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Today's Featured Recipe:
Shepherd's Pie
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Who am I now? (Transformation in a year of Spark statuses...)
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Monday this week (January 9, 2012) marked the one-year anniversary of the day I started my Spark journey in earnest. I'm delighted to report that I'm halfway to my weight-loss goal (I refuse to be disappointed with not being farther along). But what's really remarkable is how much I am changing in other, non-physical, ways.
I am acutely aware of being in the middle of an inside-out transformation that I only dimly understand at this point. It's not reflected in my weight chart or nutrition tracker but it's happening. I feel it, and I can see a reflection of it in the 360-or-so verbal snapshots I posted this year in my Feed. There's something of a growing confidence and momentum in their tone as the year goes on. A gradually shifting energy and change in focus from thinking and feeling toward BEING and DOING. This year I even changed my name...
Day 4 on the wagon, and I am 1% of the way toward goal.
HILARYMD restarted P90X today. X for X-treme! I'm being patient with myself.
HILARYMD has just posted to my blog for the first time. Please check it out and share!
HILARYMD is going to demolish P90X today!
HILARYMD hasn't lost too many pounds yet, but definitely already feels slimmer...
HILARYMD kicked KenpoX ass today!
Weekends are dangerous.
The intelligent want self-control; children want candy. ~Rumi
A huge breakthrough: I'm right back on program today after a too-big dinner out with family last night. There was a recent time when it could have taken me days (or weeks!) to reset.
Non-scale victory: Arrived 40 mins early for a class, so used the time to get a little cardio. Just ran up and down the stairwell 10 times. Beet red and legs of rubber, but proud of myself!
Do emoticons work in a status update?
...hmm, guess not.
HILARYMD is hungrier than usual today, but still stayed within calories...
WI day is Monday. Fearing Superbowl fallout, I put it off till today (but did NOT lowball my calories yesterday). Drumroll please.... I'm down 3lbs, Superbowl be damned! Woohoo!
HILARYMD is watching Biggest Loser.
I'm ready for my goal weight now. Please deliver it to me at my home address immediately. Thank you.
What beverages do you count in your water tracker? Only plain water? Coffee/tea too? Diet soda? Juices? Regular soda? Just wondering what folks do...
Tonight in acting class our teacher lined us up in order by bodyweight. I was third heaviest, standing between two men almost a foot taller than me. Mortifying. This is the last straw. Done being fat!
Roar for today's NSV (walked to/from doctor's appt for a total of 4.4 miles): Rrrrrroar!
HILARYMD broke a new decade this morning! It's not my WI day but I had a feeling, so I checked. (I won't log it until WI on Monday.) ROAR!!!!
NSV: Got off metro a stop early, added 1.5 mi walk to my day. FML: my panties kept falling down (I mean completely off my tush) inside my pants. Either the elastic is shot or they're too big now...
I used to hate walking but now, surprisingly... I kind of love it. 5.6 miles today. RRRRRROAR!!
HILARYMD is done with calories for the day, but still a bit hungry. Guess I'll have a big glass of water, go to bed, and dream about breakfast...
TGFS - Thank God for SPARKPEOPLE! I'm down another 2.2 this week! When I think of all the money I spent on Weight Watchers.... well. I just *won't* think about it.
NSV! Two things that did NOT derail me this week: baking a batch of amazing cupcakes, a birthday party with lots of delicious pizza. Roar!
By Friday, March 4, I WILL be under 200lbs.
Stupid weekends... gotta get a handle on 'em. Back in the saddle now, but don't like this tendency to kick off the week in need of damage control.
Help! What's your strategy for weekends when the usual routine is interrupted and hard-to-track eating opportunities are abundant? Huge stumbling block. Suggestions desperately needed!
Stumbling a little this week... Recommit. ReRecommit. RererererereRECOMMIT!
Giving myself awards... need all the positive reinforcement I can get.
For support in being more active, hang out with active people. Problem is... I honestly don't know any. All my friends are suburban, restaurant-going, theatre-loving sitters like me.
Yesterday I was off-center and in danger of sliding into the abyss. Clung to my food and fitness trackers for dear life. Today, equilibrium seems to have returned.
HILARYMD made a veggie pizza from scratch for 334 cals per huge, loaded slice. I feel totally indulged and still have 176 calories left in my budget for the day... THIS I can sustain.
To do: 5 miles - CHECK! (And a gorgeous sunny day for it here, too!)
Awesome NYT article: Can exercise keep you young?http://well.blogs.nytime
HILARYMD is going to give the SP meal plan a try. See if tracking the week ahead all at once is less tedious...
Loved today's lunch! Black beans and brown rice on a bed of field greens with feta cheese and balsamic dressing. 2 clementines. 482 cal altogether. MMM!
Woke up hungry... a good sign I think. Breakfast time!
Just curious... what is your SP recommended calorie range? Mine is 1200-1550.
Yeah, planning the week ahead is the way to go. Soooo much easier just to check off boxes than sit down and log recipes and meals from scratch three times a day. I get a big "Duh!" for this one!
Woohoo 19 points till trophy level 6...
It's Monday and I feel fiiiiine....
In general, mankind, since the improvement in cookery, eats twice as much as nature requires. -Benjamin Franklin
HILARYMD planned ahead and feels good about it!
HILARYMD is looking forward to breakfast.
Spark wheel teased me with the prospect of 1000 points only to give me a grudging 2. :-/
Love how many animal lovers there are on SP. Paws up for our furry friends!
Feeling neither hungry nor full, and totally nourished. Great. Dinner.
HILARYMD wants to stay up and spark some more, but eyelids keep falling down. Goodnight, sparklers...
Mornin' Sparkfamily! Let's make it a great day!
"I hated every minute of training, but I said, 'Don't quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.'" -- Muhammad Ali
Way off my menu plan for today, BUT still within calories. Roar.
5'5", 205, Sz 18-20, wrinkles, chin hairs, freckles, scars... I love my body.
Anyone else lose appetite when Aunt Flo visits? Can't get excited about food today... :-/
HILARYMD is praying for friends in Japan.
Was hoping to see 205 this morning, but I'll take 206 and -1lb.
While I was meditating last night at 3am (during insomnia), I heard the following words: "Self-discipline is an act of love." and "When you truly want it, nothing will stand in your way." WO.
Note to self: the amount and rate of weight loss is NOT proportional to time spent browsing on Sparkpeople. Try a walk instead, girlfriend. SP will still be here when you get back. ;)
HILARYMD is curled up with hubby and pooches. Cozy Saturday night.
Plannin' my work, workin' my plan, and the plan is workin'!
Just discovered SP's quote library. Cool! https://sparkpeo.hs.llnwd.net/e1/res
Suddenly I'm being taken back to the SP login page every time I click on anything. My cookies are enabled. It hasn't been doing this previously. Confused and annoyed. Ideas? Help!
HILARYMD sings... "We keep on waiting (waitiiing), waiting on the weight to change..."
SP appears to be experiencing technical difficulties today.
HILARYMD is turning in early tonight.
HILARYMD sees new definition in her abs. Too sexy! ;)
Gooooooood mornin' Sparklers!
Strawberries plus chocolate soymilk plus blender equals 161 calorie blisssssssss...
HILARYMD needs more rewards. Guess that means it's time to set more goals...
Quizzes sure help with points. Only 236 left to trophy level 7 already!
"Yesterday I was clever. I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise. I am changing myself."
Before: Couldn't keep any cheese in house, would eat whole block/bag at once. Now: Keep a few kinds of cheese on hand. Track w/ SP. Use 1-2oz at a time. Feel no temptation. Truly miraculous!
Sweet potatoes are a gift from God.
HILARYMD is working today.
HILARYMD is watching Nurse Betty. LaBute is a freak of nature.
Surrender. Acceptance. Peace. Love. Focus. Action. Surrender.
Rainy Monday mornin'...
HILARYMD is 8 sparkpoints away from trophy level 7...
If you do the things you NEED to do when you need to do them, someday you can do the things you WANT to do when you want to do them.
What are your go-to treats for sweet cravings?
HILARYMD is antsy.
HILARYMD going DRESS SHOPPING!!!!
HILARYMD sings: Where is the sun (doo doo doo dooo) Where is the sunnnn?
Check out my latest blog, y'all... I think it might be my favorite yet. (And not too long)...
If you can lose 5 pounds, you can lose 50.
Of all the sunny and glorious days, today must be the sunniest and the gloriousest!
Whoahhh, what is THAT?! That hum of wellbeing flowing through my body...? That warm, streaming charge of health, joy, peace, love... OH! Right... that's the Spark.
Reason number 1*10^100 why SP is more awesome than FB: I have never been friended or left a comment by Mark Zuckerberg. (And I'll send a goodie to anyone who gets my silly math pun.)
Want to buy some new workout T-shirts with inspiring/motivational quotes or designs on them. Slim pickin's so far online... ideas?
New one for the collection: You cannot STRUGGLE your way into JOY; you can only JOY your way into JOY.
HILARYMD has square eyes. Time to log off and go to bed. Night, sparklers!
HILARYMD is having a delish quiche for lunch while catching up on SP messages. Thought I'd finished my slice, but just looked down and found one bite left! Happy surprise... yummmmm....
HILARYMD gets on "food kicks" where, for days, all I want is a certain dish. Eventually I'm satisfied and can move on to something else. Now, it's quiche (mmm!). Before it was burritos. *shrug* What can I say?
Negative thoughts don't just sit there harmlessly; they multiply, infect other thoughts and motivate negative actions. ~Carolyn Hax
The obstacle is the path. ~Zen proverb
Family drama. Friend disappointment. Ugh. Tiresome.
Dear Hilary: Remember, you're not perfect either. You disappoint your loved ones sometimes, too. Have compassion. Breathe. Forgive. Love, Yourself
HILARYMD is having her odd-to-rare cup of coffee and totally gets why people love The Joe so much.
Life's too short to regret a cookie. ~Melanie Vincent Jarvis (random sparkler)
Last night's fortune cookie: "Force equals too much; effort equals too little; BEING equals enough." wise, wise Confucius...
"Check all judgments at the door." ~SPRINGHAZE. Woot!!
HILARYMD is going to weigh-in daily for awhile as a re-set button to tighten up the routine. I've gotten loose...
HILARYMD 's mom is visiting and brought chocolate covered marzipan. My favorite. :-/
Sometimes all it takes is a perfect red lipstick to make you feel like you can take on the world... ~Jesse Nersesian, owner, Salt & Seaweed, Charleston, SC. Woot!!
Noddin' my head like, "yeahhh...." Moving my hips like, "yeahhh..."
HILARYMD wonders where my consistency award for March is...hmmmmm....
HILARYMD loves measuring cups. Precision is SEXY!
Today, The Lazy Song is my anthem: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v
HILARYMD is menu plannin'...
What if I really just... CAN'T?
I *think* I can, but I don't *know* it, and I'm *scared* I can't...
Lonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnng day.
