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Foolproof Pie Dough
This recipe is from the lovely folks at Cook's Illustrated. It is my go to recipe for pie dough. I am not a pastry person. I mean, I like eating them, but making pastry has always seemed way too futzy. Before this, I would just buy pre-made pie dough, which was never very good, so I really just didn't make pie. But this recipe changed all that. It really is foolproof. I don't think it can be overworked or have too much flour added. I have done mean things to this pie dough and the end result is always tender and flaky. The secret ingredient is vodka. Something about the alcohol not promoting gluten formation and lower evaporation point.. insert science here… equals fabulous. The dough is wet and sticky, just make sure it is really cold when you roll it out and don't be afraid to add flour. And whatever you do, don't taste the raw dough, it is awful, but I promise it will be delicious once properly baked.
Like I said, the key to perfect pie dough is vodka. Since you can't taste the vodka, I'm not sure it needs to be good vodka, I just used what was in my liquor cabinet.
The recipe calls for cold water, vodka, butter and shortening. I keep butter in the fridge so that isn't a problem, but I usually have the rest of those ingredients at room temperature. So I put the required amounts of vodka and water in a measuring cup and put the shortening in a bowl and stuck them both in the freezer for a few minutes before I started.
Once your ingredients are properly chilled, it's time to drag out the food processor. First, just add 1 1/2 cups of the flour, salt and sugar and pulse once or twice to combine. Then add the cold butter and shortening, cut into pieces, and process until it looks like cottage cheese.
Now scrape down the sides and add the remaining cup of flour. Pulse 4 to 6 quick pulses or until the mass of dough breaks up. Then empty the dough into a medium bowl.
Now sprinkle the cold vodka and water over the dough. Mix using a rubber spatula and folding motion until the dough sticks together.
Then divide the dough into two even balls and flatten them into 4-inch disks. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 45 minutes and up to 2 days.
- 2 1/2 cups (12 1/2 ounces) unbleached all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon table salt
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/4-inch slices
- 1/2 cup cold vegetable shortening, cut into 4 pieces
- 1/4 cup cold vodka
- 1/4 cup cold water
- Process 1 1/2 cups flour, salt, and sugar in food processor until combined, about 2 one-second pulses. Add butter and shortening and process until homogeneous dough just starts to collect in uneven clumps, about 15 seconds (dough will resemble cottage cheese curds and there should be no uncoated flour). Scrape bowl with rubber spatula and redistribute dough evenly around processor blade. Add remaining cup flour and pulse until mixture is evenly distributed around bowl and mass of dough has been broken up, 4 to 6 quick pulses. Empty mixture into medium bowl.
- Sprinkle vodka and water over mixture. With rubber spatula, use folding motion to mix, pressing down on dough until dough is slightly tacky and sticks together. Divide dough into two even balls and flatten each into 4-inch disk. Wrap each in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 45 minutes or up to 2 days.
- Yields dough for one 9-inch double-crust pie


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Friday, March 31, 2006
Tea Review 62 - Hattialli & Tippy Orthodox
Hattialli Estate GFBOP SPL
Tippy Orthodox GFOP
Upton Tea Imports
Yerba Mate Month is almost upon us, Assam Month is fading and the tea cupboard is almost bare of the latter. Oh, woe. But we'll usher out the month with a bang - specifically with one of the better of the dozen or so Assams I've tasted lately.
Hattialli Estate gets the best in show award, as far as Assam Month goes. It's not cheap. As a matter of fact, at $4.50 for a 15 gram sample, it's the most expensive of the sixty or so Assam varieties that Upton sells. But it's worth it.
This is one of several varieties that Upton offers from this estate. It's overflowing with nice tips, not to mention an outstanding aroma and flavor and a mouth feel that's smooth as silk.
Here's the full description from Upton's site, to which I say a resounding "amen":
"This renowned estate has produced many top-notch teas in recent years. This example has a beautiful, broken leaf, with a high percentage of golden-copper tips. The fresh, invigorating aroma and thick liquor are backed by the full, complex Assam flavor."
If you'd rather not spend so much but you'd still like a nice tasting Assam you could do a lot worse than the Tippy Orthodox. One hundred grams of this one sells for just a little more than the sample of the Hattialli and yet it ranks right up there with some of the other top Assams I've had the pleasure to taste this month.
Recommended in both cases, but if you really want a thrill cough up a little extra cash and go with the Hattialli.
tea, food, food and drink, Assam
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Enjoyed Tony Scott's Deja Vu but wished it had a bit more substance and artistic vision?
Last month we brought you the first trailer for director Duncan Jones' sophomore film Source Code. Now a new, international, trailer has been released for Source Code - starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Monaghan, Vera Farmiga and Jeffrey Wright.
The international trailer is fairly similar to the domestic version that was released last month. It is a more condensed version, that seeks to deliver the essential story elements of the film; as well as a sense of the tone, and feel for the action.
Take a look at the international trailer below:
Confused? If you're still scrambling for the plot behind the film -- here's the official synopsis:
"When decorated soldier Captain Colter Stevens wakes up in the body of an unknown man, he discovers he's part of a mission to find the bomber of a Chicago commuter train. In an assignment unlike any he's ever known, he learns he's part of a government experiment called the 'Source Code," a program that enables him to cross over into another man's identity in the last 8 minutes of his life. With a second much larger target threatening to kill millions in Downtown Chicago, Colter relives the incident over and over again, gathering clues each time, until he can solve the mystery of who is behind the bombs and prevent the next attack."
As previously mentioned, Source Code follows a similar plot-line to the 2006 Denzel Washington thriller Deja Vu -- a film which received a fairly mixed critical response. However, fans of Jones' directorial debut Moon, have faith that this film will deliver a far richer experience than Scott's film. Though, coincidentally, Scott does have an "oh my God, we have only so much time to stop a train disaster" film out right now as well -- Unstoppable (starring Denzel Washington) so, deja vu indeed.
Son of glamrock icon David Bowie, Jones stunned audiences in 2008 with his thoughtful, intense, beautifully crafted exploration of the meaning of identity -- Moon. Many still feel that actor Sam Rockwell was robbed of an Academy Award nomination for his role in that film.
In any case, with Source Code, Jones once again tackles the notion of identity, as well as the confines of time, - within the structure of an action-thriller. Those of us who were gripped and haunted by Moon, eagerly anticipate the opportunity to visit the world that Jones has created for his follow up film.
Source Code is scheduled for release on April 1, 2011.
Source: Bleeding Cool
Follow me on twitter @jrothc and Screen Rant @screenrant


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Whenever today's NBA salaries come up in a conversation, someone inevitably asks if I have any regrets that I played professional basketball in the underpaid Sixties. My response has always been the same. I begin by explaining that once a month I enter my hall closet, scrunch my way to the back behind the heavy coats, and I primal-scream for a couple of minutes, much as Lisa Minelli did standing under the railroad trestle in the movie, Cabaret. Like Minelli, I emerge emotionally refreshed and , in my case, temporarily cleansed of financial envy.
Purged of such envy, I proceed to explain why I have no regrets. More than any other NBA decade, my era was special. While the Beatles were changing American music, and anti-war activists were altering national politics, and women were raising the consciousness of a male dominated society, the NBA players of the Sixties, were revolutionizing pro hoops.
With apologies to Magic and Bird, and to Bill Simmons, the Basketball Guy, the most dramatic changes in the game of professional basketball started at the end of the fifties, through the Boston Celtics dominated Sixties and into the early Seventies with the arrival of Kareem, Adul Jabbar in Milwaukee. During that decade and a half the last of the great set shooters, Dolph Schayes, Carl Braun, and Larry Costello disappeared and the jump shooters of the future, Jerry West, Oscar Robertson, and Billy Cunningham emerged.
Left behind were the slow-footed centers, replaced by the likes of Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, and Nate Thurmond. For the first time, guards such as Guy Rodgers, Lenny Wilkins, Dave Bing, and Nate Archibald brought lightening speed and paint penetration to the game. Power forwards were no longer simply rebounding hatchet-men like Andy Johnson and Jungle Jim Loscutoff, but players like Rudy LaRusso, Dave DeBusshere, and Tom Heinsohn who could step out to twenty feet and knock down jumpers.
One marvels today at 7 foot Dirk Nowitzki shooting threes, but I remember 6'11" Walter Bellamy, at a time when there was no three point line, sinking jump shots from beyond the arc. (Like Nowitzki, he didn't play much defense.) I know of no player today as fast as Nate Archibald, and no players as creative as Earl "The Pearl" Monroe and Pistol Pete.
Had the NBA not banned Connie Hawkins, I feel confident that The Hawk would have joined Elgin Baylor as the spiritual model for mega-stars such as Julius Irving and Michael Jordan. (Wilt's 100-point-game and one season's 50-point scoring average stands alone and belongs to all the ages.) As for scorers, Rick Barry and John Havelick paved the way for Kobe Bryant, LaBron James, and D. Wade. From time to time as I watch Mano Genobili, one of my favorite scorers, play, it has occurred to me that Mano has figured out a way to channel Hondo.
Then, there are the great defenders, not be confused with some of today's great pretenders. Before there was a Ron Artest or a Bruce Bowen, there was a Jerry Sloan, Norm Van Lear, and Satch Sanders. No greater defensive pit bull ever existed than Sloan. I grant we did not play in the air as most of today's players do, but there were high-fliers a-plenty: Johnny Green, Joe Caldwell, Gus Johnson, (shatterer of the first NBA backboard), and languishing in some schoolyard playground, the memory of Earl "The Goat" Manigault- like Jumping John-the-Baptists preparing the way for Dwight Howard, Jason Richardson, and Nate Robinson.
This blog is not intended to compare players and eras. Perhaps in a future blog I'll give it a try, in which case I'd probably start by pointing out that today's players are the beneficiaries of years of ECBD (Early Childhood Basketball Development). I can only imagine what the players I have mentioned might have accomplished had they had the same skills-training and physical fitness regimen of today's players. But that's beside the point. All NBA eras are different. About every ten years the curtain rises on new and wonderful super-stars all of whom will possess fantastic skills, all of whom should hearken back to the NBA Sixties where most of their moves originated.
Aside from innovation born out of rule changes and individual physical capability, by the time I retired in 1971, the game of professional basketball had reached its creative zenith. Everything that followed has been a variation on a theme. I know, I was there. That's why I have no regrets.
Earl "The Pearl" Monroe by Tom Meschery
In the rec leagues
they called me Black Jesus.
When I walked onto the court
the crowd parted like water.
In college, someone found a rhyme
and I became a pearl.
I guess I've been a mixed
metaphor ever since. Sometimes,
when I backed a player
down into the paint
and spun into my shot,
I knew before the ball left
my fingers it was going in.
At that moment
I could have healed lepers
raised the dead.
What my musings are all about...
Blogging might well be the 21st century's form of journaling. As a writing teacher, I have always advised my students to keep a daily journal as a way of organizing their thoughts for future writing projects, a discipline I have unfortunately never consistently practiced myself. By blogging, I might finally be able to follow my own good advice.
The difference between journaling and blogging is that the blogger opens his or her writing to the public, something journal- writers are usually reluctant to do. I am not so reticent.
The trick for me will be to avoid cluttering the internet with more blather, something none of us need more of. If I stick to subjects I know: sports and literature, I believe I can avoid that pitfall. I can't promise that I'll not stray from time to time to comment on ancillary subjects, but I will make every attempt to be interesting and perhaps even insightful.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
No Regrets
Posted by Tom Meschery at 8:00 PM 0 comments Links to this post
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First, make the Oat Bran Bread Crumbs. You can find the recipe here.
Then, follow the recipe below —
- 4 chicken breasts, use a mallet to flatten
- 2 large eggs
- 2 cans italian diced tomatoes, 15 oz
- reduced fat parmesan cheese
- oat bran bread crumbs
- Beat eggs in a shallow bowl.
- Place bread crumbs in a separate bowl.
- Dip chicken breasts in egg mixture and coat with bread crumbs.
- Preheat oven 400 degrees.
- Heat skillet on medium-high with cooking spray.
- Brown both sides of chicken breasts.
- Place chicken on greased baking sheet and lightly top with cooking spray.
- Bake in oven for 10-15 minutes to finish cooking.
- Meanwhile, heat diced tomatoes in a sauce pan.
- Remove chicken from oven, top with tomatoes and parmesan cheese.


