are a number of features to look out for to get the best available Hurdles.

1. The Fixing of the Vertical Leg to The Top Board

Due to this area of the hurdle taking the most impact from users, the top board needs to be fixed securely to the top board. The plastic top board is the weakest part here, so you should always look for a hurdle where the vertical leg has a flat surface where it is connected to the top board. This can be done in 2 ways, either that the vertical leg is square or if the vertical is round, then a plastic bush is used to create a flat surface. You regularly see round vertical legs fixed directly to the top boards and these tend to be the hurdles with the shortest lifespan as the leg twists where it meets the plastic. Another addition here is a plastic bush inside the top board itself. Top boards are hollow so a plastic bush over the bolt prevents over-tightening.

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The regulations governing the build of the competition hurdle do allow for a variance in the materials used and more importantly the build quality. Both aluminium or steel hurdles are available with even some including our ARH Olympic hurdle using elements of both to get the best performance. However, it is the build quality that can make a difference. To reduce the cost of the hurdle, some manufacturers will use channel sections of metal rather than a full box section. A channel section is much weaker than a box section and is an area of potentially un-repairable damage. Another area of concern is the quality of the joints of the hurdle, particularly where the vertical leg joins the horizontal leg. A full seam weld should be clear when joining box section to box section. And when joining round vertical legs to square horizontal legs (the weakest area), we prefer to feed the round section leg through the square leg and fix tightly with a bolt. This also allows the hurdles to be broken down to be flat-packed to reduce transport costs and long term storage which is used on the ARH Olympic Hurdle.

4. Easily Adjustable Sliding Weights

Now every hurdle has to have these but ensure that the components used are non-corrosive (stainless steel). This is particularly important as should the components corrode (rust), changing 160 sliding weight positions for a flight of hurdles is going to be even more difficult. Going one step further, hurdles are now available with sliding weights that can be changed using your foot to save bending down on each hurdle (Alu-Elite hurdle) and even easier again are the hurdles that automatically change the sliding weights when the hurdle height is adjusted (Alu-Matic hurdle).

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Not the finish of the race, but the finish of the hurdle. Hurdles must be protected against the elements and either a thick powder coated (painted) finish or zinc plating should be applied to prevent corrosion. This is particularly important as hurdles can take quite an impact when tipped over and are at risk of poor paint finishes chipping away.


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Hitchen's Barn in Oakham wins Michelin Guide recognition

A popular Oakham restaurant which opened only eight months ago has won a Michelin Bib Gourmand, one of 132 awarded nationally

Hitchen’s Barn in Burley Road is run by Louise Hitchen and husband Neil, who received the award for their ‘fiercely seasonal menu of modern British dishes’.

Named after Bibendum – the Michelin Man – the Bib Gourmand distinction highlights restaurants which offer ‘good quality, good value cooking’.

Neil and Louise Hitchen (18764679)
Neil and Louise Hitchen (18764679)

Louise Hitchen said: “We are thrilled and delighted to be the only recipient in Leicestershire and Rutland of this award. We are so proud of our team for this amazing achievement.”

The couple held a Michelin Bib for eight years when they ran the The Berkeley Arms at Wymondham. Last month, Hitchen’s Barn entered Waitrose’ Good Food Guide.

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The journey into becoming an authentic "you" can take time and often when you identify as LGBTQ, that journey comes with unique sacrifices and stressors . Layers of identity can find themselves folded on top of and intersecting with each other and sometimes they don't play well together.

Dr. Green has years of experience working with concerns unique to the LGBTQ community including trauma, managing social stressors, "coming out," relationship dynamics, sexual fluidity and internalized homophobia.

We are intricately complicated and beautifully simple. Together, let's integrate those pieces.

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Tag: vape

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Men’s swimming caps off home season with senior meet

The senior class has accumulated 29 All-America honors

Tomorrow at noon, the Stanford men’s swimming and diving team (4-0, 3-0 PAC-12) will celebrate their senior class as the team competes in their final home meet of the year against No. 10 USC (4-0, 2-0). The seventh-ranked Cardinal will be racing in their first meet since they swept the Arizona schools two weeks ago.

The team will have an extra emotional boost with tomorrow being Senior Day. Matt Anderson, Cole Cogswell, Abrahm DeVine, Ryan Dudzinski, Jack Walsh and Brad Zdroik will all be recognized after four seasons of competing on the Farm. Fifth-year senior Patrick Conaton will also be racing for the final time in Avery. The seven men have combined for 29 All-America honors, and they have helped lead the team to two conference titles.

The class is unique in that they cover nearly every aspect of competition, from the four different strokes, to IMs, to sprints and middle-distance. Not only does their variance run the gamut, the class competes at the highest level. There is a good probability that the NCAA relay teams will be exclusively seniors.

The emotion of the day will provide a huge mental boost to the team. Head coach Ted Knapp said, “It’s going to be Senior Day, and we have guys that want to finish their careers with a big win against USC and maybe even a pool record.”

This meet will be the second of USC’s trip to the Bay Area. They will face California this afternoon, meaning that there is a possibility the team will suffer from race fatigue against the Cardinal.

The two schools are very close in the rankings, which is an accurate reflection of the two programs.

“USC is very similar to us,” Knapp said. “They have the personnel to win some events, and they are very good at relays. I think it is going to come down to depth, and our depth is better. I’m looking for a win and fast swimming.”

The seniors will be recognized around 11:45 a.m. PST in Avery, while the meet is set to start at noon.

Contact James Hemker at jahemker ‘at’

James Hemker '21 is a Managing Editor of Sports. A computer science major, he has made the cross-country journey to the Farm from Baltimore, MD. After being tortured for years by the Redskins, Browns, and Orioles, the wide successes of the Cardinal have shown him that the teams you root for can in fact win championships. Contact James at jahemker 'at'


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Psalms 79

1A Psalm of Asaph. O God, nations have come into Thy inheritance, They have defiled Thy holy temple, They made Jerusalem become heaps, 2They gave the dead bodies of Thy servants Food for the fowls of the heavens, The flesh of Thy saints For the wild beast of the earth. 3They have shed their blood As water round about Jerusalem, And there is none burying. 4We have been a reproach to our neighbours, A scorn and a derision to our surrounders. 5Till when, O Jehovah? art Thou angry for ever? Thy jealousy doth burn as fire.

6Pour Thy fury on the nations who have not known Thee, And on kingdoms that have not called in Thy name. 7For one hath devoured Jacob, And his habitation they have made desolate. 8Remember not for us the iniquities of forefathers, Haste, let Thy mercies go before us, For we have been very weak. 9Help us, O God of our salvation, Because of the honour of Thy name, And deliver us, and cover over our sins, For Thy name's sake. 10Why do the nations say, `Where is their God?' Let be known among the nations before our eyes, The vengeance of the blood of Thy servants that is shed. 11Let the groaning of the prisoner come in before Thee, According to the greatness of Thine arm, Leave Thou the sons of death. 12And turn Thou back to our neighbours, Sevenfold unto their bosom, their reproach, Wherewith they reproached Thee, O Lord. 13And we, Thy people, and the flock of Thy pasture, We give thanks to Thee to the age, To all generations we recount Thy praise!

