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|Gage Spec Ops Pack
|Downloadable Content Info
|Overkill Software
| Microsoft Windows
PlayStation 4
Xbox One
|Release Date(s)
|November 24, 2016 (PC)
|Weapon Content Pack
|Available At
|Steam Store
The Gage Spec Ops Pack is the thirty-fifth paid DLC Pack for PAYDAY 2. Released on November 24th, it marks the return of Gage as a provider of new weapons and a larger-than-normal amount of mods along with the usual thematic masks and customization options. It should be noted that all weapon modifications in this pack are available in infinite copies immediately after the purchase of the DLC. That is, a card drop or achievement is not required to unlock them.
Customization optionsEdit
These masks, materials, and patterns are Gage Spec Ops Side Jobs rewards. They can't drop during a PAYDAY and cannot be sold. Instead, they can be returned to your mask stash for free, but any non-achievement or Infamy reward pattern, color, or material as well as the customization fee to put these together will be lost.
- "Gage has made sure you have what it takes to take over the scene in unconventional style with A.W.O.L, Bloody Bandana, Batshit Crazy and Dark Legion. These masks become available to the player when completing Gage's special missions."
- —DLC page.
- "It may be the difference between life and death to apply the right camouflage in order to disappear in the surroundings. New delivery of materials for all special ops players out there that pull off the special missions: Universal Camouflage, Multi Camouflage, Army Green and Dark Shadows."
- —DLC page.
- The Dark Legion and Batshit Crazy masks are based on the headgear of the ZEAL Team light footsoldiers and Cloakers, respectively.
Weapon partsEditIn order to unlock the Arbiter and the mask components, one must complete special side jobs from Gage. To complete the jobs, the players must collect four separate weapon cases and their keys from the Rats, Firestarter, Framing Frame and Big Oil heists.
Weapon ModificationsEdit
- "12 new special ops mods that will take the arsenal to an interesting level. Among the enhancements are a 45^ Degree Sight, Sniper Scope and Distance Meter Sight for assassinations. Gage have always had a weak spot for the sharpshooters that deliver highly-accurate rifle fire against enemy targets."
- —DLC page.
- "When done with the weapon modifications, it is time to put the enhanced arsenal and new special weapon to the test. You will need to use all your experience and weapon wielding skill to retrieve these achievements."
- —DLC page.
| Celsius or Fahrenheit?
Kill 10 enemies in a row, without missing, while switching between the regular sight and the 45 Degree Red Dot Sight after each kill on the OVERKILL difficulty or above.
| The Reconing
Complete any heist from start to end and kill 200 or more enemies with any weapon equipped with the Reconnaissance Sight on the Very Hard difficulty or above.
| Let Them Fly
Kill 50 Snipers with the Arbiter Grenade Launcher while using the standard ammo type.
| Ducking Awesome
Get 3 headshot kills with 1 shot from any Shotgun using the Donald's Horizontal Leveller barrel ext.
The following appeared on November 23, 2016 and were replaced on November 24, 2016.
| Lets us
Lets us
| join in
join in
| the dance
the dance
| of death
of death
| Celsius or Fahrenheit?
Kill 10 enemies in a row, without missing, while switching between the regular sight and the 45 Degree Red Dot Sight after each kill on the OVERKILL difficulty or above.
Completing the achievement requires the player to switch back and forth between the 45-degree sight and the regular aiming mode between each kill. As it does not have an additional time limit, this achievement can be taken slowly and carefully so that one does not miss. A few Concussion Grenades can help.
If all else fails, try dominating an enemy and kill him when he's trying to surrender, then flip to the other sight mode. Rinse and repeat 9 more times to unlock the achievement.
| The Reconing
Complete any heist from start to end and kill 200 or more enemies with any weapon equipped with the Reconnaissance Sight on the Very Hard difficulty or above.
Due to their practically endless nature, the White Xmas and Cook Off heists are the prime candidates for unlocking this achievement as enemies will spawn non-stop until the player(s) exit the map.
The Reconnaissance Sight itself does not need to be actually aimed through for the kills to register.
| Let Them Fly
Kill 50 Snipers with the Arbiter Grenade Launcher while using the standard ammo type.
Playing on enclosed heists like Hoxton Breakout Day 2, or ones with easily reachable Sniper perches such as the Safe House Raid can help make progress easier.
- This is the first weapon pack so far to only come with one weapon.
- It is also the first Gage Weapon Pack to:
- Include no melee weapons since the Gage Sniper Pack;
- Include weapon mods that are not exclusive to the weapons in the pack since the Gage Shotgun Pack;
- Not have any modifications or masks unlocked by completing achievements since the Gage Weapon Pack 02 (and first weapon pack to do this since the OVERKILL Pack);
- Have stat-based achievements since the Gage Historical Pack;
- Include a grenade launcher since the Gage Assault Pack (and first weapon pack to contain a grenade launcher since the Butcher's BBQ Pack);
- Have its weapons unlocked by performing certain feats.
- The Gage Spec Ops Pack marks the longest period of time between two Gage Weapon Packs, released 442 days after the Gage Chivalry Pack.


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Separate names with a comma.
Store attachment differently and more effectively.
Fix issue with incorrect S3 region.
Feature: indicator for inserted attachments
Bug fix: move tool does not move files if ftp server changes
Improve API support
Performance improvements
Update new S3 regions
Add support for `bdAttachmentStore_s3Buckets` in config.php
Add support for ftp connection holding
Fix bug storage options rebuilder
Updated S3 regions
Improved performance
Improved support for other add-ons
Fixed bug moving data with check permission turned on
Improved file deletion
Improved temp file processing
Fixed conflict with XenForo Media Gallery (download feature)
Improved support for S3 regions
Improved storage options update tool
Improved support for XenForo Media Gallery
Added daily version check via xfrocks.com
This update should address issue with too many files left in temp directory.
Added ignored extensions option
Fixed issue with installer (regarding delay table)

subset: commoncrawl


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Embracing the EMPOWERED Fit Latina within
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us…"
My husband gifted me a triathlon sprint for my 30th birthday. It's hands down the most personalized gift this girl could ask for. I'm currently training for a Full Ironman in November and it behooves me to get a few small races under my belt before the big day.
**Note the upside down 30 on my calf *palm to face*
I had the capacity to place 1st, but I failed to dominate my mind.
I ended up placing 4th place in my division. As much as Ray (husband & coach) tried to convince me that I could place 1st, I doubted. I downplayed my speed, technique and skill set. Winning, as much as I wanted it, was almost scary to believe possible.
What keeps us from reaching high levels of success?
It all begins and ends in the mind. The beliefs you hold on to, the fears you let in and the generational barriers you allow to hold you back, all play a role in your level of achievement. For some reason, we subconsciously hold onto the struggle, the playing small and the barely getting by. It's all we've known so not struggling, not playing small and having more than just getting by is so much of an unknown that we subconsciously self-sabotage our own success because we fear it.
As much as we might outwardly embrace our desire to be successful, we get in our own way. I see this a lot in health & fitness.
People try to reach a weight loss goal, get inches away from reaching it then start giving into bad habits here and there. Before you know it, they are back to square one — subconscious self-sabotage.
A breakthrough is possible!
The great news is it doesn't have to be this way. We all have the capacity to break through self-limiting barriers. In order to do so, we must continue to take on things that stretch us far beyond these barriers.
Place yourself in situations in which you have no choice but to step into the unknown.
It's scary at first but do it often enough and you will begin to gain confidence and excitement for growth. You will look forward to the next race because you have learned what you are capable of and are ready to dominate your next one.
The race is won in the mind. Learn how to conquer it and you will learn you were created to be powerful beyond measure. Trust and Believe!
I first caught the triathlon bug back in 2012 and have been hooked ever since. Now, 5 years later, I find myself merging two of my greatest passions Fitness & Philanthropy as I train for my first Full Ironman with Team Empower. I'm training to help fully fund 20 life-changing surgeries for 20 little ones in need. To learn more or to make a charitable donation visit: https://my.smiletrain.org/fundraiser/stefcantu
Peace & Love,
IronWOmanin Training,
Stef Cantu
Team Empower Ironman Triathlete & Ambassador
"Thank you for helping me save lives with Smile Train– where together we can change the world one smile at a time!"