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Have you ever felt like the odd bird? The one with a certain unique WILLINGNESS to keep going, keep trying, keep growing even if it meant doing something totally weird… like TAPPING?!?!
You are a rare and beautiful being. We're so honored to have you as part of our world… reading our words, sharing our energy and enthusiasm for healing, loving, laughing. I imagine there have been times (even years) when you've felt like there were not many people you could relate to or trust to reflect back to you the self-acceptance we all need in order to truly thrive.
Well… weird birds from around the globe are coming together soon for our Tapping World Summit. Last year over 500,000. Do you know what that means?
To me it means that more and more of us are seeking and finding emotional freedom. It means that people like us — people who do the sometimes hard and tear-wet inner work of emotional transformation — are part of a global movement to better ourselves… and co-create loving relationships with everyone we touch.
Even if you are not going to be attending the summit and listening to the free tapping sessions, Cathy and I would like you to "fly in" with us, energetically, to support those who really need a breakthrough in their lives. Would you make sure to sign up, and also to set a blessing intention for all those attending?
Over the years since I helped co-create the documentary The Tapping Solution, I've heard from countless people how the summits introduced them to a new way of interpreting their pain, their wild emotions, and how listening blessed them with renewed hope and confidence. If you'd like to join me, sign up using the link above and then tap with me. Just say the words and tap the points that feel right to you.
I set my heart
and my mind
to the intention of healing.
For myself
For my tribe
For the world.
I honor and respect
The pain and suffering we've all felt.
I invite grace.
I invite hope.
I activate our shared power.
May each of us this day
And all days
Feel our connection
Feel our Oneness
Know our Love.
We are Co-Creating
With Love,


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Every year approximately 5 students graduate with a degree in web development from Iowa schools. If you too are interested in a career in web development, Iowa has 1 web development schools for you to choose from. Yearly tuition at web development schools in Iowa for a degree in web development is $4,652 per year.
Located in Estherville, Iowa Lakes Community College is the largest web development school in Iowa, based on student population. In 2009, a reported 5 students graduated with a web development degree from Iowa Lakes Community College. This was 100% of the total web development graduates in Iowa for that year. In 2009, tuition at Iowa Lakes Community College, was approximately $4,652 per year.
A majority of web development graduates choose to work as web developers. If after graduation, you are planning on working in Iowa, it is important to know that the job outlook for web development graduates in the state is average. There are currently an estimated 1,880 web developers working in Iowa. The government expects, by 2018, for this number to increase by 11%, or to 2,100 web developers.
If you work as a web developer in Iowa, your yearly salary can range from less than $NaN to more than . The median salary for web developers in Iowa is per year.
19 S 7th St, Estherville, Iowa 51334-2295
Awards Offered:
Less than 1 year certificate
1-2 years certificate
Associate's degree


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Our KHSC 2018-19 Annual Corporate Plan (ACP) is a milestone that represents the coming together of the Hotel Dieu Hospital and Kingston General Hospital site strategies and our shared commitment to providing high quality and compassionate patient- and family-centred care as we chart a new path as a health sciences center.
This section contains information about:
- Our Annual Corporate Plan - learn more about KHSC's plan for providing high quality and compassionate and patient- and family-centered care.
- Our Scorecard - learn more about our annual and quarterly progress against our strategy and our annual corporate performance goals.
- Quality & Patient Safety - learn more about ongoing priority improvements that enhance care for patients, increase satisfaction, and achieve even better clinical outcomes.
- Fiscal Accountability - learn more about our funding agreements and our financial reporting
- Best Practice Spotlight Organization - learn more about the BPSO® designation from the Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario (RNAO). One way in which KHSC strives for excellence and works to improve health outcomes for patients.
- Greening KHSC - learn more about the measures we are taking to reduce our carbon footprint and avert the problems associated with environmental hazards
- Awards & Recognition - learn about the patient safety, staff satisfaction, research and environmental awards KGH has won since 2011


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Turn your social networrk into a profitable makretplace with the Marketplace Script Module. Unlimited sellers, buyers, products and customizable subscription plans so you can attract more vendors and increase your income!
How can you earn money from your social marketplace script?
The Marketplace script builder module includes the powerful Subscriptions plan editor. Use it to create various seller subscriptions. All members that want to be merchants on your site have to purchase subscription packages in order to list and sell items.
You can create unlimited number of seller plans, and unlimited combinations of settings. These include:
How can you attract sellers and monetize your social multi vendor platform?
Create a free monthly subscription. In a few months time you can change the plan's price. After the period expires for the particular subscriber he will have to renew, and pay the subscription fee to keep his selling privileges and listings on your site.
In time you can gradually introduce commission, subscription or per-item plans, depending on how your site and sales are progressing.
The Subscriptions plan editor does not limit the number of merchant packages you can create. Add multiple subscription options - each with different capabilities - so you can attract vendors with various needs. The cheaper plans may have fewer listings or higher commission, while more expensive plans may include more (or unlimited) listings, lower commission. You can also introduce an annual package so you can collect more money early.
Are you looking for a multi vendor marketplace script, a marketplace b2b script, or a c2c marketplace script?
Then look no further. Our Marketplace module will regenerate your Pintastic 4 into an online marketplace script. There are many solutions on the market, but you will hardly find any b2b marketplace script php or b2c marketplace script that compares to our versatile solution. It is more than a regular ecommerce marketplace script - it is a complete system that can be upgraded with various modules so you can own the best marketplace script available. Here are just a few examples to support our claim.
Combine Amexi's solution with the Banner module and you will have an advertising marketplace script.
Do you need auctions eBay style?
Then, you can include the Auction module to get this extended functionality. Thanks to this add-on you can have your own auto marketplace script. Install our Digital product module to convert your tangible-goods-only marketplace into a digital marketplace script. Because there are no limitations on what you can actually sell, you can have an app marketplace script, an audio marketplace script and a content marketplace script all in one system.
With the Restful API module and the upcoming native app, you will also be owning an Android marketplace script - all the products will be available for purchase directly on buyers' phones! We've sold over 1000 copies of our first marketplace shopping cart script, and we have used our experience and customer feedback to build a worthy successor. Purchase your php marketplace script from Amexi, and start your business today! We've done our best to deliver a capable solution at the lowest possible price. If you are on a budget remember that you can upgrade your solution over time - step by step. Be aware that custom-developing a script for marketplace from the ground up to match your specific needs will be a much costlier endeavor. If you need additional functions and options for your solution - purchase our b2b marketplace script Open Source license and contact us for a development quote.
The social marketplace module is a versatile solution that rebuilds your social network system into a multi vendor marketplace script. Combine the Marketplace script module upgrade with the User groups and permissions module, and you can allow only certain users (or yourself only) to list products.
Help your sellers make more effective promotions and attract more customers by installing the Discount coupons module.
Do you want to sell like on eBay?
All you need is the Auction module, where each sale can have duration, starting price, predefined bidding steps and maximum bids! Add the Subscription module and create pre-paid packages for access to seller, discount code and auctioning privileges. If you are looking for a digital goods marketplace script - we have a solution for you. You can order and install our Digital product module to upgrade your Pintastic Script 4.0 to a files marketplace script.
You can sell virtually any file of type through our digital mall solution, so you can have an image marketplace script, an online video store, a music marketplace script and many more all rolled into one. With so many options to sell all sorts of products, it might be hard for your visitors to discover what they are actually looking for. Add our filters to your script marketplace listing pages to help them up! Install the Color filter so users can match your products to their style, or the Price filter for those on a budget. Thanks to the Sort filter and the Item type filter buyers can order the products in categories and interests to their specific criteria. With our Ships to country and Ships to city modules you can turn your site into a local marketplace script, and our Search in store filter helps them lookup products in an individual store. When you have the Interests by category module installed, buyers can follow the exact group or brand of products they are looking for, and receive updates from it on their home pages. Payments can be completed through the built-in PayPal module, or with the additional CCBill module.
Trust us - this is just the beginning...
Revamps Pintastic into a social online marketplace script
Extends your monetizing options: sell your own products, invite other vendors to offer theirs and charge subscription for listing
Extremely flexible solution: combine with Auction module, Digital item module and Coupon module to further widen sales option and upgrade your online marketplace script
Add the User rating module and increase the confidence of the visitors in your php marketplace script site
Seamless integration with online payment methods your website marketplace script is less prone to bugs and errors, because order statuses are automatically updated.


