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+--- Functionality changes from Asterisk 1.6.1 to Asterisk 1.6.2 -------------
+* Nothing, yet!
--- Functionality changes from Asterisk 1.6.0 to Asterisk 1.6.1 -------------
+Device State Handling
+ * The event infrastructure in Asterisk got another big update to help support
+ distributed events. It currently supports distributed device state and
+ distributed Voicemail MWI (Message Waiting Indication). A new module has
+ been merged, res_ais, which facilitates communicating events between servers.
+ It uses the SAForum AIS (Service Availability Forum Application Interface
+ Specification) CLM (Cluster Management) and EVT (Event) services to maintain
+ a cluster of Asterisk servers, and to share events between them. For more
+ information on setting this up, see doc/distributed_devstate.txt.
Dialplan Functions
* Added a new dialplan function, AST_CONFIG(), which allows you to access
variables from an Asterisk configuration file.
* The JACK_HOOK function now has a c() option to supply a custom client name.
-Zaptel channel driver (chan_zap) Changes
+ * Added two new dialplan functions from libspeex for audio gain control and
+ denoise, AGC() and DENOISE(). Both functions can be applied to the tx and
+ rx directions of a channel from the dialplan.
+ * The SMDI_MSG_RETRIEVE function now has the ability to search for SMDI messages
+ based on other parameters. The default is still to search based on the
+ forwarding station ID. However, there are new options that allow you to search
+ based on the message desk terminal ID, or the message desk number.
+ * TIMEOUT() has been modified to be accurate down to the millisecond.
+ * ENUM*() functions now include the following new options:
+ - 'u' returns the full URI and does not strip off the URI-scheme.
+ - 's' triggers ISN specific rewriting
+ - 'i' looks for branches into an Infrastructure ENUM tree
+ - 'd' for a direct DNS lookup without any flipping of digits.
+ * TXCIDNAME() has a new zone-suffix parameter (which defaults to 'e164.arpa')
+ * CHANNEL() now has options for the maximum, minimum, and standard or normal
+ deviation of jitter, rtt, and loss for a call using chan_sip.
+DAHDI channel driver (chan_dahdi) Changes
- * Channels can now be configured using named sections in zapata.conf, just
+ * Channels can now be configured using named sections in chan_dahdi.conf, just
like other channel drivers, including the use of templates.
+ * The default for pridialplan has changed from 'national' to 'unknown'.
PBX Changes
* It is now possible to specify a pattern match as a hint. Once a phone subscribes
to something that matches the pattern a hint will be created using the contents
and variables evaluated.
+ * Dialplan matching has been extended to allow an extension to return to the
+ PBX core to wait for more digits. This is done by using the new dialplan
+ application called "Incomplete". This will permit a whole new level of
+ extension control, by giving the administrator more control over early
+ matches employing one of the short-circuit pattern match operators. Note
+ that custom applications can trigger this same behavior by returning the
+ special value AST_PBX_INCOMPLETE.
Application Changes
Application Changes
quite helpful.
* Voicemail now permits a mailbox setting to wrap around from first to last
messages, if the "messagewrap" option is set to a true value.
+ * Voicemail now permits an external script to be run, for password validation.
+ The script should output "VALID" or "INVALID" on stdout, depending upon the
+ wish to validate or invalidate the password given. Arguments are:
+ "mailbox" "context" "oldpass" "newpass". See the sample voicemail.conf for
+ more details
* Dial has a new option: F(context^extension^pri), which permits a callee to
continue in the dialplan, at the specified label, if the caller hangs up.
* ChanSpy and ExtenSpy have a new option, 's' which suppresses speaking the
Application Changes
* Chanspy has a new option, 'B', which can be used to "barge" on a call. This is
like the pre-existing whisper mode, except that the spy can also talk to the
participant on the bridged channel as well.
+ * Chanspy has a new option, 'n', which will allow for the spied-on party's name
+ to be spoken instead of the channel name or number. For more information on the
+ use of this option, issue the command "core show application ChanSpy" from the
+ Asterisk CLI.
+ * Chanspy has a new option, 'd', which allows the spy to use DTMF to swap between
+ spy modes. Use of this feature overrides the typical use of numeric DTMF. In other
+ words, if using the 'd' option, it is not possible to enter a number to append to
+ the first argument to Chanspy(). Pressing 4 will change to spy mode, pressing 5 will
+ change to whisper mode, and pressing 6 will change to barge mode.
+ * ExternalIVR now takes several options that affect the way it performs, as
+ well as having several new commands. Please see doc/externalivr.txt for the
+ complete documentation.
+ * ChanIsAvail has a new option, 'a', which will return all available channels instead
+ of just the first one if you give the function more then one channel to check.
+ * PrivacyManager now takes an option where you can specify a context where the
+ given number will be matched. This way you have more control over who is allowed
+ and it stops the people who blindly enter 10 digits.
+ * ForkCDR has new options: 'a' updates the answer time on the new CDR; 'A' locks
+ answer times, disposition, on orig CDR against updates; 'D' Copies the disposition
+ from the orig CDR to the new CDR after reset; 'e' sets the 'end' time on the
+ original CDR; 'R' prevents the new CDR from being reset; 's(var=val)' adds/changes
+ the 'var' variable on the original CDR; 'T' forces ast_cdr_end(), ast_cdr_answer(),
+ obey the LOCKED flag on cdr's in the chain, and also the ast_cdr_setvar() func.
+ * The Dial() application no longer copies the language used by the caller to the callee's
+ channel. If you desire for the caller's channel's language to be used for file playback
+ to the callee, then the file specified may be prepended with "${CHANNEL(language)}/" .
+ * SendImage() no longer hangs up the channel on error; instead, it sets the
+ status variable SENDIMAGESTATUS to one of 'SUCCESS', 'FAILURE', or
+ 'UNSUPPORTED'. This change makes SendImage() more consistent with other
+ applications.
+ * Park has a new option, 's', which silences the announcement of the parking space number.
SIP Changes
- * The ATTENDED_TRANSFER_COMPLETE_SOUND can now be set using setvar to cause a given
- audio file to be played upon completion of an attended transfer.
* Added DNS manager support to registrations for peers referencing peer entries.
DNS manager runs in the background which allows DNS lookups to be run asynchronously
as well as periodically updating the IP address. These properties allow for
SIP Changes
and restore this performance improvement. Astobj2 refcounting is now used
for users, peers, and dialogs. Users are encouraged to assist in regression
testing and problem reporting!
+ * Added ability to specify registration expiry time on a per registration basis in
+ the register line.
+ * Added support for T140 RED - redundancy in T.140 to prevent text loss due to
+ lost packets.
+ * Added t38pt_usertpsource option. See sip.conf.sample for details.
+ * Added SIPnotify AMI command, for sending arbitrary SIP notify commands.
+ * 'sip show peers' and 'sip show users' display their entries sorted in
+ alphabetical order, as opposed to the order they were in, in the config
+ file or database.
+ * Videosupport now supports an additional option, "always", which always sets
+ up video RTP ports, even on clients that don't support it. This helps with
+ callfiles and certain transfers to ensure that if two video phones are
+ connected, they will always share video feeds.
IAX Changes
* Existing DNS manager lookups extended to check for SRV records.
+ * IAX2 encryption support has been improved to support periodic key rotation
+ within a call for enhanced security. The option "keyrotate" has been
+ provided to disable this functionality to preserve backwards compatibility
+ with older versions of IAX2 that do not support key rotation.
CLI Changes
* New CLI command, "config reload <file.conf>" which reloads any module that
references that particular configuration file. Also added "config list"
which shows which configuration files are in use.
+ * New CLI commands, "pri show version" and "ss7 show version" that will
+ display which version of libpri and libss7 are being used, respectively.
+ A new API call was added so trunk will now have to be compiled against
+ a versions of libpri and libss7 that have them or it will not know that
+ these libraries exist.
+ * The commands "core show globals", "core set global" and "core set chanvar" has
+ been deprecated in favor of the more semanticly correct "dialplan show globals",
+ "dialplan set chanvar" and "dialplan set global".
+ * New CLI command "dialplan show chanvar" to list all variables associated
+ with a given channel.
DNS manager changes
* Addresses managed by DNS manager now can check to see if there is a DNS
SRV record for a given domain and will use that hostname/port if present.
+AMI - The manager (TCP/TLS/HTTP)
+ * The Status command now takes an optional list of variables to display
+ along with channel status.
+ODBC Changes
+ * res_odbc no longer has a limit of 1023 total possible unshared connections,
+ as some people were running into this limit. This limit has been increased
+ to 4.2 billion.
+Queue changes
+ * The TRANSFER queue log entry now includes the the caller's original
+ position in the transferred-from queue.
+ * A new configuration option, "timeoutpriority" has been added. Please see the section labeled
+ "QUEUE TIMING OPTIONS" in configs/queues.conf.sample for a detailed explanation of the option
+ as well as an explanation about timeout options in general
+Realtime changes
+ * Several (ODBC, Postgres, MySQL, SQLite) realtime drivers have been given
+ adaptive capabilities. What this means in practical terms is that if your
+ realtime table lacks critical fields, Asterisk will now emit warnings to
+ that effect. Also, some of the realtime drivers have the ability (if
+ configured) to automatically add those columns to the table with the
+ correct type and length.
+ * The channel variable ATTENDED_TRANSFER_COMPLETE_SOUND can now be set using
+ the 'setvar' option to cause a given audio file to be played upon completion
+ of an attended transfer. Currently it works for DAHDI, IAX2, SIP, and
+ Skinny channels only.
+ * You can now compile Asterisk against the Hoard Memory Allocator, see doc/hoard.txt
+ for more information.
+ * Config file variables may now be appended to, by using the '+=' append
+ operator. This is most helpful when working with long SQL queries in
+ func_odbc.conf, as the queries no longer need to be specified on a single
+ line.
+ * CDR config file, cdr.conf, has an added option, "initiatedseconds",
+ which will add a second to the billsec when the ending
+ time is set, if the number in the microseconds field of the end time is
+ greater than the number of microseconds in the answer time. This allows
+ users to count the 'initiated' seconds in their billing records.
--- Functionality changes from Asterisk 1.4.X to Asterisk 1.6.0 -------------
AMI - The manager (TCP/TLS/HTTP)
* Originate now requires the Originate privilege and, if you want to call out
to a subshell, it requires the System privilege, as well. This was done to
enhance manager security.
+ * Originate now accepts codec settings with "Codecs: alaw, ulaw, h264"
* New command: Atxfer. See doc/manager_1_1.txt for more details or
manager show command Atxfer from the CLI
Local channel changes
that is behind it when queried. This is useful for transfer scenarios as the
actual channel will be transferred, not the Local channel.
-Zaptel channel driver (chan_zap) Changes
+Agent channel changes
+ * The ackcall and endcall options are now supplemented with options acceptdtmf
+ and enddtmf. These allow for the DTMF keypress to be configurable. The options
+ default to their old hard-coded values ('#' and '*' respectively) so this should
+ not break any existing agent installations.
+DAHDI channel driver (chan_dahdi) Changes
- * SS7 support in chan_zap (via libss7 library)
+ * SS7 support (via libss7 library)
* In India, some carriers transmit CID via dtmf. Some code has been added
that will handle some situations. The cidstart=polarity_IN choice has been added for
those carriers that transmit CID via dtmf after a polarity change.
* CID matching information is now shown when doing 'dialplan show'.
- * Added zap show version CLI command to chan_zap.
- * Added setvar support to zapata.conf channel entries.
+ * Added dahdi show version CLI command.
+ * Added setvar support to chan_dahdi.conf channel entries.
* Added two new options: mwimonitor and mwimonitornotify. These options allow
you to enable MWI monitoring on FXO lines. When the MWI state changes,
the script specified in the mwimonitornotify option is executed. An internal
event indicating the new state of the mailbox is also generated, so that
the normal MWI facilities in Asterisk work as usual.
* Added signalling type 'auto', which attempts to use the same signalling type
- for a channel as configured in Zaptel. This is primarily designed for analog
+ for a channel as configured in DAHDI. This is primarily designed for analog
ports, but will also work for digital ports that are configured for FXS or FXO
- signalling types. This mode is also the default now, so if your zapata.conf
+ signalling types. This mode is also the default now, so if your chan_dahdi.conf
does not specify signalling for a channel (which is unlikely as the sample
configuration file has always recommended specifying it for every channel) then
the 'auto' mode will be used for that channel if possible.
- * Added a 'zap set dnd' command to allow CLI control of the Do-Not-Disturb
+ * Added a 'dahdi set dnd' command to allow CLI control of the Do-Not-Disturb
state for a channel; also ensured that the DNDState Manager event is
emitted no matter how the DND state is set or cleared.
Voicemail Changes
voicemail boxes. The SMDI interface can also poll for MWI changes when some
outside entity is modifying the state of the mailbox (such as IMAP storage or
a web interface of some kind).
+ * Added the support for marking messages as "urgent." There are two methods to accomplish
+ this. One is to pass the 'U' option to VoiceMail(). Another way to mark a message as urgent
+ is to specify "review=yes" in voicemail.conf. Doing this will cause allow the user to mark
+ the message as urgent after he has recorded a voicemail by following the voice instructions.
+ When listening to voicemails using VoiceMailMain urgent messages will be presented before other
+ messages
Queue changes
Queue changes
device state reported.
* New configuration option: randomperiodicannounce. If a list of periodic announcements is
specified by the periodic-announce option, then one will be chosen randomly when it is time
- to play a periodic announcment
+ to play a periodic announcment
+ * New configuration options: announce-position now takes two more values in addition to "yes" and
+ "no." Two new options, "limit" and "more," are allowed. These are tied to another option,
+ announce-position-limit. By setting announce-position to "limit" callers will only have their
+ position announced if their position is less than what is specified by announce-position-limit.
+ If announce-position is set to "more" then callers beyond the position specified by announce-position-limit
+ will be told that their are more than announce-position-limit callers waiting.
+ * Two new queue log events have been added. An ADDMEMBER event will be logged
+ when a realtime queue member is added and a REMOVEMEMBER event will be logged
+ when a realtime queue member is removed. Since there is no calling channel associated
+ with these events, the string "REALTIME" is placed where the channel's unique id
+ is typically placed.
MeetMe Changes
AGI Changes
* Added SPEECH commands for speech recognition. A complete listing can be found
using agi show.
+ * If app_stack is loaded, GOSUB is a native AGI command that may be used to
+ invoke subroutines in the dialplan. Note that calling EXEC with Gosub
+ does not behave as expected; the native command needs to be used, instead.
Logger changes
turned on, via the CHANNEL(trace) dialplan function. Could be useful for
dialplan debugging.
* iLBC source code no longer included (see UPGRADE.txt for details)
+ * If compiled with DETECT_DEADLOCKS enabled and if you have glibc, then if
+ deadlock is detected, a backtrace of the stack which led to the lock calls
+ will be output to the CLI.
+ * If compiled with DEBUG_THREADS enabled and if you have glibc, then issuing
+ the "core show locks" CLI command will give lock information output as well
+ as a backtrace of the stack which led to the lock calls.
+ * users.conf now sports an optional alternateexts property, which permits
+ allocation of additional extensions which will reach the specified user.
+ * A new option for the configure script, --enable-internal-poll, has been added
+ for use with systems which may have a buggy implementation of the poll system
+ call. If you notice odd behavior such as the CLI being unresponsive on remote
+ consoles, you may want to try using this option. This option is enabled by default
+ on Darwin systems since it is known that the Darwin poll() implementation has
+ odd issues.
Mirror of the Asterisk Project (https://gerrit.asterisk.org)


