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The Gamecube was a low-point for Nintendo - financially, at least. It was their poorest-selling home console to date (assuming you're not including the Virtual Boy, because you're a reasonable human being) and it came out at a time where the Playstation 2 was setting all kinds of records, finally providing itself to be Nintendo's greatest challenge yet.
Despite this underdog status (or maybe because of it), the Gamecube's game library ended up being pretty fantastic - Nintendo offered their developers a lot of creative freedom in the hopes of striking a chord with gamers, and it shows. The weirdest main Mario game for a console, a renaissance for Metroid, a game starring Luigi, a new franchise about enslaved bug-creatures, and (arguably) series best entries for Smash Bros. and Mario Kart.
But which one is the best? It's up to you - get voting!
The official voting period has ended. See the results below.
Total Votes: 807,172
Score = wins / total matches (recalculated every 5 minutes)


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subset: commoncrawl


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COSY Christmas tradition strikes again.
January 5th: panic erupts in houses throughout the land as families endeavour to strip every last vestige of Christmas from their houses.
"You have to do it today," said local resident, Stacey Gubbins. "All the Christmas tat has to come down, be packed up and shoved back up into the freezing loft."
"If you don't, something terrible will happen. It's a known fact – similar to the tradition that for each day you put a Christmas tree up before advent an elf will die."
"Last year, a stray bauble rolled under the TV unit and we didn't notice until March."
"We suffered the dreaded curse all year: we never won the lottery, a no-deal Brexit is looming and the Spice Girls reformed."
Religious Correspondent, Father Dermot O'Beery, said: "Many people do take their decorations down on Epiphany, or 12th night as it is often called called. However, this is just some Victorian con to get everyone back to work."
"Personally, I am going to keep on celebrating like a medieval peasant right up to Candlemas on the 2nd February. Pass me the mead before you go."
Stacey Gubbins said: "If you could excuse me I must get on – there are only a few more hours of the 5th January to go. I can feel the evil spirits lurking in the holly and ivy waiting to get me."
"Or is 12th night the 6th January?"


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Meadowview Baptist Church
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"Building Lasting Relationships" We have five core values: exalt our God, qualify them for service, uniting together, inviting others, and preparing to meet needs.


text: > I like it for syntatic sugar as well, but namespaces would make the > attribute access interesting ... > Also, for childNode access would we do anything about node types? is > b[0] the first child, first element, first elment with a certain > tagname? All I see as useful.... Once we go down this path we end up reinventing XPath. That's why my EventDOM depends on it so heavily. XPath in Python 1.7! DOM in Python 1.6. :) -- Paul Prescod - Not encumbered by corporate consensus The calculus and the rich body of mathematical analysis to which it gave rise made modern science possible, but it was the algorithm that made the modern world possible. - The Advent of the Algorithm (pending), by David Berlinski


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Inca Gold slot review will reveal that there is a huge haul of gold just waiting to be uncovered and heaps of rewards waiting for you.
Microgaming, the leading slot game developer, has come up with another exciting game jam- packed with adventure as well as a host of features that will get you ever closer to the jackpot – The Inca Gold. The company is renowned for making use of superior technology for designing their excellent games which are always interactive and vibrant. It's no wonder that slots online like this keep players thoroughly mesmerised throughout. There are free spins, scatters and wilds and these all prolong play and give you more opportunities to find those gold artifacts and to bring them out of the jungle.
With the Inca Gold Slot, the coins per line will determine the bet for a single spin. The bets can be changed by altering the value of coins per line. You can bet either 1, 2, 5, 10 or 20 coins per line at a time. All wins with this slot are paid from left to right. The fact that this exhilarating non-progressive jackpot game has great possibilities for winning means you're playing the right game if you want your share of some seriously lucrative prizes. Microgaming has made sure that their game can be played on all mobile devices as well as your desktop. Whether you're playing on smart devices that run on Android or iOS, you'll get all the same clarity and brightness and be able to play 24/7.
The Return to Player or RTP of a slot game will often determine whether a game is popular or not, and with a certified payout percentage of 95.22%, Inca Gold has the chance of significant wins. Coins per line can be anything between 1 and 20 coins per paylines with a maximum of 400 coins per spin. Inca Gold slot is entertaining with its Inca civilisation theme with attractive symbols, and there is also the Wild and Scatter symbols which can help you towards the jackpot of about 10 000. Also, getting 3 or more scatter symbols triggers the Incan Pyramid feature, allowing you to win some free spins and some cash prizes. The idea is to pick a block at each level of the pyramid and when you reach the top you win the Incan treasure.
Inca Gold has symbols such as the Temple, Macaw, the Princess as well as those regular card symbols 9, 10, A, J, Q and K. The Princess symbol pays 1500x the line bet for 5 of her. The priest symbol acts as the wild symbol and can substitute other symbols except for the scatter symbol. Winning combinations achieved with Priest symbol will be doubled. The amulet symbol is the scatter symbol and 5 of these will give you 5 free spins.
The free spins feature in the game includes the Incan Pyramid game and for every level you cross, you get extra free spins or rewards. Getting through the door at the top is where you discover the Incan Treasure and a prize. Spins won during the bonus game are played after the game and then any additional wins are doubled.
If you select a free spin box you get 5 free games and if you choose a credit box you win a random amount of coins. Within the pyramid is the Incan Treasure and winning this means a win of 150x your total bet of up to the jackpot amount of 60,000 coins at maximum bet. This jackpot of 60 000 coins is even there for the taking before you get the free spins.
Anybody working towards a goal of having a large capital injection will love the Inca Gold Slot, one of the best casino games from the kitty of Microgaming. It can be such a fun, entertaining way to win some money. The game is available at all Microgaming casinos online and you can access it 24/7. The slot game provides you with a generous range of bet sizes, and even if 400 coins is too much for you, you can get away with paying fewer coins per payline and still having an awesome time with opportunities to win.
If you're not convinced that video slots played online in New Zealand are perfectly safe, then casinoguide.nz will be your guide with casino online slots. You can join an online casino community and be kept up to date on everything casino related. You'll know where all the legit casinos are; so be well informed that you can play the best games at the best casinos and have Lady Luck sanction all your choices.


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October 15, 2011
Last weekend Kaitlin, her mom, My wife and I headed out to Hummel park to shoot some great fall senior pictures. The weather was absolutely fantastic, almost 80 and nice and sunny in mid october, cant ask for more. Kaitlin plans to attend IU next fall so we shot some images in an IU sweatshirt too. Both Ann and I had a blast with Kaitlin and her mom. Hope you guys enjot the portraits, as always, more on my facebook fan page!


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Tips On Finding The Best Salsa Shoes
Like with any type of dance, if you plan on dancing salsa, it is important to have the right kind of footwear. Regardless of whether a beginner or an expert, the right footwear enables the chance to move gracefully. But given the number of options for sale out there, it may be difficult to choose the right pair for your feet.
OK, so exactly what is Salsa dance? Well, in a nutshell it is a Latin American dance that has been around since the mid 1970's, and one which requires plenty of movements. The dancer shifts their weight by stepping, whilst the upper body stays level and somewhat unaffected by the occurring weight changes. This is the reason why good salsa dance shoes are lightweight, comfortable, and flexible.
How is it different from other footwear? Well, simply put, they are flexible, but firmer than other types of dance shoes. Not everyone is familiar with the different selections and abundance on the market, so it takes much experience and knowledge to have the ability to make valid buying tips on buying the best salsa shoes. So, without further a-do, simply consider the below and you'll be fine:
6 Tips On Choosing Your Perfect Salsa Shoes
#1 The Fit And Sizing
There is absolutely a need for fit and the sizing to be perfect for salsa moves. What exactly is the perfect fit? Well, the shoes should wrap tight like a glove. It is imperative that feet have no excess movement when dancing, because this will lead to inefficiency in pulling moves, or even cause foot injury. On the flip side, if they are too tight, this will lead to bunions and other potentially painful foot conditions. Perhaps to begin with they fit rather snug; this will most likely stretch eventually when you start using them more often. Also, be sure to check the sizing of the brand you are choosing. Different manufacturers may give a different size chart. However, it is common practice that your Latin dance shoes will be the same as your everyday street shoes. If you have narrow feet, consider going down half a size. If your feet are a bit wide, then consider the opposite, and go half a size higher.
#2 Comfort
If you are going to dance for hours, might as well consider your comfort. One of the things to be very particular about is the breathability of your feet. This is why it's good to look closely at the overall design. There are types that offer holes to allow feet to breathe and not get too moist with sweat after hours of dancing. Most are open toe, so ventilation is more than adequate, but nonetheless keep this factor in mind.
#3 Raised Heel Design
Salsa dance requires you to put much weight on your foot. One of the best features of any well-designed Latin dance shoes are an elevated heel. This makes movement easier for the dancer. Not to mention, it allows to smoothly transition your foot's placement and adjust posture easily. Both men and women's designs have a heel height of around 1 to 2 inches. Wedge style is commonly used even by men. This type of Latin dance shoes gives the foot enough contact to the ground while giving proper elevation on the heel to allow precision in dancing. On the other hand, the Cuban heel, or more popularly known as the standard ballroom shoes also work well. For women, it is important that the heel is wide. Flared heel design gives women the opportunity to dance while the footwear allows the individual to have good weight placement.
#4 Durability
If you are planning to regularly dance and make frequent use of your salsa shoes, it makes sense to consider the durability and potential lifespan of your footwear. Of course it's a bonus if the shoes last a good number of years, however, unfortunately not all brands are of the same quality nor is each two design made the same. Consider the material carefully if you plan on investing on the right salsa dance shoes, because a good pair can last for quite some time whilst cheap ones will fall apart very quickly. In general, when asking the professionals, they will consider leather as the best salsa shoes because they offer a mixture of both great comfort and durability.
#5 Price Range
Let's be practical, many dancers are not yet at professional level, so investing a whole heap of money as a student or for hobbying can be perhaps not the best idea. For those who are simply doing salsa for fitness or fun, there are cheaper alternatives to leather such as those which make use of synthetic uppers. If you can afford more, pay more because the quality will generally be better.
#6 Sole
Many dancers are very particular about the sole of their shoes. Suede and leather are two common options that are very popular. This allows the dancer to step, spin, and do the necessary maneuvers required. If you are a beginner, leather can be rather slippery and may take a few lessons before getting used to it. But of course, also make sure that the soles don't offer too much traction since this can pose a risk of getting injured. When considering suede soles, keep in mind that you will need to clean them now and then, given the fact that it tends to collect grime on the dance floor. To keep the suede soles in perfect condition, you will have to use a specially designed suede sole brush for this scenario.
When choosing to invest in the best salsa shoes, always remember that there are different designs available on the market, and some will be better than others. Certain factors may be more important to the wearer than the other, such as price, durability or aesthetics. Keeping all of these things in mind, different dancers have various tastes and preference when it comes to their footwear. So, with the above pointers that we have mentioned, take time to study designs and options whilst sticking to your requirements; hopefully you will find the right pair.


