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it's hard to make a bad skillet of cornbread. just don't add sugar. (120)
it'd be simple to call victuals (clarkson potter, 2016) a cookbook because, yes, there are recipes, and, yes, there are instructions as to how to cook said recipes, but i love the subtitle and find it more apt a descriptor: "an appalachian journey, with recipes."
ronni lundy, the writer, grew up in appalachia, and victuals is a tribute to the "present-day people and places across the southern appalachain mountains" (16). lundy set off on an epic road trip to write the book, traveling over four thousand miles, driving through and around kentucky, west virigina, southern ohio, northern georgia, tennessee, virginia, and north carolina to bring us all these stories — stories from her own childhood and youth, from chefs and food people who have roots in appalachia, from people who live and work in the region, dedicated to cooking its food and preserving its history and traditions.
and, of course, there are recipes and beautiful — seriously, exceptionally beautiful — photography.
victuals hits at that intersection that i absolutely love — literary writing/journalism and food and culture. the chapters open with long-form pieces that focus on different components important to appalachian food and culture, and they're rich with history and also steeped in the present. one of the things i appreciated most is how lundy doesn't shy away from the uglier aspects of history; she readily acknowledges the role of slaves and indentured servants and doesn't try to gloss over it or pretend it didn't exist (79-81).
she also brings in the present, highlights the work that people are doing to preserve the food of appalachia as well as to reclaim land that has been completely stripped by big coal. she does all this without getting preachy, by focusing on the stories of the people doing the work on the ground, by helping us get to know them, who they are, why they're doing the work they do. fundamentally, lundy understands that people, that stories, are a crucial part of any culture, including food, just as she understands that food does not exist in a void — these practices, these flavors and products and dishes all have origins somewhere.
how does victuals fit into this series, though? this series that is meant to highlight books by authors who are immigrants, POC, LGBTQ, women, etcetera? isn't ronni lundy a white, american-born, american-bred woman?
yes, she is, and, yes, that is the underlying premise of this series, but the greater purpose behind this is to open up the world a little, whether for me or for someone out there who might have chanced upon this page, and victuals personally challenged me a lot.
last december, i posted this quote from becky chambers' a closed and common circuit (hodder and stoughton, 2016):
'and here, AIs are just … tools. they're the things that make travel pods go. they're what answer your questions at the library. they're what greet you at hotels and shuttle ports when you're travelling. i've never thought of them as anything but that.
'okay,' sidra said. none of that was an out-of-the-ordinary sentiment, but it itched all the same.
'but then you … you came into my shop. you wanted ink.i've thought about what you said before you left. you came to me, you said, because you didn't fit within your body. and that … that is something more than a tool would say. and when you said it, you looked … angry. upset. i hurt you, didn't i?'
'yes,' sidra said.
tak rocked her head in guilty acknowledgement. 'you get hurt. you read essays and watch vids. i'm sure there are huge differences between you and me, but i mean … there are huge differences between me and a harmagian. we're all different. i've been doing a lot of thinking since you left, and a lot of reading, and —' she exhaled again, short and frustrated. 'what i'm trying to say is i — i think maybe i underestimated you. i misunderstood, at least.'
sidra processed, processed, processed. […] 'this … re-evaluation of yours. does it extend to other AIs? or do you merely see me differently because i'm in a body?'
tak exhaled. 'we're being honest here, right?'
'i can't be anything but.'
'okay, well — wait, seriously?'
'right. okay. i guess i have to be honest too, then, if we're gonna keep this fair.' tak knitted her long silver fingers together and stared at them. 'i'm not sure i would've gone down this road if you weren't in a body, no. i … don't think it would've occurred to me to think differently.'
sidra nodded. 'i understand. it bothers me, but i do understand.'
'yeah. it kind of bothers me, too. i'm not sure i like what any of this says about me.' (chambers, 189-90)
this passage has sat with me since, and it's a quote i kept thinking about as i read victuals. i'm just as guilty as anyone else of living in a bubble, having preconceptions of groups of people, and not wanting to look myself in the mirror because i know i won't like what i see.
i readily admit that, when i think of the south and middle america, which are geographical terms i use very loosely to mean anywhere south of DC and west of philadelphia, my immediate reaction is to raise my guard. i automatically get wary and suspicious, and i start feeling uncomfortable. this isn't a reaction limited to the south and middle america, though; it's also my instinctual reaction when i think of christians, suburban white americans in general, korean-koreans.
victuals made me examine that part of myself, made me continue asking myself about these biases of mine. i thought a lot about this as i was driving across the country last month, as i made my way through the south, and i'd like to say that a lot of it has to do with being a woman of color and being queer and having faced discrimination simply for being who i am.
while i won't say that all my apprehensions are totally unwarranted given that, yes, this country did put the cheeto administration in place, knowing it to be racist, misogynistic, and anti-LGBTQ, i don't think it's fair to use my queer WOC-ness as an excuse for my own biases, and it goes without saying that i don't like this part of myself. i don't like that i'll let my fear color my perception of people, of places.
at the same time, though, knowing this, i refuse to let my fear define my perception of people, of places, and neither will i let it stop me from going into spaces that make me uncomfortable and let them show me how wrong i've been. sometimes, though, of course that's easier said than done, partly because fear is fear and partly because it's never a nice feeling to come face-to-face with my own prejudices and ugliness. i mean, no one enjoys that; no one wants to be called a racist or a bigot or a misogynist; but this is why toni morrison said that, to her, goodness is more interesting than evil — it takes work to be good. it's a struggle to be good. as much as hatred and bigotry are learned things, we also must learn to be good, to be better people, and that, oftentimes, hurts.
i feel like, post-election, there's been a fair amount of criticism directed at liberals, kind of like a "ha, fuck you! you in your liberal bubbles, totally clueless about the rest of the world! we showed you!" there's also been a call to empathy, that liberals should be reaching out to conservatives — or maybe that's making a much too clear-cut distinction, like it's solely a liberals vs. conservatives thing or like it's solely geographical. i don't know.
regardless, there's been a call to liberals to be more empathetic, to try to understand where cheeto voters came from, what might have compelled them to vote that way, how the rest of the country outside of our liberal cities is faring. a small part of me thinks, well, yes, maybe we should try to understand, in the way that i think we generally need to keep our minds and hearts open, but the other, greater part of me thinks that's a pretty piss-poor attempt to rationalize racism, misogyny, and bigotry, to reinforce the continued straight white male-centered power structure.
here's the thing: empathy is a two-way street. you don't get to call for empathy and understanding without first extending it to someone else, and this whole fucking country could stand to tap into more empathy and understanding. republicans could stand to tap into their basic humanity and try to see women as independent, sentient, thinking human beings deserving of equal rights and the legal right to make decisions about their own bodies. christians could stand to tap into love for LGBTQ people, muslims, non-christians, instead of crying about religious freedom so they can continue to discriminate against people at will. queer POC like myself could venture out of our bubbles and try to see the america outside our cities.
that's the thing, though — you can't expect just one group to carry all the weight of being empathetic and open-minded. it doesn't work that way. it's not fair to place that just on liberals, like it's necessary for us to be open-minded and accepting of people and ideologies that try to do us harm and take away our rights and treat us like second-class people, when those people and ideologies do nothing to try to see outside their narrow bubbles. it takes both sides to bring about change and growth, just like it takes at least two people to have a conversation.
and, you know, this is something i love about food, its ability to bring people together and create a space where maybe people can put aside their differences and just enjoy a meal. it's not to say that food has this magical superpower or that this is always what happens — people fight plenty over dinner tables — but, when i think of food, i do think of that, its giving, generous nature that invites people in and agrees that, no matter where we come from, who we are, we all eat, we all taste, we all need and want and hunger. fundamentally, despite our surface variations, we are not all that different from each other.
one afternoon she [amelia kirby] looked up to see seated at adjacent bar stools an openly gay local artist and one of the staunchest conservative strip miners in town. "they were each just here [at summit city] to grab lunch, but they were sitting there and you know how we are in the mountains, we like to be friendly. so they started to talk, and not just talk, but it turned out to be an hour-long conversation in which they exchanged ideas civilly, even though they each were coming from different perspectives. and they left, laughing pretty easy, and i thought, 'wow. it's working!'" (116)
in short, bill [best] teaches that american culture has evolved to largely value the acquisition of things: cars, tech devices, supper from the latest chef to make headlines. appalachian culture instead places a higher value on connections. beans are a perfect example of that as we value them not only for taste and nutrition, but also for less tangible reasons. we pass seeds from generation to generation, sharing their names and stories to connect us to our origins. we plant our preferred pole beans in the corn so the former may use the latter's stalks to twine up, a connection of crops. the bean plant replenishes nitrogen sapped from the soil, connecting us to the earth. we see the thick strings down the sides of the beans we prefer not as a nuisance, but as an opportunity to gather on the porch willing hands of all ages, the older women teaching children how to pull the zipper gently down one side, then the other. as we work, we share gossip and memories connecting us to our family, our community, and our history. bill notes that being intangible, such treasures of a culture of connection are virtually invisible to the citizens of a culture of acquisition and so mountain culture gets cast, at best, as quaint and anachronistic; at worst, ridiculous or perverse. bill urges us to look past such assumptions, to dig deeper for the truth. he also grows some mean beans. (141)
"aspirational eating" is a term used in the study of foodways that, in its most simplified explanation, means that we eat the foods of those we aspire to be. the theory suggests that the movement that began in the region in the mid-20th century toward convenience foods and commercial products, toward pop-tarts for breakfast instead of homemade biscuits and mamaw's jelly, is not simply about availability, convenience, inexpensive price, or taste preference, but is also largely fueled because people from this part of the country, who so often are portrayed as "other," aspire to be instead "the same." like those they've seen selling foods on billboards and tv.
i thought about my mother, who i remember working tirelessly most days of her life, cooking, cleaning, washing clothes and hanging them on the line, washing pots and pans in an old porcelain sink. what did grocery canned goods mean to her? she relished the home-canned goods that we were gifted, adjusted the store-bought ones to suit her rigorous standards of taste. i thought that she loved her aunt's jams as much for the memory of place and people they evoked. but what meaning might those commercial jams and vegetables have also held? did those grocery jars and tins represent a different life? perhaps an easier one; perhaps one she desired?
was that aspirational eating? (211-3)