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Beyond sequential thinking

While your brain is technically capable of processing a great deal of input simultaneously, your conscious thoughts play out in a certain sequence. One thought triggers the next, which triggers the next, and so on. Sometimes these sequences have a few branches, but they’re still subject to linear time, and at any given moment, you’re following one of those branches. These thought sequences have a beginning, a middle, and an end, and it’s nearly impossible to see the big picture overhead view of a sequence while you’re stuck in playback mode.

This is where journaling can provide huge advantages. Journaling allows you to break free of sequential thinking and examine your thoughts from a bird’s-eye view. When you record your sequential thoughts in a tangible medium, you can then go back and review those thoughts from a third-person perspective. While you’re recording the thoughts, you’re in first-person mode. But when you’re reading them, you can remain dissociated instead of associated. This dissociative view, when combined with what you’ve already learned from the associative view, will bring you much closer to seeing the truth of your situation.

Very shortly I’ll share a couple of excerpts from one of my old journal entries, and you’ll have a chance to apply that overhead view to what was originally a very linear thought sequence.

While many people use journaling to record a personal diary of their thoughts and experiences, the power of journaling goes way beyond verbal photography.

Here are 3 other powerful benefits of journaling:

  • Solve tricky problems. Some problems are very difficult to solve when you’re stuck in an associative, first-person viewpoint. Only when you record the situation and then re-examine it from a third-person perspective does the solution become clear. Sometimes the solution is so obvious that you’re shocked you didn’t see it sooner.
  • Gain clarity. A great time to turn to your journal is when you’re just not clear about what to do. Should you quit your job to start your own business? Should you marry your current romantic partner? Are you on the right track financially? It’s amazing how much clearer things become when you explore them in writing.
  • Verify your progress. It’s wonderful to go back and re-read journal entries from years ago and see how much real progress has been made. When you’re frustrated that your life doesn’t seem to be working out as you’d like, go back and read something you wrote five years ago — it will totally change your perspective. This helps you in the present moment too by reminding you that you are in fact growing and changing, even when it feels like you’re standing still.

A real entry from my personal journal

Recently I went back and read some of my old journal entries. At the risk of embarrassing myself a little, here’s an excerpt from an entry I wrote on June 13, 2004. This was about 3.5 months before I launched I hadn’t even committed to building the site as this point.

Keep in mind that this journal entry represents my linear, sequential thoughts at the time.

June 13, 2004, 3:24 pm

So far this year I’ve spent a great deal of time on non-work activities, including reading, playing games, spiritual development, etc. But now I’m feeling my energy return to a desire to really put some effort into my career for the second half of this year and to work hard at pulling ahead financially. The difference is that now I feel I’m being drawn forward out of a sense of ambition and positive energy rather than being compelled by fear and disappointment with the past.

I’m ready to begin working on business projects again, for Dexterity Software or otherwise, and get some energy moving forward. I feel I’ve had enough private victory in order to be able to push myself ahead into public victory. Whereas the past year has seemed like a time of contraction and turning inward, I feel that the next year is a time of expansion and turning outward. I can practically feel the cycle of energy shifting.

I sense there is a wave of energy entering into my life right now, and I want to ride it forward as far as I can.

Here are some of the things I want to achieve:

  1. Raise my income dramatically — into the $30-50K/month range
  2. Buy a beautiful 5-bedroom house here in Vegas in a terrific neighborhood
  3. Get really good at poker, and start playing tournaments regularly; be able to win consistently both online and offline
  4. Begin exercising regularly again.
  5. Build a new web site at with a focus on personal development, including a blog and some articles, and begin developing and selling audio programs. Actually create a basic business plan for the site to make it a profitable venture.
  6. Improve dramatically as a speaker through Toastmasters
  7. Be extremely true to my own energy in all that I do, not trying to be something I’m not. Express myself genuinely.
  8. Write and self-publish at least one book (especially one that can make a decent profit).

It’s very eye-opening to read these old goals, remembering where I was at this point in my life. This was a time when I was bored with running my games business, but it was still my main source of income. I felt that it was time for me to move in a different direction, but I was totally unclear about what that direction was. I thought that boosting my income would be the best way to buy time, so I could figure out what I really should be doing. In truth, however, I knew what I wanted to do, but I wasn’t convinced I could be financially successful at it. So I was looking for more money as a way to avoid having to deal with these doubts. What a mistake that was!

Interestingly, goal #1 was achieved last year… but in a totally different way than I expected.

Goal #2 was achieved 3 weeks ago, when Erin and I moved into our new 6-bedroom home in a “terrific neighborhood.” Technically it’s a 5-bedroom house plus an office. Either way it certainly fulfills the original intent.

Goal #3 died a pretty quick death. In 2004 I was into playing poker semi-regularly, but I totally lost interest in it shortly after launching I don’t think I’ve played a single hand of poker since 2006. However, poker has become increasingly popular since then. New poker rooms have popped up all over Vegas, and they’re bustling with new players. And not long ago George Bush signed a law that made it illegal for banks to process credit card transactions for online gambling sites — of course that only drives more people to Vegas. I don’t feel bad at all that this goal wasn’t accomplished. It was always more of a fantasy than a serious goal for me.

Goal #4 has been going well for years. I go to the gym several days a week, and I’ve been training in kempo since Oct 2006. I recently earned my blue belt.

Goal #5 is interesting. Obviously I created the site, and it’s been a big success. But I was expecting to create and sell my own info products, much like I did for my games business. I did create the business plan, and that helped provide some direction, but the plan never accounted for the possibility of advertising income or for the rapid rate of traffic growth. In a way this goal is still in progress. I frequently receive requests from people to create my own products, in order to cover certain topics in much greater depth than I can do with the free articles and podcasts.

Goal #6 is still in progress. At the time I wrote this journal entry, I’d only been a Toastmaster for 11 days. Now I’m past the 3-year mark. I’ve certainly made some “dramatic” improvements, but I’ve also become aware of just how much more there is to learn. One thing I didn’t anticipate was the long-term friends that would be gained from Toastmasters. Erin has benefited from this as well. As I write this, she’s out having lunch with one of our Toastmaster friends. Virtually all of our local friends were made through our involvement with Toastmasters, either directly or indirectly.

Goal #7 is perhaps my favorite from this list, and if I were to judge myself on this one, I’d say I’m succeeding with it. In the later years of running my games business, I began feeling very incongruent, like I was just supposed to be doing something else. Now I feel like I’m right where I’m supposed to be. Of all the goals on this list, this one is by far the most rewarding, and it means more to me than all the others combined. If you currently find yourself feeling that something just isn’t right, do yourself a big favor and listen to those feelings, even if you fear where they might lead.