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Readers can turn fear into power by trusting God and believing that a faithful, focused relationship with Him can make all the difference. Author Rev. Dr. Jo Ann Browning provides nine God-given lessons, showing readers how to fortify themselves for future challenges, unlock their spiritual potential and live life fearlessly. Included is a section that lists scriptures to strengthen the reader's faith and to restore their focus on God.
Read More


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A perfect source of entertainment is sports. Sports brings the community together as they cheer on their favorite team who are either representing their nation or another. Sports events don't really happen as much as we expect, but when they do, the whole world will hear about it waiting to watch the excitement. We can see upcoming or ongoing sports events on our local sports channel or on the sports section of our newspapers, but what about those who run hectic lives?
A great form of informing and advertising to crowds about sports events are flyers. Here we have a list of sport event flyers for you to download and customize. For other flyer samples, you can check out our flyer templates that we offer on our website.
To simply put it, flyers are printed paper advertisements. They are handed out and distributed in many different ways and methods. Examples of this are through bulletin boards, handouts, door-to-door mail, and pasted on surfaces such as walls and telephone posts. But who are the those that gain benefits from flyers? To name a few, companies, organizations, establishments, individual businesses, nonprofit organizations, and governments use flyers.
Marketers recommend using flyers due to the low production cost and its great exposure benefits. They can gain potential customers and aim at their target markets with advertising.
Flyers can achieve vast exposure through distribution and informative contents. There are many different purposes for using flyers such as the following:
For more event-related flyer samples, you can check out our event flyer templates that we have in store for you on our website.
For more sports-related flyers, we also offer sports flyer templates on our website.


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STATESBORO, Ga. (4/14/18) – The Arkansas State women's tennis team was defeated by Georgia Southern 4-1 in a Sun Belt Conference matchup Saturday afternoon at the Wallis Tennis Center.
Berta Masdevall Masip captured the only win of the match for A-State with a 6-3, 6-2 victory on court four over Paula Boizader for her second win in as many matches. She now stands at 5 wins overall on the year.
Shelby King lost two tough sets to Arianne de Winter 7-5, 7-6 on court one. King led 5-4 in the first set before de Winter rallied from behind to take the opening point. Sabina Jeresic, who played on court two for the first time this season, lead to Emilia Bujan 6-4, 6-3 and also faltered after holding a 3-0 lead in the second set.
Anita Detlava was unable to finish her match on court three, but captured 7-5 victory in the first set, but then lost 6-3 to Ella Monsey in the second set. Detlava was up 3-0 in the third set at the time the match was called.
In the doubles' point the Eagles took the point by winning matches on courts two and three over Shannon O'Brien/Shelby King and Allison Quammen/Sabaina Jeresic.
"We had a lot of opportunities today but we just could not close out when we needed to," A-State head coach Kel Lange said. "We played well at certain times and Anita was playing some really good tennis when her match was called. Hopefully we can learn from this and make adjustments in the regular season finale tomorrow."
The Red Wolves will close out the regular season against Mercer Sunday morning.
Follow the Red Wolves tennis team on Twitter at @AStateTennis for the latest news and information.
Tennis Match Results
Arkansas State vs Georgia Southern
April 14, 2018 at Wallis Tennis Center
Georgia Southern 4, Arkansas State 1
Singles competition
Arianne de Winter (GSWT) def. Shelby King (ASU) 7-5, 7-6
Emilia Bujan (GSWT) def. Sabina Jeresic (ASU) 6-4, 6-3
Ella Monsey (GSWT) vs. Anita Detlava (ASU) 5-7, 6-3, 0-3, unfinished
Berta Masdevall Masip (ASU) def. Paula Boixader (GSWT) 6-3, 6-2
Mila Hartig (GSWT) vs. Shannon O'Brien (ASU) 4-6, 6-2, 2-1, unfinished
Charlotte van Diemen (GSWT) def. Allison Quammen (ASU) 6-1, 6-1
Doubles competition
Emilia Bujan/Ella Monsey (GSWT) vs. Anita Detlava/B. Masdevall Masip (ASU) 3-5, unfinished
Arianne de Winter/Paula Boixader (GSWT) def. Shannon O'Brien/Shelby King (ASU) 6-2
Charlotte van Diemen/Lindsay Truscott (GSWT) def. Allison Quammen/Sabina Jeresic (ASU) 6-1


