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This four-volume series is an updated version of the three-volume series by Dr. Slobodan Cuk, published originally by TESLAco in 1983 as a second hardcover edition with Volume 1 and Volume 2 printed in one hardcover and volume 3 in a second hardcover. The first paperback edition published in 1981 consisted of first two volumes only. This third edition now has an additional fourth volume.
The objective of this updated and new 2015 series is to provide a fundamental introduction to this complex field to novice engineers as well as to serve as reference books to experienced practicing Power Electronics specialists.
Technical papers in this series have a twofold objective: advance the field with new research results and educate the Power Electronics community at large. This material is now also crucial for the understanding of the new switching methods: Hybrid Switching Method and Storageless Switching Method and a number of related new converter topologies and the magnetics and control improvements that have been introduced in last several years.
This four-volume set provides the four pillars on which the current Power Electronics system design relies. The four volumes are:
Volume 1. Power Electronics: Topologies, Magnetics, and Control
- Provides a comprehensive view of Power Electronics and introduces novice engineers to the three key areas of expertise: Topologies, Magnetics, and Control.
- Describes buck, boost, and flyback dc-dc converters, forward and bridge converters.
- Presents properties of ferromagnetic materials leading to modeling and design of transformers and inductors.
- Provides general method of PWM control and regulation.
- Introduces the fourth basic non-isolated converter type, the Cuk converter. Unlike the buck, the boost, and the flyback converters, this converter introduces for the first time capacitive energy transfer to formulate the most general State-Space Averaging Method, using the missing state-space equations for capacitor currents and respective charge balance in addition to state-space equations for inductor currents and corresponding original volt-second balance on inductors. The Cuk converter also motivated formulation of new general magnetic circuits methods, Coupled-Inductors and Integrated Magnetics, and demonstrated their implementation in the non-isolated and isolated converters.
Volume 2. Power Electronics: Modeling, Analysis, and Measurements
- Includes papers published by Caltech Power Electronics Group.
- Summarizes development of modeling and analysis methods, culminating in the formulation of the general State-Space Averaging Method, as well as accompanying measurement techniques.
- The Cuk converter covered in all four volumes was the key motivation owing to its floating capacitor and respective capacitive energy transfer requiring additional charge-balance on capacitors. This was missing from the buck and boost converters that required volt-second balance on inductors only.
- The key insight of the new State-Space Averaging Method was that the DC and AC models could be formulated in general without resort to any particular connection of the switches, inductors, capacitors and transformers.
- Accompanying measurement techniques describe how the loop-gain frequency response could be measured without breaking the feedback loop.
- Practical design examples describe application of modeling and measurement techniques.
Volume 3. Power Electronics: Advanced Topics and Designs
- This volume contains new publications made by the Power Electronics Group at Caltech and design engineers at TESLAco. Chapters are based on the chronological order of publications date.
- The principal purpose of these publications is to introduce research results.
- New material in a pedagogical context orients the reader in the motivation, background, and objectives of the new work.
- Technical papers cover modeling and analysis, magnetics, Cuk converter practical designs, DC-AC inverters, and review papers.
Volume 4. Power Electronics: State-Space Averaging and Cuk Converters
- Describes the State-Space Averaging Method and the Cuk converter that was a prime motivator for development of this general analysis and synthesis method.
- State-Space Averaging eliminates the switching process from consideration and arrives at the analytical model for both steady-state and dynamic properties of the converter. This produces a unique small signal equivalent circuit model, which is now called the canonical model that contains the three essential properties of any dc to dc converter:
- dc-dc conversion
- Low-pass filter
- Control signal adjusts the conversion ratio
- Application of the State-Space Averaging method speeds switching converter simulations and eliminates the inherent convergence and accuracy problems of all present simulation methods.
- Three key U.S. patents describe the basic Cuk converter, its isolated Cuk converter, and the Coupled Inductor and Integrated Magnetics extensions.
- Describes new general magnetics concepts: coupled-inductor and integrated magnetics, which are now proven to be equally beneficial for new switching methods and novel topologies.
About the Author
Dr. Cuk spent 25 years as Professor of Electrical Engineering at Caltech, where he taught undergraduate and graduate courses and also supervised students completing their PhD degrees in power electronics. After leaving Caltech, Dr. Cuk founded and is CEO of TESLaco, a California-based innovator in power electronics Technology. Among his key inventions and contributions to power electronics technology: Cuk converter, state-space averaging, couple inductors/integrated magnetics, Tesla converter, hybrid, storageless, and PWM/Resonant switching methods, single-stage isolated bridgeless PFC, Cuk-buck and Cuk-buck2 converters, Cuk rectifier, rapid on-board charger for EVs, and isolated storageless Cuk converter.
To Purchase and Review Four Volumes
Each of the four books in this series may be purchased from Amazon. Insert "Slobodan Cuk" in the search box, click on search, and the detailed book and ordering information will appear.
In addition to Amazon, you can use http://teslaco.com/books as an alternative to view information and order books directly from CreateSpace (Amazon subsidiary) the common printer/publisher for both sites by going onto www.teslaco.com. This article may also be viewed at http://teslaco.com/books/review.


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Tuesday, June 11
(3 p.m. local time) The team is approaching the final village of Licungan after a successful mission day in Les-eng. The team will rest and prepare for the final climb to Santol la Union to conclude the mission.
The team met someone in Les-eng that was another divine appointment; learn more about it in the post-mission climb report. Please continue to pray for the team for a safe journey home.
Monday, June 10
(6 a.m. local time) Mission day in Tacadang once more was a blessed success. To God be the glory! It is always difficult to try to summarize the events of mission day because there will never be enough space to write down all the testimonies from the 15 climbers. But here we go: After attending the Sunday service at United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) church the team was divided into four smaller teams. One team led by Doc Francis Daytec did the medical mission and diagnosed more than 30 patients. Jael Garcia led a new women's ministry, which was attended by many Kankanaey women. Coney Pagtakhan and American members of the team ministered to the children. Ace Concordia and Michael Wall talked to the church leaders of Tacadang and distributed Bibles. It was an active fruitful day that produced many individual testimonies shared during the evening devotion. These testimonies will be shared after the climb to further paint the picture of the glorious masterpiece God is doing in Kibungan!
Today, the team treks to Les-eng to complete its mission. Please continue to pray for these servants.
Sunday, June 9
(7:30 a.m. local time) The team arrived in Tacadang on Saturday after a nine-hour trek in good weather. The team had a devotion in the evening, where Michael Wall of Durango, CO, USA, shared a testimony on his Climbing For Christ ministry experiences in a forbidden nation to give C4C Philippines members a view of the other great things God is doing around the world. Michael also shared about how ministry is like a bicycle – every part is important for it to work and move. It will be the same today knowing that everyone on this mission climb is here for a purpose. Today is "Ministry Day" and everyone is excited at the great things God will do. We covet the prayers of all of those who are supporting this mission.
Saturday, June 8
(5 p.m. local time) The team Arrived in Tacadang at 4:15 p.m., declaring: "God is good to us."
Friday, June 7
(7:25 p.m. local time) It's 7:20 p.m. and the team has just finished dinner and is preparing for devotion and pre-climb meeting. The climb to Tacadang begins at 5 a.m. Saturday.
(11 a.m. local time) The mission team arrived at Poblacion Kibungan at 10:30 a.m. Much of the road to Kibungan has been improved, resulting in better travel time. But portions of the road still remained muddy. The team carried with it an overflow of donations of Kankanaey Bibles, medicines, school supplies, slippers, and gifts for the teachers. The team will be spending the rest of the day re-packing the donations, meeting with the guides, and preparing the program for ministry day. The weather is just perfect and please continue to pray that it continues to favor us. The mission is off to a good start.
Some members of the Tacadang team.
Thursday, June 6
Get 'The Word' Out
By Ace Concordia
C4C Philippines coordinator
"What did he say?" I found myself asking this question many times during my first mission trips to Kibungan. The Philippines has a myriad of sub-dialects that change from one province to another. So even if you're a Filipino travelling to a different province or island in the Philippines it is like travelling to another country. The local languages have minor similarities at times, but often there are major differences. This language barrier makes the simplest of conversations a complex game of charades. Even the most basic questions are met with a curious stare just because people don't understand each other. This is when we realize the value of understanding words – they are part of what makes our life function. Without knowing what's being said or how to say something slows life down to a halt. Life can't move on until both parties get a clear understanding of what the other is saying.
It's the same with our relationship with God. The world started with the Word. It says in John 1:1-3 that nothing was created without the Word of God first. Everything starts with the Word of God – everything! God spoke every good thing into existence, and even up to this day life is the result of God's Word. Everything around you communicates one message: that God loves you! The universe is God's billboard, which He created so masterfully and so immensely so you wouldn't miss out on His grand message of affection for you. But when man fell into sin we lost that link to God, and we lived lives not knowing about God's love. It's just like in marriage, no matter how many years you've been together, husbands and wives need to hear the words, "I love you." Those words, when said, make all the difference in our lives. But sin closed our hearts to God's Word, and that is why we long for a love we cannot find, we long for those words we so desperately want to hear, "I love you."
God knows about our situation and He cares too much for us to do nothing. So He executes a plan that will send the most powerful message of His love for you. He sent his Son Jesus to be persecuted, tortured, and crucified for your sin. Then He inspired people to write the story of this great act, so that people will know how far He went just to show you His love. The Bible is God's love letter to you, and if we don't read it we miss out on the greatest message of unconditional love ever meant for us. That's how important God's Word is: it contains the most important words that you will ever read or hear in your lifetime. That's why everyone should have a Bible and read it, understand it, and know about its message.
The Kankanaey people that we minister to in the mountains of Kibungan Benguet have not had Bibles in their native language for more than a decade. This is due to the fact that there have been no committed Christian ministries to do missions in Kibungan. The Kankanaey have been deprived of God's Word for a very long time, and this has led to poverty and loneliness in the lives of the Kankanaey. Like the woman at the well in John 4, they thirst for life-giving water. Their wells of hope are running dry. Nothing good can ever start without God's Word, and that includes the new life in Christ and the revival of our spirit. God wants to start a fire of salvation in Kibungan; it all begins by putting Kankanaey Bibles in the hands of the Kankanaey people.
Climbing For Christ is about to go back to the villages of Tacadang and Les-eng. We will be carrying precious cargo: Kankanaey Bibles to be distributed to the churches there. No longer will the Kankanaey thirst for God's message. They will read it and hear it themselves in their own language. God will now speak in Kankanaey through every pastor and every pulpit in mountain churches of Kibungan. So we ask you to pray for more Kankanaey Bibles to be distributed in more mission climbs. May we saturate the mountains of Kibungan with God's Word, so God can light a fire in the hearts of the Kankanaey people, and revival can begin. Let's get The Word out!
Sunday, June 2
Colorado members – Michael and Rachel Wall, Kala Matzdorf, Meagan Prins and Cody Wells – flew from the States to the Philippines, arriving on Tuesday, June 4. They will be joined on this Evangelic Expedition to Tacadang and Les-eng by Ace Concordia, KZ Abesamis, Carmela Oliver Caguimbal, Elso Callo, Karl Vladimir Manzon Callo, Francis Daytec, Jael Garcia, Spencer Ng, and Coney O. Pagtakhan.
PO Box 16290
Rochester, NY 14616
(585) 957-5489
Climbing for Christ is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