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Japan Smokers Killing 15,000 Non-Smokers Per Year
SNA (Tokyo) — Dr. Douglas Bettcher, the Director of the World Health Organization's Prevention of Noncommunicable Diseases Program, explains the true scope of danger posed by second-hand smoke.
Video Transcript: According to recent studies, surveys here about 120,000 people die of tobacco use, but there's a new Lancet Burden of Disease study that puts the figure higher, probably over 160,000, but the figure I want to focus on is also the number of deaths separately from exposure of non-smokers to secondhand smoke. It's estimated about 15,000 people die needlessly from exposure to other people's smoke, therefore, as innocent bystanders. These people are mainly women and children. It's absolutely rock solid scientific evidence that secondhand smoke causes heart disease, myocardial infarcts, lung cancer, contributes to strokes.
We know that secondhand smoke contains about 4,000 different chemicals, a few hundred very toxic chemicals and about 50 carcinogens and the smoke actually in a hotel room or a car or whatever embeds into fabrics, into couches, into rugs, etc., and can live there for very long periods of time, and it's certain then it migrates back into the air as well and it definitely has health harm effects.
In the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare draft legislation, they're talking about ventilation and designated smoking rooms. Well, scientific evidence has shown that these are definitely not effective. Rigorous, rigorous empirical studies over the last decade have demonstrated that ventilation and designated smoking rooms do not prevent exposure to secondhand smoke and remember we're talking about a Class A carcinogen and also a very cardio toxic substance here. I mean secondhand smoke, for example, would be equivalent to asbestos. Allowing asbestos to freely float around in a restaurant or bar, no owner, no employer, no government would agree to have asbestos floating around in a public space or workplace. So this idea of designated smoking rooms needs to be examined very very carefully and it shows that smoking anywhere in a building significantly increases concentrations of secondhand smoke even in parts of the building where people do not smoke.
The microparticles get through the ventilation system and cross throughout buildings and between rooms. Physically separating smokers from non-smokers by allowing smoking only in designated smoking rooms reduces secondhand smoke exposure by a small amount but it does not provide full protection. Comprehensive smoke-free laws are the only effective means of eliminating risks associated with secondhand smoke and ventilation techniques should not be relied upon to control health risks from secondhand smoke exposure.
We often hear from the hospitality sector. We did in the Spanish example. We hear in all countries where they've moving towards comprehensive smoke-free bans that "it's going to hurt my business, you're hurting my business." Owners are worried that it's going to hurt my business, that their customers are going to disappear, etc. Now WHO has just released the largest and in fact this is only the executive summary. The report is actually 700 pages and we couldn't have carried it in the room actually. It's the largest study ever of the economics of tobacco and tobacco control and as part of that we've analyzed as well smoke-free policies and especially the economics of smoke-free policies and their effects on businesses and it's been showing conclusively that comprehensive smoke-free policies do not have negative effects or consequences for businesses including restaurants and bars. This is a myth. For example, the area of restaurant sales, studies from US, Australia, Norway, Canada, South Africa, Mexico, Argentina are showing that enacting smoke-free laws does not lead to decreased revenues for restaurants. Some have even reported increased sales.
As well, too, we should really remember that this is about, this is really an occupational health and safety issue. When you're talking about bars and restaurants and factories and offices as well, too and this was one of the key messages that Michael Bloomberg and his staff when he was mayor of New York when he introduced the Clean Air Act early in this century. They emphasized that this was an occupational health and safety matter. It's about protecting the lives and health of workers and staff as much as it is customers.
The first country ever to become a hundred percent smoke-free was Ireland in 2004 and the former Director General of WHO, Dr. Lee, said in fact if Ireland could do it, any country in the world could do it because he said the way that the Irish really valued their smoky pubs and as meeting places, etc. that if they could do it any country in the world can do it and in fact now, 49 countries and territories in the world will become a hundred percent smoke-free over the next ten years and we'll have some new figures this summer to show that they figure the number of countries is gathering pace.
Video transcribed by Chris Rathbone of Smoke Free 2020 Tokyo Olympics.


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Blessed with a wealth of wildlife and expansive estates, Aberdeenshire has seen enormous success in the Golden Plover Awards.
In 2013 the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT), together with the Heather Trust, presented the inaugural Golden Plover Award at the Scottish Game Fair, which takes place every year in the grounds of Scone Palace.
The first winner of the award, presented for moorland management, was Aberdeenshire's Edinglassie estate.
A mixed sporting estate near Huntly, Edinglassie was chosen for its consistent performance in maximising the condition of an area of moorland for agricultural and sporting purposes as well as conservation and other measures such as improvement of ecosystem services and continuing awareness of best practice and innovation.
Deeside's own Finzean estate kept the Golden Plover in the county when it outshone competition from Loch Choire Estate and Gannochy to become the 2014 winner.
Game and wildlife management is undertaken on Finzean Estate to support a wide range of species, including the iconic capercaillie.
Until the 1980s, the moor at Finzean produced bags of 600 brace of grouse a season, but then suffered a steep decline in fortunes. Since then, considerable effort has been put in to improve the upland habitat alongside other conservation initiatives, resulting in steady recovery.
Red and roe deer are managed on both the open hill and in woodland, and Finzean may also be strategically important for the conservation of wildcats.
Finzean is managed as an integrated family business with a keen interest in conservation and the preservation of a viable, thriving community.
The estate comprises 4000 hectares, with moorland representing just over a third of this area.
Moorlands support specialist flora and fauna as well as delivering a range of public goods and services such as drinking water, carbon storage, recreation and job creation. They are no longer "wilderness," having been subject to centuries of human influence either direct or indirect. Management of these upland areas as grouse moors can contribute to a net benefit to biodiversity.
Moorland management is an industry in itself. With an award scheme established to recognise achievements in almost every other industry, the Heather Trust and GWCT felt it was the next natural step to indroduce a similar accolade for moorland management.
Nominations are now open for the third annual Golden Plover Award.
Applications for the 2015 award are welcomed from any owner or manager of land in any part of Scotland who can demonstrate a real commitment to sustainable moorland or upland management. Applications from the more remote parts of Scotland are encouraged , as are applications from individuals.
The Golden Plover is not just an award for estates.
The theme for the award is peatland management and restoration; applicants will be expected to demonstrate how they are managing their peatland to improve its condition.
Application forms are available to download from the GWCT and Heather Trust websites.
The deadline for applications for 2015 is Friday, February 27.
Once the finalists have been shortlists, the winner will be chosen and the award presented at the Scottish Game Fair in Perthshire on July 3.
For more informationon the award and to nominate an estate or individual visit www.heathertrust.co.uk/ or http://www.gwct.org.uk/scotland/golden-plover-award/.


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Creative Writer & Voice Actor
Telling stories helps you write yours
It doesn't matter if i'm writing advertising campaigns, making content for radio brands, voicing for films or producing audiobooks; a good story stays with people. It stays long after i've clocked off, turned off the mic or disappeared for a sandwich. I'm never happier than when i'm telling a story.
Clients and collaborators include:


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Coffee Liver Detox
Lois' Notes: I promised at the end of the liver and gallbladder flush article we would talk about coffee enemas later. Here it is! This is a very effective liver detoxing method. Be sure and take a plain water enema before doing the coffee one for maximum benefit. Some people have reported flushing out parasites like this! There are photos on the web for people curious about such things. ~ Lois
The following comes from Radiance Health Center's website: http://radiancehealthcenter.com
An enema is "a fluid injected into the rectum for the purpose of clearing out the bowel, or of administering drugs or food." The word itself comes from the Greek en-hienai, meaning to "send or inject into." The enema has been called "one of the oldest medical procedures still in use today."
But why coffee? This bean has an interesting history. It was imported in Arabia in the early 1500's by the Sufi religious mystics, who used it to fight drowsiness while praying. It was especially prized for its medicinal qualities, in both the Near East and Europe. No one knows when the first daring soul filled the enema bag with a quart of java. What is known is that the coffee enema appeared at least as early as 1917 and was found in the prestigious Merck Manual until 1972. In the 1920s, German scientists found that a caffeine solution could open the bile ducts and stimulate the production of bile in the liver of experimental animals.
Mr. Max Gerson used this clinically as part of a general detoxification regimen, first for tuberculosis, then cancer. Caffeine, he postulated, will travel up the hemorrhoidal to the portal vein and thence to the liver itself. Gerson noted some remarkable effects of this procedure. For instance, patients could dispense with all pain-killers once on the enemas. Many people have noted the paradoxical calming effect of coffee enemas.
And while coffee enemas can relieve constipation, Gerson cautioned: "Patients have to know that the coffee enemas are not given for the function of the intestines but for the stimulation of the liver." ~ taken from The Coffee Enema" by Premier Research Labs


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The funeral will take place in Carnlough this afternoon (Friday) of hotelier Moira O'Neill.
Mrs. O'Neill, whose family owns The Londonderry Arms in the village, died on Tuesday (August 15).
Requiem Mass for Mrs. O'Neill will be celebrated at the Church of St John the Evangelist, in Carnlough, at midday followed by burial at Calvary Cemetery.
She had been awarded an MBE for her services to the hospitality industry.


