Negotiating employee compensation in the automotive industry requires a careful and informed approach. Our guide is designed for professionals looking for practical advice on securing fair and rewarding compensation packages. This article covers the latest compensation trends, outlines tactical preparation steps, and highlights the importance of effective communication and understanding market insights. It gives automotive industry professionals the tools and strategies necessary for successful negotiation. Suitable for both experienced professionals and those new to the field, this guide offers essential insights for achieving positive compensation outcomes.
Tactical Steps to Prepare for Negotiating Employee Compensation
Negotiating employee compensation requires a meticulous approach. Here are the tactical steps to ensure a well-prepared negotiation:
1. Research Salary Benchmarks: Before entering into negotiations, it's crucial to gather comprehensive data on industry-specific salary benchmarks and average compensation for various roles within the automotive sector. Armed with this data, professionals can confidently advocate for fair and competitive remuneration.
2. Evaluate Benefits Packages: Beyond base salaries, understanding the landscape of benefits packages prevalent in the industry is essential. This includes perks such as health insurance, retirement plans, and other incentives. By comprehensively evaluating these packages, individuals can ensure that their compensation negotiations encompass the full spectrum of remuneration, leading to more holistic and satisfying outcomes.
3. Set Clear Personal Goals: Prior to negotiation, individuals should delineate their personal and professional goals. Whether it's achieving a specific salary threshold, securing additional benefits, or aligning compensation with industry standards, having clear objectives will guide the negotiation process and foster a more targeted approach.
By diligently following these tactical steps, automotive professionals can lay a solid foundation for successful compensation negotiations, aligning their expectations with industry standards and maximizing their remuneration potential.
Crafting Your Negotiation Strategy
Crafting a strategic negotiation approach is pivotal in securing favorable employee compensation within the automotive industry. Here's how to develop a robust negotiation strategy:
1. Understand Your Value: Before initiating negotiations, professionals should thoroughly assess their unique value proposition. This includes evaluating their skills, experience, and contributions to the industry. By comprehensively understanding their professional worth, individuals can confidently articulate their value during negotiations, thereby strengthening their bargaining position.
2. Align with Industry Standards: It's imperative to align personal compensation objectives with prevailing industry standards. Utilizing resources such as industry reports and market insights enables professionals to gauge the current compensation landscape, ensuring that their negotiation strategy resonates with industry norms.
3. Employ a Data-Driven Approach: Leveraging quantifiable data, such as average salary increases and success rates within the automotive sector, empowers individuals to substantiate their negotiation proposals. By presenting data-driven arguments, professionals can bolster the credibility of their compensation requests, augmenting their chances of securing favorable outcomes.
By implementing these strategic tactics in negotiating employee compensation, automotive professionals can construct a negotiation approach that harmonizes personal aspirations with industry benchmarks, fostering a more effective and fruitful negotiation process.
Effective Communication in Negotiating Employee Compensation
Effective communication is paramount when navigating negotiations for employee compensation within the automotive industry. Here's how to leverage communication for successful negotiation outcomes:
1. Utilize Industry-Specific Language: During negotiations, employing industry-specific terminology and jargon cultivates a sense of expertise and familiarity with the automotive sector. This not only enhances the professional image but also facilitates clearer and more precise communication, fostering a deeper understanding between both parties.
2. Articulate Value Proposition: Clear and articulate communication of one's value proposition is essential. Professionals should effectively convey their unique contributions, accomplishments, and the concrete impact of their work within the automotive domain. This persuasive communication serves to substantiate compensation requests and fortify the case for equitable remuneration.
3. Active Listening and Responsiveness: Engaging in active listening during negotiations is pivotal. By attentively understanding the employer's perspective and concerns, professionals can tailor their communication to directly address key points, thus fostering a more collaborative and mutually beneficial negotiation process.
By integrating these communication strategies into negotiations, automotive professionals can adeptly convey their value, align compensation discussions with industry-specific nuances, and cultivate a constructive dialogue, ultimately enhancing the likelihood of successful negotiation outcomes.
Leveraging Market Insights for Fair Compensation
In the automotive industry, leveraging market insights is pivotal to negotiate fair and competitive compensation. Here's how professionals can effectively utilize market data for equitable remuneration:
1. Research Industry Standards: Thorough research of industry standards and prevailing compensation trends is indispensable. Exploring platforms that offer comprehensive reports and data, enables professionals to benchmark their compensation expectations against industry norms. This informed approach ensures that negotiation proposals are grounded in current market realities.
2. Align Expectations with Market Realities: By aligning personal compensation expectations with market realities, professionals can navigate negotiations with a clear understanding of the prevailing industry landscape. This alignment not only facilitates more transparent and productive discussions but also sets realistic parameters for compensation outcomes.
3. Utilize Data to Substantiate Proposals: Leveraging quantifiable market data to substantiate compensation proposals enhances their credibility. Professionals can reference data on average salary increases, benefits prevalence, and success rates within the automotive sector to reinforce the rationale behind their compensation requests, thereby fostering a more data-driven and persuasive negotiation process.
By integrating these tactics, automotive professionals can effectively harness market insights to negotiate fair and competitive compensation, aligning their expectations with industry standards and optimizing their remuneration potential.
Mastering the art of negotiating employee compensation in the automotive industry hinges on industry-specific knowledge and strategic negotiation. By unraveling current compensation trends, meticulously preparing for negotiations, crafting tailored strategies, communicating effectively, and leveraging market insights, professionals can enhance their negotiation prowess. Aligning personal goals with industry standards and substantiating proposals with data are key drivers of successful negotiations. These tactical approaches not only foster fair and rewarding compensation outcomes but also solidify professionals' positioning within the industry.
For more in-depth guidance and resources, visit Auto Careers Group.


Isabella Marasco & Micaela Kastor
10th Grade, Oaks Christian School
“Our goal was to explore hope within diversity. When was the last time our entire nation, or even the entire world, felt united under one common cause?
To portray this message we gathered video from around the world to show that through difference hope unites us all.
An original poem was written for our project to help further communicate this concept of hope and what it specifically means to the world at this time.”
Original poem by Alyson Choi. Directed by Isabella Marasco. Edited by Micaela Kastor.
Hear Anna Wadman, Chair of the Oaks Christian School Visual Arts Department, talk with Florencia Glas, Special Project Manager at CMATO about “HOPE” by Micaela Kastor & Isabella Marasco:


While the concept of having a relationship with God in human terms is not new, Br. Daniel Horan, OFM, has put a modern-day metaphorical spin on a time-honored theme. Saints and religious leaders throughout the ages have referred to God as a lover, friend and companion, said Br. Dan, who recently took solemn vows in Holy Name Province. For example, St. Francis, looks at how a relationship with God is similar to a relationship with a lover, friend, or family member. Dan wrote the book to encourage people to pursue fulfilling relationships with God, and to realize that, like any relationship, getting closer to God will have its ups and downs. God can be right there when things are going wonderfully and, at other times, when things are going badly, or if a relationship is poor, God can seem far away. He uses the example of Mother Teresa of Calcutta, who said she felt that God was absent from her life for something like 30 years. It may be shocking to think that someone so good and spiritual felt disconnected from God, Br.
Dating God: A young friar’s experience of solitude
Audible Premium Plus. Cancel anytime. Available as an audiobook for the first time ever, Discernment: Reading the Signs of Daily Life invites you to adopt Nouwen as your personal spiritual guide. Each session was carefully prepared by Dr.
Dating God: A young friar’s experience of solitude Daniel P. Horan, O.F.M., a Franciscan friar in initial formation for the Most Holy Name of.
Daniel Horan is a Franciscan friar of Holy Name Province New York and a theologian who researches and teaches in the areas of constructive theology, spirituality, and the medieval Franciscan philosophical and theological tradition. He currently holds the Duns Scotus Chair of Spirituality. In addition to a dozen books, he is the author of more than scholarly and popular articles and book chapters in leading international theological and pastoral publications.
A former editor of the journal New Theology Review , Fr. Daniel currently serves on the editorial boards of two scholarly journals, The Merton Annual and recently re-launched Review for Religious. He currently serves on a number of academic boards and committees, including the Board of Trustees of St. Daniel is the recipient of numerous honors and distinctions, including awards for his writing and an honorary doctorate from Felician University in New Jersey in Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly.
This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Dating and Dating God
Posted by Daniel P. My feet are planted quite firmly in two worlds. One foot stands in a globalized, technological, and fast-paced world. Born in the early s, I am rather expectantly a child of my generation and comfortable in a digital world.
Daniel Horan, O.F.M., popular author of Dating God and other books on Franciscan themes—and expert on the spirituality of Thomas Merton—masterfully.
Dan Horan has written a comprehensive creation theology for the 21st century. He brings the best of Franciscan theology into dialogue with the contemporary world in a way that is consonant with Pope Francis’s Laudato Si. This work will be treasured by all who seek a new ‘planetarity,’ that is, a unified creation bound in love and flowing from the heart of God.
With extraordinary scholarly range and interpretive daring, Daniel Horan makes a clear and convincing case for a kinship model of creation that highlights our deep filiation with the ‘other-than-human’ world. Attentive to the complexities and ambiguities of the Christian tradition, yet ever on the lookout for sources of creative retrieval within it, Horan exemplifies the very best of constructive theological work today. A significant achievement.
It offers a robust critique of dominion and stewardship models for understanding the human in relation to the rest of God’s creation, and employs a wide range of resources that build systematically towards a community of creation paradigm. These resources include not only the work of biblical and theological scholars, but also post-colonial theory and the Franciscan theological tradition.
Daniel P. Du kanske gillar. The Social Construction of What? Inbunden Engelska, Spara som favorit.
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It might seem shocking to compare our relationship with God with the notion of “dating. We set aside time for the people who are most important to us. Horan reminds us that St. Francis of Assisi understood and even described his relationship with God in a similar way.
Bonaventure University, and has published numerous scholarly and franciscan articles on Franciscan theology and spirituality, Thomas Merton, and contemporary systematic theology. Have you ever been on a date with God? It may seem a strange concept, but Next, a young Franciscan friar and dating lecturer, invites consideration generation this question, especially for young adult believers. To be on a date with God, requires, first dating foremost, that technology and many other distractions dating contemporary life be set aside in order to delve generation into the relationship.
It is, however, an invitation to god generation spiritual life and to look for brief moments the become more aware of God’s presence. The author does a dating service generation revealing the rich and beautiful Franciscan tradition for a new generation of believers. There is much to learn from St. Francis, St. Clare, and their dan, dating Horan, through weaving generation popular culture references and using dan, god language, will undoubtedly reach many young adults.
The joyful horan to prayer horan reflection.
Dating God: Live and Love in the Way of St. Francis
With an OverDrive account, you can save your favorite libraries for at-a-glance information about availability. Find out more about OverDrive accounts. Daniel P. Franciscan Media.
– No Comments. by Jim Barnes. Dating God: Live and Love in the Way of St. Francis. Bonaventure University, and has published numerous scholarly and.
It may seem shocking to compare our relationship with God with the notion of “dating. With fresh insight and a deep personal spirituality, Horan points out that the desire, uncertainty, and love we experience in relationship with God resembles our earthly relationships: We set aside time for the people who are most important to us. Horan reminds us that St. Francis of Assisi understood and even described his relationship with God in a similar way.
Drawing from the Franciscan tradition, Dating God encourages us to see St. Francis’s spirituality in a new light, challenging us to reexamine our own spirituality, prayer, and relationships, and inviting us into a more intimate relationship with our Creator. The audio edition of this book can be downloaded via Audible.
Fr. Daniel P. Horan, O.F.M.
Francis Week Event at St. Francis College Fr. Daniel P. Francis, who Francis [Daniel P. Horan O.
Dating God: Live and Love in the Way of St. · Francis of Assisi and the Future of Faith: Exploring Franciscan Spirituality and Theology in the Modern World (First ed.).
Long distance magnifies our longing In fact, she and I read the book together. She has spent most of the last year volunteering at a Passionist retreat center outside Belfast. One of the ways we have managed being a long distance couple has been reading books together some successfully , some not and discussing them. Even when Paige and I can see each other via Skype, the screen flattens our face and the difference between camera and screen means we never really make eye contact.
It can be useful to see our relationship with God as a long distance relationship, says Horan, particularly in those times when we feel distant from or even abandoned by God. The Psalmist experiences the pain of separation, surely, but particularly the pain of being abandoned. The Beatific Vision of Dante Yet despite this pain, the Psalmist continues to cry, continues to pray, continues to communicate with God, precisely in the expectation that there will be an answer and that there is still a meaningful relationship there.
For Horan, the relationship with God, like my long-distance relationship with Paige, takes a tremendous amount of work and, frankly, hope on our part. Despite the separation, we believe that this separation will come to an end, that we will be together in the future: with Paige, when she returns from Ireland; with God, in the Beatific vision. But this hope rests in large part on our continued intentional participation in that relationship.
I have focused here on the long distance relationship chapter because, as is clear, its theme resonates with me — in my relationship with Paige and my relationship with God.
Dating God : Franciscan Spirituality for the Next Generation
Available on Special Order This title is not currently in stock in our warehouse. Please add extra days for special-order processing. With fresh insight and a deep personal spirituality, Horan points out that the desire, uncertainty, and love we experience in relationship with God resembles our earthly relationships: We set aside time for the people who are most important to us.
Horan reminds us that St. Francis of Assisi understood and even described his relationship with God in a similar way.
Feb 14, – Daniel Horan, O.F.M., popular author of “Dating God” and an expert on the spirituality of Thomas Merton, masterfully presents the untold story of.
I am a Franciscan novice. Both of those words are open to misinterpreta- tion, so let me clarify. I am a Franciscan solitude, a member of the religious order of men founded by St. Francis of Assisi. As such I live following the Rule of St. Francis, which outlines a way of life mod- eled after the Gospel.


** The Black Panther Black Poetry & Black History Museum. ** Be Proud To Be Black. ** Black Panther Black Poetry Blog.
The Black Panther Black Poetry & Black History Museum,
The Black Panther Party Black Community Organizing Committee Network,
Black Panther Poems.
**A BLACK FAMILIES' POEMS.**
And there’s nothing that we lack.
He knew what he was doing,
And he will not take it back.
When they whine with such remorse?
About being blessed with hair like wool,
That’s curly and that’s coarse.
When they decide it must be changed.
And they bleach their hair to blonde,
So that no Black will remain.
When they’re trying to be white.
Not knowing “Black is beautiful”,
They think that “white is right”.
Their children act and lack?
When they don’t teach them the honor,
And the pride in being Black.
With “pride goeth before the fall”.
When we had pride, we had kingdoms,
When we lost pride, we lost them all.
We wouldn’t have been Black at birth.
And if Black was not the most beautiful thing,
God wouldn’t have made it first.
Is as bright as the brightest sun.
But the heavens, the home where God resides,
Is a Black and beautiful one.
That being Black is hard.
We must think of ourselves in a “poker game”,
And the devil holds our cards.
And now we must win them back.
By showing the devil how proud we are,
That God has made us Black.
Our education, clothes and style.
And reflect on the “slaves” we have become,
But only for a while.
Into something that is fake.
We must remember that God made us Black,
And God don’t make mistakes.
As Part Of
The Black Communities' Reconstruction Era Blueprint 2010
“Black Panther – Black Community Workshops”
Black Community Forums


Wednesday, December 7th, 2011
A new animated film based very, very loosely on the classic Dr. Seuss children’s book The Lorax will be in theaters on March 2, 2012. It’s from the makers of Despicable Me, which I enjoyed, but if you are in the plastics business I doubt you will enjoy the film version of The Lorax – unless, that is, you like being presented as a villain, a real bad guy, and an ugly person who is nasty to young kids.
The just-released promotional trailer gives you a good idea of how the film does that to you, and makes it clear why you are evil, so go ahead and watch, but I wouldn’t say enjoy.
Before you start looking for
that old copy of The Lorax that you used to read to your kids, or still do, the book does not contain any reference at all to plastic, nothing, nada, zilch, not a word. You can thank Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment, the film’s creators, for making plastics and plastics industry people into mean, nasty villains. Won’t it be fun explaining this to your kids?
I try to be polite on this blog, even when people slam plastics using junk science, baseless rumors, or their personal fears based on something they heard somebody say sometime somewhere. But using Dr. Seuss to turn kids against me . . . well that’s a big click too far. Published in 1971, the original book definitely has an environmental theme, and a villain chopping down all the trees, but the villain isn’t plastics or the plastic industry.
I doubt that Dr. Seuss, bless him, would ever have created a nasty villain scaring little kids. So before I become loud and profane, note that you have three months before the film comes out; less if your kids see the trailer sooner.


With a search on the internet, there seems to be a little more no end to what’s been written about the simple, yet powerful marker.
There seems to continually be no small supply in writers who have exercised dramatic titles to increase impact of an other than them so-so article on topic. “Fistful of Dynamite,” “Rod of Pain,” and many others caused the way as blog owners share their own skill and insight into inconspicuous, and yet tremendously powerful little weapon. Unfortunately, far too many ones articles serve little to make sure you no real purpose in assisting you to actually produce your own results. And, these information articles range in scope by means of generalized “what it is” variety, to the highly bloated tome that is made of what seems to wind up as every single detail on top of that supposition that the publisher wishes to impress any person with.
Believe me, I’ve read an involving what’s available, whilst there are very definitely are a number linked to valuable resources everything from real experts, nevertheless buried in that you simply cyber-world of many worthless “chatter.” As can feel absolve to recreate my huge research on generally subject, I’ve reintroduced it all one another so you don’t really need to. So, what, exactly, can be a Kubotan (pronounced “koo-bow-tahn”) anyway Good demande. And to answer that, you can understand the book titled, KUBOTAN Self-Defense Key chain to get an even better idea.
But, for now, I’ll give the short, “what’s they look like the else might you choose called,” version. For any interested, the before book covers our own viewpoints of “where did it might and how incredibly long has it for ages been around,” as-well-as others in its a number of other chapters. In that other articles, can certainly take a fast moving overview of the specific strengths and listlessness of this favorite self-defense weapon. But, for now. Your Kubotan, also termed as. . Self defense Crofton MD -stick. .