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Disclaimer: Linum provided samples of BAX, Voice, and Music to both Lieven and myself for an upcoming review at Headfonia. I walked away from Fujiya Avic with Super-BAX.
Update: The phrase 'begs the question' was improper and has been changed to 'raises the question'.
web: Linum Cables
twitter: @linumdk
The old skeptic in me would have dodged Linum's Fujiya Avic booth. But thanks in large part to Linum's booth, that old crotchet sort of bit it(1).
Besides, Lieven and I have a joint Linum cable review coming up. It was high time for me to bone up on BAX, Voice, and the rest of Linum's line up. There was also this point: Linum engineer, Allan Sorrig, was manning the booth, and I'm a bit of a toady.
Naturally, I shuffled my feet towards Linum's spread, extended my fingers, and shook Allan's hand slightly longer than etiquette dictated. Then, I noticed the tiny "I'm a cable believer" pin on Mr. Sorrig's shirt. It looks like this:
Coolios, thought I.
Anyways, Linum had a new cable on display. It is called Super Bax. Before I get ahead of myself, I should disclose this: what I most care about in earphone/headphone cables is comfort; SQ and all that be damned if it don't feel good. After that, I'm into robustness. And while practically fishing wires, Linum's cables are robust. Better, they're thin. They disappear under, over, and around even the most headphone-unfriendly glasses out there. And I own four pair of glasses, two purchased especially for headphone listening.
Because they lack memory wire, cable guides, and because their footprint is practically non-existent, Linum cables are perfect for the bespectacled among us.
But onto audio quality. Evidently Super Bax is half as resistive as Bax, which, depending on the earphone design could make it a better, or worse performer. Allan is a level-headed chap by any definition. He levelled the spec at me in as unsalesman-like a manner as possible.
Then he showed me something else.
"Why don't you test this?" he asked, pointing to what I thought was an amp on life support. Wires wiggled out of face-mounted siphons, three of them simultaneously attached to an ugly, bespoke earphone; the final one leading to my Vinnie-modded AK100.
In hindsight, and with wine in me, I'm embarrassed my first (and silent) reaction. That reaction went something like this: "I've got more important things to do than tinker with placebo."
As I settled into the chair to face the placebo box, Mr. Sorrig explained:
"Twist the knob to test the cable of your choice." Yes, he talks like a djinni. "The box is passive, connected only to the cables and the earphone."
The unthorough skeptic in me decided not to ask to see inside the box. Which is one catch in this small essay, the meat of which is the following:
A very clear, unequivocal difference exists between the three cables hooked up to Linum's ugly, bespoke earphones. First, volume between Vocal, and Bax variants, was dead even; Music seemed to me to be slightly quieter. I think I know why.
Anyway, here are my observations:
Vocal: bit stereo image, less contrast between bass and treble, but bright in the upper mids.
Music: less-control in the upper bass, obviously more upper bass bloom, wider, and even more active highs.
Bax: brightest of the three with the cleanest bass.
And that's it. The difference between each was obvious but not mind-blowing like the differential output of two headphones. Of course. My preference (not endorsement) was for Bax. It simply was different. So, too, were the crazy earphones. If you want to show up your audiophile friends at the next headphone meet, see about rigging one up yourself.
Another nice bit about Linum's demonstration was that at no point did Allan suggest that his cables were better than anyone else's. Both of us agreed that comfort is paramount. We also agreed that Linum's tiny cables have a penchant for looping strangely around, and over, and through earphones when wadded up in a carrying case. Super-BAX's quad-cabling fixes some of that.
I have two criticisms regarding Linum's demonstration:
1 - listeners should have been able to see inside the box
2 - neither are the bespoke earphones's guts, or driver impedance requirements public
Point #1 would alleviate concerns that something active is going on inside the box. I took Allan's word for it. I think he's good for it. Point #2 is more problematic. Typically, earphone driver are designed to be used with cables of a certain resistance. Raising or lowering that resistance willy nilly can either break or make a sound signature.
Still, that little black box was the first credible cable demonstration I've seen/heard. Auditory memory issues eliminated, and with the flip of a switch, you really can hear differences. No my thoroughly unthorough skeptic brain didn't force me to get Mr. Sorrig to open up the black box. Perhaps it should have. Not that it would need to. Allan himself intimated that the differences were as much a surprise to him. And now he is a believer.
Which raises the question: why do not more companies make black boxes? The bespoke earphone probably took some work, but a simple selector switch to which three, or four cables are connected, is a simple jobby that removes reliance upon faulty auditory memory.
In spite of my two misgivings, I am now a fresh-faced, although proviso-ladened, cable believer. I also strongly believe that cable manufacturers should invest their time and energy in black boxes and ugly tri-wired earphones.
Finally, I would like to thank Allan for spending the time and effort in explaining your views, experiences, and for illuminating your IEM lineup. For me, your booth was the most interesting attraction at this year's Fujiya Avic Spring Headphone Festival.
(1) Within reason. I count myself more a hardy believer in component matching that plays harmoniously into the resistive requirements of driver A, driver B, and crossover C.
NOTE: click images below to advance to the next frame. Allan shot my mug twice. Thanks, Allan.

subset: commoncrawl


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Keep Seniors Busy with Fun Activities this Holiday Season
The holiday season can be challenging for seniors, especially those who live alone. There are, however, many activities that can keep older adults occupied during this time of year. The following are a few of our favorite holiday activities for seniors and older adults that can help beat the holiday blues.
- Holiday Shopping – The holidays are always a busy shopping season. While walking around malls can be tedious and even stressful, many shops have beautiful window displays and some even have special holiday events where shoppers are invited to browse and even sample some holiday treats! Try to schedule time with your loved one to get out and take in the shops; some window shopping can help your loved one get in the mood of the season. If you are unable to accompany your loved one, consider hiring a part-time caregiver in Cincinnati who can browse the stores with your loved one
- Cooking and Baking – Festive feasts are a part of many families' holiday traditions. Whether cooking a meal for the family or baking treats for friends and neighbors, there are many opportunities for older people to exercise their culinary skills. Your aging parents or loved ones should be encouraged to share and help with traditional family recipes that can add unique flavors to holiday meals.
- Decorating – Decorating homes, lawns, businesses, Christmas trees or Menorahs give seniors a chance to express their creativity and help brighten the surroundings. This can include making ornaments as well as putting them up.
- Singing or Playing Along – Singing carols and traditional holiday songs is something that is enjoyed by individuals of all ages. Whether your aging loved one plays an instrument or simply contributes with their voice, he or she can be part of holiday choirs. Include the younger generation and grandchildren in this fun event and make it a fun family affair.
- Attending Holiday Performances – One of the best ways to get into the holiday spirit is to attend live performances of traditional plays and musicals such as A Christmas Carol or The Nutcracker. Almost every community has such holiday shows and seniors should be encouraged to attend them.
It is also important for seniors to stay in touch with friends and family members, especially during the holiday season. This can be done either in traditional ways such as writing letters and sending out Christmas cards or by utilizing more modern technology such as email, Skype or video chats. If you are unable to visit or stay in touch with your loved one as much as you would like, give the gift of Cincinnati in-home care this holiday season. With a professional in-home caregiver by your loved one's side, you can ensure that they're not only able to complete their daily activities safely, but that someone is with them to share stories and talk about the wonderful holiday season.
For more information about senior home care, reach out to Home Care Assistance of Cincinnati at 513-891-2273 and speak with a friendly Care Manager.


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As businesses grow more optimistic about opportunities for growth, the pressure is on for sales organizations to meet ever higher revenue targets. In a global survey on sales performance optimization by CSO Insights, 94 percent of respondents said their 2014 revenue targets were higher than last year's. It's no wonder that "capture new accounts," cited by 60 percent of respondents, topped the list of objectives for 2014 in the study.At the same time, many sales reps are struggling to meet even their current quotas. And in an Aberdeen Group survey, nearly half identified insufficient revenue growth as the top pressure motivating them to pursue sales management initiatives ranging from building out the capabilities of sales teams to improving management practices and investing in technology tools.
* Please enter your email address and click the Download Now button to download the white paper.
Copyright © 2019


text:
OK. Some things are just meant to be.
Derek Jeter's second at-bat. Every member of the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays standing at the top of the dugout steps. Every fan standing at Yankee Stadium.
Derek Jeter hits a home run for his 3,000th hit!!!
Freakin' amazing!!!
ONLY one other player has ever cranked a dinger for his 3,000th hit - Wade Boggs!
ONLY Ty Cobb, Hank Aaron and Robin Yount made it to 3,000 at a younger age than Jeter, who turned 37 on June 26.
ONLY three other players, Honus Wagner, Cal Ripken Jr. and Robin Yount, have recorded 3,000 hits while playing most of their careers at shortstop.
The HBWHOF tips the cap to Derek Jeter.
...and I liked the big smile from Minka Kelly too...