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Chic, stretchy jersey cotton fabrics in the most elegant of prints.
Create a tiny, silver screen goddess with our Greta headpieces.
Turban in style, timeless and chic in elegance.
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Essential Luxury for the Small.


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One of the joys of Saturday morning, other than not going to work, is the search for a bargain at a flea market. One man's trash might turn into your treasure. It's quite easy to spend hours searching tables hoping to find something for virtually nothing.
Here are some flea market tips.
Grand River Flea Market
261 Hespeler Rd, Cambridge, ON N1R 3H8
Indoor and outdoor vendors at Cambridge's oldest flea market sell everything from jewelry to rare coins to crafts to antiques to ceramics. Tasty treats are also available, such as fresh baked goods and smoked meats.
Mizener's Antiques & Flea Market
367 Hwy 5, Flamborough, ON L9H 5E2
Sundays 9:00am - 5:00pm
One of the oldest and largest antique and flea markets in Ontario, with over 100 Vendors. Admission is $2.00 per carload of visitors.
Crossroads Flea Market
Brantford: take Garden Ave S exit from Hwy 403
Open daily 9 am - 6 pm,
Over 100 vendors antiques, collectibles, sports cards & more
Circus Flea Market (Brantford)
179 Dalhousie St.
(519) 752-2651 or 759-6799.
Open Saturdays & Sundays. Adm chrg Sun. Approx 30 dealers. Primarily antiques & collectibles. Market has indoor space & snack bar. c/p Jim Bowen,
The newspapers are an excellent source for who's holding a yard sale on what day, where, what they're selling, etc. There are farm stands, where farmers sell their own fresh produce, on the various country roads in the area. <


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"What's wrong with people?"
That's the question my fourteen (14) year old son asked when I showed him a Facebook page created by some misguided P.O.S. supporting Moncton RCMP shooter Justin Bourque (24). The page had a remarkable 1,268 "likes" on it.
My son wasn't the only one disturbed by the flagrant disrespect put on display on social media.
"Whoever created this page is a f—ing moron," one commenter posted.
There were many similar comments but the prevalent theme centered on requests to have the page deleted.
Police Officers are well acquainted with the "Police Hater" community who, for the most part, like to hide behind the anonymity provided by the internet, social media and the comment sections of our local newspapers. They are a select group of venom spewing hate mongers who share in their distrust of Government and rail against the Police State and the "armed killers" who enforce the Law.
If you ever get a chance to engage one of them in a conversation they'll regale you with stories of Police misconduct, criminality and excessive use of force.
For the most part, they're a laughable bunch of harmless nobodies who find purpose in their common hatred and mistrust of Law Enforcement Officers.
Justin Bourque is a rare and extreme example of the metamorphosis of a Police Hater.
He was nothing more than a little bug who somehow morphed into an armed and dangerous killer capable of paralyzing an entire City.
Now that he's been taken into custody the focus shifts to the unanswered questions. The one you'll hear most is, "Why?" What could the motive possibly be behind a vile cowardly ambush attack on a group of people who have sworn an oath to serve and protect us all?
"He must be crazy," many people suggest.
Time for the defence lawyers, psychiatrists and the criminal justice system to take center stage.
Will Bourque's defence team try to play the NCR (Not Criminally Responsible) card?
Sadly, the story now becomes more about the killer than the brave Police Officers who paid the ultimate price in service of their Community.
There was another phenomena trending on Facebook.
Active and retired Police Officers across the Country have replaced their Facebook profile photo's with the "Thin Blue Line" flag. It's a subtle gesture designed to express condolences, share grief and show support for our brother and sister Officers in the RCMP.
"The Thin Blue Line," is a term often misrepresented and tainted with negative connotations by the Police hater community. The hateful spin the anonymous heroes put on this beloved term never really surprised me but it did give me an opportunity to take the cop haters to school in an article I wrote a year or so ago called "Taking Cop Haters to School."
The article was selected "Blog of the Week" by the Winnipeg Free Press and published for a wider audience. For those of you who missed it, recent events inspire me to share the relevant information.
According to Wikipedia "The Blue Line" stands for Law Enforcement Officers. The top black part stands for The good and the bottom black part stands for the bad. All together, the blue line, which represents Law Enforcement, separates the good from the bad.
Although I can relate to the Wikipedia definition, it runs deeper than that for me.
When people ask why I joined the Police Department I have a simple explanation for them, it spells out the true meaning of the controversial phrase.
When I was eighteen (18) years old I was dating a young woman I accompanied to a downtown restaurant for a romantic dinner. After parking the car we were in the process of walking to the restaurant when we noticed a group of people looking across the street with horrific expressions etched on their faces.
As we looked across the street the cause for their concern became clear.
There on the sidewalk lay a disheveled man who was being subjected to a ruthless beating by some no account scumbag who was kicking him in the face, head and body. Every violent blow rendered the victim closer and closer to unconsciousness. It seemed the perpetrator was bent on killing the poor defenceless man.
All eyes cast across the street and not one person motivated to act.
Much to the shock and amazement of the gallery, I yelled across the street;
"Hey asshole."
The scumbag ignored me and continued with the brutal assault.
"Hey asshole," I yelled in a louder, more authoritative voice.
This time the abuser stopped, looked across the street and locked eyes with me.
"You kick that guy one more time and I'm going to cross the street and kick your ass," I said, with an expression on my face meant to send the message I was willing to make good on the threat.
The scumbag's face now mirrored the expressions of the bystanders, amazed that someone had the balls or concern to intervene. He stood there for a moment and appeared to be assessing his options. He looked down on the victim, clearly wanting to continue the beating, then looked back across the street at me observing I had now taken a step off the curb towards him.
That was all the coward needed to see, I was for real and I meant what I said. He turned and slowly walked away. The victim struggled to his feet and left in the opposite direction.
That's it, it really doesn't go deeper than that.
The willingness to confront the shit, to stand up for people who can't defend themselves, to sacrifice yourself to confront evil. Some of us just have "that thing" inside of us. At some point in my life I came to realize I had "that thing" inside of me.
Just about every cop I ever met had "that thing" inside of them. It's the same thing that was inside of the Police Officers and First Responders on "911" who ran up those stairs while everybody else was running out.
It's the same thing that was inside of the RCMP Officers who responded to the call of an armed suspect threatening the peace and tranquility of a neighbourhood in Moncton, New Brunswick.
It's that thing that drives us to serve and protect.
It's that thing that gives us the courage to make the ultimate sacrifice.
The twenty-five or so spectators watching the guy get his ass kicked on that sidewalk didn't have "that thing."
That doesn't make me or Police Officers better than anybody else, it just make us different.
Police Officers represent a portion of the small percentage of people in society who have "that thing" that drives them to serve and protect everyone else.
"That thing" separates us from the majority, "that thing" is the essence of "The Thin Blue Line."
I've learned to love and respect "that thing" inside of me.
Unlike the evil spin the cop haters try to put on this beloved term, I embrace the term and celebrate my membership in the exclusive club.
I challenge the Police haters to look in the mirror before they enter their next anonymous cop hating venom in the comment sections of newspapers or on social media.
Ask yourself what you've done for your community.
Ask yourself what you stand for.
Ask yourself if you have the courage to confront evil or sacrifice your life for the safety and security of your fellow citizens.
Ask yourself if you have the right to Judge the men and women whose boots you could never fill.
Next time you feel the need to spew your venom, do us all a favour and take a break from the keyboard.
That brings me back to my son's question.
"What's wrong with people?"
I wish I had the answer….
This story is dedicated to the men and women who serve our Country in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
In memory of;
- Constable David Ross (32)
- Constable Fabrice Georges Gevaudan (45)
- Constable Douglas James Larche (40)
With respect and appreciation to injured Officers;
- Constable Darlene Goguen
- Constable Eric Dubois
"Taking Cop-Haters to School" published in the Winnipeg Free Press, Blog of the Week on 12-02-2012.