NOTE: These summaries were written by SVPEP staff and are based on the original papers. The information available on this web site is provided as a public service and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, the Arizona Department of Health Services, or the University of Arizona.
Auster, C. J., & Leone, J. M. (2001). Late adolescents’ perspectives on marital rape: The impact of gender and fraternity/sorority membership. Adolescence, 36, 141-152.
Previous studies on college age men and women have shown gender differences in attitudes and beliefs about sexual assault and rape. Furthermore, college men associated with fraternities have exhibited high rape myth acceptance rates and increased negative attitudes toward women. The current study aims to identify the relationship between gender as well as sorority and fraternity affiliation on attitudes toward marital rape. A total of 209 college students who attended a small liberal arts college in the Northeast were asked to respond to questions intended to reveal the participants’ ideas about: (a) the relationship between stranger and marital rape, (b) the options available to victims of marital rape, and (c) laws addressing marital rape. Results showed that non-fraternity men were more likely than fraternity men to agree that stranger rape and marital rape were equally criminal acts. Regardless of sorority membership status, women were more likely than men to believe that a victim of marital rape should take legal action against her husband. Women were also more likely than men to agree that marital rape should be considered a felony. The findings of this study suggest that fraternity men have elevated levels of rape myth acceptance and poor attitudes toward women that may increase their risk of inappropriate sexual behavior, including sexual assault perpetration.
Boeringer, S. B. (1999). Associations of rape-supportive attitudes with fraternal and athletic participation. Violence Against Women, 5, 81-90.
The author examined rape-supportive attitudes in a sample of fraternity members, university athletes, and a control population. In all, a sample of 477 male university students were recruited. Results indicate that fraternity men report significantly greater endorsement of five statements supportive of rape and adversarial gender beliefs than did the controls. The author also found that athletes reported significantly greater agreement with 14 rape-supportive statements than did men in the control condition. The control group only reported greater agreement with 2 rape-supportive statements. This study tends to support the contention that there is a measurable relationship between rape-supportive attitudes and membership in fraternal or athletic organizations.
Borsari, B. E., & Carey, K. B. (1999). Understanding fraternity drinking: Five recurring themes in the literature, 1980-1998. J A College Health, 48, 30-37.
This article reviews the literature concerning fraternities and alcohol use on American campuses from 1980 to 1998 by focusing on issues related to: (a) precollege drinking patterns, (b) the self-selection process of heavy drinkers into particular fraternities that endorse alcohol abuse, (c) the role of alcohol in fraternity socialization, (d) individuals’ misperception of their peers’ drinking norms, and (e) the physical environment of fraternity houses that enable and encourage alcohol abuse by providing easy access to alcohol and peer support in the absence of adult supervision. The authors emphasize that understanding the pervasive role of alcohol within fraternity social structures is fundamental to addressing alcohol abuse on college campuses. They also suggest that the effect of peer pressure among students may be a powerful tool for intervention. It can be used to disseminate and endorse normative behavior to counteract predominant misperceptions concerning alcohol use on campuses.
Boswell, A. A., & Spade, J. Z. (1996). Fraternities and collegiate rape culture: Why are some fraternities more dangerous places for women? Gender & Society, 10, 133-147.
This article examines social interactions at college fraternities identified as high or low for rape risk, as well as two local bars. Gender relations, the treatment of women, and attitudes toward rape are discussed. The authors found that women not known to fraternity members were at highest risk of rape. High-risk social settings were characterized by high alcohol consumption, loud music, little conversation/interaction among men and women, routine degradation of women, and more full participation in the "hook-up scene," leading to the probability of women becoming faceless victims. The authors' findings suggest that an environment more conducive to conversation can promote positive interactions between men and women. They suggest that in order to eliminate campus rape culture, student leaders and administrators must examine the situations in which women and men meet and restructure these settings to provide opportunities for respectful interaction.
Brown, T. J., Sumner, K. E., & Nocera, R. (2002). Understanding sexual aggression against women. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 17, 937-952.
This article describes a study of 139 male college students attending a predominantly White, midsize, Midwestern university. These students responded to five questionnaires: the Psychosocial Function of Sports Scale (to assess sport ideology), a questionnaire measuring the types and amount of sports they participated in or viewed, the Attitudes Toward Women Scale (to measure attitudes towards women in society), the Coercive Sexuality Scale (to assess college males’ level of involvement in sexually coercive or aggressive behaviors), and a brief demographic questionnaire (which asked about age, class standing, and fraternity membership). Analysis of these data indicated that fraternity membership, conservative attitudes towards women, and viewing contact sports were significant predictors of sexual aggression against women. Higher scores predicted higher levels of aggression. Oddly, low scores on men’s contact sports participation also predicted higher levels of sexual aggression towards women.
Choate, L. H. (2003). Sexual assault prevention programs for college men: An exploratory evaluation of the Men Against Violence model. Journal of College Counseling, 6, 166-176.
Several colleges and universities have offered date rape prevention programs for female students. The focus of these programs generally includes risk reduction and self-defense, among other preventative measures. Previous studies have shown that fraternities may reinforce rape myth acceptance among members; therefore, the current study implemented a date and acquaintance rape prevention program aimed to educate male college students affiliated with fraternities. The participants included 149 male fraternity members from a large, public university. Each participant attended a peer led, 1-hour program derived from the Men Against Violence (MAV) student organization program model. The issues addressed during the program were: (a) rape statistics, (b) legal definitions of rape, (c) rape myth acceptance, and (d) repercussions from drug usage in the facilitation of rape. After completing the program, the participants were asked to fill out an evaluation developed to record how the program content affected each of the men. Results of the qualitative analysis indicated that the program was informational – especially in the areas of legal definitions of rape and the harmful nature of gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB), a date rape drug. Further analysis showed that many of the men believed the most important element of the program was the dispelling of rape myth beliefs that can potentially lead to rape. Results from this study suggest a need for more rape prevention programs for college men. Important attributes of such programs should include the clarification of rape definitions and a strong focus on the elimination of rape myth acceptance beliefs.
Davis, T. L., & Liddell, D. L. (2002). Getting inside the house: The effectiveness of a rape prevention program for college fraternity men. Journal of College Student Development, 43, 35-50.
Studies have shown that the prevalence of acquaintance rape and date rape is much higher than that of stranger rape. While studies on perpetrators of stranger rape have suggested psychopathology as the cause of their actions, according to sociocultural theory, perpetrators of acquaintance rape and date rape may be motivated by gender role ideology. The authors of this study investigated whether sex role socialization modifies males’ attitudes and beliefs condoning rape. A total of 90 fraternity men (between the ages of 18–23 years old), attending a large college in the Midwest, were asked to participate in this study. The participants were divided into three groups: (a) a control group, (b) a group that attended a traditional date rape prevention program, and (c) a group that attended a program aimed at identifying and addressing the gender role ideals of the participants. Each group attended one 90-minute session and was given a pretest, posttest, and a follow-up posttest. Results indicate that both of the treatment groups exhibited lower acceptance of rape myths and an increased understanding of coercion and consent; with the group that attended the traditional date rape prevention program retaining the most information about consent/coercion after six weeks. Gender role conflict was significantly associated with rape myth acceptance. Future research might investigate whether more long-term rape prevention program regimens would prove to have longer lasting effects on gender role ideals and attitudes contributing to acquaintance rape and date rape perpetration.
Foubert, J. D. (2000). The longitudinal effects of a rape-prevention program on fraternity men's attitudes, behavioral intent, and behavior. Journal of American College Health, 48, 158-163.
This study presents the results of 145 fraternity men from a mid-Atlantic university who were randomly selected to determine the results of a victim empathy-based rape prevention program presented by all-male sexual assault prevention peer educators. No evidence of change in sexually coercive behavior was found. Significant declines in rape myth acceptance and the likelihood of committing rape were found with program participants immediately following the intervention. At the 7-month follow-up the decrease in rape myth acceptance remained lower among program participants than within the control group.
Foubert, J. D. & Marriott, K. A. (1997). Effects of a sexual assault peer education program on men's belief in rape myths. Sex Roles, 36, 259-268.
This study looks at an all-male sexual assault peer education program that focuses on helping the survivor of sexual assault. The program of focus in this article resulted in a significant decrease in rape myth acceptance among fraternity pledges that persisted over time. The prevention program had the unexpected result of decreasing the likelihood of sexually coercive behaviors in both the experimental and control groups at posttest. The results in this study suggest that attitude changes among program participants may be long-lasting.
Foubert, J. D., & McEwen, M. K. (1998). An all-male rape prevention peer education program: Decreasing fraternity men's behavioral intent to rape. Journal of College Student Development, 39, 548-556.
The authors demonstrated that participation in an all-male rape prevention peer education program, intended to decrease fraternity men's behavioral intent to rape, led to significant post-program declines in rape myth acceptance and behavioral intent to rape among 155 fraternity men (88% White, mean age of 19.9 years, mostly sophomores and juniors). The participants were divided into either a pretested and posttested rape prevention program group, a posttested rape prevention program group, or an untreated control group. The authors assessed belief in rape myths using the Burt Rape Myth Acceptance Scale. They evaluated central route processing using a state measure. Finally, intent to rape was evaluated by means of Malamuth's (1981) study questions. Results were the same regardless of whether the subjects were pretested or not. The study supports the hypothesis that rape prevention programming is most effective in an all-male peer education format.
Frazier, P., Valtinson, G., & Candell, S. (1994). Evaluation of a coeducational interactive rape prevention program. Journal of Counseling & Development, 73, 153-158.
This study is an evaluation of a coeducational, acquaintance-rape prevention program delivered to 117 sorority and 75 fraternity members (aged 19-27 years) who were randomly assigned to the treatment and control group conditions. Participants completed pretest, posttest, and 1-month follow-up measures concerning attitudes toward gender roles, dating behaviors, and sexual behaviors. Participants also appraised how much they learned from the program. Those who participated in the program endorsed fewer attitudes and beliefs associated with acquaintance rape than did members of the control group and were more likely to agree with statements that endorsed respect and equality, assertive communication, and safety precautions for women immediately following the program. However, the treatment group did not differ from the control group at the 1-month follow-up.
Frintner, M. P., & Rubinson, L. (1993). Acquaintance rape: The influence of alcohol, fraternity membership, and sports team membership. Journal of Sex Education & Therapy, 19, 272-284.
This study determined the extent of sexual victimization among undergraduate women at a large Midwestern university, with specific attention paid to alcohol use, fraternity membership, and sports team membership. The Sexually Stressful Events Survey was utilized with modifications clarifying the level of intoxication, and whether or not the accused was a member of a sports team or fraternity. Previous research documenting the high rate of occurrence of sexual assault and other sexually stressful events on college campuses was affirmed. In addition, it was found that alcohol was involved in the majority of the reported sexually stressful events, suggesting an association between alcohol and sexual violence. Both fraternity and sports team members were over-represented among the crimes of sexual assault, attempted sexual assault and battery, illegal restraint, and intimidation. Fraternity men represented approximately 25% of men on the campus, and were reported as 47.6% of the men involved in sexual assault or attempted sexual assault. Sports team members make up less than 2% of the campus population and were found to comprise 20.2% of the men involved in sexual assault or attempted sexual assault.
Koss, M. P., & Gaines, J. A. (1993). The prediction of sexual aggression by alcohol use, athletic participation, and fraternity affiliation. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 8, 94-108.
The objective of the research in this article was to analyze the cooperative effect of alcohol, athletic participation, and fraternity association on sexual aggression among male college students. A sample of 140 college athletes, from a highly ranked university, was taken. These male athletes had all responded to a survey in a college class. The results show that alcohol consumption is the greatest predictor of sexual aggression, followed by nicotine use. It was also determined that athletic participation contributed to the effect of sexual aggression but was a weaker predictor than alcohol was. No predictions of fraternity affiliation could be made. Limitations of the study were also discussed.
Lenihan, G. O., & Rawlins, M. E. (1994). Rape supportive attitudes among Greek students before and after a date rape prevention program. Journal of College Student Development, 35, 450-455.
In addition to the assessment of supportive attitudes of sorority and fraternity members, this article evaluated a mandatory date rape education program, drawing comparisons with a non-Greek organization group that had been studied earlier. A total of 636 male and female Greek organization students participated, compared to 821 non-Greek organization students who served as controls. Greek organization subjects completed the Rape Supportive Attitudes Survey (RSAS) before and after the program. Control subjects had taken the RSAS two years earlier without any education program. Greek organization students registered more desirable baseline scores than non-Greeks on the RSAS but showed no change as a result of the education program.
Lottes, I. L., & Kuriloff, P. J. (1994). Sexual socialization differences by gender, Greek membership, ethnicity, and religious background. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 18, 203-219.
Examined how parental and peer sexual socialization influences are related to gender, ethnicity, religious background, and college membership in a fraternity or sorority. A sample of 557 college students (52% male, 48% female) including 76% White, 13% Asian, and 7% Black, completed questionnaires both as entering first year students and as seniors. Compared to women, men continued to experience a more permissive sexual socialization from both parents and peers. Fraternity and sorority membership was associated with a more permissive socialization from peers but not parents. Asian students reported a more restrictive sexual socialization than Blacks or Caucasians. With respect to religious background, there were no significant differences in peer sexual socialization; however, Jewish participants reported a significantly more permissive parental sexual socialization than did Catholic and Protestant participants.
Tewsbury, R., & Mustaine, E. E. (2001). Lifestyle factors associated with sexual assault of men: A routine activity theory analysis. Journal of Men’s Studies, 9, 153-182.
The purpose of this study is to extend previous knowledge about the sexual assault victimization of males from female perpetrators. The authors have attempted to conduct a thorough study by evaluating: (a) the different levels of sexual assault severity men experience, (b) a large sample from various educational institutions, (c) current routines and previous lifestyles in assessing victimization vulnerability, and (d) victim characteristics that are gender specific. The participants in this study were 1,215 college students, both male and female, attending 12 different institutes in southern North America. This study found that alcohol use and fraternity affiliation were not indicators of male sexual assault victimization. Nonwhites, college athletes, and men who regularly went to the same bar and those who frequently used drugs were all more likely to be victims of sexual assault.


