wedding books

Posted on 04/08/2011 by Deano

OK well firstly it’s worth pointing out that a wedding book is no longer a simple bound memory of your wedding with pictures and comments from the guests. In the new age of technology it can now be electronic, or even hosted online with various documents included.  It could be a secure site (this is probably wise) with a password for people to use if they would like to browse it, but you could make it completely open to be viewed by anyone if you prefer.

Some people have what they call a wedding story book, its becoming a bit more popular at the moment and does tend to be the traditional bound type with pages and a cover as opposed to being electronic, but could be either. All they really are are a book with pictures digitally produced and actually printed on the pages, this is quite a clever use of modern digital photography technology, as a professional wedding photographer will use a digital camera anyway, so can just email the pictures over to a printer for production.

One benefit of having the book online is also the option to incorporate other media such as music and video, it’s extremely likely that you (or one of your guests) will have a video recorder and will film some of the key parts of the day, such as the ceremony, if they allow it in the church, the signing, the speeches and possibly the wedding band. Just remember that unless a particular speech was very good, then nobody is going to sit through half an hour of groom, father and best mans speeches, so best just keep it to the highlights if you want people to make it all the way through.

Many couples will have a party band playing live at the wedding instead of just a disco, so with their permission you can probably either record the wedding band or ask them for a professionally made recording of a couple of songs they play (a suggestion would be your first dance song) to have playing over the static photographs, this would bring the whole thing together nicely as your guests are likely to remember that was your first dance, especially if it’s a fairly well known song anyway. Most wedding bands are likely to oblige, after all, they may even get some more work from it one day.

So if you are planning on having a wedding book, make sure you get the wedding photos electronically and get the bands permission to use their music, the rest can all be done once you get back from the honeymoon.

 

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Book Excerpt

Posted on 24/06/2011 by Deano

Here is a section of text from a recent book about UK Law:

How Does it Work

You will have heard about it many times, advertisements are regularly on the television, as well as in newspapers and magazines.  Everybody is talking about “no win no fee” as though they know exactly what they are talking about.  However, it also seems as though people feel that it means the service is free for you and that is probably not entirely true…

What is a “No Win No Fee” Arrangement?

The official term for a no win no fee arrangement is a conditional fee arrangement.  These arrangements, in a nut-shell, mean that solicitors’ fees are recovered from the other side if their claim is successful.  Usually, the arrangement will also mean that if they are unsuccessful, they will not receive any fees.  However, this is where you need to be particularly diligent before signing the agreement, as you could be held responsible for the fees should your claim not be successful.  Legal expenses insurance is usually in place for this, so ensure you check with all your forms of insurance (car, home, life, etc…), whether legal expenses insurance is included in your policy.  If not, you would be able to enter in an “after the event” policy, of which your solicitor should be able to inform you.

One other thing you need to study before entering in any form of arrangement is the flip side: no win no fee should mean win fee, meaning that if your case is won, you will have to pay fees.  These can be substantial, so make sure you know exactly what the fee is if your case is successful.  Luckily, many solicitors now also recover these fees from the other side, but make sure you have looked into this properly.

So How is it Possible?

Well, it is a specific beauty of English law: the court case loser will be expected to pay all of the costs for the court case including the winners.  This is, once again, where you need to be very careful: if your side is the losing side, you will be responsible for the winner’s costs.  This includes any disbursements, for example the costs of expert witnesses.  Because of this, solicitors will often be reluctant to proceed to a court case if they feel the other side has a good chance of winning.  Although insurance can be put in place to cover you in case your side loses (the after the event policy discussed above), a solicitor is unlikely to proceed with a case in front of a court unless they are quite sure that they will win. No win no fee lawyer Swindon

It Sounds Like I Could Lose Lots of Money, Should I Just Not Bother?