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As well as cleaning, the high capacity and rapid absorption of the long-fronded side, makes it great for drying. It's perfect for cleaning the underside or around the legs and tail areas.
23.5cm x 17cm


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Wedding & Portrait Photographer based in Red Deer, Alberta,
Hey there!
My name is Joy Breitkreutz (pronounced Brite-krites). I am married to my best friend, whom I have loved since I was seventeen, and we have been blessed with two beautiful little boys. I love sparkly things, the color pink and movie theatre popcorn. I love heart to heart talks and laughing until you can hardly breath. I am a total sap and a hopeless romantic, I cry at nearly every wedding I attend. Being able to not only witness the love between people, but also be able to document it, is an incredible honor to me. To give people tangible memories, through photographs gives me an insane amount of joy!
Real People, Real Moments
My most favorite thing and goal in photography is capturing real people in real moments. You know when you see a picture of yourself and it doesn't even look like you, because you were just giving a super forced smile or trying to pose the way someone told you to? Well, that is exactly the thing I try to avoid. My approach is to get to know YOU, make you as comfortable as possible and guide you along as I shoot authentic moments of you just being yourself with the one or ones you love...


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Band 132
von Maltzahn, Nadia – Bellan, Monique (Eds.)
The Art Salon in the Arab Region
The Politics of Taste Making
2019. 310 pages – 170 x 240 mm. Hardcover
This volume discusses the emergence and role of the art salon in the Arab region in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, focusing on Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Lebanon and Iraq. Institutional forms of exhibiting and teaching art emerged in the Middle East and North Africa in late colonial and early post-colonial contexts. The book examines how the salon had an impact on the formation of taste and on debates on art, and discusses the transfers and cultural interactions between the Middle East, North Africa and Europe. Following the institutional model of the Paris salons, art salons emerged in Algiers, Tunis and Cairo starting in the late 1880s. In Beirut, the salon tradition reached its peak only after independence in the mid-twentieth century. Baghdad never had a formal salon, but alternative spaces and exhibition formats developed in Iraq from the late 1940s onwards. As in Paris, the salons in the region often defined the criteria of artistic production and public taste. The impact of the salon also lay in its ability to convey particular values, attitudes and aspirations. At the same time, the values and attitudes promoted by the salon – as well as the salon itself – were often subject to debate, which led to the creation of counter-salons or alternative exhibition practices. The art salon helps us to understand changes in the art systems of these countries, including the development of art schools, exhibition spaces and artist societies, and gives insight into the power dynamics at play. It also highlights networks and circulations between the Arab region and Europe.


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Tom Kelly was in front of his favorite television Saturday night for the start of Boston-Tampa Bay in the second game of the ALCS. He watched Rays starter Scott Kazmir pitch to the first couple of Red Sox and called out to the next room to his wife:
"Sharon, this is going to be a four-hour game."
Kelly was certain of this after seeing plate umpire Sam Holbrook arrive at Tropicana Field with a strike zone the size of a shaving kit.
"I felt bad for the umpire," Kelly said. "I think he's a pretty good umpire, but he didn't call strikes early, got trapped and couldn't get out of it."
Kelly still was watching after midnight and with the playoff game in its sixth hour.
"I don't care if you're rooting for the Rays or for the Red Sox, what happened to the Red Sox in the 11th inning ... you have to say that was awful," he said. "It had been a bad night for baseball, but that made it worse."
Kelly referred to Holbrook refusing to call strikes on good pitches by Boston reliever Mike Timlin. This led to the ejection of Boston pitching coach John Farrell and eventually to the Rays' 9-8 victory.
The time of the game was 5 hours, 27 minutes. The fact a game story made the Sunday Star Tribune delivered to my doorstep was a tremendous feat in deadline journalism.
"What bothers me is that someone didn't recognize what was going on in the second or third inning and say, 'Hey, why don't we loosen up the strike zone or we're going to be here all night?' " Kelly said. "If somebody in his crew says something early in the game, you don't play for five hours and have what happened in the bottom of the 11th."
Kelly played only briefly in the big leagues in the 1970s. He was around long enough to know that hitters were expected to swing the bat.
"You didn't want Dutch Rennert to call you out," he said. "If there was a pitch on the black, you better swing. The next one might be six inches off the plate, and Dutch would go into his routine and call you out, and a hitter would be traumatized for a month.
"There's not much swinging going on now. The way the strike zone has shrunk, there doesn't have to be."
Kelly paused and said: "You wonder the way they call strikes now what a guy like Dennis Eckersley would've done. He would get pitches a foot outside. He might've had a hard time surviving these days."
New MLB logo?
The logo for Major League Baseball has been a lefthanded hitter getting ready to take a cut. There have been suggestions after the past few postseasons that it should be changed to a hitter with an outstretched arm and hand signaling for time as he paws in the batter's box.
Or maybe it could be a drawing of a hitter refastening his batting gloves between pitches.
"The other night, I was watching a game and timed how long it took between each pitch for the hitters to loosen and refasten the Velcro on both batting gloves," pitching great Jim Kaat said. "It averaged eight to 10 seconds. I counted pitches, subtracted the ones that were put in play or ended an at-bat, and came up with 220-something pitches.
"The way I figured it, there were 35 minutes spent adjusting batting gloves."
Kaat always worked fast with the Twins, and then went to the Chicago White Sox and transformed himself into a quick-pitching machine.
"The umpires loved it," he said. "I would be walking in from the bullpen and John Schulock or another umpire would say, 'Kaat's pitching! We'll be out of here in an hour and 50 minutes.' "
Kaat was pitching for St. Louis and Paul Molitor was The Igniter for Milwaukee in the 1982 World Series. It was a wonderful tournament, with two blowouts and the remainder tension-filled contests as the Cardinals won in seven games.
The teams combined for 10 runs per game, and the average time was 2 hours, 52 minutes.
Before the World Series, the Brewers rallied to beat the California Angels in five games in the ALCS. Again, it was a tight series with plenty of runs (nine per game) and an average game time of 2 hours, 40 minutes.
"Two-40 ... really?" Molitor said. "I would've guessed the average was higher than that, with all the trips [Angels manager] Gene Mauch made to the mound."
Molitor was asked for his theory on the ever-increasing length of games that are ruining the postseason for many of us hardball hardcores.
"One big change that doesn't get a lot of mention is that the benches now are in charge of controlling the running game," he said. "The pitcher and the catcher used to take care of that -- when to throw over to first, when to step off the mound.
"Now, the catcher looks into the dugout, and the guys in the dugout wait for the third-base coach to give his signs, and then the dugout signals the catcher what they want, and then the catcher signals the pitcher if he should throw over, step off, slide step.
"So, you've gone from five seconds of communication between pitcher and catcher to 20 seconds. You do that 70, 80 times a game ... how much time does that add?"
Twenty minutes, plus the refastening the gloves time, plus the added hour because hitters don't have to swing because umpires won't call strikes.
"What you get is a product that many nights is unwatchable," Kaat said. "I've been involved in baseball all of my adult life, and I start watching these playoff games, and after two innings I'm saying, 'I can't sit through this.'
"A pitcher like Dice-K [Daisuke Matsuzaka] with Boston ... he has great stuff, and he refuses to throw the ball over until it's absolutely necessary. He drives me crazy."
Kelly also mentioned the frustration of watching Matsuzaka: "He has outstanding pitches, and he's out there dancing around the strike zone. He has to be the reason [Boston manager] Terry Francona has no hair."
Era of the walk
Molitor is in the Hall of Fame because, from the time he was a Milwaukee rookie in 1978 until he finished with the Twins in 1998, he came from the on-deck circle looking for a fastball to rifle past the pitcher's head.
"Absolutely, there's a different philosophy to hitting," he said. "The strike zone is smaller and everyone is trying to get into a hitter's count. That's made for higher pitch counts and longer games.
"A hitter's count for me was 0-0. When I was at the end of my rookie season with the Brewers, someone mentioned my on-base percentage and I said, 'What's that?' I wanted to know what I was hitting."
This is an era when the on-base percentage guys are running many front offices, including Boston's. They have been assisted in their success by cowering plate umpires, intimidated both by the whining of hitters such as David Ortiz and Kevin Youkilis over every called strike, and by the implementation of the QuestTec computer camera to grade their work.
For 100 years, a double was a good at-bat, and now in this century it is drawing a nine-pitch walk.
"Ed Runge was a great umpire when I started out," Kaat said. "He once told me his philosophy was, 'It's a strike until it absolutely looks like a ball.' Today, the opposite is true. It's a ball until it absolutely looks like a strike."
Patrick Reusse can be heard weekdays on AM-1500 KSTP at 6:45 and 7:45 a.m. and 4:40 p.m. • email@example.com


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|Photo Credit: Dwell on Design & Andrew Franz
|Photo Credit: Dwell on Design & Andrew Franz
Photos were not suppose to be taken at any of the homes, but I couldn't resist in this particular home. I'm guilty of going camera happy. SORRY! I want to replicate this home and there's just too many fabulous details I'm going to steal to remember in my pea size brain! Such a well thought out space, great flow, open floor plan, attention paid to every little detail and corner. Leather luggage pulls on closets, japanese toilets, towel warmer racks, and tiny robins placed inside the plants, just shows how they thought of everything. The space alone has good bones with 16 foot beam ceilings, exposed brick walls, and timber columns. The industrial feel is maintained by leaving the masonry exposed, but kept light by including a lot of glass walls like the bedrooms that have remote controlled curtains to provide privacy when needed. Complimenting that is the decor in a mid century color palette, a good mix of modern elements and many fantastic vintage lighting fixtures and gorgeous antique furniture. So SWEET. These people know how to live! Hats off to Architect Andrew Franz. A state of the art renovation. Job really well done!
LOVE? I want it ALL!
I've always said that I will move back to the city when my kids move off to college and it becomes an empty nest at home in the burbs. However, as much of a city girl as I am, my battle is that it will be hard to pull me back to city living and ask me to give up the space in my house, a spacious kitchen, outdoor space, and the greenery and peace and quiet the burbs has to offer. Not easy to find that happy medium in the city. But I found it today - 13 years early! I want this private oasis! How much? Don't ask! I don't want to know. HA. That would automatically kill my DREAM!