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CA State Requirements
Currently, in California, state certification is voluntary, so you can take our 510 hour program and practice in Humboldt County as a HMP (Holistic Massage Practitioner). In order to become a CMT (Certified Massage Therapist), you need a minimum of 500 hours and and must take the MBLEX exam.
LOVING HANDS OFFERS 1 program broken down into 7 electives: Basic Swedish, Reflexology, Acupressure, Lypmh, Deep Tissue, Chair massage, and Trigger Point)- total of 510 hours towards state certification. Day students must complete the program within 1 year. Night students have the option of completing the program at their own pace within 1 year or up to 3 years. Both programs offer flexible payment options. Total cost for our 510 hour program is approximately $7,150. We do offer additional CE courses, totaling over 750 hours.
Please note every state is different. If you plan to relocate please look into other state requirements.
Summary of changes from current Massage Therapy Law to AB 1147
Notice to CMPs
Disclosure Statement for Prospective Students
Currently in California state certification is voluntary, for more information please visit: www.camtc.org


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Alexa von Tobel took a leave of absence from Harvard Business School just as the financial crisis hit in the fall of 2008, and founded the online financial planning platform LearnVest Inc. � a plan of action that might sound like a disastrous mistake to some.
But Ms. von Tobel, a certified financial planner whose passion is to bring the principles of personal finance to millions of Americans, was clearly on to something.
On April 15, LearnVest announced it had raised $28 million in a Series D funding round led by Northwestern Mutual Capital, bringing her New York-based startup's total funding to $72 million.
As chief executive of LearnVest, Ms. von Tobel has created a web-based business model that pairs users with CFPs who help walk them through a dashboard providing advice on how to make a budget, determine net worth, link accounts, set up goals and save for retirement.
True to her goal of helping millions of Americans get out of debt and save for retirement, Ms. von Tobel in December published the book "Financially Fearless: The LearnVest Program for Taking Control of Your Money" (Crown Business, 2013), which quickly became a New York Times bestseller.
Earlier in her career, after receiving a bachelor's in psychology from Harvard College, Ms. von Tobel worked as a trader on Morgan Stanley's proprietary trading desk. But business startups had appealed to her since she was a kid with her own lemonade stand, so she left the wirehouse to serve as head of business development at Drop.io, a New York-based online file-sharing venture eventually bought by Facebook. And then she launched LearnVest.
Ms. Von Tobel said the early days of LearnVest were tough, but she stayed focused on her mission of bringing personal financial planning to a wide audience.
"My plan every day was just to make progress and give 110%," she said. "You build momentum and then you build a team of people who are also making progress every day."
� Joyce Hanson
Next Profile
Bill Winterberg
President and founder, FPPad


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May 31, 2015
How To know Real Gold ?
Gold is a precious metals which have been known for thousands of years, and can exist freely in nature, or mixed with other elements, a glossy and heavy element, and a softer metals, found in rivers and rock deposits. Gold retains its value because it affects the monetary policies, the global economy and often depends


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call for papers
Original papers on all technical aspects of cryptology are solicited for submission to Eurocrypt 2010, the 29th Annual Eurocrypt Conference. Eurocrypt 2010 is organized by the International Association for Cryptologic Research (IACR). The conference homepage is http://crypto.rd.francetelecom.com/events/eurocrypt2010.The call for paper is available for download as a pdf (A4), pdf (letter), or text file.
important dates
submission deadline:October 20, 2009 23:59
notification:January 29, 2010
proceedings:February 26, 2010
conference:May 30–June 3, 2010
program committee
instructions for authors
The submission must be anonymous with no author names, affiliations or obvious references. The length of the submission must be at most 14 pages excluding references and appendices. The text should be in a single column format, in at least 11-point fonts and have reasonable margins. If the submission is accepted, the length of the final version for Springer's LNCS will be at most 20 pages including references and appendices. The submission should begin with a title, a short abstract, and a list of keywords. The introduction should summarize the contributions of the paper at the level understandable for a non-expert reader. The reviewers are not required to read appendices—the paper should be intelligible without them. Submissions not meeting these guidelines risk rejection without consideration of their merits.
Submissions must not substantially duplicate work that any of the authors has published in a journal or a conference/workshop with proceedings, or has submitted/is planning to submit before the author notification deadline to a journal or other conferences/workshops that have proceedings. Accepted submissions may not appear in any other conference or workshop that has proceedings. IACR reserves the right to share information about submissions with other program committees to detect parallel submissions and the IACR policy on irregular submissions will be strictly enforced. For further details, see this page. Program committee members are restricted to one submission each.
It is encouraged that the submission be processed in LaTeX2e according to the instructions listed on Springer's web site. These instructions are mandatory for the final papers. Submitted papers must be in PDF format and should be submitted electronically. A detailed description of the electronic submission procedure will be announced at the conference homepage.
Notification of acceptance or rejection will be sent to authors by January 29, 2010.
conference proceedings
Proceedings will be published in Springer's Lecture Notes in Computer Science and will be available at the conference. Authors of accepted papers must complete the IACR copyright assignment form for their work to be published in the proceedings, and guarantee that their paper will be presented at the conference. The final versions of the accepted papers will be due on February 26, 2010.
conference chairs
Orange Labs / MAPS / STT
38–40 rue du Général Leclerc
92749 Issy les Moulineaux, Cedex 9, France
Orange Labs / MAPS / STT
38–40 rue du Général Leclerc
92749 Issy les Moulineaux, Cedex 9, France
Students presenting their papers at the conference will have their registration fee waived. In addition, a limited number of stipends are available to students who are unable to get funding to attend the conference. Requests for registration waiver or stipends should be addressed to the general chairs.


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September 19, 2018
Back to the Kitchen!
Now that the wedding is officially over with and we're basking in the pictures (don't worry, there's some at the bottom of this post) and memories, it's time for me to get back into the kitchen and start whipping up some fresh, local, seasonal dishes! More importantly, it's time for me to get back writing on this here blog and sharing recipes with you all! Who is with me?!?!
To get into the fall spirit, despite the fact that it's cold and raining here today in Iowa, I'm going to share a few things I'm looking forward to this fall:
1. Pumpkin spice…. everything… coffee…. pumpkin bars…. GAH!! I also have this problem where I decorate with so many pumpkins it looks like a pumpkin patch threw up in our front yard… It drives my OCD husband crazy.. hehe!
2. Squash… it seems to be the best harvest time for all things squash. There are so many different kinds of squash that you could eat it every day for one week and never eat two of the same! Plus, my CSA box this year from Humble Hands Harvest in Decorah, IA has been full of awesome surprises I can't see what they have growing this fall season!
3. Soups… my favorite comfort food is soup. It fills the house with delicious smells and makes a cold weekend day even more cozy. What will be coming your way this fall- tomato soup with mini meatballs, chipotle corn chowder, squash bisque… is your mouth drooling as much as mine?!
4. Cast Iron Cooking… fall and winter are my favorite times to break out all of the cast iron cooking vessels… from dutch ovens to skillets. I recently received an old Griswold as a wedding shower gift from a dear friend AND I bought myself a wedding gift and bought a skillet from Finex Cast Iron Cookware. Cast Iron is my absolute FAVORITE way to cook!
5. Sweaters, boots, and puppy snuggles… enough said!
I ask that you all stay tuned for the weeks to come as I head back to my kitchen and start to create recipes and share them with you all. Check out my Instagram page to see what's going on on a daily basis – @jess.wooody or see what's going on at my facebook page! And, to make sure you're not going to miss a thing, subscribe and get all of my blog posts delivered right to your mailbox… I promise I will not spam your mailbox, just some drool-worthy recipes!
As promised, some wedding pictures! Once I get more pictures back from Rachel Betson Photography, I'll give you guys the skinny on all things Woodward Wedding!