text:
Selected Work
At The Johnson Group, we specialize in teaming up with brands that are facing Giant challenges in their categories, from giant competitors to giant industry shakeups. We launch smart, unexpected ideas that stand out in the marketplace and beat the odds.
That's Giant Slaying.
We're a certified Google Partner.
Joe's specialization in brand positioning and strategy for fighter-brands was honed through years of conducting research and leading account planning for brands across the country. He trained in marketing research at Burke Institute and has personally conducted and analyzed more than 100 qualitative and quantitative research studies for both consumer and B2B clients. He worked with Jim Emery to develop the agency's highly effective brand positioning process—the same methods proven worldwide for Coke, Kraft, Colgate-Palmolive, Brown Forman, Campbell Soup and a scores of other top-tier brands.
Under his guidance, The Johnson Group has provided branding and advertising to virtually every major initiative during Chattanooga's historic turnaround.
Today, Chattanooga, a classic fighter-brand success story, is considered the thriving, vibrant, high-tech capital of the Southeast and the city outside magazine dubbed the "Best Town Ever."
And, under Joe's continued leadership, his Chattanooga agency works with fighter-brands from cities as far as Anchorage, Alaska; San Diego, California; Binghamton, New York; Fort Wayne, Indiana; Hays, Kansas; Waco, Texas; Coeur d'Alene, Idaho; and Waynesboro, Virginia.
He's a writer with a graduate degree from Oxford University.
He's also an artist with a painting in the permanent collection of the Georgia Museum of Art.
Consequently, he has an uncanny ability to transform almost anything into unique, highly engaging brand content that generates its own content. He turned Krystal's hamburger packaging into a mobile scan code to create fast-food's first 3D Augmented Reality App. He created traffic-stopping, live-performance billboards. His adaptation of a phone app created the first virtual reality bank grand opening (in the palm of your hand) that allowed customers in Russia, Africa, Europe and across the U.S. to join in a ribbon cutting celebration in Tennessee and then share it.
Pat's unique creative executions have lined his award shelf with 100's of the American Advertising Federation's local, regional and national awards and provided consumer and B2B brands with one-of-a-kind executions and results.
Before joining us in Chattanooga, Pat was a creative director in Atlanta and Houston where he produced award-winning work for leading brands such as Apple, Hitachi and ConocoPhillips.
Kellye is a 20-year media veteran with extensive knowledge and experience in ROI-driven performance and analysis across all digital, traditional, social media applications and executions. She has proven credentials at major agencies such as Cramer-Krasselt and Zimmerman, working on demanding brands such as McDonald's, Toyota, Hyatt, Missouri Tourism, Comcast, Dial Purex and Corona.
She created and implemented a Media Academy for two leading agencies in which she developed best practices, standardized reporting and established media processes.
Kellye and her teams have been recognized for their best practices in media buying and stewardship by being awarded the coveted Gold Standard by such independent media auditors, MMI.
The best strategic minds draw upon an exceptionally broad range of business and marketing expertise. Not coincidentally, this is exactly what Bill brings to The Johnson Group.
Throughout his career, Bill has successfully navigated the waters of corporate America with a leadership position at the world's largest disability insurer. Later, he founded one of the first successful healthcare marketing agencies, which would ultimately grow to serve clients in 38 states.
Today, he is nationally respected in healthcare circles for his unique understanding of one of our nation's most complicated and dynamic businesses. Plus, he routinely conducts market research and strategic planning in such varied categories as multi-unit retail, consumer packaged goods, electric utilities, waste water management, wireless phones, fast food…well, you get the picture.
Simply put, if it can be sold, Bill has helped sell it by ensuring that every campaign is built upon solid strategic ground.
Sherri specializes in multi-unit retail/restaurant branding & marketing and can be accurately classified as an Expert in local-store-marketing. Her 16-year career includes leading a multitude of successful QSR, fast casual, c-store and retail new product branding and launches across all mediums. For 6 years she provided national retail marketing and POP merchandising plans for Target, Sears and Rack Room including leading the development of innovative solutions to use in-store and on-premise merchandising to increase sales.
Through her subsequent 10 year experience in restaurant marketing with Krystal and Cracker Barrel Sherri has developed an in depth specialty that few share in key customer activation touch points such as menu board research, planning and design, proper zoning, messaging and design of POP and the use of store-level, product mix analysis to turn around under performing markets.
Her continuous involvement in market research from industry leaders such as NPD, Piper Jaffray, SMG, Alexander Babbage and Coke ensures her clients receive the most current and reliable recommendations.
Sherri's level of commitment and always-enthusiastic personality never backs down from a challenge. (In fact she learned to juggle for her bio photo in one night.) Imagine what she can do for your brand.
Mike loves playing guitar…and walking to the beat of a different drummer than most creatives. For starters, he graduated from a top business school, Indiana University. After being recruited to Washington, D.C., his career became even more unusual, including ghost-writing for Barbara Bush, recruiting for the National Security Administration (NSA…we're not kidding), and his creative for the U.S. Mint and Selective Service System was even discussed on the floor of Congress. Best of all for a die-hard Redskins fan, Mike produced a long-running Pizza Hut TV campaign that was hailed by The Washington Post as the "The Best Use of the Redskins."
Mike's background also has an international flair, working on projects with Dentsu, Young & Rubicam in the Far East for clients including Lufthansa Airlines and Miller Brewing Company. In another unusual twist, Mike happened to visit Chattanooga, fell in love with the Scenic City and later became a founding member of The Johnson Group.
Mike helped put us on the national map with our launch of Cricket Wireless, which propelled them into 42 markets and was praised by Morgan Stanley as the key to the brand's growth. Similarly, he changed the landscape of truck driver recruitment advertising by winning creative awards in a previously mundane product category. Speaking of awards, Mike has a closetful of 'em, including heaps of ADDYs, multiple national EFFIEs and a One Show award, the most prestigious creative award in the world.
There are certain must-have criteria you search for in an Executive Creative Director. Creative awards are certainly among them. Roger's work has won well over 100 American Advertising Federation ADDY Awards including Regional, National, Best of Show and Judges' Choice Awards. He's also earned Show South, Print Magazine, ADWEEK Icon Award for Technology, Mercury Awards for radio, Healthcare Marketing Awards, Wireless Industry Awards, etc.
Another key criteria? Proof that all of this great creative gets results. Roger has led the agency in winning prestigious National EFFIE Awards for advertising effectiveness. (That's effectiveness as objectively judged using verified results compared to a wide range of national competitors in the same industry category.)
Was this great, effective creative developed for clients you might be familiar with? How about AirTran? Krystal? Sunbelt Granola Bars? Sprint? Dean Foods? Rubbermaid? Volkswagen? Blue Cross/Blue Shield?
Finally, it's interesting to know what your Executive CD does in his spare time to hone his craft and remain contemporary. Roger, of course, spends his spare time winning awards! His music video concepts for artists like Eric Church, Florida-Georgia Line, Lady Antebellum, Josh Turner, Thomas Rhett and Sara Watkins of Nickel Creek have received numerous CMA, CMT and ACM awards and nominations. Not to mention the song he wrote for Chattanooga's TV regional campaign to promote tourism—a campaign that has proven to be the most successful in the city's history.
Christina's intense digital planning and activation background at Carat and iProspect in New York includes performance driven branding and programmatic across Display, Mobile, Video and Native platforms, focusing on e-commerce. Her avid study and grasp of digital media earned her assignments on Under Armour, ADP, Pfizer & luxury brands such as Piaget and Van Cleef & Arpels.
She now dedicates her keen insights and energy to the digital success of The Johnson Group's clients.
Alice is an account leader with a legacy of achieving long-term strategic marketing goals for national brands. Even early in her career she was instrumental in forming and managing several successful advertising co-ops for a national, publicly traded QSR brand. She also proved adept at managing the staff and intricacies of multi-market franchise organizations (one with 10 DMAs and 180 units). Leaving a prominent Nashville advertising agency to join the Johnson Group in 2006, Alice has been critical to securing market positions for major brands in health care, packaged goods and tourism.
With a deep understanding and passionate commitment to truly extraordinary client service, her clients are as committed to her as she is to them.
Dave is an SEM expert who is 5pecialist Google Certified. In fact, he began his career working for Google building over 2000 campaigns for brands across the country and learning best practices from Google experts in search, display, YouTube and remarketing. But he didn't stop there. He led agencies in Phoenix and Las Vegas to achieve Google Premiere status. And, over the years, his deep-seeded digital drive expanded his expertise to programmatic DSP, display, online video, Facebook, Instagram, influencer marketing, shopping ads, remarketing, and dynamic ads. His knack for growing and training digital talent was validated when Facebook began hiring his team members.
Dave has now built over 3,500 campaigns for brands such as USA Today, WSOP, Goodwill, Caesars Casino, Harrah's, Planet Fitness, the Fremont Street Experience—all of which benefited from his relentless focus on ROI regardless of the digital platform. Fun fact: Dave is responsible for a Facebook campaign that achieved an extremely rare 100% conversion rate as he used the platform to propose to his wife. (Per Dave, the ROI continues to roll in.)
Tim began specializing in content marketing long before it had a name and as a result has an unmatched level of experience and expertise in this rapidly evolving—and ever important—discipline. His analytical focus on identifying and engaging the right audience has attracted brands in arguably the most complex, consumer and B2B category: healthcare. Tim has worked with major, national health systems like HCA and Catholic Health Initiatives as well as specialty brands such as Cook Children's Hospital to engage highly diverse audiences of consumers, physicians and businesses. Over his 20-year career, he's developed best practice, content marketing strategies that drive leads, conversion, SEO and loyalty for over 100 clients.
His study of the evolving process and his continuing education as a graduate of the Content Marketing Institute, The Disney Institute and Southwest Airlines University ensure he brings the latest thought leadership and innovation to content marketing.
Tim hails from Texas (and as any Texan, will proudly tell you that immediately) where he earned his Masters degree and once swam the Rio Grande to Mexico.
Giant-slayers tend to be a bright, energetic breed who play as hard as they work. Here are some of ours, caught in the act.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
This recipe was inspired by an incredibly delicious almond-chai smoothie that I had in California on my honeymoon back in September. It was thick, creamy and tasted like a chai-tea-latte smothered in almond-butter. Since then, I have dreamed about making my own version of this smoothie and have finally come up with the perfect blend.
The spice mixture in this recipe is thorough – as you might expect with a chai-flavor. This is the area that I struggled with the most while creating this recipe. I tried so many different combinations, but what really was a game changer for me was the star anise. This strong spice (which literally looks like a star) is best known for its "black licorice" flavor and let me tell you—I do not like black licorice. While browsing different "chai spice" blends on google one day, I came across star anise seed being used and decided it was worth a try. Friends, this was the missing ingredient and my feelings towards this spice has taken a turn for the better. On that not, if you do not have all the spices I've included here in your spice drawer, feel free to leave some out—this smoothie will still taste amazing.
I've also used veggies as the base of this smoothie. While experimenting with this recipe, I found frozen bananas (which are popular smoothie fillers) to be too potent in flavor. Thus I turned to my trusty cauliflower zucchini and (white – for color) sweet potato. I love how the earthy flavors of these veggies compliment the earthy chai spices and almond butter.
Finally, this smoothie is naturally sweetened with a juicy medjool date. I am so excited to finally be sharing this recipe with you all! If you try it, be sure to let me know what you think.
- 1 small white sweet potato, steamed and frozen
- ½ cup frozen zucchini
- ½ cup frozen cauliflower
- 1 point of a star anise seed
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ⅛ tsp ground cardamom
- 2/8 tsp ground ginger
- ⅛ tsp ground nutmeg
- 1 Tbsp. almond butter
- ⅔ cup almond milk
- 2 medjool dates, pitted*
- granola, coconut yogurt, chia seeds, hemp seeds, extra almond butter
- Place all ingredients in blender**. Blend on high until smooth and creamy, scraping the edges halfway through to ensure evenness.**
- Pour into bowl, sprinkle with toppings if desired and serve immediately.
**If you plan on making smoothies frequently, I definitely suggest investing in a good blender. (I went through 3 cheep blenders over the course of one semester in college. no joke). I love my vitamix - probably one of the best Christmas gifts I've ever received. It literally holds up anything. You can buy them certified refurbished which helps cut the cost and still gives you a great product. I love this one.
***Depending on the size of your veggies or the strength of your blender you may need to add more milk or scrape more frequently
The Local Sprout