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How land lays over itself, sediment-full; we all in the belly of something other; you witness the neighbor's dog in taunt of blue day; this just out of & reach is a noun no longer in roll off your tongue; how arms-length means at bay at bay; what you try to keep
out despises & the reflection of your bones in the mirror
means exposure; & you feel so orange in the peel-back
rinds of elbows, of knee caps; & wounds & their wide-wide-open, if able, any locked door…& arches & more knobs; neighbor's pit bull; foam in the mouth; when you compact it all down: a mountain; who counts in landscapes? You ask a question & the question stares back, blank, in dare to answer.
Felicia Zamora is the author of the book Of Form & Gather, winner of the 2016 Andrés Montoya Poetry Prize from University of Notre Dame Press (2017). She won the 2015 Tomaž Šalamun Prize from Verse, and authored the chapbooks Imbibe {et alia} here (Dancing Girl Press 2016) and Moby-Dick Made Me Do It (2010). Her published works may be found or forthcoming in Columbia Poetry Review, Crazyhorse, Hotel Amerika, Indiana Review, Meridian, North American Review, Phoebe, Pleiades, Poetry Daily, Poetry Northwest, Puerto del Sol, Tarpaulin Sky Magazine, The Adirondack Review, The Cincinnati Review, The Michigan Quarterly, The Normal School, TriQuarterly Review, Verse Daily, Witness Magazine, West Branch, and others. She is an associate poetry editor for the Colorado Review and holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Colorado State University.


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Common Questions
Do you have a question? Hopefully, we have an answer. Below, we've compiled an extensive list of questions that are commonly asked by our customers. If you cannot find the information that you need in any of the following categories, feel free to contact us and we would be glad to help!
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there renewable energy tax credits available for purchasing one of your heating appliances?
For the most up to date answer to this question, please visit this web page.
Can I buy one of your hearth products online?
Unfortunately, our products are not available for purchase online. Please visit our page Products. if you're looking for a product we distribute, Contact Us. today to schedule service, or visit us in Eau Claire or Minocqua. We look forward to hearing from you!
How do I light my pilot?
If your pilot light is not lit, the gas burner will not light. This creates a potentially dangerous situation by letting highly flammable gas escape. DO NOT try to light your pilot if you smell gas. If you smell gas anywhere in your house or near your water heater, call your gas supplier. If not, follow the steps below:
1. Locate the gas supply valve- this is usually behind lourvers, typically red or blue.
2. Open the valve by pivoting handle to be parallel to the gas line
3. Locate pilot assembly with spark igniter (typically in the bottom center behind logs in the firebox)
4. Locate red or black igniter button, push igniter to verify spark at pillow area.
5. Locate the black or green valve control knob (knob has ON, OFF, and PILOT written on it)
6. Push in and rotate counter-clockwise, until PILOT is in the 6 o'clock position
7. While pressing and holding in the valve knob, press the red piezo button repeatedly, about once a second. If it doesn't light, wait 5 minutes and try again.
8. Once pilot is lit, continue to hold the valve knob for 30 seconds, and slowly release.
How can I get my fireplace, stove, or insert serviced?
At Fireside Hearth & Home, we provide comprehensive service for a wide variety of hearth brands including Heat & Glo, Heatilator, and Quadrafire. The service price will vary depending on your brand, model, and the service needed. You can save on maintenance costs by having your product serviced annually, or by scheduling your routine maintenance in the months of May, June, July, or August. If you'd like more information, or are looking to schedule an appointment, please contact us today!
Where can I buy accessories or parts for my hearth product?
You can order parts through Fireside Hearth & Home.
What does "zero clearance" mean?
Zero clearance can mean one of two things. Zero clearance can refer to the fact that your fireplace, stove, or insert can be placed directly on the floor without any footing. All of our fireplaces are zero clearance – so you do not need any specialty footings. Zero clearance can also refer to how closely you are able to finish around your fireplace. In this case, a zero clearance fireplace can be finished up to its face, with no metal showing once it is installed. Browse our comprehensive selection to find models suitable for this type of installation.
What is a flue?
Fireplace chimneys or venting systems are sometimes referred to as flues.
Can I install my own fireplace, stove or insert?
In order to guarantee that your hearth is installed correctly according to factory standards and local building codes, we recommend having a licensed factory technician install your fireplace.
Should I have my fireplace, stove, or insert inspected?
Yes! It is essential to have your hearth product inspected, and serviced annually to ensure that it is in good working order.
If I'm converting my wood fireplace to gas, which is better, a gas insert or gas logs?
Choosing which is right for your home comes down to two factors, heating efficiency and cost. If you are looking for an inexpensive option, gas logs are about five times less expensive than an insert. With that being said, gas inserts are extremely efficient, and because of that, it will pay for itself over the course of several years. Whichever you choose, we offer a wide selection of both. But, you cannot install vent-free or room-vented gas log sets in a wood burning fireplace. This will void the warranty on the fireplace, and can potentially void your homeowners insurance.
What is a start up service?
This service happens after we've installed your new gas fireplace. If it's a newly remodeled home, our friendly technicians will show you how to correctly and safely maintain and operate your brand new fireplace. If it is a new home, this service is done after the gas and electrical are connected to the home, usually right before you move into your new home. Our technician will ensure the fireplace is clean and working properly. In either type of installation our technician will make sure your fireplace is set up and working properly for your enjoyment. Some people will install the fireplace themselves and have us do this service to make sure they did it correctly ensure proper installation.


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Black and White Toes
Boy Birth Announcements
Black and White Toes, Item# BABW3385R
Note: Sparkles are simulated and will not light up.
Black and White Toes, Item# BABW3385R
Note: Sparkles are simulated and will not light up.
Black and White Toes Reply Card Set
Black and White Toes Thank You Card
Black and White Toes Envelope Seals
Black and White Toes Return Address Labels
It's a Boy Custom Photo Postage Stamps
Black and White Toes Postage Stamps
11 Ounce Photo Mug
Duckies Baby Boy Birth Verse with Frame
"Black and White Toes" features a close-up of a baby's feet cradled in his/her mother's hands. The beautiful studio image is in a soft grey tone.
You will be able to select the typestyle and ink colors to use for your personalized text during the design process. Start by clicking on the green 'Personalize and Continue' button. We recommend using the default typestyle and ink colors.
|Estimated Postage Required:
|$0.55 stamp - if other items are not added into the Envelope. Click here for additional postage information.
|Item Type:
|Flat Card
|Card Dimensions:
|7.5" x 5.25" (W x H)
|Printing Process:
|Thermography Printing
|Paper Weight:
|100 lb. Matte Card Stock
|Typestyle Shown:
|Calli and Great Vibes
|Matching Ink Color:
|White Envelopes included. Printed return address and/or Calligraphy is available for an additional cost.


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Deciding whether to buy or lease a car is not as easy as it might first seem.
Deciding on which finance option is going to work for your business can be tricky. Your decision will have an impact on your short term financial position and perhaps even your long-term financial situation.
Beyond financial factors, you also have to consider your individual or business needs.
Car leasing comes in various forms. In Australia, there are three basic kinds of leases available. Each type of lease is specifically towards a particular buyer or leasing need.
In order to decide which leasing option is going to suit you best, let's have a look at three common kinds of car leasing.
Novated Lease
Animated lease is often an ideal way for an employee to be able to afford a new vehicle. A novated lease will enable you to finance your purchase using the pre tax component of your wage.
What this does is maximise your buying power by being able to use money that would have otherwise been paid in tax. Because it reduces your overall gross income, it also reduces your tax liability.
One of the good things about a novated lease is its simplicity. A novated lease is simply a three-way agreement between your boss yourself and the financial institution.
A novated lease has minimum administrative requirements and is usually simple to set up.
Finance Lease
With a finance lease, the car is usually purchased by the financial institution and then rent it out to the one who is borrowing it.
In Australia, with this type of car leasing arrangement, monthly installments are paid in order to maintain the lease agreement. This is a typical loan type for business.
Here, the monthly payment is usually fixed, and if a purchase is made at the end of the term, a residual amount is payable.
The car is purchased in the usual way, which is to say, via negotiation between the buyer and the car dealer. Once the car is purchased, the financial arrangement is structured but with Financial Institution that is lending the money – not the driver.
Operating Lease
An operating lease is a lot like a financial lease mentioned above. Only, in this case, the borrower does not take on the responsibility to pay the residual value of the car at the end of the lease.
Instead under an operating lease, the car is handed over to the financial institution.This means that the borrower does not have to does not have Deal with the issue of paying out the residual portion of the cars value or refinancing.


text: Hey guys! Incredible news! You helped us raise over $100k for the Gatlinburg Relief Fund with our "Heart For The Smokies" t-shirt campaign! We are so humbled by all the generosity and purchases! There were over 60 businesses destroyed by the wildfires in Gatlinburg and hundreds of employees are now left homeless and unemployed. This money will go directly to assist these people to give them housing, food, clothing and pay any urgent bills. Project 615 is built on not only producing great products, but we are on mission to help change the world! Thank YOU for your generosity and for your purchase of our "Heart For The Smokies" t-shirts! If you are still wanting to purchase our "Heart For The Smokies" shirts, we are currently sold out but plan on doing a limited release in January! If you are still wanting to donate, you can donate to the Gatlinburg Relief Fund via Smart Bank.