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Thursday, 5 March 2009
Lifesaving champions are looking for sponsorship
Iain Wilson of Kilmarnock, an architect working for Ayr-based ARP Lorimer & Associates, is a Scottish Lifesaving Champion and part of the Scottish Lifesaving squad that is currently busy training and fundraising for the Commonwealth Lifesaving Championships that take place in Edmonton, Canada in June.
[Pictured: members of the Scottish Lifesaving squad. Front row, left to right: Alison Wilson, Louisa Petta, Isobell Miller, Susan Miller. Middle Row: Dawn Fraser, Nicky Gray, Becky McGuire, James Miller, David Lamb, Andrew McAlister. Back Row: Kenneth MacDermid, Joanne Finn, Iain Wilson, Iain McEwan, Calumn MacDermid. Others not in the photo include: Michele Weedy (Team Manager/Coach), Ben Witz, Claire Ormiston, Stacey McAlister, Drew Leitch, Gavin Morrison, Jody Boyes, Chis Harper, Simon Deane, Scott Burnett, David McGuire. CLICK ON IMAGE TO VIEW / DOWNLOAD FULL -SIZE VERSION.]
In previous years the championships have been held in locations such as England, South Africa and Australia. Scotland has sent a team to this event regularly, with various successes including a number of gold medals over the years.
Scotland's current squad, including Iain, are all young and full of enthusiasm but it will be costing each competitor around £1500 to travel to Canada, train and buy the necessary kit. The majority of the expense will have to be personally financed, as the Royal Lifesaving Society Scotland Branch has very little money available to support the athletes.
So the squad are looking for sponsors for the trip, and raffle prizes for a fundraising dance.
Companies willing to help should contact:
Iain Wilson
ARP Lorimer & Associates
Architects and Quantity Surveyors
11 Wellington Square
Ayr KA7 1EN
Ayrshire, Scotland
Tel: 01292 289777
Fax: 01292 288896
E-mail: email@example.com
Web: www.arpl.co.uk
The Royal Life Saving Society UK
allmediascotland eliteayrshire
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There are currently 471 Ayrshire business stories permanently archived on this site. To locate those of most interest to you, please use the site search facility in the top left hand corner of this page. Type your search term in the white box, then click "SEARCH BLOG".
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I'm particularly happy to observe Meatless Monday today after attending two bountiful Thanksgiving feasts with turkey as the main event, featuring some two dozen kinds of pie for dessert. My friends and family do love pie. Today I'm still in recovery.
As a guest bearing food to these feasts I had several dishes to produce. The request for Feast One with friends on Thursday was for a rich cranberry tart featured in Yankee Magazine some years back. Its ingredients include a crust made with sugar, two sticks of butter, and 3/4 cups of walnuts. Upon this crust 6 oz of blue cheese is spread, and then topped with cranberries cooked in cherry preserves and brandy until they've popped. It looked beautiful and we were able to turn it onto the glass serving plate without any damage. More importantly, it tasted great. Success.
With Feast Two, the Friday family celebration, there were a number of near misses.
Near miss number one involved the Butternut Squash and Wilted Spinach recipe recently featured in my blog about binging on beta carotene. By now there were high expectations for this dish: failure was not an option. The recipe is quite simple, and I had made it before, so you might wonder what the problem could have been. Here goes. What I learned last week is that butternut squash is not as easy to find as it was a month ago. With no whole butternut squash in the fresh produce aisle, I bought organic butternut squash peeled, cut, and shrink wrapped with a sale date of November 27, on sale at a reasonable price in the refrigerated section. But when I went to use the squash on the 24th, I discovered long, delicate, strands of black mold growing in both packages. Luckily I had four cups in the freezer, left over from a very large squash I had previously roasted, and access to a microwave, so the dish was saved. There were no leftovers. This was a dish nearly everyone loved (except the vegans).
Now might be a good time to mention that only omnivores (and one guy who only eats white vegetables) attended Thursday's feast, but Friday's guests included vegetarians and vegans. The vegans posed a challenge. While we knew the vegetarians would pass on the turkey, gravy, and stuffing cooked in the bird, we knew the vegans would also pass on both my squash dish and my celeriac gratin. And on the potatoes if we mashed them with milk and on the pies if the crusts were made with butter or if the filling included eggs or dairy products. So we offered more kinds of cranberry sauce, and plain roasted vegetables and potatoes mashed without milk or butter. I had just started mashing the large pot of spuds with some potato water when my husband took over and I ran off to set the table. At dinner I simply could not get over how great these vegan potatoes tasted. And then I learned the secret: one head of garlic and 1 and 1/2 sticks of Willow Run margarine! Although no animals were harmed in making this vegan dish, I am sure a few humans would be if they had this on the menu every day!
Now on to the dessert course. For my vegan-friendly pie, I turned to an old Shaker recipe. Shaker Cranberry Pie (from The Shaker Cookbook by Caroline B. Piercy) called for sugar, flour, vanilla, raisins, and cranberries (no butter) in the filling. I had long ago switched from shortening to butter to make my crust, but butter wouldn't do this year. I turned to Betty Crocker for help and found a recipe for crust made with oil. I used organic canola. Because I was using a liquid instead of a hard stick of butter, the crust was very easy to make and it rolled out well. I did find it not as supple when I went to crimp the crust, and I could not be as ornate as usual with my finishing. But all seemed to be going well for a first experiment. So, what was the near miss? Apparently oil crust bakes quicker than the other kinds, at least in a glass pie plate. The crust browned right through my crust protectors! The crusts were a little too brown for my taste, and I think next time I will reduce the heat by 25° and check the pie 10 minutes sooner. It was certainly not the most beautiful pie in the world, but I decided to take it anyway. Imagine my joy when the crust turned out to be flaky, and the filling delicious. It seems this pie was kid- as well as vegan-friendly. To be honest, its flavor and texture called to mind an unfrosted pop tart (one of the organic ones of course!) and was one of the first pies to be finished. I'll be making this one again.
Now for the error of omission. The vegetarians didn't say anything, perhaps because they were satiated with cheese. However, the vegans asked about gravy. My sister and I had never considered this request so they had to do without. Next time I suppose we can grab a container of Tofurky gravy, but I'll be checking online to see if there is a recipe for making my own. Does a hunk of tofu produce drippings if roasted? Any tips from readers would be most appreciated.
And, on to the happy discoveries. We had a stop to make in West Stockbridge before heading home on Saturday — Charles H. Baldwin & Sons where I purchased vanilla (see my blog post on gifts for the cook), table syrup, and some ground vanilla beans. We were told to use these in addition to liquid vanilla to enhance the flavor of baked goods, but I bet I can use the ground beans to make my own vanilla sugar. I'm going to email the proprietor to inquire. I'll let you know what I find out. If you ever get a chance to visit the store in the Berkshires, be sure to check out the photo booth. For $3 you can get 6 photos in just 10 seconds. The machine talks, too. It's hilarious. If you can't visit in person, check out the Charles H. Baldwin & Sons website for all you might want to know about vanilla or to place an order online.
Finally, in time for the next holiday cleanup, my friend Polly gave me a package of Scotch-Brite natural fiber non-scratch scour pads made from the agave plant, part of a new line of green cleaning products from 3M. It would be a lie to say I can't wait to try these, but I am glad to have them.
Hope your week's off to a good start. I should return to blogging on Thursday with another list of eco-friendly shopping ideas.
I often blog on food or food issues on Monday in support of Meatless Monday, one of several programs developed in the Healthy Monday project, founded in 2003 in association with Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Syracuse University's Newhouse School of Communications. Meatless Monday's goal is "to help reduce meat consumption 15% in order to improve personal health and the health of our planet.


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Another Friday evening sewing. Tonight's project was much quicker than making a handmade flower out of fabric. But using the same fabric as last week, I made this 80s* throwback:
A scrunchie!
I used to love these as a kid. I remember my Mum used to make them quite frequently and I'd sometimes help her. I can still remember some of the scrunchies I enjoyed wearing as a little girl. My favourite was a slim one made out of purple silk which we picked up in some kind of industrial fabric shop in London. It was very soft! I also had one (that Mum) made out of some rather scratchy material which looked great due to its wacky and unusual colours and sparkle, but wasn't the most comfortable to wear, which my Mum picked up in Hong Kong after a sad family funeral she went out there for. These scrunchies bring back memories!
I'm not sure how often I'll wear this one, but I was inspired after reading this article on the Guardian online. All linked to a new film out- I Tonya. Well, if scrunchies do defy the odds and make a big comeback, I know where to turn for mine. Or how to make some more. You can too, I followed these easy to follow tutorials: here and here. The first one is quite simple. At first I liked the little videos that play automatically in the second, but then I must admit they made me feel a bit seasick. More likely that I'm still recovering from a virus that has wiped me out all week. Bye for now!
* Late 80s, early 90s
PS Next time, I'm going to have to do a better job of learning how to ladder stitch/ do an invisible stitch to sew up the opening. I've never quite got the hang of it!


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These woods are carefully selected to finish Cleveland Whiskey's award-winning bourbons. Now the wood we use to make the whiskey makes great smoke too.
This is a classic wood for barbecue. Pairs will with just about any meat, fish or fowl, imparting a medium smoky flavor that is stronger than our black cherry, but lighter than hickory. Mixing oak with any of the other woods will produce a variety of delicious finishes. Because it has a dense, tight grain, this is an excellent choice for larger cuts of meat which require longer smoking times.
Adds a Sweet and very fruity flavor to your grilled food. Black Cherry wood tends to leave a mild smoke flavor making it an excellent choice with beef, chicken, fish, pork and lamb.
Hickory is the most popular smoke wood used in barbecue. It packs a strong punch that goes well with large cuts of Beef and Pork (especially ribs).
Maple has a mellow, sweet aroma and imparts a mild smoke flavor. The wood is dense in weight and has a light color. We recommend it for poultry and vegetables.
It's the wood that makes a good whiskey, not just oak from a barrel but finishing woods like apple, black cherry, sugar maple, hickory and honey locust. There is an incredible range of awesome flavor hidden inside these woods.
Whether you use one of our recipes or your own, better smoke means better flavor.
Better Smoke. Better Flavor.
New recipes, new content and even an occasional limited run wood that you won't find anywhere else. Simply sign-up right here.