My favorite dress FITS AGAIN!!! RrrrrrrrrrrrrrrOAR!!!
Sometimes I think the Sparkwheel is Downie's way of inoculating us against disappointment at seeing smaller numbers than we hope for.
Impress yourself!
MARMAK's Vegetarian Meatball Stew on Sparkrecipes is awesome!!! Easy, delicious, filling, and right on calorie target. Check it out.
Pardon my mess; REINVENTION IN PROGRESS.
SURPRISE yourself!
15 minutes of stair climbing is totally do-able.
A wedding haiku: bobby pin mountain / happy throbbing feet danced raw / all alive with love
I know my Spark fam will appreciate this: Hotel has no fitness room, so I climbed 40 floors of brick and mortar stairs (up and down) this morning (and yesterday morning too). RRRRRRRRRRRRROAR!
Procrastination makes me FAT!!
RIP, Uncle Jim. You will be missed.
Eyes front. Right foot, Left foot, Track. Repeat.
New blog entry today, check it!
Got my first "hey you look smaller!" comment TODAY! Rrrrrrrrrrroar!
Great success story: http://www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH
HILARYMD is a tough cookie.
It's actually HOT in the house... phew!!
HILARYMD posted new pictures today, check em!
My goofy friend Adam's goofy video about soda addiction: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v
Day one of 28-day bootcamp challenge, and 10 minute daily streak IN THE BAG. RRRRRROARRRRR!!
Geez, what is UP with these MOOD SWINGS!?
Git up offa dat thang! Dance till you feel bettah! Ever'body: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v
Yesterday the stairmaster kicked my ass. Today... PAYBACK BABY!!! Don't MESS wit da LioNESS!! ROAAAAAARRRRR!
Wo ooh Wo ooh, you got the besta my love... Wo ooh Wo ooh...
Me, to the scale staring up at me from the bathroom floor: "I promised myself I won't weigh until MAY 7 when the Spring 5% challenge starts, and DANGIT I'M NOT GONNA! So there."
HILARYMD finds herself in the mood to go shoe shopping. (Wonder what I saw/heard/smelled... that made my amygdala suddenly crave new shoes?)...
Boom boom boom, even brighter than the moon moon moon...
Milestone!!! Lost another 2% body fat, which brings my total chub fraction from ~50% to ~48%! UNDER HALF! RRRRRRRROARRRRR!!!
New level on the stairmaster AND finished the program without a break. RRRRRRRRRoarrrrrrrrrr!
Time for bed. Sweet dreams, sparklers!
At the rate this world and this weight loss is going, I should be at goal just in time for the apocalypse.
I don't want to die trying, so I guess I better just DO IT!
28-day bootcamp challenge, week 1 in the bag. Week 2 starts tomorrow. ROARRRR!
HILARYMD is having a low self-esteem episode.
For a change in honor of just because, let's name things that are RIGHT with the world. Ready GO:
Hey, it's Thursday again!! Time for another DANCE BREAK, come on... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v
If you want to climb a wall, first throw your hat over. I have just signed up for the National Press Club 5K and Bootcamp Workout with TONY HORTON. Bring it, baby!!!
Sometimes, getting sick of being disappointed with myself is all the motivation I need. Disgust is a powerful emotion. So... go ahead, DISGUST yourself.
11:50PM and my fitness goals for the day are MET! Better than not at all, I say...
"Are you losing weight?" Second unsolicited comment yesterday. Woot!
What's in green tea that makes me a bit giddy? ...teehee! I think I feel another DANCE BREAK coming onnnnnn.... www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KSMG8
Friday night apps & drinks with friends, came home for a (literal) midnight interval run. RRRRRRRoarrrrr!!!!!
Wouldn't it be awesome if we felt as amazing DURING running as we do after?
HILARYMD is DELIGHTED!!
Energy from last night's midnight run is staying with me. Great sleep. Body feels ALIVE this morning. And I looooooved the peaceful solitude running at that hour, past all the sleepy houses.
NEW video blog today!! Check it out...
Woohoo! Goal #1: MET! https://sparkpeo.hs.llnwd.net/e1/myp
A free Sunday night with no plans.... NICE!
I really don't have any willpower. I have a cause instead. Maybe that's the secret, to find your inner cause. What takes a higher fitness level that you are passionate about? ~INDYGIRL
Happy Monday! now..."Let's burn some goo."
HILARYMD is out running.
HILARYMD is plum wore out!
HILARYMD still has such a lonnnnnng way to go...
A good plan violently executed today is far-and-away better than a perfect plan tomorrow. ~George S. Patton
My adorable Chinese massage therapist: Waaauuw you lose lot weight! how much? 20 pound?! good keep a-going!
Ran into a friend I haven't seen in a couple of weeks. He kept saying "Wow!" and looking me up and down. I think he was afraid to ask, but I could tell what he was thinking...
My friend Michael: You look great, so keep doing what you're doing!
STREAKFREAK was HILARYMD. New user name to kick off a new commitment to STREAKIN'!!!
Just put a Streak Tracker app on my Blackberry. I'm an X-checkin' fool!
Running sure does clear the sinuses... ew!
In spite of the progress I've made to date, I find I still avoid my reflection :-/
STREAKFREAK did 4 miles today. RRRRoar!
hmmm, what shall I blog about this week...?
Third spontaneous comment: "Have you lost weight?" Yes! Yes, I have! Thank you for noticing!!
Why does walking / running in humidity make your hands swell up like sausages?
STREAKFREAK did 6 miles today!! RROARR!
Half-a-cup of Grape Nuts has 200 CALORIES???!!! WO.
STREAKFREAK is another half-inch down in waist and hips. ROARRR!
STREAKFREAK won 100 SparkGoodie Points on the SparkPoints wheel!
STREAKFREAK is pooped!
O. M. G: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v
IF YOU ONLY CELEBRATE MAJOR MILESTONES... YOUR HAPPIES WILL BE FEW AND FAR BETWEEN. ~yoovie
Strawberry chobani plus fresh kiwi = O ma ga!
8.5 hours to National Press Club 5K... rrrrrrrroarrrrrrrr!
STREAKFREAK is so sore it hurts my abs to fart... TMI??
STREAKFREAK is feelin' good after a short run... wonder if I could go around again...?
Dogs got sprayed by a skunk tonight. Oh joy, peroxide/baking soda/dish detergent baths for all... and probably a carpet shampoo tomorrow. Oy.....
No news... just a big WHAT UP, Y'ALL?!
Is that a collarbone I see?!?
It's happenin'! Sloooowly. But it's happenin'!
STREAKFREAK lost 1 pound! Congratulations from yourself, because for some reason SP isn't posting it...
Baby greens w/dill plus mozzarella plus spinach/artichoke hummus plus kalamata olives equals bliss in a pita pocket
Husband, today: Look at that CUTE BUTT!!!
Hubby, outside, turns around to come in and sees me leaning against the door jamb: "F***, you look good!" WO.
STREAKFREAK can cross her legs comfortably now!
STREAKFREAK is .8lbs away from 30lb goal. Look for a new reward video blog THIS WEEK!!
STREAKFREAK is -31.7 lbs this morning!! (5.1lbs less than my wedding weight!) ROARRR! Let's FINISH THIS! I appreciate my body for its beauty and abilities more and more every day. Happy Sunday, y'all.... now, LET'S BURN SOME GOO...
Don't mean to be vulgar, but WHERE is this... er... *desire* coming from?! Since starting this WL/fitness/wellness journey my body has come alive, holy smokes!
STREAKFREAK is kickin' @$$ today.... RRRRROARRRR!
Strength, check. courage, check. optimism, check. Welcome, Monday morning...
Hubby said, "You're getting cuter by the day!"
Picked up parents from airport; haven't seen em since Christmas. Both their eyes popped, "WOW YOU'VE LOST WEIGHT!" Rrrrrrrrrroarrrr!
OK, I've been the fat chick long enough. I know what that's like. I think I'll be the hot chick now. Find out what THAT's like...
Seeing some thrilling body changes... maybe time to take another set of progress photos...?
Two awesome comments at church this morning: "You've lost a lot of weight!!" and (my favorite) "You're a string bean! Smaller and smaller every time I see you!!" Rrrrrrrrrooarrrrr!!
STREAKFREAK NEW video blog posted TODAY! Check it...
STREAKFREAK is feelin' pretty good!
Father-in-law's birthday dinner. Haven't seen the fam since April. Nobody could shut up about how great I look. I said STOP it, you all are embarrassing me. But I secretly loved it. Is that so wrong?
STREAKFREAK can't get this junk off fast enough!
STREAKFREAK won 500 SparkGoodie Points on the SparkPoints Bonus Wheel!
3 mile bike, then for time: 150 kettlebell swings, 150 box jumps (25:06), then 3 mile bike. ROAR!
Keeping my promises to myself and meeting my own expectations makes me love myself. Loving myself makes me keep my promises to myself and meet my own expectations. Upward spiral!! Zoommmm!!!
Hubby said, "You look great, you're doing great, you seem really motivated. I'm proud of you." *grin*
So excited for a GREAT night out tonite. Dinner with one old friend and a bunch of new friends-to-be, then to see Cate Blanchett in Uncle Vanya. Friends plus great theatre = blissssss!!!
11am and already past 900 calories. Baby shower this afternoon. Anyone wanna wager on whether I stay in range today or not??
Think I strained achilles tendon. Pain flexing, pointing foot, as when descending stairs, but oddly none when walking. Minor swelling toward medial side of tendon. Rest, ice, Naproxen. Other advice?
What should I have for lunch?
John (who's been away for many months): "When did you get so skinny?!" Me: "Stop it or I'm gonna have to kiss you." Rrrrrrrroar!
STREAKFREAK won 25 SparkPoints on the SparkPoints wheel!
Retail therapy. Rockin' new jeans in a rockin' new size! Rrrroar!
There is no longer anything in my closet that is too small for me. (Woot!) There are, however, lots of things that are dated and have gone out of style... :-/ O well, time for another PURGE!
STREAKFREAK is 5lbs away from 40. Woot!
Morning wake-me-up: 60 kettlebell swings, 60 wallballs, 10 minutes. Now, breakfast.
"Filthy 50" (50 reps each): box jump, jumping pullup, kettlebell swing, walking lunge, hanging knee-to-elbow, 45lb push press, back extension, wallball, burpee, double under, puke. 49:47. Roar!
Intensity a bad thing?! Passion, zeal, fire, spirit, vigor, commitment at least are NOT BLAND. I crave intense experiences. Maybe that means I am intense. So be it. No apology. Dispassion is not me.
Strong people are harder to kill than weak people, and more useful in general.
"Wow, you've lost so much weight!" ~lady at the gym who I haven't seen in several weeks.
STREAKFREAK basically ate my way thru the hurricane. Damage recovery time inside and out!
FOCUS - Follow One Course Until Successful
Ran 900 meters with a 25lb sandbag. I used to actually weigh this much... no wonder running sucked then.
I think I'm lonely...