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|Project by mmh
|posted 07-24-2013 02:52 AM
|3587 views
|10 times favorited
|14 comments
This is an elegant but very sturdy cane for a client who wanted a cane that he could enjoy for many years. He is a collector of pipes and expressed interest in Briar Burl and Makassar Ebony as two of his favorite woods. I was fortunate to find the briar burl and had a top quality piece of Makassar that was ready to use, as I had purchased the shaft stock green several years ago, and just recently I have come to realize that a tightly patterned piece such as this would be a challenge to find, especially dry and ready to use.
Many who turn wood like to use green wood, as it's not as dense and hard as cured wood, thus easier on the cutting tools, but my work has to be ready to use and turning such a length of wood in it's green state would cause a problem with uncontrolled warping and shrinkage during the drying period, so my stock must be dry when I work with it.
The handle is made from solid Briar Burl that is shaped to fit either hand, so there are subtle curves to allow one's fingers to fit comfortably around and under the handle that make this an asymmetrical piece. There is a slight taper on each end of the handle to give a bit more geometric design to an otherwise organic shape.
The collar is a nice solid black Gabon Ebony that helps the transition of colors of the variegated Makassar Ebony. The pattern of the Makassar Ebony is so stately and prominent that it made it difficult to match with an equally stunning, yet different type of wood that could hold it's own for a completed piece that would be elegant and unique. With the assistance of the client's interests and the blessings of the Wood Gods, I am very happy with the end result and hope my client will enjoy his cane for many years to come.
One note on using Briar Burl, as with any wood, is that there is always the chance of a void showing in your work, especially in the most inopportune location. For the most part this was a solid piece of stock to work with but when I came down to the final millimeters of shaping, a long thin void emerged and would not disappear as hoped. I used very fine dust from sanding with a 400 grit paper to fill the void and stabilize it with CA glue. This technique will hopefully give enough body of wood dust into the void and allow it to oxidize along with the rest of the handle, as my client mentioned that the use of wood filler in pipes creates a pale spot and devalues the pipe drastically.
The last photo shows the Briar Burl rough stock and a Ziricote Burl handle that I made in attempt to match the Makassar Ebony with an equally stunning wood. The Briar Burl stock was originally cut for making pipes so I had to reshape it for my needs.
This simple piece gave me many problems to resolve, but the journey and end result was well worth the labor and time.
Comments and inquires welcome. Please visit Big Stick Canes for more of my work or Canes for Sale
-- "They who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night." ~ Edgar Allan Poe
14 comments so far
#1 posted 07-24-2013 03:14 AM
WOW, Meilie! This is gorgeous!!
The tapered collar makes a beautiful transition from the handle to the shaft.
-- Lew- Time traveler. Purveyor of the Universe's finest custom rolling pins.
#2 posted 07-24-2013 07:10 AM
Beautiful choice of woods. One of your best canes yet. I love the ergonomics of the handle.
-- Benji Reyes, Antipolo, Philippines, http://www.facebook.com/pages/Benji-Reyes/88321902103?ref=ts Instagram benji reyes
#3 posted 07-24-2013 08:30 AM
Wow is right, A real beauty! The finish work in this is Amazing!!!!!!!
-- Ken, "Everyday above ground is a good day!"
#4 posted 07-24-2013 09:55 AM
Very nice work, it has a smooth transition and a sleek look. I really like it.
-- Vince
#5 posted 07-24-2013 10:01 AM
It's been quite a while since I've seen one of your canes. this one is a beauty.
#6 posted 07-24-2013 12:16 PM
Hi Meilie,
Yes, this cane is very elegant!!! Clean and Crisp with a beautiful wood selection!
-- Dennis Zongker
#7 posted 07-24-2013 12:37 PM
That is a Beaut! Very Nice Work!
-- Robert B. Sabina, Ohio..... http://www.etsy.com/shop/WoodenfrogWoodenProd
#8 posted 07-24-2013 01:50 PM
Gorgeous! Simple and spectacular at the same time. I wish I could make joints so nice!
-- Mike P., Arkansas, http://mikepounders.weebly.com
#9 posted 07-24-2013 04:22 PM
#10 posted 07-24-2013 11:47 PM
-- From such crooked wood as that which man is made of, nothing straight can be fashioned. Immanuel Kant
#11 posted 07-25-2013 12:13 AM
THAT is one beautiful 'stick'. Very nicely done.
-- I just got done cutting three boards and all four of them were too short. (true story)
#12 posted 07-25-2013 12:31 AM
That is powerfully beautiful!
-- Roger from KY. Work/Play/Travel Safe. Keep your dust collector fed. [email protected]
#13 posted 07-25-2013 12:41 AM
Beautiful work!
-- John C. -- "Firearms are second only to the Constitution in importance; they are the peoples' liberty's teeth." George Washington
#14 posted 08-05-2013 07:12 AM
Beautifully done. Looks like a nice comfortable grip.
-- John, British Columbia, Canada
Have your say...
You must be signed in to post the comments.


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Based in Edinburgh, we have over 20 years of experience in the valeting profession. Professional company that prides itself on integrity, innovation and environmental responsibility. We use unique No Wet Waterless Products which cleans and carnuba waxes your vehicle to showroom condition. We can clean your car mobile, at home or work.
Want to try our products yourself? Purchase our Waterless Car Cleaner online
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Trinity Sunday Bible Study
CONTACT: Spike Craig (719)598-2506 or email@example.com
A Bible-based (currently all senior citizens, but all are welcome) study group. Typically, they get a guide for a particular book of the Bible. Assignments are made for self-study, a list of questions for discussion are emailed. This class meets every Sunday at 8:30 am in Room 224. They have occasional potlucks in a member's home.


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Stall 1001 - Cafe Cenno
Cafe Cenno is on the Mezannine Level of Durham Market Hall.
Enjoy a selection of breakfasts, lunches or afternoon tea, or pop in for coffee and cake. All food is homemade.
Free wifi available.
Opening Times
|Monday - Saturday
|9am – 4:30pm
Contact Us
Tel: 0191 383 9933


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The Blundstone 063 Boot is a classic boot that can transcend your two lives- trail and casual. The smooth leather upper is just as pretty walking the city as it is durable when hiking the woods behind your cabin. Grab the tabs and pull 'em on for just about anything. The removable comfort footbed offers cushion for your feet and the slip-resistant outsole won't let you fall when walking the earth.
*Premium leather upper. *Black elastic side. *Sturdy front and back pull-on tabs. *Durable, slip resistant TPU outsole. *Removable comfort footbed. *Lightweight and comfortable boots.
Sign up for our mailing list and receive discounts and exclusive offers.


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October 9, 2017
It was a great show in Richardson this last weekend! I saw quite a few folks that have purchased my work in the past, met some more great people, and sent many of my pieces off to new homes.
Now, back to work. This is a detail shot from a painting in the Evangelist Saints series I'm wrestling with right now.


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Carrying Your Business Load
Spady Transport Ltd. is a family owned and operated trucking company started by Margaret & Darral Spady. Since 1998 Spady Transport Ltd. has been providing transportation and distribution services through out North America.
Our expertise and passion for customer satisfaction has enabled us to be a leading authority in providing dry van transportation. Spady Transport Ltd. is the only call you need to make for your next shipping requirement.


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The Fujitsu tablet LIFEBOOK T938 is a versatile 2 in 1 that meets the dynamic demands of today's mobile professionals. Its enterprise-grade security, lightweight and ultra-thin design with durable magnesium housing, enable you to be productive at all times. A simple flip of the super crisp, rotatable 13.3-inch Full HD display with pen and touch support is all it takes to switch between tablet and notebook mode.
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I am very fond of saying 'strategy is execution'. In my opinion, everything hinges on the successful execution of a strategy. In fact, I would rather have a 'so so'strategy executed well rather than a brilliant strategy executed badly.
Key to the excellent execution of strategy is communications. The ability to sell, the ability to coordinate, the ability to inspire and motivate, the ability to gain approval for projects often hinge on good communication skills. While there are people who are naturally good at communications, communication is a skill and as all skills, it can be learned.
There are many examples of the effect of good or bad execution. Take for instance the ability of the current Valentines campaign of Jollibee to tug at your heart strings. The story of love unrequited, or the story of where true love prevails are examples of good execution of strategy. On the other hand, the Executive Order released by Donald Trump regarding the travel ban of citizens of 7 countries resulted in chaos. American Immigration officers were caught unaware and were unsure of how to execute the Executive Order, airlines scrambled, would be travelers to the US from the 7 countries were caught in limbo, even if they had the correct documentation in place. Strategy is execution, execution, execution. Communications is a key component of the successful implementation of strategy.
In the business world, presentation skills include both written and verbal. Approvals to projects often hinge on a well crafted business presentation. Make it too long and detailed, you may lose your audience. Make it too detailed and you run the risk of boring your audience. It is imperative to understand your audience.
Good communication skills will also enhance the career path of an employee. It is very difficult to be promoted in an organization if you cannot lead people. It is no longer enough to manage one's self or to merely manage people. Today, one has to lead people. Today, one has to have the ability to lead the way. Key to leadership is the ability to inspire, the ability to motivate and the ability to clarify the direction the company or department will take, especially if the direction is difficult or unpopular.
There are many elements to good communications but basically there are two key components. The first is crafting the message and the second is delivering or presenting the message. Both components have distinct principles one can utilize. The message is not the complete without good delivery and it goes to say it is useless to focus on delivery if the message is empty.
This leads to me to the saying 'all talk and no action'. All through this article, I have focused on communications being a key component to the successful execution of strategy. This means there must be a strategy, there must be a message. Another popular business saying is 'walk the talk'meaning that as you say, you must do. But this is actually incomplete. 'Walk the talk and talk the walk'because ... strategy is execution and ... execution is strategy.
* * *
Malu Dy Buncio is the Chief Business Development Strategist of Mansmith and Fielders. She was the former country head of Avon Philippines, a job that required working within a corporate environment that also required strong leadership and motivational skills with the independent sales force. She is also an Agora Awardee for Marketing Excellence for Asia Pacific. She will be conducting 'Persuasive Communications: The Art and Science of Effective Communications in Strategy and Execution'seminar. For more details, visit www.mansmith.net, or email email@example.com.


