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i m 18 years old,,i've little but visible mustache and beard and i just want to grow it to the fullest..my question is that do beard oils increase the growth of facial hair and should i use to apply it on my face to grow beard ..??
Pulling off certain beard styles requires a top-tier beard trimmer. The Philips Series 7000 Beard Trimmer makes facial hair a permanent, polished fixture with 20 built-in length settings to tackle the longest of strands or the roughest of stubble. Philips' lift and trim technology works by raising and guiding hair through the self-sharpening steel blades, shearing through for a more dynamic cut. Tidying up is just as ideal with the trimmer toting an integrated vacuum system designed for sucking up to 90% of cut hairs.
The DBGS (our acronym, not Norelco's) utilizes innovative lift and trim technology that raises and guides hair for a more efficient trim. It also includes "contour comb" technology that helps deliver a more even and skin-friendly trim.
The Remington MB4040 has multiple features all in one that makes it the clear winner among its competitors. While there are models that promise a long battery life and there are others that deliver a waterproof model, the MB4040 dares to deliver both. It is unarguably the best cordless beard trimmer.
Wahl Clipper Stainless Steel Lithium Ion Plus Beard Trimmers for Men, Hair Clippers and Shavers, Nose Ear Trimmers, Rechargeable All in One Men's Grooming Kit, by the Brand used by Professionals #9818
Oil and Balm are very similar in that they both condition and style your beard. The main difference is that beard balm will do a little more to shape and hold your beard. Beard oil is usually enough for short beards, beard balm gives a little more aid to longer, wilder beards.
I have a grey, leaning toward white, beard that is dry and goes all over the place. It also has some wave. In the past, I have always kept my beard closely cropped. But in the last couple of months, I have let it grow out.
My boyfriend wants to just have a shadow for a beard but has been using a trimmer with plastic guards and he hates it. What is a really good trimmer for him to just have that shadow look? No plastic guards either.
A warning about orange scents, they make your skin absorb much more UV rays! It will damage your skin in the sun. I wouldn't recommend using it on your beards due to the risk of skin damage. It's even worse if you accidentally lick your upper lip food savers and ingest a bit!
We've talked about using a blow dryer in our videos, but usually, it comes with a bit of a disclaimer to keep an eye on it and use it in moderation. If used too much it could dry up those follicles and cause split ends. To combat this, you can hold the hair dryer further away from your beard, use a medium heat setting, or even use the cool setting. All of this will help make sure your beard doesn't get damaged. Just make sure you're using an oil or balm to keep it moisturized after it's dry.
In this beard trimming video, Gillette presents how to trim your beard with a razor or beard trimmer like the Gillette STYLER. Learn beard trimming tips from how to shape your scruffy beard to how to trim your neckline. More beard grooming tips: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6emay…
Like we mentioned before, the best way to how to grow a thicker beard is to exercise to increase your testosterone and eat right, but there are a few tools that will definitely support the growth you're looking for. Do you own a beard brush? What about a comb? If you answered no to both of those questions, then we highly suggest you change that as soon as humanly possible.
Regardless of its interesting background, Beard Balm is still the real deal, however. It works on any hair lengths and textures, it prevents split ends and softens beard hair, and relieves dry, itchy skin that drives many beard lovers crazy (and not in a good way).
Be conservative when you're using both products. While using both in appropriate amounts can really level up your beard game, it's also easy to overdo it. Start with just a little bit of product, and slowly work your way up to what you need.
For a beard trimmer to be perfect, it needs to be simple to use and shall have all the features which makes it just perfect to stand out its duties. The Philips Norelco QT4014/42 beard trimmer 3500 stands out amazingly under the aforesaid category, and the product's simple design makes it the best beard trimmer for shaping.
The Series 3500 is relatively lightweight and has an easy-to-hold ergonomic design. You're able to maintain a solid grip even as you're maneuvering the trimmer around those hard to reach areas of your beard and face.
It provides the ultimate power in trimming your beard to exactly the style you covet. It's one of the most powerful trimmers we've come across, as it sports a motor providing double the average torque of a beard trimmer.
What we do NOT recommend, is using tweezers to pluck wayward nose hairs. It not only stings, but it can also cause your nose to bleed. The hair that grows back has a high possibility of becoming ingrown and inflaming the inside of your nose. Just don't do it, man!
A beard is the collection of hair that grows on the chin and cheeks of humans and some animals. In humans, usually only pubescent or adult males are able to grow beards. From an evolutionary viewpoint the beard is a part of the broader category of androgenic hair. It is a vestigial trait from a time when humans had hair on their face and entire body like the hair on gorillas. The evolutionary loss of hair is pronounced in some populations such as indigenous Americans and some east Asian populations, who have less facial hair, whereas people of European or South Asian ancestry and the Ainu have more facial hair.
I have been trying to grow a beard for a while now but it was fragile so I decided to start over what do you recommend for thicker healthier beards? I already grow all over my face just want a stronger healthier looking beard. And what do u recommend to use for styling once it's long enough.
Our standard-sized comb is meant to be used at home. It has the same components as the pocket comb, but it's larger to give you more control. It should be used when you have more time to focus on your grooming routine rather than on the go. Using these combs can really help spread products through your beard evenly and effectively. Whether you use beard oil or balm, the comb makes sure each of your beard's hairs gets coated with your preferred product.
Free of SLS, petrochemicals, parabens, fragrances, and preservatives – here is a beard shampoo that endorses elite whisker care with healthy ingredients to give coarse hair all-natural results. Rinse your beard of yesterday's leftovers, while enjoying the herbaceous blend of English mint and rosemary. Shea butter is also thrown into the mix to improve shine and softness. A majority of reviews mention how the product treats irritation through consistent use – a major plus for those prone to itchiness.
This lightweight beard oil is designed to care for your beard and the skin beneath it without being too "in your face" (see what we did there?). The scent, a blend of cedarwood, sandalwood and eucalyptus is both masculine and sweet, while the oil itself is soft and moisturising. It's also much less greasy than other products, which means that your beard will be feeling silky and dry almost straight away.
In the 1160s Burchardus, the abbot of the Cistercian monastery of Bellevaux in the Franche-Comté, wrote a treatise on beards.[41] He regarded beards as appropriate for lay brothers but not for the priests among the monks.
A key ingredient in this balm is argan oil, which is proven to be beneficial for hair growth and protecting your hair. Another ingredient of note is Kokum, which is a natural antibiotic that helps get rid of skin bacteria.
Remember that less is more and you can always trim more another day. In terms of maintenance I'd recommend rinsing the beard thoroughly everyday in the shower and apply beard oil daily. You can wash the beard with a beard wash anywhere between one and 3 times a week.
Beard oils are designed to mimic the natural oils produced by the skin. They're grown hugely in popularity over the past several years but date as least as far back as early Native Americans. The quest for a moist, non-itchy, non-beardruff beard is nothing new, after all.
In a lot of ways, this version of Honest Amish beard balm is similar to the other, in that it's US-made with natural ingredients. However, one of the key difference is that it's designed to give you better control over your unruly beast of a beard.
After four weeks, you can start shaping the beard. Usually, you'll want to define a "neck line" along the bottom of your beard around the neck. This is probably best done by a professional barber or stylist. The hard part may be finding one who has a lot of experience in beard styling.To create proper neck and cheek lines for your beard, be sure to see:
Some men are blessed with fast-growing facial hair, while others may struggle with slow-growing or patchy whiskers. The rate that your facial hair grows depends mostly on genetics, but if you are anxious for your beard to come in, there are a few tricks you can try to maximize growth rate and fullness. To grow a beard faster, care for your face by cleaning, moisturizing, and exfoliating properly, take biotin or other vitamin supplements that encourage hair growth, and leave your beard alone as it starts growing in.
Finally, it's important to note that you should be brushing your beard if you want it to be softer. (But really, just in general you should be brushing your beard to keep it well-groomed and stuff.) Use something like this Boar Bristle Beard Brush from Huntsman Beard to detangle and soften your beard like a boss.
New treatments and ointments are now available and beards are dominating men's beauty, along with countless methods for better facial hair. By better, we mean these products help create some awesome beard styles that wouldn't be possible without these products. Take a gander, browse our reviews and make your selection today.
Philips Norelco 9100 is the world's first to feature an inbuilt laser guide to help shave or trim precisely to your desired length and the style. This feature of the shaver also makes it the best beard trimmer for shaping. With the feature of 17 length settings, it can literally customize the kind of look you have wanted to get.
For the multiple trimming requirements, this one product is here. For all your versatile trimming needs, the Philips Norelco QG3330/49 brings for you the exact style that you might be wanting to follow by getting inspired by your favourite celebrity. This is one of the best electric beard trimmer offers 5-tools that allow styling of all types, for which you would have to depend no more on any expert, or styling equipment.
Beard butter is a product that we're seeing more and more of. It typically has the consistency of something in between a cream and a balm, which, depending on your hair type, may be exactly what you need.
Dialing in your perfect length is made easy thanks to 20 built-in length settings, allowing you to select your preferred length setting by turning the zoom wheel. Lengths are displayed from 0.5 mm to 10 mm.
Don't be overly concerned about other people's potential reactions to your new beard. If you have a good beard, most people will probably react favorably, possibly much more favorably than you would have ever anticipated. So relax and enjoy the experience.