text:
Vesper offers both a full size 25 yard swimming pool for swimming laps along with a splash pad for younger members. The deck and pool area is where the entire family can gather together for a leisurely summer afternoon. Many families enjoy our Friday Night Poolside Cookouts, with themes and activities.
Learn more about our member events and activities.
Youth Swimming Programs
Children's programs and family events are alive and well at Vesper Country Club. As a member, your children are able to participate in our summer Swim Team and/or Swim Lessons.
Vesper Country Club's Swim Team is a member of the Division II Aquatics League and we compete with Haverhill Country Club, Andover CC, Indian Ridge CC, Wentworth CC, Rye Beach Club and The Surf Club.
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Folloy my music on Spotify!
Eliézer Yizack Rangel Baysa, also known as Dimatis. He was born and raised in La Chorrera, Panama on June 15th, 1998. Begun in 2013 he made some songs, but on August 24th, 2014 he started uploading music on SoundCloud.
He is not studying any musical career. Currently, he is studying Computer and Systems Engineering at the Technological University of Panama but in his free time he loves listening to Melodic Dubstep songs and that is why he decided to make that kind of music.
Nowadays he is also in different genres like Chillstep, Future Bass, Chill, Chill Out, Ambient.
Dimatis is a mnemonic word to represent a syllogistic argument in the fourth figure. He decided to call himself like that because he had a class of logic about syllogisms in high school and that word he thought it would be good for an artist name.
Some artists who inspired him were: Au5, Blackmill, Collin McLoughlin, Crystal Skies, Illenium, Mendum, Said the Sky, Seven Lions, Skrux, T-Mass, Xilent and many others.