Every now and then, a distinctive woman comes along who remarkably turns fantasy into reality right in the middle of life. If yearning desire is guiding you to take passion farther than ever before, please continue to read my words.
I am Carina Olivia, an exceptional courtesan with overtures of elegance, refined intellect and subtle hints of naughtiness.
A magnet for the mannerly gentleman, I share a penchant for intimacy, integrity and worldly excitement. As we connect through the pages of my website, let attraction have its way by allowing your imagination to run wild with erotic emotion. Envision your deepest, most private cravings being fulfilled within moments of our acquaintance. Nothing is worth more than the time we spend together.
Empowering your magnificence…


Bandraites - Holla !!!! You love to live in Bandra, the hotspot of Mumbai ... a happening place....
Courtesy Caferati -
Celebrate Bandra Festival Souvenir - Call for Submissions (Original post here.)The Celebrate Bandra Festival happens once every two years in Bandra. This year, the festival will be in November. I'm helping curate the literature section. More about past festivals at celebratebandra.net (the site won't be updated with this year's schedule for a little while yet).Here's the brief."You're My Home": you live in Bandra, so what makes it home? (If you don't live in Bandra, imagine it). The trees, the birds, the air, your nosy neighbours, your generous and helpful neighbours, their culture and yours, the sea, the waves, the aromas, the convenience, the excitement. It's home, so like every home, it has ups, it has downs. But what is it about the environment of Bandra, seen as broadly as you can, that makes it home for you?You can submit anything that can appear in print (without spending enormous amounts of money): essays, short fiction, poetry, play scripts, illustrations, photographs.Please email your submissions to firstname.lastname@example.orgLast date for submissions: September 30th, 11:59p.m.
If you would love to celebrate Bandra and participate in the "Celebrate Bandra" festival, do visit Caferati here ... http://caferati.blogspot.com/2009/09/celebrate-bandra-festival-souvenir-call.html


The nature of tango forces us to protect ourselves in subtle ways from the vulnerability it involves. We press ourselves against a stranger and move as one with their body. We can feel under the skin of the other; we can smell them; our perspiration mingles – on our hands, our brows, our backs. In any other situation this might be too close for comfort. How does it become ‘comfortable’ on the dance floor? We adopt an internal protective attitude. We close our eyes. We try to surrender.
But, for her, with him, it was different. They had agreed to be unprotected in their humanness with each other. Virtual strangers, they had chosen to be lovers. To dance a delicious forbidden tango.
They agree to meet in the afternoon. Enough words had been exchanged; it was time to feel. Nowhere but Bueno Aires can you dance tango in the middle of the day. That it is why it is called Ideal: the ideal confitería for a lovers’ tryst. A venerable restaurant and dance hall built in 1912, it has dark wood paneling, large columns, a stained glass domed skylight, huge mirrors and a formally attired nonchalant waiter.
She arrives first wearing a vintage linen dress in a style of the 1940s. A pale golden color with ivory trim on the fitted v-neck empire-waist bodice and an A-line cut skirt – it allow her legs freedom for dancing. Had she accessorized with an an appropriate hat and gloves it would have completed the fantasy. She chooses a table, changes her shoes, and orders a drink. Against the dark wooden panels of the confitería she is glowing.
A few minutes later, she watches him stride in and over to a table on the other side of the room. He doesn’t want to sit with her. He wants to play. She pretends to not be interested; to not want to look; to not want to dance. She can’t. He is too beautiful and he wants her. She is drawn to his eyes like a magnet and they coquettishly go through the motions of eye contact, nod, rise, meet on the floor.
He invites her into his embrace. For a moment they stand together, close, motionless, breathing in each other’s scent. She feels him move and she goes. He goes with her. She only wants to go where he wants her to go. His hold assures her he will not let go – at least not for this song, not in this moment – and this moment is all they have, all that matters to them. He turns her and his hand edges close to where her flesh leaves her ribs and rises. Her breath catches, becomes shallow and quickens. Her breasts are pressed against his chest. She hopes that the thumping of her heart doesn’t distract him from the beat of the music. Her temple against his – she hopes that her thoughts don’t distract him from the lyrics of the song. He is so close now. So close she can feel his past, present and future. She can smell his desire. Her thigh brushes against the front of his trousers. His breath is on her neck, in her ear, surrounding her disconnected thoughts.
Between songs they separate, maintaining a publicly approved intimate distance and gaze into each others eyes. Searching for understanding.
“You look stunning”, he says, and she knows her recent purchase has been worth that one compliment – even if it is chamuyo.
During the cortinas they sit together, no longer willing to waste precious little time playing games across the floor. Still, they speak very little. They dance a couple more tandas and it is time for him to slip away.
She bends down to change her shoes and you cannot see the tears welling up in her eyes. This is the last she will see of him and so much is left undone.