subset: commoncrawl


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There are many reasons why you might want to visit us. Some common issues that students come to us with are depression, social anxiety, self-harm, grief, disordered eating, relationship problems, perfectionism, and adapting to life in Canada. Our goal is to help you overcome the challenges currently impacting your mental health so you're able to have the best possible experience at the U of A.
Initial consultations (ICs) are the first appointment that students have in order to access individual counselling, psychiatric, or group therapy services (drop-in workshops don't require an individual consultation).
We provide students with professional psychological therapy and treatment emphasizing a shorter-term model, including individual, relationship, and family therapy. We assist students with a wide range of mental health and life concerns.
Drop-in Workshops
Workshops are casual, one-time events that teach participants practical and realistic strategies to deal with a particular mental health topic.
Group Therapy
Groups are ongoing and offer a supportive and safe environment for participants to learn strategies to overcome psychological challenges. Joining a therapy group requires an initial consultation.
Workshops on Demand
We offer free workshops by request to university students, staff and faculty with four weeks notice.
We've compiled a variety of resource sheets to provide information and strategies on common mental health topics, available in both English and Mandarin.
Learn more about how on-campus Satellite Psychologists support student mental health and consult and collaborate with faculty and staff.
2-600 Students' Union Building (SUB), next to the Myer Horowitz
Phone: 780-492-5205
Monday, Thursday & Friday
8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday and Wednesday
8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
CCS is a scent-free zone. Please avoid wearing perfume or scented personal care products when accessing our services.


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LANSING, MI — Eight people arrested during Thursday's right-to-work protest face felony resisting and obstructing charges.
They were released on bond on Thursday and are due in court for their arraignment at 11 a.m. Dec. 19 in front of 54-A District Court Judge Hugh Clarke Jr., according to court administrator Anethia Brewer.
Michigan State Police Inspector Gene Adamczyk on Thursday said the protesters were trying to push their way into the Senate chamber and lied down in a common walk way. They were asked to move and did not, so two troopers responded with CS gas, or mace, he said.
Ingham County Prosecutor Stuart Dunnings III said this is the first time he's charged anyone with a criminal offense for protesting a policy or piece of legislation.
"It was attested to me that these tactics went beyond passive resistance, and involved physical aggression towards the police who were charged with protecting the public safety during this tumultuous debate," he said in a statement, adding that names will be released once they're arraigned.
Their attorney could not immediately be reached for comment on Monday afternoon.
Dozens of state police troopers with wooden batons and gas masks in holsters patrolled the Capitol on Monday, though it was quiet throughout the day. More than 50 state police vehicles lined the promenade behind the Capitol building. Helmets and riot gear were stored in a Capitol room.
A large protest is planned for Tuesday, when lawmakers will continue voting on contentious right-to-work legislation.
Email Melissa Anders at email@example.com. Follow her on Twitter: @MelissaDAnders.


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The Burns Unit and Broken Records set for Celtic Connections date
- Nicola Meighan
- 23 December 2010
'Scottish-Canadian Supergroup' peform at Glasgow's Old Fruitmarket
Kenny Anderson is setting the record straight. 'Karine Polwart is not a folkie – she wants to try other stuff. And Emma Pollock is not just the indie queen that everyone thinks she is. And I'm not the … whatever.' (Whatever he is, he is King Creosote).
The first remarkable thing about The Burns Unit is the diversity of its talent: an eight-strong, self-professed 'Scottish-Canadian Supergroup' that stars the aforesaid well-loved trio, plus multi-instrumentalist Kim Edgar, Indo-Caledonian pop maverick Sushil Dade, hip hop firebrand MC Soom T, piano ace Michael Johnson and drummer / producer Mattie Foulds.
The second remarkable thing about The Burns Unit is that its members were herded, largely as strangers, for a week-long retreat in in 2006 – and yet they're still together. There were ominous auspices too. 'Oh, it was an awful night when we arrived,' Anderson reminisces of their Burnsong dalliance. 'There was a storm, there was a power cut, we couldn't see each other – we didn't really know each other. Our names were put into a hat, and we were teamed up for songwriting sessions for three hours in the morning; three in the afternoon.' He shudders slightly.
The third remarkable thing about The Burns Unit is the manner in which they defy conventions – repositioning Pollock as chanteuse, Polwart as popster, Soom T as bluegrass MC – while shifting the troupe seamlessly through indie, folk, pop, rap and protest songs. It offers artists scope for liberation, and perhaps that's one reason why they're still together. 'With these songs I was like, "God, this is amazing, this doesn't sound like me." It's not the sort of thing that I would naturally gravitate towards,' nods Anderson.
Their debut album, Side Show, was one of last year's loveliest albums. That's the fourth remarkable thing about The Burns Unit. There are many more.
Old Fruitmarket, Glasgow, Sun 16 Jan


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Is it time to go out and get a new crossbow?
What are you looking for? What is the budget set for this purchase? You will have a number of answers, and that's why this purchase is near and dear to your heart. It's time to take action and pick out the perfect crossbow from Ten Point Crossbows.
This is the ultimate shop for all of your needs and will ensure you end up with a world-class product crafted with passion.
Here are the reasons to go with this company and know you have made the right choice for your new crossbow.
Have a particular crossbow in mind for your needs? Everyone is going to head into the shopping process with a unique perspective as to what they want and what they will be willing to pay for it. This is common and okay for those who want real variety.
Don't settle for a solution that's mediocre and is going to waste time.
It's best to sift through the variety and pick out what is going to be required in the long-term. This will change how things are done forever and provide real hope.
Tremendous Range
There is nothing more important than range when you are using a new crossbow. You don't want to be held back because the crossbow wasn't able to meet the standards you were after. This can happen, and most people are afraid the results aren't going to come in the way they want.
To ensure this is not an issue, go with this company and realize the quality will be above anything found on the market.
This is a trusted company and one which prides itself on making sure the range of its products is ahead of anything else. These are products, which will continue to produce as they're used.
With crossbows, the goal is to find something durable so it can handle the pressure of usage. It is going to be under heavy duress and without a proper build, it is going to falter as time goes on. To ensure repetition isn't the reason for its downfall, it's best to go to a reliable provider.
Ten Point Crossbows is well-appreciated for its ability to deliver results. It works hard on ensuring the products are not only reliable in performance but durable in the long-term too. This is what provides confidence for the average user wanting to put their product to the test.
Get started with this company and take a look at the wholesome collection. It is a robust set of products for those wanting perfection and nothing short of the best. Why go with solutions that are insufficient and won't provide value as needed? Is this a risk anyone should be taking?
With a proven and trusted company, it is easier to get the perfect crossbow and put it to the test as wanted. It is going to yield great results, and you'll know the right purchase has been made.


