Elite Skier Matthew Liebsch of Orono, MN will represent TEAM STRONG HEART® in pursuit of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. Liebsch is a 28-year-old elite level cross country skier bidding for a spot on the 2014 US Olympic Ski Team. He began skiing at age 16 and is a three-time Vasaloppet USA Champion in 2009, 2010, 2011, American Birkebiner Champion in 2009, World Cup Athlete, and was recently honored as Outside Magazine’s “Real Fittest Athlete 2011”.
"I am excited to announce I will be representing TEAM STRONG HEART® as I compete and race towards the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia," said Liebsch, "TEAM STRONG HEART® will help me pursue my Olympic dream and together we will raise awareness and support for Camp Odayin; a camp for children with heart disease." "We are thrilled to help support Matthew’s tremendous journey to the 2014 Olympics as well as his desire to share our mission as the newest member of TEAM STRONG HEART®," said Bernie Kaeferlein, President of SILENT SPORTS FOUNDATION®.
Visit Matt's website to read his blog, learn more, and view photos.
Matt Liebsch and his headgear sponsor SILENT SPORTS FOUNDATION (a non-profit 501(c)(3) tax-deductible charity organization) would like to acknowledge the tremendous support from Matt's friends, families, employer, and corporate sponsors including GEAR WEST, FISCHER, SWIX, FIX STUDIO, CASCO, and TEAM BIRKIE. Matt is hopeful that more supporters will help him through the mission of SILENT SPORTS FOUNDATION and share his tremendous journey to the 2014 Winter Olympics while raising awareness and support for CAMP ODAYIN, a camp for children with heart disease.
Donate to support Matt Liebsch and TEAM STRONG HEART's mission!
- VIsit Matt's blog for the most recent updates: http://mattliebsch.com/
- Read about Matt Liebsch's impressive race to the finish line in the Tour de Twin Cities at www.mattliebsch.com!
- 10th Annual City of Lakes Loppet race, February 4-5: Matt finished 1st becoming the only person to win the race for 4 consecutive years. Visit www.cityoflakesloppet.com for more info and results.
- Mayor's Challenge in Minneapolis, MN on January 21-22: Matt finished 1st in both the 15k Freestyle & 10k Classic! Visit www.fasterskier.com.
- Congrats to Matt Liebsch who placed 2nd in the Men's 15k Freestyle at the US Cross Country Ski Championships! Click here for more info.
- SuperTour - Yellowstone Ski Festival on November 29, 2011: Matt finished in 6th place! Visit www.yellowstoneskifestival.com for more info.
- U.S. Cross Country Ski Championships in Rumford, Maine on January 5, 2012: Matt finished in 2nd place! Visit www.uscrosscountryskichampionships2012.org or click here to read his press release.
© 2013 Silent Sports Foundation Inc.
All rights reserved.
TEAM STRONG HEART is a registered U.S. trademark of the Silent Sports Foundation Inc.


There are two very effective secondary methods (different methods explained in my first blog post) of studying English for me: listening to UK talk radio and watching UK TV. In this blog post I explain why.
Real English As Spoken Today
Forget outdated textbooks with grammar, phrases and idioms which native people never use anymore! Listen to current radio and TV shows because you can listen to contemporary English as its spoken by native speakers: it is what English is nowadays and by listening you can speak like this too.
Different Types of English
People are always complaining that they can’t understand particular accents. So why not train yourself to understand different types? With TV and radio you can listen to all types of English: from BBC English on the BBC TV channels to American English on Channel 5 and something in between on ITV. In the case of UK radio, you can listen to different English accents because not only can you listen to UK talk show radio presenters, but you can also listen to their listeners – who call in and make comments. The listeners are not necessarily native English speakers, they live all over the UK and even abroad. So it is an extremely wide spectrum of English which will help you to understand people from all over the world.
Broaden Your Perspective
Learning a language is also about learning a culture and understanding the world in another way. When you listen to radio and TV shows, along with studying English you become aware of what is going on in the UK and in the world. Sometimes events are explained differently from what your own government and media says. It is always good to learn various opinions over an issue, assess them and reach your own conclusions. If you work in international business this will help you with your international relations too.
Next week I’ll be dealing with how to overcome technical issues when listening to radio and TV. Stay tuned!


- This event has passed.
Wild & Scenic Film Festival
November 14, 2019 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
One of the largest environmental film festivals in North America is coming to Eugene! The Wild & Scenic Film Festival works with environmental groups across the globe to host the film festival as a way to outreach into their communities and bring together a diverse audience. The goal is to use film to inspire people to help the lands and rivers that surround us. We are very excited to be co-hosting this event along with our partners in the Upper Willamette Stewardship Network. Tickets are on sale now and we will be announcing our film selections soon! Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. For more information visit www.upperwillamette.org.


The 2010 Manchester Irish Festival will run from
Friday 5th March - Sunday 21st March 2010
For all press/media enquiries email email@example.com
or text 079 125 129 77
Manchester will celebrate its fourteenth Irish festival with a two week extravaganza featuring two hundred events, staged at thirty two different venues throughout Greater Manchester.
Lawrence Hennigan the marketing executive of the Manchester Irish Festival website said “The festival will feature Art, Culture, Comedy, Community, Dance, Music, Sport and Theatre events, making it one of Europe's biggest Irish Festivals. We have tried to include something for everyone to enjoy in the community and a warm Irish welcome awaits all our visitors.”
The official dates for this years celebration is Friday 6 March to Saturday 21 March, but there are also a number of pre and post festival events from February through to April.
Festival highlights include the award winning 'Young, Gifted & Green' show at the Gorton Monastery on Saturday 7 March, the annual St Patrick’s festival parade on Sunday 15 March in the city centre and a whole host of St Patrick’s day celebrations leading up to the feast day on the 17 March. Some of the major Irish stars appearing at this years festival include Declan Nearney, Brendan Shine, Riverdance, Brendan O’Carroll, Ed Byrne, James Cannon (son of Dubliners Sean Cannon) and the Sinners, Shkayla and Toss the Feathers.
Levenshulme which is home to the biggest Irish community outside of London will be staging its own two week Guinness sponsored Tradfest (6-21 March) to coincide with the festival and the 250th anniversary of Ireland's favourite black stout.
The official pre-launch for this event is on Thursday 26 February with the very best of the UK and Irelands traditional musicians. Just over two hundred and fifty hours of Irish Culture, Film, Dance, Music, Theatre and fun will take over the village's pubs clubs and parks.
Highlights include a five day St Patrick's weekend tradfest party starting on Friday 13 March and running through to Tuesday 17 March with its own outdoor Funfair and tradfest. Most of the tradfest events are free admission but a special anniversary two week Guinness tradfest pass will cost just £17:59 to mark the date of the opening of the first Guinness factory in Dublin. The pass will give visitors free entry to all of the major tradfest concerts and gain guaranteed admission even on St Patrick’s night itself in the village. The pass can be purchased on www.m19bar.com


Katie Bryce was Meredith Grey's first patient, diagnosed with an aneurysm. She returned ten years later with a repeat aneurysm.
Katie competes in pageants and her talent is rhythmic gymnastics. She seems to be quite good at it as she was ranked highly in her pageant.
Katie, while competing in a pageant, fell, hit her head, and sprained her ankle. She told Meredith about it as she was pushed around the hospital when Meredith got lost.
Katie was later brought to the hospital after having multiple seizures. The cause of the seizures was a mystery, so Derek recruited the interns to help him figure out the cause. Cristina and Meredith paired up to find the solution. While they were going over research and discussing various options, Meredith had an epiphany. She remembered Katie telling her about her previous fall. She believed that fall had burst an aneurysm. Derek had doubts, but agreed to check. He ran a scan and found out that Meredith was correct. Katie was bleeding into her brain, which caused the seizures. Meredith scrubbed in with him and they operated. ("A Hard Day's Night")
Ten years after her first surgery, Katie returned to the hospital after passing out at work with transient weakness and headaches. She was upset because she asked for Dr. Shepherd and got Amelia instead of Derek. A CT showed a new aneurysm, much larger and more dangerous than the first one. Her surgery went well despite the danger and she had no neuro deficits. Afterward, she asked Meredith what happened to Derek and Meredith just said it was a long story and told Katie to take care of her brain. ("My Next Life")
She is a gymnastics coach. Two of her students are olympic qualifiers. ("My Next Life")
Notes and TriviaEdit
- She was 15 at the time of her first aneurysm and 25 at her second.
- Her hospital room number was 3604.
- In The Spokane Teen Miss pageant, Katie was in the top ten after the first two rounds.
- She disliked the idea of her head being shaved for her surgery.
- Her CT was among the scans Derek showed Meredith when he proposed to her.
- Her pageants got her a scholarship to UW.
- Her first appearance was in A Hard Day's Night and her second appearance was in My Next Life, which makes a 255 episode gap between her two appearances, the longest gap between two appearances in all three shows. The record was later broken by Olive Warner.