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What Is an 'Independent' Medical Examination?
If your insurance company wants you to have an "independent" medical examination, watch out. First, there is no such thing as an "independent" examination. The doctors they use all specialize in examining people for insurance companies and defense attorneys and know that they are being hired for one purpose: to determine that you do not have an injury. Whether the end result will be the denial of future medical benefits, or a defense to your lawsuit, these examinations are far from independent.
Yet, you have to go or your claim will be denied because you failed to attend. When you do go, have someone go with you who can witness the examination. Some of them take less than 5 minutes, and are very cursory at best. The offices are overcrowded with other people like yourself who will also be examined for the purpose of denying their claims.
You should never talk with the doctor about how the accident happened. Let the doctor examine you, tell the doctor about your treatment and your pains, and get out. This doctor is not there to help you.
At the law offices of Norman M. Block, P.C., we are familiar with these doctors and know their tactics. We will help you prepare for your examination in the hopes that there may be a positive result for you.


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Rubicon Minerals Receives Positive Preliminary Economic Assessment for F2 Gold System, Phoenix Gold Project, Red Lake, Ontario
Jun 29, 2011, 08:00 ET
-includes first time announcement of a 477,000 ounce Indicated Mineral Resource component-
VANCOUVER, June 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ - Rubicon Minerals Corporation (RMX:TSX | RBY:NYSE-AMEX) is pleased to announce the positive results of a Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") for its 100% owned F2 Gold System, part of its Phoenix Gold Project located in the heart of the Red Lake, Ontario gold district. The PEA was prepared by AMC Mining Consultants (Canada) Ltd. ("AMC") with metallurgical sections prepared by Soutex Inc. ("Soutex") both of which are independent of the Company.
All amounts in US Dollars
|Base Case ($1,100 oz gold)*
|Spot Price Case ($1,500 oz gold)
|Average mined gold grade
|13.87 g/t
|13.87 g/t
|Steady state annual gold production
|180,000 ounces
|180,000 ounces
|Life of Mine from production start
|12 Years
|12 Years
|Planned Steady State Production Rate
|1,250 tpd
|1,250 tpd
|IRR Pre tax
|NPV Pre tax (5% discount rate)
|$433 million
|$933 million
|Payback period from start of production
|3.3 Years
|2 Years
|NPV Pre tax (0% discount rate)
|$739 million
|$1,482 million
|Initial Capital (30% contingency)
|$214 million
|$214 million
|Cash costs
|Metallurgical recovery
|Total Mined Gold to Mill**
|2,006,000 ounces
|2,006,000 ounces
* Three-Year trailing average gold price. Tabulated results exclude NSR royalty of 1.5%. Results based on $1Can = $1US exchange rate.
** The mine plan and financial outputs are based on a mining cut off grade of 6.0 g/t and a life of mine of 12 years, utilizing 2.0 million ounces (72% recovery) of the currently identified resources.
This PEA is preliminary in nature as it includes inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves and there is no certainty that the PEA will be realized. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
The PEA is based on an updated mineral resource estimate containing an Indicated Mineral Resource of 1,028,000 tonnes grading 14.5 g/t gold (477,000 ounces of gold) and an Inferred Mineral Resource of 4,230,000 tonnes grading 17.0 g/t gold (2,317,000 ounces of gold); both the PEA and the resource estimate have been prepared by AMC. The mineral resource estimates were prepared by Dinara Nussipakynova P.Geo., Cath Pitman P. Geo. and J.M (Mort) Shannon, P. Geo., consulting geologists of AMC and independent Qualified Persons as defined by NI 43-101.
The table below shows a summary of the mineral resource estimates:
Summary of AMC Mineral Resource Estimates
|M Tonnes
|g/t Au
|M oz Au
- CIM definitions were used for mineral resources
- The cut off grade applied is 5.0 g/t Au
- A capping value of 270g/t Au has been applied to the composites
- Using drilling results to February 28, 2011
- The figures above are "Total" resources
Inferred resources are too speculative to have economic considerations applied to them and there is no certainty that the inferred resources will be converted to measured and indicated resources.
If the data are not capped, the totals are 1.135 M tonnes at 17.2 g/t Au for 0.634 M oz for the Indicated category and 4.129 M tonnes at 21.2 g/t Au for 2.842 M oz for the Inferred category.
"The PEA is a very good start. It indicates that the F2 Gold System is a potentially viable project capable of producing a steady state average of 180,000 ounces of gold per year and over 200,000 ounces at its peak using conventional mining and processing techniques with an initial capital investment of $214 million. The use of a 30% contingency on capital costs represents a reasonably conservative approach which recognizes the reality of cost escalation in the industry. We are also pleased to have been able to convert a significant portion of resources to the Indicated category. The deposit remains open in all directions and the PEA outlines a number of areas for potential future optimization. Management considers the range of results presented by AMC to be largely consistent with our most recent (March 31, 2011) resource estimates with the important difference of the conversion of some previously categorized Inferred Resources to a significant Indicated Resource component in the new AMC estimates," stated David Adamson, President and CEO.
Project Description
The F2 Gold System is part of the 100% owned Phoenix Gold Project in Red Lake, Ontario. The project is accessible via road. Red Lake is an established mining town with access to full services.
Mining Plan
The PEA considers development of the F2 Gold System as an underground mine at a steady state rate of 1,250 tonnes per day. The primary mining method is conventional cut and fill utilising paste fill to maximise the material returned underground. The mine plan and financial outputs are based on a two-year pre-production phase and a producing mine life of 12 years, utilizing 2.0 million ounces, representing 72% of the currently identified resources. It should be noted that, in determining the mining inventory, AMC decided to take a conservative mine planning approach in applying the average diluted resource grade to the bottom five mining horizons (bottom 305 metres of the resource) rather than use the modelled average grade of 33.8 g/t, thus reducing the total ounces on these levels. The Company aims to continually upgrade the available resource for mining through definition drilling. An opportunity may also exist to drive a ramp from surface to accelerate the production in the upper part of the deposit in the early years of the project, thus changing the cash flow of the potential mine.
Metallurgy and Processing
Rubicon extracted one approximately 1,200 tonne bulk sample from the top of the F2 Core Zone and a second approximately 1,000 tonne bulk sample to the west from the WLB2 zone. The purpose of these samples was to establish the metallurgical performance of the two zones. Soutex was retained to conduct the mill design and engineering and manage the laboratory work required to ensure the mill design criteria were understood. Two ten (10) tonne sub-samples were sent to G&T Laboratories for further process analysis. The remainder of the material was shipped to SMC McAlpine Mill. During milling, the material was sampled and tested at Swastika Laboratories Ltd. under the supervision of Soutex. The samples were taken at periodic intervals from the mill stream (float concentrate, gravity concentrate and tailings) and combined to provide a metallurgical balance for the total gold content of the bulk sample.
Results of processing work indicate processing will be straightforward and will be a combination of gravity followed by a conventional carbon-in-leach process. Gold recoveries are estimated to be 92.5% with potential for further optimization. Estimated gravity recoveries are 50%.
The results of the bulk sample testing to date (which does not include final refining of gold) are compared in the table below to the results of delineation drilling which intersect the respective bulk sample zones:
|F2 Core
| Delineation Drilling
Weighted Average
|5.8 g/t gold
|9.1 g/t gold
| Milled Bulk Sample Testing
|7.1 g/t gold
|8.2 g/t gold
Note: Delineation Drilling Weighted Averages utilise a cap of 270 g/t gold as utilised in the AMC resource estimates and are diluted by 17.9% (AMC used 17.9% dilution outside the nominal 2m mining width in its PEA).
Although the bulk sampling is located in part of the deposit that is lower grade than the overall resource average grade, it successfully confirms that the capped, diluted delineation drilling weighted average grade in this area is a reasonable determinant of recovered grade.
Tailings Management Facility
The Tailings Management Facility ("TMF") design incorporates engineered features to manage the chemical and physical stability of the deposited tailings in accordance with current best-in-class practices. Approximately 55% of the tailings will be converted to paste fill and deposited underground to minimize the amount of tailings that will be deposited on surface and also to provide a suitable backfill for the underground mine. The remaining tailings will be thickened to greater than 75% solids prior to deposition in the TMF, which has a capacity of approximately 25 years (based on a deposition rate of 190,000 tonnes of tailings per year following the ramp-up period) with the potential for optimization and expansion.
Capital Costs
The initial capital costs (including a 30% contingency or approximately $50 million) are estimated to be $214 million. Sustaining capital and capital development for the life-of-mine average $4.3 million/year and $6.1 million/year respectively and would be derived from cash flows.
Operating Costs
The following average life-of-mine costs are projected for the operating phase of the project:
|Cost per processed tonne ($)
|Cost per recovered ounce ($)
|Mining Cost
|Processing and refining costs
*Numbers may not add up due to rounding.
Closure and Rehabilitation Costs
Rehabilitation measures have been designed to ensure the long-term physical and chemical stability of the site in accordance with Ontario's closure plan approval process. The rehabilitation measures will return the site to a productive land use that will not require long-term care and maintenance. The rehabilitation cost is estimated to be approximately $6 million in total.
Sensitivity Analysis
| Net Cash Flow $M
| Payback yrs -
Project Start
| Payback yrs -
Production Start
|Au = $1,100/oz
|Au = $1,500/oz
|Au = $900/oz
Resource Estimation Methodology
AMC prepared updated resource estimates which utilized the block model approach with Datamine ™ software and included the results from all drilling carried out on the project by Rubicon up to February 28, 2011. The estimates are in-situ and undiluted.
Constrained wireframes for the mineralized domains were created by AMC using a 0.1 g/t Au threshold which was locally further expanded to incorporate all significant mineralized zones. A total of 10 mineralized domains were created and utilized for the resource estimation. Sample composite length of 1.0 metre was used and grades were capped at 270 g/t Au after compositing (a 270 g/t Au cap was selected based on cumulative frequency plot analysis).
The block model parameters are as follows:
| Samples Used
(Min and Max)
|Parent Block Size
|2 X 8 X 12 metres
|Search Ellipse 1
|8 X 24 X 36 metres
|3 and 10
|Search Ellipse 2
|16 X 48 X 72 metres
|1 and 10
|Search Ellipse 3
|24 X 72 X 108 metres*
|1 and 10
*Compares to block model validation figures in previous NI 43-101 resource estimate published on March 31, 2011
Bulk density used was 2.90 tonnes per cubic metre and the estimation method was inverse distance cubed
The resource is constrained by the base of overburden at surface, and no allowance is made for any crown pillar. There is no lower elevation constraint to the estimate. The cut off applied to the resource is 5 g/t Au which is the same as used in previous estimates.
Permitting and Continuing Consultations
The Company has all material permits in hand required for the development and construction stage for potential production, except for the following. The Company intends to re-submit the Closure Plan as soon as practicable. The Company expects to receive approval of the final three material permits, the Consolidated Amendment to Air Certificate of Air Approval 9500-7NGTTC, the amendment to the Permit to Take Water 2342-7LWRQU and the new Industrial Sewage Certificate of Approval before the end of Q3, 2011. The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency has confirmed that the Project does not involve a trigger for a federal environmental assessment.
The Company is continuing its consultations with First Nations and the Métis Nation of Ontario.
Preparation of PEA
The PEA has been prepared by AMC (all sections except metallurgy) and Soutex (metallurgy). AMC is an international geology and mining engineering consultancy group with extensive experience in resource estimation, mining studies and provision of assistance to mining development projects and operating mines. Soutex is a Canadian based consulting firm specializing in mineral process evaluation. A NI 43-101 Technical Report for the PEA, including a new resource statement, will be filed on SEDAR within 45 days of the date of this news release.
"David W. Adamson"
President & CEO
Mineral Resources
Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. The estimate of mineral resources may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing, or other relevant issues. The quantity and grade of reported inferred resources in this estimation are uncertain in nature and there has been insufficient exploration to define these inferred resources as an indicated or measured mineral resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in upgrading them to an indicated or measured mineral resource category. The mineral resources in this press release were reported using CIM Standards.
Qualified Persons
Phoenix Project exploration, drill work programs and all data forming the basis of this release were supervised and verified by Terry Bursey, P.Geo., Regional Manager for Rubicon and a Qualified Person under the definition of NI 43-101.Drill core assays were conducted on sawn NQ-sized half core sections. The saw blade is routinely cleaned between samples when visible gold is noted during logging and sampling of the drill core. All assays were conducted by SGS Minerals Services using standard fire assay on a 50 gram sample with a gravimetric finish procedure. Standards, blanks and check assays were included at regular intervals in each sample batch. Check assays on 5% of samples are carried out at a third party independent laboratory. Gold standards were prepared by CDN Resource Laboratories Ltd.
The content of this news release, other than that pertaining to bulk sampling, metallurgy and processing, has been read and approved by H.A. (Bert) Smith, P. Eng., and J.M. (Mort) Shannon, P.Geo. respectively consulting mining engineer and consulting geologist of AMC, and independent Qualified Persons as defined by NI 43-101. Exploration drill programs and all data forming the basis of the inferred and indicated resource estimate described in this release were supervised and verified by Terry Bursey, P. Geo., Regional Manager for Rubicon and a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. The inferred and indicated resource estimation, including the block modelling was carried out by Dinara Nussipakynova, P. Geo., and Cath Pitman, P. Geo., who verified all data received from Rubicon in connection with same. J.M. (Mort) Shannon, P. Geo. supervised the resource estimation process. All are consulting geologists of AMC and independent Qualified Persons as defined by NI 43-101. The mill sample testing results were prepared by Swastika Laboratories. The bulk sample process was conducted under the supervision of Eric Hinton, P. Eng., Project Manager for Rubicon and Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101 and the laboratory work and mill processing was supervised by Pierre Roy, P. Eng. of Soutex Inc. (Quebec City, Quebec) who is an independent Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101.
The PEA has been prepared by AMC with metallurgical and processing contributions from Soutex. Individual contributing authors are H.A. (Bert) Smith, P. Eng. and J.M. (Mort) Shannon, P. Geo. of AMC, and S. Caron, ing. of Soutex. All are independent Qualified Persons as defined by NI 43-101.
Cautionary Note to U.S. Readers Regarding Estimates of Measured, Indicated and Inferred Resources
This press release uses the terms "indicated resources" and "inferred resources." We advise U.S. investors that while these terms are recognized and required by Canadian regulations, they are not recognized by the SEC. "Inferred resources" have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an "inferred" or "indicated resource" will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Under Canadian rules, estimates of "inferred resources" may not form the basis of a feasibility study or prefeasibility studies, except in rare cases. The SEC normally only permits issuers to report mineralization that does not constitute "reserves" as in-place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of an indicated or inferred resource exists or is economically or legally mineable.
Forward Looking Statements
This news release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 21E of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and "forward looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian provincial securities legislation (collectively, "forward-looking statements") . Forward-looking statements often, but not always, are identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "targeting" and "intend" and statements that an event or result "may", "will", "should", "could", or "might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions. Forward-looking statements in this document include statements regarding estimates of mineral resources, estimates of gold grades and in-place ounces, estimates of costs, estimates of mine development and construction, estimates of economic potential and returns, projections of future optimization, the preparation and timing of a final amended technical report in respect of the inferred and indicated resource estimates and the timing and nature of future exploration programs. The description of the extent of mineralized zones is not intended to imply that any economically mineable estimate of reserves exists on the Phoenix Project. Similarly, although geological features of the F2 Gold System are interpreted to show similarities to nearby gold producing mines owned by third parties, this should not be interpreted to mean that the F2 Gold System has, or that it will generate similar reserves or resources.
The forward-looking statements that are contained in this news release are based on various assumptions and estimates by Rubicon and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. As a consequence, actual results might differ materially from results forecast or suggested in these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Rubicon to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ include; risks relating to fluctuations in the price of gold; the inherently hazardous nature of mining-related activities; uncertainties concerning reserve and resource estimates; results of exploration, availability of capital and financing on acceptable terms, inability to obtain required regulatory approvals, unanticipated difficulties or costs in any rehabilitation which may be necessary, market conditions and general business, economic, competitive, political and social conditions. These statements are based on a number of assumptions, including assumptions regarding general market conditions, timing and receipt of regulatory approvals, the ability of Rubicon and other relevant parties to satisfy regulatory requirements, the availability of financing for proposed transactions and programs on reasonable terms and the ability of third-party service providers to deliver services in a timely manner. Although Rubicon has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors which cause actual results to differ. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release and Rubicon disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
The Toronto Stock Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
SOURCE Rubicon Minerals Corporation