Gotten sloppy with nutrition. Time to tidy up! Gonna post stats daily for awhile to refocus... Soooooo today: 1463 cal, 20.7%protein, 33.9%fat, 45.4%carb. Roar!
STREAKFREAK is heartbroken.
Nutrition stats for today: 1055 cal, 29.9% protein, 23.9% fat, 46.1% carb. I might still eat a little more if I get hungry before bed. We'll see.
3mi bike, then: For time: 45 thrusters (45#) and 45 pullups (7:06), then 3mi bike. Roarrr!
Today's stats: 1340 cal, 19.2% protein, 35.5% carb, 45.3% fat. Cals are ok, but a bit too greasy today...
My friend Stephen said I look "wild and sexy" today. Luvit! *That* is gonna stay with me and make me work even harder... ROAR!
Guy at the gym, after class: "Dang, you're FIT, girl!" Roarrr!!!
SELF-ACTUALIZATION FEELS LIKE GLOWING IN THE DARK ~Yoovie
Sometimes all I want is broccoli.
Friend me on Facebook (let me know you're a Sparkfriend): http://www.facebook.com/hilary
Today's nutrition stats: 1364 cal, 30.4% protein, 27.4% fat, 42.4% carb. Everything right in target range. Woot!
My nutrition stat updates always get a flurry of responses and questions from my Facebook friends. Who knew they'd be so fascinated by what I eat?!
Today's nutrition stats: 1459 cal, 32.3% protein, 26.9% fat, 40.9% carb. Satisfactory.
Posting today's nutrition stats early because I undid my whole day at a thai restaurant at lunch: 1980 cal, 17.3%% protein, 29.4% fat, 53.3% carb. Oy!
For time: fifteen 85lb cleans, 100 burpees, 20:22. Faaaaaaaark.
Hiloise's tip for the day: Sleeping in your gym clothes makes it easier to get out the door for a cracka dawn workout.
Now... to nourish!
STREAKFREAK won 50 SparkGoodie Points on the SparkPoints Bonus Wheel!
Today's nutrition stats: 1250 cal, 26.3% protein, 24.9% fat, 48.9% carb. If I get hungry again, I might still eat a bit more tonight. If not... yesterday's drunken noodles will hold me till tomorrow.
Lost another inch in waist and two in hips. Whut, whut!!
Guy at church who hasn't seen me since last spring: "You've always been lovely, but when I saw you tonight... I kinda got a -er- *feeling*, if you know what I mean." Pahaha! ROAR!
Sent two new SP referrals today... ppl blown away by my results wanted to know what I've been doing. Spread the Spark!! Roarrrrrr...
If you haven't heard yet, this just in from Coach Nicole: A big THANK YOU to my followers for being awesome! Got word today that I will appear on a Times Square billboard thanks to YOUR votes! :-)
Today's nutrition stats: 1711 cal; 24% protein, 25.9% fat, 50.1% carb. Bit o' guesswork and ballparkin' re dinner out. Can't be perfect...
8 min: fifty-two 55lb push presses, 72 jumping lunges. Then 60 pushups and 60 inverted burpees in 15mins. Roar!
Long. Hot. Bubble bath. Ahhhhhh....
As much as possible, avoid breaking your own heart.
GAWD this is taking forEVARRRRRR!!!
How many times does a friend have to be too busy to see you before you back off and leave the friendship in their hands?
Decided I need a sport in which to use my newfound and growing fitness. So I'm starting Karate classes on Tuesday. Excited and nervous!! Hope I can handle it... will report.
Today's nutrition stats: 1248 cal, 23.6% protein, 28.3% fat, 48.1% carb.
100 pullups, 100 pushups, 100 situps, 100 air squats. Roar!
Karate... eek! WHAT have I gotten myself into...????
Somebody goose me. I'm draggin...
SP's new iGoogle Gadget is aWeSoMe!! https://sparkpeo.hs.llnwd.net/e1/myp
Sometimes you're the windshield, sometimes you're the bug. :-/
"Hold on. Your video is almost available." Love, Sparkpeople.com
Ahhhh, finally, she's live!
Baked sweet potato (8 mins in microwave) plus dollop of unsweetened apple butter plus sprinkling of cinnamon equals Oh Em Gee
STREAKFREAK is still hungry.
5Ton 5K! Playin' all day in the box with awesome crossfitters! Only thing that could make me happier is playin' all day in the box with awesome actors...
STREAKFREAK is really not ready for winter yet.
STREAKFREAK is gonna call it an early night.
He said I liked him too much. Well... he's nipped that in the bud by becoming one of the most unlikable guys I've ever known.
Time to make the donuts...
STREAKFREAK is happy to see the sun!
I'm all warmed up by a lovely compliment from my friend Gabriel: "You have a lot to offer. I am impressed by your metamorphosis."
Been looking forward to the day when someone would say, "Oh my God, I DIDN'T EVEN RECOGNIZE YOU, you look amaaaaaazziiiiiiingggg!!" It happened TODAY!! ROARRR!
My friend Jodi tonight at choir: "Honeyyyy, *please* buy some smaller jeans. Those are falling off you! Or are you going gangsta?" LOL!!!
Mandi, the owner/trainer at my crossfit gym: "Gurrrrl, you are disappearing!" LOL! RRRRROARRRRR!!!
Heard in church this morning: "You are a mere shadow of your former self!" "Who's that skinny chick sitting in the soprano section?" Roarrrr!
Depending which meter you trust, my body fat is down 7 or 9% since last check. And 16-20% since I started. Hard to compare readings from different sources, but the downward curve is awfully pretty!
Breakfast of champeens... Baked yam and seared "beef" strips with coconut oil. Cal 273, carb 17, fat 13, prot 21. Mmmm, body happy.
Peace, bliss, peace.
STREAKFREAK is officially 40lbs. down (finally!). Milestone video blog will post TODAY! (Or possibly tomorrow...) Rrrroar!!
For time: 18 muscle-up body rows, 18 pushups, 90 wallballs, 36 dumbbell presses, 60 power cleans, One puke. 29:50. Roarrr!
90 sumo-deadlift-highpulls, 75 pushups, 15 minutes. Roar!
For time: 100 toes-to-bar, 25 push-jerks, 11:30. Roar!!
Filthy 50 PR: 46:29! Roar!!
STREAKFREAK is OUT of the 180s, baby!! By .1 pounds, but still! I haven't seen a 7 in the tens place in almost 10 years! Roarrrrrrr!
Trying to do Paleo as a vegetarian is no picnic. All best veg protein sources are not allowed. Only spirulina. I'm gonna be drinkin' a lot of pond scum this next 8 weeks... ughhh...
STREAKFREAK is pleased with progress.
Nonfat strawberry greek yogurt with a splash of coconut oil... no longer nonfat, but good macronutrient balance and tastes like tropical heaven. Mmmm...
Doctor at annual checkup: "You've lost a lot of weight! Wo, look at your muscles!!" Bwahahaha! Roarrrr!
STREAKFREAK is NO LONGER OBESE, BABY!!! ROARRRRRR!!!
Motivator?!?! Wowwww, y'all... thank you!!! xoxoxo
Man at church, looking me up and down: "Wow you REALLY look, uhh..." Me: "The word you want is HOT, *winkwink*" LOL!
BIG bowl of "beef" with broccoli. Make body happy.
STREAKFREAK won 1,000 SparkGoodie Points on the SparkPoints Bonus Wheel!
Yesterday's beautiful 90 minute yoga left me sore all the way around my core... front, sides, and back. And hamstrings too. Today, rest...
Chaos! Pandemonium! Disorder! Tearing around the yard like banshees! Bringing sticks into the house! My dogs are crackin' me UP!
STREAKFREAK is 46lbs down but still fat. Feeling very impatient lately...
For time: 5 Ton, 5K! 55:24. Roarrrrr....
Two medjool dates one hour before a tough workout just might be the superhero secret...
Mentally tough, physically hard, spiritually strong. roar.
Are you losing weight? [Me: yep!] Looks good! --guy I haven't seen since end of July. Roar!
Me, to a friend I haven't seen since summer: "Hi, lady!" She just stood there agog, looking me up and down, saying WOWWWWW... Me: "Yup, 47lbs!" She: "I didn't even recognize you!!!" LOL, ROAR!!!
Oh Em Gee. Just graduated from girly knee pushups to proper badass full-plank ones. ARR OH AY ARRRRRR!!!
If the recent pattern continues, I should hit my 50lb mark end of next week. Yeeeeeeeeee!!!
STREAKFREAK is filling her life chock full of things that make her heart sing... (thanks, Dave!)
Everybody head over to OHMEMEME's page and give her a ROAR for reaching ONEDERLAND!!! Woohoo, Tricia!!!
This has absolutely nothing to do with WL or fitness. It's just hilarious and I can't stop watching it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v
20 minutes, as many rounds as possible: 3 wall climbs, 10 up-downs, 5 paralette swings, 10 grasshoppers. Score: 4 rounds and 13 reps. Satisfactory.
GREAT team WOD today!! In pairs, for time, 2 rounds: 200 double unders, fifty 55# overhead squats, 50 pullups, 1 mile run. 51:52. Amazing afterglow... Roar!
Monday! Fresh start! Kickin' off with a killer dawn WOD... 30 handstand pushups, 60 deadlifts, 150 double unders. Let's do this.
[See next blog: Who am I now? Part 2]
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Just reading today..awesome journey
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This is inspiring to read! Thanks for posting!
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what a journey. Congrats
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An Afghan woman married off as a 15-year-old has had her nose cut off by her enraged husband using a pocket knife.
Badly mutilated Reza Gul, 20, was rushed to hospital after the attack in the northwestern province of Faryab on Sunday after losing large amounts of blood.
Her husband, Mohammad Khan, had recently returned from Iran and begun beating and torturing his wife, before also taking a second bride who was aged just seven, it was claimed.
The incident highlights the endemic violence against women in Afghan society, despite reforms since the hardline Taliban Islamist regime was ousted by a 2001 U.S.-led invasion, foreign media reports.

subset: commoncrawl


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Next week Neill Blomkamp's highly anticipated film, DISTRICT 9, will finally be released. The original score for the film was composed by CLINTON SHORTER, whom we are looking to interview next week. Shorter's music for the film is formidable with uneasy strings, edgy electronics, indigenous instrumentation and vocals, and percussion...heavy percussion. A musical recipe that appears to be a good match for the innovative film. Look for more details next week, but for now check the official presser...
(Earth - Los Angeles, CA) Film Composer Clinton Shorter scores District 9 produced by Peter Jackson and directed by Neill Blomkamp. The film, based on Blomkamp's short film, Alive in Joburg, centers on the fallout caused by a group of alien refugees stranded on Earth (in Johannesburg) and forced into a segregation camp (the title comes from District 6, a former inner-city residential area in Cape Town infamous for the forced removal of 60,000 residents in the 70s by the Apartheid regime). The film blends documentary style with traditional shooting techniques. Shorter, recently named by Hollywood Reporter "Next Generation of Film Composers to Watch," has worked with the director on several projects, "I had worked with Neill [Blomkamp] over the years on his commercials and short films. When he called in late 2008 and asked me if I'd score his first feature I was all over it."