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Hi there,
I recently expanded my practice and work on Saturdays at Neal's Yard on Northcote Road, Clapham, SW11. (I also work in East Dulwich at my private practice & Neal's Yard in London Bridge on Tuesdays).
My name is Katie Sedgwick, I am a Reflexologist and Craniosacral Therapist who specialises in working with fertility, maternity, post natal care, babies and children.
For more information, please visit my website http://www.kstherapy.co.uk or give me a call on my Mobile:
0787 9633674, or to book an appointment at Neal's Yard Clapham, on Northcote Road please contact 020 7223 7171.
Craniosacral Therapy & Reflexology, safe, gentle and effective treatment for people of all ages from the newborn to the elderly. Health, balance, pain relief, relaxation, natural fertility, pregnancy, mothers, babies & children- RCST MIFR
Registered Craniosacral Therapist & Reflexologist

subset: commoncrawl


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Hope to be back soon with a painted mini!
Monday, October 28, 2013
Dwarven Forge Game Tiles
So far this month, real life (ugh) has kept me from painting any miniatures, but I wanted to make a quick post, to express how glad I am that I got in on Dwarven Forge's Game Tiles Kickstarter last spring. I got my tiles last weekend, and I'm psyched to game with them tonight. I went in at the 170 dollar, two-sets- already-painted level and I feel like it was totally worth it. In the past I've always thought the Dwarven Forge stuff looked cool but was just way too expensive. If they have a deal like this again I recommend getting in on it.
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Council must pay €70k to worker sacked for preaching
A COUNTY council has been ordered to pay a former employee €70,000 in damages after it dismissed him for preaching Christianity.
Born Again Christian John McAteer was dismissed from South Tipperary County Council on July 30, 2010, after continually spreading the word of God to staff members, contractors and members of the public despite repeated warnings that it was against the council's policy to do so.
After receiving a series of verbal and written warnings about his conduct, Mr McAteer was suspended without pay for two months.
He was also compelled to attend six counselling sessions to help to control his compulsion to speak to people about his religious beliefs.
Mr McAteer, who had worked as a civil engineer with North Tipperary County Council for 10 years before moving to South Tipperary County Council in December 2007, said he had held the religious beliefs since 1990 and that the council knew this.
He said that he was sharing the word of Jesus and the Gospel with people, as it is a tenet of his religion. If he detected from a person's body language that he or she was not interested, he would change the conversation or walk away.
He said there was no question that he inappropriately forced his religious beliefs on any person to whom he spoke.
Mr McAteer added that after the first warning he never shared his faith with office staff, and said he was treated differently than other staff because his conversations were continually monitored.
The council submitted that the disciplinary procedures were followed and were invoked against the complainant when he failed to comply with instructions not to preach during working hours.
Equality officer Marian Duffy ruled that the council did discriminate against Mr McAteer on the grounds of his religion under Section 6 of the Employment Equality Act, and under Section 8 in relation to his conditions of his employment and dismissal.
In calculating the amount to award Mr McAteer, Ms Duffy said she took into account the fact that he had only managed to find part-time work since his dismissal. She said that she was "satisfied the effects of the dismissal were very serious".
A spokesman for the council said yesterday: "We would prefer not comment as we are considering our position in relation to an appeal and we are still in that time period."
Irish Independent


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Training Environment at Excel
Article written by Dwayne E Mercer; Jiu Jitsu student
I Found Excel Jiu Jitsu
In June 2016, I stopped by Excel Martial Arts Academy (Excel) to take a look at the facility and to get the details regarding all the training that is offered.
Professor Michio Grubbs, the owner, professionally greeted me, learned why I was there, and patiently provided details concerning Excel while training was underway.
Training Environment
What impressed me most was his talk about the training environment. To paraphrase his comments,Professor Michio stated, 'the training environment at Excel is family friendly and one where students help each other get better, are concerned for each others safety, and are respectful of the facility.
Professor Michio made no push for me to join Excel, however, extended an invitation for me to train free for one week.
Start Training
I showed up the following day and participated in the training session. Although it was a very humbling experience, it was incredibly rewarding.
Several of the things Professor Michio told me about Excel the day before proved to be true "day one!" I joined Excel that day and have been even more impressed since then. Some of the highlights include Professor Michio's very detailed instructions during training sessions, patience for student learning, and his unwavering commitment to ensuring that the training environment is conducive to student learning.
Additionally, training with the assistant professors and some very accomplished students (Jiu Jitsu, MMA) who have earned the right to "thump their chest" but instead are as humble and helpful as any person I have every met. Occasionally, a few team members and I go to lunch after training. Not once has more than one person paid the bill, which speaks to the familial-like bonds that are inherently created in the environment at Excel.
Family Atmosphere
Last, and one of the more impressive experiences at Excel, is when renovations were taking place. Professor Michio anticipated that a significant part of it would take at least a week to complete. He asked for volunteers to come in to assist. The number of students that showed up was impressive and clearly demonstrated their love for Excel! As a result, that part of the project was completed in two days.
There are so many other experiences I could share. However, I will spare you the read. In essence, Excel is something special! If one wants to train in an academy where the environment is favorable for student learning, the coaches are humble, students are like family, and the details provided by professors in training sessions are very thorough, I courage you to try Excel. I am confident you will be pleased you did so.


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Start2014-10-04 11:00 CEST
The 2014 UK & Ireland Programming Contest
End2014-10-04 16:00 CEST
The end is near!
Contest is over.
Not yet started.
Contest is starting in -1898 days 14:41:59
This is the contest system for The 2014 UK & Ireland Programming Contest. The contest has now finished. You can view the final results.


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A Long Island Garden Center. A Better Place To Shop.
Where We Turn Houses Into Homes.
With over 10,000 products to choose from, Hewlynn Garden Center in Deer Park gives you the selection and the quality to last a lifetime.
Our Products
Why We Are Long Island's Best Garden Center?
- Exceptional service & value in a clean, organized shopping atmosphere.
- One-stop shop for your pool, pond, BBQ, propane, holiday supplies.
- Huge indoor and outdoor full-service showroom.
- We sell products & services to Long Island's premier contractors.
- A better place to shop where we turn houses into homes.
- Free estimate from our in-house representatives.
- A reputation on service that exceeds your expectations.
What Else? We Have The Best Garden Center Services on Long Island.
We pride ourselves on the best service and dedication to quality. With our full-service Garden Center located in Deer Park, NY, and our knowledgeable staff to assist your every need, we are the right choice for all your home, gardening & landscaping needs!
- Prompt delivery of all products.
- Installation and maintenance services available.
- FREE pool and pond water testing.
- Individualized walk through of indoor & outdoor showroom & paver displays.
- Always great practical and professional advice.
- Special orders welcomed.
- Conveniently Located in Suffolk County, Deer Park, NY
News & Helpful Tips
Water Testing!!
Not many people know that using Enzymes regularly in your above ground and in ground [...]
Beat the Mosquito's with a few helpful Hints
Bonide Company makes several products that help with Mosquitoes, they last up to 3 weeks [...]
Tips on using your BBQ's
A lot of people will grill all year round, but for most now is Grill [...]
Hewlynn Home & Garden Center is a one stop shop for all of your pool,
pond, BBQ, propane, holiday and winter supplies.!
We offer exceptional service and value in a clean and organized shopping atmosphere. Our trained staff can address any situation in your "great outdoors." Whether keeping your pool sparkling or your pond the envy of all your friends, Hewlynn Home & Garden Center has built a reputation on service that exceeds our customers' expectations.


text: Rebecca Davis Rebecca Davis has a master's in English literature from Rhodes and a master's in linguistics from Oxford University, UK. After a stint at the Oxford English Dictionary, she returned to South Africa, where she has been writing stories and columns for various publications, including the M&G. Her first book, Best White (And Other Anxious Delusions), came out in 2015. Read more from Rebecca Davis @becsplanb


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Welcome to the LibGuide for Social Sciences data resources. Here you will find links to useful databases and web resources for Social Sciences data as well as contact information for your subject area librarian. Please feel free to contact me with your questions, concerns, or even suggestions and recommendations!
Photo Credit: U.S. Census Bureau, Public Information Office
To gain access to licensed resources:


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giovedì 31 maggio 2012
lunedì 28 maggio 2012
Ocean shooting
Every now and then you see an editorial that literally stops you. This really inspires me.
Fashion really is about having fun, playing with clothes and hopefully learning more about yourself too along the way.
Congratulations Lori Goldstein!
Incredibile. Finalmente vedo uno shoot editoriale che colpisce!
Questo mi ispira veramente.
La moda è divertimento, giocare con abiti e colori e, ogni giorno ti insegna qualcosa di nuovo: di te, e del mondo.
Complimenti Lori Goldstein!!
lunedì 21 maggio 2012
Let's take the 135 for the Isle of Dogs
It was Sunday. I woke up and I thought: 'today I must go to the Isle of Dogs!'.
Sunny and warm, and I knew there were not so many people around here during the weekend!
Because this is a financial centre, banks everywhere.
So I went out and took the doubledecker n 135 for Canary Wharf.
Here you can find many of the UK's tallest buildings, surrounded by water,
parks, trees, small lakes and rivers.. for me it's an amazing place.
venerdì 18 maggio 2012
martedì 15 maggio 2012
Afternoon walk downtown
Here are some shots taken in the city, during my afternoon walk.
It was sunny, warm..hundreds of people riding their bikes,
many other soakin' up the sun in Hyde Park, what a relaxing day.
There's no need to ask more than this......
lunedì 14 maggio 2012
Do the twirl!!
This boots are made for walking
What about this boots?
By now are two seasons that I think of these boots. Cut out boots.
Balenciaga cut out shoes.
Isabel Marant, and her shoes, is nobody compared!
Similar by Jeffrey Campbell
martedì 8 maggio 2012
White Mirage
White is a color, the perception of which is evoked by light that stimulates all three types of color sensitive cone cells in the human eye in nearly equal amounts and with high brightness compared to the surroundings. A white visual stimulation will be void of hue and grayness.
White light can be generated in many ways. The sun is such a source, electric incandescence is another. Modern light sources are fluorescent lamps and light-emitting diodes. An object whose surface reflects back most of the light it receives and does not alter its color will appear white, unless it has a very high specular reflection.
martedì 1 maggio 2012
Only me and my camera
There were nobody with me. I went in London 2 weeks ago and I stayed at my friend's home.
It's been the first time alone, what a strange sensation..
take buses and trains alone, nobody to wait for, only my program.
Only me, and my camera.
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One of the things I lament the most when I visit coffee shops both in Singapore and back in Mumbai is the disappearance of good old fashioned tea cakes. Much as I like a brownie or a cheesecake every now and then, nothing quite complements a cup of tea or coffee like a simple tea cake. Even a plain old sponge or ribbon cake will do, I seek nothing fancier.
One of my favourite tea cakes is the Mawa cake. And nothing compares to the Mawa cake that was sold at B.Merwan's outside Grant Road (E) station. When I worked in Advertising, our office used to be at Kemps Corner and very often my colleague, Firoz, would stop at Merwan's to pick up some fresh Mawa cakes and the crusty Brun maska and bring it to the office. I would postpone my breakfast as much as possible on the off chance that Firoz had managed to secure either the cake or the brun, as both would run out very fast. And on the lucky days when he did manage to get them, I would be over the moon. Ah, the joy of biting into the soft yet decadent Mawa cake or dunking the Brun muska into a cup of tea to soften it just a wee bit before taking a bite. I have heard that B.Merwan's closed down and then heard another rumour saying they were open again – not sure which is true, but it would be an absolute shame if they had really closed their doors forever.
Of course nothing compares to the experience of having the Mawa cake in an Irani establishment because then you have the joy of eating it with hot Parsi or Irani mint tea, complete with the ambience of an Irani cafe. Parsi Choi is like masala chai, sweet but a little less heavy on the spices and with the addition of fresh mint leaves. The mint leaves make all the difference and the tea is the perfect pairing to any freshly baked item.
Recently I was looking through the album of our trip back to Mumbai last year and came across photos at Kyani & Co. Aniruddha and I had gone to indulge in a cup of Parsi Choi (called Irani mint tea at Kyani) with Bun maska (a soft bun with butter vs. the crusty Brun). And seeing those photos got me thinking about how I could bring this amazing combination on to our menu. It had to be dessert, since I wanted to serve Mawa cake and then it struck me…why not convert the Parsi Choi into ice-cream! When in doubt, everything can be turned into an ice-cream 🙂
I have posted about Mawa cakes earlier on the blog, but now am sharing the recipe I use. I had to search for a Parsi Choi recipe and came across one on Peri's Spice Ladle (http://www.perisspiceladle.com/2014/01/03/mint-and-cardamon-parsi-choi-or-chai-an-indian-tea). I first made a regular cup of Parsi Choi, which turned out amazing – a little more spicy and less milky & sweet than the ones I have had in Irani restaurants. I then took the recipe and married it with my basic ice-cream recipe to create the Parsi Choi ice-cream! Warm Mawa cake with Parsi Choi ice-cream – takes you back to an Irani cafe!
Mawa cake adapted from Tartelette Blog
- ½ cup + 2 tbsp mawa
- 1 ¼th cup flour
- ½ tsp baking powder
- 6-7 strands of saffron
- ¼ cup milk
- 1 cup sugar
- 9 tbsp melted butter
- 2 eggs
- ½ tsp cardamom powder
- Chopped pistachios for decoration (optional)
- Pre-heat the oven at 180C, gas mark 3
- Warm milk and soak the saffron strands. After a couple of minutes, grind gently to release the colour
- Sift the flour, cardamom powder and baking powder together
- Beat the sugar, mawa and butter till soft and creamy. Add the eggs one at a time and beat till incorporated. If the mixture starts to look curdled, add a tbsp. of flour
- Alternately add the flour and milk and beat well till mixed.
- Pour into greased and floured cupcake holders or in a baking tin and bake for 20-25 minutes. Keep a close eye toward the 20 min mark, as if the oven gets too hot, the top of the cakes can start to burn
- Insert a toothpick to check if the cake is baked. Remove the tin/cupcakes and let them come down to room temperature. Remove the cakes from the cupcake holders or from the baking tin and leave on a rack.
Parsi Choi ice-cream
- 300ml milk
- 125ml cream
- 3 egg yolks
- 70-75g sugar
- 4-5 tsp loose black tea (add more if you want it stronger)
- 12-15 mint leaves, shredded by hand
- 8-9 cardamom pods, crushed to open
- ½ inch piece of ginger, sliced
- Make cooked tea by boiling milk, mint, ginger, loose tea and cardamom. Bring to the boil and let it simmer for around 5 mins. Turn off the heat. Strain the tea and keep aside in a saucepan.
- Whisk the sugar and egg yolks till pale and frothy. Add a little of the strained, milk tea while still hot. Whisk together and then add the egg and sugar mixture to the saucepan containing the remaining milk, whisking as you add it. Cook the custard on a low heat, whisking to avoid the egg from scrambling. When the custard coats the back of a spoon, turn off the heat and let the custard cool down
- Whip the cream till slightly thick and add to the custard. Chill the mixture in the fridge till it is completely chilled.
- Pour the mixture into your ice-cream maker and churn for 25 minutes till it forms into a smooth ice-cream. Take out into a container and freeze.
To serve, warm the mawa cake, serve a scoop of the Choi ice-cream over it and top it with fresh mint leaves and slivered pistachios.


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Female Heads of State and Government
There are many powerful women in politics around the world.
Although the majority of government positions are held by men, many positions are filled by powerful women. Below is a list of ten female heads of state or government from around the world.
10. Angela Merkel
Angela Merkel has served as the Chancellor of Germany since 2005. She held variety of government positions, such as Minister for Women and Youth (1991) and Minister for the Environment (1994) prior to her appointment as Germany's chancellor. During the 2013 election, Merkel's party won the largest number of seats, and formed the government with the support of Free Democratic Party.
9. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is the first female president of Liberia, as well as the first anywhere in Africa. She came into office on January 16, 2016 after winning the 2005 presidential election. Sirleaf previously worked as a minister until a coup d'état resulted in President Tolbert's death, and was a co-recipient of the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize, together with Tawakkol Karman and Leymah Gbowee.
8. Doris Leuthard
Doris Leuthard is the current President of Switzerland, which is also referred to as the Swiss Confederation. Leuthard was first elected president in 2010 and subsequently re-elected in 2016. She became a member of Swiss Federal Council following the resignation of Joseph Deiss. In 2009, Leuthard was elected Switzerland's Vice President, which helped put her on the path to the presidency.
7. Sheikh Hasina
Sheikh Hasina is the incumbent Prime Minister of Bangladesh, and was previously elected to the position in 1996 and 2009. Hasina first entered politics in 1981 when she was elected president of the Bangladesh Awami League. She was elected prime minister for the third time in 2014.
6. Dalia Grybauskaite
Dalia Grybauskaite is the current President of Lithuania, and the first woman to be elected president in her country. She previously held various government positions, such Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs and Finance Minister, prior to running for the presidency. She is described as an "iron lady." Grybauskaitė is not married and has no children.
5. Simonetta Sommaruga
Simonetta Sommaruga is a Swiss politician who was elected Switzerland's president for 2015, and previously served as vice president. Simonetta served as president between January 1, 2015 until December 31, 2015, when she was succeeded by Schneider-Ammann.
4. Theresa May
Theresa May is the current Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. She came into office in July 2016 and is the second woman to ascend to premiership after Margaret Thatcher. May previously held various ministerial positions, such as Shadow Transport Secretary. She campaigned against Brexit (the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union), but after referendum results she asserted that there will not be another referendum, saying "Brexit means Brexit."
3. Michellle Bachelet
Michele Bachelet is the President of Chile. She came into office for the second time on March 11, 2014, after holding the same position between 2006 and 2010. Between her two presidencies she was appointed executive director of United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women.
2. Marie-Louise Coleiro
Marie-Louise Coleiro has served as the President of Malta since April 4, 2014. She was a Member of Parliament between 1998 and 2014. Coleiro is the youngest president in Malta's history, and has striven to improve the country's economic and social conditions by establishing the President's Foundation for the Wellbeing of Society, which advises the president on the living conditions of citizens.
1. Tsai Ing-wen
Tsai Ing-wen is the current President of Taiwan and the second to ascend to power from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). Ing-wen is the first woman to be elected her county's president, and the first to have not previously held an executive position prior to serving as president. However, she did hold appointive posts, such as chairperson of Consumer Protection Commission and chair of the Democratic Progressive Party (DDP), before being elected president on January 16, 2016.
Are There Any Female Heads of Government?
There are many powerful women in politics around the world. Some examples are Queen Elizabeth and Prime Minister Theresa May of the United Kingdom, Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel, and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf the President of Liberia and the first female head of state in Africa.
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Welcome to this week's edition of "Movie News Monday!" ("MNM!")
What is 'MNM' all about?
In case this is your first time here, "Movie News Monday!" (MNM) is the place to visit on Mondays for a quick recap of trending entertainment news! I've collected info, rumors, etc from all over just for you to keep you updated on movies being released, actors/actresses in roles, dvd releases to keep a lookout for, which movie won in the box office over the weekend, etc! Are you ready for your weekly update? Here it is!
This Just In!!…
#1- "The Weekend Winner." Last weekend, 2 wide new releases entered the box office arena and hoped for the top spots. As usual, we all expected the horror movie to take top honors. It did…and disappointed many. The Family was not as lucky this Friday the 13th as its earnings were poor but still placed 2nd. Congratulations, however, to the The Butler as it finally crossed the $100 million mark domestically. The World's End ended its run in the Top Ten this past weekend…as did Blue Jasmine.
Here are the weekend's estimated results for Fri, Sept 13-Sun, Sept 15:
- Insidious: Chapter 2 ~$41M
- The Family ~$14.5M
- Riddick ~$7M
- Lee Daniels' The Butler ~$5.6M
- We're The Millers ~$5.4M
- Instructions Not Included ~$4.3M
- Planes ~$3.1M
- One Direction: This is Us ~$2.4M
- Elysium ~$2.1M
- Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters ~$1.8M
*Actuals may vary as earnings are updated much later on Monday afternoons. For updates, visit boxofficemojo.com.
Congratulations to Insidious: Chapter 2 (which I've nicknamed "Ridicusidious 2").
What did YOU watch this weekend?
*Those of you who saw this photo last weekend will be relieved to find that Justin Bieber will NOT be in the Batman vs. Superman film with Ben Affleck. WHEW!! (see the story HERE)
#2- "Insidious: Chapter 3 coming." Insidious 3 on the way. I wish this was a chapter that definitely was closed and remained that way. Insidious scared audiences in 2010 and its ending set up the sequel that released this past weekend. The less than impressive horror movie continuation raked in the dollars along with scathing remarks from critics all over. Observe via ClevverMovies:
Well, while fans may not abandon the franchise, it would appear as if the director James Wan (who also directed this year's amazing horror flick The Conjuring) has.
First off…Yes, a third chapter is on the way apparently. The press release (you can view it in its entirety HERE) was posted on Collider. Below are a few excerpts from it stating that Leigh Whannell (screenwriter of the first two chapters) will be writing the third installment also.
Entertainment One (eOne), FilmDistrict, and Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions (SPWA) announced today that together they will be developing the third chapter of the micro-budgeted INSIDIOUS film franchise which Leigh Whannell has signed on to write. Whannell has written both INSIDIOUS and INSIDIOUS: CHAPTER 2 which just had a stellar first weekend release in North America debuting to more than $40 million at the box office making it one of the largest horror genre openings ever and one of the biggest openings for a film released in the month of September.
"There is nobody better suited to bring audiences the next chapter of this haunting story than Leigh who has brilliantly written both INSIDIOUS and INSIDIOUS: CHAPTER 2."
"We are all so grateful for how audiences embraced James Wan and Leigh's latest film and are excited to see what Leigh has in store for the third chapter."
Secondly, however, James Wan, director, will not be in the director's chair. Wan, who in previous interviews has stated that he is "done with the horror genre", will not return for the 3rd part.
"I'm going to go on record and say I am finished with the horror genre. Conjuring and Insidious 2 are my two last scary movies."
"I spent the last ten years of my life doing this. It's time for a change, for goodness sake!…Hollywood puts you in a box. If you do a successful comedy, then you're known as The Comedy Guy. If you do a successful car chase movie, then you become that guy. So I'm a student of cinema, so I just want to make sure I get the chance to make other kinds of films."
This may be good news or bad news depending on how you look at it. I'm not surprised at the greenlight for a third chapter. I am, however, disappointed, and yet, I am also proud (?) of Wan. We'll see what the Saw director does with Fast & Furious 7.
Are you excited to see more of Insidious? or should that chapter close already??
#3- "J.K. and W.B. return to Potterland" Author J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter) announced that she is partnering with Warner Bros to develop a new film series (a spin-off if you will) based in the world of Harry Potter. Inspired by Rowling's Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, this wizardry franchise will also be Rowling's debut at screenwriting.
Rowling said: "Although it will be set in the worldwide community of witches and wizards where I was so happy for seventeen years, 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them' is neither a prequel nor a sequel to the Harry Potter series, but an extension of the wizarding world," said Rowling. "The laws and customs of the hidden magical society will be familiar to anyone who has read the Harry Potter books or seen the films, but Newt's story will start in New York, seventy years before Harry's gets underway."
This original story of Rowling's is something that I am sure will please many of her fans and many fans of the Harry Potter world to begin with. The Harry Potter franchise is, perhaps, the most successful of all time and it looks like WB is ready to give it another run. Look for more news as it develops. (For more on this story, you can also read Empire's article about it HERE.)
Are you glad for this news?
#4- "Hunger Games hungry for Moore." Julianne Moore (Carrie) has been confirmed as joining the cast of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Parts 1 and 2. Her role will be that of *possible spoiler…highlight section inside red parentheses to see*: (President Alma Coin- "leader of the rebellion against the Capitol"). An important role in the books that I expect to play an equally important part in the films…the first of which will not release until November 2014.
In the meantime, prepare for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, starring Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Woody Harrelson, Donald Sutherland, Stanley Tucci, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Elizabeth Banks and more. In theaters on November 22, 2013.
What do you think? Are you happy about her addition?
#5- "This Week's Blu-ray release." This week, look for the following films on Blu-ray to possibly add to your collection:
World War Z– Fight against zombies and epidemics in this future apocalyptic film starring Brad Pitt and more. Tense at moments and loaded with CGI, this zombie film is no Walking Dead but it is a fun zombie thriller. Worth a watch. Read my full review HERE.
Several other films also release this week. Check it out!
Also releasing:
- Behind the Candelabra
- The Bling Ring
- Drift
- The East
- …and more.
Which will you pick up?
Random reminder: Yes, Fast & Furious 7 is coming out soon…but so is the video game movie Need for Speed, starring Breaking Bad star Aaron Paul. Look for it in 2014.
Well, that's it for this round of "Movie News Monday!"
Thanks for reading! Happy Watching!
–T, The Focused Filmographer
up next: "Time to Vote Tuesday!"