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Things to see and do in Senegal
Tourist offices
Senegal Tourist Office in SenegalAddress: Aeroport Rd, Dakar,
Telephone: +221 33 869 6199
Website: http://www.visitezlesenegal.com
Attractions in Senegal
Cap Vert Peninsula
Strap on the flippers and discover Senegal's underwater world by scuba diving off the awe-inspiring Cap Vert peninsula. Enthusiasts will find good diving waters all around this area, with February to April being the best months. Located about 80km (50 miles) off the coast of Dakar, the Cape Verde Islands are home to more than 70 shipwrecks that have sunk over the last four centuries. These include the U.S.S. Yorktown, The Lady Burgess, The Norfolk, and The Hartwell, among others. Not all of the older wrecks are accessible to divers, but many of the artefacts are on display in the capital, Praia.
Carabane Island
Hidden amongst the bolongs (mangroves), in the Casamance region of Senegal, L'île de Carabane is a perfect place for those looking for good value accommodation, in a quiet and relaxed location rich in history, local legends and culture. It's possible to rent a dugout canoe and go fishing, walk to the mouth of the Casamance River, or get a guided tour of the many interesting places that overflow with mysterious stories. Why not ask about why the Colonial General is buried upside down with his dog in the old colonial cemetery? For more information get in touch with the Campement Villageois D'Elinkine (www.campementvillageoiselinkine.e-monsite.com).
Tour the well-watered, fertile Casamance area in the south of Senegal, and choose to drop into Cap Skirring where you'll find some of the finest beaches in West Africa, can visit some of the inland islands rich in culture, legends and colonial history, or explore the old colonial towns where structural remnants of the infamous transatlantic slave trade still remain. For a list of community-based ecotourism projects contact the Fédération des Campements Villageois (FECAV) (tel: 77 558 1421). Check the latest developments before venturing as the area has been home to a long-running conflict.
Grande Mosquée
Gaze at the soaring Grande Mosquée, Dakar's most famous mosque (noted for its minaret, which is lit at night). Although closed to the public, it is located in Medina, a bustling area that makes for some interesting people-watching. Built in 1964 with financial assistance from King Hassan of Morocco, the building is inspired by the Mohammed V mosque in Rabat in the Maghreb style. It is possible to climb its tall minaret every day except Friday, when the mosque is only open to Muslims for prayer.
Institut Fondamental d'Afrique Noire (IFAN)
Check out the Institut Fondamental d'Afrique Noire (IFAN) (http://ifan.ucad.sn), Dakar's main museum, which has a collection of masks, statues and musical instruments from West Africa; and the Palais Présidentiel (Presidential Palace) which is surrounded by luscious gardens. Art, historical artefacts, and ethnographic material have been collected for the IFAN museum since 1941. Now there are other branches of IFAN across West Africa, in Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea, Mali, Benin, Burkina-Faso, Cameroon, Togo and Niger.
Join an ecotourism programme in the beautiful town of Kafountine, in the Basse Casamance region. Situated in a typical fishing and farming village, the community-based tourism camp called 'Sitoko' (tel: 77 403 6218) is a great introduction to traditional life in the southern region of Senegal. Other villages around the area also offer traditional accommodation and activities for tourists. (Note that political instability and a long-running conflict in this area means travellers should check before venturing there.)
Sightsee around eastern Senegal, one of the best-kept secrets of the country, and visit the Bedik, Bassari and Tenda people of the Kedougou area - their villages are situated in the middle of breathtaking landscapes. It is not easy to access the villages of these sometimes nomadic tribes, and therefore it may be advisable to find a guide who is knowledgeable of the tribes' migration patterns, and who speaks the local dialects to avoid any misunderstandings. In Kedougou you can rent bicycles. If you think you are fit enough, cycle all the way to Dindefelo (www.ecosenegal.org/en/kedougou), located at the bottom of a cliff that marks the beginning of the Futa Djalon escarpment and entry point to one of the only two waterfalls in Senegal.
Lac Rose
Named because of the unusual tint of pink that the lake displays at certain times of the year as a result of a high concentration of algae-eating bacteria associated with very salty bodies of water, the 'Lac Rose' is popular with the adventurous travellers as well as thousands of birds including flamingos, spoonbills, pelicans, herons, terns and waders. It is possible to swim in the lake, or just float as the high concentration of salt allows for bathers to remain afloat without trying very hard. The locals also farm salt here.
Lac de Guiers
The largest inland lake in Senegal, the Lac de Guiers attracts visitors for its wealth of birdlife and its hunting reserve found to the east of the lake. Fed by the Ferlo River, the lake is also teaming with fish, and during the months of November and January, huge nets are cast from the banks by the local population and drawn in by fishermen in pirogues, the local name for the dugout canoes.
N'Gor Island
L'île de N'Gor is located a few minutes away from Dakar's main airport, and is a gem for unexpected events, good seafood, and fun characters if you are inclined to explore some of the more off-the-beaten track alleyways meandering across this small Caribbean-like paradise. Whether you are looking to catch some of the best surf in West Africa (www.gosurf.dk), are looking for a culinary treat of fresh fish straight from the sea, prefer to relax on golden sand beaches whilst listening to the reggae rhythms, or are an art enthusiast looking for your next purchase, this is the place to go.
Palmarin N'Gallou
Palmarin is rural community running along a 17km- (11-mile) peninsula on the most southern stretches of Senegal's Petite Côte. To the west are the sandy beaches skirting the expanse of the Atlantic Ocean. Located to the east is the protected National Reserve de Palmarin, a patchwork delta consisting of mangrove channels, salt flats, grass lands and forest. This unique combination of habitat supports a wide assortment of plant and animal life. An exciting place to stay in Palmarin is at the Lodge des Collines de Niassam (www.niassam.com) where there is an option to stay in a tree house, in the mighty Baobab tree.
Parc National Aux Oiseaux Du Djoudj
Prime the binoculars at Parc National Aux Oiseaux Du Djoudj, a birdwatchers paradise at the southern edge of the Sahara. Created in 1971, the park extends over 60000 hectares (150,000 acres) and is one of the most important bird sanctuaries in the world and is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage site. Djoudj, the world's ninth most important ornithological site, attracts thousands of birdwatchers every year. The park is open from 1st November to 30th April and closes each day at noon. This means a very early start is required if one is taking a pirogue excursion to Djoudj from St. Louis or driving the 90 minutes ride to the reserve.
Parc National de Niokolo-Koba
Spot large mammals in the Parc National de Niokolo Koba (www.niokolo.com). The park encompasses Sudanese savannah and the Guinea forest. Over 84 species of mammal live here, including Africa's largest lions, elephants (extremely rare), panthers, crocodiles and a variety of antelopes. The region is the nearest part of Africa to Europe and the US where it is possible to view such a variety of birds and animals in natural surroundings.
Petite Côte (Little Coast)
At an hour's drive south of Dakar, la Petite Côte (Little Coast) stretches for some 150km (94 miles) and is considered one of Senegal's best beach areas. With a stunning coastline, idyllic climate and a number of good modern hotels, this area has become a magnet for European sun lovers who have little interest for the more adventurous side of Senegal. The main tourist resorts in the area are Mbour and, slightly further north, Saly Portudal.
This small village on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean is located just 70km (43 miles) south of Dakar on the Petit Cote. Popenguine is a member of Global Ecovillage Network of Senegal (GENSEN). It is known for its natural reserve, pristine sandy beach, and religious significance. It is also the weekend getaway for the President of Senegal, as the second presidential residence is located between Popenguine and the village of Ndayane.
Try your luck with a fishing rod. Deep sea sport fishing can be organised in Saly, or, for a more relaxed fishing experience, float down Senegal's creeks and rivers. Senegal offers fantastic fishing for enthusiasts as well as holidaymakers with a casual interest, from the Nile Perch in the Senegal River to the abundance of sailfish and marlin in its offshore waters. Deep sea fishing can be arranged in Saly whilst more relaxing trips can be arranged in the creeks, rivers and mangroves of the Sine Saloum delta. Most hotels organise such trips either in small pirogues or motorised boats.
Siné-Saloum delta
Explore the Siné-Saloum delta, a wild region of mangrove swamps, dunes and lagoons. Go on a trip in a pirogue (traditional African boat) through the Parc National du Delta du Saloum, out to the delta's myriad small islands, scattered between bolongs (channels). Another exciting activity available in the delta is a flight in a ULM or micro-light over the mangroves, where you may, if you are lucky, follow the impressive flight of the pink flamingos as they migrate from one feeding spot to another. For more information on ULM activities, visit Senegal Experience (www.senegal.co.uk).
St Louis
Wander the nostalgic and provincial streets of Senegal's former capital, St Louis. Its narrow, atmospheric streets are flanked by beautiful colonial houses, balconies and verandas. The fishing community here is the most interesting area of town, especially when their day's catch is laid out to dry. Don't miss the Faidherbe Bridge, a testament to St. Louis' colonial past or if you happen to be in the city at the right time, the world-renowned St. Louis International Jazz Festival (www.saintlouisjazz.org).
Toubab Dialao
This small village to the south of Dakar, past Rufisque, is noted for its spectacular setting. In contrast to the rest of La Petite Côte, Toubab Dialao's beaches are bounded by steep cliffs of red rock. The beach's breathtaking potential reveals itself at sunset, at which time the sun reflects, off the cliff faces, hues of bright orange, red and deep crimson upon the little fishing beach. A Gaudi-esque accommodation option is available at Sobo Bade (www.sobobade.com), or for something a little more quaint and intimate, contact Daouda Fall, a local poet, to stay at his appropriately named 'Chez le Poete' (www.gvcc.sn).
Île de Gorée (Gorée Island)
Head for the tranquil, World Heritage-listed Île de Gorée (Gorée Island) just 3km (1.8 miles) outside of Dakar, and accessible by boat. One of the most infamous slave trading posts in West Africa, it has a long colonial history and is crammed with attractions such as the Maison des Esclaves (Slaves' House), Le Castel, a towering castle-like structure complete with WWII gun turrets, or the many restaurants serving delicious seafood, fish and local dishes.
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After deciding that i am going to use the exhibition title as my idea for the brief, I have started to look into exhibition promotional print colateral. Here i have looked a range of products which will all be linked with the idea of exhibition promo. These are items such as posters, invites, brochures, website, packaging, gifts etc. These all make the event look like a fully thought out design idea and all are a way to brand the exhibition.
With this design i like the colours used within the branding, the logo is very strong and stands out well within the design of the branding material.
I like the format of this invitation, the printed front side looks good when you first pull it out of the envelope. The envelope net is also a good choice.
The yellow and black work well together here and make it vibrant, which makes it stand out alot. The colour has been carried throughout the publication to tie it all together, again this works well with the body copy being printed in black over the top.
The new nordic, i like the colours being used within the branding, they compliment each other very well, also working with the white and the grey background colour.
This flyer / invitation is great. I love the illustration within it and the bold orange colour used throughout. The type works well too. This is all considerations that i need to think abut when doing this for myself.
This shows a great product range within the branding. The shapes are shown across the different products and the ranges of them too. I like the vibrant colours used within it all and think that the shapes create good visuals for the book.
This black and white imagery within the poster works really well and brings out good definition within the photograph. Personally i think it would have been good to have a coloured background. But this gives me good ideas for using the black and white imagery within my own work.
These two images show the content of a envelope and designed information within it. I think this is some sort of mail out. The colours used in the top image for the background of the information, fit together well and work as a set of palette colours. This also breaks down relavent information into different categories.
The envelope is in keeping by the colour of the corresponding the information sheet and the net of this envelope looks good too, it doesn't look like a box standard envelope from the shelf.
web presence - the use of the orange within this and overlaying the photos makes it more interesting to look at. I like the grid format that the web page is in.
Interesting packaging, which has the information needed to communicate to the user but then also hold the disc etc that te packaging is holding. This makes the packaging hold everything in once place and be sent out in an interesting format which makes it interactive for the user.
These images above are all part of the same branding. Again you can see here how it has been applied across the range of products, but still looks the same nonetheless. I think this is something that i need to keep in mind and make sure that i am working with the brand identity but applying if accordingly to the format and size of each product. The use fo the imagery and overlaying colour works well and is something which i think could with my concept and work.
Another set of images which show a range of posters. I think this is really interesting, the use of the string to create the words looks really effective on the poster and catches your eye when you first look at it. The colour used for the designs are very bold and deep colours.
This set of 3 type based designs are all part of a bigger set of designs. I picked these three out because they were the ones which caught my eye the most. I think the composition of them is great and the use of the type within the posters is used well to make you look around the whole area and see every bit of it. With the ones that incorporate image within the design, the type is built around this and made as though it is coming from the image.
I like this for the format of the design. I think this is interesting in how it is folded up how the type is arranged within the design to make it readable as you open the folded sheet.
The arrangement of this branding looks great, this is also something that i need to think about when i am photographing my work. The design of the work is interesting an looks goo with the colour choice. The stock used works well against the design and colours that are incorporated within it.
Good installation material or something that could be adapted for a way finding system within the exhibition space. I like the idea of this and the layout of it the type within the shape.