Infront Italy holds the international multimedia rights to this event. International television and radio networks, production and internet companies need to send the accreditation request directly to Infront Italy for approval.
Infront Italy S.r.L
TV & Media Rights
Via Deruta 20, 20132 Milano, Italy
Tel. +39 348 283 7477
Fax +39. 02. 28 900 439


The emerging Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) movement presents challenges as well as opportunities for corporates. To delve into these issues in detail, the Outlook Media Group is organising Outlook ESG Bharat Summit 2022, which will be a confluence of key stakeholders of ESG.
Comprising keynote addresses, fireside chats and panel discussions, the Summit seeks to bring together policy makers, thought leaders and industry captains from India and abroad to deliberate on ESG development.
The Summit will also introduce global thought leaders to Indian practitioners to promote knowledge sharing. The networking interface between Indian and global leaders also opens possibilities of collaboration in this once-in-a-year opportunity for networking.
A key highlight of the Summit will be the launch of the first edition of ESG Bharat Preparedness Report. An ESG Bharat Trade Exhibition will be also held alongside the Summit.
The Summit will not only celebrate India Inc’s ESG achievements, but also lay down the road ahead and conclude with a Gala VIP Dinner
A confluence of Indian and global stakeholders of ESG
Sectoral roundtables on the outcomes of the ESG Preparedness Report
India’s first exclusive annual survey to capture the corporate pulse around ESG, identify drivers for ESG, map alignment with evolving ESG regime, document good ESG practices and share knowledge
It will be a knowledge repository of print, web, roundtables, videos, and summit.
CEOs’ Voices and Company Case Studies on ESG
Editor, Outlook Business
Director, Brand & Marketing, Outlook
Consulting Editor (Sustainability), Outlook Business
Principal Correspondent, Outlook Business
Senior Assistant Editor, Outlook Business
NB: Price is in US dollars. Price displayed excludes sales tax.


23 September 2011
Even though it's still warm by the UK standards I am used to and the sun is still shining, the drop in temperature has been noticeable. It is the dawn of Autumn, but I'm not expecting conkers, frost and leaves falling off the trees just yet in BCN.
20 September 2011
18 September 2011
So it is Catalan book week (Setmana del Llibre en Català). I think it will be a while before I'm reading novels in Catalan, as I am still getting to grips with Castellano ('Spanish'). That said, I was impressed to see this huge book sculpture on Gran Via at Passeig de Gracia. The sculpture is is entitled Homenatge al llibre (Homage to the book) and was the work of Catalan artist and poet Joan Brossa.


Co-PI's Wallapak Tavanapong and Adisak Sukul, faculty with the Department of Computer Science, are part of the ISU interdisciplinary team which was awarded $529,776 from NSF to develop computer science tools to test the effectiveness of online campaign advertising. The research team also includes two faculty members from the Department of Political Science, David Peterson, and Olga Chyzh. Chyzh also has a split faculty assignment with the Department of Statistics.
Election campaigns serve an extremely important role in our democracy. The messages sent to voters help to define what elections will be about and how voters will ultimately choose. Two new advertising technologies -- the use of large amounts of data about individual voters and new online advertising platforms such as YouTube -- have the potential to revolutionize how campaigns are able to craft specific messages to appeal to individual voters. To date, however, there is no systematic evidence about the accuracy or effectiveness of targeting via online video advertising. This project will be the first to test how effectively campaigns can target voters with online advertising. The PIs will develop new computer science tools to capture and code the content of online advertising. This will allow the PIs to test a series of hypotheses about the effectiveness of targeting, the strategies used in online advertising, and the abilities of the rival campaigns to respond to one another. The interdisciplinary team will make its tools and data freely available to the research community, train students in both political science and computer science, and create mechanisms for real time tracking of advertising, which will be shared with leading media outlets.
For additional information about the award, please go to: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1729775


You may not have seen all the tobacco marketing in the stores, but your kids have. Tobacco marketing refers to the posters and signs inside and outside stores, as well as the colorful, well-lit displays of tobacco products behind the counter in most convenience stores, gas stations, pharmacies and grocery stores.
Did you know???
- The average age of a new smoker is 13 years old
- Everyday in NYS the tobacco industry spends over half a million dollars to market its products
- The 2012 Surgron Generals report found that the tobacco company’s marketing efforts “consistently and coherently points to the intentional marketing of tobacco products to youth as being a cause of young people’s tobacco use.”
- Where there are more tobacco retailers near schools, students are more likely to smoke
Communities across the nation have worked to reduce the tobacco industry’s presence in retail stores by reducing the number of tobacco retailers, restricting tobacco retailing within proximity of schools, prohibit the sale of tobacco in pharmacies, and restricting the redemption of coupons or multi-pack discounts.


Digital TV Group (DTG) has announced that they will “lead the development of a UK standard for 3DTV products and services”.
Simon Gauntlett, Technology Director at the DTG, made the announcement at the DTG’s 3DTV Seminar.
In 2009 the DTG launched the UK’s first industry consultation on 3DTV to gain members’ views on the technological feasibility and viability of the technology, and the role in which the DTG should play in its development.
Simon Gauntlett said: “The DTG has been at the heart of every development in UK digital television since its inception more than a decade ago.
Since the launch of our consultation, 3D has evolved from an emerging technology limited to cinema into a compelling home entertainment proposition—with broadcasters set to launch 3D services as early as this year and technical standards approved for 3-D Blu-ray and HDMI—what is currently missing is a standard for delivering 3D to the home via broadcast or IP delivery.
Our 3D consultation revealed members had concerns over uncertainties over standards for 3D and clearly told us the DTG should assume a leadership role in developing an approved, open standard for broadcast 3D.”


Monday, June 09, 2014
Summer has become the season for training, tournaments and games for youth sports. It’s the one season where coaches can have players for large blocks of time and schedule competitive tournaments without having to work around school commitments. It’s a perfect time for everyone involved to get serious about their sport. The downside? It’s summer, and the temperatures combined with the humidity make for some dangerous conditions for young athletes. The statistics aren’t good when it comes to heatstroke injuries and death over the last decade. Heatstroke is the third biggest cause of deaths among high school athletes. We parents need to be sure that our kids play and train safely when the heat index rises.
Heat-related illness in youth players has increased 133 percent from 1997 to 2006. Young athletes account for 47.6 percent of heat-related injuries, the highest group rate. Boys are more likely to sustain these injuries. From 1997 to 2006, 31 football players died of heat-stroke injuries and 64.7 percent were either overweight or obese, a strong contributing factor in the deaths. Although the grueling training that football players go through can lead to dehydration and heat stroke, we parents shouldn’t just assume that heavy exertion is the only thing to fear. Two out of three kids arrive at practices already dehydrated. Even kids playing outside don’t take water breaks often enough and need parents to monitor and insist upon water intake. Overall, the prevention of heat-related illness and death relies on three important factors: 1) Proper hydration; 2) Early identification of heat-related conditions; 3) Proper management and treatment of symptoms.
Before practices or games even begin, players need to hydrate. Gatorade has created products that address the before, during and after of hydration needs, but in reality kids just require sufficient water intake. In the hour before practice, kids should consume proper fluids, which can include sports drinks but need only be as simple as water — drinking at minimum 4 ounces, but 8 ounces would be best. Purchasing a 16-ounce water bottle with ounce lines on the side helps us and our kids know if enough fluids are being consumed. They should be drinking on the way to practice, while the coach is talking, and have their bottle refilled as practice begins. Iced water may taste good, but can cause cramping, so mildly chilled water is a better alternative. We often think about kids losing water during exertion, but most of us can lose as much as two cups of water just being out in the sun and humid weather. Keeping the car air conditioned if possible will help reduce volume lost through normal sweating. Players who lose just 1-to-2 percent of their body weight in during exertion can suffer serious physiological function effects.
Hydration needs to be seriously considered during all practices. Water breaks need to be taken every 20 to 30 minutes. Coaches need to be sure that players replace sufficiently, so watch that kids drink. Thirst is not a good indicator of how dehydrated a child is getting. By the time we experience thirst, we are already well on our way to having serious heat-caused problems. Therefore, even if kids say they aren’t thirsty, they need to drink 4 to 8 oz. during each break. Soccer players naturally have great pride in their endurance of field play. Players go up to 45 minutes without a major break, so they develop a tough guy/gal attitude. However, during times of high heat and humidity, 45 minutes is too long to go without water. Many leagues and tournaments that play during the summer have mandated breaks after 20 to 25 minutes, which most medical personnel say is perfect. Five minutes to rehydrate and cool down can be vital to keeping players healthy on the field.
Hydration doesn’t have to be just pouring fluid down the throats of players. External hydration can be just as important. Here’s the circumstance where ice water can be their friend. Teams should keep a cooler filled with iced wet cloths that players can apply to the back of their necks, their wrists, and their temples to chill themselves down. Having some icy water to pour over their heads and necks can really help lower body temperature, which helps retain fluids. During heat-illness episodes, one of the serious complications is a sudden and severe increase in temperature of 102 to 106 degrees, which can cause seizures, brain damage and death. Ice water will quickly reduce temperatures to a safer level so should always be on hand in case of an emergency.
As important as maintaining hydration before and during exercise is replenishing after exercise. Many adults and young athletes may feel that once they finish the “heavy lifting” they are out of danger of dehydration and heat-related illness, but in fact the stresses of fluid loss and exertion can play out slowly and be just as dangerous 30 minutes to an hour after activity. Therefore, be sure that kids drink at least 8 ounces of fluid following a game and continue to drink for the rest of the day, especially with a high heat index. Most health professionals say we should be drinking half a gallon a day for normal intake. That’s equal to eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day. Another rule is to intake half your body weight in ounces per day. If you weigh 90 pounds, you’ll need a minimum of 45 ounces of water a day. Add another 32 ounces if you do strenuous exercise no matter your weight or size. You can over-hydrate, but that’s really rare so you shouldn’t worry about that. It’s more likely that players will under-hydrate.
The warning signs of heat-related illness come on rapidly and must be dealt with quickly. You need to keep in mind that thirst and dry-mouth come later in the process, so no one should wait until they experience these symptoms. The spectrum of symptoms have two tiers. In the first tier, the symptoms, once recognized and attended to, can result in a cautious return to play. In the second tier, the symptoms require removal from play and often immediate medical attention. In the first tier, muscle cramps are the first serious indication of dehydration. We often see players go down with cramps, which can usually be alleviated on the field with stretching and muscle massage. But the cause of the cramps has to be attended to as well. Players should immediately hydrate, and can usually do so while the cramps are being worked out. Coaches need to watch for flushed faces which are a major indicator of early dehydration. All players will sweat during exercise and particularly during exercise in the heat, but if that sweating continues profusely during a break after being wiped and cooled down, a player should probably sit until the sweating can be controlled. Naturally, any player complaining of thirst or dry mouth should be taken off the field for a break. Players who complain of light-headedness need to sit down and hydrate. When the symptoms progress to the second tier, things take a more serious turn. Fainting, severe dizziness, nausea and vomiting, loss of coordination, abnormally high body temperature and profuse sweating are all symptoms of second tier heat illness. Teams should have an instant thermometer available to take the player’s temperature which can climb to over 104 degrees rapidly if not cooled immediately. The shift from first tier to second tier symptoms can occur in literally a few minutes, so adults need to be watchful of anyone experiencing first tier symptoms. Players should be immediately evaluated and removed from play for the rest of the day. If symptoms persist or worsen, immediate medical care is necessary. It’s always better to err on the side of caution since a kid with second tier conditions can slip quickly into a possible dangerous and fatal medical state.
Most symptoms can be dealt with through simple interventions. Shade with trees, a tent, even an umbrella, should always be available to help a player cool down. Those water bottle fans that spray water while they rotate are actually quite effective in helping to bring temperature down. Ice water cloths and ice water splashes are important to have on hand. Potable water should always be available and used during regular breaks no more than 20 to 30 minutes apart. We stop games for lightning strikes, and we should be just as diligent to the dangers of a high heat index which measures the relationship between heat and humidity. A heat index over 90 indicates activity should be done with extreme caution, an index over 103 means there is danger, and an index over 125 means extreme danger. Experts say that indices over 103 should be considered unhealthy and people should seek cool shelter and refrain from any unnecessary activity. While humid Southern states have higher, consistent heat indices during the summer, “dry heat” states like Nevada can reach a dangerous heat index. For example a temperature of 96 with just 45% humidity qualifies as 104 heat index. Scheduling games in the early morning or early evening hours when the sun is at its lowest point and temperatures are cooler helps alleviate some of the danger. If a club is running a camp, having lunch and indoor chalk board work during the hottest time of day can insure some safety from heat exhaustion and stroke for campers. Coaches should be responsible for keeping track of the heat index, making sure all players are taking appropriate breaks with water and shade, having players remove all unnecessary equipment, and monitoring players’ exercise so that those with less conditioning don’t overdo it. Players should wear light-colored, loose-fitting clothing that can easily allow for evaporation and have water with them at all times. Changing sweaty clothing can be helpful as well.
Studies have shown that flavored waters are consumed more readily and at greater volume than plain water, hence the popularity of sports drinks. But many of these have high sugar content that can actually end up upsetting the stomach, leaching water into the bowels, and causing diarrhea. Therefore parents might want to consider using the flavoring drops from MiO, Dasani and Crystal Light. These contain no sugars, require just a few drops per 16 ounces, and provide a great variety of flavors that kids enjoy. Putting 1/4 teaspoon of salt in 16 ounces of water actually provides the same electrolyte replacement that sports drinks offer at lower cost and without the sugar. The amount of potassium sports drinks provide is negligible. Avocado, bananas, and many citrus fruits can serve as great potassium sources. Whatever we parents can do to insure that our kids drink enough on hot, humid days we should.
Coaches, parents, and players need to take heat seriously rather than just a hardship to be stoically borne. Heat-illness can be dangerous, even deadly, so we need to be watchful for its appearance and diligent in its treatment. It’s better to err to the side of over-caution, than to let symptoms become so serious that they can’t be easily treated. Heat-induced problems come on and progress quickly, often not allowing for time to “wait and see.” Children who take any diuretic medications, have heart arrhythmias, or have any acute medical conditions such as a cold or the flu should either proceed cautiously or not at all when the heat index is above 80. As parents, we can’t be shy about insisting on appropriate water and shade breaks, and we need to be sure our kids have water available at all times. Any child exhibiting serious symptoms of heat-illnesses should be immediately removed from activity, cooled down and hydrated. If the child is disoriented, vomiting, complaining of headaches, or unusually flushed he or she should probably be taken for a medical evaluation or at a minimum placed in an air condition environment and observed. Heat-related deaths are on the rise in the general population and among athletes in particular. When we complain that it’s hot, we need to remember that our active kids, whether at practice or just out in the backyard, can be seriously affected by the heat.