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Organizations face onboarding risks of BYOS (Bring Your Own Service) as they hire new employees that bring their own cloud services into the work environment. Risks facing IT and security teams include protecting corporate data and defending against modern threats. While IT and Security teams want to adopt modern cloud applications and increase business agility, they also want to implement visibility and monitoring to protect corporate data and comply to security policies. This session will highlight how new methodologies available today enable organizations to discover sanctioned and un-sanctioned cloud services that are being used within their organization, and how they can apply consistent security policies across the public and private cloud to protect corporate data and conform to compliance policies.
Latest insightful articles delivered straight to your inbox weekly


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Satire: Keeping Palestine Solidarity Campaign Anti-Racist!!
by Francis Clark-Lowes
Following a motion adopted at Palestine Solidarity Campaign's Extraordinary General Meeting on the evening of 7th April 2013 (Yom HaShoah), an Ethics Sub-Committee has been established composed of the following six members: Toni Grimmstein (Chair), Stephen Cohen, Simon Gold, Rick Silverman, Zeb Horowitz and Aaron Levin. The Sub-Committee is charged with ensuring that PSC remains an anti-racist organisation.
This memorandum includes (a) a summary of the events leading up to the EGM, (b) the measures proposed by the Sub-Committee, and (c) a diagram (attached as a PDF) to assist the screening of applicants for membership of PSC.
(a) A summary of the events leading to the calling of an EGM
Toni Grimmstein had called for the EGM, and explained her reasons at the meeting as follows.
"Following the expulsion of Frances Lowes-Clarke in 2011, he exercised his right of appeal at the 2012 AGM. We never should have included a right of appeal for racists in our constitution because it gave Lowes-Clarke an opportunity to harangue delegates for five minutes with his anti-Semitic filth. That the right of appeal was not removed at that AGM is a matter for profound regret, happily rectified at our AGM last January. But this was too late to prevent another five appeal speeches, all equally obnoxious, being heard at that meeting. Of course, the decision to expel was upheld in all cases, but the process of hearing appeals was undoubtedly damaging to our movement, and some deluded people may have been persuaded of the arguments they heard from appellants.
There was, however, one helpful consequence of this shot in the foot, and that was the revelation that a substantial minority of our membership are racist. 20% voted for Lowes-Clarke in 2012 (although most of those were Stalinists), and between 15% and 30% voted in the cases before us earlier this year. It thus became abundantly clear that we have work to do in ensuring that racism, anti-Semitism and Holocaust Denial have no place within our movement.
To this end I move that an Ethics Sub-Committee be established …"
(b) Measures proposed by the Ethics Sub-Committee
- A programme to screen for racism all written and oral material in the public domain. In particular attention will be paid to articles, books and oral material where the words Jew, Jewish, Jewishness, Jewess, Holocaust denial and revisionism are mentioned. A list of racist authors/speakers will be compiled.
- Any members found to be on the list of racist writers/speakers should immediately be expelled from both his/her branch and from the national organisation. Branches will be duty-bound to report any incidents of racism, and to provide documentary evidence of it. This duty should override any undertakings of confidentiality within branches.
- Applications for membership should be checked against the list of racist writers/speakers, and if they are found to be on it, their application should be refused.
- This is not a sufficient precaution, however. There is a need for a rigorous screening process of application because once racists have been admitted to membership they can cause a great deal of damage to our reputation. To this end we have drawn up a questionnaire, with the diagram below to aid the assessment of responses. The Ethics Committee must endorse all applications before a new member is admitted.
- If the responses given to items on the questionnaire by members admitted to membership prove subsequently to be false, their membership will immediately be recinded.
(c) Click this link to view diagram: Keeping Our Campaign Anti-Racist.


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Crafty shopping, original gifts & foodie finds
We're all in search of something original – a gift with a story or to own a beautiful print after meeting the artist. We have 13 gift shops, craft studios and artisan food shops, which sell design-inspired items and locally made produce – with many items unique to us and not found on the high street. Visit Wroxham Barns for a shopping experience with a difference….
This season's knockout outfits from top brands such as White Stuff, Seasalt, Adini, Pomodoro and more
Gorgeous bangles, classic necklaces and earrings
Must-have hats, bags and silky scarves
Soft toys and loveable games
Nostalgic books and coffee table classics
Artsy greeting cards
Remember to stop by The Norfolk Art Gallery – they stock locally-themed art, from photography to oils and pencil sketching, each with imaginative twists of Norfolk's captivating coast, rivers and countryside.
Phew….and for all you fashionistas we have our annual Fashion Week in March launching the Spring/Summer collections and again in September for the Autumn/Winter looks.


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Staying true to its goal of bringing forth affordable innovations, up-to-date features such as ultra-responsive screens, sophisticated designs, and pre-installed social networking applications have been integrated into each mobile device.
Each DTC Mobile GE1 unit comes with a charger and battery, a USB cable, earphones and a user manual. If you're in need of a new mobile phone, enter the contest now!
Don't forget to leave a comment down below with your complete name and email address so that I can contact you in case you win.


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This morning my list was cerebral.
- Lunches made - check
- Breakfast - too little time
- Brief case sitting beside the front door packed- check
- Adult children woken - check
- Phone father to remind him of his dental appointment - check
- Shower etc - check
- Black business suit today for early morning meeting - check
- Drive one adult daughter to the station (leave my comfortable slippers on) - check
- Return home to pack dishwasher - check
- Dog fed and outside -check
- Lights, heaters and computers off - check
- Grab brief case, dead lock front door - check
- Arrive at meeting 7 minutes before schedule with relevant paper work- check
- Meeting a success, grab a cup of tea - check
- Prepare for next meeting and tend to cold feet..............merde!
- Hormonal mayhem can result in loss of dignity - check
Mental note.....no, a written note in my diary....... bright pink, sparkling slippers clash with black business suit.
Tomorrow..... write list and insert - change from slippers to shoes before leaving the house - check.
The art of savoir-faire continues to elude me.......


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Donating wholesome food for human consumption diverts food waste from landfills and puts food on the table for families in need.
Donations of non-perishable and unspoiled perishable food from homes and businesses help stock the shelves at food banks, soup kitchens, pantries, and shelters. Donations of perishable prepared foods, typically collected from restaurants, caterers, corporate dining rooms, hotels, and other food establishments, also play an important role in feeding families in need, though such donations usually require special handling such as refrigerated trucks and prompt distribution. See for donation tips and success stories. A list of some food donation charities is provided below.
Gleaning—the act of collecting excess fresh foods from farms, gardens, farmers markets, or any other source in order to provide it to those in need—is an important source of fresh produce for food insecure families. In 2011, for example, USDA gleaned 900,000 pounds of fresh produce for the Feds Feed Families Food Drive.
USDA's Let's Glean, United We Serve Toolkit provides information on how to develop a successful gleaning program, including steps for finding donors:
For questions about gleaning, the USDA Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, which compiled the USDA gleaning toolkit. Email:; phone: 202-720-2032.
A number of federal laws encourage food donation in the United States by providing liability protection to donors or tax incentives. See the that provides additional information and resources.
A growing number of organizations--both charitable and for profit--are working to recover wholesome excess food to provide low or no-cost meals to families in need. The list of organizations presented here is not exhaustive. Inclusion on this list does not imply endorsement by the USDA. (If you would like your organization listed, please)
With the produce LA Kitchen recovers, they will:


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The first day was a success! I ended my day right at my Points Plus target. Yippee!
Something feels different this time. I feel more mentally/emotionally ready this time. In the back of my head I am thinking, "I shouldn't even be saying that…what if I screw up again? That would be embarrassing", but I am trying not to think that way. This is the time!
I forgot how wonderful it is to be able to eat fruits and veggies without having to count points/calories for them. I had a moment in the late afternoon where I was really hungry but didn't want to use any points and—"aha—I can have a peach for free!"
I also had fun cooking supper last night. I made creamy chicken enchiladas—2 for 12 Points+. I started selling Wildtree products (more on that later), and I had fun experimenting with the various spice blends. It gave my stand-by creamy enchiladas an all new taste for no extra calories! I want to experiment with some of the blends, etc. and then I will share recipes.
One thing that should help me out is that I move more now that I am not working a full time desk job. Plus, with the baby, I am moving around more often. It was interesting to see the difference when I was wearing my Body Media.
My WI days will be on Fridays—so I will have my first WI this Friday so it won't be a full week. But that's ok!
Has anyone else noticed how fall seems to be on the verge of making its appearance? The sky has been a crisp blue. The fields are starting to turn golden. Yellow wild flowers are blooming in the ditches. It just FEELS like fall, even though it's a tad bit hot out there yet. Fall is coming—YAY! My favorite season of the year.
So, that's about it! Just wanted to check in and let you know that I did great on my first day back! How are you doing with your plan?


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About the schemes
STM Fidecs Gibraltar Occupational Pension Schemes is approved for tax relief by the Gibraltar Commissioner of Income Tax. The Scheme provides for benefits on retirement and/or death.
The Scheme is established under Trust to safeguard members' contributions and accumulated funds.
STM Fidecs Pension Trustees Ltd are the Schemes Trustees and have a legal duty to act in the best interests of members.
STM Fidecs Life Health and Pensions are the Administrators of the plan.
Our pension services are supported by a sophisticated, web based computer system and employers and/or members are able to access their scheme details through our secure website and have online functionality to complete application forms and change their personal details


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When looking for the most rejuvenating facials in Brentwood, look no further than ES Nail Bar and Organic Spa. Whether you're looking for an organic mini facial or need a more intensive herbal corrective 5-day peel to a microdermabrasion treatment or are looking to commit to a chemical peel, our estheticians use the best products that'll leave your skin glowing and feeling fresh.
All day our face collects pollutants and toxins from our surrounding environments. So to us, it didn't make sense to use a different type of toxin to "clean" the face with. We searched for the most trusted products in the industry so we can deliver the best facials in Brentwood. The products we use have changed the skin care game for the last 50 years. For example, the scrub used for our organic mini facial uses fruit and plant pulp, not extract. Meaning that the full power of the fruits and plants remain in the product and ensures powerful results.
Benefits of the Facial
Usually when someone thinks about getting a facial, the immediate benefit that comes to mind is the sense of relaxation and pampering received from the treatment. However, our facials in Brentwood have so much more to offer.
One of the most important benefits of the facial is the process of cleansing the skin. The harmful pollutants and toxins our skin encounters all day, everyday can do some serious damage. Many of the facials we offer focus on organic cleansing which removes these harmful toxins and helps reduce the overproduction of sebum which causes blackheads and acne.
Another benefit to facials is the anti-aging process. Most of our anti-aging facials exfoliate the skin by removing dead skin cells and minimizing the look of wrinkles, which is mainly a build-up of dead skin cells.
Finally, when most people discuss facial treatments, you'll hear them talk about the "glow" they receive after the treatment. Facials increase circulation in the skin, which is the direct factor of that beautiful natural glow after treatment.
View the complete list of our facials to see what they can do for you.