For "District 9," Shorter collaborated closely with Blomkamp, "I spent the first several weeks experimenting with every African instrument I could think of. Neill was really pushing me to give the score an African sound; it was quite a task to maintain an African feel but give the film the darkness and edge it required. We incorporated African male vocals with some percussion from the region combined with other elements. With "District 9," I knew from the beginning that I was going to go with more of a hybrid score of live and synthesized instruments. Without giving too much away there's a "mutation" of sorts in the film and I wanted to have that mirrored in the music" Shorter also scored the short film which was the impedus of the feature but, as the composer said, "For the short, we hired a singer and used various orchestral libraries. The sound for the feature is quite different."
I had known Neill for a few years leading up to that short. A friend of mine worked at the same CG house that he was working at, Neill was only 22 at the time but everyone at the office could see the talent and felt one day he would be a super star.


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An anti-aging supplement that supports healthy immune function, blood pressure, and heart function, and increases endurance.*
Research Indicates that CoQ10 may:*
- Support cardiovascular health
- Protect cell membranes from free radical damage
- Be a necessary nutrient for energy production at a cellular level
- Support healthy immune function
- Support healthy insulin production
- Support healthy blood pressure
- Prevent oxidation of LDL cholesterol
CoQ10 is What Gives Our Cells Life!
CoQ10 is a catalyst for food metabolism working in conjunction with enzymes, thus the name "coenzyme". It is essential for the body's cells, tissues and organs. CoQ10 is present everywhere in the body and without it, our cells can't function. Every cell needs this vital coenzyme to create energy within the cell and keep up with life's unceasing demands on our bodies. Co-Q10 is found in the highest concentrations in cells of the heart, liver, kidney and pancreas.*
CoQ10 and Aging
As we age, our body slows down in its production of CoQ10 and our reserves of CoQ10 are gradually depleted. It is thought that after age 20, your body's production of CoQ10 begins to decline. Normal aging can reduce the Coenzyme Q10 levels in the heart by as much as 72%. It becomes more important to keep CoQ10 levels in our bodies stable.*
CoQ10 for the Brain
The brain is especially vulnerable to oxidative stress due to its rich oxygen supply and high fatty acid content. It would seem logical that the brain's antioxidant defense system would be especially robust. Unfortunately, the opposite is the case. CoQ10 is a powerful antioxidant and can significantly neutralize the free radicals that cause oxidative stress thus assisting in keeping in brain health.*
CoQ10 and Your Heart
As mentioned earlier, CoQ10 is most highly concentrated in your heart muscle cells. The heart is made up primarily of cardiac muscle tissue and has the highest energy requirements of all the muscles. CoQ10 provides your heart cells the energy to stay strong.*Who Should Take CoQ10
People that are 19 years old and older will benefit from CoQ10 supplementation. CoQ10 is fat-soluble so should be taken with a meal containing fat for optimal absorption. Also, taking CoQ10 at night may help with the body's ability to use it.
Why Bioperine?
A study performed by the makers of the patented BioPerine® evaluated the bioavailability of curcumin co-administered with BioPerine® in animals and human volunteers. The effectiveness of curcumin can often limited due to its poor absorption from the GI tract. Often when taken orally, just traces appear in the blood whereas most of the dose is excreted though the feces. BioPerine® assists your body in absorbing this amazing supplement. For more details, go to BioPerine®.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Although results may vary and are not guaranteed, Supplement Spot will refund all unsatisfied customers.
Servings per Container: 60
|% Daily Value
|Co-Enzyme Q10 (Ubiquinone)
|100 mg
|10 mg
|Sunflower Lecithin (non-GMO)
|100 mg
|---(25% Phosphatidylcholine)
|25 mg
Other ingredients: gelatin, brown rice, magnesium stearate
** Daily Value has not been established.
As a dietary supplement take 1 capsule daily with a glass of water and food. Take consistently each day for best results
As always, consult your physician before taking supplements, especially if you have a medical or psychiatric condition, or are pregnant or lactating.
These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
As always, consult your physician before taking supplements, especially if you have a medical or psychiatric condition, or are pregnant or lactating.
Recent Customer Reviews
Posted: 7/18/2016
Reviewer: karl
Quality Price Value


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Published at Wednesday, April 24th, 2019 - 04:48:42 AM. Storage Cabinet. By Hanrietta Mahe.
CD storage cabinets are the perfect means to accommodate a growing CD collection. CD storage cabinets assure maximum protection for a CD collection from moisture and scratches and are ideal for long-term storage. CD storage cabinets can be mounted on a table, near the CD player, or can be clamped on the wall.
Most of these kids metal storage units come in traditional as well as modern designs. While most of them are fancy and colorful to suit your kid's preference and taste, they are also known for their durability and style, and you would love the neat and tidy look of your kids room when they are not busy playing with their stuff.
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Portugal's hopes of qualifying for the second round of the 2010 FIFA World Cup was given a real boost with a resounding 7-0 victory against North Korea.
This was the fourth seven-goal victory and the joint third highest winning margin in World Cup history.
We look back at the biggest thrashings from World Cups past.


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Here's the full changelist from the announcement page:
- Remote NFS & SMB/CIFS collections now work! (BR 249760, BR 232976, BR 171213, BR 187692)
- New "Preview" feature for the Organize Collection dialog. Patch by Maximilian Güntner
- String filtering in the albums applet.
- Ability to change text alignment in the lyrics applet.
- gpodder.net Service, a Podcast Directory displaying the most used Tags from gpodder.net & the top Podcasts of these Tags
- The podcast directory service is now based on incremental parsing of OPML without caching in the database.
- Plugins can now be optionally enabled in the config dialog.
- Script selector is moved from the menubar to the config dialog.
- Now all changes to Preset Formats in Organize Collection dialog get saved on close, doesn't matter If dialog was accepted or rejected.
- Added "Update Preset" button to Organize Collection dialog, which updates currently choosen scheme.
- Renewed FilterEditor dialog.
- Changed tokens syntax in FileNameLayoutDialog (TagGuesser, OrginizeCollection dialogs) now tokens wrapped in percent signs (%token% instead of %token).
- Added ability to guess tags from whole track path. (TagGuesser dialog)
- Use KDirWatch to watch changes to collection.
- Do always store track rating as tags in files. Patch by Alan Ezusti
- Added missing tooltip for animation settings. Patch by Bhargav Mangipudi
- Fixed crash on saving playlist on ineligible device. (BR 266899)
- Fixed Photos applet crash on track metadata change. (BR 265395)
- Fixed crash on local collection search. (BR 270949)
- Fixed crash during iPod track removal. (BR 253088)
- Relative paths support for XSPF playlists. (BR 264147)
- Fixed incorrect handling of "Various Artists" node by Collection Browser, now selection of this node returns "Various Artists" tracks instead of whole collection. (BR: 263255, BR: 269717)
- Fixed song scrobbling if It was paused. (BR 267477)
- Screen escape characters in MusicBrainz request string. (BR 269455)
- Fixed detection of iPod devices.
- Fixed crash when the lyrics applet was removed and re-added while a track was playing and the user pressed "ESC".
- Fixed cached lyrics were not displayed if no lyrics script was running.
- Fixed lyrics changes in the TagDialog were not "synchronized" to the lyrics applet.
- Fixed reporting of playback status for MPRIS (both versions). (BR 268282)
- Fixed translation issue in MagnatuneSignupDialog. Patch by Burkhard Lueck (firstname.lastname@example.com) (BR: 239019)
- Fixed crash on loading unsupported format playlist. (BR: 265378)
- Ask delete confirmation for all contents of folder at once instead of each individually. Affects "Saved Playlists" and "Podcasts" (BR 246117)
- Fixed unreadable text in lyrics applet in kde 4.6. (BR 265311)
- Fixed tag dialog crash when sorting by genre and then changing tags.
- Fixed track's statistics update in case of StopAfterCurrent playback mode (prevent double statistics change). (BR 265654)
- Delete .mood files when tracks got removed from collection via Collection view context menu, and move them to new destination during Organize Collection process. (BR 261629)
- Fixed "Configure Amarok..." disappearing in tray menu. (BR 258226)
- Fixed crash when quitting Amarok. (BR 253676, BR 257407)
- Fixed empty folders removal after collection organization. (BR 190881)
- Fixed crash when trying to load cover for track/album without artist. (BR 263256)
- Fixed linking on Solaris 11 (and others?). (BR 264112)
- Fixed temporary podcast download filenames that were to long by using MD5 hash instead. Thanks to Frank Steinmetzger for the patch. (BR 264813)
- Fixed issue with absentee toolbar on clear run (without config files). (BR 259615)
- Fixed CD copying functionality. (BR 264050)
- Fixed CUE tracks playback order. (BR 263237)
- Prevent crash on exit when using Phonon-VLC.
- Fixed crash in the queue editor when trying to show already removed items of the playlist. (BR 263308)
- Fixed Mute button. (BR 253098)
- Fixed issue with Organize collection, which made amarok remove newly copied tracks. (BR 263301)
- Fixed wrong "Configure amarok" action position in tray icon popup menu. (BR 263330)
- Fixed minor inconsistency in the Collection view. Patch by Bhargav Mangipudi
- Fixed potential crash with the Similar Artists applet. Thanks to Tuomas Nurmi
for the patch. (BR 263145)
- Fixed 'Scale Font' option in OSD options for OSD preview widget. (BR 254029)
- Fixed issue with playlist tooltips that was shown independetly from "Show tooltip" option. (BR 263121)
- Fixed issues with multifiles cuesheet, when all tracks get metadata of last track in cuesheet, and each file defined in sheet gets all tracks of this sheet. (BR 262668) (BR 209341)
- Fixed crash when trying to download a full size cover and the server redirects the request. (BR 262902)
- Fixed issue when breadcrumbs stayed not updated after service insert/remove. (BR 262780)
- Fixed issue with TagDialog that make metadata fields stay editable if multiple streams opened. (BR 177400)
- Fixed missing equals-sign ('=') in filter string of bookmarks. (BR 245759)


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The payday loan industry, which is vilified for charging exorbitant interest rates on short-term loans that many Americans depend on, could soon be gutted by a set of rules that federal regulators plan to unveil on Thursday.
People who borrow money against their paychecks are generally supposed to pay it back within two weeks, with substantial fees piled on: A customer who borrows $500 would typically owe around $575, at an annual percentage rate of 391 percent. But most borrowers routinely roll the loan over into a new one, becoming less likely to ever emerge from the debt.
Mainstream banks are generally barred from this kind of lending. More than a dozen states have set their own rate caps and other rules that essentially prohibit payday loans, but the market is flourishing in at least 30 states. Some 16,000 lenders run online and storefront operations that thrive on the hefty profits.