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Get Citation
The Routledge Handbook of the History of Settler Colonialism examines the global history of settler colonialism as a distinct mode of domination from ancient times to the present day. It explores the ways in which new polities were established in freshly discovered 'New Worlds', and covers the history of many countries, including Australia, New Zealand, Israel, Japan, South Africa, Liberia, Algeria, Canada, and the USA.
Chronologically as well as geographically wide-reaching, this volume focuses on an extensive array of topics and regions ranging from settler colonialism in the Neo-Assyrian and Roman empires, to relationships between indigenes and newcomers in New Spain and the early Mexican republic, to the settler-dominated polities of Africa during the twentieth century. Its twenty-nine inter-disciplinary chapters focus on single colonies or on regional developments that straddle the borders of present-day states, on successful settlements that would go on to become powerful settler nations, on failed settler colonies, and on the historiographies of these experiences.
Taking a fundamentally international approach to the topic, this book analyses the varied experiences of settler colonialism in countries around the world. With a synthesizing yet original introduction, this is a landmark contribution to the emerging field of settler colonial studies and will be a valuable resource for anyone interested in the global history of imperialism and colonialism.


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"The most effective way to restore integrity and public confidence in asylum seeker policy is through strong leadership, myth busting and accurate information. Not to present a policy that is the closest thing to evil you can get. A policy that is full of misinformation."
"In 2010-11, 4730 asylum seekers arrived by boat. During the same period, more than 13 million people crossed our borders and arrived in Australia; 4730 out of 13.9 million is not a ''system vulnerable to abuse''."
"This is the opposite of integrity. It is inhumane and demeans Australia. Is this the basis on which Abbott will operate if he, as he believes he will, becomes prime minister?"
Abbott's evil policy work.
by Malcolm FraserJune 18, 2012
Sydney Morning Herald. smh.com.au
Sydney Morning Herald. smh.com.au