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All homeowners want to know what their home is worth, especially in a market as hot as Toronto's. What goes into pricing a home?
1. We Look at Historical Sales
You know what they say…the best predictor of the future is the past. When pricing a home, real estate agents and appraisers will look at recent sales on your street and in your neighbourhood. While we used to look at sales 12 or 24 months back, with a real estate market that's as active as Toronto's we generally look at sales in the past 6 months.
2. We Check out the Competition
If you're thinking of putting your house on the market this week, then we need to know what potential Buyers are going to be seeing at the same time as they look at yours. When we (the BREL team) list a house or condo, we physically go see everything a potential Buyer will see – and recommend a price accordingly.
3. We Make Adjustments
When it comes to Toronto houses, no two are alike. Finished basements and second bathrooms add value, corner lots and next-to-no storage detract; detached houses are worth more than semis; the house backing on to the railway tracks is worth less than the one backing onto a ravine; the south-facing condo on the 10th floor is worth more than the west-facing condo on the 5th floor. Experienced realtors and appraisers know what value people have historically put on certain features and can adjust your price accordingly.
4. The Best Comparable
The best comparable home to yours will always be the one that is the most similar to yours in condition and size, is most closely located to yours and has sold the most recently.
5. MLS Data Only Takes Us So Far
It's great to see pics and info about recent sales and current competition, but MLS data can be deceiving. If you're working with a Realtor who knows your neighbourhood, they'll know what those houses or condos REALLY look like and how yours compares.
6. The Economic Reality
Supply and demand drive prices – when there are too many buyers chasing too few houses, prices go up. Prices are further affected by prevailing interest rates and the overall state of the economy. Just ask any American homeowner in 2009 – it doesn't matter how great your granite counter tops and hardwood floors look if 15% of the people in your city are unemployed and they owe the bank more than their house is worth.
7. The Demographic Wildcard
Who's likely to buy your house? Will it appeal to a large number of Buyers or only a narrow target? How many Buyers who are out there right now want what you have to offer?
7. The Neighbourhood
Trendy neighbourhoods come and go…is your house in a HOT 'hood? Is it growing or is it already mature? What new shops, services and transportation options are coming in? Has something negative happened (violence, poor school ratings) that will affect value?
8. The Value of Your Home is a Moving Target
What your house or condo is worth today is not necessarily what it is worth tomorrow, or next week or next year. As the factors that affect price change, so does the price you'll get for your home.
At the end of the day, your home is worth what someone is willing to pay for it. But a lot more goes into pricing a home and an experienced Toronto REALTOR can make sure that you sell for top dollar.
If you're wondering what your house is worth, give us a call or send us a message. We'll happily give you a free no-obligation evaluation of what your home is worth in today's real estate market.


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The U.S. Senate late Monday passed a bill to extend federal jobless benefits for more than 2 million unemployed workers through May 31. If enacted, the bill would retroactively help the unemployed, who have been without benefits.
It would throw a financial lifeline to those who have been scrambling to get by since federal jobless benefits lapsed the week of December 28. Expiration of the recession era program took away a safety net for long term unemployed Americans who have been unable to find new work.
To continue reading click here.


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Vatican City visa for American Samoa citizens
Vatican City visa exemption 🇻🇦
Last updated: December 14, 2019
American Samoa citizens don't need visa for travelling to Vatican City as tourist. The stay is usually Short stay with a period of and visa expires in 90 days. Applicant is not required to be present when applying for visa and a total of 4 documents are required. You can also find useful tips from fellow travellers.
Visa requirements
Vatican City Visa requirements for American Samoa
Visa Free
Visa not required
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Get visa for Vatican City from American Samoa
Schengen Visa: Schengen Visa is a visa for the Schengen Area which consists of most of the European Economic Area, plus several other adjacent countries
Vatican maintains an open border with Italy and is treated as part of the Schengen Area. Since the Vatican City is only accessible via Italy entrance is not possible without entering the Schengen Area first and therefore Schengen visa rules apply de facto.
For Italy visa, you must submit a passport or other travel document issued within the last 10 years. This must have at least 2 blank pages and be valid for at least another 3 months after the date you intend to leave the Schengen area.
Each person travelling with you on your travel document must submit their own visa form.
When you submit your application your fingerprints will be taken. These will remain valid for 5 years. Some applicants, such as children under the age of 12, do not need to have their fingerprints taken.
You will be charged a fee for your application. If you apply through an external service provider you will also have to pay an extra fee to the provider.
Visa Expires: 90 days
Short Stay
Documents required for Vatican City schengen visa : 4
Travel Insurance: Proof of travel insurance with the Certificate of Insurance and the table of benefits. You can also provide a letter from the bank confirming that you have an insurance with them along with a copy of credit card and the table of benefits.
A minimum cover of EUR 30,000 . The travel insurance must cover the cost of repatriation for medical reasons and the Certificate of Currency must be issued by an insurance company operating in Australia or within the EU. You can also provide a letter from the bank confirming that you have an insurance with them along with a copy of credit card and the table of benefits.Get Travel Insurance open_in_new
Flight Bookings: Flight reservations(s) for the country of your visit and return ticketGet Flight Itinerary open_in_new
Passport: Original Passport or Travel document with at least 6 months remaining validity on the date of travel and have at least 2 visa pages clear of any markings.
Proof of Funds: Proof you have enough money for your stay and to leave, such as • personal bank statements • Pay slips from employer • Proof of accomodation • Audited accounts, • Tax records • Credit card limit.
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You can see the visa details, documents required, official website and other details for Vatican City visa but if you still have question which are unanswered then you can discuss with the community
Travel information of Vatican City
Vatican City is part of Europe with main city at Vatican City. Its Developed country with a population of 451. The main currency is Euro. The languages spoken are Latin,Italian,French,German.
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These days, Houston is topping list after list. We've been named the Best City in America, the Next Great Global City, and the place where people go to simultaneously get fat and get the best medical care in the country. While we agree with all of our accolades, there's a multitude of reasons why everyone should visit our fair city. Here are 20:
1. To eat. And then eat some more.
We have over 11,000 restaurants, where you'll find everything from to tongue-scorching Thai curries and wok-fried lobster to Neapolitan-style pies topped with ghost peppers and house-made sausage.
2. Because our people are chiller
We're a pretty laid-back crew. Most Houstonians' weekend lifestyles consist of tacos, flip-flops, and patio beers. And if they don't, they at least wish they did.
3. Because our theatre district is second only to New York's
Plus, you'll have a much easier time getting tickets to an excellent array of musicals, plays, Broadway shows, symphonies, and ballets here.
4. For Tex-Mex
Texas-sized steak fajitas. Triple-the-strength margaritas. Queso-coated everything. You name it, we got it. And it's MAGIC.
5. No matter the budget, there's something for everyone
Clutch City boasts an awesome mix of high-end restaurants, fancy-pants hotels, and world-class museums with eclectic hole-in-the walls, cheap dive bars, and beautiful parks.
6. To experience a truly diverse and thriving culture
With over 90 languages spoken, Houston is the most ethnically diverse city in the country. That means our food & drink scene, local music & arts, and street culture are cool as hell.
7. Because there is so much fun to be had
And a lot of it is absolutely free.
8. To shop
Not only do we have the super-high-end Galleria, we also have tons of artsy spots on 19th; antique stores, boutiques, and thrift shops along Westheimer; big- and little-name shops lining Rice & Highland Villages; and a place that sells small-batch, man-ready merchandise alongside some of the best shaves in the city.
9. Because day drinking is widely accepted
And day drinking is fun... especially when you're at one of these 90 outdoor spots.
10. To get a taste of our crawfish
Houston's mudbugs come absolutely drenched and coated in everything from Cajun spice and Vietnamese garlic butter to Tex-Mex sauce and cheese. They are divine, and everyone should know it.
11. To experience our nightlife
From a burlesque bar and a mezcaleria Downtown to a Washington Ave honky tonk and an entire block of dance parties in Midtown (one of which features a shot wheel), Houstonians seriously know how to let loose.
12. To see Johnson Space Center
Which houses things like NASA, Mission Control, and astronaut ice cream.
13. To visit these breweries
But more importantly, to taste the beers from said breweries.
14. Because nowhere else has Texas Frito Brittle
You'll probably want to take a few bags of the chocolate-covered Fritos & pretzel number home.
15. To check out the Rodeo
The Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo is the world's largest. Where else can you find mutton-bustin', bull-ridin', and John Legend alongside chocolate-covered bacon and deep-fried turkey?
16. Because our BBQ lines aren't as long
But the smoked meat candy you'll get after a short wait is just as legit as those other cities'.
17. To visit some dope museums
The Houston Museum district houses a collection of 20 museums, galleries, and cultural centers that promote art, science, history, and culture. The prized Menil Collection, Rothko Chapel, and Museum of Fine Arts are just a few of the standouts. As is the Houston Zoo.
18. To see the Eighth Wonder of the World
Kinda. The Astrodome, dubbed the "Eight Wonder of the World," has been closed since 2008, but you can still get a glimpse of it at NRG Park. That is, if it's not demolished entirely...
19. To experience oyster season
Because there ain't no oyster like a Gulf coast oyster that's the size of your fist. And whether they're wood-fire grilled or served fresh on the half-shell, oysters are done right at Houston's best spots.
20. Because we really are the best city in America
Sign up here for our daily Houston email and be the first to get all the food/drink/fun in town.