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Endometriosis. Adenomyosis. Pelvic Floor Dysfunction. Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Chronic Gastritis. Occipital Headaches.
Nightstand Contents
1. Lamp.
2. Med Box- My med box is organized by and acronym on the top of the bottle so it's easy to identify the pills.
3. A chocolate rose- From my husband. He brought it to me when I was having a bad day and I thought it was sweet, so I kept it instead of eating it.
4. Crackers- I have to take my meds with food so I keep them on my nightstand.
5. Books- I spend a lot of time in bed, due to chronic pain, so I like to keep books handy. I don't get to read as often as I would like as my medication makes it hard for me to concentrate and remember things.
The Yellow Brick War, by Danielle Paige.
Dorothy Must Die, by Danielle Paige.
Miss Peregrine's School for Peculiar Children, by Ransom Riggs.
The Enchantress Returns, by Chris Colfer.
6. Paperwork-Latest test results. They keep coming back abnormal, so I keep everything available in case I need it.
7. Paperwork- Medication information.
8. Paperwork- Referral paperwork.
9. Lavender Candle- For light when I am overwhelmed and stressed.
10. Cup of water.
11. Watch.
12. Figurine "My Princess"- Given to me by my parents when I was a little girl.
13. Fairy Chimney, Cappadocia- Given to me by my host family, during a trip abroad.
14. Glass Angel- Given to me by my Dad from his trip to Moscow.
15. Lace Doily- Given to me by my host family from Cappadocia.
16. Jewelry box- given to me by my aunt.


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What are the Causes and Cures for Cellulite?
Cellulite can be very unflattering that most women questioned themselves, 'what causes cellulite.' It can be very bothering to some degree that a lot of women would go to great lengths to get rid of it. If you have cellulite, you need not be ashamed since this is not a medical condition and there is a great likelihood that you will find its cure. What causes cellulite has many reasons and knowing these can help you find the right treatment plan.
Finding out what causes cellulite can lead you to the treatments available today. This cottage cheese condition is very visible to your thighs, arms, and legs, and can result from the poor elasticity of your skin. As the fat cells become too large for their natural compartments, these will bulge and form uneven layers of fat causing the orange peel appearance.
Cellulite can affect women both overweight and slim, and what causes cellulite can be attributed to several factors including genetics and heredity, hormonal activity, poor diet, sedentary lifestyle, and aging. Genes is a good indicator if you will have cellulite or not, and all you have to do is to look at your mother and see if she has it. Postnatal women or those who are in birth control pills are also prone to cellulite because of the high levels of estrogen.
Poor diet is a contributing factor on what causes cellulite as toxic foods can result in fluid retention and bad blood flow circulation. Women with a sedentary lifestyle are also susceptible to cellulite since they usually have weight problems and poor circulation. Aging is another factor since the subcutaneous layer of the skin becomes thinner as you age. It can also be caused by traumatic injury especially if your circulatory system is disturbed.
Other reasons on what causes cellulite and exacerbate it include smoking, medications, not drinking enough water, and crash diets. Though there may be a number of reasons on what causes cellulite, you can also find lots of cures and treatments that will help reduce its appearance if not totally eliminate it.


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Seeing the whitened harvest in front of him, Donne Pouguini says he is experiencing first-hand what Jesus spoke about in Matthew 9:37-38: "The harvest truly is plentiful but the labourers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into His harvest." But through the ministry of the Calvary Chapel Bible Training Centre in Ghana, labourers are being trained up in the way of the Lord and sent out into those fields that are ripe for the harvest.
Donne Pouguini is originally from Togo and moved to the Volta region of Ghana in the year 2000 as a missionary. He was teaching French at a local school while teaching the Bible in various churches in the community even though he never had any formal Bible training and did not understand many of the concepts he was teaching. "In fact," Donne recalls, "I was even afraid to read some of the books of the Bible because of their level of difficulty."
So when he heard of a Calvary Chapel in a nearby village that was starting a Bible Training Centre he contacted the director of the Centre to find out if he could enrol.
Donne was accepted and became one of the first students of the Calvary Chapel Bible Training Centre in Ghana. Now a decade later he is the director and is committed to equipping labourers for the harvest.
The Bible Training Centre started off in 2000 when a team from America came to meet with four farmers from Builsa who wanted to learn about the Bible. They taught them how to study verse by verse through the New Testament and through those humble beginnings the Calvary Chapel Bible Training Centre was born.
Since the Centre's early days not much has changed. The program retains a level of simplicity that it had in the beginning; listen to a series of tapes by Pastor Chuck Smith as he taught through the New Testament, learn the Inductive Bible Study method and pray for one another to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. The goal of the Centre has always been to train local men to pastor their people.
To further that goal a pastoral training program and a children's ministry training program have recently been established. It has already become evident that the Lord is already using these two training programs to help establish His church.
While most of the students at the Centre have been from Ghana, there are also a large number from Togo, Nigeria, Cote d'Ivoire, Liberia and Burkina Faso. They have also seen students enrol from Benin, Gambia and Sierra Leone. Recently new doors have been opened for students form Guinea Conakry and Cameroon.
"A big challenge for us has been space for all those who apply," explains Donne, "We are only able to admit about a third of all applications because of limited space and resources."
But despite the limited resources the Bible Training Centre has seen thousands of students pass through their doors and plant over 50 churches.
An area benefitting from these church plants is the Northern region of Ghana. As Donne explains, "The Northern region is the poorest area of the country.
Despite efforts from leaders and non-governmental organizations, malnutrition, economic hardships, illiteracy and difficult weather conditions are big issues. Idol worship and Islam have also gained strong roots in that area, but praise God, there is an open door for the gospel."
Many people in the North are responding to the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and many churches are being planted. In fact the majority of the Calvary Chapel churches in Ghana are located in that region.
There are many opportunities in the North, but as Donne explains, "There are many open doors, but very few labourers. Many of the church leaders in those remote villages don't have a good understanding of the Bible and those who can teach are often not willing to go there because of the hardships they can face. It is very easy to start a church in every single village in the North of Ghana, but the question remains; who will teach them the Bible?"
This is where the Bible Training Centre has been pivotal in sending equipped teachers and pastors into a field ripe unto harvest and seeing the Lord's work expand through the region and even overflow into the neighbouring Togo where a vibrant Calvary Chapel movement is now beginning to grow.
Donne is glad to welcome those from all over to become involved in what the Lord is doing in Ghana and other countries where former students from Calvary Chapel Bible Training Centre are currently ministering. If you would like to find out how to support Donne you can contact us or go to www.ccbibletrainingcentre.org
Please also remember to keep them in prayer as they are seeking the Lord to send more labourers into the field, a stable water supply for the campus, support for pastors in the rural areas of Ghana and resources to complete the chapel building.
Matthew Jordaan is based in Cape Town, South Africa where he serves with Calvary Chapel Community Church Cape Town. Coming from a background of newspaper journalism, Matthew is the website administrator for Calvary Chapel Africa.
Additional research by Lauren Vogt


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Cable Stocks Slaughtered Again
Cable stocks took a pounding for the second straight day in the wake of the
WorldCom Inc. and Adelphia Communications Corp. accounting scandals, with
Cablevision Systems Corp. and Insight Communications Co. Inc. taking the
Cablevision stock plunged 17.4 percent Thursday, or $1.65 per share, closing
at $7.85 each. It was the second double-digit percentage loss for the stock in
as many days. On Wednesday, Cablevision shares dropped more than 26 percent.
Insight fell 14.6 percent Thursday, or $1.71 per share, to close at $10.02.
On Wednesday, Insight dropped $1.87 per share, or 13.7 percent.
Other big losers for the day included Mediacom Communications Corp., down
11.9 percent ($1.01 each) to $7.45 per share; and Charter Communications Inc.,
down 7.7 percent (27 cents) to $3.22.
While it was another bad day for cable stocks, it could have been much worse.
A late rally lifted some cable issues from their 52-week lows, including Comcast
Corp., which lost as much as $1.90 per share Thursday only to close at $22.33,
down just 39 cents.
AOL Time Warner Inc. also saw a late market surge after dropping 88 cents
each, finishing the day at $13.62, off just a penny.
Cox Communications Inc., which dropped as low as $24.50 each on the day --
down $2.40, or 9 percent -- finished at $26.60, down 30 cents.
AT&T Corp. was the lone gainer in the sector, closing at $9.76 per share,
up 14 cents, but only after rallying from a low of $9.09.