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The puppies love to play with each other, as well as try to chase Daisy down for a meal. It is so much fun to watch all five of them try to keep up with her and nurse at the same time.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Shorkie Puppies Playing around
Posted by Jenn at 12:34 PM 0 comments
Couch Potatoe Shorkies!
Bentley loves to be on the couch. He will beg and plead and jump to try to get onto the couch. Once he's on the couch he will lick and play and then curl up and take a nap. The others love to get up on the couch and sleep, but Bentley is obsessed with it! So dang cute!
Posted by Jenn at 12:13 PM 0 comments
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Random Pics of Cuteness
Here are just some random pics, I always keep my camera close. Daisy is really weaning the puppies these days. They have a lot of teeth, and chewing on my toes is no longer cute! LOL
Posted by Jenn at 9:05 AM 0 comments
Monday, August 25, 2008
Tori.. AKA Claire
Our little princess has a new name, from here on she will be known as Tori. Hope this doesn't confuse anyone. Luckily Bentley seems to be the only one that recognizes his name when I call, so tonight I'll start working on the name change. Bentley and Tori have decided they like to curl up on the couch with me. So last night we all took a nap, Duke even joined us for a little bit. Ace and Lenny still like to sleep in their bed. I think Lenny is still just scared to venture out to far due to his recent adventure.
Posted by Jenn at 10:41 AM 0 comments
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Shorkie Puppies running and playing
Posted by Jenn at 1:44 PM 0 comments
Little teeny tiny Ace
Ace is still the tiniest of them all. He is still under 2lb weighing in at 28oz. He also has the fluffiest fur so far. He is such a sweetheart always looking for someone to cuddle up with. He still goes under the couch and then cries because he is not sure how to get back out. He loves hanging out with his brother and sister, and especially nursing. Now that everyone has started eating puppy food, he seems to get in a little extra nursing time.
Posted by Jenn at 12:42 PM 0 comments
Bentley.. the great explorer
Bentley looks most like his Dad. He has those gorgeous tan markings against the black fur. He also has started to give kisses and loves to lick/chew on toes! He is always up for an adventure and to play or cuddle with someone. He loves to play with everyone and is also a great cuddler. He is also the first to wake up every morning and demand some playing time!
Posted by Jenn at 12:39 PM 2 comments
Princess Tori ...
Tori is the best cuddler of them all. I owe this to my niece Ginger that came down and spent a lot of "girl time" this week with Tori. She went everywhere with Ginger. She watched movies, played on the computer, and we even went for a fun walk. Tori was the fist to give little kisses, so be careful when you pick her up now. She is going to lick your face and try to give kisses, just like her mommy. She also loves feet!
Posted by Jenn at 12:35 PM 0 comments
Duke... the king of play!
Duke is so much fun, he loves to be held and he was the first one to start playing with me. He loves to chase my hands or feet and is always trying to chew on them. He was also the first to start playing with Daisy. He is all about having fun and loves to chew his puppy food! I still have a hard time telling Duke and Claire apart unless I get a look at their faces. They both have such beautiful markings on their face!
Posted by Jenn at 12:31 PM 2 comments
These puppies have somehow become more adorable overnight. So I decided to update some pics and I'll get some video up of them running and wrestling soon too! This is Lenny he had a bit of trauma yesterday. Somehow he escaped their caged in area. I am not sure for how long, but when I opened up the cage and put him back in he stayed there. Everyone else took off to explore and play, he climbed in his bed and went to sleep. Such a cutie! He loves to play and wrestle and especially chew on everything! They are eating puppy food a lot more these days as Daisy is not letting them nurse as much. They have also started playing with Daisy which I think she enjoys more then nursing them!
Posted by Jenn at 12:26 PM 0 comments
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Shorkie Pups refusing to acknowledge they have grown....
Although they are all still pretty small, they are huge compared to when they were born. Here is an example, this is their first bed. They LOVE it! When they were a few days old, everyone fit even if they stretched out. Today they were playing around and everyone fell asleep in their bed. Obviously they no longer all fit, but no one is getting out.
Posted by Jenn at 8:05 PM 0 comments
I have finally found a good groomer
Daisy has been a bit of a mess the last couple of weeks. Her hair is so long and she got into a bunch of grass stickers that matted up her fur. So it was time to get a haircut. The puppies are now old enough that they can be away from her for a few hours. So I called around and of course everyone is booked. So I had heard of a new place called Utah pet Center, that my friend Brandon highly praised. I called them up, and yup they had openings. Then I asked them if I could have her in and out within 2 hours. Yup not a problem. Which to me is amazing... she is usually at the groomers a minimum of 6 hours!!
So we went down to this new full service Pet center. They really do have everything. A hospital, groomer, boarding, and even a cafe to eat at. When I dropped her off they asked a lot of questions about how I wanted the haircut. They even have a board that shows the different lengths to choose from. Daisy always looks so different after a haircut, mainly because I go so long inbetween! She is now back to her skinny self, well except her belly is still pretty full due to milk. Since the puppies are starting to eat dog food I am starting to cut her back on food as she weans them from nursing.
Posted by Jenn at 4:17 PM 3 comments
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Here are some pics of the pups getting to know Jake. He's not sure what to do with them, and they like to chew on the back of his paws.
They are starting to chew on Daisy's dog food as their teeth come in. Bentley sleeps by the food dish! Last night I let them out of their exercise pen to explore the living room. It was a lot of fun for them to stretch out and explore. I have a cute little pet tent for Daisy to hang out in. I put them all in it and they loved it! So now its in their pen for them to play/sleep in as well. Here are some cute pics of them in the tent.
Posted by Jenn at 6:51 PM 0 comments
A new Trick
This morning as I was getting ready for work, I heard an odd new sound coming from the living room. I went over to investigate. There was Lenny sitting back with his head raised howling. Yup howling. I had no idea puppies could howl. Most of the crew is still learning how to bark! I guess that my dog Jake has been giving Lenny some private lessons. Maybe they are privately trying to form a singing group to perform at the local fairs???
As most of my friends and family know, Jake thinks he is a singer. If there is any type of music on the TV, or if my cell phone is ringing... Jake is singing along. Forget trying to play the piano, he will drown you right out!
Commercials on TV seem to get his attention the most. Jake's reaction time is a little slow these days. I get a giggle out of it, because Daisy is right on cue. As soon as that Stanley steamer commercial comes on she sits right up and stares at Jake. She knows he will start howling soon, and she tries to sing right along with him as well! Of course she's polite so she waits for Jake to begin first.
I'm guessing Lenny has been paying attention and is ready to join in with all the fun. I'll try to get a video of it up, if he is still doing it tonight.
Posted by Jenn at 9:40 AM 0 comments
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Our little princess has been adopted
Our little girl has found a family, and it sounds like her new brothers are pugs! She will have a blast with them. Here are some fun pics, the first one looks like a beginning pose before a wrestling match begins.
Yes they are playing with each other now. Wrestling is their favorite activity. They even try to get Mom in on the act. Oh dear she needs a haircut, a few more weeks and I can take her in.
The last pic is of Bentley deciding if he wants to take a nap or chew on the blanket
Posted by Jenn at 8:13 PM 0 comments
Neices and Nephew invade the Shorkies!
My nephew Clay came up for a visit for his birthday. We have had a blast. We rode all the rides at Lagoon yesterday, and today we took over and conquered Cherry Hill! Tonight they finally were able to come and visit the puppies. There were 5 of them, so I guess it was a good thing that Daisy had 5 puppies. Kayla fell in love with Ace, and Taylin is currently trying to devise a way to get Lenny back to Las Vegas! Ginger can't decide between Duke or Bentley, and Clay loves them all! McKenna took Daisy for a walk while Claire's new family came for a visit, so she needs another visit before she can choose her favorite.
Posted by Jenn at 8:04 PM 0 comments
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Ace has another first!
Ace seems to continue to be ahead of the crowd, but Claire is hot on his tail! LOL This morning I gave Daisy some cottage cheese to have her stay put so they could nurse. Ace decided cottage cheese tastes way better then momma's milk! When I pulled Ace out to take a pic of his face, Claire dove into the bowl for some food. So I guess its time to start giving them some food. I can feel their teeth are about to make an appearance, so Daisy will be weaning them off pretty soon.
Posted by Jenn at 12:24 PM 2 comments
Thursday, August 7, 2008
3 Wk update on the Shorkies....
They are getting huge! Here are their current weights
Ace 20 oz
Bentley 24 oz
Claire 22 oz
Duke 28 oz
Lenny 28 oz
Bentley and Lenny like to wrestle and wake up the others. Ace loves playing with the toys and cuddling up with Claire. Duke is the explorer, I really think hes trying to find a way out of the cage....
Posted by Jenn at 3:15 PM 1 comments
Monday, August 4, 2008
More in the sun
More outdoor fun
Posted by Jenn at 5:45 PM 2 comments
Trek to the outdoors...
I took some video outside, since my camera seems to be pretty dark indoors. The dogs are walking and starting to play with each other. They are doing great with crawling over to the paper to go potty.
Posted by Jenn at 5:10 PM 0 comments
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Puppies moving around
Posted by Jenn at 3:27 PM 0 comments
Ace .. first to walk.. first to hear.. and first to play
He may be the smallest of the group but he sure leads the pack in doing everything first.. here is a video of him as he finds a new toy
Posted by Jenn at 3:15 PM 0 comments


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Welcome to Mr Productions. The home of the best animated series you will see(for a 15 year old level). Currently I have made a 2D animation, Life of Hababas. I am currently working on a 3D animation, however it will be harder. Subscribe to my YouTube channel and keep notifications on, to be notified whenever a new episode comes out. Episodes usually come out weekly on Fridays, but I might not be free some weeks, so it might be delayed.
You can head over to the videos tab to see all the series and episodes.


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Also found in: Wikipedia.
ancient tribes that settled along the lower Danube about 200 B.C. The question of the origin of the Bastarnae is in dispute. Many scholars consider them Germans, but others believe them to be Celts. In 168 B.C. and from 88–61 B.C., they united with Macedonia in war against Rome. In 29 B.C., they were defeated by the Roman general Marcus Licinius Crassus and thrown back across the Danube, from which under Emperor Probus they were resettled into Thrace in A.D. 279–280.


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7 Deadly s[K]ins - Opal AUCTION ( White and Black Brow options)
7 Deadly s[K]ins - Have brought Opal to the Fantasy Faire, with a selection of fabulous Brows, from Pink and Blue to No Brow Options, a shape and This one - the gorgeous Opal Skin in two versions, white brows and Black Brows (shown)This is for the AUCTION ONLY and shall only be reviewed by myself until the auction.
Fantasy Faire Sim - San Mora
Dark Passions - Koffin Nails - FatPack - Fairylands Forever
Dark Passions - Koffin Nails - Maitreya HUD - Fairylands Forever
Fantasy Faire Sim - Raven's Perch
[Gauze]&[Trap] Mythic Ears *Mesh*
[Gauze]&[Trap] Fuzz Gloves : Unicorn(spec): Fem[Gauze]&[Trap] Faun Legs - Long: SL F/Maitreya/Slink :Unicorn:
Fantasy Faire Sim - Mudrana
Rivendale ~*~ Fairy twinkles - Wear
Fantasy Faire Sim - Raven's Perch
Fantasy Faire 2017: fifteen sims of beauty, wonder, and shopping to benefit Relay for Life and the American Cancer Society from the 20th-30th April.
Fairelands Junction
Do not forget the Auctions! The Silent Auction is always fantastic fun and the Live Auction is wonderful. There are such wonderful items at both auctions, one off's, Fatpacks, Delights and wonders you cannot get elsewhere and all towards Relay for Life! Happy Bidding Folks! - The Silent Auction is on Kakushi Pasu.
The Live Auction will be held on Opal Flight.
.:Soul:. Sidhe Eyes - Unseelie - DarkPuce
+ Mouni Poses + Happy Feet single poses Fem
The Pose Fair 2017
E-Clipse Design By Thetra Blackhea - EvE Maitreya White Body
Exile:: Day The World Went Away
+Half-Deer+ Magical Unicorn Tail - Silver (Sparkles)
austris - unicorn gacha #1 RARE - unicorn horn
^;^CaTwA^;^ Catya BENTO HEAD
^;^CaTwA^;^ Mesh Eyes Pack
^;^CaTwA^;^ Main Store
Maitreya Mesh Body - Bento 4.1
Fantasy Faire Sim - The Rose - Sponsored by Fallen Gods and Built by Alia Baroque
Using AnaLu - Outdoor city nights Windlight