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November means: National Novel Writing Month!
Yes, I have begun my novel writing. Yes, I am already late, especially considering that I took a day off college today due to a slight cold thats knocked me down more than it should have.
Although, I am already 2,025 words in (and pending!), so it's not going that badly, for once.
I'm not entirely sure how this story is going to go, I only have the first 10,000 words or so planned out. But as a general idea, it's about a girl called Molly who's stuck living in a massive abandoned mansion house after her grandfather dies. It's pretty spooky, and massively creepy, but I labelled it as a Fantasy, because I love adding in improbably monsters and creatures that can jump out from the cellar.
I'll upload some character biographies and stories and pictures of drawings I've done, at some point, when I have free time. But this basically means that there might not be much interesting contact on here for a while, so prepare for an overload on my novel.
I'm sorry in advance.
I get very excited.
here's the link to the site in case you're interested (I like hyperlinks, in case you hadn't guessed yet)
I did another post on NaNoWriMo, it's slightly more informative and useful than this, I swear


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Merry Marwig tells why she should be the state representative from the 20th district.
Distrito 20 — Illinois State House of Representatives
Sobre este cargo
Merry Marwig
- My top priority is standing up for middle class families...
- The unbalanced and unfinished budget is the biggest...
- Maintaining and improving the quality of life for...
Michael P. McAuliffe
- Bringing good paying jobs back to Illinois.
- Lowering the tax burden for hard-working families.
- Balance the budget and address our pension crisis.
Mis 3 prioridades principales
- My top priority is standing up for middle class families by freezing property taxes and holding the line on other taxes on the middle class.
- The unbalanced and unfinished budget is the biggest problem our state faces. I will take a balanced approach that cuts waste and inefficiencies while protecting services for those who need them most, like seniors and children with disabilities.
- Maintaining and improving the quality of life for our area by providing more funding for public safety, working to reduce airplane noise and pollution, and increasing the areas that qualify for airport noise abatement insulation and windows.
Preguntas y Respuestas
Preguntas de Chicago Sun-Times (15)
Yes, I am for term limits on all state elected officials, including legislators, legislative leaders and constitutional officers. I am running because I am fed up with how things are going in Springfield, and it is time for new leadership in the 20th District. Voters are tired of career politicians who are a part of the dysfunctional status quo that has resulted in a gridlocked state without a real budget.
I believe everyone currently in Springfield bears responsibility for our current budget stalemate. I believe the Governor's job is to introduce a balanced budget and the Legislature's job is to pass a balanced budget, and I feel that all sides are more interested in making excuses or blaming the other side than in getting the job done. I believe the state needs to take a balanced approach to the solving the budget crisis, and that any new revenue would need to be paired with spending decreases.
I strongly oppose the Governor's drastic proposal to cut higher education funding by 30 percent. These massive funding cuts are incredibly short-sighted and extremely damaging to our state. Illinois is home to high-quality universities, some of the best in the country. Our excellent university system has created an educated work force that in turn helps attract and retain businesses in Illinois. Our government should be focused on making our higher education system even better rather than tearing it down.
Drastically slashing funding puts the not only the quality of our universities at risk but it will also lead to higher tuition and fees for Illinois students. More and more students are attending out of state schools both because of the uncertainty of higher education in Illinois and because they simply cannot afford it. When I attended the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, I worked hard and started my own business to be able to help pay my own way, but I could not have afforded to attend without the assistance of MAP grants. Funding for MAP grants and other state assistance has been incredibly unstable, making it nearly impossible for students to depend on these grants when making the decision on where to attend college.
Higher education is too important for our economy and the future of Illinois to allow it to be held hostage during budget games in Springfield. Our district, and state, deserve better.
I support changing the state's school funding formula to provide excellent educational opportunities for all children throughout the state, but I would not vote for any legislation that would reduce funding for schools in my district. This is not an easy issue to tackle, and I believe we will need teachers, parents, administrators and local school board members to work together to achieve this goal. I believe achieving this goal would be made easier by the passage of HJRCA 26, legislation that would provide more money to schools by taxing income over $1 million an additional 3 percent. My district voted in favor of a nonbinding version of this initiative when it was on the ballot two years ago.
I am opposed to all tax increases on middle-class families and seniors. This includes a flat income tax increase, any "progressive" tax that increases taxes on the middle class, property tax increases, taxes on retirement income, sales tax increases, service taxes, or any other tax that would increase the tax burden on working families and seniors in my district.
I believe the state needs to take a balanced approach to the solving the budget crisis, and that any new revenue would need to be paired with spending decreases. I have spent months walking door-to-door in my district, and many families and seniors have told me that they are very concerned about being able to continue to afford to live in this area, and that high taxes are already causing them to have difficulty making ends meet. I only support taxing the very wealthy, millionaires and billionaires who can afford to pay more. HJRCA 26, which would have created a 3% surcharge on income over $1 million, failed to pass out of the House this year. I would support that measure as well as closing corporate tax loopholes.
There are some relatively easy cuts that can be made in order to take the first steps towards balancing the budget. The offices of the state treasurer and comptroller should be consolidated, duplicative services provided by separate agencies should be identified and consolidated, pay for part-time boards and commissions should be eliminated, unnecessary overtime should be eliminated and pay should be cut by 10 percent for state elected officials.
I support the constitutional amendment that would put the funds specifically raised for transportation in a lockbox reserved for transportation spending. Transportation funding is especially important for my district as many area businesses rely on their proximity to O'Hare Airport as well as easy access to several interstate highways, and many residents commute to downtown Chicago for work. Protecting this funding and making sure it is used to improve and maintain our transportation infrastructure will not only support our local businesses and commuters, it will also support and create much-needed jobs for members of our trade unions. I support closing corporate tax loopholes, increasing taxes on millionaires and cutting unnecessary state spending in order to pay for our transportation infrastructure needs.
I believe that the state will only be able to find a solution to this issue if all the affected groups, including representatives for unions and for taxpayers, work together. This is not a problem that is going to be solved overnight, as it took many years of the state not contributing enough to the funds as well as poor investment returns to get to the huge unfunded pension liability we have today. One of the worst funded pension systems is the General Assembly Retirement System because of the many perks that legislators have voted to give themselves over the years. I will not take a pension if elected, as I believe that if members of the General Assembly had been more focused on properly funding the pension systems and less focused on how to get the best pensions for themselves, the pension funds would be in a lot better shape today.
The voters of my district have told me at their doors that they are very concerned about keeping our community's neighborhoods safe and secure. I am opposed to measures that would jeopardize that safety by releasing criminals from out of prison early.
I am very supportive of law enforcement's efforts to keep our communities safe, and I have not heard my district's voters express concern about this topic. Area residents are much more concerned about keeping our community's neighborhoods safe and secure by providing additional funding for law enforcement and by hiring more officers to work in the 16th Police District. They also want to see increased funding for important programs used to track dangerous sex offenders and the effort to test more rape kits in order to reduce the state's backlog and put more rapists in prison.
I support equal treatment for all Illinois residents. I look forward to learning more about this issue as it is debated and discussed in Springfield.
This is not a simple or easy issue, and I believe end-of-life decisions are very personal and should be discussed with families and doctors. I walk door-to-door in my district every day to speak to voters about the issues that are most important to them, and this is not an issue that has come up. Voters more often bring up their concerns with the impact that the budget impasse has had on their loved ones through cuts to meals for seniors, programs for children with disabilities and breast cancer screening programs.
We as a state need to be doing more to reduce gun violence. I support common-sense legislation that keeps guns out of the hand of criminals and keeps our neighborhoods and our schools safe. I will work to ban assault weapons, expand background checks to prevent people with violent histories or mental health problems from obtaining guns, and allow the courts to remove firearms from the homes of domestic abusers and other violent criminals. To make sure the background check process is being followed and to crack down on gun trafficking, gun dealers should be required to be licensed. I will also fight to make sure that individuals on the terrorist watch list are not able to purchase guns or obtain gun permits.
I support raising the minimum wage, as I believe a person working full time should be able to make enough money to support his or her family. The current minimum wage in Illinois for employees age 18 and older is $8.25 an hour, and a full-time employee working 40 hours a week at that wage earns only $16,500 a year. This is not enough money to raise a family on in Illinois. Also, as my district is made up of both Chicago and suburban residents, I do not believe that the work done by suburban workers should be worth less than the work done by Chicago workers, though I applaud the city for taking the initiative to increase the minimum wage. There are several different proposals to raise the minimum wage in Illinois, and I plan on working with businesses, labor organizations and community groups to decide which one best helps working families get on the path to a living wage.
I am against tax increases that would impact the middle-class families of my district, including a new tax on soft drinks.
I agree that in order to preserve our environment for future generations we need to work harder to develop renewable energy and rely less on fossil fuels. If we do not act now, we risk damaging not only the environment but also our future quality of life and the Illinois economy overall. I specifically support the Clean Jobs Bill, House Bill 2607. This legislation will create an estimated 32,000 new clean energy jobs while increasing energy efficiency and lowering costs for consumers. It will also require a larger portion of Illinois' energy portfolio to be made from renewable sources by 2030. I believe this legislation is a good step towards not only a better environment in Illinois, but also in bringing more good-paying jobs to the state. I would need to review other proposals before supporting them to ensure that they do not place a greater tax or fee burden on middle class families.
Videos (1)
Información de contacto del candidato
Mis 3 prioridades principales
- Bringing good paying jobs back to Illinois.
- Lowering the tax burden for hard-working families.
- Balance the budget and address our pension crisis.
Preguntas y Respuestas
Preguntas de Chicago Sun-Times (15)
If ever given the opportunity to vote to put term limits on the ballot, I would absolutely support the initiative.
I think both the Governor AND the legislative leaders bear responsibility for the budget impasse. That said, I, and the majority of my constituents, would certainly agree with the Governor that taxpayers won't tolerate another tax hike without some changes to the way we do business in Illinois. And, thus far, there has been little interest to engage the Governor on anything meaningful. That is squarely on the leadership of the General Assembly.
I don't support massive cuts to our higher education community, but when you're looking at the budget as a whole, there are few discretionary areas that can be cut. We must work collaboratively with our higher education institutions to help them bring down their own costs while finding ways to keep their state funding strong. If compromise can be found between the Governor on reforms and the legislative leaders on revenue, I think some of the biggest winners would be our universities.
Our teacher pensions, both for the City of Chicago as well as the State, are crowding out resources that could be going directly into the classroom. We must find a way to get our pensions under control. I took a tough vote on the previous pension reform legislation that the court ruled unconstitutional, and I am committed to supporting any future reform measures that could put more money back in the classrooms.
I think we need to enact the types of reforms that will bring our State pension costs under control as well as encourage good paying jobs to help grow our economy. We must look at this before we even begin to discuss hiking taxes.
I supported the legislation that put this on the ballot. Our State and regional infrastructure is one of our largest assets, and we can't keep neglecting it. I absolutely support more investment and ensuring that funds intended for our roads, bridges, and rail are allocated for their intended purpose.
Again, I supported the previous State pension reform legislation that the courts ruled unconstitutional. That was tough, but necessary, in the context of the fact that these payments are crowding out vital funding for everything else in state government. I stand ready to support the "consideration model" as proposed by Senate President Cullerton, and would be open to working on other solutions brought forward by stakeholders.
Yes, as a whole; however, that said, I do think Chicago's gun violence needs to be addressed by mandatory minimum sentencing which could run concurrent to this.
I think any issues relating to civil liberties need to be thoroughly looked at, especially when it comes to the seizure of property. This is an issue I am willing to use my bipartisan credentials to work on.
I would need to see more details regarding both the process and the standard under which this would take place.
As a pro-life, devout Catholic, I just can't support assisted suicide.
As a long-time proponent of law enforcement, and the last member of my caucus to represent the City of Chicago, I think we need to continually look at ways to enhance law enforcement's ability to keep violent offenders off the streets. This would include enhanced penalties on gun-trafficking and mandatory minimums on those found guilty of weapons charges. In addition, while, undoubtedly, there are steps the Chicago Police Department can take in regards to training and accountability, they must know they are supported by the community and by the City. Police are demoralized and currently understaffed, and these unfortunate circumstances come at a time when we can least afford to have them outnumbered and second-guessing themselves in the face of violence.
I do support a reasonable increase in the minimum wage. That said, Illinois should be aiming higher. Families and individuals in the workforce need to be given an opportunity to access more than minimum wage jobs. They need access to job training for skilled jobs. Minimum wage jobs should be a stepping stone towards a career, not a career itself.
I don't support this tax on sugar. Taxes aimed at deterring behavior generally don't work, and besides we have enough taxes already.
I do support efforts to develop renewable energy, but we can't lose sight of the need to maintain a reliable power grid and keep energy prices low. I think stakeholders on both sides will continue to negotiate, but those fighting for renewable energy absolutely have a seat at the table and know my door is always open.
Videos (1)
Michael McAuliffe tells why he should remain the state representative from the 20th district.