No win no fee is a fantastic arrangement if you feel you have been treated unfairly.  The system is such that you will most likely not have to pay anything, unless you lose your case.  This is extremely rare, as a solicitor will review your case first before proceeding to a hearing.  Overall, a no win no fee solicitors arrangement is definitely one to consider, just make sure you read your arrangement before signing it! No win no fee solicitor Oxford

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More Peoples Best Books

Posted on 09/06/2011 by Deano

Twenty Plays of the NO Theatre, translated by Donald Keene
- Jane Hirshfield, Poet

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The Man Who Mistook His
Wife for a Hat by Oliver Sacks

“Oliver Sacks has brought neuro- psychology to the rest of us in his funny, compassionate books on communication, biology and culture.”
- Carey Perloff, Artistic Director,
American Conservatory Theater

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Slouching Towards Bethlehem
by Joan Didion

“An hilariously astute collection of essays about the crazy state of California.”
- Ethan Watters, Author

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Desperation
by Stephen King

- Melike Sayman, Student in Turkey

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Nancy Drew Mysteries
by Carolyn Keene…AND…
Buddenbrooks by Thomas Mann
- Sydney Goldstein, Director,
City Arts & Lectures

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1984 by George Orwell…AND…
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
- Donna Levin, Author and
Writing Teacher

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Our Hearts were Young and Gay
by Cornelia Otis Skinner

“A book that introduced me to the notion that prose could make me laugh out loud!”
- Leah Garchik, SF Chronicle Columnist

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The Collected Stories of John Cheever

“The ultimate collection by one of America’s best short story writers of the 20th century.”
- Ethan Canin, Author

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My Best Books

Posted on 09/06/2011 by Deano

The Discoverers by Daniel Boorstin

“The Discoverers changed my life in the period it took to read it, about a week. I had left college and was content to plod along, merrily ill-informed. That book sent me back to the university, where I completed two degrees and became a lecturer at SFSU.

It helped me learn that the search is never over. The journey to discovery is what is important, just as Boorstin lets you discover. Since then I have discovered many, many “favorite” books and authors but I most likely would never have done so without the power of Boorstin’s collection and presentation.”
- Dennis Bianchi,
SFSU, Criminal Justice Program

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The Stand and Thinner
by Stephen King

- Carla Hotherman

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Sandel by Angus Stewart

- T. Mathews, Australia

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Out On a Limb by Shirley MacLaine

“As cliched as this may be, yes, this book changed my life. It was an insight to a dimension of life that we tend to dismiss. The book literally glued itself to my hand at a time when I needed what it offered.”
- Jeanette Clement, Musician

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A Scattered People
by Gerald McFarland…AND…
Ellen Foster by Kaye Gibbons.

“The book that really changed my life was my own written with Mary Morrison: Roxana’s Children: The Bio of a 19th Century Vermont Family, which is half about early California when Vermonters immigrated to San Francisco. Writing that book definitely changed my life.”
- Lynn Bonfield

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The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

“Suddenly I felt myself not alone in the world, not the only child who had even been raped, but also that I felt seen and loved and understood in a way no book had made me feel before.”
- Dorothy Allison, Author

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Independent Shops

Posted on 09/06/2011 by Deano

Because of the growth of independent bookstores, large chains have diverted their attention from faltering mall outlets to “superstores”. They have closely copied large independent bookstores and are placing these monoliths nearby as possible hoping to attract the book-buying community that has been served over the years by these independently owned community stores.
As a result, we independents renew our sense of purpose and take this opportunity to share our thoughts on what defines an independent bookstore:

Independents have an on-site owner–someone who’s right there. All the decisions are made right in the store.

Independents pride themselves on depth and breadth of stock.

Independents talk with their customers directly and enjoy fulfilling–even exceeding–their expectations. They also help the public discover new or little-known authors or presses.

Independents invest resources in knowledgeable staff and nurture professional, career booksellers.

Independents act as community resources and are often active in community causes. Many work together to foster authors, books, and reading–in the process helping to spread literacy.

Independents are leaders in the fight against censorship and other threats to freedom of expression.

One of the great strengths of our culture is diversity. When 5000 book buyers from independent stores across the country order books from publishers, their diverse selections insure variety in the marketplace. If the marketplace becomes overly dominated by a few large, corporate-owned chain bookstores, publishing decisions will be made by a few easily controlled buyers working for large companies. This will affect our freedom to choose what we read.