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Jagat Bhushan Nadda who has taken over the charge of the post of Director, CEC
– a Central University Vice Chancellor level post - is an accomplished Academician, Administrator
and a Scholar who has the distinction of being appointed Professor in
Management at the young age of thirty-seven and has since worked as a faculty
in eight different reputed Universities and Institutes of high standing across
the country. He has vast and varied experience - spanning over thirty-two years
- in the areas of Management by virtue of which he has been nominated on the
Board of Governors of IIMs Udaipur and Kashipur and on the Executive
Council of many Central and State Universities.
He is also a Member of All India Board of Management Studies, AICTE; Planning
Board, Jamia Millia Islamia University.
Prior to joining CEC Prof Nadda was with Institute of Management
Studies, Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla.
has also been Dean, Planning and Development, Himachal Pradesh University;
Coordinator, UGC Cell of H.P. University; Registrar, Himachal Pradesh
University; Director, Institute of Management Studies, Himachal Pradesh
University; Director, School of Business Management, Shoolini University,
alumnus of Patna and Ranchi University, he has not only been a recipient of
University's Best Teacher Awards but has been awarded gold medals several times
in his academic career. As a
management student he has also been consultant to many organizations.
As a
Regulator and administrator he was the first academician to be appointed as a
full time Member, Himachal Pradesh Private Educational Institutions Regulatory
Nadda, has keen interest in the area of "Organization Behavior" and "Organization
Development". He has authored many seminal articles and is a Training Expert
who has conducted scores of Faculty and Executive Development Programs for
premier organizations across the country. He was instrumental in designing new
MBA programs in Business Process Outsourcing in collaboration with Genpact, MBA
– Biotechnology and Masters in International Business. He has widely
traveled in pursuit of academic excellence and has been instrumental in finalizing
many collaborations with foreign Universities which concretized in signing of
MOUs. His illustrious career as a dedicated teacher and a professional has been


text:
IHG® Rewards Club reveals the average Brit celebrates Christmas multiple times during December
The Christmas present most Brits can expect this year is 'déjà vu', according to new data by IHG® Rewards Club, the loyalty programme from IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group), which reveals the average Brit will have FOUR 'Christmases' this year.
The research found that adults who celebrate Christmas will attend on average, one work party, two family get-togethers and have a festive do with friends.
They'll visit six relatives and four friends, give an average of 16 presents, receive 10 in return and pull four crackers in total – one for each Yuletide celebrated.
The majority of Brits (62 per cent) will spend Christmas at home, but 45 per cent admit they would like to enjoy it somewhere else.
David Canty, IHG Vice President of Global Loyalty Programs, said: "Christmas is a special time of year, but it's also a very busy period – whether it's shopping for gifts or attending numerous get-togethers. As the research suggests, doing the same thing each year can make Christmas a little less magical, but the solution could be as simple as spending the festive period somewhere new."
Four in 10 revealed they'd like to spend the big day in a hotel – almost half of us are bored of spending Christmas in the same location each year. To help counteract this, IHG® Rewards Club is gifting a total of 150-million rewards points to members, redeemable across a wide range of rewards including IHG hotel stays, air miles and big ticket items from Apple, Bose, Dyson & Michael Kors.
A 5,000-point credit* is available to the first 30,000 members who tag @IHGRewardsClub in their Twitter or Instagram photos – whether they are home for the festive break with family and friends or at an IHG hotel – using the hashtags #HomeWithIHG, #RewardsOffer and #ad.
David Canty continued: "IHG® Rewards Club members are at the heart of everything we do and we're making our Christmas rewards available to members wherever they are, rather than just at our hotels. The research shows that people typically start to get into the Christmas spirit on the 10th December – we hope that redeeming this 'thank you' gift, adds to their enjoyment!"