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18 January 2017
January Sales Picks
4 comments:
The Body Shop's spiced apple sounds amazing!ReplyDelete
It smells so good! I love anything apple scentedDelete
Steph x
great video, i love the two tops you picked up so easy to wear xReplyDelete
They're fab, they're so versatile!Delete
Steph x
I read each and every one of your comments, and really appreciate the time you've taken to add them! If you want or need a more immediate response then contact me through my twitter @stephhartley4. Thank you!
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Published by My Portion and My Cup
Follower of Jesus Christ; wife to one; mom to three; Grammie of 2. Former homeschool teacher, now working part-time and serving the Lord each day. Likes: papercrafts, rubber stamping, Bible study, writing letters, bird watching, embroidery. View all posts by My Portion and My Cup


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The most delicious chocolate I've ever tasted. Yes, I would say that, because it's my recipe. But try it for yourself and I think you'll agree it's pretty special!
Latest Blog Posts
Fixing up the house: we have progress!
After several months of rarely having a free weekend, we finally have some progress on the house. Three rooms are completely finished (the toilet, my office and the utility room – which wasn't even in our original plans). The spare bedroom is almost there – just waiting to put in new flooring. […]
Fresh juice recipe: Bloody Norah!
You've all no doubt heard of a cocktail called a Bloody Mary. It's bloody delicious and just what the doctor ordered if you're having a bit of a 'morning after the night before'. This delicious juice is called a Bloody Norah. Not because it contains either vodka or tomatoes, but because of its beautiful […]


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War on Identity Theft
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Amazing Contemporary Sleeper Sofa
Contemporary sleeper sofa – Let's face it – most of the older sofa-beds are not built for comfort. If you or your guests have to sleep on a sofa bed, use one or two easy solutions to make it more comfortable. Most sofa beds are uncomfortable because the frame is not very favorable and the voltage drops in the middle of the mattress. Measure the width and length of the weft, have a sheet of at least 1/2-inch cut-to-size plywood and place it under the mattress to provide support and eliminate subsidence. If the frame is in good shape, but the mattress is worn, replace the mattress. A quality mattress will have robust helical spring support and perhaps a layer of air for comfort.
Buy a foam mattress or lid down to add thickness and comfort to the mattress. Regular sheets can be adjusted better if the mattress gets deeper. Make sure you have a full set of quality bedding that fits the mattress. If the sofa bed is for the clients or for their own use, you get a better night's sleep if you are not struggling with the beds that are not sized to adjust your mattress. Place some decorative pillows on the sofa. When it becomes a bed, your guests can use these pillows as a support if they decide to sit and read or watch television.
24 Picture Gallery: Amazing Contemporary Sleeper Sofa
Sometimes, all resistant to sofa bed needs is a quick face lift to look attractive. If your sofa bed is a monstrosity, but it is still functional, do not take it out on the curb. Browse the cloth and clearance stores, garage sales and discount stores to find fabrics that suit the decoration of your room and the theme. Change your sofa bed that covers regularly to quickly give a new look and refresh the atmosphere of your home.
Buy a cover in a large warehouse, linen or home-decor. Often, during the clearance or sales settlement you can get covers with big discounts. Measure the length and width of your sofa bed to find the right size case. You can also sew your own covers of shopping patterns online or in fabric stores or sew. Cover sofa beds in a patchwork quilt of bright colors. Accent it with solid color cushions. Tie-dye or use of fabric paints and stencils on a solid color sheet. Tie dye or matching paint pillow covers, too. Wash and dry the sheets and covers thoroughly before placing them on your sofa bed.
This post topic: Furnitures