This extraordinary movie about 3 courageous southern women who share a project to secretly write the emotional, heart wrenching and eye-opening truth from the viewpoint of Black maids in 1962 at Jackson, Mississippi during the changing times of the civil rights movements is based on the #1 New York Times Best Seller Novel “The Help”. This 2009 Novel, written by Kathryn Stockett, was the most talked about book used by Book Clubs everywhere. Tate Taylor turned the story into a screenplay and then directed the film. “The Help” stars Emma Stone (Crazy Stupid Love 2011) as Skeeter; Viola Davis (Doubt 2008) as Abileen; and Octavia Spencer (Seven Pounds 2007) who develop an forbidden friendship while creating their book. The characters were offset by cruel and old fashioned Southern Belles, played by Bryce Dallas Howard as Hilly, and Ahna O’Reilly as Elizabeth. Jessica Chastain played Celia from the other side of the tracks who tries through the whole movie to win the friendship of the local socialites. The all star cast includes, some of films most distinguished actresses including Cicely Tyson, Sissy Spacek, Mary Steenburgen, and Allison Janney.
A timepiece of exquisite drama that will be telling the story of changing time for years to come, go see this movie…
THE BLONDE: I, for the first time in ten years will not be funny or humorous in this film review. It is way too important a masterpiece to trivialize it with fun comments. I can’t tell you rockers, just how much I loved this brilliant, stellar film. I think The Help is one of the most socially conscience, responsible and educational films I have seen in many, many years. It is what Schindler’s List was to the Holocaust. If I were a college professor, I would tell my students that they have one week to see this film or they will be failed. There was nothing that I did not love about The Help, from the casting, to the acting, to the directing to the recreations of the day to the incredible storyline….I laughed, I cried, I shook my head in disbelief and disgust. My heart ached and rejoiced. I was repulsed by some characters and warmed by others.
THE BRUNETTE: I agree, with all my heart. The costumes, homes, cars, buses, music and styles all portrayed the 60’s perfectly.
THE BLONDE: Well, you would know about the 60’s. I was not even born yet.
THE BRUNETTE: I thought you were going to lay off the comedy?
THE BLONDE: Sorry, my bad……
THE BRUNETTE: Moving right along… …
THE BLONDE: A huge point I need to make, is how ashamed and embarrassed I am about the way the south treated a race that’s proved to be full of wisdom, intelligence, kindness, remarkable tolerance and talents. How could we, as a country have treated people so abominably wicked? Disgraceful!!!! Despicable!!!!!! Appalling!!!! Dreadful!!!!
THE BRUNETTE: Wow, you must have been born and raised in the south.
THE BLONDE: Yes, I did in Florida, but, in the 80’s.
THE BRUNETTE: The 80’s huh… But of course you did. Well, I grew up in Southern California and although we were kind of segregated, we lived together with a semblance of peace for the most part. I did not live through or observe this degree of horrible treatment and discrimination of people. I was not exposed to this type of prejudice first hand, so, this movie brought this experience to the forefront for me.
THE BLONDE: The casting and acting performed by every single actor in this film is without a doubt, Oscar worthy. Speaking of which, if this film does not win the Oscar for best picture, I might never watch the awards show again in protest. I don’t just mean nominated, I mean win. I am truly passionate about this movie for and on so many levels. It touched every feeling in my body down to its core. There were several times during the movie I just wanted to stand up and cheer, revolt, scream out in rebellion or simply rejoice. I can’t remember when I have seen such an intelligent, socially aware, enlightening, moving, emotional, thoughtful, honest, magnificently written script. This was truly the perfect movie.
THE BRUNETTE: I feel the same way. However, this was truly a perfect book as well. It was an easy and great read that I could not put down until the last page. I must interject here, that the casting was not only brilliant but dead on from the characters attitudes to their descriptions. Of course, there was a tad more storyline to the novel but did not distract from the film.
THE BLONDE: I loved the exchange and relationships between the characters in the story. The characters were so well defined by the writer that I found myself rooting for them or cursing them. Furthermore, the chemistry between the actors themselves proved to be true acting poetry. I felt all the dramas that occurred in the story, as well as the intensity of the moment, the sadness, the frustrations, the joys and revelations coming right off the screen through the actors’ extraordinary performances.
THE BRUNETTE: Wow, I am exhausted just listening to you Blonde. I think I need to stop here and grab a cup of iced coffee. However, I understand exactly how you feel. I myself went through a pack of Kleenex.
THE BLONDE: I usually don’t look around the audience in a movie theatre, but, I could not help but notice all the people around me were either, laughing, mesmerized or crying. It did somehow connect to the hearts of people of all ages and races.
THE BRUNETTE: You’re right. I too, found that The Help provoked feelings both conscience and sub-conscience alike. Somehow, everyone, could relate to and react to in their own personal way or experiences.
THE BLONDE: I felt the need to give this movie a standing ovation at the end. This film was so amazing right down to the very last word on screen.
THE BRUNETTE: Judging by the crowd, you were not alone based on the round of cheering applause at the conclusion.
THE BLONDE: Watching his film gave me goose bumps for the entire two hours. I cannot rave enough of how wonderful The Help was. Run, don’t walk to see it. Take your children, take your parents and take your family and friends. Don’t forget to go to the restroom and buy a big tub of popcorn before it starts, as you will not want to miss a second of it. For the first time in 10 years of writing reviews, I rate The Help and A+++++ … … Bravo to all who were a part of this tremendous film…. You rock Disney!!!
THE BRUNETTE: I too, give this film an A. Don’t hesitate seeing the movie if you’re not going to read the book. You will understand the story perfectly. However, I do suggest you read the book prior, to get the whole story.
THE BLONDE: I cannot disagree more. I think going in blind with no previous knowledge made me enjoy the film more and kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time wondering what was going to come next. But, I loved the film so much that I will, without a doubt, read the book now!
By the way brunette… I really hated your outfit last night at the movie. Whatever were you thinking when you bought it?
THE BRUNETTE: Really and you should talk. By the way, I noticed that you really need to get your roots done.


We’ve heard beauty is in the eye of the beholder before. But have we really thought about this quote? Do we grasp the real concept that we are all beholders? It may come easily to look around us and point out the beautiful blue sky and an incredible array of colors in the rainbow. But sometimes the hardest thing to do is to look within ourselves. Stop poking at what we think is wrong but to open our eyes and feel what is beautiful.
I want to talk about all things beauty. Makeup, artists, techniques, anything along the lines of beauty. We are all beautiful and things that make us feel so should be recognized and shared. Beauty is mistakenly taken for external looks. It is also internally and a feeling. I want to share with others what beauty is to me and how to become a more beautiful you. In and Out.


Rev. Sun Myung Moon
As a Peace-loving Global Citizen is the autobiography of Rev. Sun Myung Moon, the founder of the Unification Movement. It was published in 2009 in both Korean and English by Gimm-Young Publishers of Seoul, South Korea. The book was released in South Korea on March 9, 2009 and debuted at #3 on the Businesss bestseller's list. It has ranked in various bestseller lists since then and was ranked 15th on the General bestseller's list as of October 14, 2009.
Thursday, November 11, 2010 | |
- CHAPTER ONE - Food is Love
- CHAPTER TWO - A River of Heart Flows with Tears
- CHAPTER THREE - The Man with the Fullest Stomach
- CHAPTER FOUR - Why We Work Globally
- CHAPTER FIVE - True Families Create True People
- CHAPTER SIX - Love Will Bring Unification
- CHAPTER SEVEN - Future of Korea, Future of the Wor...
- CHAPTER EIGHT - Message for Young People


Accepted under the “Addressing Inequalities” Global Thematic Consultation – Call for Proposals for Background Papers, Oct 2012*
Abstract: This report raises concerns with Iran’s imposition of medical procedures on transgender persons as a requirement for the enjoyment of the right to legal recognition. The surgical requirement violates the dignity, bodily integrity and humanity of transgender persons. It also constitutes an egregious case of discrimination on the basis of gender identity given that for Iranian transgender persons, lacking legal recognition means being the denied the right to life, security of the person, freedom from arbitrary arrest and detention, privacy, family, work and education. The report further suggests that the requirement amounts to cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, and possibly even torture, in light of the abuses that pervade and characterise the procedures and processes of psychological and medical testing and treatment of transgenders in Iran. Iran divides individuals who live outside dimorphic, hetero-normative gender relations into two distinct, yet interrelated, categories: transsexual patients and (homo)sexual perverts. The former encompasses individuals who suffer from a “gender identity disorder” (ekhtelal-i hoviat-i jensy) and must be “cured” through hormonal conversations and sex reassignment surgery while the latter includes morally bankrupt individuals who engage in sinful (homo)sexual behaviour outside the bounds of gender normalcy and must be prosecuted and have appropriate punishment meted out to them. It is concluded that Iran’s seemingly progressive stance on transsexuality and sex change should be understood and analysed through the lens of this troubling discourse which regards homosexuality and more generally any sexual or gender non-conformity as perverse, and unlawful, except for those willing to transform their “wrong bodies”.
To read the report, please click the picture.


OFXW Research Spotlight: Exploring clinical unmet needs in FXS and the use of medical records for research
Bringing researchers and healthcare professionals together to share knowledge is essential for improving the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). In June, the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD) held their annual meeting where professionals learned about "cutting edge research, effective practices, and valuable information on important policy initiatives." As part of our efforts to promote high-quality research on IDD, members of our team presented two posters at the meeting. We spoke with attendees about the unmet clinical needs of individuals with fragile X syndrome (FXS) and about how medical records are used for IDD research.
Poster #1. Clinical Unmet Needs and Burden in Fragile X Syndrome: Results of a Targeted Literature Review
Individuals with FXS and their families have a variety of needs but they may not always receive the services and support they need. To take a closer look at this issue, OFXW researchers reviewed research done in the past 10 years on the unmet clinical needs and burden in FXS.
Researchers outlined the strengths and needs of individuals with FXS. This included intellectual and functional abilities, social-emotional behaviors, and other co-diagnoses such as autism spectrum disorder. On average, about 60% of males and 40% of females take symptom-specific medication to treat problems associated with FXS. However, between 20% and 30% of caregivers of males reported that medications had little to no effect.
Child behavior was found to have the most profound impact on the family and caregiver's quality of life. Families who have a child with FXS experienced greater health care costs and financial burden as compared to families without a child with FXS. Indirect costs included the impact on employment/careers, with caregivers taking about 18 hours off work in the last month and some reported that they quit their job, turned down a promotion, or changed working hours or jobs in order to care for their child with FXS. A subset of families reported not enough social support, and more parenting stress, depression, anger, and anxiety.
This review found that there continue to be unmet clinical needs in FXS. Additional treatment options are needed to address these needs and minimize the impact on families.
This research was done by OFXW researchers, Drs. Melissa Raspa and Don Bailey. Co-authors included Patricia Sacco of RTI Health Solutions, and Jeannie Visootsak and Raquel Cabo of Ovid Therapeutics.
Ovid Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company focused exclusively on developing impactful medicines for patients and families living with rare neurological disorders.
Poster #2. What are You Doing with My Records? The Use of Medical Records for Research in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Anne Wheeler presenting a poster at the AAIDD 141st Annual Meeting. Photo courtesy of Anne Wheeler.
Studying medical records can tell us more about the clinical needs of individuals with FXS. Although medical record data can help us improve clinical care, researchers and practitioners must consider both the risks and benefits of using medical records for research purposes.
To learn more about this issue, our team looked at what studies have used medical records for IDD-related research. Over the past 10 years, medical records have mainly been used for four purposes:
- identification of individuals with IDD,
- studies about other health conditions that also affect individuals with IDD,
- genetic studies or those that look at environmental associations with IDD, and
- clinical care.
Using medical records for IDD research can provide important benefits. Findings suggest that these benefits can include an increased understanding of IDD conditions, identifying where there may be barriers to obtaining services or quality health care, improving communication with providers about IDD, and identifying health conditions that also affect individuals with IDD.
The literature also pointed to the risks of using medical records for research, including potential privacy and confidentiality issues, the incompleteness or inaccuracy of records, the possibility of stigmatization, and concerns that families do not understand what their participation in medical records research means.
Medical records hold a wealth of information that can be used in variety of ways. Further exploration of individuals and families' views on using medical records for research purposes is an important step in determining how the IDD field can benefit by the use this information.
This research was done by OFXW researchers, Dr. Anne Wheeler, Rebecca Moultrie, Sara Andrews, Dr. Lauren Turner-Brown, Anne Edwards, Laura Wagner and Dr. Melissa Raspa.
Using What We've Learned
Learning more about individuals' and families' views on using medical records for research is a key step in finding out how to conduct these studies ethically. We plan to use what we learned from this research as the basis for our upcoming survey on preferences for use of medical records in research. We'll post the link for the survey later this fall, so please stay tuned!
If you'd like to be contacted about this upcoming study or other ways to take part in FXS research, please think about signing up for our research registry.
Share Your StoryWhat do you think we need to do to promote a society that fully includes individuals with FXS? What do you think professionals need to know more about? Please consider sharing your thoughts with us. We hope to hear from you!
About the Author
Rebecca Moultrie is a research analyst at RTI International. Her research focuses mainly on helping patients make informed healthcare decisions.