Matthew Blunderfield is a photographer and host of the podcast Scaffold.
He teaches architecture at the Royal College of Art, and is a producer at The Architecture Foundation.
Matthew’s photography has been published in the Architect’s Journal, Superposition Magazine and the Architectural Review, and has recently featured in At Home in London: The Mansion Block, a book-length study co-published by the Architecture Foundation and MACK.
Scaffold is an ongoing interview project that maps the shifting contours of contemporary architecture. The project began independately in 2018, and became a part of the Architecture Foundation’s audio programme in 2021. With over 90 conversations recorded to date, it features emerging and established voices in the fields of architecture, art and design, and has been celebrated by Dezeen as one of the “best pieces of new architectural media.”
At the RCA Matthew teaches an M.Arch design studio with Cathy Hawley focused on the adaptive reuse of buildings and urban surfaces, with an interest in establishing new frameworks of pleasure and comfort in the context of climate breakdown. He has previously taught undergraduate and masters studios at the Kingston School of Art.
Born and raised in Vancouver, Matthew studied English Literature at the University of British Columbia and Architecture at the University of Toronto, before completing his RIBA Part III qualification from the Bartlett, UCL. He lives in London.
email: m.blndrfld (@) gmail.com


Thanks for stopping by Adam Lindstrom Photography.
Years ago, I thought photography would simply be a hobby, documenting travels, sharing them with friends and family. But, an untamed desire to pursue photography did not dissipate as the years passed. In fact, my passion for it grew - the challenge never ends - the challenge to create an image that tells a story. This keeps me constantly inspired.
I’ve recently discovered many of these images from my own story, and generations before me. And everyone should have their moments preserved. My promise is to provide you with those images for you and your family - for you to look at one day, and have all of those memories come rushing back to you as if you were in it that very moment.
© Adam Lindstrom Photography


By Israel (Izzy) Tapoohi
President & CEO
The success of the Israel Bonds international delegation to Paris and Israel, held September 7 – 14, can be measured by the fact that Israel’s foremost leaders – President Rivlin, Prime Minister Netanyahu, Finance Minister Lapid and Defense Minister Ya’alon – all arranged their schedules specifically to meet with us. The meetings underscored the continued close connection between the highest levels of Israel’s government and the Bonds organization.
Delegates took pride in the words of President Rivlin, who praised our organization’s “unique role in the growth of Israel and its transformation from an agricultural country to a modern global economy.”
Moreover, Prime Minister Netanyahu thanked the Bonds delegation for “your vote of confidence in our country (and) for your support, the backing you provide, and your acts of goodwill.” The prime minister stressed the importance of maintaining a strong economy in light of geopolitical events.
Finance Minister Lapid highlighted our organization’s close ties with Israel, declaring, “These are times when we need our family more than ever, and you are family.”
The confidence Israel’s top echelon expressed in the Bonds enterprise will be our impetus as we move into the final quarter of the 2014 sales effort. Israel faces economic challenge in the aftermath of Operation Protective Edge, and we must ensure the continued flow of capital through the sale of Israel bonds. This includes not only increasing the number of bonds sold, but increasing the number of investors as well.
I hope you will join with us as we look to strengthen Israel’s economy and show determined support during these uncertain times.


Kiran, Gianmarco, Aris and I attended the Web Conference in Lyon last week, where we presented our tutorial (link) on polarization on social media, as well as our recent, large-scale study on echo chamber on Twitter (link).
The tutorial was a particularly good opportunity to present a large number of works from the related literature of various disciplines and discuss with the audience. Part of the discussion was reported on Lemonde by William Audureau, who covered the conference for the newspaper.
Link to the Le Monde article: here (in French).
Link to tutorial material: here.
Link to Aalto press release: here.
Link to University of Helsinki‘s post: here.