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Sunday, March 26, 2017
Time and Again, Part 3
This is the third compilation of the popular Time and Again series on MCW where some favorite golden nuggets are re-exposed as they may have gotten a bit lost in the 1000+ recipe archive.
Aubergine Spaghetti. Manal Al Alem is one of my favorite people whom I love without ever having met. She is a day-time TV cook and has had a profound impact on my initiation in cooking. This easy, fast, and healthy pasta was a quick dish presented in last year's Ramadan show, and is a great dish all year round.
Chicken Liver Mousse. I loved foie gras, until I swore them off when I came across a video exposing the immoral, abusive, and disgusting way they force feed the geese until literally their stomach explodes while still alive to get the necessary fatty liver for a good foie gras. No thanks. This chicken liver mousse is much friendlier to the conscience and the wallet, and comes right from your own kitchen.
Elegant Beetroot Carrot Salad. I can't let a compilation post go by without a recipe from my mother. This is a lettuce-free, tomato-free, and yes, even cucumber-free salad that is right at home on a weekday lunch table to the grandest dinner table.
My Mother's Steak with Magic Sauce. The second (of five) contributions to this post stemming from my mother. Steak is seared in a pan, set aside, while magic is made using the steak drippings to form the amazing sauce. Mashed potato or french fresh snuggle to the steak like they were simply meant to be.
Spinach Quiche. Now this is a quiche I make and enjoy almost on a monthly basis. Good for a savory breakfast, a simple lunch or dinner with a salad, or even for afternoon tea. Tastes great warm or cold too.
Tray-Baked Salmon with Green Beans. One of my family's favorite fast foods. The fish is baked in the same tray as the beans, for a grand total of 15 minutes. Meanwhile, you can slice potato into half centimeter medallions and fry them up into crispy golden coins with a fluffy interior.
Rice Noodle Red Capsicum Stir-Fry. The salmon fillet on top is a serving suggestion of a well-rounded meal. Other than that, this is a very nostalgic dish I learned form my mother one summer long, long ago.
Iraqi Thareed Bagilla. One of the best weekend Iraqi breakfasts you could have. Rich in protein and good calories, you will be fueled to carry cows to the roof by the time you're done. Just be sure to finish it off with an istikan of sweet steaming tea.
Hot Sauce Firecracker Chicken. This is a relatively new addition to the routinely made and well loved archives. While the procedure is somewhat multi-step, the result is sure to become a favorite to all.
Iraqi Carrot Rice. A very popular Iraqi classic dish, this is the perfect combinations of meaty and spicy rice in a single pot. Eat it in a bowl snuggled up to a farmer's salad (tomato, onion, cucumber) and thank me later.
Iraqi Meatball Pea Stew. Quite possibly the stew most favored by children, I find that most adults come back for second helpings too.
Iraqi Spinach Stew. Iraqi Yellow Spinach Stew, I might add, as there is a red one too. One of my personal favorites which I can never say no to. A medley of spice, citrus, earth tones, and fall-off-the-bone lamb shanks.
Kiri Croissants. Gone in two bites. One recipe makes a generous batch of 48 mini croissants, and I suggest you take my word to not halve the recipe. If anything, you will be doubling it. Just be careful to not add too much flour as the sticky dough is the secret to a fluffy and tender result.
Baguette Pizza. This is the penultimate mother recipe for this compilation. I remember being a kid and my mom bless her soul would make this for us as a quick weekday dinner. I would burn the roof of my mouth every time from lack of patience to let it cool some.
Peanut Butter and Banana Snack. Add the words Bread and Honey to the title and you've got the recipe in the title itself. This is a much better alternative to scooping the peanut butter straight out of the jar, so what are you waiting for?
Blueberry-Lemon Overnight Oats. There are five varieties of overnight oats in the recipe index, and while each is a star, this is my favorite. For those new to the overnight oats concept, it take 4 minutes of prep before you sleep, and the next morning all you need to do is take it out of the refrigerator to have your breakfast.
Lebanese Fruit Cocktail. Too much work goes into preparing for this, so I recommend making it in large batches for when you have a crowd to feed. The avocado ice cream and ashta are made in advance, they layered between fresh mango and strawberry purees. The pre-soaked nuts are the crowning jewel.
Brownie Bottom Cheesecake. I can't count the number of times I have made this cheesecake. Very easy to transport, it is great for any potluck or hostess gift as it is inside the home for a occasion or without.
Lemon Poppy Bars. Admittedly this is not for every palate, but this lip-puckeringly sour sweet dessert is asked for time and again form lemon affectionados.
Raspberry Rice Pudding. Rice pudding is in the top five comforting desserts. I love this one in particular because it includes the twist of fresh mashed raspberries, thereby lending a more sophisticated taste and visual appeal to this multi-cultural dessert.
Prune Earl Grey Yogurt Parfait. I think my father bless his soul would have enjoyed this classy dessert. It's so non-processed, no added sweeteners, and healthy, it can be consumes as part of breakfast, as a snack, or indeed as a light dessert.
M&M Cookies. There were my dear brother in law's favorite cookies. I would make a batch and he would store them in a tupperware to preserve them from going stale, although more often than not they would be polished off by the second day.
Pistachio Biscotti. Now this one I see as being a favorite of both my parents. Light, sophisticated, refined, and elegant.
Salted Chocolate Truffles. I was delighted beyond compare at how much my bother in law enjoyed these salty-sweet bites. They consist of a creamy melt-in-your-mouth dark chocolate ganache interior, coated in a slightly brittle milk chocolate casing, sprinkled with a touch of rock salt... delicious.
Iraqi Date Molasses. I remember watching my mom make this when I was a tween. It is mostly hands-off as it requires hours and hours of simmering to reduce the date water down to s syrupy molasses. Ingredients are quite simply; fresh dates and water.
4 comments:
Assalama Alaikum Chef Maryam,
God bless you on all your hard work and your wonderful blog. Some of your recipes have become regulars at our table and I can tell you, your Iraqi Carrot rice was eaten all this weekend at our home. Thank you so much for sharing all your knowledge but especially the Arabic recipes, would really love more from Iraq :)
Wishing you the best success
Khadija, Dubai
- March 26, 2017 at 7:46 PM
- Maryam Mohammed said...
Wa alaikum al Salam my sister, jazaki Allah khair for your comment. It pleases me that there are people besides myself who read my blog and make recipes from it. I find I have a big love for Arabic recipes too, and am constantly on the lookout for a new recipe opportunity, especially ancient and modern Iraqi recipes. May Allah bless you.
- March 28, 2017 at 10:29 AM
Thank you so much Maryam, I wanted to send you an e-mail.
How can I contact you?
Kind regards
Khadija, Dubai
- March 28, 2017 at 2:39 PM
- Maryam Mohammed said...
maryamcw (at) yahoo (dot) com
- March 28, 2017 at 2:50 PM


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Parrotlets, Pet Parrotlets - Parrotlets Care and Parrot Training Guide
Choosing Your Parrot
Parrot Types
Parrots & Kids
Parrot Training
Basic Training
Speech Training
Prevent Screaming
Toilet Training
Training Aids
Stop Biting
Parrot Tricks
Training Mistakes
Buy or Adopt a Parrot
Feeding Your Parrot
Wing Care & Clipping
Feather Care & Plucking
Parrots & Other Pets
Bathing & Grooming
Parrots & Humans
Parrot Toys & Treats
Parrot Safety
Parrot Accommodation
Parrot Perches
Parrot Behavior
Health Risks
For Humans
For Your Parrot
Parrot Links
Dog Breeds - Parrots Compatibility
Dog Training
A Parrotlet is a bird that belongs to the large family group of parrots. Literally meaning the little parrot, the Parrotlet is very much a true parrot with all the virtues and some of the vices parrots are known for. It measures less than 6 inches in length and make ideal pet birds due to its energy and pleasant disposition.
Parrotlets as Pets
There are several species of Parrotlets found in the United States as well as in other parts of the world. The most well-known and popular species is the Pacific Parrotlet, wherein both males and females are a basic blue green in color. Recently, several color mutations have been developed where all but one are recessive and only one is known to be sex linked. Pacifics are known to be feisty and bold, a true representation of the Parrotlet's moniker – "A large parrot personality in a small parrot body"
Green Rump Parrotlets are slightly smaller than Pacifics and are usually colored bright apple green. They are generally more shy and reserved. They are easily intimidated or frightened by new things and take some time to adjust to new situations. Given a little patience and time, they can become wonderful members of the family.
Spectacle Parrotlets are the most recent entry in the pet market. This species is similar to the Green Rump in weight and length. Their color is very dark green, most especially the males. They have very outgoing personalities and are very inquisitive and curious. Spectacle Parrotlets seem to be emerging as one of the talkers of the parrot group with both the males and females often learning to imitate human speech.
Blue Wing Parrotlets are the most widespread among the rare species. They have slightly larger eyes than other Parrotlets and tend to be a nervous and flighty bird. They are also very difficult to breed, usually taking six months or more to produce eggs.
Mexican Parrotlets are on the large size in its group. They sport a bright green color with males having gorgeous bright, turquoise wings, backs and rumps. They are the only Parrotlet species that can be bred in a colony. This species is considered the one most in need to be bred in captivity due to the continuous threat of habitat destruction and smuggling.
Yellow-faced Parrotlets are the largest in the Parrotlet group. They have similar markings with the Pacifics but both males and females have blue on the wings, backs, rumps and eye streaks. There are only a few of this species in the United States but they are regularly bred in Europe. There is one Parrotlet species that has never been imported in the United States which is the Sclater's Parrotlet.
The minimum cage of a Parrotlet should be 18" x 18" x 18" with maximum bar spacing of 1/2" – 5/8". Parrotlets do best in a cage that is longer rather than tall to accommodate various perches and toys. The cage should be placed where they can easily be removed for cleaning. Natural, non-toxic wood branches are better than dowels and a dish without a hood is recommended. A cage that has a grate at the bottom will prevent the bird's beak from prying droppings, stale food and other debris.
Parrotlets require a lot of food, considering their size. Feed seeds and pellets should be complemented by fresh fruits, vegetables and greens, wholegrain breads, cooked legumes, root vegetables, grains, sprouted seed and high protein food such as hard-boiled eggs with the shell. Fresh water, mineral block and cuttlebone should be provided at all times.
When kept as single birds, Parrotlets make the best pets. They show no tendency towards sharing and would be jealous and combative when placed with another Parrotlet. They bond with the person who spends the most time with them between the ages of six and twelve weeks although it is still possible to make excellent pets out of older Parrotlets.
More Parrotlets Articles
About Parrotlets
Parrotlets Cages
Parrotlets training
Parrotlets breeding
Parrotlets care and safety
Interesting Facts about Parrotlets
Parrotlets food
Parrotlets toys
Parrotlets as Pets
More Parrot Types
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I realize that as I write this post that I might find myself in trouble since the year isn't over yet! In 2018, I managed to escape the year being completely cold and sickness free. My usual office environment naturally is a magnet for germs. With an open office, you're sitting close to your colleagues, sharing a lot of the same resources, and bouncing to and from conference rooms with various people. If one person is sick on my team, it's only a matter of time until it infects everyone else. How I managed to avoid it this year is beyond me!
I like to think though that I had one major trick up my sleeve. In 2017, a colleague introduced me to ginger shots. On our 1:1's, we had a tradition of walking to the local market, picking up a shot, and taking it before returning to the office. I hated my first time. Ginger hasn't been a favorite of mine, but the shot was a blend of tart and spiciness. It's the kick that probably beats the cold out of you! Also over time, these shots aren't cheap. There are plenty of brands out there, but I've typically seen them ranging from $3.75-$5. [Happy Moose Juice] which is sold at my local Bi-Rite goes for $4. I try not to make it a regular thing, but every time I feel a cold coming on, I run to buy one of these and it gets the job done. I recently convinced Kevin to do the same. The verdict is still out on how he truly feels about it. Can we keep up habits and make it through year two with these? I'm crossing my fingers!