Goal #8 hasn’t materialized yet, but I expect it will. I do have a book in progress, but it won’t likely be released until 2008. In 2004 I was thinking more along the lines of writing a book on selling software online, so the original intent was a bit different compared to where I am now. My main reason for wanting to write a book back then was to create another income stream. Today my reasons for writing a book are more tied in with goal #7 — it would be a means of self-expression and a new way to connect with people.

The same journal entry continues:

Ok, so what about creating a personal development web site at

Now this is a different kind of situation, since initially I don’t have a grasp on how to make money with the site. If it becomes a serious money-maker, great. But in the beginning, I’d be creating a blog and possibly a newsletter and putting up free articles. So where is the sales potential of this site? There are many possibilities, but before I commit to doing anything here, I want to develop a basic business plan for the site and determine how it can make a profit. Maybe I can sell articles, newsletter subscriptions, and ebooks. Perhaps I could sell advertising and join various affiliate programs.

The benefit of this kind of site is that it can grow and evolve with me. I can make some interesting posts that are basic mini-articles. I can write whenever I want to w/o a huge obligation. I can just make some really short entries, or I can take the time to write much longer ones. It’s a nice outlet for me when I just feel like expressing myself.

So where is the profit potential for this kind of site?

  • Write and sell a self-help ebook
  • Offer to write custom articles for a fee
  • Sell subscriptions to the site (iffy)
  • Paid premium newsletter
  • Advertising and affiliate programs (likely weak)
  • Audio programs (possibly the best bet along with an ebook)
  • Donations
  • Promotion of Selling Software Online book

So at least initially, I don’t see a huge potential with this kind of site for making money. It’s certainly nice to have as an outlet for personal growth, but it isn’t likely to make me super-rich right away. There seems to be far more potential right now in writing a book about selling software online.

I had to laugh at myself when I read this. In all fairness though, the overall context of my journaling during that particular week involved exploring ideas to boost my income, so this entry’s focus on money was subject to that context. But it is true that I was stuck in the trap of thinking that boosting my income was very important and necessary to figuring out what I was supposed to be doing. Eventually I did work through these blocks and just decided to launch the site without worrying much about generating serious income from it. Of course, that early income boost never materialized, but I didn’t need it. I actually experienced a drop in my income after starting because I was stealing time from my games business, but I was enjoying it so much that it didn’t matter. I think even Erin didn’t worry so much about our financial situation because she could tell I was very happy.

It’s funny that I virtually dismissed advertising and affiliate programs as an income generator with the words “likely weak.” Perhaps I deserve a good kick for that one, but at least I was willing to try it 5 months after launching the site. I still get emails from people telling me it’s impossible to generate income from blogging though. I think those are the same people that emailed me several years ago saying it’s impossible to generate income selling computer games online. 🙂

When journaling I often write down my goals and intentions, identify obstacles, and work through challenges. Journaling has been a tremendous long-term problem-solving tool for me.

My favorite journaling software

I do have a specific product to recommend for keeping a journal. It’s called The Journal. I’ve been using it since 2002, and it’s by far my favorite journaling software. In 2004 I bought a second copy for Erin, and she’s been a big fan of the program as well.

In fact, I like The Journal so much that I worked with the program’s developer, David Michael, to create an add-on for it. This add-on is called the “Steve Pavlina Templates,” and it includes 20 original journaling exercises based on material from These are not one-shot exercises either — you can re-use them again and again.

This add-on is free for readers.

See my web page about The Journal for all the details, including a link to download the free trial version.

Happy journaling!


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Today’s mobile behaviors and expectations have radically changed, a result of the continuous evolution of mobile technology and the myriad new ways users can now interact with mobile. Because of this advancement in technology and user behavior, testing organizations must also advance their mobile testing solutions to ensure they continue to deliver the most intuitive, up-to-date experience possible.

James Hoshor's picture James Hoshor
Mobile phone showing social media apps Designing Test Scenarios for Social Media Mobile Apps

The definitive features of a mobile social app are the ability to send and receive messages, push notifications, and sharing media such as photos, audio, and videos. While creating a test strategy for such apps, cross-platform compatibility is an important consideration. Here are some scenarios you should include in your test strategy for a social media mobile app.

Krishnan Govindarajan's picture Krishnan Govindarajan
Person looking at an app on multiple devices 3 Strategies for an Efficient Mobile App Testing Project

Developing a testing strategy for a mobile app means facing multiple challenges that are part of the field. But by employing these three strategies, you can get valuable feedback about your mobile app’s functionalities before it is published—while still keeping time and budget in mind.

Thomas Raynott's picture Thomas Raynott
A touchscreen with connected IoT devices IoT Security Should Start with the UI Setup

IoT security is a large and changing topic, but there is one basic starting point where device security can be improved during development and testing: the user interface. The UI should be the first line of defense, but it’s currently weak in most IoT devices. Implementing better practices during the initial UI setup will go a long way toward improving security.

Jon Hagar's picture Jon Hagar

Better Software Magazine Articles

The Evolution of Software Monetization

End-users are demanding anytime, anywhere access to software apps on their devices. These changes are shifting the way software vendors conduct business. Michael Zunke uses the results of industry surveys to show how software products and services should be licensed.

Michael Zunke's picture Michael Zunke
Embracing the Top Trends in Software Testing

As user needs change for software apps expanding into IoT, mobile, and the cloud, testing approaches need to change. Shyam Ramanathan discusses eleven of the most important testing trends you should incorporate.

Shyam Ramanathan's picture Shyam Ramanathan
How to Avoid Unnecessary Technical Debt in Mobile App Development Projects

When task completion falls behind and more work is lined up for later, you've entered the land of technical debt. This is particularly true in mobile app development. Brian Westendorf presents practical advice to avoid this situation.

Brian Westendorf's picture Brian Westendorf
Building Mobile Apps the User Can Trust

It seems like every week there's a new security disaster impacting millions of users worldwide. With the acceptance of mobile apps providing timely data at your fingertips, users are becoming very concerned about security. Philip gives you some impactful tips for developing apps that create trust with end-users.

Philip Lew's picture Philip Lew

Amir Rozenberg Implementing Digital Transformation: An Interview with Amir Rozenberg

In this interview, Amir Rozenberg, director of product management at Perfecto Mobile, says the success of a business depends on taking advantage of web apps that improve and simplify the customer experience, addressing options that will yield a successful implementation.

Jennifer Bonine's picture Jennifer Bonine
Kevin McCaffrey Digital Transformation and the Need to Interpret Data: An Interview with Kevin McCaffrey

In this interview, Kevin McCaffrey, the founder and CEO of Tr3Dent, details why digital transformations have become so important in the software industry and why companies need to understand how to utilize the data they’re getting from internet of things devices.