Under the guidelines from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau — the watchdog agency set up in the wake of 2010 banking legislation — lenders will be required in many cases to verify their customers' income and to confirm that they can afford to repay the money they borrow. The number of times that people could roll over their loans into newer and pricier ones would be curtailed.
The new guidelines do not need congressional or other approval to take effect, which could happen as soon as next year.
The Obama administration has said such curbs are needed to protect consumers from taking on more debt than they can handle. The consumer agency — which many Republicans, including Donald J. Trump, have said they would like to eliminate — indicated last year that it intended to crack down on the payday lending market.
"The very economics of the payday lending business model depend on a substantial percentage of borrowers being unable to repay the loan and borrowing again and again at high interest rates," said Richard Cordray, the consumer agency's director. "It is much like getting into a taxi just to ride across town and finding yourself stuck in a ruinously expensive cross-country journey."
Lenders say the proposed rules would devastate their industry and cut vulnerable borrowers off from a financial lifeline.
"Thousands of lenders, especially small businesses, will be forced to shutter their doors, lay off employees, and leave communities that already have too few options for financial services," said Dennis Shaul, the chief executive of the Community Financial Services Association of America, a trade group for payday lenders.
According to the group's website, "More than 19 million American households count a payday loan among their choice of short-term credit products."
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau said the median fee on a storefront payday loan was $15 for every $100 borrowed.
Both sides agree that the proposed rules would radically reshape the market. Loan volume could fall at least 55 percent, according to the consumer agency's estimates, and the $7 billion a year that lenders collect in fees would drop significantly.
That will push many small stores out of business, lenders say. The $37,000 annual profit generated by the average storefront lender would instead become a $28,000 loss, according to an economic study paid for by the trade association.
Companies and individuals could go through the courts to try to overturn the rules or they could seek legislative action. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is a frequent target of scathing criticism from Republican lawmakers. Mr. Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, has said that he wants to repeal or dismantle nearly all of the Dodd-Frank act, the law passed in the aftermath of the financial crisis that created the agency.
The Democratic presidential candidates generally support stricter lending rules. Senator Bernie Sanders has called for a 15 percent rate cap on all consumer loans and for post offices to become basic banking centers, a change that could "stop payday lenders from ripping off millions of Americans," he said in a January speech.
Hillary Clinton praised the payday lending proposals that the consumer agency released last year and urged her fellow Democrats to fight Republican efforts to "defang and defund" the agency.
Consumer advocates are eager for new payday lending rules, but some say the bureau's rules do not go far enough.
"This misses the mark," said Nick Bourke, a research director at the Pew Charitable Trusts, which has conducted extensive research on small-dollar lending. "The C.F.P.B. is proposing an underwriting process, which is helpful, but clearer product safety standards are needed."
In particular, Mr. Bourke said he was frustrated that the agency had dropped a proposal to require that longer-term loan payments consume no more than 5 percent of a borrower's monthly income. The draft rules instead simply require that lenders make sure that customers can afford to repay the loans and still cover their basic living expenses and other debts.
But others interested in consumer issues said they were happy for any new protections at all in an area of the lending market that has been operating as something of a Wild West.
"We've been working toward this day for years," said George Goehl, an executive director of People's Action Institute, a group that says it fights for racial and economic justice. "For decades, predatory payday lenders have gotten away with taking money from people who didn't have much to begin with."
Candice Byrd, 29, is a former payday borrower who welcomes more restrictions on an industry she views as rapacious and destructive. In 2011, while working a sales job, she took out a $500 loan from a storefront in Bloomington, Ill., to help cover a car payment that was due.
The loan had a six-week duration, but halfway through the period, the lender suggested that she roll it over into a new loan. "She was like, 'You're a good customer. This would be helpful for you,'" Ms. Byrd recalled. "It was the worst idea ever."
The second loan set off a worsening cycle that lasted two years as Ms. Byrd borrowed repeatedly to cover the carrying costs on her mounting debt. Unable to pay her bills, she said, she lost her car and her apartment. To extricate herself, she walked away from her final two loans, leaving her credit report in tatters.
Ms. Byrd now pays cash for anything she needs. She doubts that the rules the consumer agency has planned would have prevented her from going into debt, but they probably would have ended the cycle sooner.
"These places want you to keep borrowing," she said. "They don't want you to climb out of the hole."


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BlackBerry OS 10.1
Well here is the official blurb on OS 10.1;
And it all seems to be there as billed and yet I remain rather underwhelmed. Maybe I bought into too much of all the noise at the likes of CrackBerry and others about what might be coming along in OS 10.1? The improved cursor control and the remote file access(for some reason, not mentioned in the link above?) are welcome but I don't have any use for PIN to PIN and can't envisage a use for HDR photography on the Z10. The per contact notifications still doesn't include control of the LED other than on/off/default and whilst I have previously squealed about getting fed up of looking at the blinking red light, I do still want some visual indication that I have received something or other and control of the LED pattern and colour would give a suitable indication of what that might be. There is talk of headless API, which exists already, being rolled out to developers and maybe this, whenever it happens, will see 3rd parties developing effective apps which do not require and active frame. I understand the concerns regarding poorly designed apps which might hog battery but if BB had put something bigger than an 1800 mAh battery in the Z10 in the first place, this wouldn't be so much of a concern would it. I'm most disappointed by the lack of change to the keyboard layout, it is still only all CAPS and when called, displays numbers as part of the full QWERTY keyboard and therefore continues to make the number keys unnecessarily small, which is something of a pain for someone with a numeric password who has to unlock the phone 20+ times a day.
There does now seem to be a slight glitch in the swipe up from the bottom gesture to exit the Hub, it seems to be fine in other apps but to get out of the Hub it now seems to require a swipe much further up the screen than used to be the case.
The update process was smooth enough but took only slightly short of forever. I clicked on the OTA update button before 5 p.m. and was done at about 7.45. Part of the delay may have been down to the server as the first chunk of 327 MB took about 30 mins to download and a further 30 to install. I thought that was it but after doing that piece it started downloading, equally slowly, what it claimed to be, another 2 GB. In fact this turned out to be very little more than 1 GB but still ended up being about another 45 mins for the download and similar time for the install and a 10 min reboot.
My usage varies considerably from day to day so it is difficult to say with any certainty but there does not seem to have been any improvement in battery performance in this update and if I had to choose, I would say that there has been a slight decrease. I can't comment on any stability improvements as I have only had to reboot the Z10 once when BBM stopped working and in the days since OS 10.1 has been installed, the Z10 has worked perfectly.
Roll on OS 10.2


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Achilles tendon is commonly affected by inflammation and strain, either due to the physical degeneration or excessive use (for example, strenuous work-out programs, running, jogging, playing basketball or tennis etc.) and inappropriate footwear; in addition, stiff calf and hamstring muscles can also lead to that disorder, known as achilles tendonitis. To cope with the situation, you can carry out some achilles tendon stretches.
The achilles tendon runs along the back of the lower leg and occupies the region between the two calf muscles, the gastrocnemius and the soleus, connecting them and linking them to the heel bone. Being under continuous load, even when a person is just standing, and responsible for volatile and forceful movements like jumping or climbing stairs, this particular tendon is very susceptible to attrition and injury (achilles tendonitis or/and rupture). Since the calf muscles and the achilles tendon actually form a unit of the lower leg, it is no wonder that the latter can be considerably profited by performing calf stretches, although sometimes that is not enough.
As mentioned above, stretching your gastrocnemius (the upper calf region), your soleus muscle as well as your hamstring muscles with a series of exercises presented here and here, and keeping them in shape, is considered as a fairly reliable way for relieving your achilles tendon. Nevertheless, a bunch of more detailed stretches, particularly designated for the achilles tendon, has been developed; luckily, most of these exercises can be carried out without the need of going to the gym or without necessitating any special apparatuses (yet, supervision is required, primarily when performing them for the first times). Before you apply any of the stretches described below you should read our stretching guide! So:
Hold the static stretches for 20-30 seconds, repeat for 3-4 times, and carry out this routine for at least 3 times a week (obviously depending on your needs). Like always, the static form of stretches we described above can be replaced by isometric, active isolated or dynamic variations of the same stretches!
In order to fully understand how exactly to perform the aforementioned stretches we are providing a few photos and a video:
Performing stretches for the achilles tendon and applying controlled pressure to this area on a regular basis can definitely provide solid help in the prevention or the treatment of achilles tendonitis. Working on your soleus in particular is a highly effective way of keeping your achilles tendon healthy. However, this particular body spot is, due to its nature, not only extremely susceptible to injuries but also very difficulty to be accurately targeted and isolated in order for the stretching to be truly effective. For these reasons, seeking professional advice before attempting to carry out an achilles tendon stretching routine is absolutely essential, particularly in case you have already experienced an injury in the past, while the stretching exercises should be accomplished under supervision by a skilled trainer, at least during your first endeavors. Besides a look to our general stretching guide would also be proved beneficial!
Tune Me In Now on advice to help you to stretch your achilles tendons*** CLICK AT ANY PICTURE TO ENLARGE IT and see a SLIDE SHOW***


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That new WWE 2k15 is actually pretty damn good. The showcase mode gets pretty repetitive after a while, but I love how they actually incorporate the real life feud into the video game, with the footage, and the cut scenes that happened. It makes you feel like you're actually playing the feud which is really damn cool. The actual character models look fucking terrible though [NFC: Yeah, I saw some footage and thought the same thing. Wondering how on Earth things got WORSE, with better technology], the bodies look pretty decent but the faces are really, really bad, and it was a little more than bit disconcerting when playing it on acid. The first feud on there is Punk/Cena, and I think that it's so funny that you can actively see through the storyline how badly they fucked up Punk's run, and title reign. Yeah, making him get beat up by John Cena, Big Show, Ryback, Kevin Nash, and Trips and then losing the title to Flex really made him look good. Jesus… no wonder he left… [Note From Caliber: Ooh, boohoo. Poor CM Punk. He got to go out on live Raw and deliver the most talked about promo in years, and win the title in his home town, clean, against the ultimate babyface. He then got to beat him again at SummerSlam. He then won the title and had one of the longest reigns of all time, defeating the likes of Alberto Del Rio, Daniel Bryan, Chris Jericho, Ryback, and just about everyone else under the sun. Oh no, CM Punk lost to the Rock, oh boohoo. It's not like John Cena jobbed to the Rock in the MAIN EVENT OF WRESTLEMANIA or anything. CM Punk is a sissy little bitch who mops and complains constantly no matter what. I'm glad he's gone and hope he gets knocked the fuck out in his first UFC match.] Anyway, we can't talk about anything fun anymore because it's time for Nitro babbbbbbyyyyy!!!