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|braided 95 iron 419 plug 5 yarn 210 cow 25 rust 10 brass 1442 carved 177 horn 111 yellow 526 nails 17 brown 254 wood 4438 screw 3
|powder horn and wood plug
|rings 6
|L: 9.25 in, base diameter: 2.25 in
|Credit Line:
|Gift of Mr. J. R. Simplot
|Utensils and Implements: Hunting. (A) Yellow and brown cow horn, carved with 2 raised rings toward tip where horn shades from yellow to brown; carved wood plug (B) with raised ring; rounded wood base fits into large end and is held in place with brass nails; iron screw in base has a braided rust yarn strap tied to it, other end of strap ties between carved rings on horn.
|Accession Number:


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Great suggestions and feedback from everyone so far, keep it coming!
So, my desire with this game is to have the actual mechanics be straightforward, and then have the details and crunchy bits in building the units and scenarios and campaign.
So, it's important to define a standard "average" non-combat person. Perhaps a conscript or civilian. Right now on a scale of 1 - 10 the average person would register at a 3. Of course, Special Forces troopers are not average troopers. Their stats are going to start at more like 5 or 6. That means that most SF troops are going to have twice the ability as an average joe.
Each figure has a Physique rating. It is defined as:
(P)hysique: A measure of general physical fitness of the figure. Higher physique indicates the figure can take more damage, run faster, and carry more gear.Each figure also has a derived rating called "Move" (oddly enough) that details how many inches they can move with a normal walk (like a tactical combat movement).
Right now it is set at:
Move = ((P)/2)+2) +Armor ModsAn average person can probably sprint at 7 mph or so. That translates into about 1" per second in 15mm (~1/100) scale.
That means an average joe will have a Move rating of (3/2)+2 [Rounding Up]... so 4". That looks about right for the 5 - 10 seconds that each activation is supposed to represent.
A Hell Diver with a Physique of 5, with armor that grants an additional +1 bonus gives a total Physique of 6. That means they will have a Move of 5". While not a big gain, it still sounds about right. You don't really want figures zooming across the board, but you want there to be some benefit to being in better shape.
Armor can have both bonuses and negative modifiers to physique. If you have really thick, heavy armor it could slow you down and make it hard to do physical things, but provide better protection. Of course, the high-tech stuff will not only protect you, but have systems that provide a boost to your athleticism (Physique) as well.
Of course, there will be a run action as well. Running uses additional actions, and means you can move up to twice your move stat. This will incur shooting penalties.
How about rough terrain and obstacles? I'm going to keep this simple. Rough terrain means each inch through it takes two inches of movement.
Impassible terrain is just that, impassible. But what if you run up to a wall? Normally that would be impassible, but say you take an action, move up to it, then you declare you're going to climb over it. You use another action, roll a Physique test (1D10, equal or less than your Physique) and if you succeed you climb over. Don't want to take a chance that you'll fail? Take another action and add +2 to your Physique skill for the roll.
Of course, you don't have to jump over it, what if you have bolt cutters as equipment? Maybe your Initiative rating is higher than your Physique. Maybe your fancy bolt cutters give you a +2 already to get through the fence. So, instead of hopping the fence, you cut a hole right through it. And now all your buddies can get through too with just a normal move action.
Ok... thoughts?


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Thurston: Iceman Cronk can deliver title
COOPER Cronk was brought to Sydney to win the Roosters the competition - and he may just deliver.
Set to go head-to-head with Adam Reynolds on Saturday night in an intriguing clash of the halves, Cooper is just two wins away from delivering the Roosters a premiership in his first year with the club.
Wouldn't that be some achievement?
Cooper has been under immense pressure this year. I can't even comprehend the level of expectation he has been carrying.
Again he was recruited to the Roosters to win them a premiership. Signed to close out big games and win big matches. Moved to Sydney with a job to do better than former club favourite Mitchell Pearce.
It was some ask.
But Cooper is on the cusp of delivering. He showed everyone what he could do when the Roosters toppled the Sharks to win a spot in the grand final qualifier.
That win had Cronk's fingerprints all over it.
Cooper delivered in the semi-final and I expect he will do it again on Saturday night.
While I reckon I would struggle with the pressure of making a move like he did - a one club man leaving Melbourne to join the Roosters - it is like water off a ducks back for Cooper.
I remember how much pressure I thought was on me when I left the Bulldogs in 2004 to join the Cowboys. I thought I owed them a premiership and I struggled with the pressure at times.
But not Cooper - he has ice in his veins.
Nothing bothers Cooper and I don't think he feels the pressure at all. He has experience, poise and skill. He is a player that can get a team, firstly to the front, and then close it out.
I think he will get the job done on Saturday night in what will be another down to the wire final's match against the Rabbitohs.
But it will be no easy feat for Cooper to lead the Roosters to a win, especially following the suspension of Latrell Mitchell.
Mitchell is a big loss for the Roosters and without him Sydney are vulnerable. Mitchell has been the Roosters' go to man in big games this year. He is the type of player that will put on a big play out of the blue. You can just pass him the ball and he will create. He will make something happen, whether it be with his skill, speed or power.
The Roosters will miss him on Saturday night.
The Rabbitohs will be looking for another big game from Adam Reynolds.
The Souths No.7 got the Rabbitohs home last week by kicking three clutch field goals. He is beginning to own the big moments and that is what you need from your playmaker in these games.
I think he wants the ball in his hands now when the match is on the line and that is a good thing for South Sydney.
He proved himself as a match winner last week and he will need to do it again on Saturday night for the Rabbitohs to qualify for the grand final.
Reynolds is also taking the ball to the line now in a move that is creating more opportunities for his edges. Over the last couple of years he has been sitting back and shifting the ball early. He hasn't been going to the line and committing defenders. Opposition teams can't slide off and make defensive decision when Reynolds digs deep and that has been a big improvement in his game.
So this one will be close - but I am tipping the Roosters. More so I am tipping Cooper Cronk.
JT's TIP: ROOSTERS
Beat the line Pre-order Johnathan Thurston: The Autobiography for 30% off at QBD Books


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Invictus 2009
Publicity still of Morgan Freeman.
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More stills and photos from Invictus
Starring: Morgan Freeman, Matt Damon, Tony Kgoroge, Patrick Mofokeng, Matt Stern, Julian Lewis Jones
Links: Invictus movie posters, IMDb, Warner Bros.
Links: Invictus movie posters, IMDb, Warner Bros.


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Familiar to the American black bear in appearance and habits, the Asiatic black bear will spend 50per cent of his time up in trees.
Its most popular foods include acorns, beech and other nuts, fruits such as bamboo shoots, leaves and cherries, grasses, herbs, grubs and mini beasts such as ants. Where its natural habitat has been farmed and become fragmented, this bear may destroy maize and other crops and , on occasions, has caused human death. Eight months after mating the female bear gives birth and in her winter den to one to three(commonly two)cubs. This species of black bear is stalked for its body parts (especially the gall bladder), which are used in Asian cuisine and medicines. Its length is normally 1.3m – 1.9, its weight between 100-200kg and it lives in East., South., and S.E. Asia.
Back from the asiatic black bear to the most endangered animals home page.


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Our races: Quicksilver 100k/50k and Half Marathon/10k/kids run
Volunteers are always needed on race day to help out at the aid stations and at the start/finish area. There are a variety of jobs and hours are flexible. Volunteers get a T-shirt, lunch at the great post-race barbecue, and they are guaranteed a lot of fun and "thank-yous" from the runners.
If you are interested in volunteering at the Quicksilver 100k/50k race, please fill out the online volunteer form.
Western States 100: Duncan Canyon Aid Station
Every June, the world renowned Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run takes lucky runners from Squaw Valley to Auburn. Our club has been managing the Duncan Canyon Aid Station (Mile 23.8) for over 25 years. Join us to help to help those runners on their amazing journey through the Sierra.
Trail Work: Quicksilver County Park
Several times per year, Quicksilver Running Club provides opportunities to its members and the general public to join us in maintaining trails of our home running and hiking area. Check out the trail work schedule / information and contact the manager if you are interested in helping out.
Note:- Trail Work is a requirement to be in the QRC/Western States Drawing. See more details in the Members area.
Quicksilver Running Club of San Jose is a 501(c) (4) nonprofit tax exempt organization