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The HTML 5 functionality that I'm referring to is 18.104.22.168 in the HTML 5.1 nightly. This section is on event handler attributes. By themselves they aren't scary. In fact, setting the onclick property of an element is little different from a script engine binding perspective than using addEventListener. They both take an already compiled function whose environment has already been set up and use it as a callback.
Let's combine them with another concept, the internal raw uncompiled handler, and now you are about to see a train wreck. What we have is a new and special way to construct functions whose environment blocks are not the same as normal JavaScript functions. Instead of using normal closure rules to determine how variable names are hooked up, we get to instead inject additional objects like the document, a form and even the element into the scope chain. This can be quite counter intuitive since most developers are likely to think that a markup inline handler and setting the attribute handler to a function are going to do the same thing. They don't, and thus the train wreck begins.
TL;DR; You can still vote for F12 to support visualization of this strange behavior on User Voice.
Element Lexical ScopesOkay, so let's look at the most basic of lexical scope problems. We'll have a button, on which we'll put some variables. We'll establish an onclick handler using JavaScript syntax. And then we'll access our variables by using the this variable. I've also put in a naked access which shows that our default lexical scope is Closure followed by window (Global).
We will do the same thing using an inline event handler. This time, our variable1 resolves to our button since the element was added to the lexical scope per the rules on creating a function from the markup's inline source text. I've also shown that a callout function doesn't inherit these scopes. This is most likely why people don't write code to rely on this behavior since inline event handlers are usually function calls to another method. This strips away a lot of the magic.
Form Lexical ScopesIf an element happens to have a form owner then we inject that into the scope chain as well. This is pretty important, since forms have a lot of special semantics. For instance, they have their own custom namespace that allows you to find elements owned by the form. When dealing with form instances this allows you to get to form children by specifying an ordinal index or the name/id of the element depending on the promotion rules.
An element can even be outside of a form, but also associated with it through the form attribute. This attribute will take the id of the form you want to bind to and now voila you are a member of that forms submit items collections. This technique is so strange and obscure it can even break you out of your containing form and put you in a different once. I'm not sure you'd ever want/need to do that, but if you want to, you certainly can.
The form gets injected between your element and document. This means you now have 3 new scopes, not normally available to you, in your namespace lookup. The following code snippet exploits all of these behaviors for you so you can play around with them. In this case I'm not showing the fallback to a normal property handle or addEventListener, but note the scopes melt away as you would expect in those cases.
Document Lexical Scopes vs Global ScopeI wanted to exploit a situation where you would get a different value if you used markup inline event handlers versus the property based event handler. The place where this can bite you the easiest is when dealing with differences between the document implicit namespace and the window frames namespace. Here are how the collections break down and I'm also giving them names very close to what we have in our sources:
- window - frames collection - Returns IFRAME and FRAME elements. When indexed returns their WindowProxy of type [object Window].
- window - window collection - All named items in the document. When indexed returns them as an element. Prior to EdgeHTML we did not count objects in forms. For WebKit Interop EdgeHTML now counts all elements, regardless of whether or not they are in forms.
- document - navigator document collection - Can you guess this one is named after Netscape Navigator ;-) This is another smorgasbord collection of random stuff. Images, iframes, objects, embeds, images... The HTML 5.1 Nightly has the write-up on the specific conditions of this collection at the bottom of the document object section.
When looking up on the document, we only have one namespace to retrieve from. However, when looking up from the window, we have 2. We first lookup in the frames collection before falling back to the window collection. This all blows up when you inject the document into the lookup, and you have more than one element or object that collides by name. The following example shows collisions between multiple named items for iframe/embed objects and shows how this collision is avoided by normal function bindings vs markup inline event handlers.
Wrap up
Don't use inline event handlers.
They are decrepit legacy bindings with some rather non-trivial behavior backing them. And I didn't even get into all of the complexities involved. For instance, since you can't define your own parameter name to accept the event object, we have to create a named parameter called event so you have something to bind to. If we didn't you might be able to get window.event directly, but there is code on the web that just access event. This in turn will break if the element, form or document has a property or named object named event. Wow, how fragile is that!
|Figure 1: Chrome showing Lexical Scopes
That said, if you have an interesting use case for when to use one I'd love to hear about it. I'm sure there are some clever uses out there somewhere. For now, this feature feels too much like the with keyword which I hate with a passion. In fact, I think that is how V8 implements these custom scopes, since in their dev tools they display them as With Block's. You can see this in Figure 1.
Sadly these intricate details are not available in the F12 toolbar making them seem like even more magic. I will add a user-voice to this article shortly after posting. I'd like to refer to it, along with the captured image of the Chrome developer tools when describing the behavior I'm after. A chicken and egg problem for sure ;-)
Update: Here is the new link for F12 Support of showing these scope chain items.
Update: Here is the new link for F12 Support of showing these scope chain items.


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UPDATE | AS of 00:01 PST, the IC changed the name from #RockhamFire to #Rockin as the addressed to show on Rockin Drive. (Chico Fire-Rescue IC)
Butte County, California | Firefighters were dispatched to a structure fire after multiple calls to 9-1-1. The fire is said to be located in the 3200 block of Rockham Drive in Chico, California that began burning around 2311 hours PST on Tuesday, Februay 6, 2018.
There is no known cause for this fire at this time.
The fire has been designated by the IC as #RockhamCommand. We are also using the hashtag #RockhamFire.
Around 2328 hours PST, Engine 2 arrived on-scene and reporting a large outbuilding on fire with multiple exposures.
Crews knocked down the majority of the fire around 2249 PST hours. They were also in the middle of a recycling/crew change out.
Firefighters would later report around 2332 hours PST, the fire had spread to include multiple trailers, RVs and outbuildings. Evacuations in the local area were in progress but have since been discontinued as of 2352 PST. PD was notified by Fire Dispatch.
Current weather conditions are temps of 50*F, clear and winds at 3 mph with 53% humidity.
The Chico Fire-Rescue has 59 full-time personnel, which 57 of them are uniformed. There are seven active volunteer firefighters. They currently have four fire stations with the modernized 30 pieces of fire apparatus stationed at each one, one training center that serves the Chico population of 92,464 in a 33-square mile radius.
(c) 2018 NW Fire Blog