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Charlie Chaplain
Laurel and Hardy
George Formby
Gracie Fields
Sandra Bernhardt
Harry Houdini
Buster Keaton
Lillie Langtry
Laurence Olivier
Vivien Leigh
Max Miller
Sammy Davis Jr
The Beatles
The Rolling Stones
are just some of the stars and acts who've graced the 3,000-capacity Brighton Hippodrome in its 118 year history since first being erected in 1897 as an ice rink with the occasional indoor circus before its transformation in 1901 by Frank Matcham into one of the foremost vaudeville and variety theatres in Britain.
Several decades later came the age of television and London-centric shows and nationwide theatre tours which meant variety fell into decline, despite the heroic efforts of local comic legend Max Miller to keep the artform popular. In addition local tastes were no longer catered for.
The Brighton Hippodrome closed its doors in 1965. After a short spell as a film and TV studio in the mid-1960s, followed by a 40-year stint as a Mecca bingo hall, it closed its doors again in 2007 and is now an empty Grade II listed building 'at risk'
Two ambitious plans to turn Brighton Hippodrome first into a live music venue and secondly (and more ruinously to the original Matcham interior) into an 8-screen cinema 'entertainment hub' with internal shops, a public square and a restaurant on a removable floor, have recently come to naught. However there is every chance of this being 'a good thing' as local opinion and feeling for this forgotten gem has been well and truly awakened and is gathering apace. Brightonions have already lost the finest Victorian pier in England (West Pier). It seems denizens are damned if they are going to lose another Victorian gem and potentally golden USP for the city.
Furthermore Brighton boasts the largest arts festival in England the Brighton Fringe, so it seems ironic, not to mention tragic, that a historic premier arts venue finds itself 'at risk' in our city.
As a performance poet myself, I can only imagine the magic of performing on a stage of so much history and in the footsteps of so many stars. I really do hope that one day it can become a reality for myself and many others too young to have had the chance first time round.
My own proposition is that the Brighton Hippodrome should be a crowd-funded and co-operatively owned venture where stage and theatre management schools can use it during the day and variety bills can fill it at night. The circle has revolved once more since the 1960s. We are now bored with TV and hundreds of channels showing the same dross. We want some VARIETY again! Other cities who have had the foresight to retain their Hippodromes are bearing this out by apparently enjoying excellent takings, so there should be no reason why Brighton Hippodrome couldn't.
Not only that but we currently have a demographic of far too many stag and hen parties pounding the streets out of tourist season which needs to be redressed by encouraging a classier clientele of more theatre goers into town (though of course cheaper night time parking would also help).
For more info visit Our Brighton Hippodrome and show your support on Save the Brighton Hippodrome Facebook page


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Imperious Nadal outclasses Djokovic to reach Madrid final
Rafael Nadal ended his dismal run against Novak Djokovic by ruthlessly dethroning the defending champion to reach the final of the Madrid Open.
Nadal had lost seven consecutive matches - and 15 straight sets - against the 12-time grand slam champion, but the resurgent Spaniard made a huge statement by winning 6-2 6-4 on Manolo Santana in the 50th match between the two greats.
The 14-time major winner has been in a league of his own on clay this year and will match Djokovic's record of 30 ATP Masters 1000 titles if he beats Dominic Thiem or Pablo Cuevas in his homeland on Sunday.
Djokovic, playing his first tournament since parting company with his long-serving coaching staff, was unable to live with an in-form fourth seed who is his firing on all cylinders ahead of the French Open.
The man known as the 'King of Clay' won both the Monte-Carlo Masters and Barcelona Open for a 10th time before heading to Caja Magica and defeated the Serbian for the first time since the 2014 final at Roland Garros.
Nobody wins 16 straight sets against Rafael Nadal...#MMOPENpic.twitter.com/Igfy7pEBaH-- Tennis TV (@TennisTV) May 13, 2017
Nadal came out with the bit between his teeth, breaking to love in the first game of the match under blue skies and pumping his fist after breaking a startled Djokovic for a second time with a fierce forehand winner.
A vibrant Nadal held to love to lead 4-0 with another blistering forehand that the second seed had no chance of retrieving, but Djokovic finally got on the board by winning the next game.
Djokovic was simply unable to contend with the home favourite in a one-sided opening set, which the fired-up left-hander won in style with a deft drop shot.
Nadal maintained his momentum by winning the first two games of the second set, but Djokovic sprung into life and levelled at 2-2 when the Mallorca native netted a backhand after being given the runaround.
Normal service was resumed when Nadal unleashed a sublime forehand winner that had Djokovic shaking his head and forced the error to go a break up at 3-2.
Nadal ensured there was no way back for Djokovic, grasping his chance to serve out the match following defiance from the French Open champion to stand on the brink of a fifth title in Madrid.