EROSS PUBLIC WEBINAR SERIES - SEMESTER 2 - 2022/23
Wednesday January 25th, 2023
Decaying Dicks and Putrid Pussies: Zombie Sex Toys and Pleasure
Dr Caroline West, University of Galway (Ireland)
The zombie is generally asexual in mainstream depictions, with the rare exception of zombie porn. However, recently there has been a steady a rise in the popularity of zombie sex toys. These sex toys proclaim to resemble ‘realistic’ zombie genitalia and receive reviews such as this intriguing example: ‘for those of you out there with secret zombie sex fantasies, this is for you! Finally, a zombie cock that won’t rot and fall off’. This presentation will look at the phenomenon of these toys and how they fit into explorations of abject sexuality, where disgust is a turn on instead of a turn off. If decay is a selling point instead of a disgust elicitor, how does this impact our comprehension of sex and our understanding of necrophilia? When pustules and rotting testicles are the selling points of dildos, and grey, rotting flesh is used as the skin tone for vagina replicas, what does this say about the nature of taboo sex? This presentation will explore this intersection of horror and pleasure, and asks how the sexualised zombie can contribute to our understanding of zombiism, necrophilia, and desire.
Zombiism interrogates borders that are geo-political or economical, but we cannot build a complete theory of zombiism without looking at sexual borders and how the zombie sex toy challenges notions of sexual pleasure, masturbation, and fear. This presentation situates sex firmly within zombie semiotics and explore what this transgressive sexual activity means for zombie studies.
Dr. Caroline West is an outreach coordinator with Active* Consent, based at NUI Galway, Ireland. She completed her PhD at Dublin City University on the experiences of women working in the American pornography industry in 2020. This thesis also looked at fan interactions, stigma, violence, and feminist discourses on pornography. Additionally, she holds an MA in Sexuality Studies. Caroline is the host of the Glow West podcast which focuses on sexual wellness, and is a relationship columnist with the Irish Independent. She is also the sex and relationship expert for Bumble Ireland. Caroline has been a media commentator about consent, pornography, feminism, and sexual wellness since 2016.
Wednesday February 1st, 2023 *
Archives and the Afterlives of Citizenship: A Case Study
Aaron Benedetti, University of California, Davis (USA)
(* this event will take place at 15h00 Irish Time)
Diana Wakimoto defines grassroots counterarchives as recordkeeping organizations that are managed by the same groups whose histories these organizations seek to preserve. These counterarchives exist in contrast to institutional archives, which are managed by the state and its bureaucracies. In this talk, I consider the relationship of queer and trans counterarchives to those slippery, contestable, deeply inconsistent concepts of “community” and “citizenship” by way of a case study of the Lavender Library, Archives, and Cultural Exchange (LLACE) in Sacramento, California, USA. I draw on my experiences as a volunteer at LLACE since late 2019 and as organizer of an oral history project at LLACE since summer 2022. LLACE is an example of a grassroots counterarchive: it is volunteer-managed and donation-supported, and it provides and preserves textual and video materials for a primarily queer and trans population of local patrons. LLACE’s circulation materials include many texts that state-funded libraries would tag as obscene (for example, pornography) or too specialized for “general” circulation (for example, self-published writing by local queer/trans writers). In the neoliberal world of nonprofit fundraising, LLACE advertises itself as a local resource and supportive space for queer and trans people, especially for queer and trans people of color and Black and indigenous queer and trans people. In many ways, this is true, since LLACE is one of very few non-state-administered spaces through which people can move without the need for payment. But LLACE also relies on appeals to neoliberal notions of diversity and identity, some of which contribute to the marginalization and disenfranchisement of those very populations LLACE intends to serve. As such, the accessibility of LLACE’s resources is paradoxically conditioned on the organization’s capacity to reproduce parts of the political and economic logic that undermines American notions of citizenship and political community. LLACE’s capacity to frame itself as a “good” nonprofit organization allows the library to steal resources from an economy that is increasingly inhospitable to racialized queer and trans populations; simultaneously, LLACE’s reproduction of neoliberal rhetorics of identity also reshapes the library’s relation to its “own” community and constituents. I interpret my experiences as a volunteer in conjunction with certain oral history interviews to understand how donors, patrons, volunteers, and other locals narrate their relationship to the library, its materials, its history, and its activities “in the community.” What are the commitments and detachments that sustain or compel volunteers in their ongoing labor at LLACE? In what ways are patrons and donors committed to and detached from LLACE’s mission and materials? I argue that close attention to this grassroots counterarchive provides insight into American neoliberalisms, minoritized gender and sexual “community,” and the distinct constellation of attachments and detachments that mark, to borrow a phrase from Eva Cherniavsky, the afterlives of American citizenship.
Aaron Benedetti (he/him) is a doctoral candidate in cultural studies with an emphasis in feminist theory and research at the University of California, Davis (USA). His dissertation explores the political currency of archives in contemporary US queer communities by placing feminist information studies and critical archival studies in conversation with American studies, queer politics and history, and theories of temporality. At UC Davis, he works alternately as an instructor and teaching assistant in the Departments of English, American Studies, and Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies.
Wednesday February 8th, 2023
Interview: My Name is Philippa (Mercier Press, 2021)
Philippa Ryder, author (Ireland)
This webinar will consist in an interview of Philippa Ryder on her debut memoir My Name is Philippa (Mercier Press, 2021). Philippa Ryder, a feminist, LGBTQ+ activist, career civil servant, COO of Under The Rainbow and inspiring Trans woman, has spent 20 plus years working in the field for the LGBTQ+ community, working with TENI (Transgender Equality Network Ireland) in their early days and acting as a committee member for TGEU (Transgender Europe).
Wednesday February 15th, 2023 *
Porn Panic Politics in Canada: The Return of the Sex Crisis
Dr Rebecca Sullivan, The University of Calgary (Canada)
(* this event will take place at 15h00 Irish Time)
In 1992, feminist activist and journalist Susan Cole released Pornography and the Sex Crisis in Canada. It charted a decade or so of hotly contested porn debates between competing feminist organizations across the country and related public policy responses. At the time, the focus was on sexually explicit media and the overbearing provincial censor boards that were powerful at the time. Commercialized sexual services remained largely criminalized, although closely linked in the public discourse. A Parliamentary Committee on Pornography and Prostitution was formulated in 1983 (The Fraser Committee), followed one year later by the Committee on Sexual Offences Against Children and Youth (The Badgley Committee).
Also during the eighties, police assaults on queer public spaces precipitated protests and a growing alliance between queer, trans, and sex worker populations. Feminist groups were largely (but certainly not completely) absent from this movement, more invested in what they considered the twinned issues of sexually explicit media and sexual violence against women. By the mid-nineties, the sex crisis sputtered to an end, as policing consensual sexual acts could no longer rely on moralizing sex panics to justify their abuses. However, the threat of resumption hung overhead the country as the legal and regulatory frameworks remained largely in place but unenforced.
By the 2010s, the storm clouds of sex panic gathered again. After a landmark Supreme Court ruling against all prostitution laws, the ruling Conservative government introduced even more draconian measures to prevent consensual adult sex work in 2014. In 2016, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health held hearings to promote the scientifically baseless claim that “online violent and degrading sexually explicit material” was a public health crisis. In the midst of the COVID pandemic the same MP who instigated these hearings now called for an investigation by the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics on “Ensuring the Protection of Privacy and Reputation on Platforms such as Pornhub.” He also introduced Bill C-302, “An Act to amend the Criminal Code (pornographic material)” to make acts that were already illegal even more illegal because porn.
Why are we back here in the throes of moralizing sex panics, consuming public resources to support political overreach which, as the Supreme Court has already ruled multiple times, violate the Charter rights of Canadians? How have alliances shifted over the decades to bring feminist activists into the fold of sexual rights activism, and advanced sex worker advocacy to the centre of the movement? Utilizing the responsibilization framework I developed for my analysis of Canada’s crisis approach to reproductive politics, I consider the return of the sex crisis through the lens of bodily autonomy, sexual citizenship, and the politicization of public health.
Dr. Rebecca Sullivan is a professor at the University of Calgary, specializing in feminist media and cultural studies. She is the (co-)author/editor of eight books including Becoming Biosubjects: Bodies. Systems. Technologies (2011); Bonnie Sherr Klein’s Not a Love Story: A Film About Pornography (2014); and Pornography: Stuctures, Agency and Performance (2015), and a member of the Editorial Board for the Journal of Porn Studies. Dr. Sullivan is past president of the Canadian Communication Association and past Chair of the Sexuality Studies Association. She is currently working on The Legacy of Studio D for Feminist Media Arts Activism, funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Insight Grant Program.
Wednesday February 22nd, 2023
'You know what it is? They never felt these fabrics before.': Black Masculinity, Hybridity
Dr Ashley Morgan, Cardiff Metropolitan University (UK)
This presentation explores hybrid dress and embodiment of SoundCloud Rappers. SoundCloud rappers wear clothes usually associated with hybrid masculinity, such as fluffy pink hoodies, silk scarves and frilly shirts. In contrast, rappers usually embody an idealized heteronormative masculinity, played out through manly affect, which is often expressed through baggy sports clothing and oversized gold jewellery. Despite black masculinity being historically defined through stylish, interesting and ostentatious clothes, these looks have been rejected by traditional rappers for fear of the feminization of the male body through hybrid masculinity. The transformation in cultural production through participatory culture, allowing for different male identities to be expressed, has had little impact on black masculinity in hip hop. Using the concept of the dandy, this article examines the ways in which certain SoundCloud rappers embraced ostentation and hybridity in clothing, despite a significant backlash from their peers. Arguably, SoundCloud rappers have pushed the boundaries of clothing for a new generation of queer Black rappers, such as Youngthug, and Lil Nas X, arguably, paving the way for looks which are ‘beyond belief’.
Dr Ashley Morgan is a senior lecturer at Cardiff Metropolitan University. She has published on male geek identity, sexual asceticism as a viable form of male sexual behaviour and the presence of mediated toxic masculinity. She is especially interested in the intersections between masculine identity and clothing and has published on hybrid masculinity, men in skirts and the relationship between hegemonic masculinity and men’s suits. Her forthcoming research includes depressed affect and men's clothing, Punk, Running and Ageing, Punk as a form of Collective Practice and qualitative research with Dr Mo Malik on Male Pattern Baldness. She is an award-winning running punk.
Wednesday March 8th, 2023
Mapping Transnormativity: Body Mapping as Method
Matt Kennedy, University College Dublin (Ireland)
Body mapping is an arts-based research method ideal for studying the intersections of contextual factors that influence experiences of embodiment and in the case of this research project visually depict lived experiences of transition. There is increased interest in knowledge generated through trans people’s embodied experience and its relevance to understanding stigma, discrimination and subjectivity as examined through qualitative methods, primarily interviews. Such complex experiences cannot be fully conveyed via textual data alone, and visual methodologies yield critical, engaging and reflexive media for researchers and participants to generate evidence that other methods cannot. This project on transnormativity and the everyday lifeworlds of young trans men in Ireland used body mapping to generate visual and textual data to capture trans men’s embodied experiences to understand transnormativity as an ideology alongside interviews and focus groups. The production of body maps in this project enabled participants to express and symbolise emotions and represent stories about their experiences of the world, their lives, and their bodies via visual representation, producing an image depicting embodied experience at the intersection of multiple forms of marginalisation. This presentation will bring members of the session through the planning, delivery and outcomes of the body mapping workshops in order to explore the contributions of body mapping as a method to this specific research project and its significance in visually capturing the nuances of transness and transition. In addition, this presentation will demonstrate the capacity for body maps to communicate research findings and the significance of arts-based methods in participatory research.
Matt Kennedy (he/him) is an Irish Research Council Scholar and doctoral candidate in the area of trans studies in the School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice at University College Dublin, a writer and a boxer. He is currently employed in Belong To, Ireland’s National LGBTQ+ youth organisation as the policy and research officer as well as completing his PhD on transnormativity. His research areas and interests include trans studies, queer studies, autoethnography, disciplinarity, abolition, feminist theory, gender studies, archival studies, youth studies, sport and masculinities. His writing can be found in The Bulletin of Applied Transgender Studies, Irish University Review and Fruit Journal.
Wednesday March 15th, 2023
The Queer Home on Celluloid: Greek Cinema and the Public/Private Boundary
Dr Phevos Kallitsis, University of Portsmouth (UK)
The paper aims to discuss through content analysis of the films that constitute the New Greek Queer cinema of the 90s the residential home as an important site for ‘queer politics’ of identity, based on the way it manages the public/private boundary. Taking inspiration from the rise of the New Queer cinema as defined by Rich (1992, 2013), a group of Greek auteurs, many of them after studying and working abroad, brought forward the queer subject in a rather conservative society, aiming simultaneously to move forward from the depressing cursed gay man, the dangerous margin and the historical perspective. In the mid-90s, Greek filmmakers deal with contemporary issues, raise issues of class, immigration and alternative identities, and make references to global trends, while, at the same time, placing their main characters in the contemporary Greek urban and rural space. National cinematic productions provide a reflection of social issues, regardless of the aims of the creators and this paper aims to focus on the development of a queer identity in a country, which always dreamed of belonging to the west, despite its clear geographical position within and cultural links to the east. The paper studies the way the private space of gay, lesbian and trans characters is presented and maps how these representations reveal the way the public/private boundary is managed and creates relationships with the world. These representations reveal stereotypes and cultural assumptions, while at the same time bring those subjects to the attentions of the public.
Dr Phevos Kallitsis is an architect (National Technical University of Athens) and Senior Lecturer at the University of Portsmouth. He teaches architecture and interior design. His research focuses on cinematic representation and urban spaces. His publications have explored horror films and the notion of safety in the city, gendered and queer approaches on urban space and the meaning of home for people with dementia. He has worked as an architect, cinema critic and set designer for theatre productions and TV.
Wednesday 22nd March 2023
“She is incapable of leaving” – Perceiving Consent, Vulnerability, and Strategy in ‘Battered’ and ‘Prostituted’ Women
Victoria Holt, University of Roehampton London, England
Over the years, understandings of domestic abuse and sex work have altered the words we call on to define it. The phrase ‘battered woman’ was premised on notions of learned helplessness, a psychological condition where women perceived their circumstances as unchangeable and therefore tolerated the abuse. But now we know that women in abusive or violent relationships do have agency and regularly show resistance – at times violent, but often not. Regardless of how resistance manifests, ultimately resistance is a survival strategy for those living with violence, and this includes, at times, strategic passivity and placation. For many women, leaving an abusive partner may increase their risk of femicide, meaning that it is often safest for them to stay: staying then, is an act of resistance to keep themselves alive. Battered woman as a term, is thus no longer appropriate. But why then, is the term prostituted woman acceptable to the same feminists who acknowledge the agency of abuse survivors? Their argument is that sex worker implies that having sex for money is a job, with freely given consent, and they argue that for those who are trafficked or pimped this term is inappropriate. Prostituted woman is far more apt because they are being prostituted. Staying in an abusive relationship may mean living with violence and degradation, but leaving comes with its own risks. It’s no different in the sex industry where continuing sex working is a reflection of limited livelihood options and scarce economic resources. Many of the participants in this paper utilised sex work as resistance against abuse, against poverty, and as a strategy against further risk of harm.
Using the term ‘prostituted woman’ to highlight harm being done undermines the agency that women show when they exercise self-determination, capacity and awareness of income generation for survival. This is especially the case for migrant or coerced sex workers as it forgets the whole social, economic and political context which renders someone vulnerable in the first place. Drawing on data from my PhD research, this presentation will show how agency, strategy, and resistance are present, even in cases of coercive, abusive or trafficked sex workers, if actually, they are strategically working in a way to minimize harm to themselves and others. Simply because they are not actively exiting does not mean that they are consenting to sex work any more than a woman is consenting to being abused simply because she is not moving out. Based on findings from qualitative interviews with sex workers who experienced domestic abuse, I show how, when dominant voices refer to women as prostituted, they are constructed as ‘vulnerable’, and this justifies a range of coercive consequences as shown in my analysis, such as others disciplining them, using stigmatising labelling or even intrusive and destabilising rescue missions.
Victoria Holt is a PhD scholar at the University of Roehampton, and a research assistant at the University of Sheffield, with experience working in frontline women’s services. Her thesis explores sex workers’ experiences of domestic and familial abuse, and she is especially interested in constructions of identity and vulnerability, maternal bonds and knowledge production, as well as abolitionist and community based interventions and support. As a research assistant she is working with Dr Laura Connelly on a project titled 'Equality and Inclusion: Promoting responsible academic engagement with sex workers.' This project aims to explore how academics can operate in a more ethical and responsible way with sex workers, from the perspective of sex workers. It is a project that is informed by a ‘scholar-activist’ approach: an approach orientated around how academics can best work in service to the communities in which they research. Her wider research is focused more broadly on queer intimate partner violence, family violence, the sex industry, feminism, carceralism and police perpetrated violence. She is co-convener of the British Sociological Association’s Violence Against Women and Girls Study Group and she sits on the board for the Sex Work Research Hub. Her work has been published in The Lancet, International Journal of Gender, Sexuality and Law as well as mainstream publications such as The Independent, The Quietus and Novara Media. Her interests are reflected in the activism work she does away from her thesis. She works closely with the Sex Worker Advocacy and Resistance Movement (SWARM), Decrim Now and The English Collective of Prostitutes.
Wednesday March 29th, 2023
Subverting Space and Time in Queer Collage
Emilio Williams, Georgia State University (USA)
This research in progress positions gay collage as weapon to queer heteronormative notions of space and time. Since at least the 1920’s, North Atlantic men who loved other men juxtaposed images to represent and re-imagine queer locations and chronologies. Visuals from highly-gendered male and female magazines and ads leapfrogged from popular press to scrapbook collections to vernacular, pioneering forms of postmodernist/pop collage.
The survey ranges from the interwar period to the mid 50’s, including surviving relics from the Harlem Renaissance, never before published work by outsider artists, photograph by key gay photographers in American popular magazines, as well as examples from the private work of artists such Cecil Beaton and Jess. The presentation makes new connections between how queer collage, photography and photomontage cross-pollinated in motifs and composition in the aftermath of modernism. Riffing on theories of the ridiculous, by Stefan Brecht and Charles Ludlam, these queer works deploy a stance pregnant with humorous and critical connotations. They also toy with “queer goading,” a rebellious stance of doubling down in sexual and/or gender performative excesses. Some of the queer discourses deployed in these early vernacular collages endured the golden age of pop art, the AIDS crisis, and continue to live, well and fine, in the work of contemporary queer collage artists.
Emilio Williams is a bilingual (Spanish/English) award-winning writer and educator. His critically acclaimed plays have been produced in Argentina, Estonia, France, Mexico, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States. His experimental prose has appeared most recently in Brevity Magazine, Writing Disorder, Hinterland Magazine, Imagined Theatres, and the anthology Beyond Queer Words 2021. Emilio has lectured around the world, and taught at several U.S. universities, including DePaul University, Columbia College Chicago, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and Georgia State University. He holds a BA in Film and Video and an MFA in Writing. His research interest involves how to queer the form in which new knowledge is developed and shared.
Wednesday April 5th, 2023 *
The Fiction of Power: Mobilized Dissident Identities Revealing Sexual Neoliberal Urban Fantasies in Quito - Ecuador and Beyond
Ignacio Espinosa, Universidad Internacional del Ecuador (Ecuador)
(* this event will take place at 12h00 pm Irish Time)
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted and reinforced existing urban inequities. Many of these inequities have been presented by local and national governments as “inevitable” realities, justified by “realistic” public policies that respond to urban imaginaries, including: 1) “the pedestrian” and his mobility; 2) the #StayAtHome imperative and single-family housing; and 3) cleanliness and health. At the same time, citizens’ demands for their collective rights have been catalogued as unrealistic fantasies and rejected by state, economic, and media powers. This text explores some of the urban imaginaries that the Quito municipal government and the national Ecuadorian government have presented as reality in order to apply their “realistic” measures during the quarantine and isolation. Thanks to the protests and resistance of sexual dissidents, many fantasies and fictions that shore up the current urban-economic model, presented to us as “rational” and “sensible,” have come to light.
During the quarantine, certain limitations of the municipal urban imaginary of “the pedestrian” were confirmed. Pedestrian crossing signs reflect that “the pedestrian” is imagined as “neutral”—a facile representation of a man on foot (Fig. 1), ignoring the differentiated mobilities of female or feminized pedestrians. Similarly, in an ableist (or disabling) urban model (Fernández, 2018) such as ours, depicting this imaginary “pedestrian” ignores the reality of pedestrian mobility with objects like wheelchairs or canes; it excludes mobility with objects related to jobs as caretakers and domestic workers, such as baby strollers or shopping bags from the supermarket (Jirón, 2018; Soto, 2018).
Whereas in Quito new measures called “peak and plate” were applied to restrict automobility in accordance with the vehicle’s license plate number, in Bogotá, “peak and gender” was enacted. It is useful to look at the cases of other nearby Andean capitals to deepen learning processes. “Peak and gender” (Alcaldía de Bogotá, 2020) was based on the fictitious imaginary that if pedestrians are not men, they must be women.
#StayAtHome and single-family housing
As with the concept of “the pedestrian,” the #StayAtHome imaginary promoted by local and national governments was also fictitiously conceptualized as being “universal,” clearly based on realities of cities in the Global North, where the COVID-19 pandemic arrived earlier. In the first place, “staying” at home is a fictitious assumption. Just as the ease, speed, and comfort of mobility are privileges not granted to everyone, depending on their economic class, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, immigration status or nationality, age, functional diversity, among others, the decision not to move/ go out is also a privilege (Crosswell, 2010).
A second myth of the city’s #StayAtHome measure relates to architectonic and urban typologies. Both the national and municipal governments positioned an urban imaginary of “home” (Figs. 2 and 3) based on a spacious suburban home located low-density population areas, with a lawn outside and all the basic services.
A third fiction of the city’s #StayAtHome measure is the urban imaginary of housing as being single-family and a unitary indicator of “the family” (Figs. 3 and 4).
Another urban imaginary promoted by the Municipality of Quito and the national government during the quarantine concerns cleanliness and health. The message was to wash your hands continuously to avoid the spread of the COVID-19 virus and protect your health (Figs. 5 and 6). Nevertheless, this message presented neutrally as obvious and rational is in reality fictitious in some neighborhoods, for example Rancho los Pinos in the south of Quito, which does not have an adequate potable water system (El Comercio, 2020). How do you take your HIV pill and wash our hands without water at home?
During the pandemic, another kind of cleanliness was intensified—social cleanliness. Urban sanitizing for the sake of tourism (Andrade, 2006) was in place before the pandemic, especially in areas like La Mariscal and Centro Histórico, where police frequently controls, chases down, and expels people catalogued as “unacceptable,” “suspicious,” or “pathologized.”
Several trans persons and sex workers organized themselves collectively through the Puente Solidario (Solidarity Bridge), an initiative of the Transgender Project (Almeida, 2020), to demand aid and support from the Pichincha Province government. They also successfully self-organized donations from citizens to be able to distribute food kits among their networks and neighborhoods. Some cis-heterosexual neighbors were able to see, with surprise, that through community organization it was possible to demand rights.
Ignacio Espinosa / Iggi, is a marica activist, artist and professor from Quito - Ecuador. He has a B.F.A. in Architecture from the Savannah College of Art and Design and a MSc in Urban Development Planning from The Bartlett - UCL. Ignacio has studied and worked on the issue of sexuality and the intersectional Right to the City. He is currently a professor in the architecture and urbanism faculty at Universidad Internacional del Ecuador, where he teaches an Urban Planning and Design Workshop, a posthumanist landscape course, and a class on Intersecting the Right to the City and Spatial Justice. The latter focuses on Marxist, decolonial, feminist, “queer” and posthumanist approaches to urbanism in Ecuadorian and South American urban spatial production. Ignacio militates in a local marica collective and co-founded SinVergüenza, a night-time marica space in Quito - Ecuador.