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Thanks for watching everyone! I will be back on a weekly schedule now so please keep checking back for more updates!
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Tuesday, February 3, 2015
Home Unlabelled Glittering Gold Week 4 by @pghgirl15222
Glittering Gold Week 4 by @pghgirl15222
Posted by Beth Mincin at 2:14:00 PM
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I have two boys aged 4 and 2 who are mad about diggers. They get excited when we pass a building site, and I think I must have watched every brick being laid when our new Sainsburys Local was being built over the summer.
That's why I thought they would really enjoy a day at Diggerland in Castleford, Yorkshire over the Easter bank holiday. I had reservations about taking 2 year old toddler Daniel as he is only 90cm tall, and I'd heard that a lot of the rides are for children 1m tall and above, but once I mentioned the word 'Diggerland' there was no going back. Read how we got on below and take a look at our video of a day out at Diggerland at the bottom
We arrived at Diggerland at 10am on a lovely, warm and sunny Easter Monday. Parking was free and plentiful, and the boys queued up excitedly waiting for their first glimpse of the revered diggers.
Diggerland Castleford is a small – medium sized park laden with diggers in all shapes and sizes. You can operate a digger and dig a big hole, play hook a duck with the digger, get spun round in the air by a digger, go on a digger train, drive a dumper truck, get taken for a bumpy ride by a digger and even drive one through loads of mud and water (fantastic fun!).
There are 18 rides and attractions in Diggerland Castleford and each one of them has interesting facts at the entrance about the size, cost and weight of the rides in question. There are some coin operated rides (dodgems, racing cars etc) which aren't included in the entry ticket price, but we found there was more than enough to do without using these.
Who can dig the biggest hole?
First up, was driving our own 3 tonne digger and seeing how big a hole we could dig. The boys were able to sit on our knees as my husband and I operated the controls, and children over 110cm can drive it themselves. There were 2 levers; one for making the 'shovel' (non-technical term) go up and down and the other one for opening and closing it so you can lift the dirt in and out. 2 year old Daniel was giggling hysterically and waving to his brother in the next digger as ours shuddered and shook as I attempted to dig a larger hole than my husband. We got to spend loads of time on this ride, and weren't hurried along by the ride operator which was good.
Tractors and Landrovers
Mission accomplished, we moved onto the next ride which was the Mini Tractors. This is where the children take Mum and Dad for a ride along a little course. We queued up and Daniel was waving to all the people already on the ride patiently waiting for his turn. It was then I noticed that the height restriction of this ride was 1m so he wasn't allowed on! Cue massive toddler tantrum and tears when he realised he couldn't go on, but I managed to turn the situation around by fishing out a pack of Haribo from my pocket, and he was soon munching away happily watching Matthew driving Daddy around.
Daniel was allowed to choose the next ride, and headed straight over to the Mini Landrovers. This was a really cute ride where the boys were allowed to go in their own car and Matthew could take Daniel for a little drive. Both of them really enjoyed this and they went on it quite a few times. Matthew loved driving his little brother around, and Daniel loved being the passenger. There weren't too many other Landrovers on the circuit and they went at a low speed so it was nice and safe.
Next up was having a go on the smaller JCB's and trying to play skittles with them!! You could also play Hook a Duck or Dig for Buried Treasure if that took your fancy. There were 2 levers on this, and myself and Matthew made a good team operating 1 lever each to try and aim the metal ball at the upstanding skittles to try and knock them over. It was a feat of skill, determination and team work, and after what felt like about an hour, we had managed to knock them all down!! Lots of fun.
Lunch at The Dig Inn
The boys were getting peckish by them, so we headed to The Dig Inn for a bite to eat. It was a nice day and lots of families had brought a picnic with them and were eating them on the picnic tables outside. The restaurant served a mixture of sandwiches, paninis, burgers and a daily special of a filled Yorkshire pudding. There were children's lunch boxes comprising of a sandwich or a hot meal and a drink for £3.50. All in all, our family of 4 ate lunch for £20 which wasn't bad.
The Dig Around – perfect for toddlers
After lunch, we headed off again for more digger fun. Myself and Daniel went on the Dig Around which was a merry go ride digger style –another ride which was suitable for toddlers over 90cm tall. Then we went on the Robots which was fantastic fun. Again, Daniel was giggling away whilst I drove the digger along a mud track and through water (he was asking where the ducks were when we were going through the water!). We were slipping and sliding all over the place, but it was in a perfectly safe environment. Next up was the Go Karts which Matthew loved driving. Daniel couldn't go on these he wasn't tall enough but he loved watching Matthew.
One of our highlights was the Diggerland Train which took us on a tour of the park. The 3 of us sat in the main train and Matthew sat in a train barrel at the back which was like a little carriage pulled along by the tractor. We passed some dinosaurs on the way which the boys liked.
By this time, we had been there for about 4 1/2 hours, and Daniel was getting tired, so we decided to head home. There was still a lot which we hadn't done yet such as the Spin Dizzy (digger lifts you in the air and spins you around), the safari ride in a Landrover, the Sky Shuttle, which lifts you 50 feet in the air, and the Ground Shuttle which takes you for a bumpy ride. We had had such a good day though, and the boys were tired but happy.
Diggerland with Toddlers
We found there was loads to do at Diggerland with a toddler over 90cm tall. Children less than 90cm tall might not be able to go on a lot, but they will probably like seeing the diggers and you don't have to pay an entry fee for them. Children over 1m or 110cm can drive some of the diggers, and go on some of the bigger rides but my 4 year old wasn't bothered about doing this as he thought they were scary.
My boys were happy running around, watching the diggers and sitting in the driving seat. I asked Matthew what his favourite part of the day was and his answer was simple – 'seeing the diggers'! The boys are still digger mad so I don't think it will be too long until we go again.
8 Top Tips for Visiting Diggerland with Toddlers
1. Get there at opening time and head to the rides at the far side of the park first. Everyone tended to start off at the rides near the entrance so they were busier.
2. The park is buggy friendly, but we didn't need one as it is fairly compact.
3. Parking is free and plentiful.
4. There are Baby Change facilities in the Ladies Toilets.
5. Book your tickets online before hand and save 15% on the entry ticket.
6. Sign up for the Diggerland email newsletters – they sometime send special offers and discounts out.
7. Go on a dry day. There is an indoor play gym but all of the fun things are outside. Pick a nice day to visit and you will have a lot of fun.
8. Children under 90cm are free. Don't be put off going with younger children – we found our 2 year old toddler was happy enough watching the diggers and running round.
More Information
Diggerland has parks in Castleford, Durham, Devon and Kent – visit the Diggerland website for more info
Since thanks to Diggerland for our day – we loved it!
Click below to see my video of our day out at Diggerland!