It seems obvious that engaged employees are much more likely to perform better than others, but is there any evidence? And is there a commercial benefit?
In fact, there is a proven link between employee engagement, customer satisfaction and profitability.
US retailer Sears' research showed that a 5% increase in store-level employee engagement led to a 1.5% increase in customer satisfaction and .5% increase in store revenue*. This link has been annually audited and confirmed.
So engaged employees can lead to greater profitability.
What do we measure?
*The Employee-Customer-Profit Chain at Sears, Rucci AJ, Kim, SP and Quinn, RT, Harvard Business Review, Jan-Feb 1998


I would like to apologize for the lack of posts recently.
I have found zero inspiration with this season especially as it keeps going on.
Hopefully I can get some more together as we can all use a laugh.
Especially something Brittana related that is positive.
Thanks for sticking with me! If anyone has any suggestions feel free to submit them :)
Thank you! Glad you like it :)
If you have any you want to see done feel free to submit them!
If you are a fan of the posts then I recommend you read this fic inspired by them!
I am in love with this story and wanted to share it.
You guys are fantastic!! Thank you for the support.
We all need some Brittana wankyness in our lives. Especially now.
If you have any suggestions or even submissions of your own feel free to send it my way!


Warnings: Spanking, bondage, bit of d/s
Word Count: 665
Disclaimer: They don’t belong to me, but I play with them anyway.
Author's Notes: This originally started out for the spanking prompt on 50kinkyways , but I used more than one prompt so I can’t use it for that. That’s to vagablonde for the title suggestions, and the wonderful beta!
“You’ve been bad.”
The words are whispered in his ear, warm breath ghosting over his skin, and he can’t help but shiver. He knew this was coming, knew before he’d disobeyed orders that it would lead to this, but he still did. Now he’s lying there, completely at the mercy of the other. He’s on his stomach, his hands shackled to the legs of the bed. His ass is in the air, his ankles shackled tightly to a strap that had been placed around the bed for this very purpose, so he can’t move. He’s still got his clothes on, but he knows it won’t remain that way for long. Strong, nimble fingers glide up his back, until they reach the top of his shirt, the long-sleeved black one he usually wears under his uniform. His breathing hitches as the material is forcibly ripped from him, he won’t be using that top again.
He shivers again as the fingers make their way around his chest and tug sharply on a nipple before retreating to his back again. They trail down his spine before coming to rest on the waistband of his pants. He can feel the warm hands moving, until a knife slips under the waistband. His breath hitches again as it slices through the seam on the back of his pants, and down his left leg; the blunt edge of the knife is cold as it trails down his leg. The knife is moved to the other leg, cutting it in the same fashion as the other. His boxers are next, the knife making short work of the soft, thin material until he’s completely naked, his bare skin vulnerable to the other.
“You know what that means.”
He feels a hand glide over his ass, squeezing one cheek before disappearing. He hears rustling, and knows what the other is getting. He feels it against his ass for a moment, lining up before being pulled away. There’s a moment of silence, of waiting, and then there’s the sound of it rushing through the air, and connecting with his flesh. He can’t help but jerk in his bonds as the pain comes.
He’s not being gentle this time.
The warning is spoken in a low tone, and he knows that if he doesn’t obey, it’ll only draw the punishment out longer. He concentrates on staying still as the paddle comes down again. The strokes blur together in a mixture of pain and arousal. He doesn’t know how long it goes on for, but then it’s finally over, and there are hands on his ass again, opening him with slick fingers, cool against the red and swollen welts. Then the fingers are gone, and he can hear the soft tear, a condom slowly and deliberately torn open, the noise seeming loud over his own harsh breaths. He can feel the others cock pushing against his entrance, and he lets him in. It feels so good, so full.
He groans and can’t help but move back to take him in further. He gets a sharp slap in response, adding another bite of pain, making the effort to remain still hard, but he does. Soon he’s all the way in, and then he’s thrusting hard and fast, and even as the arousal is over laced with the sharp sting of flesh connecting with the hot, pulsing welts, he knows he won’t last long. He’s right. There’s the white bliss of orgasm, and he hears the other groan as the thrusts become erratic. Then he is lying on top of him, sweat-salted skin against his, panting for a moment to catch his breath. He feels his bonds being undone, and arms sliding around him, a kiss being placed on the back of his neck as he settles down with a sigh.
“Love you, John” He whispers into the darkness of the room
“Love you too, Evan”
He falls asleep knowing everything is alright, and how it should be..


Artist | Student | Digital Art
Welcome to my profile, where sanity has long since been thrown away. Entrance is on the left. Exit is also on the left. Also, please refrain from going left, as something sinister seem to be in our mist.
~>I asked God for strength, that I might achieve,
I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey.
I asked for health, that I might do greater things,
I was given infirmity, that I might do better things.
I asked for riches, that I might be happy,
I was given proverty, that I might be wise.
I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men,
I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God.
I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life,
I was given life, that I might enjoy all things.
I got nothing that I asked for-- but everything that I hoped for.
Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.
I am among all men, most richly blessed.


You’ve seen PhD candidates being challenged to the very limitsby their dissertation projects. You understood their struggle, but you always believed the process would be different for you. You have your heart set on a topic and you think things will go as smoothly as possible. As soon as you start the preliminary research process, you realize your assumptions were far from the truth.
Suddenly, you’re faced with the most serious project you’ve ever worked on. The research stage is perhaps the most confusing aspect. You have to collect and go through many resources that are often contradictory to one another.
Take a deep breath. You’ll go through this. You’ve come so far! The following tips will help you conduct the research for your dissertation without feeling the usual pressure:
Start With a Literature Review
Let’s make something clear: the research stage comes after you identify your topic. We’ll assume you already have your topic, since this is a guide for the research stage.
The process starts with a review of the literature in the area. You’ll include comments on this process in the dissertation itself. The literature review section will contain a brief introduction to the topic, explanations of the key concepts, and an evaluation of the existing literature. For many PhD candidates, this is the most difficult part of the entire dissertation completion process.
- Start by reading integrative articles to see how other researchers organized the literature review.
- When you find a relevant journal article, research report or book, go through the references and they will guide you to other relevant materials.
- Use Google Scholar to find more relevant sources. Include electronic bibliographies in the research process. ERIC(Education Resources Information Center) and PsychINFO are good places to start.
- Take notes! You can work on the literature review section as you conduct the research.
Distinguish Secondary Material from Primary Sources
A primary sources gives you direct evidence for your thesis. The primary sources can come in the form of audio or video recordings, results from experiments, interviews, surveys, legal and historical documents, published creative writing pieces, speeches, works of art, and mainly empirical studies. When you encounter a study based on direct observation or experiment, it’s a primary source.
Secondary sources, on the other hand, discuss, describe, evaluate, analyze, and comment upon primary sources. These can be journal articles based on someone else’s research. They are equally important for your dissertation as primary sources.
Have a Plan
Do yourself a huge favor: make a plan for the research. This will be a long process. Any distraction and procrastination will have a negative effect on it. Block out the days when you know you won’t be able to work. Holidays, important events, rest days… mark them in your calendar. Then, give yourself a timeframe for the research. A dissertation usually requires months of committed research. Allocate the research tasks in a schedule you know you’ll be able to follow.
Start writing the dissertation somewhere along the way. When you realize you have enough material to work with , start writing the first draft and continue the process of analyzing resources.
The point of making a plan is motivation. You see attainable goals there. For example, you give yourself one week to read and analyze a particular study or survey. When you have such a milestone that’s not difficult to achieve, it will be easy to stay on track. If you don’t have a plan, you’ll fall a victim to procrastination.
Don’t try to fool yourself; the process will be long and exhausting. However, this is a project you knew you would get to. You’ve been working to get to this point too hard. You already have a solid base of knowledge that allows you to tackle the topic, and you’ve obtained the needed writing skills through all other projects you worked on. You can do it!