The Biden administration announced on Thursday that it had finalized a new regulation that curbs the use of short-term health insurance plans that do not comply with the Affordable Care Act, reversing a move by the Trump administration to give consumers more access to cheaper but skimpier plans.
Under the new rule, the short-term plans will be able to last for only 90 days, with an option for a one-month extension.
In 2018, the Trump administration issued a rule allowing the plans to last for just under a year, with the option of renewing them for a total duration of up to three years. Previously, under an Obama-era policy, the plans were required to last for less than three months.
The plans, often with lower premiums than those found on the Affordable Care Act’s marketplaces, do not have to cover people with pre-existing conditions. They are also free from the health law’s requirement that plans offer a minimum set of benefits, like prescription drug coverage and maternity care.
Democrats deride the so-called short-term, limited-duration plans as “junk” insurance, and the Obama-era policy was meant to ensure that healthy consumers could not use that option to sidestep the Affordable Care Act’s marketplaces, leaving a sicker pool of customers enrolling in the comprehensive plans offered under the health law.
The White House cast the new rule as a way to fortify the marketplaces. In a briefing with reporters on Wednesday, Neera Tanden, President Biden’s domestic policy adviser, said that 45 million Americans were now covered through the marketplaces or the expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. More than 20 million people signed up for plans on the marketplaces during the most recent open enrollment period.
“President Biden is not taking his foot off the gas,” Ms. Tanden said.
Supporters of the short-term plans have said that the less expensive options are well suited for people who are unable to afford a marketplace plan. Brian Blase, who worked on the 2018 rule as a White House official under President Donald J. Trump, said the plans were also ideal for contract and self-employed workers, including those with incomes too high to qualify for more generous subsidies on the Affordable Care Act’s marketplaces.
Mr. Blase said the new rule could cause insurers offering marketplace plans to face less competition. Sick consumers buying a three-month plan could also lose coverage without a better immediate option, he added.
“Nobody benefits,” he said.
But critics of the short-term plans have warned that insurers can mislead consumers who enroll in them, including people who might be eligible for free coverage through the marketplaces. The new regulation requires insurers to provide a disclaimer explaining what the short-term plans cover.
In its announcement on Thursday, the White House cited a man in Montana who accumulated over $40,000 in health costs because his cancer was considered a pre-existing condition, and a woman in Pennsylvania who underwent an amputation and received roughly $20,000 in bills that her plan would not cover.
Sabrina Corlette, a research professor at Georgetown University’s Center on Health Insurance Reforms, said the plans often showed up prominently when consumers searched online for health insurance, with deceptive advertising.
“Often the marketing materials say they cover hospitalizations and prescription drugs,” she said. “To the average consumer it looks like a real health insurance plan.”
Georgetown researchers last year conducted a so-called secret shopper study, calling 20 sales representatives to ask about health plans for people who had lost Medicaid coverage and were eligible for free marketplace plans. They found that none of the representatives mentioned the availability of the free plans. The brokers often used aggressive and misleading tactics to sell short-term plans without providing written plan information, the researchers found.
Ms. Corlette said that brokers typically received higher commissions for selling short-term plans than they did for more comprehensive options.
As a consumer, she said, “you have to be so savvy and careful.”
After the Trump administration issued its rule in 2018, some states moved on their own to limit the sale of short-term plans. Democratic lawmakers urged the Biden administration to reverse the regulation, and the administration issued a proposed rule to do so last summer.