Josiah Renaudin's picture Josiah Renaudin
Aaron Haehn Sprint’s Journey from Testing Organization to Quality Advocate: An Interview with Aaron Haehn

In this interview, Aaron Haehn, the director of quality assurance and release at Sprint, explains how the telecom giant has evolved during its long lifespan. He details the company’s new focus on software quality and how the mobile industry has changed so much over the years.

Jennifer Bonine's picture Jennifer Bonine
Wilson Mar Innovations within the Internet of Things: An Interview with Wilson Mar

In this interview, Wilson Mar, an architect, developer, performance tester, and manager, talks with Jennifer Bonine about cutting-edge technologies in 3D printing and the Internet of Things. He talks about the importance of security and automation, and what we can expect down the road.

Jennifer Bonine's picture Jennifer Bonine

Conference Presentations

Agile DevOps East Frequent Releases for Enterprise Mobile: Make It a Reality Without Losing Your Sanity

As companies continue to embrace the mobile-first strategy, many are grappling with a formidable challenge: how to release mobile updates more frequently given the painful and archaic app publishing process. Beyond brute-forcing release cadence, there need to be cultural, technical, and infrastructural changes to make frequent releases a reality. Stacey Yan and Alex Cabanilla will explore these dimensions in depth and provide practical insights on how to boost build infrastructure and reduce build time, improve code quality and merge process and guard against bad code, manage mobile features through feature toggles, improve test automation and make tests less flaky, and leverage critical tests. They'll also detail the key elements necessary for a culture of frequent releases. You'll come away with actionable ideas on ways to improve large-scale mobile delivery and CI/CD practices to enable frequent releases.

Stacey Yan
STAREAST 2018 The Appium Framework: Create and Implement Your Mobile Testing Strategy

The trend in mobile apps today is who can deliver the best and the most new apps as quickly as possible to keep up with the competition. With this, the need for more and better testing seems to grow exponentially. Open source Appium is a unique mobile app testing framework that allows you to write a single test which executes for native or hybrid apps on different operating systems running simulators/emulators and real devices in parallel. Harry Roberts describes how to create and implement a successful mobile testing strategy using Appium across Android and iOS devices. After discussing the basics of Appium and demonstrating it live, Harry outlines how you can determine when to run tests on emulators/simulators vs. real devices and which tools are most efficient and cost-effective.

Harry Roberts
BSE Testing Mobile Testing: What—and What Not—to Automate

Organizations are moving rapidly into mobile technology, which has significantly increased the demand for testing of mobile applications. David Dangs says testers naturally are turning to automation to help ease the workload, increase potential test coverage, and improve testing efficiency.

David Dang
STARWEST Testing Mobile Testing: Where to Start Your Journey

Your company has decided to move into the 21st century and is developing a shiny new mobile app. But you don’t know where to start. How many devices do you need to test? Can you take existing tests and modify them? How do you account for conditions such as loss of connectivity, a virtual...

Bambi Rands

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Through conferences, training, consulting, and online resources, TechWell helps you develop and deliver great software every day.


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Compliance and Business support services

Supporting all aspects of business administration and helping your business grow...

Compliance services

We provide a range of compliance services to support all aspects of business administration.

We can help you by making sure accounts are prepared in the correct format, statutory books and other company secretarial records are kept up-to-date and that all statutory tax returns are prepared. Our experienced team will relieve you of the regulatory burden and leave you more time to concentrate on your core business activities. In short, we will make sure everything is in the right format, in the right place and at the right time.

Our range of compliance services includes:

  • annual accounts
  • statutory audits
  • tax returns
  • specialist/niche audit and accounts
  • company secretarial services including setting up companies, completion of annual compliance statements, share transfers and registration, etc
  • payroll procedures including Real Time Information and Pensions Auto Enrolment compliance

Support services / Outsourcing

The combination of your business knowledge and our support services will help your business to grow and increase profitability.

Management accounts and information

Why wait until after the year end to see how your company is performing?

At Stiles & Co we can assist you with preparing management accounts on a monthly or quarterly basis and provide you with advice on how to improve profitability. Whether this is a complete service including the bookkeeping, or a review of the figures prepared in house, we can help.

This service is valuable to all types of clients and is an inexpensive process, which provides your business with up to date information to allow you to make those all important business decisions.

Running your own payroll function can often be an expensive and time consuming task. We offer a complete payroll function not only to save you time, but to provide you with peace of mind that staff are being paid the correct amount and statutory deadlines are being met, including submissions to HMRC under Real Time Reporting (RTI) obligations.

Our payroll bureau caters for businesses of all sizes from small owner managed businesses to larger corporations.

For those of you registered in the Construction Industry Scheme, our payroll bureau can submit monthly contractor returns and provide deduction statements to your subcontractors. Allowing you to concentrate on the running of your business.

We can also assist with all aspects of Auto-enrolment, including set-up, employee assessments and liasing with the pension provider, ensuring that you are fully compliant.

We have outsourced our payroll processing & administration to Stiles & Co for well over 10 years now, in all that time it has run smoothly without problem.

All the required reporting RTI, P11D’s etc. is done and submitted on our behalf. Caroline (Payroll Manager) deals with all the payroll related enquiries from HMRC until a resolution is reached. In addition any other employee/payroll related enquiries received from various other government agencies are also handled by Caroline efficiently and without fuss.

All in all a complete payroll solution for a very reasonable quarterly fee!

Tevis Gilbert, Financial Controller

It is essential for all businesses to have accurate and up to date financial information, to base business decisions on. Due to cost and time constraints involved, this just isn’t possible for everyone.

We offer a tailored outsourcing function to cover part or all of a business’s bookkeeping and accounts function. This service can be undertaken on site with our clients or at our premises, dependant on your requirements.

You may also have one off situations where you need cover for your internal bookkeeping and accounts functions, whether this be maternity or sick leave cover.

We can also advise upon computerised bookkeeping software. If you are spending too much time writing up books, typing invoices and chasing debts we can help you take control by computerising your accounts system. We can help you to make the best use of IT resource to produce financial information that is accurate and appropriate for running your business effectively. With the correct accounting software you will save hours of hard work leaving you more time to deal with the more important areas of the business.

Please contact us to discuss a convenient and cost effective solution to your accounting needs.

Ever changing regulations and the growing demands of HMRC mean VAT compliance can be a difficult administrative process. We can help to ensure that you comply with the regulations and that your quarterly VAT is calculated correctly. To help you manage this complex area, we provide an efficient, cost-effective VAT service, which includes:

  • assistance with VAT registration
  • advice on VAT planning and administration
  • use of the most appropriate scheme
  • VAT control and reconciliation
  • help with completing VAT returns
  • planning to minimise future problems with HMRC
  • negotiating with HMRC in disputes and investigations

Making Tax Digital for VAT

Under the VAT regulations, businesses with taxable turnover above the VAT threshold (currently £85,000) must keep digital records for VAT purposes and provide their VAT return information to HMRC using ‘functional compatible software’. These new regulations take effect for VAT return periods beginning on or after 1st April 2019. We can help you ensure that you are compliant and using the correct software, or we can deal with the record keeping for you.