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"You can lead a horse to water but you can't…"
"Good things come to those who…"
"I got ants in my pants and I need to…"
And in the BDSM community, we have similar truisms that people hear, jump on, and repeat because they seem to make sense.
Or do they?
I'm a questioner. I was the kid with 45 iterations of "Why?" whenever presented with facts. Then I would process and come back and ask the same questions with "OK, so what if…" until I hit the point where the person I was haranguing lacked the vital information, and I trotted off to the library to continue.
(Let us have a moment of respectful silence for my Mom and Dad.)
This didn't stop when I hit the BDSM community. When I first heard things like "A submissive is not a doormat!" "Always use a safeword!" "Always have a safecall!" and "Submission is a gift" I thought "OK, those seem reasonable."
I have since learned that a submissive certainly can be a doormat…if they choose to be. Safewords are only good if you are able to use them. A safecall (a person you check in with while you are out and about getting kinky. It is that person's job to notify the authorities if you don't 'check in' and the agreed-upon time) is a nice Idea, but not reliable for your safety. It takes time for the cops to respond to a cry for help. And if someone is truly intent on doing you harm? They'll find a way. Regardless of your best laid plans.
And submission isn't a gift. Yep, I know. Sacrilege. But hear me out.
1.something given voluntarily without payment in return, as to show favor toward someone, honor an occasion, or make a gesture of assistance; present.
2.the act of giving.
3.something bestowed or acquired without any particular effort by the recipient or without its being earned: Those extra points he got in the game were a total gift.
4. a special ability or capacity; natural endowment; talent: the gift of saying the right thing at the right time.
That has little to do with my submission.
I absolutely expect something in return when I submit to someone. I expect to be cared for. Respected. I expect to be an integral part of a vibrant power dynamic. My "payment" is the exchange of power. I submit to you, I expect the satisfaction of that energy exchange. I expect you to do everything in your power to remain within the boundaries of what we have negotiated. I expect you to be there for me.
Like I said…I don't mind tropes and truisms. But rather than making them a pre-fab home into which you move, make them bricks that you can use to build your own damned foundation for your own damned life. My submission, for me, is many things. But given with no expectation or need for reciprocity?
Fuck. No.
I've already gone on about that before, so I won't rehash it. But OK, on a positive note, the "submission is a gift" trope says "Hey, look, this is special, this is important. Treat it like you would something given as a present." I feel as though it is a reactionary move towards adding value BACK to submission. And I think the fact that we need to assert this and other shit like "A submissive is not a doormat!" means that, somewhere? We might, probably, have permitted that to become true. How much responsibility are you willing to take, as a submissive, for standing up for yourself in the face of belittling, demeaning, presumptuous language, syntax and behavior? I'm always working on not accepting this type of bullshit. But sometimes I wind up not holding my boundaries as diligently as I need to. And I accept that responsibility, too.
Why the "submission is a gift" thing misfits me is layered. First? To me a gift is something you give to the receiver, with no expectation of reciprocity and no conditions, no caveats, no backsies. I give it and let it go; abdicating responsibility for what the receiver chooses to do with it. It. Is. No. Longer. Mine. Also? You can give someone a gift without asking, without negotiation. Hey, you can surprise them with that shit, even. I think it a recipe for fail if you try "OMFG LOL SURPRISE SUBMITTYNESS!!!11!" on a dominant you fancy.
Furthermore: when I subsume my will, and ultimately give myself to someone, I have a number of expectations. I fully expect that we will talk about what that exchange means, first. The person who is receiving my submission and ultimately the entirety of myself, has agreed to treat me with caring, love, affection and respect. And I have to be responsible for following up to make sure my needs are being met. This is an ongoing thing. If I were to analogize it to a gift, this would be tantamount to me giving someone an expensive sweater, checking up to see if they're wearing it, if they are washing it by hand in Woolite™, laying it flat and air-drying it, if they store it properly in the summer. That would be fucking weird, no? I gave them the damned sweater. How they treat it? That's none of my fucking business.
When I submit, when I am owned? Making sure that the agreements under which my submission was accepted are being maintained is my Primary Responsibility. When I give a gift it is a righteous win if the receiver acknowledges it, and offers thanks. If they don't, I don't snatch it back. I DO note the person's reaction and it will inform my future gift-giving. People who don't say "Please." and "Thank you!" irk me, and they fall out of my life quickly. I've found it to be a symptom of a personality type with which I happen to not jibe. If I give a gift and it is poorly treated? I don't demand its return. I will take note and likely refrain from gifting that individual going forward. I don't like ill-treatment of anything. (Unless, of course, it is consensual)
If I submit, and I am neglected? If I am owned, and am poorly treated? The Prime Directive is automatically invoked and it is MY RESPONSIBILITY to rescind my submission until the situation is resolved to the satisfaction of all involved parties. If there can be no resolution, then the property must, according to the logical extraction of the PD, remove themselves from the situation.
SO that's why the gift analogy rings weird for me. It is all about giving up, giving over. Not about the beauty in taking responsibility for ourselves. In order to walk the path that embraces power exchange as the core of your relationships, you really do actually need to have another person with whom you can do that shit. And it can feel so very, very tempting, once you do find them, to cough up everything you've got, some kind of emo sea cucumber, discharging all your squishy insides so that you can live out your dreams of submission.
But the real reality is? That submission is still yours.
I know, kids, it sucks. We get fed a story about surrender that makes it look like you give it to some omnipotent dominant, some flawless master, who will treat it with respectful kid gloves and all that. But the reality is? You are dealing with a human. A human who makes mistakes. A human who underestimates what mastery entails. A human who overestimates their own capacity. A human who may love you dearly, and who will disappoint you. As will you disappoint them. That's part of the path- and the triumph is overcoming those potholes in the road. Forging ahead.
And there is triumph in realizing that your paths are diverging, repacking your shit, and moving on with dignity and respect. The dissolution of my last relationship was rather protracted. That's part of the problem with a long distance relationship: even the ending has to overcome physical separation. It took over six months, and I deeply needed the closure I could only get from my former dominant. Of course, I want to take responsibility for my shit, but some of my shit was OUR shit and THAT shit deserved a respectful ritual or release. And so, I finally received that moment, that ritual. And it was both more difficult and more of a relief than I'd anticipated. So once again, my soul is a free agent. And I was very very tempted to feel totally lost, unplugged, that downed-powerline flailing and discharging sparks all over the place sensation.
Then I remembered I have a very important job to do. The best work I will ever do. Work more important than anything. And that is making sure I am cared for. Remaining open to possibility. Loving myself. Forgiving myself for my impatience, for my selfishness. For my weakness. For my humanity. Loving that I am able to see these things with less judgment today than I did yesterday.
It is a romantic thing, that sensation of belonging to another. That desire lives at the core of my submission and drives my desire to be a slave. And now I am taking the time to honor that need to own and discipline myself…because I am the best protector I'll ever have. Taking responsibility for and ownership of my submission means it is ALWAYS protected by someone I trust. People come and go, I still stand. Because I have to. I will always be an option in the life of another person. I will always be mandatory in my own life. And I will always do my best to respect the responsibility of taking responsibility for myself.
It is easy to remain saturated with longing for the dissolution of will in the stream of another's power. It is alluring to give in to the idea that the person to whom you submit is 100% responsible for your joy and happiness. Power is hot. But what happens when they do some human shit? What if, Lord Ganesha forbid, they remove themselves from your life, or you walk away from them? Are you left bereft, a writhing, helpless creature waiting for someone else to come along and get your shit together for you? Or do you get the fuck up and have enough respect for yourself to let yourself mourn, heal and grow?
Not too long ago I was in the midst of a very emotionally and erotically charged scene, one that included a service element, and I was blissfully lost in the contact, the heat, the gorgeous obliteration of losing myself, even if for just a few hours, in the will and desire of someone else. As the connection became more intense, and as I found my body reacting ecstatically to the energy of that power exchange, I felt myself moving into that place where I felt so in tune with my submission that any word, glance or movement from the person to whom I was submitting sent me into an eddy of gorgeous obliteration. Every breath was theirs; ever movement of my hands on their body was a prayer to the ephemeral bliss of that connection. And I had no words to communicate this, but I hoped my gaze was enough to say the things for which I had no words. As I looked up in a haze, the person to whom I was submitting to leaned down and took my face in hand, whispering "This is yours. You own this. It is always with you."
I had always looked to my submission as something that someone had to activate, that I couldn't love or understand in the vacuum of being alone. But this…this was mine. Seemingly from nowhere, tears ran, full and hot, down my face. The fierce, joyous tears of recognition. Recognizing that this was a new truth I needed. I felt my own higher power move aside my defenses in order to let this truth resonate in the clouds of chaos that often swirl around my processing.
I own it. This beautiful thing, this slavery, this submission… I can permit someone else to taste it. Can give myself, body mind and spirit to another. And I can also know that I bring this energy to the table. When I own my submission, when I take responsibility for living in my authentic self, I become more fully…me.
And that is a miracle. And that is a blessing. And that IS a gift.
image by Don Sir


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With Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom opening today, marketing for the film is in full swing. Toys, specialty Dr. Pepper cans, video games, and yes, new LEGO sets are available or soon to be available at retailers. This is the second "wave" of Jurassic Park LEGO sets to be released, the first being released in 2015 and retired in 2016. That wave included six sets, and for this wave they have expanded the line significantly to include regular sets, Junior sets, and Duplo sets. The regular series is composed of eight sets. It is important to note that even though they are in the regular line, they are still for the 8-12 age range, so there are no complex builds here.
That being said, lets dive into the largest set, Indoraptor at Lockwood Estate. This set is comprised of 1019 pieces and retails for $129.99. There are three dinosaurs in this set; Blue, an unnamed "baby dino", and the set-exclusive Indoraptor. Blue is a Veciloraptor who has appeared in several of the films and has become a character unto herself. This set also includes six minifigures, including Claire and Owen from Jurassic World and Maisie Lockwood from Fallen Kingdom. The set itself is a three-story "house", and I use that word loosely. It is basically one side of the house with part of a wall sticking out on two sides. Lockwood Estate is one of the locations of Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, and without having seen the film it is hard to put the scene into context. After some online digging, there is supposedly an auction of dinosaurs that takes place at the estate which is where this set comes from. My guess is that the auction doesn't end well (chompy, chompy). It will be interesting to see if that is indeed the case once the film is released. Anywho, the house is three stories and includes some details such as a fold-up bed, a lab, and windows that can be released by pulling a rod (probably to be able to recreate a scene in the film). The set also includes a motorcycle.
The house is sturdy, and considering the number of pieces, the details are pretty neat. Most of the building of the set comes from building up the wall of the house. As I said. It's not very complex, but it does make for a nice relaxing build, and is just challenging enough for the target 8-12 range. The minifigures are nicely detailed and look really nice set up in the different rooms. The dinosaurs are the stars of the show here, and they are fun to build and are scaled nicely to the house. The entire set is basic and nice, and that is why I continue to have mixed feelings about the Jurassic Park LEGO sets as a whole.
I love Jurassic Park. The original film is one of those films that never gets old to me. I have seen the film many times and still get a lump in my throat when they play the music and pan over the field of Brachiosaurs' for the first time. I remember first seeing the film in an after-school program when I was a kid. I have had a countdown to Fallen Kingdom since it was announced. Needless to say, collecting the Jurassic Park Lego sets is something I feel drawn to do. I have the entire first wave and am working on the second wave. Here is my problem with the sets: they do not feel like sets. They are bits and pieces of the franchise that get bundled and sold together as sets. Usually a dinosaur or two, a vehicle and a few minifigures. The sets lack the cohesion of some of the other franchise sets, such as the Simpsons and Ghostbusters sets. I would love to see them take the risk of doing one large set, such as the visitor's center. Jurassic Park has a lot of fans that I am sure would enjoy tying the individual sets together with a larger, more complex build. Don't get me wrong, I love that they made Lego Jurassic Park (World), but I wish they would expand of it to capture the older fans of the franchise. Maybe by the time the next film comes out?