2021 Buy to Let Tax Rule Changes Landlords Need to Know
Do you own – or are you considering investing in – a buy to let property?
In 2021, there are several new buy-to-let tax changes that landlords should be aware of. Some of them are minor, while others may have you rethinking your plans, especially if you haven’t made an investment yet.
Here’s a rundown of what’s been announced – and what to look out for this year – from buy-to-let tax relief to regulatory changes outside of tax.
Buy to Let Mortgages and Tax Relief
Not exactly new, but 2021 is the first full year in which you won’t be able to deduct mortgage interest from rental income. Landlords, will instead get a 20% tax credit on mortgage interest payments.
Landlords used to be able to deduct mortgage interest payments from rental income, but the government announced in 2015 that this would be phased out.
In 2017-18, the amount of tax relief you can claim was reduced to 75%. Then it dropped to only 25% in 2019-20. It’s completely vanished now.
This has been replaced by a 20% tax credit, which isn’t as beneficial for higher-rate and additional-rate taxpayers.
To help mitigate the effect of the new rules, an increasing number of landlords are forming a limited liability company (LLC) when purchasing a new rental property. This is because, rather than the higher individual income tax rates, you will be subject to Corporation Tax rates of 19%.
According to research from estate agent Hamptons, a total of 41,700 new buy-to-let limited companies were formed in 2020, up 23% from 2019. So, should you decide to do so, you’ll be far from alone!
Buy to Let Tax Rates in 2021
For 2020-21, the government increased the capital gains tax exemption. It increased in value from £12,000 to £12,300.
As a result, if you sell a second property, you can earn more money tax-free. However, landlords pay a higher capital gains tax rate: 18% for basic-rate taxpayers and 28% for higher and additional-rate taxpayers.
Capital Gains Tax and Buy to Let Properties
Following a review of the system, a Capital Gains Tax freeze could result in a higher tax burden for landlords when it comes time to sell a property.
The Office for Tax Simplification had previously recommended that the Capital Gains Tax on property be overhauled, which would include lowering the capital gains tax-free allowance and raising capital gains tax to match income tax rates.
While this hasn’t happened yet, it’s something to keep an eye on once the pandemic chaos has passed.
Restricted Private Residence Relief
Since the rules changed in April 2020, this (2021) is the first full year that Private Residence Relief has been restricted.
Private Residence Relief was previously available if you lived in your property before renting it out to tenants. This meant you wouldn’t have to pay any Capital Gains Tax for the time you lived there, plus an additional 18 months after you left. However, under the new rules, this time limit has been reduced to nine months.
Furthermore, the £40,000 lettings relief (which you can get if you rent out a home that was previously your primary residence) will only apply to landlords who share an occupancy with their tenants.
2021 Buy to Let Income Tax Rates
So, what are the rates and bands for individual income tax in 2020-21? The amount you can earn before you have to pay income tax is known as your personal allowance. This is currently £12,500, which is the same as last year.
Last year, the higher rate threshold for rental income was raised to £50,000, at which point you begin paying the higher rate of tax (40%) on your profits. The threshold for the additional rate (45%) remains at £150,000.
The End of the Stamp Duty Holiday
The stamp duty holiday was supposed to end on March 30th, but it was extended until June 30th, 2021.
This will then taper off until the end of September, only applying to the first £250,000.
Home buyers in England and Northern Ireland haven’t had to pay stamp duty on the first £500,000 of their property since July 2020, saving them up to £15,000 on properties at the top end of the threshold.
Landlords and second-home buyers benefited from the suspension as well, but they still had to pay the 3% investor stamp duty surcharge under the old rules.
Furthermore, new HMRC data shows that the housing market is doing well, with a 48.5 percent increase in residential transactions in February 2021 compared to the previous year.
Keep in mind that these rules change often. There are a number of proposals on hold that may affect the buy to let property niche, but as COVID-19 recedes you can expect that they will be revisited and implemented over the next year. That’s why however many buy to let properties you own, it will pay to have an accountant on your side, who can keep up with these changes for you.
It’s just as important to consult with one before you invest in a buy to let, as in addition to helping make sure you get the financial side of things right we can also help you ensure you are getting the most from your property. For example, those buying in an area that could be considered a holiday spot may want to consider a holiday let set up instead, which can, in some cases, be more beneficial from a tax and finances point of view.
Want to learn more? Contact us today.