We start off the show with two of the best promo guys in WCW, Ric Flair and Kevin Nash promoing against each other. Nash KOs Animal and gets in the ring with Flair. Flair is terrified, so Nash chokes him out with the big boot in the corner move. Nash talks some more shit to Flair, and backstage Scott Steiner and Bagwell start running to the ring. Back to the ring, and Nash takes Flair out with a big boot. Nash tells Flair he's tired of Flair making the shots, and then levels him with a clothesline. This is pretty entertaining actually, because Flair is just bumping like a motherfucker. Then Nash says possibly the gayest thing in wrestling history to Flair. "I'm going to embarrass you, I'm going to strip you completely naked on television." What the fuck!? I was watching a 98 Nitro and Flair was taking his own shit off, and was ready to get completely naked on his own free will. Nash strips Flair down to his underwear, and sets Flair up for the powerbomb BUT WAIT! Because Scott Steiner and Bagwell are here…. And Jeff Jarrett…. And Lex Luger. Nash stops them from coming in the ring by saying he'll break Flair's neck if they do anything. Scott tells Nash to leave Flair alone because if he doesn't he's going to kick his ass…. No, you're going to kick his ass if he leaves him alone, you fucking idiot.
Nash introduces Miller, who comes through the crowd. Miller calls Flair, Nash's Grandpa, and Miller says that he's in charge. Miller tells Steiner he's "Poppa Dump." The wit! The heels still aren't running in because Nash has Flair in a neck vice, and is still threatening to break his neck. Flair agrees to let Miller run the show, so Miller tells Poppa Dump that he's going to wrestle three matches in the same show. Fuck that. I do like this segment though, that Nash is just so gritty and forcing Flair to do what he wants, and if he won't HE'S GOING TO BREAK HIS FUCKING NECK!!! Miller makes Steiner vs four crusierweights. [NFC: Oh boy. I bet this will put over the Crusierweights like never before.] Then Steiner has to wrestle Page. Then after that Steiner has to put the title on the line against Kevin Nash for the world title, [NFC: But is the title gonna be on the line? C'mon, man, let us know!] and if Scott loses Flair is going to lose his job. AND Ernest Miller is giving Scott a handicapped match in the main event title match, against Nash and a handicapped match.[NFC: But will the match be a handicap match during the main event match that's a match with a handicap match?] Holy fuck, I really like that the good gm is being super biased against the evil guy. We've always had the generic evil gm giving advantages to the heel, but it's the opposite here and its pretty cool. So I liked the segment, but I don't like the fact that I have to watch Scott Steiner wrestle three times in one night…
1st Match: Scott Steiner vs Yung Dragons and Jamie Knoble and Evan Keragias
I swear to God, if Steiner wins each of these matches… Steiner dominates to start, but gets too cocky, and eats a leg drop off the top from one of the Yungs. The crusiwerweights get crazy and jump on him from all sides of the ring, and all pin him, but Steiner kicks out. Steiner takes them all out with suplexes and clotheslines, and he press slams one of the Yungs to the outside in a pretty cool spot, and then press slams Knoble into the Yung, and then Keragias. Then he comes off the top with a T Bone onto the Yung and has the match won, but stops the Referee from counting. Hahaha, that's actually pretty funny. Steiner throws them around with belly to belly suplexes, and then puts three of the guys on top of each other, and puts them all in the Steiner Recliner to win.
2.0/5.0 This was pretty lame that Steiner beat all guys so easily, but they actually kept it short enough to keep it entertaining, and the crusierweights and fast pace helped cover Steiner's weaknesses. It also was somewhat realistic because Scott Steiner is fucking huge compared to the cruserwieghts.
Flair and Steiner bitch at each other, and Flair blames Sanders for like, no reason, and tells him he's wrestling tonight. Kevin Nash and Miller are chilling backstage, AND KRONIK SHOW UP!!!! Yes!!! DDP comes in there too. Miller gives Adams Bagwell, and DDP's still wrestling Steiner, and Nash is wrestling…. Scott Steiner. AND IF THAT'S NOT ENOUGH STEINER FOR YA!!! Mean Gene interviews Rick Steiner!! It's not Nitro baby, its Monday Night Steiner!! Steiner-Mania. Steiner-Brawl. SteinerCade. The Steiner Rumble. The Steiner Chamber. The reason Clarke isn't wrestling tonight, is because Animal hit his tag partner with a chair. So… Adams is going to wrestle Bagwell? What the fuck!!???
2nd Match: Shane Douglas© vs Rick Steiner for the US Title (STEINER MAINA BABBBBYYYY)
Shane cuts a generic YOU'RE ALL WHITE TRASH HICKS promo and then Rick Steiner tells Shane to shut his mouth. Holy fuck, this will be so fucking lame if Rick wins this. The angle here is that Shane was pinned by Rick last week, so he's not sure if he can take him this week. Kind of like that angle honestly, they should use more psychology like that now instead of just having the IC or US Champion losing all the time, and it not meaning anything.
Shane uses the cast to get the advantage and takes Rick to the outside. Back in after some rakes to the face, and Shane chokes Rick out. Back outside, and Shane whips Rick into the guardrail. Then Shane grabs a chair… and then does the oddest thing, as he literally just pokes Rick with it a couple times. Then he hits Rick over the head with it, but the Ref grabs the chair, and Rick gets the advantage with some punches. Rick grabs the chair now, but the Ref takes the chair away from him. Back inside, and Rick rakes Shane's face, and hits him with a stiff punch. Shane rolls back to the outside, so Rick whips Shane into the guardrail. This match… isn't too bad really. It has like no structure but is a nice little trashy brawl, wish it was hardcore match though so they could go all out. Shane goes back in the ring, and crotches Rick as he tries to go in. Shane with a nice neck snap, and some boots. Rick tires to come back with some punches, but Shane eye pokes him. They do a whip sequence and Shane eats a power slam. Rick goes to the top rope, and goes for…. Something, but Shane hits him with the cast. Shane hits Rick with the Franchiser, but Rick kicks out at two. Holy fuck, that Referee is ginger. Jesus, is Rick really going to go over here? And yeah, Rick hits his Steiner Driver and wins the match. Bleh.
2.5/5.0 Fun little trashy brawl match, and Shane actually had some decent psychology with his cast. The end result that Rick wins is some bullshit though. STEINERLINEEEEE!!!
Are you ready for some more Steiner? Instead of TLC, WWE should make a PPV called, Steiner, Steiner, Steiner, and Steiner. Steiner Rules. Stienergeddon.
Golddustin is here and Ric Flair's mad about it… for some reason.[NFC: Remember, Flair brought Dustin back last week to save the company, but Dustin turned on him and kicked his ass with his dad, Dusty] Dustin sounds super white trash here, "I'm not finished with you boy. I'm gonna kick your ass, boy." Dustin seems really awkward on the mic here, taking long pauses in between his sentences. Ric Flair comes up on the Titan Tron, and holy fuck, him moving around and acting crazy on a giant Titan Tron is both trippy and hilarious. Flair wants security to grab Dustin and cut to a commercial about some movie were a guy smokes cigarettes. Seems pretty cool. Time for a cig
3rd Match: STEINER MAINA PART 3 BABY!!!!: DDP vs Scott Steiner
God, y'know, I think this show would be a lot better if it had more Steiner. Wasn't DDP/Steiner like the main event of a PPV a while ago? WCW's just so unmemorable at this point….
DDP starts off fast, and takes Steiner to the outside with a clothesline. Steiner whips DDP into the rail, and press slams him onto it. Steiner tries to ram Page into the apron, but DDP ain't having none of it and throws Steiner back in. Page goes to the top, but Midajah crotches him. Steiner puts Page into the tree of woe, and chokes him out. DDP tries to come back with a roll up but Steiner punches him out of it. Atomic drop by Steiner, and then a backbreaker for two. Midajah looks pretty damned hot. Steiner kisses his muscles, and does some push ups, because its STEINER MAINIA BABYYYYY!!!!
Steiner flexes for too long, and Page comes back with punches, but runs into a boot in the corner, and a belly to belly for two. Scott gets pissed he only got two, and KOs the Ref, but then eats a Cutter from Steiner. The Ref wakes up, and just DQ's Steiner… so Page wins I guess.
2.5/5.0 Pretty fast paced again, and the story was pretty decent with Steiner being powerful, but Page being smart enough to come back, and almost pin Steiner cleanly.
Page celebrates with the fans, per usual, and Kanyon and Jarrett jump him for some reason. Steiner poses even though he just lost the match, because its STEINER MAINIA BABY!!!!
4th Match: El Nino ???? (some dude in like Ninja Gear) vs Chavo Guerrero
Chavo with a headlock, and criss cross, and Nino eats a shoulderblock. Chavo brings Nino into the corner, and boots him down. Chavo does that ROH rubbing the boot over the face thing, which is pretty cool. Chavo with a backdrop suplex for two. Chavo's getting a little overly cocky, and Nino tries to make a comeback, but runs into a backbreaker for two. Nino finally gets some offense in as he sends Chavo to the outside, and hits a nice suicida. That might be the only offense he gets though, as Chavo whips Nino HARD into the rail and then suplexes him on the ground! Chavo goes to the top, but Nino cuts Chavo off and comes off the top with a rana!!! Only a two count, but damn. Chavo goes for another backbreaker but Nino reverses into his own, but then he runs into a boot from Chavo. This is a good match, but the story of Chavo killing Nino, and then Nino coming back, but then getting killed by Chavo again is getting a bit tired. Nino with a roll up for two, but Chavo stops him again, and God, I'm getting tired of this story honestly. Nino with that cool bulldog Rey Mysterio thing, and a leg drop off the top for the win, and Nino takes his shit off, AND IT WAS REY ALL ALONG!!!!
2.5/5.0 There was some promise here, but they kept on reversing the match, and it just seemed to go nowhere, and end out of nowhere. Still a decent match, and the story could've been better if it was a little more polished.
5th Match: Lance Storm and Mike Awesome vs Sean O'Hare and Chuck Palumbo
Lance Storm wants to be serious for a minute. Storm reminds everyone that Flair has the full support of Team Canada, and it's time to play the Canadian National Anthem, but Miller cuts him off because Miller's a super asshole, and says that no one wants to hear the crap. What an asshole, dude. Way to alienate the Canadian fans, asshole. [NFC: Dude, is there a law in Florida that says you can't call Ernest Miller anything but an asshole?] Miller makes Team Canada vs The Thrillers. Should be pretty decent.
God, Chuck is such a horrible name. Anywho, Sean and Awesome start it off. They trade really, really sissy ass chops. I mean, these chops look like total shit. Awesome ends it with a sick German suplex, and then clotheslines Sean to the outside, and hits a nice suicida to the outside. Awesome gets on the apron, so Chuck Palumbo hits him with an apron dropkick, so Storm hits Chuck with a missile dropkick off the ropes. Another nice dropkick by Storm for two. Criss cross but Sean runs in to break it up, and clotheslines Storm. Sean to a wrist lock, and then some stiff punches. Palumbo in and do a double arm drag to Storm. Chuck with some punches and a nice powerslam for two.