P11D Completion

We can complete your annual P11D Returns to declare all benefits in kind and expense payments for your employees. We can provide advice regarding whether any benefits given are liable to Tax and/or National Insurance and can assist with completion of claims for business expenses.

We can also advise on any weaknesses in your expense systems, plus provide advice relating to any tax savings available to you within the benefits/expenses regime.

Business planning and forecasts

Every business should plan ahead to ensure success but daily business pressures often conspire to delay the strategic planning process. Financial forecasts are a crucial part of any business plan and we will ensure these are both meaningful and robust.

Liaising with banks and institutions

We offer support when liaising with banks and other financial institutions. Drawing on our wealth of experience we can support our clients through this often daunting experience.

Require more information?

If you would like more information or would like to speak to us direct then call us on 01628 665000. Or if you would prefer, ask us a question online.

Interested in our accountancy services?

Why not contact Stiles Accountants Ltd today for more information or to arrange a FREE no obligation quote.

Contact us
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Valentino (Valentino Clemente Ludovico Garavani) is an Italian fashion designer and founder of the exclusive, extravagant Valentino brand and company.
Valentino is famous for his haute couture dresses and has a passion for the colour red.
Today his fashion company is designing more clothing lines, handbags, shoes and other accessories.

Classic Valentino designer bags are the the Valentino Garavani Lock bag, the Rockstud shoulder bag and the Rockstud Spike bag.

Valentino’s Rockstud sandals have become iconic foot pieces and are a dream come true for many fashionistas.

Showing all 2 results


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Own your Holiday Home at Atlantic Coast Holiday Park

The Pemberton Abingdon 2010 - 2 bedrooms

Considering the Abingdon is almost 7 years old, the interior is very modern and has been extremely well looked after, therefore in excellent condition.

At 38ft long and 12ft wide this is one of our larger holiday homes on the Atlantic Coast site, in a prime position looking out towards the sand dunes.  This 2 bedroom unit has a very spacious wrap around decking, with direct access from the lounge through double patio doors, making it the perfect spot to relax and enjoy the afternoon sun.

The open living area offers home comforts as well as stunning views, with the option to sit outside on the veranda during long sunny evenings.

The master bedroom is tastefully decorated with a large walk-in wardrobe and it's own access to the shower room. This room also benefits from a dressing table and stool, as well as a TV aerial point.

Atlantic Coast Holiday Park re-opens for the 2017 season on 1st March. However, the staff are in our office on 01736 752071 and will be happy to answer any questions or arrange a viewing.
Don't delay - View today!

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 A walk on the wild side: one granny’s journey for St John

A walk on the wild side: one granny’s journey for St John

Ian Henderson |

A hard-walking Northland granny is tramping the length of New Zealand to raise money for St John, and in memory of her late brother.

Linda Donaldson set herself the challenge of walking the Te Araroa Trail to fundraise for St John in 2012

Her ‘Hike For Hearts’, as she titled it, was inspired by the tragic early death of her brother Lloyd, and a desire to – as she says – “live life without regrets”.

Linda completed the North Island section of the Trail last year, and started the South Island section in the Queen Charlotte Sound on 31 December.  She has been joined on this section of her journey by a friend from the United States, Samantha Broxholm, who flew in from California to join Linda on the rigorous South Island part of the journey.

Linda, who is 51 years old and a grandmother, has wanted to walk the Te Araroa Trail since she was a child, when she was inspired by the pioneering efforts of New Zealand long distance walker, author and publisher A.H. Reed.

Her brother’s untimely death from a sudden cardiac arrest helped give her further impetus.

So far, Linda has raised over $5,000 via FundraiseOnline for an automated external defibrillator (AED), a piece of lifesaving equipment which is used by St John to help save people’s lives.  She hopes to raise $10,000.

People can donate to her cause via FundraiseOnine at http://www.fundraiseonline.co.nz/lbw/.

Linda says: “St John is a trustworthy charity that cares for our community.  More defibrillators means more lives saved, and that’s why I support St John.”

Sarah Wilkinson, St John Fundraising Manager, says Linda and her support team (including her husband Jim) have put in some long hours for St John, in their drive to fundraise for the defibrillator.

“Linda’s efforts are fantastic,” says Sarah.  “We’re incredibly thankful to her for her hard work and enterprising achievement on our behalf.  One of the drivers St John has is promoting health and wellbeing, and Linda’s efforts are a great example of this.”

““The Te Araroa Trail is a national icon, much like St John itself,” says Sarah.  “Also like St John, the Trail is right across New Zealand and touches so many communities.  We’re really pleased that Linda chose to support us as she completes this very special challenge in her life.”

Linda Donaldson is currently walking the South Island leg of the Te Araroa Trail with her tramping companion Samantha Broxholm.  Her projected schedule is:

  • Nelson-Marlborough area: 10-31 January
  • North and Mid Canterbury: 1-19 February
  • South Canterbury: 20-28 February
  • Otago: 1-11 March
  • Southland: 12-25 March

More information on her walk can be found on her Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hike-for-Hearts/275815212482947

Subscribe to our RSS FeedSt John is a charity supporting communities throughout New Zealand.St John First Aid TrainingFeel Safe with a St John Medical AlarmHave your say


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Christian Formation

Whether you know it as "faith formation," "religious education," "Sunday School," or "CCD" .....we at St. Jude The Apostle parish take seriously Christ's call to share our Catholic faith with one another and especially with the next generation. While nothing can replace the role of parents as "primary teachers of the faith," St. Jude's offers religious education classes for early childhood through high school as well as youth ministry activities and sacramental programs for our young people. Several intergenerational events throughout the year make it possible for parents and children of all ages to celebrate and learn more about their faith in a fun and creative way.

Because growing in faith is a lifelong process, we also have plenty of opportunities for adult faith enrichment, ranging from Bible Studies to short courses on Catholic basic beliefs, learning sessions for parents, formation for different kinds of ministry, prayer groups and retreats. Adults wishing to complete their sacramental preparation are also welcome, whether through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) or Adult Confirmation classes or preparation for the Sacrament of Baptism.

You are invited to browse through our program links and contact the Religious Education Office for more information.

Mary Body, Director of Christian Formation


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Washington, DC by Fasulo

History of Washington, DC

Washington, DC, the seat of the United States government and many of its agencies, was created by the Residence Act on July 16, 1790.  DC is not part of any state, as outlined in the U.S. Constitution, and is under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Congress.  The city elects a Mayor and a 13 member council, which have governed the District since 1973.  Congress, however, maintains supreme authority over the city and may overturn any local laws, though that is rare.  Residents elect a non-voting, at-large congressional delegate to the House of Representatives, but have no representation in the Senate.  In presidential elections, the District receives three electoral votes as permitted by the Twenty-third Amendment to the United States Constitution, ratified in 1961.