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Rotary has been operating the Shoebox Scheme for 25 years and have delivered more than 1 million boxes to communities in need, across Eastern Europe.
This Christmas, boxes will be sent and distributed across Ukraine, Moldova and Romania to communities and families in need.
The relationship between McLeods, Meldrum and the Rotary Club came about due to a family connection.
McLeods employee, Kirsty Robertson’s father, Jimmy, is a long-standing member of The Rotary Club of Perth.
Jimmy originally gave Kirsty three boxes and asked if she would be able to fill them through friends and colleagues at work.
McLeods and Meldrum took this on as a personal challenge and we asked all of our team to donate items for the shoeboxes. In total 30 shoeboxes were filled to the brim with toys, clothes and household items.
Jimmy Robertson said, “I’m just so chuffed that it’s been such a success. I never expected to receive anything like this. It’s way beyond my expectations and it’s a real credit to all the staff at McLeods & Meldrum”.
The Rotary Club of Perth, President, Gordon Hay also welcomed the generous donation with open arms, “A big thanks to all the staff – tremendous effort, absolutely exceptional – it will do a power of good in Eastern Europe”.
Club President, Gordon continued, “Donations this year are even more important than usual. Due to the COVID outbreak less people have been able to donate in person in shops or to the club directly, so donations are even more appreciated this year”.
Derek Petterson, CEO of McLeods & Meldrum concluded, “We are absolutely delighted to take part in this year’s Shoebox Appeal and we know just how important all of our donations will be to families and communities across Eastern Europe, especially at this Festive time of year. I am very proud of our team for coming together and producing such a fantastic effort”.
Picture from left to right: Jimmy Robertson, Rotary Club of Perth, Derek Petterson, CEO McLeods & Meldrum, Gordon Hay, Rotary Club of Perth President and Kirsty Robertson, Business Development at McLeods


Image source: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-46507685
“I raise up my voice not so that I can shout- but so that those without a voice can be heard…We cannot all succeed when half of us are held back.”Malala Yousafzai
The global women’s movement, universally known as the feminist movement is arguably the most conspicuous voice among the marginalized groups worldwide. To this extent, women have even been dubbed the winners of the ‘Oppression Olympics’ as the vocalization of their rights tend to overshadow the plights of the other marginalized groups. Women in Kenya have, since the 1980’s, participated in the feminist movement in a bid to secure their rights despite the gender-retrogressive provisions of the former Constitution. The dawn of the new century found Kenyan women at the peak of this movement and the 2010 promulgation of the new Constitution acted as a catalyst for the inclusion of women in public spaces, dismantling of patriarchal structures and general gender mainstreaming processes in Kenya. In light of the Constitution’s tenth anniversary, this article is a reflection of how far the Kenyan women’s movement has come since the pre-2010 period, the saving grace that was the 2010 Constitution and whether or not the gender equality promise of this law has been fulfilled.
The former constitutional dispensation was, to say the least, blind to the plight of women. This situation was coupled with patriarchal political structures that did not acknowledge the gender disparity that existed in the society at the time. The previous Constitution ignored sex discrimination in its anti-discriminatory clause and banned the enactment of any law that was ‘discriminatory’ in the sense that it addressed the issues of a particular group. This amounted to a classic example of dejure discrimination, i.e., discrimination perpetuated by the law. For instance, the laws on citizenship prejudiced against women in that it allowed men to pass their Kenyan citizenship to their foreign wives and children but denied women the same right. Further, the laws on marriage and inheritance were bias against women. In addition, there existed a plethora of legislations that out rightly perpetuating gender discrimination. However, the onset of the 1975-1985 UN Decade for Women which culminated in Nairobi and the eventual Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, catapulted the struggle for equality for women in Kenya. In addition, the coming into force of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and subsequently the Maputo Protocol, gave the momentum for the fight for the rights of women in Kenya.
Towards the end of the 1990’s, women in parliament begun to table gender responsive bills and debates before parliament. However, these continued to bear negative outcomes due to the low number of female parliamentarians which remained below 4%. However, some of these progressive gender bills saw the light of day. The beginning of the 21st century saw the enactment of several legislations such as the Children Act in 2001 which contains provisions protecting the girl child against derogatory cultural practices such as early marriages and female circumcision. The Sexual Offences Act of 2006 was also enacted to protect women and girls from sexual violence and bring perpetrators to book; and the Employment Act of 2007 which contains provisions prohibiting any kind of discrimination in the workplace. These laws were evident of the continued activism of women both in parliament and civil society.
The promulgation of the 2010 Constitution marked the onset of a series of gender-responsive laws as it is centered on the principle of equality. Right from the preamble, the Constitution recognizes the principle of equality as one of the national values. The equality clause, Article 27, acknowledges the right of equal treatment of men and women in all spheres of life. Further, it lists sex, pregnancy and marital status as prohibited grounds of discrimination. This clause concludes by mandating the state to take legislative and other measures to ensure the execution of these gender equality provisions including the two-thirds gender principle. This principle requires elective and appointive bodies to adhere to the two-third gender threshold in their membership composition. In addition, throughout the Constitution, there are provisions that are aimed at the furtherance of gender parity in specific areas such as the public service, devolution, family, parliament, constitutional commissions, and political parties, among others.
To complement the constitutional provisions on gender, several policies and legislations have been instituted to further the gender agenda. After 2010, a plethora of laws promoting women rights have been enacted to execute the constitutional provisions and to reverse some of the inequalities historically affecting women. These include the Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation Act of 2011 which specifically protects the girl child from the practice of genital mutilation and The Citizenship and Immigration Act of 2011, now allowing women the same rights to women to pass their citizenship to their spouses and children. Further, in the area of family law, The Matrimonial Property Act of 2013 and The Marriage Act of 2014 emphasize the equality of the parties of a marriage before, during and after the resolution of the marriage. Another major gain for women under the Matrimonial Property Act was the inclusion of non-monetary contribution in the computation of the aggregate contribution to the marriage in the event of divorce. The Protection Against Domestic Violence Act, 2015 is also one of the statutory instruments enacted to provide relief for the victims of domestic violence which is one of the plights that disproportionately affects women in Kenya. Similarly, a number of policies and institutions were deployed to respond to the gender issue and imbalances that existed. These include National Policy on Gender, Equality and Development, the National Land Policy, the National Policy for the Eradication of Female Genital Mutilation, the National Reproductive and Health Policy, the Gender Policy in education, the Gender Directorate in the Ministry of Devolution and Planning under the presidency and the National Gender and Equality Commission.
Notably, since the promulgation of the Constitution, the number of women in politics, power and decision-making in Kenya has risen. This is attributed to the two-third gender principle in the Constitution as well as the subsequent legislations furthering this rule like the Elections Act and The Political Parties Act of 2011. Also, there is a number of special seats reserved for women in the National Assembly, the Senate and other positions. The first general elections under the umbrella of the new Constitution were held in 2013. During these elections, more women entered the National Assembly although only 16 women were elected to serve constituencies compared to the 290 available seats. On the other hand, no women were directly elected in the Senate although several women contested for the positions. However, 18 women entered the Senate through proportional representation by way of women-only party lists. The County Assemblies attained the set threshold of affirmative action as out of the 1450 county assembly members, 76 were women. In addition, the number of women in top positions in ministries, constitutional commissions, the judiciary and Non-Governmental Organizations increased significantly. The next general elections in 2017 saw the increase of women in elective posts. For instance, the first three women were elected as governors and three others as senators.
Undoubtedly, the women movement has largely benefited from the gender responsive provisions of the 2010 Constitution. The decade has been fruitful with regards to the laws, policies and institutions that have been put in place to ensure the protection of the rights of women and the reversal of the historic gender inequalities. However, despite these advances in gender mainstreaming, the situation of women in Kenya still has a long way to go to attain effective equality, especially among women from marginalized groups and economically challenged backgrounds. This can be attributed to the problematic implementation process of these gender progressive laws. The first impediment to the full implementation of these provisions is the retrogressive implementation of some of the laws by the judiciary. For instance, in the constitutional reference by the Attorney General in 2012 filed for an Advisory Opinion from the Supreme Court (the highest ranking Court in Kenya) on whether or not the two-third gender rule should be actualized immediately or progressively. The Court ruled in favour of the later, disregarding the fact that the principle was set up as an affirmative action to reverse the discrimination of women in the leadership and decision making sphere and therefore called for immediate execution.
Further, the application of the principle was also challenged in the case of the Federation of Women Lawyers in Kenya (FIDA-K) & 5 others v AG & Another where the proposed composition of the Supreme Court judges was challenged with regards to the adherence to two-thirds gender principle. This Petition was dismissed on grounds that the state had not yet developed the machinery for the implementation of the two-third gender rule and it was therefore beyond the purview of the judiciary. In addition, the existence of other systems of law which co-exist with formal law such customary law, has slowed down the full realization of the rights of women in Kenya. For example, the practice of Female Genital Mutilation persists in some communities despite the existence of the Anti-FGM Act, the Children Act and the Prohibition of Domestic Violence Act which categorically prohibits the practice of this act. Other challenges to implementation include the lack of political goodwill, inadequate budgetary allocation towards implementation programmes and lack of coordination among the various stakeholders.
All in all, women in Kenya have come a long way in terms of the legal recognition of their rights and the enactment of legislation and development of policies that ensure these rights are upheld. The promulgation of the Constitution in 2010 has seen the increase in the participation and representation of women in public spaces and the establishment of gender sensitive private law systems in the last ten years. However, these laws have experienced challenges in implementation which is a backward step in the journey towards gender mainstreaming in the country. As we reflect upon these developments, it is high time that better implementation strategies are developed so that the constitutional dream of gender parity becomes a reality.
First published on The Youth Café website