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"Steve challenges you to not only think differently, but to approach the process of thinking in a different way,
enhancing productivity and creativity.
Managing Director, Portfolio Manager
Private Wealth Management
Arrange Consultation
I Don't Need a Coach
by Jake Vincent, MBPsS
It was March 2016 and my p&l was showing a second consecutive monthly loss. Somehow, I had been sucked into chasing a paid front-end fixed-income view, only to see my whole month wiped out by yet another dovish Federal Reserve. I looked down at my notepad of core views and saw "global disinflationary pressure" right near the top. What was I doing? How had I been sucked into this narrative when it clearly wasn't representative of my own views? I felt lost, confused and disappointed in myself. What was my process? Why was it not working?
I turned to former client, long-time friend and process guru, Stephen Duneier, as I'd done at other challenging times in my career. He offered to take me on as a client, but I was worried how it would be viewed by my firm for me to be spending money on trading help so soon after starting there. Besides, I felt my "process" was fine. It just needed some time, so why pay for coaching? Turns out, success leads to arrogance shockingly fast. With failure comes humility, and reassessment. Eventually, I signed on.
Well, That's Different
What I discovered very quickly is that Stephen's approach is different from all the others I'd encountered from coaches and psychologists.
For him, it isn't about you, it is about your decision-making process. His focus is on
you make your decisions. Every one of them. Not just the big ones, and not just those you make at work, but how you approach every decision-problem you face.
He uses what we're learning from the research in the cognitive sciences to understand where we are most vulnerable, and then he creates these unique supports, markers and guides to help steer us around our flaws. He doesn't just fix the problems for you, though. Instead, he makes you aware of the mistakes, he educates you so that you can become more self-aware, and best of all, he takes the time to understand you, your tendencies, your strengths and weaknesses.
Rather than forcing unwieldy adjustments that you are unlikely to implement, he identifies the marginal adjustments you can make that will have the biggest impact on your results. Some things we all need help with, others were specific to me. He's particularly adept at identifying the areas to target, and helping you discover them for yourself.
Stephen approaches decision making as a science, not an art. A solid decision making process is built on a foundation of data and evidence, not belief. Therefore, data must be collected. However, in his approach, the focus is on the process, not the results. The data he insists on collecting relates to the components of your decision-making process, not monthly returns. To build a database of this kind, you must define the data you want to collect and do so in a consistent, objective way. This is why everyone eventually writes trading plans for every single position they put on, every single time. It feeds the database, but it also delivers far more. It forces you to employ what he calls,
cognitive strain
, to specifically state what you are doing and why.
A More Evolved Version of Me
My style involved taking medium-term views while trading occasionally on short-term opportunities. It quickly became apparent that writing a trading plan was going to get in the way of trading the short-term, fast developing opportunities. Turns out, when we looked at the data, they weren't positively contributing to the p&l anyway. I stopped what he called my "impulsive" trading, to focus exclusively on developing my edge.
There were times when I would possess views with great conviction, but the risk reward available for expressing them weren't attractive. Stephen pointed out that this wasn't wasted work. Rather, I was building a stable of potential trades depending on the future paths of market. For instance, if I felt a specific structure would work best only if oil traded down to $40, I shouldn't throw it out just because we were trading at $50. Instead, I should take the time to identify the factors that must be in place, and those that must not, in order for the trade to be viable should spot eventually trade down there. If we get to that level, so long as the signals remain in place, I will enter the trade.
Over time I ended up with execution plans for moves in various directions, and clear reasons why each view should change. Signal drove my investment process, noise became the opportunity for attractive entry and exit. My mind, and life, became less frenzied and far less stressful.
I thought I was set when Stephen threw a comment in one day that blew my fragile little mind: we are nearly all trained to look for moves and trends, but options trading, like I was doing, allows you to express "the absence of moves" as well. In other words, we've been trained to believe that directional moves are necessary to deliver performance. After all, the overwhelming majority of position takers do so via cash. Cash positions typically require a move in order to generate profits, but not so with options.
As an example, we might position for a rate cut when in reality our expectation is simply that rates won't go up. They may sound the same, but the field of profitability on the latter can be far wider making the odds of profitability significantly better. Not to mention, more reflective of my view. Instantly, by making just a slight adjustment to my perspective, he'd dramatically expanded my investment arsenal.
Ease, Strain and Stress
At the heart of Stephen's teachings is the theory that the human mind is, well, lazy. It seeks to achieve a maintain a state of "cognitive ease." We're all REALLY good at this. It's easier to procrastinate, skip writing a trading plan and go with your gut. Inertia is a powerful force. Unfortunately, it often leads to a moment of stress, when we are forced to confront urgent problems. It's known as firefighting.
In those moments, we become reactive, making us even more likely to just go with our natural instincts, to use mental shortcuts. The problem is, many of our natural tendencies are driven by unfounded beliefs, not solid evidence and sound decision-making practices. We don't tend to consider the full picture, the impact on a portfolio, and so on. Instead, we focus solely on relieving the pain.
The objective behind inviting "cognitive strain" up front, when we may not feel it's necessary, is to reduce the potential for stress to occur in the future. It involves putting the work in up front, to avoid having to react to the stress later. When trading, this means really thinking about all the potential events that can impact your trade, and what you would do in response, with a calm, objective mind, not a panicked, reactive one. It comes down to distinguishing signal from noise in a moment of lucidity and objectivity.
I would wager that almost every reader can think of a time when you said to yourself "if this gets to X level I'm buying it," and yet when it got there everything felt horrendous and you didn't pull the trigger. Then it bounced shortly afterwards and you kicked yourself for not following the "plan." The problem is, it wasn't a plan, it was a feeling, and in the moment, the distinction between noise and signal became difficult to decipher. When you do the work ahead of time, convert an idea into a plan, including an execution order, it becomes far less likely that you will screw it up.
Do the work. Set the plan. Execute.
Read Less, Be Smarter
Stephen presented me with a powerful argument regarding research. The CIA did an experiment using horse racing handicappers, better known as bookies In the interest of space, I'm including
the link
to the full piece, and a summary of the conclusion. Essentially, we need less information than we think. It's about quality, not quantity. At a certain point, additional information actually produces negative marginal utility. (And that point is far closer than you might think.)
Key findings from this research are:
• Once an experienced analyst has the minimum information necessary to make an informed judgment, obtaining additional information generally does not improve the accuracy of his or her estimates. Additional information does, however, lead the analyst to become more confident in the judgment, to the point of overconfidence
(impacting sizing)
• Experienced analysts have an imperfect understanding of what information they actually use in making judgments. They are unaware of the extent to which their judgments are determined by a few dominant factors, rather than by the systematic integration of all available information. Analysts actually use much less of the available information than they think they do.
The conclusion is that the approach to research and information gathering should follow the same pattern as all other decisions. Put in the effort up front to identify which sources add value (signal) and which ones actually muddy the picture (noise). If you don't make the distinction ahead of time, it will be nearly impossible to do so in the moment. Just as it is for trade management.
Determine what matters, what sources add value, and what problem you are attempting to solve, and then limit your information gathering to read less and only well-filtered and high-quality work. How do you acquire different intelligent thoughts rather than repeats of the same noise, providing unintentional confirmation bias? Bija publications, as an example, tend to be different. They are focused on larger themes and offer thought-provoking pieces on how to think about and interact with developments. That's what I found to be the case, at least.
Decision Therapy
Working with Stephen became a kind of decision therapy, as well. We might examine a trade that had been eating away at me the previous week. What I found so interesting is that he didn't judge my decisions by the outcome, but rather by the process itself. On the one hand, he might tear apart a trade that had knocked it out of the park, detailing the litany of mistakes I'd made, while simultaneously praising decisions related to a trade that turned out to be incredibly painful. That's not something you encounter very often.
His philosophy is simple. If you repeatedly make solid, objective, evidence-supported decisions more often, the odds of generating better returns, more consistently over time, goes up. Focus only on what you can control. That approach changed everything for me. It dramatically reduced the volatility of my psychological state. I found it to be cathartic, and encouraging of good habits.
In addition, every week there seemed to be a minimum of one thought provoking question that would linger, and spark a week's worth of contemplation. One of the first I remember is this exchange:
Stephen: 'Why did China become so important to markets?'
Me: 'It's huge and has a lot of people!'
Stephen: 'It's always had a lot of people, and been big. Why does it matter
Me: 'Erm, hmmm. Well the industrialization…'
Stephen: 'Urbanization. People are being moved to cities from rural areas at an unprecedented pace, changing the economy and behaviors, rapidly. It is population growth on steroids, in the most populated country on earth, but it doesn't show up in the statistics everyone monitors.'
It's that simple question, "Why," that he's constantly asking. Like a three year old tugging on his mother's skirt, "Yeah, but
?" Only, you can't stop his queries with, "because I said so!" He forces you to go on record, to own your decisions, to put in the hard work and both be accountable for your actions, and understanding of the nature of a game of probabilities.
Rather than a haphazard cycle of reading, talking, structuring, and trading, Bija helps you develop a scientific approach to investment management, one that is repeatable, dynamic, and allows you to evolve. That has been my experience, and that of many others Stephen has worked with over the years, both at work, and in life.
"While everyone else is scrambling to answer who, what, where and when,
Duneier is focused on explaining the 'why'
European Pension Fund Manager
London, England
Meet Our CEO
About the Author
For more than 15 years, Jake Vincent has put his education in psychology to work as an institutional investor specializing in global macroeconomic analysis, portfolio management and trade structuring.
In 2007, Mr. Vincent joined the newly launched Comac Capital, where he ultimately served as Head of Strategy, helping the fund grow to $6.5 billion in AuM, thanks in large part to 30%+ returns during the financial crisis.
Following Comac's transformation from hedge fund to private family office, Mr. Vincent left to become a Global Macro Portfolio Manager at Balyasny Asset Management. While there, he developed a disciplined, process-driven approach to investment and portfolio management as a result of his work with Bija Advisors, and specifically, CEO Stephen Duneier. The innovative applications of decision architecture and other techniques borne out of the cognitive sciences resonated with Mr. Vincent, given the direct link to his studies in Psychology and Philosophy at Durham University in England, and as a member of the British Psychological Society.
As a Senior Advisor at Bija Advisors, Mr. Vincent draws from his experience as a sell-side strategist at Standard Chartered, Merrill Lynch and Credit Suisse in New York and London, and experienced hedge fund manager. He delivers his own unique brand of insight on global macro themes, behavioral investment process, and trade ideas through Bija publications. In addition, Mr. Vincent is responsible for constantly improving the Bija client experience and curating our rapidly growing community of clients and subscribers.
Mr. Vincent is a former board member and current advisory board member for non-profit Mentor Me, and is currently launching a new non-profit aimed at improving education for financial and retirement planning.
Contact Mr. Vincent
Bija Advisors LLC
In publishing research, Bija Advisors LLC is not soliciting any action based upon it. Bija Advisors LLC's publications contain material based upon publicly available information, obtained from sources that we consider reliable. However, Bija Advisors LLC does not represent that it is accurate and it should not be relied on as such. Opinions expressed are current opinions as of the date appearing on Bija Advisors LLC's publications only. All forecasts and statements about the future, even if presented as fact, should be treated as judgments, and neither Bija Advisors LLC nor its partners can be held responsible for any failure of those judgments to prove accurate. It should be assumed that, from time to time, Bija Advisors LLC and its partners will hold investments in securities and other positions, in equity, bond, currency and commodities markets, from which they will benefit if the forecasts and judgments about the future presented in this document do prove to be accurate. Bija Advisors LLC is not liable for any loss or damage resulting from the use of its product.
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Gas prices up again
Sri Lankan oil companies said yesterday they had raised gas pump prices by 17 percent, the sixth increase this year amid high crude oil costs. Gas now costs 117 rupees (US$1.05) per liter, Ceylon Petroleum Corp chairman Asantha de Mel said. The price hike also covers fuel retailer Lanka IOC, which controls a third of the local gas market, managing director K. Ramakrishnan said. Other refined fuel prices have also increased this year. Diesel has risen 16 percent to 75 rupees per liter since April.
Travel industry seeks help
The US travel industry and its allies are pressing Congress for a marketing program of as much as US$200 million to help restore the US' "brand image" with international visitors. With overseas visits still below levels from before the 2001 terror attacks and the US' image battered, the travel industry is pinning its hopes on a new promotional effort led by the federal government. Industry leaders are lobbying for legislation to create a government-led corporation for travel promotion. This would be funded by voluntary business contributions and a US$10 fee imposed on visitors from countries qualifying for visa "waivers."
Carmaker eyes merger
Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp, parent of China's biggest carmaker, will discuss a merger of its publicly traded unit with the country's oldest automaker to boost sales in the world's fastest-growing major economy. Nanjing Automobile Group Co and Shanghai Automotive Industry agreed on Friday to form a committee to discuss a partnership, including "related asset restructuring" and a "complete union," the Shanghai-based company said in an e-mailed statement yesterday. No timeframe has been set for the start of talks, it said.
Strike forces mine closure
El Teniente, the world's largest underground copper mine, remained closed on Saturday as a security measure after subcontracted workers went on strike, a company official said. On Thursday El Teniente managers closed down operations until they could be guaranteed security from the strikers, who blocked roads and hurled rocks at passing vehicles. The mine, owned by the Chilean state-run consortium Codelco, is located some 80km south of Santiago. "We are keeping it closed for security reasons," a company spokesman said on Saturday. Codelco executive president Jose Pablo Arellano said earlier the strike was resulting in losses of US$9 million a day. Normally the mine produces some 418,000 tonnes of copper a year.
LLC seeks more debt
Lend Lease Corp (LLC), Australia's biggest property developer, will increase its borrowings to as much as 40 percent of assets to fund projects, making it difficult for private equity firms to mount any takeover. The Sydney-based company is committed to about A$50 billion (US$43 billion) in construction projects and will need to raise more debt, chief executive officer Greg Clarke told the ABC's Inside Business program yesterday. The company has a debt ratio of about 15 percent. Speculation that private equity firms are poised to bid saw credit default swaps on Lend Lease debt rise to the highest since August 2005 earlier this month.