Washington, DC has an estimated population of 693,972 as of July 2017.  That number swells to more than one million when commuters from the surrounding Maryland and Virginia suburbs travel to the District for the work week.

Tourism and Culture of Washington, DC

Washington, DC, is rife with monuments and memorials.  The National Mall dominates the downtown area with a large, open green space between the Lincoln Memorial and the United States Capitol.  Because of its size and location, the Mall is the perfect location for protests, concerts, festivals and presidential inaugurations.  The Washington Monument is near the center of the Mall, south of the White House.  Also on the mall are the National World War II Memorial at the east end of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, and the Korean War Veterans and Vietnam Veterans Memorials.

Directly south of the mall, the Tidal Basin features rows of famous Japanese cherry blossom trees, gifted by the government and people of Japan.  The Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, George Mason Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial and the District of Columbia War Memorial surround the Tidal Basin.

Chartered by Congress in 1846, the Smithsonian Institute maintains most of the nation’s official museums and galleries in Washington, D.C.  The Institute’s collections are open to the public and free of charge to visit.

The National Symphony Orchestra, the Washington National Opera and the Washington Ballet are all housed within the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Awarded each year, The Kennedy Center Honors showcase the very best that American performing artists have to offer.  Site of the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, Ford’s Theater continues to operate as a functioning performance space as well as a museum.

Duke Ellington, a DC native, John Coltrane, and Miles Davis have all played the U Street Corridor.  This area is home to such venerable institutions as the Howard Theatre, Bohemian Caverns and the Lincoln Theatre.  Indie, punk and alternative culture and music have a home in the District. Dischord Records, formed by Ian MacKaye when he was just a teenager, was one of the most crucial independent labels of the 1980s punk scene, and eventually indie rock in the 1990s.  MacKaye is considered one of the godfathers of punk.  The Black Cat and the 9:30 Club bring popular acts to the U Street area and are mainstays of the alternative and indie music scene.

By Alexandra R. Fasulo – published on STL.News by St. Louis Media, LLC


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Nations defend UN rights council after US pullout

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United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein talks with president of the Human Rights Council Vojislav Suc (R) during the opening of the 38th session of the UN Human Rights Council on June 18, 2018 in Geneva. (Photo: AFP)

(AFP) – Diplomats from across the globe defended the United Nations Human Rights Council on Wednesday after the United States withdrew from a body it branded an anti-Israel “cesspool.”

Slovenian ambassador Vojislav Suc, who currently holds the council’s rotating presidency and has been pushing a faltering reform drive, described the Geneva-based chamber as the best place to trigger action on dangerous rights crises.

“Let me say it very clearly, if human rights issues are not discussed here, in this very room, they have little chance to be dealt with meaningfully anywhere else,” he told the council’s 38th session, hours after Washington announced its pullout.

Suc further praised the 47-member council as the “only intergovernmental body responding to human rights issues and situations worldwide.”

Once he receives formal notification of the US withdrawal, Suc said he would arrange for the American seat to be removed and work with the General Assembly to elect a replacement member.

China, which has on multiple occasions voiced support for multilateral institutions abandoned by US President Donald Trump, portrayed the council as “a major body… to promote the realisation of human rights.”

“All delegations attach great importance to this body,” said Chinese ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Yu Jianhua.

China currently sits on the council and rights groups have repeatedly criticised Beijing for seeking to stifle criticism of its own conduct.

The European Union assured that it “remains steadfastly and reliably committed to the Human Rights Council,” and said it would continue to try to fix the body’s problems despite the US withdrawal.

Russia’s foreign ministry had earlier accused the US of “gross cynicism” and “disregard” for the UN.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and UN ambassador Nikki Haley announced the decision on Wednesday, making good on a threat Haley made in Geneva a year ago.

They said their calls for change, notably to fix “hypocrisy” and “unrelenting bias” against Israel were ignored.

Membership of the council, established in 2006 to replace the disgraced Human Rights Commission, has long been controversial.

Current members include Burundi, the Philippines and Venezuela — all nations accused of massive abuses against civilians.

But the main US objection was the council’s Agenda Item 7, which mandates discussion of Israel at each of the three annual sessions.

Israel is the only country recorded as a dedicated agenda item.

While Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the US withdrawal, experts and diplomats have noted that without US pushback, resolutions approving investigations of Israel’s conduct in the Occupied Palestinian Territories could multiply.

This article was posted in its entirety as received by This media house does not correct any spelling or grammatical error within press releases and commentaries. The views expressed therein are not necessarily those of, its sponsors or advertisers.

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A mobility scooter was stopped by police after it was spotted pulling along a washing machine inside a trailer.

The scooter was stopped in Cannock today (November 27).

Officers stopped the male rider as they were concerned with how the trailer was attached to the scooter.

A spokesman for Staffordshire Police said: "We were just concerned with how the trailer was attached to the scooter. We wouldn’t want the scooter going one way and the trailer going a different way whilst travelling along a busy road in cannock.

"The attachment could have been better, the strap moving across the bar, side to side, could cause the scooter to be unstable at corners, braking and steering and washing machines aren't the lightest of things."

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Stokke® Blanket Cotton Knit

  • Uniquely woven, super soft 100% organic cotton
  • Scandinavian look and feel with oval shape
  • Machine washable natural fibers that are soft next to baby's skin
  • Safe, OCS Organic 100 Cotton Content Standard
  • Oeko-Tex Standard 100 Class 1 Certified
  • A perfect gift for baby showers & new mothers

Color: Beige

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Stokke® Blanket Cotton Knit
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Naturally breathable, Stokke® blankets in cotton are a perennial favorite for keeping your baby comfortable. Delicate and soft, this fabric is extraordinarily gentle next to baby´s skin while remaining easy to maintain. This year our designers have created visual interest by making them in a sweet round shape with varying weaves for added texture. The pattern on the blankets incorporates subtle, tone-on-tone colors. This blanket is part of the Stokke® Caring Collection. Building on a long Norwegian tradition of respecting nature, we’re now offering the Caring Collection with textiles made of organic cotton with OCS100 certification. What does this mean? Organic cotton is special not only for its high quality, but because it helps to promote a sustainable environment. OCS100 certificate ensures that it meets strict guidelines at every point of production - from the way it’s grown, to the way it’s produced. Organic cotton is grown without the use of harmful pesticides, fertilizers or chemicals. This means that it’s healthier for our air, water and especially your baby.