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Factors contributing to nanotechnology development in Thailand
Thailand's strategic location at the heart of Asia makes it ideal for business to capture a huge market. The fast growing Southeast Asian region, to which Thailand belongs, is home to more than 580 million consumers. Add to that, Thailand's friendly trade relations and expanding free trade agreements with such strong economies as China, India, Australia, and New Zealand and what you have is three billion consumers.
According to a study by the Standard Chartered Bank, Asia will likely dominate the global economy in the next five years and capture more than half of the world's gross domestic product by 2030. This is due to sound economic fundamentals and the unfortunate debt crises experience of the advanced economies in the West.
With 65 million consumers Thailand itself is a big market. Thailand will continue growing given strong economic fundamentals in several sectors.
Thailand is a major exporter of food and food product, natural rubber, cassava, and rice. It is the world's largest hard disk drive producers with over one third of the world's market, and is well on the way to be among the world's top ten auto manufacturing countries. Thailand is also rank 18th on the world's largest tourist receipts list and the world's 19th largest in purchasing power.
Thailand's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for 2009 was USD 536 billion. The main sector contributing to the GDP is agricultural sector 9%, manufacturing 39%, and services 52%. The GDP per capita in 2009 was USD 8,100.
Thailand has developed the country's infrastructure to world class standards, which supports the growth of key economic sectors and has led to the development of comprehensive industrial clusters. Modern industrial estates, state-of-the-art transportation, communication facilities, and logistics system help achieve cost-effective business operations.
Thailand Science Park (TSP) is the key infrastructure to support research and development, and technology intensive business. The first science and technology park was established in 2002 with the aim of promoting innovation development and R&D activities in the private sector. TSP is situated close to the Asian Institute of Technology, Thammasat University, Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology, as well as housing the National Science and Technology Development Agency's (NSTDA) four national research centers; National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), National Metal and Material Technology Center (MTEC), National Electronics and Computer Technology Center (NECTEC), and National Nanotechnology Center (NANOTEC). The proximity provides the opportunity for corporate tenants to gain access to highly skilled personnel including 1,600 full-time NSTDA researchers.
Phase 1 of TSP is fully occupied by the national research centers and over 60 corporate tenants. Around 30 percent of the corporate tenants are overseas companies from Japan, the United States, Germany, and France.
To meet rapid demand, the NSTDA in 2008 started the construction of TSP Phase II also known as Innovation Cluster II (INC II). INC II is expected to be operational by 2013. INC 2 is built around the concept of "Work-Life Integration". It is designed to create a conducive environment for technology companies, in which their talented people can live, work and play. INC 2 aims to adapt to the ever-changing needs of today's knowledge workers.
INC 2 provides its R&D-oriented tenants with a comprehensive suite of business facilities and a superb working environment. The modular design of the four towers of INC 2 makes it easy to accommodate the different needs of R&D intensive companies. INC 2 has:
- Designated areas for laboratories requiring vibration control and special preparation
- Specific areas at the base of the fours towers suitable for setting up equipment requiring floor loading allowance
- Link-ways between the 4 towers to foster interaction and networking among the tenants
- Direct access to the state-of-the-art Thailand Science Park Convention Center comprising of 14 meeting rooms, an auditorium and 2,000 sq.m. exhibition area
It is believed that the expansion of INC II will accelerate the pace of new innovation development and strengthen collaborations among government sector, private sector, and research institutions.
For R&D support facilities, tenants at TSP can tap upon NSTDA's laboratory testing and analytical services through its various laboratories and research units. Support services available at TSP include:
Technology & Technical Services
- Contract Research and Joint Research
- Testing and Analytical Service
- Technology Information Service
- Technology Licensing Service (In-licensing & Out-licensing)
Financial Services
- Application for Research Funding
- Application for Soft Loans
- Joint Investments
Human Resource Services
- Training and Seminars on specific Business and Technology Topics
- HR Recruitment
- Specialist Database
Business Support Services
- Intellectual Property Service
- Technology Licensing Office
- Business Matching Service
- Visa & Work Permit Assistance
- Privileges & Incentives Coordination Service
The Thailand Board of Investment (BOI) a government agency under the Ministry of Industry whose purpose is to encourage and promote investment in Thailand is working closely with TSP to assist investors both local and overseas looking to setup operation in Thailand. BOI assistance initiatives include:
- Enhancing Competitiveness and Investment facilitation by
1.1 offering an attractive and competitive package of tax and non tax incentives
1.2 imposing no foreign equity restrictions on manufacturing activities or on some activities
1.3 providing assistance in the provision of visa and work permits to facilitate entry and subsequent operation for a foreign-owned business
1.4 waiving restrictions on land ownership by foreign entities
- Giving business support services such as comprehensive information and advice on establishing operations in Thailand, arranging site visits, identifying potential suppliers, subcontractors, joint-venture partners, providing useful contacts with key public and private organizations, and coordinating between the foreign business community and other public agencies.
Recently, BOI announced it has revised investment promotion scheme to also cover production of nano materials or products from nano materials. The aim of this initiative is to encourage more use of high-technology in Thailand's nano manufacturing. This type of business will be categorised as a top priority business which brings greater benefits to the country and boost Thailand's positioning as an attractive investment destination.
According to a market research report published by Electronics.ca Publications it is estimated that the global nanotechnology market in 2010 range from about $15.7 billion (the figure used in this report) to $1 trillion. By 2015, the market may be worth more than $2.4 trillion, according to different analysts. These differences reflect not only different analytical methods and assumptions, but also different definitions of the nanotechnology market (e.g., whether to include decades-old technologies such as carbon black rubber reinforcers and photographic silver, or whether to base the market value on nanotechnology inputs alone, as opposed to the total value of products that incorporate nanotechnology).
Thailand has an incentive to cash in on nanotechnology couple with the dramatic economic growth of neighbors. This progress prompted Thailand to develop the capability to identify, promote and invigorate niche industries and products for sustainable development and national competitiveness in the global market. Science and technology (S&T) development was adopted as one of the indispensable key strategies for Thailand to make her economy and society more robust and competitive. Both the government and experts are focusing on science, technology and innovation development to make it more competitive on global markets, especially with the approach of a single Asean market by 2015. Nanotechnology development is expected to stimulate Thailand to leapfrog in key areas of S&T.
National Nanotechnology Center (NANOTEC) established in 2003 by the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) as one of four national research centres under its jurisdiction. With an annual budget of 11 million USD, NANOTEC is the key research funding agency for nanotechnology. NANOTEC is investing in nanotechnology as a means of differentiating and adding value so that domestic products can compete effectively.
NANOTEC has the dual role of serving as a national R&D centre and as a funding agency to support universities and other research institutes. It has established strong links with other institutes in Thailand and with more than 400 nanotechnology researchers, as well as with leading nanotechnology centres overseas.
Currently, NANOTEC Central Lab consists of 12 units located at the Thailand Science Park.
One of the major goals of NANOTEC is to be a "solution provider in nanotechnology", therefore a high percentage of the nanotechnology research is focused on industrial applications:
- textiles – antimicrobial fabric, self-cleaning and water repellent fabric;
- cosmeceuticals – nano-emulsions, controlled release nano-capsules;
- food – e-nose sensors for quality control processes.
Since its inception, NANOTEC has provided more than 15,000 testing services to industries and researchers annually. Furthermore, nano safety initiatives are being developed in compliance with international standards and global networks via SAICM, OECD and UNITAR.
NANOTEC has identified 7 flagship programs which it considers are in response to both national and NSTDA priorities. The flagship programs are:
1. Clean water
Product target: Water filtration system providing clean and clear water in the areas contaminated with heavy metals and/or agriculture fertilizers. Capacity is 1,000 liter/day for usage in rural areas around the country.
2. Control-released fertilizer
Product target: Control-released fertilizer that responds to plant's life cycle Plant target: Sugarcane, rice, and orchid
3. Vector control system (mosquito)
Product target: Insecticide-impregnated mosquito net and mosquito repellent lotion
4. Nano Aroma
Product target: Essential oil for aromatherapy with long lasting fragrances and effects
5. Nano-Mark
Product target: Nano Mark (with potential safety tag for nanoparticle-containing products
6. Smart Soil
Product target: Carbonaceous soil or biochar from water hyacinth or biomass, to be used as soil conditioners
7. Nano-biosensors
Product target: UV indicator, heavy metal identification, and bacteria band for bacterial detection
In nanobiotechnology and the life sciences, NANOTEC is conducting research on nano-delivery systems, nanomolecular sensors, and nano-cosmeceuticals. For delivery systems, NANOTEC is developing platforms for drug delivery based on nano-encapsulation and molecular complexation techniques for the controlled release and target delivery of bioactive compounds. Nano-carriers studies include core-shell nanoparticles, self-assembly nanoparticles, polymer conjugates, nanoemulsion and molecular inclusion complexes. In addition, novel targeting moieties such as peptides, magnetic, and antibodies are being explored.
In nanomolecular target discovery, the design and development of antibody fragments for targeting infectious diseases and cancer are being investigated. The emphasis is on therapeutic antibody-based nanomolecules and molecular diagnostic tests.
National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy Office (STI) is drafting the National Research and Development Master Plan with the aim of nurturing more local scientists and promoting collaboration research projects between government and private sector groups. Thus, prompting the increase investment in science, technology and innovation to compete in the global market, especially with the approach of the single ASEAN market in 2015.
The Centers of Excellence (COE) in Nanotechnology
To increase research dynamics, NANOTEC is also collaborating with 8 leading Centers of Excellence (COE) in Nanotechnology established in key universities such as Chulalongkorn University, Mahidol University, Kasetsart University, Asian Institute of Technology, King Mongkut Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, Khon Kaen University, Chiang Mai University and Prince of Songkla University. Research output from these COEs has received worldwide recognition and further increase partnership activities.
Nano products presently in the market includes; nanocosmeceuticals, nanocomposite food packaging, nanoclay membranes for water treatment, nano-cosmetics (curcuminiod nano-liposome face cream), nano-shirts, nano-silver detergent, etc. NanoProducts in the pipeline include; nanoalumina-doped ceramics-based artificial, gemstones, nanochitosan-based slow-release drug vehicles, nanoparticle OLEDs (Organic Light Emitting Diodes), nanodye-sensitized solar cells, etc.
It is estimated that by the year 2013, Thailand will have more than 50 nanotechnology companies and more than 300 nanotechnology patents. Revenue generated by nanotechnology products will reach USD 300 million.