Children & Youth Study
The Christian Education team at First works to find good ways to work with children at their intellectual and skill level to teach the stories and traditions of the Bible and also to look at culture and life applications and how the Bible and being a Christian speaks to that. Below are the classes that are currently taking place at First. You are welcome to join us anytime – for a Sunday, for a section or to become part of the community and help plan what we do.
Chi Rho – Grades 6-8
Dark & Disturbing Stories from the Bible
Challenging students to see life From God’s point of view.
Beginning September 29th, we will be using Dark and Disturbing Stories from the Bible published by Standard Publishing (www.standardpub.com). Remember these stories:
A lone rebel slays an evil king…
A woman stakes out the enemy commander and slays him with an iron peg…
The sun stands eerily still leading to an entire army’s annihilation…
A man betrays his guiltless friend for a handful of coins…
The publisher says “There are more like PG-13 movies than Sunday school stories. But they are in the bible. And they’re not meant to be hidden.” So we will explore them for 8 weeks.
Harry Potter: During the month of September we looked at the Harry Potter series using a curriculum written by PrimeTime Parable Ministries (www.entmin.com). Their goal is to look at the intersectio of culture and Christianity. The questions we will be focusing on incude:
What does the author say? J.K. Rowling was raised Anglican and is now a member of the Presbyterian Church
What does the story say? Jesus told many of this stories in parable. Looking at Harry Potter as story what does it say about prophecy, the power of love and the title of “Chosen One?”
What does the Bible say? Rowling says two verses summarize the series – we will be exploring those.


he Daily Muse
Intense thunder storms have passed through the area, revitalizing the garden. Rain and thunder woke me from my sleep several times during the past two nights. I love to lie in bed listening to the rain... but I miss actually seeing it. There is nothing so satisfying as watching a good soaking rain from my front porch.
I dreamed about moving last night, about leaving my garden for another...
Over the course of the past few weeks, we've made the decision to move and have purchased a new home. We need the living space, and the new house more than doubles what we have. The yard is huge, it is exciting to think about starting over with a new garden, a semi-blank slate. Still, I have tended this garden for sixteen years. It is difficult to imagine not sitting on the front porch here, up among the trees, watching the rain or the mockingbirds defending their turf.
I have promised myself that I will be patient, that I will not immediately set out to create a new garden. Instead I want to acquaint my self with the new space, to learn its patterns of sun and shade, and start to improve its soil.
There will be much to write about and still more to do in the upcoming weeks. I look forward to the challenges ahead, and yet...
Summer is upon us. I spend my mornings in the garden tending to the needs of the plants, and then retreat indoors. Despite the heat, there are still many joys to experience: the Rose of Sharons, or Altheas, are in full flower, as are the daylilies, and yesterday I watched while a pair of mockingbirds fed their very insistent fledgling. It was course-feathered and fat, not at all like its sleek parents, and its squawking was far from refined. I couldn't help but wonder how many possumhaw berries it would take to fuel its first thrilling song. Despite these pleasures, the careless ease of early spring has passed, and from here on out, every day will involve chore-like tasks simply to keep the garden alive.
Hidden away, in the coolness of my home, I have been preparing myself for a class that I will be teaching at the Seton Cove, a local spirituality center. The course is titled "The Poetics of Creation" - I will be using poems from various traditions as "sacred texts" that interpret the experience of the divine in nature. Among my favorites are poems from the ancient Chinese. Buddhism flowered in China during the T'ang Dynasty and the poetry of that era is deeply evocative of the gentle spirit of the Buddhist tradition. These are definitely poems for gardeners, it has been a gift to read and re-read them in the darkness, away from the heat.
Earlier today, I was interviewed on the local NPR affiliate about my class, and I read a few of Kenneth Rexroth's translations of Chinese poetry. It was wonderful sharing those words with an invisible audience, I felt like I was offering them a garden to retreat to in the middle of their busy days. However, when I came home and walked through my own garden, all I could see was wilted foliage and plants that needed to be pruned. I slumped back into my air-conditioned cave, not wanting to do any work in the mid-day sun. Instead, I opened Stephen Mitchell's book "The Enlightened Heart."
This was on the page that I opened:
My daily affairs are quite ordinary;
but I'm in total harmony with them.
I don't hold on to anything, don't reject anything;
nowhere an obstacle or conflict.
Who cares about wealth and honor?
Even the poorest things shine.
My miraculous power and spiritual activity:
drawing water and carrying wood.
by Layman P'ang
China, c. 740 - 808
I am in the throes of moving and haven't had much time for reflection. We will be moving to our new home at the end of the week and I am very excited about the huge task of creating a new garden.
This morning, while watering my old friend, my present garden, I thought about what it is to leave one garden behind for another. It is sad to think that I will no longer have the daily rituals and reassurances of this place; that I will be leaving the rusty blackhaw viburnums, weeping yaupons, and Japanese maples behind. I lingered as I watered, giving everything an deep soaking, deeper than was really needed. I pulled a few weeds, hackberry seedlings and the like, it has required so much of my attention to keep them at bay, I wondered who will do this in the future...
I have always believed in fate, that by and large, things turn out as they were meant to. I trust that some new gardener will come along and adopt this place as his or her own. Meanwhile, I am readying myself for the work and joy that lies ahead. More soon.
Continue to Daily Muse for June 2000
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All material © Soul of the Garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.


Many are living in knowing what is not real. The translations that people are reading today is misleading them because those words that we are comprehending within our spirit are very destructive to the human soul. When you read amos 8 on the eleventh verse it tells us that there will be a famine for the word not for bread or water...now bread here is speaking of the physical appetite and this isn't what the father is talking about. He is speaking of his designed word and language that was before all these other languages and what language is that!!! The Hebrew" I know this will interfere with many because the human race doesn't like change and we are not easily adopted people for the good but when is for evil yes every one participated.


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The artbook Artist’s Portfolio edited by Leslie’s Artgallery is ready at the digital book publishing service of Blurb, a company and a community that believes passionately in the joy of books – reading them, making them, sharing them, and selling them.
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Oh man, do we have a lot to catch up on.
Life is so weird. Life never stops being weird. It never stops moving and changing, but the one constant I guess you could say is it continues to just be…weird.
I have taken so dang long to post a blog post that I almost think I should start at the present and go backwards.. so that’s what I’m going to do.
The last year of my life has been amazing and horrible and hilarious and victorious and horrendous all at once.
But at the end of this year…the dreaded happened…I turned 30. The year leading up to this day was full of panic and breakdowns in preparation for that day, as any normal Basic Chick would naturally have it… But when it happened…magically… everything was fine! The panic and the breakdowns were for nothing. Everything had sorted itself out. I literally woke up thinking “good riddance to bad rubbish.” And even though it has only been three months, I have weirdly gone through a surprisingly large amount of life changes and feels. So thank you to my dramatic 20’s for fully preparing me.
The number one thing I have learned: Everything will sort it self out. Always. And, its true. YES, I feel like I was beat up by a gang of emotions and hit by a train full of anxiety and life altering decisions all at once, and somehow I barely climbed my way out of the dirty, dark hole that is supposed to be known as the best years of your life. But, alas…I’m alive. I MADE IT YA’LL. And everything worked itself out. The heart break and the friendships lost, the opportunities missed and the very very big mistakes made, where all for something. Could have lived without them but…they were for something.
I’ve learned that loyalty is hard to come by. That as much as you want to trust people, unfortunately it may not be a fit. But when you find someone who is truly loyal to you, hold on to them for dear life and never let them go. And in my opinion, true loyalty is more than keeping your secrets. A truly loyal friend is someone who deals with the crap and the neurosis and the pointless drama that no one else wants to deal with. It’s someone who will support and love you no matter what you do and where you are, but who can also be brave enough to be faithful to your growth and development as a person. What do I mean by that? I mean someone who will have the hard conversations with you that you may not be able to have with yourself in order to help you become a better person. Someone that does it with all the love in their heart that they can possibly give you. Who will tell you the hard facts and then proactively be there to support you afterwards. Who will help you make practical steps to get you to a better place. Who will get in the trenches with you. I think someone who is truly loyal is also someone that is able to foresee your future feelings. Nothing irritates me more than when a friend who knows you well feels that its okay to play dumb and say they “didn’t know you would get upset” AFTER the fact. A truly loyal friend does not always need to be physically told by you what will bother you. They know you, and they are cognizant of how things will make you feel. They genuinely don’t want you to ever feel sad, and they do their very best to achieve this.
Dating should Not. Be. That. Hard. Just be yourself. This is probably the #1 thing I still work on the most because I am a SPAZ. I have really good game for the first day/ conversation/ impression and then it goes right out the window. This year I spent so much time and anxiety and energy on trying to figure out what to say or how to act to keep the attention of men who where frankly not worth it. Just be yourself and in the words of one of my best friends LIVE YO LIFE. Girls, we are so special and unique. And I know we hear it from people that love us and support us all the time, and it’s SO EASY to say it to each other, but it is dang near impossible to believe it about ourselves when we’re stuck in this horrible monstrosity people call the dating world. But it’s true…life is too short to be anything but yourself. Stop trying to do the math on how long you should take to text him back and just do you, boo. Instead of wasting time on that, we should be working on making ourselves more well rounded and interesting, and opening ourselves up for something better. Make yourself someone you are proud of - always. Also…just so we have full disclosure…I will continue to read this part back to myself because I AM A NIGHTMARE in this department. But dang, I make it sound good on paper. But please. Please. Let’s just not lose ourselves for boys anymore. Stick to your guns. Stay rad, CHICKS. And boys…take this and just basically reverse it and it will apply almost the same.
Quality over Quantity.
This is probably the number one lesson I learned throughout my 20’s and the lesson that took the longest to stick. I love to be loved. I think we all do. I love to find connections with everyone I meet. It is like the bread and butter of my life. I made friends with three different people on an 8 minute tube ride when I was in London two months ago and it made my heart oh so happy. But I have learned over the years…what makes my heart the happiest is nurturing the connections that mean the most. The connections that belong to the people that deserve it - true and loyal friends. Give THOSE people everything you have. And don’t share that love. Be a little selfish with the people you love and the time you spend.
Don’t drink kids. Just don’t do it. It makes you act stupid, and it’s literal poison. I won’t even go into it more than that.
Fight for the happiness you want. Fight for the love you want. “Once in a lifetime opportunities” do exist. And people do live with regret when they don’t speak up for love and happiness. This could pertain to relationships, major life changes, etc. Travel while you can, because there comes a time when you can’t be as frivolous as you once could be. This blog started because I quit my job and left town. And two years ago I was a strong believer in the wanderlust life. And I wouldn’t change all of that for anything. It made me who I am now. But it doesn’t last forever. And knowing that now, and knowing that I am more content with a slightly less adventurous life…AKA being okay with having a home and a job like a normal person, and not dreaming of living out of a van…makes me so thankful that I did what I did when I did it.
Take care of yourself girl.
Wash your face, do a cleanse every now and then, drink A LOT of water, do a face mask, get a pedi, drag your butt to the gym, get some sleep. You’re worth it and your 30’s will thank you. Moisturize like you’re living on the freakin’ sun.
So yeah, there you have it. There are my main thoughts on this new chapter in life. Love hard, thank the people who deserve it, be yourself, appreciate loyalty, be kind and let your weirdo out. And remember - things always have a way of working themselves out. I have some pretty exciting things coming up in life, and I’m excited to head towards these new adventures as the person I am today.
NOW. Now that have caught you up on me being 30, and my feels have been felt, I want to tell you about my adventures this last year or two: Grand Canyon, US roadie & Europe! Keep an eye out.