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Sunlit Morning

Sunlit Morning is a fun, springtime Seasonal Santa figure for the year-round Santa lover. This amusing fellow is dressed in linen and suede and topped with a straw hat to bring cheer to all. Not your Traditional Santa, his gift is the gift of Springtime, with a wheelbarrow filled with pink and white roses and wildflowers.

Sunlit Morning Santa holds a willow staff and a cute spring bluebird. On his back you will find a basket of wildflowers and berries. Like all small Stone Soup Santas, he has a hand sculpted face of polymer clay and a soft Tibetan wool beard, signed and dated beneath.

This happy fellow has a Victorian feel and adds a ray of sunshine to any home or Santa collection.  He is a one-of-a-kind Santa and can be handmade in a variety of colors.

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To learn more about Stone Soup Santas or purchase a Santa, please give us a call at: (415) 927-3527.

You can also email us at:

We look forward to talking with you!
Shelie and Richard McCall


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225 N. Washington Street, Rockville, MD

(inside Dawson's Market)

Mobile in our Trolley Bookstore

  • Untitled design (1)
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Copyright © The Story House, LLC, 2017

Uni's First Sleepover

Uni the Unicorn is breaking out of picture book land…and entering Step into Reading! This Step 2 reader features Uni and friends on a magical fun-filled sleepover.

Join Uni the Unicorn on this all-new Step into Reading adventure in the Land of Unicorns! In this Step 2 book, it’s Uni’s very first sleepover! The other unicorns have been to sleepovers before, and have learned LOTS of magical games. Uni struggles with game after game, and by bedtime, Uni isn’t having a very good time. Will Uni find a way to contribute to the fun?

Uni the Unicorn makes a Step into Reading debut in this charming and relatable story! Fans of the picture book will be excited to find their beloved friend in our early reader format, ready to accompany them on their learning-to-read journey.

Step 2 readers use basic vocabulary and short sentences to tell simple stories. They are perfect for children who recognize familiar words and can sound out new words with help.


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To everything there is a season…

First, Thank you To Bishop Gohl for serving Saint Pauls during my time away.  He has truly given the gift of himself to ministry and we are all blessed because of him.

The third chapter of the book of Ecclesiastes talks about seasons and times. It begins, “To everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven.”  Pete Seger’s late 1950’s song, “Turn, Turn, Turn” used they first few verses of chapter 3 almost verbatim.  For those of us of a certain age we grew up knowing this song and thus a bit of the Bible’s Wisdom literature, even if we weren’t aware of the source.

September brings us to a traditionally new season in today’s community.  Schools have started or will start soon, before school sales of supplies have been pillaged.  And St. Paul’s begins the school year cycle of ministry (no matter that you no longer think about school calendars).  We turn to a planned focus on Faith Formation, choirs, and a return to two worship times.  Committees and Council will continue their good work.

Please take notice of the opportunities for all ages, in particular the time between worship services on Sundays.  There will be a Tuesday morning study this fall that will explore liberation theologies lead by Pastors Melissa Lemons, Jason Churchill and myself.  The initial date has yet to be decided.  It is open to all.

We again in this season seek to live more deeply into our mission, fulfill our purpose as disciples of Jesus Christ for the sake of the world:

Growing in faith.  Growing in community.
Welcoming all in Jesus’ name.

Linda Gunderson †
Senior Pastor

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Gurpreet Singh: Surrey Vaisakhi parade draws attention to murder of eight-year-old Muslim girl named Asifa

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      An eight-year-old who was raped and murdered in Kathua, India, was remembered at the Surrey Vaisakhi parade.

      Asifa Bano, who belonged to a Muslim nomad community, was kidnapped, held captive in a Hindu temple, sedated, sexually assaulted, and then brutally killed in January this year.

      Although her relatives and activists followed the whole episode closely at the time, the issue has only recently received international attention.

      As angry protests were held all over the globe, including one in Surrey on April 19, the United Nations and International Monetary Fund also came out with strong statements.

      What outraged most people was the support given to the accused in the case by leaders of the ruling Hindu nationalist Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP).

      The police charge sheet has established that this was done as part of a larger conspiracy to intimidate community members of the deceased child and force them to migrate.

      It is believed that rape was used as a weapon to shame these Muslims. The assailants kidnapped Asifa when she had taken the family horses out to graze. Her body was later dumped in a jungle.

      Spice Radio CEO Shushma Datt has raised awareness in the Lower Mainland about the murder of Afisa Bano.

      Last week, hundreds of people assembled at Holland Park in Surrey to attend a vigil organized by Global Girl Power. The widespread anger was noticed across Lower Mainland as Spice Radio CEO Shushma Datt and her team took to social media to register their protest.

      Datt even tweeted in Hindi, questioning Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose party has either tried to shield the perpetrators or is trying to dilute attention on the matter.

      This tweet in Hindi was designed to reach Indian prime minister Narendra Modi.

      An estimated 500,000 people showed up at the Surrey Vaisakhi parade, where posters with pictures of the victim carried the slogan “Justice for Asifa”. They could be seen on display at various corners along the parade route.

      Some floats also carried the poster, such as one belonging to the Mamta Foundation (see top of this article), which tries to help abandoned and destitute girls in India.

      Dashmesh Darbar Sikh temple spokesman Gian Singh Gill told the Straight that the community here is distraught over what happened to Asifa and these posters were manifestation of that anger. (The Surrey Vaisakhi parade is held every year under the aegis of Dashmesh Darbar.)

      Asifa's story highlighted at library forum

      Today, visiting Indian human rights activists Teesta Setalvad and Buta Singh spoke about the case of Asifa at an event organized by Radical Desi, Indians Abroad for Pluralist India, Seerat, and Punjabi Sahit Sabha (Mudhli).

      Both speakers told the gathering at the Surrey Newton Library that Asifa’s rape and murder are part of a pattern of using the bodies of women and young girls as a battlefield.

      They insisted that any attempt to dilute the gravity of this case is helping the perpetrators and the BJP that is backing them.

      Surrey residents express their dismay over what happened to the eight-year-old girl.

      Those in attendance included prominent media broadcasters Gurvinder Singh Dhaliwal, Imtiaz Popat, and Balli Kaur Deol (who was one of the organizers of April 19 vigil); MLA Rachna Singh; Makhan Tutt of the Mamta Foundation; film actor BKS Rakhra; Sikh activist Barjinder Singh; social justice activist Sunil Kumar; Dalit activists Rattan Paul, Paramjit Kainth, and Surjit Bains; Indian Rationalist Society leader Avtar Gill; East Indian Defence Committee members Harbhajan Cheema and Parminder Kaur Swaich; communist activists Kulwinder Singh, Rakesh Kumar, Shahnaz Nighat, and Navtej Johal; Radical Desi cofounder Parshotam Dosanjh; and the publisher of Alameen Post newspaper Jaffer Bhamji, who is also organizing an event for Asifa at Riverside Signature Banquet Hall in Surrey on Monday at 6:30 p.m., where Teesta Setalvad is going to speak.