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A Book Changed My Life Part 2

Posted on 09/06/2011 by Deano

The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand

“Time and time again this book instills in me the most rational and considered way of thought possible. A must read for anyone who desires knowledge.”
- Joe Weber

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Proud Spirit by Rosemary Altea

“This book literally changed my life. It took all of the doubt out of my personal direction. It inspired me to the deepest level of inspiration. I recommend this book to all of my friends and family. I should probably just buy copies and hand them out at my front door.”
- Julie Berry from Monmouth, Oregon

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The Scarlet Pimpernel by B. Orczy

“If a man like Percy Blakeney exists anywhere on this earth, I intend to find him.”
- Amanda Denton

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There Is A River
by Thomas Sugrue

“This is a biography of psychic Edgar Cayce. I was fourteen or so and hungry for some kind of spiritual ideas that would fit more comfortably than the Christianity into which I had been born. Ironically, it was the astonishing capabilities of this very devout Christian that started me on the search for personal truth that has made all the difference in my life.”
- Elizabeth Burton

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Summerhill by A.S. Neil…AND…
Island by Aldous Huxley

“Summerhill helped me raise my children with love and freedom. Island gave me a feel for balance and follow-through in my young adulthood.”
- Sherry Heitman

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Not Without My Daughter
by Bette Mahmoody

- Lisa Wade

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Many Lives, Many Masters
by Brian L. Weiss, M.D.

“The book is a true story that unravels around reincarnation and how it brought a young woman to weekly hypnosis sessions with her therapist. As an extreme skeptic about such matters, I found myself totally drawn in and consumed by each subsequent hypnotic trance. The author, Dr. Weiss, is a very credible professional, and managed to maintain his distance while drawing out his patient. I was never bored.”
- Brenda L. Riggs, New Albany, Ohio

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Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White…AND…
Refuge by Terry Tempest Williams

“As a child, Charlotte’s Web, in which I learned loyalty and friendship are more important than anything else. As an adult, Refuge, in which I learned that with loyalty and friendship comes responsibility.”
- Unnamed Contributor

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Get That Novel Written!
by Donna Levin
- Adair Lara, SF Chronicle Columnist

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Soul on Ice by Eldridge Cleaver
- Wendy Tokuda, News Anchor/Reporter,
KRON

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Paula by Isabel Allende
- Teresa Mejia, Acting Executive Director
The S.F. Women’s Building

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Gray’s Anatomy by Henry Gray…AND…
The Secret Garden
by Frances Hodgson Burnett

“The Secret Garden was very important to me as a sick young girl. It helped me recognize there was something beyond physical health. It’s a powerful book that I have given to all of my patients, most of whom have cancer.”
- Rachel Naomi Remen, M.D., Author and Medical Director
of Commonwealth Cancer Health Program

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Gravity’s Rainbow
by Thomas Pynchon…AND…
TV Movies and Video Guide
by Leonard Maltin
- David Kipen, SF Chronicle
Book Editor

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A Pattern Language
by Christopher Alexander, et al.
- Carl Pope, Executive Director,
The Sierra Club

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Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin
- Supervisor Tom Ammiano

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Light Years by James Salter
- Daniel Duane, Author

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Second Chances: Men, Women & Children a Decade After Divorce
by Wallerstein & Blakeslee
- Po Bronson, Author

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A Book Changed My Life Part 1

Posted on 09/06/2011 by Deano

WHAT ONE BOOK CHANGED YOUR LIFE??

Try to name the book that changed your life. Of course, we can all name the books that changed our life, but the one? It’s nearly impossible. Yet, that’s just what we asked some of the literary, social and cultural leaders of our community to do. And we got just what we wanted – a list as varied as the people we polled.

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

“This book taught me that life is full of struggles, but with perseverance, they can be overcome. Although you may not realize upon onset, at the end of each of life’s little challenges is a reward that offsets it.”
- Anthony McLin, Web Designer and Architecture Student

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The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

“This book instilled in me, at a very young age, a great appreciation for the power of imagination, sympathy, and injustice. It also made me realize that the line so carefully drawn between fantasy and reality may not be so critical after all when dealing with the true mysteries of life.”

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