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Conquest Graphics is committed to being a green printing company offering our customers the highest quality printed products, at the lowest possible price – with the very smallest environmental impact. From the paper we use to the electrical engineering of our facilities and equipment, we strive to be as eco-friendly as possible.
We print a lot, and recycle a lot too! Many of the jobs we print are trimmed to size. The trimmed-off portion can not typically be used, so we recycle it. Based on calculations from Shred-it Corporation, we save about 6,500 trees each year as a result of our recycling initiatives. Of course, the less paper that is trimmed off, the less we have to recycle, so we are very careful to maximize every bit of the paper we work with. In fact, it's one of the approaches we take to efficiency that allows for our prices to be so low.
As a part of our effort to reduce paper usage and waste in our internal administrative activities, we also save more than 30 trees a year by virtue of office paper recycling, and increased use of paperless communication methods.
In addition to the paper we collect and turn in for recycling, most all of the papers we use for printing are recycled papers.
Several years ago, when we began our search for a new location for our Richmond manufacturing facility, we made the decision to consider only those facilities that employed energy-efficient construction methods. Our current green printing facility is constructed entirely from brick, block, stone and concrete, which not only makes for a durable and energy efficient structure, but also is of renewable and recyclable materials. Our building also features a structural concrete roofing system, which helps reduce heat loss during the colder months, and helps regulate internal temperatures during the summer.
Before we moved into our facility, we replaced incandescent lighting with fluorescent lighting wherever possible. On our manufacturing floor, we replaced nearly two hundred 400 Watt metal halide lamps with newer, more efficient, and cooler-running 250 Watt bulbs. Then in 2011, we replaced all of the overhead lighting in our facilities with brighter, more energy efficient T8 fluorescent technology. The new T8 lighting is over 20% more energy efficient than the outdated T12 lighting we had in place. Plus, the T8 tubes are smaller in diameter, and use less material in their manufacture than T12 tubes. We also responsibly recycle the old T12 tubes, further reducing our impact on the environment. The bottom line is that we are constantly looking for and investing in new ways to reduce our consumption of energy resources, and leave a smaller environmental footprint. It's a long-term approach that benefits us all.
We replaced most of our aging HVAC systems with new units with a SEER (a measure of energy efficiency) of 14 or higher. We also captured and recycled all of the excess refrigerant that was removed from our old systems, and sent our old HVAC units to a recycler.
During the renovation process, we recycled construction materials whenever possible, and made extensive use of new, energy-efficient building and insulation materials.
Our commitment to green printing pushes us to look for eco-friendly alternatives throughout our process. In our pressroom operation, we use alcohol-free dampening solutions. We also recycle 100% of our excess paper. We use water-based, low-ammonia emission aqueous coating on most of our printed products, which helps reduce fingerprints and marking, and is also much more environmentally-friendly than competing coating methods.
In our prepress area, we have implemented a completely digital workflow, which allows us to operate without using photochemicals. We also recycle all of our used aluminum printing plates.
And we went a step beyond eco-friendly printing and looked at our business practices. We took a close look at our internal communication processes, and now have a paperless internal communication process.
As an eco-friendly printer, we are firm believers in the environmental advantages of digital printing. In addition to our full complement of multi-color offset presses, we also employ state-of-the-art, digital presses that utilize completely non-toxic, dry inks, and we recycle 100% of our waste colorants and developers.
Our digital presses run 80% quieter and use less electricity than an equivalent-sized, conventional press with an IR dryer. We also re-purpose nearly 30,000 BTU's per hour of digital press exhaust heat back into our building during the winter months.
The big environmental advantage of digital printing comes from its ability to reduce overall material and energy consumption for printed materials, by printing only the quantity needed, when needed. Digital printing significantly reduces waste due to obsolescence. Also, by taking advantage of the personalization capabilities of digital printing, marketers can directly target their communications to recipients who are most likely to respond. This prevents mailings on a large scale where materials are sent to many people who likely have no interests, and may recycle the material, or throw it away and it goes to a landfill.
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Pakistan is expected to become the fifth largest nuclear power in the world in the next ten years, according to a report. While it has been evident over the years that Pakistan has been building its nuclear stockpile, what is more significant is the India-centric strategy that lies at the base of the programme.
The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, which has revealed in its latest Nuclear Notebook report that Pakistan now has 110-130 warheads, also stated that the country is developing short-range nuclear capable missiles with a range of only 60 kilometres that may be used even if it is engaged with India in a 'low-intensity' conflict.
Earlier Pakistan foreign secretary Aizaz Chaudhury had said in a rare disclosure of the country's nuclear programme that it was building tactical battle field nuclear weapons, also referred to as mini-nukes, only to deter any possible Indian attack.
Some reports had also suggested that these nuclear weapons had already been deployed in areas along the border with India.
This means that even if India is to carry out a strike on terror camps in Pakistan, the conflict could escalate to a point where nuclear weapons may be used, nuclear experts have said.
"Even a brief anti-terrorist strike could easily escalate to a larger conventional confrontation that carries with it the risk and dangers of further escalation to nuclear weapons use," nuclear expert Hans Kristensen, who worked on the report, told The Times of India.
With its development of tactical nuclear weapons, Pakistan has changed the purpose and strategy behind countries building nuclear weapons.
"The development and deployment of tactical nuclear weapons is a complete change of strategy. Earlier, nuclear weapons were instruments for deterring war, but now they're seen as weapons for actually fighting a war," nuclear physics professor Pervez Hoodbhoy was quoted saying by Reuters.
Here are important things to know about Pakistan's nuclear programme-
- Pakistan's nuclear stockpile has increased in the last four years from 90-110 warheads in 2011 to 110-130 at present.
- By 2025, Pakistan is estimated to increase the number to 220 to 230 warheads.
- Pakistan already has at present six types of nuclear-capable ballistic missiles operational for use. It also has four operating plutonium production reactors and uranium facilities.
- It is developing the NASR (Hatf-9), a short range, solid-fuel missile with a range of only 60km (37 miles), according to the report. The missile is meant for use in a war if India launches an attack.
- Pakistan is also developing two new cruise missiles, the ground-launched Babur (Hatf-7) and the air-launched Raoad (Hatf-8), the report said.
- Pakistan is also developing a nuclear submarine, a Pakistani official told Reuters. The reasons is to have a sea-based second strike capability in case an attack destroys nuclear weapons on land.
- Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is also expected to make it clear to US President Barack Obama that Pakistan will not accept limits on its use of small tactical nuclear weapons, Reuters reported.