      Later, the participants held rally outside the library carrying placards asking for justice for Asifa and raising slogans against the forces that are trying to shield the accused.

      Gurpreet Singh is a Georgia Straight contributor and a founder of Radical Desi.


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Historical performance results for investment indices, benchmarks, and/or categories have been provided for general informational/comparison purposes only, and generally do not reflect the deduction of transaction and/or custodial charges, the deduction of an investment management fee, nor the impact of taxes, the incurrence of which would have the effect of decreasing historical performance results. It should not be assumed that your account holdings correspond directly to any comparative indices or categories. Please Also Note: (1) performance results do not reflect the impact of taxes; (2) comparative benchmarks/indices may be more or less volatile than your accounts; and, (3) a description of each comparative benchmark/index is available upon request.

Please Note: Limitations: Neither rankings and/or recognitions by unaffiliated rating services, publications, media, or other organizations, nor the achievement of any designation, certification, or license should be construed by a client or prospective client as a guarantee that he/she will experience a certain level of results if StratWealth is engaged, or continues to be engaged, to provide investment advisory services. Rankings published by magazines, and others, generally base their selections exclusively on information prepared and/or submitted by the recognized adviser. Rankings are generally limited to participating advisers (see link as to participation data/criteria, to the extent applicable). Unless expressly indicated to the contrary, StratWealth did not pay a fee to be included on any such ranking. No ranking or recognition should be construed as a current or past endorsement of StratWealth by any of its clients. ANY QUESTIONS: StratWealth’s Chief Compliance Officer remains available to address any questions regarding rankings and/or recognitions, including the criteria used for any reflected ranking.

StratWealth’s primary mission is to Serve Others to Make Lives Better.
To do that, we nurture a genuine culture where everybody matters, every day.

The Next Piece – To Your Peace Of Mind


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Office properties make up a large portion of the current commercial market, and the experts at Stratus have ample experience acquiring new tenants, helping end users find a new space, and assisting investors in finding the right space for their 1031 exchange.

Stratus represents a number of office listings in the Atlanta and Athens markets:


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Street League participants experienced a taste of French culture after taking part in a foreign exchange trip with young people from the charity Sport dans la Ville.

Sport dans la Ville, who promote social and professional integration for young people through sport, were willing hosts as they gave Street League’s channel-hoppers an insight into all things French. The aim of the trip was not only to provide a cultural exchange, but also give the young people the opportunity to get involved in employability workshops with companies including Renault, Asendia, JC Decaux, and the BBC.

During a packed schedule of site-seeing activities, including visits to the Eiffel Tower, the Champs-Élysées, the Stade de France, and three days skiing in the Alps, the group had to adjust to being away from home and spending time in a foreign country.

Street League participant Mitchel, who had never been abroad before, said: “The trip was absolutely brilliant. The whole atmosphere, being with everyone in a group, and meeting new people was so uplifting.”

The roles were reversed on the return trip to England, where Street League gave their French counterparts a whistle-stop tour of London’s iconic landmarks. Participants from Sport dans la Ville also visited Centre Charles Péguy - a charity which provides job opportunities for young people from France studying in the UK.

Amir was one of three participants from Sport dans la Ville who gained an interview for a summer job in London. Speaking about how the trip helped him, Amir said: “Doing an exchange trip with Street League has been really beneficial. I have discovered a new life, new friends, and matured a lot. I’ve also been fortunate enough to get a job working in London for two months with Asendia UK. It’s an international postal company and I’m hoping to improve my English by being in the city for a longer period of time.”

For both Street League and Sport dans la Ville participants, the trip was a valuable learning experience. Employer Engagement Manager Rizwan Aboo explained; “It showed the young people that they were able to adapt to different situations and react to different environments, which are key skills when in a working environment.”

Watch the video of the trip!


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Lacking Time for Meditation? How about Color Therapy Stress-Relieving Apps?

The days of boring meditation can wait, here’s presenting an absolutely interesting thing for your stress relief !!

In our daily stressed-out busy lives, it is essential to take out time for our well being. Meditation is actually a mind-body relationship that facilitates a tranquil state of mind. It is a regular as well as a prolonged dose to the everyday intoxicating fearful insecurities to our lives. But meditation is not a matter of just few minutes. It takes a longer period of time to get to meditate and stay there. Work, family, personal lives these days do not leave us with the scope where we can sit for hours and meditate. But the good news is there are alternative ways of getting away with stress, and of the many, color therapy is one. With the radical advancement of the mobile App world, there are facilities which appear at your hands in no time. Applications of phones these days are not only based on game but also provide a huge scope to self development and well being, and Color therapy app is not an exception.

Here’s a quick trip to it : 1. Why is it necessary?

Creative art work helps in exploring the potential of the mind. It helps you in growing awareness, concentration, and, most importantly, observation power. Coloring book app is a handy thing to take along because it fits in your mobile, plus helps you to do it anywhere. For example, if you’re traveling from one place to another practically having no work to do, you can open up such apps and use them.

2. A platform for personal expression:

Coloring has got a lot to do with moods. The adult color book app helps in bringing out the expression of the conscious as well as the subconscious mind. Thus it often happens that many repressed feelings come out as forms of expression making the mind stress free.

3. As a digital tool of healing :

Kids are mostly offered hard copy of coloring books. But for adults it is almost impossible to carry coloring books everywhere, especially when they’re at a work place. Besides, in case of books once you’re done with coloring you can neither undo or redo any of the part. But apps like Stress Relief Adult Color Book help you in saving your art work, and if needed you can change it at any point of time. What comes along as a cherry on the top is it’s never ending!

4. What’s special for this Valentine’s Day?

Stress Relief Adult Color Book has come up with various themes and color settings this year. In case you’re suffering from any prior trouble in your relationship, now is the time to use the app. First, of course because the app will help you to purge out of previously suppressed emotions and repressed grudges; next, it will set a beautiful light-hearted creative mood for your day of love!

5. The ability to focus or concentrate :

Last but never the least Stress Relief Adult Color Book helps one with decision-making ability. Not only that but it also helps you to increase your skills of choices when you actually choose the colors.

6. Changes in heart rates, blood pressure and development of positive thoughts :

According to a study, the researchers have seen major changes in heart rates, and blood pressure in the people using this Stress Relief Adult Color Book app. The pleasant feeling one gets from creating something beautiful gives a person a delighted mental state and pleasure of mind. Coloring therefore brings a happy and stable state of mind which may be very useful in treating patients suffering from anxiety attacks to a large extent. The continuous self appreciation and healing also helps a great deal in developing positive thoughts.

Even though coloring has been a creative art for children, these days, it has crossed the age boundary and what comes as a bonus is that it is digital now and mobile friendly. So, download the app if you haven’t yet and see the magic of setting your mind free this Valentine’s day.

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