For as long as I can recall, our nation has been confronted with the topic of racial and social justice. However, over the last 18 months, it has moved to the forefront of our conversation. As a result, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) have become a hot topic, and headlines in local and national news outlets have chronicled our nation’s challenges with DEI.
Unfortunately, as a result, there has been a tremendous amount of misinformation and misconception about DEI. As families, friends, neighbors, and colleagues have discussed and debated the topic, their understanding of DEI often reflects the radio or television station they frequently listen to or watch.
Now, I’m not bashing television, radio, or news outlets. In fact, following the news is one of my favorite activities. As a result, there are times I’ve been called a news junkie by people in my family.
As I read, watch, and listen to my favorite news outlets, I have noticed that they skip over explaining the definition of DEI in their reporting. So, as a scientist, I wondered if it was just my news outlets or a trend. Well, after some research guess what I found out?
That’s right; it is a trend! But, unfortunately, regardless of where you get your news, the conversation typically does not include a definition of DEI. As an educator and scientist, I struggle with the lack of clarity around this topic.
Why? Because we must have a common understanding of any topic before we can address an issue. Without common knowledge, we end up talking “at” each other instead of “to” each other. Therefore, if we want to address a concern, we must start with a clear understanding of the issue.
So what does DEI mean? Let me break the terms down into three simple questions:
- Diversity asks: Who is in the room?
- Equity asks: Who is trying to get into the room but can’t?
- Inclusion asks: Have everyone’s ideas been heard?
Now, I know you think it can’t be that simple, right? Well, it is!
Let’s review the standard definition of each term according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary:
- Diversity: the state of having people who are different races or who have different cultures in a group or organization
- Equity: fairness or justice in the way people are treated
- Inclusion: the act or practice of including and accommodating people who have historically been excluded (as because of their race, gender, sexuality, or ability)
I hope you see the alignment between the three questions and the definitions.
As the leader of your organization, it’s your responsibility to position your organization for success. So, before you jump into a discussion embracing DEI, ensure everyone is on the same page.
“Good leadership requires you to surround yourself with people of diverse perspectives who can disagree with you without fear of retaliation.”– Doris Kearns Goodwin
Starting with a shared understanding will help to avoid misunderstanding and confusion. While it might sound a bit silly and like a waste of time, the rewards you and your organization will reap are well worth your time and effort.
Are you embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion?
Want to increase your cultural competence? Click HERE to learn how!


It stands to reason that everyone can agree nobody expected 2020 to turn out the way it did. Everyone had to embrace the unexpected just to get by on a daily basis. With COVID-19 on the minds of everyone, the majority of businesses moved to online meetings. Suddenly, everyone was faced with seeing every dimple, wrinkle, scar, or sagging piece of tissue their faces had to offer while viewing them on online media platforms such as Zoom. The concerns about the appearance of body parts did not stop with people viewing their facial features on a daily basis on Zoom. People have also experienced a close-up look at their teeth and gums on a daily basis for the past year. Any misshapen tooth, misalignment, crack or chip has been broadcast for all to see. As a result, people quickly started to visit cosmetic dentists to order full porcelain veneers in their pursuit of a perfect smile. Some market reports show that, before the global pandemic, the worldwide cosmetic dentistry market size was estimated to be around 6.9-billion dollars. Now that the world is entering the post-pandemic phase, the global market is expected to be around 19.5-billion dollars.
Veneers – Info to Know about its Popularity
The word “veneers” might create the image of someone with a blindingly white smile that is full of teeth with no imperfections. However, updates in technology means people can keep imperfections they are fond of, like a snaggle tooth, while still getting the protection they need thanks to the low-maintenance upkeep of veneers. The results of these new, modern veneers essentially enhance what is already present in the mouth when it comes to the look of the teeth.
The desire for a perfect, yet natural in appearance, smile is not specific to the United States. Dr. Lisa Creaven, a practicing doctor in Ireland, has also seen this specific demand grow in popularity. In a recent interview, she said, “What I see is a huge change and move toward individuality that I couldn’t be happier about. That old-school version of ear-to-ear veneers is outdated, and in the UK we are seeing a lot of people having that work removed and going back to a more natural, bespoke look”.
These shifts in popularity coincide with the trends seen by the larger beauty industry. As a whole, the beauty industry has been moving away from dated, past definitions of beauty and embracing ideas of individuality. Even acne is now seen as something less detrimental to beauty than it once was. Overall, the more unique a person looks, the better suited they are for the current beauty scene.
These new trends are being combined with new procedures that can enhance the appearance of the teeth without getting rid of the features that gives a person an authentic and individual look. In addition, a cosmetic dentistry procedure like veneers can greatly increase the self-confidence of a person. “This trend towards authenticity and embracing imperfections seems like a healthy shift towards self-acceptance,” according to Dr. Logan Jones, NYC-based psychologist and founder of Clarity Therapy NYC. Dr. Jones recently shared his thoughts in an interview. “It’s important to celebrate and embrace the things that make us unique. Even if someone’s smile doesn’t initially fit into what is conventionally marketed to us as attractive, there is beauty to be found in each of us.”
Veneers – Looking to Recapture their Youth
Michael Apa, DDS, is a top New York City-based aesthetic dentist with additional offices in Los Angeles and Dubai. He told InStyle, “What you’re really going for when you’re doing someone’s teeth well, is recapturing their youth. A lot of people in their 50s will say, ‘I used to have beautiful teeth,’ and they’ll literally say, ‘I lost my smile.’ I’ve heard that phrase 500 times. If you look at the facial structure and the asymmetries, and you build the teeth parallel or harmonious to those asymmetries, it makes the smile asymmetrical, but it’s symmetrical to the big picture. That’s when people, in my opinion, look beautiful, harmonious and refreshed”. Basically, with the right doctor and the help of Internet research, patients can easily find the right fit for their medical needs and they can also achieve a bright, attractive and natural-looking smile by visiting an experienced and board-certified cosmetic dentist.
Cosmetic Dentistry – Bringing Smiles to the World
The most obvious “plus” for getting a smile makeover is that everyone could use a smile these days. And with COVID-19 vaccine numbers increasing by the day, it seems like smiles are on their way for a comeback. “Smiling is welcoming and makes people feel safe and loved, which in turn naturally draws people to us,” says Dr. Jones. “Smiling represents joy and love and we could all do a little more to bring love, and hope, and joy in today’s dark world.”


A project we’ve been working on in Hunters Hill over the last 12 months was featured on Grand Designs Australia. This house is one of the most beautiful homes we’ve been lucky enough to work on. While the gardens that surround the home are simply incredible it’s the rooftop garden that really makes this project so special.
Here’s a link to watch the episode – click here
To view some more photos, visit Arkefield’s website, the architects who designed this incredible home – click here.


FRIDAY AFTER FRIDAY
- a new chamber opera -
music by Leanna Kirchoff
libretto by Rachel J. Peters
Saturday, October 19, 2019
124 Bank Street Theatre, New York, NY
Free and Open to the Public
The development of FRIDAY AFTER FRIDAY received funding from OPERA America's Opera Grants for Female Composers program, supported by the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation.
FRIDAY AFTER FRIDAY is a one-act collage chamber opera amplifying the voices of Syrian women at the epicenter of the ongoing war. An all-female ensemble plays a multitude of characters with narratives illuminating a range of political and personal perspectives, charting the role of women as an active galvanized force within the conflict. The libretto draws from numerous sources: memoirs of Syrian and Western-born female embedded journalists, documentaries, and interviews with a variety of Syrian citizens.


The run-up to the hearings has brought no surprises or revelations which would derail the nomination, and even the expected Republican opposition has been rather muted.
It certainly appears that Kagan's ascension to the Court would not change voting patterns among the Justices, and if she votes as retiring Justice Stevens voted this year, the outcome of cases would be the same. I suspect the real fight will come when a vacancy among the conservative members of the Court arises, because replacing a conservative with a more liberal vote will change the direction of the Court.
Documentary material related to the nomination has been posted by the Judiciary Committee. It is available here.