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Stop me if this sounds familiar: You've had a busy day. You spent all morning reading about dope new tech on Gizmodo, then picked up your girlfriend's kids from school, came home and binge-watched Gilmore Girls on Netflix for a few hours (admit it, boys, you KNOW you love it), and then your squad stopped by for a rousing game of Cards Against Humanity. So now it's 9:30—almost time for bed—and suddenly you realize that you're starving! You haven't eaten all day! In the fast-paced lives of today's young professionals, it's all too easy for meals to fall by the wayside, and hunger can sneak up on you when you least expect it. Here at Tall Peters, we feel your pain, so we've compiled this helpful list of high-quality hacks that'll be sure to keep your tummy satisfied around the clock.
1. Don't Skip Breakfast
Yeah, I know, it's the oldest cliché in the book: "Breakfast is the most important meal of the day." But, according to science, this oft-repeated maxim is actually truer than you may think. Now if you're anything like me, you probably think the only thing you need for breakfast is a Starbucks Venti Iced Mocha Frappuccino (or a Pumpkin Spice Latte if you insist on being basic—UGH!), but scientific evidence suggests that eating actual food first thing in the morning will boost your metabolism, keep your blood sugar levels stable, and improve your mood throughout the day. So if you've been getting those cranky mid-morning feels, it might be because you've been skipping this essential meal. Bring on the eggs and bacon!
Image by Popo le Chien
2. Always Bring a Snack
It's not all about meals! Our Tall Peters nutritional experts tell us that eating smaller portions at shorter intervals can actually be better for your metabolism. But as we all know, when your boss is really riding you to meet that deadline, you might find yourself with no time to get up and walk to the break room for a croissant. That's why you should ALWAYS keep a snack handy at your desk, such as my personal favorite, Stacy's Pita Chips and Sabra Hummus. Yum!
Image by Bill Branson
3. Don't Forget to Buy Groceries
Sure, grocery shopping might seem like a waste of time with so many great, affordable fast-casual restaurants out there these days. But for those lazy evenings where you just don't feel like getting off your ass and catching an Uber to Chipotle, it's usually a good idea to have some food in the kitchen. So be sure to swing by your local Whole Foods at least a couple times a month and keep that fridge stocked up.
Image by Mr.TinDC
4. Save Takeout Menus!!
Seriously, I cannot stress this enough. Anytime you find yourself in a restaurant with a takeout menu, grab it, take it home IMMEDIATELY. Cover your whole fridge with those damn things if you have to, whatever it takes to be prepared for your next hunger emergency. Trust me—you and your hungry belly will thank me later.
5. Stay Aware of All the Hottest New Deals
Staving off those hunger demons can be an expensive habit, and since you're saving up for that big trip to Thailand, you probably want to cut some corners here and there. Luckily, there are plenty of great web sites out there—such as our proud sister site Thrillist—where they work around the clock to keep you informed about all the latest deals to which you can avail yourself at your favorite food joints. In fact, I think I heard that Pizza Hut is running a killer promo as we speak. Better head over to Thrillist and get the deets!
6. Keep Track of Time
One of the biggest and most insidious causes of hunger is simply letting time get away from us. So get in the habit of peeping that fancy new Apple Watch as often as possible to keep those precious minutes from slipping by. If it's been a couple hours since the last time you ate, you might want to consider feeding yourself again, even if it's just a light snack (see #2).
Image by Anthony92931
7. Three Words: Late. Night. Menu.
When all else fails, there's always Fourthmeal. We've all had those nights: you've been out late with your dudes celebrating your big promotion, you've had one too many Lagunitas IPAs, and you totally lost track of time (see #6). By the time the hunger takes hold, your favorite local spots are all closed already, and you know your fridge at home is woefully empty (see #3). Only one thing left to do in this emergency scenario: time to hit up the drive-thru! Maybe it's not the healthiest option, but that's okay—just call it a cheat day and promise yourself you'll hit the gym twice as hard tomorrow. Hey, we all deserve a little treat now and then, right? And if Taco Bell's mouth-watering late-night menu doesn't tickle your fancy, don't worry, you've got plenty of options. Maybe swing by Jack In The Box and enjoy one of Jack's Late-Night Munchie Meals. Did somebody say Sriracha Curly Fry Burger? Ummm, yes please!
Trevor Drinkwater is a senior food editor at Tall Peters, and he's got a real hankering for a Crunchy Taco Supreme right about now. Follow him to the drive-thru @trevordrinkwater
Featured Image by Petr Kratochvil and Keith Weller


text: Suigeneris and Lil Skies just collaborated on their new single Now produced by Cito on the beat. From this tracks catchy and smooth hook to each rappers verse that shows their ability over any beat, everything comes together perfectly to create a song that seems set to be a hit. Suigeneris' hook on this song truthfully pulls it all together while Lil Skies verse rapping about the tougher times really hits every corner. With Skies now garnering attention from everyone, it appears Sui could be next up as well. While we wait for another collab from the two make sure to listen to now below.


text: Cop Who Killed Woman in Drill Has Checkered Past He was forced to resign from previous post By Arden Dier, Newser Staff Posted Aug 11, 2016 11:10 AM CDT 105 comments Lee Coel (Punta Gorda Police Department) (Newser) – The Florida police officer who accidentally fired real bullets during a role-playing drill, killing a 73-year-old woman, doesn't exactly have a spotless record. During his rookie year with the Miramar Police Department in 2013, Lee Coel, 28, was accused of excessive force on two occasions before investigators determined he had violated department policy; he says he was cleared of the excessive force claims but still forced to resign. Then earlier this year, Coel was sued after setting a police dog on a man riding a bicycle at night without a light; the man had ignored Coel's commands. A disturbing video shows the cyclist screaming during the attack, which lasted almost two minutes, reports the Miami Herald. The cyclist was seriously injured and needed surgery. "What he did to my client is criminal. The dog ate part of his armpit muscle. He should have been fired immediately," the cyclist's lawyer says, though an outside expert found the use of force was justified. In the latest incident, police say Coel fatally shot Mary Knowlton at a citizen police academy session attended by 34 others, including Knowlton's husband of more than 50 years. Punta Gorda Chief Tom Lewis says officers were unaware Coel's gun housed live rounds, instead of blanks. A witness describes seeing "anxiety and panic and horror" on Coel's face as Knowlton fell after three shots were fired, reports NBC News. Knowlton's son, 50, says his mom would want him to forgive Coel, per the News-Press, but adds, "I don't know if I can ever get over this." (Read more Florida stories.) My Take on This Story Report a story error Show results | 6% Hilarious 6% Intriguing 26% Depressing 1% Brilliant 46% Scary 14% Ridiculous