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Mark parked his Vespa beside three others outside Yasmin's school, in Manchester, where it would be safe. Yasmin never bothered going to school on Fridays, so they had to meet elsewhere. The day was dull and drizzly, and Mark had got damp riding into town. He felt a little uncomfortable. His jeans were spotted with mud, but his fingers were warm in nice new gloves. He loved his Vespa. He locked his helmet under the seat and, led by a series of text messages, took the bus three stops to Elmsley Street, where Yasmin said they could make love in an empty house; there was a way in through the garden, she said. She had been there before.
But when he got to Elmsley Street it turned out that they'd have to climb the garden wall, then go in through a broken window in full view of passersby. Mark refused. What was the point of getting caught breaking into a house when they could make love at his parents' on the weekend? In comfort.
"Remember, my mother's going away," he told his girlfriend.
They sat in a coffee shop on Cote Street, but Yasmin couldn't smoke inside, and even outside on the seats under the awning she wasn't sure she dared to smoke her dope, which she could have done if they had gone to the empty house. She didn't mean to criticize, she said. Her parents had kept her home four Saturday nights in a row for skipping school, so she understood his worry about getting caught.
They held hands and fiddled with each other's rings. They were in love and had been officially engaged on Facebook for three months. Yasmin wore old woollen gloves she had scissored off at the knuckles so she could roll cigarettes without removing them. Her fingernails were brown and bitten. Mark loved to watch the fumes curling lazily from her parted lips. She was six months younger than him, but it somehow felt as if she were much older.
When the school day ended, Yasmin went to the warehouse where her father worked to get a lift home, and Mark met his mother, who had come into town to shop. They nosed into three or four places on the High Street, and eventually Mark's mother bought him a new sweater. It was a deep mauve that went well with his dark hair, but he was worried that it made him look rather bulky. Mark's mother didn't get anything for herself. She seemed distracted. When they drove back to Yasmin's school, the Vespa wasn't there.
The school railings were on Eastleigh Road, where there was slow traffic in both directions. It was such an exposed place that it was hard to imagine how anyone could have dared to steal anything. There were five other bikes and mopeds of one kind or another lined up together, but Mark's wasn't among them. The rain was falling heavily now, and they didn't have an umbrella.
"Are you sure you left it here?" Mark's mother asked sharply. Mark was perfectly sure, but his mother was not convinced. "Think," she said. "Try to remember." Mark suddenly felt very upset, staring at the five bikes in the splashing rain. Without the Vespa, it would be hard to get home when he came back from college at the weekend. And, once he did get there, he'd be a prisoner in a remote house in the country—his mother lived a fifteen-minute drive out of town. She was going away, and there would be no more lifts in her car. He would never get Yasmin home without the Vespa.
"For heaven's sake, don't cry," his mother scolded. "Think of the moment you got off the bike and locked up your helmet. Where were you?"
"I know I left it here!" Mark's voice quavered. "Where else would I leave it when I come to meet Yasmin?"
"Call her," his mother said. "Just to check."
Mark refused, but his mother said she wouldn't take the problem seriously until he did. It was the most ordinary thing in the world to forget where you had parked a car or locked up a bike. She had once spent an hour at the Three Lilies trying to find the Fiesta.
Because you're unhappy, Mark thought. Because you were thinking about Dad.
Mark made the call and Yasmin laughed. "The lads must have taken it," she said. There was a group at school, she said, who took bikes for joyrides and to steal parts. "Go and look in the car park behind the school—maybe they've dumped it there." Mark was upset; Yasmin seemed more amused than sympathetic. She didn't understand how important the scooter was for their relationship. Mark's mother was gesturing to say that she wanted to speak to the girl, but Mark ended the call. He hadn't asked Yasmin point-blank if she remembered him leaving the Vespa outside the school, and the last thing he wanted was for his mother to ask her and discover that she hadn't been at school. "She knows I left it here," he said. "Otherwise she wouldn't say to look around the back, would she?"
At this point his mother saw someone she knew coming out of the school, a woman who walked her dog in the park where she walked hers. They began to chat, and the woman, who turned out to be a geography teacher, said that there were so many problems at the school because of the backgrounds the kids came from, and it was perfectly possible that Mark's Vespa had been stolen. Mark's mother was almost too jolly in her responses, fake somehow. It was embarrassing. The boy started off on his own to go around the back of the school. As he turned in to the car park the first thing he saw was his Vespa.
He felt a strong rush of joy at the sight of it. It was bright red, with a white seat and wheels and a lovely streamlined shape. He felt in his pocket for his keys to retrieve his helmet from under the seat. Then he saw that the motor was gone.
It took him three or four seconds to grasp this. First he sensed that the bike looked different, thinner and lighter. Odd. Then he realized that between the back wheel and the seat there was an empty space. He wanted to sit down on the wet ground and cry. Now the Vespa wasn't just missing—it was dead.
"Pull yourself together," Mark's mother said. "For heaven's sake!" They would have to go to the police. The scooter had cost more than two thousand pounds only six months ago. They'd have to report the crime, then go to the insurance people and make a claim.
Mark texted Yasmin, "It's there but they've taken the motor." "Awesome!" she texted back. Mark felt sick. Then his mother told him to remove the license plates in case they needed to be handed in at some point or other. Both of them were getting soaked now. Mark's mother went back around the school to fetch the Fiesta, which had some tools in it, and Mark tore a nail trying to pull off one of the wet plates, which had jammed against the mudguard.
It was important to go to the police station at once because Mark's mother was leaving for Zambia tomorrow. She was going for six months, to teach at a school for poor children who would very likely never be able to afford a bicycle, never mind a scooter.
On arrival, they were fourth in the queue in a room that felt like a dentist's office, except that the posters were all about police recruitment and the bright future one could have in the department. Since his father had moved out, Mark had lost any sense of having a future. Even university seemed more a kind of limbo than a path to somewhere.
Yasmin had once told him that her parents would never get her a scooter. She had too many brothers and sisters. He thought how nice it was when she was sitting on the pillion with her arms around him and again he felt he might cry. Almost anything made him cry these days. When would he ever become a real man, he wondered sometimes.
"Round the back of the school, you say?" the policeman repeated, making a note. "And why did you go round the back, if you'd parked it at the front?"
"Because his girlfriend thought it might be there," Mark's mother said.
The policeman remarked that the question had been addressed to Mark, and Mark said, "There's a car park. I thought it might be there."
"She goes to that school," Mark's mother explained.
The policeman said the computers were down and they would have to come back the following day to pick up the printed report, which could then be sent on to the insurance people. In the car on the way home, Mark's mother told him that he would have to do that himself. "I'll have left already."
The following Wednesday, Mark, who lived in his college dorm in Liverpool during the week, called his father, who now also lived in Liverpool, but on the other side of town. Mark was in a prefab corridor in a building where he felt like a fish out of water. The signal was not great. He should have taken a gap year, he thought, but hadn't known what to do. He felt limp and inadequate. His father, as always, wanted to hear good news so that he wouldn't have to worry about him and could feel less guilty about leaving. He was busy. "The fact is," Mark told him, "Yasmin thinks she knows who took it. She says she might be able to get them to put it back on."
His father seemed to be finding it difficult to concentrate. He hadn't said where he was exactly, but Mark had the impression that he was with other people.
"You've reported it to the police, right? And the insurance, too? If the Vespa turns up now, on the road, with its motor and all, they might think you were lying to get the insurance money."
Mark hadn't thought of this. His father asked where the bike was now. Still in the car park behind the school, Mark said. Mark had phoned the insurance people to give them the details, but they'd said he'd have to get it moved to a repair place before they would look at it. He couldn't see the point of doing that, though, if Yasmin could persuade them to put the motor back on. Whoever they were. He wanted his bike back.
It might be better, his father thought—simpler, that is—if they collected the insurance for the old bike and got a new one. That would be the easy thing. Mark said emphatically that he didn't want a new bike. He wanted his old bike back. He himself couldn't understand why he felt so strongly about this.
In life-drawing class, there was the same fat old model who'd been posing for five weeks now. Mark pinned his paper, took his pencil in his hand, and looked at his subject. Why had he chosen a course where he was almost the only boy? Why hadn't he taken engineering or something? The woman was sitting on the floor this time, so the twenty or so students arranged in a semicircle were looking down at her. She had put a white towel on the floor, no doubt for reasons of hygiene. She had her legs out straight, slightly apart, and her hands were propping her up behind her back. Her breasts and stomach sagged. Her red face was tilted slightly back, showing her nostrils.
Drawing, Mark found the woman's fat disgusting but fascinating, too, its volume and orange-peel surfaces. Every few minutes, he exchanged a message with Yasmin, who had gone to school today, only to find that there was no teacher in her classroom. Yasmin was so slim, so lithe, so living. She'd had lots of boyfriends already. Mark worried about what she saw in him. He felt so vague beside her, so unsure of himself. Sharpening his pencil, he decided he would try to capture the grossness of the model's fat in as few lines as possible. Eye moving from subject to paper, Mark worked on the creases at the top of the woman's thighs, where they sank down between the legs at the crotch. Now the teacher stood behind him to look at his work. "Whoa," he said. "That's scary, Mike." "Mark," Mark said. The teacher apologized. "I'll get all the names before the end of term," he promised. Then Yasmin sent a text to say that the motor was back on the Vespa. "Fantastic, I love you," Mark texted back.
Now that Mark's mother was away, his father was happy to come home at the weekend to be with him, though Mark went back to Manchester only to see Yasmin. That Thursday, he had phoned the insurance people to say the motor had reappeared on the bike and he didn't want to file a claim. His father now insisted that before picking it up they had to go to the police again and change the report, because if, by a stroke of bad luck, the police stopped him for a routine check, or if he had an accident, God forbid, then they'd see that he was riding a bike that was supposedly stolen, and they might incriminate him for having tried to defraud the insurance company. "All these records are computerized," Mark's father said. They would only have to look up the license plates, and it would seem as if he were a criminal.
This time, there was no wait at the police station. Mark's father had some phone calls to make, and walked up and down on the pavement beside his Audi, talking in a low voice, while Mark explained to a tall, alert young policeman that the bike he had described as being vandalized was now working again. The young man dithered; he had thin white hands that were long and fidgety. Mark found hands the most difficult thing of all to draw. The policeman picked up a pen and put it down, scratched a knuckle, then invited Mark to come through to a small room with a table in the middle and left him there.
After ten minutes, an older man arrived and sat down opposite. He put the previous report on the table and laid both hands on it, as if to fix it there. These hands were heavy and meaty. His forehead was puckered and his cheeks were tensed in concentration and disapproval. Mark's heart sank. He wanted to phone his father and have him come in and help but he knew that the man wouldn't let him do this. Messages were vibrating in his pocket but he didn't dare to check them. The policeman looked up at him and their eyes met. "So how did this happen?" he asked.
"First a motor disappears, then it reappears. I never heard of such a thing."
Mark hesitated. He tried to explain the circumstances, but his voice sounded defensive.
"Why did you park the bike at the school, if you were then going to take the bus into town? Why wasn't your girlfriend at school, if it was her school?"
Mark should have explained that he hated riding through the underpass and around the two big roundabouts. He shrugged his shoulders. "That's what I did," he said.
The policeman's jacket was rather tight across his barrel chest. He seemed very powerful physically. "Another thing I don't understand," he was saying, "is why you just left the bike there after the motor was stolen."
Mark was silent.
"The normal thing would have been to have it taken to a repair place, no? Or a demolition yard. Don't you think? As it is, it looks like you knew you could get the motor put back."
"This never happened to me before," Mark muttered. His hands were shaking. At this point his father knocked on the door and opened it. He asked if he could come in. The policeman said no, he couldn't come in and he certainly shouldn't be knocking on doors in police stations unasked. "Wait in the waiting room. If I want you, you'll be called." Mark felt his leg trembling. He hated himself.
"It may never have happened to you," the policeman said, "but it rather sounds like your girlfriend is an old hand at this, right? You leave your scooter in a prominent place and go off with her. Lo and behold it gets stolen. She tells you where to find it. Lo and behold there it is. With no motor. You report the theft and make an insurance claim. Your girlfriend says not to worry. Lo and behold the motor reappears. What is this story all about? Who is this know-it-all girlfriend?"
Mark had never been so frightened. "Her name is Yasmin," he said. He felt that he was betraying her. Her parents were Brazilian, he explained. They lived just the other side of Galaxy Shopping. She was seventeen. He had known her almost a year. They had been going out for six months.
"Does she have a criminal record?" The policeman was very blunt. "Or a brother with a criminal record?"
Mark didn't know what to say. There ought to be someone here to protect him, he thought, to tell him how to react.
"She had some dope on her once," he said carefully, "when the police stopped us. On the Vespa. But she wasn't fined or anything."
"She smokes marijuana?"
"Everybody does," Mark said.
"Speak for yourself, young man. I certainly don't."
Nor did Mark. He hated smoke, except when watching it coil from Yasmin's lips. Somehow it was impossible to say this.
The policeman wanted the girl's full name, her address and phone number. He didn't know her exact address. But he gave the man her phone number. "You can warn her to expect a call from us," the policeman said. Then he dismissed the boy and called in his father, "for a word in private," he said.
In the waiting room Mark sent a text to Yasmin telling her that the police wanted to call her about the Vespa. "I'm so sorry, but how could I say the motor reappeared without mentioning you?" His hands were shaking so much he could barely text.
"The police think Yasmin is one of the vandals," Mark's father said, when he came out. "Or she's in with them, somehow." He swung the Audi out into traffic. "Otherwise, why would they put the motor back when presumably they removed it to sell it? You can see their point, frankly. They don't think you were involved, but they think she's leading you up the garden path."
After a few moments he added, "There's her dope smoking, too."
"What about it?"
"Well, it suggests a kind of life style that . . ."
"Yasmin's completely honest," Mark suddenly shouted. "Listen, she just told everyone at school that if the motor wasn't put back she was going to talk to the headmaster, because it was her boyfriend's bike. Then it reappeared. That's not her fault, is it? It was nice of her."
"The police think that at the very least she knows who they are," his father said. "I mean, why would they do what she wants otherwise? What do they care about her boyfriend? And, if she knows the perpetrators of a crime, she has a legal responsibility to report them to the police."
"She does not know them!" Mark was indignant. What a pompous prick his father was, using expressions like "perpetrators of a crime"! The fact was, he said, his father didn't like Yasmin because she was an immigrant and colored and her dad worked in a warehouse. "You don't know what a nice person she is."