After a little more double teaming Storm comes back with a dropkick and tags in Awesome. Awesome runs right into a stun gun and Seanny and Chuckie work over Awesome for a bi. Awesome comes off the top rope with a nice elbow to Sean, and comes off the top rope with a sick frogsplash but Chuck breaks it up. Storm punches Chuck to the outside and Awesome sets Sean up for the Awesome Bomb but Sean rolls out. Chuck runs in and hits a backdrop suplex to Awesome, and Sean works over Storm in the corner, hitting him with a nice superkick. Storm then, accidentally puts Awesome in the Maple Leaf in a pretty cool spot I haven't seen before, and Sean hits the swanton for the win.
3.5/5.0 Pretty great tag team match really, and all of those guys can GO. They fit together perfectly, and if they worked together a little more they could have some really good tag matches. Fucking lame that Storm didn't win though, I mean what did Chuck Palumbo and Sean O Hare ever end up doing? Storm is Storm motherfucker! He main-evented a Raw with Flex, which makes him more important than either of them.
6th Match: Buff Bagwell vs Bryan Adams
Adams takes Bagwell to the outside, and punches him around. I think that every singles match on this show has started with them taking it to the outside. Back inside, and Bagwell gets a dropkick… and I don't know what the deal is, but Bagwell's yellow tights here look really bad on him. Funny commentary aside, Mark Madden says, "Y'know, I think some people forget how buff, Buff Bagwell actually is." He says this in a completely un sarcastic way too. After some boring normal heel stuff from Bagwell, Lex Luger comes out BUT SWERVE Bryan Clarke is here. He starts fucking Luger up, but Animal is out here and attacks Clarke. The Ref rings the bell just as Adams is about to win, due to a time limit they didn't mention before (10 minutes, but I really doubt the match was actually 10 minutes). Luger gets in the ring, and they attack Adams.
1.0/5.0 Really boring match, especially with Bagwell having to carry most of the action. I think Bagwell works a lot better as a face, because his signature moves are pretty facey, and he doesn't have to carry the bulk of the match. I do want to see Kronik kill Totally Buff though, so job well done there.
Florida and Texas suck ass.
Main Event: Kevin Nash and ???? vs Scott Steiner © for the World Heavyweight Championship in STEINER MAINA PART IV: THE QUEST FOR PEACE!!!!
KEVIN NASH'S SECRET PARTNER IS RICK STEINER!!!! HOLY FUCK!!! Main Event: Kevin Nash and Rick Steiner vs Scott Steiner © for the World Heavyweight Championship in STEINER MAINA PART V: THE STEINER STRIKES BACK!!!
It really is Steinermania!!!! Rick and Scott take it to the outside, and Scott throws Rick into the crowd. Nash brings Scott into the ring, and Scott begs off on Nash in a pretty cool spot. Nash with punches in bunches, and some knees, and that big boot choke. Midajah distracts the Ref and Scott hits a low blow. Scott with a clothesline, and an elbow into push ups. Holy fuck, Scott Steiner is so limited. In every match this night, he has done the exact same moves. Like literally, he almost hasn't changed one thing up. Scott with a backbreaker, and Nash powers out. Nash rams Steiner's head into the corner, but eats an elbow. Scott picks up Nash and it's kind of a weird image because Nash is just so damn tall. Nash hits a sidewalk slam but is too hurt to win. Nash hits the snake eyes and big boot. I totally feel like Rick Steiner is going to do a heel turn. And yep. Nash hits the powerbomb and has the match won, BUT SWERVE!!! Rick hits ONE elbow, and Scott gets the pin off it. Scott and Rick kiss each others biceps.
2.5/5.0 This was kept to the important, end of the match stuff so it was pretty decent but the turn was super fucking obvious, but the story itself was actually pretty decent. [NFC: I honestly don't think there was ONE turn in WCW from the year 2000 until they closed up shop that a sane person wouldn't have seen coming miles awa.]
Scott and Rick are about to leave, but DDP comes down the ramp with a chair, but the shows over.
Final Thoughts: Even though this show had four matches involving the Steiner's and one of them had TWO Steiner's it was actually a pretty decent show. They kept Steiner in really fast paced matches, so his weaknesses were hidden, and it was actually a clever spin on the evil gm angle that I haven't seen done before. Nice creativity, and the show was mostly fast paced, and fun. However, the show did start to drag around the mid way point, and never really picked up, even at the main event. The turn at the end was so obvious, and it also kind of felt like this week was totally pointless as no major stories really got advanced. Nash is still feuding with Scott, and nothing is really established or changed, other than Rick Steiner turning heel. So it's a pretty decent Nitro, and you might want to check it out, but its lacking a feeling of importance, and you might get a bit tired of it halfway through.


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Laura Vandervoort is a guest with other actors at the event organized by Charlie Sheen and the Comedy Central. The event held to Sony Studios to Culver City CA.
The show is aired in September 19, 2011 on Comedy Central.
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Monday, June 28, 2010
Summer So Far...Sooooo Good!
Well, freakishly we've got enough rain we have not had to irrigate at all! So much for the 'hot n' dry' theory -so far. Pipes laid and connected, then disconnected and moved around so we could cultivate. Each and every time the damn dames with their suits, hair & lipstick come on in front of a green screen on the weather network and start in with 'tornado warnings' and show pictures and video of 'hail' in neighboring county's with a sort of gleam in their eyes (like their job all of a sudden got exciting) make me obviously stressed and want to slap them sideways. The majority of the time they are very, very wrong and don't know much unless it's pissing on their heads and for this forecast I can get myself on my iPhone via a nifty radar!! Despite the stupidity of some suits, this summer so far is great for the crops! We've used an approved pesticide called 'Entrust' to finally help out with the Colorado Potato Beetle that has always wreaked havoc on spuds, tomatoes and whipped out our eggplants each year. Each rain day gives me ample opportunity to work in the 'covered fields' on my awesome heirloom tomato crop. Broccoli seems to have begun and soon to end....the heat has made this crop very crappy, so enjoy it and look to the fall for decent, heavy heads of this crop. Onions thriving, cucs coming along. Peas are excellent and sweet, Green Beans are in blossom. Sweet corn is well over a foot tall, cultivated and will be available in August. Pepper plants are great looking. I feel a pepper year too coming on! Last pick of strawberries is this week. Watermelons growing, soy beans are being cultivated and doing great! Storage cabbage, squash and a later crop of cucs are being field transplanted this week which will empty greenhouse #2 finally. Beets, beautiful big beets are plentiful! Kale's thriving and the last of the lettuce will come off this week! We failed to get pigs this year, just completely ran out of time this year. BUT I have baby 'meat' bunnies that have been born! Har, har, good luck with this one I tell myself! They are pretty cute. Ben has told recent company that this is a 'retirement' farm for animals. We'll need a good year this year and the next two to try to catch up financially because of the last two crappers. Like I've said 'so far, so good'. However, I always feel pretty rich and happy about what we do pulling the market truck down the drive to the barn after a long market day....job well done, happy customers, good food delivered, awesome daily emails full of compliments for what we do! Thanks... :)
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Farmin' Father's Day!
There is just something special and irreplaceable between daddies and daughters! Especially so if your dad is a farmer. There is something very nurturing about seeding, caring for and harvesting crops that makes these types of dads some of the world's best. "Down to Earth" perhaps? Though I didn't bother asking dad for money when I was young, (as I got the longest speech about the current price of corn and beans or his famous line: "You've got two hands and a brain - go make some yourself!") he would pull a few surprises and give me $50 before a school trip or when I didn't ask... He made me work hard, taught me all about integrity and respect. I listened to my dad (until I was about 15), then he backed off as I got older and let me grow and learn about life for myself. There were times and are still times to this day when I don't often talk to him....but I know that I can call him anytime (on his cell, as he's likely to be in the field) and he would always be there for me! You can never cut ties between a daddy & daughter. For my dad and I, it's less sappy, less dramatic and less touchy vs the mother/daughter relationship - but just as powerful! A lot is said by saying absolutely nothing at all. A quick 'hi' and a grin and you just know how much your loved! I can't imagine life without dad - it would be a very lonely place and I don't think I'd be half the woman I am today without my dads love and support! Hell, I wouldn't be farming today if it wasn't for his influence either!! Happy Father's Day to all Papas! ***And Smash, if you can't make it over to the farm for Father's Day, daddy totally understands, no worries - he loves you turd!! ; ) *****
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Our strawberry patch is nestled in between a beautiful crop of our spelt wheat. Snakes, mice & our cats are having a lot of fun out there! Our first pick was Tuesday, June 8th this year. The crop is bountiful! We have two varieties, an early and later variety. Generally early berries are not super sweet, so don't worry if your first savor of the year doesn't prove to be the 'sweetest'. With heat that June should throw, berries sweeten up later on in the month. Ben and I have our berries picked into our white 3 litre baskets, then we grade them into the green quarts you see at market. (Quality control you see!) We've bought our own boxes/flats this year to re-use and re-use again! They then head into our cold storage the day before market to stay 'cold' before the trip to the city! We've ordered 20,000 more plants for this year, so another patch will go in (**another new variety we want to try for 2011!) as generally when a patch reaches two years, it begins to die off and not produce. Enjoy the harvest! Kera our Wychwood helper is heading to the farm with her 'food machines' - a turbo blender to make smoothies and an ice cream maker! I will make the daquiris!! Ben and I are currently enjoying blended Strawberries, Avocado and a bit of Bee's Universe Honey for breakfast! I will be freezing a ton of these guys to enjoy come winter as part of my new 'preserve the seasons' weekly task.
Greenhouse Heirloom Update....
Catching up....
Trying to catch up with blogging! Lots of stuff happening around here! Planting, planting like mad! Harvesting huge heads of Lettuce and Asian Greens like Bok Choy and Tatsoi; Weeding, hoeing, cultivating! What we've been up to the past few weeks: planting Winter Squash, second planting of Cucumbers, Sweet Potatoes (yes, another crop!**), transplanting Celeriac, Brussel Sprouts, Tomatoes (roma, round & cherry & heirloom), Peppers ( LOTS of different peppers thsi year!!); Being weeded and thriving is a huge Broccoli and transplanted Beet patch, sweet white Onions, Kale, Kolhrabi, etc,etc...**Picking strawberries, ordering new plants (our exsisting patch is two years old, time to get new); Peas in blossom, Green Beans thriving, Sweet Corn germinated and growing awesome, potato beetles 'mating' on potato plants and hanging out on every single Eggplant I have!! (soon to die via natural remedy called 'entrust') and the list goes on and on and on!!!! Fields look beautiful! Always feel behind, but on a rainy day like today is when I have time to get organized! Ben and I still have a good feeling about this year! Time to catch up! Enjoy the harvest that is going to hit hard very, very soon!
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Employment Affairs and Social Protection Minister, Regina Doherty, T.D., has announced that a public awareness campaign about false self-employment in Ireland will begin tomorrow, Monday, 7th May.
The public awareness campaign follows on from recommendations in the 'Report on Intermediary Structures and Self-Employment Arrangements', which was published in January this year. The report found there is no evidence that there has been any significant change in the level of self-employment in the economy. However, concerns have been raised that false self-employment exists across a number of industry sectors in Ireland. False self-employment is an employment relationship which creates the appearance that a person is self-employed, when, in reality, they are a direct employee of a business or corporate structure.