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It's official! We have now lived here for exactly a whole year! It has been such an exciting time establishing the garden and learning all about our new climate, birds and local environment. We celebrated by purchasing a beautiful gardenia – a plant whose scent we have always loved and which we didn't think we would be able to grow in this climate, but we have planted it in a pot beside the house in a slight shady position, which the nursery lady assures us should give it a measure of frost protection. Hopefully, she's right!!! It's certainly worth a try, as it is one of our favourite plants! We also had a superb first anniversary feast tonight- delicious salads, garnered from our vegetable garden, and featured in my next post on Thursday.
This post is a bit of a mix- a review of what has worked well or not quite so well; ideas and plans for the future; and finishing with an in-depth look at the first of our monthly feature plants, the agapanthus, which was the dominant plant on our arrival one year ago and an all-time Summer favourite!
We have been really happy with the general garden design. Even though it faces east, with trees on the northern side, creating Winter shade, the site is beautifully protected from strong winds and the soil is superb – a mix of basalt and fertile river loam (with lots of iron from the old blacksmithing days!). It is a real boon to start with established mature trees, which provide a framework to the garden and give pointers for future plantings. Sadly, we did have to remove the beautiful she-oaks last Winter as they produced too much shade and even though it was difficult at the time, we are really pleased we did! The new boundary fence has also been a great addition, as not only does it delineate boundaries, it has protected the bamboo from the horse next door, provided a solid backdrop to the buddleias, especially when they are pruned in Winter, and given us much needed privacy on that narrow side of the house. It should weather to a grey colour and will soon be covered by honeysuckle and woodbine.
Apart from our severe Winter frosts, shade and sun are the biggest factors, which we have to consider in the garden. We did make a major blue at the start by digging up the two beds on the northern side of the path- they are shaded by the boundary trees in Winter, thus delaying our growing season. However, it did mean we had to establish the other 2 beds on the southern side of the path much sooner than we might have. And the no-dig method worked well for the 2nd cutting garden, eliminating much of the digging, though we will have to do a final dig now to ensure all the grass roots have gone.
We were particularly pleased with the Soho and Moon Beds, which work really well and have looked great all year. All the smaller plants (Bearded Iris, Verbena, Flowering Sage, Lavenders and Catmints) have established well and complement our beautiful Soho roses, which have taken on a new lease of life. We do have to continue the brick edging round the rest of the Moon Bed, as well as doing the same on the Soho Bed and Cutting Garden, as it makes the edging much easier to maintain. The brick paths are also very useful in both the Soho Bed and Cutting Garden, apart from the fact they we have to pull out the odd weed and they provide homes for the snails! But also the Blue-banded Bee I might add!! We do need to discover a cheaper source of bulk mulch for all the garden beds.
The white hedge behind the Soho Bed is growing well with the Philadelphus having tripled in size. We urgently need to construct 3 wooden arches (one at each end of the path and one at the shed corner), as well as the Main Pergola to support the climbing roses.
We did have a few problems with the strike rate of the seeds we sowed in the cutting garden. We still have to get used to managing the annuals and bulbs together. We may yet sow all our seed in pots before transplanting to the garden, except for the ones that prefer to be planted in situ and do have a good strike rate eg Poppies. The dahlias have been fabulous- abundant flowering and excellent growth. I'd like to plant another 2 dahlias on the opposite corners of the path. The bulbs also provided a terrific display, even though the anemones disliked the shadier end of the garden. I was particularly impressed with the tulips! It will be interesting to see how they perform this year, having been underground for the whole Summer. The cornflowers were disappointing, as they required staking, and the strike rate of the bupleureum, foxgloves, cosmos and nigella was poor, but the latter two shouldn't be a problem after this first season! However, the poppies and peony poppies, the calendulas, the zinnias and even the stock (despite its late entry) have been very impressive! It has been fabulous being able to step out into the garden to pick bouquets for the house!The vegetable garden has also been a great success, despite the 28 spotted potato ladybird larvae, which decimated most of the foliage; the cabbage moth, which attacked all our brassicas; and the fact that we are still learning what to plant when! The raspberries, strawberries, rhubarb and black currant have grown well, sending out lots of fresh shoots and canes. Unfortunately, one of the blueberry bushes died, but the remaining one is doing well. And the asparagus has been slow, but is flowering at the moment, so hopefully it will establish itself over time. We are still working on the tomatoes- they have been affected by grubs too, but nothing eats the pumpkin, nor the rainbow chard! The latter is definitely worth growing, along with the purple cabbage, for its colour alone, and the sweet peas, although late, have really progressed and look so pretty in the vegie garden, as well as smelling divine! The sunflowers have also been show-stopping and flower very generously! Here are some photos of our Summer harvest :
1st photo : Dutch Cream potatoes, variety of lettuce leaves, rocket, tomatoes, capsicum and sweet peas for tonight's first anniversary feast
2nd photo : All washed with basil and parsley addedThe rose hedge behind the vegetable garden also smells wonderful, although there is a little too much shade from the white mulberry tree, whose branches we may have to trim back further still.
The established fruit trees have also been a great success, with 3 types of plums, 2 apples and the White Mulberry, all of which we have used to make jams, jellies and pies. I'm looking forward to the new citrus trees developing- they all need weeding, manure, blood and bone and mulching. The passionfruit has also been eaten badly- I suspect the grasshoppers! We are still getting to know all our pests! Having said that, I love watching all the birds and butterflies that visit our garden!Now to the rest of the garden!
Back of the house :
The Cecile Brunner arch is a great addition to the front gate and already the climber has reached the top of the side frame, and when fully grown, will shield us from the view of the old house opposite, as well as affording more privacy to the guest bedroom. The multigraft camellia, the Winter honeysuckle, hellebores and violets provide a wonderful and long-lasting display all Winter, although the daphne's flowering season is a bit short! The Mondo grass provides an excellent low maintenance edging, but the ivy requires constant vigilance and the cement path gap needs filling.Side Path :
The Banksia pergola has also been a great success and the Banksia rose is well and truly recovering from its drastic prune last year and is already providing a measure of shade to the outdoor eating area. The May bush and buddleias have also responded very well to their Winter pruning. The rose cuttings from our old garden in Armidale have taken well and will be planted out next Winter.The herb pots have been wonderful and we have enjoyed their use in cooking, as well as for pesto and mint jelly.The acanthus provide a dramatic low maintenance cover against the house and I love the peaceful corner under the maple tree with the statue, violets and wind flowers. The Blue-tongue lizard enjoys the sunny sheltered corner provided by the geranium pots. The mosaic stepping stones look great, as if they have always been there and probably always will!!!Front Terrace :
The climbing roses against the front of the house have grown and flowered well, but urgently need their training wires. The native bed in the tank was not successful- I think that there was too much straight sand. The crowea died and the other plants have failed to thrive, so we will transplant them to the native area and maybe turn the old septic tank into a shallow pond with a protective grid cover. The fine bamboo looks beautiful, but the large bamboo suffered last Winter and will need chopping back and rejuvenating. The agapanthus bank recovered well after the severe Winter frosts and has provided another magnificent low-maintenance Summer display. We will definitely be looking after the cliveas this year, now that we know where they are! And the hydrangeas are as big as ever and obviously loved their heavy pruning last Winter. The bergenia edging on the path has worked well.Fernery :
Not as successful as we would have liked. We suspect that area still gets too much sun, especially damaging on those 40 degree days! So we plan to move the fernery onto a shadier area close by, under the loquat trees. Eventually, we hope to have a large rainwater tank in this corner. We will also have to protect the new Wheel of Fire and NSW Christmas bush from the early Winter frosts.
Old Shed :
Most of the old-fashioned roses planted so far have grown and flowered well, though some are a little slower. This Winter, we plan to plant out the remaining gaps with the rose cuttings struck last Winter. The tree dahlias will need heavy mulching as well to protect them from the frost, but even though they are so seemingly fragile and succumb so easily, their dramatic displays make them worth keeping and they do keep coming back every year, so they are not that much effort!I would love to plant Albertine against a rose trellis the length of the shed back wall, where it will look stunning each year. We also want to construct an entrance arch for 2 yellow Noisettes next to the cumquats. And I still hope to find my Golden Hornet crabapple, which I will plant in line and next to the Gorgeous variety, which we were mistakenly sold! Ross has found the stink bugs on the cumquat trees a bit of a challenge, so will spray the trees with Eco-Oil this Winter and investigate a pyrethrum spray for next Summer. We will also have to research organic controls of the 28 spotted potato ladybird larvae, cabbage moth and grasshoppers.
While I have been writing this review, I have also been writing a separate list of all the garden tasks, which need to be done and it's a long one!!! But that is what is so great about having our own garden again. It's an endless source of things to do, as well as inspiration, pleasure and enjoyment, and we love it! Finally, the promised description of our first monthly feature plant!
Agapanthus (also known as African Lily, Lily-of-the-Nile)
Nothing spells Summer as much as a cool sea of blue agapanthus, with the odd white one thrown in!
It is the only genus in the subfamily Agapanthoideae in the Flowering Plant family Amaryllidaceae, which is the major group in the Angiosperms and has 79 genera. Agapanthus are herbaceous and mainly perennial and bulbous flowering plants in the Monocot order Asparagales and include : Alliums, Cliveas, Crinum, Galanthus and Leucojum, Narcissi, Hemerocallis, Hippeastrums, Nerines and Zephyranthus.Their name comes from the Greek : αγάπη (agape) = love, άνθος (anthos) = flower.They are native to Southern Africa, but are now naturalized throughout the world.There are six species (though some sources say 10) : A. africanus, A. campanulatus, A. caulescens, A. coddii, A. inapertus and A. Praecox. There are also many cultivars and hybrids of A. Africanus and A. praecox. The most commonly seen species is Agapanthus praecox subspecies orientalis.
They can be very invasive. In New Zealand, A.praecox is classed as an environmental weed. Agapanthus is also considered to be a weed in some parts of Victoria. Therefore, it is best to remove their spent flower heads to prevent seed formation, especially if you are close to native bushland. Better still, plant sterile varieties like 'Black Pantha', which don't set seed.
The perennial Agapanthus grows from an underground rhizome each year. Agapanthus species and cultivars have long, strap-like, fleshy leaves that form dense clumps of evergreen or deciduous foliage. In Summer (November – January), tall stems (up to 1m tall) tower over the foliage bearing large rounded umbels of bell-shaped or tubular flowers, in shades of blue to purple or white. Bold and architectural, their flowering stalks are also simple and elegant. Dwarf and miniature varieties up to 45cm tall also exist.Flowers are sensitive to ethylene gas, so vases should be kept away from ripening fruit. It can last up to 2 weeks in a vase. It means 'Love Letter' in the Language of Flowers.
They are propagated by seed or clump division in Winter. Split clumps every 4-5 years for best results. If growing in a pot, use a smaller pot, as they prefer their roots overcrowded. Their foliage forms an excellent groundcover and they can also be used as a low border along a path, driveway or fence.
They are tough and hardy, heat- and drought-tolerant, as well as being very pest-hardy and are tolerant of poor soil, wind and salty air, so are good for coastal gardens. They are very easy to grow and virtually indestructible, except with very heavy frosts. They can be protected with mulch, but they still bounce back as the Summer progresses anyway. Snails like them. They are said to thrive on neglect, but flower far better with full sun, good drainage and regular watering.
Parts of the agapanthus plant are sometimes used for medicinal purposes. Agapanthus contains several saponins and sapogenins that generally have anti-inflammatory , anti-oedema (swelling due to accumulation of fluid), antitussive (relieves or suppresses coughing) and immunoregulatory properties. Agapanthus has been used medicinally for cardiac complaints. In South Africa, its roots are boiled in water to produce a tonic for pregnant women to promote contractions during labour. Expectant mothers sometimes wear charms made from the dried roots to ensure healthy babies.
However, the sap contains substances that can irritate skin or mucous membranes and causes severe ulceration of the mouth. Obviously, it doesn't worry this little nectar-sucking Eastern Spinebill!My darling daughter painted us this exquisite watercolour of two of our favourite things- flowers and butterflies- to celebrate our first year in our beautiful home. She is so talented and we feel very lucky to be the recipients of such a beautiful gift!