"If she's telling the truth, then she hasn't got anything to worry about, has she?" his father said.
From the police station, they drove to the other side of town, to Yasmin's school. They stood by the Vespa and examined it. It was looking a bit rain-stained after a week outside. Then they put the license plates back on. "Take it straight to the mechanic's," Mark's father told him. "And go really easy, in case something's not working properly. The last thing we need is an accident. Check the brakes first, and the steering."
It was a mild October morning and, getting onto the Vespa, Mark felt good. The helmet was still there under the seat. Amazingly, the motor started the first time using the battery and the starter, something it didn't always do even when he'd left it in the garage. Mark rode it slowly around the car park while his father watched. "It brakes fine," he told him and his father said, "O.K., go for it," and walked back to the Audi.
Mark took the bike out into traffic. The motor was a bit louder than it had been, he realized now, and it felt more powerful, too. It surged and growled when he twisted the accelerator. He grinned. Then he noticed that the rearview mirror was missing. That was annoying, but he could drive without it. It felt so good when he got through the traffic on the circular road and turned right beyond the lights, heading out toward Pendlebury. There was fresh air from the fields, which were hazy in the autumn sunshine, and he felt absorbed in the movement of the bike along the strip of road between hedges and green verges, with the low wooded hills in the distance. This was great. He was living again. Turning in to the mechanic's, he hit a pothole, had to put his foot down, and scraped his shoe.
After dropping the bike off, Mark had a mile and a half to walk home through the muddy countryside. He texted Yasmin to ask if there was any chance she could come out to his place and stay the night. Perhaps he could persuade his father to pick her up if she got the bus as far as Salford. Then they would find some way to get her home tomorrow. Mark began the long climb up the hill to the house. When his phone rang he expected it to be her.
"Mr. Paige?" It was the policeman. "We have been making some inquiries regarding your girlfriend's phone number, Mr. Paige." There was a pause. "Perhaps you can explain to us why this phone is registered in your name and not your girlfriend's."
Mark's heart was beating fast, as if he'd been caught out. But, again, there was a simple explanation. When they had gone to buy her phone, Yasmin hadn't had any identification with her, which it turned out the phone people needed for the sort of contract she wanted, so he had given his name and address as a guarantor.
The policeman cleared his throat. Again, there was a long pause. Then he said, "So, just by chance, the very day this young, er, lady goes to get a phone, she doesn't have any identification with her even though she knows which deal she wants and has presumably checked the requirements on the Internet. What's more, she just happens to go with someone who has got I.D. and is naïve enough to lend it to her, so that now if there should be any suspect traffic on this young lady's phone it cannot be attributed to her."
Mark was silent. He couldn't believe it.
"Could I have your father's phone number?" the policeman asked.
"Why?" he faltered.
The policeman was sarcastic. "If I ask for your father's number, perhaps it's because I want to speak to him."
"But you just spoke to him," Mark protested.
"And now we want to speak to him again. If you don't want to give me the number, I'll find it elsewhere."
Mark gave the policeman the number and immediately phoned his father. He explained that the police would soon be calling him and why.
"How was the scooter?"
His father asked Mark if he wanted him to come and pick him up, and Mark said he would much rather his father picked up Yasmin later. He didn't want to make him run about too much.
His father said, "O.K., if I have time. I think I'd better have a word with Yasmin about all this."
Now Mark started to text Yasmin about what had happened with the phone. But it was too complicated for a text. He phoned her, but she was with friends. There was laughter in the background. He tried to explain. Yasmin didn't seem worried at all. But for some reason this didn't cheer Mark up. "I'm making life so difficult for you," he texted.
In the empty house, he tried to follow the instructions his mother had left and prepare something proper to eat, but then couldn't be bothered. He ate cheese on toast and thought about the fat model sitting on the white towel to protect herself from the dirty floor. The woman didn't seem unhappy about being fat, or about the miserable job that she had. She always had a sort of Cheshire-cat smile on her face, as if she were proud that all the students were there drawing her. Mark realized that he envied her.
His father picked Yasmin up from the bus station at four. Mark sat in the back with her while his father drove. On the radio, two presenters were taking phone calls about the World Cup in Brazil and his father made a comment to Yasmin about this being a big moment for her country, but Yasmin said she didn't follow football at all. Then Mark's father asked her about the bike saga. Those were the words he used. Yasmin laughed and said that as soon as she'd heard what happened she had just put the word around that it was her boyfriend's bike. She'd been a bit surprised herself when the motor reappeared. "I guess I must be popular." She laughed.
His father was silent. When they got home, he suggested that they all have a beer together in the garden since the weather was fine, but Mark just wanted to take Yasmin to his bedroom. A couple of hours later, his father called upstairs. Mark was grateful to him for not coming up and knocking at least. He pulled on his jeans and went out onto the stairs, conscious of looking tousled. "Since I won't be seeing much of you now that Yasmin's here, I'm going to head back to my place," he said. Mark let his father hug him, but he didn't feel the relief that he normally felt when his parents went away. When he went back to the bedroom, Yasmin was in her panties at the window, smoking. Mark lay on the bed and stared at the ceiling.
"Couldn't you have told the police that your mother had complained to the headmaster or something?" she asked.
"I'm sorry," he said. He didn't seem to say anything else these days.
"My parents'll keep me in on Saturdays again, and I won't be able to come over, even when you do get the Vespa back."
The smoke from her cigarette drifted into the room. It was a good thing his mother was away. She insisted that guests go right down to the road to smoke.
"Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck," Yasmin said.
Later they went downstairs, drank his father's beers, and watched TV, but both of them knew they were just waiting for that phone call from the police. Mark was supposed to read a book on the phenomenology of art for a Monday seminar, but he couldn't concentrate.
"You'll leave me because of this, won't you?" he said.
Yasmin looked puzzled. She had a small sly mouth and stained teeth, lush frizzy hair, a puppy's body. "Why?" she asked.
Since Mark had started coming to Liverpool for the week, a sort of routine had developed whereby every Tuesday or Wednesday evening his father took him out to eat, or to the pub for a pint. Mark had been drawing the fat woman again. This time, she was lying on her side with her head propped on her elbow. She had brought three red cushions to lie on. His father took him to a Thai restaurant. "Have the police phoned Yasmin yet?" he asked.
"No," Mark said.
"Is she worried?"
"She's beginning to hope they won't call."
Mark's father said that he liked Yasmin. He hesitated. "But there's no real future for you two, is there? I mean, you're from different worlds."
Mark didn't look up from his curry.
"I wouldn't be surprised in the end if she did know the guys who took your motor," he said.
"She doesn't."
"It wouldn't be her fault if she did, would it? She seems the kind of girl who might move in circles like that."
"But she doesn't! Why don't you believe me?"
Mark's father asked when he would be getting the Vespa back.
"Friday afternoon."
The waitress brought another helping of rice. Mark's father kept trying to make conversation, asking questions about college, about his future plans, about his mother, about the restaurant, trying to be friendly, or to show that he was being friendly, but Mark didn't feel like talking. His father became impatient; he wanted the two of them to have a nice time together. Mark was very aware of this, but he couldn't have helped his father, even if he wanted to.
"Are you sure you don't want some noodles?" his father asked. "They're so good here."
Mark propped his chin on his hands and watched his father pour himself some wine. "Maybe my future is turning into a fat slob," he said. "Covered in gross rolls of fat."
His father looked perplexed. "You hardly eat anything," he said. "You just need to do a bit of sport."
The police called Yasmin on Tuesday to say that she was invited to go to a police station near her home that Friday morning. With both parents.
"Good luck," Mark texted. He felt convinced that it was his fault. If he hadn't told Yasmin where he'd parked on the day the Vespa disappeared, if he'd said that he'd left the bike at the bus station, for example, she wouldn't have tried to help get the motor put back on, and none of this would have happened. What a bore I am, he thought. I should be like the fat woman, who doesn't give a damn about her big buttocks and oceans of cellulite. His mother's Facebook page was now full of pictures of her surrounded by bony black children. She said that it was impossible to go running where she was staying because it didn't feel safe.
On the train home Friday morning, Mark bought a turkey sandwich from the refreshment trolley, and then crisps and a Coke. At this very moment Yasmin is at the police station, he thought, because of me. From Manchester, he took a bus out to Pendlebury, after which it was a long walk to the mechanic's.
The mechanic said that the vandals had done a great job of putting the motor back. The bike was working fine. He had put on a new mirror and a new brake light, changed the filters, and checked the brakes. As he spoke, Mark was looking at a calendar above his head in which a girl crouching behind a motorbike wearing only a black jacket had propped her two pointed breasts on the seat. She had frizzy hair like Yasmin's. "Seventy-eight pounds," the mechanic said.
Mark rode the Vespa home. It moaned pleasantly up the last slope. Riding always induced a happy mood of freedom and competence, which vanished the moment he took the helmet off. Perhaps he should wear it all the time, he thought. He went into the house and defrosted some soup his mother had left for him. Why hadn't Yasmin replied to his messages? He lost patience and called her, though he knew she preferred him to text. Her phone was off. Why? Didn't she realize he was worried? He was supposed to be writing an essay for the life class about the drawings he had done; he wriggled the drawings out of their tube and spread them on the living-room table. The first concentrated mainly on the bulk of the body. There was too much detail, lots of shading and cross-hatching. More recently, he had been trying to get at something about the face in relation to the body. It wasn't pretty, but it was a nice face. The mouth was relaxed and soft, not like his parents' mouths. If these things could be expressed in words, there would be no point in drawing, Mark thought. Then he was so anxious that he ran out of the house and got on his Vespa again. He took the spare helmet with him, strapped to the back.
He had reached the circular road when his phone rang. Mark had a strict rule never to look at his phone while on the bike. He broke it. In two lanes of heavy traffic he reached into his pocket. After all, if he hadn't meant to break the rule, why would he have set the ring tone on max? With his right hand off the accelerator, the bike slowed and wobbled. Holding the phone, he grabbed the handlebar again and gave it a little burst of speed, conscious of a bus behind him. He tried to see the screen, but there was bright sunlight. He had to hold it right in front of his visor. The bike clipped the curb and wobbled again. The bus sounded its horn and swerved. Then he was over, with the bike on top of him and his helmet clunking on the pavement.
Mark lay still for a moment trying to take it in, then a girl around his age was next to him, asking if he was O.K. It seemed he was. His leg hurt, he thought, but he was definitely O.K. Thank God. Two men had arrived. They righted the bike and pulled it out of the traffic. The spare helmet was still attached. Mark sat on the pavement and took his helmet off. "Thank you," he said. "I'd better take it easy for a few minutes." His knee was sore. When he had got over the shock, he couldn't find his phone. It wasn't in his pockets; it wasn't on the pavement; it wasn't in the gutter or on the road. Now he really hated himself.
When Yasmin came out of school at four, Mark had been waiting almost an hour. He'd thought she finished at three-thirty. The traffic crept by on the road beside him, and the clouds marched overhead in the damp sky. There was a constant windy tug to the day that he just didn't feel part of. He didn't feel part of the world at all. All he had was the Vespa. Thank God he hadn't damaged the Vespa. Then a bell rang, and almost at once kids started streaming out. He sat up. After a few minutes Yasmin appeared, but of course she was with her friends, Sandy, Mike, Ray, and Georgina. Yasmin was the shortest of the group, her hair all over the place. But she was dressed more smartly than usual today. She even had a skirt on, a jacket, a button-up blouse. For the police, no doubt. A mill of others hurried past. They were laughing, slouching, passing around cigarette papers. And Mark saw at once that Yasmin was happy. She was grinning. All five of them were happy together, lighting up cigarettes, at the end of the school week.
They came through the gate and saw him.
"Hi, Marky," Yasmin said. She was always a little cool when there were others around. They stood beside the Vespa. "We're going to the house, wanna come?"
She meant the empty house with the broken window, beyond the canal. They were going to smoke dope.
"How was it?" Mark asked. "This morning? I lost my phone. I don't know anything."
Yasmin grinned. "Fine. No worries."
"Yazzy told 'em to go fuck 'emselves." Georgina laughed. She had a mocking smile.
"Asked 'em if they needed any spare parts for their big blue bikes," Ray said. "Didn't you, Yaz? Speaking of which . . ." He crouched down to look at the Vespa's motor.
"Are you coming?" Yasmin repeated. "How'd you lose your phone?"
"No," Mark said.
"Oh, come on!"
"Sue and Jan will be there, too," Georgina said. "And maybe Lisa. You know she has the hots for you."
Mark sat on his Vespa. "No."
Suddenly it was clear to him that they all knew perfectly well who had taken the motor.
"What are you going to do?" Yasmin asked wryly. As if the thought that he might have something to do was funny.
Mark said nothing. He had worried so much about her.
"Let's go," Mike said. Sandy and Ray were already moving off.
"How will I get to your place," Yasmin asked, "if we don't go together? Come on. Just one smoke then back to your place."
"Are you O.K.?" Yasmin asked. "Is the bike going O.K.?"
Mark tried a smile. "I'm really glad it was all right with the police."
Yasmin laughed. "Oh, they didn't know anything. Even Dad was on my side. They just wanted to scare me."
"The bike's going great," Mark said. "See you later."
"But how will we get in touch, if you've lost your phone? I already told my parents I was out tonight. Where shall we meet?"
Sitting on his Vespa, Mark was slightly above her. He didn't reply. His knee was hurting. Yasmin turned to follow the others, then turned back. Her eyes looked for his. She pursed her lips slightly, maybe forming a kiss, maybe an impatient pout. What was she going to do? Mark settled his helmet on his head and turned the key. The bike started. He twisted a little, patted the back seat, and gestured to the spare helmet.
Yasmin still hesitated. "Hey, dudes!" she shouted. Her friends were crossing the road.
Mark revved the bike and pushed it off its stand. He turned it to the road. Yasmin came to stand next to him and was shouting something again about times and phones over the noise of the motor. He shook his head. "Get on the back, stupid," he yelled. He was still shaking the spare helmet. "Come on, get on." He revved the bike harder. Yasmin grabbed the helmet and unclipped it.
As soon as her arms were around his waist, Mark surged off. The traffic was intensifying with the rush hour, but he drove faster than he usually did. He wove between cars. He accelerated and braked hard. It was good to feel the girl being thrown against him, then away. She held him tighter. Once he was off the circular road and in the country, Mark sped up close to fifty. Yasmin was shouting something. He didn't even try to hear what. He weaved the bike from side to side on purpose. Perhaps he was frightening her. He imagined riding with the fat model behind him, naked, posing, completely relaxed while Mark forced the bike to go as fast as it could. That would be something to draw. Racing up the last hill, he was just about to move across to turn right into the driveway when he saw a car close behind in the mirror. Damn. He braked to let it go by, then changed his mind, accelerated, and drove straight on past their house, up the slope beyond the village, then on toward the wooded hills and the horizon. ♦