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Letters to the Editor
Faith is shaken
I was saddened by the story of Paul Perry, a law-abiding citizen who was the target of an outrageous vendetta by a Fresno County jail guard. The saddest part of all was that he was virtually ignored by public servants until it might have been too late for him and his family.
My faith in our police system has been shaken.
Pat Brower


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Gregorian Chants
Despite strikeout, no negative moments for Moustakas in All-Star Game
CINCINNATI — Following a night he says he'll remember for the rest of his life, Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas was traveling on a team charter to Chicago and planned to get a flight from there to California early Wednesday morning to spend 24 hours or so with his ailing mother.
"Hang out with her for a little bit and then come back ready go for the doubleheader (against the White Sox) on the first day of the second half" of the season, he said.
Moustakas has declined to elaborate on the illness of his mother, Connie, but it began last year and he has twice left the team this season on family emergency.
Last time, his departure was mid-game on July 5, and he returned to the team on July 10 — the same day he was named to the All-Star team, a circumstance that led to a flood of mixed emotions for Moustakas.
The experience as an All-Star at the Great American Ballpark was in a sense limited for Moustakas, who batted just once, striking out in the ninth inning against frightful Reds reliever Aroldis Chapman.
If Moustakas had any trouble with jitters after waiting so long to play, he joked, he snapped to life "after the first 102 mile-per-hour fastball."
Just the same, he relished the experience.
"Not negative by any means," he said. "I got to play in my first All-Star Game. It's a memory I'm going to have for the rest of my life of my life, and it's something that I'm going to cherish even though I did strike out.
"It's nothing to hang my head over at all. I was able to play in an All-Star game, facing the best players in the world."
To reach Vahe Gregorian, call 816-234-4868 or send email to email@example.com. Follow him on Twitter at @vgregorian. For previous columns, go to KansasCity.com.


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If you're not familiar with Scrappleface, you should check it out. I think it's the best satire site on the web, and it has a conservative bent. Here is the above item in full:
"The United States will send 22 million troops to Iraq this year to ensure the safety of every Iraqi and every structure in the country.
"Dubbed 'Operation Buddy System' by Pentagon planners, the idea is to pair each Iraqi citizen with a battlefield-equipped soldier or Marine.
"'Since we disturbed the peace by overthrowing Saddam Hussein,' said an unnamed Pentagon spokesman, 'it's our responsibility to protect this nation. We don't know who the terrorists are, nor when and where they will attack. So, we'll just have to keep an eye each of the 22 million Iraqis 24/7.'
"The spokesman acknowledged that military recruiting would have to 'increase substantially' to provide such a force, but in the meantime Manpower Inc. would provide temp workers to fill most of the positions. The rest would be covered by Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers who will scan and frisk Iraqis coming from, and going to, anywhere."
I also laughed out loud at this headline: "Boston Teen Eager to Receive 'Wicked Screensaver.'" How funny that is depends, I guess, on how many times you've gotten the email.
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"Arise and take our stand for freedom as in the olden time." Winston Churchill
"Proclaim Liberty throughout All the land unto All the Inhabitants Thereof." Inscription on the Liberty Bell


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What We Do
Meeting Materials
Staff Contact: Nova Gattman, Legislative Director - (360) 709-4612
Task Force Staff
Eleni Papadakis, Executive Director – Workforce Board
Nova Gattman, Legislative Director – Workforce Board
Eric Wolf, Director of Policy and Programs – Workforce Board
Jane Broom, Senior Director at Microsoft Philanthropies – Microsoft
Amy Liu, Senior Officer, Education, Workforce, and Human Services Initiatives in Washington – Microsoft
Return to Main Task Force Page
Task Force Members
Brad Smith, President – Microsoft
Perry England, Workforce Board Chair, VP of Building Performance – MacDonald-Miller Facility Solutions
- - - - | - - - -
Ben Bagherpour, VP of Site Services & Government Affairs– SEH America, Inc.
Phyllis Campbell, Chair, Pacific Northwest – JPMorgan Chase
Maud Daudon, Career Connect Washington executive director
Dave D'hondt, Chair – Washington Apprenticeship and Training Council
Timothy Engle, President – Saltchuk Resources, Inc.
Shaunta Hyde, Managing Director, Community Relations – Alaska Air
Lynne Dodson, Secretary Teasurer– Washington State Labor Council
Kristofer Johnson, President & CEO– Association of Washington Business
Caroline King, CEO – Washington STEM
Eric LeVine, CEO – CellarTracker
Suzi LeVine, Employment Security Department Commissioner
William McSherry, VP, State & Local & Global Corp. Citizenship – Boeing
Scott Morris, Chair, President, and CEO – Avista Corp.
Susan Mullaney, President, Washington Region - Kaiser Permanente
Lee Newgent, Executive Secretary – Washington Building Trades (ret.)
Chris Reykdal, Superintendent of Public Instruction – OSPI
Sharon Tomiko Santos, State Representative, Chair, Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee – Washington State Legislature
Calvin Watts, Superintendent – Kent School District
Ardine Williams, Vice President – Human Resources for Worldwide Operations, Amazon
Hans Zeiger, State Senator, Chair, Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee – Washington State Legislature
"We are going to stop telling our kids that a four-year degree is the only path to success. Most of them will require education and training after high school, but that doesn't necessarily mean a four-year college degree. Through registered apprenticeships, technical training programs, and other career connected learning opportunities, we'll give students all kinds of ways to fulfill their dreams of helping build airplanes, cure diseases, or design innovative new software."
-Governor Jay Inslee
"As a business person and Chair of the Workforce Board, I'm committed to strengthening the connection between Washington employers and our young people. We need business and industry at the table to make this work. We need business to be engaged and truly excited about helping create these opportunities."
-Perry England, Workforce Board Chair
"A career connected learning system that includes apprenticeships, mentorships, job shadows, and hands-on learning will allow businesses to meet their workforce needs and youth in our state to be prepared for great careers."
-Brad Smith, President of Microsoft


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Contact Us
According to ancient Miriwoong culture, all kinds of contact and exchange are based on long-lasting partnerships and friendship. An impersonal "quick fix" with information is not the usual way Miriwoong people handle communication. Therefore we are unable to offer materials or advice as a "take away menu" through our website or a quick phone call. We appreciate your understanding.
Our Mailing Address:
Mirima Dawang Woorlab-gerring
Language and Culture Centre
P.O. Box 2420
Button Drive (off Speargrass Rd)
Kununurra, WA 6743
Our Phone and Fax Number:
Phone: (08) 9169 1029
Fax: (08) 9168 2639


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Each Monday, I will show you some of the top content from our Mappin Monday Pinterest Community. Join us to be featured!
This Monday, we have a look at some of the top Europe City Break Pins that we found in our Mappin Monday Group Board.
What Makes These Pins Great?
Have a close look at each of these individual pins. Can you guess what makes all of them so successful on Pinterest? Scroll to the bottom of this post to find out my thoughts about this…
Europe City Break Pins
I'm sure you can see why most of these Pins are performing well on Pinterest. Here are 3 elements that caught my eye and that I believe play a big role in their ultimate success:
1. The timing of these pins is right, as Spring is here, pinners are planning their city breaks for the next couple of months!
2. These pins have rich descriptions, including enticing words as 'ultimate', 'best', 'highlights' and even 'enchanting'.
3. All pins have Rich Pins enabled
Next week, we'll feature a new set of top-performing pins from our Mappin Monday community, so stay tuned!