Amanda Gorman is the Youngest Poet to Recite at a Presidential Inauguration - Inside her Life & Career
Amanda Gorman has been causing chills and amazement with her work for quite some time now, and although she has an impressive resume for a 22-year-old, she just hit a new professional peak after reciting at the presidential inauguration on January 20.
Joe Biden’s presidential inauguration was a star-studded event, and yet, despite big celebs like Lady Gaga and Jennifer Lopez performing at the ceremony, it’s Amanda Gorman who everyone has been talking about.
The young lady, who wrote and recited the poem “The Hills We Climb,” is the youngest person in the United States’ history to perform at a presidential inauguration, an honor she doesn’t take for granted.
She saw her inclusion in such a historic event as an opportunity to represent her generation, and to let young people see that they too can have a voice.
Here’s everything we know about this rising poet and her participation in the inauguration.
HER EARLY LIFE & EDUCATION
Born in 1998 in Los Angeles, Gorman has a twin sister, Gabrielle, who is an activist and filmmaker. The girls’ mother is Joan Wicks, a middle school teacher who had a great influence on Gorman.
Gorman’s love for poetry and literature started early on, as she remembers how, in third grade, her teacher’s read of Ray Bradbury’s “Dandelion Wine” caught her attention.
She started writing early on, but reciting was something she wasn’t so sure about, especially because she was diagnosed with a speech impediment.
In an interview with the L. A Times, Gorman admitted that all writers experience anxiety about the quality of their work, but for her, the pressure was on whether she could say what needed to be said. She said:
“I don’t look at my disability as a weakness. It’s made me the performer that I am and the storyteller that I strive to be.”
After graduating from high school, Gorman a Milken Family Foundation college scholarship and she went on to study sociology at Harvard, graduating cum laude in 2020.
At 16, Gorman became the youth poet laureate of Los Angeles, and in 2017, she became the first National Youth Poet Laureate. That same year she received a Genius Grant from OZY Media.
She has performed at the Library of Congress, and for personalities such as Lin-Manuel Miranda, Al Gore, Secretary Hillary Clinton, and Malala Yousafzai.
Gorman has two upcoming books that will be published soon, “The Hill We Climb,” a poetry collection, and a children’s book, “Change Sings: A Children's Anthem.”
HER INAGURATION OUTFIT
Gorman not only delivered a powerful poem at the inauguration, she was also praised by her choice in outfit.
The young poet wore a Prada yellow double-breasted coat and matched it with a contrasting red headband from the same designer atop of her braided hair. The coat, she told Vogue, was a nod to first lady Jill Biden, who recommended her for the job in the first place.
On top of that, Gorman also revealed she got a call from Oprah Winfrey, who told her she ordered the gloves and coat that Maya Angelou wore when she did her inauguration poem.
Winfrey told Gorman she wanted to continue the tradition, so she sent her jewelry with a lot of meaning, including a ring that has a caged bird, to symbolize “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” and a pair of gold hoop earrings from Greek designer Nikos Koulis.
Gorman said of fashion that “it has so much meaning to me, and it’s my way to lean into the history that came before me and all the people supporting me.”
Gorman’s career is just starting, and now that she got worldwide attention, it's clear that her path will be filled with more opportunities, and she’s up for the challenge, as she has mentioned before that one of her goals is running for president in 2036.


BLUF: Key success factors (or KSFs) can be defined as the three to five broad areas on which your organization must focus in order to achieve its vision. KSFs should be specific; help identify performance measures and strategies; and help the organization prioritize its actions and investments. Although companies often confuse them, KSFs are not goals or even measures of performance. In "Keeping Score," Mark Graham Brown stresses the importance of periodic review as key success factors may change over time. KSFs specify broadly what you need to focus on to achieve your vision, and strategies provide the details of how this will be done.
In deciding on your key success factors, it helps to think about what your organization is known for, as well as what it is not known for. It is impossible to be successful if you try to be all things to all customers. Good organizations pick their niche and stick with it
Key success factors can be major weaknesses or deficiencies that must be fixed if the company is to achieve its vision. KSFs can be like very broadly defined strategies—for example, a KSF for a company in survival mode might be getting approval for a bank loan to fund company expenses for the next six months.
Following the guidance of many texts but in particular the methodology of Winning Score by Mark Graham Brown, the Carrier Team One Executive Steering Committee (ESC) formalized and adopted three key success factors. These key success factors represented the consensus of the Team One ESC regarding the three to five broad areas in which Team One must focus in order to achieve its vision. The purpose of the key success factors is to help identify performance measures and help prioritize actions (i.e., specific actions or implementing strategies). The Team One metrics were developed using the key success factors. The three Key Success Factors (KSFs) for Team One adopted by the ESC in May 2001 are:
* Manage by Cold, Hard Facts
* Knowledge Sharing For Value,
* Organizational Leadership Commitment to the Team One Initiative
For more information on KSFs, do a web search on Key Success Factors.


FIC: Watch the Sky by mnemosyne_1 (Neville/Charlie, PG)-
This is a 3-part fic that I absolutely fell IN LOVE with. The premise is that a dark curse has permanently hurt Neville's wand hand. He must hide this because of Ministry backwardsness, and it forces him to choose a different path in life. No longer can he be a herbologist. The path he finally chooses is a brave one and takes him all around the world. Even though his world's expanding and he's growing... his thoughts seem to revolve around Charlie. There are some great danger sequences, massaging of Neville's injury, some wonderful characters, plenty of strong emotions, and one heck of an ending. HIGHLY recommended!
FIC: A Cure for Hiccups by suntzu_s (Neville/Harry, NC-17)-
Neville is hit by a spell in DA practice and can't stop hiccuping. Harry helps him out in some very caring, hot way. This is definitely how I like my h/c :-)
FIC: Prospects by celandineb (Neville/Percy and others, NC-17)-
A great fic dealing with a lot of emotions and relationship issues in Neville's and Percy's lives, leading up to the inevitable Neville/Percy-ness which is hot and beautiful. I love the letter images throughout as well. I really enjoyed reading this!
FIC: Something Borrowed by snegurochka_lee (Charlie/Teddy, NC-17)-
Oohhhhhhh Charlie! Though I'd expect nothing short of greatness from Lee, this was amazing. SO much goodness, such amazing characterizations, and an overall pairing you can't help but go weak for. Gorgeous. Go read it now.
FIC: A Simple Misunderstanding by trubbleclef (Neville/Harry, NC-17)-
My feedback starts with "This. Was. Brilliant." It's playing with watersports (but don't get scared away, trust me). Neville feels like a magnet for that particular kink, but it's not for him. Humorous encounters, misunderstandings, and plenty of hotness abound.
FIC- Increments of One by florahart (Harry/Charlie, R?)-
Incredible story which starts out during the rebuilding of Hogwarts. I wasn't sure I was going to like the pairing at first, but I was incredibly amazed at how good this was. The emotions, the intimacy, the slow rebuilding of more than just Hogwarts.
ART- Increments of One by lizardspots (Harry/Charlie, NC-17)-
Art by the wonderful lizard based on the story. Guh. So lovely and hot!
FIC & ART- Healthy Sportsmanship by lizardspots (Harry/Draco, NC-17)-
Oh good gods. This isn't even a pairing I like to ship, but it's totally hot and believable in slashily in character.
ART- It's almost-porn! by nk_aoede (Remus/Sirius, PG-13/R)-
GORGEOUS Remus/Sirius pre-sex moment. I love
their expressions. I can't look away from this picture... I just can't. Yum!
ART- Lots of Remus/Sirius by nk_aoede (Remus/Sirius, G-NC-17)-
Plenty of incredible R/S pictures from various stages of their lives. I love the choices and the touches, the colors (mmm- library cuddles).
ART- Scarf tug by nk_aoede (Remus/Sirius, PG)-
Ooohhhhh yes. Look at their expressions and Remus' tugging on the scarf around both their necks. Yes yes. I like VERY muchly.