text:
Sagres raptor migration October 2010 – when the birds got boring!
Also more frequent in number during this trip were Migrant Hawkers. Many more than previous years, particularly in the Sagres area.
Away from Sagres, plenty of dragonflies are easily seen in the Boca Do Rio, three species of Emperor, hawkers and plenty of darters.
Mothing wise it was pretty quiet this time around. The only one of note was a Crimson Speckled out mid-afternoon during heavy rain in the Boca Do Rio, while Hummingbird Hawk-moths appeared to be present in good number from Lagos west to Sagres.
With few flowers out, butterfly numbers weren't huge but Small Copper, Painted Lady, Peacock and Red Admiral were seen each day.
Only regular, albeit beautiful, Swallowtail were seen and a few Long-tailed Blue were on the wing.
And if that wasn't enough to fill the time, there was always the impressive looking longhorn Monochamus galloprovincialis to watch… not many on 'the hill' in Sagres but still seen most days.
Grasshoppers were plentiful, albeit species variety didn't seem that diverse!
Blue-winged Grasshopper Oedipoda caerulescens (above), and 'Red-winged' Grasshopper Oedipoda germanica (below), look pretty dull on the deck… but when they fly they are stunning.
Searching around the pines I noticed this Graphosoma lineatum – a rather striking little bug.


text: At the Western History Association Conference in 2012, Linda Sargent Wood, a professor at Northern Arizona University, presented a stimulating session on History Labs. Kindled by the ideas of Professor Wood's presentation and article, Region 13 dived deeper and learned more about inquiry pedagogy. This led to Region 13 applying for and receiving the Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources Grant. Thus began the process of The Social Studies Critical Thinking Lab. A cohort of Region 13 teachers in elementary, middle and high schools began the journey toward using this method of instruction which promotes student discovery through reading, thinking, writing, and sometimes wrestling through documents to learn in-depth meaning of content. The cohort completed a group book study on Bruce Lesh's Why Won't You Just Tell Us the Answer?: Teaching Historical Thinking in Grades 7-12. Each participant also selected and received one other book about inquiry to support them in creating their labs. This website content was created as a resource for educators who are interested in fostering students' historical thinking skills using labs.