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'Round & Round' is his second EP for Digital Soundboy following last summers 'Warp EP' and is further proof of his skills. The title track features the sensual vocals of Danish chart topper Lucy Love.
Dismantle continues to blur the lines with his twisted-techno meets funky-house mutations guaranteed to put a smile on your face.
Release Date: September 2013


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I felt stuck.
I was going through the motions. Project after project, not really seeing any larger purpose in my work or having an end goal.
I wanted to do something that matters, something that had purpose. And I struggled because I felt as if I couldn't find any meaning in my daily work as a graphic designer.
This was one of the reasons I wanted to start The Yellow Conference. I wanted to hear from women who living passionate lives. Women who were kicking booty and doing it for a larger purpose. Doing more than just going through the motions. Doing more than living for fame or money.
This is what this quarter's theme is all about: using our gifts, skills and passions for something that's bigger than just you and me.
Using what we have to make the world a better place. To create change, to fight to further good in this world, to fight against the evil things that are happening on a daily basis.
I'm personally very excited to bring you articles under this theme, and I'm really excited to start it off with our Bloom Gathering that carries the same theme.
Whether you're an activist, entrepreneur or are curious about ways to use what you have to serve a greater purpose, this gathering is for you.
We will hear from teen foster care advocate and founder of the TEEN LEADERSHIP FOUNDATION, Lisa Castetter, as she tells us her story and advice on running a for-good business. This woman is full of knowledge and wisdom, and I personally am so excited to hear from her.
We will be gathering at our good friend's Share & Do Good at Downtown Fullerton. Tickets are $18 which includes food, time with Lisa, and a few goodies from us :)
Can't wait to hang out with you this quarter and dive into this topic.
PS- our August Bloom Gathering will be The Yellow Conference! You coming? Live stream passes are 25% off up until July 4th. Use code: YELLOWJULY at checkout.
Thanks friends! Looking forward to hanging with you this quarter!


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Keep up to date with all the latest Plant Science News
Knowledge transfer: changing farmers behaviour
16th Jan 2014
Dr Clive Rahn, an Associate Fellow at Warwick Crop Centre, was a guest of Dr Ren Tao and Professor Lu Jianwei at the College of Resources and Environment at Huazhong Agricultural University, China between 22nd November and 6th December 2013. Clive shared his experience of managing nutrients over crop rotations, and the important challenges of knowledge transfer in changing the behaviour of farmers.
Clive, a soil science specialist, visited several experiments examining fertiliser response of rotations of rice and oilseed rape in the Yangtze River Basin, an area that produces 20% of the global food production of Oil Seed Rape. He also visited an important area of citrus production near the Three Gorges Dam as a guest of HuBei YishiZhang Agriculture Technology Limited, a company that produces fertilisers, where he took part in discussions about the nutrient and irrigation requirements of citrus crops.
Clive's visit marks the beginning of continuing dialogue with the Chinese agriculturalists.
© Copyright 2019 Plant Science
Web design and hosting by Förmoda


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Over 50% of voters want to see a post on "How I Deal With A Flare." I greatly appreciate everyone who participated in the poll. If you didn't get to cast your vote, don't worry! I will be posting more polls and fun things in the future… So if you don't already, be sure to follow me on Twitter to be included in the action.
How I Deal With A Flare
Now that I've had my large intestine removed, I really don't have to worry about having a UC flare anymore… This is more of an idea of how I handled it in the past.
I am not a medical professional and this is not medical advice.
1. Admit it.
– When I had a large intestines I never really went into remission, it was just a matter of some days/weeks being better than others. My life was a flare and I was constantly in some amount of pain. Always had urgency to use the bathroom, blood in stool, ect. Because my condition affected my life in so many ways I had no choice but to share this information. I told my manager at times it became really bad… I didn't share every detail but just enough for him to know how sick I was. After a while he could really tell without asking. I shared with my family if I felt it was getting too bad, I didn't want to worry them but sometimes you just need help.
2. Stay Hydrated.
– Even to this day I have issues with staying hydrated. I could drink water all day and STILL get dehydrated. When I went to my GI he knew by one look when I was dehydrated. When I call they respond with an extra "I know you hate it, but you need to drink as much as possible Shawntel." UHG! But in all seriousness, staying hydrated is very important. Your body needs water to function properly, it uses water to care for your joints and brain, to keep your body temperature regulated, keeps your PH levels balanced and so much more! Plus, with diarrhea / frequent bathroom usage it's super easy to release more than you take in.
3. Rest.
– I cannot tell you how important rest was for me. I was losing so much blood, it was impossible for me working full time, going to school just managing life in general. I was so fatigued. I've had blood transfusions in the past, now we try iron to help too. Sometimes you just need a break and it's especially important when you're sick.
4. Love.
– Didnt expect that one right? I know. I know. Back when my UC was really active I didn't have a boyfriend or anyone who really cared for me. You don't have to be in a relationship to be loved. My family did an excellent job! When my UC flares were really crazy I would cry my eyes out. 50% from pain, the other 50 from feeling betrayed by God. – but that's another story for another day. I would get so frustrated I even remember telling my grandmother "one day I'm just going to have it removed! I don't care!" – At that time I knew nothing of J-Pouches and no real details of an ostomy. All I knew was pain. You need a support system. You need people there to cry with. Someone to hold you or bring you snacks (lol). You can't do everything alone.
5. Others With Your Condition.
– At the time of my diagnosis I didn't know anyone with my illness. I'd only heard little about it and really thought only old people had it. It wasn't until my first J-Pouch surgery (2014) that I met my first UC friend Amber. It was so helpful talking to someone who'd actually been through what I was going through and understood how I felt. I definitely encourage you to reach out to other patients, advocates, bloggers who have your condition.
6. Medical Advice | Hospitalization
– When things got too crazy I had no choice but to see my physician. My flares often got out of control, at those times I would go straight from my specialist office to hospital's admitting section. It's just best to understand that some things are just out of your control. Being hospitalized and getting the treatment you need is so much better than suffering in silence.
These are just some things I've found helpful when going through a flare. I hope it helps!
As always, thanks for reading. Before you go:
What's something you do during a flare? Let me know in the comment section!


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After many, many months of reading this book in chapter chunks, I finally sat down and pushed through it. As the third season of Game of Thrones starts this month, I felt highly motivated to finish the third book in the series.
Fantasy is not a genre that I normally enjoy. I like Martin's series, because they are generally are more realistic than they are heavy on the fantasy elements. I don't mind the occasional dragon. I like the wars between the different houses and all of the scheming. Martin is adept at creating rich characters with even richer dilemmas.
I found his third book to be a lot slower paced than the first two. Much of the story felt like filler and the story didn't really get moving until the last third. As with the previous books, some of the characters were much more interesting than others. I love the whole Lannister clan, Sansa and Daenerys. I could have done with far less Jon, Arya and Davos, they are a snooze fest.
Martin has an amazing ability to write with such attention to detail. However, these details totally bog down the pacing. I don't need three paragraphs describing what they ate at a feast or explaining the intricacies of minor houses. I like stories with a little less detail, so as a reader, I can fill in the blanks with my imagination. Martin creates amazing settings and characters, but doesn't give the reader much of a chance to engage their own imagination. I feel like this is the big fail in his writing.
I am not sure that I would continue with the series, if I wasn't enjoying the HBO show so much. However, I really want to read the books to see the differences between the books and the show. I feel like I have already read three (and own the fourth book), so I should stay the course. I hope that the fourth book is more compelling than the third. It was often a tedious read.
I was really happy when Martin killed off three of the dullest characters in a span of two chapters. i cheered! I thought that this was a great twist and I was happy to see them go. However, he brought two of them back later on in the book. It turns out that it was a false twist. I was not happy with this at all, what a major disappointment.


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And you won't understand the cause of your grief...
...But you'll always follow the voices beneath.
Agree.Minifie said:It would be a lot harder if someone has RP'd their character heavily with their class, but a lot easier for those of us who never integrated it into routine RP stuff. If you want to integrate your class into your character, then multiclass falls very quickly (Aerek going serpent would be incredibly weird, or magi, as examples) While Min just pulls the arrow out she needs. It's very much a "how you want it to work" deal, though.


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So your business is different, but why? You do some stuff and you sell it, that's what all businesses do, right? So when I ask some people, "How successful is your marketing at driving new business?" they respond with, "I don't believe in websites or FaceTwitter or LinkedIn, we just get referrals. We just need something to showcase what we do."
There's a much better solution to gaining more of the right business, would you like to know what the secret is? The answer is to go fishing. Imagine fishing with lots of rods in various lakes, when you notice where the fish are biting you then move your rods over to that area. Likewise in marketing, don't assume one way will work, test a number of different ways of marketing to see which works best for you and then start to concentrate on the areas that pull the best fish.
This, by the way doesn't mean you have to give up your main route to market – referrals – instead this adds to your existing strategy and helps to drive new relevant business. How can you lose? You maintain what you were getting already and you increase it with targeted traffic from people you have never heard of. Everyone's a winner.
All businesses right now must have at least five different ways to market their business and digital channels are by far the cheapest and most measurable route out there. If you still think your business is different, please contact me now for a free consultation. What have you got to lose, except the one that got away?