This campaign is aimed at ensuring that there is better public awareness of the important service the Department provides in determining employment status. The campaign response should help the Department in better understanding the scale and nature of false self-employment.
Minister Doherty said the campaign timing is opportune:
"As the economy continues to grow steadily and the labour market continues to improve, it is timely that what defines a person's employment status is made clear. It is also important that people are aware of the role of my Department in determining a person's employment status.
While the Government recognises that the vast majority of self-employment is legitimate, genuine, and an important contributor to the Irish economy, cases of false self-employment can and do arise, leaving both the worker and the Irish exchequer worse off. False self-employment impacts on an employee's entitlements to social welfare benefits such as jobseekers and illness benefits, and employment rights including entitlement to statutory minimum pay rates, leave entitlements, and protection against unfair dismissal. False self-employment reduces PRSI contributions and thereby reduces the Social Insurance Fund and also has the potential to reduce tax revenues for the exchequer.
Responsible businesses that employ their staff legitimately can face a competitive disadvantage where this practice exists. Reducing false self-employment will benefit workers, businesses and the exchequer. Working with the Workplace Relations Commission and Revenue my Department will ensure that we tackle the issue of false self-employment in a joined up way."
The public awareness campaign will run over the coming weeks with national, regional and online, media advertisements including radio, print, bus shelters, Dart and Luas services and adverts in major railway stations. To reflect the international and multicultural nature of the Irish workforce, the online and social media elements of the campaign will be provided in eight languages; French, Hindi, Mandarin, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian and Spanish.
The campaign response will help the Department to develop its understanding of the scale and nature of false self-employment and may potentially identify sectors for inspection by the Department of Employment Affairs & Social Protection, Revenue and the Workplace Relations Commission.
Detailed information on false self-employment and the Department's employment status service is provided here: www.welfare.ie/employmentstatus.
Notes for Editor
The advertising campaign will cost €167,500 incl VAT (which includes all advertising, creative development and translation costs).
Other Resources
Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
Contact Details
E: email@example.com
Twitter: @welfare_ie


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The cork has been popped and the latest attempt to engage the wider UK music public with a form of country music is out to show that it's more vibrant fizz than flat drizzle. In a shadow of collaborative US tours, the two acts spearheading this industry driven manoeuvre opened an assault on matching their media persona with live audience engagement. The Shires and Ward Thomas have been presented with a golden opportunity to drive a 'country' wedge into the mainstream with the next phase being a co-headline cleverly curated 'Homegrown Tour' which opened in Birmingham tonight.
In a mirror image to the stateside trend, those seeking mainstream approval see the ditching of banjo, fiddle and steel as a prerequisite to success although quite rightly they still retain the power of song. So the Glee Club stage was filled with guitars, keyboard and drums along with a near sell-out crowd the envy of many a UK artist ploughing the country, roots and Americana path. Prior to the two rotating main acts, Dexeter opened the evening although appearing as a duo instead of their trademark ever expanding band. In a developing theme of the evening, an abundance of well-constructed songs flowed from the stage sung with no mean vigour and impressive range. You got the impression that Dexeter may be at their best with their band and rave reviews have backed that concept. One little piece of advice is not to apologise for singing too many sad songs. This is the country music way.
The Shires momentum is being guided by one of Nashville's 'biggies' in Decca Records and the clock is ticking towards that all important debut album release in January. Making a first appearance with their band, the songs previously confined to the acoustic domain live took on a new lease of life with a fuller sound. The vocals of Crissie are entirely suited to the power ballad style which follow a Nashville blueprint and make a successful transition from studio to stage. A load more full band gigs will help further cement the onstage chemistry between Chrissie and Ben who are still relatively in their infancy as a performing duo. Both come across as accomplished performers keen to bring their own songs to the table and inject a home grown slant to the themes conducive with modern country outage. 'On a Friday', 'Tonight' and 'Stateline' were three songs to benefit from a renewed live rendition.
Ward Thomas have laid their cards on the table with a debut album packed full of toe tapping melodies and a sense of how to bridge the ideals of country music. The songs are rich in influence, sincere in sentiment and provide a cutting personal insight on their surroundings. The twins, Catherine and Lizzy, are more advanced with the use of a band and were graced by a lead guitarist quite easily the outstanding musician on the evening. This was in parallel with the evening's stand out song and a rather raucous rockin' version of 'Town Called Ugely'. Many present obviously were initially exposed to the band via the Radio 2 playlist numbers 'Push the Stride', 'Way Back When' and the lively opener 'The Good and the Right'. However from a personal angle they are equally as competent with their folk inspired material including 'Wasted Words' and the excellently covered Dougie McLean standard 'Caledonia'.
It would be difficult to argue against the evening's prime moment as the twins opened their headline set with a spine-tingling a Capella version of Loretta Lynn's classic 'You Ain't Woman Enough To Be My Man'. However just like in the US, there is going to be vigorous and healthy debate about the direction of country music especially when profiles are raised by media and label presence. On the other hand, a ready-made audience may just want to accept the bands on their own merit and undeniable talent.


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|Project by Gumnut
|posted 07-10-2012 11:38 AM
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Today I have this box that I made for my Darling Wife, It is made from Western Australian sheoak – (Allocasuarina fraseriana) with an oil finnish in this case.
The lid has a handle that is part of the inlay ( material is black bamboo I think).
The Hinges are home made from sheet brass and they were polished, I think I should have sprayed them with clear lacquer though.
Hope you enjoy, four more projects to upload.
-- Peter, member of the Fine Woodwork Association http://www.fwwa.org.au/index.htm
23 comments so far
#1 posted 07-10-2012 11:59 AM
I really like this box. The hinges I like as well. Might have to give those a try on a larger scale for a chest or something.
-- A carpenter takes an ugly, knotted, twisted piece of wood and makes something beautiful and pure from it. Jesus is a carpenter, I am a piece of wood.
#2 posted 07-10-2012 12:32 PM
Wow – yet another great piece of work. I epecially like the hinge/lid treatment. Very impressive work… I'm sure that your wife will love it. Thanks for posting
-- Brice, Philadelphia
#3 posted 07-10-2012 12:37 PM
what a great idea ! hairbrushes take up space and aren't very decorative, or get dropped in drawers and get tangled with other things; this is a nice solution
-- I'm so busy I don't know if I found a rope or lost a horse...
#4 posted 07-10-2012 12:38 PM
That is just elegant. Very nice.
-- -- I'm no rocket surgeon
#5 posted 07-10-2012 12:54 PM
Impressive design – beautiful work!
-- masrol, kuala lumpur, MY.
#6 posted 07-10-2012 01:45 PM
Nice Box, I was thinking to ask where You got those hinges untill reading the post, they are very cool, fine craftsmanship with a real touch of class, thanks for sharing
-- It's Mic Keep working and sharing
#7 posted 07-10-2012 02:29 PM
Peter, another stunner here. I like the delicate feel of the molded sides and having the lift "grow" out of the inlay is a really wonderful idea. It does have a feminine feel to the design.
The hinges are interesting. Exposing them on the inside saves a lot of digging…great idea. I am surprised you didn't include a brass "bumper" where the hinge meets the wood in the back. It is hard for me to judge from the picture, does the top's weight balance well in terms of staying in place? What a nice concept.
Great photography too by the way. Nice job of showing us details and particulars. I am really looking forward your next posting. Thanks for sharing this one with us.
-- Big Al in IN
#8 posted 07-10-2012 02:30 PM
Wow, that is a nice piece of work ! you my friend are a talent to be reckoned with! Love it !
-- Dave, Kansas City
#9 posted 07-10-2012 02:30 PM
Love this box it has lots of great details,very nicely done.
#10 posted 07-10-2012 04:06 PM
Gee this is one gorgeous box, nice work on all aspects. I love the lift and the cove sides, thank for posting…BC
#11 posted 07-10-2012 06:40 PM
Very well done box and the hinges you made are fantastic .
#12 posted 07-10-2012 11:37 PM
Lovely work indeed. Great approach to hinging. Designing and detailing are exceptional. Really nice work.
-- "Everybody makes mistakes. A craftsman always fixes them." (Monty Kennedy, "The Checkering and Carving of Gunstocks", 1952)
#13 posted 07-11-2012 12:55 AM
A lovely box, as per usual. I like it inside and out :-)
-- Gossamer shavings just floating around the back yard….-Bandit
#14 posted 07-11-2012 01:26 AM
I love everything about this box. That sheoak is gorgeous and the black bamboo is a perfect complement. The shop made hinge is pretty crafty. The sculpted box jointed design is becoming your trademark. I knew who made this as soon as I saw it. GREAT box!
-- " I'll try to be nicer, if you'll try to be smarter" gfadvm
#15 posted 07-11-2012 03:14 AM
Since I posted my appreciation for your box 13 hours ago, I can't seem to get it out of my mind. the puzzler for me is the hinge. I understand its operation, but how did you go about laying it out? did you do it on a cad program? or did you do a trial and error mockup? If you don't mind sharing, I'm really curious as to how you approached the engineering of it.
-- Dave, Kansas City
showing 1 through 15 of 23 comments
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On July 15th to the 17, PA DeMolay held its annual Convention at the Seven Springs Ski Resort in Seven Springs Pennsylvania. Members and Advisors from all over Pennsylvania gathered together to vote for their Elected State Officers, receive awards for their respective chapters, and most importantly to have fun.
The weekend started with a fun filled time at Caddie Shak Family Fun Center, in which members played miniature golf, raced each other in Go-Karts and enjoyed some games in the arcade. Members and Advisors could also spend some time at the batting cages and taking some swings at the driving range.
On Saturday, the delegates of PA DeMolay elected their 2016-2017 State Officer Corps. The team consists of Bro Eric Dye as the State Master Councilor, Bro Jacob Beers as Deputy State Master Councilor, Bro Andrew Santilli as State Senior Councilor, Bro B. Tyler Moyer as State Junior Councilor and Bro Brian Martin as State Scribe. Miss Caitlin Gresham was also elected the State Sweetheart for PA DeMolay. During the Business Session, Senior DeMolay Zachary Slayback spoke about proving our self-worth in order to get where we want to be.
During the Luncheon, "Mom" Jean Richards was presented the Hodegos Award. Several chapters received awards for topics such as RD of the Year, Obligitory Days Competitions and Outstanding Chapter. "Dad" Louis GrowMiller was also awarded the 2016 Guild of the Leather Apron. After the Luncheon, Members and Advisors enjoyed the activities at the resort, including bowling, disc golf and the alpine luge.
On Sunday Morning, the newly Elected State Officers were installed. Bro Eric Dye started his term off by presenting his theme for the year, DeMolay Goes Hollywood. For more information on DeMolay Goes Hollywood, refer to the page on the website. If you were not at Convention 2016, you may want to fix that for next year.