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- How our heroes escape the cat is a bit... silly, straight out of Jurassic Park as if the cat was a T.Rex, so our heroes just stand perfectly still
- The plot with the DN9, Forrester and Smithers is so... dull... the concept of the the TARDIS crew being an inch tall, exploring a general area and getting far from the ship and having difficulty getting back to it is strong enough to stand on it's own
- I get WHY the insecticide plot is there, because there was for decades the controversy over the dangers they present to various animal life, because not all insects do harm to crops.
- I love the sets and the effort to give this episode a sense of size and scale, the fact that it's clear things were actually BUILT for this story is made even more impressive knowing this was a serialized television show made in 1964!
- Despite being introduced in this episode to add drama, Barbara's worry about being infected with insecticide doesn't get much development in the final chapter of this story, but I'll talk about that more next week.


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OSWIECIM, Poland — More than 3,000 guests, including Holocaust survivors and foreign dignitaries, gathered on Tuesday at a site marking one of history's biggest horrors, the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camps in Poland, which were liberated by Soviet troops 70 years ago in the closing months of World War II.
Because of the survivors' advancing age, this year's ceremony at the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum may be the last major anniversary celebration to include more than a handful of people who endured the Nazi camps here, where about 1.5 million people lost their lives, most of them European Jews. Some 1,500 survivors attended the 60th anniversary in 2005, but on Tuesday there were fewer than 300 on hand. Most are in their 90s, and some are older than 100.
Their dwindling numbers prompted many at the ceremony to raise the question of how best to sustain memories of the horror when they are gone, and what it means in a time of fresh outbreaks of religious and ethnic animosities.
"Today, in the name of truth, we need to fight the attempts to relativize the Shoah," President Bronislaw Komorowski of Poland said as he opened the ceremony, using another term for the Holocaust. "The memory of Auschwitz means the memory of the importance of freedom, justice, tolerance and respect for human rights," he added.
Dozens of heads of state and other prominent figures took part in the ceremony, including the presidents of France, Germany and Austria, François Hollande, Joachim Gauck and Heinz Fischer; the kings of Belgium and the Netherlands, Philippe and Willem-Alexander; and Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew represented the United States, while Russia was represented by Sergei Ivanov, President Vladimir V. Putin's chief of staff.
The anniversary takes place at a time when reports of anti-Semitism are increasing across Europe. One Jewish organization said in a recent report that the incidence of anti-Semitic acts in France had doubled over the past year.
"Jews are targeted in Europe once again because they are Jews," Ronald S. Lauder, president of the World Jewish Congress and a major contributor to the preservation of the museum complex, said at the ceremony.
Mr. Lauder, 70, said the recent terrorist attacks in Paris, including one at a kosher supermarket, had prompted him to radically change the remarks he intended to deliver. He called on the world leaders in the audience to adopt policies of zero tolerance toward hatred of any kind. "Unless this is checked right now, it will be too late," he said.
Steven Spielberg, whose Holocaust film "Schindler's List" won seven Academy Awards, raised a similar warning in a short speech on the eve of the anniversary, saying that Jews were once again threatened by "the perennial demons of intolerance."
Speaking at a Shoah memorial in Paris before flying to Poland for the ceremony at the museum, Mr. Hollande pleaded with Jews in his country not to react by emigrating. "The place of Jews is in France," he said. "France is your homeland." He called on Internet service providers to take action against anti-Semitic comments posted online.
Mr. Gauck also gave a speech at home before traveling to Poland. He told a commemorative session of the German Parliament that "while the Holocaust will not necessarily be among the central components of German identity for everyone in our country, it will still hold true that there is no German identity without Auschwitz."
He spoke of the difficulty many Germans had over the years in acknowledging what had happened during the war. "Remembering the Holocaust remains a matter for every citizen of Germany," Mr. Gauck said. "It is part and parcel of our country's history."
For the first time, the memorial ceremony here was sheltered from the January weather, under a tent large enough to enclose the entire red brick gateway to the Auschwitz II camp, for many a symbol of the Nazi atrocities. Several survivors were among the speakers.
"The greatest debt we have today is to pass on the memory of their lives to others, their desire and will to live," Halina Birenbaum, who was at Auschwitz-Birkenau as a child, said of those who were killed at the camps. "Only in my memories, I can be with my loved ones who died here. Only in my memories, I can recognize right from wrong."
"People forget what Auschwitz was," Ms. Birenbaum said, "and that terrifies me, because I know to what kind of hell it leads."
Administrators of the museum, which includes the remaining grounds of the Auschwitz and Birkenau death camps, said that the museum's mission, once focused primarily on survivors, was evolving toward memorializing the Nazi atrocities for generations born after the war.
Roman Kent, chairman of the American Gathering of Jewish Holocaust Survivors and Their Descendants, was a teenager when he was imprisoned in Auschwitz. As he spoke on Tuesday, he struggled to keep his emotions in check.
"How can I forget the smell of burning flesh that constantly filled the air?" he said in a trembling voice as tears rolled down his cheeks. "Or the heartbreak of children torn from their mothers? Those shouts of terror will ring in my ears until I am laid to rest."
The ceremony concluded with the survivors, who were awarded medals, and the assembled dignitaries placing candles in remembrance of Holocaust victims, arranged symbolically in a straight row that was called "a line under history."