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Aller, Devon (near South Molton)
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Hello, fellow bloggers and blog-readers! I seem to have taken an unplanned hiatus from posting and with that, have also lost touch with many of your wonderful blogs. It is my hope to catch up over the next few days. In the mean time, my contribution to ABC Wednesday is four letters behind schedule. That site is now at the letter "k" but I enjoy the exercise too much to skip a letter. Perhaps, plugging away slowly will be my best strategy.
*As always, I have gone on and on so do remember that it is fine to read only one of the sections shown in titled headings."H" shapes
This upper case "H" appeared during our week with Raven on Salt Spring Island. One of my great pleasures was watching the squirrels outside her kitchen window. They were busy preparing for winter, so there were many trips down the tree, across the bough, onto the balcony railing, and into the feed dish.
Ha Ha (ho ho, hee hee)
"H" at the beginning of a word requires one to breathe and expel air with some energy (unless the h is silent, as in the word, honest). This article, promoting the benefits of laughter, talked about "increased breathing, oxygen use, and heart rate, which stimulate the circulatory system." One choir director I knew started many of his rehearsals with a laughing exercise. We would begin quietly and gradually increase the volume until we found ourselves laughing genuinely and most heartily.
It would have been easy to become lost in the research about laughter. There was a fairly lengthy paper by Eric D. Olson entitled, "The Horror of Humor." I can't link that one, as it seems to download automatically to a word document, but for anyone with a lot of time to devote to the subject, it articulates some of the situations that bring humans to a state of laughter. Although many of these situations have negative implications, there is no question in my mind that the ability to laugh at oneself is a huge help in promoting a sense of well-being. The question I have about these statues is whether they are laughing at others, with others, or at themselves. Perhaps, a bit of all three.
Happy....is, I think, one of the best "h" words. Here are some recent examples around me:
Black Jack enjoying a roll in the grass.
A pug cooling off in a Vancouver water fountain.
His expression may not appear to be overjoyed, but the scene before me was a harmonious one, with his human reading a book just behind him, and I do think the..
temperature had been tested and proven just right.
Here, Bill and I have stopped for a photo to record our first time hoofing it together over the Cambie Bridge. Black Jack's favourite part of bridge walks is investigating the smells in corners, an activity that I confess gives me the heebie-jeebies.
This is David, of The Pet Shop Boys. My world was hunky-dory when I took this picture, because he had just cut Black Jack's nails. There wasn't a squeak out of her, the cost was only $10, and David donated the fee to the BC SPCA Paws for a Cause fundraiser. In fact, he and his partner, Christopher, handed over all of their nail trim earnings for over three weeks to this cause. I haven't tried their other services (doggie day care, dog training, pet grooming, sedation-free tooth cleaning), but on the basis of two visits, I am convinced the Pet Shop Boys are knowledgeable, capable and very, very caring. They will be my choice for Black Jack's non-medical care whenever my own skills aren't quite up to the job.
A new-to-me "H" artist
I found many examples of his work at this site. Perhaps you will see from the ones I have shown here why I found them both appealing and haunting. To go directly to a slideshow of his complete works, click here.
There is a hypnotic quality to many of his paintings; they draw me in, as do some of the details in his biography. His father, a man who spent much of his life chasing get-rich-quick schemes, found Winslow his first job as a commercial lithographer. For two years, he led a "treadmill" existence working on sheet music covers and other commercial assignments. This quote in the biography stayed with me: "From the time I took my nose off that lithographic stone I have had no master and never shall have any." His choice to paint strong, working women, his stint at the front lines of the American Civil War sketching "battle scenes and camp life, the quiet moments as well as the murderous ones" and his period of reclusion are just three of many stories that will stay in my mind. Other quotes describing Homer as a "Yankee Robinson Crusoe, cloistered on his art island" and "a hermit with a brush" make me realize I have just touched the surface in getting to know his art.
Musician for the letter "H"
This link will take you to a full length (1 hour and 25 minutes) documentary of his life and his music. The person who posted that video said these words (I took the liberty of correcting a couple of grammatical errors): "I have posted this video (in line with my role as an educator) in the hope it will inspire and educate people to learn more about the history of the blues music masters, My intention is not to infringe on any copyright but to educate people about the history of music. THIS IS A NO PROFIT POST UPLOADED TO TEACH AND IS BEING USED UNDER THE FAIR USE CLAUSE. 107: Limitations on exclusive rights: Fair Use." There is also a Wikipedia link that I found interesting. I learned quite a lot about the blues but, as with Homer, the personal stories add much to form the picture of a unique man. Born in Mississippi, his parents separated when he was a child. He was sent to live with an uncle after his mom kicked him out of the house because he didn't want to work on the farm as she demanded. His uncle is described by a childhood friend as "the meanest man between here and hell." At age 13, he ran away, found his father (after walking 85 miles barefoot), and discovered the local blues musicians. Many years later, when he was at the peak of his career, he went back to visit his mom, but she refused his money and reduced him to tears by throwing him out of the house again, saying his songs were "the devil's music." The beautiful part of this story is that when he finally married, he remained absolutely devoted to his wife and family to his dying day. I enjoyed this quote from the Wikipedia article: Though functionally illiterate into his 40s, Burnett eventually returned to school, first to earn a G.E.D., and later to study accounting and other business courses aimed to help his business career. Wolf met his future wife, Lillie, when she attended one of his performances in a Chicago club. She and her family were urban and educated, and not involved in what was generally seen as the unsavory world of blues musicians. Nonetheless, immediately attracted when he saw her in the audience as Wolf says he was, he pursued her and won her over. According to those who knew them, the couple remained deeply in love until his death. Together they raised Bettye and Barbara, Lillie's two daughters from an earlier relationship. Howlin' Wolf was huge (6'3" and 300 pounds) and his booming voice and stage act gave him, apparently, quite a fearsome persona, but I also came across the word "hero" several times in my readings about him. It has been an enlightening and inspiring experience to explore his life and music.
Heart, as in Hearts on Noses rescue
but she carefully made sure that every part of her body was treated to the spa. You can see many more pictures from our day at Hearts on Noses in this facebook post.
These are the three feral pigs adopted fairly recently. You can learn about them, and about pigs in general, either at Janice's Facebook site or at her web site and blog.
This is Rose again, and guess what? She loves roses! She doesn't just smell them,
but she eats them too! And best of all, no one at Hearts on Noses thinks that is a no-no.
Below is Roscoe. He's a happy pig too. He is following Janice of his own free will back to his pen, after having enjoyed an hour or so of free roaming throughout the huge property. The work Janice does is emotionally and physically and financially draining, and she does it after working her full time job. She appreciates every bit of help people can offer. There are grant applications to fill out, apples to deliver, manure to scoop up (that's what Bill and I did, and it was surprisingly fun), water dishes to scrub and refill, pigs to be sponsored ($25 a month), and many, many more jobs that, even if we just offered a couple of hours a month, would, in the long run, be helpful. Spread the word, folks. Pigs are among the most intelligent of all animals, and they (and Janice) sure could use a break.
High Places
This was taken several weeks ago, when I stopped for a photo/rest break during a bicycle ride across the Lions Gate Bridge. This is looking over West Vancouver. Ambleside Park is just to the left of that little railroad bridge.
This was from the top of Mount Maxwell on Salt Spring Island. The photo doesn't do justice to the breathtaking beauty around us.
I was told, but can't remember, the names of the places we could see from that vantage point.
Black Jack just wanted to head down the other side. She was stoked on critter potential. Thank you, Bill, for your endless patience!
There they go! There was just a narrow place for Bill's feet, but he hates to hold her back, so let's just say, it was a quicker descent for them than for yours truly.
I think this is one of my all-time favourite photos. Three very tall trees (much taller than my camera was able to capture) had grown from a fallen one. Jean told us that we call that a nursing tree. For some reason (don't laugh), it brought tears to my eyes to see this and with Bill and Black Jack framed between two of the trees, well.. the pièce de résistance :)
All this talk about hiking and descents may have led you to believe that we had quite a workout that day. In fact, we drove up (quite the workout for Bill's truck!) as far as the road would take us, so our actual climbing time was very modest. However, we did run around a bit (or Bill and Black Jack ran around and I took pictures when I could catch them) in the top section. The road was truly rough. I wasn't kidding when I say that Bill's truck had a workout. We traveled at the speed of tortoises, and even then, were seriously jolted by bumps in the road that seemed to appear out of nowhere. I think it was about two thirds of the way back down when Bill spotted this grouse at the side of the road. It halted in its tracks at first, but when I got out of the truck, it..
..flew to a tree and gave me a stare that spoke volumes.
The light was tricky and the automatic focus on my camera quite confused by the camouflage talents of this lovely bird. Still, the memory of the moment makes me love the photographs.
When we met Jean (see last post), she told us that Ruckle Provincial Park was probably her favourite place of all the beautiful places she has been. Well, that was high praise indeed, and we put it on our list of must-see's before returning home.
I took photos of the signs that explain how this beautiful park came to be.
The very first critters to hail us were turkeys. Well, "hail" may be a bit strong, but they did emerge from behind trees..
to check us out. I discovered that, as homely as they may first appear,
they have expressive features that hook me in to a sort of amused affection. I loved this picture that Jean's daughter took of that same flock of turkeys. It shows their curiosity and it made me laugh. It was Jean's 1000th post, and it really is worth a moment to stop by.
I believe this is the original homestead, still in use.
Bill noticed this little critter. It looked quite similar to one that I saw near Sunset Beach in November, 2011. With help from blog and facebook readers, we eventually identified that one as an American Mink so unless someone corrects me, I will assume this one is the same species. It was very quick, and I was happy to catch this blurry photo before it disappeared.
One of the things I loved about Ruckle Park was the variety of terrain. We walked along the water's edge,
stepped (or in Black Jack's case, bounded) over smooth rocks,
and came to open water spots every once in a while.
There were also forested trails, and even fields with ancient relics that Bill spotted.
As we were driving home, I noticed these sheep and caught a quick photo from the truck.
Just as I was trying to figure out how to get a better photo of the sheep, some deer came bounding through the field. Quite the photography challenge, but as with the mink, I was..
happy to at least record the memory of the exhilaration of seeing the deer float so smoothly over the fence. That, for me, is how an animal jumping over barriers should look. Not the forced and schooled ride that we make horses do in a show ring (and I did that too), but the "do what has to be done to get to the other side" in the most natural and free (it seems to me) way.
And speaking of horses, there have been some beautiful ones lately. This is Dior and he lives the kind of life at "Hearts on Noses" that I would wish for every horse. Yes, Janice not only has pigs but two rescued dogs (one of them three-legged but able to bound through the fields with his buddy) and two horses. The horses have this barn for shelter, but they can come and go as they please.
While Bill and I were picking up manure, I enjoyed lots of nuzzles that were pure delight. Just the sweetest horses and it did my heart good to be around them.
Here is Lacy, Dior's constant companion. They were sure enjoying their snacks and the sunshine and life in general.
We were driving back to the ferry after a great week on Salt Spring Island when we spotted these two horses.
We stopped to enjoy the tranquil scene for a few moments and I took photos while Black Jack and Bill explored the adjacent field.
How many legs does this horse have? Honestly, just four. The second horse is hidden.
Harvest and a little piece of Heaven
I am not a religious person in the traditional sense but there are several little pieces of (my idea of) Heaven in my world. One of those pieces is definitely at Salt Spring Island, where Raven lives, and where she and Bill still own a house. Raven is an extraordinary cook (understatement), and she took me to a farm where she buys some of her produce.
We didn't spend a long time there, but in a few minutes, I inhaled a feeling of back-to-the-earth well-being. These two cuties were watching the action from their spacious pen.
Raven arrived home one day wearing this colourful top that I thought went perfectly with her beautiful smile and nature-loving persona.
Her world is a haven of colour and critters and..
early morning ocean views, and
sea creatures..
rocks with personality and..
birds that soar past her front window.
I slept so well in her home, it was a struggle to make it up for sunrise.
When I finally did manage to rise with the sun, I was rewarded not by dramatic sunrise shots, but with golden light on the barely rippling water, and on the birds that flew over it.
In the evening, Bill and I took a little drive and stopped by this field to watch the cattle. I will call them Long Horns, because if that isn't their name,
I think it should be : )
One last picture to close this post.. a sunset to remember, taken just down the road from Raven and Bill's house. Thank you, Raven. Thank you, Bill. Thank you readers, for stopping by. To meet other bloggers from around the world, and to read about their take on a letter of the alphabet (K), don't forget to check out the ABC Wednesday blog meme.


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As per WHO Report, India has an estimated 15-20 million asthmatic patients. Various studies estimate that nearly 40 percent of asthma patients use inhalers and the rest prefer oral formulations.
For the sake of those with asthma
As part of its focus to give boost to treatment compliance amongst asthma patients by minimizing instances of non-adherence and drop-outs in asthma treatment regime, Sun Pharma has rolled out a mobile application that will connect doctors and asthma patients.
The app called as RespiTrack has been specifically developed by Sun Pharma for enabling doctors to track treatment progress of their patients and increase compliance to medication for better management of asthma disease.
"Unlike other chronic illnesses where non-adherence to treatment regimen could have significant impact on the patient's health, asthmatics tend to be low on the short-run adversity impact of non-adherence. However, in the long run, the implications of non-adherence to prescribed asthma treatment can severely impede quality of life of these patients," said Abhay Gandhi, CEO – India Business, Sun Pharma.
Sun Pharma's RespiTrack aims to address these and other reasons leading to non-adherence thereby improving compliance to asthma treatment through recurring medication reminders, pre-programmed alerts, Over-the-Air review by the doctor etc.
"By leveraging our digital technology capabilities, we believe RespiTrack can address this unmet need by reducing non-adherences incidences to treatment," Gandhi said.
RespiTrack allows complete monitoring of asthma attacks, symptoms and medications prescribed by the physician. It enables these patients to record time, place, duration and triggers of attacks along with medication details on the mobile App. The patient can easily send this data to the consulting physician through over-the-air mode on a weekly or monthly basis. A review dashboard in the app provides a snapshot of all parameters to monitor over a period of time.
Through RespiTrack, a doctor can access his patient's details through a personalized tracker module which is directly synced with the patient's App. This module allows doctors to access patient's ailment history, attack patterns, symptoms, medication patterns and reports. A doctor can remotely view patient reports and also connect with them through an integrated messaging app.
The app is available on Google Play Store and Apple Store. A patient needs a Registration Number issued by his/her doctor to use this app.