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King Arthur Flour's 100% Vermont Bread
Written onMarch 01 , 2010
Wheat breeding for the past century has focused almost exclusively on high-yielding varieties suited to the climates of the Midwest and West, not to New England. Due to our thin and rocky soils, hilly lands, and increasingly wet summers, Vermont wheats don't have the easy virtues of wheats grown in the Midwest; one might kindly describe them as developmentally challenged. For a long time, this served as an impediment to bakers, and breads were rarely baked exclusively from Vermont grains.
But that situation has changed in recent years, thanks to improved communication between local bakers like myself and Vermont farmers growing wheat, such as Ken Van Hazinga of Orwell, Ben Gleason of Bridport, and Jack Lazor of Westfield (who are also milling their wheat on-farm). We also have a better understanding of how to handle these weaker Vermont flours in a way that still yields high-quality bread. As a result of all this communication and knowledge, King Arthur's first all-Vermont wheat loaf, which we call Vermont Grains Bread, debuted in the fall of last year, using flour from the farmers named above, as well as from Tom Kenyon of Charlotte.
Having baked in Vermont since 1983, I've had the opportunity to meet a great number of people connected to the small but stimulating world of baking. A year and a half ago, that network of people expanded in a most exciting way when I joined the Northern Grain Growers Association. NGGA is comprised of Vermont grain growers, crop scientists from the University of Vermont, and a few Vermont bakers. Among other things, NGGA is actively engaged in the planting of dozens of test plots of heirloom and modern wheat varieties; after harvesting, the plantings are assessed based on yield, disease resistance, and suitability to our growing conditions. Finally, it's the bakers who test the varieties—after all, the truth comes out of the oven. No final conclusions about a variety's suitability can be made until it passes the bake test.
One of the best things about this fellowship of NGGA members is that the bakers are getting a better understanding of the practical and logistical realities facing Vermont grain farmers, and the farmers are becoming more aware of the rheological and performance requirements of bakers who are seeking to make good bread. As a result of these synergies, the quality of locally grown bread wheats is improving steadily. The bakers have made considerable advances in understanding the characteristics of Vermont-grown wheat, and how to coax the maximum flavor, aroma, nutritional quality, and visual beauty from them. The crop scientists have closed the loop with their research into diseases, soil fertility, and varietal suitability for our climate.
I have always enjoyed a deep curiosity about bread, and a commitment to the gradual but steady increase in my knowledge and skill as a baker. I hope I have been able to impart some of those values to the bakers at the King Arthur Flour Bakery, with whom I share the work bench. When I announced that I wanted to develop a new bread that contained only Vermont-grown grains, there was an enthusiastic response from the bakers. We knew from the outset that we wanted the bread to be both organic and naturally leavened (with no added bakers yeast). And even though working with whole wheat flour is generally more difficult than working with white flour, we were committed from the start to making a loaf that contained more than 50 percent whole wheat. The goal was to produce bread having acceptable lightness, excellent nutrition, and full robust flavor from the freshly milled wheat.
There were challenges along the way, requiring us to pay careful attention to all aspects of production: the method for ripening the sourdough, the mixing process, the dough consistency, the length of proof time, the oven temperature, and even the amount of steam we injected into the oven. Ultimately, after several iterations, we developed a bread with consistently good volume and great eating and keeping qualities. What delicious bread it is, thanks in part to the abundance of freshly milled whole wheat flour in the loaves, which also contributes so much to the bread's fine nutrition.
We bake our wonderful Vermont Grains Bread each Tuesday and Friday at the King Arthur Flour Bakery, and sell it at our retail bakery in Norwich, the Upper Valley Food Co-op in White River Junction, and the Hanover and Lebanon Co-ops in New Hampshire. Apologies—we intentionally keep our products close to home, and consequently our distribution is as local as possible. The bread is gaining in popularity every week; if you would like a loaf from our bakery, it's a good idea to call a few days ahead and order one.
It's our intention that we will continue baking this loaf well into the future. The farmers have their eyes set on the seasons, the possibilities, and possible setbacks. The bakers receive the fruits of their labor and bake with commitment and smiles. This joining of our labors is uniting us in the shared humanity that has characterized our collective agricultural experience for millennia.
Photo by Jeffrey Hamelman


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Former New York Mayor Ed Koch's memorial stone will include a Magen David (Jewish Star) and the first portion of the Shema Yisrael prayer. A report in Ha'aretz Sunday said that Koch had made the request in his will.
In addition, Koch's stone will feature the last words of Jewish journalist Daniel Pearl, who was murdered by radical Muslim Pakistani terrorists. Pearl's final words -- "My father was a Jew, my mother was a Jew, I am a Jew" -- will be inscribed on the stone as well. Koch passed away Friday, February 1, eleven years to the day of Pearl's murder.
Koch's funeral will take place Monday. Services will be held at Temple Emanu-El in Manhattan, and "shiva" will be held at Gracie Mansion, home of New York's mayors. Koch served three terms as New York City mayor, from 1978 through 1989, helping to shepherd New York through financial crises, transit strikes, and a period of very high crime. Many commentators attribute the city's prosperity and growth over the past two decades to the "grunt work" Koch did in developing new institutions and methods of government.
Current New York mayor, Michael Bloomberg, praised Koch, who passed away at age 88, as a "tireless, fearless and guileless civic leader" for his role in pulling New York back from the brink of financial collapse in the late 1970s."Ed helped lift the city out of its darkest days and set it on course for an incredible comeback," Bloomberg said, ordering flags to be lowered to half-mast.