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Reads making the rounds: What corporate America is reading
800-CEO-READ, a leading direct supplier of book-based resources compiles a monthly list of best-selling business books based on purchases by its corporate customers nationwide. Best sellers for March 2014 include:
"The Promise of a Pencil: How an Ordinary Person Can Create Extraordinary Change" by Adam Braun; Scribner, 272 pages ($25). "The Promise of a Pencil" chronicles Braun's journey to find his calling, as each chapter explains one clear step that every person can take to turn your biggest ambitions into reality, even if you start with as little as $25. His story takes readers behind the scenes with business moguls and village chiefs, world-famous celebrities and hometown heroes.
MCT and 800-CEO-READ


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Go Digital Today, 3D Tomorrow
The Suni3D panoramic system provides the flexibility to upgrade to cephalometric or 3D cone beam in the future.
3D diagnosis and planning are rapidly emerging as the new standard of care for comprehensive dental care. The Suni3D panoramic system combines simplicity with state-of-the-art technology to provide ease of use, superior image quality, and extensive diagnostic capability.
With Suni's modular design, the user can choose a digital panoramic and later cost-effectively upgrade to a One-Shot cephalometric and/or 3D cone beam. Or they can start with Suni3D and go with cone beam from the beginning. With Suni3D, users have the flexibility to choose the system that works best for them.
Suni3D's scan time is as follows: panoramic (standard)-12.7 seconds; fast scan-9.1 seconds; cephalometric-.9 seconds; and conebeam- 8.3 seconds. It acquires 18 to 30 frames per second with reconstruction times less than 1 minute. A state-of-the-art area sensor enables orthodontic specialists to have high-quality images that were previously unavailable.
With Suni3D's outstanding diagnostic image quality, coronal, sagittal, and axial images can be viewed together with the panoramic image in one viewer. Suni3D is ideal for implantology, temporomandibular joint evaluation, and endodontic procedures. 'Julie Cullen


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It's crazy how fast the year is going. August is almost over and in a few days, we'll be welcoming a new season. It's time for us to trade in our Summer staples for Autumn must-haves. I started weeding out my closet a couple of weeks ago and have also picked up a few pieces to make my wardrobe ready for next month. Aside from clothing, selecting the right accessories is a good way to ease the transition. You can begin by choosing a stylish bag to carry all your essentials.
Sharing to you guys my top picks of clutch bags in rich hues and textures perfect for Autumn.
Kayu black straw Turquoise Stone Clutch / Made U Look Brown Snakeskin Clutch / Kayu Peach Straw Turquoise Stone Clutch / Mikka Padua Black Patchwork Clutch / Made U Look Brown Sling Bag / Honeybadger Neon Orange Satchel 13 Inch / Made U Look Black Snakeskin Clutch / Coco & Tres Brown Clutch / Mikka Padua Orange Envelope Clutch
Clutching these snakeskin, leather and animal printed bags is a great way to top off your look.
All items from ZALORA.


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We've known for a while now that some people age faster than others, but researches at UCLA have discovered a DNA body clock that shows that different parts of our bodies age faster than others. Biologists have researched other biological clocks derived from data gathered from our saliva and hormones, and have extensively researched telomeres – fraying tips of our chromosomes that have been linked to cellular expiration dates and, thus, individual rates of aging. But the new research is the first to produce an internal clock able to accurately assess the age of various organs, tissues and cell types, and has crucially shown that different parts appear to age at different rates.
DNA Alters As We AgeThis new research was conducted by Steve Horvath, professor of human genetics at UCLA's David Geffen School of Medicine and of biostatistics at the Fielding School of Public Health. Horvath studied DNA methylation, a naturally-occurring process that chemically alters DNA. Scientists are learning more and more that epigenetic factors – changes that happen to DNA after we are born – cause many manifestations of aging. For his study, Horvath looked at 121 different sets of methylation-specific data, including 8,000 samples of 51 types of tissue and cells taken from all over the body. By honing in on the 353 markers that change with age, he was able to chart a DNA clock showing how age affects DNA methylation levels from pre-birth all the way up to 101 years old.
Parts of Our Bodies Age Differently
What he discovered was a bit shocking: While most of our body parts match our chronological ages, some parts are exceptions. Healthy female breast tissue, for example, is two to three years older than the rest of the female body. If a woman has breast cancer, the healthy tissue next to a cancerous tumor is an average of 12 years older than the rest of the body. And the tissues in a tumor are an average of 36 years older than healthy tissue, which provides important insight into why age is such a risk factor for so many types of cancers in both genders.
Perhaps most interesting is that Horvath's research showed that stem cells are essentially "newborns." Because of that, he believes that transforming one's cells into pluripotent stem cells could literally rewind and reset our cells' biological clock to zero. If that is true, it has wide-ranging implications for anti-aging therapies and treatments. That, of course, opens up its own can of worms – while this research could, as Horvath says, "help us to finally understand why we age," it's also true that problems related to aging are incredibly multifaceted. There is no single quick-fix to aging, despite the breakthroughs in understanding Horvath has provided.
For more information, visit io9. Horvath's entire paper is available at Genome Biology.


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Dolce Blu believes that beautiful lashes are for all women, in Austin, TX and beyond. Our eyelash stylists are professional, honest, and care about promoting your natural lashes health. We strive to provide a service that is relaxing, stress free, and has you feeling more confident and beautiful than when you came in.
How can we help?
Offering a variety of services to keep more than just your lashes looking great.
At Dolce Blu, clients come first, needs and desires are always met, and the end result is entirely fabulous, every time.
We believe that beautiful lashes are for all women. Come in today to see instant and beautiful results!
Latest from the blog
Lashes | Austin, TX
If you are looking for luxurious lashes in Austin, TX, Dolce Blu is the premier eyelash studio and boutique. We specialize in all things lashes-- including lash lifts, lash extensions, and lash tints. Our pampering doesn't stop with lashes though: We also provide microblading and waxing services to complete your facial rejuvenation. When you visit Dolce Blu, you leave feeling glamorous and ready to take on the day!
At Dolce Blu, we are the eyelash and eyebrow experts. Our staff are educated in the art of creating eyelash and eyebrow masterpieces, and we will work to ensure that you're satisfied with the end result. So, come see us at Dolce Blu in Austin, TX for big, bold, and beautiful lashes and brows!


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GlaxoSmithKline says China executives have broken law
GlaxoSmithKline says senior executives in its China office appear to have broken the law amid a bribery scandal.
"We have zero tolerance for any behaviour of this nature," said Abbas Hussain, the UK pharmaceutical firm's Asia Pacific business head.
The acknowledgement comes as GSK says it is co-operating with a Chinese investigation into alleged bribing of doctors to prescribe the firm's drugs.
Meanwhile, rival AstraZeneca said one of its staff was also being questioned.
AstraZeneca said on Monday that the Chinese police had visited its Shanghai office on Friday and taken the employee away.
GSK shares closed down 1.22% in London business.
Money transfer
It comes after several GSK employees have been detained.
The firm's British head of finance in China, Steve Nechelput, has been subject to a travel ban since the end of June, GSK acknowledged on Thursday.
"GSK is taking this situation extremely seriously and that is why we are here," said Mr Hussain in a statement.
"Certain senior executives of GSK China who know our systems well, appear to have acted outside of our processes and controls which breaches Chinese law
"I want to make it very clear that we share the desire of the Chinese authorities to root out corruption wherever it exists. We will continue to work together with the [Chinese Ministry of Public Security] and we will take all necessary actions required as this investigation progresses."
He also said that the company would cut its prices in China.
Last week, police in China said GSK had transferred 3bn yuan ($489m; £321m) to travel agencies and consultancies to facilitate bribes to doctors.
Chinese authorities have taken into custody four Chinese executives at GSK in connection with the allegations.
They accuse GSK of using travel agencies to bribe government officials, doctors and hospitals in order to boost sales and prices of their drugs. The investigation began at the end of June, police said.
One of the four executives, vice-president and operations manager Liang Hong, appeared on state television on 16 July and said he had funnelled money through travel agencies for arranged conferences, some of which were never held.
GSK's general manager for China, Mark Reilly, is said to have left the country for Britain last month.
The Chinese authorities have said that similar transfers were made by other pharmaceutical multinationals, but without naming any.


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|Lex Steele website
You will notice that you have 2 popups that are waiting for you as you enter Lexington Steeles tour to get to his members area. There isn't a way around it until you sign up and bookmark another web page to visit first.
Lexington Steele's site is one of a large network of members sites, and you will be taken to a landing page that outlines all the websites that Lex has partnerships with and that you have access to. The landing page offers you information on updated member that you have access to with your Lexington Steele password. Click on Lexington Steele's link and go in to his porn lair.
The navigation in Lexington Steeles official site is well done. You have instant access to his bio, message boards, updates, movies, pictures and Lex in the city episodes. Coming soon is Live one on with Lex so you can hang with this pornstar of steel.
The updates have been heated red hot and tempered with a large dose of hot cock and wet pussy juices. They are very nicely done clear and nice to watch. I counted at least 10 pages with 10 scenes on each page. Each scene is then broken down into 6 part movies inside each movie scene. You can choose varied methods of watching the movies through either WMV or MPGS.
The picture section is also stuffed with 31 picture sets of hardcore ball bustin action as Steele and others pound tight pussies and hardcore sluts in every hole available. You download the entire picture series in a zip format or watch it in a slideshow.
Don't forget you Lex fans to check out his bio, and then the message board forum. Chat with other fans and find out answers to Lex Steele questions. When you get tired of watching Lexington Steele burying that mighty cock of his in every hole he can find then check out the extras.
$ 29.95 for 30 Days
$ 59.95 for 90 Days
Payment types:
Credit Card
Steele fans will be thrilled with how much of Lex they will get with a membership. True fans will love seeing him lay steel, buried balls deep in tight pornstar pussies. So if you're one of thousands of Lex Steele fans and you promise not to take Kryptonite with you, then visit this site today Visit Lex Steele.
Mobile layout: switch to mobile view


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Sony Xperia ZL is one of the recent device which is powered by a Quad-core 1.5 GHz Krait processor, Adreno 320 GPU, and a 2 GB RAM. In addition, it has a 13 MP primary camera and 2 MP secondary camera. It runs on the Jelly Bean OS (Android 4.1). Sony hasn't launched the latest Android 4.2.2 for this phone. However the CyanogenMod community has made the CM 10.1 ROM for this phone which has Jelly Bean 4.2.2 OS. Follow the instructions below to install this ROM on the Sony Xperia ZL.
- Sony Xperia ZL must be factory unlocked
- Sony Xperia ZL must be rooted
- Custom Recovery like CWM installed
- CM 10.1 zip file
- Gapps zip file
- Make sure that USB debugging is enabled on the phone.
- Then create a Nandroid backup from recovery, in case anything goes wrong.
- Download the CM 10.1 zip file and Gapps zip file and place it on the SD card of the phone.
- Switch off the phone and boot the phone into Recovery mode by tapping Volume Up button a few times while booting.
- Then perform full data wipe task. To do so, click "Wipe Data/Factory Reset", then choose "Yes" on next screen to confirm.
- Next, wipe the cache and the dalvik cache.
- Now go to "Install zip from SD card" and then "Select zip from SD card". Choose the CM10.1 zip file.
- Now again clear cache and dalvik cache.
- Go to "Install zip from SD card", then "Select zip from SD card". Choose the Gapps zip file.
- After the process is complete, reboot the phone.