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Battle of the BlogPosted: January 26, 2012 Filed under: Entrees, Soups | Tags: Chili, honey cornbread Leave a comment
Hello there. Remember me? I haven't forgotten about you. It's just that I've started a new semester at school and, well, things are a bit busy for me. I'm not making excuses…just stating the facts, ma'am. Don't worry, we're still eating, still taking photos, and still making notes. Consider it a stockpile if you will, of…ahem, culinary greatness.
That's how life is, though, isn't it? One day you have all the time in the world, and then BAM! you're buried under a pile of William Blake, John Keats, and William Wordsworth! Not a bad pile, but we still have to eat, right? For the most part this last week, I've really given it my all and tried a few new things. Not just new dishes, but new ways of looking at my kitchen and the ingredients within. In the past I have been known to go to the store for one or two missing ingredients in a dish I'm dying to try. Not anymore!
I make my list, go to the market, and when I get home I'm left to figure things out. I usually have a few dishes in mind for the week when I'm pushing my cart around the store, but I never have an entire meal plan set in stone. I've tried, believe me, I've tried to think that far in advance and truly plan – make a menu of sorts. But nope, it never works. Baby steps, is what I say. I'll get there someday.
So, if I've exhausted all my ideas for the week and it's only Thursday, what happens then, you ask? I choose to go to war with the remaining ingredients in my kitchen and come up with something delicious. I will not go to the market. I will not go to the market. That is my mantra and it keeps me going when all I want to do is give up because I have a half-written paper looming over my head and I just need more time. Instead of wasting gasoline and my precious time going to the store, and instead of giving up and going out to eat, I say to myself, "What do I already have? What can I do with these things?" In fact, by asking myself this very question, I made for us last week our very first vegetarian Shepherd's Pie and yes, it was delicious. We had some Boca crumbles in the freezer and the rest, as they say, is history. Sorry, no photos, though. You already have the recipe…just substitute Boca for the real deal.
At some point last week I realized we had the proper ingredients for one of my favorite cold weather "nights." Chili Night. I love chili. I love making chili, I love eating chili, and I love the way the scent fills the house as it simmers away on the stove. I tend to follow a basic outline for chili, but it's never quite exactly the same, as sometimes I have less of one ingredient or not enough of another. But chili is forgiving that way. It says, "Go ahead, toss in whatever you want. More beans? Sure! A little cinnamon? Why not?!" It's only request is that you start early so it can truly come together as it simmers. The longer the better. I like my chili somewhere between soup and the point at which I can stand my spoon upright.
It's important to develop your flavors in the base of the chili. This is when I toss in a few of my secret ingredients. I'd love to tell you, but someday I plan on winning a chili contest at a county fair with this recipe. I'm taking home a blue ribbon if it kills me.
If you have the time (which you will, because you're letting your chili simmer, right?) and the ingredients (whadda ya know? I did!) you can whip up a batch of honey cornbread muffins. Chili Night is not complete without cornbread!
What I'm trying to say with all of this is that you can challenge yourself to come up with a delicious dish even if you think you have nothing in the cupboards. You'd be surprised how motivating a lack of obvious ingredients can be. I battled my sparsely-stocked kitchen and I won. And now I feel that my next battle is looming with Wordsworth and Keats at the front lines. I will be victorious and I will soon find the balance between homework and blogging. For those of you who read this, thank you for your patience.
Posted: January 25, 2012 Filed under: Uncategorized Leave a comment
The Classic Reuben Sandwich
Pasta NightPosted: January 17, 2012 Filed under: Entrees, Pasta | Tags: arugula, brown butter, food processor, goat cheese, KitchenAid, pasta, pine nuts, ravioli Leave a comment
So, the other day, Scott and I stood in the kitchen and discussed how many foods have a "night" of their own during the week? Meaning, par exemple, when say, Thursday rolls around, is it Taco Night or Chicken Night or Chili Night in your house? When I was growing up, we most definitely had "nights" devoted to certain foods or dishes. I can recall Taco Night, for sure. It usually consisted of ground beef with a taco seasoning packet mixed in, along with several bowls filled with various accompaniments (shredded iceberg lettuce, chopped tomatoes, pickled jalapeños, onions, shredded cheese, and of course, salsa. I loved Taco Night. I got to eat with my hands and customize my own dining experience! What's not to love?
One night that most families have (I'm sure) is some form of Pasta Night. For my family, it was Spaghetti Night, but for others, perhaps you're looking at Lasagna or Alfredo Night. Who knows? The point is, from time to time it's good to have nights devoted to certain dishes. Not only does it make menu planning a breeze, it also drastically simplifies grocery shopping. Besides, it's fun to look forward to your favorite "night," isn't it?
As you may or may not know, for my birthday Scott gifted me a pasta-making attachment for my KitchenAid Stand Mixer. It is divine. I adore it, and it is why I look forward to Pasta Night at our house. More specifically, Ravioli Night. Oh yes, and I think I have found the most perfect pasta dough recipe! It is made with a mixture of both all-purpose flour AND cake flour. That's right, cake flour! I was skeptical as well, but you know me, I'm always willing to try something new in the kitchen! The cake flour supplied the lightness pasta needs and contributed to its delicate mouthfeel. This is definitely my go-to dough recipe from now on!
Don't get me wrong, nothing beats homemade ravioli, but getting there is labor-intensive. You have to want it. You will not be sorry, though. Just start early, and allow yourself some time to make the mistakes you will inevitably make. Take deep breaths and I promise you, all will work out. Add this recipe to your weekly dinner rotation. Give it its own night. You won't regret it.
Arugula and Goat Cheese Ravioli
adapted from Gourmet, 2007
For Pasta:
2 cups cake flour (not self-rising)
1/2 cups all-purpose flour plus additional for kneading
4 large egg yolks
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 cup water
For Filling:
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 teaspoons finely chopped garlic
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
3/4 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
1 pound baby arugula, chopped
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
1/2 cup (4.5-5oz) soft goat cheese
1/2 cup ricotta cheese
For Sauce:
1/2 stick (1/4 cup or 4 tablespoons) unsalted butter
1/3 cup pine nuts (1.5 oz)
1 tablespoon finely chopped garlic
1/2 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
3 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 cup chopped arugula
To make pasta:
***Note: I use a food processor to make my pasta dough. I know, I know, I should probably be making it by hand on my marble board. But you know what? This is simpler, cleaner, and the dough turns out just as lovely.
Blend together all the dough ingredients in the food processor just until it starts to form a ball. Turn out onto a lightly-floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. You can add just enough flour to keep it from sticking. Wrap the dough in cling film and let sit at room temperature for at least an hour.
***Note: If, for any reason, you're going to be leaving the house, or you're starting this dough early in the day, place it in the fridge to chill, but make sure to let it come to room temp before you start working with it. It'll make rolling easier.
Make filling while dough stands:
Heat butter in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat until foam subsides, then add garlic, salt, and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until garlic begins to turn golden, about 1-2 minutes. Don't let the garlic burn! Add the arugula and zest and cook, turning with tongs, until arugula is wilted, about 2-4 minutes. Transfer arugula mixture to a colander or fine-mesh strainer and press with the back of a wooden spoon to squeeze out any extra liquid.
Make ravioli:
***Note: Yes, you can do this with a rolling pin, it'll just take a lot longer. But, if you have a pasta maker or a tabletop pasta roller, use it.
Cut dough into 8 equal pieces. Cover 7 pieces with cling film and gently pat out remaining piece into a flat rectangle. Dust generously with flour.
Set rollers of pasta maker on widest setting. Feed rectangle, short side first, through rollers. Fold rectangle in thirds, like a letter, and feed it, a short side first, through rollers. Repeat 6 or 7 more times, folding dough in thirds and feeding it through rollers, a short side first each time, dusting with flour to prevent sticking. Turn dial to next (narrower) setting and feed dough through rollers without folding, a short side first. Continue to feed dough through without folding, making space between rollers narrower each time, until the second to narrowest setting is used. When we made this, we stopped on number 5 – we found this was just thin enough not to tear when filled.
Put sheet of dough on a lightly floured kitchen towel with a long side nearest you. Drop 3 or 4 rounded teaspoon size mounds of filling 1.5-inches apart in a row down the center of the right half of sheet, then lift left half of sheet and drape it over the mounds. Press down firmly but gently around each mound, forcing out air. Cut pasta between mounds with a knife (for square) or round cutter. Line a large baking sheet with another kitchen towel, then arrange the ravioli in 1 layer. If your round cutter doesn't already have a crimper built in, then just run the tines of a fork around the outer edge of each ravioli. Continue with the remaining dough and filling.
Make sauce:
Heat butter in a cleaned 12-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat until foam subsides, then cook pine nuts, stirring frequently, until pale golden, about 4 minutes. Add garlic, salt, and pepper, and cook, stirring frequently, until garlic begins to turn golden, about 2 minutes. Add lemon juice and oil, swirling skillet to combine, and remove from heat (leave sauce in skillet).
Cook ravioli:
Bring a 6- to 8-quart pot of generously salted water to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to a gentle boil. While water is heating, reheat sauce over low heat if necessary.
Add half of ravioli (we only boiled half of what we originally made – we froze the rest) to gently boiling water, carefully stirring to separate, and cook, adjusting heat to keep at a gentle boil, until pasta is just tender 2-4 minutes. Lift cooked ravioli with a slotted spoon, draining well over pot, then transfer to skillet with sauce and gently swirl skillet to coat pasta. Transfer ravioli carefully to serving plates (or bowls). Spoon a little sauce over the ravioli and sprinkle with chopped fresh arugula.
You Say Potato…Posted: January 12, 2012 Filed under: Entrees, Soups | Tags: bacon, potato soup, puree, vinaigrette Leave a comment
Given that my last post was sans recipe, I thought it only fair to include a recent dish (and its recipe) in this post. As much as I would have liked, we didn't just eat brioche for dinner the other night, we had actual food. And that food was one of the most delicious potato soups I've ever eaten. Normally I don't gravitate to potato soups or chowders because the ones I've eaten in the past have been entirely too chunky for my taste. Not this one…this one spoke to me on a visceral level. This soup would end up as a purée, and it had bacon in it! How could I go wrong?
Not only did this recipe have some of my favorite flavor profiles, but it was also so simple to make. And I (miraculously) had all of the ingredients on hand! So, I began the task of prepping my mire poix and peeling my potatoes. Usually, Scott plays the role of sous chef in our kitchen, but he was busy in the garage building my soon-to-be-awesome custom prep table, so I let his absence slide this time. Besides, I knew it would please him to emerge from the garage and smell the lovely scent of garlic, rosemary, and onions sautéing away in butter.
The best part you ask? Well, in Scott's opinion, it was the Bacon Vinaigrette. Clearly.
Potato Soup with Bacon Vinaigrette
adapted from Food52
For the Soup:
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 large onion, diced
1 rib celery, diced,
1 large (or 2-3 medium) carrots, diced
4 cloves garlic, diced,
1 sprig (1 tablespoon) fresh rosemary, chopped
1 teaspoon Kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
3-5 medium Russet potatoes (weighing in at least 2 pounds), peeled and diced into 1-inch cubes
7 cups chicken stock, preferably homemade (I used my homemade)
1 cup lowfat sour cream (I used plain yogurt)
1 tablespoon champagne vinegar (or white wine vinegar)
For the Vinaigrette:
3-4 slices thick-cut bacon, chopped
3 scallions, finely sliced
3 tablespoons champagne vinegar (you could also use white wine vinegar)
2 tablespoons olive oil
pinch Kosher salt
pinch freshly cracked black pepper
Add butter to stock pot and melt over medium-high heat.
Add carrots, onion, celery, garlic, rosemary, salt, and pepper. Sauté veggies until onions are soft, roughly 8-10 minutes.
To that, add the potatoes and stock. Cook on medium-high until potatoes are very tender, roughly 20-25 minutes.
Turn off heat, add sour cream (or yogurt) and puree with immersion blender (or in a regular blender) until smooth.
Stir in champagne vinegar.
Taste for seasoning and adjust if necessary.
To make vinaigrette:
Cook bacon until crispy and let drain on paper towel.
In a small bowl, combine bacon, scallions, vinegar, salt, and pepper.
Add oil and stir to combine.
Top bowls of soup with 1 tablespoon vinaigrette.
Labor of LovePosted: January 11, 2012 Filed under: Breads | Tags: au pair, bread, brioche, france Leave a comment
To me, there is nothing more divine than the smell of bread baking in the oven. Okay, well, actually, the smell of yeast mixed with warm milk and sugar sends me into an almost coma-like state of joy, but for this post, I'll settle for bread right out of the oven.
I really enjoy baking bread. Yes, there are quick breads out there that one can put together in an afternoon. But the breads I enjoy making take at least two days out of my life. Brioche is one of those breads – if you do it right. And trust me, it'll be worth the wait.
When I was living in France (almost 8 years ago – wow!) I was an Au Pair for a family with three young girls. I was absolutely terrified when I first arrived and became a part of their daily lives, but soon enough, I was settled in and not a day passed when I didn't learn something about them and myself. Fiona, Amandine, and Aurelie were easily some of the most influential people in my life and I miss them all the time.
Among my daily responsibilities was the task of meeting the girls at their school (usually with snacks in my bag) and walking them back home. If, for any reason, I didn't have a snack with me, I knew there would still be a loaf of brioche and a container of Nutella waiting for them at the apartment.
Now, I'd never eaten brioche before and I had no idea it could be purchased at the store, pre-sliced, in a plastic bag, like Wonder Bread. Magnifique! So began my love for brioche. Clearly, the bagged brioche couldn't hold a candle to the real deal, and I understood that as soon as I stepped into a Pâtisserie and saw one on the shelf. Ooo, la la! So buttery, so light, and with just the right amount of sweetness. I was in heaven!
Making brioche at home is an activity that requires a great deal of patience, attention to detail, as well as a love for the process of baking bread. Carefully adding yeast to warm milk and sugar and watching it bubble is one of the simple joys in life, if you ask me. The hard part is waiting for the lovely dough to rise, only to be deflated in order to rise, yet again. After a night chilling in the refrigerator, the gorgeous, golden, and buttery dough is ready to be rolled carefully into balls, situated in a pan, and what? – more rising?! Yes, once it's in the loaf pan, one must continue to wait for a final rise. Then and only then can it be brushed lightly with egg wash and spend some quality time in the oven. Thirty (or so) minutes later…bread!
My experience with those three girls in France changed me in a profound way. They were a labor of love, and every time I bake brioche, I think of them and what they added to my life.
Adapted from Gourmet, May 2000
Yield: 1 standard 8 1/2 X 4 1/2 X 2 1/2-inch loaf
Special equipment: a stand mixer with dough-hook attachment
For starter:
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
1/4 cup warm milk (at least 105ºF)
1 (1/4-ounce) package active dry yeast (2 1/2 teaspoons)
1/2 cup sifted all-purpose flour (sift before measuring)
For dough:
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 tablespoon hot milk
3 large eggs
1 1/2 cups sifted all-purpose flour (sift before measuring)
1 1/2 sticks (3/4 cup) unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch dice, well softened
1 egg, mixed with 1 tablespoon milk and 1 teaspoon sugar, for egg wash
Make starter:
Stir together sugar and milk in a small bowl. Sprinkle yeast over the top and let it stand until foamy, at least 10 minutes. Stir flour into yeast mixture, forming a soft dough. Let starter rise, covered with cling film, at room temperature for 1 hour.
Make dough:
Combine salt, sugar, and hot milk in a small bowl and stir until salt and sugar are dissolved.
Fit your stand mixer with the whisk attachment and beat 2 eggs at medium-low speed until frothy. Add the sugar mixture and beat until combined well. With the motor running, add in order, beating after each addition: 1/2 cup flour, remaining egg, 1/2 cup flour, about one fourth of softened butter, and remaining 1/2 cup flour. Beat mixture 1 minute.
Remove bowl from mixer and fit mixture with dough-hook attachment. With a rubber spatula, spread the starter over the dough and return the bowl to mixer. Beat the dough at medium-high speed for at least 6 minutes, or until the dough is smooth and elastic. Add remaining butter and beat for 1 minute, or until butter is incorporated.
Lightly butter large bowl and scrape dough into the bowl. Lightly dust with flour to prevent a crust from forming.
Cover bowl with cling film and let it rise at room temperature until more than doubled in size, at least 2-3 hours.
Punch down the dough and lightly dust with flour.
Cover bowl with cling film and chill dough, punching down after the first hour, at least 12 hours.
Bake brioche:
The next day, remove dough from refrigerator, gently punch down and turn out onto a lightly-floured surface.
Work the dough gently into a disk and divide into 8 equal portions. Roll each portion into a ball and place side by side in a greased loaf pan. Cover with a damp kitchen towel and allow to rise at room temperature until the dough has doubled in volume, about 2 hours.
Preheat oven to 375ºF. When the dough has risen, brush with egg wash mixture and bake for 35-40 minutes until the top is golden brown and it sounds hollow when tapped. If, for any reason, the top begins to brown too quickly, cover gently with foil.
Turn loaf out onto a wire rack to cool.
Posted: January 8, 2012 Filed under: Uncategorized Leave a comment
When Life Gives You LemonsPosted: January 5, 2012 Filed under: Desserts | Tags: lemon tart, tart dough Leave a comment
Have you ever had one of those days when you just know you shouldn't leave the house? Those days when you're feeling so distracted that you'd be a danger to yourself and others if you got behind the wheel of a car? Two days ago, I experienced that feeling. Things are changing a bit in my life and lately I've been distracted by those changes. Typically, when I'm feeling anxious about an upcoming event or stressed about a looming project or due date, I get into the kitchen and cook it out. I had the of best intentions the other day when I put my apron on…unfortunately, the cooking gods didn't want to cooperate.
I just wanted to make a lemon tart. Was that too much to ask?
I started out with an unfamiliar recipe for tart dough. Common cooking sense would have told me that there was entirely too much sugar and butter, but not enough flour in the dough, but as I said, I was distracted and evidently, it looked fine to me. I should have just gone with the dough recipe I always use, but nooo, I wanted to try something new.
I forged ahead, thinking to myself, "It'll come together in the fridge while it rests, of course it will." In 30-minutes time, I pulled it from resting in the fridge and it was still a sugary, buttery, nowhere-near-tart-dough mass. As my blood pressure rose, I thought, "No, this is fine…it'll roll out just fine on my board." Nope. Wrong again. It smeared like wet sand all over my nice, shiny marble board. With a swift flick of my wrist, I scraped it up and added it forcefully and deliberately to my "circular file," as my dad would say.
I was not about to give up. No way. I've successfully conquered far too many pie and tart doughs to let one misstep have the better of me. So, armed with a new stick of butter, more flour, and a clearer head, I began again.
And let me tell you this: the end result was divine. Seriously. The new dough came together as it should and the lemon curd set up like a dream. After all the stumbles, after all the distractions, I managed to get over it and cook through it.
Lemon Tart
For dough:
adapted from Ina Garten's Barefoot in Paris
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup plus 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
kosher salt
6 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
2 tablespoons cold lard
1/4 cup ice water
Combine flour, 3 tablespoons sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt in a bowl and place in freezer for 30 minutes. Put flour mixture into bowl of food processor and add the butter and lard and pulse until the butter is broken down into pea-sized pieces. Add ice water and process until dough comes together. Turn out onto lightly floured board and press into a disc. Wrap in cling film and chill for 30 minutes.
Preheat oven to 375ºF.
Roll out dough and fit into a 9-inch tart pan with removable sides. Be careful not to stretch the dough when placing it in a pan, as it will shrink when baked. Cut off excess dough by rolling the pin over the top of the pan. Line the tart shell with a piece of buttered aluminum foil, butter side down, and fill with dried beans or rice. Bake shell for 10 minutes. Remove beans and foil and prick the bottom of the shell all over with a fork. Bake for another 15-20 minutes, until lightly browned. Cool completely.
***Lower heat to 325ºF.
For filling:
adapted from Anthony Bourdain's Les Halles Cookbook
zest from one lemon
1/2 cup freshly-squeezed lemon juice (about 2 medium lemons)
1/2 cup granulated sugar
4 large eggs
1 cup heavy cream
In mixing bowl, combine the lemon juice and sugar and whisk until well blended. Add eggs and whisk well until the eggs are incorporated, then whisk in zest and cream.
Place pre-baked tart shell on baking sheet. Pour mixture into shell, being careful not to over-fill it. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the custard is set. Remove from the oven and let cool before slicing. If you want to fancy it up a bit, serve it with fresh whipped lemon cream, lightly sweetened (2 tablespoons sugar mixed with 1 cup heavy whipping cream and 1 teaspoon lemon zest).