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K Jones Jewelry
I've had a collection of rocks and agates as far back as I can remember. I loved the idea of turning these nostalgic treasures into something functional -- a necklace or keychain, or even a simple paperweight. When I discovered that I could wrap gemstones in wire and create endless combinations of color and shapes, a new passion was born: jewelry making.
I've been twisting, weaving, hand forging wire for 6 years now and every day I learn something new. Each piece created tells a unique story and it aspires to bring out the uniqueness in every woman. I rarely sketch out designs and my work truly represents my raw, free flowing creativity. I take pride in creating each piece of jewelry by hand, and knowing that my customers are getting an excellent quality piece of art.


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Feb. 12, 2013
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State synchronized swimming team continued to post impressive results Feb. 10 at William & Mary in Willamsburg, Va. Behind a sweep in all routine events, the Buckeyes collected a season-high 105 points in the competition to defeat William & Mary (82).
Junior Yuliya Maryanko clinched the A Figures competition, scoring an 83.672, while teammate Julia Gaylard won the B Figures competition with a score of 71. 287.
Paige Ramsey, Lauren Nicholson and Chelsea Aton claimed first place in trio with an 88.167. Katie Spada, Khadija Zanotto and Katie LaBounty placed second with an 86.500. Performing as an honors trio, Natalie Gaylard, Julia Gaylard and Samantha Golomb earned third with an 81.333.
Ramsey and Maryanko were awarded a season-high 90.000 to win the duet competition. William & Mary's Becca Schall and Kara Gadeken posted a 78.333 to claim second place.
Maryanko notched a new season-high in her solo routine with a 92.000. Kristine Irwin's solo performance earned 86.333 points to take second place.
The Ohio State Scarlet Squad competed in their second event of the year. The team, consisting of Chelsea Aton, Kayley Colville, Colleen Courtmanche, Yuliya Maryanko, Lauren Nicholson, Paige Ramsey, Katie Spada and Khadija Zanotto, scored a 91.667 to take first place. The Ohio State Gray Squad followed in second with a score of 87.167. The Gray Squad was comprised of Isabella Conrad, Natalie Gaylard, Julia Gaylard, Caitlin Hoffman, Kristine Irwin, Cory Justice, Emily Muma and Heidi Liou.
The Buckeyes will continue to compete on the road Feb. 23-24 for a two-day event at Boston University. They will return to Columbus, Ohio, to host the North Regional Championships at 2 p.m. March 2 at McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion.
Ohio State vs. William & Mary
Feb. 10, 2013
William & Mary
Williamsburg, Va.
Overall Team Results
Figures A
Figures B


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Kid Friendly Recipes
Saffron Cauliflower Gratin (Gratin de Chou Fleur au Safran)
Saffron is not a standard addition to cauliflower gratin, but I've seen it used at several upscale restaurants in Paris. Gratin de chou-fleur is a very common French dish, so the addition of saffron creates a new dimension of color and aroma.
As a child, I remember being served this side dish quite frequently during the winter. Cauliflower may not be considered by some as a comfort food, but when it's cooked in a béchamel sauce and smothered in mozzarella cheese, it will make even the most die-hard cauliflower haters reconsider their position.
Full Recipe...
Dulce de Leche Ice Cream with Date and Pear Compote and Candied Pecans
Dulce de leche (caramelized milk sauce) is called confiture de lait in French. We had the most delicious Tres Leches during our anniversary trip to Cancun last month, and it inspired me to make ice cream that captures the flavor.
I've made my own dulce de leche in the past by heating a can of condensed milk in boiling water but I remember it took forever. So this time, I took a shortcut and used a can of ready-made dulce de leche.
Dried fruits, pear, honey and candied ginger are very common during the holiday season, so I made a compote out of these ingredients to pair with the ice cream. The final touch is a topping of candied pecans to give the dessert a nice crunch.
This is a dessert that has decadent written all over it. Dieters need not apply. It's a fabulous way to end any holiday meal.
Full Recipe...
Thanksgiving Cranberry Sauce with Kumquat and Jalapeno
We make cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving every year, and every year at the end of the meal there's a bowl full of cranberry sauce left-over. It's not that we don't like cranberries; they have a great flavor that I make user of in stuffing, cakes and drinks. Cranberry sauce, though, is a bit one-dimensional, so I've been on a quest to come up with a version that is more food than Thanksgiving table ornament.
After several trials, I think I've come up with some small additions to a traditional cranberry sauce recipe that really give it new life. I added roasted and chopped jalapeños for a little heat, kumquat zest for a touch of citrus, and brown sugar to mellow out the sweetness with hints of caramel. I knew I was on to something because Lulu was eating it all by itself!
If you're like me and the idea of cranberry sauce has been more appealing than the reality, I can tell you that with a few simple modifications you may actually come to enjoy some cranberry sauce with your turkey.
Full Recipe...
Cranberry Apple Cider
Cranberries and apples are a great flavor combination. In the past, I've made a cake and stuffing with this dynamic duo that both turned out wonderfully. I usually make a large pot of hot apple cider for Thanksgiving, but I thought this year it would be fun to add fresh cranberries to the drink.
The tartness of the cranberries is a nice foil to the apple cider spices. And the color is a glorious crimson, which is perfect for the season. I couldn't think of a better cure for the absolutely freezing weather we've been having here (which in the Bay Area means a 65°F daytime temperature). Don't laugh; last night it got down to 40°F!
Full Recipe...
Croque-Monsieur: A Perfect Back To School Lunch Recipe
In France, the croque-monsieur sandwich is as much a staple of school children's lunches as the PB&J is in America. I grew up with them, and they are still the ultimate comfort food for me.
The girls are going back to school today and I wanted to share with them one of the fondest culinary memories of my childhood. When I was in middle school, I would come home early on Wednesdays. Since I didn't eat lunch at school, I would always make myself a croque-monsieur.
Croque-monsieur is super easy to make. All you need is a few ingredients such as sliced white bread, emmental cheese and ham (I used smoked turkey). To make it fancier, I bind all the ingredients together with a Mornay sauce, which is basically a béchamel with cheese. I use béchamel a lot; it's really just a white sauce made of flour, butter and milk.
Full Recipe...


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Friendly, genuine and not over the top. Staff seem to really love their job. Young and vibrant crew. We are addressed by our names, swiftly handed a welcome drink and asked if we would like a rundown on the business class service. Our flight attendant goes out of her way to make sure we have everything we need throughout the whole flight- even noticing we love our salt and pepper shakers in the shape of the opera house. These are placed in my lap at the end of my meal, with a quick wink to acknowledge it's not normally done. Our beds were turned down with slightly padded mattress protectors, warm blankets, pillows and we were given two sets of very loose, comfortable pyjamas to slip into. From start to finish we felt pampered and arrived in Los Angeles refreshed. This was the first time we had flown business class (which is the top tier service on the 777-300ER) with Virgin Australia and we were very impressed.
Very comfortable, lots of different positions/setting were tested and each one was really lovely. Whether it be a slight recline to watch TV, a cradle position to stare out the window, or the near flat bed which I managed to get 6 hours sleep in, I was always comfortable for the whole duration of the flight. One thing to note is the seats are not extremely wide, so if you are a customer of size you should keep this in mind.
Excellent food and beverage selection, we really couldn't fault it. Vegetarian and chicken options were selected and both were very tasty. Cheese platter and dessert offered, both were delicious. For breakfast we chose the warm loaf with fresh and caramelized fruit, creme fresh and mint. I feel like I'm in a fancy restaurant with all the offerings, rather than being 37,000 feet in the air. Strong coffee and juice go down well and give us the extra kick we need to start our holiday.
I highly recommend Virgin's business class long haul product. Keep in mind if this is out of your budget, Virgin have velocity point sales (normally twice a year) where you can snag sale seats for 155,000 return (15% off). It's worth every dollar/point! In my opinion row 3 were the best pick of the main business class cabin, as you have no one behind you. Keep in mind they do have a closed off section for VIPs/celebrities or higher ranked velocity members- which is row 5. These are supposed to be very private and quiet.
For more information: www.virginaustralia.com.au
All photos by Belinda- www.outoftheoffice.com.au