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Over the years, adoption photolistings have assisted thousands of children waiting in foster care in finding permanent, loving families. If you have adopted with the Ohio Adoption Photolisting's help and have a success story to share, we want to hear from you. Please fill out the form below and click submit.
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In his dissent in Seven-Sky v. Holder, Judge Kavanaugh opined that the Affordable Care Act's "shared responsibility payment" is a tax, and that it is therefore subject to the Anti-Injunction Act, which deprives the court of pre-enforcement jurisdiction over "any tax." A majority of the Supreme Court (Chief Justice Roberts, joined by Justices Ginsburg, Breyer, Sotomayor, and Kagan) agreed with Judge Kavanaugh on the first point (that the mandate may be considered a tax) but disagreed with him on the second (that it is subject to the AIA). The competing rationales behind these decisions reflect two different conceptions of judicial restraint. Continue reading
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Making the switch to solar can be an overwhelming decision if you're not talking to the right solar company. Silicon 2 Solar is a local business in Boise that'll give you peace of mind when you decide to turn to solar energy. We're locals who pride ourselves on being able to provide a corporate-level experience while maintaining a local-level approach.
Experience the Silicon Way firsthand when you contact us today.
There are plenty of reasons why you should choose a smaller company and support local businesses over large corporations. Silicon 2 Solar should be your first choice in Boise because:


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Kathy Griffin did a very stupid thing. She posed with a fake, decapitated head of President Trump. The photo, a collaboration between Griffin and photographer Tyler Shields, was clearly meant to echo the horrific images we have seen of ISIS beheadings in similar poses. Once the Griffin photo went viral and elicited a strongly negative reaction, Griffin issued an apology that seemed as false as her hair color.
Now, it's never a good idea to heed anything Griffin does. Braying and punishingly obvious, she specializes in unfunny comedy that tries to trade on the insult humor of comics such as Joan Rivers and Don Rickles — minus any actually amusing content. You're better off not taking her bait. But Fox News fell for it, hook, line, and sinker.
On Tuesday morning, they were almost weeping with outrage and sorrow on Fox and Friends. You can't fool co-host Ainsley Earhardt: "Someone had to buy that head," she said, yelping, "They knew what they were doing!" "What is wrong with our country?" said Earhardt, thus suggesting that the blight that is Kathy Griffin is a metaphor for the entire United States writ large. Earhardt added, "We'll be talking about it all morning." Of course you will. On Monday night, Fox's The Five led off its show with the Griffin stunt. Panelist Greg Gutfeld began with the smart angle, observing, "If we get mad, [Griffin] wins." But then — duh — the rest of the gang of five proceeded to … get mad! "This is so horribly offensive, it's horrible!" said Kimberly Guilfoyle, adding, "I'm never gonna forget about it." Dana Perino asserted that "this sets back the left's agenda" — because, you know, the American left wing takes its marching orders from Kathy Griffin. On Tucker Carlson Tonight, the host welcomed Fox News contributor Lisa Boothe, who said of Griffin's photo, "I am very outraged!"
Fox personalities acted, in short, like the liberal "snowflakes" they usually enjoy deriding: people who take grave offense at provocative incidents. Behind the scenes, Fox producers recognized a golden opportunity to attack a competitor: Because Griffin co-hosts CNN's New Year's Eve broadcast with Anderson Cooper, Fox festooned its coverage with anti-CNN messages. The Five's segment featured a big backdrop blaring, "CNN's Crude Comedian." A chyron beneath the Five anchors read, "CNN Star 'Beheads' Mock President Trump In Shocking Photo." At least three Fox News shows specifically asked why there was no reaction from Brian Stelter, host of CNN's media-criticism show Reliable Sources — apparently unaware (or not) that Stelter is taking time off after welcoming his first child into the world. CNN now says it is "reevaluating" Griffin's role in its New Year's Eve "coverage" — the kind of corporate language you'd use if she were a valuable news anchor. Anderson Cooper tweeted that he found Griffin's photo "clearly disgusting."
Fox also picked up on a sentiment Donald Trump Jr. expressed early on on social media, as many Fox personalities suggested that if a "conservative" had done this "with the head of President Obama" there would be a terrible outcry — or, as Boothe put it on Tucker Carlson, "Can you imagine a conservative comedian like Dennis Miller holding up a head of President Obama?" I could practically hear Miller, still trying to call in to The O'Reilly Factor from the West Coast, bellowing, "Leave me outta this!" As for this if-it-were-a-liberal thing: well, everyone has condemned this. There's no shortage of Griffin condemnation.
"I sincerely apologize," Griffin said in a video she posted to Instagram on Monday evening. "I am just now seeing the reaction of these images… I went way too far." Sorry, Kathy, but apologizing because you see the negative reaction to something isn't the same as apologizing for what you acknowledge was a really lousy idea. Half-hearted apology not accepted, Kathy.
Now, instead of inflicting further hours of Griffin imagery upon us, let's hope that Fox — the only news channel that has turned this into a lead-story, time-eating crusade — will start ignoring this non-event, okay?
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Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Daily Drawing - "bully"
Just got back from our Tuesday outing at the rec center. Sam had a lot of fun until a 9 month old tried to climb up on his riding toy with him. He didn't care for that.
It's cold and gray here. I thought Spring was here!
Happy Tuesday.
Today's drawing "bully" can be found at my Etsy shop.
Posted by melissa moss at 10:28 AM
2 comments:
- Jacqueline said...
This is sooo cute but yet i feel sorry for the little guy. I hope the days get warmer soon for you! Have a lovely merry happy day and love to you and yours!
- April 1, 2009 at 5:24 AM
- Little Brown Rabbit said...
I'm worried about the little fella! :( I want to rescue him!
Hope you get some sun soon :)
- April 1, 2009 at 7:54 AM
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Excellent Opportunity To Buy Property In Brand New Tower In Dubai Marina Without Paying Any Brokerage!!!
No Commission!! No Premium!! Three Bedroom Apartment For Sale In Marina Arcade,Dubai Marina.
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Parking: 2
Building Service Charges: AED 17.50 Per sq.ft Including Chiller
Price: AED 3,735,500/-
5 year Post Payment Plan On Selected Units.
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Note: 1) Valet Parking Available For Residents
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For More Details And Viewings Contact: Kushang Shukla: +971 50 231 2812 , Kush Desai: +971 56 593 3202
The 50 million sq ft Dubai Marina is an elegant waterfront community, which serves as a template for similar projects across the region.
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Dubai Marina features several high-rises with luxury apartments as well as villas set against the backdrop of the Marina. With yachts moored along the Marina and some of the city's best dining, entertainment and leisure facilities, Dubai Marina is the first choice for the stylish and sophisticated.
Dubai Marina comprises ten districts each developed as a distinct community. The Dubai Marina Walk, which lines the waterfront, has a selection of cosmopolitan restaurants.
A key component of Dubai Marina is the 150,000 sq m Dubai Marina Mall complex which comprises the Dubai Marina Mall, a shopping and entertainment destination; The Address Dubai Marina, a 5-star premium hotel with serviced residences; and Marina Plaza – an exclusive commercial tower; and the adjacent Pier 7 Dubai Marina, a multi-storey tower dedicated to diverse cuisines. Dubai Marina Yacht Club is the authority for all operations and berthing in the Dubai Marina canal.


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You have full rights to the movies you create with FlashBack and can use them for commercial purposes, even if you're using the free Express edition.
However, be aware that you are breaking the terms of the licence if:
- Movies created with the trial edition of FlashBack Pro are used by a company or organisation.
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Erhu - Chinese Violin Lesson
Instructor: Mr. CK Tang
The erhu is a two-stringed bowed musical instrument, more specifically a spike fiddle, which may also be called a "southern fiddle", and sometimes known in the Western world as the "Chinese violin" or a "Chinese two-stringed fiddle". It is used as a solo instrument as well as in small ensembles and large orchestras. It is the most popular of the huqin family of traditional bowed string instruments used by various ethnic groups of China. A very versatile instrument, the erhu is used in both traditional and contemporary music arrangements, such as in pop, rock, jazz.
Sunday 11:30 am - 12:30 pm
(3 students are needed to open this class)
Erhu is not provided (*You can use our erhu during class but students are strongly encouraged to have an erhu at home to practice.)
Tuition: Member: $20 / lesson and Non-member $25 / lesson
(Make check payable to Asia Trend Inc / YESS)
(3% handling fee will be charged if you pay by credit card)


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Jumpstart Your Productivity
In today's very fast-paced world, most organizations run lean and have to do more with less. That's why it's critically important for every single employee to be productive, effective and efficient every single day. Jumpstart Your Productivity is based on Shawn Doyle's book and teaches employees how to be more efficient and productive every day by providing tools, tips and techniques to allow them to work smarter. In many cases, people are working but they don't take the time to analyze how they are working and that's what this program is all about.
To understand the real, proven benefits of being more productive.
To learn and apply the concept of setting goals, which relates directly to being more productive
To discuss and learn how to use time management systems at work in order to be more productive
To learn how to organize and plan activities and tasks in order to be a more productive employee
To learn about your specific productivity style and how it relates to when you do your work each day
To learn and understand tips and techniques for creating a better to-do list for productivity
Program Outline:
Goal Setting for Productivity
In the first segment of the program, we talk about how goal setting relates and connects directly to the idea of productivity. After all, if you do not have goals- how do you know where to spend your time and how to be productive on any given day? In the opening part of the program we also talk about the benefits of being more productive, and how it can help you in your life personally and professionally.
Productivity Toolbox
In this module we talk about "hacks" to improve life in every way, and we cover methodologies and tools to help you become more productive. We review things such as calendar systems, time management systems, and other tools in order to help each person become productive at what they do.
Time Wasting
In this part of the program, we share with the group some of the startling statistics from the United States Bureau of Labor and Industry, which covers how people spend their time at work and at home. There are many important lessons to extract from this data, including how people can change how they spend their time at home and at work.
Can I Have a Compass Please?
The next thing we talk about in the program is the important element of planning. In this module we give people tools and techniques to help plan their activities. Lessons include: How to plan better in terms of business and personal travel, how to do a better job of planning a project, and how to analyze all your activities to make sure you're being as efficient as possible. The goal is to analyze individual habits relating to planning activities, and to look at which ones we can change in order to get dramatically better results.
Your Productivity Style
In this part of the program, we ask people to take a look at whether they are an early bird or a night owl, and to discuss with the group when they are at their most productive. The idea is to schedule your work when you are in your MPZ (Maximum Productivity Zone) and to do other less important work when you're not in that zone. This is followed by an exercise where people get a chance to discuss their style with a partner, and talk about what they can do to modify and adapt to their work.
Doing the Do
In this module we cover the critically important aspects and benefits of creating a "to-do" list, and we give people tools, tips and techniques for creating and using a to-do list on a daily basis. We also include a discussion about being able to say no and being able to determine when to say yes. Lastly, we talk about how to negotiate with others when they make requests of our time, and how to artfully control interruptions throughout the day.
Action Plans
We wrap up the session by asking each person to create a comprehensive action plan to demonstrate how they are going to apply what they have learned.
Option #1: One half day program
Option #2: (2) webinars


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Digital Maelstrom's approach to agile, custom software development gives you the best of both worlds: systematic and flexible. Not only do we lay out a clear process, but also that process based on methodology that works for your project whether it's one or a blend of many.
We take our cue from you. Want an internal digital transformation? Enhanced user experience? Mobile customer focus? Chances are that at least one if not all these business trends or IT initiatives are on your radar. The common thread through them all is agile software development.
You know it takes a custom software development company to achieve these key business goals. But building that foundation can be daunting if your current development team already has plenty on their plates or you lack the internal resources to deliver what you need quickly, cost-effectively and with superior quality.
Digital Maelstrom offers the essential agile software development services to help you successfully plan, execute and support your most pressing IT initiatives.
Every approach to an agile software development project has a unique plan, but the process is similar. Here's what to expect: